Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interview. Show all posts

Monday, 9 January 2017

The Carrero Effect by L.T.Marshall

The wonderful L.T.Marshall recently published her debut novel The Carrero Effect. It is 99p or free on kindle unlimited and already gathering a lot of interest. You should definitely check it out. If you are a book Blogger or part of a Review page, she is also looking for people to get in touch to help wth promo posts and review posts. Please get in touch with her  here >>>>> Facebook




Synopsis


Emma Anderson has everything in her life worked out, the perfect job in a Manhattan empire allowing her to live a quiet organised and safe existence. A necessity to her. That is until a promotion sends her straight into the presence of her young, super hot playboy billionaire boss and stuck as his right-hand man every waking moment of every single day. Like chalk and cheese, two people with no longing for love or complication this unusual pairing may either be just what she needs in her life or the absolute path to disaster. He is everything she is not, compulsive, confident, laid back, dominant and fun, with an ability to steamroller over her manicured ice maiden exterior. New love, overwhelming emotion and heartbreak. This tale will take you on a rollercoaster begging for more.
Love-able sexy characters and deep emotional topics. Contains some mature, adult content and language. Book one in The Carrero Trilogy.



Links





Interview (coming soon)



About the Author


Born and raised in Scotland, Leanne has lived in both the central belt and the highlands.
A mum to two children, she has been with her fiancee for twelve years and currently resides in West Lothian. A mum, artist and business owner she also has an online store under the name Liana Marcel.
You can find her across social media as either her author name or artist name, Youtube, Facebook, Pinterest and twitter. She has been writing romance since her teens and had an early stint at journalism back in high school.






Wednesday, 11 November 2015

Blog Tour w/ interview & giveaway:CLAIRE DALY: RELUCTANT SOUL SAVER BY MICHELE BROUDER




Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver by Michele Brouder
Publication Date:  September 2015
Genre:  YA, Paranormal Romance


Purchase Links:
BAM | Amazon | B&N | TBD

Synopsis

When seventeen year-old librarian wannabe Claire Daly is dragged kicking, screaming and cursing from everything she loves—her mam, her cozy Irish village and the dreamy boy next door—to take up arms in the battle of good versus evil, she learns the hard way that sometimes you don’t get to choose your own destiny, destiny chooses you.

Claire’s life plan is simple: head off to university to get her degree in library studies, summon up the courage to tell her best friend Chas that she loves him and live happily ever after. She never once entertained the idea that she might possess divine powers, that she might be predestined to battle Hell’s demons, or, to complicate matters further, that another love of many lives past might turn up on her doorstep. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and when a co-worker is viciously attacked by a demon and her own family threatened, Claire must face the truth: she is called to a higher purpose and has no choice but to answer. Claire sets aside her dreams and begins learning how to deal with the Unholy once and for all. Armed with only a crash course in soul saving and her wits, she gears up for the ultimate show down in Hell. But will it be enough?


Interview

Hi Michele, welcome to Opinionated Cupcakes thank you for letting Kimmy and myself interview you. We are very excited to be able to have the chance to get to know you better.

Question 1

When and what drove yourself to start writing/become an author?

I've known since I was 9 years old that I wanted to be a writer. I dabbled with it on and off for years, but in 2006, when we moved to Ireland, I made a lifechanging decision to buckle down and learn everything I could about writing. I joined WriteWords.co.uk (Chick Lit group) and from there I joined a splinter group which remains active today. I read books on the craft of writing and the business of writing. I wrote a couple of magazine articles and in 2010, I began writing posts for a blog out of Canada: Book in a Week. In 2012, I saw an article in my local newspaper that the Limerick County Council was calling all writers for their writer-in-residence series. The published writer who was running the program was generous with her instruction and enthusiasm. After a lot of rejection from agents, I submitted Claire Daly to 3 major publishers, one of them being Harlequin. Harlequin offered me a contract in Oct 2013. Unfortunately in late 2014, after I had worked with them editing the manuscript, they cancelled the digital line for which it was intended and thus terminated my contract. Even though it didn't work out, I am very grateful to Harlequin for the experience. It was wonderful. In the spring of 2015, I decided to publish it myself.

