Upcoming….

So life has been insane…but here is whats coming up.

 

So long story short, my computer bit the dust. ( *weeps* ) its why I haven’t been blogging as of late because work has been crazy, my boyfriend was visiting AND I haven’t had the chance to get to the library long enough to actually write up a blog post or two…BUT here I am. At the library writing away and I’m popping in to tell you whats coming up.

 

1. Sometime in this next week I have a blog hop post for Author Jennifer Murgia and her spooky novels! (Just in time for halloween!) – long story short it was supposed to be done today but see reasons above relating to my computer and now I have no graphics for the post either 😦

2. November 2nd – Unwritten Melody by Tessa Emily Hall Blog Tour

3. Early November (No set date yet) – I’m REALLY excited to bring a music review of a family friends newly released album. Just need some time to listen to the album and write up a post

4. More life posts! 

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Series Review || Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

Hello Readers!

So, instead of doing a bunch of separate reviews for each book of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series, I thought doing mini reviews of each book on one post would A.) Be a lot more fun and B.) Help me get to the other book reviews faster.

So here goes nothing!

**WARNING: THIS IS A FANGIRL FILLED ZONE. PROCEED WITH CAUTION **

 

The Lightning Thief     Rating: 5 Stars

I really really loved The Lightning Thief, okay? Okay.

It was absolutely amazing and I really enjoyed reading it. It was an easy read (obviously) but still amazing none-the-less.

The reason I haven’t read the series until now was because, like the Harry Potter Books, I wasn’t allowed to read them for the longest time. (Sad moment cause both are amazing series that I’m only now just getting to at 18 years old.)

Anywho. This book (despite it being middle grade) is right up my alley. Greek Mythology based stuff is totally my favourite.

I LOVE Percy so much, okay? All the sass and sarcasm is just so dang amazing. And oh my goodness the puns.

 

 

Sea of Monsters    Rating: 4.5 Stars

I really loved this book, but not as much as the first one I must say. I’m loving having Clarisse in this story a little more but the story seems to be going by at a really really fast pace. I mean I like that in a story…but this is too fast…if that makes sense. Basically with Sea of Monsters I read through it as fast as I could because it was really unenjoyable to me. I mean I still loved all the characters and the idea of the story but it was all too fast for my liking.

 

 

The Titans Curse    Rating: 5 Stars

I really enjoyed Zoe in this story…I’m just sayin. I was sad that Annabeth wasnt really in that one… I mean it progressed the plot but I was sad she was absent haha.

By this point I still can’t get over Percy. The narration is on point! Percy is just the best character to have as a narrator of the story and many times I was chuckling to myself about is sassy or sarcastic comments.

One thing I loved about this was that more of my favourite gods made appearances in this book (I LOVE Greek mythology stuff…have loved it ever since I was about 10… Which I find quite strange considering I was allowed to check Greek mythology books out from my library but for the same reason I wasn’t allowed to read the Percy Jackson books sooner… What???)

Anyways. I also really enjoyed Thalia’s character every new character that pops in for one of the novels never disappoints. Not one of them even seems the slightest bit same and that, my friends, is skill.

 

 

The Battle of the Labyrinth    Rating: 3 Stars

I enjoyed this book but definitely not as much as the others so far. It felt a lot slower to me. (The exact opposite of The Sea of Monsters) Despite that I still really enjoyed it! It was just a lot slower than I would have expected (pacing/action wise) considering the pacing of the other books in the series so far.

