Guest Post with Jay Kristoff ~ JeanBookNerd

Photo Content from Jay Kristoff

Jay Kristoff is the award-winning author of THE LOTUS WAR trilogy, a Japanese-inspired steampunk fantasy published by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press & Tor UK. Part 3, ENDSINGER, will be released in November 2014. He's also co-author of the upcoming ILLUMINAE (with Amie Kaufman), a YA Sci-Fi... thing, to be released by Knopf/Random House in 2015.

Jay is 6’7 and has approximately 13520 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.

He does not believe in happy endings.

Series: The Lotus War (Book 3)
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (November 25, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250001420
ISBN-13: 978-1250001429

Praise for KINSLAYER

“Kristoff is the master of unique and intense plots and huge twists. This book has it all ― and a nice little bow to tie it all up with. There are swords, action, friendship, a conspiracy, grief and hope. It's going on my "Amazing Reads" shelf, and I urge you to pick it up.” ―USAToday.com

“With its geisha girls in gas masks and canvas blimps spewing black exhaust as they chug across the sky, Stormdancer paints a vivid picture of a decrepit, steampunk Japan. It's startling to witness a country that so reveres nature presented in such an environmentally compromised position, as it is in the kickoff to Jay Kristoff's "The Lotus War" series. But it's this inventive juxtaposition that makes Stormdancer such a thrilling addition to the increasingly tired yet continuously expanding dystopian scene…. [A] fast-paced, fantastical adventure [that] is sharp as a Shogun's sword.” ―The LA Times

“Stormdancer is an intoxicating joyride into steampunklandia with a magical dose of mythology, the supernatural, violence, dystopian themes, and a top-notch brassy heroine who rivals Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games. Yes, I did say that!” ―The Huffington Post

“Kristoff's imaginative debut, the first in a series, presents the feudal, dystopian Shima Empire, a menacing Japanese-inspired setting… The innovative setting, fast-moving plot, vivid descriptions, and thrilling action scenes make this a refreshing addition to the steampunk canon.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Soars higher than the arashitora Kristoff writes about; superb.” ―Kirkus, starred review

WHAT'S THE BEST ADVICE YOU CAN GIVE WRITERS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP THEIR OWN UNIQUE VOICE AND STYLE.

There’s a million words out there for aspiring writers, and most of them are far more eloquent than mine. Read widely and write everyday and all that jazz. Mine is a little more fundamental than that. I wrote these words way back before I ever had a publishing deal, and they still hold true today.

Believe in yourself.

The only belief that matters in this equation is your own. It’s nice to have the support of betas or trusted friends, but it’s not necessary (the only person who had more than the vaguest idea that I was writing a book until I got repped was my wife). The only person who needs to believe you can do this is you. Everything else is window dressing.

The people who tell you that you can’t do it? The critics on your forums who offer vicious or empty feedback? The people who give you a funny little look when you mention your book? The people who are waiting for you to fail?

Screw them.

Say those words. Sing them. Take a deep breath and scream them.

Screw.

Them.

It doesn’t matter what they think, or what they say. It doesn’t matter what they believe. It only matters what you think, what you believe. Because if you believe you can do it, and you’re meant to be doing it, then you will. You can. And that’s all there is to it. No more, no less than that.

Believe in yourself. Keep the faith. At the end of the day, it’s all any of us have.

TEN THINGS YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME.
1. Stay away from blondes.
2. Stay away from cask wine.
3. Stay away from blondes who drink cask wine.
4. Don’t buy a yellow car. No-one can pull off a yellow car.
5. Mullet =/= good haircut.
6. Don’t bother with hockey. You suck at it.
7. Don’t bother with math. As suspected, you will never use it.
8. Don’t be so hard on your dad. He tries hard.
9. Take the braces.
10. Don’t worry so much. It turns out pretty awesome.

A TREMBLING EARTH
The flames of civil war sweep across the Shima Imperium. With their plans to renew the Kazumitsu dynasty foiled, the Lotus Guild unleash their deadliest creation—a mechanical goliath known as the Earthcrusher, intended to unite the shattered Empire under a yoke of fear. With the Tiger Clan and their puppet Daimyo Hiro in tow, the Guild marches toward a battle for absolute dominion over the Isles.

A BROKEN REBELLION
Yukiko and Buruu are forced to take leadership of the Kagé rebellion, gathering new allies and old friends in an effort to unite the country against the chi-mongers. But the ghosts of Buruu’s past stand between them and the army they need, and Kin’s betrayal has destroyed all trust among their allies. When a new foe joins the war tearing the Imperium apart, it will be all the pair can do to muster the strength to fight, let alone win.

A FINAL BATTLE
The traitor Kin walks the halls of Guild power, his destiny only a bloody knife-stroke away. Hana and Yoshi struggle to find their place in a world now looking to them as heroes. Secret cabals within the Lotus Guild claw and struggle; one toward darkness, the other toward light. And as the earth splits asunder, as armies destroy each other for rule over an empire of lifeless ash and the final secret about blood lotus is revealed, the people of Shima will learn one last, horrifying truth.

There is nothing a mother won't do to keep her children by her side.

Nothing.

You can purchase ENDSINGER at the following Retailers: