Monday, September 23, 2013
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Book Blast: The Sotweed Smuggler
ABOUT THE SOTWEED SMUGGLER
The
Sotweed Smuggler, the 2010 historical fiction winner of the Houston
Writer’s Guild, tells a story of suspense. Will Sherewell, the son of a
prosperous merchant marine captain, learns when his father’s will is
read, that he has inherited his ship. Living with his pious mother, he
has little knowledge of sailing and anticipates a majestic vessel.
Instead, he finds The Emperor’s Dictum aka The King’s Dick, notorious
for smuggling sotweed and whiskey between Devonshire and Scotland.
Will
yearns to be like his father and sails the Dick, enduring ridicule,
fierce storms, pirate attacks, and curses of legendary fairies and
ghosts, while finding companionship with his runaway brother and
discovering the woman he wishes to marry. In spite of his father’s
spying, treachery, murder, and Scottish border intrigue, Will learns he
served Scotland with honor defeating the outlaw MacGregor Clan. With the
new knowledge, he believes his father is their captive.
He
receives a Scottish certificate with a handwritten notation “dead.” Did
he at last find the truth? Will must choose to accept the veracity of
the document, or launch a futile one-man attack on a MacGregor
stronghold. Reluctantly accepting his father’s death, he sails home to
his new wife at Mothercombe Bay.
Purchase your copy:
ABOUT BARBARA ANDREWS
Barbara
Andrews, a graduate of the University of Nebraska has extensive
experience in adult education administration, sales management, and
technical writing. She has previously published the book, Dear Mama,
Love Sarah, and maintains an active interest in American
history--particularly the lives of those who came and lived in America
during the colonial period. She and her husband live in Richmond, Texas.
Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash!
Terms & Conditions:
- By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
- One winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one $25 Amazon Gift Certificate or Paypal Cash.
- This giveaway begins September 9 - September 20.
- Winners will be contacted via email on Saturday September 21, 2013.
- Winner has 48 hours to reply.
Good luck everyone!
ENTER TO WIN!
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Review: Trouble in the Tarot by Kari Lee Townsend
by Kari Lee Townsend
Release Date: March 5th 2013
2013 Berkley Prime Crime
Softcover Edition; 304 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-425-25197-3
ASIN: B0099CWK0I
Genre: Fiction / Cozy Mystery
Source: From author
3.5 / 5 Stars
Summary
Lately Sunny has been experiencing a period of big opportunity: her business in Divinity, New York, is thriving, and Detective Mitch Stone has finally agreed to take Sunny on a date. But thanks to her clairvoyant abilities, Sunny knows better than anyone that life deals out bad cards along with the good.
When Sunny agrees to read tarot cards at the annual Summer Solstice Carnival, she meets her Granny Gert‘s “arch nemesis” Fiona Atwater, and is overcome by a vision of Fiona in a violent argument. Sunny knows trouble is brewing when Granny and Fiona start having squabbles all over town. But the fighting comes to a head when a local baker gets run over by a big white Cadillac—and Granny and Fiona are found at the crime scene.
Sunny knows she should step aside and let Mitch handle the investigating, but she’s not about to ignore her visions and leave her granny’s life in fate’s hands...
My Thoughts
Trouble in the Tarot is the third novel in the A Fortune Teller Mystery Series which features Sunshine 'Sunny' Meadows and her adorable cat, Morty. And although I felt this was the best book of the series in terms of character development, and of course, trying to find out more about my favourite character, Morty the cat, when it came to mystery and murder, I actually felt this one was more confusing and convoluted and didn't quite match up to the previous two novels.
What I really liked: Naturally, Morty the cat is a huge mystery, and every time he appears, he just adds to the mystery of what and more particularly, what he is. I have a feeling the author is going to play with that particular thing for as long as she can just to keep her readers frustrated and longing to know, and so we can keep guessing. What fun!!! Sunny keeps growing on me with each book as well, and I like how her character is developing and evolving especially as I wasn't overly fond of her in the first book. Some people seem to be trouble magnets, and Sunny just happens to be one of them. I do have to admit that the Monster Truck scene was a bit over the top though, even for Sunny. I enjoyed the pace of the novel and although the arguments between Granny Gert and Fiona drove me nuts in the beginning, when it finally settled down, I found myself enjoying their two characters very much, although the solutions to their problems seemed quite simplistic.
What I'm not sure about: I did enjoy the plot, and thought there were quite a few suspects thrown in the reader's lap, with lots of twists and turns. With everything that was going on however, I wonder if maybe the plot was too convoluted and I didn't really feel like Sunny herself was invested in this mystery / murder. I did bother me when Sunny kept getting mad at Mitch for withholding information from her; he is a police officer and the fact that she keeps expecting him to reveal information relating to a police investigation just because they're romantically involved drives me crazy. Where does this sense of entitlement come from? If they ever get married, he would still be obliged to withhold information, it's his job, and he could, and should, get fired for it. Sunny didn't really use her paranormal abilities in this case, and when she did, she used them for things she could have figured out on her own. I just felt like there was something missing when it came to the mystery aspect in this one that wasn't there in the first two.
Verdict
Trouble in the Tarot was an interesting and fun read, and I did enjoy it very much, but more for the romantic aspect of the novel, rather than for the mystery aspect of it. I thought the plot was too convoluted and didn't quite wrap things up or explain things well enough, but I did enjoy the character developments and the intertwining relationships in this community. The plot does move along nicely however, and the author's writing style is captivating and engaging; you can't help getting caught up in Sunny's world. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, and hopefully discovering more about Morty the cat.
Saturday, August 24, 2013
Review: The King's Deception by Steve Berry
by Steve Berry
Release Date: June 11, 2013
2013 Ballantine Books
ISBN: 978-0345526546
ASIN: B009JU5HQO
Genre: Fiction / Suspense
Source: Review copy from publisher
4 / 5 Stars
Summary
Cotton Malone and his fifteen-year-old son, Gary, are headed to Europe. As a favor to his former boss at the Justice Department, Malone agrees to escort a teenage fugitive back to England. But after he is greeted at gunpoint in London, both the fugitive and Gary disappear, and Malone learns that he’s stumbled into a high-stakes diplomatic showdown—an international incident fueled by geopolitical gamesmanship and shocking Tudor secrets.
At its heart is the Libyan terrorist convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103, who is set to be released by Scottish authorities for “humanitarian reasons.” An outraged American government objects, but nothing can persuade the British to intervene.
Except, perhaps, Operation King’s Deception.
Run by the CIA, the operation aims to solve a centuries-old mystery, one that could rock Great Britain to its royal foundations.
My Thoughts
The King's Deception is the eighth book in the Cotton Malone series, but is slightly different than the other ones as it goes back two years in Malone's life as he relates an incident to his ex-wife Pam that he was afraid to tell her before. I am a huge fan of the Cotton Malone series, and although this one wasn't as good as some of his earlier efforts, the author's ability to take historical facts and twist them to fit his needs is one of the reasons why I keep coming back to this series.
What I liked: As always, the historical facts and the twists that Steve Berry can add to established historical facts is amazing. This one was no different, and I definitely saw Elizabeth Tudor in a whole different light, including her actions and her personal beliefs and superstitions. What I ended up doing was reading quickly through the modern day events so I could get to the historical events as I found them quite interested and really wasn't given enough for the allegations that were put forward in this novel. I thought the concept was quite fascinating and it would certainly turn the whole modern English world over on its collective head, so to speak. I couldn't even imagine the consequences if such an event were true, and it's actually kind of scary. If you've read the book, then you know what I am talking about, if you haven't, I don't want to give away too many spoilers, so it makes this review kind of difficult to write. It doesn't hurt that I am fascinated with anything Tudor, and seem to be going through a Tudor mania phase at the moment.
I liked the secondary storyline that dealt with Malone's son Gary, and the question of his true parentage. If you've other Malone books, you will already know some of this, but it was nice to read how it actually came about, which I suspect is why Berry chose to write this novel in the first place. Too many fans wanting to know the truth? I also enjoyed the interactions between a lot of the new characters and the gentle humour that was more evident in this novel than in previous ones. I really hope to see the twins again in future novels as I enjoyed their wit and their ability to handle crisis situations.
What I wasn't sure about: Steve Berry is known for his convoluted plots and the fact that no one can be trusted, including his so-called friends. This one didn't seem to have that edge, that suspense, that I am used to feeling in one of his novels. The novel felt more like it was for Gary and his friend Iain than espionage and suspense and you could feel it in the pages, especially if you've read all of the other novels and know what to expect in a Steve Berry novel. It's not that I didn't enjoy it, it just seemed different and slower.
