Category: Special Guests

Aerisian Refrain: Inside Peak!

Let’s welcome fantasy author Sarah Ashwood to Jilligan’s Island. Her newest book Aerisian Refrain just released — the Facebook party is on Thursday! Stop by to play fun games and win bookish prizes! Welcome, Sarah!

Hi,

When Jill kindly offered me a spot on her blog to chat about my new book, Aerisian Refrain, I struggled with what to say. Of course, I could try to tell you the plot without giving away spoilers. (Unless you happen to be like me and actually like spoilers.) A friend suggested I highlight what’s unique about this book, so let me go there.

To begin with, my MC, Annie Richards, is from Oklahoma and is part Cherokee. I’m a lifelong Okie myself, and grew up in the part of the state where the Cherokee nation has its capital. When I realized Annie was going to be from Oklahoma and was part Cherokee, I knew I had to delve into Cherokee culture and heritage and weave elements of that into my story. It was hard to narrow down all the figures I came across, but I finally settled on three that absolutely fascinated me. The first was a Kâ’lanû Ahkyeli’skï: a Raven Mocker. This creature is scary. I read up on stories about Raven Mockers that had me looking over my shoulder at night. (I get spooked easily.) Check out this moment from Aerisian Refrain when Annie first encounters the Kâ’lanû Ahkyeli’skï :

The raven-like cry of a Kâ’lanû Ahkyeli’skï, which is where the Raven Mocker earns its name, means someone is going to die—much like banshees in Irish folklore. Often, they appear when a person is dying to steal and consume the liver or the heart. Sometimes they torture and kill their victim by cutting open the head, then eating the heart. A year is added to their life for every year their victim would have lived, making a Raven Mocker almost immortal, and accounting for their appearance as an old, wizened man or woman when in human form. They can fly through the air in fiery bird shape, trailing sparks while in the sky. They are usually invisible, except to the most powerful of magic workers. Only a medicine man or woman of much training and strength can stand against them, which meant I was in serious danger.

The other two characters I chose to feature are a little more benevolent. One group was the Thunderers, who the Cherokee believe are storm spirits that live in the sky. The other was a Stoneclad, or rock giant. I loved the Stoneclad. He almost made me think of a Marvel character. There weren’t tons of descriptions of Stoneclads, but most of my research indicated they’re giants that wear a suit of armor fashioned from stone. Like the Thunderers, they aren’t feared—certainly not like the Raven Mockers. In fact, there are stories of them coming to the aid of the Cherokee. As Annie explains in Aerisian Refrain when she’s discussing her people’s folklore,

“I remember Grandma telling me about the Stoneclads: rock giants, and the Aniyvdaqualosgi or Ani-Yuntikwalaski. Those are the Thunderers, or powerful storm spirits. If they took a shape, it was usually human, and they were okay with people. I guess it’s no wonder we’d have legends about great storm spirits, living in Tornado Alley.”

At this point in the book, Annie has no idea she’s going to actually encounter rock giants or storm spirits, and she’s in a for a big surprise when she does!

So there you go—a little peek into what I feel makes my book baby unique. I hope you’ll check out Aerisian Refrain. If you do, I hope you enjoy it! I had so much fun researching the stories of the Cherokee and weaving just a few elements from their rich traditions into this novel. If you’d like to research any of this further, some of my favorite sources were http://www.native-languages.org/ , www.cherokeeregistry.com , www.firstpeople.us , and http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/index.htm.

Thanks for reading this post and giving me a little of your time. Have a great day!

____________________________________________________________________

Thanks, Sarah! Here’s a little more about the book and the author.

On Earth, Annie’s voice brought her fame and fortune. In Aerisia, her voice brings her magic, but the cost of that power might mean the destruction of Aerisia itself.

Following the prophesied Artan’s victory over the Dark Powers, the land of Aerisia is finally at rest, until ancient beings, long imprisoned, begin to stir…

Eight years after Annie Richards’ stellar voice and musical talents skyrocketed her from rural Oklahoma to international fame, haunting visions have begun threatening her sanity. While she’s returning to her childhood home to convalesce, creatures straight from her nightmares bring down her plane. Annie wakens in a parallel world, Aerisia. Here, she discovers her musical gifts translate into magical powers—the legacy of a banished race who have been invading her dreams.

Mistrusted by Aerisia’s most powerful factions because of her heritage, Annie finds allies are hard to come by. Supporting her are one Simathe warrior, Cole, who refuses to label her as evil, and one woman willing to stand against anything and anyone to help a friend: the Artan herself. Seizing control of her destiny will mean defying both her ancestors and the Aerisian leaders. Mastering her magic may mean making the greatest sacrifice of all…or risk becoming the reason Aerisia itself is torn apart.

Find Aerisian Refrain on Amazon and Goodreads.

Don’t believe all the hype. Sarah Ashwood isn’t really a gladiator, a Highlander, a fencer, a skilled horsewoman, an archer, a magic wielder, or a martial arts expert. That’s only in her mind. In real life, she’s a genuine Okie from Muskogee who grew up in the wooded hills outside the oldest town in Oklahoma and holds a B.A. in English from American Military University. She now lives (mostly) quietly at home with her husband and three sons, where she tries to sneak in a daily run or workout to save her sanity and keep her mind fresh for her next story.

Sarah’s works include the Sunset Lands Beyond trilogy and the fantasy novella Amana. To keep up to date with Sarah’s work and new releases, sign up for her newsletter. You can also visit her website, or find her on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

All That We See or Seem with Kristina Mahr

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Thanks for stopping by Jilligan’s Island! Today, I’ve got author Kristina Mahr with me so we can talk about her amazing book All That We See or Seem. Here’s the back cover blurb:

Every night, seventeen-year-old Reeve Lennox finds herself under a noose.
By day she is a lady of Acarsaid’s royal house, daydreaming of adventure and love. But every night in sleep she wanders through a nightmarish city, an invisible witness to the screeches of monsters and the screams of their victims. Her only consolation is Bran, a battle-torn young man with a selfless heart and eyes that reflect the stars. Yet while Reeve falls deeper into her dreams, in truth she is engaged to Arden, a mercurial nobleman who has long been cured of his belief in love and breathes fire and flattery like other people breathe air.
Torn between two lives, Reeve struggles to remember what’s real. Until night and day collide, with a revelation that threatens all of Acarsaid.

People, I’ve read it, and I cannot wait until the sequel comes out! Eeep — so good! Anyway, Kristina agreed to stop by and answer some questions about herself and the book. So let’s delve right into it!

JM: Hi, Kristina! I have to say, I loved All That We See or Seem.  Where did you get the idea for this book?

KM: My sister has very vivid dreams, and I remember one day in February 2014, standing in her kitchen with her while she told me about a dream she had about a girl who falls in love with a boy she meets in her dreams. Super meta. Something about it really embedded itself in my brain, and I spent a lot of time thinking about it. Wondering who the girl was, who the boy was. Why she dreamt this place. What her real life was like. What hope there was for the two of them. Eventually, the pieces all came together to form a story. This story!

