Nicky Peacock's Blog, page 16
November 14, 2014
Interview with Kimber Leigh Wheaton
Tell us about your publishing journey…
It’s still ongoing… I originally thought that I wanted an agent and to go the traditional route, so I spent lots of time and energy on the query-go-round with agents—partial requests, full requests—but no rep offers. After researching publishing contracts, I realized that traditional might not be for me. My manuscript was accepted by several small presses, which seemed to be closer to what I needed. I picked one that I felt fit me and my book the best.
I also wanted to try out self-publishing, and I started a company called Sea Dragon Press to self-publish. I like self-publishing because I have complete say over everything. But marketing is a huge cost and challenge.
Now I’m thinking maybe I do need to get an agent since I could really use the advice and support. I’m considering sending my novel-in-waiting, Bitter Envy, out to agents. Only time will tell.
What do you love about being an author?
I love using my overactive imagination for something other than daydreaming. There’s something very satisfying about seeing my ideas come to life in a story. I love developing characters, watching them change and grow throughout the story.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
Life has been dreadfully dull lately… perhaps dinner with the Mad Hatter would liven things up. As for the f
ood, well I would definitely serve coffee, just to make things interesting. And I suppose we could have chocolate ‘unbirthday’ cakes.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?
I’m going to use Tortured Souls for this question since I’ve always pictured the characters in Shadow Fire & Stolen Moon as anime.
Nicola Peltz as Kacie
Lucas Till as Logan
Liam James as Daniel
Nathan Kress as Carl
Chloe Grace Moretz as Rebecca
Elizabeth Gillies as Raven
Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?
Blood-hungry monsters, no question. I love vampires, but prefer them as villains. I can accept a vampire as a sexy lead as long as he/she isn’t turned into a mushy mess by his/her love for the hero/heroine. I won’t go vegan for a guy, so why should a vampire give up eating people… surely they can feed without killing their prey.
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
Such a difficult question! I think I’d like to go back to the Middle Ages, dress up as a noblewoman, and attend a Tournament. I’ve always been fascinated by knights and chivalry. I think it would be interesting to witness it firsthand.
What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?
Life is too short to live with woulda, coulda, shoulda. Live in the moment, plan for the future. Learn from the past, but don’t dwell there.
If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
I’d like to be a shapeshifter, preferably one not tied to the lunar cycle. I love animals. It would be great to shift forms and take off running into the forest. Also when someone pissed me off, I could shift into my animal form and scare the crap out of them.
Where do you write best?
Alone in my bedroom, surrounded by my pets. I also like to write outside on my deck in cooler weather.
What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?
I just finished Ghosts of Christmas Past by Jessica Aspen. It was a cute, gothic novella with a sweet love story. Two lost, broken souls find each other while investigating a haunting. I enjoyed the story, but didn’t dig the insta-love—a day and a half, maybe two days and presto, Love. I loved the ghost and the glimpses into the past but wish the paranormal investigation had been a tad deeper.
If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?
Well, I write in multiple genres: paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy, and romantic suspense. I think I’d like to give YA contemporary a try. It would be nice to write about a normal high school girl without any monsters or demons pursuing her.
Where can fans find you online?
