Today we are bringing back Author Cathi Shaw.
Her publisher has changed up the cover for her
YA fantasy, Five Corners: Book One
The Marked Ones.
We are excited to present it to you. I
know I for one find this cover much more
intriguing, it makes me want to know more
about the three characters in the center. Well
done Cathi. Please take a look and enjoy the
Q&A. Please be sure and leave a comment to
let us know you were here…enjoy todays post,
thx for showing up, PLP.
Book Blurb (from Goodreads)
Growing up in a sleepy village untouched by distant wars and political conflicts, it was easy for Thia, Mina and Kiara to forget such horrors existed in the Five Corners. That is until the dead child is found; a child that bears the same strange birthmark that all three sisters possess. A Mark their mother had always told them was unique to the girls. Kiara's suspicions grow as their Inn is soon overrun with outsiders from all walks of life. Strangers, soldiers and Elders who all seem to know more about what is happening than the girls do. After Mina barely survives an attack in the forest, the sisters are faced with a shattering secret their mother has kept from them for years. As danger closes in around them, the sisters are forced from their home and must put their trust in the hands of strangers. With more questions than answers, Kiara finds herself separated from everyone she loves and reliant on an Outlander who has spent too much time in army. She doesn't trust Caedmon but she needs him if she has any hope of being reunited with her sisters and learning what the Mark might mean.
Kiara felt her face heat with anger. "You judge me too quickly, Outlander," she said coldly.
Kiara felt Thia's fingers grasping her arm. "Kiara, stop, this is not helpful."
Caedmon nodded. "Listen to your little sister, girl. She at least speaks sense."
Kiara shook Thia off. "What do you know of it?" she demanded as she took three steps closer until she was within arm's length of Caedmon. She forced herself to ignore the fact that her head barely reached his shoulders. Showing Caedmon how his physical size affected her would not help matters.
"Hey, I was thinking of going into the Village to see what we could find. How about it?" Teague broke in with a grin and a nod toward the street. "C'mon Caedmon, you know a pint of ale and a pretty new face might lighten your mood."
Caedmon ignored his brother and took a step closer to Kiara, erasing the little space that had remained between them. Kiara fought the sudden urge to step away again. Instead she smiled dismissively.
"Yes, why don't you listen to your brother, Caedmon, and go find a sweet Village lass to dally with. Stars knows, our serving maids have had their fill of you."
Caedmon's dark eyes were devoid of emotion. "How many men have you killed, Kiara?" he asked, his deep voice taking on a menacing tone as it radiated through her.
She tossed her head. "I've had plenty of kills."
He shook his head. "Animals, perhaps." He leaned closer using his size and physical proximity in an attempt to intimidate her.
Realizing what he was doing, Kiara forced her lips to tilt up in a shadow of a smile. Then she leaned even closer and whispered, "Same thing."
His eyes hardened. "That statement shows how naïve and unprepared you are." He turned away in disgust and said to Teague, "They really thought she would help? Are we to babysit?"
Teague's teasing manner disappeared swiftly. "Caedmon, you know why we're here."
"Why are you here?" Thia asked suddenly. "I, for one, would like an answer to that question."
Her sister had a point. What was the reason for their sudden appearance at the Inn?
Q&A
Without doubt the characters along with the fact that there are three main characters in the book. Mina, Thia and Kiara each play a significant role in the story of The Marked Ones. I’ve heard from readers that they really like the fact that there are three unique characters to follow in the book.
This is a good question. I’m not sure where Five Corners came from – it just evolved as I wrote the book. Sometimes I wonder if it is a real place in some kind of alternate reality.
I actually don’t have a favorite – I honestly don’t. It’s like trying to choose which one of your children you like best – it’s just not possible because they are all so unique and so wonderful. I love all of the characters in the book but my favorites are, of course, the sisters: Thia, Kiara and Mina. I just love how they are each strong, determined young women but also so different from one another in their approach to life and conflict. It’s their differences that I love so much!
I wouldn’t say I have a specific song or playlist. But when I am writing, I like to have music playing in the background. It can’t be too loud or distracting so I go for music that can blend into the room and not jar me out of my writing zone. The kind of music that might be changes with the weather! My son is a musician so I have a rather large iTunes library and a very eclectic mix of music. One day I might be listening to classical, the next jazz and the next some kind of indie or folk music.
Write every day, no matter what. Make your writing time sacred and don't go to bed without doing some kind of writing.
Not getting discouraged by rejection. I had 56 agents pass on my manuscript for Five Corners but two publishers were interested as a soon as I approached them. This tends to be the norm rather than the exception. Just keep trying even if you’re getting a lot of rejection (but if the rejections include advice for improving your story, definitely listen to it! Any feedback you can get is always helpful).
Tweet about it, blog about it, write reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, Chaptersindigo and other review sites. Share the book with your friends! The more people who hear about the book, the more successful it will be!
Book 2: Finding Refuge is almost complete. I’m hoping it will come out in early 2015.
Contact & Buy Links
Twitter: @CathiShaw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMarkedOnesSeries
Tumblr: http://themarkedones.tumblr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMarkedOnesSeries
Tumblr: http://themarkedones.tumblr.com/
Buy links for book:
PUBLISHER: http://ink-smith.com/product/five-corners-the-marked-one/ AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Five-Corners-The-Marked-Ones/dp/1939156246/ref=sr_1_1?
BARNES AND NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/five-corners-cathi-shaw/1117922571?
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