Interview: Leah Cypress

Interview with

Leah Cypress,

author of

Death Sworn

Today, the Happy Book Reviewer welcomes acclaimed author Leah Cypress to talk about Death Sworn, the first book of her new young adult series. Teen Vogue says it is "impossible not to fall deep into the dark yet alluring world of sorcery and secret assassins."

In Death Sworn, Ileni is a young sorceress losing her magic. And that means she's losing everything: her position as the rising star of her people, her purpose in life, and even the young man she loves. Sent to the assassins' cave, hidden deep within the mountains, she expects no one will ever hear from her again. The last two sorcerers sent died within weeks of each other. As Ileni navigates the dangers—both natural and human—of the caves, she'll discover secrets that have been kept for decades. And she'll find an ally in Sorin, the deadly young man who could be the assassins' next leader. With Sorin determined to protect her, sparks—magical and romantic—will fly. But will even he understand the choice she must make in the end?

So, what inspired this magical, mysterious tale?

Leah Cypress: I was reading the first book in the Elenium, a trilogy by David Eddings, in which a pacifist sorceress has to tutor the soldiers of a religious military order. In Eddings' book, this worked out well and they were all one big happy family. But I started to wonder: what if there was a similar scenario in which this didn't work out well? What if the sorceress and her students not only hated each other, but were hiding dangerous secrets from each other?

I actually just finished David Eddings' Belgariad series, but I've never read the Elenium. I love that it sparked Ileni's tale. 

What were you like when you were Ileni’s age? Did you draw on your experiences as a teenager as you wrote of Ileni’s (by that I mean, how she perceives and interacts with the world, not her experiences as a sorceress!)?

Leah Cypress: Like Ileni, I grew up thinking I was destined for great things -- without quite as much support from the rest of the world, of course. But I had dreams of various destinies awaiting me, and spent a lot of time wondering whether it would be better for me to cure cancer or be an Olympic gymnast or design fabulous houses with interior water slides. Eventually, I had to realize that my talents in some areas did not live up to my dreams. (I.e. I couldn't get bacteria to grow on a petri dish, so there went my career as a scientist.)

But before this gets too pessimistic -- one of my most constant dreams was to be a published author, and there were times when I thought that was a dream that would never be realized for me. But hope is not always wishful thinking. Ileni will discover that, too.

If you've always dreamed of being an author, then you must have always been an avid reader; they sort of go hand-in-hand. What book are you reading at present?

Leah Cypress: Well, I'm currently reading The Nature of Horses by Stephen Budiansky, but that's for research (though it is also fascinating). In terms of fiction, I just finished Sleep No More by Aprilynne Pike, and next on my TBR list is Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor and/or Skin Game by Jim Butcher. (I have a hard time making up my mind, sometimes!)

And is there a book you wish you had written?

Leah Cypress: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge. I am so blown away by how awesome that book is. 

I know that feeling! What was the first creative piece you ever wrote? Do you still have a copy of it?

Leah Cypress: When I was in first grade, I wrote a story from the point of view of an ice cream cone being eaten. (But it was a happy story. Really. The ice cream cone wanted to be eaten!) I believe my parents still have a copy of it.

That's so cute! 

Are you working on the next book in the Death Sworn series? Do you have a title yet? Can you give us a hint on what it is about?

Leah Cypress: I just finished the copyedits for the next (and final) book in this duology. It will be called Death Marked, and in it, Ileni will find out a lot more about the Empire -- and have to make a very difficult choice that will test not only her loyalty and her love, but her sense of who she is.

How exciting! I'll be watching for it! One last thing: I collect book quotes, so add to my collection! What is your favorite quote from Death Sworn?

Leah Cypress: “How can you know what your life is worth if you don’t know what you would trade it for?”
 

Thank you so much, Leah, for chatting with me today! Readers can find Death Sworn at:

• Your website
• Amazon here
• Goodreads here
• or their local independent bookstore

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And don't forget to check out my latest Young Adult adventure/romance too, Deep Green, available in Print & e-Book!

AMAZON 

Eternal Press* 

*25% off with the promo code 20EPdb14

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Book Highlight: Losing Logan

LOSING LOGAN by Sherry D. Ficklin

AVAILABLE NOW! 

Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Suspense

"What if the one thing you never meant to hold on to, is the one thing you can't let go of?" 

Normally finding a hot guy in her bedroom wouldn’t irritate Zoe so badly, but finding her childhood friend Logan there is a big problem.

Mostly because he’s dead.

As the only person he can make contact with, he convinces Zoe to help him put together the pieces surrounding his mysterious death so he can move on. Thrust into his world of ultra popular rich kids, Zoe is out of her element and caught in the cross-hairs of Logan’s suspicious ex-girlfriend and the friends he left behind, each of whom had a reason to want him dead. The deeper they dig to find the truth, the closer Zoe gets to a killer who would do anything to protect his secrets. And that’s just the start of her problems because Zoe is falling for a dead guy.

ABOUT SHERRY D. FICKLIN

Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

She is the author of The Gods of Fate Trilogy now available from Dragonfly Publishing. Her previously self-published novel After Burn: Military Brats has been acquired by Harlequin and will be released in 2015 with a second book in that series to follow. Her newest YA steampunk novel, EXTRACTED: The Lost Imperials book 1, co-written with Tyler H. Jolley is now available everywhere books are sold and her newest YA novel, Losing Logan, is due for release in 2014 from Clean Teen Publishing.

