Emily's Trial by Natalie Wright - Virtual Tour and Giveaway

Today we're visiting with author Natalie Wright on her tour with Goddess Fish Promotions for the YA Fantasy novel, "Emily's Trial".  The awesome cover and the excerpt to this book intrigued me so much, I've actually bought the books to read (and most likely review) later down the road (I just didn't have time to do it for this tour ... sorry!).

Natalie will award an autographed copy of "Emily's House", a handmade Celtic-inspired armlet, similar to one worn by Emily in the books and book swag to one randomly drawn commenter (US only -- an eBook of "Emily's House" will be substituted as the prize for an international winner), so comment today AND follow her tour (if you click on the banner above, it'll take you to a list of her tour stops)! The more you read and comment, the better your odds of winning. You could be introduced to a great new author AND win a really cool prize!

The author opted to be exceptionally brave and share five (illustrated!) things about herself we might not otherwise know. The floor is yours, Natalie.

1. I have an undergraduate degree in Art Education. I haven’t used my four years of college art classes since graduation, except that my drawing skills (though rusty) come in handy from time-to-time to draw sketches of characters. Here’s an early sketch of Dorcha, one of the characters in Emily’s Trial.

2. I have a fascination with horror and science fiction B movies from the 1950’s and 1960’s. One of my favorites is Mothra vs. Godzilla.

3. In elementary school, I dreamed of being on the Mickey Mouse club show. The fact that I couldn’t dance, sing or act was a bit of a set back ;-(

4. I was born to working class parents without wealth, title or college education. But I count as my ancestors William the Conqueror (aka ‘The Bastard King’), Grom the Old (first historically recognized King of Denmark), and Kings and Queens of France and Scotland. An explanation for how my ancestry went from European royalty to me? A series of women marrying badly!

5. While I didn’t marry a man of wealth, fame or power, I married well. We’ve been married for almost 25 years, and when he kisses me, I still feel my insides turn to jelly. TMI? *G* He snores, I want to staple odor eaters to his feet, and he has an unending ability to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. But one brush of his lips on my neck – or a smoldering look into my eyes – and I’m as lost to him now as I was 25 years ago.

Two years ago, Emily’s journey began. She learned the ancient magic of her Celtic ancestors,and became a modern Celtic Priestess. The golden torc, forged by faerie hands, is still wound around her arm, fused to her soul. She was entrusted with powerful magic – secret knowledge.

But even a Priestess can feel desire – temptation – and the quest for love. Will passion entice Emily to use her sacred magic in a forbidden way? Can new love take root in a world of nightmares? And will her friendships survive Emily’s Trial?

The Journey Continues . . .

The Apocalypse didn't start with four horsemen, harbingers of the horror to come. It didn't start with a plague, or pestilence, or even zombies rising from the dead.

It came slowly, and without warning. It crept up on people in the shadows, no more than a vague darkness that spread like an unseen cancer.

And it wasn't set into action by a divine hand. A teenage girl was the catalyst for the End Times.

I should know. I'm the one that started it.

I didn't plan to. I didn't want to start the End Times, and I'm not evil.

Madame Wong taught me to tell the truth, and so here it is. I'm the one responsible for the Apocalypse. And this is the story of how I unwittingly unlocked the door to the darkness; of how a Priestess of the Order of Brighid, entrusted with powerful magic that was supposed to be used for the benefit of all humankind, unleashed a force that would destroy it instead.

And it all began with desire.

Natalie is the author of The Akasha Chronicles, a young adult fantasy trilogy. When not writing, blogging, Facebooking, Tweeting, Wattpadding or eating chocolate, Natalie nurtures her young daughter, feeds her dog too many treats, and can’t resist watching Ancient Aliens, no matter how absurd the show becomes.

Natalie enjoys travel, good wine, and excellent food shared with family and friends. She was raised an Ohio farm girl, now lives in the desert Southwest, and dreams of living in a high rise in a big city.

“Books are my friends, ideas my passion.”

Natalie enjoys chatting with readers, so stop by and say hi:

Blog: http://www.NatalieWrightsYA.blogspot.com
Twitter: @NatalieWright_
Facebook: NatalieWright.Author
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468945.Natalie_Wright
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/WritesKidsBooks
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/NatalieWright_
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/natwrites/