Tia Silverthorne Bach's Blog, page 34

Meet Some #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial): Bethany Lopez

I’ve known Bethany Lopez online for quite a while and couldn’t wait to meet her at UtopYA. As a bonus, I was also able to meet her lovely daughter. Both have amazing smiles and such excitement for the writing community.

So, please join me in welcoming Bethany to the blog. Without further ado…
I recently noticed on your bio that you began self-publishing in 2011. If my math is correct, you have twelve titles out. So awesome! What’s your secret to such productivity?
Bethany: In the beginning my books were much shorter! J They are still quick reads, but my Melissa series and Friends & Lovers Trilogy are all novella length books, so that probably helps.
Can you share some information about your latest, 42 Hours? It’s the third book in your Time for Love series. Will there be more?  
Bethany: Yes, book 4, 15 Minutes, is releasing on November 4, and book 5, 10 Years, is scheduled for Feb 3, 2015. It is a series, but each book focuses on a different couples romance, so they can be read as stand alones.
Some additional information:
About 42 Hours
Eight years ago, Scott and Gaby shared one very special night. Not wanting to ruin their friendship, they didn't take things further...but neither of them has forgotten.

When Scott’s friends stage an intervention to make him realize that his fiancé, Victoria, is all wrong for him, he takes time to evaluate his life. He’s earned a big promotion and just bought his dream car, but those things are just superficial. The one time he was truly happy, was with Gaby.

Gaby is in a good place in her life. She loves her job, has the best friends and family a girl could ask for, and is dating a sweet and sexy guy, but she’s never stopped thinking about that night with Scott.

Eager to find happiness again, Scott makes a plan to win Gaby’s heart during a weekend getaway, but she doesn’t want to be his rebound girl. Will 42 hours be enough to convince Gaby that it's finally their time for love?
Series Reading Order8 Weeks21 Days42 Hours15 Minutes ~ Coming Nov 4, 2014
So looking forward to diving into this series. I noticed in your bio that you love to travel. So far, what have been your top three favorite places to visit, and have you ever written a location in one of your novels?
Bethany: I would have to say Italy, Scotland, and Costa Rica are three of my favorites so far. I haven’t written any of the locations in yet. I’ve stuck to either unknown locations, or cities that I’ve lived in.
Actually, my husband and I went to Costa Rica for our 15th wedding anniversary, and it's my favorite so far. So, I'm in total agreement on that one. I also loved Italy. Guess I'll have to try Scotland now. But, back to the interview... Your daughter was so excited to be at UtopYA and was so wonderful to hang out with my daughter. Do you two share similar reading tastes? Does she get to early read your novels?
Bethany: She gets to early read my YA books, but not my romance titles. We do have some similar tastes, but she is heavy into Paranormal, while I tend to read a lot of Contemporary.
My daughter is a huge fan of Paranormal as well. UtopYA2014 was so amazing, and I can't wait for UtopYA2015. What do you think makes UtopYA so special?
Bethany Lopez: The people. Hands down. From Janet, to all of the volunteers, to the amazing authors, UtopYA is an event for people who love to read. It’s like spending a long weekend with family.
Bethany with two members of Bethany's Bombshells,
her street team: Megan & MichelleQuick Questions…
Favorite Punctuation Mark: A tie between ! and ,Ocean or Mountains? Ohhh, this one is really hard for me. I love them both! I’d have to say… Mountains.Favorite Alcoholic Beverage: I like my wine red, my beer dark, and my vodka with cranberry juice!Favorite Dessert: Crème BruleShower or bath? ShowerSweet or Sour? Sweet
I hope I’ll see you at next year’s UtopYA! From your bio, I discovered you love In N Out Burgers. Guess I need to bring you one from Cali next June.
Bethany: Yes! Animal style. I miss them so much!
More about Bethany
Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. She's a lover of all things romance: books, movies, music, and life, and she incorporates that into the books she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible. Some of her favorite things are: Kristen Ashley Books, coffee in the morning, and In N Out burgers.
Connect with her on Social Media Facebook Author Page   Twitter Pinterest   Goodreads   LinkdIn   Tumblr   Amazon Author Page   Wattpad   Google +   YouTube Instagram   Newsletter   IAN   Storyfinds   Blog  
Please come back for more #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial), and check out the announcement post to see the schedule.

