Friday, March 15, 2013

Tour Kick Off - Meet and Greet - Innovera Yakov by Kia Garriques


YA Fantasy
Date Published: 2/14/13

Innovera Yakov is a beautiful world of crystals that turns under five moons and two brilliant suns that never set. Flitters take care of domestic chores while Starbirds and Starflies soar through the never-ending sunlight of this crystalline world. The Circle of Knowing decides their fate; the forbidden forests of the Dimmer Zone swallow trespassers. And at the very edges of Innovera Yakov there is the terrifying watery darkness of Verheer. 

We meet Ayana, the healer and lonely outcast with her scarred face; Vinton, her protector (or is he her imaginary friend?); Gamma and Blu Tara, the beautiful, fiery twins who can kill with one look. These twins are important characters in the book. They could hardly be more different from each other. Krave, beloved by Gamma, hated by Blu Tara, ‘tall and upright as a polished spear with a beautiful crop of golden hair that cascaded down his back in waves’; his ‘brother’ Skylar, pure trouble with ‘muscles on his arms and legs that stood out in lumps’; Ryder with his crystal spear, forever seeking Ayana’s approval although she, refusing to believe she's worth it, can only wonder, ‘What does he see in me?’ And Ice, mysterious, dangerous, murderous with eyes like bright furnaces who feeds on Innoverans. These young Innoverans are often haunted by a forgotten past recalled only in strange dreams. They form friendships, make enemies and face constant physical and emotional challenges that test them to their limits. They have amazing powers; they can fly, they can communicate through 'thought-words', their minds can travel to other worlds. They harbour secrets.

But life is not easy on Innovera Yakov and the young Beings must live in constant fear of Blu Tara; ‘What I want, I have. What I can’t have, I destroy.’ They find that the great powers they are gifted with are nothing compared to the dangers they face. They must shelter from Solar-storms. To fall in love is dangerous. Lovers long to combine to become stronger, better Beings but it can go terribly wrong and when that happens they perish. Their survival is further threatened by Ice, who consumes Innoverans and holds both Blu Tara and Ayana in his control.

Everyone seeks a partner with whom they can ‘merge.’ This desire to ease the passage through life by joining forces with a true companion, is one of the main themes of the story. Love for Blu Tara, is a terrible thing. She tells her sister, ‘It is a curse. You will scoop out your core and abandon it just to have the Being that you love... You will steal another person’s life force if it makes it easier to get it. You will kill or die for it. And you’ll hate yourself for the weakness that it brings on you.'

They are told that they must embark on 'The Journey', this journey will be more terrifying than any of them could imagine and a strong leader must be elected from their midst. They are shocked to discover who that leader is, none more so than the chosen one herself. Many of them will perish as they make their way through the watery darkness of Verheer while battling the army of underworld warriors bent on destroying and consuming them.

Finally, diminished in strength and numbers, they reach their journey’s end only to learn the final brutal truth.


EXCERPT

Blu Tara stared her sister in the face. ‘Let me tell you what you don't know about love, Gamma. It is a curse. You will scoop out your core and abandon it just to have the Being that you love. You will steal another person's life force if it makes it easier to get it. You will abandon the world you have been cradled in, betray everything and everyone you care for. You’ll give up your name for it.’
Blu Tara's voice went soft and dreamy. ‘You will gladly close your eyes and embrace the world of darkness. You will kill or die for it. And you will hate yourself for the weakness that it brings on you. So don’t talk to me about love.’
Gamma shook her head. ‘You're not making sense,’ Blu Tara. ‘You talk as if... I’m the one who should be upset about all this.’
Blu Tara lifted her hand dismissively. She pointed a hot finger at Gamma. ‘Anyway don’t forget what we are.’
'And what are we?’ Gamma glared at her..
'Different. Strange. Something to be frightened of. Two Beings that can fuse and burn everything to ashes. That's the way they all see us down there. That's what the Stardog wants from you - the powers you possess.
‘I hate them all. With their suspicious, shiny faces and their empty games. I hate that Voice which drones on and on at us in the Learning Dome as soon as we've finished resting.
Innoverans! All those perfect, pretty Beings; they remember nothing — it’s the curse of this shallow, shining world. Tell me, Gamma - what do you remember of the world we come from before your Odors Apeno dumped us here?’
Gamma swung around to face her sister fully. ‘Blu Tara! What's got into you? Where’s all that coming from? I've never heard you speak like that before. This is about Krave and I- not you!’
Krave and you - don't make me laugh. And, oh! Here’s a big difference — between you and I this time, Twin Sister. It’s the answer to your question that you brought me up here to ask.’ Blu Tara mimicked Gamma's soft and musical voice, Why do you want to kill Krave?
Here's the answer, Gamma. I will do whatever I have to do to save myself. I'm the half of you that's not like you. I don't have a weeping heart. Now I'm out of here. I need my Rest.

