Descended by Blood Book Blog Tour I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to help Angeline Kace with her tour for Descended by Blood. The book is absolutely fabulous and I can't wait to read book 2 in the series!
Not only will each stop include something fun about about the book, characters, or Angeline, but there will also be a MASSIVE prize pack given away on each stop. That's right. Each stop will have some pretty hard core swag to giveaway, which will include the following:
PAPERBACK prize pack includes- a SIGNED book, bookmark, and nail polish matching the cover + has a cute crown on top! (Do your nails then read the book!) ♦ SKIN prize pack includes- Kindle or Nook skin, eBook, SIGNED bookmark, and nail polish matching the cover + has a cute crown on top! (Do your nails then read the book!)
Each stop is only hosting each giveaway for 2-3 days each, so if you want to win the prizes you should follow along; ) Tour Schedule: Friday, August 26, 2011 ~ A Life Bound by Books, Character interview with Paperback * Saturday, August 27, 2011 ~ Hesperia Loves Books, Interview with Skin Monday, August 29, 2011 ~ Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, Shorty Story with Paperback Tuesday, August 30, 2011 ~ Great Imaginations, Guest post with Skin Wednesday, August 31, 2011 ~ Confessions of a Bookaholic, Fun post with Paperback * Thursday, September 01, 2011 ~ A Cupcake and a Latte, Guest post with Skin Friday, September 02, 2011 ~ The Bookish Brunette, Guest post with Paperback Saturday, September 03, 2011 ~ Fiktshun, Interview with Skin Monday, September 05, 2011 ~ Book Passion for Life, Interview, Paperback-US & ebook-Int Tuesday, September 06, 2011 ~ Two Chicks on Books, Guest post with Skin Wednesday, September 07, 2011 ~ I'm a Bookshark,"This or That" with Paperback Thursday, September 08, 2011 ~ Seeingnight Reviews, Character Interview with Skin Friday, September 09, 2011 ~ My Cute Bookshelf, Interview with Paperback Saturday, September 10, 2011 ~ Letters Inside Out, Interview with Skin Monday, September 12, 2011 ~ The Unread Reader,"When I'm Not Writing" with Paperback Tuesday, September 13, 2011 ~ Two Readers Reviews, Guest post with Skin Wednesday, September 14, 2011 ~ Magnet 4 Books, Guest post with Paperback Thursday, September 15, 2011 ~ Mundie Moms, Interview with Skin * Friday, September 16, 2011 ~ The Book Faery, Guest post with Paperback Saturday, September 17, 2011 ~ Books with Bite, Guest post with Skin Monday, September 19, 2011 ~ Me, Myshelf, and I, Guest post with Paperback Tuesday, September 20, 2011 ~ The Cait Flies, Guest post w/Skin & (Int) ebook Wednesday, September 21, 2011 ~ Tynga Reviews,"Book's Cover Creation" with Paperback * Thursday, September 22, 2011 ~ Electrifying Reviews, Guest post with Skin Friday, September 23, 2011 ~ La Femme Readers,"Vamps from Croatia" with Paperback * Saturday, September 24, 2011 ~ The Book Swarm, Guest post with Skin* Monday, September 26, 2011 ~ Absconditas, Fun Character post with Paperback Tuesday, September 27, 2011 ~ The Bookworms, Guest Post with Skin * Wednesday, September 28, 2011 ~ Bewitched Bookworms, Skin * Thursday, September 29, 2011 ~ Flippin' Fabulous, Guest post with Skin
NOTE: Each person is limited to only winning 1 of each prize pack (You could win 1 Paperback & 1 Skin, but no more, which is actually pretty generous, no?).
At the beginning of this school year I realized that I had at least three girls who were severely struggling, not only academically but socially as well. When these girls came into my classroom each day they had this look of defeat on their faces — such a sad look for a freshman. When we started talking about recreational reading and that each freshman would be required to read two recreational books a quarter and that each Friday would be devoted to reading, I heard many of groans of agony I assumed I would receive.
These three girls came up to me after school and said, "Miss Remmers, we have no idea what to read. Nothing sounds good. Nothing is real." I immediately turned to my trusty bookshelf and handed them my copies of "Cracked Up to Be" (review) and "Some Girls Are" (review) . Four days later, each of the three girls had devoured both of these books and were begging for more. I don't have a copy of Courtney's next release "Fall For Anything," so I needed to find something to stall their ferociously growing appetite for YA.
I emailed Courtney's agent asking for an author interview; to my absolute delight, Courtney responded. When I told these girls, which has now gone from the original three to my "Girls Read" thirteen student After-School Book Club, they couldn't wait to put in their questions. Without further ado, I would like to welcome Courtney Summers, author of "Cracked Up to Be," "Some Girls Are," and the upcoming "Fall For Anything," not only to this blog, but to my classroom as well.
You have fantastic characters. They are so honest and real — just like us! How do you come up with your characters? Do you have any inspiration? Do you have a writing process you do for character development?
Thank you! Inspiration varies from character to character. With Parker and Regina, I was interested in writing female protagonists who were not traditionally nice. Parker was inspired by the pressure we place on girls to be perfect, often at the expense of themselves. In Regina, I wanted to write a character who didn't make likeable choices, but I wanted to see if I could make readers understand why she made those choices. I don't do any pre-writing in terms of character development (like interviewing my characters etc.)--once I have their general story in my head, I usually dive right into the book.
While I loved "Some Girls Are," it was almost painful to read it because of the issue of bullies. What was your inspiration for Regina and the other characters in "Some Girls Are"?
As a girl who bullied and was bullied, I had a lot of questions about my own experiences. I wanted to make sense of them and find out if I was alone in them, and that's ultimately why I wrote the book. As I mentioned above, in Regina, I wanted to write a female character who wasn't always nice or made good choices, but I wanted readers to understand why she made them. She's in a very toxic relationship with these girls she has known all her life and thinks of as her friends and she's constantly worried about her own immediate survival within her group. This fear inspires her to act in not always the best ways. But I think that's a sadly common situation girls find themselves in.
We learn in school that we have to practice our craft and setting up a routine is the best way to be consistent. Do you have a routine when you write? Any thing you have to have when you sit down to write? When do you write and where?
It's definitely important to be consistent; that will help you turn your writing into a discipline. I write every night (I'm a night owl) at a desk in my room. Pretty basic! I like to have water or coffee nearby and I absolutely have to have my headphones, so I can listen to my favorite songs while I type.
Parker, from "Cracked Up to Be," and Regina, from "Some Girls Are," were such fantastic characters. I can't wait to read your next novel. "Fall for Anything." Can you tell us anything about the protagonist of that novel?
Thank you! The protagonist of Fall For Anything is a girl named Eddie Reeves. She's seventeen and she's VERY unlike Parker and Regina. She's my first non-mean girl character. Eddie is a very vulnerable and open girl who is trying to make sense of her father's death (he killed himself). She's very single-minded in her quest to unravel the mystery and find out the truth.
What advice do you have for fourteen year old aspiring authors?
If it's what you really want to do, don't let anyone talk you out of it. And always set flexible goals!
What's your favorite and worst high school memory?
My favorite memory of high school is when the last bell went and I got to go home.;) The worst memory was walking down the hall and seeing a boy get publicly humiliated. A crowd had gathered and they were all laughing at him. It was awful.
What songs are on your iPod right now?
Sooo many. Here's a sampling: Marina & The Diamonds' album, The Family Jewels (fave tracks: Oh No! and I Am Not a Robot) Florence + the Machine's album, Lungs (fave tracks: Dog Days Are Over, My Boy Builds Coffins) Lissie's album, Catching a Tiger (fave tracks: Record Collector, Bully, Stranger)
Who is your best friend? How did you meet?
I have a few best friends who have come into my life in different ways... one of them is in the dedication of every one of my books.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Thank you so much for reading my books and for your thoughtful questions! I can't tell you how much I appreciate it!
Thank you so much Courtney for taking the time to talk answer my girls' questions. They were so excited to read your answers and demanded a printed out copy. These two novels not only opened up a world of YA fiction to these struggling readers, but they also provided an outlet and new found community. "Girls Read" meets every Tuesday after school; we are currently reading "Shiver."
"Fall For Anything" comes out December 21st, 2010.
This page will be updated each day when a new post or giveaway is added. Bookmark this page and check back each day for more chances to win amazing books and swag!
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Comment contest through 10/31. USE GOOGLE for details.
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2 winners — 12 books each! Ends 10/31 — US only. USE GOOGLE for details.
Posts and Giveaways
Giveaways will be marked with a * (L) = Lisa's blog at A Life Bound By Books October 1st * Andrea Cremer and a giveaway for Nightshade. (ENDED) *(L) — Janenifer Archer and a giveaway for an ARC of Through Her Eyes. (ENDED)
October 2nd Amy Brecount White *(L) — Wayne Josephson and a giveaway for Emma and the Vampires (ENDED)
October 3rd Andrew Jacobson * Book Feature- Alyson Noel & Leah Cypess and a giveaway for a signed copy of Radiance and bookmarks (ENDED) (L) — Tricia Rayburn October 4th * Nancy Holder and a giveaway for a signed copy of Possessions and The Evil Within (ENDED) *(L) — Kathy Charles and a giveaway for John Belushi is Dead (ENDED)
October 5th * Shannon Delany and a giveaway for a signed copy of 13 to Life and swag (ENDED) Julie Chibbaro *(L) — Shaun David Hutchinson and a giveaway for a signed copy of The Deathday Letter and swag (ENDED)
October 6th * Denise Jaden and a giveaway for a signed copy of Losing Faith (ENDED) *(L) — Lee Nichols and a giveaway for a signed copy of Deception (ENDED)
October 7th Jennifer Hubbard @The_Omega_(Black Dagger Brotherhood) *(L) — Sara Bennett Whealer and a giveaway for a signed copy of Rivals (ENDED)
October 8th *Tammar Stein and a giveaway for a signed copy of Light Years (ENDED) Emma Michaels *(L) — Ty Roth and a giveaway for a signed copy of So Shelly (ENDED)
October 9th *Elizabeth Rudnick and a giveaway for a signed copy of Tweet Heart and a water bottle (ENDED) Linda Joy Singleton *(L) — Leah Clifford and a giveaway for a $20 gift card (ENDED)
October 10th Adult Giveaway post - 2 winners get 5 books each (ENDED) *(L) — @Wrath_BDB (Black Dagger Brotherhood)
October 11th *Kimberly Derting and a giveaway for a swag pack from The Body Finder (ENDED) Desires of the Dead Prologue *(L) — Kelly Keaton and a giveaway for an ARC of Darkness Becomes Her (ENDED)
October 12th @Vishous_BDB (Black Dagger Brotherhood) (L) Amanda Hocking *(L) — Sean Ferrell and a giveaway for a signed copy of Numb (ENDED)
October 13th *Joy Preble and a giveaway for a signed copy of Dreaming Anastasia and swag (ENDED) *Jordan Deen and a giveaway for a signed ARC of The Crescent and swag (ENDED) (L) Beth Revis
October 14th * YA Giveaway post — 2 winners get 12 books each (ENDED) *(L) — Gwen Hayes and a giveaway for a $10 gift card (ENDED)
October 15th Alyxandra Harvey *Judith Graves and a giveaway for Under My Skin swag (ENDED) *(L) — Janenifer DeLucy and a giveaway for a signed copy of Seers of Light & Whisper of Light (ENDED)
October 16th * Melinda Metz & Laura Burns and a giveaway for Crave -2 winners (ENDED) @Tohrment_BDB (Black Dagger Brotherhood)
October 17th * Jeff W. Crawford and a giveaway for a copy of Dreamshaper (ENDED) *(L) — Christine Johnson and a giveaway for Claire de Lune swag (ENDED) October 18th * Holly Cupala (L) — Brenda Yovanoff *(L) — Book Feature — Lauren Oliver and a giveaway for swag (ENDED)
October 19th Anastasia Hopcus * Book Feature — Kelley Armstrong and a giveaway for a signed copy of Industrial Magic & Personal Demon (ENDED) *(L) — Lish McBride and a giveaway for an ARC of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer (ENDED)
October 20th * Brenda Pandos and a giveaway for a signed copy of The Emerald Talisman & bookmarks (ENDED) * (L) — Lesley Livingston and a giveaway for a signed copy of Wondrous Strange (ENDED)
October 21st Jennifer Murgia * (L) — Rebecca Maizel and a giveaway for a signed copy of Infinite Days & swag (ENDED)
October 22nd * Adele Griffin and a giveaway for a signed copy of The Julian Game & a Picture the Dead t-shirt (ENDED) Jocelyn Davies
October 23rd * Kate Kaynak and a giveaway for a signed copy of Minder (ENDED) * (L) — Jeri Smith-Ready and a giveaway for a signed copy of Shade (ENDED)
October 24th * Michelle Zink and a giveaway for a signed copy of Prophecy & Guardian, plus a CD (ENDED) * (L) — @Rehvenge_BDB (Black Dagger Brotherhood)
October 25th Marley Gibson Jessica Souders * (L) — Beth Fantaskey and a giveaway for a signed copy of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (ENDED)
October 26th * Daniel Waters and a giveaway for a signed copy of Passing Strange (ENDED) * Ghost and the Goth Character Interview and a giveaway for a signed copy of Ghost and the Goth (ENDED)
October 27th * Lauren Hammond and a giveaway for a Love Sucks ebook (ENDED) Black Dagger Brotherhood Interview- Role Play Group — Part 1
October 28th Black Dagger Brotherhood Interview- Role Play Group — Part 2 (L) — Cyn Balog
October 29th * Lisa Desrochers and a giveaway for a signed copy of Personal Demons and swag (Ends 11/12 — US only) * Black Dagger Brotherhood Interview- Role Play Group — Part 3 and a giveaway for the first 6 books- Box Set (Ends 11/15 — International) * (L) — Claudia Gray and a giveaway for 4 signed Evernight books (Ends 11/12 — International)
October 30th * Sarah Ockler and a giveaway for a signed copy of Fixing Delilah or Twenty Boy Summer (Ends 11/13 — US only) * Simone Elkeles and a giveaway for a signed copy of Perfect Chemistry (Ends 11/13 — US only) (L) — Lisa Cach
October 31st * Kristie Cook and a giveaway for a signed copy of Purpose and swag (Ends 11/14 — US only)
I highly enjoyed the book The Emerald Talisman and one of my favorite characters is Julia's friend Samantha. I am thrilled to have her on the blog today to ask her a few questions.