Verdict
The King's Deception provided an interesting twist to the many legends and myths surrounding Queen Elizabeth I, and I enjoyed reading all of the historical twists and turns that were given to support the new ideas. It's something that had never occurred to me and it was quite fun to think about how this would have affected Elizabethan England at the time, and definitely how it would have consequences on our modern world. I thought the plot was slower and less suspenseful than in previous novels, but as a whole it works and was fun to read. As always, I am looking forward to what Steve Berry has in store for us next.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Review: Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
By Jessica Brockmole
Release Date: July 9th, 2013
2013 Ballantine Books
Hardcover Edition; 304 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-345-54260-1
ASIN: B00BABT9VE
Genre: Fiction / Historical
Source: Review copy from publisher
4 / 5 Stars
Summary
March 1912: Twenty-four-year-old Elspeth Dunn, a published poet, has never seen the world beyond her home on Scotland’s remote Isle of Skye. So she is astonished when her first fan letter arrives, from a college student, David Graham, in far-away America. As the two strike up a correspondence—sharing their favorite books, wildest hopes, and deepest secrets—their exchanges blossom into friendship, and eventually into love. But as World War I engulfs Europe and David volunteers as an ambulance driver on the Western front, Elspeth can only wait for him on Skye, hoping he’ll survive.
June 1940: At the start of World War II, Elspeth’s daughter, Margaret, has fallen for a pilot in the Royal Air Force. Her mother warns her against seeking love in wartime, an admonition Margaret doesn’t understand. Then, after a bomb rocks Elspeth’s house, and letters that were hidden in a wall come raining down, Elspeth disappears. Only a single letter remains as a clue to Elspeth’s whereabouts. As Margaret sets out to discover where her mother has gone, she must also face the truth of what happened to her family long ago.
My Thoughts
Letters From Skye is one of those books I just picked up randomly yesterday as I needed something to read and then I couldn't put it down, even though I was in the midst of something else. I became absorbed to the point of neglecting other things I had to do, including ignoring my fighting children, until I finished it, all in one day. David and Elspeth's love story, during the traumatic events of WW1, was heart-wrenching, inspiring, joyful, and sad, and I found myself turning the pages as quickly as I could, wondering what was going to happen to them.
The story is told through a series of letters as well as in two different time periods, jumping back and forth between the events. The first story is a series of letters between Davey and 'Sue' (Elspeth), a nickname that Davey comes up with at the beginning of their correspondence, which kinds of sticks. At first, they are just two friends sharing secrets and interests with one another, but you can sense the loneliness and need behind the writing, and as they letters get more intimate, you can interpret and feel how the writing changes. I found it quite fascinating and have to give the author a lot of credit for her writing ability as it couldn't have been easy to show how these two people fell in love through their letters this way. I felt very sympathetic towards both of these characters and was amazed how that could happen through a series of personal letters. You could sense the anguish as both characters had to deal with infidelity and the consequences of their choices and the effects it had on both of their families. And the big theme running through these letters was choice: people had choices in their lives and should have the right to make the choice that was right for them, otherwise the consequences could be dreadful for everyone involved. There were some aspects where the dishonesty did have consequences on Elspeth's brothers, but it didn't really go any further and I wish it had as it is such an important theme, especially when infidelity is involved. I am just not sure that the author went deep enough into these themes to do them justice in the novel.
The other story was about Elspeth's daughter, Margaret, who knows nothing about her mother's past nor about her family history. This story takes place during WWII and when a bomb drops on Elspeth's apartment, something seems to crack inside her, and she disappears. We learn through letters interwoven through Margaret's search for her mother and her family, that she is now searching for Davey and what happened during WWI. It leads to a lot of anticipation as you know that something happened to separate Davey and Elspeth, but you are left wondering what and how and why throughout the rest of the novel, which is what kept the pages turning for me. I just couldn't put it down as I had to know what happened. And the ending was totally satisfactory.
Verdict
Letters From Skye is definitely not what a expected when I first started reading it; it's one of those gems that pop up once in a while and makes you forget that there are things to do in life, like eat and take care of kids, when all you want to do is snuggle up and keep reading. I thought the interwoven stories added a lot of drama and suspense to the novel, which made it a lot of fun to read as I had no idea what was going to happen. I also thought the letters would take away from my empathy with the characters, but I actually felt closer to them, which often happens when dealing with a POV in the first person. It also made me think about how people really cherished letters in the past and what it was like to receive a letter in the mail after weeks of anticipation. We are so tech-based it is hard to understand the anguish and despair that people felt during these time periods as they waited to hear from loved ones who were at war. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in a good love story written in a slightly different style from what they are used to.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Interview: Esther Wheelmaker
I am pleased to welcome Esther Wheelmaker, author of Gravely Inanimated, the first novel in the Zombiepunk series. Released in March, the novel tells the tale of an England invaded by zombies, and Lucy, her attention captured by two young men, whose secrets make her wonder which is more dangerous, the zombies or the men who are capturing her attention and perhaps, her heart? Check it out!!
