Interview with Michelle Krys, Author of HEXED + Giveaway (INT)

Today we're very excited to have Michelle Krys on the blog to answer questions about herself and her debut novel, Hexed, which came out on June 10th. Read on to learn what inspired Michelle to write Hexed, how she celebrated her first book deal, and more!

Dea: First of all, we would like to congratulate you on the release of your debut novel, Hexed! The cover screams “mysterious” but I have to admit it was the tagline and blurb that intrigued me the most; it sounds like a fun and action-packed read full of magic and adventure. How did the idea of writing Hexed come about? Did something/someone influence you to write about witches?

First of all—thank you!

I got the idea for Hexed from my sister, who is also a writer. One day she told me about an adult historical novel she wanted to write, which she’d planned to call The Witch Hunter’s Bible. I loved the title, and it immediately gave me all of these ideas for a YA novel about a missing witchcraft book. When my sister later decided to ditch the adult historical and write another book instead, I asked her if I could use the title for the novel I’d been planning. She agreed, and I got to work writing Hexed. (Obviously the title changed. Funnily enough, the one that had inspired the book wasn’t the best fit for the finished product. It still holds a place in my heart though!)

Mary Ann: How did you come up with the title "Hexed"?

Hexed is actually something my editor, Wendy Loggia, suggested. We circled other ideas, but this one kept coming back, so we went with it.

Riz: Can you tell us about your protagonist, Indie, and the very intriguing and sexy stranger, Bishop? 

Indie’s a popular, snarky cheerleader with a football star boyfriend who belongs to a social circle that rules her high school. Her mom is a bit quirky—something that her best friend Bianca doesn’t hesitate to tease her about—but overall, it’s pretty smooth sailing for Indie. But all of that changes when Bishop comes into her life.

What can I say about Bishop? He’s snarky, sexy, has a penchant for leather, has plenty of tattoos, and gets on Indie’s last nerve. Until he doesn’t anymore.

Mary Ann: Is there anything particularly challenging while writing the book? 

Without giving too much away, there are a few chapters in the book where Indie has to deal with grief and loss, and it was a challenge to write those scenes without it feeling like it wasn’t the same lighthearted romp anymore.

Riz: We never pass up an opportunity to read a good paranormal story, but what makes Hexed different from other books in the Paranormal/Fantasy genre?

Hexed doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s fun and kind of campy and I’m told it’s funny.

Mary Ann: Did you learn anything while writing your book and what was it?

Every book teaches me something new. What I learned with Hexed is that a character can be as unlikeable as you want, but they need to be relatable. The reader needs to have some reason to want to root for a character or see some growth from them to really connect.

Dea: Because this is your debut novel, I’m very curious; how did you celebrate your first book deal?

I hadn’t really thought about celebrating the book deal, but my family was having none of that. I was in my pajamas cleaning dog poop in my backyard when they all showed up for a surprise party, wherein they gifted me with a laptop. It was great! (A shame about the pajamas though).

Riz: Books into movies/TV Series has been a hype lately, have you thought of who would be on your dream cast? Are there any specific people you've based your characters from?

I have thought about it! I mean, who hasn’t dreamt about their book being made into a movie?

He’s not an actor per se (he had a recurring role on the reality series Audrina—don’t judge) but Kyle Loza would be a great Bishop, and actually, he’s who inspired the character.

And I don’t know if she’s funny, which is a must, but Gabriella Wilde looks just like the Indie I see in my head.

Dea: Using my stalking abilities, I learned that you have an upcoming book (besides Hexed #2) to be published in 2016 entitled Dead Girls Society. Can you share a little bit about it? Perhaps describe it in a sentence?

It’s about a teenager who escapes her overbearing, helicopter parents by joining a high-stakes dare club, only she discovers more than just thrills: girls are going missing, and she could be next. I would say it’s “The Skulls meets Pretty Little Liars.”

5 totally random things about yourself:

•  I have an identical twin sister.

•  I’m a huge celebrity gossip junkie.

•  I got married in Africa. Tanzania, to be more specific.

•  I also work as a nurse in a neonatal intensive care unit

•  I hate birds. A lot.

Thank you so much for visiting Teen Readers' Diary, Michelle! It was a pleasure getting to know more about you and Hexed!

Hexed by Michelle Krys

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: June 1oth 2014

Blurb:

It’s Bring it On meets The Craft in this spellbinding witchy series debut.

If high school is all about social status, Indigo Blackwood has it made. Sure, her quirky mom owns an occult shop, and a nerd just won’t stop trying to be her friend, but Indie is a popular cheerleader with a football-star boyfriend and a social circle powerful enough to ruin everyone at school. Who wouldn’t want to be her?

Then a guy dies right before her eyes. And the dusty old family Bible her mom is freakishly possessive of is stolen. But it’s when a frustratingly sexy stranger named Bishop enters Indie’s world that she learns her destiny involves a lot more than pom-poms and parties. If she doesn’t get the Bible back, every witch on the planet will die. And that’s seriously bad news for Indie, because according to Bishop, she’s a witch too.

