Character Interview With Kita from SONGSTONE by Lena Goldfinch

Stay tuned after the interview for contest and book info!! I LOVED THIS ONE, GUYS!! And isn't the cover gorgeous??

Hi, Lisa! Lena here. Thanks so much for having Kita on your blog. I'm just a little bit nervous about what she'll say, but I'm so glad you invited us here! :)

Kita, Tell my readers a little about yourself and what makes you special.

I was found as a baby crawling in the forest by a village girl named Noni. No one knows where I came from or who I am, but they all say I must be Huwi. They all fear me just a little, for the Huwi are a mysterious tribe with pale skin and blood red hair. Like mine. They live in the trees of the smoking mountain, among the ancient island spirits. They protect the sacred places. And they can turn to mist.

Don’t look into their eyes, mothers whisper to small children, or they’ll steal you.

They look at me and shiver. I'm sure they think I'm about to do something awful to one of them. I'm not sure why. It's not as if I have any special powers. For one thing, if I'm supposed to be Huwi, why can't I turn into mist? I suppose I can meld song into stone, and only a few can do that...but that's not really a mystical power. It just is. It's as natural as breathing. How else would we share our stories with the generations to come? 

I don't dare tell my master my secret though. As it is, he steals drops of my blood to perform his terrible black magic. How I hate him. He's such an evil, vindictive man, who punishes his enemies for the smallest offenses. What if he found a way to use my gift for evil, to capture a spell in the heart of the stone? I'm not sure how he'd do it, but I don't ever want to find out.

What are your favorite three things about the island you live on?

1. I love the sound of the island breathing: the sound of waves surging to shore and the sigh they make as they return to the sea. It's a beautiful place, and it's also a deadly place. That's something I deeply respect and admire.

2. I love sea turtles. I love how they loll the waves and bob gently up and down. Noni used to take me to watch the sea turtles when I was little, because she knew I loved them....

I think life for a sea turtle must be very simple. A sea turtle doesn’t have to worry about magic or wickedly sharp bird bones, or losing drops of her blood—or any of that. Besides that, they're simply beautiful and just looking at one can make you feel better. 

3. Lastly, I love trees (even though that only confirms to the villagers that I belong in the deep forests, beyond the green belt of Mount Tul, where the mysterious Huwi live). I especially love kala trees and dream of someday having a hut in the kala trees near the sea.

* Of course, everyone loves Pono, don't they? It's more than annoying how, in one day, he can win the whole village with one of his silly smiles. It's even more annoying that I find myself watching him when no one else is looking. But I don't really want to talk about that. I barely know you, after all.

If you could change three things about your life, what would they be?

I can't imagine changing three things about my life. All my energy is spent wishing for one thing and one thing only: I want to be free--to escape from my evil master, Matiko. I want him gone forever. I wish he were dead. 

I suppose that is three things, isn't it?

What I can barely admit to myself is how much I long to know who I am and where I belong. I want family, friends, and love. I hope this isn't too much to wish for, but I fear it is. If there is anyway that I could have it all, well, I suppose I'd be willing to give up just about anything for that.

Enter below for some really AWESOME stuff! The giveaway is open internationally, and one winner (randomly drawn) will receive:

·      A signed copy of Songstone (Paperback)

·      A sea glass necklace with turtle charm 

·      A $10 Dairy Queen gift card (U.S.) or a $10 Amazon.com gift card (international)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Book 

Kita can meld song into stone. In a world with no written word, storytelling—the ability to meld (or magically impress) song into stone—is greatly honored. The village honors her master as their medicine man, but Kita knows he's secretly a sorcerer who practices black magic using drops of her blood. She fears he’ll use her beautiful gift for a killing spell, so she conceals it from him. Each day, his magic tightens around her neck like a rope. His spells blind the villagers, so they can’t see him for what he really is.

Not that anyone would want to help her. She was found in the forest as a baby and would have died if a village girl hadn't brought her home. But the villagers saw Kita's unusual coloring and decided she belonged to the mysterious tribe who lives in the forests of the volcano, a people feared for their mystical powers. So they fear her too. Now seventeen, she can barely admit her deepest longing: to know who she really is and where she belongs.

