DECEIVED Blog Tour: Release Day! + Fun Facts

Greetings, everyone, and welcome to the second day of  DECEIVED’s book tour. Today is also release day! My book is now released to the world. The ebook is available for purchase, and the paperback will be up soon.

So…happy book birthday, DECEIVED! You put me through a lot, and I’m relieved you’re finally here.

If you haven’t signed up for the giveaway yet, or if you’ve purchased the ebook and would like some swag, scroll until you see the giveaway and/or swag graphics. There you will find the information you need.

Onto the fun facts!

Fact #1: DECEIVED took a long, long time from start to finish.

DECEIVED took over three years to reach completion.

Fact #2: DECEIVED was almost shelved indefinitely.

I began DECEIVED on Thanksgiving Day, 2019 and ended it in late January-early February 2020. It was by far the quickest story I’ve ever written. A few months later, I sent DECEIVED’s proposal to a Christian fantasy publisher. It was rejected. I then shelved DECEIVED. Although I almost sent its proposal to a few other publishers, my faith in the story had fizzled to an almost non-existent spark.

Then, in October 2021, my mom suggested I self-publish. The only finished story I had that didn’t require a complete rewrite (or two) was DECEIVED, so I set to editing and getting a cover designed. Then, in November, I handed it off to some extremely brave betas. Fast forward five months, multiple prayers, and a lot of screams and threats and tears later, and DECEIVED is released.

Fact #3: Very little of the plot went according to plan.

Oh, the basic idea stayed the same, but when I look back on my early notes, it is obvious this book hadn’t traveled the course I originally intended. Which is fine. How it ended up is much better.

Fact #4: DECEIVED was not originally an allegory.

I was quite surprised when, one day, I reread what I had written and discovered I had an allegory in the works. I’d never considered writing an allegory, nor had I begun DECEIVED with the intention of making it an allegory. This is what happens when characters ignore the writer’s directives.

Fact #5: I have a favorite character.

Shocking, I know, that an author would favor one main character over the others, but it does happen. In this case, Rogan is my favorite. He’s always been and always will be my favorite, from the moment he sparked the idea for DECEIVED to the very end of the third book. I know there’s a Holder Fanclub, where most of the current readers are, but there is a small (as in three person) Rogan Fanclub. If you read DECEIVED and want to join the Rogan Fanclub, let me know! This dear boy needs more love.

Fact #6: DECEIVED has a map.

Rather, the lands of Orm and Uri have a map. You won’t find said map in the book, though, or anywhere online. The map, contained in my map sketchbook (yes, I actually have one; yes, it contains about twenty different maps from my various writing projects), may or may not be smeared with chocolate cake. I may or may not have been snacking on said cake as I began the basic outline for the book.

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PREORDER INFORMATION

If you have preordered DECEIVED or order it during the duration of this blog tour (April 25 – May 7), and want some swag (character card and autographed bookplate), go here.

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DECEIVED BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:

Monday, April 25

Madisyn Carlin | Intro + Book Spotlight

Joy Woodbury | Book Review

Tuesday, April 26

Madisyn Carlin | Release Day! + Fun Facts

Vanessa Hall | Author Interview

Autumn | Book Spotlight

Wednesday, April 27

Esther | Book Review

Saraina | Character Interview: Therese

Joy Woodbury | Guest Post

Thursday, April 28

Madisyn Carlin | Group Interview

Kristina Hall | Book Review

Friday, April 29

Vanessa Hall | Book Spotlight

Olivia | Book Review

Sherrice | Author Interview

Saturday, April 30

Madisyn Carlin | Character Spotlight: Holder

Stephanie | Character Spotlight: Rogan

Sherrice | Book Review

Olive Creed | Book Spotlight

Monday, May 2

Vanessa Hall | Book Review

Grace Johnson | Guest Post + Book Spotlight

Stephanie | Book Spotlight + Character Spotlight: Ivelle

Tuesday, May 3

Madisyn Carlin | Meet the Characters

Stephanie | Book Review

Wednesday, May 4

Grace Johnson | Author Interview

Saraina | Character Interview: Rogan

Thursday, May 5

Madisyn Carlin | Character Q+A

Issabelle Perry | Character Spotlight: Therese

Friday, May 6

Grace Johnson | Book Review

Autumn – Author Interview

Jenavieve Rose | Book Review

Saturday, May 7

Madisyn Carlin | Blog Tour Wrap-Up

Olive Creed | Author Interview

Katja Labonte | Book Review

Saraina | Author Interview