Minnie Lahongrais

An interview with Minnie Lahongrais...

Divergent Lives by Minnie Lahongrais is a must read on my list of good reads of 2013. I couldn't put the book down and was left speechless at the end - it's an awesome story.

An interview with Minnie Lahongrais...

Cloey: When did you become interested in writing?

Minnie:

I have always been an avid reader. I remember reading “See Spot Run” in the first grade and loving the feel of a book in my hands. Reading is a portal for me. Walking through its doors is an invitation to visit other worlds.

I envied authors who could create inviting, stimulating worlds to explore. I wanted to do that as well. But life got in the way and I didn’t think about writing again until years after my father died.

As a child, my bedtime was eight o’clock, seven days a week. I used to crawl under the covers to read long after I was supposed to be asleep. My Dad knew I loved to read and once gave me a penlight so I could keep reading my favorite books.

My father passed away in September of 2005 after a severe stroke three months earlier, and my heart shattered. I became obsessed with death. A friend suggested I write down my feelings but I was concerned that someone would come across my writings after my death and judge me. So I decided to record what I was thinking, what I was feeling and what I wanted my reality to be -- as fiction but I honestly didn’t know where to start.

On the train months later, I settled in for the ride to work when I glanced over at a book a woman sitting next to me was reading. Her book was opened to a new chapter and that chapter’s title was “When Dreams Die.” My eyes welled up with tears as I felt, at the time, that all my dreams had died with my father.

As I arrived at my stop, those three words haunted me. Had fate somehow led me to where I was supposed to be? I asked myself the question: “What if dreams could be resurrected?” By the time I arrived at my office, three blocks away and still broken, I had the idea for my urban fantasy, “Resurrection of Dead Dreams.”

That happened in May of 2010 and my writing career was born.

Cloey: What inspired you to write Divergent Lives?

Minnie:

My years as a teenager – two incidents in particular – and part of a conversation I heard as a child.

The working title for this story was “Standing on the Precipice.” The main characters of this story were always going to include Adina and Benny. Benny was always going to jail and Adina was always going to die. My plan for this story was to show how conflicting moral ideals could lead a woman down a dangerous path. I planned for it to be a “Looking for Mr. Goodbar” kind of story.

When starting a new story, I tend to write several chapters at a time then sleep on them and review what I’ve written with a fresh eye a day or two later. In this case, I had written the first and last chapters then put my WIP away. Two mornings later, I had a flash back to the conversation I overheard as a little girl when my mother said:

"The baby died in utero; choked by its umbilical cord when its twin, in a hurry to be born, climbed over it and killed it."

I knew who she was talking about and I got to thinking about the consequences of such an event. I wondered what would have happened if that child had lived and was sold to another couple unbeknownst to the biological parents. What if one of the twins was deformed?

I fixated on the possibilities and “Divergent Lives” was born.

Cloey: Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character and why?

Minnie:

I have an affinity for each and every single one of my characters because I WAS each of them while in the midst of writing their scenes. I understood them, their motives, their thought processes. Therefore, all my characters were my favorite in their space and time. If I had to single one out, I couldn’t.

For the purposes of this interview, I would have to say that two characters are my favorites: Adina and RJ. I love them because, as far as I’m concerned, they represent the yin and yang of this fictional tale. Yes, they are sociopaths but like all humans, they are flawed. Haven’t you ever wanted to take physical control over a situation when you felt you had none? Haven’t you ever wanted to kill someone for some slight -- real or imagined?

I have. We live in a “PC” world. Strip away all the political correctness and what do you have left for relatively sane people to deal with? We would be left with people like RJ and Adina. These two are people with very, very fuzzy boundaries.

The character who was my least favorite was RJ’s adoptive father, the Pastor Ezekiel James Preston for his hypocrisy. This is a man who stood in the pulpit of his church yet continually committed atrocities in his home. Ironically, he was also fun to write.

What can I tell you? I’m twisted!

Cloey: What did you enjoy most about writing Divergent Lives?

Minnie:

Ok, so I’m a nerd, right?

I get very, very excited when I imagine a scene and I write it the way I see it. Once I have it down, I research the details to see if what I’ve written is feasible. I plunge myself into researching the different possibilities and scenarios. When I hit upon something that is either identical to my vision or very close to it, I begin emailing, making phone calls and planning expert interviews. The research that I do and incorporating what I’ve learned into a story was and will always be my favorite part about writing “Divergent Lives.” Or any project, for that matter.

I get a buzz when I learn something new, but I get really high when my imagined scenarios are realistic and possible.

Ergo, writing makes me high.

Cloey: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological and logistical) in bringing the story to life?

Minnie:

I’d have to say that there were two challenges: time (logistical) and psychological.

I discovered late in life that I had a passion for writing. Throughout my life, many people told me that I should write a book.

I heard encouragement like:

“You have lots of words. You should share them.”

“Write a book.”

“You should write your life story.”

I would reply in jest: “I don’t want to embarrass my mother.”

Like many indie authors, I have a very demanding day job. I just never thought I would have the time to finish a book. However, I’ve learned to make time for writing: every day, no excuses. That’s also my best advice to other authors.

Psychologically, writing is cathartic for me. It’s cheaper than therapy. Everything that I write has a kernel of truth in it; a kernel that I will never fully disclose except to those closest to me; those who would recognize that kernel.

Cloey: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in Divergent Lives?

Minnie:

I can honestly say that I wouldn’t change a thing! This story has turned out even better than I imagined it could be. I’ve heard comments from people about what they considered to be too much detail in some areas, and others who wanted more detail in other parts of the story. The bottom line is that you can’t please everybody. I wrote the story that spoke to me and I’m happy with it.

