Darkness Falls Tour: Interview with Krystal Wade

As promised, if you are dropping by today then you get to read an awesome writerly interview with Krystal Wade, the author of the Darkness Falls Trilogy. Her latest book, Wilde's Meadow, has just been released and is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Judging from everything I have learned from this blog tour, these books are definitely something to be excited about! They are already on my Christmas wishlist (though I might get impatient here soon and splurge on them). If you haven't already participated in the Wildest Moments Blogfest, there is still time! The blogfest ends November 30th. And of course, keep checking Krystal's blog for ways to win more awesome prizes!

Krystal has taken the time to answer some of my questions, so we (both as authors and readers) can pick her brain. If you have any questions for her, let me know and I will pass them along!

Mara Valderran: Since your new release is the third in a series, can you give new readers an idea of the premise of the entire series?

 

Krystal Wade: Well, imagine your life, as it is now, and one day going on the same vacation you go on every year. Now, imagine being removed from that vacation and dumped into a world without sunlight that's in the middle of a war, told you're from that world and that you are the only person who can save it. Add in the little tid bit that you've dreamed of this place for six years, and there you have it. Kate struggles to make sense of life again, learns to have faith in herself, and learns to move forward and face fears she never thought she'd have to face, all while falling in love with more than just her hunky protector; she falls in love with Encardia. :-)

MV: Tell us a bit about your main character Kate. How do you relate to her?

 

KW: Kate is everything I wish I could have been at her age, but everything I'd lost at a much earlier time in my life. She's young, naive, a good daughter, a great sister, a great friend. But her life is so robotic, so empty of excitement, and she's not really LIVING until her life gets tossed upside down--that part I can relate to. That part is what makes a person, what takes them from childhood into adulthood, and that is what you'll watch her go through during this series.

MV: What can you tell us about your process? Are you more of a pantser or a plotter?

 

KW: I'm a panster. I've tried plotting. I suck at it. Actually, I take that back, I'm really good at plotting. But when I start writing, my characters look at me and say "You idiot, did you really think we'd follow your silly little plot lines? Rookie!" so then I throw out that plot and just write whatever comes about. 

MV: How has your process changed since getting published?

 

KW: Well, I'm a much slower author now. My newest book, Shattered Secrets, I began writing in April or May . . . and it's not finished. This is odd for me, but I have a few good excuses: day job, being a mom, promoting Darkness Falls. I don't feel too bad. But I edit a lot while writing which really kills creativity. I'm still a panster though. I once again tried plotting Shattered Secrets, and once again my characters laughed at me.

 

MV: Every published author has a story of how they got published and what bumps along the road they hit. What's yours?

 

KW: Hmm. Well, the first publisher didn't respond, not even a Hey, we received your query, nothing. So, I edited the beginning of the book and subbed to another publisher. I received an R&R (they wanted me to add more), so I worked on it and resubbed. Their response time slowed, and so instead of stewing, I moved onto other things. That's when I met Lisa from CQ. When she found out I was a writer, she asked if I had anything to submit. Long story short, I received a rejection from that first publisher (the one who didn't have enough decency to let me know they received my query) and two acceptances on the same day. I went with the R&R publisher and wished I hadn't. After a lot of stress and horrible heart palpitations, we terminated the contract and I moved to CQ. I love my publisher!

 

MV: Do you have a soundtrack that you write to or are you more of a quiet writer?

 

KW: Not a soundtrack, but I do listen to my "Muse" Pandora station. Sometimes I prefer no noise, but that's much more difficult to accomplish.

 

MV: How did you come up with Katriona's story? Any real life inspirations?

 

KW: Well, I had a vision of a girl in a forest, reaching out her finger to touch something shimmering. I built everything off that idea. However, now that the story is done, I can look back at the books and say that Darkness is representative of my life, and everything Kate was (the innocent, naive, etc) had to go through Hell (Darkness) and still wind up a good person through it all, but a stronger, BETTER person, one who had life and passion and love. So, that's a vague way of explaining that I went through a lot of Darkness in my life, and Kate is part of me, who I wanted to be and who I am.

 

MV: What are some of your guilty pleasures (TV, movies, books)?

