Interview with Lea Nolan

Guys, I am so excited to have the fantabulous author Lea Nolan on the blog today! Miss Nolan is the author of Conjure, book one in the Hoodoo Apprentice trilogy. Lea rocks my socks off with awesomesauce writing and a fun, unique story.

Welcome, Lea! 

Thanks so much for having me, Gabbi! I'm thrilled to be here!

1) What are four adjectives that describe CONJURE?
Magical
Adventurous
Curse-ridden
Swoonworthy

2) Before reading your book, I had never heard of hoodoo. How did you come across it? 
I had already decided the book would have a pirate and would somehow feature the Gullah, but it had been years since I researched either back in college. In the midst of refreshing my knowledge about the South Carolina Lowcountry and the Gullah, I stumbled upon hoodoo and nearly jumped for joy! It felt like the universe had handed me this perfect combination of elements to write about. And bonus--no other YA books featured hoodoo at that time (this was waaayyy before Katie Crouch's The Magnolia League and its sequel, The White Glove War came out) so I knew I had to write about it.

3) What are three songs you feel best sum up CONJURE? 
Without a doubt, Colbie Caillat's Bubbly perfectly sums up Emma Guthrie's feelings for Cooper Beaumont. I listened to that song about a million times when I was writing CONJURE just to make sure I knew exactly how he makes her feel. He's just about the perfect guy and boyfriend, so it totally makes sense that Emma would feel (as Colbie sings)...

I get the tingles in a silly place

It starts in my toes

And I crinkle my nose

Wherever it goes

I always know

That you make me smile

Please stay for a while now

Just take your time

Wherever you go

~Bubbly, Colbie Caillat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWGqoCNbsvM

Whenever I thought about the flashbacks that feature Bloody Bill Ransom, the 18th century pirate that committed the crimes that caused the heinous curses in the first place, I listened to The Rolling Stones' Sympathy for the Devil. There's something about that rhythm and Mick Jagger's snarling vocal that made me think of a lusty and very naughty pirate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRXGsPBUV5g

And for the final climax, I listened to Elton John's Someone Saved My Life Tonight. I love this song so much. I'm listening to it as I write this now. There's something so beautiful about this anthem that fits perfectly with the emotion I tried to instill in that scene.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiuCk6_yEPw


4) What do you love most about Emma, Cooper, and Jack?
I love, love, love Emma's strength and determination to save those she loves. She risks everything for her brother, Jack and for Cooper, too and I can't imagine anything more heroic or admirable. And she's a kick-a$$ hoodoo apprentice, which is pretty dang cool.

I adore Cooper's pure heart. He's so good, and his destiny is so unspeakably horrible, you want Emma to do everything possible to save him from it. I know I'm rooting for her! And Cooper's rock hard abs and massive biceps don't hurt either.

Jack. Ah, my cocky, pain-in-the-butt, Jack. I know some folks get frustrated with him in this story, but I've got to be honest, I really love him. But that's because I understand what's happening to him throughout the novel so I cut him some slack. And I know that deep down inside that crusty, sometimes jerky exterior, he really loves Emma. He just doesn't have to show it as effusively because they're twins and he knows she'll always be there for him. Plus, he makes me laugh. I promise, you'll see a different side of Jack in CONJURE's sequel ALLURE which comes out in October 2013.

5) Do you have any writing rituals or must-haves to make the magic flow?
As sad as it sounds, I need to kick myself off the internet because I. CAN'T. RESIST. THE. INTERWEBS. Pathetic, I know. I had to buy the Freedom program (http://macfreedom.com) which is an "Internet blocking productivity software." Best ten bucks I ever spent. I also participate in #1k1hr writing sprints on Twitter to pound out words when I'm drafting a book. How do I get on Twitter when I've turned on the Freedom program, you ask? Simple, I log in on my iPhone! Hahaha! So I don't completely stay away from the Internet, but it's not nearly as easy as when I use my lap top. Finally, I need my Panera ice tea, otherwise known as my elixir of life.  