Cloey:What are you working on now?

Minnie:

I’ve gone back to the first piece I started writing, an urban fantasy titled “Resurrection of Dead Dreams.” I’m deep into the first book, “The Radocians.”

I also have ideas for a collection of short stories. I’ve started two of those stories and I have ideas for two others. Watch for them!

Cloey: What do you like to read in your free time?

Minnie:

I’ll read anything I can get my hands on! However, lately, I’ve been reading more and more pieces written by other indie authors. Kallypso Masters, Robbi Sommers Bryant, Katie Salidas, Carmen DeSousa, are just some of the more prolific ones. Others on my list are Ellis Shuman, James Darcy, Edward Cozza and Anne Lamott. Anne’s on this list even though she’s not Indie.

I just love to read and that’s why my list is constantly growing!

That said, I just binge-read a bunch of BDSM romance novels. Currently, I’m reading a collection of true crime stories by R.J. Parker and a true account of one man’s experience during holiday in Spain by Dave Perlmutter.

Cloey: Share with us something about yourself that we wouldn’t see in your bio or on any other blogs (this can be anything from the type of music you like, your favorite color, or even your favorite meal – share whatever you want your fans to know about you).

Minnie:

I recently discovered that my muse comes alive for me when I have classical (baroque and chamber) music playing in the background when I’m writing. In particular, Beethoven’s “Fur Elise” does something to me. It was my ringtone for years. Whenever I hear the first few bars of that piece, my soul stirs and I have to stop what I’m doing and allow myself to drift away with its melancholy.

There’s a scene in “Resurrection of Dead Dreams” where the main character’s (Mica’s) ancestry is being revealed to her by Anatoly, her love interest. This is a bittersweet scene with lots of fantastical drama and the basis for the second book in the trilogy. Appropriately, I had Pandora tuned in to the classical station. Mozart played while I wrote that scene, followed by a piece by Bach. Thinking about it makes me want to go and get to it!

Oh! And finally, my favorite things in the world are pink diamonds!!!

But you already knew that, didn’t you?

Cloey: Thank you for sharing with us today and interviewing with me. I love Fur Elise, it's one of my favorite songs that I play on my Smule app. Divergent Lives is a very good read and I am looking forward to reading your next novel.

Book Description:

Psych Thriller Adds Deviant Twists to Sociopath Theme

RJ and Adina enter the world as fraternal twins, one raised by old-world, controlling immigrants in El Barrio, the other sold into a religious home filled with lies and scorn. Both are sociopaths.

Turns out, RJ’s got a secret that enrages him with the flip of a switch. Adina uses her sexual power to dominate every man in her life. They are on a mysterious trajectory to cross paths in New York City, where the end of their lives culminates in an apex of horror and carnage.

Worldwide purchase links: Germany/Deutschland

France

Spain/Espana

Italy/Italia

Japan/Nippon

Canada

Brazil/Brasil

About the author:

Native New Yorker, Minnie Lahongrais unwittingly kick-started her second career when she began writing an urban fantasy tale intended to help her cope with the death of her father. November of that year, she set that story aside to immerse herself in the annual madness of NaNoWriMo, meeting the challenge head on. Her first novel, “Sinner’s Ride” was published Spring of 2011. That summer, she found herself obsessed with the story idea for “Divergent Lives.”

Next on her agenda is the urban fantasy she began at the outset of her journey. She now plans to write that story as a trilogy.

Ms. Lahongrais currently lives in New York City. She finds time to write every day and spends her free time with her family.

Contact the author:

Website: www.minnielahongrais.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Lahongrais

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Lahongrais

J.B. Brooklin

An excerpt by J. B. Brooklin and an interview

An interview with J.B. Brooklin.

Cloey: When did you become interested in writing?

J.B.: When I was a kid I couldn’t wait to learn how to read. My mother and my sister they both used to read a lot while I grew up and I wanted to be able to do that too. Once I started reading I read almost everything I could get from the local library. I loved and still love to get lost in another world and to identify with other characters, overcome their obstacles, experience their loves and sorrows. It didn’t take long for the wish to form to write stories that lets readers forget about their own life and about their own world.

It took me a while however, to really start writing. I finished my first novel at the age of 27. It is still unpublished which is a good thing :). Since then I have written four other novels, all in german and have only recently translated my fantasy novel into english.

Cloey:  What inspired you to write Creatures of Fire?

J.B.: I love reading fantasy novels and I always wanted to write one myself. The thing that inspires me most about this genre is that I not only get to create a world of my own but that I can also play god, in creating unique characters or beings with uncommon gifts and talents.

Cloey: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

J.B.: Yes, Sariel, the main character of the story, needs to accept her true nature and to take responsibility for her actions.

Cloey: Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character to develop and why?

J.B.: My favorite character is Sariel. I can feel her pain, since I wrote this novel shortly after losing a family member myself.

My least favorite character is her uncle Harold Baldwin. I really don’t like evil beings.

Cloey: What did you enjoy most about writing Creatures of Fire?

J.B.: I most enjoyed creating the world of the demons, Dschinnanya.

Cloey: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the story to life?

J.B.: The hardest challenge for me was Alexander’s character. At first he seemed hard to grasp, after all he is not human and I found it sometimes difficult to “read” him. That may sound odd, but since he told his story, it had his spin on it and not mine, so it took me a while to get to know his true nature and motivations. In the second part of the series, Alexander will reveal more of his true character. It is very intersting to write about his thoughts and actions and I hope that readers will enjoy reading it, too.

