Rival Dreams by Natalie Decker

Rival Dreams by Natalie Decker
(Rival Love #3)
Published by: Swoon Romance
Publication date: September 1st 2015
Genres: Romance, Young Adult

Skylar Fletcher and Caleb Morgan have been together for almost two years. On the surface, everything is great. Skylar is kicking major butt in swimming and has been offered the captain spot. Caleb is the top quarterback in the league. And even though their schedules can be a little hectic at times, they’ve always seem to make time for one another.
But once Caleb is approached by the NFL, his behavior turns odd. He flakes out on appointments to check out apartments and doesn’t call her on the nights when they’re apart.
Pro football has been Caleb’s dream since forever. But what kind of idiot asks a girl to drop everything so he can follow his dream?
RIVAL DREAMS is the dramatic and heartwarming conclusion to Natalie Decker’s RIVAL LOVE series.
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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
This is the third book in the series. We continue to follow Caleb and Skylar into their college years. Skylar Fletcher and Caleb Morgan have been together for almost two years. On the surface, everything is great. Skylar is kicking major butt in swimming and has been offered the captain spot. Caleb is the top quarterback in the league. And even though their schedules can be a little hectic at times, they’ve always seem to make time for one another.
But once Caleb is approached by the NFL, his behavior turns odd. He flakes out on appointments to check out apartments and doesn’t call her on the nights when they’re apart.
Pro football has been Caleb’s dream since forever. But what kind of idiot asks a girl to drop everything so he can follow his dream?

What inspired you to write it?
This particular series came from an article I read about a rival teams making fun or bullying each other. This made me think about my high school and the crap we did when we were playing our rival teams. And it branched off from there.

How did you come up with the idea for the cover?
I didn’t come up with the cover, my wonderful publisher and her cover designing team came up with these awesome covers J

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
Oh wow, um … Zac Efron for Caleb, Lily Collins for Skylar, Jake Abel for Lance, and Alexandra Daddario for Kayla.

Is it part of a series or is it a stand-alone novel?
This is the last book in the series.

Where is the novel set and why did you choose to set it there?
This would be at Duke University in NC. I just like Duke. That’s the college I chose for them to go to when writing the series.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you so much?
I love reading YA, NA because I love that first love or messy relationship stuff before Adult things start happening, Bills, Work, Families, Kids. That’s probably why I like writing it so much.

What made you want to become an author?
Well … I could say it was a dream of mine always, but that would be a lie. I’m a math major. WHAT? I know I know. But you have to take required courses and in my English 1 and 2 classes we mostly wrote short stories. I love stories. I fell in love with coming up with different plots and endings and it took off from there. So when I became pregnant with my child, on maternity leave, I read a lot of books. An idea popped into my head one afternoon and it wouldn’t leave, not during naptime (had a lot of those) or cleaning, cooking. Nope it stayed with me the whole day, so I sat at my computer and typed. Have been doing it ever since then.

How do you come up with character names?
Baby Name Book. Had one when naming my own children and use it for all my characters. As for last names … Year book. I flip to a page, close my eyes and run my finger up and down the names while counting to ten. Whatever I stop on that’s the last name. Then I go to my baby book and start looking through the first names. Whatever sounds good together is what sticks.

Do you struggle to come up with book titles? Do they come before, during or after you've written your book?
I don’t struggle with book titles too much. They usually come pretty easy. When I save the book I come up with the title, so in the beginning but after I started the first chapter.

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
I have two: Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen and Dark of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

Who, or what, inspires you?
My family, fans, and readers they all inspire me to write. Every story I write is for them.

Where is your favourite place to write?
I usually write in my living room or my bedroom with my cow print throw-blanket.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
Harry Potter. Really did love all the books and films.

Name two of your favourite authors.
Jane Austen and JK Rowling

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I hate snakes and clowns biggest fears of my life.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
My life movie probably Mila Kunis because we’re the same age, height, hair color and she’s funny.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
There is a free books mailbox down the road.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
I finished up book #1 of a new series: Scandalous Boys. The book is called Bryce. I’m currently working on book #2 in that series called Graham. Totally can’t wait to share this series with all my fans and readers.

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
Totally I want to stay in the hotel that’s underwater one time.

Favourite myth / fairytale?
My FAV Fairytale would have to be Beauty and the Beast.

Who/What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I wanted to be a vet as a kid, that changed as soon as I found out you might actually have to help someone’s Pet Snake, um no thanks.

Natalie Decker is the author of RIVAL LOVE series. She loves oceans, sunsets, sand between her toes, and carefree days. Her imagination is always going, which some find odd. But she believes in seeing the world in a different light at all times. Her first passion for writing started at age twelve when she had to write a poem for English class. However, seventh grade wasn’t her favorite time and books were her source of comfort. She took all college prep classes in High school, and attended the University of Akron. Although she studied Mathematics she never lost her passion for writing or her comfort in books. She’s a mean cook in the kitchen, loves her family and friends and her awesome dog infinity times infinity. If she’s not writing, reading, traveling, hanging out with her family and friends, then she’s off having an adventure. Because Natalie believes in a saying: Your life is your own journey, so make it amazing!

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Wolfskin by W.R. Gingell

Revolution by Randi Cooley Wilson

A King Rises

A Fate Seals

Realms Fall

Eve Collins has set in motion a chain of events that could destroy everything she’s ever loved. Surrounded by dangerous creatures, dark worlds, and the struggle to become who she was meant to be, Eve must complete her ascension and accept her destiny.

War has begun. Losing is not an option. With dangers lurking around each corner, and everything against her, will Eve sacrifice her own happiness in order to tip the scale of balance? Which side will rise to power, and which fall to fate?

In this fourth installment in The Revelation Series, Eve must risk it all in order to prevent a centuries old war.

Everything comes with a sacrifice, even love.

Releasing: May 2015

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Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Revolution, (The Revelation Series, Book #4) is the fourth installment within The Revelation Series. It’s a continuation of Eve Collin’s journey of self-discovery, divine secrets, forbidden love and ultimate sacrifice.

What inspired you to write it?
The idea for Revelation (The Revelation Series, Book 1), and the entire series, stemmed from my combined love of John Milton’s Paradise Lost and my affinity for architecture. Paranormal romance is my favorite genre to read, and nothing beats an epic love story in my book. Basically, I combined all those elements to created the series.

How did you come up with the idea for the cover?
The cover for Revolution, as with all my covers within this series, is a visual capture of a poignant moment within the written storyline.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
Eve Collins would be played by Odette Annable. She was actually my muse for Eve and I think she would bring a lot to the character. As for Asher St. Michael, I would love to see a scruffy Dean Geyer take on Asher’s role. Hands down, Alex Pettyfer would be my dream Gage Gallagher (he too was my muse for the character in the book).

Is it part of a series or is it a stand-alone novel?
Revolution is the fourth installment within The Revelation Series. It’s a new adult, paranormal serial romance. Each book is a continuation and I often recommend reading them in order.

Where is the novel set and why did you choose to set it there?
Revolution, and the entire series, is set between England, France and Massachusetts, US. Each has a special place in my heart and all are important to the authenticity of the paranormal aspect of the storyline.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you so much?
Paranormal/Fantasy Romance is my favorite genre mainly because of the world building. There is nothing better than getting lost in a forbidden romance story that takes you on a journey through playful fantasy worlds. It’s like dark chocolate and dark roasted coffee. They just are perfect for one another. As an another, this category allows me to explore my imagination and make the unreal, real and possible. What’s better than that?

What made you want to become an author?
I’m not sure one event made me want to become an author. To be honest, I’m not sure any writer wants to be an author. I think we all just have stories to tell and share, so we do.

How do you come up with character names?
Character names are tricky. A lot of the time, I won’t name characters until I’m finished with their bio/background. Then, I research and fit names that I feel will fit their personalities and are authentic to the storyline or what makes up their character traits.

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burrnett. It was the first book I’d read that inspired me to believe in magic and emotional bonds, even as a child.

Who, or what, inspires you?
(Laughs) This is another tough question. Everything and everyone inspires me. I take my lead from people and the world around me. I love to people watch, their actions, their decisions. What they do unconsciously when they think no one is around. I think that’s part of the allure of reading, we’re allowed to look into someone else’s life for a while.

Where is your favourite place to write?
In a quiet, warm, sun-filled room. Even the darkest chapters and storyline, I prefer to write in the light.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger.

Name two of your favourite authors.
At the moment, Jeaniene Frost and Kylie Scott.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
My favorite color is yellow.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
Ewe. Um. LOL. I’m not sure who would want to. Let’s say Jennifer Aniston because she’s adorable and has great hair. Two things, I am not - lol.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
There is a house in Rockport, Massachusetts built entirely of newspapers. It’s cleverly called The Paper House. I swear, Google it.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
The final book within The Revelation Series, Restoration, is releasing in August of 2015. I have two new adult, contemporary romances slated for 2015/2016. My project list also includes some potential spin off stories from The Revelation Series.

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
Appreciate one thing about my daughter, every day.

Favourite myth / fairytale?
My favorite fairytale is Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. I was so in love with Prince Phillip for slaying the dragon. Interesting….dragons and hot princes at such a young age?

Who/What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Honestly, it changed depending on which book, or which movie I was watching. Looking back, I think like most children, I just wanted to get lost in my imagination and the stories I was read or watching. Superwoman was pretty high up there for a while.

Thanks so much for having me today, it’s been a lot of fun!

My pleasure, Randi!!

Randi Cooley Wilson is a “New Adult” Paranormal/Fantasy and Contemporary Romance author. Randi was born and raised in Massachusetts where she attended Bridgewater State University and graduated with a degree in Communication Studies. After graduation she moved to California where she lived happily bathed in sunshine and warm weather for fifteen years. Randi makes stuff up, devours romance books, drinks lots of wine and coffee, and has a slight addiction to bracelets.

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One Winner: Signed Apron, Revelation, Restraint, Redemption and Revolution signed paperbacks.

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deepFreak by Mars Dumont

Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Venus: Our latest book is a joint effort. I’m Venus and this is my band-mate Mars. We mixed his first name with my last name.
Mars: The book is about the near future when everybody is playing around with virtual reality glasses and it all gets kind of psychedelic, but suddenly things get even stranger when a parallel reality starts to bleed through and no one knows what’s going on.

What inspired you to write it?
Venus: Since I was a kid I've always wondered if I could just thought click myself into another reality.
Mars: We spent years walking with our young nephew discussing what that portal might be.

How did you come up with the idea for the cover?
Mars: I didn't.
Venus: Our main character, Audrey, is a SIM designer, so I channeled her. The actual inspiration was the constructed-light artist Dan Flavin.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
Venus: For Audrey, a 20 year old Romola Garai. For Dano, maybe Heath Ledger.

Is it part of a series or is it a stand-alone novel?
Venus: We’re already working on book 2.

Where is the novel set and why did you choose to set it there?
Mars: Somewhere in Central Europe, in the former communist block. We purposefully wanted it to be a not too familiar place.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you so much?
Mars: What genre?
Venus: What Mars is trying to say is you can't pigeon hole this book: it’s sort of a heightened pastiche of William Gibson, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Harry Potter, Flann O’Brien, Three Men in a Boat and Jane Austen, with a pinch of Clockwork Orange. Color it noir, give it a heart and there you have it. It's just how it came out.

What made you want to become an author?
Mars: I've always written but I could never think of stories.
Venus: He was a writer in search of a story and it turns out I can spin a tale on almost anything. We have many creative outlets and that's our connection.

How do you come up with character names?
Mars: I haven't the faintest idea. They just showed up
Venus: It's as much visual as anything. I also obsess about the sound, the attitude. Different but not too different. When it's right, I just know it.

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
Venus: Once upon a time I would have said Crime and Punishment, but it's been so long since I’ve read it.

Mars: I'd agree with that. Actually we both bonded over Master and Margarita, but Jack Kerouac would have to be right up there. So would Hundred Years of Solitude.
Venus: Yeah, Hundred Years of Solitude, but if I had to pick one for all times, Pride and Prejudice.

Who, or what, inspires you?
Venus: This little voice inside of me that seems to be yelling louder every year and, of course, Mars.
Mars: Venus and my copilot, the dog.

Where is your favourite place to write?
Venus: We have a retreat in the woods. That's where the magic happens.

Mars: It's in the middle of nowhere.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
Mars: Lord of the Rings.
Venus: Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Name two of your favourite authors.
Mars: Flann O’brien, William Gibson
Venus: Jane Austen, Sommerset Maugham.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
Mars: I was a founding member of Linoleum Blownapart.
Venus: My first love was fashion design.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
Venus: What, my life? Nobody would take the part.
Mars: For whatever it’s worth, I've been told I look like Gary Oldman.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
Mars: About New York City? They still can't get rid of the rats. But the dog thinks they're great.
Venus: There are worlds within worlds, within worlds. That's what I love about it.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
Mars: Book 2.

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
Mars: Get abducted by a UFO.
Venus: Have a little money someday.

