The Best Reader + LIFE

Crossroads Tour: Dawn Dalton

1. What can you tell us about Killer’s Instinct?

Killer’s Instinct is the first book in the Most-Wanted Monsters series Judith Graves and I are co-writing and Leap Books is publishing. We’re excited that Leap is testing an innovative, new format by releasing Killer’s Instinct in 6 cliffhanger e-episodes throughout 2013, and then publishing the print book in its entirety in 2014.

Here’s the official blurb for Killer’s Instinct. It’s creeptastic!

Where there is NO life – there’s Hope.
Hope has always been a bit of a freak. But when her mother crawls from her grave and her undead corpse goes MIA, Hope's last thread of normal snaps with a vengeance.

Enrolling in a militia-style school for monster slayers seems the only course of action. And the best bet at tracking her mother down.
But does Hope have a true killer's instinct? If she finds her mother, will she have the guts to do what must be done?

If you’re into monsters, why not check out the Most-Wanted Monsters blog at www.mostwantedmonsters.blogspot.com, where Judith and I wax poetic about some of the world’s most sought after beasties. Hey, it might even save your life.

2. What do you like to listen to while writing?

It really depends on what project I’m working on. Every character kind of has his/her own soundtrack. Lately, I’ve been leaning towards the heavier stuff, like Marilyn Manson and Linkin Park, but I’ve been known to write to pop and classical, as well. My family knows to walk away when the headphones are in, or the iPod is cranked.

3. What is your writing process like?

Chaos. I’ve always got a lot of projects on the go, and I’m not much of a plotter, except when I have to (or when I’m working with Judith Graves on something – she’s the plot master and she wields a mighty whip!) I try to write at least 1,000 words a day on any given project, but I’m more apt to binge write and then take a few days of break. I have several writing places throughout the house – my husband even built me a small writing “cabin” in the back yard – but more often I’m sitting at the kitchen table.

4. Is it more difficult to develop a book or a story for an anthology?

I’ve never considered myself a strong short story writer. Even though I think I write “tight” I can never figure out how to get all of the elements of the story into something that isn’t a novel. But I love reading shorts stories, and I had a lot of fun writing THREAD OF THE PAST for the SPIRITED anthology, so it’s certainly something I’ll keep working on.

Fun questions, Jessica. Thank you!

Spirited: 13 Haunting Tales (anthology)
Published: Leap Books (February 13th, 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 332 pages
Leap Books has summoned some big names in fiction to help put together 13 ghostly stories to support a good cause. Spirited drops this October, with all proceeds to be donated to 826 National. 826 offers free after-school tutoring, workshops, and in-school programs because they believe that"strong writing skills are fundamental to future success." The authors featured in the anthology, from best-sellers to wickedly talented debuts, will participate in a chilling blog tour that's guaranteed to raise your goosebumps.

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Amazon

HOW THE TOUR WORKS Each day of The Crossroads Blog Tour, a new research question will be revealed on The Crossroad Blog Tour main page: http://judithgraves.com/events/the-crossroads-tour/crossroads-2012/ and each day the answer to that question will be found within one of the different blog posts by Crossroads Tour authors. Your job is to get the question, read the blog posts, and collect all answers by the end of the tour.
Answers are to be emailed to judithgraves @ ymail dot com by October 28th at MIDNIGHT. Winner of the grand prize will be announced on OCTOBER 31st – HALLOWEEN.
The GRAND PRIZE you’re vying for? A brand new KINDLE, preloaded with a title from each of the participating Crossroads Blog Tour Authors. That’s right folks, a free KINDLE and 13 free EBOOKS!

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Crossroads Tour: Dawn Dalton + LIFE