I feature and review YA & NA books at Once Upon a YA Book http://onceuponayabook.blogspot.com
You can read more about my books and writing, as well as other featured authors on
Kimber Leigh Writes
http://www.kimberleighwheaton.com
Or you can stalk me on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, or Amazon
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7885752.Kimber_Leigh_Wheaton
https://www.facebook.com/KimberLeighWheaton
http://www.amazon.com/Kimber-Leigh-Wheaton/e/B00IN498L2/
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Kimber Leigh Wheaton
November 13, 2014
Interview with Greg F. Gifune
Tell us about your publishing journey…
Professionally, I’ve been working in the business as a writer and editor for about fifteen years now, around twelve full-time. I’m originally a product of what was called the zine scene back in the day, which was a sort of smaller, independent group of really cool cutting edge print magazines that featured artists and writers and various forms and genres of fiction, among other things. In those days a lot of people came up that way, most of the name writers in the genre now came up through the zine culture, and it was really a great training and proving ground, kind of like a minor league system where you got your game together before being called up to the majors. From there I moved to larger venues for my work, and had short stories published. I wanted to master short stories as best I could before even attempting a serious novel. So I worked hard on my short fiction, and after several years of rejection and learning and honing my skills, I was eventually published and the floodgates opened from there. I ended up having more than 100 short stories published, all over the world, first in the zines and then in larger magazines and anthologies, and from there I felt I was ready to write a novel and started working on novels and novellas. Ev
entually I was lucky enough to sell some of them. One of my earliest breaks came from Delirium Books, which was owned and operated by Shane Staley, back in the day. I also sold some things to a few other smaller publishers as well. That opened the doors to me and got me noticed by others. HERETICS, my first short story collection that included the novella HERETICS as the anchor, really got me noticed, it got great reviews and allowed me to follow it up with my novel THE BLEEDING SEASON, and that ended up really putting me on the map (and continues to be a good seller all these later and is considered by many to be a modern classic in the genre). Without those early days with Delirium and others, but primarily Delirium and the support and belief people like Shane had in me, I’d likely not be where I am now. From there I was noticed by a lot of other publishers, and in the years since have been published by pretty much everybody, though I’ve always continued my relationship with Shane in the business. It’s been a long journey and it’s required a lot of hard work for many years, lots of sacrifice on my part and my wife’s part, and plenty of dedication and perseverance. But it’s paid off in the long run. Hopefully there’s still quite a ways to go and I’m nowhere near the end of that journey. We’ll see what the future brings.
What do you love about being an author?
I like having the ability to, through my art, express and cleanse myself. I love being able to reach other people through my work. That’s probably the best part for me, being able to touch other people, to move them in some meaningful way. I remember I once got an incredible fan letter from a guy, a troubled Vietnam vet that had been through hell. He wrote me this wonderful letter about how one of my books and one of the characters in particular had really moved him and helped him deal with some of his own personal issues. When, as an author, you learn that something so profound can happen through your work, it helps you to appreciate and understand that there’s a lot of power, potentially, in what we do, and that’s when it’s at its best when you can really move somebody and affect someone in such a positive way. For me, that’s the best part.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
Miss Jean Brodie. Not sure what we’d eat, but I’m sure it’d be interesting, whatever it was.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?
I have so many books out there it would depend on which one(s) you’re asking about, but I don’t really have an answer for you. I don’t work in film, at least not at this point, so I’d leave those kinds of things to those who do. I have had some interest of late from Hollywood and some independent film producers, so we’ll see.
As a horror writer you are looking to scare readers – what scares you?
By default, I suppose I am. I know what I write can be frightening, and that’s fine, at times it is intended to be, but I really don’t consider myself or define myself as a ‘horror writer’ per se, just a writer. What I write is dark and hopefully provocative and thought-provoking while also being entertaining. Rather than looking to scare people, I set out to make them think, to hopefully move them in some way and to connect with readers on a very human but primal level. If that includes frightening them as part of the process, so be it, but scaring people isn’t at the top of my list. As for what scares me, I’m really not the type of person that scares easily, but I am afraid of spiders, as my wife will attest. I’m the guy that leaves the room and calls her to handle it if there’s one nearby. Beyond that, the unknown both fascinates and frightens me.
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
Probably the Old American West, because that era has always interested and fascinated me.
What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?
Stay away from the brown acid.
If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
What do you mean “if”?
Where do you write best?
In my office. At my desk.
What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?
The Snow Queen by Michael Cunningham, and like everything else he does, it was brilliant.
If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?
I don’t consider myself a genre writer or confined by any one genre, so I’d likely do the same thing I’m doing now, which is primarily just write dark fiction and let it fall into whatever category people want to place it.
Where can fans find you online?
Facebook and Twitter are probably the easiest places. I also have an official website www.gregfgifune.com but at present it’s being revamped.
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: dark fuse press, Greg F. Gifune, horror
November 11, 2014
Book Spotlight: Dark Sirens Series by Eden Ashley
DARK SIREN
Dark Sirens, #1
To survive, their bond must be unbreakable.
When the mysterious and passionate Rhane rescues Kali from an attacker in the theater parking lot, they form an immediate, smoldering connection. But Kali doesn’t remember Rhane or anything from their past. As far as Kali knows, she’s just a seventeen-year-old kid coping with an insatiable hunger for the “spark” or energy of others, feeding on classmates to survive.
A unique artifact—one that may hold the key to returning Kali’s memories—is uncovered by the archaeology firm where she works part-time, sending Kali and Rhane on a dangerous journey that leads them to the Forbidden City, into the unforgiving Gobi, and into the ruins of Rhane’s ancient homeland. As they fight for survival, Kali begins to discover who she really is and the true power she possesses.
