Category Archives: Book Release

Note to Self (207) It’s a matter of life and death

. Book Release, DEATH BY CHOCOLATE . , , ,

I haven’t been very active on this platform and I sincerely apologize, but I have been extremely busy dealing with a few pressing projects. I’m working on the second volume of Death by Chocolate, and honestly, I wouldn’t have thought it’d be so difficult to finish this story. No idea whether it was easier to write drunk, or whether I’m stuck because this story is too complex to be finished in one night, but I’m struggling. That’s alright, I still find the time to write, and it will be done very soon. I’d expect a release this summer.

My other project The Manicheans will also become my daily routine because this one has been dormant for over two years and the first volume has been rewritten at least five times by now. It’s screaming to be published. So I’m going to tackle this project as soon as Death by Chocolate is completed.

If you haven’t had a chance to get your copy of Death by Chocolate, please visit Amazon or Barnes and Noble. The current edition is available as an e-book, but I expect to release the full copy of Death by Chocolate – Vol 1 and 2 – as one big book and you’ll get the chance to actually buy a physical copy.

I’m pasting the links to Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Grab a copy and leave a review! I’d really appreciate your feedback.

If you don’t know what Death by Chocolate is about, watch the trailer below! Catch you later guys!

#NewRelease – Death by Chocolate Vol 1 is finally available

. Book Release, DEATH BY CHOCOLATE

At seventeen years old, Julie deals with more problems than most teenagers her age. After getting into an argument with her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend, she runs away from school. Quickly homeless and broke, her escape to Las Vegas leads her to an old Gypsy woman she meets outside of a supermarket when begging for food.

Julie’s hungry and heartbroken. She wants to find shelter from the rain and forget a life she has been despising for years. When the Gypsy offers to read her future in exchange for a meal, the challenge sounds like a dare. The tarot cards reveal a great destiny, and a perilous journey. What else can go wrong that hasn’t already happened? Julie finds the whole act entertaining until the Gypsy gives her a red heart shaped box containing twelve chocolates, and orders her to eat one.

Julie wakes up in an unwelcoming world filled with danger. A boy named Evan introduces himself as her guide, but will he really help her when she needs him the most? Demons of a long forgotten past haunt her dreams and seek revenge for something she doesn’t remember. Too many questions receive too little answers.

Reality and fantasy have melted to become one never ending nightmare where failure equals death. Will Julie accept the truth to survive?

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.

 

#Blog Tour GOLD TRAIN

. Blog Tour, Book Release . , , ,

And here we are… Talking about great authors with great books! Lada Ray is certainly a talented writer and a generous soul who decided to pick my blog as part of her blog tour to promote the paperback release of her bestseller Gold Train!

Time to make room for an author interview and more links featuring some awesome events during the Gold Train blog tour. Don’t hesitate to hop from blog to blog in order to discover new sites and have fun!!

Ladies and Gentlement, Lada Ray for Gold Train!

Q: Tell us a bit about yourself and your current projects.

I was born in Moscow, Russia, but my parents moved around a lot for work and I spent part of my childhood in the beautiful city of Odessa on the Black Sea. Throughout my life, I traveled to over 26 countries and finally settled down in the USA. I worked as a linguist and translator, and later as a financial consultant on Wall Street. I also obtained my Master’s certification in feng shui directly from the revered Asian Masters of this ancient art.

I like imagining my stories in bustling New York City and beautifully serene Catskill Mountains, where I live with my family and gorgeous calico cat Lily.

So far, I’ve published two Jade Snow adventure novels and one novella:

~GOLD TRAIN, gripping mystery/thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow Russia Adventure);
~STEPFORD USA, a small town psychological mystery/thriller (Jade Snow Prequel);
~Green Desert, a riveting story set in Iraq (A Jade Snow Novella)

I am currently working on two other books, both to be released in 2012:

~Dragon Gate, next Jade Snow Adventure, set in Asia;
~The Earth Shifter, new YA fantasy/thriller, set in Russia (Moscow & Siberia,) US, China and other mythical locales of this surreal Blue Planet.

