Guest Post: Stephanie Keyes, Author of The Star Child

Thank you very much Jennifer for hosting this stop on The Star Child blog tour! It’s great to be here today talking to you about my release of my debut novel, The Star Child.


How the Heck Did I Get Here?

On September 21st, I experienced a day that I wasn’t sure I’d ever see come to fruition: the publication of The Star Child. Why? Well, when I began writing the prologue that would later become a larger part of the

body of Chapter one, I had no idea what I was doing. Going on instinct, I just started typing out random thoughts that I’d about the singular concept of a ‘Star Child’.

At the time, I didn’t want to admit to myself that I’d started to write a book. I’d never written one. Add to that the fact that I knew nothing about publishing and even less about the format and style of a Young

Adult novel. I simply enjoyed the genre and I was sick of waiting for my favorite authors to write sequels. So why not write my own? Yeah, because that’s so much easier…

Yet that’s what I did, making the assumption that when I finally finished, I would deal with the small matter of getting the book published.

Quitter’s Complex

I can remember the jubilation when I typed the last sentence of my final chapter and pushed the book away… for six months. I’d told myself that I was just taking a break, but let’s be honest. I’d given up. Doing something with the book was now too daunting to handle. What if no one wanted it? What if I wasn’t any good? What if everyone looked at me and said, ‘You, write? Are you insane?’? You get the idea.

Focus On What You Can Control

Several months passed before I sat up and realized that I’d been spending all of my time focusing on things outside of my control.

Reading is so subjective. No one likes the same books any more than they do the same bands. It made sense that not everyone would enjoy the book and there might be criticism, there might me rejection, but I

couldn’t control any of that.

Game Changer

That epiphany led me to a new approach. Instead of thinking ‘look at how much I have to lose’, I asked the question ‘What do I have to lose?’ The short answer was nothing at all. Not only did I use that new

approach when editing my book, but I also applied it when querying publishers.

 

Something in my new and confidant approach, as well as my heavily edited book, must have been appealing. An offer came in from the first small press that I queried and I had a contract from Inkspell Publishing

just a few short weeks later.

Advice

That’s the long answer to the question. The short answer? Let me summarize – here’s the approach that I applied:

1. Focus on what you can control.

 

2. Never give up, no matter how afraid you are.

Whether you’re a writer, an athlete, a parent, a professional, or just about any one on the planet, these mantras absolutely apply to you. Whatever your dreams, no matter how big or small, keep at it, don’t give

up. Because I have to tell you, I ‘ve just held my dream in my hand and it was magickal.

To learn more about my debut novel, The Star Child, or me check out the information below.

 

 

 

 

The Star Child

 

The world is about to be cloaked in darkness.

Only one can stop the night.

Kellen St. James has spent his entire life being overlooked as an
unwanted, ordinary, slightly geeky kid. That is until a beautiful girl, one

who has haunted his dreams for the past eleven years of his life, shows

up spinning tales of a prophecy. Not just any old prophecy either, but one in which Kellen plays a key role.

 Suddenly, Kellen finds himself on the run through a Celtic underworld of faeries and demons, angels and gods, not to mention a really ticked off pack of hellhounds, all in order to save the world from darkness. But

will they make it in time?

Buy The Star Child from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  

About the Author

Stephanie Keyes holds an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems as well as a Master's in Education. A seasoned, Facilitator, Mrs. Keyes worked in Training and Development for an

international telecommunications corporation for twelve years; spending the first eight years of her career as a Software Trainer and Technical Writer and the last four working in Human Resources and Employee Development.

In May of 2012, Mrs. Keyes left the corporate world to focus on her family and her writing full-time. She also operates a freelance graphic and instructional design business, Sycamore Road Design.

 Inkspell Publishing will release her first novel, The Star Child, on September 21, 2012. She is now currently at work on the second book in The Star Child Trilogy, The Fallen Stars.

 Keyes lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two children, and Riley the dog.

Contact Stephanie

Website   Facebook:   Twitter:

Interview: Paige Cuccaro Author of Commencement

Please join me in welcoming author Paige Cuccaro author of Commencement.  

A little about Paige from Paige.

Writing was never a foregone conclusion for me. I once had dreams of being a psychologist, a pediatrician, a school teacher, a photojournalist, a bartender, and/or an EMT. And then I met my husband and my world came into focus. Being wife and mother are my highest priorities and greatest joy. But escaping to the fanciful, sexy worlds twirling through my mind is an absolute necessity. Putting those worlds, and the cornucopia of characters that people them, on paper is just plain fun.

Learn more about Paige on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

   

