Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a best selling author of heroic fantasy novels. My debut novel, Ogrino, The Ancient Legacy, was a Barnes & Noble bestseller in the US in 2012. The French edition was traditionally published by Edilivre.
Although I’ve always considered myself a storyteller, I decided to pursue a writing career only a few years ago when a story I wrote for my two sons achieved recognition outside my family and close friends.
I’m an avid reader of Heroic Fantasy, who is happy to share my passion and vivid imagination with children and grown-ups, alike. My mission as a writer is tonurture kids’ creativity and inspire them to embrace high-aspirations, tolerance, compassion, responsibility, solidarity, and justice. Maybe it has to do with my double cultural heriage-French and Italian, which gave a broader life perspective.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Ogrino, The Ancient Legacy is a heroic fantasy novel about courage,
tolerance, the power of friendship and kindness. An epic adventure that takes the reader through marvelous worlds populated initiatory tale promoting responsibility, solidarity and action for common good.
Hunted by the Military Order of Legiferius, which seeks to eliminate all magical creatures, a young Ogre named Ogrino has lost his parents and his memory. He is adopted by the circus people and comes to live as a human boy. Discovered again by the Order, he escapes with help from the Pixie Razenbruck.
Ogrino fights off a thousand dangers to spread the news of the Orders threat to the peoples of the Legendary World, including Delphoros, the king of seas, Precelestine, monarch of the underground, and Themistomene, sovereign of the forests.
Ogrino wakes the dragon Metanor and even meets Felicia Regina, Queen of the Elves, who reveals to him his destiny. But will all this be enough to protect the Gigantum, the tree-father of all life, and preserve the Great Balance from the evil schemes of the Orders leader, the Magnus Legifer? You’ll find the answer in th book.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Most of the time, I am writing during commuting or traveling. Trains, airplanes, they all work for me.
To be a writer means to be alone for a long time to allow the creative process to unfold. I don’t like that, and prefer to be in the middle of a crowd.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
J.R.R. Tolkien for the universe he creates
J.K. Rowling for her fertile imagination and the density of her characters
P. Pullman for the originality of its themes and the key role of “animals” in the story
D. Gemmel for the story structure and narrative quality
Many others inspired me as well : J. Stroud, T. Pratchett, J. Heliot
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on the completion of second novel in Ogrino series, “Ogrino, South of Nowhere” due to be published in 2019.
I am also drafting the third novel in the series, “Ogrino, Under the Aegis of Abyss,” to be published in 2021, and the fourh one, “Ogrino, Légiferius Genesis,” to be published in 2023.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Communication of news and events through Ogrino’s FB page on to rach a wide audience. More and more book signings to meet fans and keep the excitement alive. Using promo websites to advertise sales campaigns.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
You should check Paula Brackston for her magic spirit, Brandon Sanderson for his psychological approach and Gigi McCaffrey for her dragon world.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Remain open to the beauty of life. This has been told to me by a close friend. I put it in practice every day, and magic happens !
What are you reading now?
“Lontano” a whodunit novel by Jean-Christophe Grangé
What’s next for you as a writer?
Completing the next books in the series as mentioned before. I am also working with a digital start-up to create my avatar to be used for the promotion of my books in video teasers.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Lord of Rings from J.R.R. Tolkien
Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban from J.K. Rowling
Northern Lights from P. Pullman
Author Websites and Profiles
J.P. Jentile Amazon Profile
J.P. Jentile’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account