Debra L. Martin's Blog, page 193

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. Take time to be with your family and friends and let them know they are loved. 

For all the service men and women who won't be home this year, I thank you all for your service. You serve so we can be protected and enjoy freedom. There is no greater sacrifice in my book. So, an extra big 'THANK YOU' to you.

#Excerpt: ATHENA'S SECRETS by Donna Del Oro

Excerpt:
“So I hear. We—my father, Alex and I--protect my mother from people who’d try to exploit her. Is there anyone protecting you and your mother?”
More than a little surprised, Athena halted. “Not really. Father pretends we’re normal and I supposed Chris does, too. Mum and I—we keep our clairvoyance a secret from everyone. Everyone except the police, that is.”
They’d come to a fork in the path. Ahead of them, through a thicket of oaks and pines, Athena could see the lake glimmering in the sunlight. Kas took the path to the right. “Follow me.” He headed for the boathouse that she could now see about fifty yards away. “We’ll have to wear wet suits. The air’s warm, but the water’s snow melt.”
“I live in D.C. so I can handle it. I can read minds, but can’t do weather forecasting. Go figure.”
Kas harrumphed. “I hear you work part-time at a coffeehouse. Seems like you could make more money doing psychic readings. But then, you’d have to expose yourself and your secret.”
“Yes, that won’t do. I guess it’s safer this way.”
“I know, my mother feels the same way. There’s a history of the bloodline having problems when people find out the truth. There’s always a group in society that doesn’t understand, people who take advantage or exploit them, or use them as scapegoats. I guess that means there’s been some witch-hunting in the past, burning at the stake, that kind of thing. The Romans would kidnap soothsayers and hold them as slaves. I’ve heard only the Temple seers in Greece were off-limits. Even so, the Temple priestesses had Guardians assigned to them day and night.”
She looked at him. He wasn’t joking. The protective side of him was rearing up. “I’ve heard that, too. I thought it was just nonsense, Mum trying to scare me into keeping it secret.”
“Can’t be any harm nowadays.” He glanced back and grinned. “Now, if your secret came out, you’d get celebrity status and your own reality TV show.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “Not interested.”
“Well, whenever you want to read me, go ahead. No skin off my nose. I’m sure that what you see will either turn you off or bore you to death.”
“Then I guess you’re different from all the other men I’ve known,” she tossed back. “Even my father doesn’t like it. Men like their secrets.”
“All the other men?”
“Figuratively speaking,” she said wryly.
He frowned and ran his gaze over her. “Chris filled me in about you. You’re nineteen. An art student. Single. He says you had a hard time when you were younger. With your clairvoyance, I mean. Trusting people, making friends. Sorry for my blunt speaking, but this is who I am.”
“It’s okay. When it first came on, yes, I had some hard times. Now I manage it. I keep it under control.” She shrugged and added, “I’ll be twenty, December first.” Now she wondered what else Chris had told him. Probably how she couldn’t get a boyfriend if her life depended on it. That she was a virgin desperate for love. God, no wonder Kas was put off.
“Don’t believe everything my brother tells you about me,” was all she could think of to say.


BLURB:
What if you could read minds with just a touch? Would you be able to trust anyone?
Athena Butler, the twenty-year-old descendant of an ancient bloodline of psychics, yearns to lead a normal life. She wants a career, a boyfriend, independence. Her clairvoyant gift, however, has taught her that people can be false and dangerous. Although warned to keep her powers a secret, she's recruited by law enforcement to help search for a serial killer and uncover a terrorist cell.
She bonds with an intriguing, handsome man, Kas Skoros, who knows her secret and accepts it. Of the same bloodline, his mother is precognitive and predicts that they are meant to be together…some day. Kas, military veteran and Search and Rescue deputy, is skeptical and cynical-- life is too uncertain--but can't resist exploring his passion for Athena. Yet there are obstacles beyond their control.
Can Kas overcome these obstacles? Can Athena stay alive long enough to fulfill her dream?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ AUTHOR Bio and Links:Donna Del Oro lives in Northern California with her husband and three cats. She taught high school and community college English classes for 30+ years and is now happily retired. When not writing novels or reading voraciously, she travels and sings with the medal winning Sacramento Valley Chorus.
Donna is a member of Capitol Crimes, the Sacramento chapter of Sisters in Crime in addition to the Valleyrose chapter of the RWA. She has judged RITA entries and does developmental editing on the side. Two of her novels, Operation Familia and Born To Sing, have won national and international awards.Follow clairvoyant artist Athena Butler in the next book in The Delphi Bloodline series: ATHENA’S QUEST.
http://www.donnadeloro.com
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2015/08/blurb-blitz-athenas-secrets-by-donna.html


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Interview with Shona Husk, OUT OF CHANCES

Do you plot or just follow your muse?A little of both. I like to know my characters and the main plot points before I start writing, but how I get to those main points is a mystery and there is often a bit of scene shuffling in the middle to get it all together.
Where did the idea for this story come from?Out of Chances is book 4 in the series. When I wrote book 1 (Out of Rhythm) I know all the characters really well, but I hadn’t planned on writing their stories (of course when Escape Publishing asked for them I said yes). Dan was in a difficult situation. And I could’ve forced the story to take another route, but I haven’t shied away from writing real issues in this series (it’s NA and people are finding their adult feet, mistakes are made and people have to move on, that’s life). Dan was a complex hero, although some people may not see him as heroic at all, he does grow and change and realize his mistake which shows a strength of character.
Where is Fremantle, WA and why there not somewhere more well-known?Fremantle is near Perth Western Australia. I chose to set the books there instead of Sydney or Melbourne because I love Freo (as the locals call it) and it has a great live and local scene. Lots of great bands got their start there, so it seemed like a good starting point for my fictional band Selling the Sun.
You seem to like heroes that are a little broken…why?I don’t like my heroes or heroines to be too perfect. Flawed people are always more interesting—and we are all flawed in our own way. Even though I might write paranormal or sci-fi I want the characters to be relatable. When writing contemporary romance I want the reader to feel as though the character could be a friend or their neighbour or someone they went to school with.
Rock stars are hot…but yours aren’t rich and famous (yet) what was the appeal?There are heaps of rich and famous rock star books out there so I wanted to write something different, but I also wanted to explore what it was like before the band makes it big. I found that struggle interesting.
You skip genres quite a bit (paranormal, sci fi and contemporary) is there any commonality between them or does your voice change?I didn’t see any point in limiting myself to writing in just one genre when I love different aspects about all of them. Plus variety is a good thing (as a reader and a writer). I tend to writer darker, more flawed characters no matter the genre but there is always a happily ever after :)
How to you write pen and paper or computer?I plot with pen and paper, but write using my laptop. Sometimes I’ll take notes about a scene on paper if I get a sudden burst of inspiration. When the kids were little I used to write the first drafts longhand because it was easier to have a note book open and scribble a few lines down. That first type up became the first edit. These I plot better and I type faster.
Do you have a favorite treat?Dark chocolate with a hot chocolate. Coffee, tea or wine?Hot chocolate. I don’t like coffee or teas (except peppermint tea) and I don’t drink very often—I don’t mind a good chocolate martini, I have had bad ones L
What’s next?I’m working on Ripley’s story (he is one of Dan’s friends). I’m also working on the sequel to Desire to Fall (science fiction romance), which is getting quite dark.


Book & Author Details:Out of Chances by Shona Husk
(Face the Music #4)
Publication date: November 22nd 2015
Genres: New Adult, Romance
Synopsis:Shona Husk’s sexy new adult series about emerging rock band Selling the Sun concludes this month with a story about a woman who doesn’t want to connect, a man who’s forgotten how and the friendships that save our lives.
Dan Clarke knows he doesn’t have a problem, regardless of whatever his band members, his friends, his family and everyone else thinks. Drinking isn’t keeping him from doing what needs to be done, and it helps keep the anger and pain of his ex-girlfriend’s betrayal at bay. If only she would stay away as well, but, since the band’s return to Fremantle, she’s everywhere-on the phone, in his apartment, at his parents’ house-begging for another chance, reminding him of how good they had been together, holding him hostage to the past. It’s no wonder he needs a beer now and again.
Indigo Matthews is all about control: she trains hard, she works hard and she plays hard. Men are for fun, not forever, and she will never end up like her mother, trapped and miserable.  A huge Selling the Sun fan, Indigo knows when Dan wanders into her bar that he is a conquest that she has to make. But their connection is stronger than just sex, and regardless of her credo Indigo finds herself going back for more. Then truths about Dan’s life start to emerge, and Indigo finds herself in the one position she swore she’d never find herself.
A DUI, a drunk one night stand and an ultimatum from the band bring Dan’s life to a halt. Picking up the pieces is something he can’t do alone, and there’s only one person that he trusts to give a damn. The one person that he hurt the most. Indigo.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25179217-out-of-chances?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Out-Chances-Face-Music-Book-ebook/dp/B015YWDZJ6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447861096&sr=8-1&keywords=Out+of+Chances+shonaB&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/out-of-chances-shona-husk/1122772789?ean=9780857992796

AUTHOR BIO:Join my new releases newsletter to keep up to date: http://mad.ly/signups/119074/join

SHONA HUSK is the author of the Shadowlands, Court of Annwyn and the Face the Music series. You can find out more information about Shona at www.shonahusk.com or follow her on Twitter @ShonaHusk, or Facebook www.facebook.com/shonahusk

Face the Music, a contemporary romance series, finishes in November 2015 with Out of Chances.

New SFR series coming soon with Desire to Fall.
Author links:http://www.shonahusk.com
www.twitter.com/ShonaHusk
www.facebook.com/shonahuskhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3464665.Shona_Husk
Newsletter: http://mad.ly/signups/119074/join
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Q&A with Lindsey Fairleigh and Lindsey Pogue, BEFORE THE DAWN

LF: What she said! All of it is dead on, which makes sense because this is something we talk about with each other A LOT. I mean, how could we not? What author wouldn't love to see their creation come to life? I'd be ecstatic to have the chance to see how someone else interprets our world and characters, but...I'd also be scared. Because, you know, what if it's all wrong?! That being said, I'd be way more ecstatic and excited than I would be scared, so, yeah. :)12. What made you both choose this type of story?
LP: If my memory serves correctly, the type of story was LF’s idea. She’d been playing around with a dystopian, post-apocalypse idea for a while. Maybe not for an actual book, but a project around two friends and their communication during such a cataclysmic event. Clearly, it turned into much more, but that’s the spark that lit the fire, so to speak.
LF: Yep, that’s pretty much right. I’m not sure where I got the idea, but it had definitely been rolling around in my head for a little while. Maybe it was because I’d been away from my own hometown for several years at that point, and I was feeling the distance that can develop between friends even in our uber-connected age. What might it be like if we didn’t have cell phones, etc? I was curious, so LP and I explored the idea together...and voila! Dani and Zoe sprang to life. :)
13. Have you both enjoyed writing them?
 LP: I can easily say that without LF I probably would never have dove head first into the writing world, or I should say publishing world. Writing is one thing, but turning it into something that hundreds--maybe thousands--of people have the potential to see is taking a passion for writing to a whole other level. It was amazing embarking on this journey with someone, and I know I will never regret it, as long as I live.
LP: Yes! Word! Precisely! Writing is hard and painful at times, and putting our story out there was terrifying...and sometimes VERY painful. But the hard times were minimized by sharing this journey together, that’s for sure. Aaaaand, the good times, the joys and successes and holy-sh!ts, felt so much bigger because there was always someone else who was just as invested, just as excited. Writing the Ending Series has been highly enjoyable...writing it together has only made it more so.
14. Your characters feel like real people to me, are any of them based on people you know?
LP: Ha! Not really, though there are aspects of people I know that are sprinkled throughout Zoe and “her” characters. There are some aspects of my fiance in Jake, mostly because his characteristics felt natural to write having known him for over 10 years, and Harper is the best guy friend I always wanted--Morgan from Criminal Minds. I can’t think of any others....
LF: Nope! Just people I know in my head...
15. Did you start writing from an early age? What are your inspirations?
LF: I didn’t, but I know LP did. I was more of a voracious bookworm.
LP: I did start writing at an early age, and I think it was a coping mechanism for me. Life and puberty was difficult for me, especially in high school so it helped to have an outlet, so to speak. My life is pretty much normal now, but writing is a way I can experience living through someone else’s eyes--in another world with people I find fascinating and going on adventures I wouldn’t otherwise have. I can research things I would never learn about otherwise, and just have fun. Although writers say this a lot, it’s true: being out in the world, living everyday life in the presence of others is where I get my inspiration. People’s losses, their conflicts, the things that make them smile...there’s nothing like going to a funeral or witnessing a couple making up in a public place to bring you back to humanity and the way people interact.
16. Where did you come up with the idea for each "disease"?
LP: I’ll let LF take this one. She was the brains behind this. There was a day-long note and study session at the library that helped us move things along, but the Virus lives inside her head. I’m still fact-checking with her to make sure certain things work and make sense.
LF: Oh my gosh, this part was hard! I guess you could say we reverse engineered the virus. We decided on the “rules” - that some people would be affected differently than others (Abilities vs “Crazies”). I created some psuedo-science and mixed it together with modern genetics and came up with a type of gene therapy delivered to the patient/victim via a flu virus. It makes sense, you see. Because science. Sort of...

Book & Author Details:
Before the Dawn by Lindsey Fairleigh & Lindsey Pogue
(The Ending #4)
Publication date: November 20th 2015
Genres: New Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance
Synopsis:A year ago, the Virus killed off most people in the world.

A year ago, strange things started happening to those who survived. Some of them transformed into something dark and sinister, while others evolved, becoming something more, something beyond human.

A year ago, Dani and Zoe were lost. They traversed the country to find one another, losing some of the people dearest to them along the way. They fought for their right to simply live, uncovered long-buried secrets, and discovered irreversible truths. And after everything Dani and Zoe have been through—even with the battle wounds that they bear—they’re still not safe.

It’s time for the struggling to end, for survivors to take back their lives, their families, their safety. It’s time to really begin to live, and to do that, they must wait for the first rays of dawn.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18329357-before-the-dawn?ac=1
Purchase:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Before-Dawn-Ending-Lindsey-Fairleigh/dp/0988715473/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447779854&sr=8-2&keywords=Before+the+Dawn+Lindsey+Fairleigh+Lindsey+PogueB&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/before-the-dawn-lindsey-fairleigh/1122931917?ean=2940156678457
AUTHOR BIOS: Lindsey Fairleigh lives her life with one foot in a book—as long as that book transports her to a magical world or bends the rules of science. Her novels, from post-apocalyptic to time travel and historical fantasy, always offer up a hearty dose of unreality, along with plenty of adventure and romance. When she’s not working on her next novel, Lindsey spends her time reading and trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her two very confused cats.
Author links:http://www.lindseyfairleigh.com/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6551703.Lindsey_Fairleighhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Lindsey-Fairleigh/220345161400603https://twitter.com/LindsFairleigh

Lindsey Pogue has always been a little creative. As a child she established a bug hospital on her elementary school soccer field, wrote her first YA manuscript in high school, and as an adult, expresses herself through writing. Her novels are inspired by her observations of the world
around her—whether she’s traveling, people watching, or hiking. When not plotting her next storyline or dreaming up new, brooding characters, Lindsey’s wrapped in blankets watching her favorite action flicks or going on road trips with her own leading man.
Author links:http://www.lindseypogue.com/https://www.facebook.com/lindseypogueauthor?ref=hlhttps://twitter.com/lindseyrpoguehttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6551704.Lindsey_Pogue
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#Excerpt: MIND THE GAP by Tim Richards

Excerpt:
 
Central London was a hectic location, but it held calm places, and Regents Park was one of these oases. A swathe of green cut through the centre, punctuated here and there by lakes and paths. It was a place to feed the ducks or to take a brief lunch-hour stroll.
Madeleine Taylor had been walking in the park as usual, a golden Labrador tugging against the lead in her hands. Dalrymple was her employer’s dog, but she was fond of him. Being a live-in housekeeper was tiring work, and Dalrymple gave her an excuse to get outside for a while. Sometimes she wondered if she’d done the right thing in moving from Swindon to London, but a walk in the park usually helped to dispel these doubts.
Madeleine eyed the ducks as she walked toward a bridge leading across the water, feeling Dalrymple’s ever-enthusiastic pull. Then suddenly he stopped, and she almost fell over him as he stood stock-still, staring into the trees beyond the shallow lake.
She walked past him and tugged the lead gently to get him moving again. But Dalrymple didn’t budge.
‘Come on, boy,’ she said, lightly. ‘We haven’t got all day.’
Then Dalrymple began to growl.
Madeleine was about to speak again, then stopped as she followed his line of sight. There was a glint of metal in the trees, then an explosion of activity as three figures burst into the open and began running toward her. Each of them carried a long black cylinder strapped to one arm.
Dalrymple jumped forward with a jerk, and Madeleine felt the lead snatched from her hand. She watched in silent horror as the dog leapt at the closest figure and grabbed it by the leg. Casually, only momentarily stopping his forward motion, the figure swung the cylinder down to connect with the dog’s head. There was a flash of light and the animal crumpled to the ground.
Madeleine started screaming. And she was still screaming when a beam of light from the second stranger’s weapon struck her. As she collapsed, falling into unconsciousness, she dreamily noted the profile of a dog with a pointed snout on the gleaming black surface of the leading figure’s mask.

BLURB:And it's barely been three days since his life started to fall to pieces.
On top of all this, he's developed a bizarre ability that allows him to teleport in quite unusual circumstances - an ability that several deadly enemies will do anything to gain control of.
In a desperate struggle involving alternate worlds, Egyptian mythology, ancient prophecy, malevolent felines, underground railway stations and the power of dreams, can Darius long survive the arrival of his newfound power?
Buy link:  http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Gap-Tim-Richards-ebook/dp/B00KEZ7W0C
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Tim Richards is a freelance travel writer based in Melbourne, Australia. His writing has appeared in numerous newspapers, magazines and websites, and in Lonely Planet's guidebooks.
https://twitter.com/aerohaveno
https://www.facebook.com/iwriter.timrichards
http://www.iwriter.com.au/
http://www.aerohaveno.com/

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Interview with Claire Fraise, IMPERFECT

Claire, what inspired you to write your debut book, an action-packed YA sci-fi thriller ?  Throughout middle school, I loved YA thrillers. I read any book from that genre that I could get my hands on. After a while, though, many of the stories began to feel the same to me and it was difficult to find something fresh and original. So, I decided to write the story that I wanted to read. I came up with the concept for Imperfect in eighth grade but actually started writing it in my freshman year of high school. What’s funny is that it started out as a sci-fi story about Roman gladiators—it’s obviously changed a lot since then.
As a teenager penning her first book, what challenges did you have to overcome in order to put together such a good book?   The process was full of experimentation. As Imperfect was my first novel, I had no idea how to approach this kind of project. I re-wrote the entire manuscript about six times, constantly brainstorming and time-lining as I went. Also, I never received any sort of formal creative writing training, so I taught myself to write by reading all sorts of novels paying special attention to how those authors structured their plot arcs and developed their characters. 
What is Imperfect about? Imperfect is the story of a fifteen year old girl, Summer Greenwood  and her struggle against Making Perfect, a huge, genetic research corporation that runs the country and captures orphans to be part of their illegal experiments. Set in 2441, the story is told primarily through Summer’s point of view as she uncovers the dark secrets behind the company and as she struggles to return to her family. 
It takes place some 400 years from now. How hard was it to see that far out into the future in terms of society, technology, and how life might be by then? It’s actually been really fun. There isn’t any way to know for sure what life will be like in the future—all we can do is guess and that’s the fun part. What’s interesting is that over the past decade, large corporations have grown in terms of their influence on the lives of people and I wanted to explore what would happen if it got out of control. Imperfect focuses on both the rising power of corporations and advancesin genetic research. What would life be like if Monsanto took over the country? What if “perfecting” the human race was finally within reach? Should we do it? Who decides what perfect is? What could possibly go wrong with that?
Your book is about Summer, a young girl who seeks to find a way to survive amidst a chaotic world. How are you similar to her? I feel that I share characteristics with all of my characters. Summer is, at her core, an extremely resilient character and I’d like to think that I have some of her in me. She’s very outspoken, never bothering to consider the consequences of her words. That is both good and bad but she is very genuine and I really like people like that. She and I both have a tendency to question authority and not blindly follow a crowd but she also has a pretty strong moral compass.  One thing that I want to come across is that she is not one dimensional.  We are all packages of good traits and some that are less good, and I really wanted to make sure she had that mix.
Throughout the book she has to determine whom she can trust in a world filled with liars, manipulators, and evil-doers. How does she go about deciding what to reveal and to whom? Summer is extremely guarded. This isn’t surprising considering all the horrors she’s had to face. For a large portion of the novel, the only person she really trusts is herself. After her parents abandoned her, she lost all faith in people’s ability to be there for her. Even Tyler, who’d been her friend for her entire life, is held at arm’s length. When she is taken to Making Perfect, although her guard is still up initially, she realizes that making connections with others in necessary to survive. Slowly, she learns to trust, and eventually learns that sharing her burdens with others makes life so much easier.
The bonds of family played a huge role both in what Summer does and what another key character does. Both will risk their lives to get what they want, but only Summer seems to be acting with a clear mind. Why is family so important to her? Family is the foundation of everyone’s life. Those are the people that, for better or for worse, are always a part of you. In Summer’s case, her sisters are her support system and at the same time they rely on her for their survival.  By keeping her sisters safe, she safeguards the only people in the world who she loves and also give her life a purpose. This is the reason that she feels so guilty when she’s taken by Making Perfect and does everything she can to get back to them.  
In your story, we have learned that the government experimented on fetuses and is seeking to create a superhuman race that could act as elite soldiers. Why? Throughout history, we have seen horrific things done to create the perfect group of people according to someone’s distorted view of perfection.  Whether it was Hitler’s concept of Master Race or what ISIS is doing today, some people will do the most horrible things to other people in the name of creating the “perfect” society. Making Perfect has a lot more scientific tools at its disposal so its methods appear less crude but only on the surface.  As for its ultimate purpose, well, you are just going to have to wait for the story to play out in the next book… 
How much of recently published books, like The Hunger Games or Divergent, influence your writing? How does your book differ from other YA books? I think that all YA books share certain characteristics. Oppressive governments, class warfare, apocalyptic environments, and the struggle of young individuals against morally corrupt establishments are all widely accepted concepts scattered throughout the many books in this genre.  I think that Imperfect’s themes of genetic experimentations, and corporate control set it apart from others, as does the rich set of characters. Also, the characters are all multi-dimensional and don’t adhere to any stereotypes. Even the villains, like Ian Cooper, the son of Making Perfect’s CEO, have motivations they believe are morally clear. Ian’s motivations conflict with Summer’s and he does horrible things, but everything he does makes sense to him. He is also capable of kindness and that makes him real in my view.
How is your talent developed to get you to the point you published a well-written, 344-page novel at the age of 16? How have your peers received you?   I don’t know.  I’ve always loved telling stories.  Ever since I was really little I’ve always come up with stories.  My parents were always encouraging and listened to many stories nobody should have been subjected to! Writing is my passion and I just set out to write a story I wanted to read.  It wasn’t easy, but I’m just doing what I love. If you really apply yourself and you don’t give up when it gets hard, you can do anything, regardless of your age.  I think too many people think they have to wait until after college to start their lives. You don’t.  If you want to do something, do it. Don’t wait. As for my peers, we don’t talk much about it. This is just my thing.
Your story opens up by explaining how a civil war permanently ripped apart the United States. Do you think this could happen one day? Anything’s possible.  The Civil War ended only 150 years ago. In 400 years could we see another huge conflict?  I hope we are smarter than that.  I just find it amazing that World War II ended only 70 years ago and that 400 years ago Europe was being torn apart by the Thirty Years War. A lot can happen in 400 years.
How would you define your writing style or approach to your craft? Some people who know far more about this than I do have told me that my writing style is very clear. And, because I am a teenager, my characters tend to have very youthful, authentic voices. They speak and act like we do, as opposed to how adults think teenagers speak and act. As far as my craft, I just want to learn as much as possible about the many ways to tell a powerful story.  And I have a lot of them to tell.
Claire, how do you feel being home-schooled has shaped you as a writer or provided an opportunity to be a writer ? It’s definitely given me far more freedom to write than I would get in a traditional school setting. Even from an early age, homeschooling allowed me to take my education into my own hands and really dive deep into projects I was passionate about. It’s enabled me to start a company when I was 13 and to write this book. I still have to do a lot of work in many subjects and I am preparing for college, so my workload is quite challenging but I also have a lot of freedom to structure my time. Because of this freedom, I was able to spend hours upon hours honing my craft, which was important not only for Imperfect, but also for my development as a writer. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Blurb:The year is 2441.  The world is a mess. The Second Civil War ended with the Great Divide which carved out the United States into seven regions, each run by a huge corporation.  The powerful Making Perfect corporation specializes in genetic research and controls the region that fifteen-year-old Summer Greenwood lives in with her sisters, Lily and Tory, and her dog Theo.  Abandoned by their parents for reasons they don’t understand, Summer and her sisters struggle to survive in the Slump, a border city of ruins, along with other orphans where they fight hunger, violence and the ever present threat of Red Pox, the devastating plague tearing through the region.
Once a month, Making Perfect officials flood the city ruins, rounding up street kids and transporting them to secret facilities where they’re never heard from again.  Due to a fateful turn of events, Summer falls victim to their latest sweep along with her childhood best friend Tyler, leaving Tory, who had just contracted Red Pox, and Lily to fend for themselves.  She is transported to a scientific facility in the center of the region. Over a period of months, she and the many other captives undergo a slew of grueling tests and experiments, culminating in various genetic alterations that Making Perfect claims will advance the human race.
Amazon buy link:http://www.amazon.com/Imperfect-Claire-Fraise-ebook/dp/B0130ZANQW/ref=twoen-20 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Author Bio:When homeschooled Claire Fraise was 13 years old, she founded and incorporated an animal rescue company. Over the next year-and-a-half, she saved the lives of 20 dogs that were residing in kill shelters, often within days of euthanasia, many of them in the South.  She placed them first in a network of foster families she developed herself and found permanent families for all of them.  It’s no surprise that just three years later, at age 16, this bright, spunky girl has written and published her first book – a 344-page, sci-fi thriller in the spirit of bestselling YA fare like The Hunger Games, Divergent and Fifth Wave.
Her debut novel, Imperfect , projects a dark world some 400 years ahead, where a tyrannical, corporation-controlled government sees fit to experiment on children and to use its lab-based enhancements to build a superior army.  Summer Greenwood, the orphaned heroine living in an impoverished ghetto, seeks to save herself and siblings from dire consequences while discovering some life-shattering truths about her parents, her life, and the world she’s lived in.

