Nicky Peacock's Blog, page 18
October 12, 2014
Book Review: Prophecy (Calypso, #1) by Julie Anne Lindsey
Synopsis:
On the other side of death, is destiny.
Callie Ingram is spending her senior year focused on one thing: swimming. Her skill as a competitive swimmer is going to secure a scholarship and her future, or so she hopes. She has big plans, and Liam Hale, her gorgeous new neighbor, isn’t going to affect them. But when Callie sees Liam beheading someone, she learns his family has a secret that will change everything. The Hales are Vikings, demi-gods who’ve been charged by The Fates to find their new destined leader.
Callie’s caught in the middle of a budding Norse apocalypse, in love with Liam Hale and desperate to protect her best friend…who the Hales believe is marked for transformation. Putting the clues together as fast as she can, can discovers she has the power to rewrite destiny, for herself and all humankind.
About the Author:
I tell stories, mostly to my children, sometimes to strangers. I’m YA obsessed, addicted to social media, caffeine and Poptarts. You can find me anytime lurking around the Internet, amped up on sugar and wielding a book.
I’m thrilled to announce the Fall 2013 release of My YA suspense, Deceived
, from Merit Press and my debut cozy mystery series from Carina Press. 2013 is shaping up to be an amazing year.
I also write sweet romance stories for Honey Creek Books.
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4692170.Julie_Anne_Lindsey
https://twitter.com/JulieALindsey
My Review:
When I saw the book blurb for Prophecy I thought – Hell yeah YA Vikings! Finally! It was such an enticing plot line. The protagonist Callie was a strong lead, with problems that she actually looked like she was resolving by the end – all good!
From a writer’s point of view, it was kind of slow to get going and seemed a bit like two different teen reads smooshed together – at the start it was a kind of contemporary romance book and halfway through it went into fantasy. I personally would have lead more with the fantasy elements as this waiting period might put off more hard core paranormal readers. I also felt the start was a bit confusing and jumpy – although my attention span is classically limited, so in all fairness this might have been me rather than the book itself!
The front cover is a bit boring – and doesn’t include the selling point of the book – vikings! I think it would increase sales to have a more viking-esque cover with a strong fantasy element shown on the front cover. I know its wrong to judge a book by its cover, but readers do.
Overall, I’d give Phrophecy 3 out of 5 stars – A series with promise.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: #1) by Julie Anne Lindsey, Prophecy (Calypso
October 11, 2014
Book Spotlight: Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina L. Brooks
Synopsis:
CHAPTER 1
FIVE RULES FOR ENGAGING READERS OF YOUNG ADULT FICTION
Before you even start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard), there are some issues that need to be addressed. A lot of writers out there think writing YA fiction is easy. It’s not. Some mistakes you might make will condemn your book to languish on the slush pile forever. So before we even talk about the nitty–gritty of how to shape your book—-character, plot, setting, point of view—-we need to talk about the five key elements that can make or break you as a YA writer.
THE HOLDEN CAULFIELD RULE—-DON’T BE A PHONY!
Imagine traveling to a planet where your survival depends on hiding out among the inhabitants, where being recognized as a phony would mean instant annihilation. In that situation, you’d want to study the locals until you knew just how to look and sound and respond like them. It is the same in YA fiction. In this case, sudden death occurs when the reader, stumbling upon a false image, loses interest. The book closes with the splintering sound of a fatal bullet.
It’s no exaggeration.
Holden Caulfield, the protagonist of J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, was always railing against the phoniness of other people, partic-ularly adults. The enduring popularity of Catcher in the Rye demon-strates that teens today are the same way—-they despise fakes.
YA FICTION RULE #1: THE LIFE OF THE STORY DEPENDS ON THE WRITER’S ABILITY TO CONVINCE READERS THAT THE PROTAGONIST IS ONE OF THEM.
The key to writing a successful YA novel means knowing kids well enough to channel their voices, thoughts, and emotions. (“Kids” is used as an operative word here. The official YA audience encom-passes twelve– to eighteen–year–olds, but it is expanding as chil-dren’s book publishers work to attract readers as young as ten and eleven, and adult publishers reach to capitalize on the growing mar-ket.) While some of your readers may be a little younger than the twelve–to–eighteen target—-children aged ten to twelve tend to read above their age—-and some may be a little older, keep in mind that you have to convince all segments of your audience that you know what it feels like to be a young person today. If you can’t con-vince your audience that you know how they feel about the world today and express yourself the same way, you will never reach them.
AVOID THE PREACH ‘N’ TEACH
Whether YA readers attend elementary or secondary school isn’t an issue when it comes to the importance of YA Fiction Rule #2.
