GUEST POST and GIVEAWAY
Orenda
(Orenda Book 1)
(Orenda Book 1)
by Ruth Silver
This book blitz and giveaway for Orenda is brought to you by Xpresso Book Tours. Please note that this book is currently FREE on iTunes and on Amazon (US only).
Description
Join forces with a parallel universe.
Dark forces, magical creatures, and the world Lil thought she knew collide when a dream transports her to the strange world of Orenda. Stunned and terrified, Lil comes face to face with her doppelganger, Willow, who possesses the ability to travel between the two worlds. Everything Lil knows logically says that Orenda can’t exist, but a small clue may be proof that it was more than an ordinary dream. With the threat of her sister in danger, Lil crosses dimensions but it may cost her even more than she bargained for.
A sword wielding girl, the eternal suit, and a parallel universe come together in this action-packed Young Adult fantasy adventure that will keep readers of all ages turning the pages.
Excerpt
His dark locks fell into his eyes, and he pushed them aside. “We don't have much time. I need your help, Willow.”
Lil's eyes narrowed. “It's Lil,” she said, correcting him. “Why should I help you? Why should I even go with you?” She stood beside his car, her heart thumping in her chest as she crossed her arms.
“Jamey's in trouble,” Rawlie said.
“How do you know my sister?” Lil’s eyes narrowed.
“We don’t have much time.”
Lil was torn in two. She shouldn't go with Rawlie, but the thought of something happening to her sister was even more terrifying than any gruesome scene she could imagine landing in herself. “What happened?” She looked back as the main door to the school opened and the principal came outside to the lot. It was now or never. If they waited any longer, he'd be wondering why she wasn't in class.
“If we're leaving, now would be a good time.” Rawlie jumped into the car, not bothering to open the door. He unlocked the passenger side and Lil pulled the door open, glancing back at the principal before getting into the car. A moment later, Rawlie sped off and away from Twain High.
The drive was like nothing Lil had ever experienced. She secured her seatbelt, tightening it as much as possible. The wind burned against her flesh, tearing at her skin worse than the most painful sunburn she’d ever experienced. The forest shifted in waves around them. She opened her mouth to speak, to ask what was going on, but the words didn't come. The forest grew darker the faster they drove. The trees billowed overhead and though it was spring and there had been leaves on them, the dark forest looked dead. Lil glanced back behind them, seeing a shift and a ripple, the same odd glimmer she'd seen when Rawlie first appeared outside the school.
“Where are we going?” Lil choked out, gasping for air. A bird swooped down just above her head and she flinched, swatting it away. She’d never liked birds, and she definitely wasn’t a fan of ones with large, sharp talons coming at her face.
“Yeah, I don't like birds either. Getting to Orenda through the forest isn’t an easy drive. It’ll be okay.” Rawlie moved an arm to cover and protect Lil while he drove with the other.
“How is any of this okay?” Lil’s eyes widened with alarm as the dead trees closed in on them. The roar was as deafening as a lion's, causing the windshield to shudder and her heart rate to quicken. From a distance, she could make out the faintest hint of pink light streaming in from the edge of the forest. She doubted they'd make it in time. The forest was swallowing them whole. “I want out!” she screamed, fear overtaking her.
“If we stop, we're both dead.” Rawlie didn't let up on the gas. He pushed the pedal harder to the floor, his arm protecting Lil from anything that might attack as they narrowly escaped the forest. He should have put the top up on the convertible before they left, Lil found herself thinking. A moment later, they reached the clearing and Rawlie put both hands back on the steering wheel as they came to an abrupt halt.