  Commencement is a Hellsbane novel with three additional Hellsbane titles to follow. How does Commencement fit into the Hellsbane world?   Commencement takes place 5 years before the first book in the series. Emma Jane, our reluctant—but ultimately kick butt—heroine is in college. At this point in her life the weirdest, otherworldly thing she’s experienced is herself. She’s got a strange ability to feel other people’s emotions as though they were her own. In fact, it’s that odd gift that clues her into the trouble brewing at her school.    Writing emotion can be difficult but with Emma, you have to write her emotions and her feeling everyone elses emotions. Was it difficult?   Writing the emotion wasn’t as difficult as getting across the understanding which emotions were hers and which belonged to other people.    I immediately liked Emmas friend Mihir, his honesty and complete acceptance of Emma. Were he and Emmas characters inspired by any real life people?   I’m so glad you liked Mihir! He was a great character to write. After writing Emma through 4 stories, I really enjoyed getting into the mind of a sharp witted teenage boy. Most of my characters are mash-ups of many different people in my life.    Can you tell us a little about what to expect in Hellsbane book 1 that will release in November?   In Hellsbane the weird meter goes into the red and Emma finds out just how different from most people she really is. Her whole world changes in an instant and questions she’s always had (Why does she have these strange abilities? Why is she different?) are answered. But those answers just create new questions.   Twenty-three-year-old Emma Jane Hellsbane just found out she’s not human, at least, not only human. She’s half angel, too, and now Heaven’s got a job for her: round up all the Fallen angels and their red-skinned, horned devil-demon minions and boot their butts back into the abyss. Only problem? The demons and their Fallen masters fight back…and they don’t fight fair.     Luckily for Emma, she can put a stop to the constant threat of having her head hacked off if she figures out which Fallen angel is her father—and then kill him before he kills her. Of course, in the meantime, she’ll have to avoid accidentally seducing her angelic mentor, help an old friend conquer his own Fallen sperm donor, and basically save the world from a cataclysmic divine smack down.   No one said being Heaven’s bounty hunter would be easy. But with a name like Hellsbane, Emma Jane was born for the job.   Do you have any writing rituals?   Not really. I write almost exclusively on my mini-laptop. It’s great to take with me wherever I want. Sometimes I need that just to get away from my desktop computer and avoid the temptation of email and Facebook.    You have several books out already in different genres. Do you have a favorite genre to write?   I like to write what I read so urban fantasy and paranormal romance are my favorite genres. I’ve only written 2 straight contemporary romances. I loved those stories, but it seems the woo-woo stuff finds a way to sneak into my writing more often than not.      What is your favorite genre to read?   Urban fantasy, no contest.    You have a family and enjoy life being a mom. How do you find time to write and read and be a mom?   I’m lucky to be a stay at home mom, so when the kids are in school, the house is quiet. It’s a perfect time to write. When the kids were younger, after school I switched from writer to mom. But now that my girls are older (two in college and one in high school) they don’t need me as much as they did. So after some family when they’re first home from school I can usually squeeze in a little more writing time if I need it. I’m really lucky.   You seem to be quite a lover of animals with three dogs, three cats, a parakeet and a bearded dragon named Rexy.  What is a bearded dragon and how did you end up with so many animals?   With three girls each one wanted a pet. I’m a big believer in kids having pets to love and care for. One wanted a dog and the other two wanted cats. I had a cat and fell in love with a tiny Jack Russell. And of course my husband wanted a dog. It adds up…fast. A bearded dragon is a kind of lizard with really bumpy skin. They’re pretty cool and more affectionate than you’d think. Unfortunately, Rexy passed away.     Because Halloween is my favorite holiday, everyone who stops by My Life With Books in October gets the same question. Are you dressing up this year and as what?   I almost always dress up in some way. It’s usually not a typical costume, but rather a mix and match of stuff I found that caught my eye.   What is your favorite trick or treat candy?   Snickers candy bars…KING size!     ****** Buy Hellsbane from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
 

Commencement   Hell hath no fury like a woman’s scorn for frat guys…
  Emma Jane Hellsbane knows something evil is worming its way through her college campus—she can feel it. Literally. Her freakish ability to feel other people’s emotions as though they were her own has always been monumentally awkward, and it’s easier for her to just pretend it doesn’t exist. But this time her paranormal ability just might help her save lives.
  Emma Jane’s fairly certain that whatever the hateful, egomaniacal, Godlike thing is, it’s set up shop inside her boyfriend, the frat boy/soccer star Justin. And if she doesn’t figure a way to get it out of him soon, Justin’s soul will be the appetizer to the main course—the whole student body. Problem is, the big baddy is granting sinister wishes, and with each one the risks grow higher and the phrase Be careful what you wish for becomes a real-life dire warning. Of course for Emma, what feels like it could be the end is in fact just the beginning…

*****   Thank you for stopping by Paige, we look forward to reading more in the Hellsbane series.    

Book Review & Giveaway - Three River Ranch by Roxanne Snopek

   

Three River Ranch   To save his ranch, he needs a wife. But can she save his heart?

Needing a fresh start from her two-timing fiancé, Aurora McAllister answers a realtor’s ad for a guesthouse on the beautiful, serene Three River Ranch. She shows up at Three River tired, heartbroken, and with no one but her trusty Labradoodle as a companion.

Cowboy Carson Granger has enough trouble in his life without adding a woman and her dog to the mix. There’s the untamed mustang he’s prepping to release into the wild, not to mention his father’s crazy will, which stipulates that if Carson wants to fully inherit Three River, he’ll need to find a bride. Carson wants nothing to do with love and especially not a marriage of convenience. But he soon realizes Rory, and everything she represents, might just be exactly what he needs.

Sometimes love arrives on your doorstep when you least expect it…

My Thoughts:

Most heroines in romance books drive me crazy at some point. Three River Ranch's Aurora (Rory) McAllister does not. She is a compassionate, level headed and endearing person who cares deeply for those around her, including her labradoodle, horses she has just been introduced to and the biggest surprise in her life – Carson.

Carson, a cowboy and gentleman, is stuck with Rory as a ranch hand. It’s a conundrum that neither of them wants to be in, but together they make the most of it. Carson is in a difficult situation trying to pursue his dream of helping wild mustangs but can't fully achieve his goal until he owns the Three River Ranch property. Because of a stipulation written into his fathers will, Carson cannot inherit the property until he is married. Something he does not want.

Carson's long time friend Zach suggest to him that he marry Rory to fulfill that obligation but Carson wants nothing to do with it. While Carson struggles with his own feelings toward Rory he debates if he should tell her about the will.

Three River Ranch is filled full of strong characters that are simply good people trying to do their best. Because of this the characters are easy to relate to and cause the reader to get attached to them. I loved the interactions and honesty that flows between Carson and Rory as well as their devoted friends Desiree and Zach.

I really hope that author Roxanne Snopek gives us a spin off book written for Desiree and Zach, their chemistry is great and with her writing style, I can promise you I will be buying more of her books.

What I didn’t' like:

Towards the middle-end of the book I got anxious waiting for something to happen. At times like these I end up skipping ahead in the book. I did it a couple of times in Three River Ranch not because the book was boring, but more because I was banging my head against the wall frustrated by the characters actions.

Would I buy this book?

Absolutely. It is worth the $2.99. I imagine I will be re-reading Three River Ranch on a stormy day with a mug of hot chocolate this winter. It is a feel good romance with selfless love and a happy ending making it a perfect combination.

Who do I recommend Three River Ranch to?

Lovers of romance of course! Three River Ranch appeals to the adult reader but I do think it could appeal to the New Young Adult fan too. (Older YA) There is one sex scene that is pretty sweet and not graphic.

I give Three River Ranch 4 1/2 Skulls - which means buy this book. It's a keeper and worth the money.

Because I enjoyed Three River Ranch so much I want to give a copy to YOU! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form to enter.

 
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Follow & Book Blogger Hop

Its been a long time since I participated in some Friday hops and I have forgotten how much fun they are! If you are new to My Life With Books leave a comment saying hi so I can check out your blog. I love discovering new blogs and meeting new people!   

*****  

Q: When you step out of your USUAL genre what do you like to read? Best books in that genre?

 

A: Obviously my favorite genre is paranormal, but it only accounts for half of what I read. After a paranormal burnout I had last month I have been into contemporary romance pretty heavily.

 

At this point my favorite contemporary romance has been Ophelia London's Playing at Love. Its cute, fun, relatable and sweet. One of my faves for the year.

  *****   Q: How did you find out about book blogging and what made you decide to start one yourself?   A: At the time I started My Life With Books I was a newly stay at home mom that had devoured every YA or Paranormal book my small town library had to offer. I went in search of recommended reading online and discovered a whole new wold of bloggers devoted to reading and I fell in love. I followed the book blogs for about nine months before I started thinking about starting one up. Three months after that MLWB was born. I decided to start book blogging because I was reading so many books and so many of my friends wanted to know what I recommended reading. Blogging was a natural way to keep track of books I liked while promoting them at the same time.   So far I have loved book blogging. While I don't always have the time I wish I had to devote to it, I wouldn't change it. The last 2 1/2 years have gone by quick. My blog has changed, and changed me, so much - I love it and don't know that I could ever stop. ♥     *****   Thank you for stopping by. Take a look around - I hope you find something you like!   At the top right you will see a list of contest I currently have open if you want to enter.   Happy Reading!

INTL Giveaway - Book of Your Choice 2 winners

It's Halloween time again! YAY! I love making costumes and spend a lot of time talking to our kids deciding what they want to be. This year we found a great costume contest that we entered our little Grim Reaper in.   I have no shame in begging for votes :) Truth be told, after I spend as many hours putting costumes together (Yes even the cloak is home made) I really want to win. The money would make the Christmas season much easier for us.   In turn for helping us win by voting for our little Grim, you will be entered to win one of two prizes.   First prize is a book of your choice, up to ten dollars, from the Book Depository.   Second prize is a book of your choice, up to eight dollars, from the Book Depository.   Here is some extra motivation. In order to win the grand prize for this costume contest we have to have (at this point in time) 170 votes. If we win the grand prize I will add TWO MORE TEN DOLLAR BOOKS TO THE WINNINGS! So there will be four winners.   Not only will it help me for you to spread the word by promoting this contest on your blog or tweeting it, there will be more prizes and you improve your chances of winning!    

To enter fill out the rafflecopter form. Additional entries will be given for tweeting about the contest, posting to Facebook and posting the contest on your blog.

Good luck to you (and the Grim Reaper)!

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: Construction Beauty Queen by Sara Daniel

I would like to welcome author Sara Daniel to My Life With Books today.

About Sara:

I write what I love. That means irresistible romance, captivating small-town drama, and quirky characters in romance fiction as Sara Daniel. In children's chapter books as Sara Shafer, that means fun, family and
adventure. Whatever I write, you're guaranteed a happy ending. I write fiction to entertain but also to give people hope and a belief that everything can and will turn out happily ever after.


On the personal side, I'm a frazzled maid, chauffeur, and personal assistant (aka mom). I tried a stint as a landlord of two uninvited squirrels. (The Bravest Squirrel Ever is the fictionalized version of that experience from the squirrel's point-of-view!) I'm crazy about country music and the drama of NASCAR. And I have my very own happily-ever-after romance with my hero husband.
Follow my blog, like me on Facebook or email me for the latest updates on my books and writing projects or to debate the best race car drivers!

Learn more about Sara Daniel on her website, blog, facebook and twitter.

  Veronica has a lot of determination and will power to never give up and achieve her dream. Does she get that from you?   I like to think I have a lot of determination and will power. I’ve certainly needed it pursue my writing dreams for over a decade. So, I’d be very flattered to think Veronica got hers from me. She is also assertive, outgoing and good at making connections with others, so I hope in the future I can say that I picked up a few traits from her, as well.   She has a cantankerous grandfather. Is he made from someone in real life?   Those cantankerous personalities are so fun in fiction and keep things lively in real life too! Her grandfather is not a reflection of anyone, certainly not my grandfathers. They were sweethearts. My characters are all purely fictional, not that I wouldn’t love to bring them to life and hang out with them sometimes!   What was the inspiration for Construction Beauty Queen?   Growing up in a small town where my parents have a small business was a big inspiration for me. I love stories where everyone is always in everyone’s business, helping the hero and heroine get to happily-ever-after or stirring up to trouble to make the path more difficult. I love reading small-town stories, and I loved writing this one!   Being from a small town I found your description of the lifestyle both accurate and exaggerated which added to the story. Did you grow up in a small town?   Yep, see answer above!   Do you have any writing rituals?   I sit in front of the computer and catch up on my email and social media with a cup of coffee. Then I open my writing file and stare at the screen. I write for a while, then wander the house, reheat my coffee and find some food. I write some more, rewarm the coffee, get another snack, etc., etc.   One of your characters, Pauline, makes an assortment of unusual espressos. Are you a connoisseur of unique parfait espressos? If so what is your favorite?   I’m not a connoisseur by any means, although I confess I live for the fall months when I can pick up a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks. Otherwise, I’m fairly traditional with my coffee drinks, adding just a hint of caramel sweetness or cinnamon spice.
  Halloween is coming up. Do you dress up and participate in the activities? What will your costume be this year?   Well, I always help out with the parties at my kids’ school. Then my husband takes the kids trick-or-treating, and I stay home so I can stay warm…hey, someone has to hand out the candy! Last year I dressed up as a squirrel. I’m still trying to figure out my costume for this year. Maybe a construction worker???   It seems coffee is a staple for writers. What is your writing snack/drink?   Well, I’m definitely a coffee person, as I mentioned above. I usually switch to regular soda in the afternoon or (if I’m cold) apple cider or hot chocolate. And I have a stash of Dove dark chocolates on my desk, but don’t tell anyone—I don’t like to share!   Are you currently working on any new projects?   I’ve been spending a lot of time editing various “finished” projects this fall, but I am definitely looking forward to starting something new. I have an idea for a book with a couple characters that made an appearance in Construction Beauty Queen, so hopefully that will soon be my new project.   In your about me page you list that you have your “own happily-ever-after romance with your hero husband.” How long have you been married? He’s a hero?
We’ve been married for 17 years. He’s my hero because he’s my rock and he’s so supportive of my dreams. If I wrote our love story as a romance novel, no one would read it because it lacks conflict and you’d know from page one that we were going to be together. But that suits us just fine.   What do you enjoy about NASCAR?   The dynamics between the drivers and between the drivers and their crews fascinate me. These relationships greatly impact on how they race on the track. Now that we’re in the middle of the Chase (the playoffs), all these relationships and dynamics are even more importance. I’m riveted by the drama on and off the track…and maybe a tiny bit obsessed too!

Enter to win an e copy of Construction Beauty Queen by Sara Daniel by filling out the Rafflecopter form below. Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing the book for this giveaway.

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Winners!

   

Congratulations to Michelle @ Book Briefs won an e copy of

Playing with Fire by Tamara Morgan.

Congratulations to  Molly Nudo Frenzel for winning an ebook copy of

 Lucky Break by Kelley Vitollo.

I have emailed you both so check your in boxes. I can't wait for you to read these great books!

 

Giveaway & Author Interview; From the Ashes by Adrien-Luc Sanders

About Adrien

Boy with an overly complicated name. Not so much of a boy at 32. Coffee addict. Cat cuddler. Myopic cynic. Multi-ethnic melange. Queerer than a two-dollar bill. Firefly chaser. Lover of sunflower seeds. Book devotee. Music junkie. Encyclopedia reader. Game geek. Ridiculously socially awkward. Sleeps better during thunder storms. Looks much too femme for his own good. Doesn't do it on purpose. Bites his nails. Doesn't drink nearly enough. Occasionally transforms from mild-mannered reporter into Lewis Black. Collects out-of-print books. Has a crush on Craig Ferguson. Crochets like a little old granny. Makes writing playlists. Listens to squeaky Korean girlpop. Sings along off-key. Dances like a white boy who thinks nobody's watching. Takes things apart. Reassembles with a 67% success rate. Thinks IHOP always tastes better after midnight. Loves old movies. Reads romance novels with zero shame. Engaged to an ordinary Joe who isn't so ordinary at all. Lok'tar frickin' ogar.

Learn more about Adrien on his webpage, facebook and follow him on twitter.

*****

  Your name is Adrien-Luc Sanders. You mention that some people have a
difficult time knowing what to call you even going so far as erroneously
referring to you as Mrs. or Miss. What do you prefer to be called?

Adrien or Adri. I'll even take "emo boy in the black nail polish." You can call me Mr. Sanders if you want, but only if you're--okay, I'm about ten years too late for that joke to be in any way relevant.

Immediately the first thing I noticed about From the Ashes is how
intelligent Tobias is. He is studying aberrant genetics at UC Berkley.
Do you have some background in science and medicine to understand and
write so well on the topic?

Somewhat, yeah, mainly in that I've been studying everything from genetics to advanced robotics to Plato's Theory of Forms since I was a kid. I was that nerd in the spiked leather collar who was in the library reading books on genetic epidemiology and jet propulsion systems while the other kids were out at the movies or at prom. Don't ask me how I managed to keep a boyfriend in high school. When other kids were on summer break, I was taking college courses in special summer programs. I was a hospital volunteer for years, and spent more time shadowing ER doctors and surgeons than filing paperwork or filling ice cups. In college I was one of those people who could never settle on a major, and I bounced through everything from programming to English lit to neurosurgery to animation--and even spent a summer as an intern for the NSA. Even now I'm constantly learning, and will end up on obsessive kicks where I won't stop until I've learned everything I can dig up on protein folding or something similar. So yeah--I went through a phase where I buried myself in human biology and genetics, and picked up a lot on that front. I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I'd hope I know enough to get the details right in a story.

Tobias “wants to know what makes people like me and my father
different. I want to know if it’s true that we’re predisposed to go
bad.” Several times throughout the book ethics is discussed at length.
One of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much is because it makes the
reader think about these topics and form an opinion of their own. Are
you somewhat of a philosopher? Or do you enjoy pushing the limits of
those around you and making them evaluate their ideals?

