Title- Spirit Warriors: The Scarring
Series- Spirit Warriors Book # 2
By- D.E.L. Connor
Genre- YA Fantasy
Expected Publication Date- July 21st
Published By- Booktrope Publishing
Blurb
“One of us would finally end what had been started by the machayiwiw so many years ago. I would have to kill him. It was just that simple. I never thought I would want to kill anybody or anything, but maybe I never had anything worth killing for before.”
-Emmeline Rima Belrose, The Scarring (Spirit Warriors, Book 2)
In the majestic beauty of a Montana summer, Emme and her friends celebrate her near-drowning survival and their defeat of the powerful evil spirit, the machayiwiw. But even as they rejoice, things are amiss. Emme watches helplessly as her family divides, and her friends struggle to hold their relationship together. Worse yet, the love-of-her life, Charlie, announces that he will move back to the reservation, without Emme. Different nightmares take over and Emme realizes she must fight and kill—or watch those she loves be killed. Friends from the reservation reach out to Emme and show her what evil can steal from her. Emme believes that evil can never break her bond with the Spirit Warriors or the love she shares with Charlie. Or can it?
Title-The Concealing (Spirit Warriors #1)
By- D.E.L. Connor
Release Date: November 24, 2013
Length: 191 pages
Publisher: Booktrope
Blurb
Sixteen-year-old Emme Belrose has it all: four best friends, a horse of her own, a hidden tepee hangout, and a blossoming romance with tall and handsome Charlie. These friends also have a secret. They can move their spirits into animal bodies: an osprey, a mustang, a grizzly, a mountain lion and a coyote.
But when Charlie, who has a gift for seeing the future, has a vision of Emme drowning in the icy Yellowstone River, the Spirit Warriors must train their animal bodies to kill an enemy they know is coming… but know nothing about. Suspenseful, romantic, and awash in Native American magic, Spirit Warriors captures the tragic enchantment of the American West—and confirms the power of friendship.
INTERVIEW
What inspired you to
write this book?
I have had this story floating around in my head for many
years. At the time I was told it was too dark for a childrens book and then
J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyers wrote amazing dark stories and I thought it
was finally time! This is book 2 of book 5 and a prequel in the Spirit Warriors
series. There is a lot to tell in this story. :)
Can you give us an
interesting fact about your book that isn't in the blurb?
This book opens up a huge love triangle. Will you be Team
Charlie with my daughter or Team Jack with my best friends?
How did you choose your
title?
With much thought and discussion! The Spirit Warriors was the
easy part. The subtitle was much harder. The first book was originally titled
Spirit Warriors: The Curse of the Ancestors. Editing changed the content in
book 1 and the title had to changed. I decided to go with one word subtitles
that described the books. Book 1 was The Concealing, book 2 is The Scarring and
Book 3 is The Burning.
Tell us about the cover
and how it came to be.
With the first book I thought it would be cool to have each
book have a picture of one of the main characters and their spirit animal.
There are five main characters and five books. It just seemed to work out
perfectly! Book 1 is Lilly and Arion, book 2 is Oliver (Ollie) and Zephyr. I
have an amazing designer named Ida Jansson and my book manager and I pick out
pictures of the character and animal and Ida works her magic.
Did you selfpublish or
publish traditionally and why?
I actually did a hybrid. Booktrope is a cross between self
publishing and tradition publishing. I have access to an editor, cover
designer, proofreader, and book manager. We all work as a team to make the book
and cover as strong as possible. I came from a background of nursing and
literally knew nothing about the publishing world except what I taught myself.
I personally felt that I needed the input of a team. It was the best choice for
me.
What do you consider the
most important part of a good story?
A great and interesting story line. You can have the best
characters and places, but if they go nowhere and do nothing it is the end of
the line.
What is your writing
process?
All I do is outline the beginning and the end of each book. I
know how it starts and how it ends and that’s all. Then I go back and write
everything from the first sentence to the last sentence.
How long have you been
writing?
Most of my life, but I have gotten serious about it in the last
three years.
How did you get started
writing?
I started writing poetry as a child. I was shy (although that
changed as I got older) and writing helped me deal with things. I was also
encouraged by teachers. I can’t say it enough. Teachers mold students and give
them wings to live their dreams. I would have never thought I had the talent to
write if teachers throughout my education hadn’t encouraged me.
Are you a plotter or a
pantser?
Drumroll….A pantser! I only outline the beginning and the end
and I tend to change them anyway!
What part of the writing
process is the hardest for you?
Editing. Editing. Editing. I like to finish one book and then
go on to the next, I struggle with editing. It makes me go backward in my mind
and I lose where I am in the story. Then when I change things in editing, I
have to make sure I have it right in the next book. I know I drive my editor
crazy. I drive me crazy.
What tips can you give
on how to get through writers block?
Stop thinking about it for awhile. When I get stuck I grab my
ipod, get in my car, turn the music WAY UP, and drive on the highway. It seems
to free my mind and I am able to work through the problem. Just one word of
caution. Pay attention to how far you have gone. I was over a 100 miles away
one time and it took me a long time to get back home!
What kind of music do
you like to listen to while you write?
Alternative mainly. I do change it up based on what I am
writing. If it is an action section then rock and roll, a love section is
usually classical or pop. Everything else is alternative.
Who is your favorite
author?
When I was a kid it was Laura Ingalls Wilder. I actually have
many favorites but Larry McMurtry, Harper Lee, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Margaret
Mitchell, J.K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer all wrote books that I read over and
over again.
Who is your favorite
character from a book?
Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird.
What is your favorite
book?
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I was after all raised in
Montana. You can’t get much more Wild West than that!
Read anything good
lately?
I wish! I haven’t had much time lately. I’m hoping that
changes.
What do you like to do
when you're not writing?
I like to watch TV especially The Walking Dead (it comes back
in October) and some of the reality shows. I just discovered Naked and Afraid.
Wow is all I can say. I love to read and when I have time garden and work
outside. I like to run although my pace is so slow most people could just walk
it.
What advice would you
give an author just starting out?
Don’t listen to the doubters. Set a goal and keep working at
it. It may take awhile, don’t give up on your dream.
Have you had anything
else published?
The first book in my series Spirit Warriors:The Concealing came
out in November of 2013.
What's your next
project?
Book 3! Spirit Warriors: The Burning, I should be ready for
editing next month. Keep your fingers crossed. Remember how I struggle with
editing!
About the Author
Della was born in South Dakota and raised in the vastness and beauty of Montana on a farm. When she longed for the big city life, she moved to Texas where she attended college and received a PhD in nursing. When not nursing people back to health you can find Della huddled over her Mac writing the stories that have occupied her mind for so many years, or traveling with her best friends, the NOLA’s, riding bikes across the Golden Gate bridge or exploring botanical gardens. She is the proud mother of a champion triathlete, two aging dogs and 1 grand-cat. Della has admittedly confessed to her coffee addiction and swears that her two hour coffee crawl while on vacation in Seattle –was the best two hours of her life!
TOUR Giveaway Info
1 paperback Spirit Warriors: The Scarring (US only)
5 eBooks of Spirit Warriors: The Scarring (Intl)
1 eBook of Fractured Dream (Intl)
1 eBook of Jacob, King of Portalia (Intl)
1 eBook of Eyes of the Enemy (Intl)
1 eBook of Orenda (Intl)
1 eBook of Dead Girl Walking
Thanks for the great interview!
ReplyDeleteDEL Connor
You're welcome.
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