All up-to-date news about my books and current projects may be found at my author site: http://www.LadaRay.com

 

Q: When and why did you begin writing? What inspired you to write your first story?

I always wanted to write cool stories, which I’d been imagining in my head ever since I can remember. Instead, I listened to my well meaning parents and started my life in a more traditional way.

But a few years ago, I was flying to Asia via Dubai. After a very interesting meeting with several international journalists returning from Afghanistan, I imagined a smart, beautiful, and witty journalist, Jade Snow, who mastered to perfection the art of being in the wrong place at the right time.

I decided that it was now or never and started writing my debut novel, STEPFORD USA, a Jade Snow Prequel. I also wrote GREEN DESERT, a Jade Snow Novella.

GOLD TRAIN was a natural progression for the series. The story of the lost Russian Imperial treasure, the conspiracy to overthrow the Russian government and to upset the global balance of power fit the world of Jade Snow perfectly.

 

Q: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

As far as non-fiction goes, I had written a number of various articles at different points of my life. Some had been published with major publications throughout the world.

But nothing prepares you for the scope and complexity of writing fiction… until you actually sit down to do it.

I think the point at which I really started feeling like a writer was when I finished my debut novel, STEPFORD USA, a Jade Snow Prequel. And by the time I finished GOLD TRAIN, I knew I was in the right profession, so to speak. ;)

 

Q: How did you come up with the title of your work?

That was easy. A couple of years ago, during one of my Internet expeditions, I stumbled upon an informative documentary on Russia Today, the Russian TV network, much like what happens to Jade Snow in the book. The documentary was about the disappearance of the Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire in August 1918, during the Russian Civil War.

I avidly watched the documentary, absorbing every single detail, and immediately imagined what would happen if… I pictured the train in which the treasure was transported, the tension between the crew and the Commissar, culminating in a disaster, and the White Army ambush, resulting in the looting of the country’s entire Gold Reserve. This is the scene described in Gold Train’s dramatic prologue.

Trains and travels are in my blood, as both of my parents worked for Russian Railways. And the story is all about Russian trains – their past, present and future. In Gold Train, Jade rides the magnificent Russian Metro; boards the Saint Petersburg express; prevents the bombing of the high-speed train Sapsan. But most importantly, she is destined to uncover a conspiracy intrinsically connected to the lost Imperial treasure – the Gold Train mystery.

 

Q: What’s your writing style? Is there a message in your story that you want readers to grasp?

I think, I am a combination of different writing styles, or, you could say, my style is my own. First, I come up with the idea. I find that the better my idea is defined and the stronger the hook, the easier it is to write the book. Then, I meditate and polish up the idea in my head for a while. Simultaneously, the title just simply appears in my mind. Sometimes, I hesitate between two pretty cool titles and it’s difficult to choose the best one. That’s what happened with Stepford USA (alt. title: Virtual Paradise.)

Then, I write a solid synopsis, sometimes, both short and long versions.

I am very visual, so the events in the book would often play out before my eyes, as if in a movie. At that point, I would write the beginning (prologue, first few chapters.) And normally, that beginning stays pretty much unaltered. Then, I write some pivotal scenes, occurring throughout the book and usually the ending, which I also visualize early on.

I call these parts “the skeleton of the story.”

The hardest part for me is the middle, and I usually write it last, closing in, so to speak, from both ends – beginning and ending. However, with Gold Train, the middle flowed unusually well. Perhaps, because I was inspired.

I resort to outlining only if I feel absolutely stuck, and just writing out the sequence of events helps me get back on track. But I don’t do it often and find that I abandon the effort as soon as creative juices start flowing again.

As my writing career progresses, I find that my writing style is evolving into something completely new and exciting. All I can say, it’s a fascinating journey and I am in it for a long and thrilling ride!

As to the message in my stories… My books are very international and I am a big believer in capturing life in all its complexity and facets. Jade Snow is a very strong, independent, smart and sexy heroine. She is also the citizen of the world and her heart is always in the right place, as one reviewer pointed out. She has to go through a lot and get tested to the limit during her adventures.