YA FICTION RULE #2: DON’T BE CONDESCENDING TO YOUR READERS.
Young people won’t abide stories that suggest that their turmoil or idealism will pass when they “grow up.” Brent Hartinger, author of Geography Club, says, “I’m a big believer that kids are smarter than we think they are.…I think kids can handle complexity and nuances, and the advantage to writing that way is that the book appeals to both teenagers and adults.”
Many adults read fiction as an escape—-teens are no different. Im-agine spending a long day in school, learning boring lessons ’cause you’re supposed to, having everyone from parents to teachers to em-ployers telling you what to do, how to think, what to wear, then pick-ing up a novel—-and having someone else trying to shove another lesson down your throat! I can’t imagine a bigger letdown.
Don’t deal with young people by trying to push them in one direc-tion or another. Deal with them where they’re at now.
SOAK IT UP!
A word of caution: don’t emulate your favorite authors, but learn from them. You’ll want to create work that is truly your own. In the resource guide at the back of this book, along with details such as schools that offer writing degrees with a YA focus, you’ll find listings for websites that recommend great YA fiction.
YA FICTION RULE #3: READ, READ, READ TODAY’S
YA FICTION.
The benefits to reading what’s already on the market are phenom-enal. It will familiarize you with what’s selling, how kids today talk, what they wear, what issues concern them, and so on. If you don’t have easy access to a teen, reading books meant for teens is probably the next best thing to having a teen personally tell you what he or she would like to read.
IDEALS FIRST, MEALS LATER
Writing a successful book that aims to attract the widest possible audience should be every writer’s goal, shouldn’t it? The answer is yes and no. It helps to have a general audience age in mind, but you don’t want to be consumed with thoughts about how and whether you’ll sell your work.
YA FICTION RULE #4: SILENCE YOUR WORRIES ABOUT COMMERCIAL CONSIDERATIONS.
This allows you to concentrate on your primary objective, which is to tell your story. If a nagging inner voice surfaces or someone dis-courages you, rather than pulling on earphones and listening to music as a teenager might, transform the voices through the power of your imagination into “white noise.” This is the all–frequency sound emit-ted from machines that imparts a feeling of privacy, calming you and allowing you to focus on that world you’re creating. Keep your artis-tic integrity—-your ideals—-ahead of how commercially success-ful—-your meals—-you want your book to be. If you focus on writ-ing the best possible book, commercial success will follow later.
As your manuscript develops while you work through the guide-lines provided in the ensuing chapters, your audience will become as clear to you as if you were speaking on a stage and looking into an auditorium full of people. If you subsequently work with an agent, the two of you can determine whether the manuscript should be pitched to editors specializing in YA, adult fiction, or both. But the fate of your manuscript will still be up in the air. Editors, who are in-vested with the power to buy or decline a manuscript, will ultimately determine to whom the book will be marketed.
The significant rise in the success of YA novels has opened the way for a multiplicity of categories, and just to give you an idea, I’ve listed some alphabetically: adventure, chick lit, comical, fantasy, fantasy epics, futuristic, gay–themed, historical, multicultural, mystery, reli-gious, romantic, science fiction, sports, and urban. If your story idea doesn’t fit into any of these categories, you may have to invent one. Consider it an opportunity.
THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY
From this point on, let your creative spirit be guided by YA Rule #5.
YA RULE #5: IN YOUR NEW WORLD OF YA FICTION, ERECT NO CONCRETE BARRIERS, WIRE FENCES, OR ONE–WAY SIGNS. INSTEAD, FORGE NEW PATHS.
The YA field welcomes innovators. Encapsulating the newness of the time, YA novels are being published in nontraditional formats. Three YA authors banded together to compose a novel. Another entry is an interactive book with websites that combines reading with the world of Internet gaming. What will your contribution be? Think fresh.
Remember that young people are trendsetters—-they’re always looking to differentiate themselves from others. It’s how teens forge their own identities. Don’t be afraid to push the boat out as well. Coming up with a fresh idea will set you apart from the pack and might be the thing that sparks an editor’s interest in your work.
Okay, consider yourself warned. Now that you know what not to do, it’s time to learn how to craft the next YA bestseller. Step by step, this book will walk you through the mechanics of what makes a great YA novel.
Chapter 2 is about generating an idea, your story. It will talk about different ways to uncover stories that YA readers will want to read about. It will also help you discover new possibilities for stories with-in yourself that you may not have known you had.
Chapter 3 will discuss characters—-the heart of any manuscript. How to breathe life into interesting characters your reader will con-nect with is the main lesson of this chapter, but we’ll also discuss how to find the best characters for the story you want to tell.
