Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: My Name is Rapunzel by KC Hilton



Teaser: 

Just go, Henry. Save yourself. I tried to shout, but my mouth wouldn't give way to sound. I was paralyzed. Was it with fear, or something else? The cackling witch at the tree line convinced me it was her doing.

I heard Henry continue to shout for me to flee, but I didn't respond. I didn't move. I didn't run. I was frozen like a lifeless statue in a cold museum. With only the movement of my eyes, I pleaded with him to help me. A tear escaped one of my eyes then rolled down my cheek. That single tear managed to do what my heart and body could not. Escape.

Fear, like unseen hands, gripped my lungs and tried to crush them slowly. My stomach churned and threatened to empty. Would we die here?



The gentle chill of night had turned into a mid-winter's frost. Tiny bumps rose on my arms and the small hairs prickled to attention. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words remained trapped in my throat.

About the author: K.C. Hilton

Born and raised in Aurora, Illinois I spent my childhood climbing trees and playing street games with the neighborhood kids. I was a proud tomboy, until the day I didn’t want to hike the land to an old graveyard. From that point forward I was considered a “girl”.

At the age of seventeen I moved to Kentucky and eventually began to raise a family of my own. Having worn several “hats” my life has been an adventure all on its own. Still, to this day, I yearns to be a mechanic and own a pink toolbox with pink tools.

I can usually be found updating my website, reading great books, watching awesome movies or creating videos for my YouTube channel. Most days I craves Diet Coke, pizza and chocolate, in no particular order.

I don’t read scary books or watch horror movies… I’m way too scared! Lol.


Author Links: 




Guest Post: (I need you to talk about Fairy Tales)

Don't most stories stem from fairy tales? We grew up listening to them and wishing we could fly like Peter Pan or marry a Prince. We were wishful children wanting to live in a fantasy world far, far away. Those stories made us happy and as we grew older, we yearned for our own happily ever after, just like the fairy tale. As adults, we cling to our childhood memories and want to share them with our own children. It's magical!

When we find our Prince Charming, we feel like Cinderella. When we deal with an untrustworthy person, we experience a Rumpelstiltkin story. What about the boy who cried wolf? We've learned a lot from fairy tales and the moral of the stories were the most important. As children, we weren't told what to do, and what not to do, while reading the stories. No, they were imbedded messages to teach us right from wrong and they made sense.

I understand the market was flooded with vampires, werewolves and zombies, and some people started to get tired of them. But fairy tales will always have that special place in our hearts and in our memories. Honestly, I don't believe fairy tales or retellings will ever go out of style.

One of my favorite fairy tales, as a child, was Cinderella. I grew up and was lucky enough to find my Prince Charming. I'm still in love (insert little girl squeal) and I'm living my happily ever after. Nothing could top that! 

What was your favorite fairy tale as a child and why?

(Please Note: I was supposed to review this book for this tour, but it was a dnf for me, so I decided to do a spotlight instead.)





   


Interview:

1. How was writing My Name is Rapunzel?
A. It was fun, but it was a struggle at the same time. Let me explain. After I had my notes and storyboard put together, it was time for me to sit down and write the scenes. I was making great progress until I got sick, more than once. Then, my husband and I started a remodeling project (two rooms). We were under a lot of stress but we finally finished a few days before Thanksgiving 2012. So, it was time to get back to writing! But sadly, that didn't happen. I got sick again and again and again. I tried to write between illnesses, but it was hard to concentrate. Eventually, I fell behind schedule. I should have finished writing in January, but it ended up being June.

2. What did you experience in the process of writing your book? Did you get any frustrations?
A. I experienced so many emotions writing about Rapunzel, because she endured so much during her life. All those sad and painful memories would make anyone bitter and not want to trust anyone. Rapunzel just wanted a normal life and to be happy. My only frustration was falling behind, when I got sick. But what could I do? 

3. Will you be writing more retellings? I hear Cinderella's pretty popular. 
A. I've been working on a historical romance and it reminds me a little of Cinderella. I've written about eighteen chapters, with a ton more to go, but I'm not sure when it'll be finished. I need to do more research to make the story plausible. Actually, I had planned to finish writing the last book in the Finkleton Series, Saving Finkleton. But when Rapunzel invaded my mind, I had to stop what I was doing and write her story. 

4. So far, how has it been being an author? 
A. It's been fun! I've learned a lot and made a ton of friends. I love to talk about books, so I get sidetracked a lot. Don't get me wrong, at times it can get a little crazy with all the emails and keeping up with social media. I work a full time job, so the only time I can write is in the evenings, when everyone is asleep, including the dog. If I'm not writing, I'm marketing and when I'm not marketing, I'm taking notes and doing research for another book. Sometimes, I wish I had an assistant! 

5. Who created your book trailer? It's very alluring by the way. 
A. A talented young man living in Romania. He does video freelance work. I provided the audio clip and paid for the extended copyright licenses to use the music and smokey video. He put them all together, along with the words, and viola! The book trailer was made. Actually, two book trailers were made, but the official one, with the voice, was the one most people liked, me included. 

6. Who is your Prince Charming?
A. That would be my husband (little girl squeal). Aside from being married to the most wonderful man in the world, who also happens to be my best friend, he's my very own fairy tale. We have that once in a lifetime love, to make anyone feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 

7. Would you want hair like Rapunzel's?
A. No, I don't think I'd like having that much hair. About ten years ago, I had hair long enough to sit on and it was hard to deal with, especially during the summer. 

8. What would you do if you were stuck in a tower?
A. If I didn't have something to do, I'd probably go insane! Ha! But, if I had a ton of books to read, I think I'd enjoy it. Well, for a little while! With the freedom my Rapunzel had, I believe I'd do rather well, but still, it would be a lonely life.

9. Who is your favorite fairy tale author?
A. I don't think I have a favorite fairy tale author, because I love so many fairy tales. I can't begin to tell you how many stories I've read, similar to Cinderella, but I've enjoyed each of them.


10. After finishing your book, did you have any doubt? Did you want to rewrite it again and again?
A. I had several rewrites and made a ton of changes to the book. After it was finished, I knew, it was finished. I wondered if it was enough and did I retell the fairy tale enough to be plausible. My only regret is not including an Epilogue. I hope to finish it soon and put it on my website. 




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