But Rhane still harbors a secret that could destroy Kali…unless old enemies kill her first.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DSPPOX2
BANEWOLF 
Dark Sirens, #2
New enemies are made.
New allies must be forged.
Kali is beginning to regain her memories. In doing so, she discovers old secrets and betrayals that threaten to unravel her present and shake the foundation for Rhane’s belief in her innocence. While her maturing abilities present unique challenges, a bigger problem arises when Kali learns her ex-boyfriend has made a misguided deal with the enemy in order to win her back—a decision that may ultimately cost him his humanity.
Keeping Kali safe has become a full time job for Rhane. And struggling to gain control of the immortal Banewolf isn’t making that task any easier. The power to eliminate the growing threat against Kali lies at Rhane’s fingertips, but using it means risking his friends to the insatiable blood lust of a monster. So Rhane is forced to forge a shaky alliance with creatures he has sworn to destroy. Despite these new allies, the danger pressing on their borders intensifies, culminating in a heartbreaking and shocking finale.
The strength of the bond between young and ancient lovers will be tested…and if Kali and Rhane are to survive, they must find a way to be unbreakable.
BLOOD CHAINED
Dark Sirens, #3
Sometimes great evil is necessary to keep what you love most.
After centuries on the run, Rhane can avoid justice no longer. Primes have called him home and now he must finally answer for the sins of his past. But the situation in Rhane’s homeland is far worse than anyone could have imagined, and the judgment Rhane faces is a brutal one. Even relying on the strength of the immortal Banewolf, the man he has become may not survive.
Kali and the other kin work tirelessly to secure Rhane’s freedom, but many obstacles stand in their way. Wesley offers a solution that hinges upon resuming a dangerous search for the Siren’s Heart. Trusting him, she and the kin set out once again to find the elusive artifact, believing Rhane and Warren’s freedom can be bartered in exchange for the statue. But other creatures are searching for the Heart. And with greater resources and a head start, their enemies may reach it first.
In Book 3 of this Amazon bestselling series, Kali and Rhane’s struggle to defend their love continues. Mysteries are solved even as new secrets unfold. Agendas become clearer. And the many questions surrounding Bailen’s existence are finally answered as the power of blood chains is ultimately realized.
COMING 11/18/14!
About the Author: 
I love beaches and thunderstorms and running and foreign accents. But coffee and cake are probably two of my favorite things on the planet. The only reason I exercise is so I can consume sugar in larger amounts. I’m also a hopeless romantic. Even when doing my job that actually pays the bills I can’t stop daydreaming about new characters and new adventures, or working out current plot threads.
AUTHOR CONTACT LINKS:
Website: http://edenbynite.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EdenAshleyAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Eden_byNite
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7150184.Eden_Ashley
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Dark Sirens Series by Eden Ashley
November 10, 2014
Book Spotlight: The 13th Descent by Ky Lehman
Synopsis:
ONE CHOICE CAN MAKE AN IMMORTAL HUMAN. BUT WHAT CHOICES NEED TO BE MADE TO GO BACK AGAIN?
The revolutionary year following Serenay “Ren” Avalon’s eighteenth birthday could rival Clark Kent’s entire adolescence. After her mother and her grandmother were killed in a car bomb explosion at the heart of their sleepy hillside town where nothing extraordinary usually happens, she discovers that her mother is actually alive and in hiding, her long lost father is a Father, and her best friend, who turns out was once an Archangel, has taken a gargantuan step back in his evolution to live on Earth with her for the past thirteen lifetimes. And besides being the only one in her immediate circle with a serious case of past life dementia, she learns that during her first lifetime, she was married to one of the greatest teachers history has ever known who is now the gorgeous lead singer of a hot new rock band taking the world by storm, and who is keen to meet up with her again in the twenty first century.
As Ren realizes that the powerful family name she bears also brings with it the promise of an unnatural death, she is reminded that it has always brought hope to people on both sides of the veil, human and Tor. As the world draws closer to being completely shrouded by the dark cloaks of her age-old enemies, the Bloodstones, she now, more than ever before, has to draw strength from her origins to protect her family and their ancient truth from this global force responsible for torturing and killing centuries of her ancestors. As she struggles to unearth who she was, who she is, and who she chooses to be, as well as the expectations of her first mortal love and the heavenly love she has always guiltily denied, she has until midnight on the Solstice find a way to bring light to a compromised heart and to a world on the brink of perpetual darkness.
