fall far from the tree

News

Ballad of the Beanstalk Heads to Snowy Wings Publishing!

Posted on May 4, 2021March 5, 2021 by Amy McNulty

I’m excited to announce my YA fairy tale fantasy book, Ballad of the Beanstalk, will now be published with Snowy Wings Publishing! This book is available widely.

A Library Journal Self-e Selection.

As her fingers move across the strings of her family’s heirloom harp, sixteen-year-old Clarion can forget. She doesn’t dwell on the recent passing of her beloved father or the fact that her mother has just sold everything they owned, including that very same instrument that gives Clarion life. She doesn’t think about how her friends treat her like a feeble, brittle thing to be protected. She doesn’t worry about how to tell the elegant Elena, her best friend and first love, that she doesn’t want to be her sweetheart anymore. She becomes the melody and loses herself in the song.

When Mack, a lord’s dashing young son, rides into town so his father and Elena’s can arrange a marriage between the two youth, Clarion finds herself falling in love with a boy for the first time. Drawn to Clarion’s music, Mack puts Clarion and Elena’s relationship to the test, but he soon vanishes by climbing up a giant beanstalk that only Clarion has seen. When even the town witch won’t help, Clarion is determined to rescue Mack herself and prove once and for all that she doesn’t need protecting. But while she fancied herself a savior, she couldn’t have imagined the enormous world of danger that awaits her in the kingdom of the clouds.

A prequel to the fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk that reveals the true story behind the magical singing harp.

Fans of Rosamund Hodge, Marissa Meyer, Jenni James, and Sarah J. Maas will enjoy this original faerie tale retelling fantasy in the vein of stories like Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and The Little Mermaid.

Buy Ballad of the Beanstalk

News

The Never Veil Trilogy Heads to Snowy Wings Publishing!

Posted on April 20, 2021March 31, 2021 by Amy McNulty

I’m excited to announce my romantic YA fairy tale fantasy trilogy, The Never Veil, will now be published with Snowy Wings Publishing! The e-books are exclusive to Amazon, though the paperbacks are available widely. You can save some money on the e-book versions by purchasing the box set or the paperbacks by purchasing the giant three-in-one paperback of the complete series!

Nobody’s Goddess: Winner of The Romance Reviews’ Summer 2016 Readers’ Choice Award in Young Adult Romance. A novel readers are calling “spectacular and heartbreaking.”

In a village of masked men, each man is compelled to love only one woman and to follow the commands of his “goddess” without question. A woman may reject the only man who will love her if she pleases, but she will be alone forever. A man must stay masked until his goddess returns his love—and if she can’t or won’t, he remains masked forever.

Seventeen-year-old Noll’s childhood friends have paired off and her closest companion, Jurij, found his goddess in Noll’s own sister. Desperate to find a way to break this ancient spell, Noll instead discovers why no man has ever chosen her. She is in fact the goddess of the mysterious lord of the village, a man who refuses to let Noll have her right as a woman to spurn him.

Thus begins a dangerous game between the choice of woman and the magic of man. The stakes are no less than freedom and happiness, life and death—and neither Noll nor the veiled lord is willing to lose.

Fans of Tamlin in A Court of Thorns and Roses, Rhys in A Court of Mist and Fury, the Darkling in the Grisha Trilogy’s Shadow and Bone, and Jareth in Jim Henson’s Labyrinth will devour this Beauty and the Beast-style romantic adventure.

Buy Nobody’s Goddess (Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Buy Nobody’s Lady (Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Buy Nobody’s Pawn (Free in Kindle Unlimited)

Buy The Never Veil: The Complete Series (Free in Kindle Unlimited)

The box set is 99c in the US and UK for a limited time! (Now through April 23rd.)

News

The Fall Far from the Tree Duology Heads to Snowy Wings Publishing!

Posted on March 23, 2021March 4, 2021 by Amy McNulty

I’m excited to announce my dark YA fantasy duology, Fall Far from the Tree and Turn to Dust and Ashes, will now be published with Snowy Wings Publishing! I’ve loved working with this publisher the past few years and they offer a great variety of MG and YA reads. These books are available widely and you can save some money on the e-book versions by purchasing the box set.

Terror. Callousness. Denial. Rebellion. How the four teenage children of leaders in the duchy and the neighboring empire of Hanaobi choose to adapt to their nefarious parents’ whims is a matter of survival.

Soldier Rohesia, the pitiless daughter of the ruthless duke. Thief Fastello, the compassionate son of the “king” of the raiding nomads. Orphan Cateline, the pious, myopic follower of the austere leader of her religion. Royal heir Kojiro, the hypersensitive son of the bloodthirsty Hanaobian empress.