Interview with R. Arundel, THE FACE TRANSPLANT

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?Maple Walnut
Which mythological creature are you most like?No idea
First book you remember making an indelible impression on you.Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.Willy Loman is a compelling character. A great American play.
How do you develop your plot and characters?Usually I develop a story and then populate it with characters. I do a back story for all major characters and have an idea of what they would do in most situations.
Describe your writing space.A quiet room with a very comfortable chair and a large window to look out.
  BLURB:
An epic journey of suspense, murder, and sacrifice
Dr. Matthew MacAulay is a facial transplant surgeon at a prestigious New York hospital. When his friend and mentor, Tom Grabowski, dies under mysterious circumstances, Matthew uncovers his friend’s secret: a new technique that allows perfect facial transplants. No incisions, no scars. Tom was able to accomplish this monumental feat with the help of Alice, a supercomputer robot with almost human abilities. While trying to find the people responsible for murdering Tom, Matthew realizes he is the prime suspect. He must flee for his life with the help of Dr. Sarah Larsson, a colleague and reluctant helper, who has a secret of her own, and Alice, who helps them make sense of a baffling series of seemingly unrelated events. The clues carry Matthew and Sarah around the world. They stumble onto a sinister plot of monumental proportions that leads Matthew all the way to the White House.
The Face Transplant is a powerful medical suspense thriller of the first order. The novel was written by a surgeon who weaves politics, medicine, and espionage into a tightly paced, intelligent thriller.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
R. Arundel is a practicing surgeon. This experience brings realism to the story. The novel asks what would happen if a surgeon were to develop the perfect face transplant.  This would allow people to have a new face, in essence create a new identity. You can create the perfect double, the perfect Doppelganger.
Contact link: http://www.amazon.com/R-Arundel/e/B00EBCQVEC
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#Cover Reveal: A DUCHESS IN NAME by Amanda Weaver