Meet Some #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial): Allyson Gottlieb

Another day and another lovely from UtopYA 2014!
I first met Allyson online, and she invited me to come and speak on a panel at her high school with several other authors. Yes, I said high school. Allyson is the girl I wanted to be when I was a teenager—she’s already published with several manuscripts in the pipeline, and she just started her freshman year of college at Emerson in August.
Then, I got to see her again at UtopYA. Yay, me! Now, please join me in welcoming Allyson Gottlieb to my blog.
So, how’s college life so far?
Allyson: It’s going great! I’m so in love with Boston, though it hasn’t started snowing yet, so I may be singing a different tune when it does, hehe. My dorm is surprisingly big and beautiful, my suitemates are super nice, classes aren’t overwhelming, and the best part of all, I’m surrounded by all kinds of amazing creative people. Such a welcome change from high school.
Yes, let's definitely chat again after the first snow; nothing beats California winters. We must get together next time you’re back here! I’m sure you get asked this all the time, but when did you know you wanted to be an author?
Allyson: Well, I was seven years old when I wrote my first story. It was a dream that I didn’t want to forget, so I asked my dad to set me up a word document so I could write it down. From there, I just kept going. So I can’t pinpoint a specific moment in time when I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life, but it’s kind of always been there, and as I got old enough to think about career choices and stuff I just gradually realized there wasn’t anything else I could see myself doing. (That’s not to say I’m planning on trying to support myself with my writing straight out of college—it’s a nice fantasy, but I know the odds of that are slim, haha.)
You never know. Never give up on the dream. You are off to an amazing start. Speaking of your writing, tell us about your Mortal Sin series. But, first, I have to share the covers... 


Allyson: The Mortal Sin saga is a serial, with approximately 20k words to an installment and designed to be released one a month. (We’ll see if I can continue churning them out at that rate, LOL!) The basic plotline is that seven young adults (ages 16-20) have been infected with demon energy representing the seven deadly sins. It deals with a lot of complex moral issues—one of the big questions the characters face is “what does it mean that this demon chose me? Am I a bad person?” And all of them approach that in very different ways. I do touch on the religion angle a bit, because you can’t really do the seven deadly sins without it, but it’s definitely not a “religious book.” And of course, there are some fun romantic subplots and complications that go along with that. 
Sounds intriguing. What’s up after the Mortal Sin saga?
Allyson: It’s interesting that you ask, because I have a couple of different things I’m working on right now and I’m still not sure what’s coming out first. There’s the first book of my NA dystopian series, which I’ve been tinkering with for several months now and had planned to release in the spring of 2015. But I recently bought a cover from a flash sale—because I just couldn’t resist—for an NA paranormal romance that’s been kicking around in my head for a bit, so you may see that from me before anything else. (NOTE: I write “clean NA”, aka no explicit sexy-times. My characters do occasionally steam up some windows, but they get to have a bit of privacy if and when they do the deed.) No matter what, I plan to have a couple different things out in paperback before UtopYA 2015. The Mortal Sin saga also has a spin-off full-length novel (I can’t say anything more until the serial is complete, because spoilers), so that will be written at some point, though the way things are going, it likely won’t be ready for a while.
Finally, what was your favorite part of UtopYA2014?
Kassandra Kush, Jesse Daniels
& AllysonAllyson: God, this is such an impossible question! I loved everything—meeting the incredible people I’d talked to online for so long (including my author BFF Kassandra Kush, who I’d never met in person until that weekend), forging new and amazing connections, collecting awesome swag, learning so much from the panels, drooling over cover models, getting a pep talk from the fantabulous Janet Wallace...

For a girl who spent most of high school feeling like an outsider, UtopYA was everything I could’ve possibly hoped for and more. It was finding that community I’d always wanted, that group of people who believed in me. It was exactly what I needed to remind me that my dreams are worthwhile.
Quick Questions…
Favorite Punctuation Mark: SemicolonOcean or Mountains? OceanFavorite Dessert: CheesecakeShower or bath?  Long, hot showerSweet or Sour? Sweet
I hope I’ll see you at next year’s UtopYA and the next time you are in Cali.
Allyson: Absolutely! I’ll be home for a month around Christmas, we should definitely get coffee or something. I miss all my UtopYA Lovelies. J
More about Allyson
Growing up, Allyson was always the girl with a big imagination and even bigger dreams. A California girl by birth, she currently lives in Boston while attending Emerson College. She has a slight addiction to Starbucks, eyeliner, and chocolate—and, of course, books.
Website: http://www.allysongottlieb.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllysonGottl... https://twitter.com/GottliebAllysonTu... http://allysongottlieb.tumblr.com
Please come back for more #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial), and check out the announcement post to see the schedule.

