Alina Sayre's Blog, page 4

Recipe for a New Book

In a comfortable seating area, combine one new notebook, one mug strong coffee, and assorted writing utensils to taste.

Add one absurdly multicolored spreadsheet.

Combine ingredients until they have formed a suitably large mess on the office floor.

Pour mixture onto blank pages.

Get excited, because Book 4 is coming!

Summer Inspiration: Hearst Castle

News flash: yesterday was my five-year blogiversary! The moment may have been an invisible blip to the whirl of the internet, but it was a significant moment for me. It meant that five years ago, fresh out of college, full of dreams and determination, I gathered my courage, faith, and naivete and put up my first blog post. It’s embarrassing and awkward to me now, but I firmly believe that each leap of courage and faith makes possible other, bigger leaps down the road. So hooray for five years of blogging! Thanks for your participation in this small internet living room over the years.

Now for a fourth installment of summer inspiration: a fun, whirlwind girls’ weekend trip to Hearst Castle with my mom, aunt, and cousin.

I’d been to Hearst Castle once as a teenager, and I remember collecting story ideas there for my very first novel. That high school novel ended up in the proverbial drawer, but it taught me that inspiration can be found in all sorts of places. Visiting it a second time, more than ten years later, brought me different inspiration, but inspiration all the same.

Not all the rooms were equally inspiring. Of course I had to see the library. But while it was impressive, I didn’t fall in love with it. For one, the books were behind metal cages. For two, if you had basically all the money in the world and a hilltop with an ocean view, why would you build a dark-wood library with hardly any dedicated window space? I would have made the room almost entirely out of glass. Okay, with curtains to protect the books from direct sunlight.

Similarly, some of the decor left me with mixed feelings. These lampshades, for instance. They’re made out of old vellum pages–music, in this case. While that’s incredibly awesome on one level (BOOK lampshades, yes!), another part of me cringes. Who would take apart a beautiful book, probably quite old, and make lampshades out of the pages? It’s like making furniture out of body parts. Really conflicted about this one. On the other hand, some parts of the house were breathtaking and loaded with writing inspiration. For instance, the matching “Celestial Suites” at the top of the Castle’s twin bell towers. Got that? Bedrooms at the top of bell towers. Already awesome. But to make it even better, their Moorish-inspired design allowed the lamplight from inside to compete with daylight flooding in through the lace-like symmetrical perforations in the walls. The room was full of light. One guest said it was like “sleeping in a jewel box.” I wrote that down in my idea notebook. We even got to hear the bells ringing as we started down the stairs.

Probably my favorite sight of the tour, though, was the Roman Pool. A cool, dim, indoor room entirely covered with blue-and-gold tiles, it’s a magical play of light, reflections, and symmetry. On the hot day of our visit, I could just imagine a dip in those quiet, deep-blue waters, where the tiles below the water compete with the reflection of the ceiling. It was hard to tell what was real and what was a mirror image. Also, I kind of have this thing for blue and gold.

This California landmark brings on a swirl of mixed feelings. The Castle is an architectural marvel and also a display of opulent self-indulgence; it’s an amazing art museum and also an exhibition of mishandled historical treasures (case in point: lampshades). But whatever else it is, it’s certainly a feast for the senses. Which, for a writer, is a pretty great find.

All in all, it was a lovely weekend, with some great family time and amazing sights (like this beautiful sunset in Cambria). And I collected some inspiration to take home with me.

Filed under: Alina Sayre, art, blog, blogiversary, Hearst Castle, inspiration, Uncategorized, writing

Summer Inspiration: Chihuly Garden and Glass

Travel is one of my biggest sources of writing inspiration. I don’t always go as far or as often as I’d like, but inspiration can be found even in the most unexpected of places. Although I was generally collecting ideas for Book 4 this July, I didn’t realize I’d find them in Seattle when I visited relatives and college friends. In 2012, a new museum called Chihuly Garden and Glass opened (showcasing the work of glass artist Dale Chihuly), and knowing how much I love art and museums, it seemed like a good sightseeing option.

