Interview Feature: Amy Green

Hi, imps! I am delighted to get to introduce a new author to you today. I learned about her because she was just hired as the new Fiction Publicist at Bethany House Publishers. An awesome profession right there, but she even more involved in the publishing world than that! She is also the author of an exciting YA fantasy adventure series, The Amarias Adventures. Allow me to present to you:

Amy Green:

“There aren’t any good books left,” I told my librarian in fifth grade. “I’ve read them all.”
“Well, then, you’ll just have to write some,” she replied.
And I said, “Okay.”
So that’s how I became a writer.
Of course, it wasn’t really that easy. As a kid, I wrote pages and pages of messy, badly spelled, hilariously awful stories. When I was homeschooled for jr. high, I did the same, only I typed most of them, so the spelling improved.
In high school, I wrote longer things. Book-length things. I was never sure what to call them, since none of them were really books. Not yet. And a few were still mildly awful. But I felt like God had given me a gift, and I was determined to use it.
By the time I went to Taylor University to study writing, I had written several book-length things, including a fantasy youth novel that my twin sister Erika wanted as her birthday present. Along the way, I had learned what to do and what not to, so I decided to try sending one in to a publisher.
They liked it. Who knew? So, I got my first book contract at age eighteen, for Quest for the Scorpion’s Jewel. That’s the beginning of (a very, very short version of) my story. I’m still turning pages, but God’s the one doing the writing, and I know He’s got a great ending in mind.

Find out more about Amy Green and her books on her website.
You can also follow her blog: Just the Fiction, Ma'am.

Amy has joined us today for an interview and a giveaway. So please enjoy learning more about her and her exciting series, and do remember to check the bottom of this post for how you can enter to win one of THREE copies of her first novel, Quest for the Scorpion's Jewel.

Interview



Hi, Amy! Welcome to the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog. To start out this interview, would you mind telling us a little about yourself? Hobbies, personality . . . tea or coffee?

Amy: Hobbies…well, I enjoy helping out with my youth group, I’m a reader (obviously), and I’m on a personal campaign to save the US Post Office by writing lots of letters. It’s a dangerous thing to ask someone about their own personality, but I’d say it’s safe to say that I’m a strange combination of logical thinker and emotional dreamer, who really likes people and board games and theological discussions. I am making a valiant effort to like tea because it seems like a writer-like thing to do, and I have, on occasion, managed to drink a full cup. But not coffee, although I love how it smells.

What led you into the writing life? Were you always a storyteller?

Amy: There was this moment, around fifth grade, where I looked around my school library and realized, “Someone actually wrote these!” And I decided I wanted to do that, because I had noticed that real life was generally pretty boring and if you wanted to tell stories about exciting things, they were going to have to be fiction.

Tell us a little about your series, the Amarias Adventures. When did you begin writing them? Are they stand-alone adventures, or should readers pick them up in order?

Amy: The first book, Quest for the Scorpion’s Jewel, was a present for my twin sister’s eighteenth birthday, although it went through a lot of editing before publication. The series goes in order (although it wouldn’t be terribly confusing to start in the middle). The books follow the adventures of four Youth Guard members—Jesse, Silas, Rae, and Parvel—who are fighting a corrupt government in a highly personal way…by going on a mission to save some of their friends who have been condemned to die. My favorite thing to do is stack the odds ridiculously against them. They’ve faced assassins and a cave-in, been sold into slavery, solved a series of ancient riddles, and survived poisonous snakes, a sandstorm, a wild boar, and a really spoiled noblewoman. Sometimes even I don’t know how they’re going to get out of whatever perilous situation I put them in.

Can you pick a favorite character from the series?

Amy: Captain Demetri, who you meet in Chapter One of the first book as the assassin sworn to kill Jesse and his friends. Not exactly your typical choice, but I feel like it’s only fair, since he’s the main villain and there are several main protagonists. But also he’s really just my favorite, probably because I see so much potential in him and find his story very sad. A close second is Owen, a kid who shows up in Book Four, because he’s hilarious and a lot of fun to write.

What inspires your work? Where do you turn when you need a renewal of inspiration?

Amy: I love people. I love how we all have stories—that there are reasons for the things we do, good or bad. I love watching people and seeing their fears and failure and hopes and dreams and how all of those things make them treat others. This makes me a chronic people-watcher and also a better writer. I’m convinced that you can’t write well-developed characters unless you have spent a lot of time learning to care about others.

What are your favorite and least favorite parts of the writing process?