The reason the slower pacing surprised me was simply due to the mission the characters were on. I guess it was just interesting to see them going on such an important mission and there not being much action…though I guess other elements of the story made up for it though 🙂

As usual I LOVE LOVE LOVE the character okay? ❤ They are all just so amazing :3

 

 

The Last Olympian    Rating: 5 Stars (Or, you know…just ALL the stars)

Okay… Before I start this review, CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE THING THAT IS PERCABETH??? *FLAILS* I LOVE THEM SOOOOOO MUCH!! :3 :3

I ADORED THIS BOOK! A wonderful conclusion to the first series by Rick Riordan! *takes a moment to flail about the last chapter of this book*

I really have no words for this book except for incoherent fangirl gibberish and the fact that all I can say (that other people understand) is THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING! I LOVE IT SO FREAKING MUCH ❤

 

 

SO. Thats my review! Have you read the Percy Jackson books? What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you lovely people.

 

Until Next Time

Adriana G.

Standing Out in Your Writing {And What Not to Include}

 

 

Hujambo! (That’s Swahili for hello!)

Thanks to Adriana Gabrielle for allowing me to post on her blog! I feel blessed for this opportunity!

So I went back and forth a few times while debating what to write about. I mean, there’s so many options. But I had to settle on something close to my heart—it’s one of my passions. Something important. Something that needs to be thought about.

But first, so you know where I’m coming from, let’s play a get-to-know-Rachel-game!

I’m going to list five things about me below:

1. I am in love with Jesus Christ, my Redeemer and Creator.

2. I am called by God to make a difference through the written word. A favorite term I’ve heard is Warrior of the Pen.

3. I’m an army brat. I’ve moved about ten times and they’re still racking up. I’ve been to nine schools (and homeschooled for a few years). I’m about to head to my tenth this fall (and hopefully the last…)

4. Jazz is my jam.

5. I could eat rice and beans three times a day…every day. But I don’t.

So today’s post is about standing out in our writing and being different. And, if we want to stand out and be different and make a difference…what we should leave out of our writing.

There’s a lot of popular fiction out there, aye? We’ve got contemporary YA, dystopian, steampunk, apocalyptic, sci-fi, fantasy…the genres go on and on.

And I have a problem.

A lot of popular fiction that people rage about (in a good way) is filled with worldly ways. Chock full of swearing, drugs/drinking, and inappropriate relationships…and these things are viewed in a good light.

I don’t know about you, but this stuff bothers me. Last year I tried to pick up a popular YA book that I really wanted to read. I wanted to see what everybody was going on about.

Let me tell you. I read about five pages and I had to put it down. There had been at least ten swear words (hint: not darn) and a few times where God’s name was taken in vain.

And I found out later that there was definitely some pre-marital inappropriateness going on in the book. I’m relieved I didn’t read it.

But there was a catch in my spirit, y’all. I wondered how my God-loving friends could be reading this and celebrating it. I wondered why they weren’t bothered by this blatant immorality.

As a Christian I’m supposed to be different than the rest of the world. My life is an example. What I read, listen to, watch, and write…should be monitored so that I’m not filling my head with the junk that’s already so prevalent in the world.

Words are influential. They impact people. They can save lives. They can also destroy them. It’s our duty to ensure that our words are full of worth. That our words are full of truth. They should encourage and speak life and love. They should stand out like a lamp on a hill.

Under no circumstance should they blend right in with the rest of society’s words.

That’s a red flag.

We have a responsibility to the people reading our stuff. We have a responsibility to tell them about our Heavenly King. We can’t let them down. We can’t let the lost continue in their brokenness just because we want to fit in and not cause a stir.

Jesus went into the temple with a whip, y’all. He wasn’t afraid of making a stir.

We can save lives.

If our writing glorifies anything on this list…we’re doing something wrong:

 

1. Swearing. Okay, people are already surrounded by this continually throughout their days. Do we really want to give them more? Are we going to look like the rest of the world? God’s Word says to keep our tongues from filthy talk, and to keep our minds on things pure. {2 Timothy 1:16; James 5:12}

2. Sex. Really? Really? Do you need to have inappropriate scenes in your books? Is that going to make anybody feel better? Are you going to stand out and make a difference? No. You’ll be just like everybody else. And trust me, that isn’t a good thing. The Bible has all the answers you need about this one. From staying pure before marriage to steering clear of sexual immorality. It’s chock full of warnings and cautions.

