Amanda Hocking's Blog, page 4
February 23, 2015
Writing Tips & Tricks & Other Advice
The most common questions I get from people are writing and publishing. I usually try to keep it simple, because there's so much you can say on the subject, and not everything applies to everybody.
But since I've become obsessed (addicted) to Pinterest, I thought it might be fun to make a board with some of best pieces of advice I've found on every aspect of writing - from outlines and inspiration, to overcoming writer's block, to whether to self-publish or not.
So if you're an aspiring writer looking for advice, you should check it out. I really did compile the best advice I know - advice that has helped me, so it might help you too.
But remember - there is no one way to write a novel or to be successful. There are hundreds and hundreds, and you need to discover the path that works best for you.
Follow Amanda's board Writing Tips & Tricks & Other Helpful Advice on Pinterest.
But since I've become obsessed (addicted) to Pinterest, I thought it might be fun to make a board with some of best pieces of advice I've found on every aspect of writing - from outlines and inspiration, to overcoming writer's block, to whether to self-publish or not.
So if you're an aspiring writer looking for advice, you should check it out. I really did compile the best advice I know - advice that has helped me, so it might help you too.
But remember - there is no one way to write a novel or to be successful. There are hundreds and hundreds, and you need to discover the path that works best for you.
Follow Amanda's board Writing Tips & Tricks & Other Helpful Advice on Pinterest.
February 16, 2015
A Rose By Any Other Name
Over the weekend, I was cleaning my office and reorganizing my notes. (When it comes to writing, I am an obsessive note taker.)
While I was going through my things, I came across my brainstorming sheet for titles of the Kanin Chronicles.
I knew right away that the series would be called The Kanin Chronicles, but naming the individual books took quite some time actually.
When I initially pitched the series to my publisher in early 2013, the books were called First Oath (which would become Frostfire ), Dark Marrow (which would become Ice Kissed), and Last Bastion (which would become Crystal Kingdom ).
It actually took me a very long time to come up with those names, but I wasn't completely in love with them. My editor Rose suggested changing them because they sounded more like high-fantasy titles, and since my books aren't high-fantasy, it didn't really suit them.
So the two of us spent a great deal of time trying to come with names. I always think it's interesting to hear what books and movies were almost called, so I thought I'd share with you some of the possible titles.
Book 1 - White Rabbit
Book 2 - Blue Blood
Book 3 - Black Heart or Black Knight
Book 1 - A Rabbit So White
Book 2 - A Heart So Blue
Book 3 - A Throne So Black
Book 1 - A Promise in White
Book 2 - A Betrayal in Blue
Book 3 - A Heart in Black
I was really going with colors there for a while. But then I also just threw singular names, the way I had with the Trylle and Watersong series.
Book 1 - Dynasty (which really is too 1980s soap opera to have ever worked)
Book 2 - Throne
Book 3 - Empire
And eventually, I just had words written down that weren't attached to any particular book:
Trothe
Liege
Betrayal
Treachery
Sedition
Covenant
Chicanery
Branded
Eventually, after much deliberation, we finally decided on Frostfire, Ice Kissed, and Crystal Kingdom, and I do think they fit the series best. What do you think? Do you have favorites?
While I was going through my things, I came across my brainstorming sheet for titles of the Kanin Chronicles.
I knew right away that the series would be called The Kanin Chronicles, but naming the individual books took quite some time actually.
When I initially pitched the series to my publisher in early 2013, the books were called First Oath (which would become Frostfire ), Dark Marrow (which would become Ice Kissed), and Last Bastion (which would become Crystal Kingdom ).
It actually took me a very long time to come up with those names, but I wasn't completely in love with them. My editor Rose suggested changing them because they sounded more like high-fantasy titles, and since my books aren't high-fantasy, it didn't really suit them.
So the two of us spent a great deal of time trying to come with names. I always think it's interesting to hear what books and movies were almost called, so I thought I'd share with you some of the possible titles.