This first book in The Rosefire Trilogy is a reminder of how the choices we make in the throes of love, loss, hope, and adversity are what makes the divine human, and the human divine.
About the Author:
KY LEHMAN is a novelist, a children’s author, a teacher of swimming and water safety, wife to her high school sweetheart and the proud mother of their three very tall sons. She lives in the Yarra Ranges, Victoria, Australia with her husband and their children where she is currently writing the second book in The Rosefire Trilogy, The 13th Rising.
https://www.amazon.com/author/kylehman
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: The 13th Descent by Ky Lehman
November 9, 2014
Book Review: Raven by Pauline Creeden
Synopsis:
This is the complete Steampunk Fantasy novel – all four parts of the serial in one volume!
Human life has value.
The poor living in the gutter is as valuable as the rich living in a manor.
The scoundrel is no less valuable than the saint.
Because of this, every life a reaper takes must be redeemed.
Raven has lived by this first tenet since she was trained by her father to become a reaper. But since his death, she’s been spending years redeeming the lives she’s taken. By her count, she’s even and it’s time for that life to end. If she settles down and becomes a wife, she might just feel human again. But on the way to the life she thinks she wants, the baron of New Haven asks her to complete a task which she cannot ignore… Just when Raven decides to give up on her life as an assassin, she’s pulled right back in.
About the Author:
In simple language, Pauline Creeden creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.
Pauline is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy.
Armored Hearts, her joint effort with author Melissa Turner Lee, has been a #1 Bestseller in Christian Fantasy and been awarded the Crowned Heart for Excellence by InDtale Magazine.
Her debut novel, Sanctuary, won 1st Place Christian YA Title 2013 Dante Rosetti Award and is now available as an audiobook. #1 Bestseller on Amazon in Christian Sci/Fi and Fantasy (October 2013)
One of Pauline’s short stories has won the CCW Short Story contest. Other short stories have been published in Fear & Trembling Magazine, Obsidian River and Avenir Eclectia. An urban fantasy short will appear in The Book of Sylvari: An Anthology of Elves from Port Yonder Press, and a vampire short will appear in Monsters! from Diminished Media Group.
http://paulinecreeden.com/ | facebook.com/PaulineCreeden | twitter.com/P_Creeden
My Review:
A nice lovely slice of Steam Punk, yum! This book had an amazing premise of a Reaper/ Assassin that, although kills people, has to keep a balance by saving a person for every one she kills. There’s lots of action in there, which I love, and Raven is a great leading character (can you feel a ‘but’ coming?) but I read a lot of Steam Punk and kind of felt that the world building was a little blah. Don’t get me wrong, it ticked all the right boxes, but it kind of felt like any other Steam Punk world, rather than being one specific to this book – which is a shame as, if they’d been a few more ‘outside the mechanical box’ ideas in there, it would have been perfect.
From a writer’s perspective, this book had been set out into episodes online – kind of like a literary TV show – which I think worked really well as a marketing tool. And made it much accessible to any TV produces reading it – fingers crossed as I’m not sure we’ve had much decent steampunk on our screens since the untimely death of Firefly. Along this line of thought, I’d be very interested to hear the author’s dream cast for this if it was to be made into a TV series.
The front cover is nice, but doesn’t scream Steam Punk to me. When you look at the likes of Cherie Priest’s Boneshaker and Liesel Schwarz’s Chronicles of Light and Shadow series – you can instantly see that they belong to this niche genre.
Overall, I’d give Raven 4 out of 5 stars – a great concept and a solid steam punkish read for both newcomers to the genre and long-term fans.
Filed under: Book Review
November 7, 2014
Book Spotlight: Dust by Sarah Daltry
Synopsis:
Who makes YOUR choices?
“I was once the type of person who was impressed by starlight; the type of person who would dance beneath glass ceilings and let the world swim in its loveliness. The sky reminds me of the parties we used to throw – parties like the one last night. The memories bring back the trill of harps and endless ripples of satisfied laughter. Now, though, when I try to recall what I felt, all I hear is screaming.”
In a world ravaged by war and oppressive forces of evil, a princess must fight to claim her bloodright and save her people.
When the princess, Alondra, falls for the beautiful, blue eyes of a hooded stranger, it awakens in her a taste for freedom and an escape from her duty.
