Guest Post, Excerpt & Giveaway ~ DOORWAY TO SCORN by Dimitrius Jones

Doorway to Scorn (Austyria, #1)
by: Dimitrius Jones
Series: Austyria
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: May 18, 2020
Amazon | Goodreads

Many in the world of Austyria dream of becoming heroes, gaining classes like Mage, Knight, and Beastmaster. With the power granted to them by the powerful Alrelics, they can level up and accomplish extraordinary feats.

The citizens of Hollo village long for a hero to save them from the malevolent Gate, which disfigures all who see or try to enter it. Lex dreams of becoming a Soldier and leaving his cursed village with his friends, Bibi and Ariel, but his class designation ceremony devolves into absolute disaster. Within days, he’s forced to embark on a journey that will change his destiny forever.

To save his friends, Lex must uncover the mysteries of this mysterious doorway, while keeping his scornful heart in check before it consumes him utterly.

Thank you for having me on today! One of the characters in my novella, Doorway to Scorn, tends to say and do things he later regrets, which usually leads him into trouble. We were all seventeen once, right?

So, it got me thinking. If I could give my teenage self helpful advice, what would it be? Let’s find out.

You Deserve Better Friends

Toxic friendships are the worst, especially in high school. You don’t always make lifelong friendships at that age anyway. It’s okay to ditch the negativity and prioritize self-care.

Learn When to Choose Yourself

You’re a people-pleaser, Dimitrius. You want to make people happy so you can keep your seat at the lunch table. I want you to look up this word when you get home from band practice: co-dependency. I’m sure it won’t take long for you to figure out some of the definitions apply.

It’s okay to stand alone sometimes, especially for your own well-being. Face your fears just like your hero, Sailor Moon, does.

Rumors Don’t Have to Mean Anything to You

Rumors are terrifying right now, aren’t they? A lie can define you for the rest of your life. At least, that’s what every teen drama portrays.

Except, life doesn’t always work that way. It’s important to have a good reputation, but it’s also important to be self-assured and love yourself. I know that’s hard right now, but it’s possible. You’re going to write a book about it one day, you know.

It’s Okay to Laugh at Yourself

Growing up gay and being the constant butt of jokes leaves you with a deep complex. By high school, you’ve grown tired of not being taken seriously, so you’ve developed the bad habit of taking yourself too seriously.

Stop doing that. Surround yourself with people who challenge you while still being nurturing and supportive. They’re out there.

Learn What Your Boundaries Are

Where do you draw the line? Figure out what your limits are as soon as you can. Set expectations and express them. People can’t read your mind, and you can’t read theirs. You need to learn how to say what you’re feeling, even if you feel like you’re wrong.

Revenge is for Movies & Soap Operas

Want to get back at those bullies who teased you? Guess what? You don’t have to. Life is going to do a better job than you in the long run. Plus, revenge is tiresome, and you like naps. Sleep is more important anyway.

You’re Kind of a Drama Queen, But You’re Still Lovable

You can thank the teen dramas, anime, and melodramatic JRPG’s you spend most of your time interacting with. You’re now well-versed on theatrics.

Sometimes, you overreact to things, and yes you should probably reel it in a little. Still, you’re worthy of love and respect just like anyone else.

Learn the Word “Nuance”

People aren’t as black and white as the TV shows you watch. We’re all complicated and multi-faceted. Even the person you dislike the most has a paradigm that colors who they are. You’ll understand why as you get older and as you keep writing.

Keep writing.

Stop Waiting for People to Understand

You’re a gay, black teenager who lives in west Texas during the Bush administration. Absolutely, there are very few people who will relate to what you deal with. However, you don’t have to wait for someone to “get it” in order to process your own existence.

You deserve to exist.

You’re Not Alone

When you graduate high school, you’re going to learn that half of your peers have some sort of queer identity they were hiding. You’re also going to learn that you played a vital role in encouraging them to accept who they are by accepting yourself.

You once believed you were the only boy on earth who didn’t like sports. Just wait until you leave that town, my love.

Oedorius notices the commotion and stalks towards us, the other guards following closely behind him. Soon, he reaches us, and Ariel’s soft whimpers have become loud, wailing sobs. Oedorius calmly stops and stares down at her, and I’m certain I see a glint of amusement in his eyes.

“You are Ariel Branderford?” he asks.

“You’re not taking her.”

I blink, and Lex is between Ariel and Oedorius, his arms spread out to bar his approach. I position myself in front of Ariel, still crouched on the floor, and Oedorius sighs before sheathing his sword. He considers us for a moment before glancing back at one of the guards.

“Kent. Be quick.”

“Those who would defy the hands of time, be hidden from its eternal grasp. Hold!”

My body shivers as I leap to my feet. No! Not that spell! I race towards its source, hoping I can at least knock the spellcaster off balance so it won’t have a chance to be fully cast. As I near Oedorius, time begins to slow, and it feels like I’m trying to run underwater. I frantically try to shake myself in order to move faster, but it’s too late.

I become frozen in mid-air, everything around me moving as it should. Lex stands beside me still as stone, his hand stretched out as if to block the spell from hitting him. Maybe he meant to say something, but neither of us can say anything now.

Oedorius bends down and shakes Ariel’s shoulder. “Get up, girl. You’ve caused more than enough trouble. You will come with us, or we will kill you now.”

Purchase Doorway to Scorn from:

Amazon | Goodreads

The book will be $0.99 during the tour.

Dimitrius Jones was born and raised in West Texas, much to his eternal annoyance. Despite this, he first picked up the pen at the tender age of six. His first masterpiece was a page-turner was about dolphins that used eye lasers to kill a hurricane. From there, his life took a few twists and turns, but he always found his way back to his trusty notepad.

His next few projects include a self-help book for those who suffer from low self-esteem as well as a full-length fantasy/romance novel to be released sometime in the future. Dimitrius has always, perhaps unsurprisingly, been inspired by the mystery, tragedy, and wonder of fairy tales.

His goal in life is to constantly inspire, amuse, and shed light into the corners of life we didn't know were right in front of us.

Places to find Dimitrius Jones:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Amazon Author Page

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