Christina Bacilieri’s Interview with Kiera Vandyer

About THE LAST REFUGE (STEALING SANCTUARY)

Magic will transform you. Power could destroy you. Actions will define you.

Kiera Vandyer told herself she’d only agreed to this scheme for the money, that nothing else had drawn her to this venture, but you can’t lie to the truest parts of yourself. For sixteen years, she’s hidden her burning curiosity for magic, knowing that one misstep would mean certain death at the hands of Atterah’s merciless leaders: the all-powerful Ruling Board.

Just when Kiera is on the cusp of securing a stable future for herself and her mother, a cruel twist of fate forces her to commit the worst possible infraction. She trespasses over the border into Etabon, the last refuge for magic on Atterah. Once within, her rare form makes her a target for the warden of the site. To escape the warden and conceal her crime from the Ruling Board, Kiera must use her strange new powers to battle for her freedom… or die trying.

The Last Refuge is the enthralling first novel in the Stealing Sanctuary series, weaving together the destinies of two dreamers caught up in a dark curse that spans generations. Enter a world of gripping adventure where love burns slowly, family is chosen, and hope is a dangerous yet beautiful dream.

Christina Bacilieri’s Interview with Kiera Vandyer

Etabon’s festival grounds are silent at this hour. The Twisted Tarot bar’s only occupant is the bartender, an auburn-furred werewolf polishing glasses behind the counter. Golden orbs bob around the space, casting the scene in a hazy wash of light. Hovering tarot cards slide lazily in and out of view between the ceiling’s gauzy fabric. A figure in a black velvet cloak slinks through the entrance. Kiera flashes a soft smile from under her hood as she sets down two travel mugs and takes her seat.

Kiera: Sorry for being late. I couldn’t pass by Luna’s bakery without grabbing some frothed caramels.

CB: No worries. Thanks for meeting me, Kiera. You didn’t have to go through the trouble of getting me one, too.

Kiera: Once you taste that, you’ll be glad I did.

CB: [sips] Sweet sorcery, that’s good! 

Kiera: [chuckles and reaches into her cloak to pull out a candle and a match] 

CB: Is that a quelling candle? 

Kiera: [lights the candle] Exactly. Our conversation won’t carry beyond its glow. When it comes to sharing secrets, we can’t be too careful.

CB: Speaking of secrets, you were never supposed to enter into the festival grounds when you agreed to bring your classmates to Etabon. How did you end up on this side of the gates?

Kiera: [mutters incoherently about a rancid gray worm] Let’s just say my carefully laid plans fell apart. 

CB: [nods] Can you tell me what it’s like to cross the border and connect with your magic?

Kiera: Oddly enough, it feels familiar. The second you pass through that threshold, you get back a piece of yourself that you didn’t realize you’d been missing. Everything else falls away, and that restless part of you finally settles because, in a sense, you’ve found your way home. 

CB: Wow, it sounds like something out of my wildest dreams.

Kiera: It’s dangerous to reveal that you dream about magic. You’ll need to keep it to yourself, especially outside of Etabon. 

CB: I see. Is it true that the Ruling Board would lock us up just for mentioning it? 

Kiera: Trust me, the board would do worse than that.

CB: [shudders and readjusts] You’ve told people close to you about your dreams, though, haven’t you?

Kiera: Yeah, my mom’s known about the dreams since I was a kid. I don’t have to hide them from her; she’s never made me feel one ounce of shame about them. It’s always been the two of us against the world until I met Attalin. She knows, too.

CB: You crossed paths with Attalin not long after coming here. If I’m understanding correctly, wouldn’t it be a leap of faith to trust someone with knowledge like that?

Kiera: [stares into the candle’s flame] If I said it was circumstance, that there was nothing left to lose when I opened up to Attalin, that wouldn’t be the whole truth… we have this connection. I could say it’s complicated, but with Attalin, it’s not. We chose to trust each other. In my world, you don’t often get the luxury of choice. I stand by mine. 

CB: On the topic of choice, I’ve noticed some attendees have opted to get eclipse tattoos on their wrists. People seem tight-lipped about it. Can you tell me why that is?

Kiera: When it comes to that mark, you don’t want to know. Steer clear of anyone who has it, and don’t accept anything they offer you. Everything here comes at a cost.

CB: Oh… does that have something to do with the warden? 

A tawny owl glides in from the back corner of the bar and lands on the table, clicking its beak rapidly at Kiera. Her gaze flicks to the entrance.

Kiera: I better get going.

CB: [raises her mug] Good luck.

Kiera: [lifts her mug, clinking it against the other] Thanks. I’ll need it and a bit of magic, too.

BUY HERE

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CHRISTINA BACILIERI: Christina Bacilieri is the author of the young adult fantasy “The Last Refuge,” the debut novel in her Stealing Sanctuary series. She’s a fan of all things magic and grew up on a steady diet of fantasy novels and pasta supplied by her loving grandmother. Christina studied marketing at the University of Texas at San Antonio before working as a business relationship consultant and project manager. When she’s not reading or writing, you can find her wandering through nature or taking in art at her favorite museums. She and her husband share their home in Texas with two snuggly pups and an abundance of books. Find out more about Christina and news of upcoming books in the Stealing Sanctuary series at her website. 

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Category: On Writing