Cloey: What are you working on now?

J.B: I am working on part 2 of the series.

Cloey: What do you like to read in your free time?

J.B: Currently I am still in my “fantasy” phase, which means that I read a lot of books in that genre, but I also like chicklit with lots of humor.

My absolute favorites in fantasy books are the Fever series from Karen Moning and the Chicagoland Vampire Series from Chloe Neill.

Cloey: Share with us something about yourself that we wouldn't see in your bio or on any other blogs (this can be anything from the type of music you like, your favorite color, or even your favorite meal - share whatever you want your fans to know about you)

J.B.: Something that hardly anyone knows about me, is that I used to be a professional psychic. I did tarot readings for several years, but stopped when my children were born. I still like to take a look at the cards now and then, although I suck at doing readings for myself (I am always trying to twist the outcome to the result I desire :).

Cloey: Thank you so much for interviewing with me and for sharing Creatures of Fire with us today.

Nobody knows how they come into existence. The Ifrit; also called demons or ghosts of the dead.

Fire is their element.

It is said they appear as a column of smoke where murder has happened.

That may be.

It is certain they move with the silence of smoke.

It is certain that human beings can only see them if the Ifrit allow them to.

It is certain they only appear to avenge murder.

1

It shouldn’t have happened. It was supposed to be impossible. And still, she had seen him, although he was invisible to the eyes of humans.

“Are you a friend of my uncle?” Her question confirmed his suspicion. With a smile he turned to face her. At the same moment he made sure that the people around them could see him. It would be strange if they noticed her talking to thin air.

“Yes, but I haven’t met him in a long time. Which is probably why you do not know me.” He offered a short bow. “May I introduce myself? My name is Alexander. And you must be his lovely niece, Sariel.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Enchanté.” He released her hand with an inner curse. He had no idea what had possessed him to give her a kiss on the hand. Hell! These courtesies had been out of fashion for several decades. And why had he responded in French?

“You are French?” He had drawn her interest with his unusual behaviour. It was the first time in years that he had talked to a human being. Clearly he was out of practise.

“I am sorry, but I must beg you to excuse me. I have business to attend to with your uncle.” With this rude remark he turned and vanished into the crowd.

Without paying attention to where he was going he found himself in a room, or rather a sanctuary, which offered respite from the crowded terrace where he had met Sariel.

Sariel. A name out of a fairy tale. And the woman was absolutely... Girl, he corrected himself silently. She was just a girl. Not older than seventeen or eighteen. Whereas he was more than one hundred years old. His interest in her was ridiculous.

With a wry smile he directed his attention to the treasures that surrounded him. The walls were covered with masterpieces. All originals from the greatest painters the world had seen. Here, just to his right, he discovered a Picasso study. Next to it, a Chagall. And there...

“The Tizian!“ He spoke the words aloud in his surprise. Madonna with her child and the holy Lukas and Katharina. It was one of the painter’s few large canvases owned by private collectors.

Against his will he was impressed. Harold Baldwin, the man he had come to kill, obviously had impeccable taste when it came to art. Too bad that he was also an unscrupulous human being who had yet to be punished for his crimes.

***********

He was interesting. Though a bit old-fashioned!

Sariel tried to catch a glimpse of the hastily retreating figure, but failed. This Alexander was the best-looking man she had ever seen. And not only that, he looked exactly like the one; the lover she had always envisioned in her dreams. The man who would sweep her off her feet. Who would make her forget the tragedy and sadness that were her life.

But apparently the one had no interest in her.

“You are just being stupid,” she murmured, careful not to be overheard by the people surrounding her. Not that they seemed to notice. She could have been invisible for all the attention she got. Usually that didn’t bother her. Since her parents had died two years ago she preferred to be left alone. Tonight was no exception...or maybe it was. She would have been glad to talk to this Alexander for a while. He was not only good-looking. Something about him fascinated her, but she couldn’t say what it was. She would have liked to find out what it was about him that gave him this special aura.

One thing was for certain--he didn’t feel the same way about her. And he was older than she was. Somewhere in his mid-twenties.

With a sigh she turned around. She would leave this “party,” as her uncle liked to call it. This social gathering was one of the most sought-after events for the upper class in New York. Or rather the whole of the United States. Politicians, actors, writers, and the wealthy loved to mingle at the yearly gathering her uncle held in his Manhattan penthouse--five floors of the most expensive real estate in the city.

“Wait!” The single word was spoken in a low voice. A male voice. Even before she saw him, Sariel knew that it was him. Alexander. All of a sudden she felt a chill crawl down her spine. It was not an uncomfortable feeling; rather it was one of anticipation. Of...she was being stupid again. That much was for sure!

“I am sorry. It was very rude of me to just leave you like this. Will you forgive me?” Alexander stepped in front of her and smiled apologetically.

“It’s alright...I...Anyway, I was about to leave.” Her stammering voice sounded horrible in her ears and her face felt hot. God, he must think I am an idiot.

“I am sad.” He pressed his hand over his heart as if to keep it from shattering. “I was hoping that you would find the time to show me around. Talk to me...and make this evening more pleasant.”

“No! It...I must leave. Right away.” And with that she left, confused and, at the same time, mad at herself for not staying. For not being brave enough to talk to him; flirt with him. Whatever it was that a woman did when she was attracted to a man.

***********

She was running away! From him! With a puzzled expression on his face Alexander watched Sariel as she wove her way through the crowd. He wasn’t used to women turning him down. In fact, it was usually the other way around. As an Ifrit his appearance changed according to the image a human woman would have of the perfect man; the man to whom she would be most attracted. Usually it wasn’t hard for him to use this to his advantage.

But not with her. Apparently his normal charms and demon magic didn’t work on her. With a bemused smile he remembered the past. It had been years since he had last tried to seduce someone of the opposite sex. Obviously he no longer knew how to do that. She is just a girl, he reminded himself again. Good for her that she left. Girls didn’t do affairs. They wanted love. And that was one of the many things he wouldn’t give her. Besides, he had work to do. He came to kill her uncle, not to get Sariel Baldwin into his bed. Hell. She was distracting him. Again. He should be focused on the task at hand, not wondering about the actions of some teenager.

When he exacted revenge he was concentrated, zeroing in on his goal. Not like the confused fool Sariel had made of him.

Harold Baldwin was going to die.

But not tonight. His niece had bought him some time. He would return when...

The thoughts of another being invaded his mind. Black pulsating energy was closing in on him. With a sudden clarity that had evaded him before, Alexander knew that he was trapped. Among the many errors that made up this day he had been careless and arrogant. Too sure that Baldwin would not be prepared.

It was too late to escape now.

Creatures of Fire
Sariel Baldwin Series
J.B. Brooklin

Genre: Fantasy


ISBN: 1230000109442 ASIN: B00BHJCHP4 












Cover Artist: J.B. Brooklin (Cover copyrights: Ring of Fire © dvarg #34150031 – Fotolia.com, the dancer © Alexander Yakovlev #34413982)



Amazon US Amazon UK Kobo.com



Book Description:

She is a half demon, oblivious to her true nature.

He is a demon set out to avenge murder.

Together they are hunted by the one person she thought she could trust.

Separate they may be able to save each others lives.

“Creatures of Fire” a tale about power, ambition, responsibility and trust.

New York – Paris – Dschinnanya (the world of the demons)

About the Author:

J.B. Brooklin is a German author. Having lived abroad for several years in the US (Oregon, California, Florida, New Jersey), Spain and the Seychelles the writer recently returned to her home country and started writing mystery and fantasy novels.

When she is not writing, her husband, twins and her cat are keeping her busy.

Twitter: @JB_Brooklin

Blog: www.jb-brooklin.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JbBrooklin

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6470768.J_B_Brooklin

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May 7 Guest blog and review
Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books
http://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com

May 9 Spotlight
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May 14 Guest blog and review
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May 9 Interview
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Questions are here:
http://www.booksandtales.blogspot.co.uk/p/review-submission-guidelines.html

May 13 Spotlight and review
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www.faerietalebooks.org

Ellie Heller

An interview with Ellie Heller

An interview with Ellie Heller...

Cloey: When did you become interested in writing?

Ellie: I've been writing bits of stories and character sketches for as long as I can remember.

Cloey: What inspired you to write A Matter of Fate?

Ellie: I wrote this story in part due to laziness. It's true! The original novel I wrote in the world I created was too long, too filled with back story and filler as I worked out how magic worked. So much so that editing it out would have been a nightmare. Instead I decided to write a new story, paralleling the original one.

Cloey: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Ellie: There's the idea that sometimes you just have to buck up and do what you've got to do. The execution of this can be fun or it can be horrifying, but shirking the responsibility is not an option.

Cloey: Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character to develop and why?

Ellie: My favorite is the Puck, because he's a hoot to write. My least favorite was the 'bad guy', because I don't do horror and there's definitely an element of horror in the final scene. Or at least I thought so, but then again, I don't 'do' horror.

Cloey: What did you enjoy most about writing A Matter of Fate?

Ellie: The interactions between Mona and Cart were a lot of fun, in part because Mona is determinedly clueless.

Cloey: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the story to life?

Ellie: In addition to having to deal with the horror element at the end I did a fair amount of logistical research on the area and places where certain events could occur. Some of them I've visited on road trips with my family, others I've used search engine images to help me visualize.

Cloey: What are you working on now?

Ellie: I have a follow-up novel featuring the new leader of the Buffalo pack, Averill, in the works.

Cloey: What do you like to read in your free time?

Ellie: I read fantasy and mystery as well as paranormal and regency romance.

Cloey: Share with us something about yourself that we wouldn't see in your bio or on any other blogs (this can be anything from the type of music you like, your favorite color, or even your favorite meal - share whatever you want your fans to know about you)

Ellie: I love to track winter storms, going so far as to read through the various forecast models and joining online discussion groups to come up with my own analysis. I'm entirely self-taught, so there definitely some of the more technical stuff that's over my head. For a while I was the 'weather guru' for a small online community because of my predilection. I stopped when I moved several states away.

Cloey: Thank you so much for interviewing with me and sharing A Matter of Fate with us today it sounds like a good read. And Tracking storms sounds like a pretty cool hobby too.

A Matter of Fate
Ellie Heller

Genre: Paranormal Romance/ Contemporary Fantasy Romance

Publisher: Crimson Romance














Book Description:

Someone is setting death-spells targeting mortals and elf blood alike. With her mentor out of commission, it’s up to half-trained Warder Mona Lisa Kubrek to stop the magic. Despite being told repeatedly her job is to nullify spells and not go after the source, too many people are at risk for her to not track the spell-caster down. Even meeting a sexy half-elf shifter won’t distract her from her goal.

Except Cart Dupree is fully trained and has the team to search for the evildoer, so she’d be stupid to not use his expertise. Stupid is something she can’t afford to be, not with her enemy’s henchmen after her. Later she’ll deal with Cart and his questions about her special abilities and the non-standard training her mentor has given her. Right now, they need to unravel where the magician is, and who he is, before he builds enough power to decimate them all.

First, though, they need to stay alive.

About the Author

After living in several cities east of the Mississippi, but never quite out of the snow belt, I've settled down in SW Ohio with my three kids, two dogs (one of whom thinks he's a cat) and one cat (who thinks he's a dog).

I write paranormal romance and contemporary fantasy, all with a suspenseful edge. A MATTER OF FATE, a 'traditional' paranormal romance, will be available this spring from Crimson Romance. My first published short (GLBT sensual), "Ginny's Capture" is available now.

I'm also an acquisitions editor (i.e. slush reader :-) ) for Curiosity Quills Press using my full first name, Alison.

www.elliewrites2.com

@EllieWrites2

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ellie-Heller-Author/279665692092672

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5762572.Ellie_Heller

http://pinterest.com/ellieheller/a-matter-of-fate/




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April 28 Guest blog
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Victoria Limbert

Interview with Victoria Limbert

Victoria Limbert stopped by to discuss her novel Lilith (Twin Soul Novels). Lilith is her debut  novel and it rocks! Want to read my review? Click Here. Professor Annette Anderson has the soul of a powerful demon named Lilith living inside her body along with her own. They manage to live together but not entirely harmoniously. This book tells us what it's like to be Annette, a person who lives in two worlds. Annette is kickass, the sex is crazy, and the lust is boiling, the demons are sexy as hell, and there is plenty of action, pain and darkness for everyone.

Here is what Ms. Limbert has to say about Lilith (Twin Soul Novels)

Cloey: When did you become interested in writing?

Victoria: I first became interested in writing when I was a very young girl and spent most of my time with my dad…I was the biggest daddy’s girl and love admitting that I still am. My dad would become so immersed in a Stephen King novel or a fantasy by David Gemmell that he wouldn’t hear my mum shouting at him for ages, only to answer with a confused grunt. I knew then I wanted to be the type of writer that could make the readers forget about their lives and become utterly engrossed in the worlds I create. I owe so much to my dad for encouraging my interest and passing down all his books to me. He still does it to this day when I visit him. My shelves are full of Stephen King, Dean Koontz and David Gemmell. 


Cloey: What inspired you to write about Lilith?


Victoria: The demon Lilith is a biblical story I stumbled on while I was researching Mythology and Demonology for a book I was currently writing. I was intrigued by the tale of a woman who was punished for refusing to lay beneath the man she was created to love and cherish. She believed she was equal to Adam, having been formed from the same earth as he had.

Where others saw Lilith as traitorous and evil, I felt pity for her and so I wanted my novel to reflect her humanity as well as her bitterness at the curse put upon her by God for fleeing the Garden of Eden.


Cloey: Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character and why?


Victoria: This is a tough one, because I have a soft spot for most of the characters I create, even the villains. If I had to choose, I would say Annette is my favourite character because she has the ability to accept any situation she is placed in, no matter how terrible they are. Her life has been filled with trials and tears and pain and yet she comes back fighting every time. She is my hero. She is the person I wish I could be in my life. To have the strength to stand up for what you believe, for those you love, despite the pain it causes, is an amazing personality trait.

My least favourite character would have to be Obelisk. We don’t meet him until much later in the book but what he did to Annette haunts her through her story. He tainted her past and we watch him taint her future as well. He was a hard character to write for me, because despite the many villains Annette faces and the pain she is put through, it is Obelisk who torments her both mentally and physically.


Cloey: What did you enjoy most about writing Lilith?


Victoria: The most enjoyable part about writing Lilith and, in fact, any of my stories, has to be the climax and the conclusion. I hate planning my writing; I have never been able to keep to a storyboard or plans and timelines. It feels right to let the story take its own course. This means even I am unsure which path I am going to choose until the very moment I write it. I get excited as I near the end, not knowing if I am going to kill off a character or save them or if a friend will become an enemy.


Cloey: What are you working on now?


Victoria: When it comes to writing I have many projects on the go. My main focus is on Fateless, the sequel to Lilith and the second book in the Twin Soul Novels series. I also have a fantasy trilogy coming to life and a series of Post Apocalyptic short stories which I am writing for fun.


Cloey: What do you like to read in your free time? 

Victoria: I like to read Fantasy, Paranormal and Crime mainly. I have never been able to grasp Sci-Fi, though I do try from time to time and the YA market has really grabbed my attention. Since becoming a self published author I prefer to read books by Indie Authors and have found some brilliant writers among them like M.G Wells, R.G. Lawrence and Graeme Ing. 

Cloey: Share with us something about yourself that we wouldn't see in your bio or on any other blogs (this can be anything from the type of music you like, your favorite color, or even your favorite meal - share whatever you want your fans to know about you) 

Victoria: Well, I may write about demons and monsters hiding in shadows but I am absolutely terrified of the dark! I sleep with the television on and the thought of a power cut is my worst nightmare. I have candles everywhere just in case. If I wake in the middle of the night I have to cough loudly or move around until my fiancé wakes up and then I can get back to sleep, knowing he is awake and nothing can get me. Thankfully he is very understanding; I can be difficult to live with.

Thank you so much for discussing Lilith (Twin Souls Novels) today. I can't wait to read Fateless and I love Post Apocalyptic stories too, awesome. So, we are going to see some very good reads soon from Ms. Limbert. Go online and order Lilith (Twin Soul Novels) today. You will be very surprised that this is her first book and I bet you will want to read her next.

Buy it on amazon 

Patrick LeClerc

Today we have the honor of meeting Mr. Patrick LeClerc the author of Out Of Nowhere which is the story about Sean Danet, an EMS worker, who loves his job and his co-workers. Life is good until he goes out on a call and helps a guy with a broken ankle then very bad people with the ability to transport into thin air comes after him to kill him. But he also meets a beautiful lady who could be the one and the two of them along with a few awesome co-workers becomes an unstoppable force against the bad guys. This is a very cool love story and Sean Danet is a kickass hero. Want to see my review? Click here. If you would like to purchase the book now click here.

Here is what Mr. LeClerc has to say:

Cloey: When did you become interested in writing?

Patrick: Early on. I always liked making up stories. I think reading "The Hobbit" when I was around ten or so opened up my imagination to the idea that you really have unlimited scope to make up stories. It was the first actual fantasy book I ever read and it was an epiphany.

Cloey: What inspired you to write Out Of Nowhere?

Patrick: I call it my "Sound of Music" book. You know, "These Are a Few of My Favorite Things." I wanted to write a book about EMS, but my efforts fell kind of flat. And I had vague idea for a story about an immortal hiding from his past among the crowds of humanity. When I decided to combine the efforts, it really started to flow.

It was a perfect vehicle for me to throw in references to history, military, medicine, cooking, and just my own twisted philosophical outlook. It's the thing I've had the most fun writing.

Cloey: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Patrick: I guess I'd like people to see the immutable nature of humanity. How people are more or less the same across cultures, races and centuries, and to think about their own ideas as to what makes "us" better than "them."

And that life is too short to eat bad food.

Cloey: Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character and why?

Patrick: Pete and Monique were the most fun to write. With Pete, I just channel my most insensitive comments and turn off the internal editor.

Sarah was the most challenging. She had to be a fully realized character, not a cliche, not just a damsel in distress. I wanted a believable female character, with motivations and reactions that would ring true. Unlike Nique, she's in a profession I don't know all that well, and has areas of knowledge that i don't, so it was a stretch.

Doors was probably my least favorite, since he pretty much embodies a lot of traits that I really hate. I still wanted him to be a believable person, not a cliche.

Cloey: What did you enjoy most about writing Out Of Nowhere?

Patrick: Writing dialogue. I just kind of let it flow, and when I'm on my game it's a pure joy. When I'm off my game it's a slog, but the times it just seems to write itself are one of my favorite parts of being a writer.

Cloey: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the story to life?
Patrick: As I said before, trying to get into the head of the female love interest was a challenge. I also really wanted to get the historical facts right, but I've always been interested in history, so that was fun as much as anything else.

Really, the biggest challenge for me is marketing the book. I'm not well versed in social media, and I've never been much of a salesman. It's a big learning curve for me.

Cloey: Through my review and this interview I will bring your book to a few readers and they will tell their family and friends about the book and word will spread from there.

Cloey: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in Out Of Nowhere?

Patrick: Right now, I don't think so. I'm really proud of it, and the crew at Firedance was very helpful, but not demanding. They enabled me to make the book better, but let me keep my voice.

Cloey: What are you working on now?

Patrick: About three fingers of Jameson's.

Seriously, I have a fairly straight military science fiction piece being edited right now. I have a fantasy story in the style of the old pulps like Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser, and I am getting started on the sequel to OON.

Cloey: What do you like to read in your free time?

Patrick: I like crime fiction, wisecracking detective stories like Robert B Parker's Spencer novels, or Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. Terry Pratchett is always a favorite.

I do most of my reading between ambulance calls, so i need a book I can put down then pick back up and not lose the plot.

Cloey: Share with us something about yourself that we wouldn't see in your bio or on any other blogs (this can be anything from the type of music you like, your favorite color, or even your favorite meal - share whatever you want your fans to know about you)

Patrick: My favorite breakfast food is cold pizza. It's odd because I'm usually a pretty hardcore food snob, but I looove cold pizza for breakfast. I can't rationally defend it, but it touches my happy place.

I will deny that to the last breath, of course.

Cloey: Thank you so much for discussing Out Of Nowhere with us today.

Want to know more about Mr. LeClerc? Check out his bio:

PATRICK LECLERC MAKES GOOD USE of his history degree by working as a paramedic for an ever changing parade of ambulance companies in the Northern suburbs of Boston. When not writing he enjoys cooking, fencing and making witty, insightful remarks with career limiting candor. In the lulls between runs on the ambulance—and sometimes the lulls between employment at various ambulance companies—he writes fiction. You can find more of it at http://inkandbourbon.com or follow him on Twitter @PatrickLeCler17

Buy it today at amazon

Lauren Hunter

Today we have the honor of having Lauren Hunter the author of The Promise and The Coffee Shop (click here for my review) visiting us to discuss The Promise (click here for my review). I loved both of her books and am happy to say that I do like a happily ever-after ending too some times. The Coffee Shop is a story about Derrick Sloane. Derrick meets the girl of his dreams literally when he gets caught up in a Butterfly Effect that lasted over several time lines. It is a beautiful love story. The Promise was my first Regency Romance and I really liked it. There is a paranormal twist to the story that will keep you entertained. Thank Ms. Hunter for stopping by and giving us an interview. You may purchase The Promise or The Coffee Shop today. 

Here is what Ms. Hunter has to say about The Promise:

Cloey: When did you become interested in writing?

Lauren: I can't say there was any one defining moment. I didn't wake up one day and say: I want to be a writer. I guess I could say the seed was always there, right from elementary school. We would be required to write a story each week. For some reason the teacher would read my stories to the class. This was my first inkling they must be okay. But I still never really had that drive to pursue writing as a career. I never really stopped though, as I would write poems and short stories. I was in my twenties when I thought of trying my hand at writing a full length novel. I worked on it on and off over the years, finally finished it, and then started on another. I didn't try to look for a publisher at that time, but I didn't stop writing either. So at some point I came to the realization that I always had the writing bug, I just didn't acknowledge it until much later.

Cloey: What inspired you to write The Promise?

Lauren: I love regencies, their innocence, their humour, and it just seemed like a genre I could feel really comfortable with. Whenever I come up with an idea it usually just happens out of the blue. I will get a story idea, and then it quickly fleshes out in my head. I can't say where the inspiration comes from, perhaps from reading another author's book, or watching a really great movie, or just the love of writing. It seems to have a life of its own, it lets me know when its ready, and I go along for the ride. 

Cloey: Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character and why?

Lauren: That's like asking a parent which child they like best. I don't have a favourite, and in this story I don't hate any of them either, but I can say I like each for their own unique qualities that appeal to me. Elizabeth is young and desperate to be a part of the world she's witnessed growing up. Yes she is naive, but she is quick to learn. Her youthful love of life, and jump-without-looking approach, gets her into more trouble than she'd like to admit. But I love her passion and spirit.

Anthony is this wounded soul, feeling lost and alone in the world, but trying to hide it behind a devil-may-care attitude, and yes, being quite selfish in the process. But that he sees a chance for happiness in Elizabeth, a chance to regain what he once thought lost to him, makes you want to cheer him on. It allows you to see glimpses of the real man once more, that had been buried so many years ago. 

Sarah is the friend everyone wants, dependable, march through fire for you if necessary, kind of person. She doesn't want to see Elizabeth hurt, and will do anything to prevent it. 

Cloey: What did you enjoy most about writing The Promise?

Lauren: I found the in-depth research into the era fascinating. As writers, when we research, the vast majority of what we find out never gets onto the page. You want to give a sense of another time and place, through tidbits of description that set a mood. But you have to be careful not to hit your reader over the head with it either. It becomes a balancing act of just enough, but not too much. But the things I learned could fill volumes on their own. How they lived, their daily rituals, and dress, and food. How society dictates the lives of people, or brands them.

Cloey: What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the story to life? 

Lauren: The research was the biggest challenge. But I don't really look upon it that way. I love to find out the details of the behind the scenes life. To me it adds a whole other layer of depth to what life was like in the regency. 

Cloey: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in The Promise?

Lauren: During the editing process the story was changed a great deal. What you see before you today is the fulfillment of that collaboration. 

Cloey: What are you working on now?

Lauren: I have so many ideas for novels and short stories, that I have to allow my gut to guide me in that decision. I have a number of projects I'd like to launch into, but I am still uncertain which one to do first.

Cloey: What do you like to read in your free time?

Lauren: When I am promoting and writing I work until I fall asleep. I don't have free time to read. But if I do find a moment my tastes are very eclectic. It is very much like my writing, I write in many different genres, so depending on my mood I may read Keats or Byron, Stephen King, or Nicholas Sparks, Homer or Nietzsche, etc. I read for entertainment, and I also love to read to learn.

Cloey: Thank you so much for taking time out of your schedule to interview with us today. It is always a pleasure speaking with you.

If you would like to know more about Lauren Hunter check out her bio:

Lauren Hunter is a writer of paranormal romance and Regency paranormal romance novels, with plans to write in a variety of other genres, including time travel, angel, ghost, and contemporary romance. Her paranormal romance, The Coffee Shop, and her paranormal Regency, The Promise, are now available through Musa Publishing, with the second and third installment of a paranormal regency trilogy soon to be released.

You can follow Lauren Hunter at:

Web Page: http://www.lhunter1.wix.com/romance#

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/LaurenHunter_1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/AuthorLaurenHunter

Buy The Promise on amazon:

J. Perry Kelly

J. Perry Kelly has come to visit us today to discuss his novel called The Sibyl Reborn. This is the entertaining and enlightening story of how Cassandra Shavano saved the world.  Cassandra is a Global Warming activist who meditates, hikes, practices Creative Visualization, and loves her husband Greg, her dog Homer, and her cat Caesar. There are many characters with personal agendas even a few unexpected ones who will leave you laughing. This story also has many twists and turns to keep you turning the pages. Thank, Mr. Kelly, for your interview and for giving us a very good story to read. If you are interested in purchasing The Sibyl Reborn buy it now on amazon. Here is what Mr. Kelly had to say about The Sibyl Reborn:

1. What inspired you to write The Sibyl Reborn?

In 1997, I fell asleep while driving and awoke from a coma paralyzed by a spinal cord injury. My wife later suggested I try writing a novel as a positive focus for my life and thoughts. At the time, my hands were still partially impaired, so scrawling the initial drafts on yellow tablets acted as a therapy in more than one way (my hands eventually recovered).

2. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes! Part of my need to write this story concerns the direct cause of my accident. I knew I was falling asleep, and yet I continued to drive because I'd stubbornly determined to make it halfway to Colorado before stopping for the night. I actually paralyzed myself and put my wife through a nightmare because I ignored my reality for the sake of a [comparatively] meaningless goal. Therefore, in writing The Sibyl Reborn, the subtle warning I've tried to share with the reader is this: Take care when interpreting reality to fit momentary convenience...because to reach our ultimate goals, we need to know where we are clearly to choose our steps. 

