Blog Tour: Fractured Light by Rachel McClellan

I follow Rachel’s blog and have been eagerly anticipating the release of her debut novel, Fractured Light. I am thrilled to have been able to read it before its release date of February 7, 2012 and to participate in her blog tour. Here’s the scoop on the book:

I’m dying, I thought. This was unexpected and not at all how I envisioned my death. I was supposed to die gardening in a flowerbed as a hundred-year-old woman, not as a seventeen-year-old trapped in a lake beneath inches of ice.

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. She can’t take any chances. But when she starts to make friends for the first time in her life, she gets careless and lets her guard down. Big mistake.

As an Aura, Llona can manipulate light and harness its energy. But if she wants to survive, Llona will have to defy the Auran Council and learn to use her power as a weapon against the Vyken whose sole desire is to take her light. Now she’s caught in something even bigger than she can understand, with a power she can’t wield, and no one she can trust, except, just maybe, a mysterious stranger.

In this breathtaking and romantic adventure, Rachel McClellan delivers a truly mesmerizing story that will keep you guessing to the very end.

Pretty cover, huh?

Believe it or not, I have a physics degree, and my life before writing consisted of math tutoring, solving equations that took up 5 pages of notebook paper, and being the only girl in a classroom of 300.

*Adding that to my list of things I thought I’d never admit to the writing world.*

BUT, through it all, I became obsessed with light. From the study of optics and bending light to how it factored into space travel, I was intrigued by its extraordinary and often mysterious properties.

So—I was a sucker for this paranormal YA novel from the start. It portrays a world of light vs. dark, good vs. evil, which I believe is the most fundamental conflict of our existence and NEVER gets old. (Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, um…the Bible, to name a few).

In this book, however, we are talking literal light and dark. The story line was familiar and at times predictable, but with the fresh concept of light manipulation, I didn’t mind. Again, if it ain’t broke…

I was hooked from the start and would’ve read it in one sitting if life didn’t get in the way. Many of my friends know I have to LOVE a book to want to continue in a series (Chamber of Secrets what???) and let’s just say I have already penciled in the release of a sequel in 2013.

This story felt reminiscent of Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and Need by Carrie Jones. No, there are no fallen angels or fairies, but there are male Guardians for the female Auras. And if you are a sucker for the cute, protective boy trying to shove away his feelings for the girl he is called to defend type of story like I am, then this book is for you. (And don’t worry, Llona holds her own and kicks major bootie in this book; we can save the Twilight bashing for another site, thank you very much.)

Here are some useful links if you feel so inclined...

Blog Tour Calendar

Author's Website

Book Page

Happy Birthday To Me!

Okay, so my birthday isn't until tomorrow, but I couldn't wait to share an early birthday present from my amazing husband. SO EXCITED about this cover he designed for me. Isn't it awesome?

Nano Love

Even though my posts of late reveal a roller-coaster ride of giddiness and angst, I must admit that in the end NaNoWriMo was worth it. Will I do it again? Probably, just don't tell my husband. He needs some time to adjust after a month's worth of no laundry getting done and eating cereal for dinner. I couldn't have done it without his support, and to add to my well of thankfulness for him, look what he made me for my nano book:Jealous much? You should be because it's gorgeous! It's funny how I can get so excited about a fake book cover.

I also couldn't have done it without my critique partners. We suffered and celebrated together. We even emailed each other our word count and last line every single day in November to keep up spirits. I kept a record of my word counts and lines. Click on the picture to get a closer read:
Considering the language in day 3 and the attitude in day 6, I may not want to attempt any more middle grade novels for awhile...back to young adult books for me.

On day 7, some of my CP's thought I might be writing a steamy romance.

On day 12, my main character had to pee...hehe.

On day 15, I taught a unit on botany to my kids during homeschool. Art imitates life?

On day 26, I managed to get Twilight into my novel.

And on day 30 I cried more than I ever have reading or writing a book--out loud sobs. I suppose that is part of being a writer, having imaginary friends that are so hard to say goodbye to...at least for a few weeks before revisions begin. Oh boy.

Oh yeah, baby!

I can do hard things

When I was 14 years old I was diagnosed with severe scoliosis and had to have surgery right away. After being implanted with two metal rods running the entire length of my realigned back, I learned how to swallow handfuls of pills in one shot and was bedridden to a hospital bed for three months in my home, unable to walk, sit up, shower, use the bathroom, etc. without assistance. From that experience, I learned I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

When I was 16 years old, having fully recovered from my surgery, I got this crazy notion that I wanted to run a marathon. I trained for months with a very strict (and boring/lonely) regimen, including one dreadful 18-miler on a treadmill because it was pouring outside (not recommended :). I went on to finish the Honolulu Marathon in 1993 the day before I turned 17 and learned that I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

Due to spinal complications from my back surgery, I am unable to get an epidural when giving birth (believe me, I tried...a 23 hour labor will make you try anything). With diabetic complications, three of my four children were induced. Despite the weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth of four very hard deliveries, I learned I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

I have had several surgeries in my life (including removal of a breast tumor), completed triathlons, earned a BA in Physics, learned what it means to live off of the local food bank, survived a tornado, moved 11 times in the same amount of years, homeschool four amazing children and have even written 2 books. I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

When I read my post last week about how wonderful and amazing nanowrimo was going for me, I nearly peed my pants. I once thought, hey, I've written 2 books, nano will be a breeze. A walk in the park. A piece of cake. But today, I would like to mirror the words of one of my critique partners:

I. DON'T. KNOW. WHAT. I'M. DOING.

THE HONEYMOON IS OVER.

THIS SUCKS.

PLEASE TELL ME I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.

No, you are not the only one. And yes people--this is really hard. I'm plowing through, but I think I'm shaving years off my life in the process. My type A personality is having a hard time not editing as I go (I just don't have time for it right now). I hear chanting in my head all day, "Your writing sucks, your writing sucks." I know the story will be great, but right now it is not so great. It will definitely be a rewrite as opposed to a revise.

BUT, if there is anything I can take away from this post, it is that I CAN DO HARD THINGS. And guess what, I am and will continue to do it! Boo-yah!

A Stephenie Meyer Moment

So last night while plugging away at my nano I got really really excited. Because as much as I might plan and outline and THINK I have the whole story mapped out in my mind, my characters or setting or even plot surprise me with new twists. This happens all the time in writing and is one of the reasons writing is so enjoyable. But last night I was clobbered with an idea that took a very traditional concept (in Hawaiian mythology) and turned it on its head. Guys, its so cool!

It's like how Stephenie Meyer decided vampires didn't have to have fangs, or sizzle from crosses or holy water. And how they can come out into the sun...sparkling. I know Hawaiian mythology isn't as well known as vampire folklore, but STILL--it makes me so excited to feel like I'm inventing something no one had even considered before, and it's absolutely thrilling.

After finishing my word count and some, I talked my husbands ears off in the garage while he worked on his hummer. (Payback for silently listening to all his search and rescue stories)

Him-You're going to have to...

Me-I know.

Him-And what about...

Me-I did this and this...

Him-Wow. That is cool.

So yeah, you could say I'm excited to get going on my nano today. I can't wait to find out what's going to happen next.

One of my CP's just wrote about finding joy in writing here.

So what keeps you motivated?