Running into the Darkness Blog Tour: Guest Post by D.A. Bale + Giveaway!

  Even though I'm on a blogging break, I wanted to take some time and introduce to you a suspenseful read by D.A. Bale. Before I let D.A. talk about her expectations of what makes a good suspense/mystery book, check out the cover and synopsis for her book, Running into the Darkness, and be sure to check out the cool giveaway at the end of the post.

Death follows Dr. Samantha Bartlett throughout her life until it claims everyone close to her. There's one powerful man responsible on whom Samantha sets her sights for revenge. The price is her soul. For centuries, sex has been the weapon of men...now it's her turn.
“I never intended to kill the President. As a doctor, I swore an oath to protect life – not take it. But that was before...”
Second year resident, Dr. Samantha Bartlett, is swept from the frigid New York winter to once again confront the sting of death back home – and face those she left behind. But she’s not alone. A strange man she dubs Shades haunts her every step as she seeks answers to the inferno which claimed her grandmother, an eerie reminder of her parents’ deaths. The secrets Samantha uncovers forever changes her image of those she only thought she knew.
Confronted by Shades, Samantha joins a secret underworld known only as the Elite, where a web of power and control is woven deep within governments worldwide. Their sights are set on the power structure of the United States, and Samantha becomes the unlikely key to infiltrating the White House at its most intimate levels.  The quest for blood threatens to destroy Samantha. From the darkness there is no escape.

D.A. on what makes a good suspense/mystery read

  Have you ever picked up a novel and got what you expected?  Now let me ask another question.

Was this a good thing? Call me weird – and yes, I’m okay with that designation – but I’m not necessarily happy with the expected when I read.  Don’t get me wrong here; there are certain anticipations with every genre. When you read romance, you know the guy will eventually get the girl.  With mystery, you’re trying to figure out who did it.  Horror, you expect to pee your pants when the boogeyman jumps out from under the bed.  Readers are typically perusing the shelves for something familiar from their genre of choice.

 But what if you were surprised?  Pleasantly surprised? Thrillers and suspense are some of my favorites:  action, adventure, and the bad guys getting their butts kicked by the good guy/girl.  However, when I figure out pretty much the entire plot in the first few pages, it turns what could have been an interesting read into a real letdown. So in my opinion, what makes a good thriller?  I’m glad you asked.

   Thrillers are usually known for action, action, and lots of action, but I also like moments woven into the story that allow me to get to know the primary characters.  What is it in their backgrounds that play into motivation for why they make the choices they do throughout the novel?  How have their choices led them to where they are?  These tidbits give them purpose, help me determine whether their actions have merit and make them feel three-dimensional – like real people.  I need to feel connected to them in some way.

 Layers to the storyline add depth and dimension, keeping me guessing as to what potential direction(s) the novel could take.  It’s a good book when I am not sure what happens next or how a character or event ties into the main arc.  Many stories are very linear:  point A leads to point B, to point C, and so on until we get to point Z.  That works for a lot of people.  But I love the novels that take me from point A to point M, back to D and so on.  That’s rather the way I write too!  But the important thing is that all of these little loose ends eventually tie together somehow.  If secondary or tertiary characters and situations are tossed in willy-nilly and never meet the main arc somewhere, it just seems more like unnecessary filler.

 What about the bad guys?  They need to be REALLY bad!  Not caricatures, mind you, but nasty, sick, twisted, and messed up characters who don’t give a rats-rear-end about anyone but themselves and the power they crave.  If you have any knowledge of history, it’s full of super nasty individuals (Hitler anyone?).  You many have experienced a few bad guys of your own in real life – I have too.  When there’s a really good bad guy, it makes their comeuppance that much sweeter.

Believe it or not, a dose of humor makes for a good thriller read too.  Humor gives another element of depth to people, as long as it is still true to the character and isn’t too disruptive to the story flow.  It also allows for a bit of a breather in the midst of non-stop action and when the stakes ramp up and threaten to spin out of control.

So give me a good thriller to read any day, as long as it keeps me on my toes, on the edge of my seat, and still guessing about what’s coming when I turn the page.  This, in my opinion, is what takes the expected into the realm of pleasantly surprised.  Happy reading!

 Thanks for the enlightening post, D.A.! If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, it is available at Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords.

To learn more about D.A., please visit her website, on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

Tribute Books is kindly giving away a $25 Amazon gift card or PayPal cash to one lucky reader! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Forbidden Mind Blog Tour

  While I'm taking a blog break, I wanted to let you know about a really interesting YA paranormal romance series called The Forbidden Trilogy by Kimberly Kinrade. As my part in the I.O. Blog Tour for the Forbidden Trilogy, I'm here to share with you the cover and synopsis of Forbidden Mind, the first book in the Trilogy. 

She reads minds.
He controls minds.
Together, they might get out alive.

49% of Americans believe their government officials are honest.

I don't know these officials, or their supporters, but I know their secrets, and 49% of Americans are wrong.

My employers pay me well to be right, to know things others can't. But I don't know why they brought that boy in, strapped to a stretcher, barely conscious. He asked me for help when I could give none.

I'm a wealthy spy, a talented artist, a martial arts black belt, and a prisoner. They tell me that on my eighteenth birthday, I will be released, free to go to the college of my dreams. It's my eighteenth birthday, and a man in black is at my door. I know he's not here to free me. I know, because I can read minds. My name is Sam, and this is my story. 

 Want to learn more and buy a copy of the book? It's available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks.

You can find author Kimberly Kinrade at her website, on Twitter, and on Facebook.  

Zenn Scarlett Blog Tour: Guest Post

  I'm very excited to be part of the Zenn Scarlett blog tour. Today I have a guest post from Christian Schoon, the book's author. Before we get to the guest post, here's the book cover and description for Zenn Scarlett:

When you're studying to be exoveterinarian specializing in exotic, alien life forms, school... is a different kind of animal. 

  Zenn Scarlett is a resourceful, determined 17-year-old girl working hard to make it through her novice year of exovet training. That means she's learning to care for alien creatures that are mostly large, generally dangerous and profoundly fascinating. Zenn’s all-important end-of-term tests at the Ciscan Cloister Exovet Clinic on Mars are coming up, and, she's feeling confident of acing the exams. But when a series of inexplicable animal escapes and other disturbing events hit the school, Zenn finds herself being blamed for the problems. As if this isn't enough to deal with, her absent father has abruptly stopped communicating with her; Liam Tucker, a local towner boy, is acting unusually, annoyingly friendly; and, strangest of all: Zenn is worried she's started sharing the thoughts of the creatures around her. Which is impossible, of course. Nonetheless, she can't deny what she's feeling.

  Now, with the help of Liam and Hamish, an eight-foot sentient insectoid also training at the clinic, Zenn must learn what's happened to her father, solve the mystery of who, if anyone, is sabotaging the cloister, and determine if she's actually sensing the consciousness of her alien patients... or just losing her mind. All without failing her novice year...

Guest post:  Recent NASA news indicates that it is possible for life to survive on Mars. If you were offer a chance to leave Earth and settle in Mars, would you take it? If so, how would you live your life?

