FEATURE: AUTHOR OF THE MONTH.. (9)

Hi Blurbies! This month, I will be featuring an awesome author whose book (I have only read book one so far) I fell in love with! As soon as I read it, I immediately asked for her permission to be featured on the blog and without hesitations, she said yes! I adored her writing style, the plot..everything about this fantastic book! Let's all welcome for the

C.J. Redwine.

OMG. I dont even know where to start! Defiance is so good and for that, here's a virtual hug for you! ;) how and when did Defiance start? What was the inspiration behind this awesome novel?

Thank you so much! I love virtual hugs from my readers. :) Defiance actually started with the Cursed One. Years ago, I had the idea of a Leviathon-like beast who lived underground, but I didn't have a world or a story to go with it. I just put it on the back burner and let it sit there, waiting for a story that could encompass it. Then one day I was browsing online and I saw a picture of a fortress that reminded me of an ancient city-state. I was immediately captivated by the idea of living in city-states again, and I asked myself, "Why would we do that? What would be so dangerous that we would abandon our former way of life and choose city-states instead?" And the Cursed One collided with the picture of the fortress and became Defiance.

How was the writing to publishing journey for you?

Long. :) I've wanted to be a published author since I was in second grade. I used to start novels all through middle school, high school, and college, but I never knew how to get past the first few chapters and actually finish writing a book. I was thirty when I finally decided I was going to push past the shiny beginning and do whatever it took to finish writing a book. That book sucked rocks, but I had to write it so I could learn how to do it. My second book was much better, and it gained me my fabulous agent. But then it didn't sell. So I wrote another book. And that didn't sell either. Two years after I signed with my agent, I still hadn't sold. I was writing adult urban fantasy, and editors didn't quite fall in love or know what to do with my stories. I loved risky story-telling, genre blending, and taking out of the box obscure ideas and shaping it into a modern story. I finally realized that I should be writing YA. That's what I love to read most of the time, and that's where my stories fit. I sat down and wrote Defiance in two and a half months while working a thirty hour a week job, homeschooling two of my three boys, and mothering my infant daughter whom we'd just brought home from China. I basically didn't sleep, but I was driven. Determined to write something that would sell. I turned Defiance in to my agent, figured I would hear a bunch of "no's" again just like I always had, and had already pulled another idea off the shelf to start writing it when she called to tell me four editors wanted to buy it. I just sat there and cried. And then celebrated. And then cried some more.

Rachel rocks!!! Could you tell us also what's the inspiration behind her character? She definitely symbolizes women empowerment!

I can't explain what inspires my characters because they show up in my head fully formed. I just have to take the time to get to know them and uncover what they love, where they've been hurt, and what drives them. Rachel is so bold, impulsive, and transparent emotionally. She's different from the other girls in Baalboden because her father quietly defied the Commander and educated his daughter. He taught her to read, to think for herself, to fight, and to do the right thing no matter what it costs her. He educated her, and she changed everything. There are so many places across the globe where girls are sold into marriages or into slavery, where they are denied an education, where they have no rights at all. I wanted to show through Rachel's world and through her father's choice to give his daughter the tools to make her own mark in the world that we must fight for education and equality. We must be vigilante for ourselves and for our sisters because giving one girl a voice and the tools to use it can change everything.

I really adored Logan's ability to strategize under pressure and his Worst Case Scenarios. Was it difficult to write his character?

His voice came much later than Rachel's. I'd actually written half of the book from her perspective alone before I realized that Logan had an equal stake in the story and needed to be heard. He is much more guarded emotionally than Rachel, so it took me a long time to peel back the layers and figure out why he turned Rachel down, how he feels about living in Baalboden, and why he's so driven to protect those he loves at any price. Once I understood him, the real difficulty for me was thinking in terms of logic, strategy, and science every time I wrote a chapter from him. That boy did his best to break my brain.

What is your favorite dessert? ;)

It's a toss up between lemon bars (ones that are more tangy than sweet) and peach pie.

Any other hobbies you might want to share with us?

I love movies. I go to the theater 6-8 times a month usually. I'm lucky because my husband does a morning radio show, and he's responsible for doing movie reviews so we get to go see sneak peeks for free. Otherwise, my habit would drain my bank account! But yes, I'm addicted to movies. And I love the previews. Woe to the person who talks to me during the previews! My favorite movies are speculative fiction (fantasy, comic book, sci fi, paranormal). No surprise there since that's what I write!

What's the worse thing a fan gave/said/did to you and the best?

