As many of you know our site moved! Here is the link to our new site, kristenfloodbooks.com. Go to our new site and make sure to get a free copy of Seeking Incandescence. Enjoy! 

Dear reader, dear friend...

       Oh my goodness. I don't even know where to start. We are closing in on The Museum's book birthday, which is the day I officially released my writing to you. I became an author one year ago and I still don't even believe it. And I have learned so much this past year from myself and from you.
      First. I am in fact the worse blogger ever. I mean, I come to my blog just about as much as I workout (I don't). But I also have people that count on me, so here I am blogging again. Second, I am not mom of the year and I'm okay with that. I am not honor student material but I still try. And at the end of the day, my son gives me the biggest smile and my grades have not plummeted so life goes on. I am always tired. My motivation has been struck with baseball bat. Every week is me coming undone so that the next week I can put the pieces back together. I am so perfectly imperfect and I am so proud to admit it. I have grit. I am determined even when I'm not. I'm one happy contradiction.
     Because of this past year, I am the happiest I have ever been. I set a goal and I reached it. But I didn't do it alone because I had you. You guys have been so supportive and so helpful on this journey as a writer and I cannot thank you enough. I wanted to publish two books within my first year and I did. Your response to the SI series has been wonderful and it's only the beginning. You guys are truly amazing!
       As I mentioned on our Facebook page, Crowing Iridescence, the next book in our SI series is due sometime in 2017. I am also working on an adult romance series for our 18+ readers and there will be more information on that later. This Thursday UMSL is doing an open mic night and I highly recommend this event to all writers in the St. Louis area. On November 17th I will be doing a local book signing event with the St. Charles Library. And with all this I have a "New Year" resolution to start off my next year as an author and blogger; I will blog once a week, I will publish more books, and I will always keep you involved in the process. You guys are my friends and I want you to always be apart of the journey.

     

All things Incandescence

Seeking Incandescence has been live for a week and I am so excited by the results! The official cover turned out beautiful thanks to the cover model!

As a celebration I have been giving out Kindle books for free. The kindle version of SI will be available for free for the rest of the day. At 12:00am June 30th the books will go back to it's normal price in the kindle store.

On my Facebook page I have been revealing small teasers from the book. Here is what I have shared so far:

And this next teaser isn't set to reveal until 10:30am today. So today you see the first teaser of the week.

Check out my Facebook page for more exclusive offers and teasers to stay up to date with all things Incandescence. Oh but don't worry, this blog is getting ready to get a couple special updates. I don't want to spoil anything so for now I'll keep this a surprise.

Pepper: I love this girl so much.

Today's teaser is a character quote. The best gifts come in small packages.

Chapter Two of Seeking Incandescence: Mint's Perspective

“Today you become our children!” Led’s voice booms over the choosing room, causing pride to move from my legs to my fingertips. “Today you will create, fight, and serve our country! You will do no less because your only goal is to honor us! You were raised by this Academy but you belong to this county!”

            “Mint, if you keep fidgeting you’re going to drive me insane,” Alex hisses next to me. Her hair shines next to her grey dress. As she touches her hand to my lap, I feel the heat burning beneath my cheeks. Then her hand is gone and she’s watching Led intently. I force myself to focus on Led and not think of how close Alex sits to me. Sitting boy girl is supposed to prevent distractions, but nothing is more distracting. I wonder if she feels the same distraction burning within her, I wonder if that drives her insane.

            “The Seers have watched you and have chosen the position for which you deserve.” Led paces the thin, black platform as he speaks. The red scar, that replaces one of his eyes, is the only color in the room. His uniform is black, he is one of the Elite. In contrast, my peers wear the undecided grey uniforms. “I will call your names in order of the Seers decisions.”

            I stare at the silver box that sparkles on the pedestal in the center of the platform and clench my fists. It is only a hologram but it looks so real.

            “Alex Grey.”

            A shift of movement next to me and then she is on stage. She reaches her hand towards the box and slowly it glides open. The wilted flower appears in its place and hesitantly she reaches towards it, the flower grows thorns and pricks her finger drawing blood. Turning to face us she gasps as a chain grabs at her wrist forcing her back towards the pedestal. The flower is now a chained rose. She looks up at Led in confusion.       

