Wistful YA ~ To Bear An Iron Key

 Wistful YA is my reoccurring spotlight, giving young adult literature center stage.

Obviously, being a kidlit writer, I adore all realms of children's literature. I've shared my love of those books and their authors here many times. Other than my admiration for Jane Austen and Stephen King, I don't believe I've ever shared with you my heart for any other adult author. Well, add this next author to that list.

As I contemplated taking my writing seriously a few years back, I happened to be reading an adult book by Jackie Kessler. Can you say LUV? Through her writing, she enabled me to see how much I loved the paranormal, magic, and romance of all things writing. I drafted my first short story after reading that adult book. So when I saw that she'd made the leap to Middle Grade literature, I just had to read.

AMAZON | SHELFARI | GOODREADS | BOOKLIKES

TO BEAR AN IRON KEY by Jackie Morse Kessler Publisher: Month9Books Released: May 6, 2014 Genre: Fantasy Pages: 194
I'd like to thank the publisher for supplying me with an eCopy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
Favorite Passage/Line: Bromwyn looked about the Circle, hooping for some help. But it was painfully clear that she and Rusty were on their own. Insanity had gripped the village, and the adults, caught in their own terror and dismay, were ignoring the children. Or perhaps the fey had used their magic to make the children invisible to their parents, and the parents invisible to the children. 
Description: To Bear an Iron Key is the first in a new and exciting series from acclaimed author Jackie Morse Kessler. 
Five years ago, the young witch Bromwyn refused a gift from the powerful fairy king. Tonight, on Midsummer, that decision comes back to haunt her. When her best friend Rusty picks the wrong pocket, he and Bromwyn are all that stand between their village and the rampaging fairies who have pushed through the World Door. If they cannot outwit the fairy king and queen before the World Door closes at sunrise, the friends will lose everything—their village, Bromwyn's magic, and Rusty's life. 

From To Bear an Iron Key by Jackie Morse Kessler 

"Bromwyn turned to face the burning fields. Reaching deep inside of herself, she closed her eyes and touched the core of her power, the place where her magic lived, where it connected her to all of Nature. She held onto that magic, let it fill her almost to the bursting point, and then she cast it out onto the fields. It blanketed the rows of spelt, and she felt as it rode the wind—Air—and then touched the grain—Earth—and then sizzled around the fire."

NIGHTSTAND WORTHY!

My Splats: where stubbornness and responsibility meet self-growth and the Fey!

If you're big on fantasy and stretching the natural realm of things, then this is your book. The author creates a quaint setting of eighteenth century small town hustle and bustle. Her writing has an ancient and proper quality to it, giving the story even more tangibility. It breaths and taunts the reader with things of the past and eventually mingles with make believe. It's enticing. 

The voice starts out soft, but hints of underlining tension between family members, and even the community at-large. We met Bromwyn in her pre-teen years, cursed by her Grandma until she learns control over her harsh emotions. Basically, Brom is quick-tempered and a tad ornery. Uh-hum ... Can you say middle graders could relate? Yes. 

But the reader takes a swift journey to Bromwyn's young adult age, where she's expected to marry her betrothed--who she doesn't even like. An interesting relationship between Mom, Bromwyn, and Grandma unfolds amid magic and witchcraft ... and soon Bromwyn's true purpose, which encompasses the Fey and a test she must pass to come fully into her witch skills. Only, she knows nothing about the test and her Grandma won't tell her what she does know.

As you've surely guessed, Bromwyn's test comes upon her in a surprising way and pulls in Rusty--the only friend she's ever valued. There's adventure and trickery, having to deal with the Fey on her own. But the reader soon begins to see Brom grow, and care about her skills and the consequences of using them. A responsibility births inside her, which is fed by her love of Rusty--a love she refuses to admit. Yet.

At the onset, the sweet, childhood friendship between Bromwyn and Rusty is playful and teasing. Both ignore the obvious tension between them. But gradually, their relationship blossoms into a deeper care and concern for the other, which includes self-sacrifice and risk. As the story climaxes, we see a stubborn girl put others before herself, long to please her mother, and be the pride of her grandma and mentor.