But her parents have other plans; they have a kingdom to protect and Alondra must marry to ensure the peace between nations. Only what happens when your parents choose a cold-hearted assassin as your betrothed?
As lies, illusions, and long hidden vendettas surface, the princess has to confront a very secret history. One that makes her realize that she not only risks losing her liberty, but also everything she has known and loved.
About the Author:
As a former English teacher and YA library coordinator, my passion has always been Young Adult literature. ‘Dust’, an epic fantasy novel where romance blends with the blood and grit of war, is my second official foray into YA, following the gamer geek romantic comedy, ‘Backward Compatible’.
I love writing; I look forward to weaving tales of magic and beauty for you to enjoy. I’m extremely introverted and I don’t spend a lot of time socializing on social media, but don’t feel like your comments and questions are unwelcome! I am always happy to discuss the magic of stories and reading, even if I am sometimes slow about responding. Please stop by and say hello anywhere I am online! These are my actual sites and I do engage as much as I can handle.
I’ve moved back and forth between independent and traditional publishing and I don’t feel strongly about either. For me, it’s about the story; the rest if window dressing. My first novel, ‘Bitter Fruits’, is with Escape, an imprint of Harlequin Australia, and I just signed with Little Bird Publishing in the spring of 2014.
I have also written ‘The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,’ a reimagining of one of my favorite poems in a contemporary setting.
Keep up to date with any happenings on my blog. You will also discover, if you follow my social media, that I’m an obsessive Anglophile who spends more time watching BBC TV than any human being should.
Thanks again for stopping by! Feel free to let me know what books you love. I am always happy to take recommendations. :)
Visit Sarah online at:
Website: http://sarahdaltry.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarahdaltrybooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahDaltry
Pinterest: pinterest.com/sarahdaltrybook/
Tumblr: sarahdaltrybooks.tumblr.com
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Dust by Sarah Daltry
November 5, 2014
Interview with: Kat Flannery
Tell us about your publishing journey…
Well, it is not over. My journey as a writer started when I was 24. I had babies at home, was sleep deprived and hadn’t seen a good hair day in months when the urge to write hit me. I’ve always loved to write. My dream job when I was a little girl was to be journalist. However, I wrote for fun, as a hobby and I enjoyed releasing the voices inside of my head. At 24 however, the urge never left. It only intensified until I knew something was missing in my life and writing was it.
I decided to enrol in writing classes and I loved it. I then went on to take my business writing and freelance writing courses online. Once I finished those I continued to write. I knew if I wanted to make it as a published author I’d have to first be published in other periodicals and for the next three years I worked hard at accomplishing that. It wasn’t long after that my first book, Chasing Clovers came into my head. Once I completed it, I decided to research the industry. I did this for months before sending out queries and synopsis. Then the rejections came with a few offers to change my character. With each rejection I went over the book fixing this and that. It wasn’t until two years later that I signed on with Imajin Books and I’ve never looked back.
What do you love about being an author?
To be able to write the stories that are in my head and see them in print is a huge success for any author. But the most rewarding thing for me is when readers email me about my books. That is amazing.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
Oh, damn this is hard. I have so many I’d love to chat with. I can’t narrow these down to one person. I have a list of fictional characters a mile long I’d love to meet. But the first that comes to mind is Scarlet O’Hara and the why is because she’d keep the conversation going. We’d probably dine on something southern.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?
I am asked this with all of my novels so I am prepared. For my lead character Kade Walker, Chris Hemsworth when he has his long hair and Scarlet Johansen as Pril Peddler.
Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?
Actually both. I think it is important to portray them for who they are. Everyone has a bad side.
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
Being a historical writer I’d love to go back to the 1800’s, 1700’s, 1600’s etc. But if I had one choice I’d choose, England in the 1500’s because I loved the dress and their way of life.
W
hat life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?
Silence is sometimes best.
If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
Oh this is a tough one. Hmmmm. I’d be invisible. Only because I’m an introvert and I sometimes wish I was.
Where do you write best?
At my kitchen table with a foot heater and candles.
What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?
I read so many books and since I was just on a two-month hiatus I read a bunch of them. Hmmm….Johanna Lindsey’s One Heart to Win. I found the beginning a bit slow but once I got passed the first three chapters I was invested.
If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?
Historical is my main genre and if I couldn’t write that, I’d be writing contemporary.
Where can fans find you online?
