Title: The Stillness
of the Sky
Author: Starla Huchton
Series: A Flipped Fairy Tale
Genre: Fantasy /YA
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: Feb 2 2015
Edition/Formats: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis
"Once upon a
time, my life was certain: it was insignificant, and it was cruel. But I
refused to let it define me, no matter how great the cost.
Once upon a time, I
made a wish. The world I knew grew wider than the sky and higher than the
stars, and I listened to the voice within me, reaching out for freedom.
Once upon a time, my
wish became my fate, and my destiny the hardest lesson to learn: kindness may
be the most difficult path, but it can save entire kingdoms.”
Excerpt
It took my vision a few moments to adjust to the sudden
brightness, but when I did, I couldn’t believe the sight in front of me.
Stunned, I staggered backwards, all but falling down as my gaze drifted up from
the base of the enormous plant that had sprung up overnight.
The bottom was easily twenty feet wide to either side of me,
with massive leaves bursting from curled vines thicker than a man’s shoulders
were broad. It seemed to be not a single plant, but three twisted around each
other, leading up and up into the sky. I followed the trail of leaves spiraling
around it like a giant staircase until I lost sight of them in the clouds
obscuring the top.
What, by the spirits, was that thing, and how had it come to
be there so instantaneously? What enchantment conjured it? Even more, how long
would it remain? Eventually someone would notice it and ask all sorts of
questions, and I wouldn’t have any answers for them.
I paused, hitting on one word swirling in my mind:
enchantment. In running from the wolves, I’d dropped the beans. While I
couldn’t prove it myself, I was fairly certain they were some sort of magic.
Therefore, the only reasonable explanation, even though it was the most
outlandish thing I’d ever entertained, was that the plant before me was the
result of the three beans being exposed to soil and water.
“Either you’ve hit your head very hard, lost your mind
completely, or found something amazing, Jack,” I said out loud, hoping that
talking through the development might bring me some clarity. “As you’re not in
terrible pain, let’s discount the first one for the time being.”
My feet moved without my thinking, and I carried on my
monologue, trying to puzzle it out. “You might be talking to yourself, but
nothing up until this moment has ever given you cause to doubt the reliability
of your brain. That leaves one option.”
I stopped walking, marveling at the turn of events. As I
watched, a single leaf uncurled from the base of the humongous beanstalk,
spreading out on the ground before me like a carpet. Was it a greeting? That
leaf led to another slightly above it, and a third and fourth after that. Each
was perfectly positioned, one leading to the next.
If ever I’d been given an invitation to anything, that was
it.
Not entirely sold on it, I wandered back to where I’d woken,
retrieving my pack and cap from between the layers of leaves. The hat was a bit
soggy when I placed it on my head, but I was sure it would dry quickly with the
heat of day already growing rapidly. Again at the leaf that unfurled before me,
I lifted my gaze up, following it once more into the clouds.
“I wonder how high it goes?”
The thought of being at such an elevation, looking out over
everyone and everything, cemented my decision. People climbed mountains only to
say they’d done it. They built larger and larger structures for no better
reason than gaining a closer perspective on the stars. Why should I be any
different? How many could say they’d encountered a plant such as this, and how
regretful would they feel for having passed up the opportunity?
Tentatively, I set my foot upon the leaf, unsure if it would
even hold me. It gave some, but easily supported what little weight I carried.
A large man might find it impassable, but for me, a girl of sixteen with years
of hunger under her belt, I’d have no cause to worry.
Well, no cause pending the strength of the greenery held out
all the way to the top.
As many times as I’d looked to the sky, never before had it
seemed so full of promise.
With
a firm nod, I started up. After all, what was the worst that could happen? If
nothing else, I’d finally know what it felt like to fly.
Interview
How do you cope with
writer’s block?
Usually I watch movies where things blow up a lot. Shutting
off my brain helps unblock the words.
What are you working
on right now?
I’m currently working on my third Flipped Fairy Tale, Ride
the Wind.
What is the most
difficult part of the whole writing process?
It depends on the story. I usually wrestle with the middle
until I find the thing that propels me foreward. After about 20,000 words, I
have to stop and make a list of plot points I want to hit, which gets me moving
again.
What do you think
about the future of book publishing?
I think I have no idea what’s going on with it, but I’m
gonna roll with whatever changes come my way. I just want to keep sharing
stories. My crystal ball is in the shop, and I’m not nearly on top of things
enough to make any guesses about what’s coming. Who know? Maybe in ten years
all books will be written in tattoos across the backs of strapping young men
who dedicate their lives to parading around the world to share words with the
masses. Or maybe we’ll all have little chips implanted in our brains that
automagically beam stories from an author’s brain into everyone else’s. That
would be both terrifying and awesome.
How did you decide
how to publish your books?
Well, I’m mostly just impatient and I got tired of waiting
around for someone to tell me how, when, and where I could share my stories. I
love having ultimate control over my work and finding ways to improve with
every step of the way. I like that I don’t need someone leading me by the hand
everywhere I go. I get to decide how many books to put out and at what pace and
in whatever genre I want. Because I like being the boss of me, there really wasn’t
a lot of hemming and hawing involved.
What has writing
taught you about yourself?
I don’t know that’s it’s taught me so much about myself, so
much as it’s taught me how to be more observant of other people. What makes
people act the way they do? Why do they say the things they say? How would
those people react in a different situation? Writing has opened up the way I
think about people and, maybe as a result, made me a little more understanding
of others.
How do the people in
your life seem to view your writing career?
At first, to other people, they either didn’t know I was
writing or, if they did, assumed it was just a quirky hobby. I think putting
out my first book might’ve been a shock to some because OMG SHE FINISHED
SOMETHING, but eventually the surprise wears off. It’s always funny because
when my husband tells people he works with that I’m a writer they never say
much about it. A few days later I get reports of people telling him they
Googled me and how wide-eyed they get about my list of books and the covers I
do. It’s kind of funny and I always giggle over it a little.
What advice would you
give other writers?
Head down, keep writing. One book isn’t enough, and neither
is two, three, or four. The only way you’ll ever be successful is to put out
book after book after book regardless of sales figures or naysayers. It’s about
outlasting, not outreaching others. I don’t need a million-copy-selling book to
be happy, just the next plot in my sights. Only on the day you run out of
stories to tell are you a failure, so just keep plugging away.
What do you see as
the biggest challenge today for writers starting out?
Getting discouraged after their book “flops.” A writer
must be able to look beyond their current book. Always be improving your game,
whether it’s by hiring an editor and learning your craft better, or investing
in a dazzling new cover. So many new authors think that one book is going to do
it, and I think it’s that sort of thinking that’s the biggest challenge for
writers. They shouldn’t be asking “what did I do wrong?” but “how can I do it
better?” and then applying what they learn going forward. Tenacity is key. If you want it bad enough,
you HAVE to keep working for it. Always.
GIVEAWAY
When not writing, Starla trains three Minions, a black lab, and a military husband whilst designing book covers for independent authors and publishers at DesignedByStarla.com
Places to find Starla
Places to find The Stillness in the Sky
Other Works by Starla A.K.A ~ S.A.
Evolution Series
The Endure Series
Maven
#1
Nemesis
#2
Progeny
#3
Paradigm #4 (WIP)
The Antigone’s
Wrath Series
Master of Machines #2
(WIP)
Stand Alones
A Flipped Fairy Tale
The Stillness of the
Sky (Coming Late Winter)
