Meet Wolf from Future Published Author, Linnae Klutchko

Meet Wolf from Future Published Author, Linnae Klutchko

Not too long ago, I had the privilege of meeting YA fantasy writer Linnae Klutchko at a writing conference. Linnae does character interviews at her blog Fable Features, where she interviewed Lydia Pelton earlier this year. Fable Features interviews authors from all types of genres and backgrounds, including secular and Christian. It provides an excellent opportunity to reach readers who wouldn’t usually even be aware of Written in Secret. Now it is my joy to return the favor and share with you about an author on her way to publication and her YA Fantasy book called Flight through the eyes of one of her characters, Wolf. Before we dive into meeting Wolf and learning about Linnae, let’s have a quick discussion about Christian fantasy and her book.

I love that Christian Fantasy has become a growing genre and is reaching new readers who might not otherwise pick up a Christian story. It’s been interesting to watch these stories develop and see young readers being pulled out of the dark YA material and drawn toward the Light in a way they didn’t expect. Linnae’s work-in-progress, Flight, is one of those stories where Christian elements are subdued in the background but clearly there for God to work with.

Flight pulls on the Israelites’ slavery and exodus. There is a promised land that the characters are trying to get to called the Land of Green and Gold. In this world, God is referred to as the Great Elder. Then there’s also the battle of good versus evil, or light versus dark. I know there can be mixed feelings about fantasy and magic in Christian-themed books, but I encourage you to consider it through the lens of reaching readers that blatant Christian fiction may not appeal to. Remember, we are all parts of the same body, but each of us has a different part and role in this body.


About Linnae:

Linnae is an editor by day and a fantasy writer by night. She wrote a serialized middle grade fantasy story for Hudsonville Living Magazine and is now working on finding a publishing home for her debut novel, a YA fantasy book called Flight. When Linnae’s not writing or editing, she likes to play soccer and paint.

Connect with Linnae: Website  |  X  |  Instagram  |  Newsletter & Freebies!


Not an Official Cover

Flight by Linnae Klutchko (Book 1 of The Shadow Weaver Trilogy)

Escape. That had been Max’s goal since the day he and his little sister, Lucy, had been torn from their mother and sold to a new master. One day magic—something humans had stifled long ago—returns, and all Elder are given the mysterious command to travel to the unheard-of Land of Green and Gold. Max and Lucy plan their escape as well.

Night comes, and everything goes wrong. To Max’s horror, Lucy is randomly selected to be beaten by the humans—a warning to those Elders considering flight. Max is forced to leave Lucy behind and escapes with his friend, Mary. They embark on a journey to learn their magic and find their way back to family–to Lucy.

Unfortunately, lack of magical knowledge is not Max’s only obstacle; a cold-raking fear of the taskmaster hunts him. The taskmaster’s hunt creeps into his nightmares and disconnects him from the shadows he should be able to control. And no magic means no way to save Lucy. As the nightmares grow worse and the arrival of a serial killer further complicates things, Max fights to grow in his powers and overcome the hunting fear. He will save Lucy. Even if it costs him his life.


Now for our interview with Wolf.

CC: I’m excited to introduce you to my readers, Wolf. Would you mind telling them a little bit about yourself?

W: Hey there! My name’s Wolf. I’m a sylph–got gray feathery wings and magic that’s compatible with the element of wind and all that. I lead a group of fugitives called Moonlight Band and mentor the newbies on how to use their magic.

CC: Leaders have great power in stories, especially when they become mentors to others. So what is it that you want as a leader? Is there anything standing in your way?

W: I…I made a mistake a couple years ago. It sounds kinda stupid now that I’m saying it out loud, but I’ve been looking for books on resurrection magic. Which probably doesn’t even exist, but so much was lost since the Great War, so maybe it’s possible? I guess I’ve also taken up the task of teaching the new fugitives how to use their magic. The biggest obstacle to that, other than them knowing next to nothing, is that a dangerous serial killer has been seen in the area. I’m worried he’ll target us specifically.

CC: Oh, a leader who is looking and searching for answers to things lost long ago . . . and a leader who also has to worry about a dangerous serial killer getting in the way. Books on resurrection magic have me wondering . . .

How would you describe your relationship with God? 

W: God? I assume you mean the Great Elder. I don’t know. It’s complicated, I guess. That teacher I mentioned–Kenami? Yeah, she hated him. My mom did too. Something about him being the reason we lost the war. Haze gave me some different insights not too long ago, though. Haze follows him–says the Great Elder even guided him to find me, if you can believe it. I think I’m starting to believe it too.