Question 2

What is your favourite thing about writing?

I love the freedom of writing and the ability to work from home.There is something very satisfying in creating art: whether it be painting, music, writing. With writing you're able to create this whole other parallel world with characters that you've created. When the writing is flowing and it's easy, there is nothing like it in the world. I have to remind myself of this during the bad writing days. When I'm writing, I know that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. It's one of the few things that I'm absolutely sure about.

Question 3

Can we have an insight into your writing process?

I like to think about an idea for a while. It can be years. I've had ideas for books that have been rolling around in my head for decades! But once I get a general idea, then I like to think about the characters and what the point of the story is. I always write the first draft in longhand as for me there is something about the physicalness of the actual writing of it. Then I rewrite, rewrite and rewrite. I will rewrite it many times. And the end product barely resembles the first draft. Then I'll give it to a few people in my writer's group to read for comments and critiques.Then I'll rewrite it again. And then it's off to the editor.


Question 4

How would you describe your writing style?

I would describe my writing style as fast-paced and funny.
I think my one blindspot is dialogue in that I can have so much dialogue which quickens the pace of the novel (which I think comes from the fact that I am an Olympic talker). I love wit (humor is the balm of life) and I do like to write funny. I have been playing with a more serious piece of women's fiction which has been difficult as it is not funny but it's been a great way to stretch my writing muscles.

Question 5

Do you have any fellow authors who inspire your writing or you enjoy to read?

I have so many: JoJo Moyes, Janet Evanovich, Ciara Geraghty, Clodagh Murphy, Jane Austen, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Dashiell Hammett, Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway, Carl Hiassen, Phillipa Gregory, Angela Marsens. There are many more.


Question 6

What was your inspiration or first spark of the idea to write Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver?

Quite simply I wanted to read about an Irish girl with supernatural powers, there was nothing out there, so I decided to write it myself.

Question 7

How long did it take you to write Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver?

The idea first came to me in Feb 2009 but I didn't actually start writing it until 2010. I finished it in 2012 and in 2013, Harlequin was on board. I spent most of 2014 doing an edit with them. Hopefully, Book 2 won't take as long.

Question 8

Do you have a personal favourite character from the book? If possible (without forcing you to spill spoilers J) could you tell us why?

Aside from Claire Daly, I loved Harry Bennett. He's had an interesting life and has a wealth of information. We learn more about him in the follow-up short story, The Face of His Beloved, which is available for free on my website, www.michelebrouder.com

Question 9

Is there anyone from pop culture (tv shows, films, books, celebrities) that Claire is similar to? If so in which ways? Or did you base her on someone in particular?

I did not base her on anyone in particular. Physically, she is similar to the Irish actress, Susan Loughnane.

Question 10

Did you have any difficulties whilst writing Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver?

Yes. The greatest difficulty I had was writing the scenes from Hell. First, I scare easy and 2nd, I wanted Hell to be about not only being scared or just about demons and trolls but also about how bad you could possibly feel about yourself.

Question 11

How many books do you plan to have in the Soul Saver series?

3-4

Question 12

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver that we might not already know or any advice to anyone planning to read Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver?

Although Claire Daly is YA, I'm getting a lot of feedback from women aged 35-54 telling me how much they loved it. That was a very happy surprise.

Question 13

Do you have any advice for inspiring authors?

Learn everything you can about the craft, read, read, read, and never give up.

Question 14

Lastly what are you currently working on/planning to work on?

I've got a Christmas rom-com that is in the final editing stages and will be out fall of 2016. From November 2015 onward, I'm focusing solely on the 2nd book in the Soul Saver series. I will use National November Writing Month to kick that off. The tentative plan is for Book 2 of the Soul Saver series to be out in late summer or early fall of 2016.

Thank you for your time and for answering our questions.

