Authors, Kai Strand & LA Dragoni

When an author writes a novel, they make up the characters and the story, but the character, setting, story arc doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. There is usually a story behind the story. Often several little stories, which an author tweaks and cobbles together to mold into the main character or the supporting characters. Sometimes they will set their story in a real place. Other times they will create a fictional place that has aspects of places they’ve visited or lived. In my series, The Story Behind the Story , I will share some of the stories behind my stories. Though I have never outright written a person I know into a book, I have definitely been influenced by those who have crossed my path, as well as places I’ve visited or even simply passed through throughout the many years I’ve been on this earth. Feel free to ask questions or leave comments. I love, love, love to talk books or hear moments of your own life it might remind you of. I Want More – Th...

I have no idea why Amazon does this, but who am I to question the great marketing machine? They've marked the print version of I AM ME down significantly! It's less than the Kindle version. If you have Prime with free shipping, you won't even have to pay shipping! Hey, the holidays are coming. Surely you know a teen or two. Teachers need books for their classrooms. Librarians always need new material. There a plenty of adults who read young adult....at this price, stock up!!! Buy from Amazon now I haven't checked my other titles, that one just caught my eye and I had to pass it along. Everybody loves a deal.  Happy reading! Speaking of cheap reads, it doesn't get any cheaper than FREE! Sign up for my newsletter to get free and discounted books. www.kaistrand.com

I’m starting a new undertaking that I hope you will join me on. I’m re-reading my own published books. Some books I wrote with intention. The desire to share a specific message or the hope to evoke certain emotions. But most of my books were written simply to entertain. With the hope that the reader would smile or laugh, sit on the edge of their seat, or bite their lip in anticipation. And I want to see if my books still do all that for me. So I created a book club. On Goodreads. The idea is that we will all start readng whatever the book of the month is at the same time. I’ll post my progress and share thoughts on passages and invite you to do the same thing. You aren’t required to read at the same pace. You aren’t even required to like the book! But I do ask that you be respectful of me and other readers. If you dislike something, share the information with care and supporting facts. If you are going to disagree with someone’s thoughts on a character or theme,...

It's my birthday! What better way to celebrate than to be a part of the blog tour for The YA Guy, Josh Bellin's, new release, Ecosystem . Yay! Confetti and cake all around!! Read the blurb and the excerpt, then enter the rafflecopter for your chance to win and then pick up your own copy of Ecosystem . Seventeen-year-old Sarah is a Sensor, gifted with the ability to survive within the sentient Ecosystem that swept away human civilization centuries ago. While the remnants of humankind huddle in small villages of stone, Sarah uses her psychic connection to the Ecosystem to travel freely in the wild in search of food, water, and fuel. Sarah doesn’t fear the Ecosystem—but she hates it for killing her mother when Sarah was a child. When she hunts, she hunts not only for her people’s sustenance but for revenge. Then Miriam, an apprentice Sensor, is lost in the Ecosystem, and Sarah sets out to rescue her. Joining Sarah is Miriam’s beloved, Isaac, a boy who claims t...