Follow the tour: HERE
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Author Bio: Kristen Wolf, 43, is a mother and writer living in the Rocky Mountains. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Georgetown University and holds an M.A. in creative writing and film from Hollins College where she was awarded a full scholarship.
As a child, Wolf grew up in a heavily forested suburb outside New York City with her parents, a younger brother, and an ever-changing menagerie of pet animals.Both Wolf’s parents and grandparents passed onto her an avid love and respect for nature which explains the photos of Wolf posing with an ever-widening array of pets, including cats, dogs, guinea pigs, mice, quail, two raccoons, chickens, even a squirrel that lived in her bedroom!
Needless to say, hers wasn’t the average American family.
Later, Wolf’s family purchased land in upstate New York and on weekends and summers lived like a regular Swiss Family Robinson, clearing the land, building fences, barns and, eventually, raising and tending cattle, horses, pigs, goats, chickens etc. This led to a very unique life for Wolf and her brother as they lived like farmers on the weekends and students in a suburban public school during the week.
Wolf credits her unique childhood for providing her with keen powers of observation, a passion for living things, unlimited curiosity, and a strong independent streak.
As an adult, Wolf has worked primarily as filmmaker and writer. THE WAY is her first novel.
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Book Description
Anna is a fiery tomboy living in ancient Palestine whose androgynous appearance provokes ridicule from the people around her and doubt within her own heart. When tragedy strikes her family, and Anna's father—disguising her as a boy—sells her to a band of shepherds, she is captured by a mystical and secret society of women hiding in the desert. At first Anna is tempted to escape, but she soon finds that the sisterhood's teachings and healing abilities, wrapped in an ancient philosophy they call "The Way," have unleashed an unexpected power within her.When danger befalls the caves in which the sisters have made their home, Anna embarks on a hazardous mission to preserve the wisdom of her mentors by proclaiming it among ordinary people. Her daring quest and newfound destiny reveal, at last, the full truth of her identity—a shocking revelation that will spark as much controversy as it does celebration.
Anna’s story is one of transformation, betrayal, love, loss, deception, and above all, redemption. Readers will cheer for this unforgettable protagonist—and for debut novelist Kristen Wolf, whose beautifully written book both provokes and inspires. A compelling mix of history, myth, and fantasy, The Way is a fascinating exploration of the foundations and possibilities of human spirituality.
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Q&A
Thank you for all you do to support authors, readers, and the art of
story!
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Q&A
Q. What inspires your writing?
I write to bring challenge the status quo and offer new
possibilities, new paradigms. Every book I’m ever going to write will likely
have the same characteristics. Those being: iconoclastic, fantastical, sensual
(i.e. drawing heavily on the senses), cinematic (because I “see” the scene
before I write about it), and provocative. For me, the power of story
lies in its ability to challenge our beliefs, our paradigms and our
assumptions. In other words, in imagining the world as it “could be” rather than
“as it is.” In other words, I’m not going to write novels that describe the
human condition or experience as much as ones that explore challenging ideas.
Q. What is your favorite thing about being an author?
There are no limits on what you can explore or imagine.
Q. What is the toughest part of being an author?
Not getting overwhelmed with ideas and projects. I’ve always got
several book ideas in my head, and sometimes it’s hard to know which one to
pursue.
Q. If you could not be author, what would you do/be?
Hmm. Either a filmmaker or a poet or, perhaps, a theoretical
scientist.
Q. What would the story of your life be entitled?
Did I Leave the Oven On? Sorry, just kidding. That’s a
hard question! Maybe something clever like, Thoughts Along The Way…
Q. What is your favorite book of all time?
Whoa! An even harder question. That’s
impossible for me to say. However, I will confess that when I feel depleted
creatively, I turn to two sources… poetry and the works of Jeanette Winterson.
Both of these refuel me like no other.
Q. Which part of your book(s) was the easiest to write?
The parts that are meditative, that immerse the reader in nature
and the act of reverent attention. Some of these I had personally experienced,
so I drew heavily on what I could remember.
Q. Which part of your book(s) was the hardest to write?
The ending. I really worried at first because I had no idea how
it would resolve itself. And it was complicated! Fortunately, the idea
just dropped into my head. Truly. It was like getting a gift. And I just ran
with it.
Q. Which character from any book are you most like?
Hmm. In reality or in my mind?
Q. Can you tell me a little about the inspiration behind your
book cover(s)?
The artist at Random House came up with it pretty quickly. At
first I wasn’t sure because the scene it shows never actually takes place in
the book. However, it does beautifully and provocatively capture the story’s
major themes. From that perspective, I thought they did a great job.
Q. What is your favorite season?
Spring. Hands down. Anything and everything is possible in the
spring.
Q. Tell me something funny that happened while on a book
tour or while promoting your book(s).
The “funniest” comment I’ve gotten over and over, especially in
the comment section of interviews I’ve done, or even some book reviews, is that
people dismiss the book for being blasphemous, or heretical but then go onto
admit that they haven’t read it because, well, it goes against their faith. And
while I have deep respect for people’s faith, I would encourage people to read
the book – or any book! – before they comment upon it. In the case of THE WAY,
I think people would find it’s not at all what they expect.
Q. Are you working on something new?
I actually just finished another novel. It’s not part of THE WAY
trilogy. I needed to have some time away from that world before plunging back
in. The title of the new novel is ESCAPEMENT. It’s set in music’s Romantic era
and is a sensual, lyrical and arousing through-the-keyhole glimpse into the
private torment and ecstasy of creative genius. Spun by the female guest
and confidant of Johannes Brahms, the story delves into love triangles,
obsession, androgyny, and the relentless pursuit of beauty as great artists
struggle to approach and possess that which inspires them.
Q. Anything you want to say to followers of this blog or
those that are just stopping by?
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Excerpt
Anna clucked gently as
they nibbled her
elbows. Her father
said goats were the most foolish creatures the Lord had created. But
Anna found their
antics and stubborn friendliness amusing. And she laughed at how their
upper lips curled in
pleasure whenever she scratched their chins.
In a few more steps,
she came to her father’s workshop. Its door was closed. The
glow of an oil lamp
shone through its crooked window. Anna heard the familiar brushbrush
of the pumice stone
used to polish wood. Whatever her father was making, he was
close to finishing.
For the past month, he had been rising earlier than usual to work on a
special project. He
had said it was a secret, and would not tell anyone what it was, but the
mere mention of it
brought a glimmer to his eye.
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Connect with Kristen!
website: http://www.kristenwolf.com
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thewaynovel
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Thanks so much for featuring the book!
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