3. Drunkenness. The Bible doesn’t say it’s bad to drink. Jesus drank wine. But it does say we shouldn’t get drunk. Don’t support this in your writing. {Ephesians 5:18}

4. Drugs. Why? Just why? Drugs don’t bring good. Solomon talks about trying all the stuff under the sun and how it came to nothing. I’d say drugs definitely can fall in that list.

 

If your writing portrays any of things, be sure the characters receive consequences from their actions. Be sure the things portrayed are known to be bad. Make sure readers don’t perceive that you are pro these things.

I have characters who partake in lifestyles I am against. But I don’t glorify that. It is known that these things are wrong. There are definitely consequences.

Being a writer means we get to dabble in things we’d never be able to do in real life. But that isn’t an excuse to dabble in things that go against God.

There are ways to express real life without gory details. There are ways to express real life while still retaining the innocence of yourself and your readers.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Basically, if there’s something in your writing that goes against what God’s Word says, there’s a problem. If you’re glorifying something that’s wrong, you aren’t making a difference. You’re just adding to the noise. And I’m pretty sure most of us want our writing to stand out.

If you’re not sure, check your Bible.

God Bless! I hope to hear what you think!

 

Rachel Lester is a daughter of the King. Soon she’ll be off to college to follow God’s call on her life to be a writer and missionary. Rachel has been writing since she was a wee thing, but only during the past few years has she really delved deeper into the realm. She’s fought battles, especially with fear, but Christus Victor! She enjoys reading, almost anything outdoorsy, rockin’ out to jazz, and eating rice and beans. She has a passion to reach those who are broken and tell them the Truth. Rachel loves Jesus Christ, her Author and Redeemer.

{2 Timothy 1:7}

You can find her writing blog here: http://waterandpen.blogspot.com/

And you can find her young women’s Christian blog here: http://nolongerstone.blogspot.com/

Find her on Pinterest at: https://www.pinterest.com/waterandpen/

 

Indie Author Looking For Friends || Guest Post by Author Mariella Hunt

 

Fifteen-year-old Allie Grant lives crippled by her illness. Though kept in isolation, she’s never alone: A spirit named Song lurks in the silence of her bedroom.

When Song reveals its dark nature on the night of her recital, the show ends in tragedy. Verging on death, Allie’s taken in by an uncle she’s never met. Julian claims to be a Muse with power over music and answers that’ll heal her.

It isn’t long before Allie suspects her uncle has a secret that’ll change her very identity. But with days left to live, she might fade without learning the truth…like the finishing chord of a song.

The meaning of the word dissonance is inharmonious or harsh sound. Ever since publishing my book on June 1, I’ve been in a state of disharmony trying to get a marketing plan together.

It’s not that I’m panicking. I’m excited–because my book is out there.

It took a long time to shape it up enough that I could share it with my friends. I reached a point where readers connect with characters, or a single line is recorded in their memory. Even if they don’t like the book as a whole, I’ll feel I achieved something if there’s one memorable detail about it–because I’ve invested so much of myself into this story.

Dissonance is available on nook and Kindle right now. Soon it’ll be out in paperback. If you want to help me make some coffee money, the $2.99 really does help.

But if you can’t buy it right now, or you just don’t think it’s the kind of book you’d enjoy, I’d still love to be friends! Say hi on Twitter or follow me on Facebook. The more the merrier! I want to know your stories just as much as I’d like you to enjoy mine!

I hope you’ve had a good summer so far, and that it only gets better. Thanks for listening!

