{13 Days of Halloween} D8: Interview with Teri Bailey Black

Hey guys! Its already past the half-way point of the 13 days leading up till Halloween!

It's time to pull out the big guns.

I know you're tired of the lists.

How about we pull out this awesome interview with Teri Bailey Black?

How does that sound!?

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Teri Bailey Black is the author of:

Goodreads/Amazon

Release Date: August 7, 2018

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The Interview

The book world had a fad of dystopias for a while and now there seems to be lots more contemporary and fantasy, absent of "horror" and suspense novels. What made you want to write about a murder mystery?I’ve always loved reading mysteries—I have two shelves dedicated to them—but I’m also a big fantasy reader, so my first two practice novels were actually YA fantasy. As I was contemplating which story idea to write next, there were already so many amazing fantasy and dystopian books on the market, I made a conscious choice to write something else.

At first, I thought GIRL AT THE GRAVE would be straight historical fiction—the story of a girl who has to overcome the shame of a mother who was hanged for murder. Then, a few chapters into it, I realized—hey, this is a murder mystery! My brain caught fire thinking up who would get killed and why and by whom. I tossed in a few family secrets and some romance. (Must have romance.) At the time, I wasn’t aware of any mysteries in the YA market, but recently it’s been a big trend—which makes me happy because I love reading them.

I love reading mysteries myself. I even love the tv shows and movies dedicated to them documentaries especially! Is there a mentality you had to keep throughout your writing process to keep the book's eerie feel?Atmosphere is actually the fun, easy part of writing for me. I love art and design, and usually have a vivid image in my mind that I enjoy turning into words. A decrepit mansion. A creepy graveyard. The dramatic tension also comes rather easily—too easily in fact; I usually have to go back and tone it down. I’m happy to say that my real life is filled with more cookie baking and lunch with friends than dramatic atmosphere, but for some reason my imagination tends to go to a dark and stormy place.

My major in school is currently Fine Arts. I'm a lover of the arts and design myself. I love your use of that as a comparison with writing. Sometimes you forget not only is the author a creator of words but a home designer, decorator and more! You have to be good at them and love your skill in it! How did you draw the line between a suspenseful, gothic novel and utter horror?That was a natural line I didn’t think about. I love atmosphere and tension, but I’m not drawn to stories that are overly dark or horrifying. Occasionally everyone raves about a dark book or TV show, so I give it a try, but it usually ends up creeping me out and I stop partway. I want a protagonist who’s a good person stuck in a bad situation, willing to go to a dark place for a noble reason (hello Frodo). But if the protagonist is overly dark and troubled and creepy, I’m usually out.

Haha I love it! I can completely understand the natural draw to stay away from horror. Personally, I've always found myself creeped out a lot more from the horror books so perhaps this is why I have yet to read many. Lol. The book doesn't take place in today's time, instead you chose to tie in a historical time line. What interested you in taking on an older time?I knew before I wrote a single word that the story would be historical, but that still left me with lots of options in time and place. The mother was hanged quickly—just three days after the murder—so that ruled out anything in the last hundred years, when the investigation and court case would probably have taken longer. So I zeroed in on the early 1800’s. I decided on a New England setting because it had the atmosphere I wanted, with creepy old graves and a stifling social structure (unlike my own California which was still very wild west at that time). I first wrote the book in the 1820’s, then switched it to 1849 in revisions when I incorporated the start of the women’s rights movement (which was super exciting for me – so grateful for those early women who forged the way).

I love all the thought and research that went into the time era. I love history as well and always appreciate the attention to the details, work, sweat and tears going into the research to pull it off. Many props and appreciation. What is the key to keep a reader guessing within a murder mystery?It’s a super tricky, fun puzzle. A mystery needs plenty of false clues that lead the reader to suspect the wrong person (multiple times), plus enough real clues so it all makes sense at the end. It needs a few shocking reveals along the way, twisting the story in surprising directions (that’s the fun part). And, for me, even more important than the mystery, the characters have to be fully developed, with personal conflicts that force them to stretch and grow as the mystery unfolds. Oh—and the romance element needs careful handling as well, of course, with plenty of tension . . . and then hope . . . and then more tension—all with a killer on the loose. So, yeah, plotting a mystery isn’t quick and easy, but it’s a fun challenge. I’m currently replotting my next book for the THIRD time!!! I just changed the murder victim.

This reminds me of the board game, Clue I used to play growing up. It was one of my favorites. This sounds so fun! Fun, but again super impressed with your attention to research and utmost attention to detail. It really shows.Oooo yay!! Another mystery novel from you! So excited to find that out!! Creepy gothic mansions, creepy graveyards, hangings, murder...Did you have to do research to create your setting/what inspired the visuals?I’m super happy when I hit a place in my writing where I have to stop and jump into a research rabbit hole. I love it. Sometimes I look at images. (What was written on tombstones in the 1700’s? What did people wear in 1849?) Sometimes it’s reading articles on a fascinating topic—like the women’s rights movement in the mid-1800’s. For my current WIP, I’ve been researching astrophysics, which has me feeling all sorts of smart right now.

This has been such a great interview. I absolutely loved hearing all the work you put into this wonderful book. Also can appreciate the leak of more mysteries from you soon! 

Speed round:·       pumpkin pie or pecan pie? Pumpkin, but I’m not going to turn down pecan.
·       creepy grave yard or haunted mansion? Oh, haunted mansion for sure. I love creepy old houses with hidden staircases and whispers in the attic.
·       ghosts or mummies? Ghosts are so much better—people with spooky voices and fascinating stories. Mummies are just faceless and moaning.
·       spells or potions? Spells. I love words. I don’t love drinking things that taste nasty.
·       haunting or summoning? Haunting. I will not be summoning anything.
·       Freddy or Jason? Impossible question. The answer is no and definitely no.

Haha! These Halloween speed round questions are so much fun! Your answers are great xD

About Teri Bailey Black:

Teri Bailey Black grew up near the beach in southern California in a large, quirky family with no television or junk food, but an abundance of books and art supplies. She’s happiest when she’s creating things, whether it’s with words, fabric, or digging in the garden. She makes an amazing chocolate cherry cake—frequently. She and her husband have four children and live in Orange County, California.

Website/Twitter

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How great was this interview!?

Thank you again to the amazing Teri Bailey Black for participating.

This book has perfect Halloween read written all over it!

Have you read it yet?

Let me know what you thought of the interview!

Answer the speed round questions yourself down in the comments!

Boo!

{Interview & Giveaway} Lisa Ludeke, author of Smashed

*trumpets blairing* I now introduce to you, Lisa Ludeke, author of Smashed! Please give a warm round of applause!! *applause* We have some really deep and interesting Q&A along with an awesome giveaway! Stay tuned and keep scrolling for the fun! :D

~The Author:

Lisa Luedeke grew up in rural Maine and fell in love with writing in high school. At the University of New Hampshire, she took as many fiction writing courses as she could, published in the school’s literary magazine, but didn’t begin to write her first novel until nearly a decade later. In between, she taught high school and spent thirteen years editing professional books for English Teachers at Heinemann. Her first novel, Smashed, published with Simon & Schuster/Margaret K. McElderry Books August 2012 and will be out in paperback this summer. She is hard at work on her second, which is set in the same small Maine town, but with an entirely different cast of characters. She lives in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire with her husband and young daughter, where they ski, swim, hike and hang out at their local bookstore, The Toadstool.

Visit her at:  ~Website~Facebook~Goodreads~@LisaLuedeke~

~The Interview:

1. Why did you choose field hockey as Katie's sport?  This is an easy one. I was an athletic kid, and as soon organized sports were available to me, I jumped right in. Field hockey was my absolute favorite. I played in high school and for two years in college, then I coached a high school team for three years. Since Katie was going to be a top athlete, and I planned to write about it in detail, it was an easy pick; I already knew the game very, very well. Plus, it gave me a great excuse to start going to games again! In particular, I went to Maine and New Hampshire State tournaments to make sure I had her level of play right. I also talked to Division I coaches about recruiting practices and rules. I loved all of it!  The truth is, it didn’t matter what sport she played. I just wanted there to be one place in her life where Katie was at her absolute best, where she felt strong and competent, in control and free.  2. Would you keep up the lie like Katie did if it meant a full ride scholarship?  This is such a hard question, because if you’re poor and have only one way out and into an education, like Katie, it would be so tempting. If you’ve ever been scared or stuck with seemingly no way out, you can identify with her. But the truth about me is that I was (and am) a horrible liar! I was also more like Cassie—the kid who believed that if you told the truth everything would work out. I also don’t think I could have kept the secret from everyone—I’d likely have told at least one very close friend. It’s just my personality. I never could have pulled it off. I might have tried, for awhile, but then I’d have buckled.  3. How important are friends like Matt and Cassie in tough times?  Oh, absolutely critical in my experience. I had a tough upbringing and I relied on my friends like family. Those old friends are still among the most important people in my life. Katie let her lies separate from her friends and everything just got worse. I think the worst thing you can do in tough times is to isolate yourself from the people who love and care about you the most. At the same time, depending on the situation, you might need adult help as well as true friends. In Katie’s case, her own parents weren’t there for her, but I bet Matt’s parents would have been, or Cassie’s, if she’d reached out. Coach Riley would have helped her, too.  4. When is too far? (Life, lies, betrayals, hurt, etc)  Katie is a great example of “too far.” Everything went to the extreme in her life, from her drinking, to her lying, which was a betrayal of herself and everyone who cared about her. Her parents’ behavior and neglect was “too far” and Alec’s behavior is not acceptable under any circumstance.  5. Lies are constant. Children tell them, Tweens, teens, adults...Katie tells her fair share. In some cases just telling the truth really could have saved her. When do you think is it most important to tell the truth?  When is it most important? If someone is threatening you and demanding you keep a secret that’s hurting you, it’s absolutely critical to find a trustworthy person and tell the truth. If you’re a kid or a teenager, and an adult or peer is trying to keep you silent, you need get away from that person and tell an adult you can trust.  If you’ve made a big mistake, like Katie did, and lie about it, it’s inevitably either going to spiral out of control or take a tremendous toll on you over time if you keep it a secret. A big lie has the power to destroy, even if it stays a secret. Guilt, fear of revelation—it will catch up with you.  6. If you could tell your teenage self one thing what would it be and why?  I’d say, “Don’t worry, you’re going to be just fine. You’re going to be a very happy adult one day, I promise.” Why this? There were times that I struggled with depression. I’d tell myself that because what I needed to know as a teenager was that there was that I wouldn’t feel like that forever: hope and happiness were coming. I’d like to say that to kids out there who are struggling, too. I know it’s very hard to believe when you’re in that space, but I’d say it anyway: You are going to be okay. Don’t give up.  7. Do you think there is a right time to lie? Where it's reasonable and necessary?  My writer’s imagination can come up with instances: A psychopath breaks into your house and you say to him, “No one else is here!” giving your family time to escape. That’s an easy one, right?  In ordinary life, the question is complex…to save a friend from hurt feelings? Sometimes it might make sense; other times, it might make a situation worse. I think it’s profoundly situational. This would make a great group discussion question!

