Interview and giveaway from author: Karen Ann Hopkins

 


Author: Karen Ann Hopkins

Author of: Temptation







The link to my review of Temptation is here


Bio: A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.





Interview:

1)      How did you come up with the idea to write about the Amish? Is any of this story related to real life events?

I was inspired to write TEMPTATION from my observations of the young Amish people of the community I moved into four and a half years ago.  Immediately upon settling into the new farm, a parade of Amish teens arrived to participate in the riding activities I held on a weekly basis.  Watching the interactions between the Amish teens and the non-Amish ones (the Amish call anyone not Amish, English) caused the idea of the forbidden love affair between Noah and Rose to sprout in my mind.  Although, TEMPTATION is completely fictional, there have been several Amish/English relationships within the community.  One in particular ended with the Amish girl leaving her culture to marry her English boyfriend.  The girl was shunned by her family and community, but didn’t regret her decision.

2)      What was your inspiration for this book?

The Amish community I live in was the inspiration for TEMPTATION, along with an adult Amish mystery I’m currently working on.  I quickly learned upon moving into the community that the Amish culture is intriguing on many levels.  It’s not always the cute and cozy world that people dream about.  They deal with many of the same issues that non-Amish people do.  Marital and family problems, financial stress, rebellious children and clashes between families in the community are commonplace.  I wanted to write my Amish fictional stories with the realness that I’ve witnessed myself.

3)      Do you have a certain time of the day where you like to write, and any special rituals that go with your writing?

Much of the time I was writing TEMPTATION, I was sitting in my car waiting for my Amish neighbors to finish their shopping or other activities.  I drove the Amish for a couple of years to make extra income and further immerse myself in the culture.  Being so close to the people I was writing about definitely added to the flow of ideas.  Otherwise, my favorite time to write is early afternoon, before the kids arrive home from school.  

4)      If it was possible would you ever be able to turn Amish and leave your old life and technology behind?

That’s an easy one—no way!  The parts about the Amish culture I admire most are living on a farm and the simplicity of the lifestyle.  Those are things that can be accomplished without joining a regimented group of people, living within the guidelines of strict rules.  I love music and driving my car way too much to ever make the transition.

5)      What was your most enjoyable memory researching for this book?

There have been many moments that stick in my mind, but one day in particular was extra special.  I drove a large Amish family to a property that the oldest son had purchased.  The young man had been crippled in a buggy/semi-truck accident that killed one of his sisters and her boyfriend.  The property was mostly wooded, with some pretty meadows dotting the landscape.  I joined the parents and siblings in cleaning out the small trailer house that sat on the property and clearing brush from around the building.  When the work was completed, we sat around a bonfire, enjoying some excellent Amish food and singing hymns (the Amish can sing hymns without the accompaniment of instruments, but they can’t listen to any music themselves).  The love that each family member had for each other was very evident that night.

 

 

 

Giveaway time!
(This giveaway is international)

   Rules to win:
  You must be GFC follower
+1 for tweeting a link to this giveaway

Leave a comment with your name and email address and I will email the winner

 The last day to enter this giveaway
  is September 18 at midnight





find Karen on facebook here
and don't forget to like her book on facebook here

Interview with Caron Rider author of "Silver Knight"

Author:Caron Rider

Author of: Silver Knight



Bio:

In the 1990s, I began teaching adults to use computer software, hardware, and networking. After several years, my clients became younger and younger until I found myself tutoring high school dropouts to pass the GED. I found working with at-risk teenagers so rewarding that I changed my undergraduate major to Education.
Upon graduating from the University of South Alabama with a B.S., I began teaching high school history and continue to teach history classes online. I now live in rural Missouri with my two kids, two dogs, two cats, and father.


Interview:

1-      How long did the writing process for Silver Knight take?

Silver Knight took almost a year to write and edit.

2-      When will the second book come out?

Silver Demon will come out towards the end of June (barring any technical problems with editing). So hopefully it will be available on the Summer Solstice.

3-      What inspired you to write a book about slaying demons?

