Thanks for stopping by my tour stop for The Wolf's Cry by Natalie Crown. This is a YA Fantasy book that released in January 2014. This is the first book in the The Semei Trilogy. This tour will run March 10th-21st and consist of reviews, author interviews, guest posts, top tens and a giveaway. Stop by the tour page for the full list of tour stops.

Book One in the Semei Trilogy
Natalie Crown
YA Fantasy
December 15, 2013
She is his weakness.
And she will ruin everything.
Kammy Helseth's idea of adventure never amounted to more than getting a boat across to the mainland and finally escaping to London. That was until she stumbled through the mouth of the forest into a world beneath our own, the world of the Semei.
Her only wish is to find her way home but when Jamie, her best friend, is taken into this new world of shapeshifters and Crystals she has no choice but to stand up to her fear and to remain beneath the surface. Hunted by Bagor, King of Alashdial, and those that are loyal to him, Kammy finds herself in the company of a group of outlaws led by Jad, a Prince with a bitter past and a similarly bitter demeanour.
They overcome age-old prejudice to find a way to work together. But Bagor knows a secret about the Crystals that threatens to change everything. Kammy and Jad must find a way to thwart the king and to save Jamie, but that is just the beginning. For Kammy is in possession of a Key and the fate of countless lives, both human and Semei, may rest in her hands.
Book Links:
Goodreads | Amazon
Interview with Author Natalie Crown
What inspired you to write The Wolf's Cry?
Honestly, I
don't think I can pinpoint one particular thing. I've actually been working on
this series, on and off, for about ten years. So there have been all sorts of
influences and all sorts of experiences that have impacted on it.
I've been writing
for as long as I can remember, as cliché as that sounds, so I don't remember a
particular time when I decided to do this. I always knew that I would write
fantasy though, and my influences there were Raymond. E. Feist and Tamora
Pierce. Then, a little later, J.K Rowling and Philip Pullman.
I discover new
sources of inspiration every day. I like to think each source is a building
block. I piece each block together, one by one, and I'm left with a creation
that I hope people will enjoy.
Tell us about your main character. Who is Kammy?
Kammy is a girl that is searching for her
place in the world. She hates being stuck on her island, but she also can't
quite force herself to find the courage to step away from the routine of her
life.
That said, she
never considers that 'her place' might be in a different world altogether. Nor
does she ever imagine that her best friend's life will be endangered, forcing
her to find courage from deep within.
What I love most
about Kammy is that she isn't special because she has any secret power, or
because she picks things up quickly. She's special because she tries and
because she grows. She's terrified to start with, but that doesn't mean that
she won't fight, or that she won't do everything she can to save her friends. I
really love that about her.
Are any of your characters inspired by people in your life, past or
present?
A bit like
the inspiration for the book in general, I can't really think of any specific
character inspirations. I'm rubbish at this! Ha.
Every person I have
ever met has influenced me in some way, I'm sure. I think that's something that
is kind of essential to writing. You should soak up every detail around you.
Whether it's a person, a place or a feeling. Soak it up, write it down. You
never know when it will pop up again.
Do you listen to music while writing? Is so, what music inspired The
Wolf's Cry?
I absolutely
do. I don't really think music inspired The
Wolf's Cry so much as The Wolf's Cry
inspired what music I would listen to while writing.
I have a lot of
soundtracks saved on Spotify for when I settle down to write. I think the most
popular ones when writing TWC were Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and
Gladiator.
Harry Potter, particularly
the earlier soundtracks, is perfect for the more light hearted sections. Lord
of the Rings was good for when they were travelling. And Gladiator is my go to
soundtrack for confrontations and action.
That said, I
sometimes get so sucked up into my writing that I'll just listen to a
soundtrack on a loop. I don't write scene by scene. I write what I write, and
then the structure comes into it later. So in that sense, maybe the soundtracks
influenced my writing more than I realised!
The Wolf's Cry is the first book of the Semei Trilogy. When can we
expect the next book?
The Lion's Pride will be released in
December of this year and I am incredibly excited about it. It was hugely
refreshing to work on, as it had been planned in detail for so long. I have
recently finished the second draft so I am taking a short breather. Then I will
look back over it with fresh eyes and start the slog again.
My cover artist is
going to start working on it in March which is exciting because pretty covers.
But yeah, December
2014 for sure.
Describe your writing routine? What do you have to have nearby in order
to get into the zone?
I can write
pretty much anywhere as long as I have music and headphones, but I definitely
have a preferred scenario.
My first step is to
tidy the space that I'm writing in, normally my room. I'll then force myself
out of my pyjamas and into the shower, because feeling fresh helps. Who knew? I
make a cup of tea, because what's the point in writing if I don't get to drink
gallons of tea? Typically, I write by hand so I get one of my pretty notebooks
out, and one of my pretty pens (when I say pretty, I mean it. I'm fussy about
pens and notebooks. Oops), and I light a candle. Yes, even during the day.
The final step is
the most difficult. I load up Spotify to pick a soundtrack, then I force myself
to leave my laptop of the other side of my room so I don't get distracted.
What’s the hardest challenge you face as an author?
I think the
hardest thing is maintaining belief. I'm very up and down with this. Sometimes
I am incredibly happy with the choices that I have made, in the book directly,
but also with publication choices and the like. Other days I obsess over every
line I have written and I convince myself I could have written something ten
times better, and that I suck. I'd assume this is a pretty common issue for
writers.
