Krystal Wade’s Wilde’s Fire!

Whaa…?  Posting on a Saturday?  What gives?

Welcome to an out of the ordinary Saturday post. This super cool experience is to celebrate the launch of my friend’s new book, Wilde’s Fire. The fabulous author, Krystal Wade, has been holding my hand since I first found my way on to the twitter scene last summer. Now I get to help her celebrate the debut of her soon to be amazing career with the first of many fantastic books she has bubbling up inside her.

~Wilde’s Fire~

“There is no pain in this death, only peace, knowing I am going to die with the one I love the most.” – Katriona Wilde

Katriona Wilde has never wondered what it would feel like to have everything she’s ever known and loved ripped away, but she is about to find out. When she inadvertently leads her sister and best friend through a portal into a world she’s dreamed of for six years, she finds herself faced with more than just the frightening creatures in front of her. She’s forced to accept a new truth: her entire life has been a lie, and those closest to her have betrayed her. What’s worse, she has no control over her new future, and it’s full of magic and horrors from which nightmares are made. Will she discover and learn to control who she really is in time to save the ones she loves, or will all be lost?

~oOo~

Debra: Good morning Krystal! Why don’t you take a moment and tell everyone a little something about yourself.

Krystal: I’m tired. Wait! Is that really how I want to start my interview? I guess it is. From writing to publishing, everything has been a whirlwind. Sometimes I’m not sure I go to bed, and when I am sleeping, I’m pretty sure I think about writing. *Sigh*

Krystal: Aside from my lack of sleep, I’m a mother of three, work fifty miles from home, and pick up hitchhikers every day except Saturdays and Sundays. Without strangers, I would NEVER make it to work in a reasonable amount of time.

Debra: By “hitchhikers” I assume you are talking about your characters.  I do that, too.  What was the toughest part in writing Wilde’s Fire?

Krystal: Writing it was easy. Sharing it was the most difficult thing ever. I was afraid to allow anyone to read it (and to some degree, I still am. Too late now.) A great friend convinced me to e-mail Wilde’s Fire to her. I, of course, sent her paragraphs, then graduated to pages, then chapters. Eventually I sent the entire book. Once that hurdle was jumped, I opened myself up for critique. I think I’m used to red pen now.

Debra: That first share is always scary. I bet you’re glad you got past that! How did you come up with the title?

Krystal: Great question! There’s a place of importance in the book called The Clearing. That was the original title. Until I googled and realized there were five-hundred other books with the same name. I was devastated. So, I googled “how to name your novel”, and stumbled upon a great article. (No, I don’t remember the website that saved my life. Sorry to all you poor saps in the same position I was.) Wilde is Kate’s last name, and fire, well, let’s just say it plays a huge role in the novel. So, one play on words later, and wallah, Wilde’s Fire.

Debra: Did your story require research? If so, what’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?

Krystal: Total Darkness. Have you ever experienced it? Freakiest thing ever. I wouldn’t say I went out of my way to experience this, but when the tour guide in Smoke Hole caverns offered to the turn out the lights, I got excited. My eyes actually hurt in the three seconds she had the light off.

Debra: Oh! Yes, I have experienced that. Not all that long ago, either. All I can say is wow! During the process of writing Wilde’s Fire, did you ever associate yourself with one of the characters? If so, which one and why?

Krystal: Never intentionally. I do realize Flanna’s sarcasm comes from me. Kate’s strength is probably from me, too.

Debra: Who is your favorite character in your book? What is it about that character that attracts you to them? Is it the same one you associated yourself with?

Krystal: Why, yes. Yes it is. Flanna is my favorite to write because she’s not afraid to speak her mind. She is everything I wish I could be.

Debra: I can’t wait to meet her! When writing, did your protagonist ever go off and do their own thing?

Krystal: Not just my protagonist . . . all of my characters. So much for control.

Debra: {LOL} Sounds like you succeeded in not only breathing life into them, but giving them a bit of spunk. In the story, your protagonist has intense emotional experiences. Do you find it personally draining?

Krystal: No. I find the more intense her emotions, the more alive I feel. I know I’m strange. You don’t have to say it.

Debra: You’re not strange. Did you fall in love with your Hero?

Krystal: Over and over and over again. He’s incredible, and through each book I love him more and more.

Debra: {Sigh} Did you cry at all (in a good way) over one of your scenes?