I can’t emphasize enough how much our contemporary literature needs the smart and strong female characters and role models who are also real, genuine people. And how much we need more people with intelligence, courage and heart in our everyday lives! In the new world of the 21 century, we have to learn to live and work together, regardless of prejudices and borders, to understand each other and help those in need, whether it is by saving a stranger’s life, averting global disaster, or by a simple act of random kindness.

 

Q: What books have influenced your life most? Who is your favorite author?

There were lots of books during various periods that fascinated me and influenced my life for different reasons. Or the ones I simply loved to get lost in.

Some of them, in no particular order: Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace; Many of Agatha Christie’s books, especially the Poirot series; Sherlock Holmes; I loved Harry Potter series; The Da Vinci Code; The Idiot and other works by Dostoyevsky; Alexander Dumas; Victor Hugo; Shakespeare; Rumi’s Sufi poetry; Oscar Wilde; Master and Margarita and other works by Mikhail Bulgakov, and many, many more.

 

Q: Do you have any advice for other writers?

My best advice for aspiring writers is to write. Write through thick and thin, master your craft, and if the first book doesn’t pan out, go on to the next, then the next, and so on. There are plenty of writers out there, who only saw success after a long and what seemed like fruitless effort. But no effort is in vain and success comes to those who don’t give up.

And most importantly, if your soul craves self-expression, don’t stifle it – release it. Let your soul sing, let it fly, let everyone see its beauty.

As Leo Tolstoy once said, “Don’t die with your song inside you.”

 

Q: Do you have anything specific you want to say to your readers?

Dear readers, GOLD TRAIN Paperback is now out. It will be on sale on Amazon for $9.99 (reg. $14.95) till May 6. Gold Train ebook is now only $0.99 for a limited time. Also, don’t miss other awesome blog stops and great giveaways! All relevant links and information are listed below.

More information about these Promotions, as well as Giveaways and the Gold Train Blog Tour schedule: http://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

The next Jade Snow adventure, DRAGON GATE, will take place amongst the mystical lands of Asia. There are many more mysteries to solve, conspiracies to uncover, and yes, happiness to find!

See you on pages of my books, where Jade and I promise you a non-stop thrilling ride with heart!

Thank you, Johanna, for this terrific opportunity to share my writing and Jade Snow with the readers of your blog. I enjoyed our conversation!

***

GOLD TRAIN – A Thriller

Jade Snow Russia Adventure

This story is based on true historic events

1918, Russian Civil War. The entire Gold Reserve of the Russian Empire vanishes without a trace. But what if it’s about to resurface? And what if it’s about to be used to shift the global balance of power?

Today: the world’s largest treasure; dangerous adventure; forbidden passion, defying time and space; conspiracy that threatens to plunge the country into darkness.

International journalist, wife and mom, Jade Snow, travels to Russia to reconnect with the country of her ancestors and investigate tantalizing mystery of the Gold Train. What she doesn’t know is that she is about to land in the midst of a deadly conspiracy threatening to change the fate of one of the world’s most powerful nations, and that she is destined to meet a mysterious stranger who will change her life forever.

As her only Russian friend gets murdered, Jade finds herself embroiled in a net of intrigue, glamour and alien ideals on these strange and unfamiliar shores. On top of that, she becomes more popular than she’d ever bargained for. So popular, in fact, that it could be hazardous to her health. And she deals with this dangerous and unwanted popularity in a way that is guaranteed to surprise even the most seasoned reader.

Refusing to be a pawn in a struggle of forces beyond her control, Jade must choose between her worst friends and best enemies… and the future of the world just might depend on her choice!

Genre: Spy thriller, historic mystery, action, adventure, suspense with an element of otherworldly romance.

Pages: 232 – print version. Size: 9×6 in.