When the paths of these four young adults cross, they must rely on one another for survival—but the love of even a malevolent guardian is hard to leave behind.

Fans of the twists and turns in Six of Crows and the compelling character drama in the works of Sarah J. Maas will love this YA version of Game of Thrones meets Marvel Comics’ Runaways that readers are calling “intense and brutal and just a whirlwind of a ride.”

Buy Fall Far from the Tree

Buy Turn to Dust and Ashes

Buy the Fall Far from the Tree Complete Series Box Set

News

Turn to Dust and Ashes Release Day!

Posted on September 5, 2017September 1, 2017 by Amy McNulty

It’s release day for TURN TO DUST AND ASHES, the second and final book in the Fall Far from the Tree duology! I want to thank the readers who enjoyed the first book and reached out to me because although I know the story wasn’t fully told after just one book, I wasn’t sure I was going to go back to this world to finish the tale since I wrote the first book four years ago now and I have other projects on my to-write list. This book literally exists because some of you asked for it!

Watch for the paperback version in the next few weeks! The paperback will be available widely at outlets such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Book Depository.

To celebrate, the e-book of Book One in the series is just 99¢ during release week! Both are free on Kindle Unlimited.

Buy Book One – Buy Book Two

(Click here for more Book One links to get the paperback!)

Writing

Turn to Dust and Ashes Cover Reveal and Publication Date

Posted on July 15, 2017July 9, 2017 by Amy McNulty

Above is the cover for the second and final book in the Fall Far from the Tree duology, which I can now announce is publishing September 5th! That means I have a lot of work ahead of me in the meantime, but I can’t wait to share the rest of these characters’ journeys with you. Below is the blurb (spoilers for Book One), too:

Turn to Dust and Ashes (Fall Far from the Tree #2)

Coming September 5th, 2017 from Patchwork Press

Impassive. Devious. Besieged. Naive. In the ashes of their parents’ cruel sovereignty, four teenagers are left holding the reins with no idea how to lead their peoples to peace and prosperity.

Rohesia, told she is the true heir to Hanaobi, must choose between ruling the duchy in her father’s place and returning with her cousin to seek the throne that is more rightfully hers. Without her father figure, she has little interest in either, but there is no escape from the infamous legacy of her parents on both sides of the sea.

Fastello, left to lead both his father’s people and to seek the rule of the entire duchy, has never had so much responsibility in his life. Grappling with heartbreak the likes of which he’s never experienced, he doesn’t know if he has it in him to try to fill the hole so many people so desperately want him to fill.

Kojiro, adrift in a strange land and emboldened by the actions of the people he met there, is determined to find his courage and free his people from the tyranny of his mother’s reign. However, with her number one foe defeated, the empress of Hanaobi is more unstoppable than ever.

Tomiko, the perfect daughter to the strict and controlling empress, is sheltered from the reality of the world but eager to discover the truth. Before the war is over, she must decide between fealty to her mother and loyalty to her brother, knowing full well that either way, her family will never be whole again.

The goals of each of these four young adults are bound to clash—but there’s no escaping their destinies, no matter the destruction left in their paths.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34862530-turn-to-dust-and-ashes

Amazon Pre-order Link Coming Soon

Catch up with Fall Far from the Tree, Book One in the series!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27048456-fall-far-from-the-tree
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IMGGAFM
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fall-far-from-the-tree-amy-mcnulty/1124435001?ean=9781927940587

News, Writing

FALL FAR FROM THE TREE’s Book Birthday!

Posted on September 6, 2016September 6, 2016 by Amy McNulty

It’s September 6th already, which means it’s the book birthday for my new YA dark fantasy, FALL FAR FROM THE TREE!

Buy on Amazon

Buy on Kobo

Buy on Barnes & Noble

Add on Goodreads

Terror. Callousness. Denial. Rebellion. How the four teenage children of leaders in the duchy and the neighboring empire of Hanaobi choose to adapt to their nefarious parents’ whims is a matter of survival.

Rohesia, daughter of the duke, spends her days hunting “outsiders,” fugitives who’ve snuck onto her father’s island duchy. That she lives when even children who resemble her are subject to death hardens her heart to tackle the task.

Fastello is the son of the “king” of the raiders who steal from the rich and share with the poor. When aristocrats die in the raids, Fastello questions what his peoples’ increasingly wicked methods of survival have cost them.

An orphan raised by a convent of mothers, Cateline can think of no higher aim in life than to serve her religion, even if it means turning a blind eye to the suffering of other orphans under the mothers’ care.

Kojiro, new heir to the Hanaobi empire, must avenge his people against the “barbarians” who live in the duchy, terrified the empress, his own mother, might rather see him die than succeed.

