The Big Love Letter Event: Sara Raasch

Welcome to the second to last week of The Big Love Letter Event! For those of you who missed the introductory post several weeks ago, this event will run every Friday through March 13th and will consist of love letters written by some truly amazing authors. Danny from Bewitched Bookworms and I will each be hosting different letters every week (hop over there today for a little something special from Becky Wallace!), so be sure and check out both blogs for a bigger and better celebration of all things swoon-worthy. We'll also be hosting a fantastic giveaway, so don't forget to check the bottom of the post for all the details, as well as links to all the previous love letters in case you didn't get to them!

Today I'm in total fangirl mode as I welcome young adult author Sara Raasch back to the blog to share with us not one, but TWO letters. Yes, two (complete with musical accompaniment!). Because Sara is pretty amazing like that. I don't want to blather on and gush over her and my love for Snow Like Ashes too much as Sara has written her own introduction to these letters, but I just want to state again for the record how highly I recommend this book. Take it away Sara!

There are two equally swoonworthy boys in SNOW LIKE ASHES who have special places in Meira’s heart—Mather, a fellow Winterian refugee and one of her closest friends, and Theron, the son of a potential ally for Winter and someone Meira quickly finds an ally in herself.

#TeamTheron (or “Meiron” as it so fabulously called) is definitely the more popular ship, but there have been a lot of #TeamMather (or “Matheira”) shippers too. But only doing a letter from one boy seemed rather sad, as it meant a whole ship would be neglected, and that’s hardly in the spirit of celebrating love! Therefore, I decided to do TWO letters: one from Mather to Meira and one from Theron to Meira.

Basically: Meira is one lucky girl.

Letter #1: Mather to Meira. Those who have read SNOW LIKE ASHES should be able to guess during what event Mather would have written this. *feeeeeeels*

Song best paired with this letter: “Whispers” by Dave Baxter

Meira,

I’m sure the first reaction you’ll have when you see this letter is shock that I’m writing you at all. You, more than anyone, know that I’ve never been good at expressing myself, especially now, when my trouble voicing how I feel has messed things up so much. Ice above, everything is messed up—and I can actually hear you calling me an idiot to that because everything has been messed up for years.

But it all feels different now. It all feels . . . real. And ice, Meira, I don’t want this to be our reality. I won’t let this be our reality. We got cheated out of the childhood we deserved, and I won’t let this war take our future too. I used to think that future was in Winter, and it is—but it won’t mean a damn thing if you aren’t next to me when we reclaim our kingdom.

I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to tell you. I’m sorry . . . for a lot of things. But I realize now who my future is—and I will do everything I can to make it our reality.

Mather

(I hope you are shocked that I’m writing you, because it won’t be the last time I surprise you.

If you want me to.)


Letter #2: Theron to Meira. Again, it should be fairly easy to tell where this letter fits into SNOW LIKE ASHES!

Song best paired with this letter: “Falling Slowly” by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

Lady Meira, Just Meira,

I doubt I will gather the courage to give this letter to you for many months (or years, more like—golden leaves, can we truly speak of things in such lengthy terms?). Nevertheless, my heart and head are disquieted, and I take comfort in pouring the cacophony out via pen and paper.

In the short time we have had together, I sense in you the same desires I nurture—longings for an accepted existence, free from the expectations placed on us by factors out of our control. The lives we have been given are not without their constraints, and I had every mind to fight my father’s wishes with my dying breath . . .

Until I walked into that library tonight, and I found myself gripped with the most inescapable thought: “This girl is a masterpiece.”

Truly, I do not know what you are. That was merely my initial judgment, one crafted based on appearance and the sheer energy you emit. The only thing I know for certain is that I would very much like to find out what kind of masterpiece you are, Meira. I hope you permit me to do so.

Most Sincerely Yours,
Theron

I WILL PERMIT YOU TO DO SO THERON!!!!! Oh wait, this letter wasn't addressed to me. *scrolls up again just to make sure it doesn't say "Jenny"* As you can probably tell, I'm solidly in Theron's camp (I do very much like you Mather, but you waited too long to open your eyes!), and I can't wait to see how things continue to develop in the next book. And fear not love triangle haters, Meira is not the type of girl to waffle in her feelings or make a whole lot of romantic drama for herself, so I hope you guys all pick this book up immediately!
 

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SNOW LIKE ASHES
Snow Like Ashes #1

Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now the Winterians' only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter's magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

Orphaned as an infant during Winter's defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians' general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend and future king, Mather—she would do anything to help Winter rise to power again.

So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore their magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she's scaling towers and fighting enemy soldiers just as she's always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn't go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics—and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

Sara Raasch's debut fantasy is a lightning-fast tale of loyalty, love, and finding one's destiny.

Amazon • B&N • BooksAMillion • IndieBound • iTunes • BookDepository

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SARA RAASCH

Sara Raasch has known she was destined for bookish things since the age of five, when her friends had a lemonade stand and she tagged along to sell her hand-drawn picture books too. Not much has changed since then — her friends still cock concerned eyebrows when she attempts to draw things and her enthusiasm for the written word still drives her to extreme measures. Her debut YA fantasy, SNOW LIKE ASHES, came out October 14, 2014 from Balzer + Bray, and the sequel, ICE LIKE FIRE, comes out October 13, 2015. Neither features her hand-drawn pictures.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Pinterest • Goodreads • YouTube

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GIVEAWAY

Danny and I have (what we think) is a pretty fabulous giveaway that will run for the entirety of this event with 5 winners in total when all is said and done:

• Winners 1-4: Each will get a book of your choice from one of the participating authors. (Open internationally as long as Book Depository ships to you! )
• Winner 5  : Hardcover copy of LAILAH by Nikki Kelley plus some awesomely cute swag (international ). Prize is provided by author - thank you so much!
  

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Don't forget to check back both here and at Bewitched Bookworms every Friday in February for more letters and a whole lot more love from these fantastic authors:

• Kristen Simmons (The Glass Arrow)
• Mindee Arnett (Polaris, The Nightmare Dilemma)
• Melissa Landers (Invaded)
• Sara Raasch (Snow Like Ashes)
• Emery Lord (The Start of Me and You)
• Liza Palmer (Girl Before a Mirror)
• Anna Banks (Joyride)
• Heather Demetrios (I'll Meet You There)
• Nikki Kelly (The Styclar Saga)
• Paula Stokes (Liars, Inc.)
• & More!