My love of storytelling began as a young girl when my dad told me, in his own words, the story of To Kill a Mockingbird while we listened to the film score together. Enchanted, I began my own attempts at storytelling, which usually led to home video productions featuring my younger sister as the nerd or maid, while I reserved the role of the glamorous movie star or princess.

In high school, I focused on acting and won first place in monologues at a prestigious statewide Shakespearean competition. When I wasn’t on the stage, I spent my time composing sappy poetry and completing at least ten pages in my journal every night. My author dad edited my school papers and taught me the art of writing. I went on to study acting in college and at The Oxford School of Drama in England. (All that character analysis transferred nicely to writing!)

The writing bug bit me when I was in recovery from donating a kidney to my older brother. I found my old stash of short stories, and the inspiration for my first novel struck. I’ve been writing ever since.

A lover of art in all forms, I also enjoy singing and playing the guitar. My husband is equally artistic. We keep busy raising three rambunctious and creative children.

I am represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary.

 

 

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Meet Crystal Blade!

The peace is unsustainable.

Sonya and Anton may have brought about a revolution, but can they protect their homeland—and their love—with so many forces threatening to tear them apart?

The empire has fallen, Valko faces trial, and Sonya is finally free from her fate as Sovereign Auraseer. But Sonya's expanding abilities are just as unstable as the new government of Riaznin—and her relationship with Anton. Not only can she feel the emotions of others but, unlike other Auraseers, she's learned to make others feel her emotions as well. And Sonya isn't immune to dark temptations.

Now, as Sonya fights to contain her own darkness, she senses a new evil lurking in the shadows of the palace. Someone from Sonya's past has returned. And that someone won't be satisfied until Sonya pays for the mistakes she's made. 

 

 

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Meet Burning Glass!

Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. One mistake, one small failure, will cost her own life and the lives of the few people left in the world who still trust her.

But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, her feelings easily usurped, and she sometimes can’t decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.

BURNING GLASS is debut author Kathryn Purdie’s stunning tale of dangerous magic, heart-rending romance, and the hard-won courage it takes to let go. 

 

 

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YABC:  What gave you the inspiration to write this book?

This whole series came about because I wanted to write about the darker side of empathy. I donated a kidney to my brother in 2009, and for several months afterward I became super sensitive to other people’s emotions. That was very hard to endure, especially when I felt others suffer because I suffered with them. So I thought it would be interesting to write a character who had a gift like I did, but to the extreme. Writing Sonya’s journey was cathartic and healing for me.

 

YABC:  Who is your favorite character in the book?

Tosya. He’s Sonya’s best friend and the poet whose words sparked a revolution. He’s also a nomad with a lovely sense of humor. Whenever he walks on the page, everything around him brightens. He was a joy to write!

 

YABC:  Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel! Crystal Blade actually went through many title changes. The title that we almost stuck with is going to be the title for book three…which I can’t reveal yet. :-)

 

YABC:  What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?

The ultimate betrayal scene. You’ll know it when you read it. I’m not going to say who betrays whom, but I had to rewrite it a few times to make sure the betrayal was really cutting deep into the victim’s ideals so it hurt the most. That sounds awful, but it’s my job as an author to make the most of the conflict and tension…and this needed to happen for the best character arc possible. I’m so happy with how this scene turned out. It’s my favorite part in the book!

 

YABC:  Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you've learned as a writer from then to now?

To trust myself as a writer. Trust what I’m really trying to right about—the core of the story and why I set out to write it in the first place. Trust that I’ll actually accomplish the writing and let go of the anxiety that I won’t finish or that I won’t do it right. Trust the drafting and revision process and be patient with myself.

 

YABC:  What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The dagger is amazing, but I’m also in love with the green! The designer showed me a red version, too, and I practically begged her to go with the green. It’s so stunning and magical!

 

 

YABC:   What new release book are you looking most forward to in 2017-2018?

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo. One of my favorite authors + WW! You can’t go wrong.

 

YABC:  What was your favorite book in 2016-2017?

I’m currently reading and absolutely loving Before She Ignites by Jodi Meadows.

 

YABC:  What’s up next for you?

I just finished drafting Burning Glass book three, and I’ll start revisions with my editor in a few weeks. In between and after that’s revised, I’ll be working on drafting the first book, Bone Grace, in my upcoming duology with Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins. I get to work with my editor, Maria Barbo, again—yay! I’ve already written the first quarter of the story, and it’s so much fun!

 

YABC:  Is there anything that you would like to add?

To the end of Crystal Blade? No! I love a good cliffhanger. *evil laughter*

 

YABC:   Which was the most difficult or emotional scene to narrate?

The beginning of this book was the hardest to write because book one leaves off in a victorious place, so I wanted the world and characters to feel happy for a while in book two before trouble creeps in. The problem was they were happy for too long, ha ha. The beginning was originally much longer, and I had to chop it down a ton so the trouble came sooner. You’re welcome? ;-)

 

YABC:   Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

I adore Anton, but his character needed some extra TLC to get just right in Crystal Blade. He’s very protective of Sonya, and I didn’t want that coming across as frustrating and untrusting in certain situations. He just needed some finessing. I’m happy with how his character found that balance in this book; it also left him some room to grow in book three, which makes for a very nice, very swoony arc for Anton in this series. <3

 

YABC:  Which part of the writing process did you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

The last round of revising—where I cut 65,000 words—was the most enjoyable part of the writing process for me. That may seem odd, but it was so encouraging seeing how good the core of this book was after all the fluff was cut.

 

YABC:  What would you say is your superpower?

Hyperfocusing. I can do one thing for hours on end, whether it’s writing, playing guitar, drawing, making a craft, cleaning, organizing… Just don’t ask me to multitask. I can only do ONE thing at a time and do it well!

 

YABC:  Is there an organization or cause that is close to your heart?

Yes! The Utah Hemophilia Foundation, where I worked for over seven years before I became a published author. My twelve-year-old son has severe hemophilia, as well as my three brothers, and I loved helping this non-profit organization serve and educate people with bleeding disorders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crystal Blade

By: Kathryn Purdie

Publishing Date: August 15th, 2017 

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

 

 

 

*GIVEAWAY DETAILS* 

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of CRYSTAL BLADE ~ US Only

5 winners will receive a signed ARC of CRYSTAL BLADE ~US Only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/7/2017- Mundie Moms- Interview

8/8/2017- YA and Wine- Review

8/9/2017- The Fearless Reader- Guest Post

8/10/2017- The Book Nut- Review

8/11/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

Week Two:

8/14/2017- Seeing Double In Neverland- Review

8/15/2017- Arctic Books- Guest Post

8/16/2017- Ex Libris- Review

8/17/2017- YA Books Central- Interview

8/18/2017- A Perfection Called Books- Review