   Yes, the analysis of drilled surface-rock samples taken by NASA’s Curiosity rover on Mars seem to show that in the distant past there was sufficient water and the required mineral/chemical resources to potentially support life. Pretty awesome news. Generally this is taken to mean microbial life, but there’s certainly room for informed speculation that higher forms of life might have existed on Mars.
   

 Of course, the Curiosity rover is giving us data about conditions on Mars millions of years ago, not Mars today. Back then the planet most likely had a much thicker, more protective atmosphere, warmer temps and liquid water on the surface. But, humans heading off for a vacation in the Valles Marinaris now would either be spending all their time inside their pressurized, heated, air-filled habitats, or putting on fairly bulky pressure suits before stepping through the airlock and rambling around outdoors.
   

 Would I go to Mars and settle there if it meant living in a dome, probably small, probably crowded, probably a one-way trip? Naaaah. With our current technologies and habitat options, I don’t think living on Mars would be enjoyable. Now, if you’re talking ginormous, Los-Angeles-basin-sized domes with open air forests and farm fields and room for animals (and, important: room for my lovely wife and all my OWN current animals…) I’d give living on the Red Planet some very serious thought. But that’s far in our future.
  

  This line of thought usually leads someone to mention terraforming of planets. But again, we Earthers won't be tweaking any planets in this way for, ohhh, the next few thousand years. And, to my way of thinking, investing the vast resources needed to make an entire planet human-friendly is a waste. We don’t need the convert the entire surface area of a world like Mars in order to live there productively.
 

  In my SF novel Zenn Scarlett, I propose a middle path. Only selected canyon systems on Mars are made suitable for habitation. This is achieved by my patented Barymetric Ionic Membrane Generators. Bary-gen devices are anchored at strategic positions along the upper reaches of canyon walls in canyon systems running along the Martian equator where sunlight is maximal. When activated, the Bary-Gens radiate a translucent layer of energetically ionized molecules from rim to rim of the canyon. To seal the area underneath the shielding ionic membrane, the walls and floor of the canyon are hermetically sealed with a hyper-polymer emulsion that bonds soil particles together into a gas-tight but liquid permeable barrier. Sunlight warms the canyon floor and the resulting radiant heat is trapped beneath the ion barrier, melting permafrost beneath the canyon floor. This water sublimates into vapor, this evaporation then works to create a natural water/rain cycle within the protected canyon. Next, suitable cover plants are sown on the canyon floor. Watered by the on-going permafrost/rain cycle, the plants grow and produce oxygen; supplemental nitrogen gas is added, filling the sealed canyon systems with breathable air. And bob’s your uncle.
   

 OK… so there might be a few holes in my grand mini-terraforming scheme, but it works well enough for Zenn and the other colonists to survive quite nicely on my future Mars. Come and visit these comfy Martian canyons for yourself! 

Thank you for your enlightening post, Christian! Zenn Scarlett debuts in the UK on May 2nd. It’s out in the US and Canada on May 7th. If you would like to learn more about Christian, you can find him at Goodreads, his blog, on Twitter, and at his publisher's website. 

Blog Tour: Angel Chronicles: A Privilege - Excerpt + Giveaway!

  I'm delighted to once again to participate in the blog tour for Amy Lignor's Angel Chronicles series. I've  heard such good things about these books. Since I'm a bit impatient about cliffhangers and series, I thought I'd wait for the final book, A Privilege, to come out before jumping in the lives of Emily and Matthew. If you are curious about this series, the first two books are $0.99 on Kindle and be sure to enter the giveaway for book 3 which is generously offered by Tribute Books!

A Privilege:
The Angel Chronicles, Book 3

The beloved Angel/Warrior team face pure evil in their final climactic story!

The first time they were sent down, Irish lives were led. Emily, the angel, ended up embedded in murder and lost in the realm of true love. While Matthew, the warrior, took over a life that left blood on his hands and anger in his soul.

With their second coming, Emily found herself facing an oncoming war that brought her to the shores of America. While Matthew tried desperately to unveil the evil character of a young man who was intent on locking his partner in a ‘gilded’ cage.

Now...Emily and Matthew find that their lives are all their own. Yet, all the memories, hatred, longing and regret have come hand-in-hand with this newfound freedom.

In small town U.S.A., Matthew finds himself loving his new life. From his military school existence to a new, ‘odd’ friend who’s arrived in town, Matthew’s looking forward to graduation and heading off into a brilliant future with Emily by his side.

Emily wants nothing more than to hide. Although doing her best to fit in, she lives a life on the edge, wondering when her past love with reappear to either forgive or seek revenge on the angel who let him down. Battling the shadows that seem to be breaking her soul in two, Emily soon discovers that her small, quiet town has a secret that’s beyond dangerous...

As she and Matthew join forces to help a ‘haunted’ victim, they open the door on a mystery neither of them can believe. A true villain has returned from the past, and not even their heavenly family will be able to save them. This time they’re on their own, as they face a fight that could lead them straight to Hell…and end the angel/warrior team forever.

Kindle * Nook * iBookstore
Smashwords * Google * PDF

Excerpt

Without a word, Matthew reached out, took Emily by the hand and pulled her down beside him. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “I knew my Emily was still in there.”

Out of the blue, the room became incredibly hot, as if Gabriel had entered in order to give a lesson to his favorite students. “What?”

“That spark.” He pulled Emily’s face closer before she could push herself away. “You’ve been acting all this time like you’re just here to sit and wait it out until you’re lucky enough to go Home. But you’re still in there, Emily. You still have all that energy and belief in there and you want to do something. That’s the partner I know.”

Shaking her head, Emily listened to her own breathing intensify as she stared at his full lips and wondered why she felt so completely and utterly strange...vulnerable even. “I want to help this girl. This is a job, maybe my only job down here. She saw a ghost and she wants me to help her out, that’s all.”

“And you will.” Matthew captured Emily’s lips, and she could no longer feel the breath in her lungs. Completely different than the one kiss they’d shared up above so long ago, this one was far more demanding, as if Matthew was a young man determined to kiss his human love for the very first time.

Sitting back, Emily practically jumped off the bed.

“I’m sorry,” she heard him whisper behind her. “I guess I was just excited to see you again.”

Not trusting her voice, she remained silent.

“We have jobs, but we also have a life to live. Our own lives this time around. Maybe you should think about adding that into your angelic plans.” Matthew continued softly, “Jason isn’t here, Emily.”

The name being said out loud sent a chill down Emily’s spine. It reminded her of the vow she’d made a long time ago—a vow that an angel couldn’t break.

She cleared her throat. “It doesn’t matter if he’s here. We were sent to do a job, and maybe helping this little girl prove her story is what I need to begin.”

Standing up, Matthew looked as if he was a man who wanted nothing more than to turn back the clock and erase the name he’d spoken aloud. He walked to the open window. “Well, I hope the job goes well. Good luck with it.”

“Matthew,” Emily took a step toward him. “Don’t leave like this.”