When Not to Force the Muse: ROW80

Thanks to some GI issues lately, I will have a colonoscopy tomorrow. Fun stuff for a blog post, right?

Today is prep day. Thanks to weeks of GI upset, I've been relegated to pretty much eating chicken broth, grits, rice, and other bland foods. It's making for quite a cranky girl.
Guess what I've discovered during this process? I don't function well on an empty or hurting stomach. I'm hoping whatever they find will set me on a better path.
For now, I'm writing and keeping up with my one-hour-a-day rule. Yesterday, I scrapped everything I'd written the day before (the food fog took over from the Muse and left me with unusable material). Today, I'm not even going to attempt to write. Maybe not even tomorrow, depending on how I feel after. I need a fresh brain and calm stomach.
Do you ever feel like you force the writing, ending up with words you simply delete? 
Sometimes, I think I should walk away from the computer and admit it's not a writing day rather than force it. But, then I wonder if it's better to write anything to keep up the habit. In Stephen King's On Writing, he said he writes every day, come Hell or high water. Hmmmm.
I've been kicking butt on editing and knocking out other action list items. So, it's been a productive week so far. My goal is to still finish Chasing Forgiveness by 10/31 and to participate in NaNoWriMo to get book three written. So that's my A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) update for mid-week.

*****
For fun, I have to share a picture of my oldest daughter from this weekend. It's from her freshman Homecoming dance. She's growing up too fast. *sniff, sniff*

Meet Some #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial): Jacinda Buchmann

In addition to meeting people I’ve known for a while online, I also met some new lovelies at UtopYA. That’s part of the beauty; knowing we all share a love of YA & NA. Jacinda Buchmann was in a booth directly across from mine at the event. 

During a quiet moment, we started chatting about our books and life. It was so much fun! 

Jacinda, thanks so much for hanging out with me today.

Jacinda:  Thank you for inviting me! This was my first year attending UtopYA and I wasn't sure what to expect. I was looking forward to chatting with fans about my books and meeting one of my good friends in person,  Author Natasha Hanova, because we had only chatted online. We lucked out and ended up having tables next to each other, so that made it even better. But then I ended up making so many other friends, including you, so now I'm even more excited to attend UtopYA next year. Not only will I have a new book to share, I also have so many new friends that I can't wait to see again :-)

It was my first as well! Next year is going to rock! 
When did you first know you wanted to write a novel?

J:  When I was in second grade! No kidding, LOL :-) I knew I wanted to be an author since I could write. My poor teachers in school...any time they'd assign a "short" story to write, I would write a "short novel", ha ha! Looking back, I sometimes wish that I made majored in English or something "author" related when I went to college, but at the time I was too practical and followed a career path where I knew I would have a guaranteed job and paycheck. It wasn't a huge paycheck - I became a teacher, lol - but it was a job I thought I would enjoy. And I did enjoy it for a time, but my desire to be an author was too strong, and I finally reached a point in my life where I could follow my dream and write full-time, and since I've been writing full-time I've never been happier!

What a gift to know; that's how I felt about writing. Your Indigo series features twin brothers as the main characters. I think it’s admirable to write from an opposite sex perspective. Were you worried? What research did you do—or what personal experience do you have—to make sure you captured the male teenage voice?

J:  I was an eighth grade English teacher for two years and later I became a middle school counselor, so I've spent a lot of time working with teenage boys and discovering how they "think", lol :-) Besides my personal experience though, when I get a character in my head, I tend to "hear" them, so regardless of whether I'm writing from the viewpoint of a sixteen-year-old boy, a seventeen-year-old girl, or a nine-year-old autistic boy (a character that can also be found in the trilogy), when I write I close my eyes, picture myself in their head, and then simply write what they think and say :-)

I can’t wait to read the first two books—they sound amazing! When can we expect Book 3? Can you share anything about it yet?

J:  I am currently working on Book 3: Indigo Infinity, the final installment in the trilogy. I haven't announced the official release date yet - though I will soon. I can say that it will be out in time for Christmas :-) During the first two books, Indigo Incite and Indigo Instinct, the characters are on the run from a secret government agency that wants to exploit them for their supernatural powers. Throughout the first two stories, there has been a lot of foreshadowing of events to come. In book three, the characters decide they've had enough once and for all as all of the clues begin to fall into place.  Throughout the trilogy, some relationships have slowly developed while some hearts have been broken, but in the final installment, we will see how they are ready to take control of their futures and decide on their own destinies.

