Monday Mortals: Hal Eisenberg

31.12.12

Today I have Hal Eisenberg with me. Hal is the author of Overnight Sensation.

Hey Hal! Where did you first come up with the idea for this story?
I started writing Overnight Sensation about seven years ago. I’ve always been fascinated by one-hit-wonder groups. You know, those bands or solo artists that top the charts with a mega hit and then completely disappear for whatever reason. In addition, I’ve always been a huge fan of the ‘70s rock era and have played in bands for years, so the idea for Jonah’s dad sort of evolved from those experiences. As to Jonah’s dad’s career debacle, this idea actually sprung from a real life experience of someone close to me who played in bands as well. Some of the other ideas came from the world’s seemingly endless fascination with fame and in particular, sudden fame from shows like American Idol and The Voice, as well as instant YouTube created stars. I wondered, what would happen if that sudden fame wasn’t really deserved? What would you do if you suddenly became famous for talents that weren’t really yours? Would you try to hold on to that fame? Or, would you come clean and admit that you didn’t deserve it?

Since your book is about music, what are some your favorite bands/musicians? 
First, there’s the classic bands and artists like The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Chicago, The Doobie Brothers, Earth Wind and Fire, Steely Dan, America, The Raspberries (some of the greatest pop rock ever created, Google them), Todd Rundgren, Van Morrison, Billy Joel, Elton John, oh my gosh - the list goes on forever. Then there’s my current faves like John Mayer, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Neon Trees, Mayer Hawthorne, Linkin Park, Muse, Katy Perry, Cold Play (they’re in the book!), etc.

Do you have any other stories in the works? What can you tell us about them? 
Yes I do! And this time, the protagonist is girl :) Here’s the premise:
After 17 year-old Casey discovers her grandfather murdered at his landscape business, she begins uncovering clues leading to his killers,
as well as the fact that he wasn’t her real grandfather, and how a box of old love letters, a ‘60s rock star, and a cache of stolen Russian diamonds may all be involved. The tentative title: Number One, With a Bullet. You knew there had to be rock and roll involved in some way…

Do you have any recommendations for people who want to become writers? Write what you know. Write about what excites you. You’re going to be tempted to write what is popular. Don’t do it. If you’re into paranormal romance, or steampunk, then write about it. But if you’re not, and your heart’s not into it, don’t even try because there are far too many writers out there who are passionate about those genres and do an excellent job. My second piece of advice is don’t give up no matter what. If you’re in the middle of writing your first novel and you start to feel it’s total crap, keep writing because the next day, you’ll be inspired and the words you wrote the day before will suddenly seem brilliant. Or, if after you’ve finished your novel and some reviewer trashes it, just smile, keep writing that second novel, and concentrate on all the good reviews you get. Remember – not everyone is going to like your book. Let me repeat that. Everyone is not going to like your book. Even authors like J. K. Rowling have learned this. You absolutely can’t please everyone, but then again, you’re not writing for everyone. You’re writing because you love to write and the reviewers that “get” your book and appreciate your passion and style will reflect that in their reviews.

The song that is the focal point of the story, "Every Little Bit Hurts", is not only a real song, but also part of a contest. Tell us about it! 
When I began writing the book, I had this song in my head and yes, it’s a real song entitled, Every Little Bit Hurts, written and recorded by some friends of mine in a band called the Raves. I’ve always thought it should have been a hit, so, I decided to take matters in my own hands and make it the song Jonah’s dad’s band records in their basement that creates all the buzz. For the contest on my website, I’m inviting teen bands or solo acts to record their own take on the song, and download it to the site. Anyone who does this is going to receive a signed copy of the book along with some great swag like guitar pics and book marks and in addition, I’m working on some other cool prizes to give away. It’s a fun to promote the book as well as way for upcoming teen bands to showcase their talent. I’ll also be having local teen bands perform at some of my book signings around the country. You don't need any fancy equipment, just your talent and computer or cell phone will work! In fact, I recently had a submission from a band that is posted on my site as well as on goodreads at:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15725127-overnight-sensation

You’ll also find the book trailer there. Thanks for reading this and a HUGE thank you to Suzy for this interview!

Blog Tour: Elder by Raine Thomas

30.12.12

I'm delighted to be a part of Raine Thomas' blog tour to celebrate the launch of her latest book, Elder, part three of the Firstborn trilogy!!
Read on for an awesome excerpt and there's also a fantastic giveaway! YAY!

Elder Excerpt #3

“Clara Kate,” Ini-herit said. “May I speak with you?”

Glancing up in surprise, she considered what to say. He hadn’t made a point of communicating with her very much since the transition, and she’d been avoiding him as much as possible lately. Maybe this was a conversation they needed to have.

Reaching her decision, she nodded.

“I wish to apologize to you,” he said as he approached.

She blinked. “What?”

“I feel I owe you an apology. When Malukali and Knorbis attempted to extract the memory about the map, they inadvertently triggered one of us on the human plane. The memory of you and me standing together before I transitioned.”

Her breath lodged in her throat. Had her father been wrong? Was it really possible Ini-herit’s memories could be revived?

“I made a couple of promises to you that I failed to keep,” he said. “I could sense that we shared an emotional connection. I did believe that it would sustain through my transition. However, that is not the case.”

She stepped away from him. The words landed like slices from a well-honed blade. How was it possible that her heart could break all over again when it had already been so thoroughly shattered?

“You will move on from this experience. You are young, after all,” he said, his silver eyes reflecting nothing. “I hope that you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”

She wasn’t sure how her voice made it past the raw pain he had just ripped into her chest. But before she walked away, she managed to reply, “My heart is capable of all kinds of things, Ini-herit. But you have no right to ask anything more of it than you already have.”

Buy your copy of Elder from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Brief author bio: Raine Thomas is the award-winning author of a series of YA fantasy/romance novels about the Estilorian plane, including the Daughters of Saraqael trilogy and the Firstborn trilogy. She is a proud member of Romance Writers of America and is a contributing blogger to The Writer's Voice. When she isn’t planning weddings, writing or glued to social networking sites, she can usually be found on one of Florida’s beautiful beaches with her husband and daughter or crossing the border to visit with her Canadian friends and relatives.
Ways readers can connect with me:
Twitter (http://twitter/Raine_Thomas)
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/rainethomas)
Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5053436.Raine_Thomas)
Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/raine_thomas/)
Linkedin (http://www.linkedin.com/pub/raine-thomas/53/111/bb3)
Website (http://rainethomas.com)
Blog (http://RaineThomas.com/blog/)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Merry Christmas!

24.12.12

I know everyone is super busy at the moment, what with visiting family and friends, wrapping gifts, cooking, going to church, etc but I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you so much for all of your support over the past 12 months. I am so grateful for you all.
Happy Holidays!

PS Here's a fun card I made for you... Suzy's Christmas Card to Readers

Monday Mortals: Melanie Robertson King

24.12.12

Good morning, Melanie! Its great to have you here on my blog. Let's get right down to it. Can you tell us a little about your latest book.
My book is called A Shadow in the Past. When a contemporary teen is transported back to the Victorian era, she becomes a shadow in the past…

What inspired you to write it? 
I had just finished reading the first four books in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and had fallen in love with them. A friend and co-worker, also a DG fan, thought I could write something like that (I’d written a number of short stories but never anything as long as a novel) so I thought why not? The early drafts, while I honed my skills and learned the craft were pretty lame but in the end, it turned out rather well (toot, toot… LOL).

Is it part of a series? 
Yes. I’m currently working on the second book, tentatively called Shadows from her Past.

If your latest book was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters? 
Since my Scottish heritage is so important to me and my novel is set in Scotland, then the actors playing my main characters would also have to be Scottish. So for the role of Sarah Shand, I would choose Shirley Henderson, who played Isobel Sutherland on the TV series Hamish MacBeth. For Robert, it would be John Hannah who starred in Four Weddings and a Funeral, Rebus and MacCallum and many other programs/movies.

What made you want to become an author? 
I love to tell stories, spin yarns. So what better way to do it than put pen to paper and have them published for all to share?

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers? 
Only one? I love a cover that draws me into the book, especially one that has standing stones, or a stone circle or a cemetery on the front cover. So, on that theme, The Private Patient (PD James) and Beautiful Lie the Dead (Barbara Fradkin).

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you? 
To Kill a Mockingbird. I loved that book. The era, the setting in the deep south and a white lawyer taking on a black client accused of rape. Then there’s Boo Radley who the people are afraid of because he’s mentally challenged. 

Who, or what, inspires you? 
I love Scotland and have set my novels there in Aberdeenshire which is where my father was born. The scenery is breathtaking, and atmospheric, especially when the mists are hanging down covering the mountain peaks. The people are so friendly and helpful. I’m lucky enough to have travelled there and have loads of photographs to look through when I’m feeling the need for a “Scotland” fix. I sound a bit like an addict talking about needing a fix.

Where is your favourite place to write? 
I can write just about any place as long as it’s quiet. But my favourite is in my Ikea chair with my laptop in my front room. If the words aren’t coming easily to me, I can look out the windows at the neighbourhood and ponder what I’m going to write next.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book? 
Gone with the Wind.

Who is your favourite author (s) and why? 
I love to read crime fiction so authors in that genre would be at the top of the list – Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride, Chris Longmuir, and now that I’m a featured author at loveahappyending.com and Famous Five Plus, I’ve had the chance to sample up and coming authors’ works in a host of genres – rom com, chick-lit, sagas.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why? 
Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Bram Stoker (find out from the horse’s mouth if it was Cruden Bay in Scotland or Whitby in England that inspired him to write Dracula), William Shakespeare, and probably a host of others whose names aren’t coming to me as I answer this question. Each has contributed something worthy to the literary world.

Tell us a random fact about yourself. 
In elementary school, I was in the band and learned to play the clarinet.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live. 
I live in Eastern Ontario, Canada in the Thousand Islands area in a city on the shore of the St. Lawrence River. If you stand on the sidewalk in front of my house, and look south, you can see the river and New York state on the other side.

Website
Blog: Celtic Connexions
Facebook Author Page
Twitter Account: @RobertsoKing
Trailer on YouTube 

Where to buy links:
Canada:
Amazon.ca:
ChaptersIndigo:
Local to Brockville: Leeds County Books, 73 King Street West, Brockville, ON, K6V 3R1

US:
4RV Publishing:
Amazon.com:
Barnes & Noble:

99 Authors, 99 Books, 99 Cents!! Check it out...

21.12.12

These prices are available on Amazon only.

For a listing of books offered and to enter to win, click here!!

 

Thursday Threesome: Top three 80s movies

20.12.12

I love 80s movies! I was born in 1975, so I was a child of the 80s... I also love the music that came out of that era. But the movies, sigh, there were so many awesome teen movies made in that decade. Granted, teens today will probably not 'get' them like I did (a clear sign of age!). Anyway, here are three of my favourites that came out of the 1980s.
Can't Buy Me Love

Teen Witch
#

The Lost Boys

A few others that are just too amazing not to mention:
The Goonies
Footloose
Wargames
Mannequin
Adventures in babysitting
Don't Tell Mum the Babysitter's Dead
Class
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Heathers
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
The Breakfast Club
Sixteen Candles

Daisy Madigan's Paradise is now FREE on Amazon!

19.12.12

Finally, I can announce that Daisy Madigan's Paradise is FREE on Amazon!
Daisy Madigan's Paradise is a Morgan Sisters novella
When tragedy falls upon 15 year old Daisy Madigan, she escapes to the only place she feels safe, the cemetery of Abney Park. There, in the company of the dearly departed, she realizes she is changing, growing stronger and faster by the day. But in the darkness lurks a terror even she can't imagine facing.

Excerpt
She could feel it in the air, the sensation that she wasn't alone in the cemetery. And it wasn't the ghosts or the animals in the undergrowth. This was different. Her senses on full alert, Daisy was cautious to make little noise as she walked slowly and carefully through the gravestones, past the sleeping lion and beyond the numerous headless statues of angels that were scattered among the trees.
When she heard a howl, she stopped dead in her tracks and listened intently, her eyes skimming the area all around. The howl was followed by laughter, and not the fun kind. She knew immediately that she was dealing with a group.
Her first instinct was to run but, not knowing which direction they were coming from, she climbed the nearest tree. Seconds later, she sat on a heavy branch, barely breathing.
She'd never even realised she was capable of climbing trees and to do so at such speed shocked her. But she didn't have time to think about that, she knew those people in the park were bad news and she didn't want them to catch her.
Silently waiting, she barely took a breath as she watched the group grow nearer. There were four men, three women and two incredibly large dogs. As they approached, Daisy bit her lip. They weren't dogs. They were wolves and they were on to her scent, sniffing all around the area.
Fortunately, they seemed to lose interest and neither of them looked upwards.
Daisy Madigan's Paradise is a FREE Morgan Sisters novella. Get your Amazon copy here:
AMAZON US
AMAZON UK
Check out the book trailer
The first full length novel in the series is entitled The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw and is available for just $2.99

Guest post by the authors of The ELE Series

18.12.12

I'm very excited to introduce The ELE series by Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels. The girls have written a special post about what inspired them to write the books. So over to you, girls!
Creating ELE
Courtney and I have been best friends since the 6th grade. We took that friendship to a new level in October 2011 when we decided to partner together to write our first novel, Night Marchers. Since then we have gone on to write the sequel to that series: Redemption, as well as three books in our most recent series: The ELE Series.
The ELE Series has become our favorite journey through writerdom yet! We've been asked what inspired us to create this series, and to be honest there are a number of factors that led us to create the world around Project ELE.
After reading The Hunger Games trilogy as well as a few of our other favorite dystopian genre novels, we knew that we wanted to try out a futuristic setting for our next quest. We played around with several different ideas and all of them kept coming back to a heroine with amazing powers who would eventually learn to kick bad-guy-butt. We also came to the agreement that we wanted to have a series that starts at the beginning of an apocalyptic event as opposed to the aftermath in the future after such an event had occurred. After many Skype dates in search of the perfect plot, we ended up blending two of our ideas together. Courtney had some awesome ideas about immunizations gone wrong and I had written a short story for an anthology about a world in the future where everyone has a special power. We smooshed the two ideas together, added a strong heroic female lead who is still very much a teenager and BAM, we had the ingredients for making The ELE Series.
Currently the ELE Series consists of three novels: Project ELE (which is FREE), Finding ELE and our most recent release- Exposing ELE. We've been asked how many books will be in this series. We honestly don't have an answer to that yet. Willow's story hasn't been fully told, so there will be at least one to two more books that follow up after Exposing ELE. We are currently working on a novella called: ELE, which will show all of our main characters before they were forced to head towards the shelters. We figured this inside scoop would be an exciting edition for our fans and a sort of prologue to Project ELE.
For more information on our ELE Series, check out the book descriptions below. We hope you will take a chance and download your free copy of Project ELE and dive into Willow Mosby's futuristic world.
The ELE Series:
Millions have already died, and thousands more are perishing daily. As a last ditch effort to preserve the human race, the government implements Project ELE. With the earth heating at rapid speeds, all remaining survivors are forced to turn to F.E.M.A. shelters to wait out ELE's wrath.
Fifteen-year-old Willow Mosby's life, as she knows it, ends the moment she walks through the shelter's door. Willow has to quickly adapt to the new challenges that shelter life demands, which includes making new friends and working a full time job.
Soon after making an interesting discovery, Willow and her friends start exhibiting strange abilities. Seeking answers, they embark on a mission to find out what these new abilities mean and whether they are a gift or a curse.
This new adventure can send her world crashing down around her. The question is: Can Willow survive the fall?
From the authors of Night Marchers comes a new apocalyptic series with a paranormal twist.

Check out the book trailer


Where can readers check us out?
Blog
Facebook fan page
Facebook fan page
Goodreads (Rebecca)
Goodreads (Courtney)
Twitter: MidniteBeckie and NuckelsC
http://www.eleseries.com
http://www.nightmarchersbook.com
Amazon
Nook

WOW, this series certainly sounds like a bestseller in the making! Good luck girls!

How do you like my brand new blog design?

