Kate Willis's Blog, page 92

Book Review: Together

[image error]“Spring has come once again to the Triple Creek Ranch, but things aren’t all peaceful and sunny. Orlena’s attitude has even Jenelle wondering what to do, while Stephen struggles along in school and Norman faces the possibility of losing one of his ranch hands. Join the Mavrich family for a season of strangers, storms, and struggles.” (from Goodreads)

I received this book for my birthday earlier this year, which was a special surprise.

The Allegiance Blog Tour: Interview of Sarah Addison-Fox

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Today I’d like to introduce you to author Sarah Addison-Fox and her very sparkly dystopian book Disowned! 

[image error]Sarah, tell us a bit about yourself.

Well, I’m from New Zealand, I’m really silly a lot of the time. I love reading, and I’m a shameless fangirl when it comes to my favourite books. I have a wonderful husband who I met when I was 13 and I have two smashing children who we home-school. I write Christian Fantasy, usually chocka block with romance, action, and adventure. I tend to focus more on the characters, and the action than the world building and any magic I write into my stories all stems from my own views on God being our Creator.

What first made you decide you wanted to be an author?

I always wanted to be an author. From the time I was a little girl writing stories about princesses, to my late twenties and thirties when I studied writing and earned a Diploma in Fiction writing. I spent a long period of time thinking I wanted to write Romantic Intrigue.

It wasn’t until I was looking for faith building books for my daughter to read, that I stumbled onto Donita K Paul’s series. I loved how she wove faith into the story without it being too heavy handed, and of course the dragons were pretty cool! After that I searched out more like it, building a library of Young Adult books that my daughter could read when she was older. $1000 books later (postage to NZ is a killer) I found that not only did I like Fantasy but that I actually preferred it over other genres.

I spent about a year binge reading, then I got my Kindle as a gift, and discovered Tricia Mingerink’s Blades of Acktar series. That one series struck a cord, and made me start wishing I could write again. I kept reading everything I could find, but it wasn’t until I was diagnosed with MS, and for a week lost the use of my arm, that I realised time was short, and that I was being called to write. After that I fully committed to finishing a novel.

If someone had told me at the beginning of the year that I would publish my first novel Disowned, and go on to write seven more books before the year was out, I probably would have laughed in their face!

[image error]Would you tell us a little bit about the Allegiance series in general and Disowned in particular?

Disowned is the story of a slave girl, caught in the class system of her country. Even though her family have thrown her away, and she has spent her entire life thinking she is worthless, somewhere inside she still wants to find a better life and find a chance for freedom. The Allegiance series encompasses the trials Celeste and the Haynes family go through. In Dissemble I introduce two new characters who like Celeste are damaged by their pasts, and are seeking to find a life apart from what they’ve been dealt.

In essence the entire series could be summed up in three words. Freedom through faith.



What is your favorite aspect of the ordinary life God has blessed you with?

Every single day I can sit at the computer and write is a blessing to me. I keep saying I am living my God given dream. And I really am. Life is so short, and so fleeting. Writing infuses me with passion and stops me from dwelling on what might happen with my health. Writing and losing myself in my fantasy worlds for a few hours each day, makes me a better wife, a better mother and it helps me to reach out to the world and to hopefully be a blessing to others.

Any plans for further projects?

I’ve written two complete series now, and am currently writing the second book in a third series. The Allegiance series will be published first, with Dissemble set to publish early February. I’m aiming to publish the remaining Allegiance books every three to four months (depending on whether my beta readers are available!) then I’ll be publishing a more traditional fantasy series, set in a rainforest, with renegades, prophecies, legends and a few magical elements. I also intend to publish the series I’m working on right now, which is set in a plague ravaged country, with a corrupt King, mercenaries for hire, and superstitious warriors.

So, quite a few things on the horizon for this old Kiwi gal!

Thanks so much for having me Kate!

Connect with Sarah Addison Fox on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter. Buy the book on Amazon. 

Patience, Prayer, and Perseverance

No one said writing a first draft was easy. (If someone did, please tell me who they are so I can tell them I have tested this hypothesis and found it false. XD ) Especially when you’re a little short on time and energy.

Short Story Review: Poison Kiss

[image error] “Everyone knows that Sleeping Beauty’s curse is triggered when she pricks her finger on a spindle and that she is awakened by true love’s kiss … but what happens when the wicked fairy decides to switch things up?

Edmund didn’t mean to put Auralea to sleep, but now it’s up to him and the famous Puss in Boots to figure out how, exactly, a spinning wheel is supposed to wake her up.” (from Goodreads)

I enjoy clever fairytale retellings, but this one was even more fun since it was a mashup. New tales kept being brought in and woven together beautifully.

The Library Book Trials

The library stretches out before me. Even the children’s section (my favorite spot) alone is filled with book after book, world after world, pages upon pages of stories to read. I browse up and down the shelves, singing the alphabet song in my head, looking for author’s names I know, and trailing a younger sister behind me.

Here are the books that came home with me…

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Reached is the last in a slightly cliche but interesting YA dystopian series, and I kinda had to finish what I started. Into my stack it went. Paper Things was an absolute gamble with an intriguing synopsis. My mom discovered it for me, thinking it would be a “Kate book”. I always love The Nutcracker story, and the illustrator is one I recognize and enjoy. Dangerous is by the author Princess Academy and happens to be sci-fi–SIGN ME UP! And Gossamer is a sweet book I was looking forward to rereading.

These five books made the delicate selection process and had the honor of being added to my monstrous to-be-read pile.

But an even more crucial round of the library book trials awaited these brave titles. Opening them…

Dangerous looked so cool, I opened it up almost as soon as we got home. Not to read it yet, but to research a little more. I unhappily (but luckily) landed in the middle of a chapter long make-out scene that almost went farther. BOOM. Disqualified.

Four books still in the running, which one would I open first?

Reached, of course. I needed to see what happened to my characters, even if they were a little cliche. A day and a half later, I decided I liked it. It was actually a really good series wrap-up, and I was satisfied with the resolution of the love triangle. (Yes, there is one.) Congratulations, book. Kate liked you. It is still awaiting a review, of course.

Plate Update: Christmas, Finals, and Short Reads

December was a great way to end the year.

Book Review: Kate’s Capitol

[image error]“Do the small compromises we make daily really hurt anyone or matter to God?








Kate’s first case as an FBI agent is nothing like she expected. Posing as an intern at the Texas Capitol, she finds herself spending more time behind the computer than she does figuring out the case. Is Representative Jason Ashbury guilty of a third degree felony or is one of his staff to blame? And how is she supposed to handle the effect Patrick has on her?

Patrick was looking forward to guiding Kate through her first case, instead he was assigned to Ashbruy’s home office in Tyler. He cannot figure out either the case or his relationship to Kate. Are Ashbury’s dedicated employees covering for him, or the instigators? Will Kate ever let him be her friend, or will she continue to push him away?” 

(from Goodreads)

Well, it didn’t take me long to devour the second book.

(Word) Goals for 2018

2018. It’s a beautiful number really. Today I switched to a brand new, colorful calendar.

Year in Review Ramble

Just two more days until the curtain drops on 2017, and we are rocketed into a new year! Are you excited?

Merry Christmas! (and Giveaway Winner)

Hello again! I’m just dropping by to tell you who won a free signed copy of The Twin Arrows.