 

KW: All of the above. I'm on a reading binge right now. When I'm writing, really in the zone, I can't read much. So, right now, I'm doing nothing but reading. I've missed it so much.

MV: You've said that you don't read reviews. What are your views on this?

 

KW: Are you asking in regards to how I buy books or about my books? Because I don't look at reviews of books (before I buy) because they are just people's opinions, and frankly I don't need someone's opinion swaying me into--or out of--something. Now, if a good friend who reads in the same genre as me says Krystal, you really have to read this book, I will. But I don't want to read that person's review; I won't, actually, because I want to form my own opinion.

As for my books, I read a lot of reviews, but I don't wallow in the bad ones. I'd love for the whole world to love my books and sing their praises, but I'm a realist; we are human beings, all with different likes and dislikes. It's ignorant to believe everyone will give it 3+ stars. You have to look at the majority rule (aka, the average). If your average rating is good, why look at individual ratings?

 

MV: You've been published with Curiosity Quills, which is a small press publisher that (from an outside view) seems to be very writer-friendly. Did you intend on going small press or did you market to agents first?

 

KW: I've never submitted to an agent. I went with a small press publisher so that I could learn and grow and all that, but the longer I stay there, the more I realize how I love the control and the input. My experience with the small publisher is what I make of it, and so far I love it.

 

MV: What is ahead for you in your writerly future?

KW: More books, of course! Hopefully some movies and jet planes and Good Morning America, but the only definite there is MORE BOOKS. :-)

Wildest Moment Blogfest

I told you guys I was gonna do this, but I have to say that I am kinda regretting that now. Not because I don't want free stuff from Krystal Wade (I do), the host of this blogfest. Not because I'm too busy for real blogging at the moment (though I am, unfortunately).

No, I'm regretting it because I just can't think of a wild moment to blog about. The craziest thing I've ever done is also really the silliest too. I'm just not a wild kinda gal. My stories are never really about crazy things I do so much as crazy things that have happened to me (example: Ever been run over by a parked car? I have.). But there is one thing that I did that was pretty crazy and daring for me at the time.

Allow me to take you back 10 years. Cell phones weren't as common, pagers were on there way out, and blogging was all on OpenDiary. At least, that's how it was in the small town I lived in. We didn't have public transportation at all in my area, so it was a thing of wonder and curiosity for me and my best friend at the time. The only buses we had ever been on were when we were in school, which was far behind us now at the ages of 19 and 20. We'd only ever seen public transportation portrayed in movies and something exciting always seemed to happen once the character stepped onto or off of that bus. Remember Joey and Chandler losing the baby on Friends? Yeah, we did too.

We were at the restaurant where our friends worked, with its big exciting ice cream cone sitting on top of the roof for all to see and to draw all in. We had a window seat and watched as the traffic passed by in the nifty little downtown area. Nothing different from our usual routine.

And then it happened. The bus passed by. We watched it come to a stop at the corner and the many different flavors of people get on and off. Our heads slowly swiveled back around to stare at each other with wide eyes. We knew it was time.

We were going to ride the bus.

Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves set the bar high for bus adventures, but we were going to have ours that day. Eagerly, we made sure we had enough change in our pockets to cover the fare. And then we raced off to the corner, chattering away happily at our daring.

And then we waited. And waited. The bus had already left our stop by the time we got there. The sun was starting to set and we were both getting a little bit antsy. Riding the bus during the day was one thing, but at night? Well, that pushed our little adventure into more dangerous territory than we had originally planned. But we stood our ground as the rectangular vehicle finally pulled to a stop in front of us.

We handed the driver our fare and then he asked us if we were going to transfer to another line. Another line! We didn't even know that was allowed! The possibilities on this road seemed endless as we shrugged and took our seats. The driver handed us a little red slip of paper each and we both sat down and read them. There was a list of all of the connecting stops. He tried explaining how the system works, but we were either too small town to get it or just too in awe.

We looked out the windows as the city passed before us at a slow crawl. Buses apparently do not drive as fast as they do in Speed. Probably a good thing since the impetus for their high speeds was a bomb rigged to the engine, but I digress. The street lights began to turn on as we toured the streets we were already somewhat familiar with from our exploits downtown. The sky began to darken. A man came onto the bus and sat in front of my best friend. He began to ask her all sorts of questions about herself as she tried to politely fend him off.

