Rowan and Callie

AT LAST, THE SERIES IS COMPLETE

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Torch Rock Teaser - Copy

I sit before my computer in a confusing state of satisfaction and sadness. The earliest files in my hard drive for Reflection Pond date back to early 2012, though I think the actual writing started in 2011. There are dozens and dozens of files, if not hundreds. In the grand scheme of writing, four or five years for three books is not a long time, I realize that, but those years defined who I am as a writer. I began the series scared, uncertain of my own capabilities, and I’ve emerged from the other side more confident, more sure of myself and the risks I’m willing to take in my stories.

Today is the release day for Torch Rock, Book 3 in the Reflection Pond Series, the final installment of Callie and Rowan’s story. Much like me, the characters have gone on a journey to find their strength, to heal, and I’m deeply satisfied with this ending. I hope you, my readers, find it just as enjoyable as I do. I’ve already been asked if I’ll ever return to Callie and Rowan’s world, to expand on the secondary characters in the story, to follow the seeds of possibility I left strewn throughout the final novel. The truth is, I don’t know. I do have some bonus content, deleted scenes and such that may become available at some point. But right now, the end is justified, and I like the idea of readers creating their own possible futures for Rowan and Callie. The characters we love live on inside of us, and I hope some parts of Callie and Rowan live on in each of you.

To celebrate the release, I’ve made Reflection Pond free for today! On May 7th, the series will tour with Brook Cottage Books. You can still sign up for the promo day HERE.

I want to thank everyone who has stood beside me as I completed these books, especially those who encouraged me and listened to my issues (over and over again for weeks, months, and years). You know who you are. Thank you to the bloggers, reviewers, and every fan who has contacted me. Your support and enthusiasm always puts a smile on my face. Huge thank yous to my early readers, ARC reviewers, and everyone who has been cheering on Callie from the beginning. A big thanks to my designer Julia at Bioblossom Creative, who always, always exceeds my expectations with her beautiful covers. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The entire series is available on Amazon. If you want some music to read to, check out the playlists I’ve created for Reflection Pond and Torch Rock. And when you’re done reading, please leave a review, even if it’s just an I liked it!

Reflection Pond

Amazon Goodreads Playlist

Poison Tree

Amazon Goodreads

Torch Rock

Amazon Goodreads Playlist

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ALL THE TORCH ROCK TEASERS IN ONE PLACE

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I know I surprised all of you with the news of a NEW book series, but, as a show of good faith that Torch Rock is still happening this year, I’ve compiled all the teasers I can find and posted them below. Maybe I’m biased, but 75% of these are from Rowan’s POV. (No I will not point out which ones!)

Because you’re all loyal blog followers and I heart you, I’ve also included a sneaky-sneak exclusive teaser and a photo, which is an obscure reference to Torch Rock. Obscure? Hmm…

Enjoy! And don’t forget to leave a comment below. I love hearing from you!

—

“I can’t lie to you, Callie, and act like I haven’t thought about it. I think about it all the damn time.”

—

She loved this city, but rebuilding it to its former glory felt out of reach, like climbing the stars to capture the moon.

—

“Your guards won’t save you. I’ll do it just like you did—inch by agonizing inch until there’s nothing left to cut away, until you beg me to die.”

—

“What if they’re dead?” Ash asked.

—

His wings blocked out the sun, their usual inky depths stained brilliant blue, the tips alight with flames.

—

“You’re not afraid of me,” he said, voice full of wonder. “Arol’s children are so uniquely idiotic.”

—

“We don’t have to map the future with our scars.”

—

Rowan rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. “I kept the scars because they remind me of my foster mother. The guilt is—” he shook his head. “It’s an infection. I’ve carried it inside of me for years thinking the only way I can be a good person is if I remember all the wrong I’ve done. And then you came along.” He looked up, giving her a half-smile.
“It’s not your fault,” she said, heart aching for the boy he’d been, for the broken man he became.
“You forgive me so easily I’ve started to think I could forgive myself, too.”

