Getting to Know the Authors: Featuring Sara Raasch!

Bio

Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, the first in a trilogy, comes out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray. It does not feature her hand-drawn pictures.

Want more of Sara, go to: http://sararaasch.tumblr.com/

What has she written?

She has just released her first novel Snow Like Snow!

Synopsis:

       Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians' only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter's magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

      Orphaned as an infant during Winter's defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians' general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend and future king, Mather—she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again.

       So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore their magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she's scaling towers and fighting enemy soldiers just as she's always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn't go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics—and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

      Sara Raasch's debut fantasy is a lightning-fast tale of loyalty, love, and finding one's destiny.

Now onto the Interview!

1) How old were you when you started writing, in your opinion?

I've always been a writer. Even as a child, before I could really "write," I'd make horrible little picture books. It's always been in my blood! 

2) What do you want a reader to gain from reading your works?

The main theme of SNOW LIKE ASHES that I hope comes across (especially in the whole trilogy) is the idea that you are enough, on your own, without any outside influences. If people come away from my series believing that, I will be a happy author :)

3) Who is your favourite author, why?

My favorite author is Sharon Shinn, particularly for her Twelve Houses series. She's an adult fantasy author, and WOW. I read her books as a teen and totally fell in love with her world building and characters, and to this day, reading that series feels like home.

4) To the youth of today, if you could tell them one thing, what would it be?

Exactly the message of SNOW LIKE ASHES -- that they are enough as they are. It was a lesson that took me a long, long time to learn, so I hope through my book and just life in general they will come to realize how freaking awesome they are on their own!