Kay Harding's Blog
November 30, 2013
School Visits and Magic
I’ve been having an amazing time visiting schools lately! Primrose has been so welcoming. During my time I’ve loved watching the reactions to the story I’ve woven together. I have yet to have a group that wasn’t engaged in the story, which was my big fear going in. It’s interesting not being the teacher in the situation for once. I’m still getting used to navigating the guest side of a school environment.
I’ve loved talking to the children and watching them grow ever more interested in the tale that’s unfolding, but recently there was one little girl in the back of the classroom that has truly stuck with me. I see her face when I sit down to right or when I feel my heart beat faster before I introduce myself to the next reading. I never learned her name, but while I told my tale she stayed completely focused. You could see her eyes widen and wonder that bloomed like a rose as she waited on the edge of her seat for the next page. At one point she looked at me in complete awe and asked “They came to life?!” For this child I had created something that was real.
An artist’s work is like sharing a piece of your soul. Taking my stories out feels akin to cracking my head open and letting people roam around inside. Now when I fear the reactions I might face I see this little girl. I remember that for a few brief moments magic was real and she believed completely in my words. The world had fallen away until only the sound of my voice and the pictures remained. I didn’t know I could do that. Of all the things I’d imagined and hoped for that experience trumped them all.
Izzy and Brynn's Ice Cream Adventure
I’ve loved talking to the children and watching them grow ever more interested in the tale that’s unfolding, but recently there was one little girl in the back of the classroom that has truly stuck with me. I see her face when I sit down to right or when I feel my heart beat faster before I introduce myself to the next reading. I never learned her name, but while I told my tale she stayed completely focused. You could see her eyes widen and wonder that bloomed like a rose as she waited on the edge of her seat for the next page. At one point she looked at me in complete awe and asked “They came to life?!” For this child I had created something that was real.
An artist’s work is like sharing a piece of your soul. Taking my stories out feels akin to cracking my head open and letting people roam around inside. Now when I fear the reactions I might face I see this little girl. I remember that for a few brief moments magic was real and she believed completely in my words. The world had fallen away until only the sound of my voice and the pictures remained. I didn’t know I could do that. Of all the things I’d imagined and hoped for that experience trumped them all.
Izzy and Brynn's Ice Cream Adventure
November 8, 2013
The Princess of Cinders
I'm very excited about my newest cover model for my next original story The Princess of Cinders. While Sirens and Izzy and Brynn both have sequels coming out in the next year, my third book for publication will be a Cinderella tale like you've never heard before.
I began the concept for this story when I wrote a fanfiction by the same name. I wanted to spin a version of the story that didn't involve illusion on either Cinderella or the Prince's part. The cards were on the table that she was a servant and he was the prince. The response has been so positive that I've decided to use the story as the building blocks for a full length novel.
I'm my story the kingdom is still recovering from a war that caused power to change hands. The previous royal family had been cruel and willing to tax the very life out of the people. As a result laws are placed to prevent taxing more than necessary. Property cannot be simply taken without consent and proper payment. While this protects the people, it leaves servants in a very unfortunate situation.
Ella was born nobel, but after her fathers death she is turned into a maid by her jealous step mother. When the laws are put in place it all but destroy's every ounce of hope Ella has about getting out of her current situation. When she and the prince meets their problems are amplified that much more.
I decided to play up the very contradictory situation within this story. The prince is not arrogant, but he certainly has secrets and flaws. These laws that were intended to protect his people will keep him from being able to help or control Ella at all. Even something as simple as ordering her to listen to him won't work because he does not own her. Being denied her freedom actually puts Ella in a strange position of power and leaves the prince struggling to find ways around it for the first time.
Taking on a well loved fairytale has it's own ups and downs. Writing Sirens has proven difficult because it's almost too much of an open book. Anythings I wish to have happen can and it feels much like in school when the teacher would tell you "write about anything". Most of us were left wishing for just a few more boundaries to help narrow down our ideas.
Writing Cinders has forced me to think outside the box. I don't want to simply retell what's been told so many times, but there is a heart and soul to the story that cannot be tampered with. The basic recipe needs to be followed.
I began the concept for this story when I wrote a fanfiction by the same name. I wanted to spin a version of the story that didn't involve illusion on either Cinderella or the Prince's part. The cards were on the table that she was a servant and he was the prince. The response has been so positive that I've decided to use the story as the building blocks for a full length novel.
I'm my story the kingdom is still recovering from a war that caused power to change hands. The previous royal family had been cruel and willing to tax the very life out of the people. As a result laws are placed to prevent taxing more than necessary. Property cannot be simply taken without consent and proper payment. While this protects the people, it leaves servants in a very unfortunate situation.
Ella was born nobel, but after her fathers death she is turned into a maid by her jealous step mother. When the laws are put in place it all but destroy's every ounce of hope Ella has about getting out of her current situation. When she and the prince meets their problems are amplified that much more.
