Blog Tour & Giveaway: ​Candle in the Wind by Kim Baccellia!

Excerpt!

   Up close, the deserted building looked less threatening. More than a few tiles were missing from the roof. Scattered, dry sagebrush littered the path. The low muttering of voices grew louder the closer I got to the door. I snuck another quick glance over my shoulder, scanning the area. Nothing seemed out of place, but that didn’t still the unease that refused to leave. A lone owl soared overhead, and its hoot nearly stopped me in my tracks, the sound reminding me of Reverent Father’s alarms.

   I glanced back at the building and took a deep breath. I can do this. The rotted wooden door squeaked as I pushed through it to walk inside.

   Mostly women, dressed in dark clothing, hung to the edges of the room, whispering. Their telltale turquoise stone necklaces betraying their former status in the community. Hoods obscured their features. This act alone, of women gathering together, was forbidden. I cast my gaze down.

   They can’t know it’s me.

   If word got out that I’d infiltrated a blasphemy meeting, not only would I be brought before the Elders, but my family as well.

   I couldn’t let that happen.

   Yet here I was.

   Yellowish haze filled the cramped space along with the burnt scent of smoke from a fire that ravaged the building a few years back. A lone table and a few broken chairs added to the sense of desolation.

   No, I couldn’t stay here, especially if the Elite Guard got wind of this, which I knew would happen.

   I searched the room for Xochi, the urge to grab her and leave growing stronger by the moment.

   Sure enough, my sister hung over to the side.

   “Xochi,” I whispered, glancing furtively around. “I changed my mind.”

   My sister barely looked up from her vidcom. “And miss this?”

   “You know what I mean.” I tried to ignore the frantic beating of my heart.

   Then I saw Luz. The light teased the maroon highlights in Luz’s shoulder-length dark hair and gave her brown skin a rosy glow. She leaned in, whispering to a girl from one of our classes.

   Without thinking, I left Xochi and slowly made my way over to Luz.

What if you discovered everything you’ve been taught is a lie?

For most of her life, seventeen-year-old Espie Hernandez’s world revolved around the Branch of Thomas, a cult-like haven in what’s left of a war-ravaged America. Their ruler, Reverent Father, keeps them safe from the Others, those outside the compound who wish to harm them.

Espie questions what she’s been taught and finds herself banished from the compound. She's thrust into the harsh world beyond their walls with the mission to prove the Others actually have a plot against them. When tensions escalate, Espie must figure out who to trust before everything she loves is torn apart.

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Author bio:

Award-winning author Kim Baccellia grew up in Sacramento, California, the oldest of seven. She has a business associate degree from Sacramento City College, a BS degree in elementary education from Brigham Young University, and studied post grad bilingual/bicultural education at CSUF.

She’s been a telemarketer, library helper at the Harold B. Lee library at BYU, assistant manager, sales clerk, tutor, bilingual teacher, and homeschool mother. Currently the author of four YA novels with another one coming out soon!

Author of YA paranormal CROSSED OUT and CROSSED FIRE. YA dystopia CANDLE IN THE WIND. Also the author of the urban diverse fantasy EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA. Short Christmas Magic in the Holiday analogy MISTLETOE AND MAGIC. Re-releasing YA fantasy series under new titles in 2026! Currently working on a historical romance set in Tuscany.

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