I also struggle to
find time. I live in London and I work full time. I enjoy all aspects of my
life at the moment but it's pretty hectic and it can get stressful. And then
there are my attempts at having a social life...
What do you do when you’re not writing?
It's all a
bit boring without the writing!
I read?
I love spending
time with friends and family and I try to put aside weekends for this, as it's
almost impossible in the week. I also love travelling. I love seeing different
cultures, and I am obsessed with history and with natural sights. I have
Italian family so I am lucky to get to visit there a lot. I am also going to
China in July which I cannot WAIT for.
I hope to save some
money so that I can take a year out from work (not from writing) to go travelling
properly.
Do you have any advice for new writers just entering the shark infested
waters?
Hmm, what can I say
that isn't completely obvious?
Don't rush.
Yeah, I actually
think this is really important. If writing a book takes you years, then it
takes you years. Churning something out in a few months isn't always the way to
go. And this advice doesn't just apply to the writing process, but to the post
writing stages as well. Don't rush publication. Check out all your options
first. Get involved with the online book community because everybody is so
helpful. Any little bits of advice that you can soak up will be worthwhile.
This or That
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Vanilla. Especailly
if it's creamy.
Sun or Moon?
Sun please.
Dragons or Griffins?
Dragons, duh.
Cats or Dogs?
Dogs. I am
DESPERATE to get a dog. (I love cats too though)
Coffee or Tea?
TEA. TEA. TEA. I am
a very stereotypical Brit in this regard. We really do drink tea ALL the time.
Salty or Sweet?
Salty, grazie.
Oceans or Mountains?
Mountains. My
incredibly talented artist friend is currently painting me a mountain landscape
and I am drooling with anticipation.
Paper or ebook?
Paper will always
be number one for me. (But ebook is super handy)
Hero or Villain?
A great hero is
more essential, but a great villain is a bonus.
Country or City?
I think I will always be a country girl at
heart, and I'll end up in the country again one day. But I am loving the city
life for now.

I grew up in a village called Swilland, in the countryside of Suffolk, England. There wasn't much around, other than farms and fields, but for the most part I loved it, and I still do. I’m a passionate person by nature. I don’t just LIKE things, I LOVE things. Whether it’s a book, a film, or a sports team. Once I decide to enjoy something, I enjoy it to the MAX.
I’m a terrible cook. I prioritise essential social media work over keeping my flat tidy, because I know best. I
Onto my love of reading and, consequently, writing - it was my dad that played a big role in encouraging me to read. He didn't push me towards books necessarily; he simply read a lot himself. Then I would pick up his books and read them after him. I was reading high and epic fantasy from a very young age. I guess that might explain why I have always loved adventure stories with magic and intrigue and princes and princesses in.
I was aware that I wanted to ‘be a writer’ from a very young age. I was convinced I would be the first best seller that hadn't reached double figures in age yet! I wrote about the Danshees, furry creatures that lived through a mirror. I wrote about a Sand Bottle that transported a boy into a world of magic. I wrote about a sick girl finding a music boy that healed her, but transported her back in time. (Wow, I always have loved alternate universes…)
When I was eight I wrote my first novel called The Land of No Return. Despite the title, I am determined to return to it one day. I feel like I owe it to my past self. So, as you can see, I have always been writing. There have been times when I have gone weeks without scratching down a word. Then there are days where I churn out multiple chapters and only my body’s silly desire for sleep and/or food can stop me.
I write because I enjoy it. I write fantasy because I enjoy it. I try my hardest to put something of myself into my writing. I like to think my characters have depth, I like to think that my fantasy worlds reflect upon the real world in some way. You guys will be the judge of that but even if you don't agree I know that I at least try and I can do no more than that.
These days I live in North London and I love it. I work full time and London is a hectic city. Juggling work, writing and a social life is tough but nobody is forcing me to do it so I can't complain. The dream is that writing will be my career one day but it doesn't matter if I never quite make it. I love writing too much to ever pack it in.
I am desperate to get a dog. My mum suspects I miss my cats at home more than I miss her. I am a devout Arsenal/Ferrari/Rafael Nadal fan. I get all mad when confronted with a case of social injustice and then I get all mad when people take the fight for social justice too far. I mostly keep those thoughts to myself and simmer with rage. I watch good TV and bad TV, because I can. What I can’t do is enjoy bad books (subjective opinion of course). I just can’t.
Find the author:
2 $50 Amazon Gift Cards (INT)
This tour was organized by CBB Book Promotions
When I read your This and That interview I thought I had answered the questions since they were my answers. lol
ReplyDeleteKit3247(at)aol(dot)com
I love this or that interviews! We get to see how much of the little things we have in common.
DeletePoor Nat, she really does need a dog! Thanks for hosting a tour stop Kimber Leigh!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! Dogs are wonderful. I have three (including an 80 pound goldendoodle0 lying on my legs right now. Can't feel my feet.
DeleteAhhh I'm so jealous.
DeleteI had a dog throughout childhood and he passed away when I was at uni. Bless him, he was 16 years old! I've wanted another for years now but I just can't right now :((
I'm looking forward to reading your book. I really like the cover :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoy tea and paper will always be my first choice as well.
Thanks
Lori H
Thanks for taking part in the tour :) Hope you enjoy reading!
ReplyDeleteAnd I really enjoyed answering the interview questions!
It was my pleasure, Natalie! BTW, I love the wolf on your cover!!
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