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And don't forget to check out my latest Young Adult adventure/romance, Deep Green, available in Print & e-Book: AMAZON or Eternal Press (25% off with the promo code 20EPdb14)

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Book Highlight: Deep Green

DEEP GREEN

by Trisha Haddad

Genre: Young Adult (Adventure and Romance)

Publisher: Eternal Press

Leah Taylor prefers the quiet adventure and romance of books, but during a cruise with her parents, a terrorist attack leaves her adrift in a lifeboat with strangers. Together they face danger after danger as they fight for survival. Leah also struggles with the growing attention from the men she's stranded with, and her mixed emotions toward them.

When Leah learns the dark secrets her fellow survivors hold, the truth will blow apart any semblance of civility and test Leah’s preconceived notions of just how far dedication can go before it crosses over into fanaticism.

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Book critics are saying:

"Deep Green is a harrowing adventure story… and will leave the reader anxiously awaiting Book 2 to follow this tale of adventure and romance on the high seas." --InD'Tale Magazine

"Haddad has created a brave and wise heroine." --The Story Sanctuary

"I was on the edge of my seat!" --Rather Be Reading YA

"Deep intrigue and intense plot are carefully weaved throughout the story...I see similar qualities to Life of Pi, as Haddad adds intellectual reflection and discussion from her main characters.." --A Little Something to Chew On

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Trisha Haddad was born and raised in Southern California. Although she romanticizes snowy climates and mountain towns, she simply can’t tear herself away from the year-around sunshine of her native state.

After graduating from Vanguard University of Southern California, she began a career in scholarly publishing. After the excitement of working all day with a team of talented and passionate folks, she gets to come home to the sweetness and fun of a home filled with “The Guys” (her husband and their little sons).

She writes at night on an old Mac in room with poetry framed on the walls, surrounded by many shelves of books. Four of the books on those shelves are ones she wrote: Breathe Deep, Deep Green, Nihon Nights, and Best of Luck Elsewhere. 

 http://trishahaddad.com

Adventure and Romance on the High Seas

Anyone here read InD'Tale Magazine? I love their reviews, especially when they say nice things about my books!  The book critic at the magazine wrote in the February issue:

"Deep Green is a harrowing adventure story… and will leave the reader anxiously awaiting Book 2 to follow this tale of adventure and romance on the high seas."
             --InD'Tale Magazine

Check out the full review here!

You can get the e-book here, OR BETTER YET, get it directly from my publisher and get 25% off with the promo code 20EPdb14!

You can get a print copy from Amazon here or an autographed copy from me directly here!

Book Quote of the Day

“What are we but our thoughts and loves?” 

                      –St. Augustine

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Please check out my latest Young Adult adventure/romance, Deep Green!

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Book Highlight: Rising

RISING by Holly Kelly

New Adult- Paranormal Romance

Clean Teen Publishing

In a war between the humans and the inhabitants of the sea—humans will lose. Xanthus Dimitriou—the most lethal Dagonian to rise from the ocean—is on a mission to save mankind from annihilation. But first there’s one small thing he needs to do… kill a beautiful young woman in a wheelchair.

Killing her doesn’t start out as part of his plan. He entrenches himself deep in the human world. Aligning himself with his enemies, he prepares to send them to Triton to face their punishment. Then Sara Taylor rolls onto the scene. Xanthus knows at once she’s a criminal. And her crime? Being born. She’s a human/Dagonian half-breed, an abomination. Killing her should be an easy job. All he has to do is break into her apartment, slit her throat, and feed her body to the sharks. Simple, right? Wrong. If only she weren’t so beautiful, so innocent, so sweet...

Saving the world may have to wait. It appears Xanthus has a woman to save. But protecting her may cost him his own life.

About Holly Kelly

Holly Kelly is a mom who writes books in her spare time: translation--She hides in the bathroom with her laptop and locks the door while the kids destroy the house and smear peanut butter on the walls.

Holly was born in Utah but lived in Salina, Kansas until she was 13 and in Garland, Texas until she was 18. She's now back in Utah--"happy valley". Holly is married to her wonderful husband, James, and the two of them are currently raising 6 rambunctious children. Her interests are reading, writing (or course), martial arts, visual arts, and spending time with family.

Holly Kelly's first published book is: Rising. Rising was published by Clean Teen Publishing on September 6, 2013.

* * * *

And don't forget to check out my latest Young Adult adventure/romance, Deep Green, available in Print & e-Book!

AMAZON 

Eternal Press* 

*25% off with the promo code 20EPdb14

Book Quote of the Day

“God warns us not to love any earthly thing above Himself, and yet he sets in a mother’s heart such a fierce passion for her babes that I do not comprehend how He can test us so.”


--Geraldine Brooks, Year of Wonders 
(One of the best books I've read in the last 10 years)

* * * *

And don't forget to check out my latest Young Adult adventure/romance, Deep Green, available in Print & e-Book:

AMAZON 

Barnes & Noble 

Eternal Press*

*get 25% off with the promo code 20EPdb14