JM: That’s fantastic! My dreams are always so boring (like shopping at Walmart!) What do you feel is the theme for this book?

KM: I believe the theme for this book is hope. Reeve is so filled to the brim with it, this unrelenting feeling that things will work out. Somehow. Some way. She is determined to have the life she envisions for herself.

JM: What made you choose the theme of hope?

KM: Honestly, I chose it because it’s how I operate, too. That’s the way in which I’d say Reeve and I are most similar. I love the idea of changing my stars. Of not being trapped. Of having some say in my own future. No matter how things may be at any given moment, I think having hope is the key.

JM: Speaking of Reeve, give us some insight into her. Is she your favorite character? Why or why not?

KM: I love Reeve. Reeve’s my girl. She’s so kind-hearted and emotion-driven, and she rarely has anything but the best intentions. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t make mistakes, but she truly does mean well. She is so optimistic and hopeful, even when the circumstances should not lend her to feeling that way. Sometimes she’s a little dramatic and a little too idealistic, but it’s hard to blame her, given her age, her life, and her circumstances.

JM: Yes, she does lead a very privileged life. So, what made you choose this setting?

KM: When my sister first told me about her dream, we turned over story ideas that involved a contemporary setting, but it didn’t quite click. When I envisioned Reeve in her nightmare world, I always saw her in a nightgown. And when I thought about what it would be like for her to be abruptly visible there, the impropriety of wearing a nightgown out and about instantly popped into my mind. So those two facts told me this story needed to be set in the past a ways, in a time where this really would be pretty scandalous. I built Acarsaid as a fictional island nation because I wanted it to be isolated, small and independent, to reflect Reeve’s isolation, how small her world really is. Her nightmare world is the only other place she gets to go, so even though it’s awful there, there’s a certain freedom to it.

JM: You did a fantastic job building the nightmare world, even though I was often holding my breath while reading those scenes. 🙂 What was your favorite scene (either to write or for another reason)?

KM: Chapter 32 is my favorite chapter of the book, hands down. I don’t want to spoil anything, but… it’s a big one! I heard a song called “Kaleidoscope” by A Great Big World, and the scene just came to me, fully formed. It spilled from my fingertips in that convenient way that I wish would happen more often! I hope readers feel the magic in it, because to me, it is a purely magical scene.

JM: Kaleidoscope is perfect for that scene (and it’s a great song, too!) What about the title? Did you ever consider any other titles for this manuscript or was this your first choice?

KM: This was my working title while I wrote the book and far and away my first choice. I am so glad the publisher agreed to it! The poem “A Dream Within a Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe was a big inspiration for this story, and having that iconic line for my title is a dream come true. (Pun intended.)

JM: Let’s shift gears and find out a little bit about you. Are you a full-time author or do you balance writing with another job?

KM: I am a full-time accountant, so my day job is pretty much all numbers, all the time. Which is why it’s really nice to get to come home and focus on words, instead. I love numbers for their certainty and rigidity, and I love writing for the very opposite reason: the fluidity, the freedom. It’s nice to get to balance the two sides of my brain.

JM: Most people are either left or right-brained. It sounds like you have a healthy balance of both! You mentioned coming home to write. What does your writing space look like?

KM: I have a lovely loft in my house with great lighting, a massive bookcase, and my desk, but… I don’t write there. Well, I’ve written there once or twice. But for the most part, I write camped out on my couch, surrounded by my pets. I have a lap desk for my laptop, and I just kind of lounge on my couch and type away. In my happiest place, I have a soccer game muted on the TV while I work. Something I can glance up at that won’t pull me out of the story.

JM: That sounds relaxing? Does writing energize you or exhaust you?

KM: Honestly, both! It depends on the scene. Writing banter and lighthearted scenes is typically energizing, while writing heavier stuff really weighs on me. Still, the simple act of having written, of looking upon progress made, is so energizing. I’m obsessed with word count and hitting word count goals, and doing so fires me up.

JM: I totally agree with setting word count goals! What’s your favorite part of writing?

KM: I love words. Excessively. I love finding the precise phrasing or metaphor or lyrical tone to a sentence. I write short-form prose (I’m so reluctant to call it poetry, because I so don’t consider myself a poet!) as writing exercises to explore words and metaphors to my heart’s content. I just love how words can be arranged and rearranged in so many different ways, to pull so many different meanings and emotions. The very best moment is when I write a sentence that evokes the exact right feeling.

JM: What about your reading list? What are you reading now?

KM: I am currently beta reading my writing partner Jenna’s manuscript! I met Jenna two years ago at a writing retreat, and I’ve been dying to read this book ever since. Jenna was one of my beta readers for All That We See or Seem, so it’s an honor to get to beta read for her, as well.

JM: Before you leave, one last question. Aside from “keep writing,” what’s your best advice for aspiring writers?

KM: I cannot recommend writing workshops enough. I went to the Aspiring Writers Workshop hosted by Madcap Retreats in 2016, and it had a massive impact on me as a writer and my determination to someday be published. I learned so much from so many inspiring authors (including Maggie Stiefvater, Victoria Schwab, Dhonielle Clayton, Tessa Gratton, and so many more.) I also met so many fellow writers, who have formed a wonderful writing support system.

JM: That’s great advice! Thanks so much, Kristina!

Don’t forget to connect with Kristina on her social media links (listed below).

Biography:

Kristina Mahr devotes her days to numbers and her nights to words. She works full-time as an accountant in the suburbs of Chicago, where she lives with her two dogs and two cats, but her true passion is writing. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and waking up at the crack of dawn every weekend to watch the Premier League.

Website: https://kristinamahr.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17847708.Kristina_Mahr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristinaMahr

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kristina_Mahr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristina.mahr/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kristinamahr07/

If you have to have ALL THAT WE SEE OR SEEM now (And why wouldn’t you?), here are the buy links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/That-Seem-Dreamworld-Duology-Book-ebook/dp/B07BJH8L7J/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-that-we-see-or-seem-kristina-mahr/1128233212

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/all-that-we-see-or-seem-2

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1360731363

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39341536-all-that-we-see-or-seem

After with author Savannah Jezowski

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Today on Jilligan’s Island, I’m interviewing Savannah Jezowski as part of her blog tour for her new release,  After. We have a lot to cover today, so let’s find out more about Savannah and her books!

JM: Hi, Savannah! Thanks for stopping by. I love the cover of After. Where did you get the idea for the story?

SJ: The initial concept for After was inspired one evening when my husband and I were wandering the book aisle at Meijer. As we idly perused the rows of brightly colored books, it was obvious the world had become sucked into a zombie phase: every single cover seemed to scream “the dead live on.”

I looked at my husband and asked, “If zombies were real, how do you think God would see them? What would they really be like?”

Thus, the creepers were born and the story kind of took off from there.