I met so many wonderful people like you at UtopYA. What do you think makes this conference so special?

J:  UtopYA stands out from other conferences I've been to because the authors and readers are given opportunities to mingle throughout the weekend. Instead of just sitting behind my "author table" for hours on end and then packing it all up at the end of the day, I was able to mix with authors, bloggers, and readers. At the end of the weekend, I walked away with so many unexpected new friendships :-)

Quick Questions…

Favorite Punctuation Mark: Ha!! I don't know about favorite punctuation marks, but I love using italics. Some of the characters in the Indigo Trilogy speak to each other telepathically, and these conversations are conveyed through italics - so much fun!

Ocean or Mountains? That's a tough one. I lived in Seattle til I was 13 so I grew up near the ocean, but then I moved to Montana! I love both, but I think the mountains speak to me a little more :-)

Favorite Alcoholic Beverage:  Moscato - I love a sweet wine.

Favorite Dessert:  I LOVE dessert!! Either a warm brownie topped with vanilla ice cream or strawberry rhubarb crisp topped with vanilla ice cream :-)

Shower or bath? Bath?? You mean TIME to relax away from kids?? I think I remember what those were like ;-) These days it's a shower - as fast as possible. Someday though...someday many years from now, a bath would be fantastic :-)

Sweet or Sour? Sweet for sure! I don't like sour...at all. 

I love Moscato and adore all things sweet! I hope I’ll see you at UtopYA2015, so we can hang out more! 

J: Yes! I will definitely be at UtopYA 2015. I have my table reserved, and I'm counting down the days...well, eventually I will be. First, I get to go to Phoenix ARC in October, Tucson ComicCon in November, The Novel Experience in Las Vegas in April, Signatures in Salt Lake in May, and then....YES! UtopYA in June! I can't wait! See you there :-) 

More about Jacinda...
Jacinda Buchmann lives in Arizona with her husband and three children. She graduated from Carroll College, in Helena, Montana, with a B.A. in elementary education and later received a Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University, in school counseling. After spending several years as a teacher and later a school counselor, she now spends her time writing, any free chance she can get, that is, when she’s not spending time with her family or creating a new concoction in the kitchen.

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Please come back for more #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial), and check out the announcement post to see the schedule.

Editing Out Loud: ROW80

Last Thursday and Friday, I spoke to five high school classes--two freshmen Honors English classes and three senior English classes--about Self-Editing and the importance of writing.

SourceFirst, I told them no matter what career path they are considering... writing and effective communication skills are an absolute must. I discussed my own split-personality. As a finance major who took every elective in English and wrote for my college newspaper, I was hired at financial companies based on my technical background and writing skills. 

Then, I showcased self-editing tricks, most of which I covered here .

The best exercise was when I had them read the following out loud...

I sat down and rapped the guilt around me. 

“If you think that small quilt will make you warm you will loose your mind,” his mother sad. She went over to adjust thermometer. 

Read it in your head first. It's amazing what the brain fixes.  

Now, read it out loud. The kids were amazed how much better they picked up on the mistakes. Then, I drove the point home... spell checker wouldn't have found any of them. 

How many mistakes do you see? Hint: There are 5 incorrectly used words, one missing punctuation mark, and one word omission.

Sundays are for my A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) updates. 

I made quite a list for myself this round, which only began on a few days ago. My main goal was to spend an hour a day writing. I can proudly say I've done this since posting my goal post . Granted, it was spent on writing some blog posts and finishing up my speech, but it definitely re-engaged my writing brain.

Plus, I'm working on a big, last edit. Overall, I feel like it's a good start to the last round of 2014.

