Ruby's Fire by Catherine Stine with Guest Blogger Drema Williams

Ruby’s Fire

By Catherine Stine

Written by Guest Blogger: Drema June Williams

My mother, Deneale won this book “Ruby’s Fire” from Ms. Stine in a facebook party for me. I am lucky enough to have received a signed copy of this and another book as well, and they are my very first autographed books that I own! And to that, I owe a big thank you to Ms. Stine and my mom. 

So here is my first review, I just hope that I don’t let anyone down:

This book, “Ruby’s Fire” is set in the year 2099. Ruby is dependent on Oblivian Powder, (which is a drug) and she is seventeen years old, and has a little brother named Thorn and he is mute.

The Greening which is a boarding School for orphan teens, is where Ruby hopes she can stay and finally stop running. Unfortunately, this boarding school is not what it is cracked up to be.

Ruby starts experiencing her physical changes, all in the midst of students who are typical out of control teens. This doesn’t help her feel any more comfortable, going through her own changes, and dealing with troubled teens.

Blane is a resident body guard and Ruby is attracted to him, but also ashamed of her new found attraction. She doesn’t understand why she can’t be satisfied with Armonk. She doesn’t understand why her needs must be so difficult.

Ruby wants to stop her dependence on Oblivion, all while working on her inner beauty. She feels that she needs to get her life straightened out, and become stronger, and better. But all the while, as she is reclaiming her life, Stiles comes back to reclaim Ruby. This was not part of her plan.

Ruby see’s a way to rescue her family from the dangerous cult, through George Axion. He is a rich Vegas-by-the-Sea, style entertainer. And George is running a contest which entails a cash prize for the winner of a student contest. But to everyone’s surprise-Thorn is the one who managed to create the most astonishing contest project of all!

I found this book to quite entertaining, and well worth the read. I enjoyed immensely, and give this book “Ruby’s Fire” five stars, because I think everyone should enjoy a book that makes you feel like a part of the fantasy. Any book that pulls you out of the real world and into another, makes it well worthy of the read!

Here are our Questions for Ms. Stine:

What made you decide to write Ruby's Fire and how long did it take to write?

Ruby deals with subjects young women angst over: how to negotiate one's sexuality and power, how to escape from an inappropriate and dangerous relationship, why people become addicted to drugs and what kinds of things help them to kick it, and how to find true interior beauty.

In Ruby, I wanted a female heroine, who had trouble with men because she was so beautiful. I wanted her to be a drug addict, forced to flee from the cult she grew up in, and run to a very unusual boarding school for nomadic teens in a place called Skull's Wrath.

In Fireseed One, the first in the series, Ruby grew up in a Fireseed plant cult (a plant with almost magical properties). At the start of Ruby's Fire, she escapes, for reasons you'll find when you read it. Her continued relationship to the Fireseed plants, however, takes a shocking turn. 

This novel took about two years to write.

Did you do any research for this book?

Yes! I did research on what’s called transgenic crops. These are plants formed from two very different species, such as tomatoes that also have fish DNA. I bet you didn’t know this crop exists for real. Well, it does! And in Ruby’s Fire, there are some even more strange hybrids. One of these is called a RED. Below, is a picture I drew of one.

Do you have any photos or pictures of these amazing characters?

Yes, here’s my drawing of a RED.

 

 What education do you have?

First, I went to an art college and got a BFA in painting. Then, I got an MFA in creative writing. There, I studied both Writing for Children and Adult Fiction. Essentially, I wrote two novels in the process.

How long have you been writing?

Oh, for years! I was always writing in school. But when did I first get published? In 2010, I ghostwrote a book for American Girl. It taught me a lot. My next published work launched in 2004, a YA called Refugees.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

I have always written and loved writing. That said, I was a professional artist first! I went to art school and showed my paintings in galleries for a good ten years before I decided to write full time. Is it any wonder, then, that I love to write about artists? LOL. Heart in a Box has stuff about artists, and my Art of Love romance series does, too. (written as Kitsy Clare).

What can you offer to people wanting or thinking about becoming a writer?

