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Show WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2014 DIXIESUNNEWS.COM -- 5 Order a copy of Foreordained at Amazon.com iU. by keshara 'OMO year; bjorkman Staff Writer oneself in another adventure is as easy world of as reading a book, or, in the case of one Dixie State UniTo lose ii A Jp & versity student, writing one. Writing a fantasy full-leng- th adventure novel like Aaron Hall, a sophomore communication major from St. George, did is no easy feat at 22 years old. If I didnt write it, I would be like, Dude, this book Hall said. is awesome, need to read this Guys, you Thats just my opinion, book. though. I might be a little biased. Biased or not, he dedicated years of his time to bring imagination to life in Fore- 'r' ordained, and he created something for everyone to enjoy. The book is available $ n onAmazon.com and has only gained good reviews. As quoted from the synopsis: The kingdom of Nezmyth is in shambles. Hope is spread thin. King Barnabas has ruled relentlessly for decades. Jason has been Foreordained by the X Holy Dragon to replace him. Now, at age 1 7, Jason must choose to accept his calling, but the King will stop at nothing to retain the Throne. The of Nezmyth hangs in future balance. Jason uses that year as an opportunity to decide whether he wants to rise up to that calling or not, Hall explained. So its kind of like the Aaron Hall, a sophomore communication major from St. George, independently published his fantasy novel, Foreordained, after seven years of has sold about 50 copies. writing. Halls book became available on Amazon.com at the beginning of February, and, since then, Hall continues to stay inspired by I feel like the characters are marketing guy right now. Im give in? And he looks them in revisions, the last of which afford I a college kid. cant others, like his favorite author. much more vivid; the danger after he the eye and says, Because one was a major a selflessness, This is cliche, but its J.K. a PR team thats sending out is real. Its there came home from a Church you can story . . Things turn out well day I am meant to be king. I Rowling, Hall said. Pop Latter-da- y feel it. It has a deeper emocopies all over the place. Im for people who do the right thought to myself, You know, of Jesus Christ of cultural influence aside, shes I can best the that do to I tional level to the book than going if someone were to expand on Saints mission in Boston. The thing, and I think thats kind of I a with the knowledge that phenomenal writer. Shes evolution of the original story originally thought it would. the ultimate lesson behind the that and make it a re-wr- boy-to-m- an . full-blo- thatd be pretty sick. Im book. story, He began the development of the book several years back, having been inspired by a video he saw in seminary. There was some video in seminary where it showed this going do it. Hall spent seven years working on Foreordained before ' prince getting kidnapped and his captors tried to subject him to this evil lifestyle, and he didnt buy into it at all, Hall Finally they were like, Whats your problem? Weve been offering you all these ieasures so why dont you said. publishing. I started writing it when I was a freshman in high school, and I finished the first draft when I was a senior, Hall said. I had plans to get it published before I left on my mission, but it just didnt feel right for some reason. Since he started writing the book. Hall made three major ixie Sun News i Dixie Sun News Rebecca Luker Photographer Life Favorites Anything on my barbend dark chocolate k: Izze Blackberry and e Martinis t: The Secret ic: Rock and pop ie: The Breakfast Club how: The Walking and How I Met Your 1: - I ter I: Old Metallica. Im also ty Peny fan. e: Corona Del Mar ch in Orange County) subject: Art history 't: Basketball. Go Lakers! tol Now that the book is available for the world to read and people to give their opinions, Hall said the feedback is still positive. A mention in a daily fan newsletter of New York Times best selling author David Farland doesnt hurt, either. I sent him a message on Facebook ... He was like, Ill see what I can do about giving you a shout out, and then he did like three days later, Hall said. Im basically my own have. Hall keeps his Instagram and Twitter updated, hoping that the power of social media will help him to spread the word created this incredible world that you just want to be a part of. Id like to say that my style is adapted most from Rowl- about Foreordained. Hes sold about 50 copies of the book since it went on sale just more than two weeks ago, and he said hes optimistic about sales considering his lack of advertising funds and skills. As for advice for other aspiring authors, Hall suggested g in planning and order to maintain focus to get Hall said he aspires to write a second installment to the story of his world, as he ing. Shes amazing. goal-settin- the finished product. Do it, Hall said. You can dream about writing a book all you want until you set goals. Dont hold back. Just make it happen. Personalities Get to know the faces behind ' over the years became what is now available on Amazon. The first draft was evaluated by what is possibly the toughest of crowds: his peers. Hall released the draft in January 2010 at his high school library, making it available for check out by students. The feedback was positive then, just as it is now, but Hall knew it still needed work. The finished product is completely different than what I first envisioned, Hall said. First best friend: Theresa, partner. Dont my crime-spre- e be on our bad side when we have toilet paper in hand. Relationship status: Single Dream job: Rolling Stone photographer Dream city: Paris and France Fears: Lifetime commitment (which has paid off overall) Tattoos: Penelope le Pew (Pepes girlfriend), a tribal with roses, and an Orange County star. Piercings: Tongue and ears Students Foreordained original, mystical BY MARA BRADDY Opinion Editor If the Eragon and A Song of Fire and Ice series got together and had a baby, it would very closely resemble Foreordained, written by Dixie State University 1 ML student Aaron Hall. Call me a super nerd, but there isnt much in the literature world that perks my excitement like a story that involves a dragon and a kingdom under turmoil. By the hands of a newly published author, this tale does not disappoint. What makes the fantasy genre so appealing is the space of freedom an author has to create his or her own world from the ground up. They can conjure entire kingdoms from thin air and unheard-o- f creatures of horrifying measure. But in Foreordained, it may be the first time encounter a world where fantasy-lover- s people worship a dragon. Unlike other stories where dragons are greatly feared or made out to be demonic creatures of destruction, I read about a dragon deity who protected this realm of humans, and I loved it. If I joined any religion, that religion would definitely have to worship a dragon. Hall introduced me to a kingdom unlike any Ive read in a book. The kingdom of Nezmyth has undergone tremendous turmoil and has suffered under the rule of King Barnabas. People have succumbed to severe poverty, and nature itself has ceased to grow green and vibrant. The Sacred Dragon oversees all that happens in Nezmyth, including watching over a young boy who goes by the name of Jason, son of Tomm the printer. Jasons destiny has been laid out for him by the will of the Sacred Dragon when he was only 12 years old. His parents bravely kept it secret for fear King Barnabas would come for their sons head. Jason is the kind of young character I personally relate to most in this book. He is humble and seriously doubts himself in his capability to bring hope back to the land. A bewitching story will always draw a distinct line between the forces of good and evil, hi Foreordained, the stage is set for the reader to draw apart whats good and evil while growing attached to see COVER page 6 |