Excerpt:
 “Goodnight, Miss Carson.”
“Goodnight, Your Lordship.”
He held onto her hand for a beat too long, that delicious roughness of his palm heating hers. Her stomach erupted in butterflies. Utter romantic nonsense. It was a handshake. She glanced up at his face and their eyes met. The butterflies vanished and her stomach dropped clean to her feet. Her feet were rooted in place, but her body swayed slightly, as if being tugged toward him by an invisible thread. A muscle in his cheek twitched. Then, to her shock, he leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Her skin warmed beneath his lips and a delicious tingle shot down the back of her neck. It was only a moment, a brush of his lips against her cheek, but it heated her all the way down to the soles of her feet. Well, there was her answer about his touch. That tiny kiss was ricocheting through her body, laying waste to her good sense.
He drew back two scant inches, his eyes meeting hers in the dull gold glow of the gaslight wall sconces behind her. She could feel his breath on her mouth. There was only his beautiful, strong face and those shockingly blue eyes and his lips, which had made her feel so much at the slightest touch. She swayed toward him again. His eyelids lowered, his gaze dropping to her mouth.



BLURB:
Andrew Hargrave has little use for his title, and even less for his cold, disinterested parents. Determined to make his own way, he's devoted to his life in Italy, working as an archaeologist. Until the collapse of his family's fortune drags him back to England, to a marriage he never wanted and a woman he doesn't care to know.
Wild attraction is an unwanted complication for them both, though it forms the most fragile of bonds. Their marriage of convenience isn't so intolerable after all--but it may not be enough when the deception that bound them is finally revealed.
Goodreads: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Amanda has loved romance since she read that very first Kathleen E. Woodiwiss novel at fifteen. After a long detour into a career as a costume designer in theatre, she’s found her way back to romance, this time as a writer.
A native Floridian, Amanda transplanted to New York City many years ago and now considers Brooklyn home, along with her husband, daughter, two cats, and nowhere near enough space.
Contact Me:
Website: http://www.amandaweavernovels.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.weaver.167527Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWeaverWritesPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/AWeaverWriter/

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New Romantic Suspense Release: MIST by Maureen A Miller

Celebrate the release of MIST with USA TODAY bestselling author, Maureen A. Miller
MIST

A mysterious footlocker washes up on Livvy McKay's shore. Minutes after recovering it she is assaulted by an intruder. Wounded and unable to give chase, she is startled by a knock at the front door. A stranger is looking to rent a boat from her business, McKAY'S CHARTERS. Livvy doesn't believe in coincidences. Especially when the stranger is wearing black-just like her assailant.
Jack Morell is a desperate man. After receiving a cryptic phone call from his uncle-a call spiked with the sound of gunfire in the background, he is frantic to locate his uncle's ship. Warned to use discretion, Jack opts to rent a boat from McKAY'S CHARTERS for his search.
 A defiant Livvy grills Jack, but deems that he is not her assailant. In fact, she learns that the trunk belongs to his uncle. Together, they uncover its contents, and now they are being hunted.
Someone doesn't want the world to know what is in that trunk. Someone who is well-connected.
Unable to trust the authorities, Jack and Livvy have only each other. Will it be enough to survive the Atlantic's frigid clutch?
Release date - November 16th!
Buy Links: Amazon iTunes Goodreads 
What is BLUE-LINK?
MIST is the second in a 3-book series featuring the adventures and romance of the employees of BLUE-LINK. BLUE-LINK is a fictional global company run by the enigmatic, Amanda Newton-a woman whose signature accessory is a blue diamond ring.  The trilogy features SHADOW, MIST, and coming soon, DUSK. These are all stand-alone novels without cliffhanger endings.
Excerpt 1:

As she faced Jack, her breath hitched. Under the stark glow from the hanging lantern his features were beveled in shadows. Author? Scientist?Not damn likely. Not with that countenance. Not with the taut command he held over his body. He was a muscular animal coiled and ready for attack-and certainly a better weapon to have around than the lobster buoy.“Will a pork chop and salad do?” she rasped.The creature unwound and rose to approach her. “Yes,” he said. “But there is something we have to do first.”In the tight confines of the kitchen, he literally had her boxed up against the counter. Gripping the granite edge she felt her elbow nudge a cookie jar.“Wh-what’s that?”He leaned in. My God, was he going to choke her-or kiss her? Why was her heart pounding like a base drum? And why was she not shoving him away?Jack’s arm slid past her hip to haul open the freezer door. A waft of frigid air tickled her nose as he drew out an ice tray.“We have to put ice on that eye.” Popping a few cubes onto a kitchen towel, he rolled the cloth up and gently pressed it to her face. Helplessly, she stared up into his eyes. So much turmoil and intensity lurked there. That maelstrom sucked her in. Hell,it stimulated her. She wanted to launch her arms around his neck and smash her body against this rugged vista. But no-she was paralyzed. And surely she was delusional.
Excerpt 2: Going to the police to report the break-in was as fulfilling as going to a doctor to complain about a headache. After a lecture on owning a business, and the vulnerability of her location out on the peninsula, Livvy walked out of the Gull Harbor Police Department feeling like she was the criminal for not installing an adequate security system. That wasn’t going to help her sleep any better tonight…but the baseball bat under the bed might. As she pulled into the gravel parking lot in front of Sea Lantern Cottage, Livvy didn’t think the area felt that remote. A small jut of land marked the entrance to Gull Harbor on one side, and the gaping Atlantic filled the other. She climbed out of her Jetta and gazed across the harbor at the lineup of fish houses-wooden dwellings on stilts. They were only a ten-minute boat ride away. She was not secluded. But if that were the case, then why did her hand hesitate on the front door knob? Why did she walk over to the living room window and peer inside as if she expected to find a shadow behind the drapes?
About The Author:
USA TODAY bestselling author, Maureen A. Miller's first novel, WIDOW'S TALE, earned her a Golden Heart nomination in Romantic Suspense. Working in the software industry for fifteen years in a job that required extensive travel, Maureen chose to write during those lengthy airport layovers—escapism at its best. She is currently in the middle of a 3-book Romantic Suspense series featuring SHADOW, MIST, and DUSK.Recently, Maureen branched out into the Young Adult Science Fiction market with BEYONDand the BEYOND Series. She is having fun keeping her head in the stars!When she's not writing, Maureen enjoys supporting other authors. She is the founder of www.JustRomanticSuspense.com, and its offspring JUST sites....Okay, that's the official third-person bio. Now let me tell you the real story. I'm an avid Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan, which means I'm a masochist. I will eat anything with mozzarella on it. I'm still mourning the fact that Buffy is gone. I write because I like the power. In life we have so little control. When I write, I have total control of my character's fates. Ahhh, the power rush! LOLI truly believe that I was a soul singer in my former life, which is interesting because I can't sing. But man, I can do a mean lip-syncing rendition of Midnight Train To Georgia! :)If I haven't scared you away by now, you can find out more about me at www.maureenamiller.com.  
Where to find Maureen Find Maureen at her website www.maureenamiller.comFacebook https://www.facebook.com/MaureenMillerBooks/Twitter https://twitter.com/MaureenAMillerGoodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2959120.Maureen_A_Miller

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Interview with Amy McKinley, HIDDEN

 
What are four things you can’t live without?Chocolate. My family. Oh wait, maybe my family should be first? Water, but that’s a given really and coffee also seems essential.
Having a creative outlet in my life like writing and of course reading—that’s my escape and obsession.
What is your favorite television show?It’s a tie between Modern Family and Big Bang Theory. The season ending for Big Bang Theory had everyone in my family groaning in frustration. Sheldon pulls out a ring and looks at it after being told by Amy that they should take a break. Great hook for sure, but now we have to wait until the season begins. I also like Mike and Molly and so many more I now want to list. Like most people, we DVR a lot of shows. I like it this way and don’t really watch a lot of TV, even though it may now sound like I do.
I love movies. Romantic comedies are huge favorites and also action like Bourne Identity—yep, I know, it’s an old one, but that sums up the type of action movies I love. There are so many others…Pitch Perfect, August Rush, and Limitless to name a few.
What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?Book 2 in the Five Fates Series (Layla’s story) and I’m so excited about it. Since that one is already written I’m in the process of working on another.
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?Karen Marie Moning, Kresley Cole, and Gena Showalter have influenced my writing.There are tons out there. I have to say I’m very fortunate to have amazing critique partners whose input and experience I’m grateful for. 


BLURB:Half-demon, half-goddess, Jade’s fate makes her a pawn in an epic battle among the gods. Hidden on Earth with her sisters, she successfully avoids the Oneiroi—the dream gods—bent on her destruction until the prophecy, long dormant, awakens a dark shadow within her.
Roen, a reclusive Worr demon known for his battles against the Oneiroi, is called to protect Jade. Together they must unlock their mysterious connection and find a way to beat back destiny. Can she outsmart the prophecy, change her fate, and find love—even when she learns who is connected to her destruction?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR BIO:Amy McKinley is a freelance writer and author. She lives in Illinois with her husband, their four talented teenagers, and three mischievous cats. Her debut novel, Hidden is the first in the Five Fates Series.
Connect with Amy:
www.amymckinley.com Twitter: Amy McKinley@amymckinley7Facebook: www.facebook.com/amymckinleyauthorPinterest: www.pinterest.com/amymckinley7 Wordpress https://amymckinleyauthor.wordpress.com

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