Links:

Twitter- https://twitter.com/mariellahunt
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/mariellahuntauthor
Kindle- http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YITZO8W?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
nook- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dissonance-mariella-hunt/1122054810?ean=2940151652896
personal website- http://mariellahunt.com/
Goodreads- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25618865-dissonance

 

Time To Share The Love || Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Wooh! Finally got around to doing a review again. I’m so glad to be back on board with my reading and stuff. My apologies on not posting a review on Monday. We had no internet the whole long weekend and havehad sick little people in my home. But anywho. Moving on.

Today’s review, shall be of one of those three. And as the title says, I will be reviewing Scarlet by Marissa Meyer.

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison–even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

So, I never did get around to reviewing Cinder and I don’t remember enough to actually go back and review it and that’s why I’m picking up with Scarlet (So yeah, don’t go looking for a review of Cinder as that review never happened…)
I LOVED this book! I gave Cinder a 4 star rating as, I liked it but didn’t LOVE it….but this. This book I LOVED TO ITTY BITTY PIECES.

Cait Drews, I shall now give you a virtual high five as you suggested this series to me.

Now… *cough * *cough *
This is seriously the best series as I love anything Fairytale related….so retellings are totally up my alley. If you know of any other good ones, let me know people!

The twist to the Red Riding Hood story was FAN-FLIPPIN-TASTIC! And the twist to the whole wolf as the grandmother element was so creative as well. Basically, I have decided that Marissa Meyer is queen of retellings. So far the first two books have been great 😀 I really liked how Cinder tied into this story as well and we got to see a bunch of the other characters from the first book. I always love it when an author can bring another character in like that and it was flawless and so well done!

Scarlet was such an amazing adventure filled with action and I loved it. Everything felt so real and I could feel all the tension and fear and betrayal the characters felt and it was fantastic…Though with the whole thing with Wolf kinda threw me off cause I just kept picturing Derek from Teen Wolf…It was interesting. Basically, don’t watch Teen Wolf and read this book unless you want to picture Wolf and his buddies as Teen Wolf characters…I mean, its not like that’s a bad thing.

*clears throat *

Anyways…I do believe that Wolf and Scarlet are my favourite ship of the series so far. Once again, I loved how this was a little more action packed than Cinder and that I loved! Don’t get me wrong. Cinder was great and such an amazing intro to the series but I loved the more intense action that came along with Scarlet. It was great!
So, Scarlet gets a little bit of a better rating than 4 stars I gave Cinder…and that rating is:

Author Interview || Heather Manning

Hello Readers!

I’m so excited to have author Heather Manning join me on my blog today for an interview! Heather is an amazing person and her novels are outstanding! So lets do this thing!

Hello Heather, and Welcome! Could you tell us a bit about your books? 

Hi! Thanks for having me! Here’s a little about my first novel, Swept to Sea:Lady Eden Trenton never wanted to leave her privileged existence in London—until her father invites a dangerous suitor into her life. Left with few options, Eden devises the best reprieve she can: escape. Chasing freedom, she stows away aboard a pirate ship, praying she will gain her independence in the colonies before she is discovered by the nefarious crew.

Captain Caspian Archer has spent the last five years hardening his heart and searching to exact revenge for the event that tore his life to shreds. When he catches word that his enemy is residing in Jamaica, Caspian steers his ship toward the colonies in all haste. His plans soon change, however, when he discovers the young beauty hiding in his ship’s hold.

Cut from the only lives they have known, Caspian and Eden are pulled together as each pursues a fresh hope upon the sea.

 

Now, my second novel, (sequel to Swept to Sea) Carried Home:
The Caribbean is no place for a society lady of London, yet after a daring quest to save a friend, Lady Ivy Shaw finds herself trapped far from home. Now, driven with worry for her young brother, she is determined to return to England in all haste. So, when a new acquaintance offers to sail her to her brother’s side, she jumps at the offer, scarcely caring that the man is a privateer.

