Welcome! Check out an interview with the author and the tour giveaway below...
Indebted:By Charmayne Hafen
Christian YA Fantasy, Folklore
Hardcover, Paperback & ebook, 306 Pages
August 25th 2019
Summary
When the abandoned princess discovers a friend, some muscle, and a passion for swords, she also acquires the crucible by which she uncovers the mysterious key to unlock her grief and win true freedom. Or will her strength confound her future in the kingdom to which she rides?
At the mythical edge of the Berkshire Forests, Wren finds herself rattling around in an austere castle, abandoned by the King and Queen. King Belodawn seems to blame his daughter for the mysterious disappearance of his wife, and he avoids his daughter at all costs in favor of conquests requiring his person away from the kingdom. But, things are about to change; the princess has matured. Wren’s spirit refuses to remain the lost bird she became at age twelve. With the aid of the cook and the cook’s son, Wren discovers her unknown dexterity in sword fighting. With it, she believes a new community in which to live will open up but is this young girl prepared to encounter deceptive ghosts, angels, and demons in the maze of the forest to attain her aim?
Author Interview
Would you tell us what inspired you to write Indebted: The Berkshire Dragon?
First and foremost, I love fantasy. I believe the fantasy genre is a reflection of life’s possibility and mystery. Not everything is as it seems. Fantasy stories invite the reader to step into the realm of possibility where anything can happen. Indebted ventures into the medieval past where a dragon becomes a symbol of spiritual battle and sword fighting a key to freedom.
I am obsessed with relationships and what it takes to have good ones. God has made us relational beings to be, above all, in relationship with Him. Indebted explores how our relationship with God plays out in our relationships with others, both family and friends.
The mother-daughter relationship is so important to a young girl’s development. What if this relationship is less than ideal in the life of a young girl? How can she overcome the deficit this causes? Such a question was yet another part of the inspiration behind Indebted. Wren, the main character, loses her mother at age 12 and must find solace and healing in the other relationships God provides.
What one piece of advice would Princess Wren give?
You can’t live life to the fullest without the help and support of the people God places in your life. He has given these friends and family as gifts to help you walk this journey.
What is your favorite thing about the book’s cover?
I love the look of determination on the girl’s face on the cover. It captures Wren’s unrelenting spirit. The menacing dragon is fantastic as well. It is what I visualized when I wrote the dragon in the story.
What part or aspect of this story do you love the most?
I love the story’s emphasis on friendship and the importance of asking for help. In a culture that puts so much emphasis on individual strength and not enough attention to the power of “we,” Indebted demonstrates what it looks like to live life in relationship with others.
Do you have any specific snacks you eat or music you listen to when you write?
I’m so glad you asked this question because you gave me a way to discuss what I call the “Discipline Of Creativity,” the necessary steps to create a lifestyle of creativity. One of the points in my lecture is a discussion of the ritual I like to create before I write. This ritual includes five minutes of coloring before writing while listening, each time, to the same soundtrack. I continue to listen to the soundtrack while writing for 25 minutes. I sometimes write twice in one day but usually just 25 minutes a day. I write about one and a half books a year although this year I wrote two books in less than a year.
About the Author
Charmayne Hafen is a graduate of John Brown University and has her masters in counseling from the Denver Seminary. Her love of Celtic mythology in Christian themes inspired her to write her debut Young Adult novel, Indebted: The Berkshire Dragon. She is a fan of the author, Stephen Lawhead.She has written several short stories for children, teens, and adults, as well as the fantasy trilogy being published in 2020 by Capture Books, called, The Land of Twilight. She is currently working on the development of her sequel to The Berkshire Dragon.
Charmayne has a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and psychology as well as a Master of Arts degree in counseling. When she’s not writing, Charmayne is running counseling groups for adults and a therapeutic photography group for teens. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband John and her two chihuahuas, Pepe and Frida.
More from Charmayne
Hello, Readers, Educators, Book Reviewers and Celebrate Lit Bloggers!
Although I am new to a lot of social media, I have heard that your group is a fantastic resource to new authors. Being a little bit of an introvert, you might even call me reluctant or a slow starter, but I assure you that I can imagine strategies and battle in the heavenlies for readers’ minds with the best of ’em. I say, “Let’s go!”
Please feel free to connect with me on any social media platform, or to write to me directly. I have loved engaging with anyone who has read my book and has sent me a comment or question. Because Indebted was published, I was thrilled to be able to speak to a group of college students taking coursework in literature and writing at Texas Tech last year.
I love facilitating creative writing seminars especially speaking to authors about how to join a system of discipline and creativity to overcome writer’s block.
My hope, however, is to be able to engage more students in elementary school and junior high about the topics in my books because I write about the things facing young people with a certain perspective that the Lord sees them right where they are, that God actually cares deeply for them, and that He has answers for them. These answers include that Jesus paid the penalty for a kid’s lying, bullying, violence, disbelief, envy, and rebellion and that bringing them to back to God means that they get to be adopted into His kingdom as princes and princesses.
I hope that my books provide that suspension of disbelief needed for us all to see the possibility of walking in faith with others in traumatic times and to experience the wonders of God’s word to us.
Sincerely and Gratefully,
Charmayne
Tour Schedule
Texas Book-aholic, January 22
For The Love Of Literature, January 23
Just the Write Escape, January 24
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 25
Mamma Loves Books, January 26
Wishful Endings, January 26 (Author Interview)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 27
By The Book, January 28 (Author Interview)
janicesbookreviews, January 29
Inklings and notions, January 30
A Baker’s Perspective, January 31 (Author Interview)
Seasons of Opportunities, February 1
Blogging With Carol, February 2
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 3
Artistic Nobody, February 4
Tour-Wide Giveaway
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
What did you think of the interview? Will you be reading this one?
No comments
Post a Comment
I love comments! I try to read and reply to them all. Feel free to agree or disagree and generally share your thoughts with me.