Dawn Ford – Story Behind the Story – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Dawn Ford shares her inspiration for book 2 her Young Adult Fantasy – Firebird series, The Girl with Fire in Her Veins. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for an autographed print copy. Readers always clamor for clean books for the the young readers in their lives. I hope you’ll try this author. Deadline: April 22nd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Dawn:

Tested but not Overcome

Isaiah 43:1-2, 16

1 Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

As Christians, we are tested in our faith in real life. There are many things in this world that threaten our footing or that shakes our faith-filled foundation. Many forces seem to be buffeting us whether it be the news or the economy. It can be overwhelming at times. We need to be reminded that God will make a way, a path for us as Isaiah said above.

I had this scripture in mind in my Firebird series. In it, I have created a heroine who believes in a sovereign creator, but who is going to be tested and purified by her experiences. I needed a protagonist who faces unimaginable odds and so she could triumph over the forces bent on her destruction. I wanted a character who was also overwhelmed at every corner, but who perseveres and remains standing. Something we can all look to in our own struggles to remain calm and faithful among the storms of life.

Enter in my girl, Tambrynn. In the first book, The Girl with Stars in her Eyes, we find a tough-as-nails heroine. She’d been an indentured servant for almost a decade. All of that time her Kinsman-given abilities have overcome her and created chaos into her life, so much so she thought she was cursed. She’s different from everyone else in that she has silver spun hair and animalistic star-shaped pupils in her eyes. Even though she’s been called names and treated unfairly, she doesn’t allow it to harden her spirit.

At the beginning of the story, Tambrynn helps a young servant girl and ends up with a punishment that’s not hers to take, but she takes it. Little does she know it’s the beginning of a grand adventure for her—one that will test her. She never knew magic existed. She would never have fathomed the Kinsman, her God, created her for a special purpose. That purpose is revealed within those pages.  

In book two, The Girl with Fire in her Veins (releasing April 25^th), Tambrynn walks through new fires. However, she’s formed new allies as well. She’s found a long-lost grandfather who will help her learn everything she needs to know to dismantle her father’s evil reign. She has a fire-dragon for backup. And she has her trusted, and handsome, hero Lucas beside her once again. It was his mission from the beginning to keep Tambrynn safe, and he’s determined not to fail.

But there are new foes who are menacingly treacherous. She’s already gotten herself on the wrong side of the eldrin, the leaders of her home kingdom as well. Every move she makes seems to bring her to another more perilous scenario. When alliances are formed, her allies are in more danger than ever, and nowhere is completely safe.

Tambrynn is tested by fire—her inner fire. She’s a firebird, after all. But I needed something more as a stumbling block. A flood. She’s become terrified of water after she’d been kidnapped and dragged upstream to the froggen’s castle. She had to face this deep-set fear to be set free from it. But will she survive it?

Does she survive? You’ll have to read it to find out!

Question for Readers: What types of books did you read as a kid, teen, and young adult? What was your favorite?

About Dawn: The Girl With Fire In Her Eyes won the 2016 ACFW Genesis award. Dawn lives in the Loess Hills in Iowa and helps her husband run their food service business. She loves steampunk, purses & shoes, crocheting, and pretty, shiny things—not necessarily in that order. When not reading, writing, or catering, Dawn loves babysitting her grandchildren and can often be caught daydreaming. Learn more & connect:

Dawn’s Website               Dawn’s Facebook               Dawn’s Instagram

About the book – The Girl with Fire in Her Veins (Book 2 – Firebird series)

Former servant girl Tambrynn struggles with her new firebird abilities, especially the internal fire she cannot control. So, she, along with her Watcher Lucas, and her grandfather Bennett journey to a hidden mountain keep to find the answers she seeks before she sets the kingdom aflame.

But there’s a new dragon who’s targeting Tambrynn, a mergirl who wishes to manipulate her, and the froggen king, Siltworth, who hasn’t forgotten that Tambrynn destroyed his watery reign. When her father, the evil mage Thoron, attacks someone she loves, Tambrynn’s group is separated and she has to face another powerful foe alone.

Is she strong enough to withstand the deluge? Or will she drown in the fire and the flood?

The Girl with Fire in her Veins is the second book in a young adult, twisted fairy tale series with strange and wonderful creatures in a magical world. It is a clean fiction novel, written with a Christian world-view suitable for ages 12 to adult.

Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Dawn’s other titles?

Get your copy/copies now!

Preorder The Girl with Fire in Her Veins                  Dawn’s Books

Come back April 14th for Janalyn Voigt!