When the paths of these four young adults cross, they must rely on one another for survival—but the love of even a malevolent guardian is hard to leave behind.

Advance praise:

“An original story, with vivid details told in alternating chapters… There was drama, action, intense moments and soul searching and new friendships born.” ~Sheri W., Juniper Grove

“Intense and brutal and just a whirlwind of a ride… Watching them slowly come to terms with the fact that their own morals might not actually align with those of the people who raised them makes for a wonderfully compelling story.” ~Daiz

“It is so easy to read that this book can be read in one sitting. It’s impossible not to like this book after reading it.” ~Alex the Shadow Girl

Big Announcement!

My newsletter readers got this news a little early, but I’m excited to announce that FALL FAR FROM THE TREE is getting an audiobook with narration from the talented Viva Becker! I was worried a book with 4 POVs wouldn’t work as a single-narrator audiobook, but she does such an amazing job breathing life into each character. We’re aiming for a December or January release. I’ll keep you posted!

News

Pre-order FALL FAR FROM THE TREE today!

Posted on July 18, 2016 by Amy McNulty

The FALL FAR FROM THE TREE e-book is now available for pre-order on Amazon and Kobo! (Barnes & Noble will also sell a copy, but no pre-order is available.) Watch for the paperback pre-order within the next month or so.

Available 9/6/2016!

Click here for Amazon

Click here for Kobo

Terror. Callousness. Denial. Rebellion. How the four teenage children of leaders in the duchy and the neighboring empire of Hanaobi choose to adapt to their nefarious parents’ whims is a matter of survival.

Rohesia, daughter of the duke, spends her days hunting “outsiders,” fugitives who’ve snuck onto her father’s island duchy. That she lives when even children who resemble her are subject to death hardens her heart to tackle the task.

Fastello is the son of the “king” of the raiders who steal from the rich and share with the poor. When aristocrats die in the raids, Fastello questions what his peoples’ increasingly wicked methods of survival have cost them.

An orphan raised by a convent of mothers, Cateline can think of no higher aim in life than to serve her religion, even if it means turning a blind eye to the suffering of other orphans under the mothers’ care.

Kojiro, new heir to the Hanaobi empire, must avenge his people against the “barbarians” who live in the duchy, terrified the empress, his own mother, might rather see him die than succeed.

When the paths of these four young adults cross, they must rely on one another for survival—but the love of even a malevolent guardian is hard to leave behind.

Add on Goodreads

Writing

WIP Marathon 22

Posted on November 28, 2015November 28, 2015 by Amy McNulty

Last report wordcount + chapter count/scene count:

YA SUSPENSE: 30,155 words, 10 chapters

Current report WC + CC/ SC:

YA SUSPENSE: 53,965 words, 16 1/2 chapters

WIP Issues This Month: This is the first year I’ve tried NaNoWriMo that I lost. So even though I got more words done this month than I did the previous couple of months, I’ve been bummed about that. I’m losing the drive to finish this story. AGAIN. (This is my second attempt at it, with some major changes, and last time I petered out at about 50,000 words, too. Only last time I was stuck in the narrative and this time, I’m just bummed about it.)

Four things I learned this month in writing: 1. Sometimes even NaNoWriMo fails me. 😦

2. Even when I have an idea of where I’m going, it’s possible to lose interest in writing it.

3. Finding not one, but 2-3 similarities to a popular YA book in your WIP also helps make you less enthused about finishing it.

4. It’s hard to go from 100-500 words a day to 1700. (I managed for like 3 days and then just couldn’t do it anymore.)

What distracted me this month while writing: I went to Chicago (again ^^) one day early this month, but mostly I’ve been really busy with work. The time I do spend writing just isn’t that productive, either. But I have continued to work on it every single day, even if it’s only a few hundred words.

NOBODY’S LADY got an official release date: April 12, 2016, a few months earlier than expected!

I revealed the cover to my YA fantasy that’s going to someday be published with Patchwork Press! …And I started serializing it on Wattpad! It’s going to be a Wattpad-first novel with eventual ebook and paperback release in late 2016 or 2017. Click on the image to start reading today! 😀 Btw, this was my first WIP Marathon manuscript from back in 2013! *-*

And I made a trailer for NOBODY’S GODDESS! That was actually a really fun distraction. I always wanted a trailer, even though I know they’re not the most effective marketing tools. I didn’t have the budget for one, so I made it myself. I had so much fun, I want to make one for FFFTT, but I really shouldn’t waste the time when I’m so busy. (See, I always want to do marketing stuff instead of draft when I’m unhappy with a draft’s progress!)