I decided to play up the very contradictory situation within this story. The prince is not arrogant, but he certainly has secrets and flaws. These laws that were intended to protect his people will keep him from being able to help or control Ella at all. Even something as simple as ordering her to listen to him won't work because he does not own her. Being denied her freedom actually puts Ella in a strange position of power and leaves the prince struggling to find ways around it for the first time.
Taking on a well loved fairytale has it's own ups and downs. Writing Sirens has proven difficult because it's almost too much of an open book. Anythings I wish to have happen can and it feels much like in school when the teacher would tell you "write about anything". Most of us were left wishing for just a few more boundaries to help narrow down our ideas.
Writing Cinders has forced me to think outside the box. I don't want to simply retell what's been told so many times, but there is a heart and soul to the story that cannot be tampered with. The basic recipe needs to be followed.
October 24, 2013
Izzy and Brynn
I'm very excited that Book 1 of The Adventures of Izzy and Brynn is officially for sale! Right now it is available through my publishers and it will be released for Stores to pick up on January 14th!
https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookst...
Izzy and Brynn's Ice Cream Adventure
https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookst...
Izzy and Brynn's Ice Cream Adventure
October 11, 2013
With U
For those of you who love Fairy Tales and Comedy I highly recommend the Youtube Director Todric Hall. His work is very good and well done in every aspect. He recently created a Video called Without U, which is a parody of the pop song. The premise is an evil witch that bans the letter U for the kingdom as it is her only weakness. It's a very cute video that I find myself watching far more often than I care to admit. It's lead me to think that it would be an interesting writing challenge to write a fairytale without the letter U. If you're interested check back. I intend to do this through my blog. For how can love survive in a world without U?
August 18, 2013
Signed... again
I'm very proud to say I have been signed to a total of eight stories for publication. The number has the potential to go up, but right now I will be officially publishing 3 stories for The Sirens of Rhine, 3 Stories for my childrens book series The Adventures of Izzy and Brynn, and two stand alone stories.
April 26, 2013
Signed
I am very exited to announce that The Sirens of Rhine has been picked up by a national publisher, and the second edition will be distributed soon! For now, book one will not be available until my new publishers launch my work. Thanks every who has supported me on my own so far!The Sirens of Rhine The Innocent and the Condemned
February 14, 2013
January 30, 2013
Review of Chapter One's Sneak Peak
Every, please review Book 2's sneak peak for createspace! Thanks!
https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1...
The Sirens of Rhine The Innocent and the Condemned
The Sirens of Rhine The Untamed and the Forgotten
https://www.createspace.com/Preview/1...
The Sirens of Rhine The Innocent and the Condemned
The Sirens of Rhine The Untamed and the Forgotten
January 13, 2013
Fan Trailer
Do I have any fan fic-ers out there? If you are into video editing, I am interested in a contest for the best fan trailer for either book in the series The Sirens of Rhine. I would be willing to offer a free hard copy of the story, and could throw in a few autographs while I'm at it. I just need to know there is general interest. Hope so! It would be amazing to see what people come up with!
November 8, 2012
Inspirational Pics for Book 2 on Blog
So my hope is to have book two out by April. This is about seven months apart in publication and I think it's very manageable since I already have a fair portion of book two written. My hope is to go for a long hall with these stories. I want to take these characters to book four and five and then perhaps do a prequel about the mothers or the originals of Rhine all together. Perhaps I will do both, we will just have to see. The response so far has been very positive and I am so pleased. Sales are slow but I gave away a lot of copies during the free promo, and I intend to expand to nook as soon as my exclusive contract with Kindle is up in December.
I was married last Saturday on October 27th and we spent the following week Honeymooning in Puerto Rico. The landscape and older buildings, along with the size of the island itself helped inspire descriptions for book two.
While there we visited a fort in Old San Juan that has inspired my descriptions of the old Prison Lamia. We will see this place on an even smaller Island off the coast when two of the characters decide to go exploring. I'm excited for this scene. It's been one of my favorites to write so far.
I included some pictures of the fort we visited My authors blog. You can find them at http://kaylynnespauls.blogspot.com/ I do this hesitantly, because I work hard to make sure I do not overly describe things to people. I hope to give enough description to allow people to see what I am talking about, but enough room to fill in the rest of the details themselves. It's the same reason I worked so hard to get a cover shot of Ash where you couldn't really see her face. I hoped people would be able to imagine her for themselves.
I was married last Saturday on October 27th and we spent the following week Honeymooning in Puerto Rico. The landscape and older buildings, along with the size of the island itself helped inspire descriptions for book two.
While there we visited a fort in Old San Juan that has inspired my descriptions of the old Prison Lamia. We will see this place on an even smaller Island off the coast when two of the characters decide to go exploring. I'm excited for this scene. It's been one of my favorites to write so far.
I included some pictures of the fort we visited My authors blog. You can find them at http://kaylynnespauls.blogspot.com/ I do this hesitantly, because I work hard to make sure I do not overly describe things to people. I hope to give enough description to allow people to see what I am talking about, but enough room to fill in the rest of the details themselves. It's the same reason I worked so hard to get a cover shot of Ash where you couldn't really see her face. I hoped people would be able to imagine her for themselves.
