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!
Author Interview
- What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?
I researched so many things when I wrote this book. If only you could see my search engine! The most surprising thing I learned was how to live off the grid. It’s amazing how you can live without electricity and only batteries. It was fun to research and extra fun to include elemental gifts in this kind of life. The community I ended up creating is a utopia and I wish I lived in this off-the-grid town.
- Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I loooove hearing from my readers! I love when they send me messages as they’re reading, and I can hear their reactions to plot twists and conflicts in my stories.
- How do you overcome writer’s block? Do you have any advice for others in finding their process to overcome it?
If I have writer’s block and nothing is coming in my story, but forced blah, I start researching and talking to my friends or husband about my story. I have an amazing friend who I record videos to on an app, called, Marco Polo. I’ll sometimes just brainstorm on this video to her, knowing she’ll listen to it when she can. I often work out my problems in my story, which creates writer’s block for me, often that way. If I’m not stuck because of a problem and I just have no creativity, I get on my computer and research what I’m writing about. A good way to jump start your creativity is getting on Pinterest and looking through fantasy pictures and creating a fun board for your book. That way, you’re being constructive in your non-creativeness and readers can enjoy looking at what you’re picturing when you write your book.
- How did you come up with the title for your book?
This book, Torch, is part of a four-book series. I wanted every title to represent one of the elements and they all have to start with the letter, T. So, Torch was born since it means fire.
- Do you participate in writing challenges on social media? Why or why not?
I don’t, but maybe I will in the future. I haven’t needed extra incentive to write, but I’m sure it will happen at some point. I think it’s wonderful that there are groups out there that encourage and help each other write their books!
- How did publishing your first book change your writing process?
I wouldn’t say publishing my first book changed my writing process, but this book did. First of all, I had a summary written of what the book’s about. But the one thing I did was create a writing schedule. At first, it was 2,500 words a day, but then that proved to be too stressful, so I dropped it down to 2,000. Some days I would write 900 words, other days, 5,000, so it evened out. And, because I knew what the book was about, it made the writing process smooth and organic.
- Is your writing space pristine or organized chaos?
Organized chaos, for sure. As I’m writing this, I have a banana peel next to wrapping paper. Presents on one corner, an empty bowl of soup on the other and week-old notes I haven’t thrown away. I’ll clean it all up, only for a similar scene to happen in a day or two.
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