Welcome to my tour stop! I'm excited to share an interview with the author
of this exciting new YA SciFi! Check it out and enter the tour giveaway below...
Isoldesse
(Aevo Compendium Series #1)
By Kimberly Grymes
YA SciFi, Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 454 Pages
March 2, 2021 by Tractor Beam Publishing
Summary
Friendships are tested, new alliances are made, and the truth of one woman’s actions from over a millennia ago are revealed.
Kenna and Meegan are college students dealing with upcoming finals, needy parents, boy drama, and what to do with their lives after they graduate in a few weeks. What they weren’t expecting was for Kenna to receive a powerful crystal necklace that ultimately changes their plans for a relaxing summer.
Strange things begin to happen to Kenna, like being the only one who can see and talk to the mysterious old woman with a golden aura. Or how in her dreams, a man with vibrant orange eyes keeps appearing who may or may not be real. Though, not all of Kenna’s mysterious encounters are pleasant as she’s haunted by massive beings carrying long swords and wearing armor covered in black scales.
Besides solving the mystery of where the crystal necklace came from, Kenna, Meegan, and their friends are taken to another world for a routine evolutionary assessment. The assessment gets sabotaged and causes more chaos for Kenna and her friends, especially for Meegan who is forced to open up and reveal her true identity and the magic she hides.
There’s one name that Kenna, Meegan, the Sendarians, and the monsters who’ve been hunting Meegan and her family for over a century all have in common…
Interview
What inspired you to write this story?
I wanted to write a story about a world that believed in a goddess that wasn’t really a goddess. The question of who she really was and how the truth would be revealed was what I started with. I needed to build a present-day story around something that happened over a millennia ago.
This story also started out as a science-fiction romance story following Kenna. I shifted and rewrote the story about two years into drafting. I had already finished the novel when I decided to go back and change everything, well mostly everything. After listening to a popular podcast, Writing Excuses, and hearing how the authors/writers on the show were interesting in reading more stories revolving around friendship, I rewrote the story to follow the connections and friendships rather than one girl’s journey.
Would you tell us more about the main characters from ISODLESSE?
Kenna and Meegan are the main lead characters, with Darci and Gemma close behind. I did bring in quite the cast for supporting characters, but everyone has a connection to someone. I promise. Everyone is relevant, one way or another.
Kenna is a hard worker with goals. She wants to graduate college and study/explore the stars. Her father has always filled her head with stories about space travel as he’s a science-fiction author, and she wants nothing more than to turn his fictional stories into real ones. When Kenna receives a mysterious yellow stone and a card with instructions to hold the stone and say the words written, that’s when the mystery and adventure begin.
Meegan is Kenna’s best friend. She’s a quiet girl with over-protective parents, but with good reason. Meegan’s not human. She’s an Anumen from a world called Anuminis, and she has a magic inside her that only Anumen women have. By casting amulas, or spell-like phrases, she can draw on the essence of the Eilimintachs, similar to the elements, to do as she wishes. But Meegan and her family are in hiding, refugees on Earth. So, using her power is only allowed around other Anumens.
Darci is fairly new to their friend group and brings a fresh bubbly personality. There’s much to learn about Darci, and she plays a big role in the events that unfold in Part I of Isoldesse.
Gemma was the easiest character to write and one of my favorites. Though Gemma also has a side to her she kept to herself. Thoughts and reflections that she rarely spoke aloud to her brother, Micah, or sister, Cahleen. There’s room for character growth with Gemma that I look forward to sharing in book 2.
There are many supporting characters that I absolutely loved as well. Cahleen being one of them. She brings an edge to the story. Bennach is another one of my favorites. His character was only briefly explored and will have more of a center stage appearance in book 2. Micah, Gemma and Cahleen’s brother was another favorite. He brought balance to the sibling trio. Breyah, Rian, and Holt helped bring in perspectives from the Sendarian research compound, including more background to what the Aevo Compendium project was. And last, the Athru leaders: Anora, Quaid, and Biryn. We’re not quite done with the Athru leaders and will see more from them in book 2.
Which character do you most relate to and why?
Kenna. My schedule is always full, and I’m always busy doing stuff to reach a goal of some sorts. And even though Kenna isn’t as worrisome as she normally is, because of the bond with the arcstone, I’m a worrier and overthink things all the time.
I think one reason Kenna’s personality is fairly normal. I wanted her to be relatable to most people. She’s kind and does things for her friends and even cleans Pru’s house without being asked. Character voice is the one writing technique I’m still working on, and because of this I focused on Kenna’s character being like mine. Busy, loyal, and a worrier.
What advice would you give your characters about navigating their world?
My advice would be to look towards those closest to you for advice. To work together and trust one another. It’s understandable to have secrets, but also know that keeping secrets puts an invisible weight on a person’s conscious. Meegan carried the secret of who she is for years. Kenna and Meegan need to learn all they can from Ulissa, and Kenna needs to figure out what’s going on between her and Liam, and her and Ben.
What part or aspect of this story do you love the most?
