Shadow Fire
Ashlyn – a free-spirited teenager whose peaceful life is shattered when the village elders honor her with a perilous quest to recover a stolen relic.
Zane – a jaded mercenary, torn by his undeniable desire for Ashlyn and the dark secret that could make her hate him forever.
Delistaire – a malevolent sorcerer driven by an insatiable lust for power.
All three are bound together by an ancient relic supposedly infused with the power of a Goddess.
Shadow Fire – adventure, passion, secrets, and betrayal
As Ashlyn and Zane race to stay one step ahead of the evil lurking in the shadows, their passions are ignited and their bond strengthens. But will they find the relic before Delistaire? Or has their entire quest been orchestrated from the very beginning by a madman in pursuit of ultimate power?
Each installment of The Light Chronicles is a standalone story.
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YA
Novels: What to Write/Not Write & the Boundaries
This is an exciting time to be writing YA. Due to the popularity
of novels like Twilight and The Hunger Games, the category is hotter than ever.
Though the target audience is technically ages thirteen through nineteen,
studies have shown that twenty to thirty-somethings are major readers of YA. YA
is a category, not a genre. Just because a book is about a teenager, doesn't
mean it must, therefore, be YA.
I'm a book blogger at Once Upon a YA Book, and before I closed my
blog to author review requests, I received between 5-10 per day. I think I've
seen just about everything, including a book billed as YA erotica. Please
explain to me how one can sell erotica to the teenage crowd? So, yeah, big
boundary right there—no YA erotica, period, end of discussion.
That's about it for me in the 'what not to write' category. As
long as the cuss words aren't running rampant across every page, foul language
doesn't bother me. I'm quite open-minded and enjoy the many interesting topics
making their way to the YA market. There are always going to be topics parents
and figureheads don't want our youth reading. Hence the long list of banned
books through the ages to keep our children 'safe'. Of course, banning books
tends to have the opposite effect—forbidden fruit and all that…
I think authors have a responsibility to spell out what's in their
book, especially if they're marketing a book as YA that many would consider
more suited to the 18+ audience. There's nothing wrong with adding a caveat to
the book blurb about a recommended age if there is mature content or language.
We do this with movies, tv shows, and video games. I've been seeing this more
and more across the internet. I also include this information (if appropriate)
in my reviews. It's interesting to note the great disparity in ages and
maturity level between a thirteen-year-old and a nineteen-year-old. What's
completely fine for one may not be for the other.
Ultimately, as a parent, I believe it is my responsibility to make
sure the books my son reads are appropriate for his age and development. Since
everyone has a different idea of what's 'appropriate' this makes more sense to
me than anything else. I know my idea of 'appropriate' for my son is quite
liberal, and I have yet refused to let him read a book he was interested in.
Author Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance and is a member of Romance Writers of America.
She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs and four cats. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Her house is filled with dragons, though she does lament that they are the porcelain, non-flying variety.
Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!)
Her debut novel, Shadow Fire, is the first book in The Light Chronicles series. Watch for book two, Stolen Moon, a standalone sequel, coming soon.
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 5/25/14
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
