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I am thrilled to have Krista Wayment on the blog today and even more excited to announce the release of Book 2 in the Dragon's Trust series: BURNED I had the opportunity to read book 1, TRUSTED, and I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one. I found Krista's writing to be genuine and moving. I was turning pages so fast I quickly lost track of time. I just had to see what happened next! Anyone who likes fantasy stories at their best will love these books! Plus, there are dragons! Lots of them. This book rates right along with the Chronicles of Prydain and Eragon. A truly fantastic tale!
About the Book
Renick, apprentice dragonhand, discovers that nothing can
stand in the way of a dragon’s thirst for revenge.
Caught between an outcast dragon and his human prey, Renick
and his friends must find a way to appease the dragon’s burning anger.
Together, Renick, Thane and Lainey learn new magic, rescue a kidnapped friend,
and evade the dragon hunters while they try to prevent a war. What they find is that not all burns can be
healed.
And Now for the Interview with Krista Wayment:
When did you first
know you wanted to be an author?
Krista Wayment: I
was so young I'm not sure I remember clearly. I was always daydreaming, playing
make believe, and making up stories. I think when I finally made the decision
was when I wrote my first story (like actually wrote it down) in 5th
grade. It was called Rose Among Thieves and
was a mouse in grand Brian Jacques style. That is when it all started for me.
From there I started writing and learning about what it took to get published.
Took me a long time to get there—but that's when the dream started.
What makes you
passionate about writing?
Krista Wayment: Writing is not something I do. It is part of
who I am. Writing is how I best express myself, the blank page is my canvas and
the words I put there are my paints. Talking to me in person is much less
impressive than reading something that I write.
For me the thing that sparks my passion the most is the
thrill of taking an idea—just a spark of something interesting—and running with
it. Molding that first flash of inspiration into a character, a world, a story
that I can share with others. The creative process, I don't know, sets
something free inside of me that relaxes me and makes me feel whole. And
apparently very philosophical and sappy.
What was the pathway
like for you to get your first book published?
Krista Wayment: Way back in 5th grade I had the
whole dream. Write an amazing story, submit to publishers, and have someone
say—this is great—let's publish it. I checked out The Writers Market from the library over a dozen times in high
school. I was determined to get some short stories published but at that age I
would finish a story and then not send it in.
Around that time I discovered that my ideas are a little too
complex for short stories so I decided to write novels instead. I started my
first project which at the time was just called Lyni after the main character. (It went through several titles
after that including The Pillars of
Sh'tara, Haran'damari, and Shadowed
Stones).
My first novel was shelved and I embarked on another project,
and then another, and then another. Then I wrote Trusted followed by a middle grade science fiction (also the start
of a series). I send both out to agents and editors. I even entered some pitch
contests. And all I got was nos. No thanks, not for us.
I started to become discouraged. Until my husband said: Why
don't you self-publish? Now I had been thinking of that for a long time. And
with the technology that is out there today—I decided to go for it.
I did it all myself. Learned as I went from the internet and
the online writing community. And now here I'm, letting a second book lose on
the world.
Were you ever
discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?
Krista Wayment: When I was a young writer I struggled with
feeling like me work wasn't good enough. Even with people telling me it was
good. I think that's why it took me so long to write my first book. I read a
lot of books and took a few classes on writing. I searched for my own unique
voice and finally I joined the online community. I had my mojo finally.
Then after the repeated nos I got from agents and publishers
and the lack of interest in my two middle grade books in general—I started to
get discouraged again. I even thought about giving up on writing a few times.
It was taking time I didn't feel I had and not helping me to achieve any of my
goals.
I worked through it by staying close to my writing friends.
Ultimately I decided to keep writing even if I never got published. I realized
that my real goal with writing was just to write and share my writing with
someone. I didn't want money or fame. I just wanted to share my stories.
That's when I really got my confidence. So much confidence
in fact I was able to self-publish. I still feel discouraged. Real life can get
in the way of writing and I feel like I'll never reach my goal of publishing 4
books a year. But I keep going. I look at what I have done and realize it is
enough. Everything else is just the icing on the cake.
Can you tell us more
about BURNED?
Krista Wayment: Oh yes. I LOVE to talk about my books. I was
really worried when writing BURNED because I had to go through several outlines
and wasn't sure about the events in the story. I had a certain theme and
feeling I wanted to come out of the book. Renick, Thane, and Lainey are tested
and hurt but they come out okay. And, without sounding too prideful, I have to
say I think I nailed it.
BURNED picks up right where the Epilogue of TRUSTED left
off. With the explosion and chaos, which takes place almost a year after the
events of TRUSTED. You get to see how Renick, Thane, and Lainey's friendship
has grown stronger. You also get to know Grahm and Melatheen a lot better.
Renick and his friends are faced a member of the Dragon Kind
that is bent on revenge—which is never a good thing. And then they—but if I
tell you that it would spoil the ending. It is just totally awesome I can't
wait for everyone to read it.
Also, I am totally pumped to get started writing book
3—because it's going to be even better.
Krista Wayment: 5. Yep, three more. I have tentative titles
for them, Stollen, Broken, and Mended. I really like the number 5 for a
series. I have a big thing about numbers and 5 is one of my favorite. I also
like 3, 7, and even numbers.
Anyway, my goal is to write the first draft of all three
books by the end of January, 2015. I'm not ready to declare myself insane—but
we are getting close to that threshold.
How do you keep the
story going?
Krista Wayment: I always have a major series long conflict
that runs through the whole book. Something that gets introduced in book 1 and
resolved in the last book. The other books also have their own individual
conflicts. In TRUSTED it was being lost in the forest and then—I won't say more
in case anyone hasn't read book 1. BURNED the conflict is the dragon bent on
revenge.
Still each book in the series takes the characters closer to
the final resolution. It helps me to think of a TV series. Each season has a
main conflict and then something happens in each episode.
Who is your favorite
character in the story?
Krista Wayment: That's a tough call for me. Renick, Thane and
Lainey are all pretty dear to me. But since you are going to make me rank them
here it goes.
3. At the bottom probably because he is the character that I
am still discovering. But the trait about him that I like the most is his
bravery and loyalty.
2. Renick. I'll admit there is a lot of me in Renick. So he
is of course one of my favs. He's just so down to earth and so observant.
1. And the winner is … Lainey. Why you ask? Have you ever
read the Prydain Chronicles? If not I order you to read them now. Even before you
read BURNED. They are that good. I patterned Lainey after Eilonwy who I think
is just an excellent character—but there were a few things that bugged me about
her. So that's why Lainey is my
favorite. Because she reminds me of a childhood (okay I didn't read the books
until college, but still) book friend.
If you were a dragon
what color would you be?
Krista Wayment: Green and silver. Yes, I have thought about
this a lot if you were wondering. If I couldn't be green I would totally be red
with black markings.
What is the one
message you hope readers take from your books?
Krista Wayment: Never give up. You can succeed at anything if
you stick with your friends and never give up.
Get a copy of BURNED
About the Author
Krista
Wayment has been making up stories since she learned to talk. Writing naturally
grew out of that. Krista is an avid Fantasy and Science Fiction fan, and a
total nerd. She is also a software engineer and loves playing video games.
Although, curling up with a good book is still one of her favorite past times.
www.kristawayment.com
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