Amy: For me, the process of figuring out what happens next is even more fun as a writer than as a reader. My outlines are usually one vague paragraph long…and most of that changes by the end. As for a least favorite part…I’m one of those strange people who enjoys even the editing process, so I guess I would say when I have to delete large chunks of the story (usually several chapters) and start over. It’s almost always worth it, though.

If you were forced to pick a single favorite author, who would it be?

Amy: This…this is a terrible question. But since we’re talking fantasy here, I’m going to pretend this question is limited to that and say Brandon Sanderson, because his books often have a team-feel instead of being about one ruggedly independent protagonist, which I like.

I see that books 3 and 4 both released this year, Curse of the Forbidden Book and Secret of the Giant’s Staircase. So what is next on your publishing horizons? Is there a book 5 forthcoming?

Amy: I certainly could write more in the series, although I haven’t signed a contract for a fifth book. Book 4 was my absolute favorite so far, which I hope means I’m getting better (of course, it could also be because the plot was basically a treasure hunt, and who doesn’t like treasure?).

What are you actively writing right now?

Amy: This is an extremely exciting answer for me: I don’t know. I plan on participating in National Novel Writing Month in November with a project entirely unrelated to anything I’ve done before…and I have no idea what that will be. It’s been a while since that has happened, and I’m looking forward to it.

Can you share a short snippet from the first book in your series, Quest for the Scorpion’s Jewel?

Amy: This comes halfway into the story, where Samar, Jesse and his friends’ guide through the desert, wakes them up in the middle of the night.

Excerpt from

Quest for the Scorpion's Jewel

 

Outside the tent, Samar was waiting with Silas. “Come,” Samar said, motioning them forward. He carried a wicker basket lashed to his back, the kind that hung from the saddles of the camels, and a large water skin. “We must go on foot.”

“Where are we going?” Jesse asked.

“No more questions,” Samar insisted. “Just follow.” He shoved a thick palm branch at Silas. “You—wipe out our tracks as we walk. I fear they are already nearby, but if they are not, we will not leave them a trail.”

Jesse remembered that trick from one of Samar’s stories. But I never thought I’d been in one of them.

“Do not look back, and move silently,” Samar advised them. “Riangen da’ede. ‘Even the sand dunes have eyes.’”

Someone is watching us? But why?

Old as he was, fear had apparently made Samar quicker than his years. He hurried through the camp and over the hills near the oasis. Even with the use of his walking stick, it was hard for Jesse to keep his pace.

The moon on the white sand made it easy for Jesse to see where he was going. Which means that it will be equally easy for anyone to see us. The thought made him hurry to the top of the first of the hills.

“The Patrol did not know of the smugglers’ pits when I came last year,” Samar said, leading the way. “Let us hope that they have not learned of it since then.”

Even though Samar had warned him several times not to turn back, Jesse took one last look at the camp from the top of the hill.

 

There, three men with swords hacked their way into his tent.

 

___________

 

There you go, my dears! Are you excited to dive into The Amarias Adventures now? Good thing, because Amy is giving away THREE copies of The Quest for the Scorpion's Jewel. So that's THREE of you who will be winners! Enter your name in the form below . . . and don't forget to thank Amy for her time today!

 http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0cd52417/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crazy Week

Dear imps, here is your official heads up . . . I am entering into Crazy Week as of tomorrow morning and will probably be out of commission until said week is through.

What is Crazy Week, you ask?

Crazy Week is I-really-want-to-finish-my-deadline-on-time-no-extensions-but-to-do-so-will-mean-some-crazy-writing-so-I'm-going-to-purposefully-go-insane-to-get-this-deadline-met.

I don't recall ever having quite so much trouble meeting a deadline before. Every other book (even Dragonwitch, which I found insanely difficult to write) was finished a good two or three months before the deadline so that I had time to look it over and do revisions before submitting it. But every manuscript is a different animal with different needs and different processes. This Book 7 has been no exception.

I find myself right on the edge of my deadline (which is the end of October), with still a chunk of book to write. Which would imply that this book is the hardest I've ever written. Eh. I don't think so. Unlike all of my other projects, I've not had any false-starts with this one. Everything I chose to write at the beginning of manuscript is still in place--with tweaks, sure, but still in place. I've added scenes rather than tossing and rewriting. I've stalled out (during those weird sicknesses) and wondered if I was going to have to change tack, only to discover that really all I needed to do was press forward. Even the storylines that have had to be adjusted have been pinpointed and fixed before I actually wrote them (yay, outlines!). I adore my characters, I am thrilled with the plot, and I like to think my writing is continuing to improve.