Meet Some #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial): Paris Rieske

Please welcome Paris Rieske, book cover model and editor. She's yet another lovely I met at UtopYA2014.
Hi, Paris! Thanks so much for being a guest on my blog. It was such a thrill to meet you at UtopYA in June, especially since I adore your mother, author Devyn Dawson.
You appear on the cover of your mother’s book, Killing Me Softly. First of all, how did this come about? Also, what inspired you to want to do cover model work? 
Paris: My mom and I work very closely with all of her books. I'm her number one fan and I try to support her through every step of her stories. I started off as one of her editors and through editing, we got even closer. 
When she started Killing Me Softly, I was worried because I was busier than usual and wouldn't be as big of a process. I'm not sure why she asked me if I'd model for her cover, but I was really happy she did and of course I said, "Yes!" I know she loves to keep things local and involve everyone she can in her process, so maybe it was her way of making sure I was just as big of a part of this book as all the others. 
I love that you are your mom's number one fan. My girls are definitely mine! So, I have to ask. Do you love to read? Other than your mom’s books (wink, wink), name a couple of your favorite authors.
Paris: I do love to read! While I don't get as much time to do so between having a 14 month old and working on my mom's books (really they're my favorite, and I reread The Light Tamer over and over; it never gets old). When I'm not nose deep in a Devyn Dawson novel, I like Michael Crichton books. Growing up, my favorite was Laura Ingalls Wilder and I just recently fell in love with Rhiannon Paille.
Laura Ingalls Wilder books are classics for good reason. Recently, I saw some amazing pictures of your modeling work on your Facebook page. Would you mind sharing two of your favorite pictures so far?


I wrote a novel, Depression Cookies, with my mom. It was an amazing experience, but things would get tricky sometimes when we talked plot or vision. You edit your mom’s novels. What is your working relationship like? Do you have a funny story to share with us?
Paris: Writing with my mom is a lot of fun, probably because I don't do the writing part. LOL! I think she thinks of me as someone she can bounce ideas off of, and I'm pretty honest about my feelings towards those ideas. Sometimes we disagree on things, but she usually ends up being right (funny how moms do that, huh?) and I eat my words later. 
As far as a funny story, well I have worked on almost every single book my mom has written and that includes those not-so-innocent new adult books she's put out. Cry Me a River was a really fun book to work on because it took place not far from where I grew up in a town called Emerald Isle. There are a lot of sexy scenes and while they are super hot and steamy, it's interesting being the daughter in that situation. All the panty-dropping moments she writes about are great and it means so much to me that we're close enough that she's comfortable with me helping with those, but sometimes I just crack up at how unusual the dynamic is.
Mother-daughter bonds are pretty darn special. Speaking of which, your sweet daughter is too cute for words. What is your biggest wish for her?
Paris: Thank you! My daughter is the light of my life. My biggest wish for her is that she finds a place in this world where she feels whole, safe, like she fits, and experiences the happiness true security can bring.
I have the same wish for my three daughters. Now it's time for some quick questions...
Favorite Punctuation Mark: The exclamation point!!!Ocean or Mountains? MountainsFavorite Alcoholic Beverage? Southern Comfort with lime juiceFavorite Dessert? Fudgy browniesShower or bath? BathSweet or Sour? Sweet
Thanks so much for being a guest on my blog. I wish you all the best with all the exciting things happening with you (and your mom). Congratulations on your August 10th wedding, too. I saw some pictures on your mom's Facebook page, and you looked so happy and in love!

Paris: Thanks, and thank you for the opportunity to be on your blog! Love and light to you.

Please come back for more #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial), and check out the announcement post to see the schedule.

A List and A Plan: ROW80 Goals Post

2014 is slipping away. It's been a crazy year so far, but an awesome one!

This is the time of year where I want to crawl into bed, slip under the covers, and marathon-watch television shows and movies (with some book breaks and occasional food). Trying to mentally gear up for this last quarter is making me exhausted. Something about the holidays, as much as I love them, is draining.

So, it's a good time to join another round of A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) and state my goals. I'm really going to need some help crossing the finish line for this year as strongly as I started.
Source
I have been struggling lately with an overwhelming list of to-dos and some Life stuff. But, I'm determined to get some things done this round. No. More. Excuses.*

Master List 
Finish Chasing Forgiveness by October 31Outline Chasing Destiny by October 31Write Chasing Destiny during NaNoWriMoAmp up marketing efforts on Chasing ShadowsEdit and market Fractured GlassExercise 5-6 times per week -- stress reliever and healthIBGW Edits & ProofreadsKeep this blog fresh and updated with blog posts every M, W, FROW80 updates on Mondays and WednesdaysCheck in with at least 5 ROW80 peeps each check-in dateCheck in with at least 10 other blogs Monday through FridayBe more active on Facebook & TwitterRead more indie-published books and post reviewsOkay, I admit it; I hyperventilated for a moment after reading my list. So, instead of just making a list, I'm going to make a plan. So, from now until the end of 2014, I'm going to...Write for one hour each day. Minimum. Hang out on social media 4 times a day for 20 minutes each (using a timer).Pre-write posts on Saturday mornings.Wake up an hour earlier each day to either write or exercise.Wishing everyone a productive round/quarter. Let's do this thing!
* If you stop back by for my updates and see excuses, I beg you to refocus me. Or, kick my butt if you have to.