Suddenly forced into a centuries-old war between witches and sorcerers, Indie’s about to uncover the many dark truths about her life—and a future unlike any she ever imagined on top of the cheer pyramid.

You can purchase Hexed at the following Retailers:

    

  

Author Bio

Michelle Krys lives with her husband and son in Northwestern Ontario, Canada. She works part-time as a NICU nurse and spends her free time writing books for teens. Michelle is probably not a witch, though she did belong to a witchcraft club in the fifth grade and "levitated" people in her bedroom, so that may be up for debate. Hexed is her first novel. Visit her at michellekrys.com or follow @MichelleKrys on Twitter.

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1 SIGNED Hardcover copy of Hexed by Michelle Krys
Open Internationally

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Celebrating 3rd Blogoversary + Giveaway! (INT)

TRD is three years old! Can you believe that? Neither can we. This is our last year of being a “teen” and we’re very very excited to see the changes this will bring to the blog.  We will still more likely take long blogging breaks, but we hope you’ll continue stick with us through it all.

To celebrate this milestone, we are having a giveaway! There will be two winners – one will get to pick any book of his/her choice up to $15 and the other will choose one book to be preordered from the choices below. 

• Open to participants 13 years old and above. Otherwise, please have your parents' permission.
• Giveaway ends on July 15th at 12:00 pm EST
• Winners will be notified via email and have 48 hours to respond or new winners will be drawn.

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Thank you so much everyone! Here's to more books and book boyfriends and adventures and years of blogging!

image source: vehementa.tumblr.com

The Wasteland Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway!

by Emily Sims

The world of “The Wasteland” began very simply.

The story unfolded in the most organic of ways. At first, I only saw a decimated countryside with wind and sun scorching the earth mercilessly. It was like an introduction to this completely formed world that already existed somewhere in time, I just hadn’t found it yet. As I followed the characters through “The Wasteland”, I realized there were mountains in the distance and an expansive forest on the fringes. None of it was entirely pretty, but when I dug down deeper, I realized, “Hey, there is history here…a rich history.”

Hundreds of stories come alive inside “The Wasteland”.

There are the Commoners. They struggle to make a living. Commoners band together in order to survive. They live off the land and are a rough people. Before the Great War, they were more carefree than they are now. The years have made them paranoid. They are beaten down, but their spirits still smolder under the surface. It wouldn’t take much to set them on fire.

Commoners live together in secret tribes throughout the Wasteland. 

 Then there are the mythical people. They are the ones who live in legend. The great Kings and Queens of old, and the invincible ones…the pure-blooded Royals, loyal Guardians, Watchmen, Prophets, and the like. Once proud and strong, now they hide among the tribes and live in far off places. The land they once occupied has been taken from them. The Commoners they once protected have been made casualties of war. 

 Prophecies and stories abound in the world of The Wasteland. 

Some say the High King will return, but after almost 70 years of waiting, most people have lost hope. There are rumors of the King’s death, but no one really knows for sure.

The Opposition rules over the wasteland. 

 They have decimated it and hold the land tight in their cold grip. Led by Lucius, a hate-filled, jealous Guardian, the Opposition lurks throughout the land. They whisper lies to all unsuspecting souls.

This is a story about a kingdom, and the magical, utterly real people who live there. It’s about an enemy who is devious and horrific. It’s about fighting that enemy to preserve good in the world. And it’s mostly about love…love between a man and woman; between a woman and her children…it’s about how love can cross great distances and live on even after death.

This is the world of “The Wasteland”. .

The Wasteland by Emily Sims

Paperback: 300 pages
Publisher: Tate Publishing

Release Date: January 7th 2014

Blurb:

In another world, one far removed in time and space altogether, a timeless journey awaits. The path is steep, the road is long, and it encompasses a wild evil. Here, in a place entirely different from our own, we discover the lost remains of a once vast empire and a love story long forgotten.

In The Wasteland, set against a barren landscape, we find a terrified woman named Lylah. She races along the overgrown highways of a war-torn country, pursued by a deadly enemy. Try as she might, Lylah remembers nothing about her past or who she is. Without quite meaning to, she stumbles upon a sinister forest and a small tribe of people. They have dark skin and hair. They speak in thick accents. Nothing about them is familiar, but at least they’re safe.

As she struggles to unlock the keys to her past, Lylah falls deeply in love with this primitive way of life…a way of life she’s never known before. The tribe’s leader is a fearless man they call “Matteo.” He is formidable and abrasive, but Lylah is inexplicably drawn to him.

In spite of uncertainty, one thing remains: an evil force governs this rugged land. The Opposition uses its power to oppress the tribes-people and they are quickly closing in on Lylah. Will she summon the courage to face her past in time? Somehow, Lylah’s memories hold secrets that could destroy the Opposition and break its tyrannical power.

