Kandi Wyatt’s Cover Reveal: An Unexpected Escapade

Hello and thank you for visiting. I’m excited to share Kandi Wyatt’s cover reveal for An Unexpected Escapade, the second book in her Myth Coast Adventures fantasy series.

Below you will find your clue to Kandi’s scavenger hunt. You can also read a guest post from Kandi (and see a picture of Kandi herself!), and check out the cover of her new book, the prizes I hope you will win for taking part in the cover reveal, a sale announcement for Kandi’s first book, An Unexpected Adventure, and a reminder that An Unexpected Escapade is available now for preorder.

Wishing you all the best and thanks again for visiting!

Here’s your clue:

Life in a Small Town

by Kandi Wyatt

The Myth Coast Adventures trilogy came about because I saw students from rural America who weren’t being represented. They thought they weren’t important or that their chosen occupational field wasn’t valued, even among their peers. With that in mind, Myth Coast Adventures came into being.

Based on the Southern Oregon Coast towns of Bandon, Langlois, and Port Orford, Myrtle Beach is actually named by blending Myrtle Creek with Gold Beach. I had no clue that there was a real place called Myrtle Beach over on the East Coast.

As the books went into editing, I struggled with people criticizing actions characters took, or didn’t take. For instance, in book 1 Harley’s mom didn’t seem preoccupied that Harley was off with his friends and might get into trouble. The edited response was simple. You see, living in a small town, everyone knows what everyone else is doing. No one can get away with anything! Our oldest wondered for years how we knew he’d been speeding on the way home from soccer practice. So, I just added in that Harley knew his mom would find out due to the rumor mill.

Small town life came into focus in the scene where Ana swings into The Skillet for a pop. The customers ask about her dad, and the owner hands her a meal on the house. The scene for me brings to mind numerous times we’ve walked across the street to The Spoon, a restaurant that’s known for its friendly chatter, good food, and live bands. When a customer sits down, often times there are conversations between tables, or someone coming in may join another table. One morning, we sat down with an acquaintance who was drinking coffee, and we had our breakfast with him. That’s just how life works in a small town.

One other thing that our small town is wonderful at is backing those who need help. In book 2, Ana is told that cans are out at the coffee shop, the market, and The Skillet to help with medical expenses. Little did I realize as I wrote that in that I’d see this in action in our community as I released An Unexpected Escapade. A senior in our school was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma just before Christmas this year. At the Homecoming game, a National Honor Society student created his senior project as a fundraiser with a dessert auction. Little did he realize the impact that project would have. It blossomed to both a silent and live auction, with a business donating a maple wood burl heart, a family member donating homemade blankets, and an author selling books and giving the proceeds to the project. When all was said and done, in a district known for poverty, over $8,000 was raised to help this family.

Small towns may get a bad name as hick or backwoods, but in reality, they’re some of the best places to live. It’s here that people know each other. Students say they’re like a big family, and people look out for one another. I’ve not seen that in the city. Sure there are more opportunities in big towns, and there may be better services, but I wouldn’t trade living in a small town for anything.

Here’s Kandi: