LA WEATHERLY

I write big, epic books. The world often gets destroyed. Oh, and sometimes there's a romance. I also hang out on Twitter: @LA_Weatherly

[laweatherly]

The proofs for Darkness Follows! SO EXCITING.

[laweatherly]

Book 3 of the Broken trilogy delivered today. There may have been some leaping around, punching the air. ALL THE FEELS. Got there in the end!

[usborneyashelfies]

TURN IT UP - it’s L A Weatherly’s BROKEN SKY read-along playlist!

Broken Sky author, L A Weatherly, has created a gorgeously retro playlist to accompany you on the roller-coaster ride that is her stunning beginning to the BROKEN trilogy. So kick back, relax, and enjoy these first five songs…

I enjoy creating playlists for my novels – they keep me in the mood of the story even when I’m not writing it. My Broken Sky soundtrack has a lot of music from the 40s and 50s, but some more modern stuff, too. I’ve arranged it roughly by chapter, so that you can get the full Broken Sky experience! Hope you enjoy it.

Intro: Nat King Cole, Orange Coloured Sky

Okay, I’m actually skipping ahead a bit by putting this song first, but I love it and think it’s a great introduction to the world – so here it is! I listened to a lot of Nat King Cole while writing Broken Sky. This one makes me think of Amity and Collie when they first get together – that wild feeling of being just crazy-happy. But there’s also something kind of weirdly apocalyptic and ominous about the lyrics, despite the bouncy tune…

Chapter 2: The 82nd Airborne Choir, Blood Upon the Risers (Gory, Gory What a Helluva Way to Die):

This is a song that was sung by WWII paratroopers. Its dark humour is chilling given that so many of them died this way. In Broken Sky, Peacefighters have to try to protect themselves with the same emotional distance. I thought it was especially apt in this chapter, for reasons those of you who’ve read the book will understand…

Chapter 3: Charles Mingus, Moanin’ 

This is the music playing in the speak where Amity and her friends go for Stan’s send-off. Amity thinks it’s ‘wild, discordant. It suited my mood’. Be warned, though: as this is classic jazz, it’s VERY LONG. You can just dip your toes in for three minutes or so, or else go the whole hog and play the entire thing!

Chapter 5: Bastille, Thinkin’ Ahead

I put this in Kay’s first chapter, as the opening reminds me quite eerily of John Gunnison. Then it makes me think of Amity and Collie before they get together…and how they’re both so impacted by Kay’s actions even though she’s never met them. Plus we’ve got a bit from The Graduate, talking about a future that’s uncertain – again, very fitting.

Chapter 7: Nina Simone, I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free

I love this song. It had to go in the chapter where Amity visits her family – I think it so perfectly portrays the conflicting feelings pulling at Amity throughout the story, and her wish to be more eloquent at times.

[usborneyashelfies]

Broken Sky and the world of Tarot from L A Weatherly’s editor, Stephanie King

So, full disclosure here. 

I’ve been reading tarot since I was seventeen years old - that’s just under half my life (you do the maths!).  I’ve always loved cards - a passion kicked off by my grandad’s old World War II girlie pin-up deck. Over the years I’ve acquired multiple rare sets, including Architectural Masterpiece playing cards, a photographic game of Pairs featuring Hipster outfits, and gorgeous Mexican Loteria cards. 

Therefore, it was only a matter of time before I started getting interested in the artwork on tarot, and before long, giving readings to friends at slumber parties. The set pictured is The Enchanted Tarot and with its kitsch combinations of collage, decoupage and photography, is my absolute favourite.

Do I believe in the clairvoyant powers of tarot? 

Not exactly.

But I do believe that the way your mind and heart chooses to apply the standard interpretation of any of the 78 cards in a tarot deck to your own unique personal situation can reveal a lot about your subconscious hopes, fears and desires, which you may not have confronted yet. Tarot enthusiasts often refer to this as a Jungian reading of the cards (as in Carl Jung, famous psychoanalyst). But that’s for another day… Buy me cake if you want me to bore the pants off you talking tarot. 

