Seasons Within {+ Giveaway}

With Christmas only a few hours away I’m excited to be participating in the SEASONS WITHIN by Lele Iturrioz Blitz with Xpresso Book Tours.

As part of the blitz I have a prepared interview with Lele and she is offering an awesome blitz-wide giveaway. The giveaway (open to residents of the U.S. and Canada) is for a signed copy of SEASONS WITHIN plus a character’s handmade necklace. Please see the end of the post for more details on the giveaway.

◊Seasons Within
◊by Lele Iturrioz
◊Acorn Publishing
◊Publication date: December 15^th, 2016
◊Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Most teenage girls know their name, where they came from, who they are. Not G, a beautiful redhead with unusual markings on her wrist. She gets her name from a silver locket she keeps around her neck, unaware the engraved letter “G” on its front holds the secret to her past.

G’s life before the age of six has been a mystery to her. Each night for the last twelve years she’s been haunted by the same nightmare—a war. Horrendous beasts, warriors able to wield the four elements, and a boy who saves her by means of blue fire taunt her memory. But on her eighteenth birthday, G’s life begins to unravel. When she meets her new Chemistry professor, a man with an uncanny resemblance to the boy who saves her, she knows there must be more to her dreams.

It’s dangerous not knowing who you are, what you’re capable of, and what future awaits you. Especially when the darkness that slaughtered your entire world, just found you.

SEASONS WITHIN is available at these sites: Goodreads and Amazon.

Please join me in giving Lele a warm welcome as she graciously answers some questions. Welcome, Lele.

How did you come up with the idea?

Lele:

One day I was walking around with my headphones while listening to Breath of Life by Florence and the Machine (Awesome song!). The street was covered with hundreds of leaves and when the wind came, it made all the leaves fly. In my perspective and with the headphones it looked as if they were dancing, so I lifted my arms and danced among the flying leaves. Besides the fact that I looked like a crazy person swinging my arms to the sky, for a moment I felt like I was the one moving them.

And that’s how G, my main character was born, a girl who had the power to move Nature in a world that was possible.

How did you come up with the title?

Lele:

The title is based on two things, the first one is that G has the power to wield all elements, she has the four seasons within herself and the second one is that the seasons represent the year she has before her Resurgence. 

How old are your characters?

Lele:

G turns 18 at the beginning of the book. The rest are between 15 to 24 years old.

SKUGGO

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

Lele:

G is an extraordinary girl hidden in plain sight. She is a teenage girl who just learned her real name and that she comes from a place where people can wield one of the four elements making her the only one who can wield, destroy or create all four of them.

G is supposed to learn her gifts in order to defeat a man that almost destroyed her world.

She’s not afraid of dying as much as she’s afraid of letting down the people she loves, her new family. She’s intrigued by a man she shouldn’t be talking to and she’s in love with a man who sees her as his job... but most of all, G is a curious teenager who wants to find herself.

Describe your main characters in one word.

Lele:

G – curious                                 Edan – alpha

Priyam – smart-ass                 Veter – childish

Shui – motherly                         Willow – bitchy

Donovan – flirt                          Hunter – lost

Synthia – vapid                         the twins, Pink and Floyd – insane. 

How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names based on liking the way it sounds or the meaning?

Lele:

Every name has a meaning or a reason why. For example, willow is the name of a tree and my character Willow is the one who can wield plants.

Except for Priyam, that name came straight out of one of my best friends. (Thanks, Priy!)

If this book is part of a series, tell us a little about it?

Lele:

Yes, it is going to be a five-book series. The first book is Seasons Within, this is the book where G finds out what she’s capable of and who she’s destined to become, followed by four books about the year G needs to survive before her Resurgence.

Tell us about the cover/s and how it/they came about.

Lele:

The cover for Seasons Within has all the seasons on the First Tree. G is merged with the First Tree as she becomes a part of all the seasons.

Who designed your book cover/s?

Lele:

The illustration was made by a talented artist named Joanna Haber (you can find her on Etsy or Facebook on ABitofWhimsyArt).

And the design was made by an amazing designer named Ibet Sakoda (you can find her on inspiralia.com.mx)

Is there a message in your novel that you hope readers will grasp?

Lele:

Nature can survive without humans but humans can’t survive without nature. We need to take better care of the only planet we have.

When did you decide to become a writer?

Lele:

I was 13 years old when my parents split. That age is already difficult by itself so adding the divorce of my parents made it almost impossible. Consequently, I took books as an escape, instead of getting sad over what was happening I read stories about magic and friends and brave acts. Over the years, all those stories made it easier for me to understand and go through everything, so when I grew up I decided to write books so maybe one day I could return the favor and help a 13-year-old girl (or anyone) who might need a little bit of magic to get by. 

Why do you write?

Lele:

It was Victor Hugo who said, “A writer is a world trapped in a person.” And I truly believe it. If I don’t write what’s going on in my head I start going crazy and can’t stop thinking about it until is on paper. Also, because I really love it.

Lele, thanks for joining us today and sharing this insight into your writing. The book cover is amazing.

Author Lele Iturrioz

Major geek by day, hermit writer by night! Loves books, sugar gliders and everything that comes in a delicious taco.

Lele is the author of the YA fantasy series, Seasons Within.

Lele spends her time writing, planning on writing, reading, drinking coffee like there was no tomorrow, MMA and chilling with her friends and loved ones.

For more on Lele and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.

Nádúr Noc

Blitz-wide giveaway

This blitz-wide giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada. The giveaway is for one signed copy of SEASONS WITHIN plus a character’s handmade necklace.

To enter the giveaway just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks for stopping by today during Lele’s visit. Doesn’t the book cover for SEASONS WITHIN capture your imagination and make you wonder what is going on? Are you reading more YA books these days?

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