Author Interview: Krystal Wade talks Shattered Secrets

                I mentioned at the end of my last review that my next post would be today, yes I was very specific about that which is abnormal for me, but this one is special.  A couple of posts back I did a cover reveal blog for an upcoming book, Shattered Secrets by Krystal Wade.  I got the pleasure of doing my very first author interview with the one and only Krystal Wade, herself.  She is a brilliant author and totally cool person on her facebook, who already has a trilogy under her belt and is promoting the release of her brand new story, out today, Shattered Secrets. 

                I have had the pleasure of getting to ready some pieces of this book so far, and as I post this I am downloading my e-book now to torment myself with while I am at work today.  Yes it is a slow kind of torture but I shall be home and reading in no time.  I fell in love with her series Wilde’s Fire, which recently got a cover make over, see below.  I’m conflicted as to which I like better because both sets are similar but different in a way that I find it hard choose.  So when I heard she was near putting out her newest book I was more than thrilled to read it, and the start of it…hold on tight. 

First I have to say you know I adore your first trilogy, Wilde's Fire.  Having 3 books published, how has it changed your way?

                Well, having three books (almost four) published has definitely changed my outlook. I used to want something out there RIGHT NOW. Now, I take a little more time, edit deeper, don’t rush into things.

So you have a new book coming out March 3rd, Shattered Secrets, so in your own words, what is this book about?

                Shattered Secrets is about a young girl who’s been deceived her entire life. Everything’s been a lie, right down to her name. When she discovers the truth about these beings that influence human emotions—and that she’s one of them—she hates it and tries to run away to be with the only person she trusts. But problems follow wherever she goes, and until she learns to trust in herself, her life hangs on the line!

Amazon B&N BAM!

Shattered Secrets the title is interesting and as someone who struggles with a title for my own WIP, I wonder how you came up with it?

                Err. Well. Umm. There was a lot of head scratching. Then I started playing around with what themes were in the story, like secrets being kept, and lies being told at every turn. And then I began thinking about how the main character overcame those things. She broke through the issues. She knocked down barriers. And broken things can sometimes be shattered? Err. Let me go with I DON’T KNOW?!

Is this a new idea or something you've been playing around with for a while?

                The idea for Shattered Secrets actually came to me in 2011, right after I’d finished writing Wilde’s Fire. I wrote down a very rough opening scene, then jotted down some plot points, then proceeded to close the Word document that wouldn’t be opened again until late 2012. So, it’s kind of an old idea.

How do you get your ideas?  Do you start with an idea, a character, or some other random way?  What inspires you, for Shattered Secrets in particular?

                Various things inspire me, whether it’s music, the clouds, trees, birds, videos I see on Facebook. Shattered Secrets came to me right after I read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (or one of those books). There was a scene where Maggie’s main characters go into a candy shop and close their eyes and smell chocolate and fall in love. That inspired me to actually write the opening scene of my book, where Derick and Abby first kiss—and then he proceeds to ignore her for three months. ;-) I’m evil. I know.

I love the Shiver trilogy!  I know just what scene you’re talking about, awe Sam and Grace, such a sweet love story.  Speaking of love, I feel the beginnings of a pretty great love story going on with Abigail and Derick.  Is there anything you can share without giving to many spoilers for us romantics?

                Things won’t always be easy for them. They’re young and will make a lot of mistakes, but I’m hoping they always find a way to come back together. I hope. You never know.

In my WIP and my fanfiction, I have a tendency to cast my characters to some extent.  For my fanfic it's for my readers to be able to visualize better with me and for my story it helps me keep them solid and not constantly change little things here and there and be consistent.  Do you cast your characters, and if so who are our leading roles?  As a side note if you do and want to also share who you visualized as Arland ;)

                For Derick Crawford, I chose Chace Crawford (yes, the last names are the same so that I could never forget the actor).  For Abigail Nichols, I chose Kaya Scodelario.  Will Banaan is Andrew Garfield, Megan Bartlow is Blake Lively. And for Arland from Wilde's Fire…well, that was Henry Cavill!

Do you have a favorite type of scene to write, and can you get an example from the book?  Romance, suspense, action, comedy, back story, heroes, villains, etc.

                My favorite scenes are always action.  Where fear and fighting and lots of things going on are, you can bet that was my favorite!