He nodded at the book on the bed. “You have your mission, Emily...your job. Ghosts, goblins, lost souls—knock yourself out.” He took a deep breath. “I wonder when you’re going to figure out that the living souls around you would like some of your attention as well.”

Closing her eyes, Emily shed silent tears as she heard his feet hit the ground beneath her window. A friend, a partner, the one who actually listened, was now just an angry young man racing back to The Armory—a place where warriors reigned.

Emily sighed. She’d done it again. No matter how hard she tried to be good, her mouth always got her into trouble. She needed Matthew to understand. She’d made a promise to a young man a long time ago; a promise that was supposed to last for eternity. How was she to know at the time that their eternity would include death by her hand? Had the second time around broken their vow? Emily had no idea. But whatever happened she could not and would not offer Matthew her heart if payment was still due for her past sins. Above all, Matthew was the last person who deserved to be punished for her mistakes.

Author Amy Lignor

Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Books 1 and 2 are now 99 cents on Kindle!
   




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Earth Day Celebration Tour: Picture Book Reviews + Giveaways!

  I'm very happy to be included in the Earth Day Celebration tour hosted by Candace’s Book Blog & CBB Book Promotions! Today I'll be reviewing author Stephanie Lisa Tara's picture books. Along with the reviews, there are two great giveaways associated with this tour! Check out the giveaways at the end of this post.

Description: It s a headline we all have seen: Global warming is melting the Arctic. Once the Arctic sea ice has vanished, the majestic polar bear, a magnificent creature who needs the sea ice to survive will vanish, too. The ice is home to the bears, as well as to their primary food source, the ringed seal. Polar bears feed, mate, travel, den, and give birth on the ice. Some scientists say polar bears will be extinct within fifty years if something isn t done, and soon.

Review: In this eye popping picture book, young readers are introduced to the world of polar bears. The mother polar bear is raising cubs to threats posed by global warming. The oversize format features vivid and almost life-like watercolor Arctic scenes are best when shared with a group. Unfortunately, the pages leave an overly busy impression, partly because of the illustrator's detailed style but also because they are printed on paper that features a subtle snowflake background and border. I just wished the text was a bit more clearer and simplistic of what global warming is about. I can see many young readers be confused and ask a lot of questions of why the glaciers have melted. I think this book would work best with some previous classroom preparation, discussion, and lessons about global warming.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for K-2.

If you like this book try: The Magic School Bus and the climate challenge by Joanna Cole, The Glaciers are Melting! by Donna Love


Description: On a quiet, moonlit beach, a baby green sea turtle stirs from a dream of home. Slowly, slowly, with a tap, crick, crack, the baby turtle embarks upon a mysterious nighttime journey. Gentle, tender verse and enchanting illustrations carry this tranquil tale from sand to sea.

Review: Gorgeous watercolors chronicle the journey of a baby sea turtle from its hatching to its first swim in the sea. Unfortunately, the text is not quite as good, as it tries to be to tell many stories at once. First, there's the sweet, but incorrect, idea of a baby turtle seeking a reunion with its mother, reiterated on every page. Next is the actual journey of the baby sea turtle. There are scientific facts included in the story, but they are kind of hard to glean from the spare text. I think this picture book would have been better if it was wordless since the meticulously detailed illustrations provide excellent context clues. If you are reading this for scientific facts, you will be disappointed but readers reading for the sweet mother and offspring relationship will find much to enjoy.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for K-1.

If you like this book try: The little sea turtle who was afraid of the ocean by Barbara Lesser, Don't worry, be happy : a sea turtle story by Seth Ofgang, Totty by Paola Opal



Description: Gwynne, Fair & Shining is a twenty-four page children's book, written in verse, about a young girl who learns she is special and can be anything she wants to be.

Review: Although I loved the energetic pictures, I had a really hard time with this book. The world of Gwynne was unclear as characters came and went, which left the important message of a child realizing that he/she is special and can be anything he/she wants to be without much of an impact. The text could have been stronger to reinforce the pictures. Still I would recommend this book to children who like eccentric characters. There is much to like about the bold and happy Gwynne.

Rating: 2 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for K-1.

If you like this book try: Our Granny by Margaret Wild, The Adventures of Granny Clearwater & Little Critter by Kimberly Willis Holt

Description: Even when you are little, you can imagine big. At closing time a key locks the library, and unlocks the dreams of a little mouse who waits in the shadows. Skipping, sliding, down the pages of books? he steps inside magical stories, inviting readers to come along for the ride. Witty verse and fantastical illustrations celebrate the joys of reading in this tale with innovative charm.

Review: This is my favorite of the pictures that I've reviewed today. The idea of finding yourself being part of the stories you come across is extremely creative. As readers, I think we picture ourselves as the protagonists in the books that we read subconsciously. The drawings and text are whimsical. Though I would have liked a bit more of a background of how the mouse found himself in the library and what happened to him at the end. Young readers will have fun connecting the text to the fun pictures.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Words of Caution: None. Recommended for K-1.

If you like this book try: Bats in the Library by Brian Lies, A Story for Bear by Dennis Haseley


There are TWO fabulous giveaways for this tour!

Giveaway #1:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway #2:

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: Things I Can't Forget by Miranda Kenneally

   I'm absolutely delighted to participate in a blog tour for Miranda Kenneally's latest release, Things I Can't Forget. Many thanks to Sourcebooks for allowing me to part of this blog tour and to read an advanced reader's copy of the book via Netgalley. Be sure to stop by tomorrow for my review of the book! Below is a guest post by Miranda on what inspired her to write Things I Can't Forget. 

“Why Different Beliefs and Values Fascinate Me”

When I was sixteen, one of my closest friends got pregnant. At the time, I certainly hadn’t agreed with her decision to have sex, especially with a guy who wasn’t her boyfriend, but she was still my friend, so I wanted to stick by her. A lot of kids at my school ridiculed her and made fun of her, especially guys. I remember being shocked that one boy was particularly hurtful to her, and I couldn’t understand it because I knew he was trying to convince another friend of mine to have sex. The whole situation was crazy, especially when other kids started teasing me for being friends with a girl who was pregnant.

Still, I knew I had to stand by her, so I spoke to a woman at my church and we found a special home my friend could go away to so she could have the baby, put it up for adoption, and stay in school. My friend ended up never coming back to my high school.

I was proud of the decision I had made, to help my friend and stay by her. A couple years later, when I was 18 and still in high school, the same friend got pregnant again. This time by a different guy. And this time, she wanted to have an abortion. Her parents refused to help her, so my friend turned to me again. She didn’t need money, but she needed someone to drive her to the abortion clinic and bring her home after.

I was so pissed at her. I knew her parents wouldn’t let her go on birth control (!!!), but I’d told her to buy condoms. Still, this was a friend who had stuck by me through high school and had been my friend even when she was much more popular and prettier than me, but ultimately I decided I couldn’t help her. It wasn’t that I was against abortion – honestly, I’d never much thought about it, but I worried what other people would say if they found out I helped her get an abortion. My parents would be pissed. Kids at school would tease me again, just like when my friend got pregnant the first time. My church would be totally upset.