CC: That’s hard when you have people in your life who hate someone or something and try to pass that hate onto you, then you learn there is a different perspective. It challenges you in ways you never thought possible. Your whole world gets turned upside down. I imagine through the course of this series you may find out a great deal about this Great Elder . . . and maybe his plan for you.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

W: My childhood was very different from most people’s, including Elder (my own people). Instead of a typical enslavement after the war, my family was forced to fight other Elder for the sake of entertainment. I was young and didn’t really understand all that, but I liked the recognition and really wanted to become the sole Champion of the ring. And it did happen. But I wish it didn’t. I’d…rather not elaborate if that’s cool.

CC: We all have our secrets and things we feel ashamed of. No need to continue on with that now, but I’m sure readers will find out eventually. Speaking of childhood:

If you had time to read a book, what would you pick up and why? 

W: Most of my reading has been grammar lessons with my teacher, Kenami, but she did let me read a few books she’d hidden during the war. I think I would like to read Ankgïr uun la Sanji-Garha again. Or in the common tongue, Ankgïr and the Violet Cave. It’s about this warrior who stumbles across a strange cave that houses a different kind of magic–one that is wild and unpredictable. I’ve always liked the main character and how brave he is.

CC: Those brave characters can really be an inspiration to us during our hardest times. And sometimes those hard times are created by difficult characters. 

Who is the most difficult character for you to interact with in the story?

W: Ah, that would be Haze. Another sylph like me–but with red wings. And double my age. He’s a great guy, but he makes me face a lot of hard truths. And I hate that he’s always right.

CC: Ha! Those people in our lives that speak the hard truths are both amazing and awful at the same time. They are critical for helping us grow, but growing can be so painful.

What do you think about love and marriage? Do you have a particular love interest in mind? 

W: You know, I’ve never actually thought much about it. I think it would be nice to have a girlfriend. Right now I’m kinda living vicariously through this couple who just joined my band. They claim they’re not dating but they seem close. Veeery close. And I saw the look of jealousy on the guy’s face when Spark made the girl laugh. I’m calling it now–they’re gonna end up together.

CC: Oh, sounds like there might be a bit of a romance in this challenging world you live in. I hope it turns out well in the end.

If there is one thing you could tell the reader, what would it be?

W: Power is a dangerous thing. Certainly helpful, yes, like needing to stop a serial killer or finding the confidence to face your fears. But just as easily as it can help, it can also corrupt. So be careful and make sure you have good people in your life to keep you accountable.

CC: Those are wise words. No wonder you are a leader. Now before wrap up completely, I have one last question for you.

Which part of the roller coaster would you ride in: the front, middle or back? Why?

W: Hah, this is a fun question. I think I’d be right up front screaming my head off. I’ve never been on a roller coaster before, but it sounds amazing.


CC:
I’ll let you set up front while I watch from the ground! LOL I used to love them, but motion sickness has made it a less-than-pleasurable experience over the years. 

Readers, thanks for tagging along in learning about this new YA Fantasy world coming to you one day in the future. If you were interested in Wolf’s and Linnae’s story, follow her on social media and be sure to sign up for her newsletter, where you can also grab some freebies, like a collection of exclusive character interviews from the novel.


Readers: If you read fantasy, what elements do you enjoy most? 

Author Interview: Betty Owens

I have had the blessing of meeting many wonderful authors through American Christian Fiction Writers, and Betty Owens is one of them. I met her at my very first writer’s group meeting and have been in awe of her ever since. Today, I am grateful to get to introduce this wonderful author to you today.

 

BettyOwens

The Interview

 

Can you tell us a little about the various series/books you have written?

I started out writing western romance. I put those efforts aside when inspired to write a story that became the first Jael of Rogan novel, The Lady of the Haven. I never set out to write fantasy, but made the decision as I got to know my character. Writing fantasy was pure fun. I meant to write three to five novels in the series, but stopped after A Gathering of Eagles (Book 2). I’d written a novel about a young woman coming of age in the 1920’s (Amelia’s Legacy). It was picked up by Tracy Ruckman of Write Integrity Press, but she wanted a 3-book series. The Legacy series was born. Carlotta’s Legacy is book two of that series.

 

 

I also created a story based on the Biblical book of Ruth, Annabelle’s Ruth, Kinsman Redeemer series. (I’m fond of apostrophes.) Write Integrity Press released that one in between the first two Legacy books. Book 2 is Sutter’s Landing, which released June 20.

 

If someone were reading your books for the first time, which book would you recommend they start with?

Annabelle’s Ruth, for reasons mentioned in the next question. But, if they are fans of inspirational fantasy, I’d say The Lady of the Haven. I love that story too. I will say, I’m not a romance writer, but there is romance in all my books. Sutter’s Landing, sequel to Annabelle’s Ruth, is the most romantic. I enjoyed writing it so much, I may keep it up.

 

Which is your favorite book you’ve written so far? Why?  

 

I love Annabelle’s Ruth. It’s the book of my heart. It’s inspired by my favorite Biblical story, and also loosely-based on my mother’s early life. Set in a small West Tennessee town where I lived as a child, the story contains faces and voices from my childhood.

 

If you could be any of your characters, which one would it be? Why?

Oh, if we’re going to venture into fantasy, I’d love to be Jael of Rogan, the Lady of the Haven. She takes God at His word. “Nothing is impossible.” Her faith lands her in some scrapes, but she doesn’t back down. And it would be really cool if I could disappear now and then.

 

What was your journey to publication like?

I self-published the Jael of Rogan novels, since at the time, I was told Christian fantasy didn’t sell. I’m not the bravest person on earth, by far. I didn’t submit to a lot of publishers. I never thought I was good enough to compete. But I worked hard at it, Along the way, I met Fay Lamb through ACFW Scribes (a large online critique group sponsored by ACFW). She encouraged me to submit my story to Write Integrity Press. At that point, my husband told me I’d be published before the year was out. I wasn’t so sure, especially when December 31 rolled around. But right around noon on New Year’s Eve, my phone rang. Guess who it was? Tracy Ruckman, of Write Integrity Press. She wanted Amelia’s Legacy. My husband said, “I told you so,” because I had just signed a contract and we had several hours left of the year.

 

What is one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Don’t give up—pursue your dream of publishing.

 

What is the best way a reader can help authors succeed?

Readers are our lifeblood! If you love a book, talk about it on social media, and among family and friends. Figure out how to write reviews (they don’t have to be perfect or long, just positive). “I loved this book!” This is a fantastic review, especially when accompanied by five stars.

 

What are you reading right now?

I am so far behind on my reading, but I’m nearly finished with Revisionary, by Kristen Hogrefe. It’s a fascinating dystopian. She’s a new author to me, and very talented. Next up in my Kindle is, Imperfect Bonds by Elizabeth Noyes. She’s an excellent writer of suspense-filled edge-of-your-seat adventures. And the guy on the cover definitely has my attention. Can’t wait.

 

What do you like to do when you aren’t reading or writing?

Is there anything else? Ha-ha. I love to piddle around in my flowerbeds, spend time with family, and walk miles and miles.

 

Do you have any upcoming projects, releases, or sales?

FinalCover.jpg

Sutter’s Landing is still pretty new, having just released in June. The Kindle version of Carlotta’s Legacy was on sale for 99 cents, but I’m not sure it will be by the time this posts. I’m working on the third book in the Legacy series. It has no title at present. I’m certain it will contain an apostrophe, though.

 

 

About Sutter’s Landing:

“Still reeling from tragic losses, Connie and Annabelle Cross face life with their signature humor and grace, until fresh hope arrives on their doorstep.

In early spring of 1955, Annabelle Cross and her daughter-in-law, Connie have nearly made it through the first winter on their own. Then the skies open up as West Tennessee and much of the south endures one of the worst floods in history. As many of their neighbors endure losses due to the flooding, Annabelle and Connie sit tight on dry ground.

As spring gives way to summer, Annabelle begins to dread Connie’s upcoming marriage and removal to Sutter’s Landing. Though she’s happy to note the growing affection between Alton Wade and her daughter-in-law, their marriage means Annabelle will be on her own for the first time in her life.

Connie’s doubts increase when Alton’s bigoted brother Jensen uses every opportunity to drive a wedge between them. Is she doing the right thing? Did she move too quickly? Unexpected summer visitors and anticipation of a new neighbor provide diversion and open possibilities for both Annabelle and Connie.”

– blurb from Amazon.com

 

About Betty:

Betty Thomason Owens is a multi-published, award-winning author BettyOwensof historical fiction and fantasy-adventure. She is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), where she leads a critique group, and serves as vice-president/secretary of the Louisville area group. She’s a mentor, assisting other writers, and a co-founder of a blog dedicated to inspiring writers. She also serves on the planning committee of the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference.
Her writing credits include a 20’s era romance, Amelia’s Legacy (2014), Carlotta’s Legacy (2016) Books 1 & 2, Legacy Series from Write Integrity Press (WIP), and the Grace-Award-winning Annabelle’s Ruth (2015), and Sutter’s Landing (2017), Books 1 & 2, Kinsman Redeemer Series, also from WIP. She has two fantasy-adventure novels, The Lady of the Haven and A Gathering of Eagles, in a second edition published by Sign of the Whale BooksTM, an imprint of Olivia Kimbrell PressTM.

Connect with Betty:

Amazon Author Page

http://bettythomasonowens.com

https://twitter.com/batowens

https://facebook.com/betty.owens.author

https://pinterest.com/btowens

https://writingpromptsthoughtsideas.wordpress.com

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