Presented by:
Title: The Mind’s Eye Series: Synsk #1
Author: K.C. Finn
Audience: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal/ Historical/ Romance
Formats: E-book and paperback
Publisher: Clean Teen Publishing
Cover by: Marya Heiman for Cleen Teen Publishing
Pages: 350 pages
ISBN: 1940534380
ASIN: B00JDPXCWG
Date Published: April 1st 2014
At fifteen, Kit Cavendish is one of the oldest evacuees to escape London at the start of the Second World War due to a long term illness that sees her stuck in a wheelchair most of the time. But Kit has an extraordinary psychic power: she can put herself into the minds of others, see through their eyes, feel their emotions, even talk to them – though she dares not speak out for fear of her secret ability being exposed.
As Kit settles into her new life in the North Wales village of Bryn Eira Bach, solitude and curiosity encourage her to gain better control of her gift. Until one day her search for information on the developing war leads her to the mind of Henri, a seventeen-year-old Norwegian boy witnessing the German occupation of his beloved city, Oslo. As Henri discovers more about the English girl occupying his mind, the psychic and emotional bonds between them strengthen and Kit guides him through an oppressive and dangerous time.
There are secrets to be uncovered, both at home and abroad, and it’s up to Kit and Henri to come together and fight their own battles in the depths of the world’s greatest war.
“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you; you look like a monkey and you smell like one too!”
Henri laughed for the first time in what seemed like forever and a warmth settled in my chest, like things were finally going to get back to normal. When Leighton went to get more pop, Henri came to the tree and sat down beside me, putting a long arm around my shoulders and pulling me in. He kissed the side of my head gently, his warm breath sinking into my hair. He hadn’t tried to kiss me properly again even when there had been opportunity for it, and I was sort of grateful for that. As much as I wanted to feel that tingling, only-us-in-the-world sensation again, right now the atmosphere just wasn’t right. But we were always close to one another when we had the chance, I had gotten so used to his arms around me that it felt like some part of me was missing when he wasn’t there.
“I’ll have to go into the village tomorrow,” he whispered, “to pass my enlistment papers to the right people.”
An invisible blade sank slowly into my fragile heart, but I had always known this day was coming.
“It’ll take them a while to process it,” I said hopefully, “I bet they’ve already got loads of boys waiting to go to basic training.”
“Perhaps,” he said softly, his lips still resting against my head.
I turned sharply to face him, searching his deep brown eyes. “I don’t want you to go,” I said, racing to find his hand to hold it tightly.
“I won’t really be gone,” he replied, “You’ll always be able to find me.”
“That’s not the point,” I said, my curls shaking as I trembled, “This is dangerous Henri, this is war.”
“You forget where I’ve been already,” he said, turning his face away to focus hard on the distance. He kept a firm hold of my hand and gave it a good squeeze. “You came to my head in the quiet times, the safe times. But I’ve already seen the destruction, the danger and the death, Kit. I think there are two types of people during war: those who see the horror happening and run away, never looking back, and those who want to do something about it.” I felt his other arm pull me in closer against his strong body. “You know which type I am, so you know I have to go.”
I couldn’t say anything, because it was all true.
Link: Youtube
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I would like to thank K.C. for taking the time to answer my questions. I learned a lot from her answers and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
When
did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always written stories from being
little, so I suppose I didn’t really look at it as a serious career choice
until after my first novella was self-published. Once I entered the social
world of online publishing, I realized that I’d found my kind of people, and I
wanted to stay in that community and thrive there, so I just kept going after
that!
How
long does it take you to write a book?
2-3 months at the most, 15 days at the
least. It depends on how well I’ve planned the story to begin with, and then
how many real-life things are going to interrupt the process as I go along. I
usually find that once I’m over the half-way mark, things move a lot quicker. I
wrote the last 30,000 words of my latest novel in ten days on holiday, whereas
the first 30,000 had taken me more than a month to do at home. It differs from
project to project, but 3 months is my current maximum.
Writing
a series, how hard is it to stay true to the characters from Book One to The
End?
I have a much challenge with this than
most writers, because the Synsk series jumps forward in time with every book.
You start with Kit when she is fifteen in 1939, but in Book Four which I’m
currently writing, she is now 51 with children of her own! I think if you’ve
created a strong enough character at the start, then they will endure until the
last book pretty well.
With
a series, how do you decide when the story will be completed?
With Synsk, it’s easy, because Book
Six will bring me almost up to the present day, so I can’t actually jump any
farther ahead in time than that. You have to know the end before you embark on
the journey with any of these projects. If you don’t know what that great
struggle is that your characters are charging towards, then they’ll never have
convincing intent and purpose when you write them.
How
hard is it to keep track of various storylines and characters when you have
more than one series being written at a time?
My family says that I don’t live in
the real world because I have too much stuff crammed into my head from my
imaginary ones! I don’t find it that hard to keep track actually. I am an avid
planner and I always have tons of notes to refer to, to keep my memory fresh.
What
do you think makes a great story?
An intriguing storyline with mysteries
to be unraveled. I like works that confuse me and keep me guessing, throwing
curveballs every few chapters. If I can predict the end when I’m reading
chapter one, then that’s an author who’s not doing their job
right.
What
is your work schedule like when you're writing?
Sporadic. I don’t just write for the
sake of it, or to ‘put the hours in’. If I’m not in the zone, then the writing
is awful, and it never gets used. My usual style is to keep my mood up and do
lots of creative things, so that when I sit down to try and write, the zone
kicks in and I can get a good chunk done. Once I’m going, I’ll go for hours if
there’s no interruptions, and I can get a lot done in a short space of time
when the mood is right.
Has
your medical condition affected your writing?
Yes. A lot of people think that
C.F.S./M.E. just makes you feel ‘a bit tired’, but let me give you a new
perspective on this. If you imagine that you haven’t slept all night, and
you’re dragging yourself around in the morning with a sore head, aching body
and no co-ordination or any ability to think straight. That’s how I wake up
every single day of my life, and that’s AFTER a full night’s sleep. So it take
a lot of work to motivate yourself and get going each day before you can even
think about being creative. Some days I can manage it, and some days are just
better left unmentioned.
Click on image for more information
Where
do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I like to buy obscure books from other
cultures, like myths and legends or books about language and word origin. I get
a lot of ideas from those kinds of books. Plenty of my ideas also come from my
travels. Instead of spending my student loans on cigarettes and alcohol, I
saved up every penny and saw a lot of world. Exploring other cultures and
seeing beautiful places really inspires me, and it’s funny how trips I took
years ago can suddenly become useful when I have a new idea.
What
was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That I could commit to completing such
massive projects. For people who have never written a book, it might seem like
60 or 70 thousand words is no big ask, but when you actually sit down to write
it, you realize that you’ve let yourself in for something huge. That sense of
completing a project and sending it off to the publisher is what drives me to
carry on.
How
many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Right now, I have 3 novels with Clean
Teen Publishing, 4 self-published novellas, 1 self-published novel, 1
non-fiction book about my medical condition and 1 collection of horror stories
released. I also have 5 books scheduled for release next year so far already!
Are
your characters based on anyone you know?
My characters always take a part of me
with them. I don’t like to borrow traits from other people, because it
influences the way the characters behave too much (and also how I treat them as
a writer!). But if I can give a character one of my own qualities amongst their
personality, I can relate to them and give them some authenticity. Steven
Bickerstaff in The Mind’s Eye has a lot of my less pleasant traits, but that
allows me to show him some sympathy and find a way to redeem them!
Do
you have a favorite place you love to write?
Because of my condition, I just like
to be comfortable. It has to be a quiet place that’s free from distractions,
and it has to be the right temperature, without too much bright light. I
usually sit at the table in our living room with all the window blinds drawn.
The table is in an alcove, and it makes me feel kind of contained and separate
from the rest of the room, which helps me to zone out.
How
hard is it to get published?
I accidentally landed on my feet with
this one. I have only ever pursued three publishers, and two of them accepted
me right away! I think it is a tough business, but the trick is to start small
and work your way up to bigger names. If you have some good books going with
great small presses, you can only grow from there.
What
do your family and friends think about your books?
I have some real gems among my family
who read everything I write. My Mum, Dad and my grandmother are by far my
biggest supporters, and they all give me radically different feedback on my
books, which helps hugely.
What
do you like to do when you are not writing?
At the moment, I watch a lot of TV and
old British comedy movies. I’m also learning to draw anime, designing videogames
and improving my skills with video editing and graphic design. Learning may not
sound relaxing to other people, but I really enjoy discovering something new
every day.
Do
you have any suggestions to help aspiring writers better themselves and their
craft? If so, what are they?
Study Vladimir Propp. His Morphologyof the Folktale and Character Archetypes have helped me to subvert the normal
narrative paths of storytelling and create plots and characters that are not
the typical ones you see in a lot of books these days. If you don’t want to be
run of the mill, then look at what’s out there now, analyze its formula, and do
something to switch it all up. That’s the way to mark your identity in the vast
world of writing online.
As
a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I had a lot of ideas about that when I
was younger. I did want to be a writer when I was very small, but I also wanted
to be a paleontologist, which never quite got off the ground. When I was
thirteen and my illness struck me down, I started to think that I wasn’t going
to be anything at all, and I went into teaching years later because it came
easily to me and I had all the right qualifications for it. I never wanted to
be a teacher when I was a kid, that’s for sure!
