Monday, June 24, 2019

WHISPERING TOWER - Katie Clark - One Free Book


Welcome, Katie. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
I used to think I didn’t write much of myself into the characters. I held firm to the thought that each character was its own person. I still strive for this and work to make my characters well rounded and three-dimensional. But! I have come to realize I definitely write a piece of myself into each of them.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?
This question?! Geez…I’m pretty boring. I do have quirky things about me, though, so let’s see. I don’t actually like music. I prefer silence much of the time. Also, I am a tiny bit obsessed with Disney—theme parks, movies, history. I find it all so inspiring and enchanting! Also, characters like Mary Poppins, Winnie the Pooh, and Alice In Wonderland are really good at reminding me of the meanings of life (sadly, I’m not joking).

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
Being a writer is something I’ve always known about myself. The first story I remember writing was penned sometime around age 7. I was nearing the end of high school when I first began considering writing seriously.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.
I read anything and everything. Any genre, any subject. My parents used to joke that they thought I would read the dictionary if it was all that was available. I want a good story, and I want to learn something I didn’t know before. Give me those two things and I don’t necessarily care about the genre of the book!

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?
I have a few routines that keep me sane, certainly. I read my Bible every morning, which is something I have done for roughly 20 years. Have I missed a day here or there? Sure, but I have been very dedicated to my quiet time. I know that I absolutely need it, so I fit it in above all else.

Besides that, I also love gardening. It’s hard work, and it’s peaceful. I like that combination!

How do you choose your characters’ names?
My character names get chosen by a variety of ways. Sometimes, out in the “real world” I hear a name and I KNOW that will be my next character’s name! Other times, I have to search for it, depending on the needs of the story.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?
I’m going to be mushy and a bit cliché, but my answer is having my children. I have three, and I cannot describe how I love them, or how thankful I am to be their mother.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?
A cat, because then people would mostly leave me alone. Ha!

What is your favorite food?
Ice cream!

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Impatience has always been a problem for me, and that has definitely leaked into my writing career! I get impatient in my manuscript when maybe I should slow down and let things come to me. How do I overcome it? Well, I definitely do NOT pray for patience!

Tell us about the featured book.
Whispering Tower is a YA time travel novel with a hint of romance and a lot of action. It’s book 2 in my Beguiled Series, and if you’d like to hear a secret…this book cover is my most favorite out of all my books! I fell in love with it at first sight!

Here’s the description from the back of the book!

Stuck in London for one of her mom's work trips, Skye Humphries can't help holding a grudge when she ends up roped into a summer tour group with Philip-who-crushed-her-heart. But when Skye and Philip find themselves barreling through time after unsuspectingly opening the veil between the past and present, they're thrust into a world where Skye's very life is in danger.
If Skye had known her choices were between summering with Philip or being sacrificed to the god of the skies, she might have changed her attitude. Now she must figure out what's most important to her—getting even for the past or having a future.

Here is the cover of book one in the series, Shadowed Eden.

Please give us the first page of Whispering Tower.
Present Day
Skye
Skye stared at Big Ben in the distance, watched it tick away the time, taking her life with it. A few blocks from her hotel window, the London Eye Ferris wheel rose toward the sky. Tourists and locals mingled in the streets around it, preparing to start their day. Too bad she wouldn’t be starting hers down at the London Eye, instead of with breakfast in the hotel restaurant.

“You’re not ready yet?” Mom’s impatient voice came from the door between their plush hotel rooms. Skye kept her mouth shut. She hated these trips, but she tried not to take it out on Mom. Most kids at school would kill for a parent who travelled the world and took their teen along, but long hours away from home, while Mom worked eighteen-hour days? Not fun. At least at home, she had the soup kitchen where she volunteered and the people who volunteered with her. The people who had become her friends. Here? She was on her own. Dad had offered to let Skye stay with him, and she’d almost said yes. Almost.

“I’ll be ready.” She turned back to the window, her gaze going back to Big Ben.

How can readers find you on the Internet?
My website is www.katieclarkwrites.com, but to interact with me online I can be found on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter @KatieClarkBooks.

Thank you, Katie, for sharing these books with my blog readers and me.

Readers, here is a link to the book.

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:

12 comments:

Lucy Reynolds said...

I enjoyed the interview. Thank you for sharing. Raining here in rural WV again, but my raspberries are loving it. Blessings

Tamara said...

I don't know. I think there's something about "boring" people who make wonderful writers. Must be all that thinking that spills out as a story. I know of several authors who say they are boring (and they're not!), so you are in good company, Lucy. I enjoyed the interview. Thanks for sharing with us.
Tamara from Texas

Caryl Kane said...

Wonderful interview!

Caryl K in TEXAS

KatieC said...

Great to have you!

KatieC said...

Ha! It sounds like I am in good company then :).

KatieC said...

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sandy Kirby Quandt said...

Katie, your book sounds really interesting. And if anyone was asked, they'd probably say I'm rather boring, as well. :)

Sandy Q TX

LoRee Peery said...

I'm halfway through the Kindle version and it's hard to put down. Way to capture my attention, Katie. I didn't realize it's the second in a series.

Katie Clark said...

Thanks for stopping by, Sandy. At least I'm not alone! ;)

Katie Clark said...

I hope you enjoy it!

Connie Porter Saunders said...

I agree that this is a great cover! Thanks for sharing with us today.
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

Sharon Bryant said...

Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.