If you look closely at this pic, you’ll see one of the most important cards referenced in Broken Sky; The Tower. In most traditional decks it’s a terrifying card, with people hurtling to the ground from the windows of a broken building, engulfed in flames. It can signify great upheaval, the destruction of powerful structures or forces in one’s life, and huge change that’s likely to shake you to your very foundations. Scary, eh? But with change comes possibility and creativity. Yes, your world may be about to get shaken to its core, and it’s perfectly natural for this to send you into freefall. But perhaps the foundations on which you’ve been basing your decisions have been wrong, or misguided, or even damaging… Maybe the old tower needs to get torn down in order for you to build something stronger, better, and more beautiful in its place…? 

If you’ve read BROKEN SKY, I’ll leave you to apply this classic interpretation of the Tower to the book as you wish. Personally, I find it illuminating and enticing - and now that I know what happens in book two, very prescient. 

And if BROKEN SKY is still on your TBR pile… well I hope this mini-reading has whet your appetite…

[laweatherly]

And then of course there's the story of how I just happened to find a Tarot card on a walk one day, after writing about those scenes in Broken Sky. Guess which card it was? Spooky wasn't the word..!

[laweatherly]

[laweatherly]

On the Road with Broken Sky

Wow, it's been such a whirlwind week. Being on the road talking about Broken Sky these past few days has been indescribable (but I'll attempt it anyway!). This book - this world - has been in my head since 2013. And now it's finally out on the shelves and I can introduce Amity to readers. It's just been the most incredible feeling. Big internet hugs to everyone who I met and spoke to this last week. You were all so fab and welcoming, and your enthusiasm for Broken Sky has made my whole year, pretty much! THANK YOU.

Now...back to writing book 3!

 First time talking about Broken Sky EVER at Wee Write Festival in the gorgeous Mitchell Library.

 Signing the Author Ladder at The Edinburgh Bookshop - see if you can find the zodiac sign!

St. Augustine’s School made this cracking bunting, including spitfires and colourful parachutes.

Look at how amazing Forrester High’s Zodiac research was!

It was an atmospheric rainy night in Dublin, perfect for our Broken Sky Department 51 takeover!

[usborneyashelfies]

Boy and a Biscuit: a Broken Sky pilot to send your heart soaring!

Boy: Ingo

Book: Broken Sky by L A Weatherly

Biscuit: Dark, handsome, sophisticated - the Dark Chocolate Choco Leibniz

Reason: Dark Choco Leibniz’s are like the classic black tie of biscuits, exemplifying the maxim “less is more”. Just solid, high-quality dark chocolate, stacked on top of a crisp, plain biscuit. Alright, they may not be colourful like Party Rings, or playful like a Jammy Dodger, but trust me, these grown-up biscuits are timeless yum.

There’s a male character in L A Weatherly’s BROKEN SKY, who I think has a good chance of stealing some of your hearts this spring. Meet Ingo. He’s not the main love interest - but he does swoop in like a cynical knight-in-shining-armour to assist our heroine, Amity, through some of the book’s most nail-biting moments. Tall, dark and handsome, we first meet him in a suit, drinking champagne, the epitome of old-school sophistication. And as Ingo is also a top pilot, perhaps it’s no surprise that ever since I saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens, when I picture him I see the equally tall, dark and handsome Oscar Isaac.

Like I said, timeless yum. 

[laweatherly]

Thrilled to see this. I kind of love Ingo. :)

[usborneyashelfies]

HAPPY BROKEN SKY BOOK BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO THE AMAZING L A WEATHERLY!

BROKEN SKY, the first book in her stunningly ambitious and compelling new BROKEN trilogy is out TODAY, and as her editor, I am SUPER-EXCITED!!!

Set in a wildly inventive reimagining of the 1940s with a dark occult edge, BROKEN SKY stars a heroine so kickass and inspiring that you’re sure to take her to your hearts, a boy so yum that he’s guaranteed to steal your heart, and a killer twist that I swear will break your heart…

I am SOOO ENVIOUS of all of you who are now about to read this breathtaking book for the first time. Seriously, prepare to have your mind blown!

