Wanita May grew up in the fruit belt of Ontario - St.Catharines. Crazy-happy childhood, she always has had a vivid imagination and loads of energy.
The youngest of six -- four older brothers, and a sister -- taught her at a young age to be competitive in all aspects of life.
At sixteen, she began competing in athletics (track and field) and before she turned seventeen, she was representing Canada in high jump. She continued to compete, breaking Canada's JR High Jump record (1.92m - 6' 3 1/2" for those metric-ly challenged). She attented University of Toronto, and Kansas State University - winning CIAU's and becoming All-American 6x - NCAA Indoors Runner Up + more.
But you're not interested in her athletic career - unless of course you're curious to know she stands 1.70m (5'7") and has jumped 20cm over her head on more than one occassion. She's represented Canada at the World Championships, World Jrs., won Francophone Games, and loved every minute of every competition. From the grueling workouts, the crazy weights she lifted on her back, the days she thought her lungs were going to spit out of her mouth for lack of oxygen, the travelling around the world and the opportunity to read - her favourite past time.
Wanita and her husband now run an online business, dealing in antiques and collectables - particularly jewelry and porcelain.
After her father passed away in 2009, from a six-year battle with cancer (which she still believes he won the fight against), she began to write again. A passion she'd loved for years, but realized life was too short to keep putting it off.
She is currently represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency. Wanita is a writer of Young Adult, Fantasy Fiction and where ever else her little muses take her.
Blog / Website / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter
There are two books in the The Chronicles of Kerrigan series with another one coming soon! :-)
Series: Book One of
The Chronicles of Kerrigan
Author: W.J. May
Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy
(Paranormal, Romance, Suspense)
ASIN: B00B1NNFR0
Number of pages: 248pgs
Word Count: 81,000
Amazon / B&N / Smashwords
Book Description:
How hard do you have to shake the family tree to find the truth about the past?
Fifteen year-old Rae Kerrigan never really knew her family's history. Her mother and father died when she was young and it is only when she accepts a scholarship to the prestigious Guilder Boarding School in England that a mysterious family secret is revealed.
Will the sins of the father be the sins of the daughter?
As Rae struggles with new friends, a new school and a star-struck forbidden love, she must also face the ultimate challenge: receive a tattoo on her sixteenth birthday with specific powers that may bind her to an unspeakable darkness. It's up to Rae to undo the dark evil in her family's past and have a ray of hope for her future.
Series: Book Two of
The Chronicles of Kerrigan
Author: W.J. May
Genre: Young Adult – Fantasy
(Paranormal, Romance, Suspense)
Word count: 85,000
Page count: 265 pages
Smashwords / Amazon / B&N
Book Description:
Nothing is as it seems anymore.
Leery from the horrifying incident at the end of her first year at Guilder Boarding School, Rae Kerrigan is determined to learn more about her new tattoo. Her expectations are high, an easy senior year and a happy reunion with Devon, the boy she’s not supposed to date. All hopes of happiness turn into shattered dreams the moment she steps back on campus.
Lies and secrets are everywhere, and a betrayal cuts Rae deeply. Among her conflicts and enemies, it appears as if her father is reaching out from beyond the grave to ruin her life. With no one to trust, Rae doesn’t know where or who to turn to for help.
Has her destiny been written? Or will she become the one thing she hates the most—her father’s prodigy.
My Thoughts:
Oh this series is so good! I read both books and I can't wait for more! I have to wait to read House of Cards, book three. :-(
The first book Rae of Hope, introduces us to Rae Kerrigan a 15 year old who is going to Guilder Boarding school. She could find little or no information about the elusive school other than what was in the brochure.
She doesn't know what to expect. She is treated like a pariah at first and she has no idea why. Eventually she finds out that it has to do with her father being somewhat of a monster who terrorized people. This school is for people with special abilities.
Everyone at the school is apprehensive and as she finds out, some are hoping to use her to continue the ways of her father. I really like books like this that take place in a school setting!
Rae of Hope was a great start to this series. I was pulled into Rae's world from the start. I couldn't put it down and went from reading it directly into reading Dark Nebula.
The plot had the usual teenage hijinks, a girl thrust into a society that she never knew existed, tattoos that bring abilities with them, a wide variety of characters whose motives we need to uncover, family secrets that need to be revealed, action, intrigue, and some romance.
Dark Nebula continues with Rae's Senior year at school. After what happened at the end of Rae's Hope, she doesn't really know who to trust. She is excited to go back to school but soon finds out that things aren't as wonderful as she thought they would be. There are unexplained accidents, weird occurrences involving tattoos, some new students, Devon is keeping secrets, and to top it all off her dad may be causing trouble even after his death.
The second book had me angry and on the edge of my seat off and on through out the book. There was so much going on. I am going on record, I don't trust Devon. I feel like he is hiding something major.
I enthusiastically encourage you to read both of these books. They were well paced, intriguing, and fun. There was not a dull moment to be found other than the first few pages in the first book.
I received copies of both books from Bewitching Book Tours in exchange for my honest opinion. I honestly loved both books. They were terrific!
Thank you for commenting! Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. The link can be found at the top of the page!
If you have such a strong reaction reading those i will add them on my list but i will wait until book 3 is released i think.... seems like you are impatient too... perhaps there is no cliffhanger at the end of book 2 ( you would have told us i think) but if teh tension is so high it would be better i wait^^;; but i trust you and i will wait you opinion on this 3rd book^^
ReplyDeletethe idea of tatoo is interesting, can they refuse it? choose it or not?
You are correct Miki. There is no cliff hanger! I'm just very excited to see what will happen to Rae next. Also I keep waiting for Devon to turn into a snake (not for real).
DeleteThe tattoos just magically appear on their 16th birthday. They do not get to choose or refuse them. Usually the tattoo that appears represents the person's traits or abilities.
On the boys it is on their arm. On the girls it is on their lower back.
Thank you a lot for these additional info^^ i really love to see how enthousiastic you get with some books^^, it really help to spread the love
DeleteI can't help but get really excited about some of them. I only wish I liked them all as much. On second thought, maybe not. It would get boring if I liked them all the same.
DeleteSo totally pumped your like the Chronicles of Kerrigan series - House of Cards is coming out this summer so the wait won't be too long!!
DeleteThanks for your questions Miki, I wanted to know those things as well LOL
DeleteHm.. I will have to try these. Sounds very intriguing. I always find new books to read here. Thanks for the review! :)
ReplyDelete-Amber
Awesome! I'm glad that they appeal to you.
DeleteI hope you get a chance to read the series. Im biased but its a fun series :)
DeleteWJ May
I like the covers for these books. They're not books I would normally select to read but will add the first one to my TBR list based on your review. Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI like the covers too! I can't promise that you'll like the book if it isn't your normal type of read. But I think it is worth trying. I certainly liked it A LOT! :-) Some of my favorite books were books I wouldn't have seen myself ever reading. If not for someone recommending them to me, I'd have missed out. :-)
DeleteCovers were done by the famously talented Patrick Griffith. He's doing another series for me as well. I love the model who is Rae - it's totally her!
DeleteWJ May here :) Love your interest and House of Cards is intense as well. Its coming out this summer so the wait won't be too bad! I say read it (though I am slightly biased! lol)
ReplyDeleteYou're allowed to be biased. :D You don't have to tell me to read it either. I'll be ordering it just as soon as it's available! :-)
DeleteI believe I can say that the premise sounds promising and your enthusiasm makes me want to go right out and buy them, but I'm with Miki, will add them to my wish list and plan to buy them when the third comes out. I hate waiting for the next book in a series. I am not a patient person.