16.12.12

Today I'm so excited to be launching my blog's brand new look, designed by the lovely Tara over at Pip Designs. The new look completely sums up my writing and myself... the goth girl represents me (yes, I'm a bit of a closet goth, have been since I was a kid!) as well as one of my favourite characters, Emma Jane Morgan. The background represents the style of my books... a bit dark and eerie with a sprinkling of enchantment. And the main font shows the creepiness that can be found within my stories.
I hope my readers will love it as much as I do! What do you think?

#YAIndieCarnival: Huge awesome #YA giveaway!!

14.12.12


This week, the sponsors of the YA Author Club are hosting the most awesome competition where one lucky  winner could win a whole host of fantastic YA ebooks!! YAY!!
To be in with a chance of winning, fill in the Rafflecopter below. Then answer the following question in the comments section (along with your email address so we can contact the winner):
If by some slim chance the Maya Long Count calendar is accurate and the world ends on December 21st, which song (or book or movie or man or woman) would you want to hear (or read or watch or be with) during your final moments?
I would choose to be with my most beloved husband, Michael. We would be all wrapped up in our warmest clothes, sitting outside under the stars listening to Take That's Rule The World...
 
Giveaway Package Includes:
Transfer Student by Laura A.H. Elliott
Shadow Slayer (Shadow Series, #2) by Laura A.H. Elliott
Vampires Rule (The Rule #1) by K.C. Blake
Werewolves Rule by K.C. Blake
Raven (The Raven Saga, #1) by Suzy Turner
December Moon (The Raven Saga, #2) by Suzy Turner
The Lost Soul (The Raven Saga, #3) by Suzy Turner
The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw by Suzy Turner
Golden Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #1) by Melissa Pearl
Black Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #2) by Melissa Pearl
Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy, #3) by Melissa Pearl
Of Sun & Moon (Midnight Guardian, #1) by Bryna Butler
Warriors of the Cross (Warrior, #1) by T.R. Graves
Guardians of the Cross (Warrior #2) by T.R. Graves
Enemies of the Cross (Warrior, #3) by T.R. Graves
Red Madrassa (Algardis #1) by Terah Edun

a Rafflecopter giveaway
The more author blogs you visit and enter, the more chances you have of winning, so head on over to the others in the club...

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self

Thursday Threesome: The top fantasy movies of all times

13.12.12

Thursday Threesome, you ask? Well that should mean my top three... but I'm going to include all my other faves too, because there are just too many others not to mention, right? Okay, so here goes...

1. Harry Potter series

Ever since Daniel Radcliffe came on the scene back in 2001, I've been completely and utterly hooked on this series. Like many others, I devoured the books first, saw each movie at the cinema and then bought every DVD. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson grew up before our very eyes, getting better at acting with each film. I know I will never tire of the Harry Potter series. Will you?

2. Avatar
I saw it at the cinema in all its 3D glory and then watched it on a much smaller 32 inch TV and it was still as brilliant! Avatar has everything, action, romance, drama, fantasy. Its one of the most beautiful fantasy movies I've ever seen. I mean, the Tree of Souls? Gorgeous, just gorgeous.

3. The Tenth Kingdom
Okay, so technically this isn't a movie as such. Its a mini series but its just so awesome, I had to include it in my top three. The Tenth Kingdom is about a young woman and her father after they are transported from New York through a magical mirror into a parallel world of fairy tales, magical creatures, evil stepmothers and self-discovery.

And because there are tonnes of other mega awesome fantasy movies out there, I just had to share some of my other close favourites. Do you agree with me? Did I miss any?

Princess Bride


Ella Enchanted

The Chronicles of Narnia

Willow
Neverending Story
Lord of the Rings
The Nightmare Before Christmas
The Corpse Bride
Pirates of the Caribbean
Hocus Pocus
Hook
Nanny McPhee
Mary Poppins

The waterbabies

The Golden Compass
Legend
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Enchanted
Inkheart
Dragonheart
Alice in Wonderland

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Stardust

Aquamarine

Splash
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Edward Scissorhands
The Wizard of Oz
Eragon
The Dark Crystal

The Snow Queen
Snow White - The Fairest of Them All
Merlin

The Magical Legend of the Leprechauns
Practical Magic
Conan the Barbarian
Clash of the Titans
Gremlins
Ghostbusters
Big Trouble in Little China
Mannequin
Beetlejuice
Big
Teen Witch
Casper
The Borrowers
Arthur and the Invisibles
Bridge to Terabithia
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising
The Water Horse
Bedtime Stories
City of Ember
Journey to the Centre of the Earth
Because my books are aimed at kids and young adults, I've not included any really scary fantasy movies but I know there are tonnes of super cool ones out there! So what do you think of my list?

Monday Mortals: Miriam Wakerly

10.12.12

Today I have the lovely author Miriam Wakerly with me...

Hi Miriam! Can you tell us a little about your latest book. 
Shades of Appley Green is an emotional story about Steph, a young mother living in the village who becomes strangely obsessed with helping an elderly, once famous now lonely, gent regain his lost family and friends. Exactly what is driving her mission is not clear to either her or the reader until the end. It is a book about community and family relationships and, of course, a love story is all wrapped up in there too!

What inspired you to write it? 
I drew from direct personal experience of working with both young single mothers and isolated elderly folk; also something akin to bullying in the workplace. Aspects of life like this mean struggle, emotion and heartache that must be overcome by the human spirit.
I created my characters first off, then the story formed from them and the situations in which they find themselves. Readers of my first two books, Gypsies Stop tHere and No Gypsies Served, said they liked the storytelling – some observational humour and that style where you want to know what will happen next. Also people seemed taken by the setting, lovely Appley Green village, so I built on that. So – thank you readers – you inspired me too!

Is it part of a series? 
Yes, it is the first of a new series, although all three are in Appley Green and ‘village novels’. The first two belong together because of the Gypsy theme, but this one is fresh. However, there is an overlap of characters between all three books, because I think readers really like that. They recognise someone they have ‘met’ before and find out a bit more about them.

If your latest book was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters? Steph is a feisty but emotional young woman. Someone like Claire Danes who plays Carrie Mathison in Homeland – but she would have to do a good English accent and calm down a bit! As Damian Lewis can switch to American so convincingly maybe that would work. I would love Bill Nighy to take the part of Jackson, the retired architect - and the male lead? Hmmm, thinking … any ideas? He would be an attractive 50 year-old, dependable, calm yet charismatic.

What made you want to become an author? I have always written – just one of those things! Many stories published in the 1980s and later articles on all kinds of subjects. The novel was always something I knew I would do one day. I had a few Mills & Boon rejections decades ago – fancied making a fortune I think, not really writing as I wanted to write. I am more realist than romantic, although relationships are the core of any book really, aren’t they?

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers? 
Oooh - difficult questions!! I mean, to choose one? Just look at all those on Famous Five Plus and indeed, your own books Suzy. Truly eye-wateringly captivating! I’ll go for one that I read not long ago – Every Step of the Way by Kit Domino. This is for sheer colour and prettiness and the fact that Kit painted it herself. It has a nostalgia feel – the 1950s are depicted as harsh in the book but the cover reminds you that there were some sunny moments for a child of that era.

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you? For this I think I must choose a truly ‘big’ book – Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It just took me away to another time and place and made me hungry for more historical novels. I wish I had more time to read these lengthy tomes!

Who, or what, inspires you? Real life and issues that concern me. Things I have done, seen, read about or been told, emotions I have felt, but that is just the beginning. You don’t just present facts and incidents in a novel; of course not. An author must convert life into something even more interesting, more tantalising, through fictional characters that interact. You bend, you twist, you exaggerate and embellish! I love to create people, places and weave a plot!

Where is your favourite place to write? Boring – my study. Not necessarily ‘favourite’ but everything I need is there. However, I do also resort to backs of envelopes anywhere, anytime. 

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book? I love films and I love reading books, but often find that when a book is adapted for screen I am disappointed. The Kite Runner was good. When I was younger I enjoyed the book Lark Rise to Candleford and, later, the original adaptation for TV, although the series did go a bit Disneyfied and rose-tinted!

Who is your favourite author (s) and why? I can’t answer this well because I am a bit fickle, always changing. A long list: Years ago: Thomas Hardy, Jilly Cooper, Jane Austen; later Maeve Binchy, Sebastian Faulks, Ian McEwan; now Amanda Craig, Alan Bennett, Edward Rutherfurd,. See what I mean? What a mixture!!!

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why? Some of those wonderful writers above, I guess. Imagine Alan Bennett with Thomas Hardy, Jilly Cooper and Jane Austen! Fabulous.

Tell us a random fact about yourself. Something bizarre I always do, quite unconsciously: at the end of a meal, I have a tiny, tiny piece of each food item left on the plate which I eat last of all. (you did say random ) This is quite sad and totally irrelevant. I could break this harmless habit, if I had to!

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live. 
It’s pretty close to Appley Green! I hope you can drop in some time : http://miriamwakerly.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/do-drop-in-to-appley-green-as-youre.html

Thanks, Suzy, for listening to my ramblings. 
Its an absolute pleasure, Miriam! You are welcome here anytime... especially as we share a love for Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth. One of the best books ever! And Jilly Cooper (I grew up reading her books).

Find out more about Miriam and her books...

Daisy Madigan's Paradise, a Morgan Sisters novella

7.12.12

Okay, so I've been keeping a little secret from you....
I've been working on a very special gift for my readers - a brand new Morgan Sisters novella due out very, very soon! AND.... it's going to be ABSOLUTELY FREE! The book is called Daisy Madigan's Paradise and I'm so proud to be able to reveal the most beautiful cover... ever... TAH DAH!
This stunning cover was designed by the awesome Ravven, who was responsible for The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw cover and will be designing all future Morgan Sisters covers.
I've also got a fantastic new trailer for the book. Check it out, below. Stay tuned for details of when the book will be available!

#YAIndieCarnival: Katniss Everdeen

7.12.12

This week, the sponsors of the YA Author Club are visiting the personal ads for a book's famous character (okay, okay... we're just playing and making them up!).
I've chosen Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games...
Spunky, strong and totally independent tomboy seeks hot super hero to climb trees and hunt animals with. Nerds, old men, guys with serious fashion obsession (what the heck is all that about anyway?) need not apply.
For more fun personal ads, visit my awesome fellow carnis...

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3. Heather Self


Thursday Threesome: top chick flicks

6.12.12

I can't believe it's Thursday again. It only seemed like yesterday that I was blogging about my top three horror reads!
This week I want to post my top three chick flicks... movies that stole my heart for various reasons. As I'm such a massive chick flick fan, it was tough choosing just three...but here they are. Three chick flicks that always warm the cockles of my heart...
Hope Floats
I'm a huge Sandra Bullock fan and I can't even count how many times I've watched this movie... it gets me every time. I love the chemistry between Sandra and Harry Connick Jr (he is rather nice isn't he?). Its so touching. In fact, I think I might just pop the DVD in and watch it again this weekend... sigh.
Practical Magic
Yes, another Sandra Bullock flick. This is perhaps my top favourite chick flick because not only does it contain a splash of romance with the rather dishy Aidan Quinn but it's full of witchy supernatural fun! It's like this movie was just made for me!
Serendipity
Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack are marvelous in this New York tale of love. Its one of those movies that makes you totally believe in true love (of course I already believe, having been with my soul mate since I was 16). I just adore this film! Its such a shame that somebody borrowed by DVD and NEVER GAVE IT BACK GRRRRRR


Launch of Night Watcher by Chris Longmuir

5.12.12


I'm delighted to have the awesome author Chrus Longmuir with me today, who is currently celebrated the release of her brand new book, Night Watcher. Hi Chris!
“You have a nice blog, Suzy, thanks for inviting me along.” Chris wriggles into a more comfortable position. “I hope you’re a sympathetic interviewer and don’t ask too many probing questions.”
LOL, thank you Chris! And no, I promise not to be too nosey!

“Before we start I want to invite you all to the launch of Night Watcher at loveahappyending.com. If you haven’t visited there before, you’ll find it’s a great place to meet fab authors and readers, editors and publishers, they’re a lovely group of folk. And after you’ve had a look around Love a Happy Ending, you might fancy popping over to my blog at chrislongmuir.blogspot.co.uk for the Night Watcher party. Bill and Sue and all the gang are there, even the Night Watcher turned up, that’s why I called it Who Invited Night Watcher to the Party?

OOh sounds faulous, Chris... I know I'll be popping over!

Can you tell us a little about your latest book. 
The book I’m launching today as a paperback is Night Watcher, although to say it’s a launch is a bit of a misnomer because it has been available as an ebook for well over a year.

What inspired you to write it?
I never know what inspires me to write a particular book, although this one developed from a short story I wrote, which is now published in ‘Obsession & Other Stories’ and it was about a deranged stalker. Now I hate to admit this, and I feel quite ashamed about it, but someone I knew did something nasty to me so I gave her a present of my stalker, and that’s how Night Watcher started. Of course the story was very different to the reality which is just as well.

Is it part of a series? 
Yes ‘Night Watcher’ is part of my Dundee Crime Series. It is the first book of the series, although ‘Dead Wood’, the second book of the series, was actually published first, but that was only because it won the prestigious Dundee International Book Prize. I am currently writing book three.

If your latest book was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters? 
Oh, now, there’s a thought. It would have to be Scottish actors because the books are set in Dundee. I think John Hannah would make a good Bill Murphy, and I can quite see Kelly MacDonald as Sue. Julie would have to be Sharon Small, and Peter Capaldi would be ideal as the boss of the Department Store, Patrick Drake. Not sure who I would choose for Nicole, maybe Ashley Jensen would suit. But of course none of them fit the images I have in my mind, so it’s maybe just as well Night Watcher is not a movie!

What made you want to become an author? 
I’ve been a reader all my life and when I was young I had this idea that writers were really special people, and that you had to be very clever to write a book. I didn’t think I was clever, nor was I special, so it was beyond my wildest dreams that I could actually be one of these special people who not only read books but wrote them as well. When I did find out I could write, I also found out that there was nothing really special about being a writer at all. In fact, ordinary people like me could do it if they wanted to enough.

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers? 
Well, that would have to be one of my own, and I think Night Watcher has a really fab cover, and that’s all thanks to Cathy Helms, of Avalon Graphics. She’s a wiz at designing covers.

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
There have been loads of books that have affected me this way so it’s difficult to pick one. I really loved Ken Follett’s ‘Fall of Giants’, it was the wide sweep of history plus the characterisation that got to me. Jeffery Deaver’s books also have the ‘wow’ factor. I think it’s the way he twists the story with twist after twist, so you don’t see the end coming.

Who, or what, inspires you? 
I’m not sure I can answer this, however writing is like an addiction to me, if I stop I go into withdrawals. So maybe it’s the avoidance of the withdrawals that inspires me.

Where is your favourite place to write? 
I prefer to write on my desktop in my study. It’s my place. I do have laptops I can use around the house and out and about, but the best place is my study.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book? 
Oh, there’s been so many, but probably the two best ones are oldies, and they are Margaret Mitchell’s ‘Gone with the Wind’, and Daphne DuMaurier’s ‘Rebecca’.

Who is your favourite author (s) and why?
Again I have so many. I sometimes think my favourite is the one I am reading at the time, unless it’s a turkey of course, but favourite authors are Val McDermid, Jeffery Deaver, Dean Koontz, Ken Follett – I could go on and on.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why? 
I’m not really into dinner parties, not my thing, but let me play devil’s advocate here, and say Thomas Harris, provided he brings Hannibal Lecter with him as well as Clarice Starling.

Tell us a random fact about yourself. 
I’m a geek! I build my own computers.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live. 
Arthur Conan Doyle’s father was a patient at the local asylum for many years.

Thank you for having me, it’s been a pleasure to be here and I hope to see you over at the launch and most importantly, remember to pop over and boogie at the party.
Chris Longmuir

Its been a pleasure having you here, Chris! And best of luck with the launch of Night watcher.

Night Watcher on You Tube
Night Watcher on Amazon UK
Night Watcher on Amazon.com
Website: http://www.chrislongmuir.co.uk/
Blog: http://chrislongmuir.blogspot.co.uk/
Author Central Books Page
Twitter: @ChrisLongmuir
Facebook: Chris Longmuir

Monday Mortals: Blogger Jontybabe

3.12.12

I'm delighted to have book reviewer and blogger, Jontybabe with me today. Here's the interview...

Hi Jontybabe! Can you tell us a little about your blog.
My blog basically started off as an online diary to myself to give me an avenue to have a really good old rant about life in general. Whilst initially enthusiastic about my blog I did let it slip for a while before getting back into writing on the blog in a big way. Now I love my blog and I find it really therapeutic. I like to think that the blog helps others in similar circumstances connect. It’s a Crazy World is mainly about special needs issues as my daughter has autism and a severe learning disability. However, over the last year it has evolved to include book and product reviews and I have to say I really enjoy this new aspect to the blog. Being involved with indie authors has opened up new reading experiences for me and I am thoroughly enjoying discovering wonderful new authors and genres. This has reawakened my love of books and I am in the process of developing a dedicated book blog, due to be launched on 1st December 2012.

Have you ever read a book that made you think 'wow'? If so, what book was it and why did it have such an effect on you?
Oh my goodness, what a difficult question. I have read so many great books like this. I suppose the most recent ones I can think of are the first two books in Justin Cronin’s vampire trilogy – The Passage & The Twelve. The books are intense post-apocalyptic stories with vampires. Weird I know, but the books contain so much detail and every character is very cleverly linked. They are the type of books that demand all your attention and are exhausting. I’ve got to wait until 2014 until the final book is published. Not sure I can survive that long!
I have loved reading these books because they give a great sense of the talent that the author has and leave me in awe at the planning that would have gone into pulling the stories together. What I love about being a reader and a reviewer is that I get the opportunity to read such an eclectic mix of genres. I recently read ‘Me before You’ by JoJo Moyes and that left me sobbing like a loon. This book made me feel a huge sympathy for the main characters and touched so many emotional nerves.

Who is your favourite author and why? 
Again, because I read such an eclectic mix of books it’s so difficult to pinpoint one favourite author. When I was a teenager I was an avid Stephen King fan and read so many of his books one after the other. I have recently discovered that his son Joe Hill is a writer and loved his book Heart Shaped Box. Very creepy! In complete contrast I also love some of the classics authors such as Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre is a firm favourite. I also love Steinbeck, Du Maurier and a little bit of Shakespeare. I think the reason that I love these books is that they get me so hooked into the story and the differing styles of the authors are intriguing. I love comparing and contrasting.

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
I love the cover from ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society’ by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows because I think it gives a clue to what the book is about. I love the cover because it has a picture of a letter and I love books that involve correspondence between the characters or letters that help shape the story, providing history and background. It’s much like another favourite of mine, 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff, which is another story evolved out of letters between characters.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
I think in order to make the dinner conversation as interesting as possible; the most diverse group of authors would need to be assembled round the table. Here’s my list.
Stephen King – he is the master of horror and making the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! He would bring a creepy element to the dinner party.
William Shakespeare – there simply couldn’t be a dinner party without him. The true genius of storytelling.
Oscar Wilde – Just to add a little bit of extravagance and scandal
Roddy Doyle – to add lots of good old Irish humour.
John Niven – he’d obviously have to sit beside Roddy Doyle. The two of them together would be hilarious!
The Bronte sisters – revolutionary writers of their time, leading the way for women writers at a period in history when women didn’t get the same opportunities to be published.
EL James – I hated Fifty Shades of Grey but would love her at the party just to mix it up a bit with the Bronte sisters.
Justin Cronin – my newest favourite author. I think he and Stephen King would get along.
Daphne Du Maurier – simply because I love her!

Who, or what, inspires you?
My daughter is my foremost inspiration for my blog. I never fail to be amazed by her courage throughout daily difficulties. She has made me the person I am today. Life is never dull with her around.
Since I have gotten involved with lots of indie authors I am truly inspired by their talent and determination and a great sense of self-belief. They are wonderfully interesting people who have been courageous enough to chase their dream. They have inspired me to take my interest in reading and all things bookish and develop a new book blog.

Where is your favourite place to write your blog?
In my dream life I have a beautiful old antique desk at a window overlooking a beautiful garden. Unfortunately in real life I don’t have room for a desk so much of my writing is done perched on the sofa between my daughter and the dog or sitting at the kitchen table. Not very glamorous! I constantly spend my day looking round my house wondering which piece of furniture I can get rid of to replace with a desk!

Tell us a little about your favourite book...
I absolutely adore Rebecca by Dauphne Du Maurier. I love the mystery behind the story and the creepy character of Mrs Danvers, the housekeeper. It’s the story of a young woman who accepts the marriage proposal of an older man and moves to his country estate, Manderley. Unfortunately the huge house is haunted by the memory of his first wife Rebecca who was both mysterious and very beautiful. Behind it all there is a mystery to be solved. It’s exciting stuff and I love it.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
Oh that’s a hard one as I am constantly disappointed by movie adaptions from books. I’m not sure I have one – yet! Though I have heard that the film rights have been bought to Justin Cronin’s vampire series so we’ll see!

If your favourite book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?
This year my favourite book has been ‘Somebody to Love’ by Sheryl Browne. In my review I did say that the book was crying out to be made into a romcom. For the central character of Donna I’m not actually sure who could do this part justice. It would have to be somebody who could carry off comedic situations on the big screen. For the part of Mark, the love interest, I have to say I always imagined Chris O’Dowd for that part. I don’t know why as he physically he wouldn’t resemble Mark but that’s who I kept thinking of when reading the book.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I once posed dressed as an Austrian milkmaid for a local tourist board publicity shot. My town is twinned with a town in Austria. Apparently!

