Author Interview - M.J. Fifield - Effigy

Hey, gang! Absolutely stoked to be able to bring you a recent sit-down I did with longtime blog friend and debut author, M.J. Fifield. I've known M.J. to be a passionate fan of fantasy fiction, so I can't wait to see how she has carried over that love into her own work.

She has interesting things to say about the female role in fantasy (both as an author and for characters), and her list of influences might surprise you. Let's get to it!

The survival of a once-mighty kingdom rests in the hands of its young queen, Haleine Coileáin, as it slowly succumbs to an ancient evil fueled by her husband’s cruelty.

A sadistic man with a talent for torture and a taste for murder, he is determined to burn the land and all souls within. Haleine is determined to save her kingdom and, after a chance encounter, joins forces with the leader of the people’s rebellion. She gives him her support, soon followed by her heart.

Loving him is inadvertent but becomes as natural and necessary as breathing. She lies and steals on his behalf, doing anything she can to further their cause. She compromises beliefs held all her life, for what life will exist if evil prevails?

Her journey leads to a deceiving world of magic, monsters, and gods she never believed existed outside of myth. The deeper she goes, the more her soul is stripped away, but she continues on, desperate to see her quest complete. If she can bring her husband to ruin and save her people, any sacrifice is worth the price—even if it means her life.

Author Interview, M.J. Fifield

EJ: Effigy sounds like a massively epic fantasy novel (see what I did there?)--full of swords, sorcery, and all the world building trimmings. However, one big thing jumps out at me: Unlike many fantasy series, a strong female protagonist takes the lead here. What/who was your inspiration for Haleine, and how does tackling the genre from a woman's POV alter the 'typical' fantasy experience? (Or does it?)

MJ: Haleine popped into my head one summer and wouldn't get out until I committed to writing her story. I didn't know a lot about her in those early days, but I knew she was queen and that she would work in a sort-of behind-the-scenes capacity to support a rebellion against her husband. She obviously developed more over time. All along, though, I wanted to write a character who was in a position of power, who was expected to be almost an infallible superhuman figurehead, but was very much human—and a flawed one at that. Whether I was at all successful at this remains to be seen, but that's what I set out to do.

And not to be all 'I am woman; hear me roar' or anything, but I like to think that writing a fantasy from a woman's POV doesn't alter the experience at all.

EJ: Part of writing successfully in the fantasy genre (or any genre, really) is being aware of what's been done before. Who are your writing and reading influences? If one of your favorite authors read Effigy, do you think they'd be surprised by anything?

MJ: I read a lot of novels across a lot of genres, and I admire so many authors out there, but I count Ellen Emerson White and Phillipa Gregory as probably my two biggest reading/writing influences.

Ellen Emerson White wrote a YA series about a girl whose mother is elected president that I first came across when I was in middle school. I re-read that series once a year now because it just taught me so much about voice and characters. It was funny and smart, and I've been obsessed with it since I was 12. Fun fact: Ellen Emerson White and I once had a multi-day online conversation about the awesomeness of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Battlestar Galactica. In doing so, I achieved a life goal I didn't know I had.

Phillipa Gregory is a brilliant historical fiction novelist, and every time I pick up one of her books I'm awed by her ability to weave together language in such a intelligent and moving way. Her novel, Wideacre, is an incredibly crazy story in which you spend the entire time wondering how she could possibly end it in a satisfactory manner, but she does so perfectly. Likewise, her novel, The Boleyn Inheritance, is so gorgeously written and put together that it quite literally took my breath away.

If either of them happened to read Effigy, they would probably be most surprised to find that—given the fact they're my influences—Effigy is a fantasy.

EJ: Effigy was a long time in development--which isn't at all unusual for epic fantasy due to the enormous amount of world building involved. What was your greatest challenge during that time, and is there anything you'd tackle differently now that you've survived the experience?

MJ: I think my greatest challenge was probably figuring out what the story was supposed to be, and how I was supposed to tell it. The characters were in my head a long, long time, and it took me a quite few drafts to really work out the right way to tell their tale. Next time, I plan to plan more ahead of time. That doesn't mean the characters will cooperate, because they very seldom do, but I will have tried, at least.

EJ: What about Effigy would translate really well into a film/movie? What wouldn't? Who would you pick to play your main characters?

MJ: Effigy has a lot of human drama—conversations that are meant to be deep and meaningful, a bit of a love story that leads to a couple of sex scenes—that would translate easily onto the screen. There's one character—a tiny, talking pegasus—who would pose more of a challenge. Call the WETA workshop...perhaps it could be an exciting new challenge for Andy Serkis?

As to whom I would cast as my main characters...If I could get the Cate Blanchett who portrayed Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Elizabeth, I would cast her in a heartbeat because she would be so perfect in so many ways. I also adore Rose Leslie (Ygritte in Game of Thrones). Effigy's male lead is a lot harder to cast. I've never really settled on an actor who I think would fit the role. Past considerees, however, have included Joseph Fiennes (1998's Shakespeare in Love and Elizabeth), and Heath Ledger.

EJ: Last and best question: What are your plans for the The Coileáin Chronicles? And how can we get our hands on Effigy and learn more about you?

MJ: If all goes according to plan (ha!), there will be six books in the Coileáin Chronicles. I'm working on the second book,Second Nature, right now. I'm allergic to spoilers and like to avoid them whenever possible, but I will say that the first three novels cover the three Coileáin sisters. The second three will revolve around the next generation of Coileáins. Or is that too much information? If it is, forget I said anything.

There's currently one planned spin-off—if I can figure out how (and when) to write it. I created a character last November whose only name for the longest time was 'Mercenary Guy.' Mercenary Guy (whose real name is now a well-guarded secret) makes his official debut in Second Nature and is now demanding his own spin-off. Since I like him quite a lot, I'm inclined to give in.

Effigy is currently available in paperback and on Kindle at Amazon and Amazon UK. You can also purchase it on CreateSpace. The EPub version should be available soon. I hope.

About M.J.

Armed with a deep and lasting love of chocolate, purple pens, and medieval weaponry, M.J. Fifield is nothing if not a uniquely supplied insomniac. When she isn’t writing, she’s on the hunt for oversized baked goods or shiny new daggers. M.J. lives with a variety of furry creatures—mostly pets—in New Hampshire.

Where to find M.J.

Website: http://www.mjfifield.com/ 

Blog: http://mjfifield.blogspot.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Fifield/283392701681234 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MJSaysWhat Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/MJFifield

Purchase Effigy 

Amazon

Amazon UK

CreateSpace 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview: Historical Romance Author Melissa Maygrove

Hey, gang! Absolutely thrilled to share an interview I did recently with one of THE coolest writers on the block. Melissa Maygrove recently self-published her first book, Come Back. It's historical romance, and I was privileged to be able to beta read for M.

I say privileged, because Melissa is truly a wonderful writer, and she got me invested in a genre of story I normally wouldn't touch with a Texas-sized pole! 

How did she do it? How did she navigate the choppy indie waters on her own? Does she have tips for anyone else considering the plunge? Let's find out!

Interview: Come Back Author, Melissa Maygrove

EJ: We're about a month into the release of Come Back. This was your first publication, which you handled yourself. What are two things you wished you'd done differently going in? Two things you did right?

MM: I gave a detailed list in a guest post titled Woulda Shoulda Coulda, so I'll choose my top two glad-I-did's and regrets. First, the regrets.

I wish I...

Would have searched for stock images sooner. That was far more time consuming than I thought it would be--especially for a historical.

Would have learned more about the publishing industry sooner. I managed to find my way, but some of it was dumb luck.

I'm glad I... 

Hired out the graphics and formatting. It cost me a couple of extra shifts at work, but it was soooo worth it. 

Took time to learn the craft before putting my work out there. We can't and won't please everyone, but we don't get a second chance to make a first impression.

EJ: You sold me on Come Back as a beta reader, and I'm not remotely your target audience. (It being Historical Romance, and me being the reader of all things NOT Historical Romance.) What's the secret ingredient to telling an accessible story that will appeal to fans across genres?

MM: I'm not really sure, but betas have told me that about all three MSs (Come Back is my third). I guess it's because at the heart of the story are people wanting to be loved and accepted, and them struggling to find safety and happiness. That's something we all can relate to. 

EJ: I know you labored over which publishing path best suited you for a while. Was self-publishing everything you thought it would be? What would you say to another writer trying to make a similar decision?

MM: Re: publishing path... Yes, I did. Though, when I was honest with myself, I knew deep down indie was the way for me.

Was it everything I thought it would be? For the most part, yes. Some things were more difficult than I'd anticipated, but others were easier.

My advice to other writers: Spend plenty of time in the writing world before you even THINK about making a decision. Don't be in a hurry to self-publish and don't be in a rush to query either. Be a fly on the wall and watch and listen. Get your work critiqued by writers who are more experienced than you, then don your rhino skin and LISTEN to what they have to say. Be open and teachable. Keep learning and practicing until you're sure you're ready.

It doesn't matter which publishing path you choose if you jump the gun and put an inferior product out there. Rejection hurts, no matter whether it comes from publishers or readers.

EJ: Like many of us, I know you want to tell many different types of stories. (Paranormal, historical, etc.) However, I saw on your blog that you're committing to writing more in the historical romance genre to meet fan expectations. How important do you think establishing a brand or identity is to a beginning author trying to grow and maintain a fan base, and would you view it differently if you hadn't had as much initial success?

MM: The quick and unexpected success of Come Back had a big impact on my choice of genre for the next book. As I said in the post you mentioned, I'd been so busy with all the tasks of editing and publishing, I hadn't given enough thought to how the genre of my debut would brand me. 

Had my debut fizzled like a firework dud, I doubt it would matter what I wrote next. As it is, I have fans begging me for another book. So, yes, I would advise authors to consider carefully what genre they choose for their debut.

EJ: As always, here are the most important questions: Where do we find out more about you and get our hands on Come Back?

ABOUT COME BACK

Sometimes a single choice alters the course of a person's life forever.

Left behind by everyone she loves...
Rebecca Garvey had the promise of a California future dreams are made of, until the wagon train her family was traveling with left her behind. Now she’s slowly dying in the wilderness, abandoned and stripped of her self-worth. Once the shock of her desertion turns to embittered despair, she doesn’t want to be found. Then a handsome stranger challenges her convictions and changes her mind. 

Headed for Texas, chased by the demons of his past...
Seth Emerson knows exactly what he wants. Working to save for a cattle ranch of his own keeps him busy and keeps his pain buried. Rescuing a stubborn woman from the hills of New Mexico Territory isn’t part of his plan—but she’s exactly what he needs. 

Making greater sacrifices than either of them could foresee...
Seth and Rebecca set off on a risky journey and a quest for truth, each healing the other’s love-starved soul along the way. Will they give in to their growing attraction? Or will they honor their commitments when Seth returns Rebecca to civilization... and her betrothed?

Where to buy Come Back:

Amazon / Kindle / Barnes & Noble / Nook / Kobo 

Come Back on Goodreads.

ABOUT MELISSA

Native Texan Melissa Maygrove is a wife, mother, nurse, freelance editor, and romance writer. When she's not busy caring for her tiny nursery patients or shuttling teenagers back and forth to after-school activities, she's hunched over her laptop, complicating the lives of her imaginary friends and playing matchmaker. Melissa loves books with unpretentious characters and unforgettable romance, and she strives to create those same kinds of stories for her readers.

Where to find Melissa:

Website / Blog / Twitter @MelissaMaygrove / Facebook / Google+/ Goodreads

For autographs, I use Authorgraph.

Children of Shadows Author Interview

Hey, gang! Very pleased to be bringing you today's interview with author Joleene Naylor. Jo is a friend and a very talented lady to boot. She runs a cover design business as well as being a fantastic author, and she does a lot of her own artwork for her promotional items.

Here are some trading cards she designed for her series--

Super cool, right?! Jo is giving away a set of these as a prize in her blog tour contest, so be sure to sign up at the end of the interview!

I recently caught up with her to talk about the latest book in her Amaranthine vampire saga, Children of Shadows. Here's what she had to say!

EJ - Okay, true confession time: I JUST watched Interview With A Vampire for the first time (literally last weekend). Loved the dark, sophisticated, sexy, and gritty way it portrayed vampires, and it made me realize just how much modern pop culture has influenced those stories (not necessarily in a cool way--looking at you sparkly, emo fangers smh). ANYWAY, your Amaranthine series definitely seems like a throwback to a darker type of vampire story, and it had me wondering:

What were your vampire influences, and are you treading any new ground? Or is this series a serious throwback to our favorite night stalkers of yore?

Jo - I’m afraid my vampires have very little in common with the Edward Cullen’s of the world. They don’t go in the sunlight. (This is one of the few “cons” to being a vampire, and I think taking it away just makes vampires too strong – like writing an all powerful character that has no weakness.) They don’t go to high school, they fight, they kill, and even the heroes have been caught drinking human blood. They’re brutal and for the most part unapologetic for it. I’ve actually gotten complaints about it. If I had to pick something to compare it to, the movie version of Interview with the Vampire would actually be the closest. (I think the movie has a much darker tone than the book does.)

At the same time, my vampires are inhabiting the human world – our world – and sometimes they have to play by our rules. In Children of Shadows they travel across Europe, but they have to find ways around customs. They have to deal with police officers. There are consequences for their actions, especially for Katelina, the resident human. In the early books when she first leaves with Jorick she loses her job. She loses her apartment. Her mother reports her missing to the police. There’s no fairytale sunset where all their problems just go away. And nobody flies.

EJ - Children of Shadows is the sixth (!) book in the Amaranthine series--which is HUGE. I'm nearing the sixth story in my Moonsongs series, and they are short, so I've had a small taste of how difficult it can be to keep creating within the same universe. At this point (and probably after just the third story), for me it is purely love for the characters that keeps me writing that series.

What keeps pulling you back into Amaranthine? Do you have an endgame in mind, or is this going to be a series that grows until you no longer have anything to say?

Jo - I rarely know what’s going to happen. Children of Shadows was almost as surprising to me as to the readers, so I don’t really have a specific goal in mind, other than to write them until I run out of anything to do with them, or am so sick of them I want them to die. And even then I have so many interesting side characters and back stories that I could drop Katelina and Jorick and concentrate on those for years.

Part of my thinking comes from my own reading habits. I used to read Anne Rice’s vampire books – but only her vampire books. I never bothered with anything else she did. And when she came out with the non-Lestat vampire series, I skipped that, too. I liked the original core characters and their universe – they were why I read her books. Not for her prose, or her imagination, or for her, but for Lestat. It’s the same with JK Rowling. I loved the Harry Potter universe, but I haven’t read any of her other work. Tolkien had it right, I think. Almost everything he wrote, no matter how vastly different, fit into one universe, and so for a fan of the universe, you want to have them all. There’s a certain satisfaction in connecting the dots from one story to another, in seeing how an event on one story inadvertently shaped an event in someone else’s story.

EJ - Do you think vampire stories simply lend themselves to a long series? (They kind of go on un-living forever! LOL) And tell us a little bit about how you've fleshed out these eternal characters and their universe. (I know you've created spinoffs, trading cards, etc.)

Jo - Vampires are actually a branch of the fantasy genre, whether fantasy fans want to own up to that or not, and I think anything under that umbrella calls for at least a few books. Aside from the novels, there are a couple of free supplements. There is a mini prologue collection which goes along with Heart of the Raven, and then Tales from the Island is six short stories that fill in the gap between Heart of the Raven and Children of Shadows. I mentioned side characters in the last question, and I’ve done quite a bit with those as well. I have a short story collection called Vampire Morsels that’s made of seventeen short stories, each about different side characters from the first two books, and I’ve started Tales of the Executioners (The first story, Aine, is free right now on Smashwords, etc.) which will be a collection of short stories about the Executioners, the vampire’s elite police force. The trading cards are actually of the Executioners. I made them for the Ashes of Deceit (book four) release and found an extra set hiding out when we moved this summer, so it seemed a good time to dust them off and throw them in the Children of Shadows giveaway.
EJ - Most folks who follow my blog are other writers, do you have any tips or tools you could share for helping keep things straight when writing a series? I can't imagine the character timelines you've established over six books alone! :)

Jo - Yeah, there is a lot to keep track of. I’m sure I could use some really awesome software, but instead I just have a word document that is about 200 pages long and organized like an encyclopedia with alphabetized entries. Everything from individual vampires, to place descriptions, timelines, the rules of my universe, and more. So if I want to look up what Adam looked like, or who used to belong to Oren’s coven, or just when Jorick got arrested for kidnapping, I can scroll through my “navigation pane” and click on the appropriate heading. I’m actually considering making an Amaranthine Encyclopedia one of these days.

EJ - Last one! Why do we need to dive (bite?) into the Amaranthine universe, and what makes Children of Shadows the best yet in the series? Also, how can we find you and your books? (This is where I'll insert all of the bio info, links, etc you sent.)

Jo - Sharon Stogner, reviewer for I Smell Sheep, hit the nail on the head with what I was trying for with the series when she said, “It is a different look at what it would be like to be in love with a vampire. More realistic.” Children of Shadows is another dose of reality tinted, action packed excitement that sees the continuation of an evil master’s plans and the resurfacing of an extinct vampire cult that wants to wipe out the world.

The sixth installment of the Amaranthine series pulsates with the dark blood of vampire lore.

The Children of Shadows, a vampire cult not seen for hundreds of years, resurfaces to wage war on the vampire guilds. Led by a familiar face, the cult wreaks havoc while Katelina and Jorick are trapped in Munich. Ume, a mysterious vampiress, claims to know Verchiel and offers the help of her secret organization. But can they trust her?

As mysteries are solved, new ones appear. Why have the Children of Shadows returned, and is it really a former ally that leads them, or a look-alike? Legends rise and secrets are revealed in a world where vampires walk, drenched in blood and shadows. Though it is part of a series, each book is written so that you can pick the series up at any time and dive – or bite – right in. 

An independent author, freelance artist, and photographer for fun who loves anime, music, and writing. Check out my vampire series Amaranthine at http://JoleeneNaylor.com or drop me a line at Joleene@JoleeneNaylor.com

Facebook – Blog - Pinterest - Twitter

Get Your copy of Children of shadows: Amazon – Barnes & Noble – Smashwords – Apple iBooks – Paperback

And be sure to hop over and enter the giveaway! 

Click For Clicks! 5 Questions With Author Amy Evans

Hey, gang! I'm sharing an interview I did recently with author Amy Evans with you today. Her book, Clicks, is a surfing adventure, a love story, an ode to dolphins, and so much more. Think you'll really dig learning about it.

A couple of quick news things first...

First, I wanted to mention that Camp New Adult is still chugging along, and this week we've got a Scrivener guru in the forums to take and answer questions. Her name is Kat, she's super helpful, and uses Scrivener in a lot of cool and different ways to help her writing process. 

So if you have questions about the software, or maybe even tips to share with others, be sure to jump over and check it out. Logging in to comment is as simple as using your Facebook, Twitter, or Google accounts. You can do so, HERE.

And you might even bump into today's guest author or me over there. :)

Second, I wanted to give a shout out to my pal Carrie Butler, who is re-releasing her book, Strength (which I've featured here on this blog), as an independently published book. 

She lost her reviews and sales ranking because of the transition, not to mention she's had to learn all the ins and outs of DIY publishing--all in a short amount of time. Furthermore, the sequel to Strength will be hitting the streets in just a couple of months.

So, to help kickstart things and celebrate the new direction in her career, Carrie is offering up Strength for .99 cents for a limited time. She was featured on this week's W4WS, so you may have already pitched in.

If you haven't, I know many of my followers here are Indies, and you know how steep the learning curve can be. So if you can, please consider jumping over to Amazon and downloading Strength. It'll cost you less than your next soda and be so much sweeter. :)

5 Questions With Amy Evans, Author of Clicks

EJ: "Born and bred to win, sixteen-year-old Cami's family expects her to join a secret society called The Guard, marry one of the two identical twin boys next door, and stay on Pinhold Island for the rest of her life. But she has other plans: work beach patrol, win the Surf Carnival and leave Pinhold to compete in international surf rescue competitions and see the world."

That's the blurb for Clicks. It sounds a little bit fantasy, a little bit sporty, a little bit The O.C., and a LOT awesome! So, which is it? 

AMY: Clicks is a coming of age story about a girl who takes her home and family for granted until they are threatened.

EJ: Clicks sounds like a beach goer's dream read. Where'd you draw your inspiration for the story from? Was it long days stuck inside dreaming about the beach, or long days AT the beach? :)

AMY: Long days at the beach actually. I wanted to spend even more time there, so I wrote about it.

EJ: There seems to be a strong environmental theme in Clicks. Is that something you're passionate about? Is there anything you hope readers will take away from the story?

AMY: The environmental theme Clicks grew from my obsession with dolphins and my real fear that the damage to our environment and oceans has become irreversable. I wanted the story to be accessible for people younger than me, to help them grow up with an interest in protecting the ocean.

EJ: Clicks is a self-professed coming of age story--an experience that is often sometimes sweet, and sometimes bitter. Why do we want to go on that ride with Cami (the heroine of Clicks)?

AMY: Cami gets to do really fun things - lots of swimming with dolphins and surfing and kissing. She's a reluctant hero who is content to sit back and wait for others to solve problems until her twin Mica is in danger. It's only when pressed that she embraces her natural strength and her instincts, which is the key: listen to that voice that's inside you because you are the only one who can.

EJ: Our favorite question here at The Open Vein! Why should Clicks be our end-of-summer read, and where can we snag a copy? (links to book, websites, author stuff will go here).

AMY: Because everyone wants to hold on to summer as long as you can. And no one ever gets enough time at the beach. And did I mention the hot lifeguards?

Here's where you can find me an Clicks!

AMY
Website
Author Facebook
Tumblr
Twitter
Author Goodreads
Pinterest

CLICKS (EJ NOTE: Also only .99 cents!)

Goodreads 

Amazon

B&N

iBooks

Welcome To Werewolf College, Where Dorm Living REALLY Bites

Hey, gang! Very excited to bring you an interview today with Scarlet Dawn, author of the brand-spanking-new fantasy novel, King Hall.

The premise for this one is insanely cool, so you'll definitely want to check out Scarlet's thoughts and motivations on writing it.

But first, I wanted to mention that the fine folks behind the Authors For Oklahoma disaster relief fundraiser are still taking donations and entries for the book bundles they're offering up. The proceeds will go to help those still cleaning up after the Oklahoma tornadoes earlier this summer (yes, they're still at it, and lots of people still do not have their homes back). By donating, you'll also be entered for a chance to win one of several book bundles that were donated to the group by various authors. 

You can check all of the details, and help, HERE.

Now for the interview...

EJ: "King Hall — where the Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees, and transition into adulthood. And where four new Rulers will rise and meet their destinies."

Okay, not going to lie, this sounds AMAZING! Reading the entire blurb, it's like Harry Potter meets the X Men meets The Hunger Games (all the revolution talk)--tell us how you came up with the concept.

SD: My inspiration came from another story I had started writing. I knew I was on the verge of something wonderful, but that original story just wasn’t good enough.

Blank page. I started over, twisting characters, the story…BAM!

King Hall was written.

EJ: So King Hall is VERY paranormal. We've got Shifters, Vampires, Mages, Elementals--you name it. Being completely honest, it seems like everything paranormal has been done to death by this point. How did you keep KH fresh? Conversely, what (if any) paranormals inspired you?

SD: You’re right. Paranormal has been done to death.

When I created King Hall, I did so with a clear idea that I was going to make these fantasy beings as I wanted them. No preconceived notions as to what a Vampire, Shifter, Mage, or Elemental was. That’s the beauty of writing…you can make it whatever you want to. 

I did that. These beings aren’t your typical paranormal/fantasy characters.

I let my imagination fly.

EJ: KH is New Adult... *claps hands together* WE LOVE NEW ADULT HERE AT THE OPEN VEIN BLOG! *stares sternly at audience until they nod in agreement* How'd you find the NA category, and how does KH fit into the New Adult scene?

SD: I love New Adult, though my reason is lengthy…

I adore the chaos that derives from even the simplest action a “new adult” takes, every step a minefield of individuality. But when I wrote King Hall a few years ago, I didn’t know anything about the “label”. I just wrote what I wanted, what stories came to me. This particular series really took hold, and I kept writing.

And writing…

Until I was done.

Even after writing the last sentence of the last book, I still knew nothing about New Adult. A few months later, when I started investigating on how to query, I read an article on NA. It fit. It was that easy for me. If it quacks like a duck, looks like a duck, then it’s most likely a duck. Same for The Forever Evermore series.

That said, I probably could have labeled this particular novel, King Hall, as upper YA (even though their ages are 19-22), but I had to think about the entire series as a whole. I didn’t want kiddies to get hooked on book one, only to have their minds blown by the erotic content of future books. I’m a mother of three wonderful teenagers, and while I’ve allowed them to read sections of King Hall, I would never allow them to read the entirety of the other books. It just gets too hawt for young minds. I was thinking about, not only my children, but other parents’ kids as well.

So, long story short, the New Adult genre fit. It’s where my writing-love is.

EJ NOTE: I hear this a lot from writers exploring NA: The content/story just outgrew YA, and I'm thrilled there's something that allows me to explore that now. Go New Adult go! :D

EJ: Lily, King Hall's heroine, seems like the, "I really want to be left alone and read my boo--oh hell, I've got to go save the world" sort. Can you tell us about some of the challenges she faces as a character (inward/outward)? Also, what's her biggest fear/greatest strength?

SD: You’ve nailed Lily on the head with your description.

Lily has been “hiding” within the Commoner world for her entire life until tragedy strikes, and her sadistic uncle tosses her into the most prestigious Mystical school in the world. You see, Lily’s a hybrid. Half Shifter/half Vampire. She should have been slaughtered at birth by the Executioner…

It’s easy to say her biggest fear is being “found out”, but by the end of this tale, there’s a new overwhelming fear. The Revolution.

EJ: Our favorite question here at the Open Vein! Where/when can we get our paws (shifter joke!) on King Hall, and where can we find you on the web?

SD: King Hall has just recently released! I feel so humbled by the response it has already received…becoming an international bestseller. My heart simply glows hearing all of the fabulous reviews.

King Hall can be purchased here:

Amazon
Amazon.uk

Amazon.ca

Amazon.de

Amazon.in 
Amazon.jp 
Barnes & Noble
iBookstore
eBooks 
booktopia  
Lybrary

Diesel eBook

Manic Readers

JB HI-FI NOW Books

All Romance

Escape Publishing 
Kobo

Meet Scarlet Dawn!
Facebook 
Twitter
Goodreads

Blinded By Science... Or Fate?

Hey, gang! As promised, here's the second of this week's book announcements from good friends and awesome authors. :)

Today, we've got an interview with Jeff Beesler, author of Optical Osmosis. This is one fantastic sounding story, and it's cut from some VERY Stephen King-esque concepts--which you know thrills the heck out of me! (And how's this for an epic cover?!)

EJ ~ "When an accident involving sunlight and a telescope alters Greg’s vision, he suddenly finds himself with a strange new ability that drains psychic fragments of a person’s soul from their body, killing his victim in the process."

That's the tagline from Optical Osmosis... Holy FRAK JB, that's some gritty sounding goodness right there! Other than from the bowels of your dark, dark mind ;), where did the concept for this story come from? Is this the darkest material you've created yet?

JB ~ I actually wanted to write it as a superhero story, creating a character with powers that were a hybrid of the X-Men Rogue and Cyclops. What I wound up with was a darker, and infinitely better, story once I toned down the unnecessary superhero tropes that the original plotline called for.

EJ ~ Optical Osmosis is clearly born of some serious sci-fi & horror influences. Tell us about what drew you to writing speculative fiction (one of Jeff's earlier works, Spell of Entrapment, is fantasy). Who were your influences, favorite stories, etc.

JB ~ My strongest influence has to be the Saturday Morning Cartoons of the 1980's. Don't get me wrong. King and Koontz and all the rest of them are there, but nothing is as scary as seeing your cute little blue smurf friends turn into purple, monstrous versions of themselves. The episode of the Smurfs called The Purple Smurfs instilled in me a strange fascination with horror. I didn't realize this at the time of course. I was only a kid who was terrified of losing his Smurf pals to some stupid fly bite.

EJ ~ At the heart of most every good story I've read is a relationship. A side plot to Osmosis is the possibly troubled relationship between Greg (the protagonist) and his sister. What kinds of things were you looking to explore with them in terms of developing Greg's character?

JB ~ I wanted Greg to find a way to help his sister out without feeling like he was enabling her problems by giving her money or letting her harp on him 24/7. I wanted him to see that his sister is far from perfect and that sometimes a call out of the blue might actually be a serious cry for help. Most importantly, I wanted him to learn how to forgive himself and others.