With Love (Stories of Melissa Book 5) by Bethany Lopez Cover Reveal

For my A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) peeps, please check back tomorrow for my Round 4 goals. Until then...
I'm pleased to share the cover of Bethany Lopez's upcoming YA release, With Love, which is book 5 in the Stories about Melissa Series. 
Release Date: Dec 16, 2014Cover Design: B DesignsPhoto By: K Keeton Designs
About With Love

Melissa is turning sixteen and beginning her junior year. With a new job, and a new boyfriend, things are pretty hectic, but when things start becoming more difficult at home, Melissa soon becomes overwhelmed with responsibilities. Can she juggle her friends, family, a budding romance, as well as school and work? Getting older sure doesn't make things any easier!

Preorder LinksiBooksBarnes & NobleKobo 
Add on Goodreads


In celebration of this upcoming release, Bethany is offering books 1 - 4 of the Stories about Melissa Series, in one collection. You can get caught up now on Melissa's journey, in preparation for the release of book 5.
Oct 7 - 14th Only, she will be offering the collection for Only $.99! 
After the 14th, the collection will be available for it's normal price, $4.99.


This is a collection of the first four books in the Stories about Melissa Series, available in one book. It features, Ta Ta for Now!, xoxoxo, Ciao, and TTYL.AmazonSmashwordsAdd on Goodreads
The Series to Date:



Award-Winning Author Bethany Lopez began self-publishing in June 2011. She's a lover of all things romance: books, movies, music, and life, and she incorporates that into the books she writes. When she isn't reading or writing, she loves spending time with her husband and children, traveling whenever possible. Some of her favorite things are: Kristen Ashley Books, coffee in the morning, and In N Out burgers.
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Meet Some #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unoffical): Krystal Wade

Another day and another awesome guest from utopYA. Krystal Wade has been a longtime visitor to my blog and always had kindness to share. So, I was thrilled to run into her at check in and give her a big hug.
With Krystal at Awards NightThanks for hanging out with me today, Krystal.
K: I should be thanking you! Seriously love you. <3
Ah, love you, too. And I loved Shattered Secrets(check out my review here) and LOVED Charming (expected release date: 10/6/14). Actually, my review of Charming will go live tomorrow, 10/6, on my review site.

Your website states: I love books that are an escape from reality. We live reality daily. Why read about it? I must say… Amen, sister! When did you realize writing escapism fiction was part of your reality?
K: Well, even though I’m fairly certain my third grade self realized it, unfortunately my adult self didn’t realize my love of escapism fiction until 2011. And I have to admit, Charming is based in the real world, with real world problems and characters. So, whatever. I just like making crap up. I’ll go with that.
Another character's reality is still often an escape from our own, though. Can you share a teaser from the upcoming Charming?
K: I totally can! I can actually share two. That doesn’t mean you have to give both of them to your readers. You can totally hold back whichever is your favorite and then sing na-na-na-na-boo-boo until they beg you for more!
Exhibit A (because I’m a dork!): 
Christine lit up another joint, then offered it to Haley.
“You ever going to learn?”
“Are you?”
They fell silent, staring at the ceiling and occasionally frowning at nothing, both drowning in their misery. They spent so many nights like this, alone and silent yet comfortable, both carrying a weight many adults couldn’t possibly shoulder.
Christine’s house provided safety, safety that allowed Haley to let her guard down, so she closed her eyes.
“Either your phone is buzzing, or you’ve got something in your pants you haven’t told your best friend about. I know it’s been ages since you and Niles… uh—”
“Shut up.” Shaking her head, Haley pulled the cell from her back pocket and read the message from Joce: Dad’s looking 4u. Ur late again?
“Christine! I swear your pot is going to get me killed. It’s 12:30!”
Haley made it across the street in record time, palms sweating, and found Dad waiting just inside the door, open bottle of beer in his death grip.
Exhibit B (occurs immediately after Exhibit A; the dork thing hasn’t changed): 
“Not an ounce of respect in that body of yours. Not an ounce of it.” Dad paced his favorite spot on the worn hardwood, stopping only to take a swig, sweat forming a ring around the collar of his grimy t-shirt and rolling down his temples. “How could they yell at me? My wife used to run the place, run it! And you”—Dad said, nailing Haley to the wall with his glare—“You treat me the same way.”
He pitched the bottle at Haley, but she darted to the side and it hit the front door instead, glass shattering everywhere. That wouldn’t do. Not tonight. She saw truth in the ferocious gleam in his eyes, in that all too familiar sneer curling his upper lip. Tonight, he’d hit her. 
“Don’t you roll your eyes at me, young lady.”
“I—”
Dad slapped her before she could say another word, before she could beg or plead or stand up and demand he rewind time and look again. She did not roll her eyes. He grabbed his hips, shoulders squared, then looked smugly down at her as she cowered by the door, palm cupped over her cheekbone. “Clean it up. Now.”
Okay, now I'm looking forward to reading it even more! 

