Photo Content from Alysha King
Alysha King is a 27-year-old author and self-confessed nerd whose greatest loves are her collection of Harry Potter Books (in both English and Japanese), Doctor Who and her Canon EOS 7D camera. For the past decade she has been writing and perfecting her first book, the Order of the Rose, the first in a planned trilogy and a YA fantasy novel. She is also planning and researching for a future YA romance based in Darwin, Australia during WWII.
Alysha lives in Canberra, Australia with her husband, young daughter and a little white cat named Rory.
Print Length: 413 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publication Date: September 6, 2013
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B00F11X6TA
Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?
Not really. Ever since I was in primary school I had various characters and scenarios running around in my head that from time to time would manifest into something that I might have wanted to write down but I didn’t really have that one defining moment. We had a few authors visit us at school and talk about their writing journeys, which was always inspiring and always provided me with helpful tips that I carried with me when I eventually did start writing, but no, no real lightning bolt moment.
Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
I really believe this is different for everyone but for me it’s a type of escapism and I like helping others to escape as well into a different world. I think that’s the main reason I love fantasy and other types of fiction that aren’t heavily based in reality – they provide a way to escape and can really allow you to get lost in a world that isn’t your own. Sometimes you just need to escape from reality for a bit.
Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?
I’m going to have to be not very original here and say the Harry Potter series. It’s a series I can read again and again and still get lost within the universe JK Rowling has created. I love it because despite the magic and almost alternate universe Harry inhabits, there is still so much that I and pretty much any Potter fan can relate to on a personal level.
Favourite non-Fantasy novel – anything by Randa Abdel-Fattah. She’s hilarious and heartfelt at the same time.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
Always have a notebook handy. I have ideas pop-up at the most random times so it was definitely a great piece of advice!
In your new book; The Order of the Rose, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it and why they should read your novel?
It’s all about a young woman who, after losing her memory, discovers she’s part of rebel order that is fighting to bring down an all-powerful Empire. She not immediately accepting of the situations she finds herself in and has to overcome a great deal of fear and self-doubt in order to harness the power needed to bring down her enemies. There’s a bit of everything for every reader – magical adventure, action, a touch of romance, evil bad guys and underdog kick-assery.
For those who are unfamiliar with Carey, how would you introduce her?
She’s definitely the reluctant hero. Carey’s forever wondering if she’s the right person for the job but in the end rises above the odds to become a serious contender.
If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
I would have to say Clary Fray from City of Bones because I’d imagine they’d have a lot to talk about – both are chucked into an unfamiliar world full of unknown dangers, both struggle with their newfound identities and both are just a tad unlucky in love (mind you, I’ve only read the first book in the Mortal Instruments series so I’m not sure how Clary’s love life pans out!).
When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
That’s a hard one! I don’t really have anything I lie about – I mustn’t really have anything to hide! Probably the amount of time I spend on social media – I’m always downplaying the amount of time I spend online.
What's the most memorable summer job you've ever had?
As a mango picker! Definitely not the most awesome job but definitely memorable. Getting up super early to go out and pick mangoes for a couple of hours until it got too hot was only made bearable by the endless amount of mangoes we got to take home for free at the end of our shift. So yummy (and if you’ve ever had mangoes from the Central Queensland region, you’ll know what I’m talking about).
Who was your first boyfriend?
My husband! I guess I got lucky first time around.
Tell me about your first kiss
It was a cringe-worthy pash with a bloke in my year at a school social (dance). I was turning 16 in a month or so and for some reason had it in my head that I wasn’t going to turn 16 and not have had a proper kiss!
When was the last time you cried?
Not long ago. I was reading a post about a husband who photographed his wife’s cancer journey.
Which would you choose, true love with a guarantee of a heart break or have never loved before?
True love with a guarantee of a broken heart for sure. What is it they say? It’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all? I would rather have experienced love than to live my life never having experienced it at all.
What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a teenager?
I’m absolutely in love with the 50s (you should see my wardrobe) so definitely the 1950s. It just seemed like such a simpler time, not to mention it had amazing fashion!
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publication Date: September 6, 2013
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B00F11X6TA
Not really. Ever since I was in primary school I had various characters and scenarios running around in my head that from time to time would manifest into something that I might have wanted to write down but I didn’t really have that one defining moment. We had a few authors visit us at school and talk about their writing journeys, which was always inspiring and always provided me with helpful tips that I carried with me when I eventually did start writing, but no, no real lightning bolt moment.
Why is storytelling so important for all of us?
I really believe this is different for everyone but for me it’s a type of escapism and I like helping others to escape as well into a different world. I think that’s the main reason I love fantasy and other types of fiction that aren’t heavily based in reality – they provide a way to escape and can really allow you to get lost in a world that isn’t your own. Sometimes you just need to escape from reality for a bit.
Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?
I’m going to have to be not very original here and say the Harry Potter series. It’s a series I can read again and again and still get lost within the universe JK Rowling has created. I love it because despite the magic and almost alternate universe Harry inhabits, there is still so much that I and pretty much any Potter fan can relate to on a personal level.