~The Book(s):

Smashed Release Date: August 21, 2012 by, Margaret K McElderry Books ~My Review~ Buy: *Signed ~Indie Bound~Amazon~

A field hockey star grapples with addiction in this riveting debut that will appeal to fans of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak.  Stay out of trouble for one more year, and Katie Martin can leave her small town loneliness behind forever. She is a field hockey star on the fast track to a college scholarship, but her relationship with alcohol has always been a little questionable. Then trouble finds her. Alec is the most popular guy in school, and also the biggest bully—with his sights set firmly on Katie. When Alec turns on the charm, Katie thinks she must have been wrong about him.  Except that she wasn’t. On a rain-soaked, alcohol-drenched night, one impulsive decision leaves Katie indebted to Alec in the worst possible way. This debut novel is a fast-paced and compelling story of addiction, heartbreak, and redemption.{Goodreads}

~The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Jaiden

{Blog Tour} Blood Moon by Teri Harman

TA-DA!!!!!!!!!!! Today I get to be a part of the Blood Moon Blog Tour!

I get to share my review, an interview with Teri Harman, and there is also a giveaway at the end!

So, stayed tune for all the awesomeness going on today yes!!? ;D

~The Author:

Teri Harman has believed in all things wondrous and haunting since her childhood days of sitting in the highest tree branches reading Roald Dahl and running in the rain imagining stories of danger and romance. Currently, her bookshelf is overflowing, her laundry unfolded, and her three small children running mad while she pens bewitching novels. Utah is her home, but she often imagines living in the wild landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. 

Come share in the magic and chaos at teriharman.com.

Find her at: ~Facebook~Twitter~Website~Goodreads~

~The Interview:

1. Dystopia, vampires and contemporary fill book shelves over abundantly these days in the Young Adult genre, What made you want to write about witch lore? 

I have always been fascinated by magic, witches and the supernatural. One of the most important things about writing is to write what you love. So I see the popularity of this kind of book as a fortuitous thing; Blood Moon is one more great addition to the trend. The wonderful thing about books is readers always need more. 

2. It was practically love at first sight with Willa and Simon. Do you believe in love at first sight? 

I do. I think we can feel a connection to someone the first time we meet them. I felt a connection with my husband the first time we met and we were only twelve years old. 

3. When do you know you've found your "soul mate"? 

I think your soul mate is the person you feel at home with, feel most like your true self with. Together you are better, stronger than you are alone. Together you make everything better. A soul mate is the person you can’t imagine living without. 

4. If you were a witch, which of the Six Gifts would you want? 

The magical powers in Blood Moon are known as The Six Gifts: Earth, Air, Wind, Fire, Dreams and Mind. Each witch is born with one dominate Gift, but can work magic of all kinds. I’d love to have the Gift of Dreams, like Willa, and see the future in my dreams and talk to ghosts. 

5. What attributes makes Willa and Simon strong both together and apart? 

Together they are strong because they complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Simon is very logical, very reason driven, whereas Willa is more willing to take a leap of faith. Sometimes they need logic and other times faith. Both are intelligent, kind and honest. They ground each other as well as lift each other up. It’s a balance of sharing the strangeness of who they are and being open to the discovery of what comes next. 

6. If you could combine any paranormal being into your book what would it be and why? 

If I was going to introduce another kind of paranormal being into these books it would probably be an immortal creature from another world. Something powerful, like a god, and mysterious. 

7. What can we expect for book two? :) 

Book 2, Black Moon, throws into question all the decisions Willa and Simon made in Blood Moon. Evil abounds in expected and unexpected places. The story has taken some exciting turns and I can’t wait to hear what readers think.

~The Book(s):

Blood Moon

Series: The Moonlight Trilogy #1

Release Date: June 22, 2013

by, Jolly Fish Press

Buy: ~Amazon~B&N~

Willa dreams of true events and her best friend is a ghost. Simon can heal any wound with a touch and senses others’ emotions, intentions. All their lives they’ve felt alone in their bizarre abilities, hiding behind a facade of normalcy, wondering why and how. The night Simon walks into the Twelve Acres Diner and meets Willa face to face, in a swirl of electric heat, they are bound to one another and glimpse the magic of who they are.