I had no thoughts of my own.

My friend found someone else to help her. She paid some random man to drive her there and back, which was totally unsafe. Our friendship kind of dissolved after that, but I often still think about what happened.

What if I had helped my friend? To this day, I don’t know if I made the right decision or not. At the time, it was a decision made based mostly on other people’s beliefs, not my own. Today, I probably would do whatever a friend asked of me, regardless of what I believe. It’s not my decision to make.

Things I Can't Forget, my third book, is about a girl named Kate, a devout Christian, who makes a decision to help her friend get an abortion, and afterwards she has to deal with the guilt and the resulting fall-out of their friendship. This book isn’t autobiographical at all – I was never as devout as Kate, but I feel this book gave me the opportunity to explore the guilt and to show that “your truth isn’t necessarily everyone else’s truth.”

I know that a lot of readers were shocked when I decided to include religion in my books Stealing Parker  and Things I Can't Forget (this will be my final book that explores religion), but religion is a big part of people’s lives here in America. The last census said that 78% of Americans claim they are Protestant. I wouldn’t call myself a Christian – I haven’t been to church in 12 years, but I still often think about what I believe, and I want teenagers and readers of all ages to know they can believe whatever they want to believe, regardless of what their parents and friends say. You need to make your own decisions.

Things I Can't Forget also aims to show that you can be friends with people who don’t necessarily believe what you believe, whether it’s about your idea of heaven, or Coke vs. Pepsi, or Mets vs. Yankees. This book is all about a willingness to be open.

If I could go back in time to my 18-year-old self, I wouldn’t tell myself whether or not I should help my friend get an abortion. I’d tell myself to do what I know in my heart to be right.

 Thank you for sharing, Miranda! Things I Can't Forget is such a thought provoking journey of self discovery. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I really hope you all check it out! Things I Can't Forget will be published on April 1st, 2013 by Sourcebooks. 

 

Kate has always been the good girl. Too good, according to some people at school—although they have no idea the guilty secret she carries. But this summer, everything is different…

This summer she’s a counselor at Cumberland Creek summer camp, and she wants to put the past behind her. This summer Matt is back as a counselor too. He’s the first guy she ever kissed, and he’s gone from a geeky songwriter who loved The Hardy Boys to a buff lifeguard who loves to flirt--with her.

Kate used to think the world was black and white, right and wrong. Turns out, life isn’t that easy… 

Author Interview with K.J. Klimasz

  Happy Monday! I'd like to introduce to you a brand new author, K.J. Klimasz. Mr. Klimasz is here to day to talk about his current release, Murders, Bikers, and a Meteor, which an eclectic collection of short stories.


Hi, K.J.! Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Can you please tell us about your current release?


   My new release is called Murders, Bikers, and a Meteor. The book is a collection of short stories that I’ve written over the past couple of years. The stories range in genre from crime drama to science fiction, with story settings in the 1950s, ’60s, ’90s, and today. The stories are dark in nature, and it seems that my best work tends to run a little on the dark side.



Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?


    I started writing fiction in high school, but back in the ’80s personal computers were not very common and to be honest my typing was horrific. I walked away from writing altogether thinking that writing wasn’t my niche. I didn't get my first computer until the late ’90s. By then I figured my imagination had went unused for so long that it was gone, a use it or lose it kind of thing. A few years after that I met a gal, fell in love, and we got married. Shortly after we were married my new mother-in-law passed away, and my wife took her loss really hard. My wife began having panic attacks at night. I would ask her if there was anything I could do for her, and she replied, “Just talk to me.” I couldn't think of anything to say, so I closed my eyes and just started randomly making up stories for her, and she would eventually fall asleep with me telling her stories. After a while I had gotten the bug to write again, and I had came up with quite a few good ideas for novels, but I knew that I wasn't ready to tackle a project of that size, so I started writing short stories. Stories that I’m happy to say don’t put my wife to sleep. Over this last summer I decided to go through all of my short stories and publish a collection of my best ones.




Can you tell us the story behind your book cover?


My book cover and book title are tied together with one another. After I submitted my manuscript, I still didn’t have a title for my book and the publisher
told me I needed to have a cover designed. The publisher then gave me the name of a graphics design company that they refer their authors to. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted for a cover, and I was having trouble picturing what it should look like. If I can’t picture it, how am I supposed to describe to somebody what it is I want?
I went for a walk, hoping I would come up with some rough idea for a cover design and then I remembered that I had an old friend from high school that used to work in video game graphics, so I gave him a call. He asked me what I thought of the old pulp fiction book cover designs from the ’50s and ’60s. I looked up pulp fiction book cover designs on the internet; saw some examples and I liked the idea. After seeing the old book covers and titles it didn’t take me long to come up with my own book title. I sent my title and some excerpts from my book over to my friend, and a day later he sent me my cover design and asked me if I would like to make any changes with it. I told him it’s perfect, don’t change anything.


What approaches have you taken to marketing your book?


In addition to this blog tour, I also have an author’s website at http://www.kjklimasz.com, and my wife would like to create an author’s facebook page for me.


What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?


I get almost all of my story ideas, characters, and even dialogue pushing my lawnmower around my yard. Every story in my new release started with an old Honda lawn mower with a squeaky wheel making laps back and forth across my yard.
   Every writer dreams about being able to earn a living and support themselves off of crafting their stories. I once heard someone say, “If you’re going to dream, dream in Technicolor.” and if my Technicolor dream was to come true, I’d be able to say, “I earn a living mowing my own lawn.”


Do you plan any subsequent books?


  I am currently working on my first novel. The book is a mystery that starts out with two boys finding a body floating in a river. Once the victim’s identity is revealed the list of suspects grows with each new twist.
I think organization is the key to successfully writing a mystery, so I’ve spent a lot of extra time laying this story out, working in subtle foreshadowing and plot twists. I’m hoping to have the book completed next summer.


Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.


  I’m currently reading Duma Key by Stephen King. I admire writers who can write in the first person. I say this because I’ve done a little first-person writing. At first I thought, “Oh, writing in the first person would be easy. I only need one point of view for my story.” What I didn’t realize is that as a writer you have to go into character when you write, and you have to use your character’s speech pattern to tell your story. You need to give the reader the impression that your character is sitting right beside them next to a dying campfire, and your character is stirring the glowing embers with a stick and telling the reader his or her story in their own words. Stephen King has done this very well with his character Edgar Freemantle. Like all of King’s books he has great character development and an imaginative story line. If you like Stephen King’s work, you’ll probably like Duma Key.

Thanks for stopping by, K.J.! Good luck on your first novel. Readers, if you would like to know more about Mr. Klimasz and read an excerpt from Murders, Bikers, and a Meteor, please check out his website.

Gilded Wings (Angel Chronicles #2) Excerpt + Giveaway!

 I'm excited to participate in the read-along blog tour of Amy Lignor's Gilded Wings, book two of her Angel Chronicles series. If you are in the mood for a supernatural romance read, be sure to check out the tour and enter the giveaway below!