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
I live in Bangor, Northern Ireland. During World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower addressed Allied troops who were departing to take part in the D-Day landings.

www.jontybabe.blogspot.com
The new blog which goes live on 1st December www.brookcottagebooks.blogspot.com
Thanks Jontybabe! Its been an absolute pleasure having you on my blog today :)

Very special interview with a very special author: Poppet

1.12.12

I'm so excited today as I have the most awesome author with me!! Poppet is the author of numerous vampire novels, (and some pretty scary ones too!). But she has just launched TWO YA novels! YAY! I have them on my Kindle and I can't wait to read them (I'm saving them for when my virtual tour is finished and my mind is calm as I want to relish them!).

Hey Poppet! Can you tell us a little about your latest book.
My newest books came out a few weeks apart as I wrote them the wrong way around. I started writing Indigo Vamporium, was midway when the second book wouldn't give me peace, so I wrote that (Scarlet Vamporium) and then went back to complete Indigo Vamporium. I released Scarlet earlier than Indigo on fan request. So to me these two books feel like 'my latest book' as a unit.
Indigo Vamporium takes my adult series and characters and examines the vampyre family as teenagers. Seithe was the first book in the vampyre series, so I set Indigo Vamporium in the same city to give it continuity as the book revolves around Seithe coming to terms with his abilities and trying to perfect his own abilities. He has a lot of responsibility on his young shoulders and doesn't get on well with his guardian; his father's brother Venix.
In IV he has to dive for hidden halos, has a close call with a ghost ship out on the high seas, is sent into the Vamporium alone to battle the scourge of the underworld, and falls for a local human girl, Tasmin. Ellindt, his twin sister, is on a mission to engage human love and redemption and does what most girls her age do, this has her uncle banishing her to Scotland to stay with her aunt for punishment, severing the close bond Ellindt and Seithe have had since birth. It all falls apart for Seithe and it gets ten times worse when the karma collector kidnaps his human girlfriend.
Book 2, Scarlet Vamporium, follows 17 year old Ellindt as a foreigner in Glencoe, where she meets a wonderful varsity crush. Luckily for her Douglas believes in monsters and beasties because Scotland is rich in tales of the Fey, (the Seelie and Unseelie courts), loch monsters, and has a unicorn as their national animal. It's a match made in heaven, until her family interferes.

What inspired you to write it?My fans, they have families, teens, and I wanted them to be able to talk about the same characters together :) I asked them first if I did it, would they be interested - the answer was a resounding yes.

Is it part of a series?
Yes

If your latest book was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
That's a really hard one. I have no clue (to be honest). I don't allow myself to dream that big. I pay it no attention and feed it no energy. I can say this, I've always thought it would be nice IF one of my books made it to the big screen, that it would give an unknown the lucky break they needed (so whoever they are we haven't heard of them just yet).

What made you want to become an author?
I like telling stories. It's something I did even as a child (to my friends). It fell away when life and responsibility impressed that this is not a career but a dream reserved for the select few. I started writing part time in 1996, it became a routine, I followed the rules, I went to agents, editors, did my bit, got published in many publications to gain writing credibility, but it was only when I was paralyzed that I thought it might be the answer to a new career because it was something I could do from home - s.l.o.w.l.y

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers? 
My own or someone else's? My favorite cover you'll not know. Author Berni Palmer had it as the cover to her book on Authonomy (a website run by Harper Collins), which is where I met her. Her vampire novel caught my eye and I loved it and fell in love with the genre all over again. She is a professional book cover designer and the cover for Fledgling just oozed Gothic appeal. Unfortunately her publisher didn't let her use that cover :(
Of my own, Quislings is my favorite cover.

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
Charles de Lint's Spiritwalk. I love his work, he marries mythology, legend, and fantasy together seamlessly in a modern urban world. It kept me up reading, and I read the series in reverse, only then finding out it was book 2. He fires my imagination, my heart, my hopes, my belief there is more to this planet than meets the eye. (I've read those books over and over and over again)

Who, or what, inspires you?
Bees, butterflies, waves, ants... they never give up, they're so industrious, and they'll find a way around any problem.

Where is your favourite place to write?
My desk.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
The Matrix - it was based on a book, but the author had to force them to acknowledge that in court (she won) as it was a submission and not in print at that time. I have other favorite movies but I don't know if they were based on books: Constantine and Strange Days being two of them.

Who are your favourite authors and why?
Charles de Lint - the reason above. I also like books that can make me sweat bullets, that ice my blood, and make me nervous over every noise and shadow, authors of such novels are hard to find.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
I'd like to speak to the apostles over their random ravings in the world's most popular best seller. I'd have them to dinner, and they'd all have to be happy without wine or meat at my table :D

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
That's a hard one (where to begin even answering that?) I bake really well. I invent my own recipes and hope to one day release my own collection.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
It has thunderstorms daily throughout summer, which makes writing on a computer (not a laptop) hell. I swear at the weather regularly when I'm in mid writing flow and I have to switch everything off and unplug because the lightning and the deluge and canon blasts are on top of me.

My links:
Twitter: @AuthorPoppet
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Poppet/197111090356326
http://authorpoppet.wordpress.com
http://authorpoppet.weebly.com

Thank you, Poppet for such a wonderful interview! It's lovely to get to know you just that little but better! :)
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