3. Who was your favorite character and who was your least favorite character and why?

LOL! That's a dangerous question! (I could write volumes:<) To tell the truth, my characters have been inside my head for so long I think they're real-like Cassandra is probably hiking today with Homer in Polecat Gulch while Sylvia taps out a new expose' in Denver (and Margot hatches a blackmail scheme using E.R.P.). If you forced me to pick, I'd say that Sylvia is my favorite because her background, ambitions, and internal conflicts offer options galore for character arc. Farr is probably my least favorite because he's so devious he revolts me.   

4. What did you enjoy most about writing The Sibyl Reborn?

That's easy! Surprising my wife and making her laugh when I read each scene to her aloud. I read these scenes within a year or two my SCI when our situation was especially grim and she needed to laugh. Plus, I love the sound of her laughter. As an extra benefit, I figured if the story entertained her, perhaps The Sibyl Reborn had potentials.

5. What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing the story to life?

The biggest challenge was overcoming my ego. I apparently thought I was Charles Dickens reincarnated because my first drafts were so crammed with complex sentences and compound words it required a feat of concentration even for me to picture the action. Luckily, my wife-who's my template for Cassandra-has a bluntness and spirit to match. She tore it to shreds (my ego:~) so many times I finally sought professional help (for my writing, not my psyche) and admitted my blunders.

6. If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in The Sibyl Reborn?

Nope. I think it says exactly what I wanted to say. Believe me, (to paraphrase Jane Austen from Pride and Prejudice) having taken fifteen years to publish The Sibyl Reborn after sketching its initial draft, I hardly would have scrupled to wait another ten to get it right.. ;~)

7. When did you become interested in writing?

Good question!

I first approached writing seriously while writing non-fiction articles about Science during my stem cells activism. I was then the biotech writer for The Seoul Times. I also wrote commentaries for online journals. My exposure to national biotech policy-making caused me to realize The Sibyl Reborn was hugely relevant to how politicians and industries manipulate the public (and our climatic future). I therefore returned to the manuscript determined to study novel-writing to give my characters and their story the attention they deserved.
  

8. What do you like to read in your free time?

If I'm reading (as opposed to listening to audio books for entertainment), I tend to read non-fictions about writing, public speaking, environmental issues, or psychology. Listening to audio books allows me to experience the story along with Selene (which we enjoy far more than TV). Our tastes are pretty eclectic. We like to laugh with P.G. Wodehouse and Terry Pratchett; but we also like science fiction (The Host by Stephanie Meyers), urban fantasy (Enchantment by Orsen Scott Card), classics, and mysteries.

9. Share with us something about yourself that we wouldn't see in your bio or on any other blogs (this can be anything from the type of music you like, your favorite color, or even your favorite meal - share whatever you want your fans to know about you)

The right music at the right time can rivet me. Songs like Jackson Browne's "Before the Deluge," or "Beneath a Phrygian Sky" by Loreena McKennitt inspire me to return to my writing until I find the right word and emotions to convey an important thought. I think to myself, "They've touched your life and who you are through their words and voice. What a wonderful legacy! Maybe you can do the same if you 'get it right.' Like Cassandra on the first page of The Sibyl Reborn, I suppose we both want to make a positive difference.  

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Thank you so much, Mr. Kelly for sharing your inner-most thoughts on the process of creating and writing The Sibyl Reborn with us. Your personal journey is also challenging and noteworthy. You have turned a devastating event into your motivation to change the world for the better - bravo! I am honored to have met you and wish you well on your journey bringing Cassandra's story to the world.

Would you like to know more about Mr. Kelly? Check out his Bio:

Sometimes life gives us what we ask for but definitely not what we want.

In 1997, facing a job transfer to a strange state, I used metaphysics to ask the universe for a way to stay in Colorado without being tied to the railroad industry. A month later, I fell asleep while driving and awoke paralyzed for life—with a disability income that allowed me stay in Colorado. Even worse, I had known I was falling asleep but kept driving willfully. I told myself I'd be okay and kept driving for my convenience the following day...a day I spent in a coma.

I little suspected my blunders would lead to my twice serving as a surrogate White House spokesperson, or to my glimpsing a terrible connection between my accident, my paralysis, politicians, and global warming...or to the novel that Cloey so kindly reviewed. 

Before my spinal cord injury, I loved hiking, dancing to wild Appalachian or Celtic music, my wife Selene, our cat and dog (a mostly-beagle named Homer), and my job as a train dispatcher. Becoming paralyzed didn't change my loves--only my options for expressing them. Rather than hike with Selene, I imagined her in The Sibyl Reborn as a young newlywed who loves to hike and who’s the reincarnated "Cassandra," the Trojan sibyl famed for never being believed when she tells the truth. Because my Cassandra, an environmentalist, would never give up over being laughed at or scorned, I depicted her using creative metaphysics to unearth the prehistoric roots of her curse with disastrous effects for her and Man.

Today I live with Selene near the foot of Pikes Peak where I commune daily (via peanuts and birdseed) with chipmunks, squirrels, a mule deer named "Chloe" (Cloey, I swear we named her Chloe long before I met you...and she's really a sweet and lovely deer!:~). If you're curious about my novel or would just like to connect, please don't hesitate to get in touch. I'd like to meet you. 

Cordially yours! James.

Still want to know more about The Sibyl Reborn or Mr. Kelly? Follow the links at:

 Website: www.thesibylreborn.com or follow him on Twitter @thesibylreborn

The story is entertaining and enlightening, the price is right too so why not give it a try and buy it today at amazon you will not be disappointed