6) Curses play a huge role in Conjure. If you could curse your arch nemesis, what kind of curse would you put on him/her? 
Ooh, this is a diabolical question--I LOVE it! Um, let me think...uh, I've got nothing. Here's the thing. I don't think I actually have the stones to curse someone for real, thought there are a couple people I might make an exception for. *strokes chin menacingly like Uncle Olaf*

Seriously I think the worst thing that could ever happen is for someone to never know true love and contentment in their life. And for the most part, I think most people who suffer that fate usually bring it on themselves, which is more tragic than anything I could ever wish on them. So, I guess what I'm saying is that I tend to follow the motto of "live and let live" which sometimes also means "live and let people screw up their own lives."

7) Who are some authors that inspire you to write? 
I love to read great prose. And by that I mean, reading, then re-reading and savoring specific lines and phrases, then feeling sick to my stomach because I know I'll never be as good. Two writers who do that to me are Maggie Stiefvater and Markus Zusak. I'm also madly in love with Meg Cabot, Tera Lynn Childs, Alyson Noel, and so many others I can't recall at this moment because you've put me on the spot.

8) Any words of wisdom for aspiring writers?
READ!!! There's no better teacher than a professionally edited book written by a fantastic writer. It will teach you the basics about mechanics but also how to structure a story, how to tap into emotions, how to create character and story arcs, etc. It's important to read widely within a genre and read lots of different things, too. Also, I highly recommend joining writer's organizations like the Romance Writers of America (RWA), Savvy Authors, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and their local affiliates and online special interest chapters. This is where you'll interface with a writing community, meet other writers, gain access to classes, critique partners and other workshops to further your writing craft and knowledge of the publishing business. And of course, WRITE!!! Don't let knuckleheads tell you that you can't. If your writing needs work, work at it, learn the tricks of the trade and you'll improve. But don't let anyone crush your dreams.

Thanks so much for having me! This was a blast!

Lea Nolan couldn’t read until the third grade. After a lot of hard work she finally got the hang of it and quickly learned the best way to get out of doing chores was to tell her parents she was reading. Soon she was hooked, devouring books by Roald Dahl, E.B. White, Judy Blume, C.S. Lewis, and anything with a shiny Newberry Award sticker on the cover. Books provided a portal to enchanted lands where anything was possible and characters relied on their wits to wiggle out of sticky situations. Today, even though she’s all grown up, Lea writes the kinds of stories she sought as a teen--smart paranormals with bright heroines, crazy-hot heroes, diabolical plot twists, plus a dose of magic, a draft of romance, and a sprinkle of history. She holds degrees in history and women’s studies concentrating in public policy and spent fifteen years as a health policy analyst and researcher. She lives in Maryland with her heroically supportive husband and three clever children, who’ve figured out how to get out of doing their chores.

Her Website ~ Her Facebook Page ~ Her Twitter ~ Her Goodreads Profile

Series: The Hoodoo Apprentice #1

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publication Date: October 23, 2012

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Pages: 314

Goodreads Page

Be careful what you search for...

Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry--hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.

When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends--are lost forever. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

Interview with Katie McGarry

Ya'll, I recently read Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry, and I frackin adored it! It was full of fabulous. My review will come closer to publication date, but in the mean time I have the marvelous Katie here on the blog for an interview! 

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer some questions!

1) Pushing the Limits switches between Echo's point of view and Noah's. Did you know from the beginning that would be the case, or did you figure it out along the way? 

I knew immediately that I wanted to write alternating points of view. I had tried it in a previous manuscript and fell in love. There’s something about being able to see a love story from both points of view that is just enchanting!

2) Noah's voice is much more crude than Echo's. Was transitioning between the two of them difficult? 

Sometimes, yes. Between writing Echo and Noah, I would often need to take a break. Whether it be a walk around the block or heading into the kitchen to sneak a chocolate chip cookie. I go deep into my characters’ heads when I write and I lose myself in them. It was harder for me to pull out of Noah’s head than it was Echo’s.

3) What was the most challenging part of writing Pushing the Limits? What about your favorite part? 