Release: eBook – 12/18/11. Paperback – 4/25/12

***

PROMOTIONS:

For a limited time on Amazon (starting on 4/24):

Buy GOLD TRAIN paperback for $9.99 (reg. $14.95)

Buy Gold Train ebook for only $0.99 (reg. $3.99)

Own all three Jade Snow ebooks for only $2.97. Gold Train, Stepford USA, Green Desert – $0.99 each!

 

More information about these Promotions, as well as Giveaways and the Gold Train Blog Tour schedule: http://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

Check out other cool stops along the Gold Train Paperback Launch Blog Tour – not your usual tour! It includes lots of interesting interviews, reviews, as well as special features, including: JADE SNOW: Savior or Seductress; Fact and Fiction in Gold Train; Russia and I; and a rare, candid conversation with Jason Sullivan of Different Outcomes Blog about the Russian royalty and 1918 Civil War, my childhood memories riding Russian trains, and what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union. There will also be some rare and exclusive pictures. Don’t miss these very special events!

***

WHERE TO BUY GOLD TRAIN:

Amazon US  (Paperback and eBook)

Amazon UK   DE   FR   ES   IT  (Paperback and eBook)

Barnes & Noble  (eBook)

Smashwords   (eBook)

Kobo  (eBook)

Sony  (eBook)

***

USEFUL LINKS:

Blog Tour and Giveaway info: http://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours

Visit Lada Ray Author Website – all about GOLD TRAIN and other books: http://www.LadaRay.com

GOLD TRAIN Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkTek8E23rg

Blog: http://ladaray.wordpress.com

Twitter: @LadaTweets

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/LadaRay

YouTube: Lada Ray Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/LadaRay/videos

Facebook @ Lada Ray

I am inviting you to check out the entertaining posts on Lada Ray Blog with lots of beautiful and rare photos. It’s Russia, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Russian trains and gorgeous, one-of-a-kind Russian Metro, like you’ve never seen them before! It’s also about Jade Snow and Gold Train:

GOLD TRAIN Magical Setting: Moscow, Russia

Amazing Russian Metro

The World of Russian Trains and My Childhood Memories

Gold Train: Meet Jade Snow, heroine of the Jade Snow International Adventure Series

Gold Train: Who is this mysterious Alexei?

Tsars, Oligarchs and Imperial Treasure: St. Petersburg, Russia

***

Last but not least, about Lada Ray…

BIO:

I’ve loved all the varied and exotic things I’ve done in life, but writing is by far my biggest love affair and most exciting adventure. Can’t wait to share it… See you on pages of my books!

Lada Ray is a writer, internationally certified feng shui master practitioner, world traveler, linguist, financial consultant & investor, nature/animal lover and spirituality & metaphysics researcher.

Born in Russia, Lada always wanted to write cool stories, which she’d been imagining in her head ever since she can remember. Instead, she listened to her well-meaning parents and started her life in a more traditional way (for her, that is.)

Lada holds a Master’s Degree in comparative linguistics (graduated summa cum laude,) is fluent in several languages and has traveled to over twenty six countries (she stopped counting after 26) in Europe, Asia, North and South America, as well as Africa. She had worked in Havana, Cuba as an interpreter for the Russian educational exchange delegations, including a couple of interviews with the man himself – Fidel Castro.

In the USA, she published articles in the Hartford Courant & taught Russian on cable TV. Then, something inexplicable possessed her to work as a financial consultant for AIG and Smith Barney/Citigroup.

But later, she came back to her senses and quit the corporate world to pursue her dreams. She traveled to Asia to study with the revered Hong Kong Masters of Feng Shui and obtained her International Master’s Certification (graduated first in class) with Lillian Too, world-renowned feng shui author and teacher. For years, Lada operated an extensive feng shui website and blog – a hit with fans, both locally and worldwide – and authored over thirty articles on feng shui and spirituality for her own website, as well as for the World of Feng Shui and other international publications. At the same time, she taught her proprietary feng shui courses and did public speaking.

Lada imagines her stories in bustling New York City and beautifully serene Catskill Mountains, where she lives with her family and gorgeous calico cat Lily.

