Author Interview: Kristen Eliassen, author of McKinley's Power

I am so excited to present our guest for today! She is a VERY YOUNG AUTHOR - only 14 years old! Can you imagine weaving stories at that age? Anyway, please welcome Kristen Eliassen, author of McKinley's Power!

Kristen was born in early 1997 in Spokane, Washington. When not writing, Kristen can be found practicing Taekwondo, reading, and spending time with her friends. A proud Army brat, she has lived in ten different places in two countries, with a third on the horizon this fall, and expects to live in many more before she graduates from high school. Wherever she lives next, it will be with her parents and siblings, not to mention a few pets, and a vivid imagination.

McKinley's Power

Ramanin was a free world. Was. For the past sixteen years, the power of the SkyWarriors gradually increased. Ten years ago, it exploded. The SkyWarriors shattered the peace. The four races live in this uneasy time, going calmly about their daily lives as they put up a façade for their SkyWarrior rulers. Beneath this deception, however, is a land full of young warriors, ready to fight. One of these warriors is sixteen year-old highborn McKinley Rusko. McKinley has one mission: to fulfill the prophecy that guides his life, and in doing so, defeat the SkyWarriors forever. To do this he must gather the other three whom the prophecy concerns: Keeria di Zentra, Zakary Lizen, and Aspen Cherrywood. McKinley is no fool, but his plan is dangerous. If it fails, it is more than just his failure. It is the failure of many plans, many lives, and the loss of any chance of a free Ramanin...forever. Inspired by books such as Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and C. S. Lewis' Narnia; McKinley's Power is about family, war, love...and fighting for what you believe.

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Hi! Welcome to the Fairytale Nerd! So, how are you today?
Pretty good.

So, tell me about your book.
Oh, that’s a toughie…let’s see…
McKinley Rusko was just six when his parents were killed. And in the ten years since, he has grown from child to cunning teenager, with one thing on his mind-the prophecy. If he can fulfil it, his land will be free, and his parents revenged. But here’s the catch: the prophecy involves three other people. Aspen Cherrywood, a traditional Keyla. Zakary Lizen, the son of the late High King. And the Sáán, Keeria di Zentra, who is determined to question McKinley’s every word.
McKinley knows they can do it. They have to. Because if they fail, it’s not just their plan that fails. The stakes are high, and all they can do as they leap into action is hope they survive.

What is the best thing about being a writer? The worst?
The best thing is having the ability to create worlds. To create people, their separate life stories, and the love, hate, and other emotions that they use. It’s quite incredible,, thinking that a character is created entirely from what I see inside my head.
The worst thing, especially with my age, is how sceptical some people can be of my ability to create a good story. Some are very supportive, but there are always people who doubt me. Who doubt all authors, I suppose.

What is the message (from your book) that you want to convey to your readers?
That no matter what happens, no matter what goes wrong, your friends will still stand beside you. That the love between brothers that we don’t see very much today does exist, as illustrated by McKinley and Jaeson. Hope can get you out of even the worst situations, and nothing can defeat a belief that what you’re doing is right. But mostly, I want to convey the idea that people can and do make mistakes, but they can also fix them.

If you were given the power to be invisible, what is the first thing you would do? 
Good question…to be honest, I would probably just wait and see how long it would take people to notice. Or go swim in an ocean. If sharks can’t see me, they can’t bite me.

Who is your real life hero? How about in books?
My real-life hero is Roger J. Bushell. He was a pilot for the Royal Air Force in World War II, and was shot down and imprisoned. He was basically the boss and head of the largest attempted escape from a prison camp in history. Unfortunately, he was shot and killed by the Gestapo, along with fifty others, as punishment when they were captured. As an Army brat, I think wars are fascinating…but especially World War II, and most especially pilots and infantrymen.
Elizabeth Bennet, from Pride and Prejudice. She’s awesome. Intelligent, independent, not afraid of doing things differently…but she was rude to Mr. Darcy sometimes. Oh well. We all have our faults, I suppose…

Name three of your favorite books.
The Wizard Heir by Cinda Williams Chima, The Great Escape by Paul Brickhill, and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

Apples or oranges?
Apples. I'm from Spokane, Washington, and apples are a family trade. Or treat.

Summer or winter?
Ah, winter... I love skiing!

Blind or deaf?
Blind...I could listen to audiobooks.

All or nothing?
All.

Math or science?
Math.

Viral epidemic or nuclear explosion?
Nuclear explosion. I'd rather die fast than slow.

What is your next project?
I have a couple ideas in mind, but the one I seem to be drifting more towards is a real world/fantasy mix with spies. And wizards. And dragons. All in all, it should be rather thrilling to write.

 Thank you so much for visiting my blog Kristen!