Book 1 - White Rabbit
Book 2 - Blue Blood
Book 3 - Black Heart or Black Knight
Book 1 - A Rabbit So White
Book 2 - A Heart So Blue
Book 3 - A Throne So Black
Book 1 - A Promise in White
Book 2 - A Betrayal in Blue
Book 3 - A Heart in Black
I was really going with colors there for a while. But then I also just threw singular names, the way I had with the Trylle and Watersong series.
Book 1 - Dynasty (which really is too 1980s soap opera to have ever worked)
Book 2 - Throne
Book 3 - Empire
And eventually, I just had words written down that weren't attached to any particular book:
Trothe
Liege
Betrayal
Treachery
Sedition
Covenant
Chicanery
Branded
Eventually, after much deliberation, we finally decided on Frostfire, Ice Kissed, and Crystal Kingdom, and I do think they fit the series best. What do you think? Do you have favorites?
February 4, 2015
Words & Histories
One thing that's great about the internet is the ability to create bonus content for readers who want to know more, and especially with a world as extensive as in the Kanin Chronicles and the Trylle series, there's so much more I could go on and on about. (Believe me when I say I spent an insane amount of time developing histories and lineages and back stories that were never even referenced in the books).
For those of you that can't wait for Ice Kissed or even if you haven't picked up Frostfire yet, here's some more content from the Kanin Chronicles.
At WorldofAmandaHocking.com, there's the a new pronunciation guide that just posted today. I did make a video a little while (which you can watch: here), but this one is written phonetically, and it covers words and names from the entire trilogy. Don't worry, though - there's no spoilers for Ice Kissed or Crystal Kingdom . You can read it: here.
I also wrote brief rundown of the five troll tribes from the Kanin Chronicles and Trylle series. In one of the books in the Kanin Chronicles, Bryn is reading from a Tracker Handbook, and in the back, it contains a quick overview of each of the tribes. It's so that in case a tracker runs into a member of another tribe while out in the human world following changelings, they know a few things about them and how to interact with them.
So I wrote the overview for the series, but it was too lengthy and unnecessary to include in the actual series. But I still think it might interesting to readers who wanted to know more about the tribes and read an excerpt from the Tracker Handbook. You can read about the tribes: here. (There are spoilers for those who haven't read the Trylle series yet).
Royalty plays an important roles in the series, and I have facts about the current royalty of the five tribes posted at WoAH. You can read about the Kings and Queens: here. (Again, there are spoilers who haven't read the Trylle series yet).
For a more intimate look at Frostfire , I have posted character info at Wattpad. It gives a good introduction to the major and some of the minor characters in the series. You read more about the characters: here.
And of course, there is my favorite - the soundtracks for Frostfire and Ice Kissed are both up now. You can listen to the Frostfire soundtrack: here, and the Ice Kissed soundtrack: here. As far as bonus content goes, I do probably have the most fun making the soundtracks, but really, all of this was fun for me, and I hope that it's fun for you too.
For those of you that can't wait for Ice Kissed or even if you haven't picked up Frostfire yet, here's some more content from the Kanin Chronicles.
At WorldofAmandaHocking.com, there's the a new pronunciation guide that just posted today. I did make a video a little while (which you can watch: here), but this one is written phonetically, and it covers words and names from the entire trilogy. Don't worry, though - there's no spoilers for Ice Kissed or Crystal Kingdom . You can read it: here.
I also wrote brief rundown of the five troll tribes from the Kanin Chronicles and Trylle series. In one of the books in the Kanin Chronicles, Bryn is reading from a Tracker Handbook, and in the back, it contains a quick overview of each of the tribes. It's so that in case a tracker runs into a member of another tribe while out in the human world following changelings, they know a few things about them and how to interact with them.
So I wrote the overview for the series, but it was too lengthy and unnecessary to include in the actual series. But I still think it might interesting to readers who wanted to know more about the tribes and read an excerpt from the Tracker Handbook. You can read about the tribes: here. (There are spoilers for those who haven't read the Trylle series yet).