Lada Ray is the author of:

~GOLD TRAIN, gripping mystery/thriller set in Russia and based on true historic events (Jade Snow Russia Adventure)

~STEPFORD USA, a small town psychological mystery/thriller (Jade Snow Prequel)

~Green Desert, a riveting story set in Iraq (A Jade Snow Novella)

Coming in 2012:

~The Earth Shifter, new YA fantasy/thriller, set in Russia (Moscow & Siberia,) US, China and other mythical locales of this surreal Blue Planet

~Dragon Gate, next Jade Snow Adventure, set in Asia

 

THANK YOU LADA FOR STOPPING BY!! :)

#Blog Tour GOLD TRAIN

. Blog Tour, Book Release

The blog tour for Gold Train has officially started!! Check Lada Ray’s blog for more info about her awesome book, and read her author interview on this blog on April 27, 2012!

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

April 25 (Wd)  SheNow.org Blog - Feature Article: JADE SNOW: SAVIOR OR SEDUCTRESS   

April 25 (Wd)  The Plot Thickens - Author interview: We discuss Gold Train’s plot

April 26 (Th)   City Girl Who Loves to Read - Author interview: We discuss Gold Train’s magical setting

April 27 (Fr)    The Manicheans - Author Interview

April 28 (Sat)   Kate’s Reads Blog - Author Interview and review

April 29 (Sun)  My Love of Reading Blog - Author Interview and review

April 30 (Mon)  Lada Ray Blog – Feature article: RUSSIA and I. Includes lots of beautiful & rare photos fo Moscow and Saint Petersburg!  

May 01 (Tu)    Different Outcomes - Author Jason Sullivan of Different Outcomes Blog and I are preparing a rare and candid interview. In it we’ll discuss the Russian Civil War; history and current state of the Russian royalty; Soviet and Russian literature and film; May Day celebration in the USSR; and the unique character of Jade Snow. In addition, we’ll talk about my childhood experiences riding Russian trains and what it was like growing up in the Soviet Union,  I will include some rare and exclusive photos. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event! Review included.

May 03 (Th)    Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer - Interview and review (includes book giveaway: 1 author signed paperback copy and 1 ebook – for terms see Kimba the Caffeinated Blog)

May 05 (Sat)  Lada Ray Blog - Feature Article: Fact and Fiction in GOLD TRAIN

May 06 (Sun) GOLD TRAIN BOOK GIVEAWAY on Lada Ray Blog: giving away 1 author signed paperback and 3 ebooks! PLEASE SEE TERMS OF THIS GIVEAWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE!

PROMOTIONS

For a limited time: Download on Amazon Kindle all three of Jade Snow ebooks for only $2.97! See all three books on Lada Ray Amazon Page!

GOLD TRAIN – only $0.99 (reg. $3.99)! Download now from Amazon!

Stepford USA - $0.99! Download now from Amazon!

Green Desert - $0.99! Download now from Amazon!

Learn all about these books/ read excerpts/ watch trailers @ http://www.LadaRay.com

Gold Train Paperback is coming to Amazon on 4/25. Early purchase: $9.99 (It is a large size paperback, 9×6 in, 232 pages, and its regular price is $14.95)

GOLD TRAIN paperback includes a sneak peek and exclusive excerpt from DRAGON GATE, next Jade Snow adventure set in Asia.

Stay tuned!

GOLD TRAIN GIVEAWAY on LADA RAY BLOG 4/25 – 5/6

Terms:

GOLD TRAIN Giveaway May 6, 2012

Giving away 1 author signed *paperback copy of GOLD TRAIN and 3 GOLD TRAIN **ebooks (Smashwords free download coupon).

Winners will be announced at 8 pm on Sunday, May 6, on Lada Ray’s blog and on Twitter.

You can be entered to win up to 6 times (per person). Please see terms below.

