25 January 2017

Books Revisited ~ Krista Wagner's The Gold



Today Krista Wagner is giving us another chance to become acquainted with her book...

 
The Gold
Teaser
Ten-year-old Amanda is constantly teased and tormented in school. Her home life is less than satisfactory where her widower father, who is often away on business trips, leaves her in the care of her indifferent teenaged sister. Worse, not a day goes by when Amanda doesn't miss her mom. TO escape reality, Amanda creates fantasy stories, but when she discovers a talking golden pebble, her imagined world turns into a new-fangled reality.

 
 
 
About the Author
Krista Wagner, a mother of three and wife of TJ, has been writing since she was seven. She started out creating songs and plays and then graduated to poetry during her teen years. In high school, she was on the staff of her literary magazine, co-authored her own zine, and began to write numerous short stories, mostly dealing with dramatic instances like murder or kidnapping.

Krista received her BA in English from UMBC in 1999, her MA in English Composition with a Literature Concentration from CSUSB in 2008, and an MFA in Creative Writing from National University in 2013. Since 2008,

Krista has been an English adjunct instructor. Krista started work on her first novel, Intent, during a summer road trip in 2013.

Intent was published with TouchPoint Press in 2014. Her second novel, Rian Field, a psychological thriller, was published January 2016.

She has also penned screenplays for her published novels. She enjoys suspenseful films, reading the Bible, and spending time with her family.

If you enjoyed this book, I hope that you will take the time to post a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble and spread the word. My readers are the ones who keep this story alive.


Praises: "The Gold by Krista Wagner & published by Clean Reads is a short fantasy novel that will keep your attention from beginning to end.
The publishing information for this book is specifically labeled for the 10-18 year old age group. The main character, Amanda, is in fifth grade. She lives with her Dad and sister. She spends much of her time at home alone or with her preoccupied teenage sister
As the story unfolds, the reader learns a little about Amanda's Mom who "passed away from a long term ailment". The incredible sadness and loneliness that her mother's passing has created is tenderly and realistically portrayed from a young girl's perspective. The author's development of Amanda's character creates a connection with the reader immediately and her adventures are spun from there. It is at times a whimsical ride and at other junctures a tumultuous journey.

Here is my take on this novel.
First of all, the book left me wanting more. Right from the start, I wanted to know more about the past...so a prequel would be exceptional....and I definitely want to know what happens in the future....so a sequel is a must. Secondly, I greatly appreciated the presentation of the sensitive matter of bullying. Wagner's vivid description of the emotions encountered during episodes of harassment is exceptional. The author also beautifully illustrates how important it is to be connected and aware of what our children are experiencing, so that we can show them love and avoid feelings of desperation and isolation.

Finally, I think this work is entertaining for the younger reader and simultaneously has the potential to deliver a sense of hope to a hurting heart. I will be watching for the next book in this series!" "When I started reading The Gold, I was expecting more of a fantasy style of writing. Instead, Krista quickly developed the characters so the 'make believe' aspect of the book revealed more realities as young people worked thru the struggles of adolescence. Constance P."

 

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