Monday, December 5, 2011

New Author Monday and a Giveaway!!!

This is where I share with you a new author that I have come across, in passing or by reading one of their books.   The only requirement to be considered is that the author cannot have more than 5 published books. Why 5? Sometimes I come across an author that amazes me with their talent, and that makes me want to get my hands on even more of their work. For me walking out of a bookstore with 4 books in hand is not strange at all.
Yes, I know I'm late. I have a missed a couple of Mondays. But I thought that I would reach out to a couple of authors and invite them for an interview or a guest post. Something I thought that you all might like. if there's something you'd like to as an author (in general not specific authors)  send me an email. Without further ado... 
Some of you may remember that I read an amazing book called Dragon Stones. You can read my review here. You may also remember that I had even more to say about the book. You can read my thoughts here. I am excited that i will be starting the second book in the series, Return of the Dragon Riders, today! With all that said, the featured author for this New Author Monday is -surprise- Kristian Alva!




Kristian Alva has worked as a ghostwriter and corporate staff writer before publishing her own works. She was born into a family of writers and teachers. She now lives in California with her family. (Courtesy of author blurb that came with review copies). 
She is currently working on the  Dragon Stone Saga, which includes Dragon Stones, (available),  Return of the Dragon Riders (available) and Vosper's Revenge (2012).  She also has another trilogy waiting in the wings: The Chronicles of Tailin which will be here 2013. This series includes  The Balborite Curse and two titles that will be announced later. 


Kristian, has been nice enough to stop by for a short interview. I hope you enjoy and read below for the giveaway. 


Thanks for stopping by Kristian!!!
 What do you enjoy about writing?

It’s relaxing. I get inspired at times, and while it’s often inconvenient (sometimes I get ideas that wake me up in the middle of the night), I wouldn’t change anything. I love my job.
 Have you always wanted to write?
Yes, I think so. Even as a child, I used to staple binder paper together and write little novels. My parents saved a few of them, so I have the evidence! When I was a teenager, I thought I would write and draw comic books, too. I love comics, from the old silver-age ones all the way up to the current day favorites, like X-Men and Neil Gaiman’s Sandman. Comics have come a long way since I was a kid.
 Do you listen to any particular music while writing?
Usually Bossa Nova, or something similar. My favorite recording artists are Pedro Guerra and Marcus Valle. Marcus Valle is a brilliant Brazilian artist and songwriter, and Pedro Guerra is from the Canary Islands. I also love Lucenzo, who is a new Portuguese recording artist who sings in multiple languages, including Portuguese and French.
Who are your top five favorite authors?
Of all time? That’s tough. But if I’d have to pick:
1. Albert Camus
2. Neil Gaiman
3. Alan Moore
4. David Sedaris
5. Melanie Rawn
Where did the inspiration for the Dragon Stone saga come from?
I had a dream about a white dragon, and it kind of grew from there. The story just grew organically. I always knew that the main character in the first series would be a young dragon rider with a white dragon. At first, I planned to make the main character a teenage girl, but somewhere along the way, I felt like it wasn’t working. I switched to a male protagonist and it felt right.
 Which character is your favorite to write?
Tallin the half-ling, definitely. And he seems to be a huge favorite among fans, which is why my second series, The Chronicles of Tallin, will be based on him.
Which character is your least favorite to write?
I dislike Sisren immensely, but that’s part of the reason why that character works. I tried to create a female character that was multi-dimensional, but still a heroine. I designed Sisren to be the antithesis of Carina Dorgumir, who was also a heroine, but who had a much less abrasive personality. Ultimately, Sisren is very unpleasant.
 Did you base any of your characters off of real people?
No, not deliberately. Although I think I may have snuck a little bit of my own grandmother’s personality into creating Carina Dorgumir. My grandmother was really gentle and kind, but she was also a bit secretive and very feisty, just like Carina.
What has been your most memorable experience in your writing journey so far?
The response from fans! I get a lot of fan mail, which is surprising considering that the first book was released less than 12 months ago. But it’s been great. I’m loving every minute.
What is the best piece of advice you've received that you would share with the world?
Do what you love… the money will follow. 

(From Goodreads): Sequestered deep in the capital, the tyrannical Emperor Vosper weaves a plan to destroy all the dragons. He succeeds in driving them to the very brink of extinction. Only a handful of dragons and riders remain; living in exile in the desert. When young Elias Dorgumir finds a carved dragon stone in the forest, it brings empire soldiers to his doorstep, and puts Elias on the run with a bounty on his head. With some help from his friends, Elias must escape the emperor’s wrath and try to make it to the safety of the dwarf caverns. Elias holds the key to the salvation of the dragon race. Is Elias strong enough to save himself and halt the evil that is spreading across the land?



(From Goodreads): The emperor Vosper gathers his troops in the east, poised to conquer the entire continent. His target is the rebel city of Parthos,the last sanctuary of the Dragon Riders. Besieged from all sides, the remaining Dragon Riders come out of hiding. Forced to fight for their lives, they leave the safety of the desert, traveling across the land to gather intelligence and shore up forgotten alliances. At the center of it all is Elias Dorgumir, an untrained mageborn teenager. Elias is the key to an ancient prophesy, and Vosper will do anything to get his hands on him. Is it too late for the Dragon Riders to save Elias and stop Vosper from destroying the only refuge they have left?


Now for the giveaway! Here is your chance to win a copy of both books!!! One lucky winner will receive a copy of Dragon Stones and The Return of the Dragon Riders.  All you have to do is a leave a comment along with an email address. (Please enter me comments do not count.) You do not have to be a blog follower, but if you'd like to I invite you to click the "join this site" button. The winner will be selected and posted on the next New Author Monday post (Dec 12, 2011). 

Always Shine, 
Starr K





1 comment:

  1. Thanks for inviting me to interview, Starr. I'm happy you enjoyed both books, and I look forward to hearing your opinion on Book 3 in April.

    Best,
    Kristian

    ReplyDelete