1. Follow Lada Ray on Twitter @LadaTweets – you earn 1 entry to win

2. Follow Lada Ray Blog (by email or via your wordpress blog) – 2 entries

3. Add Lada’s books on Goodreads – 2 entries

4. Subscribe to Lada Ray YouTube Channel – 1 entry

Or, if you don’t do YouTube, follow Lada Ray on Facebook – 1 entry

How to enter:

***1. Please leave a thoughtful, meaningful comment for one of the Lada Ray Blog posts posted between 4/25 and 5/6. Posts include: Jade Snow: Savior or Seductress 4/25; Russia and I 4/30; May 1st Interview with Different Outcomes Blog 5/1; Fact and Fiction in Gold Train 5/5.

***2. On top of your comment please include your country of residence.

***3. Below your comment please indicate your ****Twitter name. Do you follow Lada Ray on Twitter? If not, please follow @LadaTweets here:       Please provide link to your Twitter page.

***4. Do you follow Lada Ray Blog? If not, please follow either via email or your wordpress blog.

5. Have you added Lada’s books on Goodreads? If not, please add here:       Please provide link confirmation.

6. Do you subscribe to Lada Ray YouTube Channel? If not, you can subscribe here: http://www.youtube.com or, follow Lada Ray on Facebook. Please provide links confirming your subscriptions.

* Signed GOLD TRAIN Paperback contest is open only to the USA residents. Sorry for the inconvenience.

** GOLD TRAIN Ebook contest is open throughout the world. Smashwords downloads are available in most countries. Please check in advance whether Smashwords downloads are available in your country of residence. Lada Ray is not responsible for Smashwords refusal to allow download in your territory or place of residence.

*** Required information. Please note: we cannot enter you into the contest if any of the required information is missing.

**** Please be sure to provide your Twitter name. If you win, Lada will contact you via Twitter. At that point you will be required to provide your email (for ebooks), so Smashwords coupon code can be emailed to you. Your email will not be used for any other purpose. For paperback contest, you’ll be required to provide your mailing address (USA addresses only), so your copy of GOLD TRAIN could be mailed to you. Your mailing address will not be used for any other purpose. If any winner fails to respond within 24 hours, another winner will be chosen.

Complete info about these and all other Blog Tour events on this page: http://ladaray.wordpress.com/blog-tours/

 

#BookRelease – Wilde’s Fire by Krystal Wade @KrystalWade

. Book Release . , , ,

Hi everybody!

Krystal Wade just released her first book Wilde’s Fire from her series Darkness Falls and she’s here today to tell us more about her stories, her writing and herself.

Welcome Krystal and thank you again for choosing The Manicheans as your platform!

Let’s get started, shall we?

Hi Krystal!

Hi Johanna!

As always, thanks for passing by! You must be very excited about your first book release, and so are we. So naturally, what inspired you to write a YA fantasy story?

I read YA, so naturally, I write YA. I’m not 100% positive where the story came from, but for years, I’ve seen an image of a girl reaching out to touch something shimmering in a dense, green forest. That was all I had, and it took me about two years to give in, sit down, and write. I wrote a few chapters, decided I sucked at writing, read about a hundred books, then BAM, the full story hit me. I haven’t stopped writing since. 

Well, I’ve read some of your writing and I can definitely say your writing doesn’t suck. Did you use real events and real people as inspiration for your trilogy?

LOL. Thanks. ;) Wilde’s Fire begins in modern-day Virginia then ends in a world more closely related to the 1500s than the 2000s. There are references to real people, things, places, etc, but most everything is made up.

Some of my characters do take on personalities of people I know, but I won’t tell you who. You can’t make me. 

Hahahaha. Ok. Well I know what you mean because I also take inspiration from people I know. What is your favorite scene in Wilde’s Fire? 

Can I give a blanket “This book rocks” to answer this questions? *Sigh* I think my favorite is when Arland takes Kate to his special place and gives her information that makes her head spin. This scene is layered with so many emotions. We really get a glimpse into the softer side of our fearless Leader Arland. (I can’t give too much away.)

*Sigh* Arland is a hottie. *Double sigh* I guess we’ll have to wait until we read the book to know more about him. Do you consider Kate your alter ego in the fiction world? What do you and what don’t you share with her?