So what's the problem?

I don't know. Book 7 is much bigger than my other projects, so there is that. And it is Book 7, which means I have six books' (and a novella's) worth of pressure and expectations built up, which, I won't lie, can be paralyzing at times. I'm also MUCH busier than I was back when I was just writing for my living--I'm now running an editing business and developing Rooglewood Press, working with (wonderful!) writing students, receiving and reading manuscripts for possible publication (all of which have to be carefully reviewed), studying new skills such as typesetting, formatting, and new elements of design I never covered in college, etc. I'm marketing in a much bigger way, both for my own work and in preparation for Five Glass Slippers and my mother's Until That Distant Day. And the blogging, while one of my favorite things ever, does take up a certain amount of time, particularly if there's a big event happening such as the Fan Fiction or Fan Art contests. Couple all of that with the weird sickness, and it's been a busy year aside from the writing.

When I stop and consider all of this, I think Book 7 has come together remarkably well!

Seriously, if I really buckle down, I'll have this manuscript drafted by the end of this week. And I decided that if I make a public statement about this goal, I'll be so much more likely to meet it. So here I am, publically declaring my intention.

And I hope to be able to announce a complete manuscript by next Saturday! But don't let me get too far ahead of myself . . .

In the meanwhile, there are two features with giveaways happening here this coming week, so do check back for those. One is for an author you have met here before, and one is for a brand new-to-me author whom I think you will really enjoy meeting.

And think of me with prayers as you go about your week . . . and know that if you email me, I probably won't get back to you until Saturday, but I will get back to you as soon as I can. (Mentoring students, don't expect your final edits back until at least the 28th, okay?) Hugs to you all!

Secrets Kept--Release Day Blog Tour

I know I am not the only one who has been looking forward to the release of Jennette Mbewe's novel, Secrets Kept! Many of you will remember her from a feature back in March, when she visited the Tales of Goldstone Wood blog to introduce us to her debut story, Desert Rose, a short story set in her exciting, fantastical world of Nälu. She offered a generous opportunity for all of us to grab her short story for free! And so we were introduced to a realm of mystery, of tragedy, of vivid characters and settings, all just waiting to be unleashed in a full-fledged adventure.

Since then, she has seen two more short stories released, Dragon Thief and Indestructible. Each more epic than the last, but still only the primer setting up for the big adventure to come.

And now the time is upon us. Secrets Kept is released, and those who have already fallen under the spell of Nälu will have a chance to dive into a novel-length adventure, encountering both new and familiar characters along the way!

Speaking of characters . . .

Jennette is with us today to briefly introduce (or re-introduce) us to some of the folks we will meet between the pages of Secrets Kept. So do enjoy!

Meet the Characters of

Secrets Kept

 

Thank you so much for having me on your blog and celebrating the release of Secrets Kept with me! Today, we get to meet three characters, one of which, readers might recognize. J

Desmond is a draper of the finest silks and weaves to be had in most of Nälu, but his eyes are on the courts of Badara. He would like nothing better than to be Prince Vian’s right hand man, but to do so, he would need a wife. Many young women of the plains would give anything to marry him, but only one has caught his eye. Ayianna. If she accepts, what more could he ask for?

We first get a glimpse of Saeed in the short story Desert Rose. He is the High Guardian and headmaster of the Kayulm'sa Nutraadzi, the School of Nevins. The oldest living elf among the nations, he witnessed the last sacrifice that broke the tainted covenant between the queen of the underworld and her mortal lover.  He was one of the first to volunteer to become a Guardian, even if he was only five years old at the time. But he'd rather forget those memories. Aside from a dwarven civil war and the Great Fairy Rebellion, he led the Guardian Circle in relative peace until now. The end of his days are drawing near, he can feel it his soul, and he must choose his successor among the remaining Nevins to lead the Guardian Circle. Unfortunately, one of them is a traitor.

Prince Vian, son of King Valdamar of Badara, has lived a sheltered life, more so than most nobility, but his father is distant, and the servants whisper behind his back. He can’t help but wonder if they see him as a bad omen since his mother died at his birth, or is it something else? Alone, he finds friendship with Desmond and hopes to win the approval of his father when the time comes for him to take the throne.

 

 

 

Welcome to the World of Nälu!

The Tales

 Can a desert princess find love with a foreign king?

Johari lives in the shadow of her beautiful sister until a foreign king notices her, but in her haste to prove herself worthy of affection she finds herself compromised and on a difficult journey to make things right.

Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Goodsread

 

 

 

What if all you knew had been a lie?

The teaching of the Guardians has guided Semine's footsteps since her infancy. When her mentor shows up with information contrary to what she's been taught, she doubts her decision to follow in their footsteps. She must decide if there is life beyond what she has always known or embrace a new, mysterious path and reject the Guardians' legacy.

Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords

 

 

To what lengths would you go to save the world?

Elothryn keeps the darkest secret of Nälu: The cursed dagger of Raemoja. A weapon powerful enough to release the greatest evil from the underworld. For generations, his family has lived without incident until now. The hunters have his scent and will stop at nothing to reclaim the dagger. Elothryn and his son flee, seeking help, but will they find it?

Find it on Amazon and Smashwords

 

Coming soon: All three Tales of Nälu in paperback!

 

 The Novel

 With a curse, she will build an army.
With the dagger, she will undo the last sacrifice.
But first the sorceress must find the secret keeper.

Torn from her homeland and thrust into a betrothal against her wishes, Ayianna learns her family has a deadly secret that now has her on the run. She joins forces with Kael, an embittered half-elf, and Saeed, an elderly High Guardian, to seek answers to her father’s death, the destruction of Dagmar, and the plains people’s bizarre behavior.

Ayianna discovers there is more at stake here than just her mother’s disappearance and her familial duty to her betrothed. The sorceress has cursed the plains people, and it is a race against time to release them before the sorceress resurrects an ancient evil.

Find it at Amazon and Goodreads.

 Author Picture & Bio

Writing as J. L. Mbewe, Jennette is an author, artist, mother, wife, but not always in that order. Born and raised in Minnesota, she now braves the heat of Texas, but pines for the Northern Lights and the lakes of home every autumn. She loves trying to capture the abstract and make it concrete. She has two short stories published in The Clockwork Dragon anthology, and is busily creating worlds inhabited by all sorts of fantasy creatures and characters, all questing about and discovering true love amid lots of peril. Her debut novel Secrets Kept and her short stories set in the world of Nälu: Desert Rose, Dragon Thief, and Indestructible are now available. She is currently living her second childhood with a wonderful husband and two precious children who don’t seem to mind her eclectic collections of rocks, shells, and books, among other things. For more information about her journey as a writer mama and all things creative please visit her at http://www.jlmbewe.com/

Social Media

Connect with Jennette!

Website/Blog

Facebook

Twitter

 Pinterest

Goodsreads

Google+ (But I’m still learning the ropes here!)

 

Be certain to follow the rest of this exciting Release Day Tour!

 

October 16^th

J. L. Mbewe: Release Day Kick-Off

The Writer’s Window: Meet the Characters Part 1

Sitting on the Porch with Lynn: Interview

In Darkness, There is Light: Excerpt

October 17^th

The Wonderings of One Person: Meet the Villains

Lightly Salted: Guest Post

Aaron DeMott: Excerpt

Writing without Compromise, Clare Davidson: Top Ten favorite YA novels

October 18^th

J. L. Mbewe: Top Secret Project Reveal

Anne Elisabeth Stengl: Meet the Characters part 2

Emerald Barnes’ Dreaming Awake Blog: Interview

Pauline Creeden: Dream Cast

Sheila Hollinghead’s Rise, Write, Shine: Review of Dragon Thief

Cover Reveal: FORGET ME NOT

Dear imps, I am so delighted to be able to reveal the cover for Amber Stokes' sophomore novel, Forget Me Not. You may remember that I participated in the reveal for her debut novel, Bleeding Heart, which released this summer. Now for the great unveiling of the prequel novel in her "flowers" series!

Old hurts, new betrayals, and a love that survives them all...

Summer 1885

A startling revelation sends Elizabeth Lawson escaping into a stormy night - and tosses her into the arms of a young mountain man with secrets of his own. When he offers to take her to the Nevada mining town where her long-lost brother lives, she accepts. Suspicions and uncertainties are pushed aside as she struggles to forge a future for herself by meeting her past.

David has been hiding from his painful memories for years. The solitude and wildness of the Rocky Mountains are challenge and comfort enough for him - until Elizabeth's arrival. Fueled by anger and a sense of obligation, he strives to take control of his new situation...only to find control slipping from his grasp with each new emotion Elizabeth evokes in him.

When their journey leads them on unexpected paths, can two lonely hearts find the strength to remember the good amid the heartbreak?