[laweatherly]

Thank you!!! So excited. Can't believe it's being unleashed on the world at last!

[nitratediva]

Martha Vickers in The Big Sleep (1946).

[laweatherly]

Oh my gosh! One of my favourite films.

[realitys-abore]

Currently Reading 📖

I’m so excited for this, it sounds awesome! 1940’s America where the world is “perfect” and war is illegal!

#book #books #bookblogger #blogger #currentlyreading #brokensky #instabook #booklover #bookworm #booknerdigans #booknerd #bookstagram

[laweatherly]

It’s out in the world! People are reading it! Eeeek.

[laweatherly]

Broken Sky is officially out TODAY!

[laweatherly]

A telio set crouched on a wooden stool at the front; Hendrix turned it on. As its small, round screen flickered into life, he said, “Pilots, stand.”

We rose. This was one of the few times of day when a programme was shown instead of just music playing. The whole world might be watching this now.

The World for Peace’s flag appeared on the screen, snapping in the breeze: two clasped hands encircled by a laurel wreath. The same flag hung at the front of the room now, with the Western Seaboard’s sunburst flag below. Music soared from the speakers. I stood tall as glimpses of all the bases were shown. 

“Repeat after me,” said Hendrix, and our voices echoed through the hangar:

I swear to fight fairly, 

I swear to defend my country to the best of my ability,

I swear to honour the sanctity of life.

At this moment all of the world’s Peacefighters were making the same vow from every base in this complex. Our voices faded. My spine felt straighter as I gazed at the two flags on the wall.  

“Remember that you’re a part of something larger than yourselves,” Hendrix said. “The world thanks you for your service. Pilots dismissed.”

Broken Sky is released on the 1st March.

Pre-order the book now to receive exclusive Angel goodies!

[rustedbox]

“Flygirl” pilot of the U.S. Women’s Air Force Service

Peter Stackpole, 1943

[laweatherly]

Earlier this week Lee introduced you to Amity Vancour. Well, here are some inspirational heroine’s who either remind us or inspired Lee when writing Broken Sky. 

As always, more images can be found on the Broken Sky pinterest page!

[laweatherly]

Introducing Amity Vancour

Part of the fun of being a writer is getting to live in the skin of different characters. Sometimes they’re similar to you, sometimes not. If I’m honest, Willow Fields – the heroine of the Angel series – is not much like me. She’s calm, sorted, empathetic, nice but not a doormat: exactly the sort of person you’d want for a best friend. I loved writing about her and like to think that I’m a nice person too…but I’m definitely not a Willow.

Amity Vancour, the heroine of the Broken series, is very different. So different, in fact, that in writing about her, I’d sometimes think, ‘What would Willow do?’ – and then Amity would do the opposite. She’s blunt. Idealistic. Brave. A bit socially awkward. She prefers conversations about politics to having a friend crying on her shoulder, makes jokes that no one gets, and blurts out whatever she’s thinking.

Amity is much more like me. Well, apart from the fact that she’s a fighter pilot, and has far more physical courage than I do. But the social awkwardness – yeah, that’s me.

Fiction is a great place to explore truth. Amity’s relationships with her family – a mother she feels guilty for not being closer to, and a father she longed to know better – are very much my own issues. In Broken Sky she also has a first love who turns her world upside down, showing the reader her softer side. And at the same time, she’s a kick-ass fighter pilot who pushes herself to the utmost.

I love Amity, with all of her complexities, infuriating traits, and vulnerabilities. I hope that you will, too.

Broken Sky is out in 14 days!! You can pre-order Broken Sky now for your chance to win exclusive Angel goodies!

[laweatherly]

[laweatherly]

When the ideologies of the charismatic and powerful leader of Amity’s neighbouring country start to spread across the world, and into the World for Peace base, Amity finds herself in terrible danger.

For more insight into the astrology obsessed world of Broken Sky check out the Broken Sky Pinterest page!