Chapter 4 is all about plot, story, and how to tell the difference. Plot is like a machine that propels your manuscript forward, while story is the overall impression you want the plot to create in the reader’s mind.
Chapter 5 is about how to put together a believable plot. It’s all about action—-establishing the main conflict of your manuscript and putting it in motion. Of special concern will be integrating the events of the manuscript with the characters’ personalities, making sure that the characters react to events in believable ways.
Chapter 6 is about setting and timeline. Setting is the background of your story—-the when and where. This chapter is about understand-ing the atmosphere of your story and effectively manipulating the details of that atmosphere to influence your manuscript’s tone.
Chapter 7 is about point of view—-the perspective from which you tell your story. Point of view can be an extremely effective tool for connecting with character and clarifying or confusing the reader about events—-provided you use it correctly.
Chapter 8 is about the meat of your manuscript—-dialogue. Dia-logue provides an opportunity for your characters to interact and opens up another way to build your characters.
Chapter 9 is about the theme of your manuscript. Theme is the overall impression you want your readers to take away. It’s a subtle but effective way for the author to express himself through the story.
Chapter 10 is about wrapping it all up, bringing your plot to a suc-cessful resolution. Endings can be very tricky, so there will be de-tailed discussion about what sorts of conclusions to avoid.
Chapter 11 is about how to find constructive feedback and incor-porate it into your revisions. All authors need to edit and revise their manuscript, and this chapter will explain why the editing process is so necessary.
Chapter 12 is about getting published—what agents and editors do and how to get your work into their hands. This is the business chap-ter-—the one that details exactly how the publishing industry works.
Chapter 13 is about YA nonfiction and the emerging genre of New Adult. The YA market is constantly in flux, and this chapter will ex-pose you to two recent developments in the market.
I hope all of these tools will be helpful to you as you begin the pro-cess of writing the next YA bestseller. Let’s begin exploring that magi-cal new world.
About the Author:
Regina L. Brooks is the founder of Serendipity Literary Agency and has been developing award-winning authors and books for over a decade. She has been highlighted in several national and international magazines and periodicals, including Poets and Writers, Essence, Writer’s Digest, and Sister2Sister, Forbes, Media Bistro, Ebony, and Jet. She lives in New York City.
Connect with Regina:
@serendipitylit
Filed under: Book Review, Writing Advice Tagged: Regina L. Brooks, YA fiction
October 10, 2014
Interview with Angela Dennis
Tell us about your publishing journey…
I wrote the first book in the Shadow Born Series, Shadows of Fate, to keep my mind busy during a very stressful time in my life. I had no intention of submitting it to a publisher, until my close friend/critique partner read it and convinced me to go that route. I’m so glad I did. I’d been writing contemporary romantic suspense up unto that point, which I still love, but paranormal romance/urban fantasy is definitely more suited to my voice.
What do you love about being an author?
There are so many things. J I love being able to create new worlds, tell stories, weave mysteries. There’s nothing better.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
Honestly, I have no idea. It would be fun to meet Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake. We’d definitely go out for coffee.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?
Jessica Chastain and Gerard Butler.
Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?
Both. I want it all! The more the merrier.
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
I’m a huge history buff, particularly ancient history. I’ve always been fascinated by Pompeii, so I’d probably go see it BEFORE it was destroyed.
What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?
I really wish someone could have taught me not to take everything so serious. I’m still working on that J
If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
Anything, as long as I could time travel, that would be awesome.
Where do you write best?
At home, where I’m relaxed, have a giant cup of coffee, and good music.
What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?
I just finished Kim Harrison’s last book in the Hollows series. It was awesome, but also bittersweet. I’m so sad the series is over.
If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?
I love my genres (paranormal romance and urban fantasy), but I also love epic fantasy as well. One day I would love to write one. Primarily because I love world building, and with epic fantasy the sky is the limit J
Where can fans find you online?
https://twitter.com/AngelaDennis
https://www.facebook.com/angela.dennis.7798
http://www.pinterest.com/angeladennis779/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/26267274-angela-dennis
www.angeladennisauthor.blogspot.com
Buy Links for Fading Light
Samhain Publishing: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5161/fading-light
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/fading-light/id876313263?mt=11
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Angela Dennis, fading light, laurell k hamilton, supernatural fiction, writing advice
October 9, 2014
Interview with Anne Hope
Tell us about your publishing journey…
I’ve been a storyteller my whole life, but I only started writing with the intent of publication about fifteen years ago. In 2001, my book Where Dreams Are Made—then entitled Finding Home— placed in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest.