JM: I love stories that start with “What if….?” From the cover, it’s obvious this isn’t a contemporary zombie story. What made you select this setting?

SJ: I wanted something dark and brooding yet with potential for beauty and light. I also LOVE watching period dramas from BBC and the like, and it just seemed natural to create a society reminiscent of Dickens or Victorian times.

JM: The book cover really conveys that theme. Who designed the it? How did the cover come about?

SJ: I actually designed this cover myself. I had commissioned a cover years ago, but for some discouraging reasons I won’t get into, I wasn’t able to use the original cover and had to come up with a new one. I found some stock photos of old looking cities and snapped a few photographs of my husband to play the main character in the story (yes…my husband is on the front cover of my book. LOL) and the cover kind of came together. I wanted something a little broody and old-looking but not overtly fantasy with lots of sparkles and whatnot. This story isn’t a sparkly fairy tale. It’s a gripping story of a dark world and real characters.

JM: I love your husband was your model! You mentioned the old cover you couldn’t use. What about the book itself? What did you edit out of this book?

SJ: Merciful After…What DIDN’T I edit out of this book? 😊 Truly, this story has gone through so many rewrites to get where it is today. With the help of my beta readers and amazing editors, After went from a Cinderella novella about a chimney sweep who falls in love with a feisty princess, to a Rapunzel story, to a full-length novel with hints of several fairy tales but no real retelling of its own. Most of the other books in the series are/will be more obvious fairy tale retellings, but After? Well, After became it’s own story. I kind of like it that way. The one thing that never changed from the first draft to the end draft was my main character, Conrad Ellis the Third, or “Eli” as his friends call him. He softened up a bit along the way but he remained his gruff, grumpy, but secretly sensitive self the whole way through.

JM: I’ve noticed this isn’t your first book. So have you always liked to write? When did you start writing?

SJ: I started writing stories before I even knew what a paragraph was. My first book was bound with yarn and illustrated with crayons. I still have it buried in a box where nobody will ever find it. I hope.

JM: Oh, that’s adorable!  So many well-known authors start out young. Who is your favorite author?

SJ: I hate this question because I can never pick just one author. The answer changes depending on my mood and what books I’ve read most recently. Today I am going to say Dianna Wynne Jones. Her Howl’s Moving Castle is one of my all-time favorite books. I seriously laugh myself silly through the whole book.

JM: I received that recommendation from my cousin and picked it up last year. I thought it was a really creative story! How long did you write before you became published?

SJ: I started writing when I was in elementary, and it wasn’t until I about four years ago that my first novella was published in the Five Enchanted Roses anthology. I’m thirty-three years old, so I will let you do the math. I had several short stories published before then, but nothing much ever came of them besides some change in my pocket.

JM: Speaking of change in your pocket, are you a full-time author or do you balance writing with another job?

SJ: I am a full-time author/editor/designer. I support and fund my writing career by helping other authors with their own books. I wish I had more time to devote to my own stories, but the sad truth is book royalties don’t pay the bills when you’re starting out. I’m just thankful I get to do what I love. Stay home with my little girl and spend my days thinking about BOOKS.

JM: I’m sure you value that time you can spend on your own stories. How long does it take you to write a book—from preliminary plotting to finishing revisions?

SJ: It varies from book to book. I wrote and revised When Ravens Fall over a course of six weeks. Then editing took me a little longer after that. That’s unusually fast for me. Wither took me six months, give or take, and After…ugh, we’re talking YEARS. But now I can usually crank out a 50k novella in 4-6 weeks weeks, with another month or two for revisions. I have several on my plate waiting to be edited and published.

JM: Wow, that’s impressive! I’m more of a turtle writer. It takes me a long time to finish. What does your writing space look like?

SJ: I have a beautiful office upstairs, with built-in book cases and the works, but I don’t get to use it much because the dogs make too much noise running up and down the stairs and wake the baby up. And I don’t dare write with the baby because I don’t pay attention, and I’m afraid she’ll fall down the stairs while I’m lost in my mind. So I usually write in my rocking chair with a lap table and a couple of folding tables nearby piled high with books, resources, notebooks, scraps of paper and who knows what else. It’s messy but it works.

JM: Oh my word, that sounds like my living room! LOL. Maybe someday we’ll graduate to our own “grown-up” offices, right? I’ve been wondering, do you have a playlist or favorite songs/composer you listen to while writing?

SJ: Oh, yes! I make a playlist for every book I write, and the same songs usually end up on the list (no matter how hard I try not to). I especially like Josh Groban, Christina Perri, Daughtry, Casting Crowns, and Broadway musical soundtracks.

JM: Those are such great choices. Well, Savannah, it sounds like you’re pretty busy! But do you do any other creative activities other than writing?

SJ: I do! I love design. I took design classes in college and finally get to use them for my cover design business. I love photoshopping pictures and playing around with fonts and special effects. I’m always watching tutorials to learn new tricks and techniques. I also got a drawing tablet for Christmas, but I haven’t really had a chance to learn how to use it yet.

JM: Hopefully, you’ll get some time soon to play around with it. So I have to ask — aside from “keep writing,” what’s your best advice for aspiring writers?

SJ: Get advice from other authors. I know. This can be painful. Constructive criticism is hard, but it’s SO VITAL to developing our craft and improving the quality of our writing. If you want to be a “real” author someday, talk to some of the authors you admire. Most of the ones in the Indie community are more than willing to help each other out.

JM: You’re right! There’s so much help to be found in the indie community. Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing!

Savannah Jezowski lives in a drafty farmhouse in Amish country with her Knight in Shining Armor, a wee warrior princess, and two English Springer Spaniels. She is the author of When Ravens Fall and The Neverway Chronicles. Her work has been published in Ray Gun Revival, Mindflights and in the student publication of Fountains at Pensacola Christian College. She is also a featured author in Five Enchanted Roses from Rooglewood Press and Mythical Doorways, a Fellowship of Fantasy Anthology. She likes books, faeries, writing hats, and having tea with her imaginary friends.

You can follow her on the following social media sites.

Website: https://dragonpenpress.com/

Blog: https://dragonpenpress.com/category/blog/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13434787.Savannah_Jezowski

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savannahjezowskiauthor/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savannahjezowskiauthor/

 

Book Spotlight: The Chronicle of the Three Trilogy

Today on Jilligan’s Island, we’re participating in the blog tour for Tabitha Caplinger’s The Chronicle of the Three Trilogy. We’ve got beautiful images, an awesome-sauce book blurb, and a fascinating author bio. So sit back, relax, and learn more about #TCO3!

The first book in this captivating series is Bloodline.

Zoe thought the loss of her parents would be the most difficult thing she’d ever have to endure. When she began seeing things she couldn’t explain in her new home of
Torchcreek, Virginia, she was sure the grief was driving her mad. Instead Zoe discovers she is part of an ancient bloodline, one destined to defeat the powers of darkness
from condemning the world. But Zoe, the daughter of the three, isn’t just another descendant, but the key to humanity’s salvation. In this first installment of the
paranormal fantasy trilogy The Chronicle of the Three, Zoe Andrews learns that not all shadows are harmless interceptions of light. Some are a more sinister darkness that wants to torment the soul.