When Matt and Emily are sent on their second mission they have no idea how truly dark human nature can become. Emily never wanted to face humans again. With the heartache that went on down below, she’s still trying to figure out how to save souls that don’t deserve saving. The only one she wants to see again is Jason - the young man she fell in love with who became the soul mate she simply can’t forget…
   Matt was trained to protect and defend the souls down below. Longing to feel the heartfelt emotions that come from being human, Matt wants nothing more than to have just one life - one chance - to live and love the girl of his dreams…
  The powerful team find themselves in a brand new century, living in the Gilded Age of New York City. Emily takes over the body of Anya, a young Russian girl who arrives on Ellis Island after a hideous tragedy. There she meets up with a strangely familiar young man by the name of Drew Parrish, who helps Anya survive in an unknown world of luxury, snobbery and…obsession.
   What Anya’s inner angel doesn’t know is that the soul she loves is also back. This time around Jason goes by the name of Max Carrow. Once a quiet and kind boy, he’s now part of the ‘Four Hundred Club,’ and wants nothing more than to be among the most admired as he climbs the shaky ladder of society’s elite. As two worlds merge, Emily and Matt struggle under the weight of their “Gilded Wings.” Not only will they have to figure out who they should fight to save, but they must also face a romantic choice that could destroy them both.

Here is a little excerpt from the book for the read-along tour:

“That’s true,” she agreed. Disappointment entered her voice, “He’s just like William Astor; he can’t really stand all the society ridiculousness. But he has to care...for Max and Myles.”
Drew offered a reassuring smile at Anya’s worried look. “Acceptance into that club isn’t something you need to strive for, Anya. They’re even worse than Brighton, believe me.”
“Oh,” Anya stated sourly. “Him.”

“Exactly.” Drew laughed. “Most boring group of people you’d ever want to meet.”
Hope ignored his remarks and continued her ‘who’s who’ tour of American society. “Mrs. Astor never liked the Vanderbilt family. She thinks they’re basically businessmen—a very common lot. But Alva Vanderbilt erected a stunning cottage in Newport, Rhode Island that rivals Beechwood. I’ve never been inside, but from what little I could gather from Mitchell, the thing is massive. Supposedly every room is filled with crystal, bronze statues and expensive works of art. Now...let’s shop!”

Follow the tour from the beginning, by check out these blogs below:

GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ten Great Steampunk Novels (you might not have heard of) by M.K. Hobson

 I'm delighted to be part of the Warlock's Curse blog tour which is hosted by CBB Book Promotions. Ms. Hobson's debut novel, The Native Star—the first book in her Veneficas Americana series—was nominated for a Nebula award in 2010. She lives in the first city in the United States incorporated west of the Rockies. Her favorite writers are Theodore Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, Booth Tarkington, Gore Vidal, and William S. Burroughs. The Warlock’s Curse is her third novel. Ms.Hobson is here today to give us her recommendations for ten great steampunk novels we may have not heard before! To make browsing easier for you, I've included book covers from Goodreads and linked the titles to Amazon.

M.K. Hobson's Ten Great Steampunk Novels (you might not have heard of)

With Christmas coming up, I bet many readers of Books In The Spotlight will find gift certificates for books in their stockings. Well, the readers who have been nice, anyway. And those who have been naughty surely have better ways of getting their hands on books than waiting for some fat man in a red suit to slide down the chimney with a gift certificate. So however you get your hands on them, here’s a list of ten great steampunk books you might want to check out in 2013!

Ironskin by Tina Connolly: The elevator pitch for this one—a “steampunk Jane Eyre with fairies”—really doesn’t do justice to this compelling, lyrical tale. Whether you’re a fan of steampunk or Charlotte Bronte, you’ll like this one.









Mechanique by Genevieve Valentine: A powerful tale set under the big top of the magical Circus Tresaulti. It’s simply chock-a-block with beautiful imagery, such as the mechanical wings which lay at the center of a epic power struggle between two fascinatingly damaged characters.









 Heart of Iron by Ekaterina Sedia: This book as intelligent as it is gripping, set in a in a Russia where the Decembrists' rebellion was successful and the Trans-Siberian railroad was completed before 1854. A prime example of steampunk set outside the by-now-somewhat-yawn-worthy streets and alleyways of “foggy London.”








What Lies Beneath the Clock Tower by Margaret Killjoy: A devilishly delightful “choose your own adventure” steampunk novel with colonialist gnomes, indigenous goblins, and no small amount of political consciousness. This one is as intriguing as it is enjoyable.








 The Falling Machine by Andrew P. Mayer: This “steampunk superhero” book takes place in a Victorian New York powered by the discovery of Fortified Steam, a substance that allows ordinary men to wield extraordinary abilities. Super fun, with a strong heroine.







 God Save the Queen by Kate Locke: I like to take my steampunk with a large helping of magic, and there are plenty of magical creatures in this one. I especially like what Locke does with her goblins.








The Kingdom of Ohio by Matthew Flaming: I am cheating a bit, because I can’t classify this one as purely steampunk, but I think it will hold a lot of appeal to readers who like steampunk. And it has a beautiful love story, which I think everyone likes.







New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear: I don’t think there’s anything Elizabeth Bear *can’t* write—and steampunk is no exception. In this collection of interlocked short stories, hard-boiled sleuth Abigail Irene Garrett contends with Spanish vampires, blood sorcery, and dirigibles in an colonial Victorian America where the Revolutionary War never happened..






The Women of Nell Gwynne’s by Kage Baker: This isn’t really unknown, as it was nominated for several awards, but it’s a novella, so it may have slipped under the radar. The titular women of Nell Gwynne’s not only work at the most exclusive brothel in London—they are also secret agents.







 All Men of Genius by Lev A.C. Rosen: I started this list with a “steampunk Jane Eyre” so it seems only appropriate to end it with a “steampunk Twelfth Night.” I generally go for darker fodder, but this one was sweet and light and fun.








 Thank you so much for stopping by the blog today and giving us new authors and books to discover, Ms. Hobson!

THE YEAR IS 1910. Eighteen-year-old Will Edwards has landed a prestigious apprenticeship at Detroit’s Tesla Industries, the most advanced scientific research center in the United States. It’s a plum prize for a young man who dreams of a career in the new science of Otherwhere Engineering.
But his father doesn’t want him to go. And he won’t tell him why.

Determined to get there by any means necessary, Will finds unexpected support along the way. His old friend Jenny Hansen—daughter of a San Francisco timber baron—is eager to help him for reasons of her own. And so is his estranged brother Ben, who he hasn’t seen in over ten years.

But running away turns out to be the easy part. On the first full moon after his eighteenth birthday, Will is stricken by a powerful magic—a devastating curse laid upon his ancestors by the malevolent sangrimancer Aebedel Cowdray. Will must find a way to control the magic that possesses him—or the vengeful warlock’s spirit will destroy everything and everyone he loves.