Extra, extra, read all about it: Zombies Invade London!
It has been thirty years since England was plagued by zombies. Humans fear for their lives while the dead kill the living.
By the cover of night, a man known only as Aeron hunts these creatures. On one foggy evening he finds Lucille Knight's life in jeopardy and Aeron's interest is instantly peaked when he saves the young lady.
But Aeron will have competition when Lucy meets Lord Garrett Ashdown, son of the Inventor, Earl Thomas.
Lucy is drawn to the masked man and equally mysterious Lord. With one concealing his true identity and the other hiding a ghastly secret, she does not know which one is less dangerous.
Will she be able to be with the man she chooses when she learns the awful truth?
It has been thirty years since England was plagued by zombies. Humans fear for their lives while the dead kill the living.
By the cover of night, a man known only as Aeron hunts these creatures. On one foggy evening he finds Lucille Knight's life in jeopardy and Aeron's interest is instantly peaked when he saves the young lady.
But Aeron will have competition when Lucy meets Lord Garrett Ashdown, son of the Inventor, Earl Thomas.
Lucy is drawn to the masked man and equally mysterious Lord. With one concealing his true identity and the other hiding a ghastly secret, she does not know which one is less dangerous.
Will she be able to be with the man she chooses when she learns the awful truth?
Interview with Esther
1) To start off, can you tell me a little bit about yourself? How did you become interested in writing steampunk?
I
went to the Steampunk World Faire last year because it looked
interesting and while I was there I just fell in love with the whole
concept. Especially after I heard Kady Cross and some other authors
speak about their books. It was an amazing experience and after meeting
the band V is for Villains I was even more inspired to get into this
genre.
2) Can you tell us a little about your novel, Gravely Inanimated? What is it like to create your own world?
My “elevator
speech”: A love that’s formidable, revenge that must be taken and a
Voodoo Queen that roots fear in the hearts of the innocent; all while
zombies eat people. :grin:
Creating my own
world is like playing God. Hahaha. For this genre it required a mass of
research. I love the Victorian Era though so I already understood that
end. The zombies were all new to me. But after I looked into the lore
surrounding the creature it actually became lots of fun. There was tons I
could do with them; add the voodoo and I felt like there were endless
possibilities.
3) What inspired you to write Gravely Inanimated? How much research was involved in the writing?
I
can not tell a lie. It’s all my brothers fault. A pointed out the
zombie trend forming and like lots of guys he likes zombie best. I use
to hate them until I wrote Gravely Inanimated. But the versatility I could use with the genre was something I couldn’t pass on.
The
research included finding out more about voodoo and zombies mostly and
of course I had to read some Steampunk books to get an idea of how it’s
formed. I love research though so it was so much fun (and I of course
got a little obsessive) to do.
4) What was your greatest challenge while writing this novel? What is the message in this novel?
I also write The Last Witch Series, which has sex and such so it’s more of an adult book. Taking that out and making Gravely Inanimated for young adults was a tad different. But I think it came out amazing.
Actually,
this book does have a big message behind it that developed more as I
wrote the book. I believe the message of prejudice is apparent. I loved
being able to incorporate that and hope it teaches some teens how to be
more tolerant of others.
5) Who was the most fun to write about? Which character presented the biggest challenge?
The
character I loved writing was Lucy. She is feisty, curious and very
stubborn. Being able to show strength through a woman in this time
period was so much fun.
I
think the most difficult character to write was Garrett. I wanted him
to be a strong male lead but also have a sensitive side to him. Writing
males can sometimes be difficult for me since I know the female mind
best. It was a terrific journey and I think he turned out just right.
6) What are 3 things that are 'must haves' when you write? Do you have any writing rituals?
I
hate being bothered while I’m writing so I’d rather do it alone in my
room. I also like to burn insence while I work. Lavender for calm scenes
and something like Dragon’s Blood when I write fight scenes. For a
third…I have to have the internet. If I can’t research while I write
I’ll tend to get pissy since it can stop my scene from moving forward.