Captain Gage Thompson is just learning how to be a captain. He sailed for years under the command of his longtime friend, Caspian Archer, but serving a captain and being a captain are, as he soon discovers, two very different roles. While struggling to gain the respect of his newfound crew, he now faces the distraction of beautiful Lady Shaw. He finds himself entranced by her and promises to give her passage home.
After a brief stop in Port Royal, Ivy and Gage discover an abandoned child. They both decide to bring her with them on their voyage to England. But problems soon arise in the form of hurricanes and enemy pirates, and Ivy and Gage find themselves scrambling to not only care for a lonely child, but also gain command of a motley crew.
Will love bud between Ivy and Gage as they journey home?

 

 
What inspired you to write both Swept to Sea and Carried Home? 

I wanted to write a trilogy about three best friends, and I wanted to throw some pirates in. Really, my idea came about kind of randomly. I enjoy writing about a variety of characters, so I was pleased to write my sequel, Carried Home, which stars two minor characters from Swept to Sea, Ivy and Gage.

 
So, since I’m more of a plotter I have to ask, did you write an outline before writing the novels? Or are you a pantser?

I write a very loose outline before writing my novels. Actually, with Swept to Sea, I don’t think I really had much of an outline, but with Carried Home I had a limited outline. So I guess I am somewhat in between.

 
Awesome. In between is always cool too 😛 Now, tell me what was the hardest part of writing your novels?

For Carried Home, my biggest obstacle was being an already published author. It felt a little weird first, because I was “done” and then kept writing another book. Knowing that people I know and people I’ve never met had read my book and formed opinions about it really made me feel stuck.
But I powered through that strange feeling, got my second book published, and I am glad to say that that feeling is gone as I’m writing book number three!

 
Is it bad I already can’t wait for book three? and I havent even read the second book yet haha 😛 How long did it take you (from first draft to final draft) to finish Carried Home?

I think it took me a little over a year to write Carried Home. (I’m not counting outlining and planning.)

 
Okay, so since I’ve read the first book, I’ve been dying to know, what is one way you relate to your main characters?

Hmmm. I relate to Eden from Swept to Sea in a few ways, I guess. Most of it was subconsciously. Eden looks a lot like me, and she has very brave qualities, yet tends to be a little timid. And I think that’s a lot like me.

 
I always find it kind of cool when a character subconciously becomes somewhat like the author. What was one of your favourite scenes to write in either of the books?

Oh! Such a tough question. One of my favorites in Carried Home is towards the beginning, when Ivy and Gage encounter a child being abandoned by her mother. They both want to take her in, but really have no idea what to do with her. I think this scene was one of the first to show us exactly who Gage and Ivy are.

 

 

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Carried Home’s theme seems to deal with matters of worry, control, and poor self-opinion. Ivy tends to worry about things she cannot control and forgets to put her trust in God. Gage seems to doubt his abilities to be a capable, successful captain and I think all of these issues can somewhat be applied to normal people’s lives. There are days when people have trouble with worry or they don’t think they are good enough.

 
Did you learn anything from writing either Swept To Sea or Carried Home and what was it?

While writing Carried Home, I learned once again how difficult it is to write a novel. When you haven’t written a bare first draft in a while, you tend to forget just how difficult and just how amazingly fun it is.

 

 

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Oh, goodness, I don’t know! Truly, there are so many amazing authors out there and I would adore having almost any of them as a mentor.

 

 

What is one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members?

Friends! I am a member of a great young writer’s community, Go Teen Writers, and I was supported by many new and now close writer friends there. They made me always feel like I can keep on writing!

 
Go Teen Writers is quite fantastic! I have to agree with you there 🙂 So, last but not least, do you have any advice for other writers out there who are looking into publishing or just writing a story in general?

I advice other writers to always write and always read! Those are the only ways you can improve what you do. Also, if you are serious about getting published, I recommend attending a writer’s conference. At a writer’s conference, you are able to meet lots of professionals, attend workshops to improve your craft, and even pitch your work to industry professionals. This is how I met my publisher and got my work published.