Royalty plays an important roles in the series, and I have facts about the current royalty of the five tribes posted at WoAH. You can read about the Kings and Queens: here. (Again, there are spoilers who haven't read the Trylle series yet).
For a more intimate look at Frostfire , I have posted character info at Wattpad. It gives a good introduction to the major and some of the minor characters in the series. You read more about the characters: here.
And of course, there is my favorite - the soundtracks for Frostfire and Ice Kissed are both up now. You can listen to the Frostfire soundtrack: here, and the Ice Kissed soundtrack: here. As far as bonus content goes, I do probably have the most fun making the soundtracks, but really, all of this was fun for me, and I hope that it's fun for you too.
January 20, 2015
Frostfire Book Tour!
I'm doing a small Midwest tour for Frostfire. The small book tour is for several reasons - some personal (I just got married and didn't want to spend the first month as a newlywed on the road), some practical (time away on tours means time away from writing). In the future, with other books, I may do a more extended book tour, but I don't know anything for sure right now.
Here are the dates and places I will be stopping at, and I'm hope to see you there :)
Saturday, February 7th/EAU CLAIRE, WI
2:00 PM at Books a Million
4030 Commonwealth Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Monday, February 9th/MILWAUKEE, WI
6:30 PM at Greenfield Public Library
5310 W. Layton Ave
Greenfield WI
Tuesday, February 10th/CHICAGO, IL
7:00 PM at Anderson’s Bookshop
123 W. Jefferson Ave.
Naperville, IL
Friday, February 20th/ST. PAUL, MN
6:30 PM at Red Balloon Bookshop
891 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
Here are the dates and places I will be stopping at, and I'm hope to see you there :)
Saturday, February 7th/EAU CLAIRE, WI
2:00 PM at Books a Million
4030 Commonwealth Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54701
Monday, February 9th/MILWAUKEE, WI
6:30 PM at Greenfield Public Library
5310 W. Layton Ave
Greenfield WI
Tuesday, February 10th/CHICAGO, IL
7:00 PM at Anderson’s Bookshop
123 W. Jefferson Ave.
Naperville, IL
Friday, February 20th/ST. PAUL, MN
6:30 PM at Red Balloon Bookshop
891 Grand Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
January 9, 2015
Happy Birthday!
As many of you may know, many of my main characters share a birthday with one of my best friends, Valerie. I can't remember exactly when it started or why (other than the fact that I think Valerie is super neat), but it's something that I've started to incorporate in all my books. Like how basketball players sometimes have special socks they wear, or they have rituals they do before each game.
That makes today - January 9th - the birthday of Harper from Watersong, Wendy from the Trylle Trilogy, Remy from the Hollows, Alice from My Blood Approves, and now Bryn from the Kanin Chronicles.
With most of my books, I've tried to use a floating timeline - meaning it's always present day, regardless of when the book was written. So even though today is Harper's birthday, she hasn't really aged, because I haven't grounded her with a birth year.
I started out trying to use that same approach with the Kanin Chronicles, but eventually I realized that since past events effect so much of the present day, and there's discussions about previous royalty and history that, I felt like I had to ground it in a timeline. In doing so, I had to ground the history of the Trylle in a timeline too.
For perspective, the Trylle series takes place between October 2009-January 2010. (These dates aren't specifically mentioned in the Trylle series, but the beginning of Frostfire does set the date of the end of Ascend in that time). The Kanin Chronicles, meanwhile, takes place in 2014, aside from the prologue in Frostfire.
That means that unlike many other of my characters, Wendy and Bryn have actual birth dates, with years. Wendy was born January 9, 1992, and Bryn was born January 9, 1995.
Another thing that separates the Kanin Chronicles from some of my other series is that the characters are a bit older. The three main female leads - Bryn Aven, Tilda Moller, and Ember Holmes - are all relatively young. Bryn is nineteen,Tilda is twenty (though I don't if ever specifically mention her age in the book - I think she's simply alluded to as being roughly the same age/grade as Bryn), and Ember is sixteen turning seventeen at the outset of Frostfire.
