Somewhere between the ticking of a clock and the pull of the stars, fate is quietly rewriting itself.
In Keepers of Time, the first in the Keepers of Time Trilogy, science and magic collide in the lives of five unforgettable characters, each holding a piece of a quest that spans past and future.
Want to meet them? Let’s dive in.
Magic, Mystery, and a Man Bun: Introducing the Characters of Keepers of Time
Joan Sanders
Joan is a 27-year-old grad student at MIT, and the main protagonist of the Keepers of Time trilogy. She’s smart, driven, hard-working, and dead set on understanding the universe.
When her past and future collide, she realizes that the scientific laws she cherishes are only the beginning. She never thought that someday, she’d have to learn to believe in magic.
She’s also nosy, outspoken, a bit sarcastic, and has a soft spot for Earl Grey and a good pastry, and she loves to play piano.
I wanted to write a character who’s very different from me, and also different from Nolin, the protagonist of my first book, The Goblin’s Daughter. So…I ended up with a blonde astrophysics student who’s not afraid to speak up.
It was fun to figure out how a scientist sees the world, because I think like an artist and a storyteller. What I see and what Joan sees are two very different things.
For help with this, I interviewed my brother, who has a physics degree, and my sister, who studied bioveterinary science. I asked questions like “What do you think about when you see boats floating on a river?” and “What questions do you have about the world?”
I love the scene when Joan and Gabby are in the coffee shop, talking about lattes. [where Gabby thinks of clouds and Joan thinks of surface tension]
Thiago Cardoza
Thiago is another POV character, and the other half of a mild enemies-to-lovers romance with Joan.
At 30 years old, he owns and operates the Clockwork Cafe with his two sisters, Gabby and Luna. An orphan since he was ten years old, he’s fiercely protective of his younger sisters and the family secret that led to his parents’ murder.
While he’s gruff and grumpy, on the outside, he pours his soul into his amazing pastries. He’s a bit of a stubborn butthead, but he has the soul of an artist and he’ll do anything to help the people he loves.
He also rocks the man bun, if you’re into that (which I am).
Gabby Cardoza
At 21 years old, Gabby is the third POV character and youngest of the Cardoza siblings. She’s dreamy, artistic, a caretaker to her sister, and a giant pain in her older brother Thiago’s butt.
Gabby also knows more than she’s letting on. Despite Thiago’s attempts to shield his sisters from his family’s past, Gabby delves deep into the mysteries of their parents’ line, and the power she’s inherited. The knowledge she’s gathered in secret may prove an asset, or a huge liability.
I am, apparently, incapable of writing a novel that doesn’t feature an artist. When she’s not working in the cafe, caring for her sister, digging into her family’s past, or annoying Thiago, Gabby loves to collage, often with scraps she finds in antique stores.
Luna Cardoza
26 years old, Luna is the middle Cardoza sibling. She’s sweet-natured, observant, totally mute, and nearly incapacitated by the strength of her power. What’s going on in her mind? How much does she actually know? There’s no way to tell.
Gabby and Thiago spend a lot of their time and energy caring for Luna, and covering up her strange behavior, which becomes an even bigger challenge when Joan suddenly joins their circle.
We get a few peeks inside Luna’s head through a couple abstract POV chapters, but for the most part, she’s a mystery.
And the fate of time itself may hinge on Luna’s ability to keep—or share—a horrible secret.
Arial
Arial, the final POV character and main villain in Keepers of Time, is ancient, brokenhearted, and lurking on the fringes of the Cardoza’s lives.
Left with only the dregs of his original power, he must seize the chance to relieve his misery, or live forever with guilt and loneliness.
Arial is one of the most divisive characters I’ve ever written. It seems like people either love him or hate him. HOnestly, I”m not sure where I fall on that spectrum, but I’ll tell you this: he’s one of the most interesting characters I’ve ever written, and I loved exploring him.
Bonus character: Gulliver
Of course, I have to mention the cat. A playful, affectionate long-haired gray tabby, Gulliver doesn’t play a huge role in the story. But he’s always there, lingering and providing quiet companionship in the text like a cat sleeping in your windowsill. Because even in the midst of unraveling time itself, a furry little companion is essential.
To meet baby Gulliver, make sure to check out my spoiler-free short story, “Hands of the Future”!
The Journey Begins
I loved exploring a cast of such different characters with totally different (and sometimes conflicting) goals and personalities. I hope you love getting to know them as much as I did! Check out Keepers of Time to follow these characters on their journey to fulfill their destinies and save time itself!
Want to get to know these characters even more? Check out my spoiler-free short story, “Hands of the Future“, to learn how the Cardozas acquired the cafe, and started down the path that would lead them to Joan, and eventually, their destinies.