You Asked For The Truth!

Secrets Revealed: Book 2 of the Midni... Loosen your tongue, ladies!

You Asked For The Truth!

Welcome to another installment of my nutty shenanigans.

First, an exciting announcement: I finished designing the hard copy of Semblance, and I should be receiving the proofs on Thursday. Fingers crossed that it looks good!

Second exciting announcement, I’m going on a blog tour, organized by the wonderful and amazing Nikki of Blissfulbookblog. Want to partake in the excitement of the blog tour and be my pimp? Just sign up in the form below =P

Be Logan’s Pimp!

So on the weekend, I decided to do my own version of an ASK ME ANYTHING, where I took questions from you lovely ladies about anything and everything. I wish I could have answered them all, but alas I could only choose 11 to fit in this post. However, have no fear! I plan on doing more of these compromising posts where I continue to reveal myself to you.

You heard me.

Without further ado, onto the questions that you curious vixens submitted!

1. What was the weirdest thing you googled while doing research for writing this book?

In terms of writing the book itself, there wasn’t much strange googling going on. Creating the book cover on the other hand…early versions of the mock-up of Semblance’s cover involved pictures of bare-chested men and their washboard abs. I remember sitting alone in my office, the lights off, basking in the cerulean glow of my laptop, looking up pictures of men’s naked torsos. At one point, my wife walked in holding my baby daughter, looked at my screen, shook her head, and then walked out.

My wife’s a very understanding woman.

So I guess to answer the question, it was more weird that I, a straight married man with a baby, sat alone in my basement office, hunched over my computer screen seeking out the perfect set of male pectorals–rather than googling anything weird per-se. In the end…as you can see, I couldn’t take it anymore and used a different image for the cover.

2. What do my loved ones think of my writing?

They think it’s great and they’re happy for me! Ever since I was a kid, it had always been a hobby of mine and the fact that Semblance is doing fairly well and generating a lot of buzz has my family cheering me on. I promised my dad never to allow my mom to read the book–due to some inappropriate smexy scenes. However my mother-in-law reads all my books…and that’s just kind of awkward….

3. Have any nosy onlookers asked or commented on what I’m writing while I write on the train?

If you consider grunting and heavy breathing through a four inch thick beard “commenting,” then yes. Yes they have.

4. How did I do research in preparation for writing in a woman’s POV?

I married one.

5. What percentage of Semblance is real life and made up?

That’s a tough one to answer. There are many elements that are “real,” and many that are derived from my twisted brain. The entire Secret Society/shit-your-pants-finale/psychopaths/assassinations were, of course, imaginary. Everything that occurred in Cambodia–including dancing the Macarena on the streets during New Year’s eve–was real. The music is all very real. As for sexy time…I never kiss and tell =P.

6. Semblance had a lot of personal underlying themes. Will this continue with Penumbra?

Of course! One of the main themes that was never resolved in Semblance will continue through Penumbra–that being the theme of obsession. Just how far will Shadow go to achieve revenge and what relationships will he sacrifice in order to do it? This topic has always fascinated me because:

a) My personalty is that of an alpha male.

b) Alpha males are very stubborn.

c) A lot of this stubbornness comes from our pride.

d) This pride doesn’t allow us to “lose” or “just walk away.”

e) In trying to mend our damaged pride, we tend to forget about all the people that love us, and often they are the ones that end up getting hurt the most.

Of course, that’s one of the main themes. We’ll see many secondary themes surface as well, with the introduction of a crucial third theme at the end of Penumbra that will raise a few eyebrows, I’m sure.

7. Will Shadow and Aria both have POVs in Penumbra?

Yup, Penumbra will be told by both viewpoints. We’ll see their stories diverge very early on–running in two completely different parallels–and then converging towards the climax of the book. The first part of the book will be Shadow-centric whereas the second part will focus on Aria. As for the climax, it will focus on one of these two characters as someone will be losing their viewpoint within Penumbra, and for a very good reason.

8. How have the events in Semblance changed Aria, and will she go through character changes as a result of these events?

Definitely. In the beginning of Semblance, we see Aria as the sharp, witty, balls-to-the-walls type of gal who speaks her mind, is somewhat confident, and has a direction in life. For those that read Semblance, you know that all changes in the final act.

She’s heartbroken, devastated, and completely haunted by all that’s happened to her. As much as I enjoyed writing the “happy, cheerful, and witty” Aria, it’s not realistic for me to keep that tone for Penumbra. Now that’s not saying she wont’ still have her great one-liners…there will be just less of it, unless someone can break her out of her slump…

9. Will a new male character be competing with Shadow for Aria’s love and devotion?

There will be several new male characters, but they won’t be necessarily competing for Aria’s affections. Old characters however…

10. If Shadow were a drink, what would it be?

The Flaming Moe, from Simpson’s fame. It’s burning, addictive, intoxicating, and with the right amount of secrets that keep people coming back for more.