 Readers, if you would like to know more about Ms. Hobson be sure to check out the links below:

• Book Website
• Amazon Book Page 
• Amazon Author Page 
• M.K. Hobson's blog  
• M.K. Hobson's Facebook page
• M.K. Hobon's on Goodreads
• Twitter  

Glimmer Tour: Barbara Brooke's Audience

 As part of the promotional tour for Glimmers hosted by Candace Book Blog, I'm very happy to have the author of the book, Barbara Brooke, on the blog. Today Barbara will talk to us about her audience.

Who do you write for? 

   I write for people who enjoy traveling to another time, eating exotic foods and pretending that anyone can attain a superpower. Paige has the ability to “glimmer” into other people’s lives and experience their memories. Her first glimmer takes her into the life of a young girl from West Virginia during the 1980s. I wanted this story to have the same Southern warmth from books like The Notebook and Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Paige’s second glimmer throws her into an uncomfortable moment from her sister’s life … and reveals a secret that Paige would rather not know. The third glimmer pulls her back in time to 1818 England, into the life of her great ancestor Emma. Emma’s story is charming and elegant like Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre.
   Through Glimmers I was able to bring elements from some of my favorite books. I was able to explore different personalities and talents through the perspective of four unique women. My taste is eclectic. I adore many styles of writing, as well as an array of settings, personalities and moods. I suspect that I’m not alone when it comes to altering my surroundings depending on how I feel at any particular moment: diving into a specific book, immersing inside a particular movie, devouring certain foods or humming to just the right song. Glimmers was written for women 16 and older, but can also be enjoyed by the fellas. I could name a few men whose eyes welled, just a bit ;) 

  I've noticed that some men are closet romance readers so it's not all that surprising to see them pick up your book. I love the sound of the story within the story feel to your book. I'm also excited to see how the concept of Glimmers work. Thanks for stopping by, Barbara!

A simple touch and suddenly, Paige is in the past - living someone else's life, seeing the world through their eyes, and feeling their deepest emotions.
 Paige used to think memories only existed in one's mind. But now, she knows better. She can't explain how or why, but she has glimmers: special moments that have remained behind - clinging to a letter, a ring, even a worn-out pair of boots.
  When Paige returns from each glimmer, a small part of her has changed. Who is this gourmet cook, fashion designer, feisty lover? And how is she supposed to explain this to her family without them thinking she has completely lost her mind?
  Paige thought her new talent was a gift, until…she was suddenly transported into her sister’s memory, and caught a glimmer of her secret life.

Author Interview with Elisabeth Doyle + Giveaway!

 As part of the promotional blog tour for War Stories, I am delighted to have author Elizabeth Doyle on the blog today to talk to you all today about her book. Ms. Doyle is Doyle is a writer and attorney living in Washington, D.C. She studied fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College and the University at Albany, and is completing a Masters of Laws Degree at Georgetown University Law Center. Ms. Doyle’s short fiction was published in the literary journal Nadir and was awarded the University at Albany’s Lovenheim Prize for best short fiction. Her first short film, Hard Hearted One, was admitted into the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema and the Street Films Film Festival, and was shown on Public Television and Manhattan Cable. War Stories is her first collection of short fiction.

Before we get to the interview, here is the cover and description of War Stories:

We all carry our own battle scars.

This is the premise of War Stories, a rich collection of short fiction that draws upon both the literal and figurative meaning of its title. Through a diverse array of characters, settings, and circumstances, War Stories delivers a series of powerful tales from the home front of war: the stories of parents, siblings, and spouses of those who have fought, as well as those who have returned from battle.

Set against the backdrop of contemporary conflicts, War Stories’ compelling nine narratives tell of a wounded veteran who seeks renewal through an imagined relationship with a neighborhood girl, a grieving father who finds peace and reconciliation at the site of a disastrous bus crash, a young woman who searches for identity and meaning in the wake of her husband’s injury, and an urban teenager engaged in a fateful standoff with local recruiters. Interspersed with these tales are powerful, non-traditional “war stories” – of youth, unexpected loss, and heartbreaking love.

War Stories’ thoughtful and beautifully crafted tales, which range in style from deceptively simple to rich and complex, tell of people young and old, male and female, who share two things: humanity and resilience. These diverse and deftly written stories are joined through Elisabeth Doyle’s remarkable style and ease in creating a universe full of despair, hope, and dreams. At turns tender and harsh, tragic and yearning, these stories will leave you wanting more.

Please welcome Ms. Doyle to the blog and if you're interested in War Stories, be sure to scroll down for the giveaway information!

Please tell us about your current release.

War Stories is a lean collection of short fiction – nine stories – many of which are set against the backdrop of contemporary conflicts, including the war in Vietnam and current wars.

Can you tell us about the journey that led you to write your book?

   In January 2002, I traveled for the first time to the country of Vietnam. I went there on a bit of a lark – a childhood friend of my mother’s was working there and had extended a kind of “open invitation” to visit. For some reason, I decided to go. Maybe I shouldn’t say “for some reason” – I was born during the war in Vietnam, and the conflict endured throughout my early childhood. I had vague memories of the images of war that flickered on our small television screen each evening. Usually, these images were mere background to our lives – they played out as my mother cooked dinner. No one seemed to pay great attention. I also had vague recollections of the scenery of Vietnam – some mountains and a village. I’m not sure where or when I saw those early childhood images – perhaps on a news program, or in a later documentary.
   In any event, I traveled to Vietnam in 2002, and it’s safe to say that the experience changed my life, and opened for me new doors of interest, of passion, and of compassion. I returned with a deep and abiding interest in the war in Vietnam, its history, and its effect on American soldiers and Vietnamese citizens. I read – and continue to read – anything that I can get my hands on regarding the war. I focused primarily on first-hand autobiographical accounts by soldiers.
I had a background in fiction writing, but hadn’t written a short story in years. When I relocated to Washington in late 2006, I resolved to return to writing, mostly at the urging of my mother and grandparents. Away from the distractions of family and familiarity, in a new city, I was able to find the peace in which to write. It should be noted that I did not set out to write a collection of short stories on the topic of war. In fact, I did not set out to write a collection, at all. I just wrote – one story after another. And what I found, as I wrote, was that the theme of war continued to assert itself in each of these stories, in one way or another. After years of reading and learning, war had apparently become the foremost, organizing principle in my mind; the circumstance around which all other things revolved. It emerged as a theme that linked all of the new stories that I wrote, without conscious or deliberate effort or planning on my part.
   It should be noted that these are not combat stories, nor do they attempt or purport to be historically accurate or to give voice to the actual experience of those who have fought. Only those who have had to fight, or who have lived in a war zone, can truly understand that experience. These stories are just that – stories – written with the deepest respect and empathy for those who have found themselves in such extreme circumstances, and who have faced the kind of difficult, unforgiving choices that most of us can only imagine.

Can you tell us about the story behind your book cover?