As for writing rituals…Some wine during is always a plus. ::Grin::
7)
Can you share with us any projects that you are currently working on or
plans for the future? What can fans expect next from you? Are there
other genres in which you are interested but haven't yet explored?
At
the moment I really want to work on the second book in the Zombiepunk
series, begin the fourth book for the Last Witch series and finish an
erotica novella involving demons for Sizzler Edition. Buuuuut, I’m a
little overwhelmed at the moment with all the panels I am doing for six
or seven conventions I’m attending.
I’m
playing with the title Hopeful Darkness for the second Zombiepunk book.
What I want to do is delve more into the lives of some side characters
that need more attention.
Right
now I don’t think I want to take on any new genres I haven’t written
yet. I’m pretty content with the paranormal romance and steampunk I’m
working on.
8) Favorite authors? Role models?
The
writer that helped to open my eyes to the idea writing is Tamora
Pierce. She created a world unlike any I have ever seen and of course
had a really strong female role I had yet to read about. This was during
my tween years. Other authors I love are Kim Harrison, Christopher
Moore, Kady Cross, Jeaniene Frost, Henry James, Shakespeare and many
others. I tend to look at all of them as my role models.
9) What do you like to do when you are not writing? What is your ultimate luxury?
Writing
is my passion and pleasure so I do look at it as an ultimate luxury,
buuuuut I love to travel. I just went to Paris for christmas last year
and not only did I get to go to an amazing place it does inspire more
ideas for my writing.
10) Is there anything else you would like to share with your readers?
Read
my book! Just kidding. I would like readers to know that I write from
my heart. You may not agree with everything in my stories but they are
sometimes based on my own life experiences. There is a lot of truth
behind every book I write and the best way to find out about me is to
read them.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Review: Midnight at Marble Arch by Anne Perry
By Anne Perry
Release Date: April 9th, 2013
2013 Ballantine Books
Hardcover Edition; 352 Pages
ISBN: 978-0-345-53666-2
ASIN: B009QJMUKY
Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery
Source: Review copy from publisher
3.5 / 5 Stars
Summary
The horrifying rape and apparent suicide of Catherine Quixwood, wife of a wealthy merchant banker, falls outside the new jurisdiction of Special Branch head Thomas Pitt, but so pervasively offensive are the rumors about the victim that Pitt quietly takes a hand in the investigation.
Yet even with the help of his ingenious wife, Charlotte, and his former superior, Victor Narraway, Pitt is stumped. Why did high-minded, cultured Catherine choose not to accompany her husband to a grand party on the night of her demise? Why did she dismiss all her servants for the evening and leave the front door unlocked? What had been her relationship with the young man seen frequently by her side at concerts and art exhibits? And what can be done to avenge another terrible crime: the assault on Angeles Castelbranco, beloved teenage daughter of the Portuguese ambassador?
As an ordinary policeman, Pitt had once entered London’s grand houses through the kitchen door. Now, as a guest in those same houses, can he find the steel in his soul to challenge the great men of the world with their crimes? The path to the truth takes him in deeply troubling directions, from the lofty world of international politics and finance to his own happy home, where his own teenage daughter, Jemima, is coming of age in a culture rife with hidden dangers.
My Thoughts
Midnight at Marble Arch is the twenty-eighth novel in the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt novels. I have been a huge fan of Anne Perry since I first discovered her years ago, and have read every single one of her novels because I could immerse myself in the time period that she describes so well and feel like I was there. She is also able to take complex topics from the time period and make you understand how people from the Victorian era would possibly react and think about the situations and help you understand the era a little bit better. With this novel, I don't quite feel like Ms. Perry hit her mark however, although rape is a tough subject with which to deal, and it felt like the characters had a much too modern feel in their thinking as opposed to the thinking of the time period.
What I liked:
As always, the twists and turns of Anne Perry's mysteries are always great. Just when I think I have everything figured out, there is always that one last twist that makes me wonder how I missed that one little clue; I may have figured out who the players were, but not necessarily the reasons why and that irks me, but the fact that after all of these mysteries and I can still be kept on my toes is quite interesting.
The relationship between Charlotte and Pitt, while more modern than most, is quite interesting to see. While Charlotte tends to have a lot more freedom than most women in her era, there are little things that are evident that show that Thomas is still head of the household and I find that quite interesting. I especially liked how Thomas and Charlotte are dealing with a more rebellious teenager and two children who are much more curious about the cases that surround them every day. It should be much more interesting in the future to see how Thomas, especially, deals with a very curious Jemima, especially if she takes after Charlotte more and more in the future. I see some very interesting developments int he future and some very amusing ones too.