                Okay, here is a scene from one of the later chapters in Shattered Secrets.  This is the ONLY place I will share this.  And I hope you enjoy! 

"Who wants to dance?"

Anything to break the attention away from the runaway status of me and Derick.

All three of them shot up, and we made our way to the deck. We danced, and we laughed, and we twirled, and we drank. Blue and red globe lights spun around and blurred in my vision, meshing with the sounds of bass and drums and guitars. People bounced beside me, giggling and singing, their half-naked bodies covered in water, sweat, and beer.

Derick jumped in the pool, fully clothed, and motioned for me to follow.

I shook my head.

"Go on, Abby!" Megan shouted from near the diving board.

"No way. I'm not wearing that bathing suit!"

Will broke away from her, ran over and pushed me in. "Live a little, gorgeous."

I sank into the chilly water, the blue light filtering through my eyelids, then kicked my way back to the surface, to the sounds of cheers.

Laughing, Derick swam to me. The depth of his blue eyes seemed endless, enchanting with the lights of the pool reflecting in them. "You look sexy."

"Oh yeah, I hear soggy is a great look." I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist, ready to dunk him. "And now—"

The ground shook, and everything around us exploded into flames. Kids screamed and took off running toward the beach. The house burned, filling the sky with smoke, glass exploding from the heat.

"Derick?" I flailed, heart pounding, treading water and spinning in circles. "Derick!"

What the hell?

Where'd he go?

"Abby," he shouted above the chaos of screams and thunderous booms all around us, "I'm behind you, at the edge of the pool. Take my hand. We have to run."

"Run where?" I grabbed hold of him, and he pulled me to my feet.

Another rumble shook the concrete, cracking the pool in two.

He stared at the water cascading through the lawn, his eyes wide, panicked. "Anywhere."

"What's happening?"

An older man ran by us, hair disheveled, skin gray, screaming Will's name. Not angry, but afraid.

Flames licked the side of the house. I glanced to our left. Every house burned.

"I don't know, but let's follow him."

We ran down to the beach and found a crowd huddled around something. Derick squeezed through the people, keeping a tight hold on my hand, tethering me to him.

He broke through the last of the guys and girls, who didn't appear to notice us, and stopped.

Will and Megan lay on the sand.

Arms and legs sticking out at odd directions.

Covered in blood.

Dead.

My very only exclusive snippet.  Score!  And I have to say you sure do know how to tease us!  On the flip, what is your least favorite type of scene to write, and any example?

                Hmm. Least favorite scene to write? I’m not sure I have one. Maybe kissing? I like kissing, but I don’t like to write too much description in it. And I never know what that line is that I don’t want to cross. So, maybe these scenes cause me the most confusion? I’m not sure.

As you know I am not the most patient reader in the world.  I see this is listed as a series, Book of Red #1, do you have a number of stories in mind for the story arc at this time or is it more open ended and up to the characters?

                Well, Shattered Secrets could very easily stand alone, though I can’t imagine anyone not wanting to read more about her life. The thing is: everything will be very different in the next book. New conflicts, new characters, new LOTS OF THINGS.  This really gives me a ton of freedom. At this point, I’m only planning two more works in the series, but each book will end with a full resolution (at least that’s the plan). If the readers enjoy them, I might write more.

What other projects do you have kicking around, aside from the sequel *wink, wink*?  I believe I seen something on your blog about Charming.

                Ahh, Charming.  I love Charming, Charming, Charming, Charming.  Wait until you see the cover to this thriller.  It's dark, it's gritty, and it's very real.  No fantasy in my plot at all.  This book is set to release October 6th.  I should be starting a marketing campaign for it pretty soon.

                I'm also planning to release Shattered Secrets 2 and LOST next year.  LOST is a Sci-fi that I'm really excited about.  Alien cats.  Lots of dead people.  A fight for dominance.  Wee!

Final question, what do you want readers to take away when reading your newest story?

                I want readers to take away a couple lessons: One, trust yourself. If you have a bad gut feeling, trust that feeling. Don’t wait until the world is on fire to realize you could have prevented it all. Two, love fiercely. You never know when the family and friends you’ve surrounded yourself with will be taken from you, so make sure you show them how much you care on a daily basis. Hug often. Kiss often. Fight less. Forgive easily.

                Thank you so much for the interview, Krystal.  It was such a pleasure getting inside your head on these things.  I hope you all have enjoyed this and are as ready as I am to check out this intriguing book.  Shattered Secrets on sale now!

Wilde's Fire new covers! 

Running on Empty by Colette Ballard

                So I'm catching up with my reading list here.  A good friend of mine actually took me out to see Vampire Academy again.  It says a lot that she didn't know if she'd like it originally but then to like it enough to read the book and want to see it again, that is high praise from her.  I am sad that it is down to 2 showings a day at my local theatre.  Anyways onto the real reason for this update, a new book review.  This one is Running on Empty by Colette Ballard, courtesy of NetGalley.

                Running on Empty is a good book and a break from the science fiction I normally read.  It is a story about average teenagers in the world.  The cover caught my eye because, I'll admit, it made me think of a serial killer movie holding females in the basement dark enclosed space but one exit filled with light.  That's not what the story is about but that is how my mind worked.  The story is of a girl who is forced to flee the only life she's known, and her two best friends go along with her.  All for one and one for all kind of mentality and I adore that, the loyalty of those few true friends who when it counts are there through anything. 

 

What does it feel like when you die—in those final moments? Do you feel the physical pain, or just the pain of your regrets? What does it feel like when you realize you can’t answer these questions because you’re not the victim?

You’re the killer.

River Daniels lives an ordinary life as a high school junior growing up in the confines of rural Texas until her boyfriend’s brutal attack leaves her both a murderer and a fugitive. When River’s closest girlfriends come to her aid, they make a hasty decision to not only help her, but leave their own troubled lives behind and join in her escape. The girls manage to elude police for months, but with every near-miss, River’s life spirals further out of control, until she finally hits rock bottom. Realizing she must stop endangering her friends and find evidence proving she acted in self-defense, the girls decide to make a risky move. River must face her ugly past and the one person she was protecting the night her world caved in, the guy she has loved for as long as she can remember.

                Now if the summary wasn't clear enough this book does have a few more adult themes for those who are a bit squeamish.  But overall the story is a tale of discovery.  Finding oneself in the midst of everything falling apart around her, River is forced to take a hard look at who she is, what her life is, and where she wants it to go from there.  It is also a tale of relationships, not simply romance but of friendship.  I had a great time reading and seeing how each of them reacted to things, each bonded over different events in their life, not always agreeing with the other but always there through thick and thin.  That is a bond I can appreciate.

                The story also resonated with the small town feel and how no matter the truth, if you have enough money and power you can get what you want.  Truth and justice are in the eye of the one with the power.  Where it would make sense to just do the simple and right thing, might not be the right thing.  The whole story is through River's head so you get a good feel for her and how she feels of course, but you also get an even better view of her by those she keeps dear.  I've always found it to be at least partially true, you can tell what type of person someone is by the company they keep.  Her friends, help shape who she is as a character as well as flushing themselves out to be unique and different. 

                There is also a romance aspect to this, and you know I'm a sucker for a good romance.  Though this one has it, it was not the central front and center aspect and if you think about it if it had been done that way then I would have found it hard to enjoy, I can't explain that part well without providing many spoilers so you'll just have to trust me.  Instead it was a suspenseful story that has many different aspects to it, different relationships.  The bonds of friendship, the bonds that we hold ourselves to.  I was eager to keep reading to see what would unfold between the characters.  For the day or so it took me to read this I was completely immersed with the story and the characters. 

                Running on Empty is on sale now.  I give it 5 stars.  So I ask you, what would you do for your friends?  Do you feel you have friends you could count on if you were on a witch hunt?  Share your thoughts below. 

*****Coming soon*****

Author interview with Krystal Wade for the release of Shattered Secrets Monday, March 3rd.  Stay tuned!  

Witch Finder by Ruth Warburton

                I told you I had some reviews ready to be typed up.   The first we have is, of course, from NetGalley, oh how I adore them, and Hodder Children's Books.  Witch Finder by Ruth Warburton is going to be the first book in a series and came out January 2nd. 

                First I have to start with the cover.  It was bright, vibrant, and eye catching to me.  It had a blue background, which I admit always catches my eye being my favorite color, a petite girl with long red hair  and different things on the edges of the cover and a very clear title that seems to tell you the story is about witches.  Simple and to the point, I wanted to know more about it. 