I don't know if I'm a philosopher so much as a chronic insomniac whose brain never shuts off, and sometimes in the sleepless hours of the night it'll wander onto philosophical topics. I wouldn't say I enjoy pushing people's limits and making them evaluate their ideals, either, but it tends to happen anyway just because I constantly question everything; it recently even got me into a buttload of trouble with my TA in my psychology class. I'm pretty sure she thinks I'm the messed-up sociopath, rather than my character. I do enjoy when people share their ideals with me so we can have interesting discussions about what shaped our foundational beliefs. It gives me a chance to see things from their perspective, and let them see things from my perspective. Sometimes that causes a little self-evaluation and even change, on both sides. I'm constantly re-evaluating my own ideals as I learn new things, meet new people, and adapt to new experiences. Occasionally, I'm the "new thing" that makes someone re-evaluate themselves, and I'm okay with that.

What is your opinion? Are you a nature or nurture type of person?

Both? That question's really hard to answer, as we aren't a product of one or the other, but both. We aren't born as fully-formed adults, our natures fixed in stone, but more a blueprint of an adult that will change at the base chemical and molecular levels constantly as we grow up and grow old. Much of that blueprint is defined by our genetics, but that blueprint can also be changed by life events. Severe childhood trauma can actually rewrite the chemical functions of a developing brain, though PTSD-inducing incidents can often do the same to an adult brain, making it part of the blueprint in ways that may even affect successive generations. Things like diseases and their treatment can alter a person's genetic code as viral RNA is incorporated into the human genome, with changes persisting in their offspring, but whether or not that happens depends on the treatment they receive and the medical resources available to them, and even the beliefs they were raised in affecting their views on modern medicine and its use. So in many ways nurture can change nature, though you can't change hard-coded things like a person's height, sexuality, eye color, etc.
But at the same time predisposed behavioral tendencies can be hard-wired from birth--things like inherited congenital behavioral disorders that, no matter what nurture the person receives, without chemical intervention will continue firing certain signals in the brain to trigger certain behaviors. Nature and nurture are too complexly interwoven and codependent to ever really separate one or the other out as the primary influence. That's part of what drives Tobias in From the Ashes, trying to figure out if it's in his nature to be evil because of his behavioral disorder, or if it's because he was nurtured in an environment where amoral, ruthless behavior was the standard, with a psychotic dictator for a father figure and role model. In the end he never really decided on a concrete answer save to realize that he had a choice: to choose how he dealt with his nature, and broaden his understanding of himself beyond what he was nurtured to believe.
This is one of my favorite topics to debate, if you can't tell. I'm going to hush now before I start beating my favorite dead horse about societally enforced gender roles and stereotypes versus chemically/hormonally wired gender differences and their variants.
From the Ashes is Book one in the Fires of Redemption series. How many
books will there be?

I've planned three total, and am currently working on Into the Dark, the second in the trilogy. Without being too spoilery (I hope), Into the Dark is about Sean's brother, Keane, and an aberrant who changes his life--though we also spend a bit of time interacting with Sean and Tobias from Keane's perspective, finding out a bit more about Sean's history and giving us a little more detail on their relationship after the end of From the Ashes. Especially Tobias's struggles with overcoming his conditioning, as it's definitely not an easy road for either of them. Nor is it an easy road for Keane, who can't accept Tobias as calmly as Sean does. He's very protective of his brother, and thinks Tobias is a monster who'll only hurt him and who shouldn't be forgiven for his past crimes. Keane's desire to break out of magazine editing into field journalism is even partially fueled by wanting to expose Tobias for what he is, as well as feeling like he should be more involved in the building war between humans and aberrants rather than hiding safely at home. He wants to tell both sides of the story, as he's fascinated by aberrants; Tobias is the only one he really hates.
If you were an aberrant what would your power be?

That's really hard to pick. I only get one? Um...shapeshifting, then. Definitely. Being able to change my appearance at whim. The trouble I'd get into...oh, man. It'd be epic. Though self-healing/regeneration to the point of immortality would be a close second, I think. It makes me sad to know I won't be around in a hundred or two hundred years, to see where technology and scientific development have taken the human race. I can only imagine (and write about it).
Do you have any writing rituals?

Other than threatening my husband with sharp, pointy objects if he doesn't stop interrupting my train of thought? I create writing playlists--building something of a soundtrack for my main character and my story, both to block out outside noise and to keep my own emotional responses heightened so that I can better empathize with my characters. I do most of my rough draft work in Textroom, which is a full-screen text editor that blocks out everything but you and the words; there are tons of them, like Darkroom and Q10, but I like Textroom best because it lets me set a custom background. Before I start any story I'm usually in Photoshop creating a background to fit the story and my Textroom layout, as well as customizing the Textroom fonts and colors to the general mood of the story--so when I flip over to that Textroom window, all these visual signals are there to immediately dump me into the story and switch my brain into writing mode. It also helps me separate my editing mindset from my writing mindset, as I do all my editing in Word. I totally screw with myself with Pavlovian conditioning, but it makes it easier to focus, and focus quickly. I don't get much writing time save for a few minutes stolen here and there, and I try not to waste a single second of it.
Other than that, guilty secret? When I copy the story from Textroom into Word for editing, I create book layouts. Open-facing spreads on mass market paperback-sized pages, special chapter headings, page embellishments, special fonts, layouts, drop caps, everything. It kind of gives me a little thrill to see it that way, like it's a finished, published book laid out on my screen, and it motivates me to push toward the finish line. (Though it also feels a bit like silly hubris, hence why it's my guilty secret. That isn't so secret anymore.)
You are an artist as well as an author. Do you draw as a hobby or do you
sell your work? Drawing is more a hobby now than anything, though I'm working on a special art project for From the Ashes right now. I used to be a professional illustrator and animator and even had a deal with a small publisher to produce issues of a trade-sized manga, before the publisher went under. Now I draw pretty much when the whim strikes me, though I'm still a professional designer on the side. I actually do most of the cover art for the Flirt and Ever After lines at Entangled. The weirdest thing was doing my own cover; I didn't really expect that, but it kind of turned out that way. Some days I still kind of eyeball it and think of things I could've done better with the design. I'm much happier with how the cover for the other book in the Holding Out for a Hero antho came out, for Tamara Morgan's Playing with Fire.