            My heart freezes.

            Led’s smile is curt, “Alex Grey…. Your new name is a rare name. You forever shall be known as Alex Red Ares. You belong not only to science but to our Elite. Today you serve as a military doctor. The Seers have deemed you unique or different.”

            I feel the air leave my lungs. Something inside me hardens and refuses to allow me to breathe.

            When Alex faces us her face is pale, causing her lips to appear redder, her eyes bluer. Part of me knows I should look away because she is different, but the way her eyes sparkle and her smile falters makes me want to take her in my arms. I force myself to look down as the rest of my class bows their heads. I shouldn’t think thoughts like that. I can’t take anything in my arms besides a gun for my country.

            Returning to her seat I glance back at her, “You okay?”

            She smiles, “I’m different.”

            “Stop smiling.” My voice warns.

            “Why?” She touches her blond hair as she tilts her head to the side, “Are you scared of a girl?”        

            “No… I,” My face turns red as Led calls my name.

            “You go tough guy,” Alex winks and playfully punches my shoulder.

            I lift my head up and stand, back straight, I feel the grey uniforms watching me. My palms are sweaty, I can feel my legs shaking, but I force a sheepish smile anyway. Every breath I’ve taken has added up to this moment and I will not falter. Led’s one eye is squinted in annoyance, his red scar wrinkled along with his forehead. Steady, slow steps. What are the seers thinking now? Did they see me making eye contact with Alex?  The thoughts dissolve into nothing as I step onto the platform. I want to be like the Elite. I reach a shaky hand towards the silver holographic box. It shifts open and the chains appear. Without a second thought I force my hands into their bindings and turn and raise my arms above my head. As the coils slit open my wrist, I suppress a smile.

            “Mint Grey, you shall be known as Officer Mint Ares. You will give your life for your parent country!”

            Staring out at the crowd, I watch as everyone bows their head to me, except Alex whose eyes melt with worry and lips curl as she lowers her head.  

            Today everything changes.

           

A Sneak Peak into the perspective of Inno from Seeking Incandescence!

“You are going to die.”

            I glance over at Pepper, her blue eyes starting to mist. Her hands shake as she hesitantly picks up her wine glass. A small red drop drips from her cup, bleeding into the white table cloth. Shifting my eyes back to Mother, I lift my own glass and steadily take a sip. I will not show weakness. I am not weak.

            Mother stands with striking posture, her hair a tight red bun, dress sleek and the color of wine. Her cheeks are flushed with passion as she says, “Everyone dies eventually. Today you decide the risks you are willing to take to honor our family. Don’t let fear make your choices.” She points at the center of the dinner table. On cue the silver holographic boxes appear. My mouth goes dry, but I don’t move towards my cup. My hands are shaking. Mother’s blue eyes focus on me. “After dinner Pepper will go first.”

            Teacher pats a napkin to his wet forehead and avoids my gaze. He wears a crisp suit. His stress is painted in thick streaks across his head, but his clear blue eyes reflect Pepper’s gentleness. Father sits, silently typing on his Holo-page, a clear sheet of glass that projects holographic images.  His H-page starts to buzz and chills slowly inch up my neck, causing my body to tremble. We don’t know our parents’ real names.  It’s better we don’t, because they are traitors. That knowledge could get us killed.

Mother glances at the screen blinking in Father’s hand and hurries out of the room to answer the door. Her heels click above us as she pulls open the front door. I can imagine her fake smile as she allows the Elite into our house. Father signals us out of the room as the muffled voices above get loud. Quickly, we move from the dining room to the hidden door behind the framed map of the old world. As Teacher slides the large map away from door, I stare at the old map and think about Pepper’s lecture on how the “Old World” map is really the “New World” map and that we don’t have a world anymore. Teacher roughly drags me out of my thoughts by pushing me through the doorway.

“What do you think that was about?” I whisper to Pepper as we sit in our living space.

“Inno, be quiet,” Pepper whispers as she fiddles with the blue bow in her long blond hair. She wears a short, fluffy blue dress that sets off her eyes.

“Did you make that dress?” My own dress is black and plain, but Pepper never wears the clothes given to us.

“Inno, be quiet.” Her eyes avoid mine.

“I’m tired of the silence.” I look at her expectantly. “Why aren’t you?”

She laces her pale fingers through my dark fingers. “Because we are different. We were born into a world that doesn’t want us and you want to be a part of it.”

“What are you going to pick?”

Pepper lets go of my hand, pulls a pencil from a hidden pocket, and starts to doodle on the hem. “It doesn’t matter, because in the end, they will pick for me.”

Biting the inside of my cheek, I snatch the pencil from her. Mother doesn’t allow drawing, and Pepper knows it. Pepper picks at the couch cushion, and the silence between us coils around my throat. I want to tell her we’re not different and that she does have a choice, but that would be a lie.

The law forbids children to know their parents because we are all supposed to be children of our Parent Country. A typical child is bred and sent to an Academy. They are groomed to be mindless creatures, the perfect picture of obedience. In the real world there are no mothers and fathers, only daughters and sons of the country.

Pepper’s real mother and father were caught hording their four children, hiding at the edge of our world in an abandoned Academy. Her mother was put in the breeding facilities and her father escaped. All the children had their memories wiped, but Pepper was immune to the procedure. She was sent to my mother for an experiment on the brain and Mother became so fascinated she fabricated Pepper’s death and brought her here. Mother located Pepper’s father, who we now call Teacher, and made a deal. In exchange for his and Pepper’s lives he was to teach us how to survive when we came of age. It seems too simple, but I can imagine how difficult it was for Mother to get a hold of Teacher and put her trust in an alleged criminal. A crime she committed when she chose to keep me.

            “Inno?” Pepper avoids my eyes and focuses intensely on her hem. “What will you choose?”

            “I… I want…” Carefully I touch my hands to my cheek, rubbing the tear-shaped mole beneath my eye. “Something worth the risk.”

            Her smile is shaded beneath dull eyes. “We will always be different, won’t we?”

            “Different is a good thing,” I attempt to reassure her.

            Pepper shakes her head, causing her hair to brush against her shoulders. “Being different has never been good. Inno, when we get out there… when we are on our own, do not draw attention to yourself.”

            “Girls.” We both look up. “It is time.”

            I grab Pepper’s hand and pull her up alongside me. Her wrist is fragile in my hand. I steal a glance at her frail frame and wonder when she had become so pale.

            As we enter the room, I take in the surroundings. The chairs have been moved into a straight row, but the table still contains the silver boxes. Teacher and Father sit in their chairs with straight backs, one chair on each side of them. Mother stands next to the table, her hands tapping silently on her wrist.

            “We are out of time.” She glances at the silver boxes on the table. “Dinner will have to wait.”

            Pepper and I take our places next to our fathers. My father doesn’t look at me as he clicks his H-page off and stares obediently at Mother, he never looks at me. Teacher picks at the dirt beneath his cracked fingernails.

            Mother hovers one hand over the three boxes, causing them to slowly click open. The first box contains a wilted flower. “Life must be balanced, and the science field gives us that opportunity. Unfortunately, science has become destructive, and if you choose this field you must stop the newest discovery from being implemented.”

            “What discovery?” The words erupt from my mouth before I can contain them.

            Mother purses her thin lips and glares at Teacher. “Um…” He nervously chokes on his words. “Inno, questions are forbidden during the ceremony. Giving more information about a job could cause you to choose for the wrong reasons.”

            Mother nods in agreement. “Moving on.” she motions to the second box that contains chains. “A strong country requires strong individuals. The chains that have kept our society together now oppress us. If you take on this task, you must do whatever it takes to break the chains and bring down the government.”

            “The cost is high,” Pepper mutters.

            I shift my eyes to the third box that contains a bowing dog. “For every strong and balanced job, there must be one willing to serve those who make our world livable.  In a typical society, this task is for the lowest social status. However, it does have its benefits. If you choose this task, you must become my eyes.” Mother breathes in the air around her. “Pepper, stand and make your choice. Understand that whatever you pick will become unavailable to Inno. After you leave in the next seventy-two hours, you will no longer know us. Knowing us could get us all killed. Do you understand?”

            “Yes ma’am.” Pepper steps towards the table and reaches her hand towards the dog. The dog immediately bites her finger drawing thick oozing blood. Pepper doesn’t flinch as each drop of blood smears into the table cloth like my short-lived wine tasting. My stomach growls from the lack of dinner. Blinking back tears, Pepper turns to face us.

