Today Krista Wagner is giving us another chance to become acquainted with her book...
The Gold
TeaserTen-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 sisterAs 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."
