Book Blitz: Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut Excerpt PLUS Giveaway

Middle Grade Fantasy, anyone? Celtic warriors? Knights? Goblin-like creatures? How about FINN FINNEGAN by Darby Karchut!

Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut 

(The Adventures of Finn MacCullen #1) 

Published by: Spencer Hill Press

Publication date: March 12th 2013

Genres: Fantasy, Middle-Grade

Finnegan MacCullen: a thirteen-year-old apprentice with the famous Irish temperament.
Gideon Lir: a legendary Celtic warrior with a bit of a temper of his own.

Secretly, these blue-collar warriors battle the hobgoblins infesting their suburban neighborhood…when they are not battling each other.

Finn (not bleedin’ Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures.

Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn’s survival.

Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of “fighting Irish.”

Goodreads | Book Trailer


Purchase Links Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

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AUTHOR BIO

All her life, the archetypal hero and his journey have enthralled Darby Karchut. A native of New Mexico, Darby grew up in a family that venerated books and she spent her childhood devouring one fantasy novel after another. Fascinated by mythologies from around the world, she attended the University of New Mexico, graduating with a degree in anthropology. After moving to Colorado, she then earned a Master’s in education and became a social studies teacher.
Drawing from her extensive knowledge of world cultures, she blends ancient myths with modern urban life to write stories that relate to young teens today.
Darby is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Pikes Peak Writers Guild. She lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her husband, where she still teaches social studies at a local junior high school. She enjoys running, biking, and skiing the Rocky Mountains in all types of weather.
Her debut middle grade book, Finn Finnegan, released March 2013 (Spencer Hill Press). The next book in the series, Gideon's Spear (Spencer Hill Press), will be released February 2014. Her YA books include Griffin Rising (2011 Sharp Writ YA Book of the Year), Griffin's Fire, and Griffin's Storm.

Visit her at: www.darbykarchut.com

Links:
www.darbykarchut.com
www.darbykarchut.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/darby.karchut

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Blog Tour: An Excerpt of Illuminating Gracie by Lisa C Temple

Tour Schedule

Illuminating Gracie by Lisa C. Temple

As an old woman's lifeless body lies on a cold stone floor, her soul stands before an angel who offers her a miraculous opportunity: the chance to do it all again. But that is easier said than done. In order to change the path her life has taken, she must put aside years of self-loathing and pain, so she can help the young girl she once was become the woman she should have been.

At 17 years old, Grace Bennett is a bitter young woman. Though blessed with a loving family, looks and brains to spare, she hides her light under a bushel, spending most of her time in the darkness of her mind with little more than sarcasm and self-pity to keep her company.

But things are about to change for Grace. While delivering food for her family's bed and breakfast, she turns onto a desolate dirt road and drives straight into her destiny.

It's on this isolated country lane that the damaged girl meets a strangely familiar old couple and two mysterious young men. Together the group fights the demons that surround Grace, and they teach her what it means to let her light shine.

"Illuminating Gracie" is, at once, a metaphorical tale of the fight between good and evil and a spiritual saga of one girl's journey from darkness into the light. If you liked "Twilight" and "The Hunger Games," you will love the story of Gracie.





Praise for Illuminating Gracie:

"A well-paced fantasy story of redemption and self-improvement." ~Kirkus Review (Sept. 1, 2013 Magazine)
"Just the right amount of love story to the action packed plot line left this book a perfectly balanced read." ~Maryann (Amazon “Top 1000” Reviewers)

"The story also contains little mysteries that keep you turning the pages, as gems of insight turn up along the way. It is a story of hope and redemption, and a beautiful request of each of us to let our light shine brightly." ~Kimberly Raadt Higgins (Amazon Review)

"On a personal level, I can relate to Grace in so many ways. As I read, a lot of memories and feelings from my teenage and young adult years have come flooding back, some a little painful, others fun and exciting, even hopeful. Yet it also has me contemplating where I am today as a middle-aged adult; am I who I thought I would be, who I want to be?" ~N.J. Collar (Amazon Review)

"The plot is masterfully drawn and keeps the reader guessing until the end. This book tells the story of the fight between good and evil in a young woman's life. It is brilliant in its use of humor and emotion to draw the reader into the characters." J. Pitts (Amazon and Goodreads)



Author Lisa C. Temple

On thirty-nine Senior scrolls, the Headmaster of author, Lisa C. Temple's, small, private school wrote "Good Luck and best wishes for a prosperous future!" On the fortieth and final scroll, which was Temple's, the Headmaster penned the words, "Lisa, I can't wait to see to what use you put your unusual talents!" Temple spent the next 30 years trying to assuage her former leader's curiosity - and her own.