   Sure. Well, suffice it to say that the book cover underwent a lot of changes, much to the annoyance of the cover designer, who (nonetheless) was a wonderfully good sport about it. It was important to me to create a cover that was NOT obviously rooted in or reflective of the topic of war. This was so because, first, the title “War Stories” is used both literally and figuratively. That is, while the majority of stories in the collection are set against the backdrop of war, other stories are not. These additional tales reflect “war stories” of another kind – the kind that we might all experience. So I wanted the cover to encompass all the themes in the book.
  I chose to use a triptych of photos - a series of photos that could each be traced, if a reader so desired, to one or more of the stories in the collection. The characters in the photos are loosely representative of several of the characters in the book.

What book on the market does yours compare to? How is your book different?

I don’t really think that I can make comparisons – each book, each author, are entirely unique.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I tend to write in a “spare” style, and make a deliberate, conscious effort to avoid sentimentality or over-statement of any kind. That’s just me. I don’t know that I succeed, but I try to convey the characters’ circumstances and states of mind without excess or manipulation of the reader. I also deliberately write without any “message” or agenda in mind. None of these stories, even those that are set against the backdrop of war, are intended to convey any kind of political message, and none of them were written with any kind of agenda or judgment. I wouldn’t even begin to know how to write a story with an agenda or message in mind. In general, I write short stories as a series of vignettes – as moments in time, things that happened - from which the reader can draw his or her own conclusions, messages, etc. I prefer to leave the interpretation of the “meaning” of my stories in the hands of the reader.

Do you plan any subsequent books?

I hope so. I’ve begun a growing list of new short story ideas, and I hope to begin working on them in the very near future. I’m looking forward to that. I also hope to segue back into filmmaking at some point, to work on one or more of the documentary projects that I’d like to explore.

Tell us what you’re reading at the moment and what you think of it.

I’m a bit of a history buff, and (in particular) have a longstanding interest in the civil war and the civil rights movement. I’m currently (slowly) reading through the Taylor Branch trilogy about the civil rights movement – I’m working on Part 1 of the series, which is called “Parting the Waters.” I’m so deeply moved by the courage of those individuals – known and unknown – who put their lives and safety on the line for the higher purpose of justice and freedom. I can only hope to develop some small fragment of that kind of courage. I also just purchased several new books – “The Fiery Trial – Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery” by Eric Foner, and a history of the civil war by Shelby Foote. I think the civil war and the civil rights movement are pinnacles in the evolution of our nation, and moments in which we can observe what is highest, best, and most divine in humanity.

GIVEAWAY     

 

 Thanks to the generosity of Ms. Doyle and Tribute Books, I have one (1) paperback copy of War Stories to giveaway to one (1) lucky winner! To enter, simply leave a comment with your name and email address so I can contact if you win the giveaway. The giveaway will run until SATURDAY, November 10th. The winner will be randomly picked by Random.org and announced on my blog on SUNDAY, November 11th. Good to luck!

Excerpt of Red Serpent Trilogy + Giveaway!

  Can't get enough of vampire fiction? Looking for something different than your run of the mill vampire fiction? Check out Rishabh Jain's Red Serpent Trilogy that blends science fiction and paranormal into a unique story.  Be sure to checkout the giveaway at the bottom of the post for a chance to win a copy of the book!

Here's a brief description and cover of the book:

The Red Serpent Trilogy presents a highly evolved vampire to fear: cold and callous, powerful and dangerous, possessed by mystic promises and destroyed only by silver. It is the year 2021 — the human world has degraded, its inhabitants unworthy of the supernatural gifts bestowed upon them. Compelled by ancient prophesy, an ancient vampire army takes the human race by force, sparing few lives. They await the second coming of their king, Anaxagoras, which will hurl the world into a final battle that will free the vampires from their infinite hiding. But by the hands of fate, there is one human who may save his entire race.
    The Red Serpent Trilogy is a celestial fusion of science fiction and fantasy, unfolding conflicting intentions for the survival of both the human and vampire races. But in a world ruled by supernatural and mythological forces, there is only room for one race, and neither will go easily. The few survivors of the fatal vampire onslaught escape to an asteroid space station, Regnum, where they thrive as they keep an attentive watch on the vampires on the earth below. But unbeknown to himself or anyone else, Alex, half human half vampire, holds the keys to secrets that will help him realize his duties and cement his fate as either a human or a vampire.

Mr. Jain was kindly enough to give us a glimpse of his book with an excerpt from the first chapter of his book:

Chapter 1
Blessed Mother and Child
The year 2025

It was past young Alex's bedtime and his mother came by his room to tuck him in. He said to his mother, "Mom, since it's my birthday, will you tell me a story, please?"

"Yes, dear, I will," she said sweetly to him, patting his back as he lay down on his bed, and she tucked him in. "This is a legend about a world different from ours. It was a world filled with people like us, and was bigger than the Monolith of Faith, and had a great big round shape."

Alex's eyes widened; he had never known of anything bigger than the Monolith of Faith. It was the largest monument in his world.

"It had large amounts of water, which separated places as big as our world. The people there were many, who dwelled in peace and harmony, until one day flying humans, the vampires, killed them and took over their world."

"Mommy," interrupted Alex, "What are vampires?"

"They're these monstrous creatures, who have long teeth and—"

"As long as my teeth?"

"No, even longer." Alex was perplexed. Everyone at his school made fun of him because of his long teeth, but now he was amazed that there were people who had longer teeth than his. Unfortunately, such people existed only in his mother's myths and legends, not in real life. "Anyway, they also were able to use powers, which burned the trees, and kill humans by drinking their blood."

"Wait a minute, what are trees?" he asked in confusion.

"They are like O2s*," answered Minerva.

"Are they still alive?" asked Alex curiously.

"Yes, they are," said his mother, with anger and sadness in her eyes.

"What happened to the other humans?"

"Go to bed, it is too late now," she said in a hushed voice, and then kissed him on the forehead.


* In Alex's world, the trees were given a special name due to their extraordinary properties.
 

GIVEAWAY

  Thanks to Tribute Books, I have one (1) paperback copy of The Red Serpent Trilogy to giveaway to one (1) lucky reader! This giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only per the publisher's request. To enter simply leave a comment with your name/alias along with an email address so I can contact you if you win. The giveaway will run until SATURDAY, SEPT. 29th at 11 PM EST. The winner will be selected by Random.org and will be announced on my blog on SUNDAY, SEPT. 30th. Good luck!

Author Interview with Sylvia Gunnery

 Today I'm pleased to introduce you to Sylvia Gunnery, the author of Emily for Real. The book is currently out in Ms. Gunnery's native Canada and soon to be released in the U.S. Before we get to the interview, here's some information about Ms. Gunnery (as found on the publisher's website): She is the author of many novels for teens and children. Often, the themes and characters in her books have developed from her classroom experiences with junior high and high school students. A recipient of a Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence, Sylvia has written a teachers' resource, Just Write! (Pembroke, 1998) as well as guided reading books for Curriculum Plus. She has presented at conferences, libraries, and schools across Canada and works on curriculum development and assessment initiatives with the Nova Scotia Department of Education. Ms. Gunnery is here to talk about her writing style and her latest release, Emily for Real. I hope you enjoy the interview!