Boy, was that an underestimation.

This was one of the most spectacular museums–no, places–I’ve ever been. I didn’t know what to expect from a museum full of glass artworks. It turned out to be transcendent.

Words don’t do it justice. The glass itself was eye-popping, but the arrangements and lighting created perfect harmonies, like music, like poetry. There was an ocean-themed room, a Native American-themed room, and a garden of whimsical shapes that felt like something from Willy Wonka’s factory. I couldn’t take story notes fast enough.

There were boats loaded with glass spheres that looked like planets, resting serenely on a black mirror that doubled their images.

There was a handmade glasshouse with a spiral of fiery glass flowers. It’s incredible how such a piece can weigh thousands of pounds, yet create the illusion of weightless fragility.

You could see the Space Needle through the walls of the glasshouse!There was an outdoor garden where natural plants grew among glass pieces, the beds of flowers and glass grouped by color.

But my favorite was the rainbow room.

Glass shapes, again both ponderously heavy and effortlessly delicate, layered a glass ceiling. Lights shining through them created water-like reflections on the walls. I almost burst into tears from so much beauty. The people beneath–even the selfie-taking tourists–turned beautiful in the rainbow light.

It was pure magic. I have a feeling you’ll be seeing some of these inspirations in a book.

 

Filed under: Alina Sayre, art, blog, Chihuly Garden and Glass, inspiration, museums, Seattle, travel, Uncategorized, writing

Summer Inspiration: Bookstore Signings

In the crunch phase of writing and producing a book, I spend so much time sequestered away in my office that I can sometimes forget that other people exist. Let alone that some of them read what I write.

And while I write for many reasons, not least of which is just for the sheer fun of it, one of my most affirming motivations to get back to work is seeing young readers enjoy my books. And that’s just what happened at my two bookstore signings this summer .

The launch party for The Illuminator Rising was held at Village House of Books on June 25th. The owners, Steve and Cheryl Hare, are incredibly welcoming and just some of the sweetest people you will ever meet. They even heralded the event with a window display of The Voyages of the Legend–a total dream come true for me!

I got to sit in the “queen chair” in the charming children’s nook.

 

It was totally fantastic to see the standing-room-only gathering of young readers! They were full of eager observations and great questions. Some of them are on track to be writers or illustrators themselves, so watch out world!

The second summer signing took place at Bookasaurus, the children’s division of Leigh’s Favorite Books. Though space in the store is tight, they sure make the most of it! Again, it was wonderful to have the signing so well attended by strangers, friends, and family. These are just a few of the people who sustain me on my journey.

Some of the students who visited have been faithfully reading The Voyages of the Legend since the release of Book 1. I’m having the amazing privilege of watching them grow up–some, into very dedicated and articulate writers themselves!

And one more perk of the day. See that shop doorway on the left of the photo? That’s an incredible gelateria called Bella Roma. Gelato may or may not have immediately followed this book signing. I can’t think of a better way to end a day full of books, bookworms, and fun.

Filed under: Alina Sayre, author, blog, book launch, book release, bookstores, family, friendship, kidlit, The Illuminator Rising, Uncategorized, writing

Summer Inspiration: Bay Area Book Festival 2016

Benjamin Franklin is credited as having said, “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” 

Last spring, I was totally absorbed in trying to write something worth reading–and in fact, today The Illuminator Rising is on an Amazon Top 100 list! Woohoo!

This summer, I’ve been busy trying to catch up on the other half.

So for the next few weeks, I’m going to be sharing posts about some of the events that have brought color and life into this summer. Some of them may or may not wind up as ingredients in the creative soup for The Voyages of the Legend, Book 4!

Today takes us back to the Bay Area Book Festival (June 4-5) in Berkeley, CA!

It is a special, special thing to have an entire city rope off its downtown for a 2-day extravaganza just for bookworms. While I was 500% exhausted afterwards, it’s so fun to just be able to strike up a conversation with anyone in a crowd, knowing that you have a love of books in common.

My wonderful mom was my table buddy and partner in crime for the weekend. She used her whiz artistic skills to paint Voyages of the Legend designs on the hands of visiting readers!

Fun, huh? It was also a pleasure to get visits from some friends and family, including my aunt who lives some distance away[image error]

I got to network with some literary colleagues of all stripes: librarians, teachers, and fellow authors, to name a few.

One of the coolest booths I saw was an artisan who makes shelves, etc. out of (humorous) groupings of old books. Look closely at these titles, and see if you don’t laugh.

But the best thing was seeing so many kids enjoying reading. Two girls purchased copies of my books, then immediately dashed off to the lawn to start reading them. Whole groups of parents and kids sat down together for outdoor storytimes. It reminded me of some of the happiest moments of my own childhood, and restored my hope that not all kids are growing up as screen addicts. Not these ones, at least.

So, while this introvert couldn’t have been happier to curl up in the silence of her own room after all the activity, overall the Bay Area Book Festival was a jolly, literary, inspiring weekend.

Hope you can make it next year!

Filed under: Alina Sayre, author, Bay Area Book Festival, blog, books, Uncategorized

Book Launch Day: The Illuminator Rising!!!

It’s here!!!

It’s launch day for my new book, The Illuminator Rising! I can’t even tell you how excited I am to introduce this new book. As the third (but not the last!) in the Voyages of the Legend series, it involves some of the characters I’ve written with before, but each and every book teaches me new things–and this book taught me a lot. [image error]And threw me more than a few surprises!

Here’s a sneak peek!

Jariel tapped out the rhythm with her foot. “I like fast dances.”

“Then you should dance,” Ellie said.

“Nah. You need a partner for this one.”

“So? Find one,” said Connor, rejoining the group.

“What? You volunteering?” Jariel rolled her eyes.

“Sure.”

“Sure? You don’t even know how to dance!”

“I do too.”

“Then why haven’t I ever seen you?”

“Maybe I didn’t want to.”

“You’re bluffing.”

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Then dance with me.” Connor cocked an eyebrow. “I dare you. Or are you too scared?”

“I am not scared.” Jariel stood up, dusting herself off. “Hurry up, slowpoke.”

Ellie watched as Jariel and Connor joined a reel on the dance floor. They fumbled awkwardly to find each other’s hands and perform the first set of spins. But then they seemed to find a rhythm. Both of them were strong and athletic, and they both had a good sense for the music. They began to clap in time and skipped down the line with energy. Their movements fell into practiced unison, as if they were working together to trim a sail or polish a deck.

“Do you…like to dance?” Kai asked Korrina.

Korrina gave a fierce laugh. “I like to fight.”

Kai nodded briskly. “Yes. Fighting is better. At least you know if you’re winning or losing.”

You can find The Illuminator Rising right now on Amazon as an e-book and paperback! (Amazon hasn’t yet linked the two together, but both are listed on my author page.)

If you’re local to the SF Bay Area and looking for a signed copy, you’re invited to my launch party on Saturday, June 25, at Village House of Books! There will be a reading, kid-friendly activities, snacks, and even a drawing for a free paperback copy of The Illuminator Rising!

If you can’t make the launch party, check out my News and Events page for other stops on this summer’s book release tour!

 

To celebrate this book’s launch day, I’m doing an e-book giveaway right here on the blog! Entering is easy!

Step 1: Subscribe to my e-mail newsletter. (The newsletter only includes book-related news and only comes once every few months! Since nobody likes spam. If you’re already subscribed, you can skip this step.)

Step 2: Leave a comment on this post, including 1) your name (first and last) and 2) one reason you’re excited to read The Illuminator Rising. 

On Monday, 6/13, I’ll draw a name from the comments and send a free e-book to the e-mail address you used to subscribe!

 

As always, I can’t do this without you! Please like, share, retweet, and leave an Amazon review to help launch this book![image error]

Filed under: Alina Sayre, author, blog, book launch, giveaway, The Illuminator Rising, Uncategorized

Book Launch: Memories of Ash by Intisar Khanani

Hi guys!

Today I have the privilege of introducing a new author friend of mine: Intisar Khanani. Besides being incredibly talented and super friendly, she’s just released a new fantasy novel, Memories of Ash. It’s a sequel to her novella Sunbolt, which I *might* have stayed up past my bedtime reading. Oh man. I read a lot of fantasy, and this was one of the most original and gripping I’ve read in a long time. The setting is rich and interesting, the suspense had me reading chapter after chapter, and the protagonist, Hitomi, is a mighty girl with a strong sense of conscience but also a relatable vulnerability. Go read it right now. Right. Now.

Then come back for an interview with the author!

Welcome, Intisar! How did you first get started writing?

I’m one of those people who was always writing. I stapled my first books together when I was three or four, and never stopped. I’ve always had stories and characters in my head; even if I wasn’t actively writing, I was still telling myself stories as I went through my days. Nowadays, if I don’t write them down, I find I’m a much less happy person—which means if I’m feeling particularly grumpy, I’ll sometimes just excuse myself to go write a story!

What draws you to fantasy/fairy tales?

I love fantasy (and science fiction, though I don’t write it) because it takes us out of our world. We deal with issues in a different framework, and so we can challenge ourselves more deeply because we think we have less at stake. Likewise, fairy tales contain old, deep truths within them—some of them that bear challenging as social contexts and cultures change, and some that rise above time and place. I love the depth that fantasy and fairy tales are capable of while still granting us an “escape” from our own lives. I may also have a soft spot for dragons, mages, and talking horses.

The Illuminator Rising: Cover Reveal!!!

Book 3, The Illuminator Rising, releases online THIS Friday, June 10th!!!

To celebrate, I’m running a blog tour with the help of some amazing authors/creatives. There will be book reviews, interviews, and guest posts, and some even include giveaways of Book 3!

Here’s the full schedule of hosts and events: 

June 8: Release announcement with children’s author Jenn Castro
June 9: Interview and giveaway with craft author Margaret Bloom
June 10: BOOK 3 RELEASE DAY! Party and giveaway right here on my website!
June 11: Guest post: “Traveling Writer” on the blog of fantasy author Angela Wallace
June 12: Guest post: “Five Tips to Jumpstart Your Creativity” on the blog of fantasy author W.R. Gingell
June 13: Book review and release announcement on the blog of fantasy author Rabia Gale
June 14: Guest post: “Writing to Music” on the blog of fantasy author A.R. Silverberry
June 15: Guest post: “Insanity-Free Revision” and giveaway on the blog of fantasy author D.M. Stoddard
June 16: Author-character interview on the blog of fantasy author Intisar Khanani 
June 18: Radio interview with artist and tech guru Caleb Fong 

Follow along to join the fun and (maybe) win a free book!

And now, what you’ve all been waiting for…

…the cover reveal for The Illuminator Rising!!!

Another awesome work by Jenny Zemanek of Seedlings Design Studio! Leave a comment to tell me what you think! The book releases on Amazon June 10th!!!

Book Launch: The First Chill of Autumn, W.R. Gingell

Hey everybody!

I’m not going to lie–one of my favorite things about being an author, especially an independent author, is getting to meet other authors. Unlike much of the world, I’ve found the book community to be a really team-focused, everybody-can-win environment. Which is how I was lucky enough to meet and interview W.R. Gingell, a fellow fantasy author.

[image error]Today is launch day for W.R.’s latest novella, “The First Chill of Autumn.” To celebrate, W.R. has graciously stopped by my blog for an interview!

Welcome, W.R.! So tell us–how did you first get started writing?