Favourite non-Fantasy novel – anything by Randa Abdel-Fattah. She’s hilarious and heartfelt at the same time.
What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
Always have a notebook handy. I have ideas pop-up at the most random times so it was definitely a great piece of advice!
In your new book; The Order of the Rose, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it and why they should read your novel?
It’s all about a young woman who, after losing her memory, discovers she’s part of rebel order that is fighting to bring down an all-powerful Empire. She not immediately accepting of the situations she finds herself in and has to overcome a great deal of fear and self-doubt in order to harness the power needed to bring down her enemies. There’s a bit of everything for every reader – magical adventure, action, a touch of romance, evil bad guys and underdog kick-assery.
For those who are unfamiliar with Carey, how would you introduce her?
She’s definitely the reluctant hero. Carey’s forever wondering if she’s the right person for the job but in the end rises above the odds to become a serious contender.
If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
I would have to say Clary Fray from City of Bones because I’d imagine they’d have a lot to talk about – both are chucked into an unfamiliar world full of unknown dangers, both struggle with their newfound identities and both are just a tad unlucky in love (mind you, I’ve only read the first book in the Mortal Instruments series so I’m not sure how Clary’s love life pans out!).
When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
That’s a hard one! I don’t really have anything I lie about – I mustn’t really have anything to hide! Probably the amount of time I spend on social media – I’m always downplaying the amount of time I spend online.
What's the most memorable summer job you've ever had?
As a mango picker! Definitely not the most awesome job but definitely memorable. Getting up super early to go out and pick mangoes for a couple of hours until it got too hot was only made bearable by the endless amount of mangoes we got to take home for free at the end of our shift. So yummy (and if you’ve ever had mangoes from the Central Queensland region, you’ll know what I’m talking about).
Who was your first boyfriend?
My husband! I guess I got lucky first time around.
Tell me about your first kiss
It was a cringe-worthy pash with a bloke in my year at a school social (dance). I was turning 16 in a month or so and for some reason had it in my head that I wasn’t going to turn 16 and not have had a proper kiss!
When was the last time you cried?
Not long ago. I was reading a post about a husband who photographed his wife’s cancer journey.
Which would you choose, true love with a guarantee of a heart break or have never loved before?
True love with a guarantee of a broken heart for sure. What is it they say? It’s better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all? I would rather have experienced love than to live my life never having experienced it at all.
What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a teenager?
I’m absolutely in love with the 50s (you should see my wardrobe) so definitely the 1950s. It just seemed like such a simpler time, not to mention it had amazing fashion!
When Carey Lee discovers that not only is she a witch but also part of a rebel order, she figures it can’t be any worse than the life from which she just escaped. Little is she prepared though for what lies ahead – an all-powerful empire and a murderous Empress, a seemingly impossible quest to rescue her family, and a power so dark that Carey begins to doubt her very existence.
The Order of the Rose is the first in a series of three novels to be known as the Rose Chronicles.
You can purchase The Order of the Rose at the
following Retailers:
And now, The Giveaways.
Thank you ALYSHA KING for making this giveaway possible.
A $20.00 Amazon Gift Card, A Fairy Tale Zine by the Filigree on Etsy,
A Steampunk Mermaid postcard by the Filigree on Etsy,
Gorgeous Locket and complete set of character cards. These are all signed on the back.
NOVEMBER 25th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW
NOVEMBER 26th TUESDAY Black Words-White Pages TENS LIST
NOVEMBER 27th WEDNESDAY Curling Up with a Good Book GUEST POST
NOVEMBER 28th THURSDAY Books and their Seven Deadly Sins DREAM CAST
NOVEMBER 29th FRIDAY My Dear Bibliophage REVIEW
WEEK TWO
NOVEMBER 30th SATURDAY Pieces of Whimsy REVIEW
DECEMBER 1st SUNDAY Dalene’s Bok Reviews REVIEW
DECEMBER 2nd MONDAY A Dream Within a Dream MUSIC PLAYLIST
DECEMBER 3rd TUESDAY Deal Sharing Aunt REVIEW
DECEMBER 4th WEDNESDAY Mary’s Cup of Tea REVIEW
jbnpastinterviews
NOVEMBER 30th SATURDAY Pieces of Whimsy REVIEW
DECEMBER 1st SUNDAY Dalene’s Bok Reviews REVIEW
DECEMBER 2nd MONDAY A Dream Within a Dream MUSIC PLAYLIST
DECEMBER 3rd TUESDAY Deal Sharing Aunt REVIEW
DECEMBER 4th WEDNESDAY Mary’s Cup of Tea REVIEW
jbnpastinterviews
Absolutely amazing! Thanks for hosting! Good luck, guys.:)
ReplyDeleteYa know, I don't think I've ever tried a mango...unless they're in those mixed fruit cups. So...I've never tried a fresh mango! =) Congrats to Alysha!
ReplyDelete