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Sunday, December 22
Spotlight on Day Leitao and The Cup and The Prince
The Cup and the Prince
Book 1
#CommissionsEarned
Author Q&A
We sat down with Author Day Leitao to ask her a few questions about being an author and her inspiration for the Kingdom of Curses and Shadows.
QUESTION 1. What is your favorite childhood book?
It’s a Brazilian book called “A Droga da Obediencia”, something like “The Drug of Obedience”. To be fair, I’m not sure it’s that great because it’s been forever since I last read it, but when I read it as a child I loved it.
QUESTION 2. Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?
My first name is a sort of pseudonym, since it’s short for my name. I have considered getting a different pen name if I write a different genre.
QUESTION 3. How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?
Well, I remind myself that not everyone likes sushi. I’m not saying my books are good like sushi, but not everyone likes everything. I also try to learn with the reviews. Sometimes there isn’t much to learn, it’s just someone who doesn’t click with my books, but when many people say the same thing, it’s time to pay attention.
QUESTION 4. Are there therapeutic benefits to modeling a character after someone you know?
I don’t know. I guess you could fantasize a situation and relive it in a way that’s healing? But I’ not that sure. I don’t think I model my characters on people I know.
QUESTION 5. What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
I think it’s between having the idea and trusting that it can be a book people will want to read.
QUESTION 6. What comes first for you — the plot or the characters — and why?
Both. They’re interconnected.
QUESTION 7. Would you and your main character get along? Why, why not?
I think so. They’re nice people.
QUESTION 8. If you were to write a spin-off about a side character, which would you pick?
I wanted to write a spin-off about Karina’s children, from the series Portals to Whyland. She doesn’t have children in the books, but eventually she will. One day, maybe.
QUESTION 9. What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
Everything. I second-guess myself too much.
QUESTION 10. What is a significant way your book has changed since the first draft?
I don’t think they change that much. If my beta readers are telling me they like the book, then it’s just a matter of polishing it.
QUESTION 11. How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?
Anyone who likes fantasy with some romance, magic, and humor.
QUESTION 12. How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
I don’t. I start planning another book, stressing out about it, planning the marketing…
Kingdom of Curses and Shadows Feature
When a girl set on revenge meets an arrogant prince, sparks fly and tempers rise.
Yes, Zora cheated her way into the Royal Games, but it was for a very good reason:
Spite.
Her ex was an asshole and thought she could never attain glory on her own.
Just because she’s a girl.
So she took his place.
Now she’s competing for the legendary Blood Cup, representing the Dark Valley. It’s her chance to prove her worth and bring glory to her people. If she wins, of course.
But winning is far from easy.
The younger prince thinks she’s a fragile damsel who doesn’t belong in the competition. Determined to eliminate her at all costs, he’s stacking the challenges against her. Ha. All he’s doing is making her want to win this competition more than ever. She has to teach this prince a lesson, doesn’t she?
The older prince is helping her, but the cost is getting Zora entangled in dangerous flirting games.
Flirting. The last thing she wanted.
And then there’s someone trying to kill her.
(Source: amazon.com)
#CommissionsEarned
The Curse and the Prince
Book 2
A troubled prince.
A deadly curse.
A mysterious cup.
And the power to save or doom the kingdom.
Of course things didn’t go as planned at the Royal Games. When do things go as planned?
Now Zora is on the run, and has to join a disgraced prince in order to retrieve a powerful magical artifact that might undo her valley’s curse. For the first time in her life, she has real hope for her people.
Problem is, for the second time in her life, she’s falling for someone she shouldn’t. Finding a hidden object is hard enough on its own, she could do without the heart palpitations and lack of air. And she could certainly focus better without the constant memory of his lips on hers, his arms around her… Gaah! See? How can she avoid pursuers and decipher enigmatic writings when her brain has been turned to mush? Painful, hopeless mush.
But the real trouble is that there’s more than one curse in the kingdom. And not enough objects or time to get rid of them all.
(Source: amazon.com)
#CommissionsEarned
The Dawn and the Prince
Book 3
Darkness has taken over her land, and Zora has to find a solution before her world and the Shadow Kingdom merge once and for all—and before Griffin is lost to her forever.
Joined by unlikely allies and facing enemies at every turn, she journeys to a dangerous island where dark secrets are kept, and nobody gets out alive.
Griffin is in enemy territory and has to play a dangerous game if he wants to stay alive and save the people he loves, even if it might mean losing them forever.
The Dawn and the Prince is the action packed, emotional finale in the series Kingdom of Curses and Shadows. Get ready for more adventure, romance, and strange magic.
(amazon.com)
#CommissionsEarned
ABOUT DAY LEITAO
I’m originally from Brazil but I’ve been living in Canada for over 10 years now. I have some influence from Brazilian writers and Brazilian culture, but I also read popular books in English. I watched some Anime as a kid, my favorite being Yamato.
I’ve always loved to write stories, and I like to always include romance, action and humor in my writing. I think stories can touch us deeply. I live in Montreal, Canada, with my son.
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