Meet Author Amanda Strong

Written by Amanda Strong

THE AWAKENER
BOOK ONE IN
THE WATCHERS OF MEN SERIES

Seeing Micah for the first time in years, Eden wants nothing more than to run and hide. Tall and handsome, Micah is no longer the scrawny kid she remembers. Eden tries to slip by him unnoticed but unfortunately, her body acts on its own accord. In a moment of sheer embarrassment, she throws her arms around his neck, unaware she's just changed her childhood friend forever.

With his eyes opened to the realm of angels and demons, Micah soon discovers he has become the Seer, called to save the world from the flames that will cleanse the earth to start it anew. Shy and awkward, Eden stumbles through high school clueless, her guardian angel shadowing her every move, and keeping her safe while she unknowingly “awakens” others to their spiritual gifts. Micah will not only need those Eden has touched to complete his mission, he will need Eden in ways neither one of them thought possible.

With angels and demons fighting around them in a battle that began long ago in the ancient City of Enoch, both Eden and Micah must find their own personal courage in order to triumph.
For if they fail, they could lose everyone they love.

The Awakener Trailer!  See it here first!




Dream Cast!  (We can all dream right?)
Yes…I want them both ;)


Gabriel and Micah 
A.K.A. The Hemsworth Brothers


Eden
(Allie DeBerry)

Micah
(Liam Hemsworth)














                                





And last, but certainly not least...


Gabriel (Chris Hemsworth)










Inspiration behind The Awakener

Honestly, it all began with a dream as cliché as that sounds!  I saw my two main characters holding hands while a spiritual being breaks through to this side. I wanted my ‘angel-themed’ book to be unique, maybe offer a different side to the popular fallen angel market.  I dove head first into research, and having always been fascinated by the City of Enoch, I read from the Book of Enoch itself.  (Not exactly light reading J)  From there and several other accounts, I pieced together the story of the fallen angels known as The Watchers.  (Crazy watching the movie Noah and being like wait a minute…that’s not what The Watchers are!  Sigh…guess all of us consider ourselves experts of our own stories J )  I am captivated by The Watchers, and weave their story into this modern day series!  Throwing my characters into an ancient war that began long ago between angels, demons, and the fallen ones.

Excerpt:

She bit the inside of her cheek, the instinct to duck behind the two girls intense.  Spine tingling with adrenaline, she pushed her glasses up.  Down the corridor, sandwiched between two girls and a guy, was her childhood best friend, Micah.   Though no longer a lanky boy, she still recognized his light blue eyes.  The mop of black hair he had as a kid was now short, little longer than a buzz.  Eden was drawn to his smile, even if it was meant for the blonde girl at his side.  A good foot shorter than him, the girl craned her neck up as she wrapped an arm around his waist. 


Got to be his girlfriend, she decided.   A stocky jock-type boy with chestnut brown hair and a tan girl with jet-black hair stood next to them.  The jock slugged Micah’s shoulder as his bellowing laugh made its way down the hall to Eden.


Then the scene was gone as jeans and myriad of different colored t-shirts blocked her view.  She sucked in a deep breath, her lungs burning from holding it too long. Sweat was beading at the top of her forehead as she prayed she could pass Micah’s entourage unnoticed.  If I can’t see him he can’t see me either right?  She hoped.



The stair case loomed nearer.  I’m going to make it, she thought wishing the kids in front of her would move faster.   



“No way dude. Coach always gives you the ball Micah,” a male voice boomed. 



Eden glanced over.  Micah’s group was directly left of her now.


He hasn’t noticed me, just keep moving, she told herself. 

Face ducked down, she lifted her leg up only to have her foot land sideways and to the left.  Her weight uneven, she feared toppling over, but a pressure on her left side held her up.  Confused, she again attempted to move away, only this time, her body made a ninety degree turn, bringing her a foot away from the blonde girl.

Horrified, Eden’s legs stepped one in front of the other, heading straight towards Micah.  Within seconds she stood dead center, stopping his small group of friends short.  Sky blue eyes swam in front of her vision before she was lunging forward, throwing her arms around his neck, hugging him.

Funny the things you notice in a moment of sheer humiliation, she thought, as time dropped into neutral, prolonging her torture. 

There was a hiss-like sound from the short blonde.  Yep, definitely his girlfriend. 

A male was chuckling.  Not Micah. Must be the jock. 

Arms wrapped around her hugging her back.  Oh my gosh! 

She shifted her weight back, trying to detangle herself from Micah’s arms.   Pulling her face away from his neck, the memory of his scent automatically tucked away in her mind, she met Micah’s raised brow line, wide eyes, and even wider grin.

“Eden?  Is that you?” he asked, as they separated further.

Aware his hands still held her forearms she was forced to remain and maintain eye contact. She nodded, terrified to speak.

“Wow! How the heck are you?  It’s been forever!” Though his face appeared delighted, she couldn’t help but notice how un-delighted his girlfriend was, as her amber eyes glared up at her.


About the author

Born in Dekalb, Illinois, Amanda Strong has called Utah, Arizona, Hawaii, Virginia and now New Mexico home. Amanda has been spinning tales since she was a child. Her family still remembers finding young Amanda with her bright pink glasses, hiding in random corners of the house while scribbling away in one of her many spiral-bound notebooks. You could say that some things never change since Amanda is still writing today. Amanda began her writing career when she uploaded The Awakener, her first full-length novel, on Wattpad where it received over 430,000 reads in four weeks. She was blown away and humbled by the reader support and feedback she received. Because of The Awakener's success as a non-published book, she was asked to talk on 1400 KSTAR about her story. 

In September 2013 Amanda Strong signed with Clean Teen Publishing for publication of The Awakener, which is scheduled to release in late October of this year. The Awakener is the first book in an all-new young adult paranormal romance series called: The Watchers of Men.  

When Amanda isn't writing, you can find her chasing her three rambunctious children around the house and spending time with her wonderful and supportive husband. On some occasions you can still find Amanda with her not-so-pink glasses, hiding in a corner reading her favorite young adult fantasy novels or working out only to blow her diet by eating ice cream. 

Author Social and Website Links:








Buy links:  


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-awakener-amanda-strong/1117238952

 

Apryl Baker

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