 
Oh. And, if you don’t mind. Where can we, as readers, stalk-uh I mean ‘find’ you online?

Blog: http://heathermauthor.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathermauthor
Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/heatherm-author
Instagram: https://instagram.com/heatherm_author/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HeatherM_Author
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HeatherMAuthor/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Heather-Manning/e/B00GXOWFMS/

 

 

Bestselling author Heather Manning is a young lady who loves to read–and write. After she won several writing competitions, her first book was professionally published and quickly became an Amazon Bestseller. She is an active member of her local ACFW chapter and lives in Kansas City, Missouri where she attends high school, sees plays, devours donuts, and acts in community theatre. You can find Heather on her blog: heathermauthor.blogspot.com.

Time To Share The Love || Inked Book Review

Hello Readers!

Today, I am here to bring you a review of an absolutely fantastic book by Eric Smith. And that book (as you can see in the title) is called ‘Inked’

Tattoos once were an act of rebellion.

Now they decide your destiny the moment the magical Ink settles under your skin.

And in a world where Ink controls your fate, Caenum can’t escape soon enough. He is ready to run from his family, and his best friend Dreya, and the home he has known, just to have a chance at a choice.

But when he upsets the very Scribe scheduled to give him his Ink on his eighteenth birthday, he unwittingly sets in motion a series of events that sends the corrupt, magic-fearing government, The Citadel, after him and those he loves.

Now Caenum, Dreya, and their reluctant companion Kenzi must find their way to the Sanctuary, a secret town where those with the gift of magic are safe. Along the way, they learn the truth behind Ink, its dark origins, and why they are the only ones who can stop the Citadel.

Eric Smith takes you on a high-octane fantasy adventure, perfect for anyone who has dreamed of being different… only to discover that fate is more than skin deep.

 

This book was absolutely amazing! I loved it! (and am REALLLLLLLLLLLY hoping there is a book two one day.) The first couple chapters I was unsure about where this was going story wise but was really enjoying it but then after those first couple chapters (and the end of interruptions at that very moment when I was trying to read) I was suddenly pulled into this awesome, action packed adventure! and I loved it! I absolutely loved the setting too! It felt like I was standing there amidst everything. I was whisked away to another world for sure! As every chapter went on I fell more and more in love with the characters and the story. Even better some of the characters had super powers! Eep! *jumps up and down in excitement* I mean, it doesn’t get much better than that!…Though, there was one point in the story where I MIGHT have become jealous of this characters powers…I was basically sitting there reading and being like: Hello Character? Yes, yes you. Can you just give me your powers please?

If I had powers, man. It would be all sorts of awesomeness….

*cough cough* Anyways…back to what I was saying. This book was absolutely amazing and gave me all sorts of feels. Shipping feels, sadness feels…Feels all over the place! The characters were totally awesome and I loved them a lot!

Caenum was a really great character! (being the POV character that is good! :P) I liked his personality and his protective-ness of Dreya just about killed me every single time! It was just so sweet and adorable and- *shipping feels*

With that said, I really liked Dreya’s character as well. She was quite a sweet little thing but most definitely tough and could take care of herself without anyone’s assistance.

I am not going to lie though that Kenzi was my absolute favorite of the bunch though. A little stubborn at times and doesn’t seem to take orders all that well, Kenzi was an interesting addition to the little trio that consisted of himself, Caenum and Dreya. To be honest it seems like Kenzi always brought trouble with him wherever he went. (But that’s the fun of it, right?)…I don’t know if its just me but I found him to be a bit quirky too.

One thing I didn’t like (probably a minor thing in most peoples eyes and shouldn’t hinder you from reading the book! …That would be bad. Don’t not read the book cause of this little note!) was the language in the book. There wasn’t much of it but language in books just isn’t my favorite.  So yeah, just a quick little note there…..

Anyways! My rating for this awesome book is:

Well, Thats my review! Have you read the book? What are your thoughts on it? Is this book in your TBR pile? (IF so maybe bump it up to next read 😉 )

 

Until Next Time!

