Heirs of War, Crown of Flames Blog Tour: Interview with the Amazing Mara Valderran

ABOUT HEIRS OF WAR:The NA fantasy series Heirs of War has taken Wattpad by storm with over one million reads, and the second installment has arrived. Catch up on Heirs of War (#1) for just 99 cents now!

Heirs of War #1:
When seventeen year-old Zelene finds herself thrust into a world of magic and prophecy, she discovers fighting destiny might not be the toughest battle she has to face. Now she must join with three other girls, complete strangers linked only by blood relation, to fight a war they know nothing of and rescue the twin sister she's never met.
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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR MARA VALDERRAN
Katie Hamstead: Tell us a little about you.
Mara Valderran: Well, as you might have guessed from the title, I'm an author. I write young adult and new adult speculative fiction. I'm a huge fangirl and self-proclaimed geek. I'm possibly more excited about the return of Arrow and the premiere of Flash than I am about my own book release and book signing, which tells you just how much of a fangirl I am. =D I'm a big fan of Doctor Who and all things Joss Whedon (well, with the exception of Roseanne. I didn't like that show.). 
Well, I guess I'm a huge fangirl too, because I was way too excited about Arrow and Flash too!

Katie: You currently have The Heirs of War (book #1) available. Tell us a little about it and how you came up with the concept.
Mara: Heirs of War is centered on five girls born into the most powerful bloodlines in all the worlds. They were sent away for their own protection at a young age and have now been brought back to their world, which they know nothing about. Together, they are supposed to unite the worlds and end the sort of cold war that has been going on between the rebel Cahirans and the ruling body, the Duillaine. But they run into all sorts of problems along the way, like Ariana, the prophesized fifth, getting captured and her twin sister Zelene basically saying "Screw you and your politics, I'm going to rescue my sister." I think the biggest problem they have to face is figuring out where they land in this war that they've been thrown into. Are the Cahirans really wrong for wanting things to change? And can they even trust the Duillaine? What happens when you are thrown into a war and possibly landed on the wrong side?
The idea came to me because I wanted to write about these five strong, young women and the powerful connection they have to each other. I wanted it to mirror the relationship I have with my sister and my cousins. It goes beyond having a familial connection--throughout the course of my life it has felt like they are pieces of the same puzzle I'm trying to work out. The same can be said for Rhaya, Isauria, Terrena, Zelene, and Ariana. All five girls bring something to the table that goes beyond blood relation and the magical element they each represent. They influence each other, empower each other, and are connected in a way they've never felt before. That's where they get their strength--not their magic, but from being together. They are still working on that now, but I'm really looking forward to writing it when they finally do unite. That's when the real fun is going to start. =D

Katie: Your next book, Altar of Reality is signed for release soon. When will that be and what can you tell us about it?
Mara: Altar of Reality is a young adult dystopian set for release January 31st from Curiosity Quills Press. I'm so excited to be part of the CQ family. Really, I can't see how any publishing house could be better, and I'm glad Altar of Reality has a home with them. 
This is the first book in the Shifted Realities series. When sixteen year-old Madeline has her first grand mal seizure, she awakens in a world torn apart by World War III. Her enemies wear the faces of loved ones, and she finds allies in unlikely places. As she flips between realities, her connection to the war-torn world grows stronger and she’s thrust into the growing rebellion against the Lord Commander. Now she finds herself torn between two versions of the same boy, and the lines between her realities begin to blur as she struggles to save her lives in both worlds.

Katie: What types of books do you read?
Mara: I read mostly speculative fiction--fantasy and sci-fi. It has been a really long time since I've read anything that didn't have fantastical elements to it like a contemporary. I read a lot of indie books since that's the network I tend to travel in, so I'm really far behind on the really main stream books like Divergent and Game of Thrones. My friends give me a lot of crap for not being up to date on Game of Thrones since I write fantasy. But I have read the first book! And now watch the series. Haha!

Katie: Do you have any advice for novice writers?
Mara: Keep writing and always be open to developing your craft. When you get feedback, really listen to what the other person is saying with the attitude of what you can learn from instead of the attitude of being told what you did wrong. It is so easy to wear our hearts on our sleeves and get hurt when people are telling us how we can improve, but we should really be thanking them. Writing is a skill, and like any skill, there's always room for growth. You'll be a better writer in the end, even if it does sting a little at first.

Katie: Tell us about your writing habits.
Mara: I tend to listen to music when I write. Sometimes that's how storylines are born for me--from imagining it when I'm listening to a certain song. I don't like getting interrupted when I am working, so I tend to not write in public a whole lot and mostly write behind closed doors. Sometimes there is coffee involved, but most likely it is water.

Katie: If you were one of the characters in your book/s which one would you be and why?
Mara: Oh, wow. Probably none of them since I know what happens to them. Haha! My friends and family already say that Zelene is just like me when I was her age, even though I relate more to Isauria. I think I would probably choose Adelphi from the Heirs of War series because she's such a strong and elegant woman. I picture Gina Torres for her, and I think she's absolutely gorgeous, which is also a plus. =D From Altar of Reality, I'd say Ana. You'll have to read it to find out why, though. ;) No spoilers!

Katie: If you could live and write anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Mara: NEW YORK. Seriously. I know it sounds cliche, but I went there recently and absolutely fell in love with it. If I sell a million books, you'll be able to find me there. Probably somewhere in Westchester though. I like the idea of being close to a big city but not in it.

