About the Book

Book: Chromatic

Author: Ashley Bustamante

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: May 7, 2024

Light is Found in Every Hue

Magus is dying from the inside out, and only the destruction of the barrier can save it. Even color magic can’t defend against earthquakes, strange weather patterns, and erratic wildlife behavior.

After discovering hundreds of captive Yellow magic-users, Ava and Elm fight to set them free. However, new dangers and unexpected enemies await at every turn, forcing them to face their greatest challenges yet. The calamities inside the barrier slowly manifest in the outside world as well, pulling citizens from both sides of the battle into the fray. In this new war, they may not all make it out alive.

Elm and Ava must confront the growing darkness and create a future in a world that has been all but stripped of hope. Can Magus be restored, or is it already too late?

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About the Author

Ashley Bustamante has created stories from the moment she could scribble and staple sheets of paper together. She simply cannot recall a time when writing was not a force in her life. When not running through lines of dialogue in her mind, she enjoys taking photographs and spending time with her husband, three children, and any furry, feathered, or scaly creature she can find. She currently works at Arizona State University.

More from Ashley

Sitting down to write the final installment of the Color Theory series was an emotional experience. I wanted to do well by my readers and do well by God. And of course, I wanted to stay true to the story I set out to write in the beginning.

One of the difficult things about writing this book is that I knew the characters were going to have to face higher stakes and deeper pain than ever before. Given the situation they are in, it had to be that way. But, in spite of what Ava, Elm, and crew will face in Chromatic, this is ultimately a story of hope and triumph.

As I’ve watched the struggles of the world right now and seen what so many readers are going through, I knew I wanted to tell a tale of perseverance. No matter how bleak our circumstances may be, we can still find the light.

I hope you enjoy Chromatic!

Author Interview

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?

I’m really blessed to hear from readers often! I’ve had several people tell me my books helped them get through a hard time, or got them out of a reading slump. That’s always lovely to hear. Often people write to express love for Elm. 😊 A few of my arc readers for Chromatic have given me play-by-plays of their emotions throughout the book, and that’s really fun too!

Do you read the genre you write? Why or why not?

Absolutely! For one thing, I just enjoy reading YA fantasy, so I’m often reading books in that genre. But apart from that, I try to get a sense of what’s going on with other books in that area and make sure I’m writing content that my target audience will enjoy.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

It’s hard to narrow it down to one, but recently I’ve seen a lot of wisdom in “don’t compare yourself to others.” You’ll never write exactly the same as someone else, nor should you. If we focus too much on comparisons we will never be happy with what we accomplish.

Do you participate in writing challenges on social media? Why or why not?

I used to. It was a good way to brainstorm and keep my writing chops active. Plus, it can be a great way to connect with other writers. Lately I’ve been so busy with my current projects that I haven’t had much time for anything extra, but it’s something I’ll probably do again when time allows.

Is your writing space pristine or organized chaos?

Definitely chaos, and not even organized at the moment, unfortunately! We’ve been taking on organization projects in our house a little bit at a time and sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. It’ll eventually be organized again (I hope!).