Mundie Moms

Monday, August 7, 2017

CRYSTAL BLADE by Kathryn Purdie / Blog Tour: Author Interview & Giveaway #CrystalBlade


Welcome to the first stop in the CRYSTAL BLADE blog tour! I'm so thrilled to have Kathryn Purdie on the blog today to talk about her newest release (out next week)! This book is so good. I'll share my review for it later this week. Below you'll find my interview with Kathryn, as well as information about her Burning Glass series, and check out the giveaway at the end of the post!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW


Hi Kathryn. Welcome back to Mundie Moms. I'm so thrilled to chat with you about your upcoming release.
Thanks so much for having me! I’ve always loved Mundie Moms.
I love this cover. What's something that stood out to you the most about it?
I love it, too! I completely flipped out when I saw it the first time. The crystal dagger is, of course, amazing, but beyond that I adore the shade of green on the cover--kind of a shade between emerald, jade, and turquoise. The designer at HarperCollins had done another mockup of this cover with a red background, but I said, “Oh, please, please, please, go with the green!” It’s so stunning with the green!
Is it easier or more challenging writing a second book in a series?
THE SECOND BOOK IS SO MUCH HARDER!!! I spent months outlining CRYSTAL BLADE, more months drafting it (and botching it, the first time around), then completely rewriting it and later cutting out 65,000 words. I may have lost my mind a few times in the process, but I’m so pleased with the finished product! I love this book even more than BURNING GLASS, and I hope readers do, too!
Did any characters surprise you in this book in terms of choices, or their growth?
Sonya surprised me the most in book one. Her journey is darker in this book, but I was well aware that it would be going in. So Valko was the character who ended up surprising me the most in CRYSTAL BLADE. He’s imprisoned for most of the book, but even then he manages to be more manipulative than ever. I was always shocked by how well he thinks he can play Sonya and achieve his goals. He’s a narcissist, through and through, a character I love to hate!
What have you enjoyed creating the most; the story, the setting, or the characters?
They’re all so interconnected, but if I have to choose one, I’d say the characters. The stakes are higher than ever in CRYSTAL BLADE, but it is the characters who drive the story for me. It’s a total power triangle (rather than a love triangle) between Sonya, Valko, and Anton, and I love seeing how their goals, strengths, and weaknesses either bring them together or pull them apart.
Which character have you feel like you've bonded with the most over the course of writing the last two books?
Totally Sonya. She’s so flawed, but her flaws are honest and relatable because her heart is always in the right place. She’s learning to control her power as an empath in this book, but the extent of that power pushes her to dark extremes as she fights for her goals to help other people. In the end, Sonya’s journey is about redemption. I needed to write a story about that for me--and I hope other readers need it, too.
Do you have a favorite line you can share with us?
Valko didn’t have to manipulate me into doing what needed to be done. I would draw from my own strength. Everything I’d been accused of, I’d embrace it.
What's one thing you admire about both Sonya and Anton?
Sonya has a heart of gold and would sacrifice almost anything to help someone in need. Anton has an incredible moral code of honor, and I love how that plays into and sometimes contradicts his rebellious side as a revolutionary leader.
Do you have any release day celebration plans?
Yes! I’m having a big launch party and will be wearing an Imperial Russian ball gown I had commissioned. My nine-year-old daughter says she’ll be embarrassed by me, but I’m totally owning my inner sovereign Auraseer!
Thank you so much! I can't wait for Crystal Blade to be out so I can finally read it.

You’re very welcome! I hope you enjoy the read.

ABOUT THE BOOK



By: Kathryn Purdie
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
To Be Released on: August 15, 2017
Series: Burning Glass #2
Purchase from: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | TBD
Add it to Goodreads

The peace is unsustainable.

Sonya and Anton may have brought about a revolution, but can they protect their homeland—and their love—with so many forces threatening to tear them apart?

The empire has fallen, Valko faces trial, and Sonya is finally free from her fate as Sovereign Auraseer. But Sonya's expanding abilities are just as unstable as the new government of Riaznin—and her relationship with Anton. Not only can she feel the emotions of others but, unlike other Auraseers, she's learned to make others feel her emotions as well. And Sonya isn't immune to dark temptations.

Now, as Sonya fights to contain her own darkness, she senses a new evil lurking in the shadows of the palace. Someone from Sonya's past has returned. And that someone won't be satisfied until Sonya pays for the mistakes she's made. 


ABOUT THE BOOK


By: Kathryn Purdie
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: March 1, 2016
Series: Burning Glass #1
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
Add it to Goodreads

Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. One mistake, one small failure, will cost her own life and the lives of the few people left in the world who still trust her.

But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, her feelings easily usurped, and she sometimes can’t decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.

BURNING GLASS is debut author Kathryn Purdie’s stunning tale of dangerous magic, heart-rending romance, and the hard-won courage it takes to let go. 


ABOUT THE AUTHOR


My love of storytelling began as a young girl when my dad told me, in his own words, the story of To Kill a Mockingbird while we listened to the film score together. Enchanted, I began my own attempts at storytelling, which usually led to home video productions featuring my younger sister as the nerd or maid, while I reserved the role of the glamorous movie star or princess.
In high school, I focused on acting and won first place in monologues at a prestigious statewide Shakespearean competition. When I wasn’t on the stage, I spent my time composing sappy poetry and completing at least ten pages in my journal every night. My author dad edited my school papers and taught me the art of writing. I went on to study acting in college and at The Oxford School of Drama in England. (All that character analysis transferred nicely to writing!)

The writing bug bit me when I was in recovery from donating a kidney to my older brother. I found my old stash of short stories, and the inspiration for my first novel struck. I’ve been writing ever since.

A lover of art in all forms, I also enjoy singing and playing the guitar. My husband is equally artistic. We keep busy raising three rambunctious and creative children.

I am represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary.



FOLLOW THE TOUR

8/7/2017- Mundie MomsInterview
8/8/2017- YA and WineReview
8/9/2017- The Fearless ReaderGuest Post
8/10/2017- The Book NutReview
8/11/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

8/14/2017- Seeing Double In NeverlandReview
8/15/2017- Arctic BooksGuest Post
8/16/2017- Ex LibrisReview
8/17/2017- YA Books Central- Interview
8/18/2017- A Perfection Called BooksReview

ENTER TO WIN

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of CRYSTAL BLADE, US Only.
5 winners will receive a signed ARC of CRYSTAL BLADE, US Only.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

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