It's more the supporting cast that's a bit older than normal, particularly the Kanin King and Queen, Bryn's love interest Ridley Dresden (27), and her nemesis Konstantin Black (29). The reason I decided to make them a bit older is two-fold.
One, I thought they're characters needed to be older to have accomplished the things that they have. It would be unrealistic for Ridley to be in charge of all the trackers at the age of twenty, or Konstantin to have risen up the ranks of the guard as a teenager. I also thought that given Bryn's age, experience, and maturity, it would be reasonable and acceptable for her to be attracted to someone several years older than her.
Two, I wanted the book to be a bit more mature than the Trylle series. Not exactly New Adult, but more like a bridge between Young Adult and New Adult (which I know is really splitting hairs at this point). And even though Ridley is a bit older, I still think he's definitely a young adult - he's still figuring who he is and what he wants out of life. In fact, even though Bryn is younger than him, she has a better grasp on both those concepts (or at least she thinks she does at the beginning of the series.)
Ultimately, I think the main characters in the Kanin series are figuring out who they are, what matters the most to the them, and what right and wrong mean to them - and how far they'll go to make things right. And I think that despite their various ages, these are things that most young adults are struggling with (and many older adults too).
The great things about these concepts is that they're so fluid - who Bryn thinks she is and what matters and even what she thinks right and wrong are on page one of the first book is going to be so much different than what she thinks on the final page of the series.
But that's all part of growing up. So with that, I want to wish Valerie and Bryn a very happy birthday. :)
That makes today - January 9th - the birthday of Harper from Watersong, Wendy from the Trylle Trilogy, Remy from the Hollows, Alice from My Blood Approves, and now Bryn from the Kanin Chronicles.
With most of my books, I've tried to use a floating timeline - meaning it's always present day, regardless of when the book was written. So even though today is Harper's birthday, she hasn't really aged, because I haven't grounded her with a birth year.
I started out trying to use that same approach with the Kanin Chronicles, but eventually I realized that since past events effect so much of the present day, and there's discussions about previous royalty and history that, I felt like I had to ground it in a timeline. In doing so, I had to ground the history of the Trylle in a timeline too.
For perspective, the Trylle series takes place between October 2009-January 2010. (These dates aren't specifically mentioned in the Trylle series, but the beginning of Frostfire does set the date of the end of Ascend in that time). The Kanin Chronicles, meanwhile, takes place in 2014, aside from the prologue in Frostfire.
That means that unlike many other of my characters, Wendy and Bryn have actual birth dates, with years. Wendy was born January 9, 1992, and Bryn was born January 9, 1995.
Another thing that separates the Kanin Chronicles from some of my other series is that the characters are a bit older. The three main female leads - Bryn Aven, Tilda Moller, and Ember Holmes - are all relatively young. Bryn is nineteen,Tilda is twenty (though I don't if ever specifically mention her age in the book - I think she's simply alluded to as being roughly the same age/grade as Bryn), and Ember is sixteen turning seventeen at the outset of Frostfire.
It's more the supporting cast that's a bit older than normal, particularly the Kanin King and Queen, Bryn's love interest Ridley Dresden (27), and her nemesis Konstantin Black (29). The reason I decided to make them a bit older is two-fold.
One, I thought they're characters needed to be older to have accomplished the things that they have. It would be unrealistic for Ridley to be in charge of all the trackers at the age of twenty, or Konstantin to have risen up the ranks of the guard as a teenager. I also thought that given Bryn's age, experience, and maturity, it would be reasonable and acceptable for her to be attracted to someone several years older than her.
Two, I wanted the book to be a bit more mature than the Trylle series. Not exactly New Adult, but more like a bridge between Young Adult and New Adult (which I know is really splitting hairs at this point). And even though Ridley is a bit older, I still think he's definitely a young adult - he's still figuring who he is and what he wants out of life. In fact, even though Bryn is younger than him, she has a better grasp on both those concepts (or at least she thinks she does at the beginning of the series.)
