Torch Interview and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Torch Author: Sofia Simpson Genre: Young Adult Christian Fantasy Release Date: February 6, 2024 Relentlessly pursued by the Extremists, Vela and Linc embark on a perilous journey toward a hidden Elemental community in the Canadian mountains. It’s a place where couples of different elements thrive, raising families while living off the grid. These Elementals, like the Extremists, are searching for the portended Chosen Child,  the one who will unite the clans. Vela is forced to accept she might be a part of this prophecy whether she likes it or not. Vela is more than intrigued by a mixed Elemental in the community who single-mindedly pursues her. Faced with a choice between two very different men makes committing to Linc as her Intended harder than she imagined. Can Linc win the fight for her heart? Will this prophecy be her undoing or the Elementals’ salvation?  
Click here to get your copy!
 

About the Author

Sofia grew up moving constantly. Never in one place more than three years, there was plenty of time to daydream during long car rides. College finally gave her a chance to study what she had always dreamed of doing, writing her stories. She obtained a B.A. in Journalism, married her handsome husband and had two amazing sons. A big believer in dreaming big, Sofia loves speaking to youth, encouraging them to find hope no matter what their life looks like. Sofia is a daughter of the Lord first and foremost and finds inspiration with the stories like King David and Esther.

More from Sofia

This book has been my absolute favorite to write. I switched my POV to first person, and it made all the difference in the world as far as getting into my character’s head. I’ve been so intimidated in writing in first person POV, so I’m so happy I went out on a limb and tried it. The story flowed so easily once I did! I wrote the first draft of this book in 10 weeks! I got on an intense writing schedule, stuck to it and voila! Out popped this book. I loved every minute of it, especially the researching part. Researching how to live off the grid was fascinating to me, and it couldn’t have been more interesting. It really made me understand how people lived without modern conveniences. Well, in my book, they lived with modern conveniences thanks to generators and the Elementals’ gifts and abilities, but they had to make their own soap, butter, cheese, sometimes, clothes. I learned how a toilet can work thanks to gravity and setting up the pump on a hill. It’s all fascinating to me and I hope everyone finds it fun to learn, too, all while a great story unfolds! The following recipe was so neat, I had to include it! And, yes, it’s in the book. They had to cook bread without an oven, so this worked nicely so they could still enjoy some fresh cooked bread. This recipe was copied from the following link from Veganonboard.com: Campfire Bread on a Stick Recipe – Vegan on Board Ingredients
  • 1 tsp dried yeast
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 ½ cups (300 g) flour
  • ⅞ cup (200 ml) warm water
  • 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
  • 1 tsp salt
Dough:
  • In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients into a moist dough. No need to knead!
  • Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size – about 1 hour.
  • With floured hands, briefly ‘knock back’ the dough by making it into a ball.
  • Tip the dough out onto a floured surface and divide into 8 pieces.
Shaping your breadsticks:
  • Start by stretching the dough into a strip and then roll it into a long sausage shape.
  • Twist a strip around the end of your sticks. Pinch the dough together to secure the end if necessary.
Cooking Over a Campfire:
  • Either hold or prop up your stick over the fire.
  • Choose a spot over hot embers for best results.
  • Keep rotating until all sides are browned.
  • Enjoy your freshly baked bread!

Interview with the Author

Do you read books in this genre? If so, who do you like to read?

Yes! I love a good YA Christian Fantasy where a character struggles, fights, lives their life with God, and loves. I love the first loves; I find them so special and I’m not sure I’ll ever write an adult Christian Fantasy. I’m just such a fan of a character with their entire lives ahead of them and what they choose to do with it.

If a reader were to ask you what author you are like, what would you answer?

What a good question! I would say I am most like, or hope to be like, Morgan Busse. Our stories are a lot alike, but oh, so different. Our worlds are very different, but I attempt to write at the depth and level of creativity she does. I hope Ido.

What helps you to write? Do you eat snacks, listen to music? 

I have a certain playlist I listen to as I write. With the first book in this series, it was Taylor Swift all the way…and the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack. This book, Torch, I must have played Celine Dion’s greatest hits over and over again a million times. When I had a romantic scene to write, Celine was my go-to girl in getting it written. If I had an action scene, I blasted as loud as I could, One Republic and their biggest hits. I loved getting into the rhythm of these songs as I wrote.

As far as a snack, I have to have a hot cup of something in front of me. I start with coffee, but then switch to decaffeinated tea. Apple cinnamon or peppermint, usually.

If you could travel back in time, what time period would you go to?

I would say the 1800’s, but if I don’t have contacts or glasses, I’m as blind as a bat! I always tell my husband I would love to wear the dresses and live in such a time when such literary greats, Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and Victor Hugo lived. I could go on and on with names from that time period. But I’d hate to see slavery in action. That would be absolutely awful.

What inspired you to write this book?

The premise of this book inspired me to write it. I did a lot of research on how to live off the grid and it was so fun to flesh it out with characters, setting, and plot. I had to get on paper what I learned in research. The best part of my research was actually speaking to someone at a writer’s conference who lived off the grid and emailing her questions later. I also got to interview someone who lives in Northern Manitoba in Canada, so I was able to get the right animals to that region right and geography. I had already written the entire book when I did this interview, so there were quite a few changes made after that conversation. Apparently, there aren’t mountains in Northern Canada, but marshes and bogs. Who knew?

Share with me a few of your favorite things.

I love to cross stitch and crochet. I can’t just watch TV, sitting there. My hands have to be busy doing something. And the cross stitches I do are so detailed and tiny, I have to wear reading glasses to see them! It’s the challenge I love, though, and how beautiful it turns out that keeps me going.

Blog Stops

Artistic Nobody, February 15 (Author Interview)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 16

Guild Master, February 17 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 17

Texas Book-aholic, February 18

Fiction Book Lover, February 19 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 20

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 21 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, February 22

Simple Harvest Reads, February 23 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 24

A Reader’s Brain, February 25 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, February 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 26

Through the Fire Blogs, February 27 (Author Interview)

Blogging with Carol, February 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sofia is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/29dba/torch-celebration-tour-giveaway


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