Dina Given's joins Offworlders family of authors.

Fantasy Author Dina Given:

Dina-GivenMy name is Dina Given, author of “Unhidden, The Gatekeeper Chronicles” (Book #1). “Unhidden” is my first novel – a fast-paced, high-action urban fantasy with a healthy dose of horror and romance.

I discovered Fantasy books when I was about 10 years old. My mother went to the library and brought home for me “A Spell for Chameleon” by Piers Anthony. I was immediately hooked and never looked back.

I voraciously devoured everything by authors such as Piers Anthony, Terry Brooks and Raymond E. Feist. I would draw massive maps of these fantastical worlds and hang them on my bedroom walls, alongside my sketches of mythical creatures. When I was in college, I even wrote my honors thesis on Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.”

Then I entered corporate America, got married and had two kids, and my reading fell off significantly. A few years ago my sisters discovered the world of self-publishing and started a blog supporting independent romance authors. Romance wasn’t really my thing, but I wanted to be involved in the blog, so I gravitated toward indie Paranormal Romance, and it re-sparked my love for the Fantasy genr.

Unhidden: The Gatekeeper Chronicles by Dina Given

“I slowly lowered my weapon more from the shocking impact of his words than because I trusted him not to make a move against me. Had he really just said I was using magic? I was having a hard enough time believing Zane and Alex were using real magic, and I had seen it with my own eyes. I certainly wasn’t able to do what they did. I had never demonstrated even the remotest ability to wield some mysterious power, not that I had ever even tried. Anyway, everything Alex had mentioned could be explained by natural ability enhanced by intense military training. I shook my head, putting aside his words for now. This wasn’t the time or place.”

It also renewed my life-long desire to try writing a novel myself. Thinking about the old adage of “write what you would want to read,” I developed an idea for a high-action urban fantasy novel influenced by Jim Butcher’s “The Dresden Files” and Larry Correia’s “Monster Hunters International.” I wanted to write a book that played like a fast-paced movie with supernatural battles, car chases, monsters and magic, not to mention a dollop of steamy romance.

I like strong, sarcastic heroines and the H-O-T men who love them. I also like stories with complicated characters who aren’t all good or all evil, but an interesting combination of both.  My passion for over-the-top action also shines through pretty clearly in my writing.

I live in rural New Jersey – home of farms, horses and the largest hot air balloon festival in North America – with my husband, two crazy kids (my son is 9 and my daughter is 7), one rescue dog and the occasional foster dog. I am an exercise enthusiast and avid lover of food and wine (hence the need to exercise). I also work full time for one of the largest healthcare companies in the world. With varying degrees of success, I manage to juggle family, work, volunteering and writing due to my obsessive, hyper-focused, Type A personality.

The novel is available here: Unhidden – The Gatekeeper Chronicles Book 1

I hope you decide to take a chance on a new author, and enjoy the wild ride.

~ Dina Given

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