Unfortunately for me, that was around the time chick lit exploded onto the scene. Everyone was looking for light-hearted, humorous books, while I was pedaling a dark, deeply emotional story. Not only was the market not receptive to my type of book, but I’d also just given birth to my son, so writing took a back seat to motherhood. Then two years later my daughter was born, and I had to delay my dream of publication a little longer.
In 2007, when my kids started going to school full-time, I decided to brush off my keyboard and revise my Golden Heart finalist and start submitting again. The market had done a complete one-eighty, and dark stories were popular again, so I figured I had nothing to lose. I was right. Two weeks after submitting the manuscript to Samhain, I got an offer.
To date, I’ve published a total of six books with Samhain, two romantic suspense novels (Where Dreams Are Made and Broken Angels) and my paranormal Dark Souls series (Soul Bound, Soul Deep, Soul Thief and Soul Chase). I’ve also self-published a humorous paranormal novella, The Seduction of Evelyn Hyde, on Amazon.
What do you love about being an author?
The perfect answer to this question is a conversation I had with my husband once.
Him: “Today was rough. I spent the day fixing things that were damaged by the windstorm.”
Me: “Really? Today, I survived a helicopter crash, got chased by some really nasty bad guys, and ended up making a truck explode.”
Him: “I want your job.”
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
Mr. Darcy. We’d have barbequed ribs. It would be fun to see such a dignified character eat with his hands, right before he becomes dessert!
If your books were to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?
Jace: Jensen Ackles, definitely! Jace reminds me a lot of Dean from Supernatural. He gives off the same rough, bad-boy vibe.
Lia: Julianne Hough. She’s got the blond hair and blue eyes. I can picture her playing the introverted Lia.
Regan: Emma Stone, with her flaming red hair and the attitude she had in Zombieland.
Marcus: Henry Cavill. He’s got the right intensity. He looks honorable and tortured, two qualities that characterize Marcus.
Adrian: Ian Somerhalder. With those hypnotic blue eyes of his, he can easily compel someone to commit murder.
Angelica/Emma: Rachel McAdams. Like Angie/Emma, she’s both beautiful and sweet. She also seems very empathetic, which makes her a good choice for this character.
Cal: Chris Hemsworth. He’s tall, blond and powerful, like Cal. We’ve already seen him play an alien, why not a fallen angel?
Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?
Sexy leads. The whole appeal of vampires is their dark charisma, as opposed to zombies, for instance. What makes vampires truly frightening is their ability to seduce their victims, to lure their prey rather than hunt it. It’s an interesting contradiction, the idea that—beneath all that civilized charm—beats the heart of a monster.
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
The eighties. As corny as they were, I miss them.
What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?
Nothing. I think advice is overrated. In my opinion, the best way to learn is through experience.
If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
A witch. Not the evil kind, though. I’d simply wave my magic wand and make nice things happen. One wave of the wand and my kids’ homework would be done. Another wave and the house would be clean. If someone viciously cuts me off in traffic, however, all bets are off. I’d make them regret it, Wicked Witch of the West style!
Where do you write best?
At home, in my cluttered office. My most productive writing time is in the morning, after my husband leaves for work and I’m done dropping the kids off at school. The house is so quiet, you can hear a pin drop (or in my case, my muse whispering softly in my ear).
What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?
The last book I read was Once More, My Darling Rogue by Lorraine Heath. I find it refreshing to read outside my genre, so every so often I opt for a YA or a historical romance.
The premise of this book attracted me. The hero fishes the stuck up heroine out of the Thames, only to discover she has amnesia. Since she’s spent most of her life looking down on him and ordering him around, he sees it as the perfect opportunity for revenge, so he tells her she’s his servant. What follows is an interesting, tension-filled romance between two scarred individuals who are finally learning to let their guard down, in the presence of their sworn enemy!
What I like best about this book is that the characters are multi-layered. Neither is what he or she first appears to be. The love story also builds gradually, which makes it all the more believable.
If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?
I’d probably be writing thrillers or horror novels. I’m a big fan of Dean Koontz. I enjoy books with intricate plots, dark, compelling characters, and many scary surprises along the way.
Where can fans find you online?
Fans can find me on my website and on social media.