Rinny & Kimmy


Giveaway



About the Author

I was born in western New York, the oldest of 5. I've loved reading since I was very little. From the age of 9, I've wanted to be a writer. In high school, I wrote a lot of angst-ridden civil war dramas ala Gone With The Wind, knowing more about the Battle of the Bull Run than a normal teenager should know. I dabbled in writing after that but didn't get serious about it until 2006, when I decided that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. 
I've had many interesting jobs but my passion has always been writing.
I lived in Ireland from 2006-2013 with my husband and 2 boys. We moved back to the US and settled in Florida briefly (2 years) before returning back to Ireland in August 2015.


Connect with the Author:  Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest




Wednesday, 7 October 2015

Release Event w/ interview and Giveaway :Poet Anderson...Of Nightmares by Tom DeLonge and Suzanne Young


We are excited to announce that the young adult novel Poet Anderson...Of Nightmares by Tom DeLonge and Suzanne Young is now available in stores everywhere!

From the critically acclaimed transmedia project Poet Anderson: The Dream Walker, comes one of the most anticipated collaborations in YA literature this year: a thrilling, edge of your seat story written by award-winning musician, producer and director Tom DeLonge and New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Young.

Poet Anderson...Of Nightmares follows the epic journey of two orphan brothers, Jonas and Alan, who are Lucid Dreamers. After a tragic car accident lands Alan in a coma, Jonas sets out into the Dream World in an attempt to find his brother and wake him up. What he discovers instead is an entire shared consciousness where fear comes to life as a snarling beast called a Night Terror, and a creature named REM is bent on destruction and misery, devouring the souls of the strongest dreamers to get closer to the Waking World. With the help of a Dream Walker—a guardian of the dreamscape, Jonas must face his fears, save his brother, and become who he was always meant to be: Poet Anderson.





Q&A with Tom DeLonge

What inspired the storyline of Poet Anderson and is there a character that you most identify with?


I saw a fascinating documentary about the study of nightmares at Stanford University. It talked about nightmarespreparing human beings for real world events. It instantlymade me think of my already existing character PoetAnderson, a post-punk and introverted kid from a rainydowntown Seattle. He's a lucid dreamer, somebody that cansee a better world, even if there is a myriad of conflict. Yes, acharacter that I see a lot of myself in. From the days of when I had much longer bangs. Ha.


Have you always wanted to write a novel? How was the experience for you?

When I was younger I could never find the desire to read. I cheated over and over and never read one book in school.Out of all of the books they had given us, in all of my yearsof school, I never read one of them.

As Blink-182 got popular, I started to realize what really made me excited about art was the way people felt when they came together, quite an epiphany for me. I became fascinated by the world of film, books, and music coming together. Hitting somebody with a 360° bat of art on the head. Angels and Airwaves was the genesis of that. Now,whenever I have any time at all, I find myself reading anything I can get my hands on, and trying to learn something of value.


Lucid dreaming plays a key part in the storyline, have you ever experience a lucid dream? What attracted you to the role that dreams play in our lives?

There are two main reasons that attracted me to dreams. I have had lucid dreams in the past where I can’t get these pictures out of my head to this day; wondering what they meant, and what the hell they were. I am also a daydreamer by trade, and I spend every waking hour thinking about howto improve my future, my environment, and my experience..


The novel is part of what you call a Poet Anderson TransMedia experience. Can you explain what other media assets you have created that help tell the story and how...Of Nightmares novel fits into it?

I believe the future of art is the convergence of film, music,and publishing. This will create new ways for people's imaginations to be immersed into new worlds and new ways of thinking. This is called TransMedia, a cohesive mix of various mediums of art working together leading to a much grander experience for the audience.


Recently you’ve shifted your focus from your platinum platinum-selling band Blink-182 to your new company To The Stars. What can you tell us about your future plans?

As I’ve grown, I find myself wanting to do more things that involve other young artists. I get inspiration from talented people. I want to learn from them. I want to meet morepeople, try more things, feel new motions, and see more reactions on people’s faces.

I just don’t do well in a box. After 25 years of one thing, I've developed a really cool new view of the world. I am always looking for new interesting ways to share my ideas and exciting, innovative people to collaborate with The sky's the limit for To The Stars, and I get to be the captain.