Katie: If you had one wish (something personal) what would it be?
Mara: To live in New York? I guess. I don't really know. I don't spend much time wishing, as lame as that sounds. I just take things one day at a time.
ABOUT THE HEIRS OF WAR SERIESThe NA fantasy series Heirs of War has taken Wattpad by storm with over one million reads, and the second installment has arrived. Catch up on Heirs of War (#1) for just 99 cents now!

Heirs of War #1:
When seventeen year-old Zelene finds herself thrust into a world of magic and prophecy, she discovers fighting destiny might not be the toughest battle she has to face. Now she must join with three other girls, complete strangers linked only by blood relation, to fight a war they know nothing of and rescue the twin sister she's never met.
Amazon  Amazon UK  Barnes & Noble  iTunes  Kobo  GooglePlay Add it to Goodreads

The adventure continues with Heirs of War, Crown of Flames...
Heirs of War, Crown of Flames
Heirs of War #2
Mara Valderran
Cover Art by Gretchen Byers

Weeks have passed since Ariana and Alec escaped from Kellen's dungeon, but danger isn't far behind them. The guilt of his past weighs heavily on Alec’s shoulders, and his secrets only push Ariana further away. As they travel through unknown lands and encounter multiple threats, their biggest challenge might be trusting one another.

The world appears to be going on regardless of the risks Ariana faces. The Duillaine insist that they are doing everything they can to find Ariana, but their actions betray that claim. Despite the danger and the war closing in around them, all of Anscombe seems to be more interested in the upcoming Imbolc festival and Terrena’s betrothal than rescuing Ariana.

Well…not everyone.

Tired of waiting for the Duillaine to help her twin, Zelene starts plotting on her own and finds a surprising ally in Rhaya, even as the Cynewards prepare to make a move of their own. But Zelene’s plans go awry when she finds herself with a new ability, a mysterious new friend, and more enemies within the walls of Anscombe than she thought.

Amazon  Amazon UK  Barnes & Noble  iTunes  Kobo  Add it to Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mara Valderran is an author of young adult and new adult books, but she's more than just a madwoman with a writing box. She is an avid reader and fan of all things sci-fi and fantasy. She loves roller skating and movies, though typically not together. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and demanding cat. She hopes to one day meet Daniel Jackson from SG1, or at least the actor who played him. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, playing video games, or counting down the days until DragonCon.
Find Mara Online: Website & Blog  Twitter  Facebook  Google+  Goodreads  Wattpad  Amazon Author
Sign up for Mara's newsletter so you don't miss news on new releases and fun contests!


Want to follow this blog tour? Check out the calendar below!Monday 10/13Krystal WadeMargo Bond CollinsHere is What I Read Book BlogVicki TraskJessa RussoLorraine HarveyPriya KanapartiNerd Girl OfficialTerry's Book AddictionAli DeanShooting Star Book ReviewsTuesday 10/14Wednesday 10/15Thursday 10/16Ali Dean (Review)Jan Farnworth (Review)James Wymore (Guest Post)Terry's Book Addiction (Review)Jamie Ayres (Promo)Friday 10/17Saturday 10/19Monday 10/20Emma Adams (Interview)Laveda Kasch (Excerpt #1)Eliza Tilton (Excerpt #2)Elsie Elmore (Interview)Jessa Russo (Excerpt #3)Cait Spivey (Guest Post)Shooting Star Book Reviews (Excerpt #4)Here is What I Read (Interview)Tuesday 10/21Wednesday 10/22Thursday 10/23Michael Panush (Review)Book Lover Blog (Review)Ayden Morgen (Guest Post)Friday 10/24Monday 10/27Tuesday 10/28K. L. Schwengel (Guest Post)Katie Teller (Interview)Priya Kanaparti (Guest Post)Charity Bradford (Excerpt #5)Sharon Bayliss (Review)Vicki Trask (Review)Sarah Anderson (Interview)
a Rafflecopter giveawayThe adventure continues with Heirs of War, Crown of Flames...
Heirs of War, Crown of Flames
Heirs of War #2
Mara Valderran
Cover Art by Gretchen Byers

Weeks have passed since Ariana and Alec escaped from Kellen's dungeon, but danger isn't far behind them. The guilt of his past weighs heavily on Alec’s shoulders, and his secrets only push Ariana further away. As they travel through unknown lands and encounter multiple threats, their biggest challenge might be trusting one another.

The world appears to be going on regardless of the risks Ariana faces. The Duillaine insist that they are doing everything they can to find Ariana, but their actions betray that claim. Despite the danger and the war closing in around them, all of Anscombe seems to be more interested in the upcoming Imbolc festival and Terrena’s betrothal than rescuing Ariana.

Well…not everyone.

Tired of waiting for the Duillaine to help her twin, Zelene starts plotting on her own and finds a surprising ally in Rhaya, even as the Cynewards prepare to make a move of their own. But Zelene’s plans go awry when she finds herself with a new ability, a mysterious new friend, and more enemies within the walls of Anscombe than she thought.

Amazon  Amazon UK  Barnes & Noble  iTunes  Kobo  Add it to Goodreads

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Mara Valderran is an author of young adult and new adult books, but she's more than just a madwoman with a writing box. She is an avid reader and fan of all things sci-fi and fantasy. She loves roller skating and movies, though typically not together. She lives in Las Vegas with her husband and demanding cat. She hopes to one day meet Daniel Jackson from SG1, or at least the actor who played him. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, playing video games, or counting down the days until DragonCon.

Find Mara Online: Website & Blog  Twitter  Facebook  Google+  Goodreads  Wattpad  Amazon AuthorSign up for Mara's newsletter so you don't miss news on new releases and fun contests!

a Rafflecopter giveaway