"What if someone came along and offered you the chance to 'take the road less traveled', the chance to live a dream?" Readers have that opportunity (at least in their minds) when they pick up the Trio series - a collection of fantasy novels released by local author Kevin Lee.
With the first two already on store shelves, Lee has just released the third book in his series - called "Ascension."
A former radio personality, the local author now spends much of his time putting pen to paper and his efforts are being met with much success.
"Actually when the Trio fantasy series began I was living in Winnipeg at the time... back in about the mid 90s," detailed Lee in a recent interview with The News Review.
"It was before Harry Potter and Lord of The Rings hit it big on the big screen... I had written a few things and then when I worked in radio I had lots of time to scribble and write and jot things down... I came up with an idea that I really wanted to try writing..."
From the idea a rough story line was born. A fan and reader of J.R. Tolkien books, Lee says, "I wanted to create my own little fantasy universe... it all just grew from there." Book One - HEROS and Book Two - Dark Dragon's Dawn followed and most recently, the third in the series - Ascension.
"Initially I thought I'd write just one, but when I was about half way through I had an idea for another story with the same characters... and then I came up with kind of a three stage plan..."
Essentially says Lee, the story line is based around three individuals, hence the title Trio.
"One guy is a lawyer, the other a cop and the other a kid off the street... one day they all cross paths... the youngest commits a crime, the cop catches him and then he ends up in the courtroom with the lawyer defending him. They all become tied together. A strange man shows up (claiming to be a wizard) as the three of them are conversing saying 'you three need to come with me to a world of magic'."
Ultimately the trio opts to take the journey and that's where it all begins says Lee.
It's a tale that Lee says that the majority of ages will enjoy although his recommendation is for ages 14 and up.
"Lord of the Rings is very intense, very detailed, sometimes you have to read it several time over to understand what Tolkien is saying I try to make mine a little easier to understand so that someone who may not read fantasy would pick it up and enjoy it."
Book Three wraps up the tale of intrigue, but the author says he hasn't closed the door on a fourth novel.
"Book Three ends with a very satisfactory ending to the point the story is done... but... with fantasy, there's always a door open where it could continue. I do have ideas for more stories... I still have a lot I could tell story wise with these characters."
All three novels have been professionally published by Authorhouse and Lee says they are available at all major book outlets.
"My friends were all bugging me to get published way back when I never really thought about it... it was in 2006 when I first looked at it... I found several companies in the states that I just sent off queries to and the one replied back, they were interested. And then it all just kind of fell into place very quickly."
While Lee admits an author always wants to see more sales, he says things having been going very well. "I'm not ready to retire on it but this is something I enjoy doing." The sales have been good he adds but he says the best part has been connecting with people and getting positive feedback.
"There's a lady in California who sent me an email she came across Trio Book One had read it and loved it and just emailed to let me know. I have no idea how she got ahold of the book or how she came across it but she read it and loved it... it was a good feeling."
The internet opens up multiple doors when it comes to getting a name out there. "It's incredible. These days everybody's on the internet," says Lee. "There are a lot of doors you can open that way."
Aside from his Trio series Lee keeps busy with a full time job and other writing as well.
"It's a little difficult at times," he says. "Usually on my days off I sit down and do some writing... if it's something you want to do, you find time to do it."
Lee has also partnered with local author Calvin Daniels on a number of projects and all because of a love for the art.
It "would be fantastic" he says if writing could be all that he did career wise - "I have lots of ideas in my head and I like to put them down on paper." For now he'll keep writing when he can giving his fans what they enjoy. Stay tuned for more from Kevin Lee.
To purchase Trio Book Three or any other novel from the series, visit: kev inleeauthor.ca for details. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Chapters, Indigo all also carry the books. Fans who wish to have a copy autographed can do so by contacting Lee through his website (mentioned above).
In closing Lee says a big thank you to local artist Ryan Crouse who did the impressive map work in Books Two and Three and also to cover designer Joewie Aderes.
