Dance With Me

DANCE WITH ME

by Judith Crow

 

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GENRE:  YA (Fantasy)

 

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BLURB:

 

Don’t tell anyone, but Kelli spends all her free time listening to folk music. Ok, it’s not what you’d expect from a popular fifteen-year-old, but that’s why she doesn’t want the whole world to know.

 

When Kelli follows the mysterious Tam Lane, she finds herself in a place where folk songs come to life. As she comes to terms with the world, she makes friends, uses her privilege to help others, and even falls in love.

 

But Kelli has forgotten the fates which await so many characters in the songs, and she soon finds herself surrounded by heartbreak. Determined to protect the people she has left, can Kelli change a fate which has been sung for centuries?

 

 

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EXCERPT:

 

 

“So, what is Carterhaugh?”

 

“It’s in the Scottish borders,” he replied. “You must have heard of it before, Kelli.”

 

Kelli thought about it. The name sounded familiar, but she knew nothing about Scotland to speak of, and certainly nothing beyond the visitor attractions in Edinburgh. “I’ve heard of it, but I don’t know where.”

 

“Well, it’s a kind of gateway,” Tam explained. “There are beautiful gardens, and the land is very fertile so it is said that any seed to touch the earth will grow into the greatest of its kind. It was the birthplace of the ancient kings.”

 

“What does that have to do with me?” Kelli asked. “Or with Jehovah’s Witnesses for that matter?”

 

“Nothing at all,” Tam replied. “But you must have asked about it for a reason.”

 

“Yes, I did,” Kelli said, thrusting the magazine back into Tam’s hands with her thumb marking the last page. It fell open as Tam took it from her, and a picture of smiling children covered most of the back page, with the title ‘Bible Questions Answered’ and a small amount of text. 

 

“Yes?”

 

“It was there!” Kelli said, a shiver running down her spine. She flicked through the magazine, but the page was nowhere to be seen. “It was there. There was a picture of a wood and a river.”

 

“That is Carterhaugh,” Tam said. “The birthplace of kings. You should go there. You’d like it.”

 

“How would you know?”

A Word With the Author

Did you always want to be an author?

I’m never quite sure if I am an author! What’s the difference between an “author” and a “writer”? I always knew that I wanted to write – ever since I was little! But I’m not sure at what point I started to wish I could be an author… I think that’s a tricky one, especially as I’m currently in a job which makes me happy.

Still, it would be wonderful to be able to write full time and be all the things which come with being an author. One of my main aims is for some wonderful filmmaker to turn my creations into a movie which I can go and watch in our local cinema!

Tell us about the publication of your first book.

My first book, The Backwater, was published in November 2018 and launched at an event at John O’Groats. I remember the event really clearly, because it was on the same day that I finished my first teacher placement. I was so tired, but grinned my way through it and actually had a great time, even getting to sign a few books. 
Later on, Crowvus entered The Backwater into the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. I have to say, I forgot all about it until the list of finalists was released and mine was on it! I couldn’t believe it! I needed a lot of persuasion that the competition organisers hadn’t just made a typing error!

 

Besides yourself, who is your favorite author in the genre you write in?

I am a big fan of Neil Gaiman’s work, and have read nearly his entire canon. I feel like he mastered the genre of crossover fiction, which is where I would slot Dance With Me. My favourite is The Graveyard Book, which is just a genius work of fiction and, in my opinion, a much better alternative to The Jungle Book.

What's the best part of being an author? The worst?
I love getting to know my characters. The process of creating a whole world around these individuals is just so much fun! You can do whatever you like to them, and they will never fall out with you: the ideal friendship!! I love meeting people who have read my work as well, although I get a bit bashful, because they’ve experienced that world too.

The worst thing about being an author is the quantity of rejection. I never sent Dance With Me to any agents or publishers – it is being published by Crowvus, which is owned by my family. The reason? I spent months submitting another novel to agents and, even after initial interest, it was all just rejection. You need skin like a rhinocerous to be an author.

 

What are you working on now?

I keep a list of all the stories I have on the go! But my main one at the moment is about Sir Kay, the foster-brother of King Arthur. It follows him through his life, from the moment that Arthur is brought to the house, to the sword in the stone. I am really enjoying writing it, and especially doing all the associated research. Names are very important in the story, so I’ve been studying weird and wonderful names from a whole host of civilisations! 

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Judith was born in Orkney, grew up in Lincolnshire and now lives in the far north of Scotland. Her writing is inspired by the experiences of her life so far and she loves picking up on quirks and immortalising them in fiction.

 

Judith’s new book, Dance With Me, combines her love of folk music and creative writing, and finds her main character in a world where folk songs come to life. Her debut book, The Backwater, was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2019.

 

When she isn’t writing, Judith is a primary school teacher who enjoys crafting and music, as well as being a generally doting spaniel owner.

 

Website

www.judithcrow.co.uk

www.crowvus.com

 

Twitter

@jayzed_kay

 

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Dance-Me-Judith-Crow-ebook/dp/B08GC86MG7

 

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

  THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY a $10 Amazon/BN GC

 

 

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