Gah! So fascinating — I immediately went and added it to my Amazon wish list. Here is the link to this first book and the other two, Armor-Bearer and Eden Sword (which BTW, sound just as amazing!)

TCO3: Armor-Bearer: Darkness creeps around every corner as demons gather in the small town of Torch Creek, Virginia. The Destroyer has arrived, and the Reaping is coming closer by the day. Zoe knows it’s her duty as the Daughter of the Three to hold back the shadows, but she doesn’t know how, and time is running out. Zoe and her friends turn to the ancient text of the chronicle for help. Are they strong enough to withstand an enemy who exploits their deepest fears and doubts? Will they find the answers they’re looking for before all of Hell is unleashed? Zoe’s journey as the prophecy’s promised Daughter continues in this second installment of the fantasy trilogy, The Chronicle of the Three.

 

TCO3: Eden Sword: The final showdown is fast approaching, and a grief-stricken Zoe is forced to count the cost of her destiny. As the losses mount, her strength wanes. Even if the Chosen find the Eden Sword in time, will Zoe be strong enough to wield it? Will she be able to
stand against the darkness as the promised Daughter of the ancient prophecy? Or will she be consumed by the fear of her nightmares becoming real? Fear or faith? Even the Chosen must choose. In this final installment of The Chronicle of the Three, light and darkness collide as Zoe discovers there is more than one battlefield in this war.

Still not sure about Bloodline? Check out her book trailer here and then sign up for her newsletter here and you’ll get the first four chapters free!

Want to know a little more about the author? Well, Tabitha Caplinger is a wife, mom, youth pastor, and professed TV addict. It’s seriously a problem, but she doesn’t plan on getting help anytime soon. Mostly because she loves the stories. She can’t help but get lost in the worlds created and
invested in the lives of the characters. She brings that same passion for the story to her own writing. Aside from writing and watching TV, Tabitha can be found singing off-key and dancing in the kitchen or car with her two adorably sassy daughters and awesome husband who she thinks is kind of cute.

Contact Tabitha at

elevategirlsusa@gmail.com
tabithacaplinger.com

She can also be found on the following social media links:

T W I T T E R : @ T A B _ C A P L I N G E R
F A C E B O O K : / T A B C A P L I N G E R
I N S T A G R A M : @ T A B _ C A P L I N G E R
P I N T E R E S T : / T A B _ C A P L I N G E R

Last, but not least, if you want to learn more about The Chronicle of the Three Trilogy, Tabitha will be hosting #TCO3FlashFix on April 28th. Invite your friends and fellow readers for this 12-hour readathon of Bloodline and Armor-Bearer, complete with live videos, posts, and a $50 Amazon gift card giveaway! It will be from 10am to 10pm on her TCO3 Fan page. Don’t forget to mark your calendars!

Visual Post of Common

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Today, we welcome fellow author Laurie Lucking. Her debut novel, Common, releases on February 14! Make sure you pick it up –I’ve already read it (and endorsed it) and it’s phenomenal! Want to know more? Okay, here’s what the back cover says.

Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished.

Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.

And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.

But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.

Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.

Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?

Doesn’t that sound like such a great story?  Anyway, sit back and enjoy Laurie’s visual sneak peek into the world of Common!

 

 

Since my main character, Leah, is a chambermaid, most of her daily interactions are with fellow servants. But her brushes with royalty are when things really get interesting! Leah learns too late that heeding her ma’s warnings to steer clear of the royal family would’ve been the safer way to go, but her friendship with Prince Raphael is so worth it 🙂

 

Crown: The King and Queen of Imperia are proud of their royal status, and don’t want anyone to forget it! As long as they’re in charge, they plan to keep a distinct separation of rank between nobility and the serving class.

 

 

King Frederick: Old-fashioned and verbose, King Frederick is the eldest of a set of brothers known for their indifference toward servants. Although he’s the one who makes the speeches and royal pronouncements, much of the content is dictated by his wife.

 

 

Queen Beatrice: Cold, haughty Queen Beatrice likes to exert ultimate control over not only her servants, but also her husband and son. She prizes lineage and nobility above all else, so it frustrates her to no end that she can’t convince Prince Raphael to do the same.

 

 

Prince Raphael: Prince Raphael, or Rafe, detests formal banquets and parties and would much rather be outdoors than studying with his tutor. Although he doesn’t fully comprehend servant life, he treats Leah as an equal and hopes to better the condition of the serving class when he becomes king.

 

Princess Penelope: Princess Penelope of Trellich is beautiful and accomplished, everything King Frederick and Queen Beatrice are looking for in a match for their son. But there is more to the princess than meets the eye, and her secrets might prove disastrous for the entire kingdom.

 

 

Throne: The throne room is the perfect place for the king and queen to display their wealth and power. When Rafe suggests that Leah should meet with them there to disclose information about the princess, her hesitation turns out to be more than justified.

 

The royalty of Imperia and Trellich lead lives just as varied and complex as the lower classes, just with more pomp and circumstance and fancier clothes 🙂 In fact, one of these characters intrigued my publisher so much she asked me to consider making her the protagonist of my next book, and I think it just might happen…stay tuned!

Thank you so much for inviting me to visit today!

Thanks so much, Laurie, for giving us this visual tour! Mark your calendars because Common goes on sale February 14th. Stop by the Facebook party on Thursday, February 15th, and check out the other blog tour stops listed below to learn more about this romantic tale.

 

The Inspiration Behind Disowned: A guest blog post by Sarah Addison-Fox

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Today, I’m pleased to welcome author Sarah Addison-Fox to Jilligan’s Island. Sarah has recently released her book, Disowned, and I thought everyone would like to know the inspiration behind it.

Read on to find out!

What Inspired the Story?

Yikes! Answering this question is really hard! Because I’m a ‘Panster’ and I really create what I write on the fly, Disowned really just sort of happened. I kid you not. I had an opening scene, two names, and a question I wanted to answer….

 

What would happen if a slave girl tossed away was shown a different life?

 

As soon as I asked this question, Celeste’s journey began with her introduction to a family willing to hide her even though harboring a slave would bring them trouble.

I wanted to show the differences between the two countries both with very different religious structures, one country that values human life, and another which traps slaves in an inescapable system.

So, I guess if I had to pin my inspiration down to one thing, it would be wanting to write about Celeste’s struggle for freedom, emotionally, spiritually and physically. For me Celeste represents so many girls who have been tossed aside, stepped on or mistreated. Celeste’s story is only beginning in Disowned, like so many she is searching for her place, and desperately trying to find value and purpose to her life.

Over the course of the Allegiance series, there will many trials as Celeste battles to find the freedom found only in God’s love.