She sold BMWs in her hometown of Montgomery, Alabama, and hillbillies (as a booking agent) in Nashville, Tennessee. In an effort to escape the enforced servitude of the Junior League, she even attended and was graduated from law school and passed the Alabama State Bar exam in 2002. Through it all, she battled problems and illnesses, many of her own making. But, it wasn't until her father - her hero - was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), that Temple found her true calling - the "talent" that she finds joy in putting to use.

"Illuminating Gracie," is loosely autobiographical and born from a desire to, if only, metaphorically right the wrongs of Temple's own past. It tells the story of a miserable old woman who is given the opportunity - by an angel - to go back in time and help the young girl she once was become the woman she should have been. "Illuminating Gracie," is the first book in a four-book series. The second book, "Instigating Gracie," is due for release in December 2013.

Temple laughs when saying she has a loving and complicated husband she deserves, and a wonderful son and two loving stepchildren that she does not. She also shares her life with her beloved pets: Pomeranian, Phebe; Bordernese, Flash; and Tabby cat, MInx.

EXCERPT

As if able to read my thoughts, he leaned in even closer, afford- ing me full access to his aroma, and in a husky, almost whisper beseeched, “Please . . . tell me your name.”

I have no logical explanation for my body’s reaction to his hushed entreaty. My pulse flew matching my heart rate, while every pore and fiber of my skin went on high alert, going hot and cold virtually simultaneously. For once, I was grateful for the dark and the cover it provided my blushing face.

      The worst part of the whole thing was that I had the distinct feeling Merc not only knew what embarrassing reactions his close proximity caused in my traitorous body, but he intended on eliciting just those responses. Whether it was my sapped energy from the drama of the night or my own sad lack of experience in the area of male/female relations, I had no resources available to me to mount a proper defense against him. In all honesty, I couldn’t imagine why I should. After all, I knew plenty of girls that would have been on this guy like “white on rice.” Why should I get bogged down with details and unanswered questions like: Who was he really? Why was he being so nice to me? Why hadn’t Mrs. B. and Willem mentioned him?

      Why should I look a gift horse in the mouth? If this “uber- hot” boy wanted to be my “knight in shining armor,” why shouldn’t I let him be just that? I had never been anyone’s “damsel in distress,” and it certainly wasn’t because I had some feminist axe to grind. No, that wasn’t it at all. It was because no one had ever applied for the position. So now I was going to ignore the warning bells, silence my fears and pack away my paranoia. For once, I was going to be the one with the romantic story to tell at the lunch table on Monday, instead of the one listening on the far fringes and replying with the obligatory “oohs” and “ahs” to the stories told by all the braver, more beautiful, more fortunate girls.

      Having solved my inner conflicts, I answered him with a breath- less and what I hoped was sexy voice, “Grace, my name is Grace.”

      I wanted him to say something like my name was beautiful. That would play well with the lunchtime listeners. But, to my surprise, he seemed almost irritated.

      “Ha . . . ha ha,” he barked a short laugh. “Yeah, that’s about right. Well, come on, Grace – let’s get you home.”

      I was a little disconcerted by his reaction. Huh . . . weird. What should my name have been? Veronica . . . Candy . . . Jinx?

      Never one to keep my mouth shut, I opened it, ready to ask him if he preferred stripper names, but before I could get a word out Merc’s whole body stiffened and he jerked his head sharply to the right. I strained to see what he saw or heard to create such a reaction in him. The only thing visible was the dim outline of the tremendous back portion of the mansion that was softly lit by land- scape lighting buried deep in the bushes.

      I looked at Merc, wanting an explanation for his behavior. “What’s the problem? Did you hear something . . . somebody?” I whispered. If he had heard something, then he had better ears than I. Of course, I was hyper-focused on the visual treat that was standing next to me. A hurricane could have blown through, and I might not have noticed.


Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/31/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Interview with Melissa Pearl

Guess what day it is ... 




That's right! It's HUMP DAY!! And today we have an interview with Melissa Pearl, author of YA paranormal novel, BETWIXT.

Welcome to We Do Write, Melissa. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thank you so much for having me :) Well, I'm a mother to two beautiful boys (6 & 2). They keep me very busy. My gorgeous husband is a teacher at an international school in China, so we are stationed in Suzhou for another couple of years before heading home to New Zealand. While my boys are at school/kindy, I work from home, building my small writing business and loving every micro-second of it.

You can't beat working on something you love. How long have you been writing?

I've always had a vivid imagination, but I didn't really start writing until I was in my early twenties. My best friend told me I had to write one of the stories bouncing around in my head. I thought, "Why not?", so I sat down and started writing and haven't looked back. I absolutely love it :)

Tell us about BETWIXT. What’s the story about?

Betwixt is a story close to my heart. To date, it's still my favorite book of them all, for so many reasons. It's about a girl who is hit by a car and left for dead in the woods. While her body is dying, her spirit is floating around her home and high school trying to find someone who can hear her. Unfortunately, the only one who can is a boy that can't stand her. She publicly humiliated him when trying to fit in with her cool friends and he was branded with a hurtful name that he hasn't been able to shake.

This story is about redemption and second chances. It's about finding out who you really are beneath all the crap and discovering who you actually want to be. It deals with some pretty tough issues, but my favorite aspect by far is the relationship between the two main characters - Dale and Nicole. I fell in love with them together as I was writing and they will remain in my heart always. In fact, I love them so much, I'm actually giving them a cameo in my next novel - True Colors, which is coming out in February 2014.

Love! <3 How did the idea of the story come to you?

The premise is based on a movie I saw years ago - "Invisible". It was about a boy who was beaten up and left in the woods. His spirit haunts his attacker until she comes to help him. I loved the concept so much, but I was disappointed with the ending. It was appropriate for the movie, but I didn't like it. I wanted to write something like that, but with my kind of ending. I sat on the story for years until it evolved into something quite different to the movie. The premise may be similar, but I wanted to make the story my own.

I remember that movie. Now I want to read BETWIXT even more. I'm telling you, this To Be Read pile of mine is staggering in its scale. Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

Yes - I have developed a system that works really well for me and I will continue to use it. After my own edits I send it to my critique partners - other authors who understand the craft and mechanics of writing. After I hear back from them, I do my second lot of edits. It then gets sent to a copy editor who looks at all my wording and picks up any other structural mishaps that need fixing. I then do my third lot of edits. I then send it to a few proof-readers, these are a mixture of authors and avid readers. Once I hear back from them, I do my final edits and then I publish it.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A plotter all the way. I spend nearly as much time planning out my books as I do actually writing them :) In saying that, once I get into the story, the plan does change a little - new ideas come to me and the story evolves, but the basic structure and character growth is all done during the planning stages. That's what works best for me.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

It used to be the first edit, but now I find the first draft stage is often my most challenging in the sense
that I often suffer from First Draft Blues. Those little demons in your head that tell you your story is weak and everyone will hate it. But then I get to that first edit and realize it's not as bad as I thought it was. I start to build on what I have and end up coming away pretty happy.

Oh yeah - and then there's the marketing :P I really wish I could just write and the books would market themselves, but no such luck.

I am learning though and I now have an amazing PA/publicist helping me out. I'm learning to channel some of my creativity into marketing as well and it's making things a lot more fun :)

Wouldn't it be awesome if a book marketed itself? *sigh* Oh, well ... What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

A glass of water.

I also have my walls plastered with pictures of what I think my characters look like. At the moment I have two lots for my two WIPs. It's so cool looking up at the wall and seeing my characters gazing back at me. It helps me bring the story to life.

What are you reading right now?

I've just finished Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles. It was brilliant!

Next on my list is Finding Colin Firth by Mia March. It's for my book club and I have to finish it by next week! Better get a wiggle on! After that I will probably read an indie author or two. I belong to a group called Indie Inked and I'm trying to read at least one book by every author in the group. I am half way through and have yet to be disappointed. I feel very privileged to be involved with a group of such talented writers.

 Go indie authors! *shakes pompoms* If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Hmmm - nice question. One of my favorite super heroes is Mystique from X-Men. I think it would be so cool to be able to morph into any other human being.

That would be very cool. Mostly because you'd be naked all of the time, but whatever. What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

LOL :D Another great question…. probably something to do with book research. I'm not much of a web surfer - I just don't have the time. But my husband loves surfing the web and I have been beside him when he's typed in things like World's Worst Tattoos. That's one of the most cringe-worthy websites I've ever endured.

Um ... wow! I just got sucked into that google search and couldn't get out. People are crazy.

Anyway .... Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: twisted, between, and luxurious. 