Website: http://www.AnneHope.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annehopeauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnneHopeAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/772411.Anne_Hope
Buy links (Dark Souls series):
Samhain (e-book): http://store.samhainpublishing.com/soul-bound-p-6868.html
Samhain (paperback): http://store.samhainpublishing.com/soul-bound-p-72849.html
Amazon.com (e-book): http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Bound-Dark-Souls-ebook/dp/B007HCWHAK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1412010070&sr=8-3&keywords=soul+bound
Amazon.com (paperback): http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Bound-Dark-Souls-Anne/dp/1619211394/ref=la_B002BO9RXE_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389802388&sr=1-3
Amazon.ca (e-book): http://www.amazon.ca/Soul-Bound-Dark-Souls-Book-ebook/dp/B007HCWHAK/ref=sr_1_32?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389829505&sr=1-32
Amazon.ca (paperback): http://www.amazon.ca/Soul-Bound-Anne-Hope/dp/1619211394/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1389829465&sr=8-2&keywords=soul+bound
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-bound-anne-hope/1109483160?ean=9781609289485
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-CA/ebook/soul-bound-1
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/soul-bound/id508169670?mt=11
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anne_Hope_Soul_Bound?id=ip6dZg1A68MC
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: Anne Hope, paranormal romance, samhain publishing, soul deep, vampires
October 8, 2014
Interview with Katlyn Duncan
Last time we spoke you’d just released Soul Taken (first in the trilogy) can you can give us an update as to what has happened to you since? Wow, so much and it’s been just over a year. I finished up my contract for The Life After series, getting the next two books out in 8 months and I’ve signed another contract with Carina UK and fulfilled two of those books, a New Adult contemporary romance called ‘This Summer’ and it’s novella sequel, ‘This Christmas’
Will there be any more books in this series?
I have ideas for other books that I’d love to write in the series but I think I’ll be taking a break for a bit.
Tough question…is there anything, looking back, that you would have changed in the three books?
There are definitely some things I’d love to change about the books, but overall I’m happy with the outcome.
What are you working on at the moment?
A new YA paranormal 2-book series with Carina UK.
What’s the one question, in interviews, that you dread being asked?
There actually hasn’t been a question that I haven’t wanted to answer this far, so that’s a pretty good sign!
How has being an author changed your life?
The only difference would be deadlines. Now I write for those instead of fluffing around.
If you were to be trapped in a TV show, which would would it be?
Once Upon a Time. I love that show and even though it’s in “our world”, magic exists which I think is awesome.
Halloween is rearing it’s spooky head – will you be dressing up this year? And if so, as what?
My friend hosts an annual Halloween party so I will definitely be dressing up but I haven’t picked a costume yet!
What is the most common reaction you get when you tell strangers that you are an author?
Most people are curious about it and think it’s an accomplishment. And usually they ask how I find the time to write.
Where online can we keep up to date with your books?
I keep my website up to date, sometimes more than my other social media accounts, so that would be the best place to learn about my previous and upcoming books!
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: afterlife trilogy, Carina, Katlyn Duncan, Soul Taken, Teen reads, YA fiction
October 7, 2014
Book Review: Storm (Salt #2) by Danielle Ellison
Synopsis:
Up until recently, Penelope was a witch with no magic. After having it stolen by a demon when she was just a child, Penelope had been forced to rely on sharing others’ powers as she went through the grueling training required to become an elite demon hunter. Now Penelope has more magic than she’s ever known. And when you’re this powerful, who needs salt to keep the demons away?
But power has a dark side.
Carter Prescott just wants to hunt demons and be with Penelope. But suddenly, witches who formerly had no magic are developing terrible, out-of-control powers. Now the world Carter swore to protect isn’t just endangered by malicious demons―it’s threatened by the same witches who once defended it. And Carter is horrified to see his girlfriend starting to change. Stronger. More powerful. Unrecognizable. It’s just a matter of time before Penelope changes into something far beyond his worst fears…
About the Author:
Danielle Ellison is from a small town in West Virginia. She spent her childhood pretending to fly, talking to imaginary friends, and telling stories. She hasn’t changed much since then. You can still find her pretending to work, talking to imaginary characters, and writing stories. 
When she’s not writing, Danielle is probably drinking coffee, fighting her nomadic urges, watching too much TV, or dreaming of the day when she can be British. She is the author of five upcoming novels and you can find her on twitter @DanielleEWrites.
http://www.danielleellison.com/
http://www.danielleellison.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Danielle-Ellison/150414211766883?ref=hl
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6536595.Danielle_Ellison
My Review:
This is the 2nd book in a series and they do really need to be read in order to make the most out of the story. Fortunately I was given both to review – so this review will be for both books together.
Witches are a funny one in paranormal fiction, if not written correctly they can come off as kind of parodies – the ‘Worst Witch’ syndrome. These books, however don’t fall into that trap and go down more of a ‘Mortal Instruments’ road with the witches being protectors and taking down demons.
From a writer’s perspective, the story in both books was kind of slow to get going and then really didn’t go anywhere when it did. Penelope was an interesting character though and with the POV being first person, the prose was very sweet and child-like in places which made her feel more real, although she did do an ordinate amount of complaining throughout the book, which was not so likeable – sure whinge when something goes wrong, but characters need to have slightly more redeeming qualities that out weigh the ‘woe is me’ attitude. It was in present tense which gave the action in there a certain sense of urgency. The world building is good here, and I must admit that I did like the limitations of the main character, perhaps more could have been done with them though?
The front covers are colouful, but don’t really say much about the content – they could be witches or just as likely vampires or werewolves or superheroes.
Overall I’d give both books 3 out of 5 stars for adults and 4 out of 5 stars for 14+ readers. It’s no Harry Potter, but it certainly isn’t the Worst Witch either.
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Storm (Salt #2) by Danielle Ellison
October 6, 2014
Interview with L.M. Justus
Tell us about your publishing journey…
I wrote my first book (The Mastery of Mind over Matter) as part of NaNoWriMo, a challenge to write a short novel in one month. I self-published it because I wanted a copy of my book that looked and felt like a real book, but I never promoted it because frankly, no one can write a goodbook in one month. My next book was something I put together for my kids and again, I never meant for it to appeal to the masses. The first book of the Darkness Trilogy, Welcome to the Darkness, is something I spent a lot of time on, and I had it reviewed by my critique group and beta readers. I did hope to appeal to the masses with this one, and so far I’m very pleased with its success, as well as the second book in the series, Darkness Reigns.
What do you love about being an author?
I love getting all these stories out of my head! Once I get them written down, they stop whirling around in my brain stuck on repeat. Hearing praise from fans is the best thing ever and makes the whole journey worthwhile.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
I’m going to have to go with Lestat from Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles. He seems like someone who wouldn’t mind talking about themselves…a lot. I’m not particularly chatty (unless I’ve consumed some form of alcohol) so it would have to be with someone talkative. I’d probably order a steak, medium rare, and of course some red wine. Hopefully Lestat would have something (or someone!) to eat besides me, ha.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?
That’s a tough one because two of the three main characters are fairly young and I’m not too familiar with actors in that age range. As for the third main character, can I make Ian Somerhalder play Nathaniel? I might have a thing for him. Maybe. ;)
Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?
Um, do they have to be one or the other? Yep, sexy, blood hungry monsters – that’s exactly how I like them, ha ha!
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
I’d way rather go forward in time than back, but I guess if I had to go back I’d revisit the 80s. Awesome music and fun fashion – good times.
What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?
Don’t feel like you have to maintain toxic relationships. Also, don’t wait to let the people you DO care about know how much you value their relationship.
If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
I suppose a vampire seems like the obvious choice for me, but I think I’d rather be a Kryptonian like Superman. Now there’s someone with kick-ass powers!
Where do you write best?
I do all my writing on my laptop in bed. I really need zero distractions or the writing doesn’t happen.
What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?
Hmm, well the last book I was reading I DNF’d, but the one before that was Frozen by Erin Bowman, and the one before that was The Young World by Chris Weitz. I read 2 or 3 books a week, and that was a good week because I really enjoyed both of those. Loving the dystopian stuff lately.
If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?
If I weren’t writing fantasy, I’d do sci-fi. Those are the only two genres I’m interested in, I’m not sure why. I just find other genres boring.
Where can fans find you online?
My author website: http://www.lmjustus.com, on Twitter: @lmjustus, on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LMJustusAuthor, on Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7058443.L_M_Justus
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/L.-M.-Justus/e/B00EA9UJXA/
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: author interview, Darkness reigns, L.M. Justus, paranormal fiction
October 5, 2014
Book Spotlight: Soul Betrayed by Katlyn Duncan
Synopsis:
A life for a life.
The battle between Shadowed and Guard has brought destruction and terror to Gate Seven and now Maggie wants revenge. As the only after-life being who can save the souls from ultimate death Maggie comes face to face with her own human body, preserved for a century, waiting for just this moment to arrive.
Yet, how far will Maggie go to exact her revenge on the Shadowed? And when she comes face to face with her past, how will she survive the onslaught of memories she thought long gone?
For when the truth comes out all is not what it seems and Maggie has finally run out of time… She must choose her destiny or watch all she has perish in the fight for her life!
About the Author:
Katlyn Duncan was born and raised in a small town in western Massachusetts. Her overactive imagination involved invisible friends, wanting to be a Disney Princess and making up her own stories. Her bibliophile mom always encouraged her love of reading and that stayed with her since. Even though she works full time in the medical field Katlyn has always made time for books, whether she is reading or writing them. Katlyn now lives in southern Connecticut with her husband and adorable Wheaten Terrier and she is thrilled to finally share her stories with the world.