I didn’t realize Kate and I share a lot of personality traits until after I edited Wilde’s Fire for the hundredth time. Her fascination with nature and her strength to keep moving, no matter the situation, is definitely from me. But if I were faced with the horrors she encounters, I’d probably crawl in a hole and die. (Did I just admit that?)

Well you never know what you’ll do, honestly. You might grab a heavy sword and start slaying relentlessly… Now, who are you favorite YA authors?

My favorite YA authors change frequently. Pretty much every time I read a new, amazing book. Suzanne Collins has probably been the most influential author I’ve read. The Hunger Games blew me away, and I reference them often. I recently read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (as you know because I told you I wanted my book to marry that book and have babies. I’m also Michelle Hodkin’s new, unofficial, stalker.) I love The Hobbit (Tolkien), The Chronicles of Narnia (Lewis), The Twilight Saga (Meyer, and I don’t want to hear it. She touched the hearts of millions.). Maggie Stiefvater is another author I love to follow. She is talented in so many ways. From her writing, to music, to art. She’s so creative. I usually spend hours digging around her blogs or vlogs. 

I agree about Michelle Hodkin. The book she wrote is fantastic. I recently posted a review of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer you can find here if you’re interested. And I must admit, I don’t like Twilight but I respect Stephanie Meyer’s work tremendously. Naturally, who would you consider your mentor/strongest inspiration in the writing world?

Wow. This is tough. I’ve heard writing is a lonely profession, but it’s not. I’ve met so many amazing authors, musicians, artists, and readers. I don’t really want to say who’s been the most helpful. It’s a collaborative effort. Every one of my friends has helped develop ME and my writing. You are on that list, too.

Aw!!!! *Blushes* Well, you’re definitely a strong inspiration in my writing too. Here, I’m sending you flowers. LOL Would you write fantasy stories for the rest of your career or are you interested in other genres as well?

I don’t choose the genre. I write whatever I see. I’d like to finish writing My Life. The novel is a story about me and the struggles I endured to get where I am. One day, I’d like to see my painful past be a positive light in young people’s lives. Aside from that, most of the stories I have are fantasy/paranormal. I do have The Crow, which is more of a suspense, but I’ve been rethinking that one a bit. (Who knew this was a loaded question?)

I like that answer! And I’d like to see more from you in a different genre too! I could call you a writer with many faces. How do you juggle writing and everything else in your life? 

Coffee. Patience. More coffee.

I do tea, patience, and then more tea. But the result’s the same. ;)  Do you have any advice for other aspiring authors who’d like to write fantasy?

Don’t try too hard. Write what you feel and what you know. Find a critique partner and a bunch of beta readers/friends who aren’t afraid to tell you like it is. And most importantly, don’t be afraid of constructive criticism.

I agree! Red pen marks all over a piece of paper are the best learning tool! Last but not least, is there anything you’d like to say to your readers? And how will you react if Wilde’s Fire gets bad reviews? 

Cry. Hide in my closet for a month. Start smoking again. Haha. Just kidding. Smoke free for six years, and I have no intention of going back. Here’s the truth: Everyone has an opinion. I don’t expect everyone to have the same opinion. Some people will like my book. Some people will hate my book. There will be quite a few who think it’s so-so (I hope). If I get a bad review, I go on with my life. Negativity will not stop me from writing. In fact, bad reviews will probably make me work harder.

To my fans: I love you. I hope Wilde’s Fire is everything you’re looking for in a novel.

Well, all I have to say is congratulations and thank you so much for being such a wonderful writer! Who knows? Maybe you’ll find yourself in one of my books! :)  

Everyone – go buy Wilde’s Fire. You won’t regret it. 

++++

To read or re-read Krystal’s character interview of Katriona Wilde in Wilde’s Fire, please click here.

For more information about Wilde’s Fire:

Trailer: http://krystalwade.blogspot.com/p/vlogs.html

Will be available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and in print soon.
@krystalwade