Goal for next month: I’m hoping I’ll finally get the edits for the second round of NOBODY’S LADY revisions this month. So I have to do that if so. Also, just to keep going with this YA suspense and not be tempted to move on to shiny new ideas. I have a feeling if I give up now, I won’t finish it at all. It’s not unsalvageable or anything, I just am not feeling the love….

News

FALL FAR FROM THE TREE Cover Reveal — and Announcement!

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Amy McNulty

I’m excited to reveal the cover for FALL FAR FROM THE TREE, my next YA fantasy, and also make a special announcement concerning its publication:

(Thank you, Berto Designs, for the amazing design job!)

Add it to your Goodreads list!

Terror. Callousness. Denial. Rebellion. How the four teenage children of leaders in the duchy and the neighboring empire of Hanaobi choose to adapt to their nefarious parents’ whims is a matter of survival.

Rohesia, daughter of the duke, spends her days hunting “outsiders,” fugitives who’ve snuck onto her father’s island duchy. That she lives when even children who resemble her are subject to death hardens her heart to tackle the task.

Fastello is the son of the “king” of the raiders who steal from the rich and share with the poor. When aristocrats die in the raids, Fastello questions what his peoples’ increasingly wicked methods of survival have cost them.

An orphan raised by a convent of mothers, Cateline can think of no higher aim in life than to serve her religion, even if it means turning a blind eye to the suffering of other orphans under the mothers’ care.

Kojiro, new heir to the Hanaobi empire, must avenge his people against the “barbarians” who live in the duchy, terrified the empress, his own mother, might rather see him die than succeed.

When the paths of these four young adults cross, they must rely on one another for survival—but the love of even a malevolent guardian is hard to leave behind.

I’m trying something different with this novel. After seeing so much success with my YA short story collection, DROWNED SILENCE, on Wattpad, I’ve decided to make FALL FAR FROM THE TREE a Wattpad-first novel, serialized one chapter a week–starting today, and updating every Sunday evening! I consider it a YA fantasy, but it’s darker than my other books so far and I’ll publish it under the Fantasy category.

So yes, you can start reading it now!

Does this mean the book won’t be for sale?

It will! Just not for a while. Eventually, it will be released as both an e-book and a paperback through Patchwork Press. I just can’t say for certain when, due to a number of factors. I’m hoping in late 2016, but definitely by fall 2017.

Why would I buy it if you’re going to have it all up for free on Wattpad first?

Although the version going on Wattpad is professionally edited and I’m happy with it, the version published through Patchwork will go through another round of edits and the story could change. Plus, many readers prefer reading on their e-readers or having a paperback in their hands–or reading it all in one go instead of waiting week to week. Also, I’d really appreciate the support from readers so I can keep writing more books!

What about THE NEVER VEIL series (NOBODY’S GODDESS books 2 and 3)?

They’re still on track for publication in 2016 (April 12) and 2017 (first quarter) the traditional way, through bookstores online and brick-and-mortar. FALL FAR FROM THE TREE is not related to this series in any way.

News

My Next Book: FALL FAR FROM THE TREE

Posted on October 9, 2015October 9, 2015 by Amy McNulty

While I know a number of you are anxiously awaiting the second book in the NEVER VEIL series (tentatively July 2016), I’m proud to announce I’m publishing another fantasy book soon with Patchwork Press!

Read my introduction here!

FALL FAR FROM THE TREE is a dark YA fantasy I like to think of as Marvel Comics’ Runaways meets Game of Thrones. It has four first-person POVs (crazy, I know) and weaves the story of four very different young adults, each raised by terrible people.

Add FALL FAR FROM THE TREE to your Goodreads to-read list!

Terror. Callousness. Denial. Rebellion. How the four teenage children of leaders in the duchy and the neighboring empire of Hanaobi choose to adapt to their nefarious parents’ whims is a matter of survival.

Rohesia, daughter of the duke, spends her days hunting “outsiders,” fugitives who’ve snuck onto her father’s island duchy. That she lives when even children who resemble her are subject to death hardens her heart to tackle the task.

Fastello is the son of the “king” of the raiders who steal from the rich and share with the poor. When aristocrats die in the raids, Fastello questions what his peoples’ increasingly wicked methods of survival have cost them.

An orphan raised by a convent of mothers, Cateline can think of no higher aim in life than to serve her religion, even if it means turning a blind eye to the suffering of other orphans under the mothers’ care.

Kojiro, new heir to the Hanaobi empire, must avenge his people against the “barbarians” who live in the duchy, terrified the empress, his own mother, might rather see him die than succeed.

When the paths of these four young adults cross, they must rely on one another for survival—but the love of even a malevolent guardian is hard to leave behind.