Narraway and Aunt Vespasia are still favourites of mine and I like the growing interest between them. This relationship should also prove to be interesting, especially as Narraway doesn't know what to do with his time and is struggling to deal with a forced retirement.
Some of the issues I noticed:
I really didn't buy into Thomas being brought into the investigation as I didn't see how Special Branches had anything to do with the investigation at all. It seemed pretty thin as to what amounted to nothing more than a police investigation and your usual drawn-out court battle that seemed more par for the course of a Monk novel than a Pitt novel. What I did notice was all of the references to the Boer War and I could see what future novels might have in store for us and I can't wait to see what investigations Pitt might be doing with regards to that development. But for this one, I sort of was one the side of the Home Secretary and felt that Pitt really had no business being involved in the case.
While I applaud Anne Perry for discussing the rape topic during the Victorian era, I'm not sure she quite succeeded in showing us twentieth century folks exactly what it would have been like during this time period. There were definitely glimpses of hostility against women, and women's reputation being ruined because she did something to bring it one, and there was definite gossip about one girl who must have been a slut and nothing about the man, but I don't think it was enough. During a time period when even showing an ankle was cause for gossip, I can't even imagine women discussing it during a luncheon or tea and quite candidly at that. And considering the chauvinistic attitude of the men during this time period, I would have thought that opinion towards Catherine would be rather low and that common thought would be that she brought it on herself. And even though I imagine there were many enlightened people during this time period, I'm not sure how many would spoken out about it as even today it is such a controversial topic that many women are afraid to go to the police and press charges. I can't even imagine what it would have been like during this time period when most policemen were asked to go to the side door so they would not been seen at people's houses. I felt like too much of twentieth century thought was in this novel and wanted more controversy which is how it would have been. A trial like that would have raised the ire and interest of most of London I am sure. Thankfully, today, we are much more enlightened.
Verdict
Midnight at Marble Arch was an interesting novel due to the controversial subject of the mystery, although I did feel like the mystery was too easily solved despite the nice twists and turns involved. I felt quite strongly that the reasons for involving Pitt were not believable and the mystery could have easily left him out and revolved around Knox, Narraway, Vespasia, and others. This novel felt more like a lead-in towards the Boer War and some interesting developments that were going to happen in the future. Despite all of this, and the Monk feel to the novel, I still enjoyed it, and was glad to see that Anne Perry was still not afraid to tackle the controversial topics, topics I hope she continues to tackle in the future.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Guest Post: Wendy Knight
Nothing makes a new school suck worse than discovering the guy you’re in love with is your prophesied nemesis.
Ari is the most powerful flame-throwing sorceress ever, and her people’s last hope in an ancient war.
Shane lives a double life. He goes to school and masters the art of popularity, hiding the fact that he has a fate with a slim chance of his survival. He’s destined to end a 300 year-old war by killing or being killed. He knows he’s hunted by a powerful enemy who’s not afraid to die. Only problem? He has no idea who that enemy is.
When Ari shows up at Shane’s school, angry and sullen and determined to keep him at arm’s reach, neither of them realize they are supposed to be killing each other, not fall-ing in love. Until Ari does realize it, and she almost dies – by Shane’s hand.
Strong Female Characters
by Wendy Knight
Since I was teeny tiny, I have always loved
strong female characters. I remember being so disappointed when the heroine had
to get rescued time after time in all my favorite princess movies, and then in
a lot of the stories I read. Now that I’m a mother to two little girls (and an
adorable little boy, but he’s got lots of strong male characters to idolize), I
wanted them to see that girls can be strong, too. Luckily, lots of movies and
books are onboard with my idea (it was totally my idea. They just didn’t know
it yet), but when I started writing I wanted to stay true to my belief, so in
my head I created a mega-strong female main character.
Ari is unstoppable. She’s the most powerful
sorcerer/warrior/assassin ever. She doesn’t get saved in my story, she does the
saving. And I love it. The surprising thing is how easy she was for me to
write, because I’m small and pretty whimpy and I am pretty much afraid of my
own shadow. So every time I put Ari in a situation, I would think to myself, self? What would you do here? I would
answer that question and then I would have Ari do the exact opposite.
It was so much fun, and while I was writing
Ari’s stories, I was stronger myself. When I was in situations where I would be
terrified and feeling pretty small and mousy, I would hear her sarcastically
telling me I’d be fine. And she was always right.
About the Author
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)