Today we are very excited to share an interview with author DJanée!
Read on to learn more about the author, the book, and a giveaway!
Meet the Author: DJanée
DJanée is both an author and a poet. As an author, she writes material ranging from children’s books to young adult fiction.
With a collection of young adult novels, children’s books, and poems to her name, DJanée is a multifaceted writer of various genres and formats. Her published books include Jimmy and the Teddy Bear and On the Run, the first book in the young adult dystopian series More Than Conquerors.
As a roller coaster enthusiast, DJanée uses her works to captivate, inspire, encourage, and entertain young readers with engaging plots and exciting twists and turns throughout her stories. When she is not writing poetry or stories, she is learning something new, such as a new language, a new skill, or random facts. She also enjoys traveling with loved ones.
You can visit her website at www.djaneecreations.com.
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest: @djaneecreations.
Website * Mailing List * Instagram
About the Book: The Blizzard’s Secrets
Something is not right in the peaceful community of Taliver, and Daia knows it. But there’s more at stake than she realizes.
An enjoyable quick read. A suspenseful young adult dystopian novella filled with plot twists and cliff-hangers that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Taliver is a peaceful community. After rigorous training and relentless hard work under the studious mentorship of Taliver’s Seer, Daia is entering a new stage in her life and preparing for her induction ceremony as Taliver’s new Commander of the Forces.
Just days before her ceremony, Daia discovers dark secrets in Taliver’s past, and the Ruler begins to make strange, questionable decisions that leave Daia suspicious and concerned for her people. Daia bravely takes matters into her own hands as the soon-to-be Commander and seeks answers for herself.
However, she suddenly finds herself caught in a web of lies and deceit that runs deeper than she could ever have imagined. Little does she know, an even greater challenge awaits her. Struggling to distinguish truth from lie, Daia is forced to face an ultimate test that no amount of training could have prepared her for.
Featuring a strong sense of empowering individualism, personal growth, and determination, The Blizzard’s Secrets is an enthralling page-turner filled with earth-shattering discoveries that will keep you engaged from start to finish. It is a wonderful quick read for fans of false utopias, pursuits of justice, plot twists, and strong protagonists.
~Author Chat~
YABC: What gave you the inspiration to write this book?
It started with an image. I like to draw inspiration from a lot of different things around me. There’s so much around us with interesting properties and possibilities. Whether it’s something serene like a beautiful beach sunset or something ordinary like a pencil, so much could happen with them. So much could happen because of them.
I was surfing Pinterest, when I found a gorgeous castle that was large and majestic. It was white with foliage climbing all over it and bursting through its towers. It stood on the side of a mountain, near a gushing waterfall. It was beautiful. And it made me want to create something–something that would also be beautiful and vibrant and alive. So, I started writing with a similar image in mind, and The Blizzard’s Secrets was born.
YABC: Who is your favorite character in the book?
I love Daia. I feel I have the closest connection with her out of all of the characters in the book. I understand the desire not to disappoint anyone and the desire to become the best that you can be. I typically expect myself to be better than I am even if I am already excelling at something. There’s a high standard I set for myself, allowing short timelines and even shorter learning curves–in learning a language or some new skillset or just becoming a better human being. I want to be the best that I can be for those around me who I care about and for myself–much like Daia.
YABC: Which came first, the title or the novel?
The novel. Definitely. I focus on the journey and the adventure first. Then, once all is said and done, the name is the icing on the cake, the cherry on top, the whipped cream to my sundae. That’s when I feel like I have finished writing my story.
YABC: What scene in the book are you most proud of, and why?
My favorite scene is the last one. I don’t want to give away too much of the story, but I’ll just say that I love seeing the strength in someone’s individuality. There’s power in thinking for yourself and following your beliefs even if you’re the only one doing it. It shows confidence, power, and strength. It also gives off an inspirational message that I think we all can learn from: having the courage to stand up for others.
YABC: Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?
There’s value in having a team of helpers that supports you and shows you how you can improve. I thought that I was educated and proficient enough in different skills to handle everything that goes into my books and launching them on my own. I thought that I was good enough to handle so many tasks by myself, but I’m not. I don’t know that anyone really is. And even in the things that I am very good at, it’s still extremely beneficial to bring in fresh eyes and perspectives.
There’s value in diversity–in terms of opinions, backgrounds, experiences, skillsets, etc. And people can be really amazing to work with. I’ve been blessed to work with the people who have supported my work and collaborated with me. They have been a gem to me, pointing out things I wouldn’t have seen otherwise, introducing great ideas, and helping to mold me into the writer that I am today. A helping hand can make a monumental difference between reaching your goals or missing them entirely–in writing or in anything else.
YABC: What do you like most about the cover of the book?
I love the symbolism behind the cover. It’s simple and clean so that it conveys the essence of the story without any clutter. It has a medieval theme. And the major topic throughout the story is no secret (even though there are secrets in the story).
YABC: What is the main message or lesson you would like your reader to remember from this book?
It’s not about who you can be like or imitate. It’s not about who was really great at something before you came along. It’s about yourself being the best “you” you can be. No one else can be you, so knock down the self-doubt and take charge while remaining open to opportunities to improve.
YABC: What would you say is your superpower?
Average person by day. Creative writer by night with her creative juices flowing.
Title: The Blizzard’s Secrets
Author: DJanée
Release Date: September 19, 2023
Publisher: Self-published (DJanée)
ISBN-13: 979-8-9885063-0-0 (paperback), 979-8-9885063-1-7 (epub), 979-8-9885063-2-4 (hardback)
Genre: YA Dystopian Novella
Age Range: 13+
*Giveaway Details*
Three (3) winners:
1st Place: Paperback copy of The Blizzard’s Secrets (signed), special edition bookmark, themed magnet, themed stickers, themed coaster, downloadable desktop/mobile background digital file, print art, downloadable bonus story content
2nd Place: Paperback copy of The Blizzard’s Secrets (signed), special edition bookmark, themed magnet, themed stickers, themed coaster, downloadable desktop/mobile background digital file
3rd Place: Paperback copy of The Blizzard’s Secrets (signed), special edition bookmark, themed magnet, themed stickers
*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway!*
Great cover!
The book sounds like it would be a great read!!
I love the premise!
This looks like it’ll be a thrilling read. I also like the fact that the book has a main message.
This sounds do interesting