Krystal: I cried like a baby when writing a scene in book 3. I’m not sure if I did in Wilde’s Fire though.

Debra: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Krystal: Creation. Not only did I write a story, but I created a world, emotions, magic, problems . . . I guess I could have just said world. I love how it all takes place in my mind yet feels real.

Debra: That truly is an amazing feeling. Who is your favorite author? What books have most influenced your life and writing process?

Krystal: Suzanne Collins has probably been the most influential author I’ve read. The Hunger Games blew me away, and I reference them often. I recently read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer (I want my book to marry this book and have its babies. I’m also Michelle Hodkins’s new, unofficial, stalker.) I love The Hobbit (Tolkien), The Chronicles of Narnia (Lewis), The Twilight Saga (Meyer, and I don’t want to hear it. She touched the hearts of millions.). Maggie Stiefvater is another author I love to follow. She is talented in so many ways. From her writing, to music, to art. She’s so creative. I usually spend hours digging around her blogs or vlogs.

Debra: You are not going to get any teasing from me on any of those authors. All great choices. Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing?

Krystal: It’s time consuming. I work full time, commute fifty miles to and from work, raise three kids who are involved in one thing or another, and I’m a wife. Pumping out 100k+ novels takes away my attention from so many other things. Half the time I’m not sure where I’m at, if my kids are adequately dressed, if my car has gas in it, etc. I have little time to think. Glamorous, right?

Debra: I can completely understand that. I don’t know how you do it all. Kudos to you. Do you see yourself becoming a career writer?

Krystal: Yes. I have so many more books plotted. I know what agent I want to go to and what NY publisher I want to be associated with. Every day I learn more about the craft and network with other authors. This is me for life, and I hope one day the royalties start adding up!

Debra: That would be nice. Do you do a detailed outline before you begin or are you a Panster?

Krystal: I started out as a panster, but now I’m a hybrid. Frankly I like being a panster better. That way I don’t get frustrated when the characters go off on a tangent.

Debra: A hybrid sounds like a good place to be. When querying, did you receive the notorious rejection letters? How did you deal with them?

Krystal: I didn’t. The first publisher I submitted to didn’t have the courtesy to inform me they even received my query. 70 days later, I wrote them an e-mail asking them to confirm receipt. Nothing. So I subbed elsewhere. The day I received my acceptance from the second publisher is the day the first one decided to reject me. Umm . . . be wise people. If a publisher has no common courtesy, DON’T WAIT FOR THEM!

Debra: Wow! You are one of the lucky ones. Congratulations on that amazing tale. I’d love to shake your hand, hug you, whatever I can to soak up that awesome goodness. {smiles} How did you land your agent/publisher?

Krystal: The stars and the moon aligned with planet Earth, and the sun was in its . . . just kidding. Well, I searched a ton of websites, and when I found one I liked, I subbed, and they liked me. Pretty easy. 🙂

Debra: Research. That’s what it always comes down to. What advice would you give to writers just starting out?

Krystal: Just write. Don’t think about what people will like or won’t like. Write for you. Write what’s in your heart. Then be prepared for people to tear you apart, all for your benefit. Don’t take anything personally.

Debra: I think that is some of the best advice anyone could give or receive. Thank you, Krystal.

Debra: We are getting excited here, how long will we have to wait before we can expect to see the next installment in this series?

Krystal: Lucky for you, I’m about to turn in Wilde’s Army. Maybe three months? I’m a little over halfway through writing Wilde’s Meadow. Hopefully Darkness Falls will be complete this year. I hope to have the books out before the world ends.

Debra: That’s fantastic! There is nothing worse than a long agonizing wait when you are dying to know what happens next. J Thank you so much for taking the time to answer all our questions Krystal. We really appreciate it. I know, I for one, am very excited that Wilde’s Fire is finally available so that I can start reading! What do you say we show everyone the trailer?

You can pick up Krystal’s new book, Wilde’s Fire, NOW at Noble Young Adult for only $1.99. It will soon be available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble, followed shortly by the print version. Everyone’s need will be filled.

Want to know more about Krystal and her protagonist, Kate? Check out these fine interviews:  Louise Phillips : Wilde’s Fire! & Interview with Kate from new novel “Wilde’s Fire by Krystal Wade.

~o~

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.

You can find Krystal at all her usual haunts…

• Blog: www.krystalwade.blogspot.com
• Website: www.krystal-wade.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/author.krystalwade
• Twitter: @krystalwade