Ultimately, I think the main characters in the Kanin series are figuring out who they are, what matters the most to the them, and what right and wrong mean to them - and how far they'll go to make things right. And I think that despite their various ages, these are things that most young adults are struggling with (and many older adults too).
The great things about these concepts is that they're so fluid - who Bryn thinks she is and what matters and even what she thinks right and wrong are on page one of the first book is going to be so much different than what she thinks on the final page of the series.
But that's all part of growing up. So with that, I want to wish Valerie and Bryn a very happy birthday. :)
January 6, 2015
It's Frostfire Day!
Frostfire
is finally here!!! Some people have found copies of Frostfire in bookstores, but today is the first official day that
Frostfire
is released into the wild ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audio form. Here's a just few places where you can order your copy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes
For those of you that haven't heard of Frostfire , here's the description:
The first book in the new trilogy the Kanin Chronicles is set in the world of the Trylle. Hidden deep in the heart of a snow-covered wilderness lies the secret kingdom of the Kanin—a magical realm as beautiful as it is treacherous... Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes. Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who’s determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite guard to protect the royalty. She’s not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her commander, Ridley Dresden. But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin—a fallen hero who she once loved—appears to be up to something dangerous...
Also, fun fact: the second book of the Kanin Chronicles - Ice Kissed - will be in May 2015 and the final book in the trilogy - Crystal Kingdom - will be out August 2015, so there's hardly any wait time at all between books.
If you've already finished Frostfire , or you just want to find out more about the world of the Trylle and the Kanin, here's some other fun things you can check out:
Read about the characters of Frostfire at Wattpad
Check out the inspiration board for Frostfire at Pinterest
Listen to the soundtrack for Frostfire
Watch the pronunciation guide and intro video for Frostfire
Find out more tribes and other troll facts at World of Amanda Hocking
For the post few weeks, I've been posting teaser quotes from Frostfire , and I thought since today's the pub day, I would finish the post with a few of my favorites ;)
For those of you that haven't heard of Frostfire , here's the description:
The first book in the new trilogy the Kanin Chronicles is set in the world of the Trylle. Hidden deep in the heart of a snow-covered wilderness lies the secret kingdom of the Kanin—a magical realm as beautiful as it is treacherous... Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes. Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who’s determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite guard to protect the royalty. She’s not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her commander, Ridley Dresden. But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin—a fallen hero who she once loved—appears to be up to something dangerous...
Also, fun fact: the second book of the Kanin Chronicles - Ice Kissed - will be in May 2015 and the final book in the trilogy - Crystal Kingdom - will be out August 2015, so there's hardly any wait time at all between books.
If you've already finished Frostfire , or you just want to find out more about the world of the Trylle and the Kanin, here's some other fun things you can check out:
Read about the characters of Frostfire at Wattpad
Check out the inspiration board for Frostfire at Pinterest
Listen to the soundtrack for Frostfire
Watch the pronunciation guide and intro video for Frostfire
Find out more tribes and other troll facts at World of Amanda Hocking
For the post few weeks, I've been posting teaser quotes from Frostfire , and I thought since today's the pub day, I would finish the post with a few of my favorites ;)
November 26, 2014
Pinning & Winning
So, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, I've been working on Pinterest boards. I have a few boards up there, for things I enjoy like books, movies, tattoo ideas, travelling, etc. You can follow me over at www.pinterest.com/aehocking
But I also have Frostfire board where I posted inspiration pics from the book. It has a lot of cool stuff over there, like character inspiration, wardrobe ideas, locales, and even music. Honestly, it was so much fun to make. (As many of you may know, Pinterest can be super addictive).
If you love Pinterest or you're just excited about Frostfire , check out the board.
Follow Amanda's board Frostfire on Pinterest.
But I also have Frostfire board where I posted inspiration pics from the book. It has a lot of cool stuff over there, like character inspiration, wardrobe ideas, locales, and even music. Honestly, it was so much fun to make. (As many of you may know, Pinterest can be super addictive).
