Hey everyone! Welcome to my stop for The Essence (The Pledge #2) by Kimberly Derting book tour hosted by Shane @ Itching For Books. Today, welcome author Kimberly on the blog where she talks about her inspiration in writing The Essence. Click here for the complete tour schedule.
"In THE ESSENCE, I really wanted Charlie to grow as a character, which, for me, was more about her growth in relationships, than it was about her role as queen. I love the big story—about the changes in her country and what it means for her to take her place on the throne. But more than that, I love the small stories—her ties with her family and her friends, and the way those bonds evolve and are tested.
But one of the biggest challenges in writing a series is keeping the story fresh without completely abandoning the format that your readers have already fallen in love with. I don’t want my books to be “formulaic” and boring, but at the same time, I want readers to feel like they’re hanging out with an old friend when they crack open the next book in the series. It’s like walking a tightrope, trying to find that balance that will keep readers coming back for more.
And because I’m a very visual person, all of my books first come to me as images, like scenes from a movie. With THE PLEDGE, one of these images was the scene in which Charlie is running through the streets with her little sister, Angelina, after the sirens go off in the night.
With THE ESSENCE, I had images of a giant castle made of ice on an island, and a dazzling ball with women wearing brightly colored gowns, and a journey on enormous war-horses through inhospitable terrain with these immense jagged, black mountains. It was just a matter of weaving these large-scale scenes into Charlie’s story.
One of the ways I keep track of these images is my latest obsession, Pinterest. In fact, I created an entire board just for THE ESSENCE (http://pinterest.com/kderting/the-essence-pledge-2/). For someone who’s visual, like me, pin boards are a great way to fuel that creative spark, and a great way to share the way I view the world I’m working on!"
The Essence
(The Pledge #2)
by Kimberly Derting
Published January 1st 2013 by Margaret K. McElderry
“Danger, dread, mystery, and romance” (Booklist) continue in the second book of The Pledge trilogy, as Charlie’s reign is under siege from the most unusual of enemies.
At the luminous conclusion of The Pledge, Charlaina defeated the tyrant Sabara and took her place as Queen of Ludania. But Charlie knows that Sabara has not disappeared: The evil queen’s Essence is fused to Charlie’s psyche, ready to arise at the first sign of weakness.
Charlie is not weak, but she’s being pushed to the brink. In addition to suppressing the ever-present influence of Sabara, she’s busy being queen—and battling a growing resistance determined to return Ludania to its discriminatory caste system. Charlie wants to be the same girl Max loves, who Brook trusts, but she’s Your Majesty now, and she feels torn in two.
As Charlie journeys to an annual summit to meet with leaders of nearby Queendoms—an event where her ability to understand all languages will be the utmost asset—she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. And the only person she can turn to for help is the evil soul residing within.
Buy The Essence now!
Amazon
* Barnes & Noble
About the Author:
Kimberly is the author of the BODY FINDER series (HarperCollins) and THE PLEDGE trilogy (Simon & Schuster). She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the ideal place to write anything dark or creepy...a gloomy day can set the perfect mood. She lives with her husband and their three beautiful (and often mouthy) children who provide an endless source of inspiration.
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