Contact Links:
Website: katlynduncan.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/katlyn_duncan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duncankatlyn
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7060690.Katlyn_Duncan
Add Soul Betrayed on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18370245-soul-betrayed
Filed under: Book Review Tagged: Soul Betrayed by Katlyn Duncan
October 4, 2014
Interview with N.W. Harris
Tell us about your publishing journey…
It has been long road up a steep hill covered in ice and filled with potholes, lol. I started taking my writing seriously about ten years ago, started working toward publication. While writing my first novel, I joined the SCBWI and found a critique group filled with writers in the YA genre. We critiqued each other, and my novel evolved and became more polished. I optimistically started querying agents and publishers, and received hundreds of rejections. I kept polishing my book and my query and also wrote other novels and queried them. Eventually, I found a small publisher in Canada that took my first novel and published a second one for me as well (The Joshua’s Tree Trilogy). I was happy to be published, but wanted a better publisher, one that could sell more books. For that, I needed a better book. So, I took all that I’d learned along the way, and a year ago, I wrote The Last Orphans. I found my awesome new publisher—Clean Teen Publishing—because one of my critique group friends, Jennifer Anne Davis was published by them and was very happy with their performance. I queried them while in Maui on vacation during last spring break and had a contract in hand by the time I got home. It’s been a wild and wonderful ride!
What do you love about being an author?
I consider myself an artist. I like to paint, sculpt, build, anything that allows me creative outlet. Writing is the ultimate creative outlet for me. Like many artist, I’ve always dreamed of making a living by being an artist. I love that writing has the potential to fulfill that dream. I also love that I can create something that is will last forever. Someone might read and love my novels five hundred years from now—kind of makes me feel immortal.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
I’d have dinner with Captain Nemo in the library of the Nautilus. We’d eat whatever his submarine’s galley had on the menu that evening, as long as we’d just paid a visit to one of his undersea forest to harvest it. I’d love to fill him in on what has happened in the world since the late 1800s and see what he thinks of the future.
If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads
?
Shane would be done by Zac Efron—I know he’s a little old, but I think they could make him look young enough to fill Shane’s role, and he looks the part. Or a younger actor that has the same look.
Kelly would done by Dianna Agron.
Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?
I’ll take my vampires sexy, please!
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
The 1950s. I think it must’ve been a time full of hope, and lots of great writers were getting published then. I’d love to visit with some of them and see what they were like at that exciting time during their careers.
What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?
Hard to say. But I can say that the advice I was given at a young age and wished I’d followed sooner was “Do what you love, and money will follow.” My dad used to say that all the time.
If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
Dang! That’s a tough one. I guess I’d be Super Man (I know he’s an alien, does count). Why? Well first off, he’s super. He can do so much of what other supernatural creatures can do, and I doubt he could be taken down by a vampire or a zombie or anything like that. Also, I love how honest and nice he is. Such an admirable character in my opinion.
Where do you write best?
No place in particular. I move around while I write. Sometimes I start in my bedroom and when I get bored I move to another room in the house. I’ve also been known to write in the car (not while driving), at coffee shops, in restaurants, and just about everywhere else. When my children were little, I’d take them to the museum or the zoo, put the laptop onto of the stroller canopy, and write while I pushed them around.
What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?
Red by Jennifer Anne Davis. I loved it and gave it a five star review. The True Reign series takes place in a midlevel setting, and I’ve always loved books set in that time. Also, there’s sword fights—love sword fights! Oh yeah and dueling brothers, an evil king. Need I say more?
If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?
I like military stories, Tom Clancy stuff. Not sure I’d be good at writing it, but I grew up in a military family and was in the Navy for six years. I’ve started a story about a submarine captain who starts trafficking drugs, but it’s a long way from being finished. I really like what I’m writing now, and I’ve got so many YA stories banging around in my head and in rough drafts in my computer, not sure I’ll ever find time for anything else.
Where can fans find you online?
Just about everything with nwharrisbooks in the title is mine.
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorN.W.Harris
https://twitter.com/nwharrisbooks @nwharrisbooks
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: clean teen publishing, dystopia, N.W. Harris, Teen reads, The Last orphans, YA fiction
October 3, 2014
Interview with Vicki L. Weavil
Tell us about your publishing journey…
All my life I’d said, “Someday I’ll write a book,” but while I’d written a good bit of poetry and some short stories over the years, I’d never finished a novel. So in the fall of 2011 I decided I should write one novel, just to prove to myself I could.
That goal turned into an adult science fiction novel and its sequel (the first two books in a trilogy) and while those two manuscripts are currently “on the shelf,” they did give me the impetus to write my third book, which became CROWN OF ICE.
