What's your favorite thing to do when you're not writing?
I love, love, love hanging out with my friends. Sometimes, we get together at each other’s houses to exercise or watch movies. Other times, we chat on Facebook. We’re practically inseparable: it’s great to have friends like that.
Yes, it really is great to have friends like that. It makes life so much more enjoyable, doesn't it? So, let's talk writing for a moment. What's the worst piece of writing advice you've ever received?
The worst writing advice I’ve received, by far, is to wait until I’m older (18ish) to submit my manuscript to a publisher. I was advised this many times, when inquiring through online forums. The best thing I took away from that advice was to ignore critics and pessimists.
Good for you for sticking to your guns and following your dreams. I'm a firm believer that it never hurts to ask. You're a stellar example of that. =) Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?
The hardest part for me is explaining ‘why’ things happen in a novel. Sure, there is oppression against the walkers in Centsia, but ‘why’ are they being restrained? A simple ‘because’ wouldn’t be enough to satisfy an ardent reader or reviewer.
Every writer struggles with something. Personally, I'm terrible at writing descriptions of setting. Ugh! What about writer's block? Do you ever suffer from that? And what do you do to overcome it? What advice would you give to other authors?
I rarely get writer’s block. When I do, I usually have music blaring in the background, or Youtube in another tab. The best way to overcome writer’s block, in my opinion, is to eliminate all distractions and to begin plotting. Sometimes, when ‘pantsing’, you’ll find yourself backed against a wall.
That's some pretty good advice. I'm a panster to a fault. lol. All right, tell us about THE SACRIFICED.
Emerald Hayden lives in the City of Centsia, a half-winged among the other walkers. She has no family, friends, or food — only a grim future filled with tiresome labor in the upper level’s factories. Everything changes when she meets Dusk, a winged from the group that has made her life miserable. He opens her eyes to a new possibility: the possibility of the unity of winged and walkers — of freedom, and of love.
Together, Emerald and Dusk challenge the upper level’s supreme, winged council. But when a friend betrays them, they must choose whether to sacrifice their beliefs and save their own lives, or to stand strong in the face of an indomitable force. Success could mean liberty; failure, death.
And here is a short excerpt:
Slowly, ever so slowly, she dropped to her knees and peered around the corner.
There was a winged boy standing there, muttering something to a few walkers. It was impossible to distinguish the color of his eyes, or even his expression from her sheltered position, but his features were still rather shocking. His hair was a creamy white, a pigment that Emerald had only ever seen on the heads of other winged. His skin was pasty and faded. She wondered between pounding heartbeats how the winged remained so pale when they spent so many days in the sky above Centsia, arcing near the curve of the sun and circling back around again as they went to and from their duties. The boy’s wings, however, were by far his most striking feature. The feathers seemed to form intricate pictures as they fluttered in the midnight breeze. Emerald continued to stare as the boy withdrew something from his pocket.
It was bread.
Oh, sounds great! Where can people buy THE SACRIFICED? And where can they learn more about you?
It's available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo.
People can follow me on my blog, Facebook, Twitter (@JordanLink3), and Goodreads.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Jordan, and I wish you all the success in the world!
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Thanks for hosting, Kara!
ReplyDeleteNice interview you two. :) Good job all around.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds good. Thanks for the interview and the intro to the book.
ReplyDelete