Favourite myth / fairytale?
Mars: Robin Hood.
Venus: Bewitched. Does that count?

Who/What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Venus: A vet.
Mars: I did want to be a spy for a while

Mars was born in Poona, India. His father was a biologist, and research grants took his family to Mexico City, Silicone Valley, Stockholm, and finally New York City. After graduating from the Bronx High School of Science, Mars traveled around Europe and spent time in London and Prague. He finished his undergraduate studies at Columbia College, with a major in art history and a minor in physics, and then got a Masters degree at Columbia’s Graduate School of Architecture. Mars then spent many years doing architecture as a day job and playing electric guitar (for The Shameless Sycophants, Dark Blue and Linoleum Blownapart) at night, in clubs ranging from CBGB’s to the Knitting factory. Mars holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and an Elder Brother rank in Tiger Claw Kung Fu. Mars Dumont speaks three languages: Czech, Spanish and English. Remaining creative is, as far as Mars is concerned, the most important thing in life. 

Venus’ unique style took form in New York City with summers on Block Island under the supervision of her advertising mad man art director father and her gourmet cook mother. Their home was a gathering place for artists and intellectuals. As a child she wrote and illustrated her own books. Venus’ affinity for art and design eventually took her to Italy where she studied for a number of years. Although she has lived and worked as a designer in New York City for most of her adult life, she still retains close ties with friends in Florence and a love of everything Italian. Venus has a soft spot for Italian style anarchy and humanist centered dissidents. She also likes to dabble in the mysteries of Astrology and Tarot and draws on the archetypes to develop the characters in her books.

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Interview with Wolf's-own Ghost author Carole Cummings

Wolf’s-own: Ghost
Carole Cummings
(Wolf’s Own #1)
Publication date: November 4th 2014
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal

Untouchable. Ghost. Assassin. Mad. Fen Jacin-rei is all these and none. His mind is host to the spirits of long-dead magicians, and Fen’s fate should be one of madness and ignoble death. So how is it Fen lives, carrying out shadowy vengeance for his subjugated people and protecting the family he loves?

Kamen Malick means to find out. When Malick and his own small band of assassins ambush Fen in an alley, Malick offers Fen a choice: Join us or die.
Determined to decode the intrigue that surrounds Fen, Malick sets to unraveling the mysteries of Fen’s past. As Fen’s secrets slowly unfold, Malick finds irony a bitter thing when he discovers the one he wants is already hopelessly entangled with the one he hunts.​
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Author Interview
Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
A friend and I came up with the “elevator pitch” pretty ninja assassins and the demigods who love them, which is, of course, way oversimplified, but it does work hilariously well, if you’re looking for a nutshell.
The series centers on Fen Jacin-rei, who was born Untouchable—someone who channels the spirits of his people’s Ancestors. His kind were once revered for their wisdom, but when the Ancestors went mad, so did the Untouchables. Fen, however, is accidentally saved from that fate by his twin brother and then by a man called Asai, who buys Fen from his father and takes him away to turn him into an assassin. When Fen’s mother is taken for her illegal magic, Fen ventures out on his own to find her and hunt down those who took her. Unfortunately, he runs into Malick and his small band of assassins first, and is given the ultimatum: join us or die. Angst, adventure, conspiracies and twisty plots ensue.

What inspired you to write it?
All of my stories begin with a visual that creeps up on me and spins itself into a story. Wolf’s-own came about because I had recently been reading some texts on the different Untouchable castes of Eastern cultures just before I happened upon a documentary about moons. One of the visuals used in the documentary was an artist’s conception of an alien world silhouetted by a great, fat silver moon, which was in turn flanked by a smaller red one. My mind superimposed Fen—the main protagonist of Wolf’s-own—in front of the moon, crouching on a roof, long knives in hand, and then the word Untouchable kept fluttering about its edges. The word clicked with the image and immediately took on an entirely different, more sinister meaning. The rest just… happened.

How did you come up with the idea for the cover?
The amazing Anne Cain at DSP Publications gets sole credit for that one. Ghost is written in a manga format—meaning a nonlinear timeline with occasional steps backward in time to cover backstory exposition, which serves to elucidate the “present day” exposition—and Anne Cain captured the character, the mood of the world and the style of the narration perfectly with that cover. In fact, I was lucky enough to work with Anne for all four covers of the series. My only input was squealing and flailing in glee when I saw what she’d done.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
Physically speaking, Hyun Bin (South Korean actor) has the closest I’ve found to the right look for Fen, though the fit isn’t quite perfect. And Travis Fimmel, back when he was all about the hair and the pretty, works quite well for Malick. (Mal’s a bit of an egotist.)

Is it part of a series or is it a stand-alone novel?
Ghost is book 1 of the Wolf’s-own series and is best read together with book 2 of the series, Weregild. Books 1 and 2 complete one arc, and then books 3 and 4 (Koan and Incendiary) complete another, as well as exposing and concluding the overarching plot that pulls all four books together.

Where is the novel set and why did you choose to set it there?
The world of Wolf’s-own has been compared to Medieval Japan, and it does have an Eastern “flavor” to it, but it’s not Japan or China or Korea or India, or any of our cultures. It’s its own world that, yes, does contain some affectations of, and is informed by, our world, but is not of it.
Setting it there, like most of what comes out when I write, was not a choice. The world built itself along with the characters

What is it about this genre that appeals to you so much?
Speculative Fiction, for me, is a genre in which one can create worlds and societies that can speak to our own and yet maintain their otherness enough that they can show us What Could Be. And I’m all about What Could Be.

What made you want to become an author?
Author and Writer for me are two different things. I didn’t want to become a writer—I just am. Stories build themselves in my head and compel me to write them.
Honestly, I didn’t necessarily want to become an author either. I submitted a trilogy several years back because I was looking for a tax break on writing expenses, and if you can prove you’re submitting your work for possible publication, you can claim the expenses on your taxes. I didn’t expect the publisher to even read the trilogy, let alone offer me a contract for it, but they did, so here I am.

How do you come up with character names?
It’s different for every character and every story. Sometimes they name themselves and there’s nothing I can do about it. Fen (in Wolf’s-own) was going to be Fen, damn it, and he could not have given less of a damn if I liked it. Sometimes it’s necessary for a name to have meaning, like with Wil and Dallin in the Aisling trilogy, in which case I had to hunt down names that meant what they needed to mean. Kimolijah and Bas in Blue on Black (to be released by DSP Publications in June) were just names I heard and happened to like. And Lucas and Alex in The Queen’s Librarian got their names from my friend Rosina, because she was having a bad day and I wanted to cheer her up. It all depends on the characters and the overall plot.