Her body twisted beneath the soft sheets, a luxurious smile creeping over her face when she realized she was no longer alone and if she wanted to, with a little shuffle backwards there'd be nothing between her and the man she'd unexpectedly fallen in love with.

Wow - how NA of me. Haha :) I don't usually write scenes like the one above, but now that the sentence is out there, I'd really love to see where it goes :D

Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... playing with my kids, watching a movie with my husband or quickly rushing through one of the many household tasks that keeps my family happy.

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

Man, SO many people.
My bestie - thanks for starting me on this writing journey.
My brother - thanks for sending me down the self-publishing path.
My parents - thanks for being the world's best cheerleaders.
My husband - you are my rock and I love you.
My boys - thanks for making me smile everyday. Watching you grow is one of life's greatest privileges.
My PA/Publicist - you are the best and working with you rocks.
My critique readers, editors, graphic designers - working with you all has been a privilege and a pleasure. I look forward to many projects to come.
Indie Inked - thanks for making my writing journey so interesting. Your friendship and support means so much to me. Our Facebook group is one of the first things I check each morning. Love you girls.
My street team - what would I do without you? THANK YOU!!
My readers - I wouldn't be here without you. Thank you for taking the time to read my work. Thank you for allowing me to entertain you with characters and story lines I love. Every book contains a small piece of my heart and I feel so lucky to be able to share it with you.
My inspiration - thank you for every story you give me. I love you and would be lost without you in my life.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

My website is probably the best place to start: www.melissapearlauthor.com
I also have my books published through all major distributors - Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords.
You can also visit my Facebook page -  http://www.facebook.com/melissapearlauthor - and my blog - http://melissapearl.blogspot.com.
And of course you can subscribe to my newsletter and be the first to hear all my latest news. You'll find the sign-up form on the home page of my website.

Interview with Juliana Haygert

Today, we are happy to have an interview with Juliana Haygert, author of The Everlast Trilogy.

While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting--but equally gratifying--life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

Welcome to We Do Write, Juliana. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hi there. First, thank you for having me! I’m a writer, author, wife, mom, friend, crazy lady, former ballerina, avid reader.

How long have you been writing? 

Since I was 13yo, but it was just a hobby. It wasn’t until 2009 that I started thinking about the possibility of publishing.

Tell us about SOUL OATH. What’s the story about?

Soul Oath is the sequel of Destiny Gift. It follows the story of Nadine, Victor, Micah, and Ceris, and
some other characters … and I can’t say much more without revealing big things from the end of Destiny Gift ;)

Ahh .... Okay. With that in mind, here's a little blurb of DESTINY GIFT.

Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness.

A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into

Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.

To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.

Great premise. I love the idea of New York City cast in total darkness. How did the idea of the story come to you?

My husband. No, seriously, we were talking books and ideas, and he always said I had to write one about gods and mythology, because he loves this kind of stuff. So, he asked, what if you wrote about immortals gods, and then, one of them dies – for real. They thought they were immortal, but they aren’t! And, from that, the rest came to me pretty easily.

Do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I used to have critique partners – I think I still do lol – but everyone’s schedule is so crazy lately. Now, I do a few rounds of critique with my editor. Self edit? Only one round before sending it to my editor the first time and even then I know she’ll find lots of things to work on lol

Oh, I know. Believe me, I know. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A mix of both, though I’m trying to become more of a plotter. Soul Oath had a loose outline and it worked. I guess that when writing series, it’s easier to go with an outline.

Yes, but pantsing is such a hard habit to break. What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Editing … I love writing. I could live on it. But editing kicks my butt.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

Music. Something to drink (depending on the hour of the day, it can be water, coffee, coke, or wine =P). And for the past couple of weeks, a scented candle …

What are you reading right now?

Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Probably, by the time you post this interview, I’ll have read another 4 or 5 books ;)

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

I want so many superpowers … can I be like Korra and control five elements?

Sure! Why not? What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Hm, bah, tough one. I have a terrible memory for this kind of thing. Seriously, can’t think of a thing.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: soul, swear, and penguin.

The penguin swore to give his soul to the moon! 

Not sure if I could change the tense on the verb, but there you have it. The best I could come up with in 2 seconds lol

That's perfect! Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... reading or dancing. Or cooking. Or playing with my kid lol

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

My family, my friends, my writer friends, the gang from NA Alley and the #row80 sprint. My editor for sure. My cover designer too!

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Kobo | iBooks | Goodreads

Thanks for having me! :)

It was our pleasure. Thanks for joining us.

