Lifer Blog Tour: Interview with Beck Nicholas PLUS Giveaway

Today we're chatting with author Beck Nicholas as part of the LIFER blog tour. Grab a cuppa and come get to know all about Beck.

Hi, Beck! Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thanks for having me. I always wanted to write. I’ve worked as a lab assistant, a pizza delivery driver and a high school teacher but I always pursued my first dream of creating stories. Now, I live with my family near Adelaide, halfway between the city and the sea, and am lucky to spend my days (and nights) writing young adult fiction.


Tell our readers a bit about LIFER.

Asher is a Lifer, a slave aboard the spaceship Pelican. A member of the lowest rung of society, she must serve the ship’s Officials and Astronauts as punishment for her grandparents’ crimes back on Earth. The one thing that made life bearable was her illicit relationship with Samuai, a Fishie boy, but he died alongside her brother in a freak training accident.

Still grieving for the loss of her loved ones, Asher is summoned to the upper levels to wait on Lady, the head Official’s wife and Samuai’s mother. It is the perfect opportunity to gather intel for the Lifer’s brewing rebellion. There’s just one problem—the last girl who went to the upper levels never came back.

On the other side of the universe, an alien attack has left Earth in shambles and a group called The Company has taken control. Blank wakes up in a pond completely naked and with no memory, not even his real name. So when a hot girl named Megs invites him to a black-market gaming warehouse where winning means information, he doesn’t think twice about playing. But sometimes the past is better left buried.

As Asher and Blank’s worlds collide, the truth comes out—everyone has been lied to. Bourne Identity meets Under the Never Sky in this intergalactic tale of love and deception from debut novelist Beck Nicholas.

How did the idea of the story come to you?

It started with Asher. I knew she was a slave in mourning but not who’d died or why. I felt her grief and needed to find out what happened. At the same time there was another boy who kept nagging at me but neither of us (me or him) knew who he was.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Maybe a mix. I can’t begin writing until I know the characters really well and the ending but how they get there (and the details of that ending) have a habit of changing as I write and the characters take over. I find that if I let them act and react I can (mostly) trust them to take me where I need to go. Sometimes the story takes unexpected twists and turns but I get into dead ends if I try to force anything.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

The hardest part about writing for me is that I’m naturally shy and I believe to make characters real I need to dig deep in them and therefore in me. Sure I haven’t lived on a star ship (yet) but I’ve felt fear and hope and pain and I need to put that on the page as the character feels these emotions. It feels a little bit like baring my soul.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A bottle of water and a pencil and paper. Whenever I’m stuck I find that writing ahead in my notebook or jotting a few notes for the next scene gets my brain moving again. And post-its. I love lists and reminders and they are stuck everywhere around me.

What are you reading right now?

A book written by a people smuggler. It’s research for my work in progress. I’ve read books written by refugees but to read one from the other side has been interesting.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

I would fly. No doubt at all. The thought of swimming through the blue sky is simply magical for me. I love the water but to fly, I imagine, would be even better. Although, I’m terrified of heights so maybe it’s lucky it’s impossible for now.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Probably how to give myself a home-made tattoo.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

Reading. If I can get the chance. I love to escape to other world and other lives. It makes the rest of the world fade away. I try to exercise to make up for the chocolate I love too much. And spending time with family and friends is always fun.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

First, I need to thank everyone who has bought and read my books. To hear feedback from readers is simply incredible. Thanks to blogs (like this one!!) who have me to visit and make me feel so welcome. My publishers and agent who have supported my writing and made my dreams come true. I have some amazing writing friends who keep me going and make me laugh on a daily basis. My family and friends are my rocks and I adore each of them to pieces (which sounds more gory than it is).

Thanks so much for joining us on the blog today, Beck!

Thanks again for having me.


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Book Blitz: Under My Skin by Shawntelle Madison

Under My Skin

(The Immortality Strain, #1)

By Shawntelle Madison

Release Date: 12/09/14

Book Summary:

Everyone wants to either be a member of the Guild or work for them. Little does the populace know that the Guild hides sinister secrets...