Visit Kat at: www.katflannerybooks.com
Find her on Facebook: Kat Flannery, author
Follow her on Twitter: @KatFlannery1
Thank you for having me on your blog today!
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Kat Flannery
November 3, 2014
Book Review: Scent of Valor by Annie Nicholas
Synopsis:
Courage blooms in the meekest of hearts. Chronicles of Eorthe, Book 2 After spending twenty years trapped in her civil body, Kele can finally shift into feral form. By tooth and claw, she’s determined to climb the Payami pack hierarchy. Her parents plan to mate her with a hunter from a rival pack, but her heart’s already been stolen by the most unsuitable wolf possible—Peder, an omega male. She’d gladly give him her body except he’s disappeared from her life. Maybe into the thieving arms of another female. Peder has spent every moment of their forced separation training to be a hunter. When he hears of her arranged marriage, he fears he’s waited too long to trespass back onto Payami lands to fight for her hand—but he damned well isn’t giving up. On his journey to confront Kele, Peder is attacked and wakes in a cage, helpless as a band of vampires attack Kele’s mating party. Separated by social standing, thrown together by tragedy, they must work together to survive. And find out if their attraction is merely puppy love, or a bond that’s stronger than time. Warning: This book contains an omega male who’s done submitting and a hunter female who isn’t used to needing anyone to come to her rescue. Violence ensues, not for the faint of heart. Goodreads link to book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22465660-scent-of-valor
About the Author:
Annie Nicholas writes paranormal romance with a twist. She has courted vampires, hunted with shifters, and slain a dragon’s ego all with the might of her pen. Riding the wind of her imagination, she travels beyond the restraints of reality and shares them with anyone wanting to read her stories. Mother, daughter, and wife are some of the other hats she wears while hiking through the hills and dales of her adopted state of Vermont. Annie writes for Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, and Lyrical Press.
My Review:
I was really excited to see that there was a second book in this series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first one, and although this didn’t have the immediate impact of the original, once I got used to the various characters and my memory was jogged, this was yet another of Annie’s books which was really hand to put down.
From a writer’s perspective, it did take a while for me to get accustom with the world and it’s characters, and my fav character Susan was not in the frame as much as in the first book. I think I liked her the most beacuse she was from our world and was easy to identify with. I’m also a sucker for a good fish out of water story, which Susan definitely was. New characters were introduced, which was great, as it kept things different and of course led to conflict which we needed to see. The set-up was very much like a paranormal history lesson of when America was new and settlers were sparing with the native American Indians, so was a little sad too – just goes to show you the power of the book’s prose and narrative.
The front cover has the same look of the first, which is great in terms of marketing. Although for me, just a man (even a good looking one) is a bit boring and doesn’t tell you much about what’s inside the book.
Overall, I’d give The Scent of Valour 5 out 5 stars – another great read that easily takes you away from the dull ‘real’ world and plops you straight into adventure and romance.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Scent of Valor by Annie Nicholas 
October 29, 2014
Interview with Elizabeth Holloway
Tell us about your publishing journey…Like many writers, my first published work, Call Me Grim, is not the first one I wrote. In addition to the sequel, entitled Death Becomes Me (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23344457-death-becomes-me), and another half-finished YA thriller, I have two other books gathering dust under my bed: one I’d like to revisit someday, and one that should visit a furnace.
I found my agent for Call Me Grim with the first batch of queries. That totally shocked me. I spent the better part of two years querying the previous novel with only a few nibbles. After lots of hard work, my agent found me a publisher, and the rest, as they say, is history.
What do you love about being an author?
I love to create worlds and people, and watch things get twisted around. There is nothing like writing a story and surprising myself with something a character does or says unexpectedly. Half of the fun of writing, for me, is telling myself the story. Maybe that makes me selfish, but I figure if I’m not surprised, my readers won’t be.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
Not dinner, really, but I would eat chocolate cake with Four from Divergent, because chocolate cake and Four!
If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?
Libbi Piper
Physical description: Petite but curvy, dark-brown wavy hair, bright green eyes, round face
Libbi’s a hard character to cast. Obviously, I need to think about her physical appearance, but she’s also smart, snarky, and not afraid to stand up for the people she loves, or something she believes in. That’s why I’d pick Emma Roberts to take the lead.