Inspirational Historical Romance

Isn't it a lovely cover? I particularly love the use of complimentary colors blue and orange, which create such a dynamic contrast, really making the girl stand out! I also love how well it matches the first cover in the series . . . lovely girl in a white dress. But this girl, Elizabeth, looks to me as though she has a very different personality from Sally in Bleeding Heart. Aren't you curious to learn her story?

Cover credit to Lena Goldfinch, who has created a lovely brand for Amber's series which will continue to stand out in the historical romance market!

Oh, speaking of Amber, her is a little about the author (in case you have not met her yet).

Amber Stokes has a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a passion for the written word - from blogging to writing poetry, short stories, and novels. After her brief time at college in Oregon, she is now back home among the redwoods of Northern California, living life one day at a time and pursuing her passion via freelance editing and self-publishing. You can connect with Amber on her blog, Seasons of Humility.

I had the fun of creating a couple of blog buttons for Amber's new story. Do pick one to share on your blog!



Link back to www.forgetmenotnovel.blogspot.com

 

Link back to: www.forgetmenotnovel.blogspot.com/

Amber is graciously offering a fun giveaway for one lucky winner! (US only, please). A lovely set of Forget-Me-Not notecards done by Carol Sapp Watercolors. Be sure to enter your name below! And tell Amber how much you love her new cover too.

 

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/15cee311/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway



Spooky Story Blogging Challenge!

The other day, my mother I were swapping stories about our most dread childhood "monsters." Of course we look back on them now and laugh, but at the time these fears were very real terrors for both of us!

As we talked, we challenged each other to write a short story about our childhood terrors. A "ghost story" if you will, which we will then post on Halloween.

And I thought . . . hey! Why not open this up to all of you too?

So I am inviting you to take part in this story challenge:

 

 

It's very simple . . . you write a short story (less than 2000 words--flash fiction would also work really well here!) about your most dreadful childhood fear. The fear needs to be real, but make certain the story itself is fictional--we're looking for stories, not memoirs!

 

And the big goal of this challenge: End on the punch line. End on the moment of highest terror. No resolution!

 

Mummy and I have already written ours which we'll be sharing, and Rohan decided to write one as well.  And it's awesome! I'll be sharing it on Halloween along with mine. It's called What If It Comes Back? and it gave me goosebumps.

 

If you decide to participate, simply publish your story on your blog on Halloween, then email me (aestengl@gmail.com) the link. I will compile all the links to all the participating stories so that everyone can easily go around and read everyone else's.

 

It's just a for fun exercise. But I have to say, I really enjoyed writing mine, and Rohan had a blast dusting off his creative writing skills to participate as well.

 

So what do you think? Do you have a childhood chill that might turn into a fun, spooky story?

Movie Suggestion

As most of you know, I rarely do reviews of any kind any more. Ever. I guess I have become so gun-shy of my own reviews (appreciative though I am to have them, since they definitely help with the ongoing slog that is actually selling my work) that I don't like contribute anything more to the review world at large.

And really, this isn't going to be a review so much as a recommendation. Because I'm not a reviewer, and I fear that any attempts to summarize either the plot or my feelings on the plot might giveaway something important . . .

But I recently watched a movie which I truly loved. And somehow I think many of you would enjoy  it too.

Here's the trailer:

That's right. It's a Korean film. Now I had heard wonderful things about Korean cinema before, but hadn't actually settled down to watch any. A few weeks back, however, Rohan and I came upon this one, War of the Arrow, randomly on Netflix.

Here is a brief summary that doesn't give away too much: "Set during the second Manchu invasion of Korea, Nam Yi, the best archer in Korea, goes up against the Qing Dynasty to save his younger sister Ja In - who was dragged away by Manchurian."

It looked okay. So hey! Why not?

It was FANTASTIC.

I found it particularly interesting since I had just been reading up on the Manchu a few months before. I hadn't realized there'd ever been a first Manchu invasion of Korea, so I learned something new . . . and feel inspired for more research.

Lots of action, lots of epic. I mean, LOTS of epic. The handsome hero is great, and the villain is terrifying, but in a wonderfully motivated sort of way. And neither of them is even my favorite character! My favorite character is probably the sister, who is quite the spunky lady (but not in any stereotypical warrior-maiden sense). I also really like her romantic interest, whom my best friend Erin has labeled, "The Asian Joseph Gordon-Levitt" if that means anything to any of you.

It is quite a violent film. No more violent than Lord of the Rings, but pretty grim. So you are fairly warned. Not a "family film." But I still highly recommend it for the right context of viewers.

Have any of you seen it? What did you think?

Oh, the soundtrack is pretty amazing too!