Welcome to Books in the Spotlight, Ms. Gunnery.  How do you incorporate important issues in your book without making it too serious yet realistic?


I’m really happy that you see the issues in Emily For Real as realistic and yet not overly serious. That is always one of my goals while writing. It can be so easy to moralize or try to “teach a lesson.” Of course, all our lives involve issues, but I try my best to keep myself in a kind of teen mindset without all the layers of adult judgement or expectations. For teens, a lot is being experienced or observed or considered for the first time. They can sometimes be more objective, even neutral, so issues don’t have the same weight they do for adults. This story was written from Emily’s point of view and she sees things differently from me. I really enjoyed looking at what was happening in her life through her eyes and watching her responses.


Out of all of your characters, which one could you relate to the most? Which was the hardest to write?


The character I relate to the most is Emily, perhaps because I was inside her world, listening to her thoughts and observations for so long. I also gave her a lot of experiences straight out of my own life—that first walk around the block wearing her new raincoat and rubber boots (even with her Mom phoning “Mrs. Day over on Robie Street”), shovelling snow with her Dad, hitchhiking with a guy, visits in a nursing home, taking the bus downtown, seeing people feed ducks in the Halifax Public Gardens right next to a sign that says “Please do not feed the ducks.”

   The character I found hardest to write is Leo. As I mention in the acknowledgements for the novel, Leo is based on a former student of mine named Theo. Theo’s the type of person who doesn’t say much but is always so observant, very bright, and basically a good person though his anger issues could blur that. It wasn’t easy to show readers, through Emily’s eyes, all those same qualities in Leo. I might have come closest to portraying him in the cafeteria scene where he convinces Emily to casually say hi to Brian and then nonchalantly walk on by. Leo really did understand why she felt so insecure, and he wanted her to get past that. A real good friend.


Strong friendship between boys and girls are rare to find in literature. What makes Emily’s and Leo’s relationship so special?
 
I agree that these relationships are rare in literature, but in real life I don’t think they are. I had lots of guy friends when I was a teenager (and now, too). As a teacher, I saw strong friendships between guys and girls in my classrooms—admittedly, a few of them did turn into romantic relationships and even marriages. Friendship is a great basis to build a romance on, for sure. I see Emily and Leo’s friendship lasting a very long time and not changing into a romance.
   The timing was really right for both Leo and Emily to become friends. He’d just switched to a new school where he knew only a few people, and he also had heavy responsibilities at home with not much room for friends. Emily was changing—the break-up with Brian and the shift in her friendship with Jennifer were, for me, symbolic of her moving from one place in her life to another. Both Leo and Emily were open to a friendship that would give them lots of room to be independent and yet be supportive when support was most needed. I’ve had those kinds of friendships and they’re really great.


 I really liked your top 10 tips for writing YA. How did you come up with your list and which would you say is the one that is often neglected by writers?

Glad you liked those tips. Thanks! Coming up with the list was easy…limiting it to only 10 wasn’t. J Basically, I thought about what I try to do to make my novels authentic. Writing YA is a complex process, just as all writing is, and respecting my teen audience is a very important part of writing for them.
It’s hard for me to say what other writers might neglect. Sometimes, though, I have wondered whether some authors put aside their adult perspectives and really do get inside the teen world—“Be a teenager thinking.”


What message would you like your readers to take away from your book? 


I do shy away from the idea of a “message.” Each person comes into a book with unique experiences and expectations, so in some ways, everyone is reading a different book. But I hope people who read Emily For Real have a chance to think about how family secrets may not need to be secrets at all and take away a strong sense of caring for family and friends.


Besides writing, what do you like to do? What are your hobbies and interests? 


I do a lot of reading. When I was studying writing at the Banff Centre in Alberta, one of my instructors was Alice Munro and she said to me, “When you’re not writing, read.” I came to
recognize that both writing and reading engage your mind in much the same way—like musicians going to concerts or basketball players watching NBA games on television.

My partner Jim and I have flower gardens that give me a break away from my desk during the spring and summer. Though I do own gardening gloves, I love digging in the dirt with my bare hands. Also, I enjoy long walks, sometimes alone and sometimes with my neighbours’ dog Willie. I live very close to two beaches and a provincial park, so there are lots of choices for where I can wander. There’s lots of time to daydream about my characters and what they’re up to when I’m gardening and walking.


I'm always curious to see what other people are reading. What is on your to be read pile? 

I’m almost finished re-reading Leon Rooke’s short fiction collection, The Last Shot. I love his control and pace—I just counted 12 lines for a single sentence. Perfectly smooth. I’ve recently begun Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, switching from my habit of mostly reading Canadian-authored books. Last week, my sister loaned me two novels: The Paris Wife by Paula McLain and the historical novel Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin which is written in the voice of woman who inspired Charles Dodgson to write Alice in Wonderland. They’ll be next. When I’m working toward deadlines (like I am right now for a junior novel ), I get a bit distracted from reading books and I switch to magazines. September’s The Walrus and Quill & Quire just arrived, so I’ll probably be reading those until my rewrites are finished.


 What is your next project? 


My next novel started on its way in early May with a bit of daydreaming and wondering when I was in Vancouver. I’ve made some notes and even written a few pages, but everything is so tentative right now. Vague. Three sisters are involved (ages 16, 17 and 21) and they’re driving from Halifax to Vancouver, something my own sister and I did with her German Shepherd dog, Max, when we were in our twenties. I wanted to minimize the world of these three sisters basically to the size of a car and always moving forward, and then explore who they are and are becoming. The other day, I gave them a hitchhiker and his dog to add to the mix. I’m curious about how things’ll work out for all of them. That’s the fun of it!

Thank you so much for stopping by, Ms. Gunnery! I wish you the best of luck with Emily for Real. Readers, if you would like more information about Ms. Gunnery or  Emily for Real, you can visit the Pajama Press website. Emily for Real can be purchased at Chapters/Indigo, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Definitely check out the  following blogs participating in the Emily for Real Blog Tour running during August: Open Book Toronto, YA Booklover Blog, Pub(lishing) Crawl, Midnight Bloom Reads and Musings of a YA Reader

Seventeen-year-old Emily’s world crumbles when her boy friend dumps her, and when she thinks her life can’t possibly get any worse, a series of secrets are revealed that threaten to tear her beloved family apart. Emily’s heart has been broken into a hundred pieces and she feels like there is no one to turn to, until an unexpected friendship blossoms with a troubled classmate named Leo. Sometimes moody but always supportive, Leo is Emily’s rock in an ocean of confusion and disbelief.
   But Leo doesn’t have an easy life either. He struggles to be both mother and father to his little sister while his mom battles her alcohol addiction. His deadbeat dad darts in and out of the picture, and Leo would rather he stay away, permanently. The two friends lean on each other, and in the end discover the inner strength to face whatever life throws at them.
   With incredible insight into the teenage psyche and speckled with pitch-perfect humor, author Sylvia Gunnery has created a heart-warming coming-of-age story that explores the intricacies of family and friendship.