The Emissary Blog Tour and Giveaway!

ABOUT THE EMISSARY:

Title: The Emissary

Publication date: September 23, 2014

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Author: Kristal Shaff

For hundreds of years, dark clouds covered the skies of Adamah, and an ageless king ruled. Those who emerged with one of six extraordinary Shay powers were forced into the king’s army, an unmatched force with inhuman Strength, Speed, Accuracy, Perception, Empathy, and Healing. With the army behind him, the king—a man who wields all six abilities—was invincible and unquestioned in his rule. To most, serving the king was an honor. But for others, it was a fate worse than death.

When seventeen-year-old Nolan Trividar witnesses the transformation of his brother from kind to cruel after entering the king’s army, he vows never to follow the same path.

So when his own power—the Shay of Accuracy—comes upon him at the Tournament of Awakening, Nolan conceals his emergence instead of joining the king’s ranks. For years, he traitorously hides his power, pretending to be only a gifted scribe. But when Nolan comes face -to-face with a deserter, the man discovers his secret.

To evade detection and a death sentence, Nolan escapes with the deserter and flees into a night filled with dark creatures who steal both powers and souls. He joins a resistance, a village hidden deep in the forest, filled with others who secretly wield a Shay. But his peace is short-lived when they discover that the dark clouds, undead creatures, their own decreasing powers, and even the king, are all connected.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Chapters Indigo! | TBD | IndieBound

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***Author Interview***

What was the hardest part of writing your book? 

If you would’ve asked me years ago, I would’ve said the first draft was the hardest. And in most cases, I would still answer in the same way. Getting the first draft on paper is challenging for me. But after sooo many edits of THE EMISSARY, I would definitely say the last several passes were the absolute hardest, even more so than the draft. I’d reached a point where I had to force myself through every. Single. Sentence. It’s hard to see things objectively after editing so much. It becomes easy to just gloss over the words. So at the finish line is the most challenging, imo.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? 

Oh, I learned tons. When I first started writing this book, I’d been out of English class for quite a few years. It’s amazing how much you forget when you don’t practice a skill. So I had to relearn a lot of grammar. I studied many books on writing and figured out what to do and what NOT to do. I also learned the importance of editing. Writing a book isn’t just slapping it on paper and calling it done. It’s a process. A long one, too. And you learn each time you go through it.

While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters?

Always. Writing, in many ways, is a form of acting. You need to mentally be your characters to really get in their heads

Do you ever experience writer's block? 

Almost every time I sit down to write I experience a form of writer’s block. Sometimes it comes from myself. Sometimes it comes in the form of these strange beings that run around my house...otherwise known as “my kids”. It varies. And every once in a while, I get the glorious moment when words spill from my fingers. Usually that’s when my kids have to ask me a question, so it doesn’t last long when it happens. :)

Have you ever hated something you wrote? 

Frequently.  Hating what you write is a part of being a writer. I think a person should be more concerned if you believe your writing is perfect. If you look at your writing and see the flaws, use it as an opportunity to improve. And even if you love something you’ve written, it’s a good chance you won’t when you read it the next day. It’s the curse of being a writer.

What is your favourite theme/genre to write about? 

I love the creativeness of fantasy. It’s fun to see what emerges from your imagination.

Can you share a little of your current work with us? 

Certainly! My current work is a Middle Grade Speculative fiction, about a boy who is half Native American. Through a series events, he learns that the world of Native American mythology is real.

 

What are your expectations for the book?

My expectations for THE EMISSARY? I’ve learned not to have expectations. I would much rather go along for the ride. The problem with being a writer and having a creative mind, is that you can imaging quite magnificent things, such as becoming a bestselling author and getting that movie deal. At this point, I’m just happy to finally have my book in the world. Though, in all honesty, it terrifies me, too. Writing is such a personal thing, where people can see the darkest reaches of your mind. So my hope, not expectation, is that I get lots of people to read and enjoy disappearing in my world.

 
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ABOUT KRISTAL SHAFF:

 

Kristal Shaff grew up with books (and used to drive her mom crazy when she wouldn’t leave the library); her first job was even shelving books at the library. She loves anything creative, and you can often find her exploring strange and fantastical worlds in her choices of movies and fantasy fiction. Kristal resides in Iowa with her farmer husband, numerous pets, and 3 awesome  kids (plus one more on the way though the journey of adoption). When she isn’t writing, she is a professional face painter who enjoys making children smile.

 

Author Links:  Website  | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Five winners will receive a digital copy of The Emissary (INT)


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