Friday, August 8, 2014

Blog Tour: Book Spotlight + Guest Post + Favorite Quotes: Tortured Souls (The Orion Circle, #1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton




Tortured Souls (The Orion Circle, #1)

Author: Kimber Leigh Wheaton

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Synopsis: Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.



GUEST POST: WHY DIVERSITY IS SO IMPORTANT IN YA


Diversity is important in all literature, but I think it holds special significance in YA literature. Many teenagers spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about fitting in, being different from others, and finding their place in this world. They want to read about people like them, undergoing strife they can relate to. They want to know that they’re not alone in the world. If every book is about Uptown Sally falling for Wrong Side of the Tracks Johnny, quite a few readers will feel left out.

I’m guilty as much as anyone. As writers, we tend to write about what we know. I grew up in a middle class neighborhood that was probably about seventy percent Caucasian. That’s my comfort zone—it’s what I know. When writing Tortured Souls, diversity wasn’t really in my head as I pictured the characters. The book takes place in San Antonio in an area similar to where I live. My son’s school is somewhat diverse, though Latino and Caucasian are better represented.

The Orion Circle contains some diversity. Yolanda, the monster hunter, is African American, though I don’t think I ever really spell it out in the book. She is a minor character in Tortured Souls but will play a larger role in future books. Michelle, the empathy of the group, is Latino, but again I’m not sure one could tell that just from reading the book.

My son has brought to my attention that it isn’t just ethnicity that’s lacking in YA literature. He’s having a horrible time finding books that appeal to boys first and foremost. Sure he likes many of the books I suggest, most written from a female perspective, but I think he’d like to read more from the male perspective. I can help him in that regard. Some of The Orion Circle series will be written from the male perspective. It will be adventurous territory for me—going deep into the male psyche where I never thought I’d tread.

Ultimately, I think time will change the lack of diversity more than anything. Our society has undergone enormous changes in the last forty–fifty years. I have high hopes for my son’s generation. He is more accepting and tolerant than I could have dreamed of when I was a little girl in Chicago. As his generation comes of age and begins writing about what they know… well, I expect great things.


TORTURED SOULS QUOTES


"Even with the ghosts and a creepy innkeeper, I think this is the best night of my life. ~Kacie

“You’re not alone anymore, Kacie. You can talk to me whenever you want, even two in the morning if needed.” ~Logan

“I am Lucas Yardley,” the man yells as he sprays the area with bullets. “I am the son of our God Lucifer—the new Anti-Christ! Your tiny bullets cannot harm me!” Those are the crazed man’s last words before a bullet pierces his forehead, forever silencing him.

“Can bagels really cancel out a ghostly homicidal maniac?” I ask, glancing up at him with a grin.

“You’re right,” Logan says with a groan. “Should’ve got doughnuts.”

About the Author


Kimber Leigh Wheaton is a bestselling YA/NA author with a soft spot for sweet romance. She is married to her soul mate, has a teenage son, and shares her home with three dogs, four cats, and lots of dragons. No, she doesn’t live on a farm, she just loves animals. Kimber Leigh is addicted to romance, videogames, superheroes, villains, and chocolate—not necessarily in that order. (If she has to choose, she’ll take a chocolate covered superhero!) She currently lives in San Antonio, TX but has been somewhat a rolling stone in life, having resided in several different cities and states.

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