London. 1880. In the slums of Spitalfields apprentice blacksmith Luke is facing initiation into the Malleus Maleficorum, the fearsome brotherhood dedicated to hunting and killing witches.

Luke’s final test is to pick a name at random from the Book of Witches, a name he must track down and kill within a month, or face death himself. Luke knows that tonight will change his life forever. But when he picks out sixteen-year-old Rosa Greenwood, Luke has no idea that his task will be harder than he could ever imagine.

                You see both points of view in this book, Luke and Rosa.  Luke, after watching a witch kill his parents clearly has issues with them and wants revenge.  He is ready for his task, but a beautiful girl his own age was clearly not the one who harmed him.  Still she is a witch and all witches are evil, right?  On the flip side you see Rosa and how in that time, she has her power and her beauty but nothing else as she is not but a means to keep her family in their life like a prized head of cattle. 

                Luke must get close to make this kill, to complete his task.  He takes a position at the house hoping to find an opportunity to get in and take care of business but what he finds is a girl who is not the picture of evil he envisioned.  Both have their struggles to overcome while trying to deal with the connection they seem to share even when both know it's wrong, mixing with someone outside of class and abilities. 

2nd book cover is already out.

                One of my favorite parts of the book was seeing both prospectives.  It was a bit infuriating at times, because I knew how they both felt and as such was annoyed they didn't know as much as me and didn't always do what I wanted.  However, seeing them both on their own struggle through issues that were about them as a character and not so much about great love, though it was clear despite society and logic there was something there, each had their own things to deal with.  For me it was less about magic and witchcraft than it was about the characters themselves and the story of their lives.  Could you overcome such long ingrained prejudices and risk your own life? 

                The book is full of preconceived notions and   reality coming head to head along side of aristocratic snobbery and magic.  It was pretty well paced and I read through it rather quickly and am eager for the next book to come out.   Which per goodreads will be titled Witch Hunt and be released in June of this year so not that far of a wait.   

I give this book 4 shinning stars.

Cover Reveal Shattered Secrets by Krystal Wade

Okay my readers.  I have some reviews handwritten and ready to be typed but before I go dig them out of my work bag, hey I was multi-tasking, I wanted to do my first ever cover reveal.  This book, Shattered Secrets by the talented Krystal Wade, she's also super sweet, now has a cover image.  I think it's pretty and would make me pick it up to learn more so to go with the image I give you a brief synopsis.

After being kidnapped, hogtied, and stuffed in the trunk of a car, seventeen-year-old Abigail Nichols' boy problems seem unimportant.
She couldn't be more wrong.

The boy who saves her holds her heart.

But Derick Crawford also holds secrets.

Magical beings who guide human emotions are fighting an invisible war dating back to the dawn of time, and Abigail's one of them. The more she learns of her heritage, the less she wants to know. Armed with a very old, very massive book to teach them about their history, Abigail and Derick run away to a place where they think they can be safe and happy, only to have their troubles secretly hitch a ride.

Her history book is in a sharing mood, and it tells her to keep a secret of her own.

But has she put her trust in the wrong place?

And will the world survive if she has?

So will you be checking it out when it comes out?  I know I will be.  Also you can check out my previous reviews of her Wilde's Fire, Wilde's Army, and  Wilde's Meadow by clicking.  Anyways I hope to do a little Q&A with the author herself on here so I'm starting to compile a list of questions for her, should this work out for next month, so please also share any questions you may have below so I can include them please.  Stay tuned.

Fates by Lanie Bross

                So I'm catching up with a couple of reviews in one because between my wonky internet and me being just plum tired at night I need to catch up.  First we have Fates by Lanie Bross.  Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's and Delacorte Press.   It’s a story of a about fate, obviously, but more about how fate really does come to be. 

One moment. One foolish desire. One mistake. And Corinthe lost everything.

She fell from her tranquil life in Pyralis Terra and found herself exiled to the human world. Her punishment? To make sure people's fates unfold according to plan. Now, years later, Corinthe has one last assignment: kill Lucas Kaller. His death will be her ticket home.

But for the first time, Corinthe feels a tingle of doubt. It begins as a lump in her throat, then grows toward her heart, and suddenly she feels like she is falling all over again--this time for a boy she knows she can never have. Because it is written: one of them must live, and one of them must die. In a universe where every moment, every second, every fate has already been decided, where does love fit in? 

               

                I enjoyed the story .  It moved along rather quickly and the characters were interesting, even crazy at times.  The enduring part was that the characters made jokes about it, "Why do I have the urge to caress her check when she tried to kill me?" I believe I connections and all but plain stupidity if you don’t register that part.  Corinthe was a bit harder to get to know, she was a bit cold but I could appreciate that in the story given what and who she is.  Though I still found myself more interested in Luc by far. 

                There was also a vast amount of different worlds to discover.  Each one unique and different offering different things that entice the senses.  The burning world with two suns and moons, the lush world of blood nymphs, and so much more.  I don't want to give to much away but I am eager to see what happens next with Luc and Corinthe, even Rhys. 

                I give this book 3.5-4 starts given it was a bit slow to start and had a few moments throughout that seemed to drag a bit but overall I liked the book.  So have you read the book?  What are your thoughts?  Do you believe in fate?  That everything happens for a reason?  

Vampire Academy The Movie

                  

Okay first I cannot believe it has taken me this long to post this.  I have just been so swamped and every time I'm able to sit at the computer to type I go to get a correct spelling for a name or some such and end up watching trailers which turns into a long event for me.  Seriously, do you know how much time you can lose on YouTube when not paying attention?  Dangerous amounts.  Any who I am turning my internet off until I finish typing this to post.

              First I have to say that I LOVE the series.  The books, all 6 Vampire Academy books, are amazing.  I am eagerly awaiting the 5th book in the Bloodlines spin-off sequel series to be released.  With that said I have been following the progress of the movie since the start and have been very excited to see it all come together.  A perfect reason to put on fake tattoos no one in my area had any clue meant and rock out like the total and unashamed book nerd that I am.  I adore my friends who encouraged and even indulged with me, not 100% sure what the meaning was but willing to go with it.  To say I had high hopes is to put it mildly.  And it did not disappoint me one bit! 

                I know this movie has gotten a bit of a bad rep before it came out, people comparing it to every other vampire movie and that is not fair.  Sure the title doesn't help that but it's a different take.  Honestly its more about the life of the characters and the fact that they happen to be vampires is just a small part of it.  And if you want to categorize it as a vampire flick then do it but please note that, there are both sides of vampires.  They have the Moroi, the good mortal vampires, more modern take on vampires, and the Strigoi, the undead evil blood suckers that seek to kill, more old school Dracula.  The trailers also make it seem more spoof, funny, cheesy, than anything, which I did devoured them like a germaphobe does hand sanitizer in a public restroom.  But I highly recommend checking out the final trailer (below), it is by far my favorite and made me realize I have been pronouncing all the names of the 'races' or 'breeds' wrong as I read.  Now when I tell people about them they don't look at me funny.

                Now I will say that comparing movies to their book counterparts is never easy and they almost never win.  Books have the advantage of getting into the head of the character, of being able to describe everything for you and give you more in-depth scenes that work really well on paper but might not translate well to the screen.  With that in mind I still think this is one of the better adaptations.  Things like hair colors/styles, character appearances, set dressings and the like are all simple things.  There were a few scenes that were changed or dropped of course to keep pace on film and explain things in a way that is more visually appealing.  Sure fan girl me, was sad to see a few lines/conversations omitted, but it overall stayed true to the book and I am so happy to say that.

                The acting by the whole team is above par in my humble opinion, and let's be honest it's my review so it's the only one that matters.  Our main character, Rose Hathaway, played by Zoey Deutch came across as strong, confident, funny, and on point with her witty retorts or snipes.  A big part of the story, okay the majority of the story is about the bond she has with her best friend Lissa, and when they are together on the screen you can see a connection is there, not some faked for film friendship which adds to it for me.  And let us please not forget her chemistry with a certain Russian love interest.  They sizzle and you can't have any type of lust charm scene without sizzle.  Speaking of sizzle, they got pretty famous Russian actor to play the Russian Dimitri Belikov, one Danila Kozlovsky.  So his accent was totally real, and I maybe swooned a bit.  But that aside he was able to pull off the look, not exactly what I pictured, but I could believe he was Dimitri.  Strong silent warrior Zen master who stays composed at all times, but when he is around Rose, finds his composure slipping ever so slightly. 

