Title: SALT
& STORM
Author: Kendall
Kulper
Publisher: Little,
Brown Books for Young Readers
Pub. Date: September
23, 2014
A sweeping historical romance about a witch who foresees her own murder--and the one boy who can help change her future.
Sixteen-year-old Avery Roe wants only to take her rightful place as the witch of Prince Island, making the charms that keep the island's whalers safe at sea, but her mother has forced her into a magic-free world of proper manners and respectability. When Avery dreams she's to be murdered, she knows time is running out to unlock her magic and save herself.
Avery finds an unexpected ally in a tattooed harpoon boy named Tane--a sailor with magic of his own, who moves Avery in ways she never expected. Becoming a witch might stop her murder and save her island from ruin, but Avery discovers her magic requires a sacrifice she never prepared for.
Now on to the post!
SALT
& STORM Playlist
Music
was a huge inspiration to me while writing SALT & STORM. Whenever I had
trouble capturing the feel of the book, I just turned on my “Island Songs”
playlist and let it bring me back to SALT & STORM’s world. Here are a few
of my favorite inspiring songs:
So pretty, so haunting, gorgeous
instrumentals backing up beautifully stripped-down vocals.
Whirlpool – Sea Wolf
Sea Wolf was another huge inspiration writing the book. I found them while I was editing SALT & STORM, so they’re forever linked in my head with huge packets of notes and colored pencils. This song tells about a darkness that pulls at the singer as powerfully as a whirlpool and his hopes that one day he’ll emerge a cleaner, better person, but what I really love is how the circular, repeating lyrics evoke the never-ending spinning of a whirlpool.
Sea Wolf was another huge inspiration writing the book. I found them while I was editing SALT & STORM, so they’re forever linked in my head with huge packets of notes and colored pencils. This song tells about a darkness that pulls at the singer as powerfully as a whirlpool and his hopes that one day he’ll emerge a cleaner, better person, but what I really love is how the circular, repeating lyrics evoke the never-ending spinning of a whirlpool.
Dear Avery – The
Decemberists
This is the song that helped give Avery,
my main character, her name. It’s the song of a parent singing to their child
about wanting to always keep them safe, even when they have to head off into
danger. Parent-child relationships are a huge part of SALT & STORM, and
this song beautifully captures that complexity.
This
is one of those pretty songs designed to stick in your head from the first time
you hear it. It’s a melody as catchy as it is gorgeous, and it has a lovely
gloominess to it without being a total downer.
A Girl, a Boy, and a
Graveyard – Jeremy Messersmith
This
is one of those songs with lyrics that seem tailor-made for Tumblrs (and it has
an awesome animated music video to match). It’s also the kind of song I would
have adored as a teen.
The Mariner’s Revenge Song
– The Decemberists
I
could probably make up a whole playlist of songs that inspired SALT & STORM
just out of songs by The Decemberists. They’re the closest musical cousins to
the feel I got writing the book—historical with a dark twist and a little
humor. This song, about a boy confronting the no-good sailor who betrayed his
mother while both are inside the belly of a whale, is absurd without being
silly (and is really, really fun to sing along to).
When the Ship Comes In –
The Decemberists with The Chieftains (OMG Kendall I loveeee The Chieftans!!)
SALT
& STORM combines traditional whaling histories with a modern flair, and
this fun, jumping song combines traditional Celtic music with The Decemberists’
modern take on pop and rock.
The Violet Hour – The Civil
Wars
The
Civil Wars are another modern band with roots in history, this time American
folk. The Violet Hour doesn’t have any lyrics, but it does have beautiful
instrumentals. It was my go-to song to listen to when I needed a sort of mental
palate cleanser.
So
sweet and so lovely, this is one of my favorite romantic songs for its
effortless simplicity. Like the romance in SALT & STORM, it’s a love song
that’s more about touch, closeness, and comfort being with the person you love
than big, romantic gestures.
Another
lovely Sea Wolf track, this time from their new, stripped-down album, Song
Spells, No. 1. What I really love about Sea Wolf is how they’re able to take
these forms of water—whether whirlpool, rain, or river—and weave them
beautifully into moments in a person’s life.
Thanks for stopping by Kendall I loved this!!!!
About Kendall:
Kendall Kulper writes historical
fiction with a fantasy twist for teen readers and knows more about nineteenth
century whaling than she ever imagined. Her debut YA novel, SALT & STORM
will be published by Little, Brown September 23, 2014. She graduated from Harvard
University with a degree in history and literature in 2008 and spent several
years as a journalist before deciding to write full-time. She grew up in the
wilds of New Jersey and now lives in Boston with her husband and
chronically-anxious Australian Shepherd mix, Abby.
Giveaway
Details:
2 Hardcovers of SALT & STORM US Only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour
Schedule:
Week One:
9/15/2014- Novel Novice- Interview
9/15/2014- The
Infinite To-Read Shelf- Review
9/16/2014- All Things
Urban Fantasy- Guest Post
9/16/2014- No BS Book Reviews- Review
9/17/2014- Such a Novel Idea- Interview
9/17/2014- Katie's Book Blog- Review
9/18/2014- IceyBooks- Interview
9/18/2014- Reading YA
Rocks- Excerpt
9/19/2014- Wishful Endings- Guest Post
9/19/2014- Casual
Readers- Review
Week Two:
9/22/2014- Supernatural
Snark- Interview
9/22/2014- About to Read- Review
9/23/2014- The Cover Contessa- Guest Post
9/23/2014- Imaginary Reads- Review
9/24/2014- Fire and Ice- Guest Post
9/24/2014- Once Upon a Twilight- Review
9/25/2014- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Interview
9/25/2014- The Best Books Ever- Review
9/26/2014- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post
9/26/2014- Tynga's Reviews- Review