Then Pono, a young journeyman, arrives from the other side of the island. He's come to fulfill a pact between their villages: to escort a storyteller back to his village—a storyteller who'll be chosen at the great assembly. Finally, in Pono, Kita sees her one slim chance at freedom and she'll risk her life to take it.

A dark, twisty tale of sorcery, tummy-tingling romance, and adventure, inspired by the folklore of New Zealand's Māori people.

About the Author

Lena lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black Lab. She writes fiction for young adults, mostly light fantasy with a healthy dose of "sigh-worthy" romance. You can visit her online at www.lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com.

Author’s Links

Website: http://lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lena_goldfinch

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenagoldfinch

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4412038.Lena_Goldfinch

Newsletter sign-up: http://lenagoldfinch.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=d20c77e0f3ef8dff993ecfcf7&id=6b1c2994d1

Playlists

Do you write to music? Some people can't write without it. Some can't stand the distraction. Me? I like to find songs that make me think of my book or more specifically my characters in some way. I thought it might be fun to share with you all some of my personal playlist for THE BINDING STONE. See if you can guess why I picked some of these songs.

King of Anything 
Half of my Heart
Whenever Wherever 
Genie in a Bottle (duh)
Jar of Hearts

Here are a few songs that inspired WINGING IT, which I hope to share with you in the coming year. 

Rhythm of Love
Firework
Dynamite

It feels weirdly personal to put this out there. How funny! But you know I love to share. When I write I like to listen to music, but the truth is I kind of block it out and into the background. It's more of a feeling than a conscious plan. 

How does music work for you when you write? 

The Next Big Thing!

The Next Big Thing blog tour began in Australia and has wound it's way all aorund the world to Southern California. It's a great way to discover authors and illustrators that you might not be familiar with and what their latest book is about. Each author or illustrator answers ten questions and tags two more authors who will continue the tour. So this week it's my turn to talk about my next big thing. BUT I will be answering some questions not about THE BINDING STONE, which just came out in print as well as Kindle, but an upcoming book in a brand new series. If you want to see more about THE BINDING STONE check out this post (when I was tagged earlier! LOL)

Thank you to Laurisa Reyes for tagging me!

Here are the questions:

What is the working title of your next book?

WINGING IT will be out in the next year through Fuzzbom publishing again because they are slathered in awesomesauce. 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I'm always thinking about who would be the worst person to put into which situation and it occurred to me that it would be a teenage boy's worst nightmare to find out he's actually a fairy godmother. Poor, poor Zach! But his character is one of my favorite that I've ever written. The song RHYTHM OF LOVE by Plain White T's inspired me.

What genre does your book fall under?

DUH. Paranormal YA of course! LOL. Seriously I promise I write other things, but that is my favorite! 

What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Well, when I started writing it I had people in my head, but now they'd be all grown up! LOL. So let me try with current teen (or at least could pass for teen) actors. 

Zach: Ross Lynch

Jenna: Sally Martin (I don't know her, I just think she's adorable!)

Kelly: Victoria Justice

This book has a huge cast in it, so I could put a dozen more, but I'll spare you!!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? (note: I'm cheating here and putting in two sentences).

In WINGING IT, sixteen-year-old ZACH discovers his mom is a fairy godmother, but what’s really freaking him out is the fact that he’s a fairy too. Now that his mom’s been injured, he must finish her assignments before the next full moon or they’re both grounded, meaning no wings, no wands, and no position in the Organization of Destiny Fulfillment (ODF).

Who is publishing your book?

Fuzzbom! The wonderful new small press that published my book, THE BINDING STONE, and has done such a wonderful job!

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

I think about two months. I write first drafts quickly. It's the revisions that take me forever!! LOL

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I'd have to say PARANORMALCY because of the humor and action. 
Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Guess I already mentioned this! So see above. 

What else about the book might pique the reader's interest?

The male POV, the nonstop action, humor, and heart in this book. Also the fairy lore that's accessible but gives a nice nod to traditional lore some readers may know. 