I shifted uneasily in my seat. I couldn't tell what street we were on anymore. All I could make out was street lights and buildings, but they all looked the same. My best friend was still nervously dealing with the strange man. We exchanged weary glances, knowing it was time for the adventure to end but unsure of how.

And then, at last, the glorious site of the giant ice cream cone came into view, with the Christmas lights wrapped around it to act as sprinkles also serving as a beacon of familiarity to us. The white lights told us we were home. The bus came to a creaking stop and we both hopped out of our seats. Arm in arm, we rushed back to the restaurant and took our usual seats near the window. We decided to write about it on OpenDiary later when we got home, but at that moment we simply sat in our booth and breathed a sigh of relief at the comforts around us.
***
So there you have it. Craziest thing I ever did. Now if we're talking craziest things that have ever happened to you...well, then I'd have quite a list to choose from. Don't forget to check out Krystal Wade's new book Wilde's Meadow in the Darkness Falls series. She'll be back here on November 28th for an interview, so be sure to check back!

Wilde's Meadow Blog Tour

Today marks the release of the third book, Wilde's Meadow, in the Darkness Falls trilogy by Krystal Wade! I signed up as a host to the tour for her new release, so that is exactly what I will be chatting about with my lovely readership today. Krystal will also be hosting the Wildest Moments Blogfest beginning the second week of November (the 12th through the 16th), giving you the chance to win some awesome prizes!

This is something anyone, anywhere can participate in. All you have to do is blog about a time you did something wild, something life changing. Jumped from a perfectly good airplane? Quit your job to write full time? She's looking for fun, heart-pumping, or inspirational stories that you have experienced. “Wilde” things you’ve completed on your quest to grow up or move on.

Anyone who posts their Wildest Moments between November 12th-23rd can enter to win a Kindle FIRE ($199), Kindle Fire Skins, or a $15 Amazon Gift Card. Yes, this means Krystal will visit each blog and read your “wildest” moments.

Don’t blog? Put the cover of WILDE’S MEADOW up on your FB wall, pin it on Pinterest, or change your twitter avatar to the cover. Use the words “Wildest Moments” somewhere to go with the picture and link back to Krystal's post about the bloghop. (Krystal will still enter you to win a $15 Amazon Gift Card–or B&N–and all three Darkness Falls books on December 5th)

Personally, I intend on doing this with the hopes of winning the books because they sound absolutely amazing. Even if I don't win, they are definitely on my Christmas list that I make for myself every year (Hey, we've all gotta guarantee some gift awesomeness somehow to get us through that ugly sweater your great-aunt gives you).

Now, why don't we get to the part where I share the awesomeness of this book? Let's take a gander at the cover and then get into the nitty gritty of what this book is about.

Happy endings are hard to find, and even though Katriona is in the middle of a war with someone who’s already stolen more than she can replace, she aches for a positive future with her Draíochtans.

Armed with hope, confidence in her abilities, and a strange new gift from her mother, Kate ventures into the Darkness to defeat a fallen god.

Losses add up, and new obstacles rise to stand in the way. Is the one determined to bring Encardia light strong enough to keep fighting, or will all the sacrifices to stop those who seek domination be for nothing?



About the Author: Krystal Wade can be found in the sluglines outside Washington D.C. every morning, Monday through Friday. With coffee in hand, iPod plugged in, and strangers--who sometimes snore, smell, or have incredibly bad gas--sitting next to her, she zones out and thinks of fantastical worlds for you and me to read. How else can she cope with a fifty mile commute?

Good thing she has her husband and three kids to go home to. They keep her sane.


Are you ready to dive into the world of Darkness Falls? I know I am! Be sure to check back here the week of November 12th for my Wildest Moment blog and again on November 28th as I sit down to pick the brain of Krystal Wade herself! We'll also be giving away an ebook copy of Wilde's Army (which, sadly, I am not eligible to win!).

But wait, there's more! Here is another chance to win!


a Rafflecopter giveaway