Please welcome Michael Haddad author of Firstborn
Michael Haddad will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Frostborn
by Michael Haddad
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GENRE: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / General
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INTERVIEW:
1. How did you come up with your idea for your novel?
For this novel, I started with a character concept and then attempted to build a world that included this character. I had initially created that character for roleplaying purposes, but I saw so much potential in his story that I began to develop it until the idea came to transform this into a book. Once I had it in my head that this would become a book, countless ideas had surfaced and I weaved them together to form the world of Frostborn.
2. What expertise did you bring to your writing?
I’m very new to this whole author thing, but I do have experience writing stories. However, it was definitely a learning process and it took years to find my style. I have made a lot of awful short stories in the past, though it was all to help build up my skill to the point where I could pump out a full novel. Any time school required me to hand-in something that was creative, I turned to writing automatically. No other art formed interested me. All I wanted was to write. So I may not have had years of expertise and education on the subject matter, but I have a fiery passion to keep progressing and that’s what drives me forward.
3. What would you want your readers to know about you that might not be in your bio?
Writing and publishing is not all fun and games, nor is it as profitable as one may think. I write because I love seeing others enjoy what I create. I write because it’s an outlet for my emotions and a place to escape to. And yet, authors struggle a lot to maintain their motivation. There are times where authors feel like this whole journey is a waste, and there are moments where authors are nothing but ecstatic about their publications. It’s hard to push through all the negativities, and this is especially true with self-publishing authors. At times, we can feel all alone. To all the readers out there, if you enjoy a book, show it. Support it. Review it. Share it. Because, at the end of the day, you readers can be the catalyst to keep us writing.
4. As far as your writing goes, what are your future plans?
A trilogy! The Frostborn will hopefully become a series and I’m nothing but excited to keep it going.
5. If you could be one of the characters from this book, who would it be and why?
I would probably love to be Katerina. She’s a force to be reckoned with and, although not quite pampered, she grew up comfortably in a palace while being taught by a renowned lord. She’s also drop-dead gorgeous and witty to boot!
6. When did you first decide to submit your work? Please tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step?
My parents. I was nervous about taking that first step and risking so much. I didn’t want to waste so much time and effort on a project that would never take off. Both my parents eased my hesitations and supported my ability to follow through with publishing. They told me that I’m too young to worry about feeling regret over this. They said, if it fails, so what? My life won’t be over. I’ll still be in school. I’ll still have a job. But if it succeeds, then I have a future ahead of me. They assured me that there was no good reason to hold back.
7. What is the best and worst advice you ever received? (regarding writing or publishing)
Best advice: Write what you want to read, because you’re going to have to read it a thousand times before being able to publish.
Worst advice: You don’t need to pay, just do it yourself.
For context, I’m not capable of doing it all myself. It would take years to learn all those skills. I’m not an editor. I’m not a graphic designer. I’m not a marketing agent. Sometimes you need to let the professionals handle it.
8. Do you outline your books or just start writing?
I create a rough outline and then start writing. I prefer to have at least my characters and my world set up before I get going. Once that’s completed, I feel like I can work freely.
9. How do you maintain your creativity?
Reading, watching movies, and playing video games. Fantasy is packed with creativity and original content so I need places of inspiration. I pull a lot of ideas from other projects and I modify them to fit my themes and my story. Some ideas end up accidently being too similar to pre-established characters. For example, I didn’t even think of the similarities between Elsa and Elias until someone brought it up in a beta-read. I just really liked the name Elias and ice powers …who doesn’t love that?
10. Who is your favorite character in the book. Can you tell us why?
Over the course of my blog tour, the answer to this question keeps changing! Khai is definitely a front-runner and contender. He does what he needs to get by and, although not morally in the right place, I feel some sort of respect when it comes to his grind. His witty personality and lack of shame for anything he does is rather comforting to read. We rarely see Khai regret his choices and that’s because he knows what it takes to make it in a world ruled by usurious leaders.