Cover Reveal: Gabriel Stone and the Wrath of the Solarians

Welcome to the cover reveal for

Gabriel Stone and the Wrath of the Solarians (Gabriel Stone #2)
by Shannon Duffy

presented by Month9Books!

Trying to re-unite Tahlita, the telekinetic Valtan girl with her prickly father Dane?
Not so easy.
Getting them to make up and go home to Valta—you know, so that just humans are living in Gabriel Stone’s small hometown of Willow Creek?
Epic uphill battle.
But when Prince Oliver shows up asking for help and drops the info bomb about the empress and princess being kidnapped by other-planetary creeps called Solarians, Gabe’s life turns into a nightmare full of suck.
Even with cool new powers, two best friends, awesome flying tigers, and a talking tracker monkey, Gabriel couldn’t have been prepared for the chaos slamming down on Valta. Let alone the dangerous quest to save his Valtan friends.
Oh, and Gabriel doesn’t do wells. So that witch trapped at the bottom of one who needs rescuing—the one who’s supposedly the key to saving so many others? Yeah, it’s not looking good for her either…

Gabriel Stone and the Wrath of the Solarians (Gabriel Stone #2)
by Shannon Duffy
Publication Date: March 25, 2014
Publisher: Month9Books

I grew up on the east coast of Canada in the province of Newfoundland and now live in Ontario. I'm the mom of one awesome boy named Gabe. I love writing, reading, working out, shopping and traveling. My guilty pleasure is reality TV. Love it. =)

My YA Paranormal Romance, SPECTRAL, and the first in my MG Fantasy series, GABRIEL STONE AND THE DIVINITY OF VALTA are both out now. The Gabriel Stone sequel, GABRIEL STONE AND THE WRATH OF THE SOLARIANS releases March/14.I also have a new YA Cyberpunk series coming out. The first novel in that series is titled, AWAKENING and releases Jan/15.

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

Interview with Michelle Reed @chapterxchapter @Michelle_E_Reed @Month9Books

Today we join the LIFE AD tour by indulging in an interview with fabulous author Michelle Reed. Let's get to know more about her and her book.

Welcome to We Do Write, Michelle. Tell us a bit about yourself.

Thanks so much for hosting me on the Life, A.D. blog tour!

I am a young adult author and a mom, and live in Wisconsin with my husband, son, and our yellow lab. My boys are my heart, and we spend a lot of time together. When I’m not writing, I’m either hanging out with my family, reading, or catching some quality couch potato time with my husband.

How long have you been writing?

I took up writing in my 30s when I penned a few underwhelming screenplays. I still have those three scripts in a box under my bed, but it has been years since I’ve looked at them. I found that the format wasn’t something I was particularly suited for, and I gave up writing for a while, After my son was born in 2008, I really felt the itch to write again, and it was then that I began to write (in fits and starts) my first novel, Life, A.D.

Tell us about LIFE AD. What’s the story about?

Life, A.D. is the story of seventeen-year-old Dez Donnelly, who dies in a car crash in the early spring before high school graduation. Her unprepared soul is transported to Atman Station, the crossroads of the afterlife. She discovers that she’s stuck in a limbo state of existence, where she’ll stay until she learns to let go of the life she no longer has, and accept her death. Dez is thrown into a harsh new existence of strict rules, relentless staff, and a group of fellow teens thrown together by fate. Atman City is a beautiful, strictly forbidden temptation lying just outside the confines of the station complex, where adventure and danger await.

Sounds great. How did the idea of the story come to you?

In 2006 I was on a flight to Los Angeles to a writer’s conference, and I was listening to m iPod. It was a perfect moment of being in the right headspace when a song I’d heard a hundred times before triggered something in me. By the time the flight landed, I had a vision of the station in my mind. The coolest thing about it is, a friend of mine had the winning bid on a charity auction and got to go hiking with the band before a show this past summer, and she was able to pass along the story of how they inspired me!

Wow, that's so cool! Tell us, do you have a critique group/partner or beta readers, or do you self-edit?

I have a couple of beta readers whose feedback I trust, and they play very different, but equally important roles in my editing process. One comes at my stories from the perspective of a fellow writer, and the other reads purely as a reader. I’m so fortunate to have people I feel comfortable sharing my drafts with, even in the ugly, early stages of just-finished first drafts.