The hardest part of writing Pushing the Limits was having to channel difficult memories and emotions so I could properly write Echo and Noah. There were several times that the scenes became so emotional for me to write that I had to walk away and take a break. 

My favorite parts, hands down, are the scenes with sexual tension. I adore writing those scenes.

4) How do you feel knowing that your debut novel is going to be out in the wild for everyone to read (and most likely adore!)?

I’m super excited and nervous. I’m heading close to the two year mark from when I first signed the contract with Harlequin Teen. It feels like it has taken forever to reach my release day, but now that it is right around the corner, it seems like the time flew by.

5) Greek mythology is mentioned throughout the novel. Is that something you've loved since you were a child, like Echo? How did you get into it? 

I honestly knew nothing about Greek mythology when I started Pushing the Limits. When I begin to write, I see flashes of scenes in my mind. One of the flashes was a memory Echo had of her mother talking to Echo when she was a child in her bedroom. Echo’s mother was pointing out constellations that she had painted on Echo’s ceiling. 

A lot of constellations involve Greek mythology therefore my story evolved. 

SPEED ROUND

Lemonade or iced tea? 

Lemonade

Pens or pencils? 

Pens

Dresses or jeans? 

Jeans

Spearmint or peppermint? 

Neither

Zebra print or cheetah print? 

Zebra

~~~

Thanks again, Katie! I see big things ahead for you! 

KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads. 

Her website ~ Her twitter ~ Her facebook

Series: Standalone

Genre: YA Contemp

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: July 31, 2012

Pages: 384

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.  Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ Indiebound ~ Book Depo

Blog Tour: Interview with Elana Johnson

I am so thrilled to have the wonderful Elana Johnson here on the blog for an interview!

1) First and foremost, how did writing a sequel compare to writing POSSESSION?

Well, this time I was forced to do an outline, so the drafting wasn’t that bad. (The outlining was.) I wrote SURRENDER in 25 days, and there were things about it that made it hard, like making sure the timelines met up and that everything aligned with what was already printed in POSSESSION.

2) What was your favorite part of writing SURRENDER? 

Uh, the kissing scenes! Ha! Everyone knows I like kissing. But seriously, I like writing the emotional aspects of novels, so anything that involves a relationship is fun to write.

3) If Raine had her own reality T.V. show, what would the best title be (besides Surrender, of course)?

Playing Both Sides… Yeah, that sound good. She does have to play both sides in the novel…

4) What would the theme song be? 

SURRENDER by Cheap Trick, of course!

5) What will readers find in SURRENDER that will make us love it even more than POSSESSION? 

Well, SURRENDER has two new characters to love. Gunner Jameson and Raine Hightower. And this second book is all about what the Insiders are doing to overthrow the government, so it’s not just a “this is what’s wrong with our world” book, but a “now that we know what’s wrong, here’s what we’re going to do” book. And that lends itself to more danger and excitement. 

6) Do you have any special writing rituals or traditions that are essential for getting the ideas flowing properly? (music, food, etc...)

Not really. For editing purposes, I need the headphones on loud so I can block out distractions. But just to sit down and write? I can do that and watch Next Food Network Star at the same time. For me, it’s all about just opening the document and getting it done.

7) If you had the opportunity to meet any living YA author, who would you choose? 

I’ve met so many awesome ones! I’d say Kathleen Duey, because I love her SKIN HUNGER series, but I’ve already met her! And Beth Revis for her ACROSS THE UNIVERSE SERIES, but again, met her. How about Lisa and Laura Roecker, authors of THE LIAR SOCIETY? Yes, I’d like to meet them. 

8) What is your worst guilty pleasure? 

Bacon. 

Now it's time for the....drum roll....SPEED ROUND!

Summer or Winter? 

Summer, all the way.

Guitar or drums? 

Guitar.

Blue or yellow? 

Yellow. 

Bowling date or movie date? 

Movie – I love the popcorn!

Escalators or elevators? 

Escalators. I’m writing a book about elevators right now, and they’re scaring me. 