For Tate Sullivan, life in her small, coastal town is far from glamorous. The affluent lives of the Guild members and their servants isn't something she has ever wanted. But all sixteen year-olds must take a simple test, and Tate's result thrusts her into the Guild's world, one where they hide horrible plans for those they select. Tate must fight the relentless General Dagon for control of her mind, body, and soul to keep the one precious thing she has always taken for granted: herself.

Her only ally is the same handsome boy she is pitted against in General Dagon’s deadly game. Quinn desires nothing more than to end the life of General Dagon who has taken over Tate's mind. While romance blooms between Tate and Quinn, General Dagon plots to eventually take over Tate's body, and love might end before it even begins.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon│B&N│iBooks│Kobo

EXCERPT

Sweat poured down my forehead and entered my eyes, but I wouldn’t blink—couldn’t tear my gaze from the horror in front of me. One of them slapped Claire’s face to subdue her. Again and again. The sound reverberated against the marble walls.

Another enforcer tried to cover Claire’s mouth, but she managed to scream, “You can’t hide the truth forever!” They grabbed her from behind and by her legs. “We will free them! We will—” The sharp snap of a las-gun filled the air along with the stench of burned flesh. Claire went limp in their arms.

Locked in the grip of fear against the wall, I watched them carry her away. Her chest continued to move with each breath, but her eyelids drooped. Her mouth hung open. Was she okay? I’d never seen someone like that before. The enforcers in my town rarely had to use violence.

My tears mingled with the heavy steam in the room and I couldn’t help myself. My chest shook and I sobbed. In the background, the water continued to run. It almost felt like a lifetime since Claire’s words bounced around my mind. I could see the corners of the room, but I didn’t feel alone anymore.

The room had sufficient light, but after what happened, the dark eyes of strangers stared at me from every corner. They slid down the ornate vanity and slithered my way. Moved across the fine rugs on the floor. Ever since I’d come here, they’d been listening to everything and seeing everything. At this moment, the cameras were no longer something I brushed aside as a persistent warning from my parents. It was all very much real. And now I knew the truth. Something bad will happen to me very soon.

About the Author

Shawntelle Madison is a web developer who loves to weave words as well as code. She’d never admit it, but if asked she’d say she covets and collects source code. After losing her first summer job detasseling corn, Shawntelle performed various jobs—from fast-food clerk to grunt programmer to university webmaster. Writing eccentric characters is her most favorite job of them all. On any particular day when she’s not surgically attached to her computer, she can be found watching cheesy horror movies or the latest action-packed anime. She lives in Missouri with her husband and children.

Author Links:

   

GIVEAWAY:

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Book Blitz Organized by:

The Night House Book Tour: Interview with Rachel Tafoya @chapterxchapter @RachelTafoya @month9books

Hey everyone, how's it going? Today we're taking part in the blog tour for THE NIGHT HOUSE by chatting with author Rachel Tafoya. Grab a cup of your favorite warm beverage, sit back, get comfy, and read all about Rachel and her novel. And don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post!

Hi, Rachel! Welcome to We Do Write. Tell us a bit about yourself.

I studied creative writing while at Solebury School and was published in their student run literary magazine, SLAM. I attended a writing program for teens at both Susquehanna University and Denison University, and the Experimental Writing for Teens class and Novels for Young Writers program, both run by NY Times bestselling author, Jonathan Maberry. I am the daughter crime author Dennis Tafoya.

Cool! Tell our readers a bit about THE NIGHT HOUSE.

Bianca St. Germain works at a Night House, a place where vampires like the aristocratic Jeremiah Archer, pay to feed on humans, and she doesn’t much care what others think of her. The money is good, and at least there, she’s safe. Bianca also doesn’t care that the Night House is killing her. All she cares about is: nauth, the highly addictive poison in vampire bites that brings a euphoria like no drug ever could.

