Meet Author Katie Carroll

Today I welcome Children's/MG/YA author Katie Carroll and her book Elixir Bound, a YA Paranormal Fantasy.

Katie, tell us a bit about yourself.

I started seriously writing when I was 19 and my 16-year-old sister, Kylene, unexpectedly passed away. She loved the Harry Potter books and insisted that everyone read them. She made a lot of reluctant readers into eager ones. I wrote my first book to give her a fantasy adventure of her own. I learned a lot about writing and about myself in the process and that book eventually became Elixir Bound. Now my husband and I are raising our son in the small city that has been my home for more years than I like to count.

Why did you pick to write books for children and teens?

I didn’t! I just started writing a book. When I finally got around to thinking about who might want to read what I was writing, it just sort of fell into place that teens would. So I kind of ran with that idea and I’ve never turned back. From young adult to middle grade to picture books, I love writing them all.

Here is a teaser from Elixir Bound:

Katora Kase is next in line to take over as guardian to a secret and powerful healing Elixir. Now she must journey into the wilds of Faway Forest to find the ingredient that gives the Elixir its potency. Even though she has her sister and brother, an old family friend, and the handsome son of a mapmaker as companions, she feels alone.

It is her decision alone whether or not to bind herself to the Elixir to serve and protect it until it chooses a new guardian. The forest hosts many dangers, including wicked beings that will stop at nothing to gain power, but the biggest danger Katora may face is whether or not to open up her heart to love.

What types of books do you like to read?

Young adult, young adult, and more young adult. Sure, I throw in the occasional adult book or classic, and I do enjoy middle grade, but young adult is my go-to reading. Whether it be fantasy, contemporary, or dystopian, I love young adult fiction.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I have a one-year-old son who keeps me pretty busy. I also like playing soccer, traveling when I have the time and money to do it, and collecting signed books. I’m also an editor, formerly of puzzle magazines and now I work on books.

What book did you wish you had written?

I’d have to say The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson, which is about a 17-year-old girl whose 19-year-old sister has just died. It’s the only book I felt compelled to write in (because I never, ever write in books). I think the author somehow managed to get in my head just after my own sister died and so eloquently put into words how I was feeling.

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

I’ve written lots of other books, but I’ll just talk about my newest book that is set to release next month. It’s a picture book app called The Bedtime Knight, which was illustrated by Erika Baird and is forthcoming from MeeGenius! It’s about a young child who, with a little help from Daddy Knight, learns how to turn the scary shadows of the night into fun imaginings.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I’m working on a follow-up to Elixir Bound, which is mostly still in my head. Right now it’s called Elixir Saved. Kylene, the sister of Katora—the main character of Elixir Bound—is the main character. I’ve also got a middle grade adventure called Pirate Island, which I’m hoping to find a home for soon.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Read, read, and read some more. Then write, write, and write some more. Then revise, revise, and revise some more. Then submit, submit, and submit some more. Really, that’s all it takes to be a published writer!

Anything else you want readers to know?

I love hearing from readers, and I’m available for school visits. Please check out my school visit page (http://www.katielcarroll.com/school-visits/) for more information.  

Where can readers find you and your books?

My website and blog are at www.katielcarroll.com. 

Elixir Bound can be found on the MuseItUp website (http://tinyurl.com/95qgrg6), and on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Elixir-Bound-ebook/dp/B0093CL4OM). 

The Bedtime Knight will be available on the MeeGenius! website (http://www.meegenius.com/store/featured) in early November.

Two New Middle Grade/YA Releases for E-Readers

MuseItUp Publishing newest E-books

The Journal in the Jug by K.G. McAbee
Cover Designer: Charlotte Volnek
Middle Grade Fantasy

‘When the paintings seem to glimmer, then the portals start to shimmer…’

Twelve-year-old Noah Macgregor can’t get that ridiculous line of poetry from an old journal out of his head. And he certainly didn’t plan to get his older sister Holly, their dog Gilbert and himself trapped.

It was an accident. He and Holly were just following Gilbert through the dark hallways of the old house that had belonged to a pirate two hundred years before. They find Gilbert just in time to see him run full speed into…and it looks like, through…a painting. Naturally, they follow their dog; wouldn’t you? And Noah has at least a vague idea of what might be on the other side, thanks to stuff he’d read in that same old journal he’d found inside a jug.