~~~

Thanks so much for stopping by, Elana. You are an absolute delight and I am grateful to have the opportunity to participate in this tour!

Elana's work including POSSESSION, REGRET, and SURRENDER is available from Simon & Schuster wherever books are sold. She is the author of From the Query to the Call, an ebook that every writer needs to read before they query, which can be downloaded for free on her website. She runs a personal blog on publishing and is a founding author of the QueryTracker blog. She blogs regularly at The League of Extraordinary Writers, co-organizes WriteOnCon, and is a member of SCBWI, ANWA and LDStorymakers.

She wishes she could experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to shove it, and have cool superpowers like reading minds and controlling fire. To fulfill her desires, she writes young adult science fiction and fantasy.

Her blog ~ Her facebook ~ Her twitter 

Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.

All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn.

Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque…. 

Purchase SURRENDER!

Remembrance by Michelle Madow (Blog tour: Review + Interview)

Genre: YA Fantasy
Publication date: July 25, 2011
Format: eBook
Source: From author for tour
New Hampshire high school junior Lizzie Davenport has been reincarnated from Regency Era, England ... but she doesn't know it yet.

Then Drew Carmichael transfers into Lizzie's school at the beginning of the year, and she feels a connection to him, almost like she knows him. She can't stop thinking about him, but whenever she tries talking with him about the mysteries behind her feelings, he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with her. Reaching him is even more difficult because she has a boyfriend, Jeremy, who has started to become full of himself after being elected co-captain of the varsity soccer team, and her flirtatious best friend Chelsea starts dating Drew soon after his arrival. So why can't she seem to get him out of her mind?

Even though Lizzie knows she should let go of her fascination with Drew, the pair of them soon find that fighting fate isn't going to be easy.(goodreads.com)

 Amazon - B&N - Indiebound - Book Depo - Goodreads

The first thing I noticed about this book while reading was that the cover strongly related to the story. Most of the time there are these gorgeous covers of beautiful girls wearing masks and there is no relation to the plot. The cover was the first thing that drew me to this story, so I was really hoping that wouldn't be the case. It wasn't.

This book was a light and sweet read. What I really loved about it was that it was pretty much a contemporary with reincarnation added to the mix.

Lizzy had her good points and her bad. I liked that she wasn't willing to drop a topic just because Drew wanted her to, and I also loved that she did what she wanted to do. I know that makes her sound selfish, but I hate when characters choose not to be with their soul mate just because their "best friend" who is really a pretty awful friend "loves" him. Lizzy did what she needed to do, you know? Sure, it hurt some people along the way, but that's how life works. Especially when it comes to teenage girls. I got really annoyed, though, how all she did was whine about Drew and blah blah blah. I mean seriously, the dude pretty much trampled on your heart and all you want to do is  be with him? BLEH.

As for Drew, I didn't like him. At first he had the whole "bad boy" thing going for him, but he was just a ginormicus douche. Then, the reasons he was so horrible to Lizzy was justified, so I was like, "Okay." And then, he did a complete turn around and just made me annoyed. Everything was so cheesy and, "I love you Elizabeth. You are the light of my life." I think the problem is that I still don't know much about him other than he is rich, his parents are divorced, and he moved from New York.

The writing was really fantastic. Miss Madow does a fabulous job of putting beautiful images inside your head. I also loved the premise, but I wish that we would have learned more about reincarnation and about Lizzy and the time period that she was born in. There was definitely stuff that I didn't see coming, and there were things that I did see coming. Still, I found this book to be quite addicting.

All in all, this book was good for a very sweet read, and if you're looking for a nice romance then I definitely recommend this. It was definitely entertaining and I can't wait for the second book in the series!

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You're in a perfume shop and you're allowed to get any scent of perfume for free. Which would you choose?
I’m allergic to perfume, so I actually don’t have any knowledge of the types out there! If I wasn’t allergic, I would walk around and test them out before choosing. I usually like vanilla scents.
　
You're at a pet store, and you know that whatever animal you buy you don't have to clean up after. Which type of animal do you choose?
A small dog, no contest! I love dogs.
　
You're in the YA section of a bookstore. Which 2 books that you have never read before do you buy?
The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton and Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini.