Halloween is my favorite time of year and all authors who interview in
this month get ask the same thing. Do you dress up for Halloween and as
what? (Spark maybe?)
I haven't dressed up for Halloween for a while, but you know, I think I just might this year just because you asked that and it made me remember how much I miss it--to just relax and be a kid again for one night. Heck, I can still pass for 17; maybe I can go trick-or-treating and score some free candy. I think the last time I dressed up was four or five years ago. I went as a male version of Storm from X-Men, and made a mess everywhere spraying temporary silver coloring over my hair. Maybe this year I'll try Kadaj from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. I'd dress up as Spark, but honestly? Sans the mask, that's almost how I dress every day. Black shirt, black jeans, boots. Tobias and I share a preference for simplicity and practicality, at least in clothing. The only thing missing is the trenchcoat, but I went through that phase in high school. (Yeah. I was one of those kids. My black nail polish. Let me show you it.)

What is your favorite old movie?

Without a doubt, The Charge of the Light Brigade. I still remember staying up until ungodly hours of the night just to catch that on Turner Classic Movies.
I’m jealous you can crochet like a granny, did you learn from someone
or did you teach yourself?

I learned from someone. I was a latchkey kid, and I lived in a house at the end of a long, winding road deep in the woods, with the only other home being a trailer situated in a clearing close by. The old woman who lived in the trailer would let me stay with her until my mother or sisters came home, when I got spooked sitting at home by myself. If I wasn't buried in a book, she'd teach me how to crochet. Her trailer was full of all these afghans and pillows and such she'd crocheted, in all these intricate patterns. I never got to be that good, but I loved sitting with her while she taught me how to chain, double-chain, etc. Sadly, she's passed away in recent years, but I still have some of the granny squares she showed me how to make, sitting in a keepsake box upstairs.
  On your about me page of your website you write that you have a Godzilla
cat, 35 pounds on a diet that is afraid of the nine pound Pixie cat. Is
he the inspiration for Tobias’ cat Samadhi?   Oh god yes. People tweet me about that after reading From the Ashes, and I love that they caught that. That part where Samadhi nearly does some serious damage to Tobias's lap? Risu does that to me all the time. 35 pounds of flab, all concentrated on a single point, all driving straight into my lap. He's had me singing soprano more than once. At least Samadhi's supposed to be enormous; Maine Coons are huge. Risu's a shelter rescue. They kept him cooped up in a little cage with no free range of motion for eight months, and all he could do was sit there and eat and get bigger and bigger. He got so fat that his flea collar was choking him and rubbing the skin on his neck raw, and no one at the shelter noticed. After we took him home and patched him up, the fur never grew back, so when he turns his head you can see this ring of white skin with no fur. We've been trying to keep him on a diet, but the poor thing just keeps spreading. That picture? Not a cat's natural tendency to expand to fill every available space. That's an honest-to-god cat the size of a rather large couch cushion. He's such an adorable little (okay, huge) marshmallow, though, and we love him to death.   *****

From the Ashes

Sociopath. Killer. Deviant. Monster, devoid of morals, incapable of human emotion. The villain known as Spark has been called that and more, and as a super-powered aberrant has masterminded countless crimes to build his father’s inhuman empire.

Yet to professor Sean Archer, this fearsome creature is only Tobias Rutherford—antisocial graduate researcher, quiet underachiever, and a fascinating puzzle Sean is determined to solve.



One kiss leads to an entanglement that challenges everything Tobias knows about himself, aberrants, and his own capacity to love. But when his father orders him to assassinate a senator, one misstep unravels a knot of political intrigue that places the fate of humans and aberrants alike in Tobias’s hands. As danger mounts and bodies pile deeper, will Tobias succumb to his dark nature and sacrifice Sean—or will he defy his father and rise from the ashes to become a hero in a world of villains?

   

Enter to win one e book of Adrien-Luc Sanders From the Ashes by filling out the rafflecopter form below. Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing the ebook of From the Ashes for this giveaway.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Interview: Contract for Marriage by Barbara DeLeo