This book is for any lover of fantasy and wonderful writing. Even though it's considered young adult, I'd also recommend it to middle graders, due to the romantic element being minimal.

Read any good fantasy stories, lately? What's your favorite fantasy story?

A Letter To My Newbie Writer Self

Two fabulous authors--Carrie Butler & PK Hrezo--have joined forces to create an ebook, exploring what it's like for authors at the start their writing journeys. Participating writers are asked to share the secrets they've learned along the way with their young writer self. Click HERE for more details.

Dear Newbie Scribe Sheri,

You're going to be struck by an amazing idea for a story, after finishing a young adult novel. You’ll enjoy it so much that you actually read the author’s bio. She’s a working mom with two children. Um ... you have four minions and a mind dripping in creativity. Could you actually bring your story idea to life?

Doubt will instantly drape over you like a lead blanket. That is such a crazy idea. You could never do it. Talking yourself out of it is easy. At first.

Later, while you're folding laundry and jamming to music as you do, you’ll recall the bazillion movies you watched during junior high and high school, and how you broke each down, creating new scenes or alternate endings. You've surely made up plenty of off-the-cuff stories to get one of your minions calmed down. And then there are the dance routines you choreographed and the murals you painted. That creativity has to count for something, right?

You love to read, and you've always adored writing. Heck, for years whenever your closest family members and friends have needed something written they've come to you. They all say you can write. 

That young adult book will be on your nightstand. You’ll pick it up and begin to dissect it. Now that you look at it again, it’s good, but maybe not as good as you thought. Your original story idea is as good, and with a little work, it could be even better.

Let me stop you here.

It won’t simple take a little work. Think of dragging your original story idea along a city street after a bomb has exploded. Your story gets snagged on shrapnel and stumbles over debris. Falls into a crater and endures numerous lacerations while crawling to the surface. It will attempt to hide and fail then dodge punches from the enemy (which is you, by the way). Fighting back will leave your story battered, bruised, exhausted, and hopeless.

Your original story will gaze up at you through bloodshot, exhausted eyes. It will plead with you to clothe it as it should be, give it the scenes and words and emotions it needs. It will beg you for bold characters and striking scenes to captive a future reader. Your story wants to be told.

Now stop. Panicking isn’t going to move you forward. Stop and think, really think if you want to endure all that. If you do, you must gain the tools necessary to nourish your story.

So here’s what you do:

1.   Study as many books on the craft of writing as you can. Take notes. Notes, notes, and more notes on notecards, sticky notes, or small notebooks so you can take them with you while you’re at your four minions’ numerous activities.

2.   Jot down major writing skills you now realize you must learn. Exercise them through practice sentences, paragraphs, chapters, or short stories. Don’t ever toss anything you’ve written. Even if it’s total suckage. You never know what might inspire you later on.

Be positive.

3.   Don’t be too hard on yourself for not having perfect writing skills already. Even the greatest of authors have been where you are—the beginning. They’ve honed their writing skills through years of study and utilizing writing tools.

4.   Don’t compare your journey to other’s writing travels. Just don’t.

5.   Some family and friends won't get you. They will learn.

6.   Use the internet. It will be one of your greatest allies. I honestly don’t know how writers did it before cyberspace was available.

-     Start your own site or blog.

-     Surf the web to find other writers and comment on their posts.

-     Follow writing resource blogs to keep your skills fresh, Fiction University being one.

-     Attend a Twitter chat such as #mglitchat or #yalitchat.

-     Writing communities are a must to keep your spirits up. Join one such as Writer Support 4U, which  is a private Facebook group or Insecure Writers Support Group.

Be brave and give back.

7.   Ask other writers to read your work. Offer to read theirs.

8.   Be a mentor on a site that offers official critiques.

9.   When you FINALLY take your husband’s advice to submit to publishers on your own instead of continuing your search for an agent, you’ll receive multiple offers for your YA novel. Don’t accept them. Instead, accept the offer of representation you’ll receive from a twenty-year veteran agent, who sees potential in you and your offers.

You will be forever grateful.

Hearts from your older & wiser writer self,

SA Larsen
Author of YA, MG, & PB Tales
www.salarsenbooks.com

*I give full permission for this post to be used in the ebook compilation without royalties and/or separate compensation.