September 2015 – Page 2 – Scattered Journal Pages

I’m sorry, people. I miscalculated the blog tour dates in July. I thought this post was supposed to go up tomorrow, because I like posting bookish things on Thursdays.

So yes, I know it’s the middle of the day instead of 5:00 in the morning because I usually preschedule posts.

Just some proof I’m not perfect.

Anyway. Onto the post at hand.

Book Description:

When the Lady Dragon does come,
Hold fast, do not fear, do not run.
Your Water Princess will fight,
Fire Prince will set all to right.
Each shall come from a Fall,
Their union will save you all.

Despite the fact that she’s on track for competing in the Olympics, and he’s practically raised his younger brothers since they lost their mom in a car accident, Clara Mandras and Andrew Stevenson are pretty much normal teens. They have normal hopes, normal dreams, and they live in a normal world.
All this is torn away from them when they are thrust into another world and declared Water Princess and Fire Prince. With no experience ruling a country, meeting each other for the first time, and being expected to fight the Lady Dragon – an evil sorceress plaguing the world of Rizkaland – Clara and Andrew are underprepared and inexperienced. Unless they learn to work together despite their standing opposition, Rizkaland’s hope will be lost.

What is to come will change their lives forever.

Author Bio:

Kendra E. Ardnek loves fairy tales and twisting them in new and exciting ways. She’s been practicing her skills on her dozen plus cousins and siblings for years, “Finish your story, Kendra”, is frequently heard at family gatherings. Her sole life goal has always been to grow up and be an author of fantasy and children’s tales that also glorify God and His Word. You can read more about her on her blog, knittedbygodsplan.blogspot.com.

I interviewed Clara this week in Rizkaland. That trip was fun. Long, yes, but so much fun.

Disclaimer:

In bold are my questions, and her answers are directly after them. I did not change her answers, only added to some of them (and I added her actions and dialogue tags, by the way.) Some of her lines are written by me, but not her original responses to my questions.

Yes, I did take full advantage of my fangirl license. I apologize if it’s not 100% accurate to the book.

Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, here’s a snippet of this week’s trek down to Klarand.

***

I walk across a field of wild grass, my eyes and mind trying to take in the scenery. Mountains surround me, as do flowing waterfalls that are distinctly blue.

The tallest Mountain holds a castle, built so solidly and intricately that only the most skilled Architect could do such a thing. It’s breathtaking. I know this to be The Kastle, but the pictures I’ve seen do it no justice. I’m awed.

I can barely take it all in, being obsessed with mountains and all that, but I’d better hurry. I have someone that will be waiting on me if I take too much time.

I was told that there was a small café built into one of the smaller mountains (it’s connected to The Mountain that The Kastle sits in), and that’s where I’m going. I’m excited to be meeting someone special. She hasn’t met me yet, but I know her very well, and we are more alike than she probably thinks.

I’m a little nervous. I can be awkward with new people. But no matter. I’ve been looking forward to meeting Clara for a few months now.

Now I see the café. The sign is faded, but I can tell wood from rock. I’m glad to be somewhere I can sit, after walking a few hours.

I open the door and the bell on the door jingles. I’m greeted by a short and plump woman, with smooth, wavy brown hair to her waist. Her white apron is crisp and neat over her simple red dress.

“Hi there, darling, can I help you?”

“Um, yeah,” I say softly. I clear my throat. “Is the Water Princess here yet?”

She looks at me and smiles with sparkling eyes.

“Not yet, but she should be here soon. Why don’t I show you to a table in the corner where you two can talk in peace?”

Gratefully, I oblige, and I am shown to a little table with a window. We pass a dozen small tables with people chattering and drinking hot drinks.

The waitress gives me two mugs of hot water upon my request, and I thank her.

I sit down in the corner, right in front of a window. Pulling my backpack off, I sort through the things I brought. Hot chocolate mix, check. Three books, yes. And a clipboard full of questions. I hope Clara won’t hate me for this.

I pull out Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and start to read. Becoming engrossed, I feel as though I’m turning the pages faster than my eyes are reading the words. I love this sensation, and if I had the choice to live in a library, I would take it. I know I would.

I feel a shadow over me, and I quickly look up from my book. It’s the Water Princess. I have not even the slightest idea of how long I’ve been reading.

I instantly stand up to my feet, place a fist over my heart and start to curtsy, but she waves me off.

“Water Princess,” I breathe.

“I’m Clara to you, remember?”

“Right,” I reply feeling suddenly shy. My tongue is tied for a second and I blush slightly.

“I’m Amanda,” I say, looking into her face. She seems to resemble me in some ways, from our blonde hair and blue eyes to our build and stance. I’m not sure if she’s pleased or not about that. Clara keeps her emotions concealed for the most part.

“Thanks for meeting me here,” I offer with a smile.

“At least I’m here,” she replies. “I was on my way back from exercising in the fresh air this morning, when I remembered I was supposed to meet you. I quickly changed, and here I am.”

“It’s a good thing we both made it, then,” I interject.

Clara just shrugs.

“That’s a great book, by the way.” She motions to my book.

“Yes, it is.”

I’m afraid she’ll be weirded out if I tell her that I’m only reading it because of her, and because I love the references she makes to it. She doesn’t know that I know a lot more about her than Kendra has told her. I don’t say anything else on the topic.

Not knowing exactly where to start, I clear my throat slightly apprehensively.

“I have a few questions for you, so thank you for being willing to answer them.”

She rolls her eyes. “Whether I’m willing or not is not the issue. Kendra’s forcing me.”

“Right. I, uh, sorry about that. Authors can be quite forceful people. Regardless, you’re here now, and like I said, I do have some questions for you.”

“Well, get on with it.”

Before I start, I try to break the ice by grabbing her favorite drink out of my backpack.

“Want any hot chocolate?”

“Yes, thanks. I haven’t had it in a long while.”

I had a feeling she’d say that.

“But it isn’t a bribe, right? To get me to say things that Kendra wants me to?”

I snort.

“No, of course not. I know you like hot chocolate, and so do I, so I figured we should make this as pleasant as possible.”

I pour the mix into the two mugs of hot water, and try to continue with my questions.

I clear my throat and glance down at my clipboard.

“I happen to know that you have many athletic hobbies and your family and best friends do too. What do you consider your strong suit?”

Her answer doesn’t hesitate.

“Fencing, closely followed by Tae Kwon Do.”

“Talented girl,” I say to her. Clara shrugs again. It’s not like she hasn’t practiced her whole life.

“Do you have any aspirations or life goals?”

“To compete in the Olympics. Probably in fencing.” Her answers are confident. This girl knows what she wants.

“Well, I’m sure you will,” I reply. “Go for the gold, sister.”

I ask her another question, hoping she’s not getting bored.

“According to the Myers-Briggs personality test, what kind of personality do you have?”

Clara stirs her hot chocolate, and looks into my eyes to answer.

“Kendra says I’m ENFP, which is the same thing she is, so I don’t know how I feel about that one.”

“Ah, a free spirit. Lionhearted girl. That’ll come in handy, you know.”

I bite my lip, not knowing how she’s going to respond to my next questions.

“I know of course that you are much too young to be married, but what will you be looking for (or not looking for) in a future husband?”

Clara blinks, and then answers quickly.

“My mom and I have discussed this one. He has to be able to cook. That I know for certain.”

I barely hold back an impish smirk.

“That makes sense. I like to think myself a chef, but I burn tea water. I guess we all have our gifts.”

“You burn tea water?” She asks me.

“I…okay, it happened once. Apparently science and cooking just don’t like me.”

“And I thought I was a terrible cook.”

We both laugh, then after a moment, I clear my throat for the next question.

I take a sip of my own hot chocolate before asking the next question.

“What is your opinion on romance?”

She looks at me thoughtfully, like she already prepared to answer this.

“I have nothing at all against it, as long as it’s between MATURE adults. Honestly, I am looking forward to one day falling in love and getting married, though finding a guy who measures up to my dad might be a problem. My parents have set a good example for me. I intend to follow it.”

I like her answer. Sounds like something I would say.

“Maturity is quite important. I’m sure it’ll be the right time when you finally do marry, for we both know that Alphego (God) knows best.”

“I hope so,” she replies.

“Tell us about what it feels like to be the Water Princess, with all that insane responsibility of holding the weight of an entire country on your shoulders.”

Clara sarcastically flickers her eyebrows.

“Like there’s an elephant sitting on me. The sword they gave me is cool, though.”

I grin. “Hey, swords are always a plus. Elephants are heavy.”

By this time, our hot chocolates are almost gone. I tell her that I’m close to being finished with my questions, and she looks relieved. I don’t think I’m annoying her, but who likes being interrogated by someone who could be your twin? Or anyone, for that matter.

I flip over the sheet on my clipboard to ask her the last two questions.

“What is the most difficult difference to get used to between the world of Rizkaland and our world?”

“The way they talk. I mean, the colors and the food are easy to accept, but it’s almost like learning a new language. They don’t like the letter c, and they have words that we don’t.”

“I know, right?” I passionately respond. “Rizkan spelling and speech is confusing. I was mispronouncing a bunch of your friends’ names and names of places until Kendra told me the right way to, and I never doubted my reading skills more in my life. I guess you just have to live with the differences.”

Clara nods in agreement, and I can tell she’s trying not to laugh at me. Still, she keeps her composure quite well.

“And now for the last question,” I tell her.

“What feelings do you have toward your author, seeing that she puts you through so much in this book?”

Taking one last sip of her hot chocolate, I can hear Clara laugh quietly. She puts down her drink at meets my gaze.

“I’d answer your question, but my mother taught me to be polite, so I think I’d better not. There is some resentment involved, however.”

I knew she’d say something like that. I try not to laugh, but I fail.

“That’s okay. Most characters don’t like their authors, because like I said, authors can be quite forceful people. Though, you can always do things and surprise Kendra once in a while. Have fun.”

“Oh, you know I will.”

And I’m sure of it.

“Thanks for meeting me here, Clara. I enjoyed getting to know you better.”

“Glad I could answer your questions.”

“I guess you didn’t really get to know me, though,” I say to her.

“We’ll have to meet for hot chocolate another time. But I should go now. Have fun reading Alice, Amanda. See ya.”

“Goodbye, Water Princess.”

As she walks out, I smile. I hope I’ll get to meet with her again soon.

***

Free Books! Currently, the following books by Kendra E. Ardnek are free:

Sew, It’s a Quest: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005G3ZFKG

Do You Take This Quest? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CFDHFT4/