Demon Storm, Book 7
Young Adult Fantasy
Date Published: 12-13-2024
Publisher: Shadow Spark Publishing
The Catalyst is quiet
The Catalyst is quiet.
Kari struggles with the damage she did when she lost control. Her loved ones suffered at her hands, leaving Ari scarred in ways she will never be able to ignore.
How he survived? Only the Seraph of Nalmi knows.
Then a request arrives, a simple task compared to everything else she has been through: travel as Freehaven's emissary and meet with Brianna, a now-ancient half demon who destroyed the first demon city across the sea - and who may have some information on defeating the Catalyst for good. Kari, Ari, and Guine prepare to cross the Demon Sea...
But the shadows await them.
Interview with Valerie Storm
Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
Hero’s Song by Edith Pattou made me consider fiction from a different view very early in my life. There was something raw and beautiful about it, though the story was simple. It was visceral and lovely and made me want to create something like that.
How do you select the names of your characters?
My naming conventions vary. Sometimes it’s vibes, sometimes it’s latin translations/mashups, sometimes it’s sounds. For instance, a Big Bad villain got his name by me thinking “Has to start with a V…” then I saw the Zelle app and went “Vel…Velthas!”
Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?
Oh, yes. I foreshadow future books, reference past ones (and unpublished ones), and drop hints of my interests (similar lines from other movies/books).
What was your hardest scene to write?
In this book it was a fight scene about halfway through. There are so many moving parts that I overthink and wonder if I’m explaining everything well enough and making it interesting to read.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I am intending to build a series. At the beginning I disillusioned myself into thinking I could maybe make the books standalone, but that was impossible. The story needed to be told this way. Book 7 is out now, and when book 8 is done, the series will be complete.
What were your goals and intentions in this book, and how well do you feel you achieved them?
My goal was to continue Kari’s story and journey with the Catalyst, and hint at/explain a little further some of the inner workings behind it and the prophecy. I feel like I did well, but there’s always room for improvement. If I ever re-release this series, I’ll look forward to making this even better.
What inspired you to write The Storm Descends?
I heard a song (Stand by You by Rachel Platten) on the radio and immediately imagined Kari having to traverse some place awful trying to find Ari. I talked to my brother about where that could be, then we decided…and book 7’s major plot was born.
Can you tell us a little bit about the next books in Demon Storm or what you have planned for the future?
Demon Storm will end on book 8, the next one, called Fate of the Storm. In it, Kari will finally face her biggest enemy and save or doom the world.
After the Demon Storm series is over, I may be working on prequels. One day I’ll have a sequel series, too. I have lots of little plans.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in The Storm Descends?
This story focuses on Kari and Ari as usual, and Guine (an addition since book 4, Heart of the Storm). They’ve all changed a lot over the course of the series (even Guine, three books later!) Kari has stopped running from her problems and is getting ready to face them, Ari is determined to do so, and Guine is determined to protect what he calls home.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I enjoyed going to Kestos and revealing some things I’d written years ago in prequels. Not every reader will pick up on them, but the ones who do will have a very special place in my heart.
About the Author
Valerie Storm was raised in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, she fell in love with everything fantasy. When she wasn’t playing video games, she was writing. By age ten, she began to write her own stories as a way to escape reality. When these stories became a full-length series, she considered the path to sharing with other children & children-at/heart looking for a place to call home.
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1 comments:
This looks like a great read. Thanks for sharing.
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