Blog Tour/Giveaway! The Ending Element: Calista, by Lorraine Koh

Welcome to the blog tour for

The Ending Element: Calista,

sponsored by

YA Bound Book Tours!!

For my stop, I'm featuring a guest post by the author, Lorraine Koh!
There's also a tour-wide giveaway!!

The Ending Element: Calista

Lorraine Koh

Kindle Edition, 216 pages

Horasis

February 8, 2016

Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction

Calista Bloom never wanted to fight in the war and it has been five years since war was waged over Kosmotopia. All because of a sword. Fair enough; the Astronblade is supposed to hold infinite power; that is, once it finds its one true owner. But every 18-year-old will need to join the military and Calista soon finds herself trying to awaken the Astronblade. Will this batch hold the Blade Bearer? Or will finding the Blade Bearer trigger the chain of events that will bring about the end of the world?

Purchase Links

Amazon US/Amazon UK

Amazon CA

Guest Post

"Identifying With The Characters 
You Write About"
by Lorraine Koh

For every writer, creating characters is probably one of the most fun parts of writing fiction. But then, creating believable characters is not as simple as it sounds. To be honest, it is still something I'm learning with every new story I write. One of the things that help me identify with the characters I write about would be to give them a past, present, and future.

Past

The past is the character's backstory, what some of the important past events were which makes him or her the person they are today. For example, in The Ending Element: Calista, the main character, Calista, is someone who is disillusioned with life in general. But then you realise it is because she lost her parents at a young age, and was left alone throughout her childhood. The backstory usually gives readers a chance to understand the character better.

Present

The present usually refers to what the character is like right now. What are their hobbies, their likes and dislikes, and their special quirks? Do they have a crush on someone? What is their daily life like? Some of these answers may not be relevant to the overall story, but I think they help the writer become more attached to the characters they create.

Future

The future is about the main goals and motives of the character. What would they like to achieve in future, and what drives them? In my latest book, The Ending Element: Calista, Ori Marks is motivated by revenge for the death of his mother. This thirst for revenge will drive the decisions he will make in the future.

I am not sure for other writers, but for myself, I would put certain traits of myself in my main characters, as well. It also helps me identify with them better. For example, the cynical side of Calista is me when I felt fed up with the world and just wanted to be left alone. You can also base your characters on people you have met before. Whatever the case, have fun with it and make your characters come alive!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lorraine Koh, who also goes by the pen name, Raine Koh, lives in sunny Singapore. She has written Munchy Isn't Everything and Pop Rock Love, and is currently working on a new novel. Her hobbies include chasing celebrities, photographing them, and traveling to see them.

Join her Goodreads Group: Ask Lorraine Koh
Like her writing page on Facebook: We Write Now

Website/Goodreads/Twitter

To access the rest of the tour, just 
click on the button below!

Book Blogger Hop No. 44: Other Interests Besides Reading and Blogging

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

For more information, click HERE.

What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this week's

question:

What other interests do you have besides reading and blogging?

(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

2.)  Enter the link to your post in the

Linky list on Billy's blog.

3.)  Visit other blogs on the list and

comment on their posts. 

4.)  Be sure to find out next week's

question when you visit

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

My Answer

This question makes me feel rather wistful, because, at one time, I used to enjoy drawing, painting, and writing poetry. This was years ago, though. I really don't have the room to paint now, but I could pursue drawing again, if I wanted to. As for writing poetry, I could go back to that, as well.

I do tend to get creatively blocked, and that's because of the fear of rejection. That's also why I have barely attempted to write a novel. I am deathly afraid of getting negative reviews....

At one point, though, I did attempt some literary work, in the form of fan fiction. That was back in 2005. I first got inspired by The Phantom of the Opera (the one in the movie version, NOT the original, as written by Gaston Leroux, who is a total monster). Later on, I got inspired by my beloved Twilight Saga. 

So I wrote several fan fiction stories, but most of them are unfinished. I did finish two or three of them, but that's it. 

If anyone is interested in checking out these stories, you can find them HERE. I wrote them under the pen name "Angelmuse".  When you click on this link, scroll down, past my profile, and you will see the stories.

As for artwork, I don't have any recent stuff. I have a few paintings hanging on my walls here in our condo. I don't know if I would feel comfortable showing them here on this blog, as they're all abstracts.

I haven't written any poetry in years, so I would have to rummage around to see if I could find some of my early stuff. ... I need to get inspired again!

For a long time now, reading and blogging have been my main interests. Perhaps I should start delving into these other interests again, too. I don't know if I have the time for that now, though.....     
 

     

What are your thoughts?

Please leave a comment,

and I'll go check out your post!

Waiting On Wednesday No. 160: Heartless, by Marissa Meyer

This is a weekly event hosted by

Jill @ Breaking the Spine!!

It showcases future releases which

we book bloggers

are eagerly anticipating!!

Here's my choice for this week!

Heartless   

Marissa Meyer

Hardcover, 416 pages

HarperCollins Publishers

November 29, 2016

Fairy Tale Retellings, Fantasy,  
Romance, Young Adult Fiction

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

Why I'm waiting on this one!