I wanted to share a great picture of you from UtopYA

Krystal, Amy Evans, Tennessee Titan player & Delphina MyersSo, you have an interesting way of commuting in DC traffic which involves picking up hitchhikers. Do you ever pick up any interesting characters who make their way into one of your books?
K: Someone’s been stalking me! So creepy, Tia. Yes, I commute 50 miles, one way, into DC every day. Commuters have come up with a system where we park in the commuter lots, stand in lines (slug lines), and wait for cars to drive by and state their location. If we’re going to the same place, we’ll get in the car, ride the HOV and laugh at the suckers in the main lanes, then get dropped off at, say, the Pentagon. Drivers like me get to work faster. Riders get a free ride and also get to work faster. I have met SEVERAL weird people. I’ve actually been planning a book called The Adventures of Slugging for a long time, though I doubt I’ll ever actually write it. That book would include Stinky Guy, Abortion Lady, Loud Mouth, Mr. Adjusts Himself Constantly, Oh-Shit Handle Dude, and Mr. Clickity-Clack (I think that was his name). As far as having them in any of my current books? No, though I’ve used some dialogue from one of my regular riders. He’s always saying the best one-liners.
A source for great one-liners is a gift! I'm so excited that we'll be working together at Indie Books Gone Wild (IBGW). I’m so excited! You’ve joined our team as a proofreader. What advice would you give to Indie authors to help make their manuscripts as error-free as possible?
K: Well, there’s no better lesson in editing than the one you receive during your first-ever professional edit. Pay attention to it. Don’t just hurry through your MS and accept all the changes. Go through it. Let it make you angry, embarrassed, flustered, whatever. Just question everything. Research the problem. Understand why it’s a problem. Once you “get it”, you never un-get it. Your first drafts will be beautiful and sparkly, and you’ll cart around more confidence. Then the only thing you have to worry about is the story. And that’s the fun part.
That's great advice. Grammar is a process of learning, for sure! You chase chickens and children during your non-hitchhiker commute time. Which are easier to get to do your bidding, the chickens or the children?
K: Chickens, by far. Hold out a handful of mealworms, and they’ll follow you wherever you go. Children? I can’t seem to bribe them with anything.
I know, right? Okay, a little more seriously, what inspires you?
K: Everything. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I truly try to soak up life, look at the world around me, inhale deeply, watch people interact, smile at the clouds as they soar across the sky, stand in the woods surrounding my house and listen to the trees, feel the emotion of music and let it fill me. The world is a beautiful place, full of flaws and atrocious people and things that make me worry, but also filled with wonders not enough people stop to appreciate. So, if I need a spark in my imagination, I’ll find a quiet place to just sit outside and let the world inspire me. (To be sure, that means no talking from the kiddos, definitely have to be away from the dogs and chickens, the man must cook his own dinner and do his own laundry, and I have to pretend that the bills will pay themselves. I mean, REALITY!)
I love that answer, and I think it's so true. Finally, what do you think makes utopYA so unique and powerful (loved your UtopYA14 post here)?
K: I’ve been to several writing events over the years, but UtopYA is the only one I’ve attended that celebrates authors, bloggers, and every day readers all at once. UtopYA doesn’t put preference out there for Big 5 authors, or Indie Authors. Everyone is equal. Everyone is happy. Everyone is celebrated!
Quick Questions…
Favorite Punctuation Mark: COMMMMMMMAAAAAAA! Because everyone misuses it!Ocean or Mountains? Depends on the time of the year.Favorite Alcoholic Beverage: Moscato WineFavorite Dessert: Anything that begins or ends with chocolate.Shower or bath? ShowerSweet or Sour? Sour

I LOVE Moscato. It's dessert in a glass. I can't wait to see you again in Nashville next June! 