—

He’d never touched her like this, so unthinking and natural, as if she actually enjoyed it. Something warm unfurled in his chest. When he reached the base of her spine, he wound his arms around her until her back pressed against his front, and lifted the sword into her hands. “Find me, then.”

—

 

THE REFLECTION POND SOUNDTRACK

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This post originally appeared on Zili in the Sky Book Blog as part of the book tour. Because I’m music obsessed, I wanted to make sure it made it to all of you who’ve read Reflection Pond. If you haven’t gotten your copy, you can get it in paperback, for Kindle, for Nook, and for Kobo. Also, check out the reviews on Goodreads. I couldn’t be happier with the response from readers and fans. You guys are so good to me!

Reflection-Pond-ebook-1-VanThe Reflection Pond Soundtrack

I like to consider myself a bit of a music aficionado. I listen to everything. Rock, punk, pop, alternative, classical, metal. You name it, it’s on my playlist. I’m a Spotify snob. It’s probably the best thing to happen to me since being born. Okay, maybe second best, but who’s counting?

I’ve found that my writing really gets into a groove when I have a perfect soundtrack to complement it. When I’m working on a particularly intense scene, be it a fight, a romantic development, or something insanely emotional, I gotta have the right song playing to put me in the state of mind to get it done.

As such, I have quite the playlist for each of my books, and today, I’m sharing the Reflection Pond Soundtrack. I hope you’ll find it brings the story to life (or at least find it entertaining!). I’d love to hear some speculation about which song goes with which scene—I thought it’d be too spoilery to post my insider opinions. (Remember, all the lyrics are copyrighted and belong to their respective artists. I’m nowhere near brilliant enough to write music. I’ll stick with books!)

Since Reflection Pond went through multiple rewrites to get to the final published version, I actually have multiple playlists on several devices for this book. (Can you say obsession?) Since I’m only spotlighting these fifteen songs, I’m including the entire list, in all its glory, at the end.

Enjoy!

  1. Skinny Love by Birdy

“Who will love you?

Who will fight?

Who will fall far behind?”

  1. Wild by Royal Teeth

“Help me see everything we used to be
We won’t forget
The lives we lived, the loves we chased
We lost the things we can’t replace”

  1. Bleeding Out by Imagine Dragons

“When the hour is night
And hopelessness is sinking in
And the wolves all cry
To fill the night with hollering
When your eyes are red
And emptiness is all you know
With the darkness fed
I will be your scarecrow”

  1. Promise by Ben Howard

“Who am I, darling for you?
Who am I?
Gonna be a burden in time, lonely
Who am I, to you?”

  1. This by Ed Sheeran

“Take me home

Watch me fall

Down to earth
Take me back for

This is the start of something beautiful
You are the start of something new”

  1. Walls by The Rocket Summer

    “The story of my life I can’t quite comprehend.
Don’t tell me if you know how it ends.
When everywhere you go feels like a mirror maze,
And you’re not sure how you’re stuck in this place…”

  1. Home by Gabrielle Aplin

“So when I’m ready to be bolder,
And my cuts have healed with time
Comfort will rest on my shoulder
And I’ll bury my future behind
I’ll always keep you with me
You’ll be always on my mind
But there’s a shining in the shadows
I’ll never know unless I try”

  1. Distance by Christina Perri featuring Jason Mraz

*This is Callie and Rowan’s Theme Song. Can we say complicated?

“Please don’t stand so close to me
I’m having trouble breathing
I’m afraid of what you’ll see right now
I give you everything I am
All my broken heart beats
Until I know you’ll understand

And I will make sure to keep my distance
Say, “I love you,” when you’re not listening
And how long can we keep this up, up, up?”

  1. I Need to Know by Kris Allen

“Feel like I’m trying to breathe under water
Trying to climb but I keep falling farther
Will you take my hand?”

