Friday Feature: Elixir Bound by Katie Carroll

I'm happy to have Katie Carroll on my blog today as part of the Elixir Bound Paperback Blog Tour. 

Katora Kase is next in line to take over as guardian to a secret and powerful healing Elixir. Now she must journey into the wilds of Faway Forest to find the ingredient that gives the Elixir its potency. Even though she has her sister and brother, an old family friend, and the handsome son of a mapmaker as companions, she feels alone.

It is her decision alone whether or not to bind herself to the Elixir to serve and protect it until it chooses a new guardian. The forest hosts many dangers, including wicked beings that will stop at nothing to gain power, but the biggest danger Katora may face is whether or not to open up her heart to love.

I've had the pleasure of meeting Katie in person as well as through the blogosphere, and she's a great person. She has a special treat for you today, so without further ado, here's Katie!

Thanks for having me and Elixir Bound on the blog today, Kelly! I have a long ago deleted scene from the book to share. It takes place the night before Katora and her companions leave for their journey into Faway Forest. Enjoy!

Katora gave up trying to sleep, tiptoed around her sisters, and headed downstairs. She had the intention of looking over the map one more time, but before she reached the study, a noise from the kitchen caught her attention. Tussar had such a low crime rate that no one bothered to keep a record of it. Only major crimes, like murder, which were usually caused by some terrifying creature of Faway Forest, were documented and kept in a book in the library.

She silently seized a fireplace poker and sneaked to the kitchen door, opening it a crack. Embers from the brick oven glowed and moonlight from the back window illuminated the fields outside, shedding a little light into the dim kitchen. With her sweaty hands still gripping the poker, Katora caught sight of what had made the noise. A large, shadowy figure stirred in a corner of the room where the moonlight didn’t quite penetrate.

Katora backed away from the door, raised the poker to strike the figure, and waited. When the door opened, light flooded into the dining room and elucidated the intruder. Katora recognized Hirsten’s figure on the threshold and stopped the poker from piercing his skull. He knocked her to the floor. The poker punctured his arm and fell, clanking loudly on the wooden floor.

Palafair, who bedroom was downstairs, emerged from his room, looking tousled and clutching a tiny knife in his hand. He chuckled as he trotted across the room to help the pair. He tucked the knife into its holder and examined Hirsten, who had only suffered a minor injury. While Palafair patched up Hirsten’s arm, Katora apologized profusely for the accident.

The late hour caused Hirsten’s serious demeanor to turn silly. He teased Katora by reenacting the fall through the door. Hirsten used the poker as a sword and pretended to fight Palafair, who played along for a while. Soon, though, the demick declared he required more rest and retreated to his bedroom.

Too worked up over the night’s events, Katora and Hirsten decided to take a walk. The night had continued the day’s warming trend. The rest of the snow had all melted and plumes of fog hovered just above the ground. The moonlight reflected off the mist, creating an eerie glow around the fields.

“I’ll be glad to have those cloaks your mother made. They should keep us warm enough during the journey.” The air was warmer than it had been during storm, but it was still cold enough for Hirsten’s breath to mist as he spoke.

Demonstrating the need for something other than bedclothes, Katora shivered in the night air. The pair wandered around the property. Hirsten’s reserved manner returned and he asked polite questions about the farm. Realizing her father had trusted Hirsten with the family secret, Katora indulged him with some of the specifics. She showed Hirsten around the fermentation house and explained a little about the processes involved in making essence. She finished the tour with a perusal of the cellar.

The moon had long since disappeared, and drowsiness settled over the nightwalkers. Soon after Katora had returned to her bedroom and Hirsten had found his bed on the floor of Bhar’s room, the nightingale ceased its singing and the lark’s voice brought in the dawn.

Purchase Elixir Bound on Amazon, B&N, MuseItUp, Smashwords, and iBooks.

Katie L. Carroll began writing at a very sad time in her life after her 16-year-old sister, Kylene, unexpectedly passed away. Since then writing has taken her to many wonderful places, real and imagined. She wrote Elixir Bound and the forthcoming Elixir Saved so Kylene could live on in the pages of a book. Katie is also the author of the picture app The Bedtime Knight and an editor for MuseItUp Publishing. She lives not too far from the beach in a small Connecticut city with her husband and son. For more about Katie, visit her website at www.katielcarroll.com, friend her on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter (@KatieLCarroll).

Thanks, Katie! 

And that's not all. Katie has a giveaway for you. Just fill out the rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway