Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 558

September 2, 2011

Interview and GIveaway with MJ Preston

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?

I'm 46, married and have been writing since I was a kid. I have always had a fascination with the horror, and feel comfortable picking at the things others might find uncomfortable.

What is it about the paranormal, in windigo's, that fascinates you so much?

Native Culture has a number of stories about their people fearing the Windigo sickness or psychosis. The Windigo is said to be conjured up when a community indulges in cannibalism, there is so little written about this frightening creature and the more I researched, the more I begin to see the story unfold.

What inspired you to write this book?

The story came from a couple places. One of those harkens back to a childhood friend I had who was abducted by a child predator. My friend was found alive, thankfully, but his ordeal was that of torture and they never captured the monster who had abducted him. For me that monster lurking in the shadows was always more terrifying than the creatures I conjured up in my stories. That stranger became the model for which I would fashion one of my main characters after.

Please tell us about your latest release.

True crime meets monster hunting is a way you could put it. There is a dual story about a town that is coming to grips with a number of unspeakable crimes and a native man chasing after the shape changer who killed his grandfather. You'll have to read the book to see how it all relates.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?

Most of the aboriginal names were researched to lend some authenticity to the Chocktee people and a few names are based on people I know. Others just ring true when I say them aloud.

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?

As mentioned earlier, one of the characters is based on a child predator. Finding my way into the mindset of that particular character was difficult and of course there are limits to what I will write about. I had to work extra hard to avoid generalizing while at the same time knowing that there are limits we must all consider when breaching a difficult subject.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?

There are a few characters who popped up in the writing of this book that I became very happy with. One of those characters names was Old Jake Toomey and he really came as a surprise, because he did not appear until later in the novel and as a result I ended up including him in the beginning. In another interview I mentioned that I like Old Jake so much that there may be another novel based on him.

Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?

How I find a character is I draw them. They may start out as a virtual sketch with just a first name, but eventually they begin to live and breath within my subconscious. I don't use lists. Instead I wrote about them in excess. These character building exercises did not make it to the final draft, but were useful in me finding out who they are.

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?

I don't have any favorites, but one that stirs great emotion in me is that of a quarrel between husband and wife as they come to terms with the death of their child. It is a scene filled with such anguish and heartache. It is also written from the heart as my departed Mother lost one of her children, my brother, at the age of 7 years-old. I was very young, only 3 years-old, but my oldest brother was 8 when it happened. While I did not experience the loss on the day it happened I was able to see first hand how it haunted my Mother to her dying days. No parent should have to bury their child, but it is a horrible reality.

Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?

I have learned that the North American Native People are a treasure trove of fascinating tales and history. I have learned a few things in researching this book and I now feel that we must move to reconcile the mistakes of our ancestors so that we may bring peaceful resolutions to signed treaties. I did not always think this way.

What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes?

I haven't yet, but I hope one day to attend a native pow wow and with their permission take photographs and even involve myself in some of the ceremonies.

Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?

(Devilish smile) I have been told that I have a scowl which can be somewhat intimidating. I picked this up in the army as a Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) teaching recruits. This is an attribute that hangs well on my Police Chief David Logan. I suppose there is a little of me in all of the characters, even my nefarious skin-walker, although I have yet to dine on the lower intestinal tract of one of my victims. (Wink)

Do you ever suffer from writer's block? How do you deal with it?

I don't know that I suffer from Writers Block in the traditional way where you stare morosely at a piece of paper with nothing to write. I write when the voice awakens in me and when it doesn't I do other things like draw, listen to music or make videos.

Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?

Music plays a large role in my writing experience. I like to listen to it as I write.

Do you write in different genres?

Novels will likely always end up in the horror genre, while short stories are all over the place. Dark humor and short pieces that tap into key emotions are always interesting. I do write serious pieces as well that are non fiction and I have penned a few blogs relating to personal stuff.

Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?

No, for me it's all writing.

When did you consider yourself a writer?

The day I stood over my mother's grave and tried to sum up her life in a few short minutes. She had always asked me to write her life story and that was the best I could do.

What are your guilty pleasures in life?

In one interview I mentioned beer, but I have a passion for white cake with sickeningly sweet icing. If there is a Birthday cake in the house I rise like a malnourished vampire and descend on it without mercy. I think my eyes actually roll back in my head when I feed.

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?

I love Halloween. All year long I am collecting all sorts of nasty things to display on my lawn come October 31st. The kids under the age of 6 usually walk right on by, while the more adventurous ones make it up the driveway past the severed limbs, werewolves, demon babies and chainsaw maniacs to score some candy. Most the parents around my burb think I'm disturbed.

What was the last amazing book you read?

I'm reading Stephen King's UNDER THE DOME, but recently I read Joseph Boyden's THREE DAY ROAD after finishing THE EQUINOX and I'm glad I did. Boyden is an amazing storyteller.

Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?

Graveyard dirt.

What can readers expect next from you?

I am working on a new novel I call the The 4th Horseman. It is in the horror genre and I'll leave it at that for now.

Where can readers find you on the web?

I have two websites: MJ Preston - The Equinox and The Black Galleries I really would like to encourage people to visit both sites, but more so MJ Preston - The Equinox. There are a good number of videos and lot's of artwork there free for the viewing and if you're interested in getting THE EQUINOX this is an awesome way

to check it out.

Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?

Excerpt from: THE EQUINOX

Chapter 10 - Misery

***

"I can't believe he'd be this irresponsible," Olivia exclaimed.

John was now standing in the doorway to their son's room. "What?"

Tap. Droplets of blood fell to the hardwood floor rhythmically from the two bandaged fingers on his right hand. The gauze was already soaked, sopping with claret, and every three or four seconds it released a fresh droplet. Tap.

He couldn't hear the splash of blood: his focus was on his wife, who stared at him defiantly.

"Who are you talking to, Olivia?"

Tap .

"I specifically told him to clean up his room before he went out, John, and I have had enough of being ignored." She stared right at her husband – but she didn't see him.

Tap .

"Olivia."

"You've got to talk to him, John. Set him straight."

Tap .

"Olivia."

"- tell him that he can't cut corners –"

Tap .

"Olivia, Tommy is gone. We buried him two days ago," John croaked.

But she kept going. "-like this. He's been getting away with too much, John."

Tap .

He moved forward and took her by the shoulders. His right hand left a bloody mark on the shoulder of her robe.

"He's dead, Olivia! You were there! We buried him. Please stop this: I can't do this alone."

Tap .

She fell silent, his words finally breaking through, her face dawning with comprehension – and then she started to scream.

"Stop it!"

John drew up his hand, ready to slap her, an arc of blood spattering on the World Series Pennant that hung above Tommy's computer desk.

Then she said something that stopped him.

"He came out of me," she cried. "He always listened to you and loved you more, but he came out of me. I carried him all those months, Johnny. I loved him just as much as you, but he loved you more."

John Parkins stood frozen, his eyes welling up with tears. Then he dropped his hand in shame and pulled her toward him.

"He loved you too, sweetheart. Every boy loves his mom."

"I want my baby back, Johnny! I want him home!"

"He's gone, Olivia. I'm sorry. It's my fault! I should have taken the day off. It's all my fault!" he cried. "He'd be alive right now if I had been a good father!"

"He came out of me, he was my baby and I want him back!"

They held each other in the emptiness of their son's room, drowning in despair. Surrounded by the memories of what was taken from them, little league pictures, baseball trophies, and from all sides pictures of their smiling little boy. Gone forever.

***

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Published on September 02, 2011 02:17

September 1, 2011

Now on Tour The Equinox by MJ Preston

September 1 Interviewhttp://SellingBooks.com/

Sept 2 Tour Party at Fang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

Sept 2 Review & Guest BlogLaurie Thoughts & Reviews http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com

Sept 3 ReviewAll Things Books http://speedyreader-allthingsbooks.blogspot.com

Sept 5 Guest Blog at Pocket After DarkThe elements of a good horror novel

Sept 8 Guest BlogParanormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews: http://paranormalromanticsuspensereviews.blogspot.com

Sept 10 Guest Bloghttp://www.madmoosemama.blogspot.com/

Sept 10 Review and Excerptzenes-escape.blogspot.com

The Equinox

A Novel of Horror by MJ Preston

Book Description:

It has existed for centuries.

A dark curse held captive by ancient ritual, a creature of insatiable hunger possessing the ability to change shape at will. During spring and fall equinox it would break through the walls separating our worlds to feed.

Now it walks among us unrestrained and very hungry.

Banished from the Chocktee Nation and obsessed with vengeance, Daniel Blackbird has been chasing the "Walker" across North America for over 14 years. Bearing a scar from his first encounter, he feels the abomination's telepathic pull and is drawn in whatever direction it moves, but it always seems to be one step ahead of him.

Until now!

Over a thousand miles away residents of the prairie town of Thomasville are trying to come to terms with unspeakable crimes.

In a race against time, Blackbird sets out for the prairie town which, as the Equinox approaches, is destined to become a killing ground where cultures and worlds will collide.

The Equinox is available through following distributors

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/MJPreston

https://www.createspace.com/3627368

http://www.amazon.com/The Equinox

It is available in Print and PDF and will soon be available for Amazon Kindle.

MJ Preston- Author and Artist at Large

MJ Preston is considered by his neighbours to be a bit on the eccentric side. He never puts up Christmas lights, yet during Halloween his yard is adorned with, gravestones, severed limbs, chainsaw wielding maniacs and giant spiders.

An ardent fan of the horror genre, he has been writing since he was a kid. In his early 20's he wrote film reviews for his hometown paper and while serving in the military he penned articles for more than few military newspapers.

In 1999 he founded the newsgroup Canadian Veterans' Alliance which championed the rights of wounded soldiers. This caught the eye of politicians and news media which landed him on the CBC's talk show TALK TV with Anne Petre.

In late 2009 he decided to dust off a half-finished manuscript he started well over a decade before. Originally written on an Olivetti typewriter the manuscript titled: THE EQUINOX came to life and was published in July of 2011.

Along with writing MJ Preston is also an artist using the computer as his canvas and creating digital art that is.. You guessed it, somewhat on the macabre side. From floating mystical orbs, to hungry intestinal eating ghouls, MJ Preston wields the virtual paintbrush of a proverbial madman.

He states, "I like to look at the darker side of human nature, pick at the things that bother us and see what lies beneath the surface."

Living in Canada, MJ Preston is now working on his second novel and producing a graphic series he calls: The Fourth Horseman.

Like a demented child, he waits excitedly for October 31st.

His websites are: http://mjpreston.net http://mjpreston.ca

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Published on September 01, 2011 21:51

August 31, 2011

Whispers of Evil Tour Party and Giveaway

Can the whispers of evil be hushed by love, or will it be lost forever…

Nayeli has been locked away, hidden from the world in a mental institution, all due to the whispers of evil which have corrupted her mind. Unbeknownst to her, the voices that have plagued her are a gift given to only one kind―Watchers.

Griffin, her Seeker, is about to break this cage of imprisonment woven around her and give her a new chance at life. But when a demon leaves the confines of Hell to create havoc in Louisiana, will his love for Nayeli free her wounded heart, or will she succumb to the whispers which threaten to steal her soul?

*WARNING: Explicit sex between a timid Watcher and a gorgeous Seeker, and a ceremony that will certainly raise eyebrows!

Buy link - http://www.staceykennedy.com/whispers-of-evil/

Teaser:

A noise drew Griffin away from his thoughts. He glanced over his shoulder, and Nayeli stood behind him, a stunning beauty. The women had obviously not only let her shower, but had given her clothes and makeup. He thought her beautiful before. Now, she was breathtaking, wearing a black camisole and jeans. Her dark hair fell soft and silky over her shoulders. Her eyes appeared sexy outlined by dark eye-shadow. Her cheeks were rosy, and her lips an enticing soft pink. He'd questioned if he could love—Am I capable—now he had no doubt. This woman belonged to him.

"You're back," he said gently.

"I'm back," she whispered, now standing in the middle of the room.

He could see her tremble, the fear of what was to come reflected in her eyes. He'd rectify that. She might be afraid of his touches for now. She probably worried that this would hurt, but he would bring her to a point where she begged for his advances. Bring her to a state where she whispered his name from her pouty mouth. "Come here, Nayeli."

She paused, a moment that left Griffin's breath in his throat. Her soft green eyes were wide and looked worried. "I…I…"

He let out a long breath and went to her. With each step he took, she reciprocated by taking a step back. He stopped, not wanting to startle her. "Why do you fear me?"

She looked away from his gaze to the prevalent bulge in his black shorts that appeared the moment he saw her. "It's not you so much, as that."

Withholding his grin was near impossible. He began his approach to her again in slow, steady movements. She continued her movement backwards until she met the wall with a loud thud.

She gasped.

"You fear it now, but in time, you will grow to crave it."

"I'm not sure I can do this," she whispered.

He closed in on her, stopped in front of her, and looked down into those eyes that could melt his soul. "You can." He gave her a firm look. "And you will."

"But I…"

He leaned down close to her mouth, and her breath came out in quick pants he was sure were due to fear. "Nayeli, you're safe with me. I have waited years, more years than you could fathom, to have you just like this. I'm only pleased that no one has shared your bed. You have a right to be nervous, even a right to fear what will happen here, but this has to be done, not only for you to join our house, but because I cannot wait another moment not being connected to your body."

"Will it…" She looked up to him with sweet innocent eyes. "Will it feel good?"

He grinned. "I will ensure it does." Then, he ran his finger along her soft rosy cheek. "Of course, it may hurt a little at first, but I promise to erase that pain with pleasure."

A little smile lifted the side of her face. She stepped in closer, and her body came tight against his hardened length. "Well…that doesn't sound so bad."

He arched his brow, grinning in return. "No, it doesn't." Then, he leaned down and captured her lips, gentle at first, testing her ways. His hands came up around her face as he titled her head back, bringing her mouth higher to meet his. Slowly, she succumbed and parted her lips, and he continued with open mouth kisses. He worked his mouth along with hers in a manner that would weaken her in the knees.

Stacey Kennedy's novels are lighthearted fantasy with heart squeezing, thigh-clenching romance, and even give a good chuckle every now and again. But within the stories you'll find fast paced action, life threatening moments and a big bad villain that needs to be destroyed. Her urban fantasy/paranormal and erotic romance series have hit Amazon Kindle and All Romance Ebooks Bestseller lists. If she isn't plugging away at her next novel, tending to her two little ones, she's got her nose deep in a good book. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband. Be sure to drop her a line at www.staceykennedy.com, she loves to hear from her readers.

Giveaway Time!

Want to win an ecopy of Whispers of Evil?

Leave a comment on this spot with your email

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Published on August 31, 2011 21:04

August 30, 2011

Guest Blog by Danielle Gavan

Soaring with Ardeur and the Abbey of Angels

What you see isn't always what you get—or, your planned final destination may not be where you actually end up. Both can definitely be said of my novel Ardeur.

I'd like to share with you a bit about the journey the main character, Ardeur, and I took together. I'll expand on parts of it over the course of my blog tour this month with Bewitching Book Tours.

In August of 2009, some girls I knew from a fan forum decided to branch off and form a role-play forum. They invited me to join and I created a spunky little necromancer named Ardeur. I made her French Canadian, like myself, gave her (or tried to) a few of my own personality traits and set her loose on the forum.

Ardy mingled, made friends, and soon took on a life of her own. The cute little character I thought I'd developed so well pulled an about face and changed the playing field on me. Her new motto? I'm a Canadian Badass—which she still is.

Fall came around and a writer friend suggested I submit a short story to a contest run by a Canadian magazine. I hemmed and hawed for a bit, and decided to go for it. Ardeur had been feeding me bits of her story over time, so I thought what better way to start?

She told me a story that pulled on my heartstrings and sent me on an emotional rollercoaster. The five-page, twenty five hundred word, essay quickly turned into several thousand more words over a five month period.

Two years after that first fateful short story and here we are.

Much like my beloved heroine, there have been some pitfalls in my path. The journey had its dark spots but I'm finally starting to see the lighter side of things. I've grown as an author and in other aspects of life to make me who I am today.

So what's Ardeur about? It's the story of a woman who was sold as a child, forced to host a demon, and trained to be a killer for hire. Ardeur's ride through life is a dark, bumpy one. Unwanted by her parents, barely tolerated by her captors, berated and belittled by her demon—Ardy's life is a plate of burnt strawberry pop tarts.

Throw in an ex-military werewolf determined to find the little girl from his childhood, an Angel of Death obsessed with keeping Ardy for himself, and what have you got? Ardeur, Abbey of Angels—a dark into light journey filled with heartache, hope, and a woman who won't give up no matter what life throws at her.

A little about me:

I was born and raised just outside of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada—nickel capital of the world and home to the largest nickel ever minted. The first story I can remember writing was in middle school, on a heart-shaped sticky note pad.

When I'd first made the conscious decision to become a published author, my goal was to find an agent and sell my book to a publisher. That vision changed last summer. Suffering from call-center burnout and a particularly vicious resurgence of a chronic illness, I made the decision to go indie. I've since banded with a wonderfully talented bunch of authors, led by the brilliant C.J. Ellisson and couldn't be happier with the way things have turned out.

I invite you to come along during this blog tour and discover where that first heart-shaped notebook took me.

Ardeur

By Danielle Gavan

Book 1 Abbey of Angels

Born a necromancer…

Sold by parents who wanted a normal child, Ardeur Lisle now hosts a demon and was trained to be a killer for hire. As an adult possessed, dreaming of escape and of a kind face from her childhood helps keep her sane.

If she breaks free from her captors, what will this new world full of paranormal beings hold for her? Ridding herself of her demon parasite will be her first priority.

A promise kept...

Brody Callaghan never forgot the angelic blonde from his childhood. After years of military service, he swears to track down the face still haunting him from his youth.

But Brody has a furry secret of his own; one unveiled with each full moon. Will the two hold onto love with danger, deception, and an obsessed angel driving them apart?

About the Author:

Danielle Gavan lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband of eight years and their two sons. Danielle has been writing since she was in middle school.

She loves a good book and is usually found with her nose in one. She has an extensive list of them on her book pile. When she's not writing or reading, Danielle keeps herself busy designing book covers and editing.

Her guilty pleasures are her favorite television shows Bones, House and Hawaii Five-0.

Danielle welcomes email and you may contact her at daniellegavan@rhpublishing1.com.

You can also find her hanging out on the forum she shares with Jennifer Feuerstein. The Crowded Minds is a great place to relax and have a little fun.

Find Danielle on the web:

http://www.daniellegavan.net

http://dgavan.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/#!/DanielleGavan

http://www.facebook.com/danielle.gavan

http://everythingerotic.blogspot.com/

http://thedigitaldigest.blogspot.com/

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Published on August 30, 2011 21:09

August 29, 2011

Darwin's Children Tour Kickoff and Giveaway

Get ready to experience the amygdala pulse.

Who doesn't love a good story about a family of superheroes? I know I love a good man in tights that can pull off not being creepy while lurking in the shadows…

Natasha Larry here, and no, the character's in Darwin's Children don't wear tights… yet, but they do manage to serve up a little justice in the small town of Jonesborough, Tennessee.

So, what is this book about anyway? Allow me to quote Pamela Roach, who summed it up pretty perfectly.

"Darwin's Children is a great new paranormal YA. The author took abilities and gave them a new twist to make them fresh and exciting. The abilities have been seen more in vampires and other paranormal creatures in recent years. The characters with their powers are more reminiscent of X-Men than Twilight. But that doesn't mean Darwin's Children isn't without its bite or two…

Darwin's Children, while hilariously funny and romantic, is equal parts and awesome action book – the ultimate Good Vs. Evil showdown…with Haylee and Jaycie the ultimate avengers."

A little about me:

Natasha Larry was born in Fort Riley, Kansas and raised all over as a military brat. She currently resides in Huntsville, Alabama with her daughter and fiancé. While she isn't plotting world domination or writing, she enjoys filling her home with baked goods and collecting comic books with the scary vigor of a nine year old boy. She despises the self-righteous and appreaciates tongue in cheek humor.

Giveaway Time

Throughout the tour I will giveaway five ebook copies of Darwin's Children-open internationally to any reader

I will also be giving away two signed copies of Darwin's Children, open to U.S. residents only.

Here at Fang-tastic Books you have the chance to enter for one of the signed print copies

To enter

Leave a comment on this post with your email address

And be sure to follow the tour for more chances to win

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Published on August 29, 2011 21:35

Now On Tour Darwin's Children by Natasha Larry

August 29 Guest Post at Pocket After Dark

August 30 Fang-tastic Bookshttp://www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

Sept 1 Interview and GiveawayBack Of The Book Reviews -www.backofthebookreviews.com

Sept 2 Interviewhttp://jacqpaige.blogspot.com/

Sept 2 Close Encounters with the Night Kind.www.closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com

Sept 3 guest postMysteriousbookshttp://mysteriousrose.blogspot.com/

Sept 4 reviewBraintasia Bookshttp://www.braintasiabooks.com

Sept 5 The Write at Home Momhttp://www.thewriteathomemom.blogspot.com

Sept 5 Interview at Dark Angel's Writing Tools http://www.darkangelwritingtools.com

Darwin's Children(Book 1 in Series)

by Natasha Larry

Fantasy / Young-Adult

A black teen in a small Tennessee town finds more than the usual challenges growing up as she tries to master her telekinesis and help a kindred spirit.

Book Blurb:

Life can get pretty complicated for any seventeen-year-old girl, but for a home-schooled telepathic black girl trying to survive in a prestigious private school in small-town Jonesborough, Tennessee, it can be maddening – especially when her telepathic father keeps eavesdropping on her thoughts!

Jaycie Lerner's family isn't the usual mom-dad-kid setup. Jaycie's mom's MIA, but Allison, her personal live-in 'trainer,' is more than a mom, with her own special abilities, like being able to lift cars and run incredibly fast. And Jaycie's godfather John is more than persuasive – he can literally convince anyone to do anything.

As far as the rest of the world's concerned, Jaycie's on the outside looking in. The townsfolk love Jaycie's pediatrician father, but she doesn't fit in with 'normal' kids, and she doesn't really want to. Most of her free time is spent training to keep her telekinetic and telepathic powers under control. But there's one thing she can't control – and that's her feelings, especially when her best friend Matt is nearby. If only he knew what she was truly capable of...

Everything seems to be status quo for Jaycie until she receives a cryptic message from a stranger and meets a very unusual girl new to Jonesborough. Then all hell breaks loose!

Book Link: http://www.penumbrapublishing.com/php/genre.php?gtype=young

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28W1Irt4dc0&feature=player_embedded

Author Bio:

Natasha Larry resides in Huntsville, Alabama, with her daughter and fiancé. She graduated from Tusculum College with a B.A. in History and is currently working on getting her certificate in education. She is a self-proclaimed comic-book nerd and urban-fantasy junkie. Her poetry and short fiction has appeared in publications such as Writing Edge magazine and Escaping Elsewhere.

Darwin's Children is her first work of novel-length fiction.

To find out more about Natasha Larry and her books, please visit...

www.paranormalwire.blogspot.com

Twitter: @natashalarry

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Darwins-Children-Natasha-Larry/145755472156223

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Published on August 29, 2011 21:25

Boyfriend from Hell Print Book Giveaway

Book Description:

Aww, Hell No!

Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together.

"But come on, guys, she's my mother… Can I really tell her that while we're snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I'm secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not…"

The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again. She hasn't had a man in her life since Megan's father left ten years ago.

Enter two mysterious young men, Megan's new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando. Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships. But neither of the handsome guys is quite what he seems. In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride. Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him. If she doesn't, either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL.

Boyfriend From Hell is the first book in the Falling Angels Saga from the author of the gruesomely hilarious, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie

www.whitewhiskerbooks.com

About The Author

E. Van Lowe is an author, television writer, screenwriter, Playwright and Producer who has written and produced such shows as The Cosby Show, Even Stevens, and Homeboys In Outer Space. He has been nominated for both an Emmy and an Academy Award. Van Lowe recently stepped into the young adult fiction genre with his comedic novel, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie. It was a selection of the Scholastic Book Club, and a nominee for an ALA Award. Boyfriend From Hell is Van Lowe's second YA novel.

www.evanlowe.com

http://vanlowe.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Van-Lowe/152364748167154

Want to win a signed print copy of Boyfriend from Hell

Then leave a comment on this post with your email

(no email address = no entry)

Get a bonus entry for each thing you do below:

Liking E's Page on Facebook

Signing up for his newsletter (left side of homepage)

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Published on August 29, 2011 04:22

Interview with E Van Lowe

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?

I started out writing horror back when I was in college and as time progressed I started leaning more and more towards paranormal. I'd spent a number of years writing comedy for TV (Charles In Charge, The Cosby Show, Even Stevens) and decided to add a twist of humor to my work.

What is it about the paranormal, in particular, vampires that fascinates you so much?

Vampires are wonderful subjects for literature because they are as close to human as you can get without being human. They are great romantic subjects with a hint of pathos because despite they're advantages, most vampires long to be human. It's a wonderful dilemma. In Boyfriend from Hell I am writing about Satan. I gave him as many human qualities as possible but he is still malevolent. Satan in my book is as close to a vampire as you can get without being a vampire.

What inspired you to write this book?

I saw a YouTube video for an animated show called Lucy Daughter of The Devil. It was funny and irreverent. A bell went off in my head—write about the devil. However, as I got into it, I really wanted to explore themes that were close to me, mother/daughter relationships and dating bad boys. Want to know how these two come together? Read the book. LOL.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?

The names just come to me, sometimes in dreams. I don't instill any special meaning in them. It's like naming your child—you labor over it for a while, and when the right name comes, you go with it.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?

My favorite character in the novel is Megan, my protagonist, because her concern over her mother dating made her a horrible person. My favorite thing in the book was watching her grow. By the end of the book Megan is a very likable character.

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?

My favorite scene in the book is the kitchen scene with the gris gris. Those who have read it know what an unsuspecting surprise that scene is. I'd been making notes on the scene for weeks before I got the chance to write it. Many reviewers have talked about the big surprises in the book. I know they are referring to that scene in their reviews. You have no idea how happy that makes me.

Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?

My research on angels was quite illuminating. It really added a lot to the series. Much of what I learned turns up in the second book in the series, Earth Angel.

With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?

These books cannot be read as stand alones. My publisher was concerned about this, and so there are lots of explanatory passages in the beginning of Earth Angel. Adding these passages satisfied my publisher, but I still think readers should read Boyfriend From Hell first.

Do you write in different genres?

I'm glad you asked this question. My alter ego, Sal Conte writes graphic horror. I started out as Sal writing horror novels while I was in college in the 80s (Childs Play & The Power) I recently recovered the rights to my 80s novels from Dorchester. Now Sal is back. I will be rereleasing the 80s titles with all new covers, along with a new horror short in October. Sal has his own page on my website. Please stop by and pay him a visit http://evanlowe.com/sal-contes-page/

When did you consider yourself a writer?

When I was ten-years-old I got pneumonia during the summer. For a kid who loves the outdoors, being housebound all summer could have been unbearable. Fortunately, my mother knew me well. She said "You love making up stories. Why not write some of them down?" Now, here's the kicker. She said: "You can make money." That was all my ten-year-old ears needed to hear. I was already a big reader. I started writing fiction. It got me through the summer, and I've been writing ever since.

What are your guilty pleasures in life?

Movies. I see three or four movies a month. I saw a French thriller today called Point Blank. It had subtitles, but don't let that stop you. The movie was wall-to-wall action and thrills. If you're a fan of thrillers check it out. I also like good red wine, good tequila, and hanging out with my friends and family.

Where can readers find you on the web?

Go to http://evanlowe.com/ On the homepage you will find links to my blog and my Facebook fan page.

Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?

I'd love to:

Chapter Two

Pythagoras, the famous Greek philosopher, is known for being the first person to demonstrate the theorem that with any right triangle, the sum of the squares of both sides is equal to the square of the hypotenuse: A²+B²=C². What most people don't know is Pythagoras also stated: "It is evil to eat beans."

The sad fact that this useless bit of information resides in my brain is one of the many contributing factors as to why I do not have a boyfriend. I'm a trivia junkie. I can't help myself. Put a useless piece of information in front of me and I will gobble it up like a double cheeseburger with a side of curly fries.

Cute boys like girls who are into fashion magazines and lip gloss, not mathematical equations and trivia. So imagine my surprise when our first day back at school after winter break, a really cute boy walked into the Math Lab.

Don't get me wrong, cute boys walk into the Math Lab all the time. However, as soon as they discover they're in a room crawling with geeks, they realize their mistake and make a hasty exit.

I was at the chalkboard with Erin working through a problem using a logarithm [And trust me, I am well aware that my use of logarithms has solidified my place in the annals of geekdom forever, but humor me here].

"Hottie at three o'clock," whispered Erin, digging her elbow into my side.

I turned, and there he was, a cute boy standing just inside the doorway. This cute boy was different from all the others who'd come before him. This cute boy was acting like he intended to stay.

The first four chapters (pdf) of Boyfriend From Hell are available for free right now on my website. Readers can go to http://evanlowe.com/ and click on the Boyfriend From Hell Sample link to get the sample. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Peace.

Book Description:

Aww, Hell No!

Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together.

"But come on, guys, she's my mother… Can I really tell her that while we're snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I'm secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not…"

The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again. She hasn't had a man in her life since Megan's father left ten years ago.

Enter two mysterious young men, Megan's new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando. Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships. But neither of the handsome guys is quite what he seems. In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride. Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him. If she doesn't, either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL.

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Published on August 29, 2011 04:10

Excerpt from Boyfriend from Hell

Chapter OneBoyfriend from Hell

By E Van Lowe

She was laughing.

That's what I remember most about that night. It was

Saturday. The sun had recently gone down. It was still warm in

our old house, but once the sun had finished setting, I knew

we'd be slipping into our snuggies. That's how Januaries are in

the desert—hot in the day, freezing at night.

We were seated at the chipped oak dining room table with

the mismatched chairs she was so embarrassed for company to

see. We were polishing the silver, and my mother was laughing.

We love polishing the silver. It's a mother-daughter

bonding thing we've been doing as far back as I can remember.

When I was younger we did it in the summer, but since I'd been

in high school, we'd been doing it over winter break.

Ours is an antique set dating back to the early nineteen

hundreds that my mother got for a steal at an estate sale when I

was seven. We go to lots of estate sales, and yard sales, and

garage sales. Glendale calls itself the antique capital of Arizona.

This distinction allows anyone with anything festering in their

attic or garage to drag it out onto their lawn on Saturday

mornings and try to palm it off as an antique.

Since my mother loves antiques, you can find us on any

given Saturday inside some cowboy's grungy garage,

rummaging through his crap, looking for the real deal. She has

an eye for the real stuff, so no one can cheat her out of a

bargain. She works for an art dealer. She is also one of my best

friends. Well… she was before our lives went to hell in a hand

basket. Guess I shouldn't use that word too freely around here.

Hell, I mean.

As we sat polishing away, she casually said, "What would

you think of me going on a date?"

"Umm, you mean with a guy?"

"Of course with a guy. A man," she said, the beginnings of a

laugh bubbling out of her. "I don't have any prospects yet, but

I've been seeing all these dating sites on TV and thought, why

not?" She looked at me trying to read my face.

It was the first time she had mentioned another man since

my father had left ten years ago.

"Yeah, why not?" I said through a thin smile, although what

I was feeling was… why?

"Why not?" she repeated, soft laughter spilling out of her,

like there was some new, long awaited happiness to be

discovered, and she was brimming with the possibility of what

that happiness might be.

Why not?

#

"I can't believe your mother's going on a date," said Erin.

It was Sunday afternoon. The next day. We were seated at

the food court in the Glendale mall, digesting my problem

along with a double order of curly fries.

"She hasn't found one yet," I countered. "She's just talking

about it."

I swirled a curly fry into the glob of ketchup on my

Styrofoam plate. "Hasn't she read any of those books or articles

about single parent dating? Rule number one clearly states:

sneak out behind your kid's back. Keep us in the dark as long

as possible. It's a good rule." I popped the curly fry into my

mouth.

"In Suze's defense, she's just trying to keep the lines of

communication open. If she meets someone, it's going to affect

your life, too."

All my friends call my mom Suze, never Ms. Barnett. That's

how she likes it. I call her Suze, too, but not to her face, never to

her face. I tried that once when I was ten, and if looks could

kill, I'd currently be pushing daisies. I think it's cool having a

mom everyone can call by her first name—just not me.

"I know you're only trying to cheer me up, Erin. But telling

me my mother might meet somebody is not going to do it." I

swirled another curly fry.

"Hey, your mom's kind of hot. I'm sure she'll find lots of

dudes who want to go out with her." This revelation came from

my other best friend, Matt. I've known Matt since kindergarten,

four years longer than I've known Erin. He was tall and slender,

with a ready smile and shock of fuzzy red hair. He was also an

idiot.

"Matt," Erin said patiently. "Megan doesn't want her

mother going on a date. That's why we're having this little

meeting. Duh?"

"Oh," said Matt. He looked from Erin to me, letting her

words wash over him.

Matt was not the kind of boy you'd normally expect us to be

hanging out with. Aside from the fact that he was IQchallenged,

Matt was a card-carrying member of our school's

in-crowd, dubbed The Poplarati. He was on the varsity football

team and the track team. Erin and I were on the debate team

and the math team. We were card carrying members of our

school's leper colony. Yet ever since Suze and I arrived in

Glendale and moved next door to the Dawsons, Matt has

always been a part of my life. I can't recall a memory that

doesn't have him in it.

"Why don't you want Suze to go on a date?" he asked.

"Are you kidding? First off, if anyone in my family should

be dating, it should be me. I'm fifteen, primo dating age. How's

it going to look if my mother has a boyfriend and I don't?"

No one answered. The three of us sat in silence,

considering my problem.

The mall had recently been remodeled. Several upscale

restaurants had been added to the food court, which they now

called the dining terrace, as if by changing the name people

would forget they were at the Glendale mall. But you could still

get a good burger and curly fries, so the change was just fine

with me.

"Then why not get your own boyfriend?" Matt said all of a

sudden.

That was a no-brainer. "Gee, Matt, let me see. Maybe it's

because it's social suicide for anyone at school to date a

mathlete. And guess what? I'm a mathlete!"

"But you're cute," said Matt. Then realizing he'd committed

the cardinal sin of complimenting a girl, he looked away

awkwardly. "I mean you've got the blue eyes, and… the one

dimple in your left check, and..." His awkward eyes found Erin.

"And you're cute, too. You've got… the thing with your hair."

His voice trailed off as he attempted to be the equal

opportunity looks-evaluator.

"Yeah, well, at G.U., geek trumps looks," I said, disgusted

with my situation.

"And that thing with my hair is called bangs, thank you

very much!" Erin was equally disgusted, but hers was aimed at

Matt.

"Then maybe you should go out with someone on the math

team."

Erin and I stared at him. Matt knew good and well I wasn't

ever going out with anyone on the math team. And it's not that

I'm an elitist or anything like that. I'd just like to go out with a

cool, popular guy for once. And if he happens to look like

Taylor Lautner, so be it.

The Poplarati have no idea what the rest of us go through. I

mean, just because we're lepers doesn't mean we'd ever date a

leper. Those of us who occupy the lower links on the social food

chain have standards too—even higher than The

Poplarati—because our boyfriends not only have to be cute, but

they also need to have an IQ higher than that of a titmouse.

Unfortunately at Glendale Union, hitting the Dating Daily

Double (looks and intelligence), is a near impossibility.

"I don't see what's the big deal about Suze dating." Matt

was now giving me the stink eye.

"Oh? Would you like to listen to your mother talking about

French kissing?" He screwed up his face as the image invaded

his thoughts.

"Exactly."

His expression softened. "But you and Suze are so close. I

don't have that kind of relationship with my mom. I wish I did."

"Me, too." Erin was looking at me with the same expression

I used on her when I was trying to make her feel guilty about

something.

"Come on, guys, she's my mother," I said with an

exasperated sigh. "Can I really tell her that while we're

snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I'm

secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes? Of course not.

These things I keep from her for her own good. And likewise,

there are things she should keep from me. I don't care if she

wants to go on a date. I just don't want to know about it."

That wasn't exactly true. I did care about her going on a

date. But if I told them how I really felt, I'd appear selfish.

Erin reached for the ketchup. "It's just that you're lucky to

have a mother who's your friend. The only time my mother ever

talks to me is when she's telling me to clean my room, do my

homework, or stay away from boys—not necessarily in that

order." She squirted a big red blob onto her plate.

It was then the answer I was looking for came to me,

triggered by something Erin had said. "Hey, remember when

your mom didn't want you riding in cars with boys? She told

you horror stories about what could happen."

"Yeah. That was so lame."

"Why don't I do the same thing? I'll tell her a graphic

horror story about some parent at our school who went on a

date and was never heard from again. That'll scare her off

dating forever."

"I don't like it," said Erin.

"Me, either," said Matt. "I think Suze getting a boyfriend is

a good idea."

I ignored both their responses. "Then it's settled. I'm doing

it."

"Megan," Erin's tone turned serious. "If you're

uncomfortable with your mother dating, maybe you should just

tell her?"

I shook my head. "You guys have a lot to learn about open

relationships."

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Published on August 29, 2011 01:34