You're dress shopping for a wedding that you are going to attend. What color dress do you pick?
Either blue or dark purple.
　
You're in a candy store. What three types of candy do you buy?
Tough one, because I don’t like candy! In the rare times I eat it, I’ll get a Twix Bar. Do they have cookies and brownies in this candy store? Because I would pick those.
　
You're packing for a week-long trip to Australia. What is the first thing you put into your suitcase?
Jeans always go in first!
　 

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Michelle Madow is the author of Remembrance, which can be purchased at the links at the top of the post. Be sure to check out her website, www.michellemadow.com, to add her on all of her social networking sites!

Also, she is currently hosting a contest on her blog where GREAT prizes can be won!

Thank you so much to Michelle Madow for allowing me to participate on this tour, and Stuck in YA Books for doing such a great job hosting it! You can go here to see the rest of the stops on the tour!

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 Now, time for the big giveaway! Michelle is beign kind enough to offer another chance to win a huge prize! To learn more, see the post here! and enter :)

Mortal Obligation by Nichole Chase (Blog tour: Review + Interview)

Mortal Obligation (Dark Betrayal Trilogy #1) by Nichole Chase
Genre: YA Paranormal - Publisher: Self Published - Publication Date: July 29, 2011 - Format: eBook - Pages: 142 - Source: Author and Bree @ The Magic Attic for tour

Ree will face the darkest form of betrayal before the year is out.

Seventeen year old Ree McKenna has three goals: get through high school, convince her crush she is more than his best friend’s little sister, and save money for college. Fate, though, has other plans for her. After the untimely death of her older brother, Ree is haunted by dreadful nightmares and terrifying visions. To make matters worse, Ree has started to suspect that something dangerous is stalking her from the shadows.

A night full of frightening surprises leaves Ree with unsettling news. Gifted by the gods with unusual powers, she must devote herself to a battle that could very well lead to not only her death, but the demise of everyone she knows and loves. After all, Ree is the only mortal standing between the Earth and utter darkness.

Set in Savannah, Ga, Mortal Obligation is the first book of The Dark Betrayal Trilogy. (Goodreads.com)

Uh, wow. This book stunned me! Heart-pounding action, exciting characters, and shocking secrets ensnared me in the world of Mortal Obligation.

Nichole Chase has a writing style that demanded my attention from the very beginning. After the first sentence, I was completely hooked! She has a way of creating a fitting atmosphere for every scene. I could feel the danger that lurked, feel when the mood tensed and lightened. And I could see everything in my head as if I was watching a movie.

This story is different than the everyday discovering-your-destiny-and-finding-out-you-have-mad-powers story. For starters, Ree is a human. Her friends are immortal, but she is human. She is the "weak" one in the group. She isn't as fast as her friends, can't hear as well, not as strong as them, and she has to constantly have people looking out for her. Even with those limitations, she is incredibly powerful and crucial to the survival of...well, the world. This book had an interesting premise with a unique back story, and there are obviously even better things to come in the next novel!

The characters were all great. Ree gets upset really easily, but she is loyal and kind and, even though she cries and whatnot, she is really strong. I loved her. She's funny and isn't afraid to say what's on her mind. And Paden. Mmmm mmm mmmm. Hello hott stuff! He doesn't have the bad boy thing going on, which is totally awesome for Ree. He's protective and can get moody, but he is definitely a sweetheart. The rest of the group was great to! They each brought distinct traits to the story that really boosted the greatness by one hundred percent! They each made me laugh and groan and roll my eyes and smirk. I didn't really like Roland or Sophie though. I guess I just didn't feel all that connected to Sophie. And Roland...well, he just infuriated me.

This was a great read that I had issues turning away from. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

• The romance. I loved the romance in this book soooo much! First of all, it was very appropriate. The romantic scenes came at the right time. Second, it wasn't overpowering the plot. Third, there is the beginning of a love triangle, but I'll just say it's not your run-of-the-mill love triangle.
• The action. There were some fabulous fight scenes in this!
• The wit. There were so many funny one-liners in this. Gave me quite a few chuckles.