If you love Pinterest or you're just excited about Frostfire , check out the board.
Follow Amanda's board Frostfire on Pinterest.
November 3, 2014
Frostfire Quotes & Other Info
It's just over two months until Frostfire comes out on January 6, 2015, and I am getting crazy excited. So I thought a fun thing to do would be once a week until the book comes out, I'll post one of my favorite quotes from the book. So here's the first one:
This is definitely one of my favorite quotes, because Bryn doesn't mess around.
If you're as excited for Frostfire to come out as I am (and I am very excited) here are some other fun things you can do until the release:
Check out the excerpt from Frostfire posted at Wattpad
Enter to win a copy of Frostfire
Listen to the soundtrack for Frostfire
Read troll facts and other info about the Kanin Chronicles at WorldofAmandaHocking.com
Join the Trylle re-read at Goodreads (they just started on Torn today)
Visit the blog I did where I answer FAQs about Frostfire
Preorder Frostfire in ebook or paperback
Stay tuned to my blog, Facebook, or Twitter for my updates and sneak peeks on Frostfire
This is definitely one of my favorite quotes, because Bryn doesn't mess around.
If you're as excited for Frostfire to come out as I am (and I am very excited) here are some other fun things you can do until the release:
Check out the excerpt from Frostfire posted at Wattpad
Enter to win a copy of Frostfire
Listen to the soundtrack for Frostfire
Read troll facts and other info about the Kanin Chronicles at WorldofAmandaHocking.com
Join the Trylle re-read at Goodreads (they just started on Torn today)
Visit the blog I did where I answer FAQs about Frostfire
Preorder Frostfire in ebook or paperback
Stay tuned to my blog, Facebook, or Twitter for my updates and sneak peeks on Frostfire
October 2, 2014
How I Bide My Time
All three books in the Kanin Chronicles have been written, and now I'm getting all jazzed up waiting for you guys to get yours hands on them. I literally cannot wait to hear what you all think about it. In fact, it's getting very hard to remain patient when there's only 96 days until Frostfire to come out.
So here's how I've been biding my time.
The majority of it has is probably spent cuddling/yelling at/playing with/cleaning up after my three cats and dog. For instance, I had to give my 60+ pound golden retriever Isley a bath today, and it turns out that she really, really does not like taking baths. Also, my cat Squeak can open drawers and doors, and my cat Sophie is constantly convinced she's out of food even when the dishes are full of food.
I also watch TV. My current favorite shows are probably Judge Judy and Chopped. I do watch a lot of the Food Network because I am the most boring person that ever lived. I don't watch a lot of new movies anymore. Like the other day, I started watching the new Transformers, but we were nearly two hours into it, and the dinosaur Transformer still hadn't been on, and there was still another hour left of the movie, so I gave up.
I do also read a lot. My reading tastes are all over the map. I read a lot of YA, mostly of the paranormal variety. I just read Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White (which I thoroughly enjoyed), and I just got Belzhar by Meg Wolizter. It sounds like its one part Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and one part Sucker Punch, so I think that I'll enjoy it.
When I'm not reading YA, I tend to read a lot of nonfiction. Sometimes biographies (varying from celebrities s like Michael Caine to dictators like Stalin). I have many books about WWII too, because I'm fascinated by it. But what I'm mostly interested true crime novels, not always Anne Rule but in the same vein of that, and lately I've been on a binge reading about people who have escaped from cults.
As far as comics go, I've mostly just been reading the New 52 as of late. I go through spurts where I want to read a lot of graphic novels, but right now, I'm just not as in the mood for them. I'm sure it'll change though.
And of course, I'm always working on new book ideas - some come to fruition, many others don't. But I'm usually brainstorming or outlining or tinkering with one idea or another.