Want to know more about disowned?
Two countries, two choices, one life. When Kyraenean slave Celeste risks her life to reach the free nation of Etraea, a country filled with technology and wealth, she unknowingly sets off a chain of events that will change her life forever.
After escaping her new owner, Celeste awakens in the home of an Etraean soldier, sworn to protect the fragile peace. For Corporal Mick Haynes, life is simple. Follow the rules, do your job and work your way up the ranks. Getting shot and finding a wanted slave at his family’s farm wasn’t part of the plan.
When a Kyraenean bounty hunter locates Celeste, Mick’s loyalty will be stretched to the limit.
With war on the horizon, Celeste faces two impossible choices. Both securing her freedom, but both at a cost she could never have imagined. Will Etraea provide the freedom she’s longed for or shackle her to an entirely new master?
Sarah Addison-Fox is a New Zealand-born home-schooling mother of two who
loves action-packed, clean, fantasy with strong heroines. She has an astonishing
amount of nail polish, has all her creative writing credentials shoved in a drawer
somewhere, and has a husband who, after 27 years, can still make her blush.
When she’s not working on both her YA fantasy series’ she can be found
fangirling on Goodreads or sending GIFs on Twitter.

Sarah Addison’s Official Website: http://www.sarahaddisonfox.com/

Social Media Links:
Instagram: sarahaddisonfox/
Twitter: @Saddisonfox
To Read more about Disowned, check out the Full blog Tour schedule!

Jan 2nd: Book Review – Unicorn Quester – https://unicornquester.com/blog/
Jan 3rd: Post Written by Host Blogger – SKG Fun – http://www.southkakalakigirl.com/the-blog/
Jan 4th: Guest Post from Author, Sarah Addison Fox – Teens n Tiaras – https://teensntiaras.weebly.com/blog
Jan 5th: Book Review – Ashley Bogner – http://www.ashleybogner.com/
Jan 6th: Author Interview – Karyssa – http://gottahavecoffee.blogspot.com/
Jan 7th: Post Written by Host Blogger – Anna –http://www.cupofthoughts.blog/
Jan 8th: Book Review Abigail – http://novelsdragonsandwardrobedoors.blogspot.com/
Jan 9th: Post Written by Host Blogger – Abi- https://theleft-handedtypist.blogspot.com
Jan 10th: Giveaway – Annie – http://anniedouglasslima.blogspot.com
Jan 11th: Giveaway – Jaye – http://www.jayelknight.blogspot.com
Jan 12th: Book Review – Angel – www.purelyunorthodox.com
Jan 13th: Post Written by Host Blogger –  Anna – https://jumbledthoughtsofawriter.wordpress.com
Jan 14th: Book Review – Hannah – www.thedifferentgirl.com
Jan 15th: Interview – Kate –  https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com/  –
Jan 16th: Guest Post from Author – New Authors -https://newauthors.wordpress.com/
Jan 17th: Book Review – Audrey- http://audreycaylin.com/
Jan 18th: Book Review – Kellyn – https://reveriesreviews.wordpress.com/
Jan 19th: Guest Post from Author – Liv – http://livkfisher.blogspot.com/
Jan 20th: Author Interview – Medomfo –  https://writingsfromagodgirl.wordpress.com/
Jan 21st: Book Review – Victoria – https://rufflesandgrace.com/
Jan 22nd: Post Written by Host Blogger – Jebraun – https://jebraunclifford.com
Jan 23rd: Review – Chloe – https://purelybyfaithreviews.wordpress.com/
Jan 24th: Review – Kiara -kiarasbookends.wordpress.com
Jan 25th: Author Guest Post – J.M. Hackman – www.jmhackman.com
Jan 26th: Book Review – Lelia – http://www.leilatualla.com/leilasbookshelf
Jan 27th: Author Interview – Riley – rileyalinewrites.wordpress.com
Jan 28th: Review – Sarah – www.smylinggirl.blogspot.com
Jan 29th: Review – Shay –  www.elvenpadawan.com
Review – Jessi – https://theartfulauthor.wordpress.com/
Jan 30th: Guest Post from Author – Lands Uncharted- www.landsuncharted.com
Jan 31st: Spotlight Post – Raechel – https://godspeculiartreasurerae.wordpress.com/

Cover Reveal for Common by Laurie Lucking

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Happy Friday! It’s a great day, not only because it’s the start of a weekend (I always start relaxing on Friday afternoon), but also because my friend and fellow author Laurie Lucking just released her beautiful cover for Common!

I can’t even begin to tell you how great this story is — and unfortunately, you have to wait a couple months to get it. But we can revel in its gorgeous cover.

Which we will.

In a minute.

First, let me share with you the back cover copy:

One person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it — the servant girl they banished.

Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.

And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.

But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Unexpected feelings for Rafe surface just as his parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess. Then she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. Her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.

Harbored by a mysterious group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s to late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.

Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?

 

 

So exciting! Thank you for being patient. So without any further fuss, here’s the cover for Common!

Sara Helwe did the art for this, and it’s breathtaking.

Here’s a little about the about the author Laurie Lucking.

An avid reader since birth (her parents claim she often kept them up late begging to hear just one more story), Laurie Lucking discovered her passion for writing after leaving her career as an attorney to become a stay-at-home mom. She writes young adult fantasy with a strong thread of romance, and her debut novel, Common, releases in 2018 from Love2ReadLove2Write Publishing. Laurie is the secretary of her local ACFW chapter and a co-founder of www.landsuncharted.com, a blog for fans of clean young adult speculative fiction. A Midwestern girl through and through, she currently lives in Minnesota with her husband and two young sons. Find out more about Laurie and her writing by visiting www.laurielucking.com.

 

Interview with T.J. Akers, Author of The Final Paladin

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Welcome to Jilligan’s Island! Today we’re interviewing T.J. Akers, who stopped by on his blog tour  to talk about  The Final Paladin, which releases on November 14th. At the end of this interview, I’ll include the book blurb and some interesting information about T.J., as well as the Facebook party link. You’ll want to get your hands on this story. I started reading it last night and was immediately intrigued!

Hi, T.J.!  We’re so excited to find out more about your new release, The Final Paladin. So, let’s jump right into the questions! Why do you write fiction?

TJ: I love creating stories, always have. My son was eight and an avid reader, and he should be, because I read to him every day until he turned seven. Then I read with him. He was losing interest in reading, and it concerned me. He complained about not having anything fun to read, so I got active in helping him find things. I introduced him to audio books and started pointing him to the good stuff. Then for his eighth birthday, I wrote him a novel. Of course, I also got him some cool presents, too. That was when I rediscovered writing, story creation, and everything else that goes with it. So I write because I love it. I also write so my readers will have fun, and in doing so, learn to love reading. If a reader did not have fun reading any fiction I wrote, I’ve failed.

JI: The Final Paladin starts in late 19th century, New York City. Why did you pick that time and place?

TJ: I’m a serious history geek, and as much as I enjoy science fiction and fantasy, I love history even more. Anyone that loves a good story understands the biggest and juiciest stories happened in real life. So why not incorporate the things I love the most in my stories? My favorite period of U.S. History takes place from the Civil War to the early twentieth century. Five Points, New York, is one of the most intriguing places to me in that time.

JI: Your book also incorporates urban fantasy and medieval lore. Do you love those things, too?

TJ: The short answer is yes, but there’s more to it. I went back to college in my 40s and discovered early British Literature. Thanks to a couple of very fine instructors, I discovered resources that went into greater detail about that period, the myths, and the tension of a quickly growing Catholic church and the existing pagan beliefs. Those tensions show up in the early literature (stories) of that time. I’ve read modern authors that use the same trope, but they’re inappropriate for younger readers. After reading Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin and Jim Butcher’s Dresden series, I thought it was a shame that younger readers couldn’t have something fun along those same lines of urban fantasy.

JI: So you use the Paladin legend for your story. Why not King Arthur, or Templars, or Teutonic Knights?

TJ: I only use the legend as the basis, I don’t really use the original chivalric code because no one wrote it down in Charlemagne’s time. Historically, Charlemagne has the most evidence of the foundation of the concept of Chivalry and the Knightly Ideal. Again, the closest this got to being written is a story called The Song of Roland. Historically, chivalry is a French word from the 11th century, and it originally meant horsemanship. The church promoted chivalry as code because armed thugs rode around the country, killing people. The Catholic Church promoted the concept to try to bring peace and preserve human life. Chivalry, as we understand it, is technically a Christian ideal. So rather than use Templars, Teutons, or Arthur, I went back to the earliest of the European knights, Paladins.

JI: All that said, why even make it a part of The Final Paladin?

TJ: Originally, I wanted to start the series in ninth century Europe in Charlemagne’s empire with my character Godfrey, a Saxon whose village was swallowed up by Charlemagne’s conquests. I did my research, but I also wanted to enter the story in a contest offered by the American Christian Fiction Writers. Most of the judges are women and not speculative fiction fans. So in order to do better in the contest, I chose a female character and events that happened later in history.

JI: You wrote The Final Paladin to win a contest where the judges were predominantly female and probably non-speculative readers?

TJ: That’s essentially correct.

JI: Did your strategy pay off?

TJ: Yes and no, but what’s really cool is I got my fair share of male judges, and they scored my entry high. My manuscript made it to the final three, so it worked to a point.

JI: You didn’t win?

TJ: No.

JI: Well, we’re glad L2L2 picked it up! The story begins in Five Points, New York. But it doesn’t stay in New York City, does it?

TJ: That would be boring at this point, so the story goes to a place called Fairy, or the land of Fairies, elves, trolls, pixies, the White Stag, and everything else. I go back to all the legends and myths of western and central Europe, or at least the ones I could fit in.

JI: Is it a fairy tale retelling?

TJ: No, not exactly. I just mixed my mythologies: history and fairies. I also borrowed from the book of Revelation. There’s mention of a character named Apollyon, or in Hebrew, Abaddon, The Angel of Death. So I mixed in some Bible, knightly legends, and fairies and got a modern-day story in the tradition of Gawain and the Green Knight, or Beowulf.

JI: Is your novel written for adults?

TJ: I like to write for Young Adults and Middle Graders, but I’ve written for New Adults, too. I like those groups because you can still reclaim them as readers. I really write for speculative audiences. The one quality I love about speculative fiction readers is they’re reading for the story. You can make the protagonist eight, twenty, or ninety, and if the story is interesting, the reader won’t usually care.

JI: Are you planning on a whole series?

TJ: Yes. Michele Harper, my publisher wouldn’t have published me if I weren’t. I have in mind at least ten in the series, and that doesn’t even include the three or four prequels about Godfrey and how we even got to the 1870s with things in the state they are. All of that is going to depend on the novel’s popularity.

JI: Wow, that’s a big series!

TJ: Yeah, I have an overactive imagination.

JI: That’s a good thing for a writer to have. Do you write anything other than speculative fiction?

TJ: I have a contemporary YA novel that’s completed and edited. I nearly managed to get it published by Zondervan back in 2014. I also have ideas for historical fiction, too. There are four completed novel manuscripts on my computer: two are science fiction fantasy, a thriller, and a contemporary comedy. All that could easily be turned into a series. I have no shortage of stories tell.

JI: Is L2L2 interested in those?

TJ: Sure, but I have to run them by my publisher. They have to be good stories or she won’t publish them. I’m excited because my science fiction projects have male protagonists, and no one really publishes for boys anymore.

JI: Anything you want to add?

TJ: I’ve learned a lot since I started writing in 2004. Now I can go back to all the projects I’ve kept very shiny.

JI: Thanks so much, T.J., for joining us on the island!

Here’s a little more about The Final Paladin:

Life for Peg Bowman is rough in the infamous slums of Five Points, New York, but her brother’s murder changes everything.

Thrust into incredible worlds beyond any story she’s ever heard, Peg meets Sir Godfrey, an eleven-hundred-year-old knight from Charlemagne’s court, trainer of Paladins. He reveals to Peg her family’s ancient obligation to protect the Key of Apollyon, a relic of immense power. She is the last descendant of the Paladins and his only hope for keeping it safe.

When Godfrey confides her brother was murdered because of the Key, Peg rejects her calling and demands revenge, a luxury she can ill afford as otherworldly creatures seek her death to claim the Key’s power for themselves.

Can Godfrey and his faithful retinue—Chim the Hobgoblin, Rebecca the Jewish Maven and healer, and Jack the sometimes human and sometimes seven-foot Black Dog—keep her safe and convince her that her calling is worth pursuing? Or will she succumb to the Key’s lure and wield it for revenge?

And here’s a little more about T.J. :

T.J. Akers desires to be a multimillionaire when he grows up and give his wealth to his favorite causes: churches, schools, and animal shelters. Since the millions have been slow in coming, he’s settled for working as a computer technician for a state university and volunteering at his church and local animal shelter. Whenever possible, he indulges his love of writing stories to entertain people, especially younger readers.

Akers holds a Masters of English from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and can often be found roaming the university’s library, especially the children’s and young adult sections. Librarians have always been his heroes.

He lives with his beloved wife of thirty years, his dog, and two cats. The dog is an excellent writing companion, but the cats have proven to be rather critical. Learn more at www.tjakers.com

You can find him at the following social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tj.akers.35

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TJAkers1

Google+: https://plus.google.com/101156763458205540263

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/16679486-tj-akers

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/akers0778/boards/

Don’t forget to stop by the Facebook Party on November 16!

 

Interview with Kristen Stieffel

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Today on Jilligan’s Island, we (that’s the royal “we”) are interviewing author Kristen Stieffel. We’re talking writing and books, but most specifically her novel, Alara’s Call which releases this Tuesday (the 19th). It’s a fantastic read.

JI: Welcome, Kristen! I really enjoyed Alara’s Call. Where did you get the idea for it?

KS: Years ago—longer than I care to admit—I had a sort of vision of soldiers and flags, and I started writing to figure out why they were there and what they were doing. The soldiers and flags are still in the story, but no longer in the same scene.

JI: What’s the theme of this story? Why did you choose it?

KS: The theme of this book is from 1 Peter 4:10—“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (NIV). That plays out in multiple ways, but primarily in Alara receiving the gift of prophecy and pursuing it despite opposition.

JI: I loved reading about Alara’s struggle as she learns to use her gift. What did you edit out of this book?

KS: A looooong interlude in the first third of the book that I convinced myself was necessary to the character development and to establish the romantic subplot. Jeff Gerke was my book doctor, and he was brutally honest about how much it slowed the story down and told me to take it out. So I did. But … bwa ha ha … I have plans to repurpose it. So we’ll see how that goes.

JI: Good for you for saving that scene! So, what’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned while writing this story?

KS: That the heroine’s fatal flaws—pride and performance anxiety—are my own. Who knew?

JI: It’s amazing how those issues show up in our writing. What was the hardest scene to write?

KS: The fight scene in which those soldiers capture Alara. Sorry, that’s kind of a spoiler, but it’s early in the book, so maybe not too much of one? In the version of the book Jeff read, this scene was like half a page. I skimmed over it. He said “that’s not acceptable” and told me to rewrite it, blow by blow. I did. It took a whole day and several pots of tea, but I did it.

JI: That scene was intense!  Speaking of the fight scene, how did you get in touch with your “inner villain” to write the antagonist ?

KS: I’m a firm believer that the best villains think they’re the good guys. Given the culture I’d created for the villains, I put myself in the place of the lead villain and tried to make him a “good soldier,” at least as his culture would define those terms.

JI: You did a great job with the villain — I hated him! Have you always liked to write? When did you start writing?

KS: I’ve been writing as long as I can remember. My mother tells me my cousin and I used to make up stories together when we were 3-4 years old.

JI: Aw, that’s cute. 🙂 What are you reading now?

KS: Oh, man. I don’t want to name names. But I picked up a historical romance because it was on a Kindle promo and I tell you—the characters are charming, but the book is so loaded with typos it’s hard to read. It pains me, because there’s nothing wrong with this book that a copyeditor couldn’t fix. But the author clearly didn’t take the time and expense to hire one, at least not one who knew what she was doing. So this lovely story is marred by all these easily fixable mistakes. It’s a shame.

JI: I bet your inner editor was going nuts! Aside from “keep writing,” what’s your best advice for aspiring writers?

KS: Focus on the big-picture things first. Character. Plot. Structure. If you write a great story with engaging characters, a copyeditor can fix your grammar. But if the story’s lacking, it won’t matter how elegant your sentences are. Needless to say, I learned this lesson the hard way.

JI: You did a great job with the characters in Alara’s Call — they pulled me right in. What does your writing space look like?

KS: Here’s a picture, since you caught me before I dismantled the computer to put it away for Hurricane Irma.

JI: Much neater than my writing area! Do you do any other creative activities other than writing?

KS: I’m a knitter. My ex used to give me grief about this because we live in Florida, but seriously, most of our sweaters are worn indoors because the air conditioning is so cold!

JI: Too funny! Does writing energize you or exhaust you?

KS: It energizes me! Once I get going, I can go—and have gone—all night long. My counselor recently gave me “permission” to work until three in the morning if that’s when I’m at my best. So I often do!

JI: Wow — I’m usually asleep after midnight. So, what’s your favorite part of writing?

KS: Reading something I forgot I wrote and saying “That’s really good!”

JI: Lol –that’s always a nice surprise when that happens. If you could tell your younger self anything, what would it be?

KS: Focus on the big-picture things first. Character. Plot. Structure.

JI: Thanks so much for stopping by Jilligan’s Island, Kristen!

 

Want more information on Alara’s Call: The Prophet’s Chronicle, One?

Tales are often told of heroes who fulfill ancient prophecies. Alara’s Call is the tale of a woman who gives new ones.

Alara sees visions of other’s futures, but never her own. A young clergywoman with a fiery passion for her Telshan faith, she has been assigned to a mission abroad but longs to lead a congregation in her homeland. Her father, the prime minister, jeopardizes her dream and her safety when he coerces her into what he calls a diplomatic mission.
But it’s a ruse.
The trip is meant to end with her marriage to the crown prince of a foreign nation, where members of Alara’s faith are persecuted and women oppressed. All for a trade agreement her father is desperate to enact.
But her mentor intervenes and takes Alara to Dorrel, the suitor she left behind. They believe they are safe, but foreign soldiers are under orders to bring Alara to the king’s
palace…by any means necessary.

 So who is Kristen Stieffel?

Kristen Stieffel is a freelance editor and writer who specializes in speculative fiction.
Although she edits projects in varied genres for both the general market and the Christian submarket, she is a novelist at heart. Member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and Christian Editor Connection, mentor with Word Weavers International, and on the planning committee for Realm Makers, Kristen stays busy doing what she loves most. She is also the associate editor of Havok, a flash-fiction magazine focused on science fiction and fantasy. Visit www.KristenStieffel.com to learn more about this many-faceted author.

Still can’t wait? (Sorry, you’ll have to — just a few more days.)

Alara’s Call (ISBN: 978-1-943788-19-4) will be available on September 19 at http://www.love2readlove2writepublishing.com/books/alaras-call/
Stop by the Facebook Launch Party on September 21, 2017, for fun, laughter, and some cool prizes! (https://www.facebook.com/events/1045774898890338/)

Interview with Kat Heckenbach … and a giveaway!

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Hi! Welcome to the Island! My friend  Kat Heckenbach stopped by, so I did what I usually do when I get around a fellow author — we talked books! But specifically we talked about her newest book, Relent. Don’t forget to comment below to enter into the giveaway. She’s giving away an e-file of Relent to a lucky reader!

 

Hi, Kat! Thanks for joining me today. Tell our readers a little more about yourself. Have you always liked to write? When did you start writing?

I didn’t start writing until I was in my thirties. I’d grown up thinking of myself as only an artist. I loved to draw, and figured that was my area of talent and creativity and never gave writing a try. But, eventually, I started feeling like something was missing and talked to my husband about it. He said, “I told you if you want to write a book I’ll be supportive.” My reply: “I never said that.” Him: “Yes, you did.” Wow. I took a few days to ponder his words, and then sat down one Wednesday morning (weird how I remember specifically the day of the week, but not the date) in 2008 and started writing chapter one of what eventually became my first published novel, YA fantasy Finding Angel.

Your husband is so supportive! What keeps you writing when inspiration vanishes?

Stubbornness. Seriously. It’s totally an “I started this, I’m gonna finish it” thing. Also, every time I feel like I’m ready to give up, I end up getting an email from someone who loved my books, or a new review, or something else that tells me I belong doing this.

My family and I call these little gifts “God-things,” and they really can keep you going. What does your writing space look like?

I bought this awesome roll-top desk from a friend. It’s the perfect size for my laptop and all my stuff. It has all these cubbies and drawers. And I have it surrounded by artwork. Unfortunately, it has to be located in my dining room, which is also our homeschool room, which is open to the main part of the house, so it’s not very private.

My writing area is in the same spot — dining room. At least it gives us an excuse to eat while working, right? Do you do any other creative activities other than writing?

Yes, yes, and yes. I’m a visual artist as well. I draw (mostly charcoal and regular pencil) and paint (mostly acrylic on canvas). I also make Harry Potter-style wands out of real wood, and I’ve made a few walking sticks/staffs as well. Honestly, I am drawn to all things artsy and creative. I spent years scrapbooking, and I have made my own curtains and cornices, and recovered chair seats, and helped my dad (a contractor) design our bathroom remodel. I’ve also made my own props for costumes, like a paper mache Audrey 2 from Little Shop of Horrors.

I’ve seen your art  — it’s beautiful! How do you select the names of your characters?

I love picking character names, but I don’t have a set method. Some are strictly by “feel”—the name just seems right for the character. Maybe it’s what comes out of my fingers typing on the keyboard when the character is first introduced. The main character in my YA fantasy series (Toch Island Chronicles) is named Angel because my daughter, who was around five at the time, had started naming all her stuffed animals AngelSomething (Angelheart, for example) so Angel was literally the first thing that popped into my head. Oddly, her name becomes relevant later in the story and it would not have worked had I named her something else.

Other names I choose because they have a particular meaning. Also in Toch Island Chronicles, I named a character Dr. Damian because his magic talent is Taming wild animals, and the name Damian comes from a Greek word that means “to tame.” The villain in the story is called Dawric, because a jackdaw is a thieving bird and ric- is the root of Richard, which means “power”—so the villain, who is out to steal magic, is “thief of power.”

I have named characters after people I know, usually small side characters and usually last name only. In my newest book, Relent, I gave a cop the last name Carter because a friend with that last name helped me with all the police procedure stuff.

I bet your friend loved being included in Relent like that! So, what slows you down? What’s your writing Kryptonite?

If I have to be honest, it’s distractions like TV and Facebook. I tend to also be someone who wants all the “little stuff” out of the way so I can really concentrate when I sit down to write…and let’s face it, that’s just procrastination.

Yeah, I’m the same way with social media. Just terrible. If you could tell your younger self anything, what would it be?

One of the biggest hurdles I’ve had to overcome is not comparing my beginning to someone else’s ending. What I mean is, there are things I’ve just been a natural at – art, math, grammar – and when something didn’t come easy to me, I told myself, “Oh, that’s just not for me.” When I got older, and particularly when I became a parent, a lot of things were really, really hard at first. I looked at parents with older kids and saw how easily something was going with them, and didn’t think that maybe in the beginning it was just as hard as it was for me.

Writing can be the same way. We look at that finished product, someone else’s book, and compare that with our mess of a first draft, and we can get really discouraged. Or, some other author just got a great publishing deal or hit the NYT best seller list, and it registers in our brains as though they were an overnight success. But that author may have just sold their fifth or tenth manuscript after having all the others rejected. Or they may have been submitting and editing and improving for ten or twenty years. It just took me far too long to realize I need to remember that those accomplishments come at the end of a lot of hard work.

That’s an important thing to remember, especially when the writing process gets hard. Where did you get the idea for this book?

Relent started with a short story years ago, a story written for a specific call-out for an anthology. Which I never actually submitted to. I found my story deviating from what they wanted, so I let it take off in another direction. I eventually submitted it to some other markets, and it got published by an online magazine called Absent Willow Review, and won their Editor’s Choice Award for the month it was published.

I loved the characters so much, and at the encouragement of my husband, I decided to make a novel using them. I had to change so, so much, though. Other than physical descriptions and some personality stuff, and their names of course, pretty much everything is different. And I love these new and improved characters even more!

It’s great you were able to stay “in touch” with those beloved characters. What’s the theme of the book? Why did you choose it?

The book is called Relent because it’s about letting go. Not hanging on to your anger or digging your heels in stubbornly just because you think things should be a certain way. Finding out that when you do finally let go, you may discover the thing you were trying so hard for will actually come much easier.

I’m not sure I chose it, though, outside the fact that I tend to be stubborn myself – which can be helpful in a perseverance kind of way, but can be very unhelpful when you’re doing something for the wrong reasons.

I think most stubborn people (myself included) are always learning about letting go. What was the hardest scene to write?

Honestly, all the scenes building the romance between Simone and Reese. The love-hate frenemy stuff between Simone and Wraith came so much more naturally. I write dark. Tapping into anger and angst is easier for me.

You mentioned Simone, your main character. Is she your favorite? Why or why not?

Simone is someone who has always felt like an outsider. When she finds out the truth about herself, it helps her to understand why she’s always felt that way, but it doesn’t give her the tools to deal with it. She has a hard time seeing the good in herself, and it amazes her when someone else sees her as more than physically beautiful.

As for her being my favorite character…I have to admit she’s not. Wraith, her best friend and worst enemy, the demon who tells her the truth about herself, is my favorite. He’s gorgeous for one, when he’s in his human form. But what I love about him is how self-contradictory he is. He’s a demon, so he’s of course bad, but there’s this part of him that won’t let him cross a certain line with Simone. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I won’t go any further there. I will say that I’ve gotten enough feedback from readers to know I’m not alone in my love for Wraith.

Ooh, that’s a teaser of an answer! We’ve learned a lot about you and Relent. But if you’re comfortable doing so, can you give us one fun or interesting fact about yourself others might not know?

This is a fact that only those who have read the acknowledgements in my second Toch Island Chronicles book, Seeking Unseen, would know. One of the two main characters in Seeking Unseen, Melinda, writes a poem, which I include in the book. The poem is completely plagiarized, in a sense. When I was around nineteen or twenty, I was out dancing at a club. At one point, the friend I was there with handed me a napkin with a poem written on it. She said some guy told her to give it to me. I never saw him, have no idea who he was. But I saved that poem, and decided to use it in my book. I’d love to give him credit, of course, but I have no way of doing so. Unless he someday reads my book and recognizes his own words!

Wow! Very cool. Thanks, Kat, for stopping by.

Don’t forget to check Kat out on social media and comment below. She’s giving away a copy of Relent to once lucky commenter!

Bio:

Kat Heckenbach spent her childhood with pencil and sketchbook in hand, knowing she wanted to be an artist when she grew up—so naturally she graduated from college with a degree in biology, went on to teach math, and now homeschools her two children while writing. Her fiction ranges from light-hearted fantasy to dark and disturbing, with multiple stories published online and in print. Her YA fantasy series Toch Island Chronicles is available in print and ebook. Enter her world at www.katheckenbach.com.

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