But when Bianca meets James, a reclusive empath who feels everything she does, for the first time, she considers a life outside of the Night House and a someone worth living for. But Jeremiah has decided to keep Bianca for himself; he won’t allow her to walk away.

As she allows her feelings for James to grow, she struggles to contain nauth’s strong hold on her life. If they are to have a future, James must make her see what she’s worth, what she means to him, before Jeremiah and nauth claim her for good.

Sounds awesome! How did the idea of the story come to you?

When I was first thinking about writing The Night House, my dad (Dennis Tafoya) was also just entering the world of publishing with his first book Dope Thief. It’s a crime novel, and my whole family has been interested in crime and true crime for as long as I can remember. I have memories of watching TV programs aobut the zodiac killer when I was in high school. I like writing fantasy, but I thought this time I wanted to write something with a crime edge to it. So I thought addiction was a good way to explore that.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Basically what I like to do is, I write for as long as it comes easily. Then, when I hit a wall, or have writer’s block, I’ll stop what I’m doing and plot out a bit. I like knowing the general gist of the story, but I don’t need exact bullet points to guide me every step. That can be too constricting, unless of course I’m having a ton of trouble and really need to think it out.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Staying focused on the same project. There are certain parts of a story that I’m less engaged in. Usually that middle chunk. So it’s always a challenge to put down developmental details and still try to remain exciting. Character development is hard, but absolutely necessary to a story.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Food usually. I know writing isn’t technically exercise, but it makes me feel drained after a while. I like snacking while I work. Also headphones, if I’m in public! I need to feel private even if I’m in a café.

What are you reading right now?

I’m reading an Uncorrected Proof of The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black. I work at a bookshop, so I fortunately get access to books before they come out!

Color me jealous! If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Probably telekinesis, because I’m super lazy. I could throw a ball for my dog without getting up.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

I googled stab wounds a while back. That was unfortunate.

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ...

Hanging out with my boyfriend and my dog. Mostly my dog. She’s needy.

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

I have an awesome agent, Sara Crowe, who continually supports me, and found my book a home after I’d forgotten about it. Not to mention my super cool publisher Month9Books, who puts up with my whining. My dad continues to give me great writing advice, and my mother who is still sane somehow after years of my siblings and I. Also my wonderful boyfriend, who offers to do my work for me regularly. If only!

Connect with the Author:  Tumbler | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Interview With Scott Craven, Author of Dead Jed 2: Dawn of the Jed

Today we are happy to have Scott Craven here to answer a few questions about himself and his newest release, Dead Jed 2: Dawn of the Jed, which I cannot wait to get my hands on! But before we delve into the questions, here's a bit about the book!

Title: Dead Jed 2: Dawn of the Jed
Publication date: December 9, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.
Author: Scott Craven

The first part of seventh grade was rough on Jed, but things are looking up now that Christmas is
almost here. As with past Christmases, Jed asks for the one thing he’s always wanted–a dog–and again, his parents tell him they’re not ready. But fate has a different plan when Jed sees a dog get run over by a car. Then, it happens. Jed suddenly has a pet, Tread, a zombie dog bearing his namesake–a tire tread down his back. Jed may have gained a dog, but he loses his best friend Luke, who fears the way Jed created his undead pet.

When Jed returns to school, he finds a mysterious group called the No Zombies Now Network spreading rumors of the dangers the undead pose to normal people. Forced to disprove Hollywood stereotypes, Jed has his work cut out for him as stories of a zombie dog begin to circulate. Jed could be expelled if he can’t expose the NZN Network as a fraud. Jed needs help from his kind of girlfriend Anna, especially after he discovers Luke has joined the shadowy group.

Once again navigating the treacherous waters of middle school, Jed does his best to stay in one piece. Only this time he’ll need even more duct tape and staples than usual.

         

             

Welcome to We Do Write, Scott! Wow! Congrats on the release of Dead Jed 2: Dawn of the Jed! How did the idea of the story come to you?