Adriana Gabrielle

Castle of Sighs (by Jennifer Murgia) Cover Reveal Countdown || 7 Days

 

About Castle of Sighs:

Some secrets cannot be kept—in life or in death.

Months have passed since Rune has heard a single whisper from her long-dead mother, the great witch of Bavaria. But the absence of one evil has only made room for another.
After rightfully inheriting her ancestral home, Pyrmont Castle, Rune settles into a quiet life taking care of two orphans left in the wake of the terrible witch hunt that claimed dozens of lives in the nearby village. As the days grow colder, the castle’s secrets beckon and Rune finds herself roaming where no one has set foot in a long time. In the bowels of the fortress is a locked room full of memories that hang like cobwebs—shelves stacked with jars, strange specimens, putrid liquids, and scrolls of spells. Rune is undeniably drawn to what she finds there, and she begins to dabble in the possibilities of magic, hoping to find a cure for the strangeness overwhelming the castle.
As secrets unspool, the delicate thread of Rune’s world is threatened when she realizes the key may lie in the dark forest she once called home and the boy she thought she knew.

Links: Goodreads

Interview- K.M Weiland

Hello Readers! Today I am honoured to be joined by author K.M Weiland for an interview! The fact that I have this opportunity is very exciting!

Now, let’s get started 🙂

What inspired you to start writing?
One of my earliest memories is a story I came up with when three or four. I don’t remember a whole lot about it except that I was the hero in a tree house, and I saved my entire extended family (we were at a family reunion) from some unknown evil.

So, really, story-telling chose me. I’ve always been dreaming stories; writing them down was just the next step in a natural progression.

Wow. That’s awesome. I really love how your childhood imagination never really leaves you when it comes to writing sometimes 🙂 or when it’s the thing that started it all.

Do you write an outline before writing your novels?
Always. In a nutshell, my process goes something like this:

1. Craft a premise sentence.
2. Brainstorm ideas.
3. Explore character backstory.
4. Interview characters.
5. Identify settings and/or world build.
6. Write an extended outline (in which I flesh out and structure each scene).
7. Condense that outline into the most pertinent notes and type them up in Scrivener.

What do you find, is the hardest part of the writing process?
Every book is its own adventure. Something that’s easy in one book can end up being surprisingly difficult in another. Major rewrites, when they’re necessary, are probably my least favorite part—but they offer their own rewards too. Honestly, I enjoy aspects of every part of the process.

Rewrites and I are never on agreeing terms. So, what is one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members?
My critique partners have been great, especially my longtime critter Linda Yezak. We’ve been critiquing and supporting each other since before my second book came out. It’s awesome to know another writer has your back and is able to both help you grow in your own writing and also commiserate about issues non-writers wouldn’t necessarily understand.

That’s awesome. Critique partners are amazing. Do you have any advice for other writers out there who are looking into publishing or just writing a story in general?
First, write the best story you have in you. Second, don’t expect to find success with your first novel. It can happen, but it’s not likely. Keep writing until you’re personally confident in the book and are no longer hearing about any major problems from your critique partners. There’s no reason to self-publishing or querying agents until you’ve reached that point.

 

K.M. Weiland lives in make-believe worlds, talks to imaginary friends, and survives primarily on chocolate truffles and espresso. She is the IPPY and NIEA Award-winning and internationally published author of the Amazon bestsellers Outlining Your Novel and Structuring Your Novel, as well as Jane Eyre: The Writer’s Digest Annotated Classic. She writes historical and speculative fiction from her home in western Nebraska and mentors authors on her award-winning website Helping Writers Become Authors.

 

Thank you K.M Weiland for doing this interview and thank you, my wonderful readers for stopping by to read this interview! (More coming soon 🙂 )

 

Until Next Time!

Adriana Gabrielle