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Friday, July 28, 2017

Interview and Giveaway: Steve Schatz, author of the YAlit Adima Rising and Adima Returning


ADIMA RISING by Steve Schatz

For millennia, the evil Kroledutz have fed on the essence of humans and clashed in secret with the Adima, the light weavers of the universe. Now, with the balance of power shifting toward darkness, time is running out. Guided by a timeless Native American spirit, four teenagers from a small New Mexico town discover they have one month to awaken their inner power and save the world. Rory, Tima, Billy, and James must solve four ancient challenges by the next full moon to awaken a mystical portal and become Adima. If they fail, the last threads of light will dissolve, and the universe will be lost forever. Can they put aside their fears and discover their true natures before it’s too late?
BOOK ONE of The Adima Chronicles: Adima Rising- Available NOW!


ADIMA RETURNING by Steve Schatz

The sacred cliff is crumbling and with it the Adima way of life! Weakened by the absence of their beloved friend James, Rory, Tima, and Billy must battle time and unseen forces to unite the greatest powers of all dimensions in one goal. They must move the sacred cliff before it traps all Adima on Earth–and apart from the primal energy of the Spheres–forever!
Aided by a surprising and timeless maiden, the three light-weaving teens travel across the planes of existence to gain help from the magical creatures who guard the Adima’s most powerful objects, the Olohos. There is only one path to success: convince the guardians to help. Fail and the cliff dissolves, destroying the once-eternal Spheres and the interdimensional light weavers known as Adima.
Like the exciting adventures of “Adima Rising,” the second spellbinding book of The Adima Chronicles, “Adima Returning,” will have your senses reeling right up until it’s across-worlds climax. Will conscious creation and the bonds of friendship be enough to fight off destructive forces and save the world once again?
BOOK TWO  of The Adima Chronicles: Adima Returning Coming Soon!



Q1. What three words best describe your books, Adima Rising and Adima Returning?
Create your sacred

Q2. Grab a copy of your books and answer the following:
Favorite chapter? My favorite chapter from Adima Rising is chapter 26: The third challenge, the power of earth. I can’t answer that yet for Adima Returning because it is still being formatted.

Favorite page? I’m particularly fond of Belecha’s words on page 237 of Adima Rising: “When there is darkness, you light a candle. If a candle is not enough, light a torch. Keep lighting candles. Get others to help. Don’t stop.”

Favorite setting/place? From both Adima Rising and Adima Returning: The web of light. I would love to actually be there, riding it, seeing energy spreading as far as I can see from each aware creative act.

Flip to a random page and give us a 1-2 sentences teaser:

From Adima Rising: “I’ve been watching and planning for more than 5,000 years and if you can’t activate the Stone by the next full moon, we don’t get another chance. Tag – you’re it!”

From Adima Returning: “Before the cave, we sat in a hole behind your house, held onto a rock, and flew along a web of light. You have no problem with that, but walking down a tunnel and ending up on the surface of a different place seems impossible?”

Q3. What inspired your Adima Chronicles series? How did the story come to be?
I had been to see a Native American dreaming woman. On our way home, I had a vision of a village of aware beings who were looking through the web and seeing the mistake humanity was on the verge of making: turning over the responsibility for creating the sacred to another person (a priest) and the horrors caused by giving up that essential power.

Q4. Can you tell us a bit about your four main characters, Rory, Tima, Billy, James? What makes them special?
Rory Hurtado the son of an archeologist. He’s stocky, strong, and independent with a quiet wit. He’s used to hanging out with grad students and has met tribal elders all over the world, so he knows how to be respectful but hold his own.

Billy Fuller is a math whiz with a smart mouth. He comes from a bad home, but he doesn’t let it get him down. He’s short, blond, wiry, and fast, and he tends to blurt out what he’s thinking.

Tima Clark is an artist. She likes wild colors and making her own clothes. She’s used to people noticing her; she’s the only African American in school and her mother is a well-known author. Her full name is Septima, named after Septima Clark, an early civil rights worker and educator.

James Normura is Tima’s closest friend. He lives and works on his family’s farm, which was started by his great grandfather. He likes farming, working on robotic and engineering projects, talking with Tima, and playing with Lilly, his sister. He is neat and tidy and likes things to be explained and understood.

Q5. What’s next for Rory and his friends and The Adima Chronicles?
The second book in The Adima Chronicles, Adima Returning, has the world of the Adima on edge. The Sacred Cliff, which is an essential part of their life, is crumbling. The four friends must travel to different planes of existence and work with the beings there. They also must join with the Katsinim to return the Cliff to its original place.

Q6. What is your inner mythical creature/being and why?
Usually when I seek an answer, I am met by a moose. However, it is different depending on what I face. A fox was once very helpful. Many times, when I am writing, I am guided by beings without form.

Q7. Fill in the blanks:
I’m really awesome at telling stupid jokes.
I’m really embarrassed to admit how long it takes me to write a book.
The last great book I read was Hopi Stories of Witchcraft, Shamanism, and Magic by Ken Gary and Ekkehart Malotki.

Q8. If you were to create and a bake a cupcake inspired by Adima Returning, what would it look and taste like, and what would you call it?
Billy’s the cook. I imagine he’d come up with something like this: Corn flour with plenty of chili to give it a surprise bite. Honey for sweet follow up. Glazed sugar icing to reflect sparkles. He’d call em “Eat ‘Em & Die” cupcakes to add a sense of adventure that no one could resist.


Steve Schatz grew up in New Mexico, where, as a teen, he dug a kiva in his backyard. He has traveled all over the US, discovering how other people see the world. He has been a tour guide, party clown, TV producer, business owner and, for the last several years a professor of learning theory. Always interested in things spiritual, a life changing experience brought him to the idea for Adima Rising and spiritual guidance during the tricky parts. He spends most of his time writing in a little house in a little town next to Yokum Brook.




Win a copy of Adima Rising and
Adima Returning!
Absolute Love Publishing has generously offered both books for one winner.
-US only
-ends 8/11/17
-winner will be emailed and must claim prize within 48 hours
-word spelunking is not responsible for lost, damaged, stolen prizes in the mail

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3 comments:

Danielle H. said...

From the synopses of both books, it sounds like there is so much at stake for the characters and the world. I'm intrigued by the powers they possess and how they realize they have them and then use them.

Anonymous said...

I have read the first book and had a peek at the second. Can't wait for it to publish. I don't think I am biased but I may be since Steve is my brother-in-law. Carol C

Slowsly said...

Both books sound interesting and different. Looking forward to reading them.