I don't think I have an example of "worst." My fans are pretty much full of win. I've met so many amazing book lovers who are lovely people through and through. I have a lot of great moments to choose from, but the best was the teenage girl who told me she understood Rachel's anger and her deep depression, and that it scared her because she felt the same way and didn't want to fall apart like Rachel did so she was going to get help. If no one else ever reads Defiance, I will still be so glad I wrote it because of that one moment.

If you could go back and change something in Defiance, what would it be?

Oh, man. That's a dangerous question! No book is ever perfect, and I could revise and edit forever and still find things I want to improve or change. I try not to go back and beat myself up over things I know I could do better now as my craft continues to grow. Instead, I focus on doing a better job with every book I write.

Any pet peeve?

Definitely. I can't stand it when people are rude. Seriously. How hard it it to just be decent and respectful to others?

Also, I wish a pox upon anyone who doesn't flush after using a toilet. Especially a public toilet. Gah!

Message to your Filipino fans!

I am SO excited to have Filipino fans!!! You have no idea. My roommate in college was from the Philippines, and one of my best friends lived there for years and then married a Filipino man. Through them, I experienced the lovely Filipino culture, including the delicious food. (I'm still trying to figure out how to make a perfect pan of sticky rice.) I have nothing but love for the Philippines so the fact that you are reading my books is like a gift to me. Thank you so much for reading!! (Anyone have the perfect recipe for sticky rice?)

About C.J.

C.J. Redwine loves fairy tales, lemon bars, and any movie starring Johnny Depp. She is the author of the Defiance trilogy, a post-apocalyptic fantasy from Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins. C.J. lives in Nashville with her husband, four kids, two cats, and one long-suffering dog.

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About Defiance Series

Defiance

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While the other girls in the walled city-state of Baalboden learn to sew and dance, Rachel Adams learns to track and hunt. While they bend like reeds to the will of their male Protectors, she uses hers for sparring practice.

When Rachel's father fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the city's brutal Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector: her father's apprentice, Logan—the boy she declared her love to and who turned her down two years before. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Deception

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Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.

MY BLURB FOR DEFIANCE:

Defiance is a stunning debut novel that captures one's full and undivided attention! It is magnificently laid out and gravely consuming! I let it give me emotions I never thought I would ever feel again and the adrenaline rush every page turn is terrifyingly addictive! I was at the edge of my seat the whole ride!

THANK YOU EVER SO SO MUCH C.J. AND JULIE FOR THIS AWESOME INTERVIEW! OMG AM STILL FANGIRLING AND I WILL DEFINITELY SEND YOU A RECIPE FOR STICKY RICE! VIRTUAL HUGS AND KISSES!

FEATURE: AUTHOR OF THE MONTH.. (8)

Hello there lovely Blurbies!! I am so excited for this day to arrive! I have interviewed an amazing and wonderful author who wrote a magnificent high fantasy novel I totally loved! When I asked her via email if I could interview her, she gladly responded a welcoming YES and the warmth of her acceptance could be felt through her email! I totally love this person and I am hoping that someday, I would be able to meet her and thank her personally. So guys, I present to you my eighth

JENNIFER NIELSEN.

Was it difficult to write The False Prince? How long did it take you to finish it?

First of all, thank you very much for hosting me! I don’t know if The False Prince was easy to write, but it was a fast write. I started it in early October and sent it to my agent as a finished manuscript at the end of the year. Once I knew what I wanted for the story, it all came together very quickly.

Which is harder to write: The False Prince or The Runaway King?

For me, I think The Runaway King was a little more difficult. In a trilogy, there’s always a challenge with the middle book because you want to create a new and different adventure from what readers saw in the first book, but not overshadow the adventure that’s still to come in the final book. So I decided to test Sage in a totally different way – where the first book is more of a mental game, in The Runaway King, the challenge is more physical. Which of course, leaves open the question of what he’ll have to face in the third book…

What inspired you to write it?

I’d had the idea for the story for some time, but I couldn’t find the right hero to carry the weight of the story. Sage was found in a song by Eddie Vedder called “Guaranteed.” The lyrics said, “I knew all the rules, but the rules did not know me, guaranteed.” From that, I had the idea of Sage, a boy who knows exactly what game he is playing, but the other players don’t realize that someone is secretly rewriting the rules.

Author space reserved today. Gonna bring this everywhere now to help me park! source

 Sage is one of a kind. He's mysterious, smart, funny and brave. Is he inspired by someone?