-------------------
About the Authors:
Tom DeLonge is an award-winning American musician, producer and director best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for the platinum selling rock bands Blink-182 and Angels & Airwaves. His home is San Diego, where he focuses on creating entertainment properties that bridge music, narrative and film through his multimedia company To The Stars. For the full experience of Tom’s work, visit www.tothestars.media.

Suzanne Young is the New York Times bestselling author of The Program series. Originally from Utica, New York, Suzanne moved to Arizona to pursue her dream of not freezing to death. She is a novelist and an English teacher, but not always in that order. Suzanne is the author of THE PROGRAM, THE TREATMENT, THE REMEDY, and HOTEL RUBY.







GIVEAWAY:
Signed hardcover of Poet Anderson...Of Nightmares 
Open Worldwide
Ends October 21, 2015
Prizing is provided by the publisher, hosts are not responsible.
Must be 13 or older and have parental permission if under 17. No purchase necessary to win. Void where prohibited by law.




a Rafflecopter giveaway



This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.



Tuesday, 24 February 2015

Book of Immortals: Disciple by Kassandra Lynn Interview & Review by Kimmy

Hey all,

Hope you are all keeping well!

I wanted to share with you today a book I read just before the end of last year.  I do hope you enjoy:

Book of Immortals: Disciple 
by Kassandra Lynn


*** Disclaimer *** - I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating:

Synopsis

You enjoy stories, but would you want to become part of one?

When Celine dies in a plane crash, instead of going to heaven or hell, she becomes the antagonist in the novel she was reading on the flight.

In her new realm of existence, immortals gather energy from the environment to gain prolonged life, while devils suck the life out of mortals in exchange for power. As the secret offspring of the two opposing races, Celine finds herself having to cover up her devil ancestry while enrolled in an immortal school.

She could live with her role, if only she hadn’t read the book. The end means her death, and this time it’s for good. Celine’s high school crush, Erik, who also journeyed to the new world, encourages her to become a devil in order to change her destiny. It sounds like a simple choice, but that would mean betraying the world she had grown fond of.

As her doomsday draws near, Celine must choose a side or use her insider’s knowledge to overturn the plot—and possibly the whole realm in the process.

Interview

Kimmy: Hi Kassandra.  Thanks for taking the time to join us here at Opinionated Cupcakes.

Kassandra: Thanks for having me!

1. Tell us about your book

Book of Immortals: Disciple is a fantasy about a girl who get trapped within a story she read.

Official blurb:
Following her death in a plane crash, Celine discovers that neither heaven nor hell are options for her. Miraculously, she's transformed into the antagonist of the book she'd read prior to her demise. Now, she must navigate this strange new immortal life, knowing that the antagonist's journey won't end well. Between covering up her devil ancestry in an immortal school and trying to understand her feelings for a senior apprentice, can Celine circumvent her impending doomsday to create a favorable plot twist?

2. What inspired you to write your first book?

I like to make up stories in my head when I lie on my bed at night—it's like telling myself a bedtime story. But thinking about something in my mind can be very disorganized and illusive. I want to put them down in writing to make them more concrete and to share my fantasy with others.

3. What books are you reading now?

I just finished Pinehurst, a YA fantasy I enjoyed. I'm currently reading a super long Chinese historical romance that keeps me way past my bedtime. Of Sea and Stone is on my to-read list for the next week.

4. Do you have anything in specific you want to say to your readers?

I grew up reading stories in both English and Chinese. The structure behind fiction and the roles each characters play had intrigued me since I was a child. Somehow, I like many of the antagonists and minor characters more than most of the protagonists—perhaps because the antagonists are the ones with the more interesting traits and strong personality? In my writing, I want to incorporate some of the things I like about minor characters into my protagonists. My protagonists are not always good in the traditional perspectives—some of them might be downright evil and selfish—but they're the ones I like to read about. I hope you find them interesting too.

5. What are the challenges in bringing it to life?

I find it a little challenging to just sit down and write something every single day. Sometimes I have days that I don't feel creative at all and sometimes I get distracted by many things that come up. The first draft is definitely the hardest, although I have the most fun writing it.

Review

The author approached us towards the end of last year to see if either Rinny or myself would be interested in reading and reviewing her book.  The concept seemed quite unique, like nothing I had read recently or could think of and I loved the cover, so I jumped at the chance to read it.

I loved this book.  Being well and truly hooked from the first few pages, it didn't take me long to devour it.  The storyline was interesting and I found myself easily immersed in Shann's world.  I hung off every word, my need to keep reading, just one more page I kept telling myself multiple times on end.  

It was easy to connect with the main character Shann, the author done a great job of developing the her character and a few of the supporting characters.  I do however feel that some of the characters who perhaps started off strong, seemed to dwindle slightly as the story progressed.  My other downside would be the seclusion that each disciple takes to increase their level.  At the start I didn't mind so much.  However towards the end I felt that it had almost become a time passer.

I would've loved to have seen more focus on the world itself, Aaren, Divinity Sabien and some of the character relationships.  I feel Shann's life was very short lived.  Basically I wanted more Aaren and Shann!

Having said that, the author fitted a lot into one book and although some things could have been improved on, I do feel she did it really well.

I highly recommend this book.  I am super excited for the next book in the series.  This really is a new take on fantasy, so what are you waiting for, go get your copy now!

About the Author

Kassandra Lynn is the author of Book of Immortals series. Her favourite genres are fantasy and romance. She especially enjoys reading and writing about unique concepts, unpredictable plots, and protagonists who aren't the typical protagonists.



Useful Links: 

Buy the book:


Friday, 14 November 2014

CONNOR (In The Company of Snipers, 5) by Irish Winters BLOG TOUR, Giveaway & Interview




Conner (In The Company of Snipers, #5) By: Irish Winters Pages: 339 Published: November 3, 2014 Publisher: Windy Day Press
Connor Maher is about to find out. As if dogging the brutal Sonoran Cartel through sun-baked Utah isn't tough enough, he's come face to face with his worst nightmare. Diminutive ex-Marine spitfire, Isabella Ramos, has just three words to say to him: I. Hate. You. Heartache hurts so much worse than gunshot…
How many times can a man say he’s sorry? Like he hasn’t heard that before.
Why was he the one who got to live?
Izza only accepted the Utah operation because he’d be there. It’s time Connor knows the truth, but how can she trust him with her life much less the secret she’s come to share? He's nothing but grief personified behind the guise of an blue-eyed, honorable man. Not until the cold-blooded SC dumps her and Connor in the farthest corner of the relentless Utah desert does she begin to realize….
There are worse things than death… 



The wife of one handsome husband and the mother of three perfect sons, Irish divides her time between writing at home and travelling the country with her man while - writing. (Seriously, what else?) She believes in making every day count for something and follows the wise admonition of her mother to, "Look out the window and see something!" To learn more about Irish and her books, please visit www.IrishWinters.com.
Irish Winters is an award-winning author who dabbles in poetry, grandchildren, and rarely (as in extremely rarely) the kitchen. More prone to be outdoors than in, she grew up the quintessential tomboy on a farm in rural Wisconsin, spent her teenage years in the Pacific Northwest, but calls the Wasatch Mountains of Northern Utah home. For now.

 Interview

Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?
No. I’ve always loved to write. It’s funny to say, but it really is who I am.

Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?
The trilogy of The Lord of the Rings is my favorite of all time. I love the world Tolkien created, the characters, and the main themes behind the story: Hope. Courage. Never give up.
It is outside the genre I write in because I love all books. A book really can take us anywhere. And I like to go.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?
James Artemis Owen (paraphrased):
If you really want to do something – No one can stop you.
But, if you really don’t want to do something – No one can help you.

