1. What book are you currently working on?
I’m working on a few books at the moment – putting the final bits of the third book in my SKINNED series, Skin of My Teeth together, as well as fleshing out the first in my steampunk ghosthunter series, STRANGEWAYS. And, well, yeah, there are other projects too, short stories, other manuscripts, and my screenwriting projects.
Seems like a lot to balance, right? It is, but I thrive on the challenge and find it helpful to have multiple projects to juggle. There’s never a dull moment. I’ve started to divide up days of the week by project in order to devote a few full days on each story.
2. What can you share with us about Killer’s Instinct?
Ah, there’s another one! Killer’s Instinct is a killer monster-hunter tale that I’m co-writing with Dawn Dalton and it is contracted with Leap Books (www.leapbks.com) for a late 2013 or early 2014 launch. I’m keen about this project as the book will be released in six, e-serial episodes, released every two months for one year – the episodes will be compiled into a paperback at that time. Kind of an interesting experiment in publishing.
The book revolves around four main characters, young recruits at a secret monster-hunting academy who have to get over their mutual antagonism and personal demons if they want to survive basic training. Emphasis is on one particular character, Hope, the only girl in the newly formed unit.
Discover the characters by visiting our blog: http://mwmnovels.blogspot.ca/
Here’s the blurb:
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?
3. Is it more difficult to write a book or write a story for an anthology?
While books take longer to physically write – more words, more depth – short stories are an art form unto themselves. I got my start in fiction by writing flash fiction, or short, short stories – complete tales with a beginning, middle, and end, but under 1000 words, so I’ve been enamored with the format for ages.
Still not sure I’m any damn good though. With a novel, you have time to play, to take the reader on asides (though they have to drive the story forward!) – in short stories you have to lay it all out there. Now. And make every word count.
Hmmm… I’m not sure I’m answering the question… lol… I guess I’d have to say they are both difficult, but that’s part of the fun of writing – challenging yourself to improve with every turn of phrase.
4. If you were going out for Halloween this year, what would be your costume?
My standby costume when I was a kid was a nurse. Easy peasy, since I’d just borrow one of my mom’s old nursing uniforms – you know, the kind from the sixties with the hat, and cape, and everything. Now I’d probably update it with a bit of zombie makeup. Yeah, a sixties zombie nurse. That’s it!
Second Skin by Judith Graves Publisher: Leap Books (October 31st, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback Series: Skinned #2
With FIENDS like Eryn…
Monsters. Bloodsuckers. The evil. The damned. Eryn McCain knows they exist— she’s been hunting them since she was a child. At sixteen, she’s ready to take on all comers. Being a shapeshifter gives her an advantage when it comes to her unusual part-time job. The hours suck and the pay is, well, non-existent, but bonuses like inhuman strength and night vision make tracking scary beasties a dream come true. Especially in a town like Redgrave.
When an ancient demon targets Redgrave High, Eryn and her crew of hunters must face their innermost fears to prevent the Harvest Moon Dance from becoming one serious Monster Mash. Loyalties are tested and temptations abound. With questions ever brewing, can Eryn share a future with the brooding, noble, human Alec—the hunter after her heart? Or will she succumb to her enemy’s son, Wade, a seductive predator as bloodthirsty as she is?
What happens when you’re both the beauty and the beast?
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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!