Next up for THE NEXT BIG THING are Ellen Booraem and Lena Goldfinch. They will post the next two respective thursdays! Don't miss out on reading about their books. Below are some teasers for you!!

Perpetual scaredy-cat Conor O'Neill has the fright of his life when a banshee girl named Ashling shows up in his bedroom. Ashling is--as all banshees are--a harbinger of death, but she's new at this banshee business, and first she insists on going to middle school. As Conor attempts to hide her identity from his teachers, he realizes he's going to have to pay a visit to the underworld if he wants to keep his family safe.

"Got your cell?"
"Yeah . . . . Don't see what good it'll do me."
"I'll text you if anything happens that you should know."
"Text me? Javier, we'll be in the afterlife."
"You never know. Maybe they get a signal."

Discover why Kirkus has called Booraem's work "utterly original American fantasy . . . frequently hysterical." This totally fresh take on the afterlife combines the kid next door appeal of Percy Jackson with the snark of Artemis Fowl and the heart of a true middle grade classic.


Kita can meld song into stone. In a world with no written word, storytelling—the ability to meld (or magically impress) song into stone—is greatly honored. The village honors her master as their medicine man, but Kita knows he's secretly a sorcerer who practices black magic using drops of her blood. She fears he’ll use her beautiful gift for a killing spell, so she conceals it from him. Each day, his magic tightens around her neck like a rope. His spells blind the villagers, so they can’t see him for what he really is.

Not that anyone would want to help her. She was found in the forest as a baby and would have died if a village girl hadn't brought her home. But the villagers saw Kita's unusual coloring and decided she belonged to the mysterious tribe who lives in the forests of the volcano, a people feared for their mystical powers. So they fear her too. Now seventeen, she can barely admit her deepest longing: to know who she really is and where she belongs.

Then Pono, a young journeyman, arrives from the other side of the island. He's come to fulfill a pact between their villages: to escort a storyteller back to his village--a storyteller who'll be chosen at the great assembly. Finally, in Pono, Kita sees her one slim chance at freedom and she'll risk her life to take it.

A dark, twisty tale of sorcery, tummy-tingling romance, and adventure, inspired by the folklore of New Zealand's Māori people.

Guest Post from Copper Girl Author Jennifer Allis Provost

Quick note: Check out this post from Journeys of Wonder regarding a guest post worth reading AND SUBMISSIONS that are now open for volume 4!!!

First about the book:

Sara had always been careful.
She never spoke of magic, never associated with those suspected of handling magic, never thought of magic, and never, ever, let anyone see her mark. After all, the last thing she wanted was to end up missing, like her father and brother.
Then, a silver elf pushed his way into Sara's dream, and her life became anything but ordinary.

Now I'll let Jennifer take it away!

Author’s note: When Lisa agreed to host a stop on the Copper Girl blog tour, I asked her what sort of a guest post she’d like. She mentioned that she’d like to know more about the main character, Sara Corbeau. After a bit of cajoling, Sara agreed to meet me for coffee. The results are below.

ME: Thank you for agreeing to the interview.

SARA: Of course. (sips coffee)

M: I guess you could say that there’s more to you than meets the eye.

S: Um, yeah. (fidgets) Like what, exactly?

M: Your mark, for one.

S: (hand moves to her lower back) I try to keep it hidden. Most non-Elementals think we’re all evil, out to steal everything they’ve worked for. (snorts) As if we don’t have our own problems.

M: Why would they think that?

S: Why do you think? Peacekeeper propaganda! (eyes dart around the café, then she lowers her voice) I mean, everything was fine before the wars. Fine! Then the Peacekeepers started spreading lies about us, and now we’re little more than government property.

M: You feel pretty passionate about this.

S: Of course I do! My father went missing in the wars, they arrested my brother… It’s just not fair. They’re punishing us because of what we are, over something we can’t even control. It’s not my fault I was born with the power to wield metal! It would be like punishing a Mundane person for having blue eyes, or brown hair.

M: What are you going to do about it?

S: Me? What can I do?

M: Surely Micah could help you.