But on the other side of the painting, he and his sister find themselves in a strange sort of colonial South Carolina, where animals do some pretty surprising things and men made of brass and bronze walk and talk. And it gets worse. Captain Ambrose Craven is alive and even badder than expected.

And worst of all: they’re not exactly sure how to get back home…



Wakefield by Erin Callahan and Troy H. Gardner
Cover Designer: Charlotte Volnek
Young Adult

Orphans Astrid Chalke and Max Fisher meet when they’re sent to live at Wakefield, a residential and educational facility for teens with psychiatric and behavioral problems. Astrid’s roommate cuts herself with anything sharp she can get her hands on and Max’s roommate threatens him upon introduction. Just as Astrid and Max develop a strong bond and begin to adjust to the constant chaos surrounding them, a charming and mysterious resident of Wakefield named Teddy claims he has unexplainable abilities. Sometimes he can move things without touching them. Sometimes he can see people’s voices emanating from their mouths. Teddy also thinks that some of the Wakefield staff are on to him. At first, Astrid and Max think Teddy is paranoid, but Max’s strange, recurring dreams and a series of unsettling events force them to reconsider Teddy’s claims. Are they a product of his supposedly disturbed mind or is the truth stranger than insanity?

Had Your Legend Today?

Had your Legend for the day? Stop by Kathy Rigg's blog and read my

interview. The King's Ransom, An Arthurian Adventure. Come take a look.

A Sense of Fiction

Excerpt from Chapter 4 of Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend

The Surprise

At the bottom of the stairs, Guinevere paused and peeked out

the door. Seeing no one, she stepped out into the bailey,

thankful for the clouds that hid the moon. Focused on the outer

door across the courtyard, she missed seeing the figure that slid out

of the shadows and followed her.

Guinevere glanced once more around the bailey as she reached

the outer door. The shadow following her hugged the building as

the moon drifted out from the clouds. She crept through the door

and turned to the right. Keeping in the shadows and close to the

stable wall, she managed to work her way to about twenty yards

from the edge of the forest. Taking a furtive look around, she stole

across the open grass and slipped into the trees.

As she disappeared from view, the figure following her moved

through the outer door. As Guinevere had done, this figure kept

close to the stable wall, staying within the shadows and watching

the tree line for any movement. Seeing nothing, the shadowy figure

moved out into the moonlight, revealing himself to any who happened

to be watching, but there were none. Those not in bed stayed

in the hall enjoying themselves too much to venture out into the

late night. The moonlight bounced off his grey gown and illuminated

his white hair, making it appear ghostly. Merlyn quickened

his pace, not wanting to fall too far behind.

Guinevere crept along the forest path. The fragrance of wet

pine filled her senses. Suddenly, the faint sound of a voice off to

her right reached her ears. She turned and moved cautiously

through the trees and brush. The calming quality of the voice dispelled

her fears. As she moved closer, the voice’s volume increased

very little. Whoever it belonged to continued to whisper to

someone, although Guinevere heard only the one voice.

Through the leafy oak branches, Guinevere made out the shape

of a tall, slender woman dressed in a white hooded robe. Edging

closer she saw that the woman stood in a small clearing. Moonlight

filtered down, descending almost like a halo around her. With the

woman’s hood up, Guinevere was unable to discern any other

physical features. The woman continued to talk to someone concealed

by her body. Intrigued, Guinevere moved closer, careful not

to make any noise. While the woman did not move, from time to

time her arms reached out in front of her, for some reason unknown

to Guinevere.

So absorbed by the sight in front of her, Guinevere didn’t sense

Merlyn moving up behind her. Stopping about five paces away, he

also watched with a sense of fascination and relief. The woman’s

slender arms reached up and removed her hood, revealing lush,

curly, brown hair that fell lightly upon her shoulders.

Merlyn moved closer to Guinevere. As the woman knelt down

holding her hands out in front of her, Merlyn silently and swiftly

put his left hand on Guinevere’s left shoulder. At the same time he

covered her mouth, effectively silencing her gasp when Guinevere

saw the unicorn.

“Shh. It’s Merlyn. We need to be quiet so we don’t frighten it.

Understand?”

Guinevere nodded, and Merlyn removed his hand from her

mouth, but still left his hand on her shoulder to restrain her from

moving forward.

“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful and so pure,” she 

whispered, her brown eyes sparkling in the dim moonlight and dancing

with excitement.

“And you probably never will again. Unicorns are rare and almost

never seen by regular people.”