Across town a witch is held prisoner in the derelict basement of an old Victorian house. One night as it rains, she dares to reach her filthy, scarred hand out the window. Willa, walking home from work, recognizes the pathetic hand from a recent, terrible dream.

After a daring rescue of the witch, Willa and Simon are catapulted into the alluring but dangerous world of witchcraft and the magic of The Six Gifts. Answers to all their questions are within reach, but they’ve stepped into the middle of a deadly fight for the Powers of the Earth. Do they stay, risk their lives on the promise of power, or walk away?

Teri Harman's groundbreaking debut novel, the first installment in The Moonlight Trilogy, completely reinvents the modern concept of witches and magic. With its authentic translation of the history of witches into a fresh and entertaining package with unprecedented characterization, Blood Moon is sure to capture readers from the first page.{Goodreads}

~My Review:

  I can't say right off the bat that I was completely wowed or fell absolutely head over heels in love. I will say that I didn't find it horrible and completely unappealing. There wouldn't have been a review here if that was the case. Not only because this is a blog your but because on my blog I like to think that my reviews help people find new books. How would you find new books to LOVE if all I gave you guys was bad reviews? Ya not really possible.

  Blood Moon was good. My three star rating stands for "This book was good! Not great, but not horrible. At the least, worth the read." That was exactly the case in this book. I didn't love it. I didn't hate it. It was worth the read and I think book two has more potential. I think Blood Moon had a lot going for it and I'm not exactly sure what it was that turned me off. What caused me not to love it.

  It may have been Simon and Willa's instant love. I believe that there can be some sort of spark or connection when you first meet. I mean there has to be something that goes on when you first see the person that interests you in getting to know each other and becoming more than acquaintances...right? I just think that meeting, feeling the spark and all of a sudden THAT night the guy comes to your HOUSE again, in the middle of the NIGHT waiting outside your WINDOW and her coming out and them kissing after they JUST MET is uhm a little far fetched and if I might add a little creepy!? Then her mom saw it all and I don't know about you but my parents wouldn't have just stood by and just watched thinking "awe how cute! There's my daughter in the middle of the street kissing a boy I don't know." Sorry but I think that whole thing was a little crazy and way too fictional. I love fiction, that's all I read really but I like my fiction believable too. I mean it kin of goes away from vampires and werewolves and witches and dragons. How the hell do you make those unrealistic things...realistic? Trust me it's possible. I just wish I would have seen some more believable (not so much realistic I guess) attributes in Willa and Simons relationship and also with other parts of the book.

  Looking back while writing the review I do really have to give credit to Mrs Harman. This book had some really good things going for it. She had some really great ideas and I can really see the potential for this series! I'm thinking that this could have first book syndrome where it is just the spark to the flame. It's the opening to something great. I definitely want to read book two to see where Willa and Simons adventures are gonna take them. What kind of struggles await them. I would definitely love to see what happens next and maybe I will enjoy book two more. There have been two series where that has happened. Where I didn't particularly love the first and felt as if it was just a starter book and then the second blew me away. I definitely see the potential for the Moonlight Trilogy! It's there I know it's there!! ;D

  As far as writing goes I think Teri has a wonderful writing style. She simplifies. So many times these days authors try to show how genius there writing can be by too much dazzle. They try to complicate things way to often. There is beauty in simplicity. Teri Harman showed us just what that meant. Where she could have made a big show of The Six Gifts and make this big complication of it with many details she kept is simple and straight to the point. No huge network of underground tunnels with so many twists and turns you are sure to get lost forever. She explained everything rather well. I didn't have to back track to make sure I got it all down like I sometimes have to with other books. She gave the main points and the history behind it all nicely. It was well done. I think the side characters were a little undeveloped. I mean they are side characters but some had a big enough role where is like to have had less simplicity and more detail. I think Teri did a wonderful job with Blood Moon. I think her writing was great I just feel as if she had all this she wanted to accomplish and had a bit of trouble carrying it all out. Like she wasn't sure how to put all these ideas into one book. I felt as if there was a bit of struggle to get the series started. Now, that the series has started and is out there I have no doubt she will find her rhythm and make this series as great as it can be.

  Again I have high hopes for this series and the potential I see in it and other works from Mrs Harman are incredible! I think that if you have the time read it. If you have the patience to read a good starter book and wait for a great sequel do it. It's worth the chance trust me. I mean really, sometimes a start up is better than a kick off first book and a sucky sequel. Take the chance and enjoy it. You never know if you will encounter the same problems as I.

This review was a part of the Blood Moon Blog Tour.
*a copy was provided for review purposes*


3 of 5 stars!! :D

~The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!!
Hope you enjoyed this blog stop! :D
Have a wonderful day!!
~Jaiden

{Author Interview} Sangu Mandanna, Author of The Lost Girl

Hi everyone! Today I am pleased and honored to have the wonderful Sangu Madanna on the blog today!

Everyone give a warm welcome to the author of The Lost Girl!