See what I mean...

                Only  a couple more or I will describe every actor/character in the movie.  Lucy Fry, who played the royal Lissa Dragomir.  She had a bit of a different look than I expected but I was able to see it.  She was able to pull off the radical and varying emotions and moods that her character is forced to endure.  When a character is going to have to play with the matter or mental and emotional instability I have to give them credit.  And then there is her love interest Christian Ozera played by Dominic Sherwood.  He is what I expected actually.  He is attractive and brooding, an outcast given things out of his control seeking someone who understands.  He also has that smirk, that mischievous smirk I couldn’t have pictured better myself.

                The story again stuck to the book pretty well and I think can be enjoyed by everyone, not just those who read the books.  I went with three of my girlfriends to see this, one had read the books and the other two hadn't, one of them also isn't a huge vampire fan, but when we walked out we all had enjoyed it and the two non-readers had plans to read soon.  It had a unique story, with the different type of vampires and a story all in of itself.  It has action, hello, the Dhampirs have half a day dedicated to learning ways to maim and kill, to be protectors.  It is also strongly filled with friendship and loyalty, honor and duty all in a high school, of sorts, setting and with the backdrop of good vs. evil and mental instability. 

                The movie wasn't perfect, of course, there were a few things I think could have been explained a bit more in depth for the non-readers in the audience.  But I hold out hope that it was done to be explained in more depth in the sequel (no word yet but I'm crossing my fingers and toes).  Those things for me were the wards, Strigoi and a certain conversation about them in the car, that Dimitri was slated to be one of Lissa's guardians when she leaves the school, being a royal and a last of her line and all, explaining the conflict a bit further.  Also from the trailers I saw scenes that apparently didn't make it to the movie, so I can't wait for the DVD extras. 

                Again that was just me wishing for more as a greedy book nerd.  Overall if it isn't completely clear, I LOVED this movie and can't wait to see it again.  Have plans to go again this week at least once and admit to being guilty checking the DVD release date update so I know when I can own it in my house.  Check it out and rate it on all the sites!  Have you already seen it?  Did you read the books?  What do you think?  Share your thoughts, ideas, ramblings below. 

Rating: 5 Molnija

The Seers by Juilanna Scott

Finally!  Cover Art

                I received The Seers as an ARC thanks to NetGalley and Angry Robot.  This wonderful book came out yesterday, January 9th, and is a sequel to The Holders (you can see my review here).  The following is my honest opinion of the book.  Beware this is a sequel so there will be spoilers for the first book, you have been warned.  I am a bit behind with this review and another one I am working to finish up due to being sick this last week.  Hard to do anything more than sleep after dragging myself home from work .  Feeling better and able to function a bit more now, so time to get cracking.

                The Seers by Juilanna Scott, picks up where The Holders leaves off.  This one is still focused on Becca and the world the magical world of the Holders, but the focus shifts as things have come to light.  In the light of her near death experience and the betrayal of a man everyone trusted so completely, they only have one clue.  A name, to someone who may be able to help them bring down the power hungry Darrah.  We see all our favorite characters again as well as some new ones as we leave St. Brigid's to investigate at the center of the aristocratic pure blooded Holder community, the Bhunaidh.  They must try to find their answers without arousing suspicion which as the lines between friend and foe wane and motives are revealed this becomes a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
               Becca is still out strong and compassionate heroine, who is still adjusting to everything in her life.  She is still unsure of her father and what relationship they can have.  She has the other teachers, who are still a riot, and her best friend Chloe. More important she also has Alex, the Holder whom she is bonded with in an unusual way.  I adore them, I get all swoony through the ups and downs.  But as the world changes so do each of our characters.  Becca is forced to into situations that even her strength might be unable to bear.  We also meet a multitude of the pure blood Holders side mainly Bastian and Steven.

                The Seers, continues the Celtic lore, mystery, intrigue, action, and yes romance that I enjoyed so much in the first book.  Can they find out what they need to defeat Darrah while keeping everyone safe?  I give this book 5 Sciaths and can't wait for book 3!  If you have already read this amazing book, tell me what you thought below.  Also…still want to learn Gaelic…read the books and it's easy enough to know why.