Krystal is pretty darned interesting. Check out her full bio here. While you are on her website, check out her other novels. Then, connect with her at the following:

Website
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
IBGW


Please come back for more #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial), and check out the announcement post to see the schedule.

Meet Some #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial): Amber Garr

It really is too awesome the number of insanely cool people who were hanging out in the hotel lobby during utopYA. 
Another lovely person I met was Amber Garr. Sure, I knew her through the online world, but she’s even more awesome in person.
Thanks for hanging out on my blog today, Amber.
Amber: What a great introduction! Thanks so much for having me!
We have so much in common that I think we might have been separated at birth. I love animals, hate coffee, lived in Colorado, and am wife to my best friend (loved reading your bio on your website!). My writing was initially a break from a finance degree, while you state yours is a break from the world of science. How did you first discover writing as a break?
Amber: We are definitely connected, Tia! I have always had an escape from science through the arts--typically through dancing. But when an injury forced me to stop dancing for a while, I turned to writing. I participated in writing workshops, found critique partners, and soon enough short stories turned into novels and complete series! I LOVE writing so much now that I wish I had more time to spend on it.
I love that you are a dancer, although I must admit to having two left feet. I am so excited to read Soulless, the first in a paranormal romance trilogy, just released 8/23/14, so I wanted to share some information here.
About Soulless(From Goodreads )
When it comes to death and love…only one is guaranteed.

Four decades ago Nora died. A tragic event for someone so young; however, four decades ago Nora was also given a second chance to walk among the living.

A Death Warden with a mysterious past, her job is to escort the newly expired towards the light, battling with the Soul Hunters who want the freshly dead to help with their own evil purposes buried in the dark.

When Nora’s charges suddenly become targets, she realizes that the hunters are after far more than just souls. A shift in power between good and evil threatens to change everything, risking the lives of the only family Nora has ever known.

Devastated and angry, she’s forced to face the man she once loved - a man who chose darkness over her - in order to find the answers she needs to stop the horror from escalating. Yet, while a lost relationship still haunts her broken heart, a new Warden with secrets of his own will enter the mix and quickly alter everything Nora believed to be true.

Death is unavoidable…but sometimes, so is love.
In addition, I just started Promises, the first in your adult paranormal Syrenka series. What intrigues you most about mermaids and selkies, the stars of this series?
Amber: Thanks for picking up Promises! Well, aside from dreaming that I could live under the water my whole life, I was also fascinated with the concept of arranged marriage and inter-species relationships (for my world). What would happen if you fell in love with someone (something) you were never supposed to be with? I love all things water related, so I guess it was just natural for my first published series to focus on that element!
Romance seems to be a common theme in your novels. What makes you root for two characters to end up together?
Amber: I like to see that they are really the best choice for each other. I like to know that they bring out the best in other, especially during the times of drama that I put them through.
I agree. They have to work in the bad times as well as the good. I hope I’ll see you at again in Nashville for utopYA15. What do you think makes this conference so special? 
Amber: Yes, I definitely plan on going next year. I really liked the communal vibe of the conference--no one was JUST a traditionally published author. No one was JUST a blogger. Everyone interacted equally, and that was really great to see. Plus, I got to be an alien!
Ooh. I love your alien picture!
Quick Questions…
Favorite Punctuation Mark: Exclamation point--I use them too much!!!Ocean or Mountains? Oceans (even though I’m in the mountains now and they rock!)Favorite Alcoholic Beverage: Wine (red or white will work depending on my mood!)Favorite Dessert: Cookies and Cream ice cream (mmm… now I’m having a craving)Shower or bath? ShowerSweet or Sour? Sweet only. Hate all things sour.
Wishing you all the best in adapting to Colorado; it’s my home away from home.

More about Amber

Amber Garr spends her days as a scientist and nights writing about other worlds. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain she has a supernatural sense of smell. Amber is a multiple Royal Palm Literary Award winner, author of the bestselling The Syrenka Series, The Leila Marx Novels, The Water Crisis Chronicles, and the upcoming Death Warden Series. When not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie. 

For even more fun facts, visit her Website About page . 

Connect with Amber Website Facebook Twitter Goodreads
Please come back for more #UtopYA2014 Lovelies (Unofficial), and check out the announcement post to see the schedule.