Aaron Shepherd
Physical description: Tall and lean, black hair that falls over his forehead, deep blue eyes, a little shadow of scruff on his cheeks and chin
I’m not gonna lie. I’ve had this actor pegged to play Aaron ever since I saw him in Warm Bodies. Granted, he doesn’t say a whole heck of a lot in that film, but I love his ability to express so much in the subtlest of gestures and grunts. Aaron is wordier than that, obviously, but he still holds a lot back. I think Nicholas Hoult would play him beautifully.
Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?
Maybe it’s because I was a teen in the 90’s who pretty much fell in love with Brad Pitt’s character in Interview with the Vampire, but there’s something very intriguing about a reluctant vamp. It has to be a sucky existence, so I tend to find that kind of blood-sucker most intriguing.
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
I don’t think I’d want to go back to any era, actually. I enjoy modern amenities way too much.
What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?
Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s a piece of advice I’m sure was given to me at one point, but I failed to understand and/or heed it.
If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
Hmmm… I always wanted to be a mermaid. Does that count as supernatural? I think my intense curiosity of the deep ocean and the crazy, undiscovered creatures that live there, drives my desire. Plus, seashell bras! BONUS!
Where do you write best?
At my local sandwich shop, when I can get there. I’ve been having issues with my laptop, leaving me tied to the house computer. Bleh!
What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?
I just finished Of Breakable Things by A. Lynden Rolland. It’s the story of a girl who dies and finds the afterlife is less castle in the clouds and more supernatural boarding school. Full of romance, and whimsy, with a little bit of Harry Potter thrown in for good measure, I highly recommend it!
If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?
As soon as I’m finished with the Call Me Grim series, I plan to delve back into a novel I was writing called Drive. It’s a YA thriller and I’m so stoked to get back to it!
Where can fans find you online?
Author Links:
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7827610.Elizabeth_Holloway
WEBSITE: http://www.elizabethhollowayauthor.com/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/eholloway300
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethHollowayAuthor?ref=hl
BLOG: http://we-do-write.blogspot.com/
Purchase/Book Links:
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22891927-call-me-grim
AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Call-Me-Grim-Elizabeth-Holloway-ebook/dp/B00L77YTI4/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_dnr_1
BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/call-me-grim-elizabeth-holloway/1119854272?ean=9781939765857
AUDIBLE: http://www.audible.com/pd/Teens/Call-Me-Grim-Audiobook/B00NSY4FT2/ref=a_search_c4_1_1_srImg?qid=1413635872&sr=1-1
KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/call-me-grim
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: call me grim, Call me Grim by Elizabeth Holloway
October 26, 2014
Book Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Synopsis:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she’ll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters’ laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?
About the Author:
Andrea Cremer is the author of the internationally bestselling Nightshade series. She spent her childhood daydreaming and roaming the forests and lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin.
Andrea has always loved writing and has never stopped writing, but she only recently plunged into the deep end of the pool that is professional writing. Before she wrote her first novel, Andrea was a history professor at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. In her books, she strives to bring together her two passions: history and fantasy. Andrea now lives in New York and writes full time.
To contact Andrea, please visit, andreacremer.com
My Review:
Nightshade proved to be an excellent start to a YA trilogy. I do prefer first person narrative, so for me, it made the storyline that much more emotive. And I loved the world building – the Guardians and Keepers and Seekers were interesting and ripe for plot twists and revolution.
From a writer’s perspective, there were a lot of characters introduced in the first 30% of the book (I read it o
n Kindle) which made it difficult to keep track at first. There was also the courtesy feat of giving each character a flash of the spotlight in the secens they were in, which did frustrate me a bit: For example, in one scene they are all round a table and it takes an age to get to the point of the scene as one character has to cross and uncross their legs while another drinks milk from a straw, and another stares too hard at something, etc. I’m being un-neccesarily pedantic here, but I’ve seen this a lot recently, Laurell K Hamilton’s new book had page after page of showcasing what all the characters in the scene were doing to the point I just wanted some of them to die quickly so I could read on and get to the plot! Nightshade doesn’t go that far, but it certainly could have been edited down whilst still character building.
The front cover of the book that I bought was not the one above, but a much more boring and sedate one (to the side) I’ve never been sure as to why publishers insist of different covers for different countries – surely consistency of branding is what is important, especially readers are even more international these days. Needless to say I much prefer the one I put up the top of this post, compared to the one below – what do you think?
Overall I’d give Nightshade 4 out of 5 stars, I have bought the others so hope the story continues to be original and interesting.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: andrea cremer, nightshade, Teen reads, YA fiction