Follow your passion. Find the one or two genres you love. For me it is YA and dark fantasy. Get in a trusted writing group. A good one can help you feel a part of the writing community and provide valuable feedback. Stay focused and work hard, yet don’t rush the process. Have fun with it.

What is your very favorite book?

Impossible question. It’s easier to answer the question, which book blew my mind? One of the books that made a huge impact on me was Ray Bradbury’s Martian Chronicles. It is poetic, inspiring, mindbending and has great heart.

Who are your favorite authors?

Wow, it’s hard to pin that down. In YA I like Nancy Werlin, in dark fantasy I like Stephen King, in historical fiction I like Paula Brackston, in kid lit I love Pippi Longstocking (written by Astrid Lindgren). In sci-fi I like Ray Bradbury. In literary fiction I like Don Delillo. How’d I do? LOL.

 Please share with us your social media links and book links:

Ruby’s Fire:

Amazon USA: http://www.amazon.com/Rubys-Fire-Catherine-Stine-ebook/dp/B00DDW84HS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453938265&sr=8-1&keywords=ruby%27s+fire

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rubys-Fire-Catherine-Stine-ebook/dp/B00DDW84HS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1453938352&sr=1-1&keywords=ruby%27s+fire

Catherine’s website: http://catherinestine.com/wp/

Subscribe to Catherine’s newsletter: http://catherinestine.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=1fe566b1e53f7d3e95b7443e4&id=93554d599e

Blog: http://catherinestine.blogspot.com/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kitsy84557/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1018139.Catherine_Stine

Catherine’s Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Stine/e/B001H9TXJC/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1439242205&sr=8-2-ent

Catherine on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorcatherinestine?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crossoverwriter

Anything to add:

About the Author:

Catherine Stine writes YA and romance. Her novels span the range from futuristic to supernatural to contemporary. Her YA sci-fi thrillers Fireseed One and Ruby’s Fire are Amazon bestsellers and indie award winners. Her YA, Dorianna won Best Horror Book in the Kindle Hub Awards. She also writes romance as Kitsy Clare. Her Art of Love series includes Model Position and Private Internship. She suspects her love of dark fantasy came from her father reading Edgar Allen Poe to her as a child, and her love of contemporary fiction comes from being a jubilant realist. Visit her at catherinestine.com and subscribe to her newsletter for news of releases, workshops and appearances.

Ruby's Fire by Catherine Stine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Written by Guest Blogger: Drema June Williams

My mother, Deneale won this book “Ruby’s Fire” from Ms. Stine in a facebook party for me. I am lucky enough to have received a signed copy of this and another book as well, and they are my very first autographed books that I own! And to that, I owe a big thank you to Ms. Stine and my mom.

So here is my first review, I just hope that I don’t let anyone down:

This book, “Ruby’s Fire” is set in the year 2099. Ruby is dependent on Oblivian Powder, (which is a drug) and she is seventeen years old, and has a little brother named Thorn and he is mute.

The Greening which is a boarding School for orphan teens, is where Ruby hopes she can stay and finally stop running. Unfortunately, this boarding school is not what it is cracked up to be.

Ruby starts experiencing her physical changes, all in the midst of students who are typical out of control teens. This doesn’t help her feel any more comfortable, going through her own changes, and dealing with troubled teens.

Blane is a resident body guard and Ruby is attracted to him, but also ashamed of her new found attraction. She doesn’t understand why she can’t be satisfied with Armonk. She doesn’t understand why her needs must be so difficult.

Ruby wants to stop her dependence on Oblivion, all while working on her inner beauty. She feels that she needs to get her life straightened out, and become stronger, and better. But all the while, as she is reclaiming her life, Stiles comes back to reclaim Ruby. This was not part of her plan.

Ruby see’s a way to rescue her family from the dangerous cult, through George Axion. He is a rich Vegas-by-the-Sea, style entertainer. And George is running a contest which entails a cash prize for the winner of a student contest. But to everyone’s surprise-Thorn is the one who managed to create the most astonishing contest project of all!

I found this book to quite entertaining, and well worth the read. I enjoyed immensely, and give this book “Ruby’s Fire” five stars, because I think everyone should enjoy a book that makes you feel like a part of the fantasy. Any book that pulls you out of the real world and into another, makes it well worthy of the read!

View all my reviews