Beauty in the Binding: Author Interview: The Whisperer's Wish

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Whisperer's Wish by Janilise Lloyd, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Whisperer's Wish
Author: Janilise Lloyd
Publisher: Expanse Books (Imprint of Scrivenings Press)
Release Date: March 21, 2023
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

For sixteen years, Laurelin Moore has been keeping a secret. She is a whisperer, and she knows that to reveal her gift now is a dangerous risk. Past whisperers have been exploited for their power. But Ausland’s queen is dead and acknowledging her magic is her only chance at becoming a Rook in the Pentax—a competition that will decide the kingdom’s next ruler.

Laurelin isn’t in it for the crown, though. She’s after the wish that will be granted to the victor. A wish that would save her dying brother, Pippin. But there are dangerous undercurrents to the competition, and Laurelin finds herself at the center of it. She begins to search for answers and discovers a secret with the potential to shatter the entire kingdom.

Excerpt

Pippin’s green eyes fluttered. I grabbed his hand expectantly. We shared a lot of characteristics, but hair color was not one of them. His was like a flame; the burst of wild red curls demanded attention. Mine, on the other hand, was vanilla ice cream—pale, flat, and forgettable. I studied the freckles dotting his cheeks. His were darker and more abundant than mine. Most teenage girls couldn’t stand their little brothers, but the feeling that Pippin could slip away in an instant somehow erased any of his flaws. He was perfect.

“Hey, Laura.” Pippin’s voice quivered, his eyes open now. “You a Rook yet?”

I laughed. “Not yet, but I gave it my best shot a couple hours ago.”

Pippin smiled weakly. “You’ll make it. The duke won’t be able to pass up a whisperer, even if she’s not nobility.”

I prayed to the Matrons that he was right. I ruffled his hair. “It’s nothing for you to worry about either way. You just work on getting better.”

“I’m not getting better, Laura. We both know that.”

I hated the way he said that with such finality. I rearranged the green quilt that lay over his shrunken body. “Hang in there a little longer—just until I get my wish from the Matrons. Their magic is so much stronger than a pygsmy’s. It can heal you. Promise me you’ll hang on.”

About the Author

Janilise Lloyd is a former junior high school teacher who lives in Northern Utah with her husband and toddler. She balances a love for running with a love for all things dessert. Her family likes to be on the go, so you will often catch them at the zoo, the park, or skipping rocks by the river. Janilise is the coordinator for the ScrivKids writing community for student writers and is a member of the Storymakers Guild. You can find her on Instagram or Facebook @janiliselloyd or on her website, janiliselloyd.com.

Connect with Janilise by visiting janiliselloyd.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Author Interview

Q: What was the inspiration behind The Whisperer’s Wish?

Janilise: The Whisperer’s Wish is a book full of magic, a competition for a crown, and a bunch of other things that aren’t real or possible in this world. But in the end, writing the story was a way for me to process some of my own emotions and experiences.

At the heart of the story, Laurelin is desperate to save her brother’s life. Pippin is dying of cancer, and though Laurelin’s magic gives her access to pygsmy elixir, which can heal many injuries and illnesses, it cannot cure a condition that is biological. This is the root of Laurelin’s motivation. Even though she can’t fix Pippin’s situation, she still feels responsible to find a solution.

Readers will notice the book is dedicated to my two brothers. My younger brother passed away when I was very young, and my older brother had a scare when I was seventeen. Both of these experiences shaped my outlook on many things in life, and readers will see some of that reflected in Laurelin and Pippin’s relationship and the things Laurelin learns throughout the book. That’s not to say Laurelin and Pippin are the same as me and my brothers. They’re not. But there are aspects of their relationship that were shaped by my own experiences. That’s the wonderful thing about writing. Even in the most unexpected ways, I’ve found it very therapeutic.

Q: How long did it take you to write this story?

Janilise: The bulk of the writing was done in about a four month period. After that, there was a lot of back-and-forth between beta readers, critique partners, and editors that took another several months or so. In total, from putting the first word on the page to turning in the final version to my publisher, this book took almost exactly one year.

Q: Do you have a favorite quote from this book?

Janilise: I can’t seem to nail a favorite quote, but this is one of my favorite excerpts:

Tonight, I’d cross a line that could not be redrawn, and it was all for Pippin. His freckled face and green eyes filled my mind, though it was the younger version, before cancer sucked him dry. I kissed my four fingers and pressed them to his door. “Love you, little brother,” I whispered.

Exiting the house felt like stepping out of my own body. The carefully crafted shell of Laurelin Moore, a typical Linguan girl, crumpled behind me. I knew that the next time I came home, I’d be someone else. Life would never be quiet again.

Lingua buzzed with news of another pygsmy whisperer—the first in ninety years—and everyone was trying to catch a glimpse of who it might be. By morning, the rumors would be confirmed. The entire province would know the whisperer was me.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from The Whisperer’s Wish?

Janilise I hope readers find courage to face really difficult things in life. There are few experiences more challenging than grappling with the potential loss of a loved one, like Laurelin does throughout the book. I want readers to feel hope for the future—no matter the outcome of similar situations they may face.

Q: Would you share something about yourself that most readers would not know?

Janilise: I went to school to become a health and history teacher, and I was very young when I first stepped into the classroom. In fact, just two months before, I was a teenager myself. I also have a litter box trained rabbit with his own bedroom, I’m a very picky eater, and I met my husband in high school.

Q: What are you reading now?

Janilise: I’m currently reading Skyward by Brandon Sanderson.

Q: How many bookcases are in your home?

Janilise: Not as many as you might expect. I have three book shelves, and two of them hardly even count because they’re so small. I don’t keep a lot of books, and I also read lots of ebooks.

Q: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Janilise: I love to be outdoors. I’m a summer-loving girl who likes to hike, camp, kayak, and run. Most of all, I love hanging out with my husband and kiddo, with baby number two joining us soon!

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card, a signed copy of the paperback (ebook if outside US), and character art print.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 14, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 21, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for print copy & art print. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

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