The great Marissa Meyer has done it again!
This new novel sounds like an
AWESOME, exciting retelling of that 
childhood classic, Alice In Wonderland,
although it tells the story of one 
of the story's villains -- the Queen of Hearts.
I'd sure like to know what she was like
before she became so mean!
I'm very much looking forward to this novel!!   

 

What do you think of my choice?

Leave your link below, so I can
come check out your pick(s)!

Shelf Candy Saturday No. 168: Tangled Webs, by Lee Bross

Welcome to Shelf Candy Saturday!

This is my weekly feature

showcasing beautiful covers!

It also provides information, 
if available, on their 
very talented creators!

Here's my choice for this week!

Tangled Webs
 Lee Bross
Hardcover, 304 pages

Disney Hyperior
June 23, 2015
Fantasy,Historical Romance, Mystery,
Science Fiction, Steampunk,
Young Adult Fiction

My Thoughts About This Cover

This is the type of brilliantly-designed cover that uses mostly typography to achieve its effects. I don't usually praise such covers, but, in this case, I had to feature this treasure! I love the font used for the title, and the way it's ornamented and surrounded by all the gorgeous designs.

Also, I don't normally go for book covers in which the color orange predominates. Here, however, it's just perfect!  I think it adds something to the intrigue in the plot.

This cover actually looks like an intricate, and very delicate, piece of embroidery. It seems to be lying on top of some gray cobblestones or bricks, too. The cover artist has cleverly interwoven elements from the story into this embroidery -- there's a ship at the top, a half-mask next to a skeleton key, right underneath the word "Webs", and a knife is part of the word "Tangled".

The whole image is tied together by the background of crisscrossing lines, which resemble a spider's web to some extent. And I love all the paisley inspired, elaborate curlicues all over the image, too.

All in all, this is great cover art!  The highly-talented cover artist/designer is Whitney Manger, who is the Senior Designer for HarperCollins Children's Books.  In addition to her full-time work with Harper, she also does freelance design, and has over 13 years' experience. She has also worked for Disney Hyperion and Running Press, and is a graduate of Parsons, the New School for Design. She also holds a BA in Studio Art and English from Drew University.

I have just added Ms. Manger to my list of favorite book cover artists!!
  

Online Links
Resume
Portfolio
Twitter
Facebook

What do you think of this 
week's cover?
Please leave a comment
and let me know!

Book Blogger Hop No. 43: Venturing Out of your Reading Comfort Zone

Welcome to the Book Blogger Hop,

hosted by Billy @

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

For more information, click HERE.

What to Do

1.) Post on your blog answering this week's

question:

Have you ever ventured out of your

comfort zone in terms of reading 

a genre you have never read? 

If so, did you get

hooked on that new genre?

(submitted by Elizabeth @ Silver's Reviews)

2.)  Enter the link to your post in the

Linky list on Billy's blog.

3.)  Visit other blogs on the list and

comment on their posts. 

4.)  Be sure to find out next week's

question when you visit

Ramblings of a Coffee-Addicted Writer!

My Answer

Currently, I rarely venture outside my reading comfort zone, but in the past, I did so on a couple of occasions.

The first one was when I first fell madly in love. Before this happened, I had looked down my nose at romance novels, considering them silly and too sentimental. I was only into reading classics, literary fiction, fantasy, and science fiction. I also read some nonfiction from time to time. But then I fell head over heels.....and suddenly, I decided to pick up a romance novel. What a revelation! It turned out that I really enjoyed reading them -- especially historical romance. I quickly became addicted to these books! I still read this genre, although now I prefer paranormal romance, but do still occasionally read historical and contemporary romance, as well.

In my twenties, I decided, for some crazy reason, that I would read a horror novel. Alas, this was a HUGE mistake! I read The Exorcist, by William Peter Blatty. I never saw the movie, but only read the book. But, just from reading the book, I was unable to sleep well for an entire week!

Years later, I also read The Forbidden Game, by L.J. Smith, which is an omnibus edition of three YA  horror novels. Again, I don't know why I decided to do this, but, this time around, I actually couldn't put down this book! It was VERY well-written, and had a lot of twists and turns. However, I have no desire to read it again, as there were some truly scary moments in it! 

I am too sensitive to read horror novels; they totally terrify me, and I do NOT like to feel terrified! 

In 2006, I became hooked on a new genre -- Young Adult Fiction. This happened because of The Twilight Saga. It might seem ironic that, since I don't like the horror genre, I would love this series, which features vampires and werewolves. But there are some differences between urban fantasy -- which is the genre these books also belong to -- and horror. Besides, these novels are also categorized as paranormal romance.

After reading The Twilight Saga (the first time, that is), I got into the Harry Potter series. And now I'm totally addicted to Young Adult Fiction! So this was a happy venture! I still read other genres, of course. But I will never stop reading YA novels. And the really great thing about this genre is that it encompasses several sub-genres, such as the ones I mentioned above, as well as fantasy, science fiction, dystopian fiction, Steampunk, and romance. Young Adult romances mostly fall into three categories: fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary. Although I do prefer the first two, I will occasionally read the third.

I'm now wondering if I should sample some cozy mysteries next. Hmmm......     
 

     

What are your thoughts?

Please leave a comment,

and I'll go check out your post!