  1. Belong by Cary Brothers

“The moon is the only friend I have outside
One more drink and I’ll be healed
I told you the words and then knew it was a lie
I wish I could offer an appeal

You’re wrong
I don’t belong”

  1. Believe by SafetySuit

“Even when you can’t find a light there
Even when you just cry in your bed
Hold on, you’re almost there
Hold on, you’re almost there
Even when you get lost and you’re scared
When you wanna give up I don’t care
Hold on, you’re almost there
Hold on, you’re almost there”

  1. Sinister Kid by The Black Keys

“I got a tortured mind
And my blade is sharp
A bad combination
In the dark”

  1. The Adventure by Angels and Airwaves

“I wanna have the same last dream again,
The one where I wake up and I’m alive.
Just as the four walls close me within,
My eyes are opened up with pure sunlight.
I’m the first to know,
My dearest friends,
Even if your hope has burned with time,
Anything that’s dead shall be re-grown,
And your vicious pain, your warning sign,
You will be fine.”

  1. Cactus in the Valley (Acoustic) by LIGHTS

“I never meant to wither
I wanted to be tall
Like a fool left the river
And watched my branches fall
Old and thirsty, I longed for the flood
To come back around
To the cactus in the valley
That’s about to crumble down”

  1. The Shade of Poison Trees by Dashboard Confessional

*This song is foreshadowing for the sequel to Reflection Pond, Poison Tree. (You may notice where I got the inspiration for the title.)

“As we lie
In the shade
Of poison trees

Are we as safe

As we let

Ourselves believe?”

Kacey’s All-Out-Insanely-Long-Playlist for Reflection Pond (Minus the songs above because, see above.)

You Don’t See Me by SafetySuit

Be Still by The Fray

One Grain of Sand by Ron Pope

Near to You by A Fine Frenzy

My Skin by Natalie Merchant

Kiss Me Slowly by Parachute

A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope

I Can Lift a Car by WALK THE MOON

Never Stop by SafetySuit

Scene One – James Dean & Audrey Hepburn by Sleeping With Sirens

Human by Civil Twilight

Hold on Till May by Pierce the Veil

I Won’t Lie (Acoustic) by Go Radio

Shelter by Birdy

No Envy No Fear by Joshua Radin

I Saw by Matt Nathanson

Bedroom Hymns by Florence + The Machine

Demons by Imagine Dragons

Slow It Down by The Lumineers

Black Flies by Ben Howard

Under The Same Sun by Ben Howard

For the Broken by Social Siberia *This Swedish band is actually so obscure that I couldn’t find a YouTube video for their song. The link goes to their Facebook page. Check them out!

The Storm by The Airborne Toxic Event

Learn to Dance by Andrew McMahon

More by Tyrone Wells

Whew!

All the best,

Kacey

COVER REVEAL: REFLECTION POND

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Reflection-Pond-ebook-1-Van

Reflection Pond by Kacey Vanderkarr

Available April 1, 2014

Cover design by Bioblossom Creative.  bioblossomcreative@gmail.com

Sometimes you find home, sometimes it comes looking for you.

Callie knows a lot more about pain than she does about family. She’s never belonged, at least, not until she falls through a portal into her true home. The beautiful faerie city of Eirensae doesn’t come free. Callie must find her amulet and bind herself to the city, and most importantly, avoid the Fallen fae who seek her life. Seems like a small price to pay for the family she’s always wanted.

Then she meets cynical and gorgeous Rowan, who reads the darkness of her past in her eyes. He becomes Callie’s part-time protector and full-time pain in the ass. He has secrets of his own for Callie to unravel. What they don’t know is that the future of Eirensae lies with them, and the once peaceful city is about to become a battleground for power.

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About the author:

cropped author photoKacey Vanderkarr is a young adult author. She dabbles in fantasy, romance, and sci-fi, complete with faeries, alternate realities, and the occasional plasma gun. She’s known to be annoyingly optimistic and listen to music at the highest decibel. Kacey is the president of the Flint Area Writers and the Social Media Director for Sucker Literary. When she’s not writing, she coaches winterguard, and works as a sonographer. Kacey lives in Michigan, with her husband, son, crazy cats, and two bearded dragons. Kacey’s debut novel, Antithesis, is available from Inkspell Publishing.