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
Aw, man, just one? Argh! It’s so hard to pick! Okay, I’ll have to go with Lord of the Rings, because that’s the one that started it all for me, way back when I was wee and wide-eyed.

Who, or what, inspires you?
Everything can be inspiration, if you look at it the right way and keep yourself open to it. Walking the dog and seeing a torn playing card lying in the gutter can inspire you to write a story about where it came from and how it got there. (In my case, it belonged to a kid named Emory who keeps dying and then not being dead, and the very confused Reaper whose job it is to cross him over.) Anything from cataclysmic events to loading the dishwasher can be inspiration—you just have to recognize it.

Where is your favourite place to write?
Any place I have access to a writing implement. (Although I do not say no to comfy chairs in quiet places.)

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
I’m one of those annoying people who rarely likes the movies made from books. They hardly ever capture what I feel are the important subtleties or the essences of the arcs. So I’m going to go with the 1982 adaptation of The Thing, which was based on the short story Who Goes There by John W. Campbell, Jr. (writing under the pseudonym Don A. Stuart). Not only because it was the apex of Kurt Russell’s lifetime achievement for hair/beard awesomeness, but because it managed to convey the driving and very human point behind the horror of the original story, which was the fear of Other and the even deeper fear that maybe we are that Other and we don’t even know it. And it managed to do all that without actually telling us that was what it was doing.

Name two of your favourite authors.
Ack! I have so many! And they change, depending on what I’m currently reading. But I guess I’d have to pick J.R.R. Tolkien, since he kind of started it all for me by letting me tag along on Bilbo’s adventures, and then persuading me to walk in Frodo’s footsteps so I could learn that “not accomplishing” is not the same thing as “failing”. And Mary Stewart, because she solidified the whole New-Take-on-Old-Concept + Fantastic Writing = Mind-opening Experience thing with the Crystal Cave series.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
My husband and I recently acquired a service dog for our teenaged daughter. I was weirdly surprised to learn they’re not the stoic, constantly-at-attention, no-fun creatures they appear to be when they’re on duty. They’re just normal, affectionate, unconditional-love dogs who happen to behave better and who have learned particular skills. (We can’t get ours to stop bouncing, though!)

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
Ahahahahahahahahaha! That’s so funn— Oh, sorry, you were serious.

photo credit: Emma Watson 2012 Shankbone via photopin (license)

I am shockingly boring in real life. If I was interesting enough to have a movie based on me, I’d be writing memoirs. So I’m going to be entirely superficial here and go with a vanity pick. I’ve been told (by very generous souls no doubt trying to flatter me for undisclosed personal gain) that Emma Watson looks like a younger version of me, and since I wouldn’t mind being Hermione when I grow up, sure, why not, let’s say her.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
I live quite close to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where some businesses offer guided ghost tours. One in particular offers a ghost tour/pub crawl. One day, I will get someone to do that with me, damn it, but so far, no luck.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
Write, write, and write. That’s kind of it. I’ve got a new Steampunk/Fantasy novel coming out in June, several stories in the works right now, lots more planned, and I will likely continue writing Spec Fic. But the thing about stories is that they’ll be what they’ll be, so I don’t rule out anything. The only thing I can say with real conviction is that I will be writing until I can’t anymore.

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
To attend a New York Rangers game at Madison Square Garden. Which has nothing to do with writing. Sorry.

Favourite myth / fairytale?
Probably the Arthurian legends. They’ve got it all—heroes, villains, misunderstood heroes that became villains, monsters, morality tales, battles, honor, romance, magic, and—best of all—hope. I mean, who doesn’t want to believe that, when we finally screw ourselves over completely, Arthur will wake up, and he and Merlin will lead us out of the darkness and back into the light?

Who/What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Yikes, let’s just tell everyone exactly how nerdy I was, am and always will be, but I wanted to be a Theology professor. Religion is a fascinating subject, responsible for so many wrongs and rights in the world, and it would take lifetimes to dissect and analyze it all, and even then I don’t think a single person could truly or fully understand it. I wanted to be able to perpetually study all its angles, with access to any materials I might need to add to my knowledge, and the best way to do that—and still make a living—I thought would be to teach it. Since that didn’t happen, and since I also have a background in Psychology, I now write about freaky religions and twisty gods and their effects on those who worship them. (There’s a kind of distorted “full circle” in that.)

Carole lives with her husband and family in Pennsylvania, USA, where she spends her time trying to find time to write. Recipient of various amateur writing awards, several of her short stories have been translated into Spanish, German, Chinese and Polish.
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Meet the lovely Alicia Rades

Hi Alicia! Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Fire in Frost is my first full-length novel. It's a young adult paranormal about 15-year-old Crystal Frost. Crystal thinks she's going crazy when she starts seeing the ghost of a girl who died a year ago, but she soon comes to realize that her abilities are real--and that her mom is psychic, too! When people start coming to her for help, she has to figure out how to use her abilities to help them all while trying to keep anyone else from finding out.

What inspired you to write it?
I've always been interested in the young adult paranormal genre. Fire in Frost was actually a NaNoWriMo project (that took over a year of revising!). When I chose to participate in National Novel Writing Month, I knew I wanted to write in the YA paranormal genre, and this is the story that emerged.

How did you come up with the idea for the cover?

I don't remember! I drew up a mock cover for my designer, and she really made it come to life, but I can't remember where the initial idea for the eyes and crystal ball came from.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
That's a tough one. I actually investigated this a while back so I could create a "cast of characters," but I ended up creating my cast out of stock image models because I had a hard time finding actresses and actors who are the right age and have the right "look" for my characters. If it was a movie, I think it'd be made up of new actors no one has really heard of before. (Here's the link to my cast of characters)

Is it part of a series or is it a stand-alone novel?
It works as it's own novel. You won't have to go on to read the other books to see how the story ends, but I am writing two other books using the same characters.

Where is the novel set and why did you choose to set it there?
It's set in the fictional town of Peyton Springs in southern MN. I chose southern MN because that's where I was born and I'm familiar with the area. I made up my own town because I didn't want to have to get super technical with real places. This way, I could describe the town and businesses however I imagined.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you so much?
I'm a sucker for YA paranormal. That and YA dystopian is pretty much all I read. I love the pace of the stories. They're not too long, but it's not like you're rushing through the story, either. I also love the creativity and out-of-the-box thinking that paranormal authors come up with. It's so cool that you can create your own world out of the unknown.