What
are your favorite books and which authors inspire you?
Books that I adore and have read more
than once include: Lolita (Vladimir Nabokov), Dracula (Bram Stoker, The Strange
Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde (Robert Louis Stevenson), The Harry Potter Series
(J.K. Rowling) and The Discworld Series (Terry Pratchett). I find all of these
authors to be inspiring, particularly Nabokov, who has an incredible way of
portraying deep characters.
For
an aspiring writer what do you feel are certain do's and don’ts for getting
their material published?
DO research your publishers and make
sure they’re suitable for your book. DON’T just send your book to everyone. DO
tailor your covering letter to suit the individual publisher. DO read their
other books and show them that you’re interested in them personally, not just
as a means to get fame. DON’T expect to make a lot of money right away – it
takes years to create income from your books. DO promote yourself like crazy,
collaborate with other authors and engage with your fans on social media. And
most importantly, if you believe in yourself and your story, then DON’T give
up!
What
are you working on now?
I have just finished a YA dystopian
novel for a big publishing contest here in the UK, and now I’m back to working
simultaneously on a Middle Grade fantasy novel and my new zombie YA adventure
for Clean Teen Publishing in 2015. I have plenty of exciting new releases
coming next year, so stay in touch!
In
one Tweet, describe the book we’re promoting:
One girl's
struggle for #strength and #love in
World War II leads her to a life she never dreamed of living. The Mind's Eye by
K.C. Finn.
Five For Fun:
What is your favorite
drink? TEA!
I’m British, don’t you know?
What is your favorite
cartoon character? Sebastian
from the anime show Black Butler.
What is your favorite movie
of all time? It varies, but right now
I’m watching Spice World a lot! Now THAT’S a guilty pleasure movie!
What TV shows do you like
to watch? Right now I’m enjoying
‘How To Get Away With Murder’, but my all-time favourites will always be Doctor
Who, Hi-De-Hi and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. (Between Spice World, How To Get Away With Murder and Doctor Who, I think I've found my long lost other half! Seriously, we would get along wonderfully!)
What do you like to do for
fun or just to relax? I
draw anime, make videos and graphics, build Lego and watch a lot of TV!
Title: Leighton’s SummerSeries: Synsk #2
Pages: 308 pages
ISBN: 1940534666
ASIN: B00JOZSRPM
Date Published: April 14, 2014
A teenage boy with something to prove gets caught up in a web of crime and deceit in England, 1945.
In the weeks leading up to his sixteenth birthday, gifted psychic Leighton Cavendish finds himself suddenly packed off to Blackpool, a glittering, teenage paradise filled with plenty of opportunities for amusement—and trouble. With only a preoccupied grandmother to keep an eye on him, Leighton’s desperation for adventure leads him out into a world of holidaymakers, candy, and carnival rides—the ideal place to spend six weeks away from home.
But Leighton’s psychic visions are encroaching on his fun, trying to warn him of the danger that lurks beyond the shimmering lights of the Golden Mile. Who are the mysterious thieves Leighton sees in his head, and what do they want with the children they seek? A girl called Faye holds the answer, but she has enough problems of her own.
Amid the climate of a tourist town recovering from the impact of the Second World War, two lost teenagers will discover a shocking truth about human greed. Together, they will try to fight against it. For Leighton and Faye, this will be a summer to remember—one filled with challenges that must be overcome.
A summer that turns a boy into a man.
![clip_image003[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iBZSPiTEsKpGpNI-maSoEOgVUlRkM-n0DAg8vGArZj99OdtGFAfVdBBVd3bpGn8mw6PAiaxaoKqvRXgzdFQ3EMzA861BHkVbrilryCjpPsOKQob2L-Of52zQ_yQDWR0DZmH7f2DV3Ndv/?imgmax=800 "clip_image003[1]"){kind=small}
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Title: A Place Halfway Series: Synsk #3
Pages: 325 pages
ISBN: 1634220315
ASIN: B00NJSVHUC
A struggling psychic girl steps out into the big wide world amidst the murky depths of racial segregation in England, 1961.
As a teenage psychic, Josephine Fontaine knows what it’s like to be different. At Peregrine Place, a school full of youngsters with gifts just like hers, sixteen-year-old Josie is growing tired of her life and looking for more excitement in the world beyond the grand manor house’s walls. When an opportunity arises to work in a local music bar, Josie jumps at the chance, learning to balance her new job with the pressures of studying the ways of the Synsk.
There she meets the charming Tommy Asher, a fellow psychic with a talent for music, and Jake Bolton, a handsome, surly stranger with coffee-coloured skin. Throw in the return of her old crush Dai Bickerstaff, and Josie finds herself embroiled in a drama much bigger than she could have imagined, especially when certain parties take issue to her developing a friendship with a boy who isn’t white-skinned. When a mysterious record mogul offers Josie help to improve her psychic gifts, her world turns totally upside down and Josie begins to question everything she thought she knew about the world, her family and even herself.