I do self-edit as well. I know it’s about the worst way to write, but I tend to go over and over something until I get it to a point where I’m happy with it before I can move on in the story. Sometimes I’ll spend days on a handful of pages, just trying to get it right.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

100% pantser. I wish I had the discipline and ability to plot, but I just follow my characters around wondering what they’ll do next. I always have a vague idea of how I want things to end, but how I’m going to get there tends to be a mystery. In Life, A.D., for example, I knew when I started how the final scene would go, but beyond that, it was pantser all the way. It sounds crazy, but I tend to have arguments with my protagonist in my head. “Why won’t you tell me what’s going on? I can’t tell your story if you don’t let me,” tends to be a common inner-dialogue. I sit back and watch it all unfold, and write down what I see.

What’s the hardest part of writing for you?

Putting aside my feelings and following the story where it goes, even where it goes somewhere dark and painful. My editor gave me a fantastic piece of advice and told me to “put on my mean hat.” While I did eventually embrace the concept, it’s always been a challenge. Making my characters struggle and hurt will always be difficult for me, no matter how comfortable I get wearing my hat.

What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?

I write on a laptop, but I ALWAYS keep close at hand a notebook and far more pens than one person could ever need. I’m constantly jotting down notes as I write: points and potential inconsistencies to review, ideas for subsequent books, etc. When I was writing Life, A.D. I was forever sketching floor plans and city layouts, despite my utter lack of drawing ability.

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

I’d love to have Superman’s speed.

What's the weirdest thing you've googled?

Oh, man, the things I was looking up when writing my short story for Month9Books charity anthology Very Superstitious…I’m surprised the FBI didn’t come knocking on my door. I suppose one of the weirdest things I googled was when I was looking for very specific details of the physical effects of cobra venom.

Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: life, fractured, and zebra.

No zebras were harmed in the making of Life, A.D., but the fractured remains of a life left behind are a recurrent theme.

Do I get bonus points for using life twice?

Sure! ;) Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably ... 

Watching Top Gear with my son.

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

One of the many things I’ve learned through this publishing process is just how many people it takes to make a book a reality. From the support of my husband and son to the encouragement of family and friends, the hard work and selfless dedication of my betas, and the entire publishing team, it really is a group effort. Life, A.D. doesn’t simply reflect my work. It is a collaborative effort of so many. Thank you John and Dominic for always believing in me. Thanks to my friends and my family for being so supportive, especially my mom. A big thanks goes out to Rioghnach and Crystal, my awesome beta readers. My editor Hallie was absolutely amazing, as is the entire staff at Month9Books. Thank you all.

And finally, where can people find you and your books online?

Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | Indiebound
   

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Book Blast: Rook by Stella McDonald

Today we're taking part in the Rook Book Blast. Check out this thrilling tale, and be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post!

Rook

Could you be the monster to save who you love?

Two women, separated by generations, must leave what they know to start a new life. Seventeen-year-old Kate's senior year is ruined when she's moved from the only home she's ever known. After an isolating month alone in her apartment, school starts, but neither her classmates nor her teacher are who they seem. Kali, a single mother living in the nineteenth century wilds of Montana, is stalked by a malicious past. She fights to keep her daughter safe while her freedom is threatened by her less than benevolent benefactor. Both find love, and with it hope, but that is quickly ripped away as one woman must learn the lessons of the other -- before it's too late to save either.

Praise for Rook:

"This book also drew me in. I couldn't let go of what was happening and when life intervened and forced me to close my computer I kept looking for a few moments to sit down and read some more.” Brookeworm, a Blog 4 Stars

"Rook had me hooked from the first page. It all started so mysteriously that I just had to know what it was all about. “ Jannat Bhat, Obsessive Compulsive Reader 4 Stars

“Rook is an amazing story that had me at the edge of my seat.” Tee Loves Kyle Jacobson Blog, 5 Stars



Excerpt

Is that him? Is he back?

My legs jerked, kicking and twitching me around to face the sound. I managed to roll slightly, knocking against a soft, solid object at my feet. It grunted weakly, and immediately I recoiled as though I had been bitten. Squinting, I stared, willing my eyes to find light in the dark, but there was nothing.

The sound of the runner drew closer, as if they would trample me any moment. A dim, swaying light appeared through the trees, burning away the inky edges of the deep shadows. When light and sound were almost upon me, branches above me snapped, spraying me in a shower of dried pine needles and snow.

Tour Schedule

Author Stella MacDonald

Stella is a married graduate student with three boys. Utah is home right now, but the need to wander has extended beyond the fantasy world of writing and into real life. She's lived all around the US and even into the Middle East. The world is really a small place, only made bigger through imagination.







BookBlast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/30/13

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway