Title: The Broken Destiny
Author: Carlyle Labuschagne
Series: The Broken Trilogy (Book #1)
Genre: Sci-fi, YA
Publisher: Fire Quill (SA) Hallowed Ink Press (USA)
Release Date: October 2014
ISBN: 97809922446208
Back Blurb
"You cannot know what light is if you have not experienced darkness"
Ava and her people have been exiled to the planet Poseidon for reasons she can't fathom. Upon meeting a boy from a different sector, her life turns into a beautiful chaos. She begins to feel things she isn't allowed to, thus motivating her to find out the truth about why her kind are so different, and why the Council are so interested in her. Once her mind is freed, with it comes a terrible power that could either save her kind, or destroy them all. But Ava is not the perfect heroine. She will become what she hates to save the ones she loves, and the cost of such a burden is deadly at best.
The Broken Destiny Purchase Links:
About the Author
Carlyle is an South African award wining author, with a flair for mixing genres and adding loads of drama to every story she creates. For now she is happy to take over the world and convert non Sci-fi believers.Her goal as an author is to touch people's lives, and help others love their differences and one another by delivering strong messages of faith, love and hope within each world she writes about.
"I love to swim, fight for the trees, and am a food lover who is driven by my passion for life. I dream that one day my stories will change the lives of countless teenagers and have them obsess over the world literacy can offer them instead of worrying about fitting in. Never sacrifice who you are, its in the dark times that the light comes to life."
Carlyle used writing as a healing tool and that is why she started her very own writers support event - SAIR bookfestival. http://sairbookfestival.weebly.com/ - "To be a helping hand for those who strive to become full times writers, editors, bloggers, readers and cover artists - its a crazy world out there you dont have to go it alone!"
follow @CarlyleL for all the crazy updates on all things me.
follow @CarlyleL for all the crazy updates on all things me.
I smiled to myself―breaking rules was part of who I had become; I would try anything just to feel alive, to feel free from a dying planet―a dying race. The water beneath me shimmered, while the mountain appeared pale green in the dim light. I imagined for a moment that I was stuck in a beautiful painting.
Once more, I glanced at Sam, her fiery locks still resting lightly across her face. With her eyes shut and her long, dark, thick lashes sweeping over the top of her rosy cheeks, she looked just like a doll. Her coat was tucked tightly into the nape of her neck to ward off the cold, and a faint smile started curling up at the edges of her mouth. Not a care in the world, I thought to myself as I looked thoughtfully at Sam snuggled in silent reverie.
As I turned my gaze back to the distant horizon where nightfall was quickly creeping toward us from over Mount Inja, a shimmer of an early star set against the amethyst sky caught my eye―so silver, so sparkling, so high and so serene that I could only dream of ever reaching it. I closed my eyes tight, fighting the pang in my chest, and I wished for that star to fall down on me, to grant me my wish of changing my life forever. I wished it would close the emptiness within my chest and fill it with the kind of peace that would make me the person I was meant to be, not the girl I was. The girl who was constantly poked fun at, never once left alone to just be herself; the girl who envied everyone else, and the girl with the huge inheritance that meant nothing to her. I felt belittled every day because of it. I looked harder into the glimmer of the star and wished to be envied, just once.
Guest Post
Humbled by Writing
I had written from the age of twelve, secretively to myself in the form of poems, songwriting, keeping a diary. I had always been that girl who wanted to be liked, who needed approval from the world. I had changed myself to become popular, altered my whole being to conform to the ideals of others.
I might have been a little too good.
Being popular consumed me. I tried my hand with great success at many things, from figure-skating, gymnastics, ballet, art, drama; TV presenting…the list goes on. But all those things never really touched me, moved me. The passion was lacking. So, many years later–many wrong turns later–the bad girl had to change.
The only thing ever keeping me solid and grounded was my writing…being by myself to not have my thoughts corrupted by others. (Of course I allowed it to happen). But it wasn’t until two years ago that I felt compelled to shut the world out and indulge in my imagination without caring what anyone thought of me. I had always been ruled by that element. Self-consciousness. I felt that unexplainable sense of belonging almost instantly.
At first it was all about getting all the emotion out there, and through writing my first novel, I came to terms with who I was. I finally started dealing with all my baggage I had always run away from. Writing saved me from becoming what I hated.
I knew from the moment I thought about writing The Broken Destiny that I’d be published, I’d make it happen. It was not to prove anything to all those who did me wrong (okay, maybe a little). It was to be okay with me, self-approval above approval of the untrue world out there – to set away all those false needs of belonging in society. It was like someone chimed a magic wand over me and I became me again.
The journey has been amazing–life changing. I have really been accepted with great encouragement by the most amazing people. And it is because of all of those who did me wrong , all those wrong turns, that I am able to inspire and help others feel better about themselves. My insecurities melted away the more I wrote. It is amazing to find something that is utterly and truly satisfying. For me, my novel is my soul, my journey though the dark to find the light. So yes, I am very nervous about people reading my work, as that is my soul-baring experience set in a tale of difficult and trying times created by one ’s self.
I hope to inspire, change and motivate you to follow your dreams, stray true to yourself. The only person that can hurt you is you. By being truly you, you can achieve anything you so dearly desire. I had never worked for anything in my life, one of those spoiled kids who grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth (that is how you say it in English, isn’t it?). I have overcome my language barrier with such ease; I have surprised myself and have grown because of it. I have never worked so hard and so passionately for something in my life. Having great friends along the way has helped me hang on through difficult, frustrating times. My deepest gratitude to all who have touched my life during this time (you know who you are – yes, you reading this!)
My friends still find it strange that I don’t wear high heels everywhere I go. I find myself not relying on makeup and things. Writing is my feel-good med. I am humbled by the magic it has brought to my life. I am at peace. My first novel is all about overcoming those insecurities, believing and loving one’s self. I not only changed myself through writing – I hope to change all those who read my work.
~ Don’t let fear cripple your dreams. Let love and passion give you wings ~
Happy writing all,
Carlyle Labuschagne”