What made you want to become an author?
I've always been a writer. Since I was 8 years old, I'd write poetry and short stories, and my teachers were constantly encouraging me to keep writing. When I was 17, I became a freelance writer. I didn't really get into long-form fiction writing until I was 19. I surround myself with writer friends, so when I saw them writing fiction, I decided that I really wanted to be a part of that.

How do you come up with character names?
Sometimes I use a Google search to browse through names until one feels right. Other times, I take the first name that comes to mind, and if that doesn't feel right, I'll change it. At first, I was going to name Crystal Charlotte and have everyone call her Charlie, but as I started writing, it just didn't feel right, so I changed it.

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
I absolutely love "The Seer" series by Linda Joy Singleton. It's what sparked my interest in the paranormal genre.

Who, or what, inspires you?
Pretty much every author who crosses my path inspires me! When I read books, I get this feeling like, "Dang, this is good. I wonder if I could write something this good." Just seeing other people's successes helps push me forward as I realize that things like being an author is possible.
I have to say that Linda Joy Singleton has really inspired me, though. Last summer, I flew out west to visit family and then drove 12 hours (one way) just to have lunch with her. She's so sweet about answering my questions and encouraging me to keep writing. I own every one of her books in print, and a dozen or so of them are signed!

Where is your favourite place to write?
I do most of my fiction writing right on my living room couch! I'd love to write outside, but I have such a tough time seeing my computer screen then.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
That's a tough question because I don't tend to play favorites with movies. :) Although I've only seen it once, I have to say that I really enjoyed the movie "Safe Haven." While the book was very well done, I actually liked the movie better.

Name two of your favourite authors.
Linda Joy Singleton and Emerald Barnes.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I graduated high school early.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?

Toronto International Film Festival via photopin (license)

People tell me I look like Rachel McAdams (pictured), and I think she'd do a great job portraying my personality, so that'd be pretty cool if she played me, although she's quite a bit older than me.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
The nearest Wal-Mart is 45 minutes away.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
It's my goal to continue making writing my full-time job (which it is, just not fiction writing). For my book plans, I have two more books in progress for the Crystal Frost series, and then I'll be working on a stand-alone novel (also YA supernatural/paranormal with a bit of scifi). Mostly, I just want to wait and see where my writing takes me and hope that's somewhere good. :)

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
Visit the Redwood National Forest.

Favourite myth / fairytale?
I can't say that I have one...

Who/What did you want to be when you were a kid?
Honestly, when I was little, I used to wish I was Pocahontas. :) In 6th grade, I was really into being an author, but for most of my life, I thought I was going to be a nurse.

Alicia Rades has always had a passion for writing and wrote her first poem when she was 8. Although most of her writing continued as poetry and eventually as song writing, she wrote a few short stories along the way. In 2010, Alicia began freelance writing, creating blog posts and other online content. Today, she is a freelance writer, blogger, and editor who lives in Wisconsin with her husband. When inspiration strikes, she's also an author who loves exploring YA paranormal ideas.
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Cheating Time by T.R. Graves

Series: Longevity #1
Release date: December 1st 2014

Synopsis via Goodreads
Carles "Carlie" Enoche's world is one that can barely be imagined. In it, babies have micropharmeceutical devices inserted in their hearts within hours of birth. The MicroPharm implant holds code that secretly counts down until the date of that baby's death (as determined by its genetic analysis) and contains drugs that are released in such a way that chemicals and hormones are in perfect balance at all times, making illness almost unheard of.
Theoretically, the known but unexposed date of the babies' deaths and the maintenance drugs geared toward giving the baby a long life have benign consequences. It is the unknown and unbelievable and unexpected way President John Barone gathers data about every child and the way he releases contraceptives from the device in order to control the population and terminate pregnancies when embryos are identified as weak or mutated that makes the device and its technology as dangerous as any malignancy.
For President Barone, seventeen-year-old Carlie isn’t just a MicroPharm first generation; she is the great-granddaughter of the man who discovered the ability to determine life expectancy down to the day and the daughter of the woman who invented the MicroPharm chip. Carlie and her family are important to President Barone's political career and the plans he has of creating a nation of strong, healthy, and superior people, who give more to their country than they take.
Jayden St. Romaine, one of the Facet's most loyal Surrogate Soldiers, is ordered by President Barone himself to find the Enoche family and kidnap Carlie. Through blackmail, he plans to leverage control over the Enoche's scientific research and the ability to develop even more tools that can be used to genetically engineer a superior race.
When President Barone sends Jayden on his mission, he never expected his perfect soldier to develop a conscience… betray his trust… fall in love with Carlie, but he's dispatched a backup Surrogate Soldier just in case. With the ticking of the clock and the second Surrogate chasing them, Jayden's chances at redemption and Carlie's chances of living a life where she is free to make choices about her life and her body are in jeopardy.

Author Interview
Hi. T.R! Can you tell us a little about your latest book? 
Cheating Time (Longevity, #1) is based in the future and tells the tale of a girl whose family is well known for their inventions. For example, her grandfather identified a technique that allows him to know - down to the day - how long a baby will live within minutes of their birth. Following his example, her mother invented an implant that can be inserted into your heart. The implant is especially important because it becomes the mechanism by which one's body can maintain a perfect stasis, one that prevents illness and/or emotional imbalances.

What inspired you to write it?
As a nurse, I'm always interested in what we could do better to maintain optimal health. The implant whereby our bodies are constantly/consistently getting exactly what it needs seems ideal... and it is until you think of all the ways disingenuous people could use it against you, turning something that has the power for good into something straight out of a nightmare.

How did you come up with the idea for the cover?
I was looking at clocks and watches, hoping something would hit me as perfect for the cover of this book. When I found this picture, I sent it to my beta-reader and asked if he liked it. He didn't message me back as I'd done him. Instead, he called and told me that the picture was perfect... that there would never be a better picture for the cover of this book. Because I respect his opinion and I agreed with him, I jumped into action and began the work needed to turn the simple picture into a book cover.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
Carles Enoche would be played by Sophie Turner who plays Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones. Jayden St. Romaine would be played by The Maze Runner's Dylan O'Brien.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you so much?
I'm committed to a world where the story drives the genre. This story felt young adult from the instant I began creating it. After finishing the book and never once feeling like there were parts that couldn't be told or conversations that felt off, I knew I'd been right. I go out of my way to make sure that a book's genre is one that allows me to stay true to the story. If there is no reason for sex or cursing, I try to make sure I don't throw it in just for the shock factor or to be gratuitous. It's more important that the world be true to the story and the words/actions be true to the characters.

What made you want to become an author?
I began writing so that I could preserve my father's and mother-in-law's personalities after they died. I wanted my children to know more about them than just anecdotal stories and to be able to conjure up their characteristics in a way that made them feel like they knew them as well as I did. I made sure to create characters that exemplified who they were, what they believed in, and embodied their tiniest quirks. To me, that was important because I didn't want to forget the oddities that made them special. I wanted to always remember the characteristics that made them unique, special, and lovable.

How do you come up with character names?
I love to look at baby name websites and pick names based on the definitions provided. Periodically, I'll have a character that can't have a normal name. In that case, I'll create the name myself.

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
I have so... so... so... many (including your series, Morgan Sisters) that it's almost impossible to answer this questions. I can tell you that I'm obsessed with Colleen Hoover right now. So much so that Ugly Love might be my favorite book I've read this year.

:) <3

Who, or what, inspires you?
The stories that spin like a tornado through my mind - searching for a way out - are what inspire me to write. I couldn't NOT tell these stories if I wanted to they are so determined to make their way out and onto my computer screen.

Where is your favourite place to write?
I find the ocean inspiring. Fortunately, I live close enough to the Gulf of Mexico that I can spend the day on the beach anytime I like.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
I loved Ever After: A Cinderella Story starring Drew Barrymore.

I ADORE that movie took :)

Name two of your favourite authors.
Again, it is quite nearly impossible for me to answer this question. There are so many amazing authors in the world, and I love their books for different reasons. Here's what I know to be true. There are traditionally published, nameless/faceless authors who are writing earth-shattering books, and for every one of them I'm grateful. Then, there are amazing indie authors - like you - who are not only writing earth shattering books but making themselves available to their fans... giving them what they want (more of themselves)... and writing books based off the fans' feedback. The ones who humbly make themselves available to their fans are my favourite authors.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
I know this will sound all kinds of crazy, but I'd have a dinner party with J. D. Salinger. I'm kind of obsessed with the story of The Catcher in the Ryeright now. In fact, it's inspired me to write Chasing the Dragon (Lost Innocence, #1) for this month's NaNoWriMo.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
While I love to spin a good yarn, I am a nurse first and foremost, one committed to a world where people get the care they need without regard for their ability to pay.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
I think that Julia Roberts could reprise her role as Erin Brokovich and do a good job at representing me. Please know that I am in no way suggesting that I look like Julia. I'm simply suggesting that I have a tendency to see a wrong that needs to be righted and dig my heels in. Since Julia's already proven she can be that person, I have every confidence that she could do the same with my life.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
I live near Galveston Island and would spend every waking moment on its beaches if I could.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
Right now, I'm focusing on NaNoWriMo 2014. Like I said earlier, I'm writing Chasing the Dragon (Lost Innocence, #1) for it. After that, I plan to finish Dark Angels of the Cross (Warrior, #4). Then, I'll begin There (Still Standing, #2).

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
Like I said earlier, I want to live on the beach. I want to wake every morning, sit on my deck, and watch the sun as it makes it way up from the horizon. I can't imagine anything better than having that as my morning view.

Favourite myth / fairytale?
I love the story of Alice in Wonderland. There is just something amazing about the rabbit hole and the adventure down into it.

Who/What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I wanted to be either Wonder Woman (can't wait for the 2017 movie) or the Bionic Woman.

T. R. Graves is the author of several new adult series. She lives in Texas with her husband and two children. Besides being blessed with a supportive family, T.R. counts her career as an administrator and registered nurse in not-for-profit hospitals among her most fulfilling accomplishments.
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The Messenger by Pamela DuMond

The Messenger by Pamela DuMond
(Mortal Beloved #1)
Publication date: December 26th 2013
Genres: Time-Travel, Young Adult

“All the excitement of OUTLANDER if it was a YA series.”

THE MESSENGER is optioned for film/TV.
Sixteen-year-old Madeline’s meant to fall in love with Samuel in every lifetime. But she meets him for the first time when she accidentally time travels into the past—hundreds of years before she’s even born.
Their relationship is forbidden—Samuel’s half Native, Madeline’s white. Every rendezvous they share must be secret. Each moment they spend together tempts the odds that they’ll be discovered and brutally punished. But their love is fated—and they musk risk it all.
Danger intensifies when Madeline learns she’s in the past not only to fall in love, but also to claim her birth right as a Messenger—a soul who can slip through time’s fabric at will. She can bring messages that change one life or even save many.
Deadly Hunters, dark-souled time travelers, crave Madeline’s powers and seek to seduce or kill her. Can Madeline find her way back to the future in time to save herself and Samuel?
Continue reading Madeline and Samuel’s romantic saga in…
The Assassin (Mortal Beloved, Book 2) — publishing early 2015.
The Seeker (Mortal Beloved, Book 3) — publishing fall 2015.
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Hi Pamela! Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
Madeline’s a sixteen-year-old girl from present day Chicago, who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks stemming from a car accident she was in with her mom. Her mom’s body was never found and it was assumed she abandoned her family. On the anniversary of the accident, Madeline’s dad gives her a mysterious handbook made by her mom filled with grave etchings, photos, memorabilia, and family trees. But she wants nothing to do with it.
The next day she’s out with her friends waiting on the el train, when she’s pushed onto the tracks in front of an oncoming train. She blacks out and wakes up—bloody and battered—wearing colonial clothes: she’s the sole survivor of a Native attack on a colonial settlement. When she spots Samuel— a beautiful, mixed-race, young man tear around the burning buildings and disappear into the forest. Except for the hot guy—this has to be a nightmare—right?
Wrong. Madeline’s time-travelled to 1675, during King Philip’s War between the Native Americans and the colonists. She’s here to be mentored by the Medicine Woman and claim her birthright—to be a MESSENGER—a person who can slip between the folds of time delivering messages that could save the life of one person, or perhaps, many. She tries to live as a young colonial woman, falls into a forbidden love with Samuel, and soon discovers there is another breed of time travelers—dark-souled, deadly Hunters who crave Madeline’s new powers and seek to seduce or kill her.
Can Madeline find her way back to the future in time to save herself and Samuel?

What inspired you to write it?
I wanted to write a YA story that had the romance of Twilight, but the action-adventure of The Hunger Games. A story where the heroine was emotionally scarred as well as scared. When she learns she is not only a time traveler, but is tasked with delivering messages and being she has to confront her fears, grow and step up if she wanted to not only survive, but be with the young man she falls in love with.