EJ ~ Time for an inside scoop: Is Osmosis a super hero type of story where his "powers" might be able to be used for good, or is this guy just screwed for life? (We need to know... for reasons. :)

JB ~ Oh, he's definitely screwed. The Osmosis thing does some really weird stuff to the souls it drains, where they become much darker and nastier than they ever were in life.
EJ ~ Last questions, but certainly most important: Why should we bump Optical Osmosis to the top of our TBR lists, and where can we get it?

JB ~ The thing about Optical Osmosis is that it's meant to be a literary joyride, where you can throw caution to the wind vicariously through Greg and let someone else worry about the blasted consequences for a short while. This book is totally about the escapism, although you may learn a thing or two about telescopes or psychic imprints along the way.

As for where you might find it, you can go here...

Amazon
B&N
Smashwords

Born in May of 1978, Jeff Beesler has been writing since the 7th grade, although he likes to point out that his elementary teachers in 2nd to 6th grades kept sending him to Young Author’s Conferences throughout his school district. When not writing, he can be found chatting it up on social media, reading books, or playing computer games.

Where to find me:
Blog
Twitter @JeffBeesler
Facebook

The Faerie Prince Tour & Interview

Hey, gang! Those of you looking for my IWSG post, please check back on Friday. Today, I'm honored to be hosting author Rachel Morgan in celebration of her newest Creepy Hollow book, The Faire Prince.

Rachel and I recently sat down for an interview, but first, a little about The Faire Prince:

Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale is just weeks away from one of the most important occasions of her life: graduation. After messing up big time by bringing a human into the fae realm, Vi needs to step up her game and forget about Nate if she hopes to graduate as the top guardian of her year. Everything would be fine if she wasn’t forced to partner with Ryn, her ex-friend, ex-enemy, current ‘sort of friend’. They might be trying to patch up their relationship, but does she really want to spend a week undercover with him for their final assignment? On top of that, the possibly insane Unseelie Prince is still on the loose, free to ‘collect’ as many specially talented faeries as he can find—and Vi is still at the top of his list. Add in faerie queens, enchanted storms, complicated not-just-friends feelings, and a murder within the Guild itself, and graduation is about to become the least of Vi’s problems.

Purchase The Faerie Prince

Amazon US - Amazon UK - Barnes & Noble - Apple iBookstore - CreateSpace print 

Sounds fantastic, right? Let's see what Rachel has to say about it. :)

EJ: The Faerie Prince is the second book in the Creepy Hollow series. What's the inspiration for the series, and more importantly, how'd you come up with the rocking series title? (Seriously, Creepy Hollow is one of THE coolest series titles I've ever seen.)

RM: I REALLY wish I had an exciting answer for you, but, honestly, the name Creepy Hollow just appeared in my head one day! So it was more about picking the right story (from the tons of stories that zoom around my head all the time) to fit the name, rather than having a story idea first and having to think of a name for it. So I suppose you could say the inspiration for the series was the name itself!

EJ: I read that you intended the series to be several novellas originally, but decided to condense them down into 3, full-length books. What inspired that decision? Were there any challenges in changing the format you didn't expect?

RM: You know how a vision changes along the way? That happened for me! I’d first envisaged this series like a TV series, with shorter individual stories (different assignments for Vi) that all linked up with one overarching theme (one main villain with one big plot). But ... I’ve always been a fan of novels, and that started to show through as I was writing the first novellas. They kept getting longer, and the later ones (that are now in The Faerie Prince) were more closely linked than individual “episodes” should be. I decided in the end that Creepy Hollow would work better as a trilogy of novels.

The challenge in changing the format was that some people who’d read the earlier novellas were confused about whether The Faerie Guardian was a new book, or whether it was the same stuff they’d already read. (It was the same, but with some bonus chapters at the end)

EJ: You're doing a blogfest with the book release where people are asked to share their favorite faerie tale prince or hero. (Can mine be a princess? If so, I choose Merida from Brave. If no, I choose Beast from Beauty & the Beast. He's just the kind of flawed and grumpy/angry protagonist I can get behind. :) ANYWAY, why do you think the prince or princess trope (totally not a negative word here--just means it WORKS) in fantasy is so compelling for readers & writers? (We clearly can't get enough of them. Or at least I can't! LOL)

RM: Yes, yours can be a princess, and Merida is an excellent choice! I think there’s something enticing about royalty, probably because most of us are NOT royal and won’t ever marry anyone who is! The idea of princes and princesses speaks to us of fairy tales and happily-ever-afters and adventure and magical worlds where heroic deeds are performed and no matter how many dark clouds and fire-breathing dragons show up, everything always works out in the end. (FYI – this is NOT what you’re going to get in The Faerie Prince!)

EJ: Last GREAT book you read? Most anticipated summer movie? Must-listen-to-weekly (or daily) music or band?

RM: I read a lot and enjoy a lot, but the last really GREAT book (in my opinion) was Insurgent by Veronica Roth (which means I haven’t read a truly great book in about a year!). Most anticipated move of the YEAR for me is City of Bones (I adored the book, and I really hope they don’t “mess up” the movie!). Music ... hmm, that changes all the time. If we make it more general, on a weekly basis I have to listen to some kind of epic, inspirational movie score. It helps the writing ;-)

EJ: Last question! Why are fans of YA Fantasy going to love the Creepy Hollow books? 

RM: The Creepy Hollow books are not just another fairy tale. They have unique modern twists that I think readers will enjoy. There’s also the fast pace, the adventure, the ‘swoonworthy romance’ (quote from a review of the second book!) and the twists you’ll never see coming ;-) Readers have said you should check out Creepy Hollow if you’ve enjoyed Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely series and Aprilynne Pike’s Wings series.

EJ: Thanks for hanging out, Rachel! I think The Faire Prince is going to be a smash for sure.

Read below to learn more about Rachel and the Creepy Hollow books. There's also a cool giveaway with the launch (Raflecopter below the post), so be sure to enter!

Rachel Morgan was born in South Africa and spent a large portion of her childhood living in a fantasy land of her own making. After completing a degree in genetics, she decided science wasn’t for her—after all, they didn’t approve of made-up facts. These days she spends much of her time immersed in fantasy land once more, writing fiction for young adults.

The Creepy Hollow Series

Amazon | Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Book Trailer | Pinterest

Rachel's Links

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest

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State of Emergency by Summer Lane

Hey gang! It's my week for new book releases. :-) Today I'm bringing you an interview with author Summer Lane, who's latest, State of Emergency, just hit shelves. It sounds like a fabulous read, and Summer is a real sweetheart of a person, so I hope you'll join me in welcoming her to the blog.

Also, there's a giveaway with the release, so be sure to check the bottom of the post for details on how you can maybe win stuff.

EJ (Me): I've seen from your bio that you teach writing. What ages have you taught, and what led you to teaching? (I've an education background and am always fascinated by what draws people there ... definitely a calling. :) 

Summer Lane (SL): I work with 2nd and 3rd graders. I’ve always wanted to share the concept of storytelling with the little ones, so when I get an opportunity to do so, I jump right in! I always used to “teach” my little brother about writing and history (my favorite subjects growing up), so maybe that’s where the interest in working with children came from: Making my brother sit and listen to my lectures.

Me: State of Emergency is all about the dystopian-Armageddon-survival. But you've weaved some romance in there. Any particular motivation for writing a story about finding love in chaos? 

SL: I think it’s the best kind! J I love reading books that have romantic elements, so it was only natural that my novel have a little bit of it, too. I wanted something outside the normal romance story – not just two beautiful people falling in love at first sight. I wanted two strong, independent people to find each other and fall in love progressively. I wanted them to be together not only because they need each other, but because they want to be together, and their love for each other isn’t just based on physical attraction (although that helps!). It’s based on respect and trust gained over time.

Me: Random Question Time: BOOM! You wake up tomorrow and the world has gone to hell. You get to pick three things to take with you from your home, then it's get out of Dodge time. What are they?

SL: My Go-Bag (yes, I really have an emergency bug-out bag!), canned food and a pack of bottled water. My Go-Bag would have all the necessary items for bugging out in the case of an emergency; matches, a jacket, socks, first aid kit, radio, tools, etc. Maybe something sentimental you want to save from being left behind (I’m the type of person to toss the waterproof matches in favor of a childhood stuffed animal…really.) 

Me: Most of my followers are writers, so they'll be interested in the book you published in 2012, Snappy Social Networking. Tell us a little about it, and can you offer a couple (or more) 'must do' tips for being better at being social? 

SL: Snappy Social Networking is basically a book that’s meant to help people jump right into the world of social media without getting stressed out. I was definitely stressed out at first, so after I learned the basics, I wrote a book about it and divided it into three sections for the “newbie:” Twitter, Facebook and Blogging. It’s less than 30 pages long. If I had any one tip to offer about being successful on social media, it would be to keep up a consistent presence online. People have short memories when it comes to the online world, and constantly being out there is your key to success.

Me: You've a passion for New Adult (NA) literature. (As do I!) Why do you support the category, and where do you see it going in 2013? Also, where do your writing ambitions fit in?

SL: Yes, I totally have a passion for NA! I support the category because it fills the gap that no other categories of books do: the age between full adulthood and the High School years. I think NA is really taking off in 2013 – I’ve seen so many NYT bestsellers begin to be classified as “New Adult” on publisher’s websites, to that’s definitely encouraging. As a writer, I love New Adult just as much as I love Young Adult, but I identify with NA more only because I actually am a “New Adult,” fitting into the age range of under 30 but way past High School.

State of Emergency is New Adult. My main protagonist, Cassidy, is 19 years old. She’s an adult, but she’s still got quite a bit of naivety going on. The supporting character/love interest, Chris, is in his late twenties and considerably more mature than she is. The themes in the book – surviving independently, being separated from family, etc. – are all New Adult themes. But I also recommend the book to YA readers, as well, because I wanted a novel that both age ranges could enjoy equally. 

Me: Now for the good stuff, where and when can we get State of Emergency! 

SL: Well, you can purchase State of Emergency on Amazon & Barnes & Noble!

Cassidy Hart is your typical High School graduate: A little shy, a little sarcastic, and a little naive. But when an electromagnetic pulse takes down the United States, she's forced to kick into full survival mode when she gets separated from her father.

Yeah. Things suck.

But with the help of a handsome soldier named Chris, she just might find her dad without getting into serious trouble.

Emphasis on might.

Oh. And there's the matter of avoiding getting killed in a world that's quickly turned into an active war zone.

It's going to change Cassidy's life. It's going to be a major pain in the butt.

Summer Lane is the author of the YA/NA Dystopian Romance, State of Emergency. She is a freelance writer, editor and lover of all things feline. Summer is also the author of Snappy Social Networking: How to Dominate the Blogosphere & Everything in Between. In her spare time, Summer is the creator of the online magazine/blog, Writing Belle, in addition to being a frequent contributor at NA Alley, a website dedicated to all things New Adult. 

Summer began writing when she was 13 years old, due to the fact that the long afternoons after school were somewhat boring, and writing stories seemed to make the time pass a little quicker. Since then she has written many books about jungle cats, secret agents, princesses and spaceships. She is also a non-fiction writer, but her debut novel, State of Emergency, is her favorite book yet. You can find Summer hopping around on the Internet by following her on her blog, Twitter @SummerEllenLane, or on Facebook: Writing Belle.

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Author Interview With Libby Heily

Hey gang! Today I'm extremely honored to share my blog with author Libby Heily. She's a dedicated writer and a true up-and-coming talent. Her new book, Tough Girl, is out now. I've read it, and it's different and wonderful. 

Here's my Goodreads review:

"A fearless author needs fearless readers...

Tough Girl is harsh ... and sweet ... and gritty ... and endearing. It truly is all of those things, which is no small thing for a single book to accomplish. The story of a young girl (Reggie) and her imaginary guardian, Tough Girl, is a--at times--brutal examination of the isolation and hopelessness brought about by mental illness, bullying, and poverty. The author does a wonderful job of making the reader both admire and pity Reggie by fearlessly examining the realities of her world, and juxtaposing it against the beauty and power of a child's imagination.

Ultimately, Tough Girl will be a difficult read for many people. It pulls no punches, and doesn't apologize for making you squirm--and it will make you squirm, or should. Tough Girl feels real and raw, because for many the torment Reggie experiences IS very real. However, if you are a fearless reader who doesn't shy from the bright lights of self-examination, and the often hard truths of human nature, I think you'll find Tough Girl to be an excellent and worthwhile read."

As you can see, I loved it. I hope the following interview lets you get to know Libby a little better, and also encourages you to connect with her. She's a cool person, a talented woman, and you won't regret it a bit.

And on top of all that, today is her birthday! So be sure to wish her a happy one in the comments. :-)

Author Interview: Libby Heily

E.J. (Me): Tough Girl is a unique take on some (unfortunately) timeless social issues like bullying and poverty—what was your inspiration for writing it?

Libby Heily (LH): Reggie's story grew from the seed of a very basic idea, a girl escapes into a dream world. The actual issues explored came slowly over time as I got to know the story better. The closer I grew to Reggie, the more I was able to delve into the problems Reggie was facing. The piece was definitely informed from Dale City itself. 

Dale City is the town Tough Girl takes place in, and it's also my hometown. For instance, in one year, I had three run ins with three separate people who should have either been institutionalized or at least should have been receiving consistent psychological care. At least one of them was the sole guardian of a child. The Apartments were also a real place, though they were depicted less like they are in reality and more like the inhabitants of the surrounding neighborhoods feared them to be. 

As for bullying, I think you only need to go to school to do research on that issue.

Me: I was very fascinated by the interplay of genres you used in Tough Girl. Reggie’s tale is almost contemporary fiction, and Tough Girl’s story is Sci-fi-ish. Why those two, and what were the challenges of mingling the two?

LH: When I set out to write Tough Girl, I didn't really know I was going to be delving into both genres. The contemporary fiction of Reggie's life was deliberate. I drew on my experience with (both viewing and shooting) independent films to tell that half of the story. There's a starkness to smaller budget films, mostly from necessity. The lack of flashy effects, super high production values, or scene-chewing actors really makes the audience focus on the story and the characters. I kept that style and that focus as the goal for Reggie's reality.

Once I got into the story, I realized that while I could go over a few of Reggie's thoughts and emotions, there was no easy way to explain her to a reader. Reggie is eleven and she is trying to understand the world around her. She is extremely guarded about her physical and her emotional safety. I knew pretty early on that I had to show her dream world and not just the character of Tough Girl. 

Science fiction, which is actually a pretty new genre for me, provided a wonderful escape for Reggie. There is safety in the realm of sci-fi. Reggie can process her own world by creating similar situations on different planets and she can have adventures that are not tinged by reality. For a kid whose reality is definitely depressing, a dream world full of wonders and possibilities just made sense. 

Me: Reggie’s character is middle-grade aged. However, after reading the story, I’m not sure I’d classify Tough Girl as Middle Grade lit—or that it is perhaps more mature than most of the MG I’ve read. As the author, how would you classify it?

LH: Definitely not MG. I even put a warning on the sales copy that the novel contains adult themes and adult language. I feel it's better fit for contemporary fiction or for a sub-genre I'm not positive exists: contemporary young adult fiction. 

High school students are concurrently reading Jane Eyre and Twilight. There are these huge swings from high school curriculum and what teens are picking up to read in their spare time. I think there's a middle ground there that can be explored. My hope is that this middle ground is where Tough Girl lives.

Me: What’s your writing process like? Specifically, what was it like for Tough Girl?

LH: Tough Girl took me two years once I put pen to paper. Before the writing started though, I'd spent a few additional years mulling over the idea while working on other projects.

The actual writing process went much like this:

Notes - scene sketches - plot outline - character journal - revise plot outline - scene sketches - revise plot outline - write draft - repeat.

All in all, it took four full drafts and by that I mean complete rewrites. It also took many many rounds of editing for each draft, especially the last one.

Me: Tell us about your chosen publication path for Tough Girl. Any tips for others?

LH: I stuck with the independent streak and self-published Tough Girl. There were many reasons but the big ones were speed and freedom. Self-publishing was the quickest way I could get the story out to readers. I started as a playwright and to this day, after years of sending out plays and getting readings, I still have not had a full production. I just could not let that happen with the novel.

As for freedom, there were a lot of risks taken in Tough Girl. It's too adult for YA, too YA for contemporary fiction. I was advised to age up Reggie, or tone down the story in order for TG to find an audience. I would love nothing more than for Tough Girl to sell a million copies, but not if it means the story gets ruined in the process. Self-pubbing means Tough Girl can be what Tough Girl is, and does not need to be manipulated or massaged for sales.

Me: Best for last: Where/when can we get Tough Girl?

LH: Whoot whoot! Best. Question. Ever. It's available now:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Goodreads

Connect With Libby

I'm a bookworm and a writer, a nerd that's seen every episode of Farscape and can't wait for the next Dr. Who Season to begin. I enjoy running and playing sports and am always hopeful the Baltimore Ravens will win a superbowl. I love movies but don't care about the Oscars.

I eat apples regularly but find apple juice bitter and don't like it. I'm a foodie and a beer snob. I eat babies. Okay, just baby carrots. I studied acting, video production and creative writing. I've had very few jobs that reflect any of those years of study. I am Libby Heily, and it's nice to meet you.

Twitter - @LibbyHeily

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