Coming of age was never so intense as it will be for Josie in the winter of 1961.
![clip_image003[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrfTjgvbIaAnMI6snrU_zoPOlu2DsZ3lGh-G4MiWyk6PqGUdIag0dh4FWoS-kFjfILpYAXxxSFFk69767GvIJSFgXY0ca9Vp8tiLlzDo02x7kSqBK3U3Ik5ukrT36uUrufXF5aN-DUx9_/?imgmax=800 "clip_image003[2]"){kind=small}
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
A Place Halfway
by K.C. Finn
Giveaway ends November 28, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
K.C. Finn has also recently been welcomed into the fold at Clean Teen Publishing as a debut Young Adult author for 2014, beginning her run of publications with the paranormal/historical series SYNSK. 2015 will see K.C. release her epic urban fantasy series Shadeborn with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Press.
As a sufferer with the medical condition M.E./C.F.S., Kim works part time as a private tutor and a teacher of creative writing, devoting the remainder of her time to writing novels and studying for an MA in Education and Linguistics.
![clip_image003[3]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUQCy78yinRaz2ETx3TI3D2MHSAi6Jn18Y9dJtlaPxooqTKRkUUGNGVA64gb9LIgNmPIRDd5caXdNTuelFT4o3GORf6FGLFicGnmuek_M3NaEf8Mos5AUPc_SX3XunZhXwV2Xzh7Pa_-v/?imgmax=800 "clip_image003[3]"){kind=small}
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Tour Schedule - One month Tour for The Synsk Series by K.C. Finn from Oct 27 to Nov 27, 2014.
Oct 27
Word to Dreams - Promo & Author Interview
Night Owl Reviews - Promo
Oct 28
Books, Authors, Blogs - Promo
Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom - Promo, & Top Ten
Oct 29
3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!- Promo
Shayna Varadeaux - Promo
Oct 30
Coffee Books & Art - Promo, Dream Cast, Playlist, Top Ten
What Shall We Blog About Today? - Promo, Dream Cast, Character Bio's, Book Soundtrack & Playlist
Oct 31
MI Bookshelf - Promo
Book Club Sisters - Promo, Book Soundtrack & Playlist
Nov 3
Deal Sharing Aunt- Promo
2 Girls & A Book - Promo, Dream Cast, Character Bio's & Top Ten
Nov 4
Lindsey Gray - Promo & Character Bio's
Nov 5
Sweet Treat Reading Reviews - Promo & Dream Cast
Nov 6
Babu's Bookshelf - Review All
Beckstar Reviews - Review All
Nov 7
Bookworm for Kids - Review - Book 1 - The Mind’s Eye
Nov 10
JeanzBookReadNReview - Promo, Author Interview, Dream Cast & Playlist
My Book Fairy - Promo, Character Bio's, Book Soundtrack & Guest Post
Nov 11
A One-click Addict's Book Blog - Promo
Book Lovers Life - Promo & Top Ten
Hooke On Books Forever - Promo, Dream Cast, Character Bio's, Playlist & Book Soundtrack
Nov 12
Pretty Little Pages - Promo & Top Ten
Avid Reader Amy's Reviews - Promo, Dream Cast & Book Soundtrack
Nov 13
Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog - Promo
Nov 14
Kelly P's Blog - Promo
The Wonderings Of One Person - Promo, Author Interview & Playlist
Nov 17
Cajun Book Lover - Promo
Nov 18
A Little Bit of R&R - Promo, Dream Cast, Character Bio's & Playlist
Nov 19
Portals to New Worlds - Promo, Character Interview, Dream Cast, Character Bio's, Playlist & Book Soundtrack
Nov 20
Eclipse Reviews - Promo, Author Interview, Dream Cast, Character Bio's, Playlist & Book Soundtrack
Nov 21
A Cauldron of Books - Promo, Top Ten, Dream Cast, Character Bio's, Playlist & Book Soundtrack
Nov 24
Angels with Attitude Book Reviews - Promo, Top Ten, Book Soundtrack & Playlist
Nov 25
Dalene's Book Reviews - Promo, Review All, Dream Cast, Character Bio's, Playlist & Book Soundtrack
Nov 26
The Avid Reader - Promo, Dream Cast, Character Bio's, Book Soundtrack, Playlist
Veduny Writer - Promo & Review - Book 3 - A Place Halfway
Nov 27
The Idle Musings of a Writer's Mind - Promo, & Author Interview, Dream Cast, Character Bio's, Book Soundtrack, Playlist
B.A.S.E.D. Press - Promo & Review All
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