We got one awesome interview ahead so read on! :D

~The Author:

Sangu Mandanna was four years old when she was chased by an elephant and wrote her first story about it and decided that this was what she wanted to do with her life. Seventeen years later, she read Frankenstein. It sent her into a writing frenzy that became The Lost Girl, a novel about death and love and the tie that binds the two together. Sangu lives in Norwich, England with her husband and baby son. Find Sangu online at www.sangumandanna.com or on Twitter (@SanguMandanna).

Find her at: ~Website~Blog~Twitter~Facebook~Goodreads~ 

~The Interview:

1. The Lost Girl, your Young Adult debut, came out in 2012. Are you currently working on something else? If so, what can you tell us about it? 

I can't say very much at the moment, particularly because this isn't an official Book yet, but I'm working on a darkish fantasy about a girl who turns vigilante when her mother's memories are stolen. It's full of love and heartbreak and cool things like clockwork horses and skyships (at least I think they're cool!) and I've really loved working on it. 

2. How often do you write? 

Depends on how you define 'writing'! I don't sit down at my Macbook and write or edit every single day. Most days, yes, and usually in several chunks of one to four hours. But there are some days when that doesn't happen. Then there's the other stuff I do. I make notes, scribble things down, type ideas into my phone... and that happens every day. And if I very loosely equate 'writing' with all the scenes and stories that run through my head, I do that ALL THE TIME. 

3. How has today's culture affected your writing? 

Oooh neat question! I'm trying to think about that... I think our culture is fairly fixated on putting off death, so to speak, and prolonging life (everything from anti-aging creams to medical discoveries seems to be geared towards us living as long as we possibly can) and that idea certainly played into THE LOST GIRL. Fear of death and loss is a huge theme there. The question of mental health is also something I write about, especially in the book I'm working on now; there's still something of a stigma attached to mental health (or the lack thereof) and 'madness' is something I've always wanted to explore in my stories. But I would also say that while these cultural things have had an effect on my writing, the story always comes first and these themes come second. I don't think I've ever gone into a book with a fixed idea that I must explore some kind of issue. 

4. How might have The Lost Girl differed if it had been written 100 or so years ago? Why? 

You know, I have no idea! Apart from obvious superficial differences (vocabulary, contemporary settings, pop culture references, etc) I'm not sure it would have been very different. Human beings have always loved and have always been afraid of dying and losing their loved ones, so that core theme would not have changed. Also, given the book is inspired by FRANKENSTEIN (which was written more than 100 years ago) I reckon Eva and the question of 'monsters' would have remained. I do wonder, though, if maybe Eva would have been Evan i.e. a boy. 100 years ago, a female protagonist like Eva might not have gone down so well. 

5. What have been some of your favorite 2013 debuts? 

Oh that's hard! I've read and loved so many books this year, but don't often know whether they're debuts or not. A couple I can think of are IN THE SHADOW OF BLACKBIRDS by Cat Winters (loved that one so much!) and IF HE HAD BEEN WITH ME by Laura Nowlin (I think that's a debut?) 

6. You are a tribute for the Hunger Games. What is your chance of surviving and how do you go about it? 

I would love to believe that I would be all tough and gritty and get through it without a hitch, but I believe the odds of that would be slim. I can't STAND the idea of children being hurt, so I'd have a tough time taking out the younger ones and would probably falter long enough to be killed. I do have some decent survival skills, though, so I think my best bet would be to hide out and go unnoticed as long as possible. Maybe that way, I'd make it to the very end and then the one who has killed all the others would have to come deal with me and I'd turn into a raging Valkyrie and win... 

7. What do you think is the most important thing today to understand as a teen? 

That nothing is impossible. I remember being quite unsure about a lot of things when I was a teenager. I remember thinking that a lot of things were out of my reach or unlikely or impossible. It wasn't true. All the things I wanted as a teen - to be an author, to fall in love, to live somewhere beautiful, to be happy - were entirely possible. I know that now. They're real and true. I just had to hope and try. I think it's important to remember that. Anything is possible. 

8. If you could have put any character into The Lost Girl from any book who would it be and why? 

Jem Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird. I don't really know why! I just love him so much.

~The Book(s):

The Lost Girl

Release Date: August 28, 2012

by, Balzer + Bray

Buy: ~Amazon UK~Amazon US~B&N~Book Depository~

Eva's life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. She was made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her "other," if she ever died. Eva spends every day studying that girl from far away, learning what Amarra does, what she eats, what it's like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But sixteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything and everyone she's ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she's forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva.

From debut novelist Sangu Mandanna comes the dazzling story of a girl who was always told what she had to be—until she found the strength to decide for herself.{Goodreads}

Wasn't that interview just great!? I absolutely loved Q&A #'s 1, 3,4,5,6,7...haha well ALL of them!

Sangu has a way of thinking right!!? Ah! I just loved her being on the blog!

If you haven't checked out her debut, The Lost Girl, do so! I've heard its absolutely amazing! 

(yes I have yet to read it but...it is on my very soon TBR!!!) ;D

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope you enjoyed this interview! :)

Have a wonderful day!

~Jaiden 

{Interview & Giveaway} A.G. Howard, author of Splintered

Oh my gosh!!!!

You guys!!!!!!

A.G. Howard is on the blog today!!!

*freaks out, fans self, passes out*

Such a huge fan and its an honor to do this interview!

So glad I get to share this awesomeness with you all!!!! 

Ok, ok. No more yammering. Let's get on with it! ;D <3

~The Author:

A.G. Howard was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would've happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.  

When she's not writing, A.G.'s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.

Find her at:~Amazon~Goodreads~Blog~Website~Twitter~Facebook~ 

~The Interview:

1. How different is it to write a retelling/spinoff compared to a regular, self imagined book? What kind of limitations did you have to work with in writing Splintered? 

I don’t think there are any hard and fast rules. I do think it’s important to make the most of the original author’s vision, craft your story as a tribute and a companion to the original, by giving the characters/details a deeper meaning. When done right, it makes the reader want to revisit the original work. That, to me, makes even a retelling a successful story in its own right, when it whets the reader’s appetite to plunge into another book that might’ve been on their shelves for years, gathering dust.   

2. What made you choose Alice in Wonderland to re-create? 

I’ve always been a huge fan of Carroll’s masterpieces, but the real spark lit back in in April 2010, when I first saw the Tim Burton and Disney Alice adaptation. I’m a very visual person, and the Burton cinematography was so vivid, techno-colored, and evocative that I didn't want the movie to ever end. So I came up with my own settings in my mind, and played out Wonderland continuations and scenarios. The idea became too big to contain in my head and I had to get it out on paper.   

3. Team Jeb or Team Morpheus? What makes each boy unique and likeable? 

As the author, I refuse to choose sides! LOL. I love both guys. They each bring out and complement different qualities in Alyssa—not just her light and dark sides, but how she makes decisions, either cautiously or spontaneously; or how she views the world, either as a canvas or as a playground. She has a tough choice to make, because it’s more than just choosing a guy. It’s choosing which way she wants to live her life. If I were Al, I’d pick Jeb in the here and now because he’s steady, noble, and shares her interests and goals; but I’d pick Morpheus in the far-away future, because he’s immortal and will still be young and up for some fun even in seventy years or so.     

4. How close did you want to keep to the Alice in Wonderland classic? 

I knew I wanted my main character, Alyssa, to be able to converse with bugs and flowers, because the talking flower scenes in Carroll’s two books, the Disney cartoon, and the Tim Burton/Disney rendition, were some of my favorites. Also, I always remembered the scene from Through the Looking Glass when Alice is riding a train through the countryside and has a conversation with a gnat. Those were such quirky and indelible images, that I just had to incorporate them somehow. I wanted my heroine to be tied to the original tales in a very visceral way so I decided to make Alyssa a descendant of Alice Liddell, the real-life girl who actually inspired Carroll to write his story to begin with. The blood tie to the Liddells became the basis for all of the weird aspects of Alyssa’s life, including the talking bugs and flowers. Also, I wanted a colorful/vivid world edged with creepiness for my Wonderland setting because Carroll's works always had that underlying creepiness to it. And lastly, I wanted to incorporate one of my favorite characters who doesn’t get nearly enough screen time in the remakes that I’ve seen, the Caterpillar.     

5. Is there going to be a sequel to Splintered? If so what can we hope for? 

Yes, it’s titled UNHINGED and is due out January 2014. We’re being really sneaky and sly about the premise at the moment, but here are some hints I can share: a bridge in London, a key and a heart pendant, and The Corpse Bride’s wardrobe. Also, Morpheus, Alyssa, and Jeb all have their moments in the spotlight, along with a few favorite Wonderlandians, and even some new warped ones from the books that I haven’t touched on yet.   

6. If you could spend a day in Wonderland what would you do and who would you meet? 

Oooh. That’s a toughie. Probably the Ivory Queen’s castle where everything glimmers with ice crystals, even the transparent walls.  It’s just so beautiful to imagine. And because Ivory is so lonely (spends her days and nights looking out through the glass as the warmth of the world passes by but never actually touches her), she’s always looking for a reason to have guests. Hopefully she would throw a party so I could meet lots of different Wonderlandians all at once. ;)    

7. Do you think you would have what it takes to make it out with your head? 

Haha! Not sure. If I didn’t, hopefully Morpheus would lend me one of his fab hats to cover my empty neck. LOL   

8. A lot of things in this book had extra meanings that all came together in the end. How long did it take you to map it all out and tie it together? 

The book took me six months from start to finish, and that includes plotting/research/tying up loose ends. I usually only do skeleton plots, which allows for flexibility when I’m writing. But I did have to write a rather detailed outline of the scenes in Wonderland since it does get a little complicated—who Alyssa and Jeb would meet, what roles the creatures would play in their “quest”, and even what “tasks” she’d be expected to complete in order to come home—but it still didn’t turn out exactly as I’d planned. The characters all had a few surprises for me along the way, most especially Morpheus. And most especially at the end…      

9. What was the most difficult thing in writing Splintered? 

It was important to me that my book be a tribute to Carroll's amazing works without copying him, and that’s not an easy balance to capture. Lewis Carroll won my heart as a child by weaving underlying threads of violence and eeriness into his nonsensical scenes and characters. So I tried to pay respectful homage to those elements while coaxing the funkiness/creepiness from subtle nuance to center stage. I’m hoping I accomplished that, and if I could have only one wish for my book, it would be that Splintered will entice readers to seek out the Carroll originals if they aren’t already fans, because those books are masterpieces.

~The Book(s):

Splintered

Series: Splintered #1

Release Date: January 1, 2013

by, Amulet Books

Buy: ~Amazon~Books a Million~B&N~Indie Bound~

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now. When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own. {Goodreads}

More/Upcoming:

~The Giveaway:

The Prizes:
1 Audio copy of Splintered
1 Signed Hardback Copy of Splintered
1 Splintered Swag Pack!
(Swag pack consists of:
-1 signed Splintered bookmark
-1 signed Splintered bookplate
-1 Alice in Wonderland gift tag/bookmark. *image varies)


The Details:
-Must be thirteen years old to enter
US only!!!!
-Winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen
-Ends 6/8/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!! :D
Hope you enjoyed this interview as much as I did!!
You guys need this book! One of my 2013 debut favorites!
Enter! Don't miss this amazing opportunity!! Its stellar. Equivalent to the golden goose egg! ;D
Have a wonderful day *muahaha* ;)
~Jaiden

{Interview & Giveaway} Chelsea Pitcher, author of The S-Word

Oh my gosh guys!!! Guess who is here today!!?

Yes the amazing and talented Chelsea Pitcher!!

You guys have no clue how excited I am about this interview!! I love this author to pieces so...

Let's share the love and all that good stuff right?

;D

~The Author:

Chelsea Pitcher is a native of Portland, OR where she received her BA in English Literature. Fascinated by all things literary, she began gobbling up stories as soon as she could read, and especially enjoys delving into the darker places to see if she can draw out some light.

Find her at: ~Website~Twitter~Facebook~Blog~Goodreads~

~The Interview:

1. Was writing The S-Word as emotionally hard as it was for us readers?  

This is such a great question, and it’s something I’ve thought a lot about with this story. To be honest, it’s harder for me to read about dark things than it is to write them. The reason for this (at least, as far as I can tell) is that writing about things, even very difficult ones, is a way of talking about them, a way of letting them out. So even though certain passages of the book were emotionally difficult write, after I’d done it, I felt better, like a weight had been lifted.

2. What was the inspiration for The S-Word?   

I started writing this story at a time when there was a lot about bullying and teen suicide in the news. I wanted to write about the link between these things, and how even a seemingly small act of cruelty can have a strong impact on someone’s life. Everyone’s dealing with so many things, and we can’t make the assumption that our words don’t matter to them. So with The S-Word, the idea was to illustrate all the difficult things teens are faced with on any given day, to really articulate why bullying can be so devastating.

4. How well did you have to plan each characters role in Lizzie's life and the affects they had on her?  

Some of the bigger things, I knew early on. I knew there would be a lot of misunderstandings and a lot of surprises in the story. But for many characters, I didn’t know their specific roles until I got deep into the plot. I knew from the start what Marvin did, or didn’t do (no spoilers, you guys!) but I wasn’t sure of Kennedy’s, Shelby’s or Jesse’s roles until each was revealed to me. I think certain characters surprised me as much as they will surprise the reader.

5. Throughout the book pages of Lizzie's diary are revealed. How did writing her diary pages differ from the mystery with Angie?  

Lizzie had such an innocence to her, whereas Angie didn’t have much innocence left at all. So with Angie, she would say and do almost anything; she had no censor. But Lizzie kept secrets, even in her own diary, because she was so scared of being seen. I had to coax the secrets out of her, piece by piece. I was into maybe my third draft of the story before Lizzie finally told me everything.

6. Do you tend to favor one of your characters? If so who and why?  

I have a soft spot for Jesse. He’s such a sweetie pie. But I have warm feelings for a lot of my characters, including Angie, who can be hard to love sometimes. As long as a character has good heart, and isn’t physically hurting people or anything, I can often find at least one redeeming quality.

7. What would you have told both girls after "the incident"?  

Be brave. The people in your life want to love you. They want to help you. But, as hard as it is, you can’t always wait for help to come for you in this world. Reach out. A hand will be there.

8. Are there any new projects underway? What can you tell us about them if so?  

I’m working on a story that’s set slightly in the future, when a maniacal leader has taken over the U.S. It’s up to a couple of immortal teenagers (I know, that phrase sounds funny, but I promise, in the story it works) to save the day. And the world.

~The Book(s):

The S-Word

Release Date: May 7, 2013

by, Gallery Books

~My 5+ Star Review~

Purchase: ~Amazon~Powell's~B&N~

First it was SLUT scribbled all over Lizzie Hart’s locker.  

But one week after Lizzie kills herself, SUICIDE SLUT replaces it—in Lizzie's looping scrawl.

Lizzie’s reputation is destroyed when she's caught in bed with her best friend’s boyfriend on prom night. With the whole school turned against her, and Angie not speaking to her, Lizzie takes her own life. But someone isn’t letting her go quietly. As graffiti and photocopies of Lizzie’s diary plaster the school, Angie begins a relentless investigation into who, exactly, made Lizzie feel she didn’t deserve to keep living. And while she claims she simply wants to punish Lizzie’s tormentors, Angie's own anguish over abandoning her best friend will drive her deep into the dark, twisted side of Verity High—and she might not be able to pull herself back out.

