Queen of Someday

By Sherry D. Ficklin

Before she can become Catherine The Great, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

Character Interview: Sophia

How would you describe yourself in three words?

Strong

Clever

Trapped

If you did not have to pursue the throne of Russia, what would you be doing instead?

If not for this opportunity, I would likely have been married off to my Uncle by now. It’s not a thought I prefer to entertain.

What made Alexander so special?

He is kind, and honest, and brave, and one of the few at court who never lied to me or tried to use me to their own ends. He had no reason, politically at least, to want me in court. I suppose he was one person who never wanted anything from me.

When was the first time you realized you might not really be in love with Prince Peter?

The first night at the ball. I detest cowardice and in my mind, playing those sort of games is just that.

What was going through your head when the Queen found out about your secret relationship?

I remember thinking, please God just don’t hurt him. I think I could have taken any punishment she wanted to hand out, if only I knew he would be safe.

What is your biggest fear?

That I will become someone I despise. Court has a way of changing people, and not always for the better.

Most people describe their wedding day as the happiest day of their life, how would you describe your wedding?

It was…a blur. I remember the heaviness of the gown, the pain in my head and neck form the crown, and not a great deal else. It sometimes feels like a bad dream rather than a reality.

If you could go back and rewrite the past, what would you change and why?

I don’t think I would. There is, I believe, a greater plan for us all. All we can do is look forward and, if we are very lucky and very clever, shape our futures.

Thank you so much Sophia for letting us get to know you a bit better. I have one final question for you. How do you feel about the near future and do you have any plans up your sleeve?

Things have become quite dangerous at court recently. I will do what I must to survive, and to save the people I care about, even if that means burning the entire dynasty to ash around me.

Queen of Someday by Sherry D. Ficklin won't be your average young adult book. No, this book will have something extra special within it. Queen of Someday will be enhanced with embedded videos throughout the story. These videos will give you behind the scenes looks into the life of Catherine the Great, as well as author commentary. Enhance your reading experience with this new enhanced young adult book! Enhanced e-books are fairly new, and Clean Teen Publishing is excited to be able to offer one to you!

*Please note that on many reading devices may not be able to show enhanced content. In this case, you will be able to follow a digital link that is embedded within the e-book to view each video online. Currently the best reading platform for enhanced e-books is iBooks. However, most Kindle and Nook devices will allow you to follow the link to our external secure website to view the bonus content. An internet connection is required for viewing.

GRAB YOUR COPY OF QUEEN OF SOMEDAY TODAY!

Release Day: October 7, 2014

Published by: Clean Teen Publishing

Genre: YA Historical Fiction

Series: A Stolen Empire Series

Praise for Queen of Someday:

“UGH. This book was just too perfect. How will I ever come down from this book high?”

~Kalla (Goodreads reviewer)

“If I could rate this book more than five stars, I would. It was INCREDIBLE.”

~Kelli from Beautiful Book Chaos

“Woah. This book kicked ass.”

~Leanne Bell (Goodreads reviewer)

“I don’t when the next book will be out but I can guarantee it will be too long.”

~Michelle (Goodreads reviewer)

“(This) book is utterly brilliant.”

~Pearl from Bibliopearl Reviews

“Ficklin's writing is a marvel to read.”

~Sara from Smitten Over Books

“Queen of Someday is a bright new addition to the YA scene…”

~Bobbi (Goodreads Reviewer)

“…holy crap I loved that ending. It was perfect!”

~Eileen Lee of Book Captain Reviews

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A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

The true story of Catherine the Great is one fraught with betrayal, intrigue, and romance. While a good deal of my story is drawn from actual people and events, I have been very liberal in the rearrangement of dates, events, and places. Whenever possible I took my cues from her own words, intermixing my own thoughts and ideas. My thought upon the creation of the book was simple. I looked at the woman she was when she claimed the crown and then wondered, how did an innocent girl from Germany become such a force of nature? Most people aren’t born cold or ambitious, but have circumstances that forge them into those people. And that was the story I wanted to tell in this book. I wanted to see the events in her early life that would have changed her into the person she became, and not knowing the truth of that story, I simply made something up. That is what we, as writers, do best.

If you are curious about the real history behind Catherine, I suggest heading to your local library and doing a bit of research. This is not meant to be a historically accurate representation, but a flight of fancy, one that I hope you, dear reader, will enjoy as much as I have.

Excerpt:

“If I could, I would offer you my heart, my soul, and make that be enough. But I know it is not. I know that Peter is your destiny. You are going to be the most beautiful, clever, kind empress Russia has ever seen. And I want to be there for that. But I can’t think about that now because today, in this moment, all I want is you. The thought of losing you cuts me to my very marrow.”

I look away, even as he draws me closer. The war rages inside me, one part wanting nothing more than to kiss him until the sun rises, another part knowing why I can’t.

He tilts my chin up gently.

“If you want to send me away, tell me only that you do not love me, and I will go. I will never speak your name again, never touch your hand. I will pretend that the loss of you hasn’t killed me.”

I sigh, my hard-fought resolve fading quickly.

“I could never say those words, because they would be the gravest lie. Of course I love you. I love you so much that I risk everything just to come to you tonight. If anyone knew—I would be ruined, sent away in a cloud of scorn. No one would ever have me, and I would bear the shame all my days.”

He takes my face in his hands.

“I would have you, in shame or sin, I would have you in any way I could, in any way you could give yourself to me.”

He kisses me again, and I know I’ve lost. Reaching up, I wrap my arms around his neck, holding him to me. He smiles against my lips.

“My sweet Helen, for you I would be Paris, and for your love, I would defy God himself and then return to you for a kiss.”

“Peter and the empress will return in a few days. What will we do? Meeting like this… it’s too dangerous,” I say, unwilling to pull away again.

“Do you trust me?” he asks solemnly.

I nod. “I do.”

“And do you love me?”

“With all my heart and my life, I do.”

He kisses my hair.

“Then trust me. Give me a few days and by the time they return, I will have a plan. In the meantime, if you need me—”

“I always need you,” I interrupt.

He grins.

“If you want to meet me…” I open my mouth to interrupt again, but he puts a finger against my lips, which I kiss. “Leave me a message in a book. John Wilmont’s letters to his mistress.”

I frown. “Am I to be your secret mistress?”

He shakes his head. “No, my love. I will be yours.”

WATCH THE OFFICIAL BOOK TRAILER:

ABOUT SHERRY D. FICKLIN

Sherry D. Ficklin is a full time writer from Colorado where she lives with her husband, four kids, two dogs, and a fluctuating number of chickens and house guests. A former military brat, she loves to travel and meet new people. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she’s on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

She is the author of The Gods of Fate Trilogy now available from Dragonfly Publishing. Her previously self-published novel After Burn: Military Brats has been acquired by Harlequin and will be released in 2015 with a second book in that series to follow. Her newest YA steampunk novel, EXTRACTED: The Lost Imperials book 1, co-written with Tyler H. Jolley is now available everywhere books are sold and her newest YA novel, Losing Logan, is due for release in 2014 from Clean Teen Publishing.