Well, I remember that my first story was written in 1st grade, and was something about a family following a sea-turtle into the sea and having an adventure underwater with mermaids, shadowy, dangerous sharks, and underwater volleyball (?!) That wasn’t really the start of it, though. I wrote that because I was told to write a story. I don’t think I wrote it because I wanted to write it. The second was a 10-page saga (IT WAS A SAGA IN MY TINY MIND, OK?) when I was about grade two, and that was written because it was adventurous and featured my then-best-friend Kylie. It involved lions, tigers, bears, and anacondas (on an Australian mountain, no less. My tiny mind had no idea of geography, just which animals were the most ferocious and adventurous). It was, oddly enough, written from 1st person POV, but with the actual heroine being observed from that POV. I think that shows some greatness of mind…or maybe I was always just a bit weird…

That story was closer to being written because I wanted to write it, but I didn’t really begin to write because I wanted to write until I was about ten or eleven. That was after years of reading and having my head stuffed with ideas that just wanted to come out, and when I began to really write, I never looked back. I started with drawings and character-word lists, but found that stopped me really writing; so I gave up on those and concentrated on getting the actual story down. I don’t think any of those earlier projects were ever finished, but I do remember my first finished book (80k-odd words, I think) at fourteen. It was called Those Mad Bradleys. Since then, it’s seen a complete rewrite, and will see another before it is (hopefully) released next year…

Wow! You got started early! So what draws you to fantasy/fairy tales?

I’ve always loved fairy tales. There’s a magical, dangerous feel to them, and all the earlier ones were written with huge spaces for creative freedom in their plainness. It meant that I could take them and shape them and turn them into whatever I wanted to, while still keeping the magic.

What inspired your current series?

I have two current series. One is the Two Monarchies Sequence, which is one book in (I’m working on the second at the moment); and the other is the Shards of a Broken Sword trilogy, which is being finished May 31st! TMS was inspired by fairy tales (Spindle is a sort of a cross between Sleeping Beauty and Rapunzel), and SOABS was inspired by Jack Heckel’s Charming Tales, which are light-hearted and rather hilarious. His dragonish POV and a tickling question or two that his books raised in my mind went on to be the story seeds of two of those novellas.

Did anything unexpected happen as you were writing your new book?

No

Coming soon: Book 3, The Illuminator Rising!

Coming June 10, 2016:

Book 3 of The Voyages of the Legend:  THE ILLUMINATOR RISING!!!

I’m so excited to see this book go live in just 3 1/2 weeks! The second-to-last book in the series, The Illuminator Rising is my longest and most complex book yet. Thanks to my awesome team of test readers, I hacked through a jungle of revisions with a literary machete, all to bring you a story that’s loaded with suspense and excitement. At least, that’s what I hope you think when you read it[image error]

Hacking through a jungle of revisions.

Here’s a synopsis of Book 3: 

Driven from their home island of Rhynlyr, Ellie and her friends must solve a riddle to find the survivors of the Vestigia Roi. But instead of a safe haven, they discover a hopeless band of refugees paralyzed by fear. Strengthened by new allies and new gifts, the crew of the Legend faces dangers like never before. Can they escape being shot out of the sky, falling over the Edge of the world, or being engulfed by urken armies long enough to rally the Vestigia Roi? And can they rekindle a fire from the ashes of the One Kingdom before Draaken takes over the world?

The Illuminator Rising already received a 5-star rating from Readers’ Favorite:

“…a thrilling read…plenty of action…[Sayre] has a flair for being able to capture the interest of a reader and hold onto it.”

Or, in the words of award-winning author Angela Wallace:

“Painted in dazzling and exciting settings that inspire imagination, it is not just the illuminator coming into her own and rising, but the entire epic saga.”

Woohoo! I hope you’re as excited as I am to see this book published! When it releases, please help it take wing by retweeting, reblogging, Facebook sharing, and telling your friends (and of course, reading the book and writing a review on Amazon)!

I’ll be running a blog tour during the first week and a half of the book’s life, so follow along for some fun reviews, interviews, guest posts, and even giveaways! If you’re local to the San Francisco Bay Area, I even have an in-person book tour in the works–sign up for my e-mail newsletter or watch my News and Events page for dates and locations!

While you wait to read the actual book, here’s a mischievous little teaser I made on Wordle, containing the 150 most-used words from The Illuminator Rising. Mwahahaha[image error]