I am a history buff and particularly like history about different religions and how they came about. In my family history I have a relative who was named Solomon. Now one of the more famous people in Jewish and Christian history was King Solomon. So there I have one connection with the idea of people coming back around based on a continuation of their names (not that I think I’m descended from King Solomon, but you never know). Then there is an ancient text known as the Testament of Solomon, which talks about Solomon controlling armies of demons. So I put him together with killing demons and reincarnation.  From there I simply wanted an enjoyable story that had a strong female lead.

4-      Obviously there’s going to be a second book, how many books are going to be included in the series?

I thought for the first part of The Silver Series, it would be a trilogy. From that point I would like to have some stories about several of the other characters that might be stand-alone novels within this same demon-killing world.

5-      If you could be any character (male or female) from your book who would you pick? And why?

I would be Bathsheba. In Silver Knight, she already has a connection to several of the characters (and if you’ve read it and were paying particular attention, then you may  have found all the connections), but readers will learn a lot more about her in book two. She’s an exciting character.

6-      While writing this book, did you write it cover to cover, or did you write it in separate pieces?

I have a really weird writing style that drives my editor nuts! I go through and write the whole thing, but it tends to be very bare bones. So then I go back and start filling in pieces.  I have a feeling my methodology will probably evolve some as the story progresses.

7-      Do you have any rituals you do while writing (like listening to music, etc.)? And when do you do most of your writing?

I do my best brainstorming when I listen to music and drive but I have to write while it’s quiet. Really I’m at my computer from about 6:30 a.m. until about 10:00 p.m. I only take breaks to tend to the house, kids, grandpa, animals, etc.

8-       What are some things about you that nobody really knows?

That’s a tough one because I’m pretty much an open book. When my students first meet me, it’s funny because if you ask me a question, I’m going to answer it and they are often very surprised at those answers. I’ve taught many who are considered “at-risk” so their attitude towards me is often hostile until they discover that I grew up more poor than many of them and that I had a mother who was an alcoholic and drug addict. All of a sudden I’m not considered “the enemy” because they feel like I’ve faced some of the same hurdles. It’s important to me for them to know that they can overcome whatever life has thrown at them.

Lauren Oliver interview and giveaway!

Author: Lauren Oliver


Author of: Before I Fall
                Delirium





Bio:

Lauren Oliver comes from a family of writers and so has always (mistakenly) believed that spending hours in front of the computer every day, mulling over the difference between “chortling” and “chuckling,” is normal. She has always been an avid reader.

She attended the University of Chicago, where she continued to be as impractical as possible by majoring in philosophy and literature. After college, she attended the MFA program at NYU and worked briefly as the world’s worst editorial assistant, and only marginally better assistant editor, at a major publishing house in New York. Her major career contributions during this time were flouting the corporate dress code at every possible turn and repeatedly breaking the printer. Before I Fall is her first published novel.

She is deeply grateful for the chance to continue writing, as she has never been particularly good at anything else.



Interview:

1--How did you come up with the idea for Delirium?

The idea for DELIRIUM came from an essay I read by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, in which he wrote that all great books were about love or death. The next day I was thinking about that quote--particularly about how and in what form a modern love story could be told--while I was on the treadmill at the gym. I was simultaneously watching a news story about a flu outbreak that had everyone freaking out about the possibility of a pandemic, and I was kind of marveling that people so easily go into panics about reports of these diseases, and at some point the two trains of thought--love, and disease--just sort of combined in my head.

2-      At what age did you first start writing?

I started writing at around the age of five, actually—basically, once I started reading on my own. As soon as I began to read, I began to write sequels for my favorite books. It was an early version of fan fiction, I guess.

3-      Did you think Delirium was going to this big of a success?

 Oh! I don’t know. I try not to think too much what will happen to my books once they go out into the world. It’s so stressful. I’m continuously kind of baffled and amazed, though, by how many people have found their way to my books already. So I guess no—I didn’t really expect it.

4-      Who’s your biggest inspiration

I’m not sure I could narrow it down to one person. I get inspired by so many people—my parents, my friends, my fans, and anyone who works hard to achieve a goal.

5-      Would you like to travel to the future or to the past?

For how long? The past, I guess. The future kind of scares me. But I would only go to the distant pass if I could bring along modern plumbing…or lots and lots of air fresheners.

6-      Do you have a bucket list? If so what are some things on it?

I don’t have a list, per se. I would just like to keep living as much and as expansively as possible—loving well, traveling, embracing new opportunities, pushing myself and trying new things. I’m a “yes” person. I’ll pretty much say yes to anything once.

7-      Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Hmmm. I’m kind of both and neither! I love being out late but I hate sleeping in and missing the morning, which is a super productive time for me. Plus, I need a ton of sleep—like nine hours a night. I so wish I could be one of those people who only needs five or six hours. So although I wish I could be both a morning and a night person, I usually end up getting to sleep by midnight and waking up around eight.

8-      What’s your favorite time of the year?

That’s a great question! I love both the fall and the summer. I love going to the beach and being bare-foot and in shorts and getting my hair tangled with ocean-water. But I also love the colors of an East Coast autumn, and cozy sweaters and warm days that melt into cold nights. 

9-      What author would you like to meet and why?

JK Rowling. I would tell her to adopt me, I would tell her I loved her, I would kiss her hand.

10-   Can you tell us some facts about yourself that no one really knows about?

Oof, that’s a hard one. I hate watching TV except for Glee. I religiously sing in the shower, and I even have a sponge shaped like a microphone. I dance a LOT in my apartment. My sister used to call me Sluggie, because I am the world’s slowest walker! There. That’s a lot of secret facts. J

Giveaway time!!

I will be giving away a UK copy of Delirium:

Rules to win:
follow my blog via GFC (suscribing by email is optional)
and leave a comment with your email address down below.
+1 entry for tweeting a link to this interview


The Giveaway ends on July 4 at midnight




my review of Delirium here


Check out her website here
read her blog here


Buy a copy of Delirium here
Buy a copy of Before I Fall here



Don't forget to be on the lookout for the second book in the Delirium series which comes out march 6 2012 (mark it to your to-read list here )

Thanks for checking out the interview and enjoy!

Author interview and giveaway with Susane Colasanti

Author: Susane Colasanti

Author of: When It Happens
                Waiting For You
                Take Me There
                Something Like Fate
                So Much Closer



Bio:
Susane Colasanti is the author of When It Happens, Take Me There, Waiting for You, and Something Like Fate. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from New York University. Before becoming a full-time author, Susane was a high school science teacher for almost ten years. As a teenage Jersey girl, Susane felt like her true home was across the water in New York City. She now lives in the West Village.

Susane's fifth teen novel, So Much Closer, was released in May 2011. Her sixth book will be out next year.
Interview:

1. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was about 16, I wanted to write a children’s book.  But I had already decided to be a science teacher when I was 12.  I’ve always loved science, especially astronomy and physics.  I studied those fields in college.  Then I went to grad school to become a physics teacher.  But the longing to write was burning inside of me.  My first book, When It Happens, was inspired by my own experiences during senior year of high school.  The story would not leave me alone.  I just had a feeling that people would want to read that book.  So I started writing the first draft in grad school.  The book was published 10 years later.

2. What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to read.  Reading has always been my #1 fave thing to do.  There’s a park near my place right on the Hudson River.  It’s like this strip of green space that runs along the river from midtown all the way down to the tip of Manhattan.  I love taking long walks there or around my neighborhood at night.  Walks are always best at night.  This is New York, so there’s always something new and interesting happening nearby.  Like today I’m going to Rainbow City, this large-scale outdoor art installation with 40 interactive balloons.  Balloons!  And in a few weeks there’s this thing called Shadowplay.  A bunch of colorful dots are projected on a huge wall and you have to capture them with your shadow.  Random fun things like these come up all the time – this is the most creative city and I love being in the center of it all.

3. Have you ever been noticed as an author while you were out in public?

Only in bookstores, which doesn’t really count as out in public.  But one of the best emails I’ve ever received came from someone who thought she saw me on the street.  The mother of a reader told me that she and her son were having lunch outside in my neighborhood.  Her son has read all of my books and apparently knows what I look like (which is always surprising).  When Kiefer Sutherland walked by with someone, her son swore it was me.  Of course I wanted to write back and be all, “Yeah, me and Kiefer go way back.  We were just chilling.  That’s how we do.”  But I had to admit that, no, it wasn’t me, I just look a lot like Kiefer’s girlfriend.  Which I know because Kiefer and I have a mutual friend who says every time he sees his girlfriend, she reminds him of me.

4. How many times did you get rejected by a publisher with your first book?

The first draft of When It Happens got about seven or eight rejections.  It was even rejected by my publisher!  The first editor who read it included some feedback in her rejection letter.  I applied her suggestions to the revised manuscript and submitted it again.  It was rejected again.  The same editor read it a second time and provided even more feedback.  I refused to give up.  Failure was not an option.  I revised the manuscript and submitted it again.  A different editor read it and wanted to work with me.  Why did I keep submitting my manuscript to a publishing house that rejected me twice?  I had a Knowing that Penguin was where I belonged.  My imprint, Viking Children’s Books, publishes lots of books I adore.  When you’re looking for a publisher, it’s a good idea to focus on houses that publish books similar to yours.  I’m thrilled that house became my home.

5. What’s your ritual while writing, like do you listen to music or do something else?

It’s so weird about music.  I used to have to listen to music while I wrote.  My first three books could not have been written without music playing constantly.  But then something changed.  I started turning the music off now and then.  At this point, I mostly write without music, just the sounds of the city swirling in the distance.  Music used to take me where I needed to go for every scene I wrote, but now it distracts me too much.  I’m not sure why that change happened.  The important thing is to go with the flow.

6. If you could switch lives with any author who would it be and why?

As fun as it would be to switch with Meg Cabot and wear cute dresses and have 8,637 emails in my inbox, I don’t think I would.  Being me has finally gotten pretty good.  I’m working on being in the Now more and appreciating everything I have.  There are lots of things I still want (and I can be very impatient!), but that’s where my drives comes from.  Which is a good thing.

7. How many hours a week do you write?

My schedule while writing a new book is to write five pages a day, five days a week.  Since I’ve always been a night person (which was a problem when I could hardly drag my teenage butt out of bed for school in the morning because I stayed up mad late reading), I write in the afternoons.  As with any job, I have my good days and bad days.  Sometimes I can write those five pages in two hours.  Sometimes it takes six hours.  I spend about 25 hours a week writing when I’m working on a new book.  But when I’m on deadline with a revision, I usually work 12- to 16-hour days.

8. What was your childhood like?

You may have heard of my hometown.  Middle of Nowhere, New Jersey?  It’s a small town deep in the woods with a population of under 2,000.  It’s one thing to be older and go back and appreciate nature and all, but growing up in the country was beyond boring.  I couldn’t wait to move to a big city with lots of things to do.  That’s why I love living in New York City.  All of the bookstores and coffeeshops and museums and concerts and green spaces…it’s an amazing place.  And somehow I always knew it was my true home.  This part of my life actually inspired the plot of my latest book, So Much Closer.  Brooke leaves everything behind in New Jersey at the beginning of senior year and moves to New York City.  She moves for a boy who she believes is her soul mate.  Later, she realizes that he was just a catalyst.  She needs the adventure of moving here to discover who she is.

9. Coffee or tea?

Green tea.  When it’s coffee, it has to be decaf.  Caffeine makes me feel sick.

10. What’s the weirdest thing you encountered as an author (e.g. What’s the weirdest thing someone asked you to sign, etc.)?

Other than signing jeans, nothing too weird has happened yet.  Even the jeans were way more cool than weird.  However, I adore the Weird and look forward to weird encounters.  Bring it, readers!

Giveaway time!!

Susane has been gracious enough to let me give away a copy of her newest book, So Much Closer!

Rules to win:


follow my blog via GFC (suscribing by email is optional)
and leave a comment with your email address down below.


The Giveaway ends on June 27 at midnight

my review of So Much Closer here


check out her website here
click here to go to Susane's blog
go here to go to her facebook
follower her on twitter
and check out her youtube page here


Buy her new book"So Much Closer" right here on Amazon


Thanks for checking out the interview, enjoy!

Interview with Susan Goldsmith

Author:Susan Goldsmith

Author of:Abithica






Bio:
After receiving a journalism degree, Susan was an Undercover Private Investigator, worked as an outside Sales Rep for Dun & Bradstreet, and then spent five years in pharmaceutical sales. Today, she is living her dream with her high school sweetheart and their two daughters in The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Arizona, where she spends her days unleashing her rampant imagination and documenting all the crazy places it takes her.





Interview:
1) How did you come up with the idea to write a book like Abithica?
My vacuum, Thomas Moore and my very persistent imagination were the inspiration behind Abithica. Maybe I should explain that. You see, all my best thoughts have come while pulling a vacuum. Now enter Thomas Moore. He wrote a book called Care of the Soul. In it, he asked a very profound question: what is your worst fear? Hmmm, what is my worst fear, I wondered. Naturally, I grabbed said vacuum and unleashed my imagination.
Losing my husband and children was the answer. Oh, but what if I was taken from them without their knowledge and they didn’t even know I was gone? Ouch! That would definitely hurt. But what would be even worse is if another soul took my place and I was there, unseen, invisible, watching their lives continue as if I had never existed.
I was getting closer to my worst nightmare, but I wasn’t quite there yet. It needed a little something more. Got it! What if the body I was in had never really belonged to me in the first place? What if it was me who had been the intruder all along? I had been borrowing the woman’s life… and now… she wanted it back.
The question became an obsession, and my vacuum and I spent a lot of time together. Soon, the idea of “switching” was born. It grew legs and arms and even acquired a face, Abithica’s face.

2) How long did the whole writing process take?

I didn’t have an outline the first time I sat down to write Abithica and I ended up re-writing the first chapter 30 different ways and every one of them was the beginning of a completely different story. I had no idea what Abithica was or how she was going to fix her problem, or how the story was going to end. I was like an artist standing over an empty canvas. Was I going to use pastels, pencil or paint? Was it going to be a nature scene, or a portrait? Why not an elephant? Did it even have to be on a canvas? Why not the side of a building or a sidewalk? I had no idea so I kept trying a little of everything, until eventually, nothing worked and I found myself pinned to the ground, screaming uncle.
Once I worked out an outline summary, the story started to progress. From that point on, it took about a year until my publisher took it on, and then another year before it was released.


3) Will there be a sequel to this book?

There is a sequel in the works. The title is going to be Echonyza. (I think) The sequel centers on The Legnas and how Abithica is tied to them. Echonyza is a mysterious character who “awakens” to help The Legnas find the missing Sarah Cummings. Like a snowflake, no two people see him the same. He has the ability to be whatever you need him to be. There are huge plot twists that will keep you on your toes, and Lane and Abithica’s love is challenged on the very opening scene in a huge unexpected way.

4- How did you come up with the name Abithica?

Abithica is a name I made up. Without giving too much away, it had to be unique and sound otherworldly. My husband and daughters liked it immediately.


5- Do any of the characters pertain to you or any real life people?

All the characters are fictional. I made the mistake early in my writing career of placing my family in a story and using our real names. Every single one of us was perfect in every way imaginable - beautiful beyond words, highly talented and unusually bright. Boring didn’t even come close to describing the outcome. Stephen King would have puked after the first page!

6- If you could hang out with any character from Abithica who would it be and why?

The post-Abithica Sydney would be fun to hang out with. She’s got spunk and a wicked sense of humor, but boy could I use some of Marge’s wisdom….

7- Where’s your favorite place to write and do you listen to music as you do it?

I write in my office, and music turned out to be my secret weapon. Listening to certain songs before I sat down to write did amazing things for my writing. I was immediately transported smack into the middle of Abithica’s world where I found it much easier to step aside and let her take over. Somehow it connected us. I ended up creating a playlist on my iPod that I’d turn to for inspiration. Here are some of my favorites:

“Bring me To Life” by Evanescence
“All That I’m Living For” by Evanescence
“Starlight” by Muse
“Amazing Grace” by Neil Diamond
“Lightning Crashes” by Live
“Save Yourself” by Stabbing Westward
“You Complete Me” by Stabbing Westward
“Moment of Surrender” by U2
“Heavy in Your Arms” by Florence & The Machine
“Voodoo” by Godsmack
“Living Dead Girl by Rob Zombie


8- Who’s your inspiration?

I grew up reading Stephen King so he’d be way up there on my list. If I had to pick one of his books, it would have to be The Stand. I fell asleep every night to Neil Diamond telling the story of Richard Bach’s Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I’d love to get my hands on that record! Yup, let’s add Richard Bach to the tally. The Time Traveler’s Wife was the first paranormal romance I’d ever read. When I was finished, I thought to myself, hey, why can’t I write something like that?—Susie style, of course. So, let’s put Audrey Niffenegger somewhere near the top, and while we’re at it, let’s make some room for Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight. When my husband first read it, he actually thought (probably did some serious wishing too) I’d written it under a different name. Bryan and I met our freshman year in biology. He was my partner. (No he’s not a vampire! Sheesh!!!) But there were fireworks. Long story, but it was the excitement I saw on his face for that brief second before I rudely crushed his fantasy that keeps me at the computer even on days I don’t want to be there.


9- Writing takes up a lot of time, what do you do in your spare time?

Exercise keeps me sane. I love tossing a football with my family, kicking around a soccer ball, riding our bikes up and down the mountain road we live on, rollerblading around the U of A campus, yoga (but I still can’t finagle my legs into the lotus position!), weight lifting, hiking, scuba diving, and my latest passion is indoor rock climbing. Oh man, is that fun. We’re working our way up to outdoor climbs. The one activity I don’t care for is golf. It’s not a sport unless you have to beat the ball to the hole!

10- Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate all the way!!!




Abithica  just came out yesterday on June 15, please go check it out!


click here to buy it from Amazon

You can also buy it for your kindle  for only $2.99!


my review for Abithica: My review

Interview and giveaway with P.H.C. Marchesi

Author: P.H.C. Marchesi

author of:
Shelby and Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes







Bio:
I have a Ph.D. degree in English literature and teach British literature to undergraduates. I'm currently working on book two of "Shelby and Shauna Kitt." I love YA fiction (fantasy/sci-fi), especially when it has interesting characters and ideas. As a child, I lived in many different countries, and experienced many different cultures. I studied at an International School and had friends from all over the world. In many ways, these experiences shaped my writing and the fantasy world I created in "Shelby and Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes."



Interview:
1- How did you come up with the idea to write Shelby and Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes?

I think that parts of the story were always there, though unconnected. I’ve probably been daydreaming about the world of Miriax my whole life, and this is how I eventually got the idea to write about another dimension. Imagination is, after all, a parallel universe: a place where you can have the most incredible adventures and become who you truly want to be. It’s a place where you can confront your fears and shortcomings, and learn what it takes to become a hero. My imagination allowed me to work through the excitement, promise, and sometimes agony of growing up. In Shelby and Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes, Miriax is the place that allows Shelby and Shauna Kitt to do the same. This is why Miriax is beautiful, dangerous, exciting, and puzzling all at the same time.

2- What made you decide to write a book in the sci-fi genre?


I’ve always been a sci-fi fan. I grew up watching the likes of Star Trek. I vividly remember going to movies to watch Return of the Jedi and ET. To me, there was always something very exciting about space travel, other planets, and aliens. In hindsight, I grew up in an age that saw space exploration as a literal and metaphorical expression of human potential. Space travel was a result – as well as a manifestation of – the human longing for adventure, courage, and excitement. So it made perfect sense to me to write about a different planet, even though the novel is not strictly a sci-fi novel because of all the fantasy elements.

3- How did you come up with all the creative names for you characters in your book?

Ah. Well, I have to confess that coming up with names was always a favorite pastime of mine. I went to an international school (formerly a British school), so I grew up devouring the likes of Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. Dickens, in particular, had such original names that reading him made me realize character names were an important part of storytelling. This is not to say that I wanted to be as metaphorical as Dickens, though once or twice I let slip a quasi-metaphorical name. My aim is to have names that sound so perfect for characters that you couldn't imagine any other name for them.The most exciting names for me to come up with, of course, were those associated with Miriax. I had a great deal of fun with those, and incorporated my knowledge of different languages (Portuguese, German, Italian) in my choices. I'm also in the habit of paying attention to names in signs, streets, stores, etc. Some of these become inspirations for fictional names.

4- Is there going to be a second book in the series?

Absolutely. Shelby and Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes is just the beginning of Shelby and Shauna's adventures on Miriax. I’m already working on the second book, which starts more or less where book one ended.

5- How long did it take you to write it?

I had a complete draft after a year, and then had to put the project on hold because I was nearing the completion of my graduate degree. After I graduated, I began to work on the book again, and it went through several more drafts before I felt I was done with revisions and the novel was ready.

6- If you could be any character from your book, who would it be? And why?

Hmm…that’s a hard question, because I feel that I’ve put some of myself into several of the characters. If I had to choose, I suppose I’d pick Shauna and Shelby Kitt (yes – it’s impossible to pick one over the other for me, even though they are so different), because they are the heroes of the novel. Together, they go on the type of adventure I longed for as a kid! They get to see places one only dreams of, and learn some powerful lessons about themselves and the nature of teamwork, friendship, and courage.

7- Where's your favorite place to write?

I like to write sitting on the sofa, watching the trees sway back and forth outside. I especially love the late afternoon light on the leaves. Nature inspires me, and so I always write best when I can see it.

8- What’s your favorite book to read? And why?

I don’t know if I have one book I can single out as a favorite. Growing up, my favorite book was Michael Ende’s Neverending Story. I also loved the stories of Monteiro Lobato (a Brazilian author). Other favorites were The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, the Harry Potter series, and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

9- What's your favorite genre of book to read?

Young adult fantasy.

10 - Is there anything that you would like to say to future indie writers?

You have to write because you love it, because you can’t stand not sharing with others the things you imagine. If you do that, writing a novel can be the most satisfying thing in the world, regardless of whether your book sells ten copies or ten thousand!




Giveaway time!

Marchesi is giving away a copy of her new book Shelby and Shauna Kitt and the Dimensional Holes

Rules to win:

follow my blog via GFC (suscribing by email is optional)
and leave a comment with your email address down below.

The giveaway will end May 31 at midnight

Check out my review of the book here




Dont forget to check out P.H.C. Marchesi's blog:
check out her blog here

and facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelby-and-Shauna-Kitt-and-the-Dimensional-Holes-PHC-Marchesi/112676675469258%3Efacebook


Check out her Bio page on goodreads for a special price of only $3.99 on your kindle or nook for an unlimited time:
Click here for special price

Author interview and giveaway with Maria V. Snyder

Author:Maria V. Snyer
book/series:
The poison study series
The storm glass series
Inside Out series
and her new book coming out in 2012-The touch of power



Bio:
When I was 12, I learned about meteorologists and decided to become one. My visions of chasing tornados didn’t pan out since I was bad at forecasting. Let’s face it, I’m a daydreamer—always have been. I did graduate from Penn State University and was hired as an environmental meteorologist. It’s never a good idea to get caught idle, so I wrote my daydreams down. My first novel was Poison Study and it was published in 2005! I caught the writing bug and Magic Study and Fire Study soon followed. Even though I went on to earn a Masters degree in writing from Seton Hill University, I never lost my fascination with storms, which is evident in my Glass Series (Storm Glass, Sea Glass and Spy Glass). The environmentalist in me comes out in Inside Out. Trella’s world is contained and they must reuse and recycle everything. One thing they got right in one otherwise messed-up world! I love my new job. Where else can you take fencing lessons, learn to ride a horse, study martial arts, learn to pick locks, take glass blowing classes and get a tour of a maximum security prison and call it work? I’ll give you a hint—not working as a meteorologist :)



Interview:
What made you decide to start writing Inside Out?


A: I dreamt the story - the whole thing, characters, plot, twists..it was the first time and last time that has ever happened (wish I could remember what I ate for dinner that night!). I really liked Trella and wanted to tell her story, so I wrote about 7 chapters and my publisher loved it and bought the story for their new YA line.

How long did it take you to write Inside out and Outside In?

A: It took me about 4 months to write the first draft and then another 2 months for revisions and edits - so a year total for both.

After you were done writing Inside out, did you already have the story made out for the second one?

A: No. I discover a story as I write so after the first book, I knew I wanted to focus on how everyone was adjusting to the changes or how they weren't :) and as I worked on it, the story unfolded. The second book was harder to write because I didn't dream the entire story and had to figure it out!

I know these books are about the future, and I was wondering what went on in your mind when you thought about writing about the future? Do you think the future is going is going to be like this?


A: Actually, I'm not sure if they are about our future - they could be about our past (ever wonder why the industrial revolution happened so fast??) or it could be about another race of people on their way here ;) Trella's people haven't told me their history....yet :)

Where's your favorite place to write?


A: In my office at home - although I wrote my latest project in our rec room downstairs on my laptop - it was away from the internet and all the piles of stuff I needed to do that kept distracting me.

How many hours a day do you write?

A: I try to write 5 hours a day and my goal is about 1500 words - but when a deadline is looming, I'll write up to 10 hours a day and around 3000 - 4000 words.

Would you compare Trella to yourself at all?

A: A little bit. She's very independent and able to take care of herself and that is from me, but otherwise, she's braver and more cynical than I am, and I'm more trusting than she is.

For future authors who want to write novels themselves,what advice would you give them?

A: Persistence is my biggest advice to all aspiring writers. Keep writing, keep submitting, keep writing and keep submitting. Don't give up...ever :) I do have a number of writing advice articles and tips on my website that you may find useful. Here's the link:http://www.mariavsnyder.com/advice.php


Maria V. Snyder is offering a set of the Inside out to giveaway!!!

Buy Inside out here

Buy Outside in here

Rules to win:
Follow my blog and
leave a comment telling me your email address

This giveaway is now closed!


Check out Maria's website here: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/
check out her blog here: http://officialmariavsnyder.blogspot.com/

Author interview and giveaway with Jennifer Murgia

Author: Jennifer Murgia

books: Angel star and lemniscate

Bio:Jennifer Murgia has been writing ever since she was nine years old. After receiving recognition for her poetry, she went on to use her talents to bring characters to life in fiction novels that are authentic, intriguing, and personal. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Interview:
What inspired you to write about Angels?

The idea of writing about angels was an unexpected one. I suppose it came from reading lots and lots of vampire books and wanting to know more about a different type of being, that the idea of an untouchable love between a girl and a boy popped into my head.

When you first starting writing Angel Star, did you know that your books were going to be popular?

No! I certainly don't see them as being widely popular yet, maybe just among a small group of readers. But the idea is nice.

Are some of the characters in your books real?

No they aren't. The only character that I can tie to a real life person would be Teagan. Her beliefs are much like mine. But I think that's pretty much true for any writer, that we put a little (or sometimes a lot) of ourselves into our characters and live vicariously through them.

Some fans are saying that there team Garreth, or team Harian, which one are you?

It would be unfair to say I'm rooting for one over the other but between you and me . . . my heart belongs to Hadrian. Shhh. You didn't hear that, okay?

When you started writing lemniscate, did you know right away how the book was going to turn out? or did you have some writing blocks here and there?

Yes, I did actually. I started writing Lemniscate the day I finished Angel Star. No kidding. THE SAME DAY. And ironically I wrote a particular scene that involves Brynn. It's a creepy little scene and I kept it close at hand while writing the rest of the book to keep me focused. Do I have writing blocks? Oh gosh yes. Lots of them. But that's when I put the story away for a day or two and let my head rest. By the time I go back to it I'm ready to dive in again!

Where is your favorite place to write?

I don't have a favorite - it's more a matter of being convenient, but I write at the dining room table. Glamorous, I know.

Is there going to be a third book, or are you working on something else?

I just finished writing my third book which is not related to the Angel Star stories at all and I'm anxious to see what will happen with it. Hopefully there will be good news in the next few months.
As far as a third in the series? Well, I'm working on an idea...

For people who want to write and get publshed, is there any advice you could give them?

Absolutely, just keep writing! That's the most important thing. Make the time and stick to it. The important part is the story and then editing. Lots and lots of it! And good luck to all the future authors out there!


Check out Jennifer Murgia's books:

angel star







lemniscate









Giveaway:

some signed bookmarks and a clay peice of the lemniscate symbol ,(that my sister and I have made) that's on the cover of Jennifer Murgia's new book.

Rules for author interview:

you must be a follower

and leave a comment with your email so I can contact you when its over!

Thanks Jennifer :)

This is closed and I have picked a winner!