You can purchase The Wasteland at the following Retailers:

    

  

Author Bio

Emily is a mother, writer, photographer, and home-schooler. She loves family, thrift shopping, chai lattes, good books, nature, and learning new things. She strives to find beauty and divinity in imperfect things…she searches for God in the earthy and the grit and the ordinary and the joyful stuff of life. She lives in Texas with her husband and five children.

Follow her on these sites
  

3 Winners will receive a Copy of  The Wasteland by Emily Sims.
2 Winners will receive a $20.00 Amazon Gift Card.
Must be 13+ to Enter
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The Secrets of Lily Graves - Excerpt

Today we welcome Sarah Strohmeyer on our blog to feature her new YA book that was released this May, The Secret of Lily Graves. Scroll down to read an excerpt from the book and follow the tour courtesy of Pinoy Book Tours. Have fun!

The Secrets of Lily Graves

 by Sarah Strohmeyer

Publisher: Balzer+Bray

Release Date: May 13th 2014

Blurb: With the intrigue of Pretty Little Liars and plenty of romance, bestselling author Sarah Strohmeyer weaves a story of secrets and lies—set in a funeral parlor.

Growing up in a house of female morticians, Lily Graves knows all about buried secrets. She knows that perfect senior-class president Erin Donohue isn’t what she seems. She knows why Erin’s ex-boyfriend, hot football player Matt Houser, broke up with her. And she also knows that, even though she says she and Matt are just friends, there is something brewing between them—something Erin definitely did not like.

But secrets, even ones that are long buried, have a way of returning to haunt their keeper.

So when Erin is found dead the day after attacking Lily in a jealous rage, Lily's and Matt’s safe little lives, and the lives of everyone in their town of Potsdam, begin to unravel. And their relationship—which grew from innocent after-school tutoring sessions to late-night clandestine rendezvous—makes them both suspects.

As her world crumbles around her, Lily must figure out the difference between truth and deception, genuine love and a web of lies. And she must do it quickly, before the killer claims another victim.

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Excerpt

  “Well, you know how guys are in their senior year,” I said, trying to be diplomatic. “Got to spend their final semesters with their bros and all that.”

She swung out her leg, blocking my path. “Um, I don’t think bros are the problem. It’s more like the hos.” Her lips twisted. “Or, to be more specific, one ho. You.”

I sucked in a breath. “Actually, Matt and I. . .”

“Eh, eh, eh.” She tick-tocked her finger. “Correction. There is no Matt and you. Never has been. Never will be.”

I bit my lip and remained still, staring at her outstretched leg. There were five rows to go and I didn’t want to have to come back. But I also didn’t want to get into a confrontation.

“Look, Erin, I have to keep moving if I want to get this finished while there’s daylight.”

I attempted to sneak by, but she slid off the tombstone and blocked my way. “You’re not going anywhere until we hash this out.”

The caretaker was in the gatehouse watching the game on TV. My phone was locked in my aunt’s car on the street. We were almost in the woods and it was beginning to dawn on me that if something happened, no one would hearme scream.

She took a step forward. I took a step back, my heel hitting the base of a headstone. She was so close, I could smell her breath; it possessed an alarming metallic odor.

“Come on, Erin, cut it out.” I gave her a slight push, but she wouldn’t budge.

“You tried to turn Matt against me.”

My pulse had started to race. I was beginning to panic. “Excuse me,” I said, shifting to the right.

Erin shifted to her left. “When he realizes you told him a pack of lies, he’ll be back.”

“And I’m sure you’ll be very happy. Now, if you don’t mind. . .”

“I’m the only one he’ll ever really love.”

If I could just get to the gatehouse, I’d be safe. But the gatehouse was all the way at the bottom of the cemetery road. At least I was in Doc Martens, while Erin was in Frye boots with clunky heels. There was a chance.

And then a gust of wind stirred up a curtain of leaves and I went for it, ducking under her and running as fast as I could, leaving my bag of debris behind. The road was in sight, when I stupidly slipped on the damp grass and stumbled.

It was all she needed.

Erin clamped onto my forearm and gave it a cruel twist, taking her hissy fit to a whole new level. I whimpered as she hauled me upright, and I cursed. I did not deserve this kind of abuse. Lots of girls had practically thrown themselves at Matt. I’d merely been his friend. So why was he taking out her rage on me?

Author Bio 

Sarah Strohmeyer is the award-winning, nationally bestselling author of fifteen novels one of which, THE CINDERELLA PACT, became a Lifetime Movie, LYING TO BE PERFECT.

Her first mystery, BUBBLES UNBOUND, won the Agatha Award and THE SLEEPING BEAUTY PROPOSAL was nominated for a prestigious RITA™. Her books have been translated into German, French, Italian, Turkish, Taiwanese and a bunch of others.

Her first young adult novel, SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT, will be published by Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins, on June 26, 2012.

Follow her on these sites