Debut author Chelsea Pitcher daringly depicts the harsh reality of modern high schools, where one bad decision can ruin a reputation, and one cruel word can ruin a life. Angie’s quest for the truth behind Lizzie’s suicide is addictive and thrilling, and her razor-sharp wit and fierce sleuthing skills makes her impossible not to root for—even when it becomes clear that both avenging Lizzie and avoiding self-destruction might not be possible. {Goodreads}

~The Giveaway:
The Prizes:
1 finished copy of The S-Word

The Details:
US and CAN only!!!
13 years or older to enter!
winner has 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by!!

Good luck!!!

(p.s....you need this book!! So enter like crazy k? If I could I would reward everyone who reads this post a copy but alas I can't. But seriously!! This book is flipping amazing! Just go read my review to see how obsessed I am haha)

Happy day to you!! ;P

~Jaiden

{Interview & Giveaway} Francis Knight, author of Fade to Black

Welcome to Francis Knight!!

We have an awesome interview laid out ahead and one sweet giveaway!!

Ready?

Set?

GO!!!! ;P

~The Author:

Francis Knight was born and lives in Sussex, England. When not living in her own head, she enjoys SF&F geekery, WWE geekery, teaching her children Monty Python quotes, and boldly going and seeking out new civilizations.

Find her at: ~Website~Amazon~Twitter~Facebook~ 

~The Interview:

1. What, in your opinion, is the hardest thing about being a writer?  

A couple of things – firstly getting myself to sit down and write! I’m fine once I get started, but I have a tendency to say ‘I’ll just do this first…’ and well, and then an hour later I still haven’t got any words in. Procrastination is a terrible thing. The second is when it comes to actually showing it to anyone else. Utterly nerve-wracking.    

2. How did your writing process for Fade To Black go?  

It was very different to all my other books, to be honest. I started it as a Nano project (a challenge to write 50k of a novel in a month). I duly did the 50K, but then got sidetracked with other projects, and only came back to it every now and again. Finally, in 2011 I decided it was about time I finished it and subbed it! So in total, it took me five months to write, but that was spread over three years.   

3. How much planning and premeditated thought went into the city of Mahal?  

Planning in advance, almost none. I was thinking of Bladerunner, and the hive cities of Warhammer while I wrote, and they influenced me. But mostly it grew as I was writing. The ‘planning’ – that is making sure it all worked – came afterwards.   

4. Fade To Black is reformat in a planned trilogy. Did you know where you wanted the series to go and how it would end from the beginning?  

I had a vague idea once I’d finished the first, but as to how it actually ends…that came to me just as I was finishing book 2. I tend not to plan very much in advance – as I write, I find the actual process gives me more ideas, so any plans go out of the window! Although once I’d figured out the end, while it changed, the basic set up of it gave me something to aim towards.  

5. When did you know that writing fiction is what you wanted to do with your life?  

Oh, that’s tricky. I started dabbling quite a while ago – I was laid up with ME for a long time, and it was either watch daytime TV, or give this writing malarkey a go. So I tried it, and dabbled on and off for a while. It was only when I showed what I’d done to a couple of extremely-well-read friends, and they said they thought I should give it a go, that I decided to become serious. I sold my first romance six months later (I write under another name in romance, though Fade to Black is my first fantasy), but it was still a hobby, almost. One that I got paid for. It’s only when I got an agent for Fade to Black I thought perhaps I should really concentrate on it.   

6. How often do you write?  

Barring illness and emergencies, every day. Not always at the same time, but my aim is to get at least 1500 words in every day. Sometimes it’s a little less, more often it’s more. But pretty much every day. If I leave it longer, it just makes it harder to get back into a story!  

7. Who has been your main supporters in writing your debut? Inspirations?   

Well, my family have been very supportive. My husband hardly ever complains if I spend the evening writing. This could be because I tell him to go to the pub :). My kids think it’s fantastic too. Inspirations…the woman who made me want to write is CJ Cherryh. I loved her stuff growing up, and I wanted to be able to evoke the same feelings in others. Whether I manage it is another matter entirely. 

~The Book(s):

Fade to Black

Series: Rojan Dizon Trilogy #1

Release Date: February 26, 2013

by, Orbit

Buy: ~Amazon~

From the depths of a valley rises the city of Mahala.  

It’s a city built upwards, not across—where streets are built upon streets, buildings upon buildings. A city that the Ministry rules from the sunlit summit, and where the forsaken lurk in the darkness of Under.

Rojan Dizon doesn’t mind staying in the shadows, because he’s got things to hide. Things like being a pain-mage, with the forbidden power to draw magic from pain. But he can’t hide for ever.  

Because when Rojan stumbles upon the secrets lurking in the depths of the Pit, the fate of Mahala will depend on him using his magic. And unlucky for Rojan—this is going to hurt.{Goodreads}

The rest of the series (coming soon)...

~The Giveaway:

The Prizes:
1 Signed copy of Fade to Black and Before the Fall

The Details:
This giveaway is International!
You must be 13 years or older to enter!
Winner will have 48 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Good luck!! Enjoy your day! :D ~Jaiden