Sage is entirely his own character – thank goodness because I’d feel bad for any real mother who’d have to raise him! However, I did borrow a couple of his traits from students I used to teach in high school. One was a boy who could roll a coin over his knuckles exactly as I describe Sage doing it. The other was a boy who could steal a watch from a person’s wrist while looking them in the eye and shaking their hand. As far as I know, he never got caught. (Luckily, he always returned the watches!) I definitely thought about him when writing Sage’s thief scenes.

This was my gift from the hubby. I've wanted an antique typewriter for years and couldn't love this more. source

What is your favorite book and quote?

I’m going to have to choose two. The first, from Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables: "It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live."
And the second, from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."

When you're not writing, what other things do you usually spend time on?

I love to watch movies, and spend time with my family, and spend time in the mountains. I always have at least one book that I’m reading. In a perfect world, for whatever I’m doing, there is plenty of dark chocolate within reach.

How about your dream movie cast for the novel?

This is a tough question! For at least one of the lead roles, I would really love to see an unknown be cast, and even better if it was someone who had already been a fan of the books. Sage is going to be the trickiest to cast, because it’s not easy to balance defiance and attitude with charm and compassion. The right actor would do it brilliantly. So maybe Joel Courtney or Brendan Meyer could be a great Sage, or Roden, with someone like Liam James for Tobias. I think Hailee Steinfeld would make a wonderful Imogen, and Odeya Rush would be a fantastic Amarinda. Maybe someone like Bradley Cooper or Russell Crowe for Conner.

What's in your bag? What are the things you can’t leave home without? ;)

Three things. I’m a total Chapstick addict, so I always have a tube in my pocket or bag. I also start to get jitters without my cell phone, even when I’m not expecting a call or an email. And third is a pen – I hate the feeling that I might think of something that I want to write down, but not be able to do it. It would be very rare to ever find me without all three of these.

Your favorite world destination.

There’s no way to choose just one! I love to travel, and the most exciting destination is somewhere I’ve never been before. I’m planning a trip to Rome soon to research my next series (woo-hoo!), and I love anywhere warm with a cool sand beach. The place I’ve determined I must see one day is Iceland. (Incidentally, my nephew is living in the Philippines right now and tells me I must come for a visit there!)

Message for your Filipino fans.

Filipinos are great readers, and I am so grateful to those who have become fans of The Ascendance series. I hope the series is one that speaks to people all over the world, and the enthusiasm I get from fans in the Philippines is some of the best. It’s why I was so happy to do this interview – because I felt honored for the chance to connect with you directly!

About Jennifer

New York Times Bestselling author, Jennifer Nielsen, was born and raised in northern Utah, where she still lives today with her husband, three children, and a dog that won’t play fetch. She is the author of The Ascendance trilogy, beginning with THE FALSE PRINCE; of The Underworld Chronicles, beginning with ELLIOT AND THE GOBLIN WAR; the forthcoming PRAETOR WAR series, and will write the sixth book of the Infinity Ring series (BEHIND ENEMY LINES). She loves chocolate, old books, and lazy days in the mountains.

Follow Jennifer: * Website * Twitter * Facebook *
Other Books: * Infinity Ring * Underworld Chronicles *

About The Ascendance Trilogy

The False Prince (The Ascendance Trilogy #1)

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THE FALSE PRINCE is the thrilling first book in a brand-new trilogy filled with danger and deceit and hidden identities that will have readers rushing breathlessly to the end.

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

The Runaway King (The Ascendance Trilogy #2)

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A kingdom teetering on the brink of destruction. A king gone missing. Who will survive? Find out in the highly anticipated sequel to Jennifer A. Nielsen's blockbuster THE FALSE PRINCE!

Just weeks after Jaron has taken the throne, an assassination attempt forces him into a deadly situation. Rumors of a coming war are winding their way between the castle walls, and Jaron feels the pressure quietly mounting within Carthya. Soon, it becomes clear that deserting the kingdom may be his only hope of saving it. But the further Jaron is forced to run from his identity, the more he wonders if it is possible to go too far. Will he ever be able to return home again? Or will he have to sacrifice his own life in order to save his kingdom?

The stunning second installment of The Ascendance Trilogy takes readers on a roller-coaster ride of treason and murder, thrills and peril, as they journey with the Runaway King!

The Shadow Throne (The Ascendance Trilogy #3)

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War is Coming...

This was revealed last June on Jen's blog over here. It was so pretty and perfect for the trilogy! I cannot wait for it!