How did you come up with the idea for the cover?
Hah! This is my third cover for The Messenger. The first was very pretty - an ancient map with a compass. I quickly decided it was too ‘middle-grade’ in tone. The second cover was beautifully designed, and featured a stock image of a girl running through a forest. Unfortunately, I spotted the same stock image girl on about fifteen other covers.
When the book was optioned for Film/TV, I hired Regina Wamba at Mae I Design to do a photoshoot with model Jenessa Andrea for three books in the Mortal Beloved series. Now Jenessa will be the face of Madeline in the Messenger in this series, and we won’t be seeing the same stock photo on another Mortal Beloved book.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
I used to think Shailene Woodley before she took the role in Divergent. So now—I really don’t know. I love Natalie Dormier, but she’s in her early thirties. So I’m willing for your readers to give me suggestions as to young actresses who they adore who could fill Madeline’s shoes.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you so much?
I write YA, NA, and comedic mysteries. Everything I write has sweetness, romance, some tears, mystery and a little action-adventure.
YA feels very immediate and fresh. It’s not weighed down with unnecessary words. The stories feel more intimate, heartfelt, and approachable. After I finish the third book in the Messenger series, I have a YA stand-alone that I’m dying to complete and publish. It’s contemporary crossed with Magical-Realism. I have no idea if I should self-publish it, or look for an agent. I’m torn.

What made you want to become an author?
I’ve always written. I wasn’t sure what venue I should write in. I tried non-fiction, screenwriting—nothing really stuck. When a woman I knew got a three book deal with a large press, I thought, ‘Hmm. I should try writing a novel.’

How do you come up with character names?I named Madeline in The Messenger after Madeline Stowe who starred in one of my favorite movies, The Last of the Mohicans. I wanted a timeless, classic name for Madeline’s love interest as she would meet him in so many time periods. Samuel is a classic name as well as my grandfather’s name.
I named my heroine in my Cupcakes book after my Bernese Mountain Dog - Annie.

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares. A drop-dead, gorgeous love story with a re-incarnation theme.

Who, or what, inspires you?
My readers inspire me. Moments in life that bring you great joy or sadness inspire me. Music inspires me.

Where is your favourite place to write?
Seated in a comfy chair with my laptop resting on a rickety tray table in my living room.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
The first three Bourne movies starring Matt Damon.

Name two of your favourite authors.
Ann Brashares
Robert Crais

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
Shelly Fredman who writes The Brandy Alexander Mystery series—because I’ve had dinner with her and she is hilarious. Anne LaMott who wrote Bird by Bird, my all time favorite book on writing. And I’m going to have to go with Ann Brashares who wrote Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants as well as one of my favorite books — My Name is Memory.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I make and give a healthy dinner every night to the homeless screenwriter who lives behind my building.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?

photo credit: david_shankbone via photopin cc

Sandra Bullock or Debra Messing.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
Venice Beach, California is a crazy-pants place to live. It’s helicopters and crime and the beach and coffee houses and boutiques and a mix of celebrities, artists and loony people. I love it.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
How much time do you have? 1. I’m finishing The Assassin (Mortal Beloved, #2) and publishing it early 2015. I’ll write and publish The Seeker (Mortal Beloved, #3) later in 2015. 2. I’m finishing Cupcakes, Diaries, and Rotten Inquiries (A Romantic, Comedic Annie Graceland Mystery, #6) I have three other series I want to write new books for as well as the YA stand-alone.

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
I’d love to live in Italy or Spain or someplace gorgeous for a couple of months.

Favourite myth / fairytale?
The Ugly Duckling.

Who/What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I wanted to be my dad’s secretary, and a ballerina. I did eventually work-part time for my dad when I was a kid, but sadly I never became a ballerina. ;)

Pamela DuMond is the author who discovered Erin Brockovich’s life story, thought it would make a great movie and pitched it to ‘Hollywood’.
She writes romantic comedic mysteries, romantic YA time travel and New Adult romance.
Her book The Story of You and Me was a Quarterfinalist in the Amazon Breakout Novel Award (ABNA) 2014 in Romance.
Cupcakes, Pies, and Hot Guys was a Quarterfinalist in ABNA 2013 in Mystery .
She’s addicted to TV shows — The Voice and Reign. The movies Love Actually and The Bourne trilogy (with Matt Damon — not that other actor guy,) make her cry ever time she watches them. (Like — a thousand.)
When she’s not writing Pamela’s also a chiropractor and cat wrangler. She loves reading, the beach, working out, movies, TV, animals, her family and friends. She lives in Venice, California with her fur-babies.
She likes her coffee strong, her cabernet hearty, her chocolate dark, her foods non-GMO and she lives for a good giggle.
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Tour-wide giveaway (INTL)

A signed copy of The Messenger
20$ Amazon Gift Card
3x ebook copies of Part-Time Princess
3x ebook copies of The Story of You and Me
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Come and meet the lovely Yvette M Calleiro

Can you tell us a little about your latest book? 

I released The One Discovered, Book One of the Chronicles of the Diasodz in January this year. It follows Ar'ch (pronounced ar-rick) and Angel as they come to Earth to find Sofia, the child who has been prophesied to save their kind from dying. Diasodz are beings created by the Goddess to heal and protect humans. Several centuries ago, they abandoned their purpose by leaving to live on another world. The Goddess became upset with them and abandoned them. Since then, their powers have been fading. Book One focuses on the two boys convincing Sofia that she is one of them and must come back to their world to save them all.
Book two of the series, The One Enlightened, is scheduled to be released in December of this year. It follows Sofia's journey as she tries to make sense of her new life after the events in book one. She is left devastated at its end and needs to find the strength to pick up the pieces of her broken life and learn about the new life that has been thrust upon her.

What inspired you to write it? 

The honest truth is that I had a dream of the ending scene of book one. I woke up crying hysterically and couldn't get out of bed for a while because I had to replay the scene in my mind and try to figure out why it happened. I grabbed my journal and began writing it all out. After that, the characters just would not leave me alone until I figured out their names, their history, their personal stories, etc. That happened in 2012. I've been obsessed with them ever since. hehe...

How did you come up with the idea for the cover? 

One of the things that stood out about them from almost the very beginning was their irises. Diasodz have eyes that are predominantly one color, but there will be specks of a contrasting color embedded within that color. When they are using their skills (powers), those specks transform into images or moving pieces. So, it only made sense to me that their eyes be the focal point of the cover. The One Discovered has Ar'ch's eye on the cover. He controls the air element. The One Enlightened has Angel's eye. His skill is connected to the water element. And I can't reveal book three's eye because it will give too much away. ;-)

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters? 