ReplyDeleteHave to agree that the covers are nice as well. Got to love any book with a dark haired heroine on the cover ;) LOL
i can be really patient but it's harder when it xcomes to books^^
Deletei 'm glad you shared the same questions as me^^;; even better we got the answers
lol - you guys are funny. Its a four book series btw. So if you start reading, book III comes out this summer and book four is out by Christmas :) perfect timing!
DeleteThey are funny but I know how they are and I luv them, quirks and all! When the next book comes out, I'll share my thoughts and remind them that there is only one book to go. I won't let them forget about it. :-)
DeleteLOl I LOVE IT!!!
DeleteIt'll be worth the wait :)
I have no doubt that it will be worth it! :D
DeleteDo you realize how fast I read a book? LOL I can read a book day if I have no interruptions. I don't just read, I consume. :D And, if I'm reading a series that is really good, even having to wait one day, is a day too long.
DeleteLove you too Brenda ;)
:) I usually read a book a day as well Josette. Sometimes two if I have time and the books are short.
DeleteI've read both books and found your blog by trying to find info on House Of Cards. I'm in my fifties and can say this is one of my top three of paranormal ebook series I've read. Realize I read between 5-8 books a week. I've started her other series as well.
Delete+JMJ+
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling some Paranormal burnout lately. I'd rather read a book about Wanita May's real-life adventures. Seriously, she sounds awesome!
And I love what she said about her father ultimately winning his battle with cancer, death be danged. My brother had leukemia and died last year, so I'll have to steal that line in his honour!
Hey gal!
DeleteSteal that line any time! Anyone who has dealth with cancer knows the battle and gets how hard the fighter fights! Huge love out to your brother and pride out to you for sharing. Its a hard journey to travel and have other people understand!
And my life is not that exciting... however, I could make it more exciting in a book and have me do way more! lol
cheers,
Wanita (aka WJ May)
I thought the same thing when I read your comments WJ. My dad battled cancer and died in 2011. He was awesome. He never complained and he lived longer than they originally expected him to. So I feel that he too won the battle.
DeleteEnbrethiliel,
I understand and you have my sympathy. It is hard to lose those we love no matter how we lose them but to watch them go through the battle, is something you can't fully appreciate until it happens to someone you love.
+JMJ+
DeleteThank you, Wanita and Brenda! =)
:-)
Delete{{HUGS}} to all of you. I think just about anyone has a family member or friend who has had to battle these diseases. I just lost my grandmother a few months ago, around the holidays, and we are still trying to deal with it. She refused treatment, said she was too old and it was too far gone, and was gone within a very short window. She was 91 years old and had led a life that I look back on and think how amazing the things she had done and seen. When the pain isn't so harsh, I'm thinking a book based (loosely) on her is going to come out.
DeleteJosette
Josette, I'm very sorry for your loss. I know how bad it hurts. I just remind myself that they are no longer suffering. That helps me to accept it.
DeleteFrom your review this series kind of reminded me of the Private series by Kate Brian. Thanks for the honest review Brenda. The fact that you mentioned that you were angry during the second book does have me a bit nervous. Books that make me angry or frustrated aren't usually my favorites but from the book description of Rae of Hope and the review, I really do want to read the first one.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't angry throughout the whole book but there were a few things that happened that made me angry at the character that did them. You are safe to read the 2nd one too Dione!
DeleteAhh good. I have to say that when I read reviews and hear that the reader got angry with the book I automatically have flashbacks of reading Taking Chances by Molly McAdams. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed half of the book but then I got angry towards the middle and by the end of it I absolutely loathed the story in a heartbreaking and sick to my stomach kind of way. So I try to stay clear of books that might make me angry!
DeleteBut being mad at a character, I can understand that!
I do that quite often! lol!
DeleteAnother website says house of cards is coming out in March http://www.wanitamay.yolasite.com/ is this true?
ReplyDeleteThat is WJ's website and she is the author so I would assume that is true. :-) I do know that it was a little behind schedule though!
Delete