S: (smiles, glides a fingertip across the rim of her cup) I’m sure he would. He’s already agreed to help me look for my brother. He’s really great—Micah, I mean, not my brother. Well, Max is nice too.

M: You seem to really like him. Micah, that is.

S: (blushes) Yeah, I do. Hey, do you know what a consort is?

M: I think it’s an archaic term for girlfriend. Are you Micah’s consort?

S: I am. And, I think I like being me for once.

To read more about Sara and Micah, pick up Copper Girl, available now wherever books are sold.

Link for B&N

When Do You Seek Help?

I'm not referring to psychiatrists! I mean with professional editors. You may have noticed I just started offering professional first five page critiques (see critiquing services page above). This isn't an advertisement, don't worry. But it got me thinking... How do you know when you need something like that? 

I'm clearly not a very good business woman, but I'll start by saying, YOU USUALLY DON'T. If you are improving, learning craft and have good critique buddies you're probably in a good place. But sometimes we need an extra little push. Here are some situations where you may want to seek a professional editor or editorial service:

1. If you plan on self-publishing. 
2. If you've gone as far as you can go with your critique group, have queried agents, and haven't had any requests. 
3. If you have trouble finding a good critique group (they don't grow on trees unfortunately) and need another set of eyes. 

So how do you find the right person?

1. Recommendations from people you trust. 
2. Someone who has experience in the area you're seeking help with. For example, if you want a grammar check? Count me out. I'm serious. But if you need your opening looked at? I'm your girl (First Five Pages Workshop).
3. Make sure you're comfortable paying for it. There are some amazing people out there that I know I just can't afford. I'm lucky though, I have a publisher and wonderful beta/critique partners. If I didn't and I was serious, I'd really have to consider what I was willing to put out to get the right person. 
4. Make sure you know what you want help with. Do you want a look at overall structure? Line edits? Just the first few pages or the whole manuscript?

No one should have to pay money to be a writer. But there are situations where investing in your own work is a good idea. Never let anyone pressure you. Be sure you feel good about using the person and working with her. 

Have you used an editor for hire? How did it go?

Show and Tell

free foto

I had a great discussion the other day about this subject and I wanted to share with all of you what we came up with! 

It had come to our attention that when we *thought* we were showing so beautifully in our manuscripts (we've all heard the show don't tell stuff, right?) we were actually confusing people. We both received critiques from amazing people that basically said; "Tell us what she's feeling here!"

Okay. 

So I went and did a little research (meaning reading) and came up with a shocking idea. 

DO BOTH. 

Not all the time. Not in some situations. True. But generally speaking when you get to an emotional beat it should look like this:

Action, physical reaction, internal dialogue recognizing emotion. 

When you think to yourself, do you say, "I'm scared." Or do you say, "My heart sped up, my palms are sweaty, my eyes are going to pop out of my head, etc."? 

Yeah. 

So example time, right? 

An airplane soared low overhead, vibrating the ground beneath Amanda's feet. She froze, wanting to dart away into the cover of the woods. Her pulse beat louder than the plane and a wave of dizziness swept over her. Memories of the crash flooded her mind, unwanted and uncalled for. She seethed with anger, making her want to punch something. She hated that she could be so panicked and helpless over something as small as a plane.

See? I TOLD you she was angry, panicked and helpless. But I also showed you. It works, right? 

What if I didn't finish that? 

An airplane soared low overhead, vibrating the ground beneath Amanda's feet. She froze, wanting to dart away into the cover of the woods. Her pulse beat louder than the plane and a wave of dizziness swept over her. 

It's okay, but it feels incomplete. We need the depth of the character's internal reaction to round that out and if I just simply went into showing anger it would get confusing. The reader might think, wait, I thought she was scared. Why's she angry so quickly and all of a sudden?

First action, then reaction, then follow up with your MC's thoughts. 

Pretty simple formula, and again it can't be all the time, but in important places it's a good roadmap to work from. 

What do you think? Did I get it right?

Oh! And please come visit the Cover Contessa today and enter to win a copy of The Binding Stone!