As Jed finished seventh grade on a high note, you knew the good times couldn’t last, not when the bully Robbie was primed for payback. This time I wanted to throw something new into the mix I’m a huge dog lover, having grown up with a canine or two in the house. It was time for Jed to get his own pet. But is a zombie going to have a normal canine? Not a chance. I knew what had to be done. 

I love the idea of Tread! Can't wait to read your take on a zombie canine. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Plotting is for the organized. While “Dawn of the Jed” took me to unexpected places, my favorite zombie absolutely threw me off the trail as I took on the third book.  

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Starting. That’s why my previous day’s finish is so important. I try to leave off in a place where I know what’s going to happen next. It makes it so much easier to sit in front of the keyboard when I can say, “OK, Jed’s in big trouble, but with the help of his magical zombie powers, he stops, shoots, and swish.” Or something like that.

Starting is HARD! I will have to try your approach. What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

I start very early in the morning, so I need coffee. I have the benefit of a fulltime writing job that keeps me busy Monday through Friday, so I need to walk the dog, read the newspaper and surf the Net a bit before I’m ready to tackle Jed’s further adventures. Did I mention coffee?  

What are you reading right now?

I just finished “The Bone Clocks” by David Mitchell. I wish I had one percent of his talent. I’m in the middle of “The Troop” by Nick Cutter. If you love spine-tingling thrillers, give this one a shot. It’s not for the weak of stomach. You’ve been warned.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

It was flying, but now I want the power of DNA manipulation. I’d twist my personal strand to resemble a genetic collision of David Mitchell, Stephen King and Charles Dickens. It may result in a time-traveling French Revolution ghost story in which a vampire dog teams with an underground group of immortals to avert the end of the world by convincing a truly cruel individual to mend his ways, but it would be really interesting.  

I'd read that! What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

“Genetic manipulation: Author style.”

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

Watching all the crap I record on my DVR. Truly, I am not proud of my TV tastes, but I’m having too much fun to stop now. 

Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting you. Let's hear your shout outs.

So many thanks to the three people who gave me so much before vanishing from this earth: My mom, my mentor, my best friend. And shout-outs to my loved ones who keep me grounded, always reminding me what’s truly important. And it’s not money, fame or power. Or even fantasy football. Thank you Dad, Bryson and Melissa.  

ABOUT SCOTT CRAVEN:

Proud graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, have one son who will turn 18 in March 2013, now a features writer for The Arizona Republic.

         

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Book Blitz: Crashing Prom by Milda Harris

 

Today we're taking part in the CRASHING PROM book blitz. Check out this NA novel by Milda Harris.

Crashing Prom by Milda Harris
Publication date: November 7th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance



Avery Rylee never went to her high school prom. It is one of her biggest life regrets. Now, at the age of twenty-four, Avery has many more regrets. She is stuck in a rut with her career and she has just been dumped by her fiance. After a night of cheap wine and hitting rock bottom, all Avery wants to do is lie in bed at home with a gallon of ice cream, but her three best friends have other ideas. They have planned a cross country road trip to a prom to help Avery start over. Step one is an Ex-Bachelorette Party in Vegas to help Avery try and forget her ex-fiance. Instead of forgetting him, though Avery finds herself the star of her own web series. As a result, she goes on a filmed hunt across America to find a prom dress, a hot date, and a pair of amazing shoes. Will Avery be able to heal her heartbreak, survive internet reality show fame, and have the perfect prom?

AUTHOR BIO:
MILDA HARRIS has a dog named after a piece of candy (Licorice), was once hit by a tree (seriously), and wears hot pink sunglasses (why not?). She is the young adult author of Doppelganger, Adventures in Funeral Crashing, Adventures of a Graveyard Girl, The New Girl Who Found A Dead Body, and Connected: A Paranormal Romance. She also works in production on television shows like Austin & Ally, Hannah Montana, and That's So Raven.

Author links:
http://www.mildaharris.com/
https://twitter.com/mildaharris
https://www.facebook.com/mildaharris
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4965095.Milda_Harris



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