Today My Life With Books brings you an exclusive interview with one of the characters of Contract for Marriage by Barbara DeLeo.   *****
Okay...hang on, ladies....sit back in your chairs again and fan yourselves off a little.......It’s not the gorgeous hero, Christo Mantazis, or the feisty heroine Ruby Fleming that we’re chatting to. Today we meet Stella Mantazis, Christo’s mother as she sets some records straight, give us some unique insights and tells us what’s been happening in the world of our favorite tycoon.   CeeCee magazine: Thank you so much for meeting with us today Mrs. Mantazis and taking part in our “Mothers of Famous Sons series”—   Stella: A piece of lemon cake? Or a custard pie? I have cheese pies too (places a large serviette on reporter’s knee then produces two plates with a flourish) The custard pie is Christo’s favorite.   CC: I...ah...umm. Oh, what the heck. Sure, I’ll take some custard pie. (Tucks serviette under chin and picks up fork) So, what do you believe made your son such a success in business, Mrs. Mantazis?   Stella: Well of course it was the ladder.   CeeCee: (frowns) The ladder?   Stella: Christo always say there is a ladder to climb. Coming from where he did—the son of a single immigrant working class woman, the ladder he has to climb is longer than for many people. When he has to climb so far he becomes strong.   CeeCee: Some have suggested he may have tried to save himself a few rungs on that ladder by connecting with Ruby Fleming as a young man.   Stella: (leaning forward, frowning) Who say this?   CeeCee: (sitting back a little in her chair) Well, nobody specifically, but it has been suggested that he’s always made connections that would benefit his financial position.   Stella: (chuckling as she waves her hand to indicate the magnificent lounge room) You think my son needs more money? That he would make connections just for this? You do not understand the heart of my son, Mrs. Journalist.   CeeCee: (stops chewing, a little in awe of Stella’s reprimand) Well, perhaps he doesn’t need to behave that way now, but maybe in the past?   Stella: (cutting the lemon cake into enormous squares) When my son was a young man he fell in love with Ruby Fleming but he didn’t understand the actions that are required to follow the words of love.   CeeCee: I don’t quite understand.   Stella: That is because you will have low blood sugar if you only eat that much. Have a piece of the lemon cake. I made it fresh this morning. And take a cheese pie.   CeeCee: (pushing the remaining crumbs aside to make room for the cake) Thank you. You were speaking about love and actions.....   Stella: Ahh, yes. Neither Christo nor Ruby understood that it takes so much more than words to show how deep your feelings are for someone. You must show these things in what you do.   CeeCee: You must have been very surprised and a little disappointed, then, when they announced their engagement so quickly. Wouldn’t they have needed longer to show their love after so many years apart? It doesn’t quite fit that they would marry so soon after meeting up again.   Stella: (fixing the reporter with a firm stare) I was surprised, yes, disappointed, no. How can I be disappointed when this marriage is for the good of everyone who will live in this house? For Christo, Ruby, the beautiful baby, and me.   CeeCee: (stops chewing) You mean this marriage wasn’t for love? That it was merely to assist the four of you to live in this house?   Stella: (holding up a finger) You need to know their story Mrs. Journalist. Until you know the story of Christo Mantazis and Ruby Fleming, until you watch them day-by-day you can’t begin to understand the power of what goes on between them.
*****   To find out exactly what has gone on between Christo and Ruby (and to read more about Stella and her food!) pick up a copy of Contract for Marriage.
Buy from Barnes and Noble or Amazon or Kobo   You can find Barbara at:
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Barbara’s Bio

Barbara DeLeo’s first book, co-written with her best friend, was a story about beauty queens in space. She was eleven, and the sole, handwritten copy was lost years ago, much to everyone’s relief. It’s some small miracle that she kept the faith and is now living her dream of writing sparkling contemporary romance with unforgettable characters.

After completing degrees in Psychology and English then travelling the world, Barbara married her winemaker hero and had two sets of twins. She still loves telling stories about finding love in all the wrong places, with not a beauty queen or spaceship in sight.

  *****   Thank you Barbara DeLeo, CeeCee Magazine and Stella Mantazis for the wonderful magazine article. You can read my review of Contract for Marriage here.  

Contract for Marriage   Property tycoon Christo Mantazis wants the one thing his riches can’t buy—the villa where his mother has lived and worked as housekeeper for forty years. That it’s the same house he was banished from after being caught making love to the owner’s irresistible daughter stirs up old memories, and now he wants her more than ever.
  Magazine editor Ruby Fleming’s not about to give up her home to Christo, the man who broke her heart—until she discovers her mother left half of the estate to him, and she realizes she’s trapped. When Christo offers a marriage of convenience, Ruby knows it’s the only way for them to get what they want. Ruby needs a link to her past, and Christo needs his mother to retain her home.
  But it’s another need—to have Christo again—that Ruby must resist at all costs. 

    Look for the sequel to Contract for Marriage - Last Chance Proposal - out January '13 from  Entangled Indulgence.      

End of the World Giveaway Hops Sign Ups

   

  Announcing the End of the World Giveaway Hop December 14th to 21st
Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
& My Life With Books   The Myan calendar end this year - will the world? I doubt it but just in case, what book would you save?   The End of the World Giveaway Hop is your chance to give away a book that you love enough to save or a book about the end of the world. You can offer one or more books to giveaway or allow the winner to choose a book that fits this criteria.   The contest starts on 12/14/12 and ends on the last day of the world, 12/21/12.   Hop Rules
You must giveaway a book you love, a book worth preserving, a book worth passing on... etc. Or a book about the end of the world.

This is a 1 mandatory SIMPLE entry hop (all others must be optional).

My standard hop rules apply! View them HERE if you are not familiar with them.

To sign up to host a giveaway add your blog or website to the linky with your shipping info in parenthesis following your blog name. If you forget I will assuming you are shipping to the US only and add (US) for you.        

Blog Tour Playing at Love: iPod giveaway and Interview Ophelia London

Playing at Love

When it’s glee vs. gridiron, can love level the playing field?

Show choir teacher Tess Johansson loves three things: music, her job, and sharing that passion with her students. But when a school budget crisis forces funding to be pulled from either the sports or music programs, she finds herself going head to head with Jack, the gorgeous new football coach who broke her heart fifteen years ago.

Jack Marshall wants two things: to be closer to his young daughter and to make his mark as a football coach. Taking the new job, with the promise that he’d have time to build a solid team, gave him both. But now he must win the season with a group of boys who aren’t anywhere near ready or he’ll lose everything he’s worked so hard for. Being pitted against Tess, the summer love he never forgot, is like being fourth and long with only seconds on the clock.

On opposing sides of a fierce battle and with everything at stake, Tess and Jack find themselves torn between doing what it takes to win and doing what it takes to be together.

Meet Ophelia London, author of Playing at Love, my favorite contemporary romance novel of the year.

You hear about chemistry and you feel chemistry in the real world. But Jack and Tess, two fictional characters HAVE chemistry. How did you come up with it? Contain it? Write it?

Aww, thanks! I’m so glad their chemistry comes across on the page. That doesn’t always happen. A lot of what I write comes from my real-life experiences. I think when you take something that actually did happen, it’s much easier to make it feel real to readers.

You left one very open question yet satisfying conclusion in Playing at Love. Does this mean we get more of Jack and Tess?

