Today I have a Guest Post from Kimberly Loth, the author of Kissed. She talks about being brave and how she was growing up. I know that I can kind of relate to what she said. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!
Title: KissedAuthor: Kimberly Loth
Series: The Thorn Chronicles #1
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
Published: April 21st 2014
Trapped in a dark cult, sixteen-year-old Naomi Aren has lived a quiet, albeit unhappy, life nestled deep in the hills of the Ozarks. With uncut hair, denim skirts, and only roses for friends, Naomi seldom questions why her life is different from other kids at school. Until the day her abusive father, who is also the cult’s leader, announces her wedding. Naomi must marry Dwayne Yerdin, a bully who reeks of sweat and manure and is the only one person who scares her worse than her father.
Then she meets Kai, the mysterious boy who brings her exotic new roses and stolen midnight kisses. Kisses that bring her a supernatural strength she never knew she had. As the big day approaches, Naomi unearths more secrets of about her father’s cult. She learns she has power of her own and while Kai may have awakened that power, Naomi must find a way to use it to escape Dwayne and her father—without destroying herself.
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Being Brave
I’m a chicken. My heart races at the thought of heights, snakes, and the dark. I don’t like going outside at night and I think people who go on solo adventures in the mountains are crazy. Don’t even get me started on social functions.
You know how many parties I went to in high school? One. I called my dad halfway through that and asked him to pick me up. Why? I’m shy and socially awkward. The thought of having to talk to all those people and figure out what to say brings out all my anxieties.
Books changed me though. Looking back now, I see it. Small acts of bravery. I was the only girl who in my ninth grade class who would eat the raw meat for an object lesson. (Yeah, that was probably stupid.) I got tired of waiting for the boy who was flirting with me in senior home ec to ask me to the homecoming dance and I asked him myself. I still remember how fast my heart was racing when I asked him. I couldn’t quite believe he said yes.
I read book after book about girls who took control of their lives and did brave things in spite of their fear. Very slowly, I saw myself becoming brave. Now I do scary things all the time.
I went skydiving last year. I held my friend’s pet snake. I can turn the lights on in my bedroom now with my eyes open. I moved to Egypt. I embrace adventure and work through my fear.
I still don’t go to parties very often though. I have my limits. I’d rather stay home and write a book about a girl who does something brave. Who is your favorite Heroine? How did she inspire you to be brave?
Kimberly Loth can’t decide where she wants to settle down. She’s lived in Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, California, Oregon, and South Carolina. She finally decided to make the leap and leave the U.S. behind for a few years. Currently, she lives in Cairo, Egypt with her husband and two kids.She is a high school math teacher by day (please don’t hold that against her) and YA author by night. She loves romantic movies, chocolate, roses, and crazy adventures. Kissed is her first novel.
