Growing up my family had a huge collection of Disney Home Movies and for me, 'Aladdin' was my favourite. I loved the thought of finding a magical lamp and instantly being able to wish your dreams true. Plus, I loved the character of the genie and how Aladdin almost didn't set the genie free, but showed his true good nature in the end and the genie gained his freedom.
Most version's of the Thousand and One Nights story of Aladdin end in the same way, the genie being set free. When I first devised my Young Adult Fantasy novel 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp', it made me think about what could have happened to the genie after he was set free?
My brainstorming came to the idea that if the genie in Aladdin was set free, then essentially he would also become a mortal. This means that the genie could also marry and have children. However, the genie that came from Aladdin's Lamp would never lose his wish granting powers and when the genie died (Because the genie is mortal) they would pass the power to grant wishes onto his first born child.
Hence, we come to the modern day, where my main protagonist, Jasmine Evans, discovers she has the ability to grant wishes. The story is a magical adventure where Jasmine uncovers her family tree and learns that she is descended from Aladdin's genie.
This is where the lamp comes in. An ancient society, known as the Antediluvian Order, has possession of the lamp and they send Vishka, an ex-Russian KGB operative to capture Jasmine and imprison her in the lamp.
Disney's version of Aladdin is the most well-known and the naming of my main character, Jasmine, is in no relation to Disney's character, Princess Jasmine. In fact, the Princesses name in the original version of Aladdin is, Badroulbadour. Princess Badroulbadour appears in my novel when Jasmine travels back in time with an inter-dimensional spider, called Hoonhay. The name of Jasmine actually two students in a class that I was teaching when I first began writing the book. In fact, most of the names in the book are actually named after people I have taught. I find it an easy way to name characters.
I also have two genies that appear in 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp'. Jasmine is the first and the second is an old, eccentric genie called Eduillian or simply 'Ed' for short. Ed is still imprisoned by a ruby ring that Vishka wears and he is called upon to help Vishka instantly travel from place to place. This is the limit of Ed's powers and he cannot grant any other wishes, besides travel.
This first book in a planned trilogy is set in the Australian town of Albany. A place that I have visited many times. It was the perfect setting and has many natural landmarks that feature in the book. It culminates in an epic battle where Jasmine and her new friends must decide who is the Master of the Lamp.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
If you're interested in reading 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp' it is available on kindle for only 99c. If you leave a review and send me an e-mail to let me know, I'll give you the sequel 'Jasmine Evans and the 40 Thieves' due out in April for free.
Here is the link;
http://goo.gl/d7lcch
Alex C. McDonald is the author of the urban fantasy novel, 'Jasmine Evans and the Master of the Lamp'.
alexmcdauthor@gmail.com
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