I really really appreciate what Jennifer did for the blog! It was an honor to be featuring my favorite authors here and THANK YOU SO MUCH JENNIFER for giving me a chance to interview you and also for writing such phenomenal novel! Thank you also for answering my last question "Message to your Filipino fans" in a not so generic way! I really really loved The False Prince and I couldn't wait to read my copy of The Runaway King! Congrats on the success of your series!

My Blurbs for The False Prince:

The first novel in The Ascendance Trilogy, The False Prince sure did rip my brain apart! The love I have for it cannot be put into words! It had taken me by surprise and I actually didn't realize I was holding my breathe while devouring this fantastic and amazing novel! It is edgy, brilliant, magnificent novel that perfectly mixed fantasy and adventure! I can read this over and over and I am definitely okay by it ripping my brain over and over, too! THIS IS JUST TOO PERFECT!

FEATURE: AUTHOR OF THE MONTH.. (7)

Goodness. This happened so fast. When I emailed this fantastic Author for an interview, even though she's currently on vacation, she giddily agreed and answered my questions right away! I have been talking to her on Twitter for quite some time and I could say she's one of the sweetest and kindest author I've ever talked to. Aside from that, her books are very very SWOON WORTHY! So let me introduce to you my

WENDY HIGGINS.

What made you write?

~ I have always loved to write and tell stories. I'm one of those people who's always imagining something - to the point that I'm often oblivious of what's going on around me (which isn't good).  When I get a story stuck in my head and it won't go away, I HAVE to write it down in order to move on!  It's a blessing and a curse. :)

The frequently asked Q: what inspired you to write Sweet Trilogy?

~ Life. My life and the lives I see around me. Love. Heartbreak. Good and evil in everyday life. How we deal with our struggles. My desire to write the "perfect boy" with every trait that I find sexy. My spirituality. Just...everything in my life led to writing these books.

"Seriously, dog!! LOL" source

Anna exudes benevolence which I admire about her most. Would it be safe to say that her kind heart reflects you? *smiles*

~ I admit, Anna gets a few traits from me.  I tend to be very sensitive and compassionate. Emotional. Blonde haired and flat chested, hahaha!  But Anna is way stronger than me when it comes to temptations. She's the kind of girl I wish I would have been. The kind of girl I'd like my daughter to read about some day.

"Happiness!" source

 That painful ending in Sweet Evil, were you emotionally invested in it? (That was soooo painful *sniff, sniff*)

~ Well, you see, it's not as painful when you know the final outcome, which I did all along.  But I felt each emotional bit of their journey through each book.  I felt all of what my readers feel.

Aaaaaah, Kaidan!!! Do you think he would love to meet his Filipino fans?? *swoons!*

~ Oh, without a doubt. Yes, he would, lol.

"Let the final edits begin!! :)" source

In Sweet Peril, they traveled to get/convince other characters to be allies. Have you visited those countries yet?

~ No! I have never traveled and I'm DYING to!!!  I had to do a ton of online research to try and get all of the cultural facts correct.

If Kaidan will take you somewhere on a date, where would you want to go?

~ Well, this is awkward since I'm older and married, so let's pretend this question is for the teen me.  See, when I was a teen I was very naive and stupid when it came to boys. I was the girl who would've wanted Kaidan to take me ANYWHERE on a date and I'd be hoping all along he would fall in love with me.  *sigh*  Silly girl.

How do you manage your family time, writing and other things you love doing?

~ I live in a constant state of craziness, with house chores half finished and my mind going in a million different directions. I try to write while the kids are in school, but my son is only in preschool, which is 9 hours a week.  I don't get much time to myself during the days, so I do a good bit of writing at night. I try to put my family first. To push my story thoughts aside and give them my full attention, but it's not always easy. This active imagination is often an impediment! Makes me ditzy!  ;-P

"On the deck with my kids, some kettle corn, and a book. Let the summer begin!" source

How do you handle negative reviews?

~ I don't read reviews.  I did in the early days, and after spending a day depressed, curled up in the fetal position I realized that not everyone was going to "get" my book or love my book or even like it.  So I decided I was only going to focus on the people who do get it and like it.  The fans.  They make it all worthwhile.

Message to aspiring writers and to your Filipino fans.

~ To aspiring writers, write what's on your heart and don't worry about what anyone thinks. Also, don't expect perfection from your first draft. It's supposed to be ugly.  Revision is where the good stuff happens.
~ To my Filipino fans, you guys rock!!!  I would love to travel to the Philippines some day!  *crosses fingers*

ABOUT WENDY

After earning a bachelors in Creative Writing from George Mason University and a masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, Wendy taught high school English until becoming a mommy. Writing Young Adult (YA) stories gives her the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal, daunting, and exciting years before adulthood.