J: Hello Sam, so glad you could be here with me today!
Sam: Thanks for interviewing me. Forgive me for being nervous. This is my first interview. J: Sam, can you tell us a little about how you and Julia became such good friends? Sam: One day in the 4th grade she asked me to play two-square and we were friends ever since. Not a lot of kids have lost a parent. A drunk driver killed my dad in an accident when I was in second grade. Julia was the only person who understood and helped me. J: What about the others? What do you think keeps your group together?You all seem to differ in a lot of ways, especially Katie.
Sam: Julia is defiantly the glue that keeps us together. Between Cam and Katie always getting on each other’s nerves, without Julia, we’d of parted ways along time ago. We all care about Jules a lot. J:Do you ever worry about Julia or think that maybe she is hiding something from you? Sam: Never. We tell each other everything. She sometimes zones out and seems distracted with what others are going through, but I think it’s just her natural way of empathizing with people. She really knows what to say to help you feel better. J: Do you wish that she would confide in you more? Sam: She and I usually do, but I guess you can’t tell your friends everything. I don’t think there are secrets between us. Why? Is there something I should know? J: What? *looks away* oh no, um, of course not. *Clears throat*.moving on… Even when you and Julia fight, how do you keep your friendship strong?
Sam: We never really fight. I hate conflict. She hates conflict. We do our best to get along. She’s a really sweet person. What’s to fight about? J: If you could choose 1 word to describe each of your friends, what would it be?
Sam: I don’t know. That’s hard to say in one word. Cam – Smart. Katie – Cool. Dena – Nice. Julia – Sweet. J: If you could have a hope, or wish, for each of them, what would it be? Sam: I wish Cam would get into the college he wants to get into and find a cool girlfriend. That Katie would find a great boyfriend and get into the college she wants to attend too. That Dena and Morgan would get married and live happily ever after and have cute kids. That Jules and Nicholas figure out a way to tell her dad about their relationship and they get married to. J: What about yourself? What are you hoping for? Sam: Oh, I don’t know. Is it just between us? I’d like to marry Todd, but if I had like an impossible wish, I’d like my dad back. Thanks for the interview. It was fun.
The Sapphire Talisman by Brenda Pandos Publisher: Obsidian Mountain Publishing (December 15th, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 320 pages Series: The Emerald Talisman, book #2 With the local vampire coven decimated, Julia and Nicholas try to begin a somewhat normal life together. Bound by secrecy from a shape shifter determined to see Julia’s world-saving prediction come to fruition, Julia isn’t allowed to tell Nicholas the leader survived, ransacking her happiness with guilt. When Alora returns, bent on revenge, the reunion forces Nicholas and Julia to choose what they are willing to live and die for.
The Sapphire Talisman blog tour is hosted by Teen {book} scene.You can USE GOOGLE to visit the other stops on the tour. USE GOOGLE to find out how to pre-order a signed copy and all pre-orders can be entered to win a talisman. Ends November 30th.
The Sapphire Talisman will be out December 15th, 2010.
Find Brenda Pandos Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads Purchase The Emerald Talisman Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository The Emerald Talisman Book Trailer
Thou Shalt Not Road Trip by Antony John Publisher: Dial Books (April 12th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 336 pages Source: ARC Tour Rating: 3 of 5 stars
Sixteen-year-old Luke Dorsey is sent on a cross-country tour to promote his bestselling spiritual self-help guide accompanied by his agnostic older brother and former girlfriend, Fran, from whom he learns some things about salvation.
Review:
I'm a sucker for a road trip book so when I saw the cover for this one, I knew I had to read it. I think that due to the fact that I was strongly focused on the cover, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect with this book. The summary doesn't tell us a lot so I didn't know how focused it would be on spirituality.
Luke Dorsey is sort of an overnight success. He is very young but is already super famous among book lovers. He has difficulty dealing with this success and is mostly amazed at the way people treat him. Due to his popularity, he is sent on a book tour to promote his story.
Matt, Luke's brother, is supposed to act as his transportation from one signing to another. It's easy to see from the beginning that these brothers are not similar. Matt is a bit irresponsible and not at all prepared for a trip. He is more than willing to use funds from the publisher to take care of whatever is needed for the trip and even with that, they have several missteps along the way.
Soon, they are not only dealing wtih the stresses of travel, but bringing Matt's girlfriend and her sister (who just happens to be Luke's ex-girlfriend) Fran. This creates a bit of drama, but at the same time they learn a lot about themselves and each other.
Luke was a funny character. His writings were hilarious as well. There was just something about him that I liked immediately. He seemed like a typical, awkward young boy. He was funny without meaning to be sometimes just because of how he reacted to his brothers antics. It was a nice touch for this book.
I don't typically read a lot of books with religious topics. Not because I don't like them, but mainly because they can get preachy or, boring.to be honest. This book wasn't at all boring. Antony John's writing really kept the story flowing nicely. But, this book does have a lot of religious talk and internal dialogue. This may be something that most people enjoy, but it brought the book down a bit for me.
Recommended: Road trip fans looking for something funny with a religious meaning.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Make sure to check out my character interview with Alex, and enter to win a signed copy of Thou Shalt Not Road Trip! Ends 4/28.
Everlasting is an amazing story that blew me away! I highly recommend it and my review will be coming up tomorrow. Until then I have a special guest from the book, Samuel. * This interview does contain spoilers.
J: Thanks Samuel for stopping by. I'd love to know- what was your reaction when you found out your mother had another child before you? Samuel: At first, I didn’t want to believe it. But my mother had always been secretive and quiet. She’d never really spoken much about her past, so I’d always assumed there was something she was keeping locked away. After my initial disbelief, it all made a lot of sense. I was just happy to finally know what my mother’s secret was. J: What was your initial thought when you first saw Camille and knew she was your sister? Samuel: I felt as if I already knew her. Like I wasn’t alone anymore, if that makes any sense. J: How did you manage to take care if your mother during her illness? Samuel: It wasn’t something I had to think about—it was just something that I did. She needed me, and there was no one else to care for her. So I did it. J: With everything that happened, what is your biggest regret? Samuel: I wish I had listened to Camille when she warned me about my father. I was jealous that she’d known him before I did. I felt like I’d been left out of everything, while she’d been included. I regret feeling jealous. J: What do you hope for in the future regarding your relationship with Camille? Samuel: I want to know my sister better, and I want her to be able to look at me without seeing my father. He was her worst enemy, and I don’t want her to always wonder if, deep down, I am more like him than I am our mother. I think it might be a while before I can convince her.
Everlasting by Angie Frazier Publisher: Scholastic Press (June 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 336 pages Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.
On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.
The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.
Beautifully written and feverishly paced, Everlasting is an unforgettable journey of passion, secrecy, and adventure.
The sequel, The Eternal Sea, will be released June 1st, 2011! This is a"teaser" Angie released of the cover. Love it!
Purchase Everlasting Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
Thanks to Angie Frazier for allowing me to borrow Samuel and The Teen {Book} Scene for the tour opportunity! USE GOOGLE to follow the other blogs on the tour and stop back by later today for my review of Everlasting.
As the first Author Interview of the New Year, I'd like to welcome Barbara Fifield, author of "Lucifer Rising."
Tell us a little bit about you. Who is Barbara Fifield?
I am an Army Brat and lived in Germany and Japan as a child. I’ve been writing since I was 11 and won the best short story contest in sixth grade. I had to read my story in front of a class of 45 students (this was the 50’s during the Baby Boom). They loved my story so much they had me read it three times, even though there were other students who had to read theirs. I’ve been writing ever since and majored in journalism in college. I continued to write stories, poems, and plays. One of my poems about dancing was selected by a music company to be made into a song, but I never followed up on it. When I was 18, I wrote my first novel, "The Early Autumn," a teen love story. It was too long and needed editing. A publisher told me to throw it away and write another book. I wrote another one in my 30’s, called "Only Time Will Tell," a novel loosely based on my first marriage which was crumbling at the time. I kept parts of it which I plan to use in my next novel and tossed the rest away, after sending it out to only one literary agent and getting rejected. At this time, I had also returned to college to finish up my journalism degree which had been delayed due to the births of my two children. After writing on newspapers for several years and not making much money, I went back to school and received a Master’s Degree in Social Work as there were a lot of jobs in that field during the 1980’s. I wrote another novel called "Letting Go," where the main character, Marjorie, works as a social worker with abused women, then meets her second husband. That is the next book I plan to publish, maybe in a couple of years, after several more rewrites. My first novel, "Photographs and Memories," published last spring, is about how the character Angela coped with moving to Florida and the death of her second husband.
Describe the publication process you went through after writing "Lucifer Rising."
"Lucifer Rising" is my second novel and was published the end of June, 2009. It’s a fantasy romance about a female reporter, Elsa, who falls in love with a cult leader who happens to be a reincarnation of the angel, Lucifer. After many break ups, she finally leaves him, hopefully for good, although she questions her decision at the end. I base a lot of my characters on people I’ve known, and using my imagination, I concoct fictional personalities. The events that happen in the novel, such as Elsa finding her lover with another woman are made up but could have happened in real life to the characters, based on the personalities of the individuals they depict. The novel was published by Outskirts Press in only six months after it was submitted.
What was the easiest thing about writing "Lucifer Rising?" The hardest?
"Lucifer Rising" just flowed from me, with little rewriting, while I was waiting for my first novel, "Photographs and Memories," to be published. I’ve never found an easier book to write. The hardest thing about writing "Lucifer Rising" was expressing feelings of pain and rejection through Elsa, the main character. Although she realizes her lover, Tyrell, is evil, she still cares about him and keeps trying to make it work.
Describe "Lucifer Rising" in three words.
In three words, "Lucifer Rising" could be described as “Cultist captivates women.”
Do you have any habits when you write? If so, what are they.
Writing habits: I write for hours on end, rewriting as I go, then rewriting what I wrote earlier the next day. Sometimes it takes me weeks to finish one chapter. When my head starts spinning from all of the rewrites, I often go out to take a walk. That clears my mind.
What is something surprising or shocking about you that most people don't know?
Many events and characters I write about I’ve experienced which may surprise many readers.
Where do you hang out offline?
I am involved in many clubs off-line. I am the newsletter editor for a local chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). I also attend Toastmaster’s which is training me how to speak to audiences about my novels.
Where do you hang out online?
Visit my website at http://fifieldauthor.com/
If after reading the review and readers want to purchase the novel, where should they go?
Those who wish to purchase "Lucifer Rising" may find it on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.co,m or Outskirtspress.com’s bookstore.
Thank you, Barbara, for stopping by and answering a few questions. My review of "Lucifer Rising" will be posted soon.
Laura Wiess is here today to talk about her brand new book Ordinary Beauty. It was released today!
To celebrate this wonderful book birthday, 2 copies of Ordinary Beauty are up for grabs.
1. Your books place focus on some very heartbreaking stories. Where do those ideas come from? And is it ever emotional to write about these topics? Oh yes, it's always emotional. My heart is always with my main characters. When I'm writing, I see life through their eyes, and feel what they feel, which can be very frightening sometimes. My main characters are usually caught in precarious situations and trying really hard to make it through. They're the girls lost in shadows, abandoned, betrayed, in danger, the ones with problems they can't speak of, and are just struggling along under the radar, waiting, hoping for someone to notice, and care.
The ideas for my books are usually sparked by something that catches my attention, and then provokes a passionate response in me. Meredith, from Such a Pretty Girl showed up after I'd heard a news story about a convicted sexual predator/pedophile being released early from prison and going home. I started wondering Home? Home to who? Does he have a wife? Who would stay married to a pedophile?What would it be like to be the daughter of a convicted sex offender? And then my character Meredith stepped out of the dark, and the book was born.
2. Do you often hear from fans saying that your story touched them?
Yes, and that's always both humbling and gratifying, because it means that the character's pain, struggle and triumph made it through. As a reader, I love books with characters I can really root for and angst over, so it means a lot when readers say the same. For instance, How It Ends seems to be the book that makes people cry like crazy, which is great because I cried like crazy writing it.
3. Can you tell us a little about Sayre from Ordinary Beauty?
Sure. The story opens when Sayre is seventeen. She grew up knowing she was a mistake, unplanned and unwanted. Her mother got pregnant at fifteen, the guy disappeared and Sayre was left to be raised by her grandmother. Sayre's a strong, determined girl, and a desperate one. Her mother is an addict, and Sayre has grown up in unstable and dangerous environments, neglected, seeing and being exposed to things that make life frightening, and uncertain. She craves her mother's love, but she doesn't think her mother loves her in return, and it's a question she needs answered before it's too late. She's a brave girl, and a hopeful one. I admire her.
4. What do you hope young girls take from reading Ordinary Beauty?
Well, I think everybody takes something different from a story, but what I believe comes through is that no matter how dark the circumstances, there's always a thread of hope. You can make it. Life changes and evolves every single day, whether you see it happening or not, and it can get better. It can. 5. Do you have any other book ideas in the works? Oh yes, there's always another book in the works. It's still being written, so I can't say much but I will say the attraction between the main character and the guy she likes is a hot one. Love these two!
Thanks Laura for being on my blog.
Ordinary Beauty by Laura Wiess Publisher: MTV Books (June 14th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 320 pages How can you make someone love you when they won’t? And what if that person happens to be your mother? Sayre Bellavia grew up knowing she was a mistake: unplanned and unwanted. At five months shy of eighteen, she’s become an expert in loneliness, heartache, and neglect. Her whole life she’s been cursed, used, and left behind. Swallowed a thousand tears and ignored a thousand deliberate cruelties. Sayre’s stuck by her mother through hell, tried to help her, be near her, be important to her even as her mother slipped away into a violent haze of addiction, destroying the only chance Sayre ever had for a real family. Now her mother is lying in a hospital bed, near death, ravaged by her own destructive behavior. And as Sayre fights her way to her mother’s bedside, she is terrified but determined to get the answer to a question no one should ever have to ask: Did my mother ever really love me? And what will Sayre do if the answer is yes?
Prize:
2 winners will receive a copy of Ordinary Beauty by Laura Wiess.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US Only and ends July 5th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
Find Laura Wiess Website | Goodreads | Blog
Purchase Ordinary Beauty Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Tell Me A Secret is a fabulous story that I will not soon forget. I posted my review of it HERE and now I am thrilled to be a stop on the blog tour. Today I am honored to get a chance to speak with Miranda herself!
J: Thank you Miranda for being on my blog today.Can you tell us one thing that teens may not realize when they feel they are in a serious, romantic relationship? Miranda: I don’t think there is anything wrong with serious romantic relationships, but it’s easy to get caught up in them and lose sight of the bigger picture—that’s part of what happened between Kamran and me, both of us for different reasons. Remember to stay grounded in your friendships, your goals, and the things you know to be true. J: If you could go back to before you were pregnant and give yourself advice, what would you say? Miranda: I think I would tell myself to take a step back. I did good things for the wrong reasons and some not-so-good things for the right ones. It’s hard to see things clearly when you’re right in the middle of them. It helps to have good friends to stand by you through the hard times, and the confusing times. Sometimes it’s difficult to find a true friend, but it’s worth it.
J: Out of everything you have had to experience, what sticks out as the hardest part? What one thing did you learn the most from? Miranda: The hardest part was losing my sister and learning to stand on my own. I think I was looking for myself in her, and later in Delaney and other people. It seems so distant, now that my life has taken such a different turn. When you learn something with your heart and not your head, it changes everything.
J: Most teens don't have a good understanding of what pregnancy is actually like. Can you share with us what part of it surprised you the most? Miranda: I think it surprised me that you could get so close to something you’ve never seen or heard. After Lexi was born, I just kept staring at her, like, Is that you? Is that really you? Someone you know and don’t know at the same time. It still surprises me every day.
J: If Xanda had been alive when you learned the news of your pregnancy, what do you think her first words to you would have been?
Miranda: I’m not sure what she would say, but I can picture what she might do: she would spin around with her hands over her mouth. She might say, “That’s terrible.” Or she might say, “That’s wonderful!” She might even say, “I can’t believe it’s you and not me.” But after the initial shock, she would throw her whole self into sticking by me through it all.
J: Do you have a new outlook on life and loss, or a new philosophy you now try to go by? Miranda: What sticks out for me the most is when Nik talked about why difficult things happen. She said, “We don’t always know why things happen until down the road.” The future is where the hope is, she said. I don’t know what’s in the future, but I know I’m hopeful now.
And here is a BONUS! A video from Holly where she discusses her deepest, darkest secrets! Wouldn't you like to know some of Holly's Secrets?
Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala Publisher: HarperCollins (June 22nd, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 256 pages In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda’s death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister’s world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.
Then two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears. Stripped of her former life, Miranda must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister’s demons and her own.
Giveaway
Prize:
1 winner will receive a TELL ME A SECRET ART PRINT — Inspired by the book trailer.
(As pictured above) Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US Only and ends December 15th.
Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
The form must be filled out to enter.
Podcast To access the Tell Me a Secret podcast, click on the banner or HERE to get to the page.
Find Holly Cupala Holly Cupala / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads Purchase Tell Me A Secret Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble Book Trailer
Thanks so much Holly for the post, giveaway, and VIDEO!
The Tell Me A Secret blog tour is hosted by Teen {book} scene.You can USE GOOGLE to visit the other stops on the tour.
I am honored to kick off the tour for Damned, the second book in the Crusade series. I have an interview with both authors, Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguié and an amazing ARC giveaway listed below. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour. You can see the stops on Nancy Holder's blog.
1. What is it like working with another person on a book? Do you two have a certain system for writing?
Debbie: It’s amazing and fun. What’s great about our relationship is that her strengths are my weaknesses and vice versa. We are able to rely on eachother. Also, the ideas are exciting because with the two of us working on a book it morphs into something awesome that isn’t necessarily what either of us would have done if working solo. Being a co-author means you have to put your ego aside and decide together what’s best for the story. Nancy and I have had no problems doing this with each other and the results have been remarkable! We usually trade off writing chapters and then we swap and edit until by the end we can’t even tell who wrotewhat originally!
Nancy: The real question is, What is it like to working with DEBBIE on a book? It’s no wonder we write about magic. Not only do we complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but we often independently come up with the same edits and fixes. We’re about to celebrate a decade of partnership and it’s flown by.
2. This question is for both of you. Who is your favorite character to write about? Do you tend to focus on certain characters over others while writing?
Debbie: I love writing for Jamie. He isn’t my favorite character, but writing him is just fun. We try really hard to give all the characters a lot of time to have their story unfold. We try to make sure we have several point of view scenes for each main character.
Nancy: Antonio. I love him. I admire him and I would tell you that I pity him, but if he found out he’d be very cross with me.
3. How did you develop the world we see in CRUSADE and DAMNED?
Debbie: We thought about what it would be like if WWIII happened with vampires as the enemies. We tried to craft a world that we thought was a realistic depiction of how people and nations react in times of great despair and how they try to fight foes that seem unbeatable.
Nancy: Our vampire hunters are like the Resistance in World War II. They’re outnumbered and outgunned, but they have stealth and courage on their side. There were so many unsung heroes in WWII. This is our tribute to them, and to soldiers in the trenches today.
4. If each of you could describe your main characters in one word each, what would they be?
Debbie: Jenn heroic Antonio devoted Skye conflicted Jamie explosive Eriko tormented Holgar compassionate Father Juan enigmatic
Nancy: Jenn couragous Antonio idealistic Skye awakened Jamie bitter Eriko suffering Holgar warm Father Juan mysterious
5. What was your reaction to the new covers for the series?
Debbie: I love, love, love the cover of Damned. I think it’s vibrant and exciting and the fact that Antonio has his sleeves rolled up in a snowstorm shows you just how different he is from humans.
Nancy: I also love the cover of Damned. The name of our cover model is Sterling and he’s been in Los Angeles auditioning for pilot season. Good luck, Sterling!
6. If you could both pick to be a vampire, werewolf, witch, or hunter, which would you pick and why?
Debbie: Werewolf. You get to live a normal life except for one night a month at which point you get to unleash your inner animal. It sounds very cathartic. (Frightening and horrific too, but not as life altering ultimately as the others.)
Nancy: Witch Definitely. You have powers to change the fabric of the universe based in a tradition of goodness and mercy.
Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 30th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 384 pages Series: Crusade #2 There is a fine line between love and sacrifice… Antonio would do anything for his beloved fighting partner Janen. He protects her, even suppresses his vampire cravings to be with her. Together, they defend humanity against the Cursed Ones. But tensions threaten to fracture their hunting team and his loyalty—his love—is called into question. Jenn, the newly appointed Hunter, aches for revenge against the Cursed One who converted her sister. And with an even more sinister power on the rise, she must overcome her personal vendettas to lead her team into battle. Antonio and Janen need each other to survive, but evil lurks at every turn. With humanity’s fate hanging in the balance, they must face down the darkness… or die trying.
Prize:
1 winner will receive an ARC of Damned by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguié and a SIGNED bookplate for your book (signed by both authors!).
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is INTERNATIONAL and ends August 15th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Today I have the tremendously talented, GOAT (greatest of all time), superhero of writing (he made me say these things!), Jay Clark!
But seriously folks, Jay is probably one of the funniest people I've ever emailed to and he really knows how to perk up an interview. You'll want to read this one, I promise!
Sign up below for a chance to win an ARC!
Bookaholic:"Can you share with us a few words you would use to describe each main character in The Edumacation of Jay Baker?"
Jay: "Jay Baker: Snarky-but-lovable man-boy whose heart is usually in the right place at the wrong time.
Cameo Appearance Parnell: Beautiful disaster who’d rather keep things fresh-‘n-flirty than drab-‘n-Debbie-Downerish.
Caroline Richardson: Mysterious, super-focused tennis goddess whose past is about to play mind games with her.
Abby Baker: Frighteningly popular homecoming queen who’d take a bad outfit to the chest for her brother, Jay.
Ms. Lambert: Earth-motherly, heavy-meddling history teacher whose bark is bigger than her “Bite me.”
Mike Hibbard: Half-teen/half-barn-animal (?) with a surplus of “Bullying for Dummies” put-downs to mask self-esteem shortage."
Bookaholic:"How much of this book is based upon your own experiences?"
Jay: "I thieved quite a bit of the plot from my very own walk-in skeleton closet. A few guilty bystanders will have a bone to pick with me, but I’ll be sure to write them all an apology email from my computer in hell. P.S. This makes me seem like I’m too lazy to reinvent the literary wheel, and that would be accurate. Lately, however, I’ve been thinking of writing about a magical land where a bespectacled orphan becomes a wizard and … $%#!, that’s already been done, hasn’t it?"
Bookaholic: "Do you think hell has free wi-fi? And, could you provide an example of the individuals you may enrage or offend with your book (names can be changed to protect the guilty)."
Jay: "Hell hath no fury like me if it doesn’t! No, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say Sa-to-the-tan has kept up with the technological times. How else would #cometosatanbaby be trending on Twitter right now? Weird, my index finger just burned up in flames."
Well, okay: The character Rene Rotrovich’s nickname, “Rene Rottencrotch,” was inspired by an old friend who was called that particular surname all throughout school. Not that I ever said it myself, or even thought she had a rotten crotch (yet to be proven in court, I might add). I just thought it captured the vibe of my class to perfection and had to include it." *Ducks*
Bookaholic: Tell us 5 funny facts/events from your life.
Jay: "Dude, I tried out for American Idol. Twice. The first time I sang “Your Song” and Elton John called to ask for it back. The second time I sang “Flake” and very nearly made it my own. But then the bored-looking prelim judge asked me to sing something else, and I was like, “Huh?” I bombed that one like there was no tomorrow."
Bookaholic:"So apparently you do NOT work well under pressure huh? Go ahead, sing for us, right now!" *sits back in her chair, sipping on her Coke*.
(Photo: Close.but not Jay)
Jay: "I always accuse my sister of being a choker during board games and flip-cup and such, but maybe it’s been me all along. Nothing like a little healthy projection to give oneself a false sense of confidence. Anyway, sis and I do a great rendition of “Summer Nights,” from Grease. It gets kind of weird when I sing, “Well, she got friendly, down in the sa-ha-haaand,” and then bend my knees like John Travolta, but there’s something to be admired about that kind of commitment—just not sure what it is.
(Photo: Again, totally not Jay) I’m a longtime basement dweller who’s basically lived underground since graduating college. In other words, tornadoes haven’t stood a chance since ’05 (booyah). Besides, who needs fresh air when you have Glade PlugIns and a decent supply of snacks?" Bookaholic:"That depends. What sort of snacks? Are we talking chocolate?"
Jay: "Chocolate schmocolate. I discovered this great vanilla yogurt/raspberry sorbet combo made by Haagen-Dazs (had to look up that spelling and didn’t feel like adding the accent mark) a few months ago and have been killing pint after pint ever since. It’s annoying when I have to go upstairs to get it from the freezer, though. I need a little ice box or something. And an unlikely endorsement deal, because that crap’s expensive!"
Barf alert: I was born with simple syndactyly of the second and third toes, on both feet. I had a complex about it—cue: groans—until seventh grade, when a podiatrist took a scalpel and… why am I talking about this? My fiancé tries to touch the scars sometimes, which I am not a fan of. She’s welcome to go to town on my corpse, though."
Bookaholic: EEK *runs away hiding eyes* I am not a foot fan.
Jay: "Everyone’s a critic!
I come from a family of gamblers. None of us know when to hold ’em, fold ’em, or walk away, but we have a blast in Vegas every year—not to mention our drinks are totally free!"
Bookaholic: *slowly re-enters the room*"Okay okay, so are you any good when you gamble? Or, do you end up broke on the street begging for change?"
Jay: "Lady luck and I have our intimate moments, for sure. She can also be a real wildebeest—especially when her hormones kick in and start blanking out the slot machine. Not that I don’t deserve it."
I have a drinking problem that starts and ends with Mountain Dew. I’m intentionally trying to lower my sperm count, because I hate children.
Bookaholic: Yumm, Mountain Dew is my favorite pop! But seriously, you hate children? How is that possible? Don’t you want a little mini-you someday?
Jay: "When you put it that way, how can I resist?! I do think kids would help round me out and make me less inclined to worry about dumb crap, but the fact that I just typed “me” twice is a bad sign."
(Photo: Jay's future child)Bookaholic:"If you were a superhero, what superpower would you have?"
Jay: "Introducing Paranoia Man! Paranoia Man is all anxiety, all the time, and one-hundred-percent evil. In fact, his sole purpose on Planet Earth is to transfer his nervous energy to the far-more-rational beings who walk among him. Beware the plethora of panic attacks at his disposal, and no matter what he says, don’t accept anything from his prescription bottle. Otherwise, you may find yourself asking the following questions to no one in particular:
Why hasn’t this person responded to my email yet?! Is my dog mad at me, or what?! Wow, the Starbucks barista is being hella-weird today, am I right?!"
Bookaholic:"Haha, that’s funny. But why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something on my shirt? OMG, you think I’m a horrible interviewer, don’t you??"
Jay: "It’s working! I’m feeling calmer already."
Bookaholic:"What are some of the major differences between the writer Jay, and the character Jay?"
Jay: "They laugh alike, they talk alike, sometimes they even have IBS alike. Differences? As much as it pains my fragile male ego to admit, I think Jay Baker has more of a way with the ladies than Jay Clark. He’s a baller in sheep’s clothing. I mean, Jay Clark is obviously better-looking, but in high school he couldn’t get the pole out of his b-hole long enough to let his freak-flag fly. Jay Baker is more of a come-what-whatever risk-taker, and that’s why he has his own book while Jay Clark remains chopped liver." (Photo: Could be Jay. I'll have to ask.) Bookaholic:"Okay, here is a test. I want you to tell us some pick-up lines. Tell us one YOU would have used during your pick-up-line days (before you got old and settled down)… and then one from the character Jay (the youthful risk-taker).
Jay Clark: “Hey… you. Wanna come over to my house after school so I can make you some toast with my grandma’s strawberry jam on it?” (This actually happened and, shocker, was not followed by a hookup session.)
Jay Baker: “You have a thing for my man-bangs, don’t you?” *Points to hair* “’Cause there’s a lot more where that came from.”
Bookaholic:"I'm even more shocked that you have a fianc é! Now, tell us 3 things you wish you could go back to high school and do?"
Jay: "I say this without an ounce of sarcasm: Seek out my future fiancé, Caroline. I started shedding a lot of my unnecessary habits when I found her. Good stuff. Spend even more time with my family. It’s a shame the measures people take to avoid their relatives, but maybe I’d feel differently if I had <insert your psycho-sibling here> snipping off locks of my hair in the middle of the night.
Tie myself to a tree until they build some freaking tennis courts on school grounds. That’s kind of an oxymoronic way of going about it, but the tree and I will cross that bridge when we come to it—unless we need to actually build a small bridge to the tennis courts, in which case I’ll turn to the tree and say, “Nice knowing you, sucker!”
Bookaholic:"You were wilder in college, right? Did you do anything insane then?"
Jay: "Not really… I’ve pretty much always been a snoozefest."
Bookaholic: *Yawns*"Since you are just a sweet, innocent, unaware-of-all-the-bad debut author, what scares you the most about the writing world? Be honest, are you most afraid of us angelic bloggers?" *whips out her halo*
Jay: "People on the internet are terrifying, yes. Especially bloggers hiding their true identities behind wide-eyed avatars or extreme close-up pics of their cat/dog (maybe I should double-check your website before mentioning that). But, really, it’s hard for me to complain. If someone’s taken the time to read my book, then they can say “He blew it!” all over the internets till the cows come home. Then they can go blow a cow, for all I care. Kidding! I blame this horrible answer on your question."
Bookaholic:"HEY, my avatar is offended by your comment. She does not have wide eyes! Okay… maybe she does." Thank you Jay for being on my blog and for sharing such fascinating details of your crazy life. You are so much fun (I know, I can't believe I said that either!)."
The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. (January 24th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 272 pages A few “sexy” bullet points about Jay: • He is in love with a cheerleader named Cameo “Appearance” Parnell • He is forever losing “Love-15” to tennis-playing goddess Caroline Richardson • He rocks a touché array of pop-culture references, jokes, and puns • His family-life cookie is about to crumble. Live vicariously through Jay as he faces off against his mortal enemy, gets awkward around his dream girl(s), loses his marbles in a Bermudian love triangle, watches his parents’ relationship implode, and, finally, learns to get real and be himself(ish).
Prize:
1 winner will receive an ARC of The Edumacation of Jay Baker.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US only and ends February 10th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
I'm so happy to have 2 of my favorite characters, Alexis and Tristan, from Purpose here with me today. Thank you both for being on my blog. I have some questions for you.
What was the first word that popped into your minds when you first saw each other? Alexis: Beautiful. Tristan (raises an eyebrow): I don’t think it’s appropriate to say. What’s the rating on this blog? Alexis (blushes): And you say I’m incorrigible?
What are some of your favorite memories from when you were dating? Alexis: Cooking together. Tristan: Cooking? Really? Alexis: Yeah. What’s wrong with that? Tristan: It’s just so… domestic. Alexis (with a slight smile and a shrug): I think it’s sexy. Especially with you. Tristan: Hmm… I’ll have to rethink my favorite memories then. (Pauses) Nah. Still on the beach… on the boat… pretty much any time you were in a bikini. Maybe you can cook in a bikini… Alexis: Can you be serious? Tristan: I am. Alexis: (glares) Tristan: Okay, if you really want to know… darts. Alexis (blushes again): Next question, please.
You've had some hard times together as well, what advice would you give couples for ways to overcome that? Tristan: I’m not exactly the right person to be giving relationship advice. I certainly don’t deserve what I have because of anything I’ve done right or well. Alexis: Yeah, me either. It’s not like either of us have much experience. We’re still learning what works for us. But, I think, trust is a big thing for every relationship. You have to be able to trust each other. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but I think it’s necessary.
Tristan, when you first met Alexis when she was young, did you ever think you'd be where you are now? Tristan: Not at all, but not because of her age or anything else so irrelevant. For me to have a relationship with anyone was at one time unbelievable, but with someone like her… with Alexis, who she is and who she’ll become… I never expected it would come to this between us. I never knew happiness before, let alone love. And now look at us.
Alexis, you are an amazing writer. Can you explain to us what writing does for you personally? Alexis: It’s always been an escape for me, really. I’ve never felt like I belonged in this world. In my writing, I get to be someone else, feel like I’m living a different life. It’s like reading a really good book with a story that’s exactly what you want to read… but no one else has written it, so you get to.
Tristan, what did you think when Alexis finally allowed you to read one of her stories? Tristan: Well, I knew when she would finally let me read one, it would mean she really trusts me. That’s what I care about, more than anything. Alexis: You care about more than that. You read it. And admit it… you liked it. Tristan: Yeah, I did, but I’ve always known you were talented. Of course I’d like it. Alexis: Even though it’s about witches and werewolves? Tristan: You are, obviously, weirdly infatuated with the monsters. But, it’s your thing and I’ve come to accept that.
Alexis, how difficult was it to learn the truth from your mother after all these years? Alexis: I still don’t know everything. In fact, I feel like I hardly know anything at all. But what I do know… it was pretty shocking at first. To the point that I had a hard time really grasping it all as real. I mean, Tristan showed me some of his abilities and told me what he was he able to, what he’s not bound to keep secret, but it still didn’t feel real… not until Ian showed his disgusting self, anyway… and then Edmund and that… thing. I guess that’s when it really hit home that not all things in this world are as they seem. Do you still worry that she may be hiding important things from you about your history? Alexis: Ha. Of course, she’s still hiding things. I know there’s much more to everything about us. But as I’ve been told repeatedly, I have to wait until the Ang’dora. It’s frustrating and annoying, but even Tristan won’t tell me, though I know he would if he could. They’re bound too tightly and nothing I do can break that bond, apparently. Besides, right now, I’m just concerned about us… being safe… staying together… maybe living a somewhat normal life while we can.
Tristan, what was the worst part about keeping secrets from Alexis early on? Tristan: I was trying to earn her trust. It’s kind of difficult to do when you know yourself that you’re untrustworthy. The only thing I had going for me was that she kept secrets, too. I hoped she’d understand.
Did you expect to feel so connected to Alexis immediately or did it come as a shock to you? Tristan: She definitely shocked me. Alexis (with an embarrassed giggle): I did shock you! Or you shocked me. Tristan (chuckles): Yes, that is the right word… in so many ways. I really didn’t expect anything at all, especially anything so strong, except maybe immediate abhorrence. If you look at it the way some of the others do, it all makes sense. But I, personally, don’t understand it. Our connection doesn’t make sense. Alexis: Of course it does! We’re meant to be together. That’s just how it is. Be honest, what bugs you the most about each other? Any pet peeves? Alexis: Actually, Tristan’s so dang beautiful, it can be annoying. We can’t go anywhere without all the females gawking, like animals in heat. Between him and my mother… I don’t know who’s worse, men or women. And then everyone looks at me and you can tell by the look on their faces that they’re wondering how the heck I’m with him. Tristan: Because you deserve better. Alexis: And then there’s that. It’s like he doesn’t even notice. Sometimes I feel like he puts me on this pedestal and I’m the last person who deserves to be there. One day he’ll open his eyes and see exactly how wrong he is – about me and himself. Tristan: Oh, my eyes are open. I know what I see. But you don’t see yourself clearly, either. You have no idea what you do to people, especially to me. And your potential… I guess you’ll just have to wait and see for yourself. Alexis: And that’s another thing. How he knows things I can’t know yet. That bugs the crap out of me. Tristan: You’re talking about me like I’m not here. Alexis: Huh? Tristan: That’s one of the things about Alexis that can get to me. She can go on such a rampage sometimes, words spilling out of her mouth without realizing how absurd she’s being. It makes me laugh, though. Alexis: I’m not being absurd! How can you— Tristan: And defensive. She can be quite defensive. Alexis: (crosses her arms, opens her mouth, then closes it again) Tristan: See, she doesn’t know what to say because she knows I’m right. I like how she does that, though. It’s kind of cute. So is this. (winks) Alexis (eyes glaze over for a moment and rendered speechless) Well, this has been such a fun interview! I am so glad you could be here today Tristan *wink* … oh… and you too Alexis *clears throat* … anyways, I have a friend over at A Life Bound By Books and I know she would love to get a chance to talk to you too. Think you can pay her a visit soon?
Alexis: Of course.
Tristan: Anything for you. *wink*
(Okay, okay… so maybe Tristan didn't actually say that last part)
Don't forget to check out the Re-Cover contest of Promise and Purpose. Entries must be in 12/18.
Find Kristie Cook Kristie Cook / Promise / Goodreads Purchase Signed Copies of Purpose
I'm very addicted to NA and was super happy to help host a feature for New Leaf. I have Colina Brennan here today with an interview and a little game of"3 truths and a lie". Try to pick out her lie: ) Also, check out the huge giveaway below.
Colina Brennan — Interview Addicted to NA 2013
Tell us what ADDICTED TO YOU is about in 140 characters or less. Addicted to You is about Leah, who has no interest in love because she's convinced everyone eventually lets you down. Then she meets Will. Dun dun dun!: P
What does “New Adult” mean to you? New Adult encompasses that time in your life when you’re trying to find your way in a world where you’re no longer a child but you’re not quite an adult yet either. Discovering how to be completely independent can be daunting—some people fail and others flourish. Either way, it’s bound to be filled with accomplishments and missteps and plenty of quiet adventures.
What New Adult book is on top of your TBR pile? Subject to Change by Alessandra Thomas. If only my To Do list wasn’t a mile long!
Is this book part of a series? Yes. There will be a second novel in the Addicted to You universe, which will focus on a separate couple.
What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why? Probably the scene where Leah and her brother run into Will at the party. A lot of things happen between the beginning of the night and the end of it, and it was fun writing about how their relationship subtly shifts.
Who’s your favorite character to write and why? Leah, because it was amusing to push her character and see how she’d respond. There were times I actually had to scale her back a bit and soften her up because she already comes off a little harsh.
What keeps you awake at night? My mind often has a hard time shutting down when I’ve spent the last couple hours trying to work through a plot point. The sad thing is that I rarely work through the problem. I sort of just lie there feeling annoyed with myself.
What’s your greatest fear? In terms of writing, probably failure. I literally made myself sick worrying as Addicted to You’s release date loomed closer. Times like this I wish I drank.
What other jobs did you do to support your writing? I’ve done everything from cashiering to call center to fixing computers.
What else did you consider doing with your life? For a while, I wanted to be an English teacher. But I’m really not cut out for standing in front of a bunch of people and trying to teach them things. I get butterflies in my stomach and I end up talking too fast and it’s all quite embarrassing.
Do you write on a typewriter, computer, dictate or longhand? Or something else? I write on my laptop. When I’m away from my laptop, I’ll scribble on whatever is available whether that’s a napkin or the back of receipt.
What is your daily routine like? I wish it was more exciting, but I spend 80% of my day entertaining my son and doing boring household chores. I write when he naps, but I can rarely make any real progress until after he’s asleep for the night. (That’s my cover story. I’m really an international cat burglar.)
What book/s are you reading at present? Fixed on You by Laurelin Paige.
Laptop or desktop for writing? Laptop for the convenience and mobility.
Your favorite gadget? My iPhone.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Focus! Stop dawdling and go after your dream.
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why? J.R.R. Tolkein. How awesome would it be to be able to pick his brain?
What book do you wish you had written? Before I Fall. Gosh, that book is brilliant.
3 TRUTHS AND A LIE Colina Brennan, NA Author
1. I can de-bone a chicken wing in less than a minute.
2. While camping, I once fought off a raccoon to save my veggie burger. (It wasn’t worth it.)
3. When I worked fast food as a teen, I amused myself by taking drive through orders in different accents.
4. I once decided going down a giant hill on roller blades would be a good idea. (It wasn’t.)
Which one is the lie?
Addicted to You by Colina Brennan Published: June 25th, 2013 Reading Level: New Adult When twenty-one-year-old Leah Carter's latest one night stand burglarizes her apartment, her roommate forces her to attend therapy for sex addicts. Leah insists she isn't a sex addict; she just doesn't do relationships. After all, sooner or later, everyone lets you down.
At first, the group sessions are little more than an education on how to be promiscuous. Until she meets the newest addict—blue eyes, killer body, and a smile that tempts relapse.
Psychology student Will McLean is posing as a fellow addict while researching a case study on unusual addictions. But the more he learns about Leah, the more certain he is that his desire to break through her walls and unearth her secrets has nothing to do with his assignment.
As the uncertainties spike alongside the sexual tension, the only thing Leah knows for sure is that falling in love would be disastrous. Too bad love might be one addiction she can't kick.
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Colina's Social Media Platforms: Blog: http://colinabrennan.blogspot.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BrennanColina Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrennanColina Tumblr: http://colinabrennan.tumblr.com/ Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7068218.Colina_Brennan New Leaf Twitter: @NewLeafLiterary (Hashtag: #NAaddict) Tumblr: http://newleafliterary.tumblr.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NewLeafLiterary ' Agent Suzie Townsend's Blog: http://confessionsofawanderingheart.blogspot.com/
The 2nd annual Authors are Rockstars tour has started! You can see the stops by going here.
I am lucky enough to feature Janenifer Castle. I adore her! I read her book The Beginning of After and was completely blown away. it was such an emotional story and I fell in love with Laurel and David. You can read my review of the book here.
Now, Janenifer has more awesomeness out in the wild! You Look Different in Real Life was released in June and Playing Keira (a novella) was released in May. I haven't had a chance to read these yet but I will be very very soon!
Today, as part of the rockstar tour, I have Janenifer here for an interview about her book You Look Different in Real Life. Don't miss the giveaway below for a signed copy of the book!
INTERVIEW WITH JaneNIFER CASTLE
What made you decide to write about teens involved in a movie of their lives?
I’ve always been fascinated by what happens to reality TV and documentary film subjects after the cameras go away. Do they live their lives differently, like someone’s always watching? Does the way they’re portrayed on screen change the way they see themselves in real life? The possibilities of character and story seemed so juicy, I couldn’t resist. Then I started thinking about how the rise of blogging and social media has allowed pretty much everyone to make themselves the “stars” of their own documentary. Every time we post a status, a photo, check in at a location… we’re building a narrative of our own lives. I think it’s scary-easy to share so much of ourselves, to think so obsessively about what we’re putting out there for the world to see, that we lose track of who we really are.
So the documentary film premise seemed like it was relevant on a couple different levels, and something I could really have fun with. After many years of working on THE BEGINNING OF AFTER, I needed some fun. I was ready to do something where nobody dies. That might have actually been the first note to myself about this book: “Dear Jane: Please don’t kill anyone.” You have to start somewhere.
2. What's one word you'd use to describe each character (Justine, Rory, Nate, Felix and Keira)?
I love you for this question, and also I hate you for this question. This was tough. But the good tough. Justine: Lost Rory: Found Nate: Underestimated Felix: Overlooked Keira: Who?
3. With so many reality shows out these days, would you ever agree to have a portion of your life taped?
It’s funny, because while I was writing YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE, I spent an afternoon carrying around a small digital video camera, shooting everything that went on in my house. I just wanted the experience of choosing which moments to record and being conscious of this extra eye observing us. I only lasted a few hours, because it freaked me out that our family’s craziness, the absurd stuff that happens with me and my husband and my kids and my pets every day, was actually being saved for posterity. But maybe it would be cool to have strangers see this absurdity and say, “Yup, we are like this too. You’re normal, because there is no normal.” In the end, it would probably come down to whether or not I had to clean the house and put on something besides ripped sweatpants.
Do you have a favorite line from YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE?
Love/hate question! Again! I have many favorite lines, but most of them are in the later part of the book and might do some spoiling. I do have a soft spot for this early passage where Justine describes her connection to the others, because it’s generally how I feel about my own long-term friendships: Sometimes I think of an invisible cord connecting Nate and Keira and Felix and Rory and me. It’s made of something thin and deceptively powerful, like the stuff Spider-Man squirts out of his wrists. Then I wonder who spun it. Was it Lance and Leslie? Was it everyone who’s ever watched the Five At documentaries? Or maybe it was me. All I know is that it’s always there. It stretches and winds but will never break.”
5. Can you share with us what you are currently working on?
With both THE BEGINNING OF AFTER and YOU LOOK DIFFERENT IN REAL LIFE, I loved writing the romantic storylines. Especially the kissing. Is there anything better than writing about kissing? Ah…
I’m sorry. Where was I? Oh yes. So my current project (which is still untitled, because I suck at titles) is a romance, pure and simple. It’s about what happens when a killer crush actually leads to something, and you have to navigate that intersection of fantasy and reality. It’s about figuring out what love actually is, when you don’t have any good examples in your life to base it on. And it’s got a cute guy who is amazing but not flawless, craveable but problematically complex, because “perfect” boys in YA lit really bug me. I’m hoping it will be done in time for an early 2015 release. Until then, I plan to squeeze out one or two digital short stories or novellas, like I did with PLAYING KEIRA. I like mixing up the long projects with shorter ones. It’s like creative snacking.
You Look Different in Real Life by Janenifer Castle Published: HarperTeen (June 4th, 2013) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 355 pages Summary: For the rest of the world, the movies are entertainment. For Justine, they're real life.
The premise was simple: five kids, just living their lives. There'd be a new movie about them every five years, starting in kindergarten. But no one could have predicted what the cameras would capture. And no one could have predicted that Justine would be the star.
Now sixteen, Justine doesn't feel like a star anymore. In fact, when she hears the crew has gotten the green light to film Five at Sixteen, all she feels is dread. The kids who shared the same table in kindergarten have become teenagers who hardly know one another. And Justine, who was so funny and edgy in the first two movies, feels like a disappointment.
But these teens have a bond that goes deeper than what's on film. They've all shared the painful details of their lives with countless viewers. They all know how it feels to have fans as well as friends. So when this latest movie gives them the chance to reunite, Justine and her costars are going to take it. Because sometimes, the only way to see yourself is through someone else's eyes.
Smart, fresh, and frequently funny, You Look Different in Real Life is a piercing novel about life in an age where the lines between what's personal and what's public aren't always clear.
Courtney Cole, the author of If You Stay, is here today for an interview. You can click the banner above to see her tour stops and be sure to check out the giveaway below!
1. I have to say that the cover for IF YOU STAY is amazing. It is perfect for the book. What did you have in mind for this cover and what did you think once you saw it finished?
Well, first I'd like to say thank you so much for having me here.: ) I really appreciate it. And my cover… I love it too. Sarah Hansen did a beautiful job. This was exactly what I had in mind. I wanted Pax to be front and center- and I wanted his vulnerability to show. I think it comes through loud and clear in this cover. And when I first saw it… I was breathless. It was perfect.
2. Pax is very strong-willed and flawed, to say the least. Was it difficult writing from his point-of-view?
He definitely is. He's stubborn, he's opinionated and he lacks the ability to be cautious or afraid of anything. He doesn't care about himself or anything else, and he definitely doesn't care how his actions affect anyone else. At least, that's how he was in the beginning. Surprisingly, it wasn't that hard to connect with Pax. I knew exactly how I wanted his personality to be, so I just tried to think that way too. I have a husband and two teenage boys, so I've been schooled on how men really think sometimes. And the thing with Pax is that in the beginning, he didn't have a filter. He said and did whatever he wanted to do.
3. Developing a character that could steal Pax's heart must have been hard. What qualities did you know Mila had to possess in order to achieve this?
Well, it wasn't really that hard. I knew it would take someone who was his polar opposite, but I also knew I had to put them in a unique circumstance so that he could really see her for the beautiful person that she is. I knew he would need to see that she is much more than a pretty face. A mere pretty face wouldn't have swayed him.
After she saves his life, he sees her as a breath of fresh air, something light which is opposite of the dark that he considers himself to be. He was intrigued from the start, mainly because he couldn't fathom that she would actually give him mouth-to- mouth in that circumstance. In his world, someone wouldn't have gone out of their way like that. But Mila did it without a thought. And that fascinated Pax.
4. Can you share a few of your favorite lines from the book?
Yikes. This is a hard one. Hmm. Toward the end, there is a great scene."Love never fails, Mila. And I'll never fail you again. That's a promise." I love that one because Pax had come so far. Another one that I like is a thought of Pax's, from the beginning part of the book."She's like a breath of fresh air. I may be the big bad wolf, but even wolves need to breathe."
5. Can you give us a hint to what you will be working on next?
Yes. I'm working on a companion novel to If You Stay. It is titled If You Leave and it will follow Madison Hill, Mila's sister. Maddy is a pretty fascinating character and I can't wait until you get to know her better.
Thank you again for having me here with you today. It's been a pleasure!
If You Stay by Courtney Cole Published: Lakehouse Press (February 5th, 2013) Reading Level: New Adult ebook: 220 pages Summary: 24-year old Pax Tate is an asshole. Seriously.
He’s a tattooed, rock-hard bad-boy with a bad attitude to match.
But he’s got his reasons.
His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with guilt although he doesn’t understand why. What he does know is that he and his dad are left alone and with more issues than they can count.
As Pax grew up, he tried to be the kid his father always wanted; the perfect golden boy, but it didn’t work. His dad couldn’t overcome his grief long enough to notice and Pax couldn’t keep up the impossible perfect façade. So he slipped far, far from it.
Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the ugliness, the black void that he doesn’t want to deal with. If he pretends that the emptiness isn’t there, then it isn’t, right? Wrong.
And it’s never more apparent than when he meets Mila. Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air to his hardened frown, the beauty to his ugly heart. He doesn’t know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he’s got to figure it out because he needs her to breathe.
When memories of his mother’s death resurface from where he’s repressed them for so long, Mila is there to catch him when the guilt starts making sense. Mila is the one… the one who can save him from his broken troubled heart; from his issues, from the emptiness.
But only if he can stop being an asshole long enough to allow it.
Yesterday Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) and I shared with you our interview with Everneath author Brodi Ashton and some of our favorite quotes from the book. Today we are doing an open discussion of the book where we share some of our thoughts and give readers a chance to join in and link up their review of Everneath.
Discussion for Everneath
I really enjoyed how Everneath starts off with the characters being directly in the action. I admit, I'm not very knowledgeable about myths but it was great to start out by getting a lot of information from the beginning
I agree with you, however it was pretty confusing to me. I mean I was 73 pages into the story and I was totally confused as to exactly what had happened. There were terms in the book surrounding the events that the main character had gone through, but I had no clue until way later on in the book as to what really had happened.
I agree, especially when Nikki came back and was attempting to get back to her new life. That's when I really had to slow down and try to soak in each detail she gave about what happened while she was away. What did you think of Cole?
Ah, that's a question I was actually going to ask you… but you beat me to it! To be honest, he rubbed me the wrong way from the beginning. I found him more than frustrating and somewhat an ass. Most of the time, I can find something to endear me to a character that makes me feel as he did, but I have no idea why so many people are falling all over him. So, my turn, what did you think of Cole?
Very true, but I did find that by the end I did really feel bad for Cole. I think that there is a lot to his story that we will, hopefully, find out in book 2. It did take me a while to like anything about him but I think he may prove to be more than meets the eye.
As you were typing that, I was thinking about Cole and I am looking forward to more about him because I do think he has something to offer, I just don't see it yet. I wanted to feel sorry for him, but I couldn't really because I know he can't feel. Or maybe that's what the clever author is trying to make us believe?
You could be right. Sneaky, sneaky! I try to have hope and I am really excited to see what happens with him. What did you think of the way Nikki handled her situation?
She was so disconnected from the Feed, so the beginning of the book showed just how detached she really was and as the book progressed a black cloud was somewhat lifted from around her that you finally get a chance to see and feel things again just as she did.
Exactly, at first I wondered why she had fought so hard to go back to her past life. Then, as time went on, I felt I saw her more clearly and could get the emotion that had been hiding. Overall, I was really happy with this story, the story of Nikki and Jack, and the suspense Brodi brought to the plot. I will definitely be checking out the next book to see where this story goes.
Since you mentioned Jack, I think I need to say that I loved him and how he never gave up, yet he had his own scars from Nikki's disapperance he still never gave up. The ending was epic and I totally agree with you… Brodi knows how to write the suspense. I'm also looking forward to the next book to find out what happens after that cliffhanger ending. What did you guys think? Please leave us (spoiler-free) comments and we invite others to reply and join in.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a copy of EVERNEATH and swag.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US Only and ends March 14th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
You will find this form on A Life Bound By Books as well. PLEASE only fill it out ONCE!
We wanted to do this feature as a way to promote a new release and get people involved in discussing the book. One of the best ways to find out about a book is to read the reviews. Please feel free to link your review of EVERNEATH that has been posted on your blog or Goodreads. Rules: Please post ONLY your review of EVERNEATH. Please provide the direct link in the linky. You can include your rating of the book. Example of link: Confessions of a Bookaholic — Everneath Review (4 stars)
We would love you to join the discussion about the book. Leave comments, tell us what you thought, or ask questions. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS! We don't want to ruin it for others, but we'd love to see what everyone thought of the story.
I am so pleased to be part of the Descended by Blood blog tour! Angeline is here today to tell us who she would cast if the book was made into a movie (Yum!) and she has offered up an amazing giveaway!
Who would I cast for my characters if Descended by Blood were made into a movie? Brooke, main character: Lucy Hale
When I was doing my characterizations during the plotting phase, Lucy was the closest that I could find for what I saw in my mind's eye for Brooke. Brooke's eyes are blue, though, but the face shape and hair are very similar.
Jaren: I see him as a nephew-to-Brad Pitt… look-a-like. -Alex Pettyfer
This one is really hard for me because no actor really looks like Jaren. The image from the bookmarks IS Jaren. But I would probably have to say I would like Alex Pettyfer to play Jaren. He has a young face, that's broad and sweet. Plus, he looks fit, like he could play lacrosse. I saw him in I Am Four, and I think he did a good job. He would need to get a haircut, though.
Mirko: Wentworth Miller
Wentworth has those straight, serious eyebrows, same as Mirko does. He also keeps his hair cropped short like Mirko does. Wentworth would have to train his face to smile how Mirko does. As soon as Wentworth smiles, he doesn't look like Mirko anymore. When Wentworth smiles, his face scrunches up from around his nose and out around his mouth. Mirko smiles more with his eyes and a wicked side-lip curl. --Yummo!! (Added by Confessions of a Bookaholic)
Kaitlynn, Brooke's best friend: Amanda Seyfried
I LOVE Amanda. She is such a good actress. Have you seen in her in Dear John? She even has a song she sang on the sound track. I love her and think she would make a great Kaitlynn. She has the slender face and blonde hair. Plus, who wouldn't want her as their best friend?
Jelena, the villain: Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine has that sexy, high class,"I'm going to get what I want" vibe. She's tough and a great actress. I think she would make a great vampire villain. Plus, she's gorgeous and that's a requirement for vamps, right?
Thank you so much for having me! It's truly an honor to be hosted by Confessions of a Bookaholic!
Descended by Blood by Angeline Kace Publisher: Accendo Press (August 26th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 263 pages Series: Vampire Born #1 Brooke Keller is a high school junior who has never spent much time living in one place. She is finally in a town long enough to almost snag the boy of her dreams, until her life is threatened after killing a fanged man in his attempt to kidnap her. Brooke begins a dangerous journey in an effort to find out who is after her and how to stop them. In a world with powerful and prejudiced vampires, Brooke must tap into the side of her that she never knew existed at the risk of losing her life in order to save it.
Giveaway
Prize:
1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Descended by Blood, 2 signed bookmarks, and nail polish!
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US Only and ends September 1st (Midnight PST).
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
*This giveaway only runs for 2 days!
Find Angeline Kace Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Series Site
Purchase Descended by Bood Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
As a special during the tour, the price of the Descended by Blood ebook is only $.99 through September. Amazon Kindle | Barnes & Noble Nook Book Trailer
Upcoming Tour Posts (and giveaways coming up!) Thursday, September 01, 2011 ~ A Cupcake and a Latte, Guest post with Skin Friday, September 02, 2011 ~ The Bookish Brunette, Guest post with Paperback Saturday, September 03, 2011 ~ Fiktshun, Interview with Skin Monday, September 05, 2011 ~ Book Passion for Life, Interview, Paperback-US & ebook-Int Tuesday, September 06, 2011 ~ Two Chicks on Books, Guest post with Skin
The post you are about to read is 100 % **Role Play
All the characters represented here (please see the list of all Role Players provided below ) with the exception of Lisa and myself are **Role Players from a group on twitter. They have agreed to role play with us to help celebrate not only our Halloween Event, but also to help share our love for the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by author J.R. Ward, as these Role Players are also huge fans of J.R. Ward's works.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT NO ONE with this site/blog, Lisa’s site/blog nor the role-playing group — which you can find with the list of twitter accounts provided — is in any way, shape or form connected to or affiliated with J.R. Ward. No one present or represented here is J.R. Ward, nor is the role playing intended for any purpose other than the personal enjoyment of the Role Players involved.
Warning: This story contains mature and adult themes. J:@Rehvenge_BDB – seriously, I haven’t played this since college. Any tips on how to beat these boys? and you too *laughs* C’mon – help a girl out?
@Rehvenge_BDB: *enigmatic smile* Mind over matter, female. *leans forward* No… really… mind… *reaching out with the “fun” side of me to get a nice hold on your emotions… then looking over @Wrath_BDB and releasing my hold on you in an effort to play nice*… over matter. @John_MatthewBDB: *Walking in with Xhex, smiling at the shellans, nodding at the brothers* @Xhex_BDB: * Walking into room with John seeing everyone gathered together kicking back. Noticing @Rehvenge_BDB playing Monopoly with @Zsadist_BDB, @Wrath_BDB, and @Phury_BDB. I feel the smugness rolling off him, he must have Boardwalk and Park Ave again.* Gearing up to win @Rehvenge_BDB? @Rehvenge_BDB: You know my tastes, Xhex. And how I play for keeps. *flicking amethyst eyes to @EhlenaA_BDB and thinking she’s overdue for one of our “special” phone calls*
L: *smiles* Hello, @John_MatthewBDB & @Xhex_BDB. It’s nice to see you both tonight. We were hoping you’d make it.
@John_MatthewBDB: *Looking to @Xhex_BDB, signing* Translate for me? @Xhex_BDB: Of course. *smiling at @John_MatthewBDB* @John_MatthewBDB: *signing* It's always good to be here, this is my family. No matter how crazy or strange, this is home. Thanks for your support of all of us.
L/J: *Sitting back, taking everything in and listening to the conversation that’s going around the room.*
@MarissaH_BDB: I’m new to some of these human traditions, but @Butch_BDB has explained the Halloween tradition to me. I’m curious to know what costume my hellren might wear if we all donned costumes? *looks towards @Butch_BDB* @Butch_BDB: I’d put on a cop uniform. You wanna see my night stick, baby? waggles eyebrows and picks @MarissaH_BDB up, swinging her around, planting a kiss on her lips* @CormiaC_BDB: Oh, costumes? That sounds like fun. I think I might like to dress up like an Explorer — I’ve been reading a lot of human history books lately. Perhaps Magellan or Columbus or Cortes… *looks to my hellren* What about you, @Phury_BDB? What costume would you wear? @Phury_BDB: *looks at @Rhage_BDB and @Vishous_BDB* Before anyone suggests it, I am NOT dressing up as Pocahontas so @CormiaC_BDB can be John Smith. @CormiaC_BDB: Pocahontas? @Phury_BDB: Never mind. As for a costume? I don’t know, I’d probably go as something that would make my niece laugh. @Vishous_BDB: Now that is a great idea, true? @MaryL_BDB: I love Halloween. I’d love to know what costume @Rhage_BDB would have me wear. *blushes again* Scratch that, baby. I don’t think I want you to answer it in the interview. @Rhage_BDB: *growls* @BethR_BDB: I think @Wrath_BDB would make a good pirate & I could be the kitchen wench. *laughing at the mental image of my hellren dressed up as a pirate* @Wrath_BDB: *shakes head* Great, I have to hand out candy to humans and dress up as Captain Jack Sparrow. Leelan, we need to discuss this pirate obsession of yours, preferably while I’m pillaging your village, wench. *low growl* @EhlenaA_BDB: *smiles sweetly @Rehvenge_BDB* You’ve already seen my Halloween costume. What’s your favorite part? @Rehvenge_BDB: Pantyhose. *FANGS* @DocJaneW_BDB: *Laughing at the Halloween talk* I already have the perfect costume, I'm going as a ghost. Of course V has other ideas, don't you? *raises an eyebrow* @Vishous_BDB: *growls, tempted to grab @DocJaneW_BDB and head for the pit*
@Lassiter_BDB: So I have a question for you two. Since I don’t have my own book yet, *rolls eyes* I want to know which book if your favorite? And what makes it your favorite? I know that when I get my own book that one will be everyone’s favorite. Also who’s your favorite brother? Favorite shellan? Favorite couple? It is okay to say I am your favorite, we all know it’s true. @Vishous_BDB: *walks over and drags @Lassiter_BDB away from you* Leave them alone Lassy. He will do anything for an ego boost.
L: It’s okay @Vishous_BDB. I’ll try to answer @Lassiter_BDB’s question. I do have two books that are my favorites, which two, I’m not going to say. However, I will tell you this — I more then enjoyed, laughed even cried during each and every book for one reason or another. @Wrath_BDB & BethR_BDB’s story had me hooked and ready for more. Now, that’s how it is at the end of each book. Craving more. As for the other questions you asked. For a favorite brother – depends on who’s book I’m reading at the time. That brother will usually end up being my favorite. For shellan, I think the answers they gave for how they deal with the fighting just proves to me that they are all worthy of that title. And for Favorite couple? Well, each has been through so much *looks at @Tohrment* that shows that even a Vampire race and the couples within it have some normal, if not extremely hard things they have to deal with, that makes you seem somewhat human in how most of us humans can relate to you. So, each couple is my favorite if for that reason alone. As for your book @Lassiter_BDB I’m looking forward to it. *smiling at you* I can’t wait to see where your story will go and to learn more about you. *thinking I kinda rambled there*
L:What about you Jessica?
J:Well, I will admit that I am very much looking forward to your story @Lassiter_BDB *winks* but as for past stories I am a huge fan of @Zsadist_BDB and I think that him and @BellaR_BDB are a fabulous couple! I mean c'mon, @BellaR_BDB kicks butt! Gotta love when the lady takes charge. *smiles* I do have to say that one thing I loved in each book was that the shellans were there to help each of you see a different side of yourselves and with that I believe it helped to open each of you up a bit too.
@Lassiter_BDB: A long as you didn’t say that one is your favorite I am good: *points @Vishous_BDB* @BellaR_BDB: *small smile* Thanks.
L: What about each of you? What do you think of your stories being out there? And were you surprised at anything you read after the fact?
@Wrath_BDB: Challa has been good to us. She’s told our stories and kept it accurate. I can’t ask for more than that. @Butch_BDB: I’m ok with what she wrote about me. It was hard to read about my family back in Boston and how things ended with us, but *shrugs* I’ve found where I really belong and that’s what really matters, true? @John_MatthewBDB: *Looking at @Xhex_BDB and signing* It's hard to have all of that exposed but at the same time I think it can help anyone realize that no matter how tough the path, eventually you end up exactly where you're supposed to be. * Squeezing @Xhex_BDB's hand and turning my head to look @Tohrment_BDB, remembering @Wellsie_BDB* @Xhex_BDB: * Returning @John_MatthewBDB’s comforting gesture. * It is difficult as I am a private person normally, but it has brought me back to where I needed to be and to people I can work with, albeit hesitantly for me given my personality. *Smirks * @Phury_BDB: I’m not proud of some of the decisions I made, so it was difficult to know that those decisions were in print. But I am proud of what I’ve done since then. So it makes sense to have the bad showcased with the good. @CormiaC_BDB: *nodding* You have much to be proud of. *thinks how proud I am of you* And yes, it was difficult to know that what we went through was shared with others, but we take the good with the bad… together. *smiles at @Phury_BDB* @DocJaneW_BDB: *Cutting in* I'd just like to say that I find the bond between mates absolutely compelling. Through reading the books, you are easily aware of when a male has found their mate *thinking of @Vishous_BDB's intoxicating bonding scent*. In each instance, the urge to claim their mate is nearly immediate whether the female is vampire, human or a half-blood, and in @Butch_BDB's case, he even knows before he's made aware of his lineage. I think that what may not be acknowledged as frequently, but can't be ignored, is that each of us was in turn magnetized to them. So is it all fate? Or is there something in our chemical make up that draws us to one another? I think there is plenty of room to explore this phenomenon. Anyway, I went off on a tangent there. About our story being out there? Personally, I think our book kicks ass. *winks at V*
J: Yeah.and what do you look forward to as more stories come out and your lives move forward?
@Wrath_BDB: A united vampire race. We need to recruit and work together to decimate the Lessing Society. With the Brotherhood strengthening daily anything is possible. @John_MatthewBDB: *signing* I'd like to see my boys @Blaylock_BDB and @Qhuinn_BDB get smart and find what I did with @Xhex_BDB, no matter what that means, for both of them. As far as the two of us *smiling at @Xhex_BDB* well, I just look forward to kicking some ass side by side *John then signs something that Xhex doesn't translate* @Xhex_BDB: * Rolling my eyes at my Hellren and signing back. * I can’t wait. @Phury_BDB: I hope you’ll get to see our race strengthened… @Vishous_BDB: Getting to know sister mine. @Butch_BDB: I’m waiting to see what’s doing with @Payne_BDB. If she’s anything like her twin, holy hell we’re in for a ride *glances over at @Vishous_BDB grinning* You love me bro, and you know it. *glancing over at @MarissaH_BDB* @Vishous_BDB: *claps @Butch_BDB’s back* True.
And with that, were going to get back to our visit and games here. We hope you enjoyed getting to peek in on our visit, we know we had a great time sharing it with you. Goodnight!
If you would like to follow along with the all the Black Dagger Brotherhood Twitter Role Players is part of this group, please USE GOOGLE to easily follow each character. And trust me, you don't know what your missing! So hurry and follow today!
@FritzDoggen_BDB Online: (updates, notes and information on the Twitter Role Playing Group)
Website | Twitter
Order All 8 books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and Preorder book 9 Online here:
Amazon | Borders | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository
Thank you so much to all the characters from the Black Dagger Brotherhood Twitter Role Play group for all the time and effort they have been putting in to help us celebrate not only Halloween and our event, but also our love for all that is the Brotherhood and J.R. Ward.
ENTER TO WIN the first SIX books inthe Black Dagger Brotherhood!!One lucky person will win a box set!! NOTE: The winner for this contest will be chosen at Random with a little help from @Wrath_BDB! He will be helping us pick the winner LIVE ON TWITTER soon after Nov. 15th. Lisa and I will post details closer to when @Wrath_BDB is ready to pick the winner,so keep an eye out! Here are the rules and how to enter:
You MUST complete the form to enter. No entries in comments please they won't count. Comments are welcome, so share your love with Lisa and I for the Black Dagger Brotherhood World!!!
You must be at least 17 years old to enter. (these are ADULT titles, so you MUST be at least 17 to enter)
This contest is open to INTERNATIONAL! (Anywhere the Book Depository Ships to!)
Contest ends: Nov. 15th, 2010
Check out Lisa's other Haunted Halloween post!NOTE: This post will be the same on both of our blogs. REMINDER: *If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please ready full entry rules HERE.
I'd like to welcome Carla Buckley, author of "The Things That Keep Us Here, " as my guest. Everybody say, "Hello Carla."
Tell us a bit about you — who is Carla Buckley? I’m a wife, mother of three, and coddler of two small dogs. Growing up, I was passionate about both art and writing, studied both in college, worked as an artist and a writer afterward, but it wasn’t until I decided to stay home following the birth of my first child that I narrowed my focus to writing.
How long did it take you to write "The Things That Keep Us Here?" Six months to produce a draft I could share with my literary agent, another six months working on the feedback she gave me, then a final six months revising it with my editor.
Explain the process you went through after you had finished writing the novel. Usually, after I’ve finished a manuscript and sent it off to my agent to be shopped to publishers, I immediately begin writing the next book. This time, however, I held off. The Things That Keep Us Here was a different kind of book to me, one that represented a huge leap forward in my writing, and I wanted to see how it fared before I re-committed myself to the writing process. The Things That Keep Us Here was turned down three times--because publishers didn’t want to touch the topic of bird flu--before it found a home at Bantam Dell, with an editor I’m privileged to call mine.
Do you have any writing habits or anything you HAD to do before sitting down to write the novel? Years ago, a screenplay writer taught me how to plot according to a three-act structure, and that’s what I follow before I begin writing: I set up the three acts, each with their turning points, and pretty much lay out the entire novel in my head before I start.
There is a lot of scientific information that, as a non-scientist, sounds completely plausible in your novel; where did you get this information or are you a closet-scientist? I am a confirmed non-scientist! In school, science terrified me, with all its intricacies and seeming irrelevance, and I avoided it wherever I could. It’s ironic, perhaps, that I married an environmental scientist, which allowed me to see science from a different perspective, and understand its own serene beauty. When I undertook to write The Things That Keep Us Here, I did a great deal of research: I read everything I could on avian influenza, and interviewed scientists from The Ohio State University who actually do the work that my character, Peter, does. It’s these scientists, whom I acknowledge in my book, who made the science leap from the page for me.
What is your favorite thing about your novel? This is such a great question. I’d have to say it’s the turning point in the middle, where my character Ann, surrounded by death and fear and confusion, confronts who she really is at heart, and makes an impossible choice. For me, this is what my novel is really about: who are we deep inside, when we can’t rely on someone else to save or protect us, and how do we live with the choice we make? I’ve heard from many readers on this part of the book, which delights me.
If you had to describe "The Things That Keep Us Here" in three words — what words would you choose? Frightening, poignant, and real
Where did the title come from? My original title was Flu Season, which my publisher felt wasn’t a perfect match. Over the course of six or so months, I tried out other options: Six Hours, Flight Risk. My book was sold to the UK and Germany as Out of Thin Air. None were quite right. Finally, facing a catalog deadline, the senior people at Random House got together and brainstormed, and my editor called me the next morning with the final title, The Things That Keep Us Here. I’m deeply honored that my publishing house was so invested in finding the perfect title for me.
What are you currently working on? My next book also focuses on a global threat, as shown from the perspective of the non-scientist. In it, a woman, long estranged from her hometown and her family, returns to find her sister dead and others sick from the same disease. Although I don't want to reveal the source of the illness, I will say it's based on a truly frightening phenomenon that few people are aware of, but scientists are looking into, and I predict it will start making headlines shortly.
What are you currently reading? I’m halfway through two novels, both debuts. The Murderer’s Daughters, by Randy Susan Meyers, which is a heart-rending story about two young girls who witness their father’s murder of their mother, and how their lives are forever shaped. Meyers does a fantastic job of moving the action forward, and it’s hard to believe this is her first novel. And The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book so driven by voice as this one is, and I’m loving every page.
Where can you be found offline? The very few hours that I’m not writing, I’m walking my dogs, working out at my local rec center, and ferrying my children around to their various activities. Sometimes, I make dinner! My sister is my writing partner (and the best writer I know), and we regularly get together for a many-hour lunch at a local sandwich shop to pound out various issues in both our works in progress.
Where can you be found online? My website is my online home: www.google.com. There, readers can contact me, or reach me through Facebook, Twitter, goodreads, and LibraryThing.
Any last comments? Thanks for hosting me here, Miss Remmers. It’s always a delight to meet another reader as passionate about books as I am!
Not only do Carla and I share a passion for reading — we also have similar roots. Her husband is from Northern Minnesota and it turns out that she frequently visits my own home town of Cass Lake, MN for summer vacations!
If you haven't read, "The Things That Keep Us Here, " you are definitely missing out. This is one of the best adult fiction books I've read. Highly recommend it.
The post you are about to read is 100 % **Role Play
All the characters represented here (please see the list of all Role Players provided below ) with the exception of Lisa and myself are **Role Players from a group on twitter. They have agreed to role play with us to help celebrate not only our Halloween Event, but also to help share our love for the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by author J.R. Ward, as these Role Players are also huge fans of J.R. Ward's works.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT NO ONE with this site/blog, Lisa’s site/blog nor the role-playing group — which you can find with the list of twitter accounts provided — is in any way, shape or form connected to or affiliated with J.R. Ward. No one present or represented here is J.R. Ward, nor is the role playing intended for any purpose other than the personal enjoyment of the Role Players involved.
Warning: This story contains mature and adult themes.L/J: *trying to get the topic back on track* Okay then, since were talking about Vampire movies and all, what do you think about the TV shows out there that have Vampires of the non-sparkly variety in them? Such as say… The Vampire Diaries or True Blood?
@Vishous_BDB: Only if we want a laugh, true? @BellaR_BDB: I’ve heard of the shows from some of the followers, but I haven’t watched them. Do you watch them? *glancing at L and J* @Tohrment_BDB: *shakes head* I don't watch shows about teenagers, first. And the True Blood stuff? Some of the humans on twitter complained about it being all wrong, so I've kept my distance.
L/J: So, being that we found you on twitter, which is great and amazing to get a chance to check in with each of you nightly… it looks like you all have fun with it? Was it you @Vishous_BDB who got them all hooked? And if not, how did you all get started with it?
@Vishous_BDB: Yeah I thought it would be a good way to get our stories out there. It worked, we have had several people tell us they read the books because of us.
L/J: @Vishous_BDB Your right, it is a great way to further spread the word about each of your stories.
@Vishous_BDB: *nods knowing I am always right* @Rhage_BDB: I hate to admit he is right *nods at @Vishous_BDB* But he was. @Tohrment_BDB: That's V's big brain working over time again. It's been a good ride, so far. @Phury_BDB: V got us started. At first it did seem awkward for some of us, myself included. But it has been interesting. @Wrath_BDB: I’ll admit to not being completely sold on the idea of twitter at first. I couldn’t figure out who had time for this shit. But as the leader of the vampire race, I’m finding it to be an excellent communication tool as well as the best form of agitation for the @Scribe_Virgin I’ve seen in a couple hundred years. *smirks* @MaryL_BDB: The whole Twitter thing fascinates me. People are so friendly and they genuinely seem to care about us as people, not just us as figments of their imaginations. Maybe you could give us some insight into that. Why do people we don’t know follow our lives so closely? Not that I don’t love it! @BethR_BDB: Everyone is really friendly and supportive of us. @MarissaH_BDB: I have to agree with @BethR_BDB and MaryL_BDB. Everyone has been so kind on Twitter. When things between @Butch_BDB and myself were uncertain so many people has such kind and supportive words.
L/J: @MaryL_BDB & everyone… to answer your question, I think we follow each of you because after reading your stories we feel like we know you, even just the slightest bit. That this is our way to stay connected to you and see where each of you are in your lives while waiting the long way for the next book/chapter to begin within your world. And trust me, it’s a long wait…
L: Actually *blushing* – Jessica dared me to send a message to @Rehvenge_BDB and that’s how this whole interview came about. He suggested I speak to @Wrath_BDB. *Looks to @Rehvenge_BDB*, by the way, thanks again.
@Rehvenge_BDB: *standing, using the cane to lead my way to you* It was my sublime pleasure. *taking up your hand, stroking a thumb over the inside of your wrist… and FEEDING on your anxiety before heading back to the game*
L: *Stares at @Rehvenge_BDB and his purple eyes. Wonder if that really just happened. Hearing @Wrath_BDB’s tone – shaking head to clear the haze bringing me back to the room*
@Wrath_BDB: Rehv. Cut the shit, man. She’s my guest and I won’t have you using her.
L: Well, *still nervous* you somewhat intimidate us, though we thoroughly enjoy following along, so we both lurk. Maybe after this we won’t lurk as much?
@Butch_BDB: What the hell is there to be intimidated of? *grins* @Vishous_BDB: True that.
J: @Butch_BDB — maybe it’s just that each of you, well the males at least, radiate so much testosterone… or it could just be the fangs.
@Butch_BDB: *smirks* @MarissaH_BDB: It’s always nice to talk with everyone one Twitter. But I was nervous about talking with people in the beginning- it was something outside of anything the gylmera would ever have approved. @BethR_BDB: There’s no need to be intimidated. I enjoy talking with everyone.
L/J: @MarissaH_BDB & BethR_BDB – Thank you so much for making us feel so welcome and inviting us in. Thanks to each of you really.
@MarissaH_BDB: *smiles warmly* @Rhage_BDB: Yeah, you should talk to us. A lot.
J: @Rhage_BDB — now that we have had a chance to get to know you all, I definitely think we will be chatting with you a lot more.
@Tohrment_BDB: Hey, reach out, we don't bite *laughs*
L: @Tohrment_BDB *laughing with you* did you really just say that?
@Tohrment_BDB: *thinks to the immediate past* Yeah, I did. *winks* @Qhuinn_BDB: *grins* No lurking allowed, ladies. Maybe a Corona or two will loosen you up a bit?
L: @Qhuinn_BDB *slight smile* well, while Corona is one of my favorite beers, I’d much rather have some Tequila. *blushing*
@Qhuinn_BDB: *Grins at Lisa, holding up a lime and the salt shaker* I've got the Heradurra right here, babe. Body shots on me?
L: *stares at @Qhuinn_BDB Speechless*
J: @Qhuinn_BDB actually, right about now I could use one… Could you pass one over?
@Blaylock_BDB: Truly, be at ease. We really enjoy interacting with our followers. Oh, and ignore @Qhuinn_BDB. I try to. *smiles, blushing slightly*
J: *giggles after drinking* Aww @Blaylock_BDB you’re just too sweet! *walks across the room and touches his cheek. Thinking this Corona is starting to relax me*
@Blaylock_BDB: *blushing brighter at your touch* Thanks.
J: Um, how about a question for each of you? Do you enjoy reading and if so, what’s your favorite type of story?
@Butch_BDB: Mysteries for me. The cop in me never really went away totally. @Vishous_BDB: I love to read. Everything. I have thousands of books. I enjoy anything that makes me think. @Tohrment_BDB: I like to read vampire stories for a good laugh and conspiracy theory fiction. The DaVinci Code wasn't bad. I can also read about cars for days. The Complete Book of Corvette and Porsche: Excellence Was to be Expected are two of my faves. Lots of beauty in those pages. *Thinks about the Stingray* I think that covers it. @Rehvenge_BDB: Mob stories. Big fan. *enigmatic grin* @Zsadist_BDB: *lips curl in a smile* Anything Nalla wants me to read to her.
L: @Zsadist_BDB Oh, I almost forgot – here *passes to @Zsadist_BDB* I brought this book for Nalla. I found it just the other day and thought she might like it. It’s called Cloudette. *smiles*
@Zsadist_BDB: *smiling — nods* Nalla will love it. Thank you *glances over at Nalla and Bella, smile widens* @Phury_BDB: I enjoy reading a wide variety of things. @Wrath_BDB: *shakes head* Unless I can get something in Braille otherwise @BethR_BDB reads to me. I love hearing her voice, so it’s all good. @BethR_BDB: I enjoy anything I can read to Wrath. But I’m not going to lie; I like a good Nicholas Sparks book just as much as the next female. @BellaR_BDB: I like romance novels. *smiles* I like happy ever afters. @EhlenaA_BDB: I read everything I can get my hands on. *looks to @Rehvenge_BDB* I’m currently reading “Mind Manipulation: Ancient and Modern Ninja Techniques”… you know… gotta stay sharp.
J: @EhlenaA_BDB — Same here. I try to read a variety of different books. Never know what ones may turn into favorites. *thinking of picking up that book… never know when it may come in handy*
@MaryL_BDB: I’m very much a reader. Currently I’m reading Our Synaptic Selves, though usually I read the latest in childhood disorders. The field changes so fast, it’s hard to keep up. @MarissaH_BDB: Well, I’ve been enjoying reading books that @MaryL_BDB found for me as wonderful reference points for SafePlace. I continue to feel like there is so much that I don’t know. @Qhuinn_BDB: *runs a hand through my dark, spiky hair* Hmm… Do video game guides count @Blaylock_BDB: *laughs* Um… no, @Qhuinn_BDB, video game guides don’t count. We’ve been pretty busy lately, but I really like Joe Hill. @Lassiter_BDB: I prefer TV.
L: @Lassiter_BDB how did I know you were going to say that? *laughing* J: @Lassiter_BDB oh, do you mean more of those Lifetime Movies that were mentioned before.
@Lassiter_BDB: Exactly. Classy TV. @CormiaC_BDB: I have been devouring every book about architecture that @Phury_BDB has been able to find for me. And human history books. I’m intimately familiar with our race’s history but now I’m curious about other histories.
L/J: This one is for the Shellans – how do you each put up with all the fighting? *glances over to see @Tohrment_BDB and looks away sad to have asked such a question*
@Tohrment_BDB: *Knowing I'm going to have to ride this out, it's what Wellsie wanted for me. Resolved to stick around no matter how thick it gets, trying to focus on sinking my next shot instead.* @MarissaH_BDB: I’d be lying if I said I didn’t worry every time @Butch_BDB goes out hunting--what he does is different than what the other Brothers do, and it will always frighten me. But I trust him, and I trust that he will do everything in his power to come home to me each night. *sees @Butch_BDB watching me, smiles at him in return* @Butch_BDB: *winks at @MarissaH_BDB* @CormiaC_BDB: I knew @Phury_BDB first as the Primale and a warrior, so I always knew this was part of who he is. It doesn’t mean I don’t worry, because I do. But I know that he and his Brothers are fighting for our entire race, and that’s a calling greater than my worry. And besides, he’s already proven he’s stronger than even he knew… *smiles proudly at @Phury_BDB* @DocJaneW_BDB: *Looking up from the plans for the new clinic and shaking my head* You just can't think about it. *glancing over at V who's leaning on his cue, smiling at him* And I'll be damned if I ever lose any of them should they need my expertise. @BellaR_BDB: *looks at Nalla* I worry. I try not to, but I do. *looks over at @Zsadist_BDB* But even while I’m worrying, I know that @Zsadist_BDB will always do everything in his power to come home to us. And I choose to believe that he will. @MaryL_BDB: *sighs* I know it’s important to him, to his Brothers, so I just kiss him before he goes and then hold my breath until he comes home. I think I’m comforted by my pet, the one he calls “the beast”. Well, his beast and I have an arrangement. He keeps my Rhage safe and I scratch him behind the ears when he gets home. *giggles and winks @Rhage_BDB* @BethR_BDB: I know how frustrating it is that @Wrath_BDB can’t be out fighting alongside his brothers, but he has a responsibility to the race as their King which he takes very seriously. I worry about the other warriors who are out in the streets every night, hunting down lessers and keeping us safe. @Wrath_BDB worries about even more than I do, and I don’t like to think of how hard he would take it if something happened to one of them. @EhlenaA_BDB: I don’t worry overly much about @Rehvenge_BDB fighting. His battles are waged on a different field. *taps head*
L: The strength each of you has is amazing. I can hear it in your voices; see it in your body language. The conviction in our words comes shining through when speaking of such a hard subject. Thank you for your honest answers.
@DocJaneW_BDB: *nods* You're welcome. You have to be strong to handle one of these males, trust me. All the women here are tough as nails, couldn't be happier to find myself in their ranks. @BellaR_BDB: *smiling* You’re welcome.
L/J: *gets up to walk around – seeing how natural they all are with each other, makes my/our nerves settle some* (hearing laughing over a game of pool between @Vishous_BDB & @Tohrment_BDB we walk over to check it out.*
@Vishous_BDB: *taking a shot*
L: Who’s winning?
@Vishous_BDB: *nods at @Tohrment_BDB* Want to play winner? @Tohrment_BDB: *Eying the 3 ball, knowing I can bank it in if V misses his next shot*
J: Ohhh, no, we’re still playing Monopoly with @Wrath_BDB, @Rehvenge_BDB, @Zsadist_BDB, @Phury_BDB. We just came over to see what you guys were laughing about?
@Vishous_BDB: Well you did bring up the sparkly vamps so we had to give @Rhage_BDB some flack, true? @Rhage_BDB: *flips V off* @Tohrment_BDB: *shaking my head at all the sparkle talk* @Lassiter_BDB: *still glowing* What is wrong with sparkle? @Rehvenge_BDB: *finally absconding with Park Place AND Boardwalk, nailing the Brothers with sly amethyst eyes* Just hand over your banks now, ladies. *steepled fingers*
L: Who’s winning at the monopoly game? Oh… not sure, but I believe @Wrath_BDB might be. *feeling less and less nervous, but knowing it can return at anytime with so many males of this size packed into this room.*
@Rehvenge_BDB: *pulling all Z’s internal outrage for a snack and replacing it with the overwhelming desire to bake Halloween cupcakes* @Zsadist_BDB: *feeling like I want to bake some cupcakes – shakes head and glares at @Rhevenge_BDB * You Fu… *growls* @Wrath_BDB: *grins* Of course I’m winning. And Rehv? Park Place and Boardwalk mean nada. *laughs* @Rehvenge_BDB: *shouts above the music that it’s Jessica’s turn*
L/J: *looking up at @Vishous_BDB, @Rhage_BDB, @Tohr_BDB & @Butch_BDB over the pool table* we’ll come back again in a few… *walking back over to the couch – noticing @John_MatthewBDB and @Xhex_BDB have joined the group* `1
Be sure to come back tomorrow night for the 3rd and final part of our interview! You won't want to miss out it AND we'll have another surprise tomorrow night as well!
If you would like to follow along with the all the Black Dagger Brotherhood Twitter Role Players is part of this group, please USE GOOGLE to easily follow each character. And trust me, you don't know what your missing! So hurry and follow today!
@FritzDoggen_BDB Online: (updates, notes and information on the Twitter Role Playing Group)
Website | Twitter
Order All 8 books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and Preorder book 9 Online here:
Amazon | Borders | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository
Thank you so much to all the characters from the Black Dagger Brotherhood Twitter Role Play group for all the time and effort they have been putting in to help us celebrate not only Halloween and our event, but also our love for all that is the Brotherhood and J.R. Ward.
Reference:
**Role Play
–verb (used with object) 1. to assume the attitudes, actions, and discourse of (another), esp. in a make-believe situation in an effort to understand a differing point of view or social interaction: Management trainees were given a chance to role-play labor negotiators. 2. to experiment with or experience (a situation or viewpoint) by playing a role: trainees role-playing management positions. –verb (used without object) 3. to engage in role-playing.
Interview by Lisa (L) & Jessica (J)
All who are attending?
Playing Pool are Vishous_BDB & @Tohrment_BDB with @Butch_BDB and @Rhage_BDB playing next. Playing Monopoly are @Rehvenge_BDB, @Zsadist_BDB, @Wrath_BDB, @Phury_BDB, and Jessica and I. @BellaR_BDB and @BethR_BDB are playing with Nalla. @DocJaneW_BDB, @MaryL_BDB, @CormiaC_BDB, @EhlenaA_BDB, and @MarissaH_BDB are looking over more plans for the medical facility while waiting for a shellan monopoly. It is much calmer. No daggers. @John_MatthewBDB and @Xhex_BDB come in later, still in honeymoon phase they are… looking happy. @Qhuinn_BDB and @Blaylock_BDB are playing Xbox. @Lassiter_BDB flutters from group to group inputting his two cents. @FritzDoggen_BDB serving crepes and drinks.
Check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post!NOTE: This post will be the same on both of our blogs.
REMINDER: *If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please ready full entry rules HERE.