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
My series, In the Company of Snipers, is going on 13 books at the moment. Book 5, Connor, just released this month. His story revolves around the drug war in Utah and the one woman he never thought he’d see again, Isabella Ramos. Both ex-Marines, Connor and Izza served together in Iraq. He lives for the day she can forgive him. She lives for the day she can watch him die.I am also writing Book 13, Hunter, an ex-Marine on a mission in South America to beta-test McCormack Industry’s high-tech prototype for an ActiveCamouflage System. Little does he know this seemingly easy vacation-like operation will quickly morph into murder, mayhem, and an unexpected encounter with a past mistake, Meredith Flynn.

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
I would introduce Harley to Adam Brown, in ‘Fearless,’ written by Eric Blehm. Harley is fictional. Adam Brown was a real Navy SEAL who fought in Afghanistan. His life is one of extremely poor decisions, incredibly brave decisions, and the woman who stood by him. He is one of my real heroes.


What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Judy O’Brien?
That I am not good at it. I am perfectly comfortable inside my male characters heads, but I struggle with feminine POV. Always have. Maybe that’s the reason I only had sons.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
How much do you weigh? Aw, come on. What kind of a question is that to ask a woman???

What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?
Just do it. Decide. Write. Dream. Give it all you’ve got and if you get rejected, know that you have a gift no one else has. Offer your rejections and hurts up to the universe and let the universe deal with them. Sit down again. Pick up your pen. Open your laptop.  Decide. Write. Dream. Style will come. Voice will evolve. Just do it!

What's the most memorable summer job you've ever had?
I worked for a cardiologist in Tacoma, Washington, acting as housekeeper, babysitter, etc. It kept me busy as I got to know and love his six children: Kathleen, Karen, Kim, Karolyn, Kerry, and John. Best summer job ever!

Who was your first girlfriend?
 Judy Lang, first grade. And yes, she is the reason I named Harley’s girlfriend Judy.

Tell me about your first kiss.
My first kiss was one of those stolen kisses. I was seventeen and never been kissed. My girlfriend called so I was on the phone in my mother’s kitchen and trying to talk unobtrusively. My mistake. My older sister’s Army boyfriend saw me there, hanging half in the broom closet. He came up behind me, grabbed me into his arms, leaned me back and planted one daring hot kiss on my very surprised lips. Hmmm. Yeah. I’ll never forget Bruce.  

What decade during the last century would you have chosen to be a teenager?
I like the one I was born in best, the 1950s. America was full of promise, innovation, and dreams then. Just coming out of World War II and the Korean War, we still believed we were the greatest nation on earth. That sense of optimism is missing today.

What is your greatest adventure?
Life. I have this wooden plaque on my desk since 1985. “Be glad of life… because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play…

And to look up at the stars.

Enough said.




Teaser 1

Z-z-z-r-r-i-i-p-p. The sound of a zipper hit her very attentive and overly sensitive eardrums. Izza peered around the tree trunk to see where that out of place sound might have come from. A man stood there with his back to her, but she’d recognize that physique anywhere. What the hell was Connor Maher doing half-naked in the middle of nowhere? She knew she’d have to face him sooner or later, but here? 
Now? So soon?
She took a step toward him, keeping herself hidden behind the branches of her friendly tree. He’d already stripped his shirt and boots off. His belt was undone. Camouflage printed pants hung loose and low off his hips. God, the man was as crazy as ever. And still as sexy. Ripped shoulder muscles led to a strong back that narrowed to a muscular V that led to—

She gulped as the sight of that handsome hard body battered down her last line of common sense. Did he ever think about that night? Could he possibly know what it meant to her? Her mouth went dry remembering the intensity of their bodies slamming together. 
The heat. So much passion.





November 10th ~Steve Sutherland – Review
November 10th ~ – Review
November 11thKristin Holt – Review
November 11th ~ – Review
November 12th ~Jen's Reading Obsession – Review 
November 12th ~My Secret Bookspot – Review
November 13th ~ – Review
November 13th ~A Book and a Cup of Coffee  – Review
November 13th ~Reads All The Books – Review
November 14thThe Pleasure of Reading Today – Review
November 14thAmazeballs Book Addicts – Review




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