In the spin-off (coming soon…hee-hee) we see Jack and Tess about six months later. But they’re only secondary characters this time. I won’t give anything away further.

What about Tess’s BFF Mac? Do we learn her fate?

Mac was so much fun to write. I love to write humor, and Mac was definitely my comic relief. Most of the funny lines come from her. And YES! We do get more Mac. The spin-off is about her and another character from the first book. I’m already in love with it. 

Were your characters inspired by anyone in real life?

Yes and no. But mostly yes! (My friends call me the “Taylor Swift of romance novels.” So, if we date, be nice to me. Otherwise, you’ll most likely be used as fodder!) One of my most recent breakups was used as inspiration for some of Tess’s trust issues. I’ve been in the dating game a loooong time. I have a whole lot of personal experiences to draw from.

Are you more a Mac or a Tess kind of girl?

Mostly Tess. But I wish I was as quick-witted as Mac. 

On your website you have a list of 40 things to do before age 40. How is that list coming along and what inspired it?

I finished the list on the morning of my 40th birthday back in April. Just under the wire. The inspiration was that I felt really stressed about that particular birthday, so I thought it would be beneficial to do things that made look forward to it and prepare for it. And it ended up being a total blast. I tried so many cool things that I probably never would have, otherwise. At the birthday party my friends threw for me, they gave me a book with 40 MORE things to do in the next 40 years—all contributed by friends and family. Some of them are pretty major, like visit The Holy Land and eat every kind of Blizzard at Dairy Queen. I have a lot of work to do!

What task has been the hardest to do?

The one that I put off the longest was “run the stadium stairs.” I love to run but was waiting for the weather to get nice. Then time kind of ran out. The morning I set out to tackle that item, I couldn’t find a single high school track that was open. I drove around for 2 hours. I was about to jump the 15-foot fence at one school but since I was leaving town the next day, I didn’t want to miss my trip because I was in the slammer.

You’ve seen Star Wars, the Phantom Menace 16 times? How many times did you see the other five movies and which is your favorite?

The original trilogy was a staple at my house growing up. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve seen those three. Let’s just say…a lot. Attack of the Clones, I saw in the theater 3 times and Revenge of the Sith, I saw 5 times. I really like the new movies, but I’m a Hans Solo girl through and through. The Empire Strikes Back is easily my favorite Star Wars movie.

Do you dress up as Princess Leia for Halloween? If not Star Wars, then will you dress up for Halloween and as what?

Funnily enough, I have never dressed up in anything Star Wars related. Lately, I’m something dead. A few years ago, I was directing a play. Just to get back at the cast (which consisted of a lot of my friends), I dressed up as a 1920’s silent movie director who was stabbed to death by my cast. The face makeup was gruesomely awesome!

You love all things Hitchcock, will you ever write a horror/thriller?

I did write the first few chapters of a teenage slasher story, a la Scream. But I ended up with too many suspects and not enough plot. Even as the author, I didn’t trust anybody! For now, I think I’ll stick to romance.

What is your favorite karaoke song to sing?

Oh boy, now there’s a great question! Right now, my favorites are “Miss Odis Regrets” (Ella Fitzgerald) “Only Prettier” (Miranda Lambert) and, of course, “Call Me Maybe” (Carly Rae Jepsen).

Do you have any writing rituals?

Not really. I prefer to have the dishes done and a clean email inbox before I start. I have another kind of writerly ritual, however. Right after I got the news that Entangled Publishing was going to buy my first novel, the song playing in my car was “Just My Luck” by the British band McFly. Now I play that every time I’m celebrating something exciting in my writing career.

You love cupcakes and chocolate in general. What is your favorite treat?

Oh, man. That’s a toughy. At the moment, my absolute favorite cupcake is chocolate ganache from this little local bakery called In the Mix. I want to weep just thinking about its utter deliciousness.

*****

About Ophelia London

Hey there. Nice to see you. You might know me as Ophelia London—the chick writer who signed with Entangled Publishing. (squeee!!) I sometimes go by that other name, too—but she’s way less exciting. Born and raised in California, my car broke down on my way to Florida, and I've lived in Dallas ever since.

During daytime hours, I am the marketing department's “Head Babysitter.” But when the sun goes down, the laptop comes out. I Am Writer. Hear Me Type.

"Playing at Love," the first book in my Sweet Kisses series, will launch into the ebook universe on September 25, 2012 Its spin off, "Speaking of Love..." will land in January 2013.Both are part of Entangled Publishing's brand new Bliss imprint. Isn't that the cutest name?

My dreamy little debut print novel, "Abby Road," is slanted for a March 2013 release.
Until I find true love and/or become a famous pop star, I’ll keep writing about it.

I love great books, sweet treats, complicated sweaters, live music, looking at Adam Levine, and all things Hitchcock. I can dwell for hours over changing a comma to a semi-colon. Pretty shoes make me happy, as do pretty cupcakes and chocolate in general. I loathe writing query letters. It sometimes takes me a week to read a 250-page novel because I’ll read a sentence, smile, think about it, love it, then reread the entire page to relive the full effect. I dream about being at the beach practically every day but love being cozy at home most of all. I don’t deny that I’m not cool enough for Coldplay but a bit too cool for Mandy Moore—both are all over my iPod. I’ve attended 20+ shows at London’s West End, and I saw (in the theater, first run) "Star Wars, the Phantom Menace" 16 times. Most days you can find me wishing I was wearing a fabulous hat or singing karaoke in my car. I find Ryan Seacrest both fascinating and repulsive. I firmly believe that my conflicting personality makes me charming; as does my sarcasm

Learn more about Ophelia on her blog and facebook. Follow her on twitter @ophelia_london and Goodreads. Buy Playing at Love on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

In celebration of Playing at Love's release Ophelia is giving away a new iPod loaded with a playlist inspired by the book!

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