I wrote and edited CROWN in the fall of 2012 (long before I knew that there was going to be a film called FROZEN, by the way) and began querying it in January 2013. At that time I also entered a few contests, such as the twitter pitch contest, PitMAD. While I did receive several partial and full requests from regular querying, it was the contests that connected me to my agent, Jennifer Mishler of Literary Counsel. She requested a partial that turned into a full and then an offer of representation. Another contest brought CROWN to the attention of my publisher, Month9Books, who offered on the book at the time I was talking to Jennifer. So it all came together in the spring of 2013!
By the way, Month9Books just acquired my Young Adult Scifi, FACSIMILE, and its sequel in a two book deal, so you will see more of my books coming out over the next few years.
What do you love about being an author?
I love the ability to create characters and worlds and actually share them with others. It’s a unique opportunity to express my thoughts and feelings—in a format that forces me to reexamine them. I’ve learned so much through reading; I just hope one of my books will someday touch another person’s heart and mind the way so many books have touched mine.
If you could have dinner with any literary character, who would it be and what would you eat?
It would have to be Francis Crawford from the Lymond Chronicles – an amazing six book historical series written by Dorothy Dunnett. (First book in the series is titled GAME OF KINGS). Francis is my ultimate brilliant, talented, attractive, book boyfriend!
Since I don’t eat beef, pork, or chicken, I’d have to say we’d share a seafood feast, accompanied by some lovely vegetables. And chocolate. There must always be chocolate. And wine!
If your book was to be made into a movie, who would you cast as the leads?
I always have trouble with this question because I’d actually prefer “unknown” actors to be cast. (Well-trained actors, but nobody famous). On my Pinterest board for CROWN OF ICE, I do use some photos of actors, but that is more based on appearance than the total package of appearance, voice, etc. However, feel free to check it out — http://www.pinterest.com/vickilweavil/crown-of-ice/
Vampires – do you prefer them as sexy leads or blood hungry monsters?
I like monsters to be monsters, so I prefer the blood hungry versions. The original Nosferatu is still one of the best vampire films, in my opinion. I do understand the attraction of the sexy immortal, but I still want a real edge of horror with my vampires, because otherwise they are just humans who live a long, long time (and can’t accompany me to the beach on a sunny day).
If you had a time machine, which era would you go back to and why?
Oh, so many… As a lover of art, I think visiting Italy during the Renaissance would be amazing, but I also love Fin de Siècle Paris (for the same reason). I guess I’d really just like to be The Doctor’s next companion and travel throughout all time and space in the TARDIS. (Surely that can be arranged??)
What life advice do you wish you’d been given sooner?
Don’t let fear of failure keep you from trying.
I’ve always been something of a perfectionist, so I used to avoid doing things if I thought there was a strong chance I might fail. However, there was a turning point in my life where I decided to attempt something regardless of the consequences, and it is one of the best things I ever did. After that, I was willing to take more chances—like trying to get published! I wasn’t so afraid of failing anymore, because I’d learned failure is not forever, and that, in the end, it is more disappointing not to try.
If you were a supernatural creature, what would you be and why?
A mermaid, because I’ve always loved swimming and the water and wouldn’t mind living in the sea (if I could breathe underwater, of course!)
Where do you write best?
I need to be working on my computer, at a desk, and by myself. Everything else is negotiable.
What was the last book you read, and what were your thoughts on it?
I just finished reading BOY, SNOW, BIRD by Helen Oyeyemi. It’s listed as a fairytale retelling, but it really just pulls motifs from the story of Snow White while examining other issues, such as family, race, and gender identity. Brilliantly written, if a little distant in tone, it’s well worth a read.
If you didn’t write in your genre, which other would you prefer and why?
I adore adult mysteries—particularly those with complex characters and psychological aspects, like those written by Ruth Rendell (who also writes as Barbara Vine) and P.D. James. I love their examination of the human condition and the fallacies (and strengths) of human nature. Unfortunately, I’m not sure my writing skill set is a good fit with the mystery genre. However—referencing that “not fearing failure” thing—I may attempt it someday!
Where can fans find you online?
Website/blog: http://vickilempweavil.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiLWeavil
Author Page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VickiLempWeavil?ref=hl
Tumblr: http://vickilweavil.tumblr.com/
and http://snowqueenthyra.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091425.Vicki_Lemp_Weavil
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickilweavil/
Buy Links for CROWN OF ICE:
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crown-of-ice-vicki-l-weavil/1119979004?ean=9781939765437
ITunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/crown-of-ice/id896773524?mt=11
Filed under: Interviews with other authors Tagged: crown of ice, Teen reads, The Snow queen, Vicki L. Weavil, YA fiction