This is a tough one because I am horrible with names of actors (well, most actors, anyway). ;-) Ar'ch is definitely Ian Somerhaulder. *swoon* He just takes my breath away, so it is only fitting that he plays the character blessed with the air element. Actually, the character has always been Ian Somerhaulder, even in my dream. I see Mel as the girl who plays Bonnie on The Vampire Diaries, but she'd have to have longer hair. Rafe could easily be played by the guy from The Hunger Games (wait, let me look up his name...lol....Liam Hemsworth). Sofia and Angel are harder for me. I can't picture an actress/actor that I'm familiar with that fit how I see them in my mind. I see Nolan as The Rock, except Nolan is white white. lol! I can't picture actresses for Liana, Valerie, or Damiana, either, although I see them clearly in my mind. Oh, well! :-)

What is it about this genre that appeals to you so much? 

It's a mix of reality and fantasy. I don't enjoy realistic fiction because it can really happen, and I don't want to have my mind processing things that have a possibility of taking place. There's too much stress in that. lol! The relationship, the emotions, and the characters are real in the sense that they could actually exist (minus the powers). But the worlds, the villains, and the superpowers make it surreal enough that I can just enjoy the story for what it is without having to analyze the realism in it. I love losing myself in fantasy because it helps me escape the stresses of reality.

What made you want to become an author? 

I've been writing since I was a tween. I wrote my first short story when I was twelve. I even started a sequel to it, though neither one is worth of publishing. In middle and high school, I wrote over a hundred silly poems. Reading and writing have always been a kind of escape for me, I guess. But it wasn't until I got a divorce and became a single mom that I made the decision to become an author. I had just finished reading the Twilight series and read the blurb about the author. While reading that, something clicked inside of me and reminded me of how I, too, had dreamt of writing a book many, many moons ago. Within weeks, a story formed in my mind. And then another. I wrote those two novels, but I haven't published either of them just yet. And then, the Diasodz visited me in my dream, and I knew that their story had to be shared. :-)

How do you come up with character names? 

Ah, this is a tricky question because there is a history behind some of them that has yet to be revealed. Some of the characters made it very clear to me what their names were to be. For the others, I tried to pick a name that was used during the time period in which they were born.

Name one of your all-time favourite books? 

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein. My 7th grade English teacher, Mrs. Hoffman, used to read it aloud to us, and she would change her voice for the different characters. That is where I believe I began to fall in love with fantasy books and the art of story-telling.

Who, or what, inspires you? 

Life inspires me. Love inspires me. The love for my son inspires me because he is my everything. Finding beauty in moments inspires me. Reading inspires me. My students inspire me. Anything and everything that holds positive energy within it has the potential to inspire me.

Where is your favourite place to write? 

I don't know if I'd say "favorite," but my brilliant moments tend to come to me when I'm showering, driving, or waking up/falling asleep. None of those places is the ideal place to write. lol!

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book? 

There are SO many! It's easier to tell you what movies I did NOT like that were based on a book. lol! But to answer your question, I loved The Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies, The Hobbit (whose last part is about to come in December), The Mortal Instruments, the Harry Potter series, The Hunger Games movies. The list goes on...

Name two of your favourite authors. 

As a child, I would have said VC Andrews and CS Lewis. As an adult, I'm in love with Laurell K Hamilton and (you're killing me by only asking for two) JR Ward, but there are so many others!

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why? 

Wow! JRR Tolkien to discuss the world he created, Elie Wiesel to honor him for all that he went through and all of the lives he has touched, William Shakespeare because...well...he's William Shakespeare (lol), VC Andrews to find out how her mind could write such twisted stories (that I love), and then I'd love to get Laurell K Hamilton, JR Ward, Lara Adrian, and Cassandra Claire in a room together with me and just lose ourselves in the worlds we've created.

Tell us a random fact about yourself. 

I don't like coffee. The taste and the smell repulse me. I prefer green tea. :-)

Who would play you in the movie about your life? 

I honestly have no idea. I just don't focus on actresses enough to know who would be able to represent me on film.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live. 

People where I live love to have their "cafecito" all day long. A "cafecito" is an insane burst of adrenaline all wrapped up into a mini-sized shot of coffee. (I live in Miami, FL.)

What are your (writing) plans for the future? 

I will first finish writing the Chronicles of the Diasodz. It's slated to be four books, but the characters are telling me that it looks like I'm going to have to be flexible with that number. ;-) Then, I plan to write a story that came to me as I was listening to a song about breathing (my CRS doesn't allow me to remember the title of the song). It will have a modern, YA, fairy-tale feel to it, but I don't think I've ever read anything quite like it. After that, I plan to write a YA/dystopian/fantasy novel. And then maybe, just maybe, I'll have the courage to revisit one of the two novels I have already written. :-)

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list. 

One thing on my bucket list is seeing every state in the USA. I'm an Army brat and have traveled the world; it's in my blood to travel. There are so many beautiful places to see here in America that it just doesn't make sense to me to travel all over the planet without savoring the beauty on our homeland. My parents, my son, and I enjoy taking road trips and are trying to take one each summer. We've already been to Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and all throughout Florida. This summer we plan to visit California, Oregon and Washington. I've also been to Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii before having my son. So, I'm almost halfway to my goal. :-)

Favourite myth / fairytale? 

I love anything and everything that is Greek mythology, especially the new books that are spin-offs of the original myths. One of my favorite Greek myth is that of Pandora. Another one is Hades and Persephone. And another one is Pysche and Cupid.

Who/What did you want to be when you were a kid? 

I suffer from CRS (can't remember sh*t), so I really don't remember what I wanted to be as a child. I know that in high school, I wanted to be a child psychologist (and then I took statistics...lol). For as far back as I can remember, I have been teaching. Even in elementary school, I would gather my sister and her friends, and we would play "school." I was always the teacher. I went so far as asking my real teacher for old worksheets to use with my "students." So, it doesn't surprise me that I became a teacher. I teach high school intensive reading, and I love it. I am able to combine my passion for reading and writing with my passion for teaching kids who are struggling with reading.

Yvette M. Calleiro is a heavily addicted reader of both young adult and adult novels. She spends most of her time pseudo-living in paranormal worlds with her fictional friends (and boyfriends). She’s also been known to run on the elliptical machine or ride the stationary bike at her gym for hours while reading anything from paranormal to fantasy to suspenseful thrillers.
When she’s living amongst real people, Yvette M. Calleiro is a high school Reading teacher. She’s been sharing her love of literature with her students for over eighteen years. Besides writing about the various characters that whisper (and sometimes scream) in her head, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.
Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her beautiful son who allows her to enjoy children’s literature all over again. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.

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