Praise for the Book
"I'm a huge fan of this kind of story. It's even better that the world our heroine travels to is a parallel world to Earth. I liked seeing the similarities and differences between the people and the worlds. There was a moment that completely broke my heart between Lil and Hudson. I really hope that it will eventually work itself out. Orenda has a pretty clean ending, with no real cliffhanger. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next in the sequel, Elfinland." ~ StinaMadsMN
"The story is very fast paced, but it is well written. The story combines elements of high fantasy with fairy tales. [...] This is something fantasy lovers will want to read." ~ David Glenn
"Ruth Silver does a fantastic job of creating the fantasy world of Orenda. It was well-crafted and easy to picture. The characters are all likable and easy to connect to, with the exception of the evil sorceress bent on destroying two worlds. The story moved at a fast pace and was filled with action. This is book one in a series, so it does end with some unanswered questions and unsolved plots. Still, it was not an unsatisfying ending. A great start to this series." ~ Cassandra Lawson
"First, I have to say how much I love the cover of this book - it's what drew me in originally. But then I got caught up in the fascinating story of two girls in parallel universes. What an amazing read! Pick this one up if you like strong heroines and lots of excitement and adventure." ~ Princess WinEmAll
"Ruth Silver is easily moving into my favorite author category. Her books are always so rich with detail and descriptions. It took no time before I was lost between the pages of Orenda. If you love fantasy worlds that promise adventure and a brilliant escape, look no further than Orenda!" ~ Kristen @ Pretty Little Pages
Guest Post by the Author
Tips for new writers
Write like there’s no tomorrow. Keep writing. Make time for it every single day.
Find a beta reader you trust that will help find any errors and inconsistencies.
Read a lot. Read your genre. Read other genres that you love. The more you read, the more you’ll understand how to write.
Don’t be afraid to share your story for feedback. I taught a writing class with teens and very few were willing to share if their name was attached to the story. However, they were more open to the idea when I mixed the stories up and chose my three favorites. Don’t be embarrassed! At least you’re writing!
Interview with the Author
What’s your favorite, go to, writing website?
YA Highway is a fantastic resource for all writers. You don’t have to be just a YA writer to find it beneficial.
I wanted to write a fantasy appropriate for middle grade as well as young adults. I loved the show Fringe and how they brought a parallel world into the mix. I wanted to do something similar and yet completely different with Fae, dragons, and magic.
In a few brief words, tell us how you market your novels?
I’m a huge believer in social media. I use Twitter and Facebook a lot. You can always find me on there. I’m also a book blogger, I run the website Write Away Bliss and Ravyn Rayne Reads. I connect those blogs to Triberr, which helps my posts get seen. I believe in both helping other indie authors and self-promoting. Aside from that, I create teasers, run promos and ask other blogs to help with those postings.
How can a new writer get published?
Get a publisher. Seriously. Write a great book, then query it to publishers and/or agents. You can self-publish but you’ve got to have it professionally edited, formatted properly (study similar books and look at text size/font/format), and market the crap out of it. Even then, you still won’t have all the resources of even a small press company. It’s tough, I’m not going to sugar coat it. I’ve done both and I would never go back to self-publishing or co-op publishing. Resources are key. There are connections you can’t get on your own.
What the heck is a query letter?
It’s not a cover letter or a synopsis. It’s a selling point. You’ll start with a blurb that will entice the reader but not give them every detail about what your book is about. Overall, a query explains why the publisher/agent should read your novel. Often it compares your novel to two or three similar books that would be next to it on a bookshelf. You’ll also include word count, genre, and if you bring something special to the table that they agent/publisher should need to know (i.e. You’re a YA librarian and writing a YA novel). Check out YA Highway for sample query letters, even if you’re not a YA writer.
About the Author
Ruth Silver first began writing poetry as a teenager and reading heaps of fan fiction in her free time. She has written under three unique pseudo names and penned well over a hundred stories.
She attended Northern Illinois University in 2001 and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication. While in college she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she self-published in 2004. Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories.
Her love of writing, led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading YA novels and sharing her favorite books with other readers. She runs her own book blog and also enjoys photography and traveling.
Giveaway
Enter the blitz-wide giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.
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