K.L. Kranes
Debut author K.L. Kranes drafted her young adult novel, The Travelers, while living in South Orange. Kranes credits her time living in the town with inspiring both the themes of her book and her desire to support worthy causes. She plans to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of her book through December 31, 2016 to charities that promote reading and discourse through books.
Although she now lives in Virginia, Kranes experiences in South Orange continue to influence her daily life and her writing. “South Orange will always hold a special place in my heart. The community is filled with a diverse and generous group of people who support each other. I remember waking up early before work and transporting bags of leftovers donated from Cait & Abby’s Bakery to a local shelter. Being part of that program and others in South Orange/Maplewood helped shape the person I am today,” Kranes explained. “I want to continue to give back and plan to do that with The Travelers.”
The Travelers, published by Saguaro Books in October, follows two teenage lovers torn apart by a Wiccan war. They are forced to hide their relationship from their families or else face dire consequences.
In The Travelers, Ms. Kranes uses this secret Wiccan world to explore how stories and histories can be distorted to breed intolerance. “I wanted to tell a fun and exciting story that also emphasized characters who questioned the hatred and discrimination taught to them by their families,” said Ms. Kranes. “My goal was to help inspire young adults to rethink negative ideas and learn the truth for themselves.”
The Travelers is available on www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com. To learn more about Ms. Kranes or The Travelers, visit her website at klkranes.com or follow her on twitter and Instagram at @klkranes.