Buy Links

Reading Addiction Blog Tours MEET and GREET


#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?
I hope so. You never know what the future holds but if I had to choose my ideal career, then yes, writing would be it.

#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?
When I am faced with characters who have to die or disappear. Losing them is very hard.

#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?
My agent, Jacob Ross, has been one of my biggest champions. I could never ask for a better agent and mentor. He really gets me and knows what I am all about. I think perhaps Innovera Yakov would be a lot darker because I am not the best on happy endings but he guides me. He would say, you know if you are not careful you will end up with a very bleak book and then it makes me realize I need to tone it down. I like pushing the boundaries but he reminds me not to get too carried away. I remember how my peers used to make me feel really abnormal. He makes me know it’s okay.

#4 – What is next for your writing?
I am working on the second book in the series and I already have ideas for the third and fourth novel.

#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?
I would say I have an addiction to the movies more than anything else. I am more of a visual person. Presently, I'm re-reading George Orwell's 1984, which is more speculative fiction than fantasy and then there is Mary Shelly's Frankenstein which I want to read again perhaps for the hundredth time!

DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet:
Innovera Yakov: The Journey of A Thousand Eyes is the first installment in an action-packed fantasy drama where characters with powers of healing and destruction live, love, compete and disappear without a trace while they are being prepared for ‘The Journey’.


This or That?

#1 - iPd or Mp3?
Ipd!

#2 – Chocolate or Vanilla?
OMG, Vanilla! I love vanilla milkshake. Just writing this makes me want to run out and get one right now.

#3 – Mashed Potatoes or French Fries?
French fries of course J

#4 – Comedy or Drama?
A life without drama is a dull life. I must have drama.

#5 – Danielle Steel or Nicholas Sparks?
 Danielle Steel. I used to be addicted to everything she wrote for a while.

#6 – Fantasy or Reality?
Give me fantasy any day. Reality is just too mundane I prefer to live in fantasy land or lala land whatever you call it.

#7 – Call or Text?
Please just call. That’s all I ask, it’s so much easier.

#8 – Public School or Home School?
Hmmmm…Public School.

#9 – Coffee or Hot Chocolate
Coffee. I drink too much coffee

#10 – eBook or Paperback?
I still prefer paperback but at the same time I love the convenience of an eBook. I don’t know I’m torn!

Kia Garriques studied writing and English literature at University and has been a published short story writer since 2009. Her first story “The Invisible Alien Watcher” was published by Micro Horror in 2009 and reprinted by Pill Hill Press in 2011. Innovera Yakov: The Journey of a Thousand Eyes – is her first novel in the ‘Worlds’ series and will be out on amazon mid February. visit www.kiagarriques.com/books to read the first chapter




Follow Along With This Tour! 
March 16 - Wintry Words - Interview/PROMO
March 17 - Author Ever Leigh - Review
March 18 - Lov Liv Life Reviews - PROMO
March 19 - My Reading Addiction - Review
March 20 - Logikal Blog - PROMO
March 22 - Gimme The Scoop Reviews - PROMO
March 25 - Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - Interview/PROMO
March 26 - Fictional Reality - Review
March 27 - For the Love of Film and Novels - PROMO
March 28 - Must Read Faster - PROMO
March 29 - Pixie Dust Reviews - Review/Interview
March 30 - Love in a Book - Interview/PROMO
March 31 - Mom With a Kindle - Interview/PROMO
April 1 - My Cozie Corner - Review
April 3 - Book Referees - Review
April 4 - Delirious About Books - PROMO
April 5 - Books, Authors, Blogs - Review
April 6 - Andi's YA Books - Interview/PROMO
April 16 - Word by Word- Review
April 19 - RABT Reviews - Review

No comments:

Post a Comment