I love how two stories are being told at once. How the present story of Kenna and Meegan trying to figure out the arcstone while the Sendarians are assessing Earth and the Athru are trying to sabotage the assessment is the main story being told while in the background another story is slowly being unfolded. The story about who Isoldesse is.
As for specific scenes, I have
1. When Kenna learns the truth about Meegan. Emotions are high during their conversation, but it’s the dialogue at the end of the chapter that made me love this scene so much.
2. When Breyah, Rian, and Bennach are looking for the humans in one of the guest rooms after the humans have snuck out of the compound. I absolutely love reading this scene. It makes me laugh every time!
3. Wait! I forgot, I kind of love when Kenna meets Ben for the first time. That’s a good one too!
When you reach for a book to read, what genre do you grab and what are some of your favorites in that genre?
Normally, I tend to gravitate towards YA fantasy. I’m not a fan of fairies or fae, but more witches, vampires, and other supernatural beings. The Arcana Chronicles by Kresley Cole is one of my all time favorites and so is The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare. But it was Jennifer Armentrout’s Lux series that inspired me to write my own YA science-fiction fantasy story about aliens, magic, adventure, and of course a sprinkle of romance!
This year I’m looking to read more YA science-fiction stories. Though, I enjoy fantasy stories (substitute aliens instead of mystical beings) I want to read more books in my writing genre. That’s not to say the next series I write will be sci-fi. I may venture into dystopia or fantasy, or a mix just because I like keeping things interesting!
I recently read Beyond the Red by Ava Jae (Gabe Cole Novoa) and loved! I’m currently reading Skyward by Brandon Sanderson and loving every chapter! Looking forward to reading more YA sci-fi books this year.
When you’re not reading or writing, what do you enjoy doing?
I have a small book blog, Plum Report, that I devote much time to. I enjoy taking bookstagram pictures (when I have time) and interacting with others on IG. I also recently started a podcast that combines my book blog and author platform. Both are fun and keep me involved with people in the bookish community.
When I’m not blogging, bookstagramming, or writing, I enjoy crafting, baking, playing Stardew Valley on our Xbox, and hanging out with family and friends. My favorite part of the day is TV time with my husband. We love watching sci-fi, fantasy, paranormal, dystopia shows and movies every night with our two miniature pinschers cuddled up between us.
What can we expect next from you, and are there any teasers you’d like to share?
Book 2 is titled: Fawness, and I’m aiming to release late spring of 2022. The Obard are coming in book 2, which I’m excited about! Also, another character that was only mentioned by name in book 1 and will appear in book two: Biryn. If anyone has ever seen the Underworld movies, that’s kind of where I got the idea to split my antagonists for each book. If you haven’t seen those movies, I highly recommend watching ;)
I’m hoping that for those who have read, they’ll understand why I titled book 2 Fawness. I don’t want to give away any spoilers about that.
I have an exciting announcement that I’ll be sharing with everyone on March 2 during Isoldesse’s launch event about a side-project that I’ve been working on that ties into the Isoldesse world. More info to come on that soon!
About the Author
When Kimberly Grymes is not writing, reading, or blogging, she’s usually hanging out with her husband and kids, baking treats, or keeping busy with crafts. As much as she enjoys reading books, she loves watching movies and TV, and is always on the lookout for the next great sci-fi or fantasy show to watch. Her favorite part of the day is TV time in the evening with her husband and two min-pins, Jubilee and Cori. She currently lives in Kansas, where her allergies are much better than they were in Connecticut.
Kimberly has a small book blog called the Plum Report in which she reads and reviews science-fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and or dystopian books. She also enjoys taking bookstagram pictures and sharing them with the book community on Instagram.
Tour Schedule
Follow the tour here.
Tour-Wide Giveaway
Two readers will each win a giveaway package (US only) that includes:
- Print copy of Isoldesse
- One signed hardcover
- Two desktop wallpaper images
- Two customized bookmarks
- A full set of character prints (13 character prints total)
- A full set of character pins (13 pins)
- One Isoldesse title pin
- One Isoldesse title magnet (it's a pin but with a magnetic backing)
- Isoldesse inspired bookmarks from Mirkwood Scribes, an ETSY shop (collaboration)
- One Isoldesse bookmark (that I created and had printed)
- One Isoldesse 5x7 print image
- One "bookish" 5x7 print image
- One Isoldesse inspired keychain
- Two desktop wallpaper images
- Two customized bookmarks
- A full set of character prints (13 character prints total)
- A full set of character pins (13 pins)
- One Isoldesse title pin
- One Isoldesse title magnet (it's a pin but with a magnetic backing)
- Isoldesse inspired bookmarks from Mirkwood Scribes, an ETSY shop (collaboration)
- One Isoldesse bookmark (that I created and had printed)
- One Isoldesse 5x7 print image
- One "bookish" 5x7 print image
- One Isoldesse inspired keychain
Ends March 1, 2021
a Rafflecopter giveaway
No comments
Post a Comment
I love comments! I try to read and reply to them all. Feel free to agree or disagree and generally share your thoughts with me.