She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Evil is her debut novel.

Get in touch and follow Wendy:

* Goodreads *  Twitter * Facebook * Website *

Sweet Evil ( The Sweet Trilogy #1)

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Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

Sweet Peril ( The Sweet Trilogy #2)

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Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Well, what else can I say? THANK YOU SO MUCH, WENDY for this wonderful opportunity to know you better and share it with everyone! We all cannot wait for Sweet Reckoning next year and See Me this October! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart! Thank you also to Sarah of HarperCollins for sending in an ARC of Sweet Peril!

My Blurb for Sweet Evil:

I am happy that I liked Sweet Evil. It is another heart breaking romance that would make you fight the impossible and go against all odds. Reading it gives a roller-coaster emotion that would make you yearn for Sweet Peril.

My Blurb for Sweet Peril:

Sweet Peril is a dangerous, sweet, funky and romantic sequel perfect for Sweet Evil! I may have cried tsunami in some heart-crushing parts but I loved how masochistic I've become! It is unputdownable, riveting and exciting! Can't wait for the final book to come out!

FEATURE: AUTHOR OF THE MONTH.. (6)

I was on a reading slump for at least 2 weeks and was still having an issue finishing a book. But when I decided to fight it and grabbed my ARC of this title hoping it would bring me back to my reading mood, it did more than that. I was so suddenly awaken by my love for this dystopian novel and I cannot wait to get my hands on book 2!! I am so glad the author finally agreed to be featured on my

ERIN BOWMAN.

What inspired you to write Taken?

It sort of fell into my lap. Well, the story didn't, but Gray did. I was working on a separate manuscript when he started wandering around my head. He was living in isolated town and was dreading his eighteenth birthday. Gray's voice was so clear that I couldn't ignore him. I started asking why—what happened at eighteen that he feared so much?—and the story slowly took shape.

Look what just arrived at the Bowman household!! There are so many. This is really happening, guys! 

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Sitting outside in this gorgeous weather and annotating an arc for the #TakenWithTAKEN giveaway. source

Why did you choose the dystopian genre?

I've been a fan of dystopian tales for as long as I can remember. They tend to take some of the evils that exist in our own world and amplify them, letting the reader experience a "what if" scenario through the safety of pages. For me, reading about broken worlds and watching people fight back--even when everything is stacked against them--is incredibly inspiring.
That said, I didn't intentionally set out to write a dystopian tale with TAKEN. When I first drafted it, I was just trying to tell the tale of a boy looking to find himself and his way in life. The setting eventually grew to showcase a dystopic backdrop--probably influenced by my love of other dystopian tales--but TAKEN was first and foremost about a boy in search of answers.

Taken #2 Title Reveal!! source

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About Erin:

Erin grew up in rural Connecticut, where she spent most of her childhood telling stories. It is rumored that her first words were not “Mama” or “Dada,” but “Once upon a time.” In middle school, when kids were going off to sleep-away camp for the summer, Erin was attending writing camp and penning short stories.

At the Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate New York, Erin studied web design (and minored in Creative Writing because she couldn’t stay away from stories). After several years working in advertising and designing websites for various brands, she has moved on to writing full-time. When not writing, she can often be found hiking, commenting on good typography, and obsessing over all things Harry Potter.

Erin is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger. Her debut novel TAKEN will be published by HarperTeen April 16th, 2013. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.

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About Erin:

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I would like to thank Erin for finding time to answer my questions despite of her super busy schedule! I absolutely loved Taken and you can find my review here! I am also currently giving away a copy of Taken for my first blogoversary here! And again, thank you Sarah of HarperCollins for the ARC and Erin for allowing me to feature you!

"Taken is surely a very strong debut novel! The pacing is right, the twists are surprising, the romance is thrilling and the overall plotting is uniquely delivered and I thoroughly loved and enjoyed it! Bowman did a fantastic job in giving us a one of a kind dystopian approach that I would love to read over and over!" - The Bookaholic Blurbs.

FEATURE: AUTHOR OF THE MONTH.. (5)

I cannot contain the happiness and excitement I feel to share the author I will feature this month. HER debut novel became one of my ultimate paranormal favorites and featuring her and her books will always be my pleasure! For May I bring to you

 KATHLEEN PEACOCK.

The million-dollar question, what inspired you to write Hemlock?

I was listening to music one morning while walking to work. The song “It’s Been Awhile” by Staind started playing. Within seconds, a scene popped into my head—sort of like a music video. Three friends—a blond girl and two boys—were in a hospital room. The girl had been hurt and one of the boys, a hunter, had just learned the other was a werewolf.  

Over the years, I occasionally thought about those characters and what their lives and world would be like. When I decided to try writing a novel, they were the characters I was most interested in taking the journey with.

One of the things I loved about Hemlock is the cover. Did you have any say about it? Or was the cover your idea entirely?

Isn't it pretty? I actually didn't have much input into the cover. I asked for a few small changes to the title font and layout, but that was the extent of my involvement (which was fine with me as my publisher has an amazing art department and I knew they would do a great job).

Another reason I loved about it is the fact that the Lupine Syndrome is known. It felt like a huge risk stepping out of YA's comfort zone about paranormal being a secret. Why did you take that risk? I mean was it really the idea to begin with?

In that original scene that popped into my head, Jason was shocked that Kyle was a werewolf but not surprised that werewolves existed. It was clear to me that they lived in a world where people knew about werewolves and  I based the world building around that. 

And one especially lonely stretch of beach which was perfect for thinking  (Source)

Are we going to see more of Amy in the sequel?

Yes! Amy is definitely sticking around and will be just as creepy as ever!

Jason and Kyle's friendship is very strong. Is it inspired with a real-life friendship?

I wish! I’m always a bit jealous of people who have strong friendships that date back to childhood.  

Why werewolf? Why not vampires, faeries or dystopian plots?

The Kyle that popped into my head was a werewolf just like the Jason who popped into my head was a sort of werewolf hunter—the choice was entirely driven by the characters.

Are you Team Kyle or Team Jason? (I'm definitely Team Kyle!!)

Team Trey ;)

Why did you decide to title both books after the place where the novels happened?

Honestly? I’m just really horrible at titles. I didn't have a title for book one, so I just started calling it Hemlock after the town where the book was set. I fully expected my agent or publisher to suggest changing the name, but it just sort of stuck.

Why, yes, that is a Thornhill ARC. @gillianewise was right: they are pretty! *hugs book* (Source)

Any advise for aspiring young writers out there?

Read as often and as widely as you can.

Message to your Filipino fans! :)

You guys are AMAZING! Thank you SO MUCH for reading!

ABOUT THE BOOKS

You guys can definitely order Hemlock here:

Indie Bound * Amazon * Amazon CA * B&N * Book Depository * Chapters/Indigo

Add to Goodreads

And you can go ahead and pre-order Thornhill here:

Indie Bound * Amazon * Amazon CA * B&N * Book Depository * Chapters/Indigo

Add to Goodreads

About Kathleen

The Official Stuff

Kathleen Peacock spent her teen years crushing on authors and writing short stories about vampires. She put her writing dreams on hold while attending college, but tripped over them when office life started leaving her with an allergy to cubicles. Her debut, HEMLOCK, is coming May 8th, 2012 from Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of Harper Collins, and will be published in the UK under the title DEADLY HEMLOCK from Simon and Schuster Children’s Books.

The Other (less official) Stuff

I’m obsessed with Chuck Taylors.
I make Bella Swan look graceful and coordinated.
I have a diploma in graphic design and have had illustrations published in Applied Arts, the premiere magazine for Canadian design and visual communications.
I used to think moleskin notebooks were made out of actual mole skin.
Never engage me in a debate about Star Wars unless you have plenty of time on your hands.
I like sentence fragments. And watermelon. Both are tasty.
Mood boosting songs: “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” by Scissor Sisters, “Via con me” by Paolo Conte, “When You Were Young” by The Killers.
I believe the Goonies really ‘r’ good enough.

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Thank you so so much Kathleen for giving me a chance to feature you on my blog and I think I made it clear how much I am in love with Hemlock and thrilled for Thornhill! Can't wait!

FEATURE: AUTHOR OF THE MONTH.. (4)

THE HEAT IS ON!! It is terribly hot here in Manila (34 degrees celcius) and I feel like am going to melt any second now but before that happens, let me just share who is the author I featured for the month's

 

ELIZABETH RICHARDS.

What inspired you to write Black City?

It started with Ash. His character came to me, fully formed, one night while watching a movie. I couldn’t shift this idea of a drug-dealing, supernatural boy who gets a heartbeat when he meets his true love, and as soon as the movie was finished I grabbed my laptop and wrote a scene between Ash and Beetle. That scene never made it into the final book, but it all began there!

Is a Darkling technically a vampire?

Darklings definitely have some vampire-like qualities. They have fangs, drink blood, and shy away from the sunlight (although they can go out in the sun), but that’s where the similarity ends. Darklings are a species in their own right, so you are born a Darkling, not sired. They’re not immortal. They have two hearts (except twin-bloods, who only have one heart), rippling hair that senses blood, they’re allergic to acacia wood, and some breeds of Darkling even have wings.

When did the novel happen and how did Black City's world have Darklings and Nordins?

The events of Black City are happening in the near future, but not in this reality. In the universe of Black City, the Darklings have always lived, breathed, and walked among us. The Nordins are a breed of Darkling, which evolved to have ice white hair, glimmering orange eyes and wings. The other breeds are the Shu’Zin (they have purple eyes, black hair and clawed feet), and the most common breed, the Eloka Darklings. Ash is half-Eloka.

Are we going to see more Nordins, Sebastian and Purian Rose on Phoenix?

Oh yes! There’s lots more of Sebastian and Purian Rose in Phoenix, and you get to meet a whole new range of characters, including more of the Darkling assembly, plus the Bastets, Dacians, and the Lupines! The world really opens up, and you get to see loads more of the United Sentry States.

PHOENIX! (source)

Have you written a character based on a person in your life?

All my characters have been influenced in some way by people I know, be it a physical trait, a quirk of their personality, or their name. I do like dropping my friends’ names into the books, as a little nod toward them.

You recently went on the Breathless Reads Tour with other authors. How does that make you feel?

Lucky. Joyous. Blessed. It was an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. experience! I always fantasized about going on a book tour, but it very rarely happens, so to have been invited on the Breathless Reads tour truly was a dream-come-true, especially since they had to fly me over from the UK! I literally pinched myself every morning; I couldn’t believe my luck. And the authors I went on tour with (Fiona Paul, Beth Revis, Jessica Spotswood, Morgan Rhodes, and Lili Peloquin), were the loveliest people you could ever meet. So funny, charming, friendly, and talented! We had a blast. I miss them!

Me with the #BreathlessReads gals! Missing them already :( @fionawritesYA @bethrevis @MorganRhodesYA @jessica_shea (source)

If you would be living in Black City, would you join Humans for Unity or be under Purian Rose?

I would join Humans for Unity! There’s no way I could support Purian Rose and his treatment of the Darklings and Workboots. I’d be right there with Ash, Natalie, Beetle and Day, painting placards and protesting against the government!

How long did it take for you to write Black City? Can we expect another novel after Black City Trilogy?

Black City took two years to write, from first draft to the final edit. So I’ve spent a lot of time with Ash and Natalie! It’s going to be strange not having them in my life when I finish the trilogy later this year. There will be lots of tears and eating of cookie dough ice cream, I’m sure! I’ll be working on my new book once the Black City trilogy is wrapped up, which I’m very excited about! I can’t say much about it, other than it’s a dystopian/sci-fi novel, featuring another very hawt male lead.

As an author, you might have received tons of emails from your readers/fans. Have you ever received a hate e-mail? How did you handle it?

I haven’t received any hate mail, thankfully! And I hope I never do.

We would really really want to meet you and have you signed our books here. Any plans in visiting the Philippines?

Today's thumb art: it's one of the Book Owls! (source)

Aww, thanks! *blushes* I don’t have any plans yet to visit the Philippines, but I would love to go! So watch this space…

Message to your Filipino fans.

I just want to say a massive THANK YOU for all your support, and your amazing tweets and emails! I love reading them. You guys rock!

Thank you so so much Elizabeth for allowing us to tour Black City here in Manila and I just can't simply wait to tour Phoenix!!

About Elizabeth:

Elizabeth Richards is an award-winning journalist, who spent her early career reviewing videogames before making the bold (or crazy) move into travel writing, despite suffering from terrible travel sickness.

In her spare time, she ran a successful lifestyle website aimed at teenage girls, where she got to interview many of her favourite bands, go to gigs and basically blag loads of free swag all in the name of ‘research’.

Elizabeth lives in Buckinghamshire, England, with her husband. Black City is her debut novel.
Fun facts

- She's an identical twin. (No, they don’t have psychic powers, and yes she is the evil one.)
- She's a little bit in love with Daniel Radcliffe.
- Her favourite book of all time is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
- Her second favourite book is Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
- Her third favourite is Harry…oh, you get the idea.
- Her ambition is to see 10 volcanoes before she dies. She's already seen Stromboli, Vesuvius and Mt Etna. Just 7 more to go!

Black City (Black City #1)

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes and Noble
Books-A-Million
Book Depository
Chapters Indigo
Indie Bound

Phoenix (Black City #2)

Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository
Chapters Indigo
Indie Bound

* Facebook * Twitter * Website * Blog * Goodreads *

AND I AM GIVING AWAY A HARDBOUND COPY OF BLACK CITY!! 

(PH Only! Sorry International folks!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK AND SPREAD THE WORD!

FEATURE: AUTHOR OF THE MONTH.. (3)

I am again so happy to share with you my interview for this month's Author of the Month. I loved her debut novel and found it really intriguing and I am just so glad that SHE agreed to have this interview. Let me introduce you to

SUSAN DENNARD.

The interview goes something like this. Enjoy!

How did you come up with 'Something Strange and Deadly' to be the novel's title?

This such a fun story! I was brainstorming with my agents and editor (over sangria ;)), and we were goofing off--naming thoroughly absurd things--when one of the agents said, "What about something...Strange and Deadly?" She meant "something" as a "we'll insert a better word there", but we all loved the rhythm of "something" so much, we kept it! :D

The premise is set in 1876 and I loved the setting! What were your preparations for the novel? Did you travel?

I had to do a TON of research for every book in the series--before I wrote and then as I wrote. I definitely visited Philadelphia as well as Paris for book 2--and even Egypt for book 3! It's pricey, but also worth it in the end. Nothing tells you about a place quite like going there.

Look what came!!! EEEEK! ARCs for A DARKNESS STRANGE AND LOVELY! (source)

I am personally not a fan of love triangles. But in this novel, I actually caught myself hoping there would be one. What are your plans for Eleanor's love life?

Eleanor's love life ain't simple. Let's just put it that way. She and Daniel have a rocky road ahead of them, and though there's never a love triangle in the traditional sense of the word, there are other people that pop into Eleanor's life and interfere. I think readers will really enjoy the relationship complexities that crop up in later books. ;)

Eleanor's mother, honestly, is annoying! Is she inspired by someone you know? (Haha sorry I can't help it!)

No! Hahaha. I would never base a character specifically on someone I know. Characters are created based on how I see people behave and interact, but they're never tied down to one Real Person. And yes--Eleanor's mother is horrible. But you know you know people like her--I sure do!

How does it feel that you're debut novel has been a huge success?

Wonderful! Ha--I'm not sure "huge success" is quite the right term, but definitely "more than I expected and this is AMAZING" feels right. ;) I never expected to get this far with my writing, and it is absolutely a dream come true.

Have you ever received a fan mail which expresses negative things about the novel? If yes, what did you do?

Of course! That's just part of being an artist and putting your work out there. I usually delete these emails and don't reply--unless it's clear the writer wants a response. But even then, I don't need negativity in my life. I'm proud of what I create and I know it won't be for everyone. People forget that reading is SUBJECTIVE. Your cup o' tea isn't my cup o' tea--and that's totally okay!

Mowgli as he sleeps. This cat truly is the dumbest, laziest tabby in the world. But he's pretty darn cute too... (source)

Do you read reviews? How do you handle negative ones?

Absolutely NOT. I don't read good ones, bad ones, trade reviews, blogger reviews, or anything. I think most artists avoid that sort of outside input--it really affects the creative process. Even good reviews get in your head and make you doubt what you produce (X-reader LOVED the romance--did I do it right in book 2?!).

That said, I do read all fan mail. It's different if a reader writes to me with a specific comment, and the positive emails are so, so, SO heartwarming. They're what keep me going. :D

Are you a fan of Walking Dead? If yes, who is your favorite character?

DARYL. I love him so, so, SO much. Unggghhhh!

I know you're also into KDramas. My favorite is Endless Love, what is yours? Any recommendations?

I recently watched Flower Boy Ramen Shop and LOVED it. But my all time fave--without a doubt--is Coffee Prince. Gong Yoo is just too beautiful to handle.

Any message for your Filipino fans?

Thank you SO much for reading Something Strange and Deadly! I love you all so much, and maybe one day (fingers crossed!!), I can come see YOU all. Boy, that would be amazing, huh??

It this fun or what? I've enjoyed reading her questions so much as well as her book and I am looking forward to reading the sequel! Here are some information about the book! Grab your copy now!

Susan's Novels:

Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly #1)

Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository

A Darkness Strange and Lovely (Something Strange and Deadly #2) 

Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository

About Susan: Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook *

Please watch out for Something Strange and Deadly's sequel, A Darkness Strange and Lovely! Available July 3, 2013 from HarperTeen!