Beyond entertainment, I like to spend time with my fiance and his son, and my friends and family. Right now, I have been devoting a lot of time to wedding planning, since we're getting married in a few months, but soon, that'll die down, and I'll be back to filling my time with cooking shows and books and yelling at my cat and counting down the days until Frostfire is finally out.
So here's how I've been biding my time.
The majority of it has is probably spent cuddling/yelling at/playing with/cleaning up after my three cats and dog. For instance, I had to give my 60+ pound golden retriever Isley a bath today, and it turns out that she really, really does not like taking baths. Also, my cat Squeak can open drawers and doors, and my cat Sophie is constantly convinced she's out of food even when the dishes are full of food.
I also watch TV. My current favorite shows are probably Judge Judy and Chopped. I do watch a lot of the Food Network because I am the most boring person that ever lived. I don't watch a lot of new movies anymore. Like the other day, I started watching the new Transformers, but we were nearly two hours into it, and the dinosaur Transformer still hadn't been on, and there was still another hour left of the movie, so I gave up.
I do also read a lot. My reading tastes are all over the map. I read a lot of YA, mostly of the paranormal variety. I just read Illusions of Fate by Kiersten White (which I thoroughly enjoyed), and I just got Belzhar by Meg Wolizter. It sounds like its one part Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath and one part Sucker Punch, so I think that I'll enjoy it.
When I'm not reading YA, I tend to read a lot of nonfiction. Sometimes biographies (varying from celebrities s like Michael Caine to dictators like Stalin). I have many books about WWII too, because I'm fascinated by it. But what I'm mostly interested true crime novels, not always Anne Rule but in the same vein of that, and lately I've been on a binge reading about people who have escaped from cults.
As far as comics go, I've mostly just been reading the New 52 as of late. I go through spurts where I want to read a lot of graphic novels, but right now, I'm just not as in the mood for them. I'm sure it'll change though.
And of course, I'm always working on new book ideas - some come to fruition, many others don't. But I'm usually brainstorming or outlining or tinkering with one idea or another.
Beyond entertainment, I like to spend time with my fiance and his son, and my friends and family. Right now, I have been devoting a lot of time to wedding planning, since we're getting married in a few months, but soon, that'll die down, and I'll be back to filling my time with cooking shows and books and yelling at my cat and counting down the days until Frostfire is finally out.
August 4, 2014
New Book Details
You may have already caught the cover reveal for Frostfire on Entertainment Weekly, but for those who haven't, I'm posting the cove now, along with some other new information about the book.
So, without further ado, here is the fantastic new cover for Frostfire - the first book the Kanin Chronicles.
"Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes. Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who’s determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite guard to protect the royalty. She’s not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her commander, Ridley Dresden. But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin—a fallen hero who she once loved—appears to be up to something dangerous..."
Now for those of you that may have questions about the new book, I'm here to answer them.
When does Frostfire come out?
I'm glad you asked. It will be out January 6, 2015. It's available for preoder now, and I have a few links: here.
Is this a spinoff of the Trylle series?
Yes, it is, in the sense that it takes place in the same world that Trylle did. A few characters from the Trylle do appear in the Kanin series, and Ember Holmes (Finn's younger sister) is featured prominently throughout the books. This series takes place four years after the events in Ascend, which has given the characters from the Trylle some time to grow and change.
Do I need to have read the Trylle books to understand what happens in the Kanin Chronicles?
No, you do not. I wrote it with the goal of it being accessible to both old and new fans. With that said, there are a few allusions to past books and events that fans of the Trylle will enjoy, but nothing that will keep new readers from understanding what's happening.
Why did you want to revisit the world?
I loved creating the world of the Trylle, but Wendy's story only showed the tip of the iceberg. I knew that I wanted to write a complimentary tale from the eyes of someone who'd grown up in the world and knew it inside and out and could really showcase everything that's going on the troll world. Originally, I envisioned possibly writing the books from Ember's point of view, but eventually I realized that I wanted to start with a brand-new character, who became Bryn Aven. Bryn is fierce and tough, and she won't take crap from anybody, and I absolutely adored writing her and how she tackles the obstacles in her way.