            Standing up, I take her place in front of the table. Mother places her hand on my back and smiles kindly. “What will you choose, dear?” Her kindness is out of character and causes me to shiver slightly.

As I stare at the wilted flower, an edge of curiosity causes me to bring my finger towards it. I could be like mother, a scientist. If I worked long enough I could live outside an Academy. This is my chance to be as extravagant as Mother. No. My purpose for existing is to destroy the Academy system.  I pull my hand towards the chains. Immediately they wrap around my wrists imprisoning me with my decision. I attempt to pull away from them but they tighten and begin to cut into my creamy, tan skin. Blood. Crimson specks slowly dibble down my wrists. I swallow a scream before turning to face my audience. The holographic chains disappear, but I can still feel their presence clinging to me as I sit down, the blood and pain an evaporated memory. 

Attic of Memories: The Start of my publication journey

              "I spent a lot of time trying to imagine a life that was better than the one I had." 

According to Facebook, I have lived a seemingly perfect life. Scrolling down you'll find images of your typical middle class girl. Starting in 2009, the beginning of a promising era, I have photos of my perfect friends enjoying our wonderful lives. I had good grades, participated in after school activities, and found myself in honor classes. In 2012 I graduated as expected with my high-school diploma ready to take on the world. Now I have a husband, a baby, and a house living the great American Dream. Recently, I released my first book and today we celebrate the pending release of the novel. 

This very black and white blurb starts after I knew I would become a writer. And like all ink, it looks good on paper until you get it wet and the lines bleed together.

My life is not perfect.

My life has never been perfect. 

But life goes on 

Because it has to. 

In reality I picked up writing because I was trying to imagine a life that was better than the life I had. Now don't get me wrong, I have lived a fantastic life, but it has never been easy and most definitely has been hard. 

When I was around four my parents split up and my dad began his own journey as a single father. I was given (within reason) all the things I wanted. But I felt that there was something missing in my life because I didn't have the mom that everyone else had. Disney movies were a big thing for me and the characters often sung about their problems. Since naturally everyone sings about their problems I began to write songs. I spent most of my grade school and middle school life believing I was going to be a singer at night and lawyer by day. 

My dad remarried a wonderful women who would fill that void or so I thought. This women stayed in our lives through out my middle school years and reclaimed the title of mom. I loved her very much but was unable to please her. I lived a similar life to Cinderella with a wicked step mother but an amazing step sister. 

But I was a dreamer and couldn't focus on the variety of chores I had been given. I spent my time imagining far off lands, spectacular villains, and secret heroes. These characters became more of an obsession that offered no ticket for escape. I would never be a hero or go to far off worlds. I could not save my new family from it's self destruction. 

So to rid my mind of my characters I wrote them down so that I wouldn't have to think about them anymore. And suddenly as if over night the writer in me found the light. 

My songs became stories and then eighth grade came to a closing. 

I became a tragic hero.

I revealed my step mothers true nature.

Became a character witness in trial for my sister's custody

and lost the family I had always hoped to have. 

Not only did I stop writing songs but I had stopped singing all together. My craving for Harvard and law school dissipated after a real life trial and I didn't know who I wanted to be anymore. 

But 2009 brought promise. I was a freshmen in high-school and had found myself in Honors English. My characters had grown so much in my head. I was writing and stopping stories at a rapid rate. I was going to be a writer. Nothing was going to stop me. Not only was I going to be a writer, I was going to do it by the time I was twenty-two. 

In 2012 I wrote a short story called "Blue Birds" for a contest. Up until that point my love for writing lived within the fantasy world but for this contest I went the science fiction route. Without any real edits I sent my story to the Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest. A contest that thousands of authors enter each quarter. But I received only an honorable mention. After some research I found that the honorable mention put me in the top fifty but you needed to be top ten to win. So the story died until I met my editor. 

Now that story is pending release as "Seeking Incandescence" and I am twenty-two. 

But these are not the characters of my eighth grade years. 

Heroes come in many forms. 

Heroes are hope.

Heroes are passion. 

Heroes are tragic.

And these heroes are found in "Seeking Incandescence."