The Others Blog Tour

Review

This has been truly a joy to read.  I had a chance to check out the official web site after I finished reading it.  Kristin has her character wish list and I have to agree with her on most of her character choices.  

A dangerous adventure to save a distant world Ryen is just a normal guy trying to do his job.  Unfortunately, that job includes trying to save his distant world on the brink of disaster.

Ryen is on a mission to Earth to find the answers to his distant world’s most critical questions.  While searching the Yucatan Peninsula for a mythic figure—a savior—who would live a perfect life and ultimately die to save their souls, Ryen meets Savannah, a beautiful woman hiding a painful past.  On their dangerous adventures together through the untamed jungles of Mexico, he can’t help but fall in love with her.  As his time runs out, Ryen must decide if he is willing to give up everything he has ever known and loved to stay on Earth with Savannah.

The Masters, a powerful clan of corrupt leaders, are plotting to take back Earth, the sacred planet, from the humans.  Ryen and Savannah are thrust into the middle of The Masters’ plot.

Kristin Bryant is a teacher, author and, most importantly, a mom.  She teaches anthropology and psychology for a virtual high school and lives in Orange County, California with her husband and two sons.  Visit her at kristinbryant.com.

Meet the Author

1. How did you come up with the storyline for The Others? What inspired you?

The idea came to me while I was doing laundry. It came so out of nowhere and so clearly, I actually dropped my laundry basket on my feet. It was such a strange idea, I wasn’t sure what to do with it at first. It took me a little bit of time to put pen to paper and start outlining a story around it, especially because I had never thought of writing a book before.

2. Are the characters in The Others based on real people you have known?

A few are! I used to live in Tonga, so Chase and Mateo are based on two very cute and fun boys I knew over there. Tali, Pila, I’m looking at you guys!

3. Is there a message in The Others that you want your readers to grasp?

Aside from being a fun adventure, the book is about faith and free agency. I want to get people thinking about why they believe what they believe.

4. Do you have plans for a sequel to The Others? (please say yes!)

I would LOVE to write the sequel! As I was writing the first one, I really thought I could sum everything up in one book. But the plot kept getting longer and longer until finally I decided I could probably split the story up over two books. My goal is for this first one to be successful enough for my publisher to want a second book. So, what do you say, Sourced Media Books? Are we gonna give the people what they want?

5. What motivates you to write?

I am motivated to write when I feel like my brain is starting to get as mushy as the bananas I am feeding my toddler or as stale as the goldfish crackers my five year old loves to eat off the car floor (he does it while I’m not looking). Then I know it is time to dust off the ol’ imagination and do something that is entirely fulfilling and challenging for me.

6. What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Whenever I get stuck on a piece of dialogue or am not sure what should come next, I check Facebook. As soon as I start doing something a little bit mindless, the ideas come quicker. So, if you see me signed in to Facebook really often, you know I’m stuck.

7. What was the hardest part of writing The Others?

Finding the time! I work full-time from home, I have two little boys, and I’ve been fighting breast cancer. Sometimes I would wonder why I was doing this to myself. Why am I inviting more stress into my life? Why am I putting myself out there just to get rejected over and over? The answer: if it is fulfilling and fun, you find time, rejection or no rejection.

8. How did it take you to write The Others – from draft to publication?

4 of the longest years in history:

Year 1- writing the manuscript

Year 2- at least 20 rejection letters in close succession

Year 3- rewriting the whole dang thing over again

Year 4- acceptance and publishing!

9. What books are you currently reading?

AP Psychology by David Meyers or Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss. Did I mention I teach AP Psych online courses from home and I have two little boys? I wish I could give a more glamorous answer, but I’m settling for the most truthful answer.

10. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I love to read, but see question number 10 in regards to how much I get to do that nowadays. I take classical ballet pointe and Zumba classes every week. If I could dance everyday, I would. Another one of my favorite things to do is go to the dollar movie theater and watch something awesome with my friend as we sneak Yogurtland frozen yogurt into the theater inside our purses. And I love taking my boys out for long hikes in the afternoon.

11. Who are your favorite authors or authors who have had an influence on your writing?

Beverly Cleary taught me to find the humor in everyday situations, like being eight years old. Shakespeare taught me that writing can sound like music if you are doing it right. Jane Austen taught me to love a good, giddy love story. And Stephenie Meyer taught me that housewives can do more than clean sinks.

12. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be the lady who brought prison inmates their food, I kid you not. To this day, I have NO idea where that came from, but my parents never let me forget it.

13. Tell us a little bit about yourself – where you are from, married/single, any children (human or four-legged), etc.

I grew up in San Clemente, California. I went to BYU in Utah for my undergrad and Cal State Fullerton for my Masters degree, both in education. I have 2 little boys and a hard-working husband and we all live in La Habra, California right now.

14. Name 5 things your fans do not know about you.

•  I have 8 tattoos. That makes me sound edgy, but they are all from radiation treatment for the breast cancer. I had no idea I’d have to get tattoos when I started the whole process!

•  I’m a pretty good tap dancer. 

•  I can’t tell direction to save my life. Literally, if I were in a forest and the only way to live was for me to head North, I would probably die in the forest.

•  My 2nd grade teacher showed us a film strip about how tuna fish is caught, processed and packed and I’ve never, ever been able to eat seafood since. Thanks, Mrs. Habig.

•  I didn’t realize how much I loved reading until after high school. I think I sort of assumed all books were as depressing as everything I was forced to read growing up: 1984, Grapes of Wrath, A Farewell to Arms, Ordinary People, and Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Yeesh. Where’s the fun in that? 

15. Do you have any plans for a book signing tour and, if so, any tentative dates scheduled yet?

I am doing lots of blog tours coming up! I am working on more book signing events. I'll be keeping my website updated.

Buy The Book

You can find Kristin's book "The Others" on Amazon

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You can also find Kristin on Twitter, GoodReads, or on her author blog or on the official web site for The Others.

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Full Disclosure - The giveaway is sponsored and I received a copy of the book to review.  The opinions expressed are my own.