 

Amazon - B&N Nook - B&N Paperback - Indiebound 

Hey Nichole! I'm so thrilled to have you on the blog today!
What do you think is the most important thing for readers to know about Mortal Obligation before reading it?

In all honesty I set out to write a book that would hopefully entertain people. I don't think you need to know anything in particular about the story before hand. In fact, I think it's better if you learn as you read. That way you are really caught up in Ree's story.

What made you decide that you were going to finally buckle down, write a book, and publish it? 

i received a Nook for Christmas last year and found some amazing authors I had never heard of before. To my surprise they were 'indie' authors or self published. I realized that I could avoid the slush piles, the querying, the stomach ulcers, and just concentrate on my writing. I can now put my stories out for people to read, and they will sink or swim on their own merit. Everything depends on how much hard work I put into my books and that tipped the scales for me. I finally sat down and finished Mortal Obligation.  Oh, that's a tough one. There are so many awesome paranormal creatures I could be! If I had to choose one thing, I think that I would want to be a sorceress. Why? Well, because they can do just about anything! Ha! I beat the system. ;) 

If you could be any paranormal creature, which one would you choose? 

Are there any books that inspire your work? What about music? 

I don't think there are any books out there that inspired Mortal Obligation. I suppose that there are authors that inspire me, though. I'm on a big Lili St. Crow kick right now. Her books are gritty, and her characters are realistic. Well, you know. Realistic for being paranormal creatures. Anne McCaffrey also inspires me to reach further with my imagination. Anything can believable if the writer can get the reader to suspend disbelief. Music expires me all the time, but it changes daily. The Dark Betrayal Trilogy originally started while listening to an Evanescence song, so I guess you could say that band inspired the series.

What was something very important that you learned while writing Mortal Obligation? 

To trust my gut and to listen to my muses. Yes, I realize that my muses are just voices in my head, but they are smart voices. Every time I told them to shut up and let me write what I wanted, I regretted it! Oh, and to stop procrastinating. The book isn't going to write itself. 

If you could have dinner with any writer, dead or alive, who would you choose? 

So, to be cliche, but honest, I have to admit that I would love to meet J.K. Rowling. She's my hero. Seriously. She is a woman who knows her own mind.

What can you tell us about book number two!? 

Mortal Defiance is the second novel in the Dark Betrayal Trilogy. It will be released in December of this year. I'm very excited, but nervous about book two. A lot happens in this novel that is very important to the storyline. We really get into Ree's head more too. In the first book she was reacting to the situations she was put in, but in book 2 she starts questioning things and even begins to take charge of situations. She is battling so many different things, on different fronts, including her heart.

Do you have any other projects planned, besides the Dark Betrayal Trilogy? 

I have a secret project planned, but I'm not going to talk about that right now. It may not be started right away, but instead be worked on next summer. There are a couple of other stories that are demanding my attention, including a flash fiction piece that I recently wrote titled, Hauntingly. Those characters have more to say and are pretty loud about it too. I also have an adult series that I would like to write, well two actually, but I'm not sure where they will fit into the schedule.

Thank you for having me today! I really enjoyed the questions.

Thank you so much for stopping by, Nichole!

Also, there will be a grand prize for which you can enter by commenting on tour stops. One comment per tour stop per person. Winners will get:

1st place winner!

2nd place winner!

Thanks to Nichole for allowing me to participate in this tour, and Bree @ The Magic Attic for hosting this tour and putting so much work into it! And don't forget to check out The Fairy Tale Nerd tomorrow for the next stop on the tour!

Blood's Voice by Aine Massie (Blog Tour: Interview)

BookBreather: Hello Miss Massie! So glad to have you on the blog today and to be a part of this tour!

Aine: Glad to be here, Gabbi.
BB: I'm going to start by asking questions about YOU!

BB: First of all, when did you realize that writing was your thing? How did you come to this glorious revelation?

