Thursday, September 18, 2014

It's Destiny

Author Melissa Wray is celebrating the second anniversary of her novel, DESTINY ROAD, with an emotional behind-the-scenes look at the writing of the book as well as a fantastic Rafflecopter draw.

Tell us about DESTINY ROAD, Melissa.


What sparked the idea to write Destiny Road?
Recently Melissa Wray was asked this question by Uncommon YA. Here is her very personal response.


We moved to North Queensland when I was 14. After a year or so Mum could see that something about Townsville and I did not mix. Strangely enough it was her suggestion to ring my dad and ask if I could move back south.

So I did. Then I packed my bags and moved 3,000km away to live with him. This decision is what sparked the idea for Destiny Road.

Now I never set out to write this story, let alone have it published. It just kind of happened. It came about because one night I was lying in bed and couldn’t sleep. There was an unspoken conversation going on in my mind. It was a conversation that I regret not having and has played on my mind over the years. This particular night it got the better of me so I got up and began to write. It wasn’t until after I read through those mad ramblings a couple of weeks later that I thought hmmm … I could create a story from this. So I began writing. I passed my 10,000 word milestone. Then 20 then 30 then before I knew it 50,000 words had been typed.

You see I think about that one phone call I made all those years ago sometimes. I have often thought about how that decision, that one pivotal moment that is talked about in Destiny Road, really did change the course of my life. I’m sure as you're reading this you can look back over your life, and pinpoint one moment that has shaped it in a big way. I truly believe that Dad saying yes when I asked was a determining factor in how things have turned out for me.

One afternoon I was sitting with him. He got to talking about his philosophy on life and death. Dad had been fighting a battle against cancer for a while at this point and I was kneeling next to him as he sat on his reclining chair. He was holding my hand as he shared these ideas on life and death. He said to me "It’s cool.

Whatever happens, it’s cool." My dad used cool a lot when he spoke. He was pretty cool. He was also a big believer in God. So that afternoon he said "It’s cool if I die because I get to meet my maker." ‘Then he said "But it’s cool if I live because I get to be with the ones I love." This was his philosophy. Either way was cool with him.

I remember kneeling there, holding his hand and wishing I could say thankyou to him. Thanks for saying yes all those years ago. Thanks for that pivotal moment in my life. I wanted him to know how much that meant. But I couldn’t. I just couldn’t get those words out. 

That night he passed away.

I never did get to tell him and have regretted that for the past 10 years. So you see once the spark to write Destiny Road was lit, it had to finished. It was my tribute, my thankyou and I am beyond thrilled it was published.

Now I’m not going to bore you with my views on life and death but I can’t help but wonder something, because anyone who knew my dad, Rod Morris, and anyone who knew his sense of humour ... well I can’t help but wonder if there wasn’t a helping hand when Morris Publishing (no relation) chose to publish Destiny Road. I like to think so.


It's hard to believe two years has passed since the launch of Destiny Road. To celebrate there is a chance to win 2 x $20 Gift Cards, ENTER NOW!






To connect with Melissa:



Read the 1st chapter of Destiny Road FREE.

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It's Destiny has been brought to you by:

THE TRAZ 
A girl, a biker gang and an undercover cop

viewBook.at/B007JWGHZE

"Great Strong Story--a wonderful read"
"It was hard to put down (even for sleep)" 

“a very clever piece of writing" 

"Exciting, powerful, & tragic. Young adult book for all ages" 

 “A compelling read that will keep you turning pages” 






Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Autumn colours, autumn words

This is why autumn is my favorite season.


Coincidentally, it is the fave season of Katrina Buckhold, the young protagonist in my BackTracker series.


Excerpt from FIREWALLS
 

Katrina Buckhold
Katrina headed into the evening sun. The weather had held for her wedding, and two weeks later, it was still holding. Autumn, her favourite season. It was the colours, the golden light from a sun travelling low on the horizon, the musty, distinctive autumn aromas.

She loved the red berries on the mountain ash. The yellow of fallen leaves on the green of the grass and the sound of them crackling under her feet.


When she arrived at Shrug’s, he called her around to the backyard.

“You didn’t!” she said, catching her breath as she rounded the corner. A brand new Harley-Davidson Night Rod stood in the rear drive. Its chrome and deep cobalt sparking back the glow of a setting sun. Shrug stood still as she traced her fingers over the metal and the leather. “Nice.”



http://mybook.to/firewalls

"Schuh is raw, she's real, and she packs one hell of a punch."

"I can promise you Katrina will get under your skin and into your heart."


 "I am in awe of the depth of this work."



"...action packed with emotional lies, love, hate & survival"


“Intense & sensual”

Eileen Schuh, Author
DISPASSIONATE LIES
FIREWALLS
FATAL ERROR

Schrödinger's Cat
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