BLURB:
The Frostborn—the one destined to end the war, the one blessed by the magic of Aether—was supposedly nothing more than a hopeless fairytale, a myth lost to time. But as the centuries-long war between the kingdoms of Eljud and Surtrol forces Elias Jökull to evacuate his village, a run-in with the fearsome Gjallarhorn army awakens within him a dormant power long since forgotten by the people—a power signaling the existence of the Frostborn.
With such critical news, hope of victory against Surtrol becomes contagious, yet Elias's former life of slavery leaves him apprehensive about lending a hand to his own flawed kingdom. Even still, knowing the world will soon be in search of him, the newfound Frostborn must choose his allegiances quickly. And after encountering a ranked Surt captain, he does just that.
But while acting as a double agent, feeding intel to Eljud's southern enemy and working both sides of the same border, his conflicted self struggles to anchor his loyalty to a single kingdom as buried secrets begin to unearth.
The incessant clash between the north and south is soon coming to an end and Elias will have to find a side to stand on. The hard question is: which side? Everyone wants the Frostborn for themselves, but for how long can Elias let the world string him along?
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EXCERPT:
She holds the child close to her chest, cradling the head with a mother’s delicate touch. The other infant is nestled in a crib only a few feet away. Winds rattle the glass panes of the cracked window and some of the winter air seeps through. The rough and tattered curtains dance with it—the only movement in the room besides the woman’s near-chattering teeth. She does her best to keep the children warm, but for some reason they sleep soundlessly, soothed by the whistling of the wind.
The woman brushes a gaunt, wrinkled finger along the pudgy cheeks of the bundle in her arms. The shackles on her wrist jangle, anchored down by a bolt at the centre of the room. The tight, unrefined metal leaves behind blisters, but to her it is worth it. The young child’s skin is stone cold to her touch, but soft and full of colour. He breathes evenly and she can feel his pulse just fine when she moves her finger to the child’s neck. He feels dead, yet is as alive as anyone.
“Freezing cold. Ah, but look at these pudgy cheeks. You remind me of those statues in the hall,” she whispers, pinching his face until it is ruddy. “I’d be scared if you weren’t so adorable.”
The woman lifts her head as the sound of rushed steps echoes in the hall outside the door. She hears the jiggle of keys and a mechanical click releasing the lock. The knob turns and the door swings open...
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Hardworking university student and recent John Abbott College graduate, Michael Haddad doubles as a fiction author of the fantastic who throws himself into his own writing—who can't stop imagining new worlds, new ideas, new characters. His passion for roleplaying games has earned him his fair share of teasing, but he'd be lying if he said it didn't open his imagination. When not at his computer, typing away, Michael is often with his friends and family, losing terribly at tennis, hunkering down for movie marathons, and trying to get a good night's sleep. As someone born and raised in Montreal, he is no stranger to having ice rinks for streets and snow up to the knee—but that's nothing a warm cup of coffee can't beat.
CONNECT WITH MICHAEL HADDAD
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Michael-Haddad-Author-106283484884430
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhaddad_author/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21313196.Michael_Haddad
PURCHASE LINKS
AMAZON.CA
https://amazon.ca/dp/0228849640
AMAZON.COM
https://amazon.com/dp/0228849640
BARNES & NOBLE
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/frostborn-michael-haddad/1139075432
BOOK DEPOSITORY
https://www.bookdepository.com/Frostborn-Michael-Haddad/9780228849643
NOTE: The author is also running a Goodreads (ebook) giveaway for his book. We would love it if you included a link to the giveaway: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/325053-frostborn-- Or if you wish to use the simple short code widget, we’ve attached an HTML file called “HTML for additional Goodreads Giveaway widget”.
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE:
Michael Haddad will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Angel's blog. I hope you have a great tour.
ReplyDeleteThank you immensely for hosting my novel!
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