A: I never had that ‘Ah-Ha’ moment I hear about. I’ve written since I was little, for school, club, emotional release, etc. A couple of years ago I had an idea that I was actually going to use for a character in a RPG game with my hubby and some friends but with some encouragement and a bit of badgering, lol, I wrote out the character and began writing about her and her reality.

BB: What's one thing that not a lot of people know about you?

A: That I’m a pesca-vegetarian :D but don’t worry, it’s that I literally can’t eat meat so I won’t fuss if you have that nice plate of beef tips with mushrooms and onion ;)

BB: Be honest, what is your guilty pleasure?

A: Christmas cartoons, lol. I love Charlie Brown, Rudolf, the Misfit Toys, Frosty, et all. And no, it’s not on just for the kids, shhhh....

BB: Lol, I loveee those!!


BB: Do you have a writing must-have (Ex: coffee, music, Doritos, etc...)?
A: Music, laptop (not doing this by hand, nope!), and a comfy spot to sit.

BB: What is the one thing you could not live without?
A: My kids!

BB: Tehehe, I'm sure they'd approve :D


BB: What were some of your favorite books growing up?

A: It changed a lot. When I was really little I remember loving the Cat in the Hat but later on it would have been a toss up of my E A Poe collection, Shakespeare Collection, or Interview with a Vampire. I know... weird combo there.

BB: OKAY, SPEED ROUND!
BB: Favorite breakfast food?
A: Onion bagels with cream cheese.

BB: Zombies or werewolves?

A:Werewolves.

BB:Travel by airplane or car?

A: Car. (I hate flying *shudders*)

BB: Favorite color?

A: Blue, Green, Purple – in that order.
BB: Okay, now...time for the book!

BB: Describe Blood's Voice in five words.
A: Harrowing yet romantic vampire story.

BB: *Nods in agreement!*


BB: How long did it take you to write Blood's Voice?
A: The better part of 2 years. I didn’t write nonstop but still, overall about 2.

BB: Were you nervous about releasing it, considering all of the vampire books that are already on the market?
A: Very! I wasn’t nervous about the others on the market, just about if mine would be enjoyable to others. I love my characters and enjoy writing about them.

BB:Who was the most fun character to write?
A: Fun to write... hum... Not really sure. Declan was great. He’s so laid back yet sweetly stubborn. Nic was fun too. I think the most energetic/fun even though not focused on a lot would be Skye though.

BB: LOL! Skye was quite the character!

BB: Are any of the characters based off of real people?
A: Yes and no. There is no one character that is “him” or “her” but there are parts of characters that are friends or family. Everything from the word ‘parentals’ to two of the characters in the sequel being based off one person. I tried to make each special which it turns out means each carries at least one characteristic of someone I care about.

BB: What was your favorite part about writing BV?
A: The first triad scene. It wasn’t planned, btw. I was writing and while I had intended for Nic to be there when Dec pounced, it was all Dec’s doing to do more...

BB: Oh gosh. I certainly remember that scene. It was shocking, to say the least. And hott!


BB: What is the best thing you learned while writing BV? 　

A: That I need to trust my muse more than my outline ideas. I tried to force ideas into certain paths and WOW that was a bad idea.
BB: Now, one last question for the lovely readers. Where can we find you and your book online?
All eBook formats –
Smashwords –http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/housemillar
OmniLit -http://www.omnilit.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=series&qString=House+Millar
Kindle – http://www.amazon.com/Aine-Massie/e/B0054REXHA/ref%3dntt_athr_dp_pel_1/185-7595298-6099007
Nook –http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bloods-voice-aacute-ine-massie/1104364313?ean=2940012757210&itm=1&usri=blood%2bs%2bvoice#Overview
Print –
eStore - https://www.createspace.com/3625128
Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Bloods-Voice-1-%C3%81ine-Massie/dp/1463559275/?_encoding=UTF8&tag=housmill-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325


BB: Thanks so much for stopping by!

A: Thank you for having me! I hope your readers enjoy you site as much as I do.

BB: *Blushes.* Awh, shuckz!

Check out my review of Blood's Voice below!