How many books will there be in the Kanin Chronicles?
Like the Trylle books, this will be a trilogy. I only know the official release date Frostfire, but I believe the last two books will also be out in 2015. (With titles and covers to be revealed at a future time).
Why is the girl on the cover blond? Is that Bryn Aven? But trolls don't have blond hair?
That is Bryn Aven, and she is blond. The Trylle books really only focuses on the appearances of two tribes - the Trylle and the Vittra. In the Kanin Chronicles, readers will learn that there's so much more to the troll
world than just those two.
Is Ridley Dresden named after famed director Ridley Scott, who you frequently reference in your books because Alien, Blade Runner, and Legend are masterpieces?
Yes. Yes, he is.
What about the Trylle movie? Is there any new news on that?
Unfortunately, I don't have any new news to share with you. The movie company still has the rights optioned, which is a good sign, but I don't have anything new to add. For previous updates, you can check out this blog: here.
It's great that you're working on this series, but what about INSERT BOOK HERE? When will that come out?
For that I would refer you to this blog: Ideas vs Things, where I explain why I don't talk about projects in process, and also to my FAQs, which I do update when I ever have new info to share with you.
So, without further ado, here is the fantastic new cover for Frostfire - the first book the Kanin Chronicles.
"Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes. Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who’s determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite guard to protect the royalty. She’s not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her commander, Ridley Dresden. But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin—a fallen hero who she once loved—appears to be up to something dangerous..."
Now for those of you that may have questions about the new book, I'm here to answer them.
When does Frostfire come out?
I'm glad you asked. It will be out January 6, 2015. It's available for preoder now, and I have a few links: here.
Is this a spinoff of the Trylle series?
Yes, it is, in the sense that it takes place in the same world that Trylle did. A few characters from the Trylle do appear in the Kanin series, and Ember Holmes (Finn's younger sister) is featured prominently throughout the books. This series takes place four years after the events in Ascend, which has given the characters from the Trylle some time to grow and change.
Do I need to have read the Trylle books to understand what happens in the Kanin Chronicles?
No, you do not. I wrote it with the goal of it being accessible to both old and new fans. With that said, there are a few allusions to past books and events that fans of the Trylle will enjoy, but nothing that will keep new readers from understanding what's happening.
Why did you want to revisit the world?
I loved creating the world of the Trylle, but Wendy's story only showed the tip of the iceberg. I knew that I wanted to write a complimentary tale from the eyes of someone who'd grown up in the world and knew it inside and out and could really showcase everything that's going on the troll world. Originally, I envisioned possibly writing the books from Ember's point of view, but eventually I realized that I wanted to start with a brand-new character, who became Bryn Aven. Bryn is fierce and tough, and she won't take crap from anybody, and I absolutely adored writing her and how she tackles the obstacles in her way.
How many books will there be in the Kanin Chronicles?
Like the Trylle books, this will be a trilogy. I only know the official release date Frostfire, but I believe the last two books will also be out in 2015. (With titles and covers to be revealed at a future time).
Why is the girl on the cover blond? Is that Bryn Aven? But trolls don't have blond hair?
That is Bryn Aven, and she is blond. The Trylle books really only focuses on the appearances of two tribes - the Trylle and the Vittra. In the Kanin Chronicles, readers will learn that there's so much more to the troll
world than just those two.
Is Ridley Dresden named after famed director Ridley Scott, who you frequently reference in your books because Alien, Blade Runner, and Legend are masterpieces?
Yes. Yes, he is.
What about the Trylle movie? Is there any new news on that?
Unfortunately, I don't have any new news to share with you. The movie company still has the rights optioned, which is a good sign, but I don't have anything new to add. For previous updates, you can check out this blog: here.
It's great that you're working on this series, but what about INSERT BOOK HERE? When will that come out?
For that I would refer you to this blog: Ideas vs Things, where I explain why I don't talk about projects in process, and also to my FAQs, which I do update when I ever have new info to share with you.
