Silver Bounty by Victoria McCombs

 

About the Book

 

Book: Silver Bounty

Author: Victoria McCombs

Genre: YA Pirate Fantasy

Release date: January 10, 2023

Never Trust a Pirate

Emme is tasked with getting rid of the king, but kings are not an easy target, and this one is bent on purging his lands of pirates. As Emme’s job becomes increasingly dangerous, she learns to survive the pirate way—cunning and merciless—while consoling herself with one fact: she’s just doing what it takes to get home.

But when Emme mistakenly takes out the wrong man, not even the protective pirate captain can save her from the consequences. In a string of betrayals, one thing is certain. You can never trust a pirate.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

Author Interview

1. Why did you want to become an author? 

My dad was a writer, and we spent our summers tucked into the corners of libraries, discovering new worlds. So the joy of storytelling was always there. As I grew older, those stories grew louder in my mind, and now they are asking to come out.

 

2. What step of writing this book was the most challenging and why? 

The main character in this book is sick with a disease that I gave a fake name to. But it’s a real disease in my family, and it’s hit us hard. I can’t know until I’m older if I have it as well, but I poured out all my emotions into Emme as I faced my fears of going through it someday. The scene where she discovers her hands are too unstable to write was the hardest, and I think I cried three times while writing/editing that one.

 

3. What/Who inspired you to write on the main themes found in the book?

Can I say the whole world? I wanted to touch on the theme of ‘life is a sum of your decisions’ and show a character going through struggles but still choosing to be good. The concept of ‘good’ is grayed in our world as more and more readers long for morally gray characters who kill people but are still considered the heroes. I wanted a character that stuck clearly in the good category, while the world crumbled around her.

 

4. Which character in your book do you relate to the most?

Definitely Emme since I gave her my family’s disease. I also gave her my inner longing to belong, so she is a reflection of me.

 

5. If you could meet your characters in real life, what would you talk about?

They’d ask me why I put them through so much and I’d hide because they are tough enough to hurt me.

 

6. What did your research process look like for this book? 

A lot of it was what a pirate ship looks like! I kept those tabs open for months. Then there was a lot of what jobs went into keeping a ship running, and the hierarchy of a pirate ship. Some gem research as well, and landscape research.

 

7. What made you choose the setting/time period for this book? 

This is actually ironic, but I thought to myself that I wanted a solid pirate book, but didn’t know of any. So I wrote one. In the process of writing book one, four huge pirate books were released, and I started hearing about so many more, and I realized I wasn’t as original as I thought! Luckily there are some unique things, like the oathbinding tattoos to help it stand out.

 

8. Did you have to step out of your comfort zone to write this book? If so, how? 

For sure! I never talk about my disease, and even now I’ve only mentioned it once on social media. So putting it in my book is really difficult, and I’m actually nervous as to how people will receive it. People who are more outspoken about their disabilities might not relate to my character like I do, and the people pleasing part of me is struggling with that!

 

9. How did you celebrate when you completed your book? 

By outlining the next one! I don’t usually give myself a large break between books.

 

10. Do you have a favorite drink or snack for when you’re writing? 

A basic answer, but I love drinking coffee as I write! My favorite right now is caramel latte.

 

11. What message do you hope readers take away from your book? 

I hope they see how to keep fighting even when things around you appear bleak. Things will get better someday.

About the Author

Victoria McCombs is the author of The Storyteller’s Series, and The Royal Rose Chronicles, with hopefully many more to come. She survives on hazelnut coffee, 20-minute naps, and a healthy fear of her deadlines, all while raising three wildlings with her husband in Omaha, Nebraska.

 

More from Victoria

Pirates are more civilized than I gave them credit for. Did you know the captain didn’t have complete authority over the ship? While researching for the book, I discovered they used a voting system, and the captain followed what the crew wanted. Usually pirate stories depict a strong captain that makes all the decisions, so it was a fun twist to include more of the democracy style of the early pirates into my story. With that, came the fun power struggles as different crew members wanted different things, and they all try to sway the command of the ship. Smaller crew alliances form, friendships are tested, trust broken, and the future of the Royal Rose comes into question as, at times, the greatest threat to them lies within their own crew.

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 30

Texas Book-aholic, January 31

Artistic Nobody, February 1 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, February 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 3

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 4

Blogging With Carol, February 5

A Reader’s Brain, February 6 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 7

Lily’s Book Reviews, February 7

Through the Fire Blogs, February 8

For Him and My Family, February 9

Holly’s Book Corner, February 10

Simple Harvest Reads, February 11 (Author Interview

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Victoria is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a hardcover copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/23ccd/silver-bounty-celebration-tour-giveaway