Amber Argyle is the author of Witch Songand its sequel, Witch Born. She grew up with three brothers on a cattle ranch in the Rocky Mountains. She spent hours riding horses, roaming the mountains, and playing in her family’s creepy barn. This environment fueled her imagination for writing high fantasy.
She has worked as a short order cook, janitor, and staff member in a mental institution. All of which has given her great insight into the human condition and has made for some unique characters.
She received her bachelor’s degree in English and Physical Education from Utah State University.
She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three small children. You can find Amber onTwitter, Facebook, Goodreads, and Shelfari.
A. Christmas. Apple cider, pine scented candles, and I especially love Christmas trees.
Q. What do you look forward to most when this time of year comes around?
A. Presents. Especially this year. I know what my husband bought me (cause I bought it and told him to wrap it), and I can barely wait! -But I should probably answer that love the way my children's eyes light up, or reading the Christmas story . . .
I'm a bad person. ;)
Q. Do you have a favorite Christmas movie or song?
A. Silent Night. So peaceful.
Q. What's one of your favorite (or funniest) Christmas memories?
A. Though the statute of limitations has passed, I still don't feel comfortable sharing that particular story.
No, I'm not kidding. Ummmm . . . My oldest son's first Christmas. My husband and I were definitely more excited than he was. He just wanted to go back to sleep. I love being a mom!
Q. If you could pick any Christmas character (from either a book or movie) that is most like you, who would it be?
A. I asked my husband and he said Scrooge. Rude, huh? My son says Rudolph's girlfriend. We don't even know her name, that's how memorable I am.
Q. If you could be in any Christmas movie, which one would it be? And why?
A. One that's filmed somewhere warm and tropical. I'm swaddled in blankets and fleece at present.
Q.Are there any holiday treats you look forward to eating around Christmastime?
A.Caramel turtles. My bestest friend always brings me a plate and I hoard them.
Q. What do you like to do during the holidays?
A. We like to go see the lights at temple square in Salt Lake City. Also, we go for a sleigh ride to see the elk at Hardware Ranch.
She defeated the Dark Witch, saving the Haven Witches from imprisonment and death. She found love and a place to belong.
She was wrong.
Haven is not the sanctuary it appears to be. Even love is in danger of slipping away like water through cupped hands.
Some things can't be saved.
A new threat merges with the old as the Witches’ dark history begins to catch up with them. Only Brusenna knows the extent of the danger and how to stop it, though doing so might cost her everything.
Including her life.
Will Brusenna be required to make the ultimate sacrifice?
First page:
1. Shadows
The night was so deep the shadows seemed to bleed darkness. Senna glanced toward the hidden sky, searching for the moon that would not come. Not tonight. Even the strongest starlight was strangled by the dense canopy of trees. The temporary blindness was frightening, but it ensured no one would notice her slipping away.
With each step she took, the roar of the waterfall grew louder. Finally, she reached the staircase carved into the side of the cliff. Mindful of the slippery steps, she climbed upward until her muscles burned and sweat broke across her skin despite the chill.
When she’d crested the top and crossed the bleak expanse, she glanced at the frothing sea far below. Sea spray misted her skin. She faced westward, towards the distant land of Tarten. Closing her eyes, she cast her senses across the vast ocean, searching and feeling the faraway echoes of the Four Sisters—Earth, Water, Plants, and Sunlight. She concentrated until she could hear their pain, an aching melody.
Senna’s tears started again, wetting the salty tracks already on her cheeks. At night, her dreams haunted her. Dreams of a withered land and a dying people. With all the strength she had, she sang.
Let not the curse of Witches Destroy a land of natural riches. Plants, preserve life in thy roots, Seeds sleep in earth, send forth no shoots Until the Witches shall disperse
This terrible and unjust curse.
About Amber
I am the author of Witch Song and its sequel, Witch Born. I run because I like to eat chocolate and fit in my jeans. I have a thing for vintage inspired clothes, and I firmly believe one can never have enough jewelry, shoes, or books.
Q&A with Amber
1. What made you decide to write about Witches?
I wanted to take something that was often portrayed as dark and evil and twist it into something beautiful and natural. So instead of satanic chanting, my witches sing to control nature. I also wanted to use resonance with the Salem Witch Trials, so though my world is completely fictional, it has many similarities in landscape and technology with seventeenth century New England.
2. How did you get your book published?
After years of hard work and rejection, I finally found an agent. Dropped him after a year. Had a book contract (for a different book), but the contract was awful so I couldn't sign it. Had another publisher and other agents nearly take it, but it was always nearly. Rhemalda published Witch Song. They did a good job, but when I received my first royalty statement, I realized if I wanted a chance to make any money at this, I was going to have to try something else, so I published Witch Born under my own publishing house.
3. What type of readers will be interested in this series/book?
Readers who enjoy clean fantasy with a touch of romance.
4. What is special about this series/book?
It's very different from anything else out there. When I first started, there wasn't anyone else doing YA high fantasy except Kristin Cashore. I haven't really heard of other books that use singing as a medium for magic. There's a few more now, but still not many. Also, I'm clean and lyrical.
5. What differentiates this book from others in this category?
My characters are flawed and make mistakes (read: screw up). Also, I have lots of young girls who relate to Brusenna because she's very shy and unsure in the beginning.
6. Have you published any other books?
Just these two so far.
7. Do you plan to publish more books?
I have two coming out next year. Witch Wars, which is a short prequel to Witch Song and follows the events that initiated the Witch wars.
Winter Queen is the beginning of a whole new trilogy.
Mortally wounded during a raid, seventeen-year-old Ilyenna is healed by winter fairies who present her with a seductive offer: become one of them and share their power over winter. But that power comes with a price. If she accepts, she will become a force of nature, lose her humanity, and abandon her family.
Unwilling to pay such a high price, Ilyenna is enslaved by the one of the invaders, Darrien. While in captivity, she learns the attack wasn’t just a simple raid but part of a larger plot to overthrow her entire nation.
With the enemy stealing over the mountains and Darrien coming to take her to his bed, Ilyenna must decide whether to resurrect the power the fairies left behind. Doing so will allow her to defeat Darrien and the other invaders, but if she embraces winter, she will lose herself to that destroying power—forever. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15829917-winter-queen
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