News and such

Just so I don't keep you waiting, I'll let you know who the winner of the copy of Hunters is. Since Lisa already robbed me of a copy on Mysti's blog, Lindsey gets the prize here! So congrats, Lindsey, you'll be able to test all 13 reasons for yourself. (My people will contact your people)

In other news, my book has finally HIT amazon! So, yes, there is a kindle version available somewhere in the universe, ready for you to pick it up and devour it. I'm very excited about that, and I encourage everyone to look at it (sooo shiny), like it, tag it, and maybe take a sample home and see if it's something you'd enjoy reading.

Also, fellow blogger and author Christina McKnight has most graciously featured Hunters on her blog. I can't thank her enough.

If you're up for it, one more PDF copy of Hunters is available on Mysti's blog, so hurry up before it's gone ;)

I'll keep everyone posted :D

Thirteen reasons

Guess what?

Yes, it so happens that Hunters is now available for purchase! Indeed, if you desire to buy the masterpiece, you may now do so in print, PDF and Html (for now). Kindle and every other outlet coming soon.

Before you take me too seriously, take heed that the above is a spoof and should be treated as such. Except the book being available, which is real. And just to prove it, here's a link where you can buy it.

What am I doing now? The already famous happy dance (which is pretty weird to do in public, since most people have no idea what's going on).

To celebrate this extraordinary event, I shall give you 13 reasons to read this book:

1. I know that you read the word vampire in the blurb and probably want to run screaming. DON'T. How about a book in which vampires are back to being the original bad guys, bent on raining havoc? They don't love humans (except as food) and fight, fight, fight. And plot.

2. Tired of a human heroine and supernatural hero? You'll see none of that here. For once, the guy and gal are equals. Which makes for other troubles to get the romance rolling.

3. Don't like damsels? Neither does Rachel, though she admits it's nice to have someone look after her from time to time.

4. It's not the beginning of an endless series. You can read it, enjoy it, and not worry about future sequels.

5. It's short. Yes, that's a reason to read a book too. It's 217 pages in print. Great for the beach or a stormy night.

6. There is witty banter to be witnessed. With two head-strong MCs who don't take crap from anybody, there's bound to be.

7. There is emotion. Or so I've been told.

8. A new world of paranormal beings awaits. Though you might meet some familiar creatures in the world of Hunters, not all of them are what you may know/think.

9. You might laugh. If I don't draw a smile/chuckle/snort out of you, I'm doing it wrong.

10. The villain is not just your stereotypical bad vampire. Watch as Vlad's legend comes together and brings forth the man he really is (well, man is a relative term). Bad guys can be fair too, right?

11. Going against the grain? It's here. When the entire world wants your head for doing what you believe is right, would you keep doing it?

12. Stuffy protocol, an old system and mass-manipulation. Yup. Watch what happens when the good guys are not really as good as they should be.

13. And finally, I wrote it, and I'm brilliant. you might grow to like Rachel and Daniel and want to see how their journey ends.

Have I convinced you to pick up a copy? No? How about to win a copy? In even more celebration, I'm giving away a PDF copy of Hunters to one lucky commenter. Just leave a comment with your e-mail address, mention that you want it and tell me which of the 13 reasons makes you want to read it most. The winner will be drawn this weekend.

Now, as to the people who won a copy of the book from me during the RAOK week, let me know if you'd like your copy now, in PDF format or wait for the kindle version.

In other news, if you don't win here, tomorrow, Mysti Parker of Unwritten is hosting the 200 000 hits giveaway. I've most generously (please don't take me seriously) donated 3 PDF copies of Hunters for the event, so you may hop on there and grab a copy.

If you'd like to support and up-and-coming/going author, the facebook link is on the right and the goodreads link here. Everyone is welcome to the party.

Okay, I'm done with the shameless plugging. O:)

An Interview with Mysti Parker... take 2

Hi people in blog land.

As promised to many people, I'm here with a new fabulous interview with fabulous writer Mysti Parker. Her new book, Serenya's Song is out and about on a beautiful pair of legs. So I thought I'd torture Mysti a little.

Stef: Hi Mysti, and welcome back. You may retake your usual seat :D Have some hor'derves

Mysti: Nom, nom, nom. Thanks!

S: So... how does it feel to already have a second book out?

M: Pretty darn good, Stef. Pretty darn good. Though it felt like it took forever on my end!

S: Do you think you'll ever be less nervous while releasing novels?

M: No. Maybe more confident in my writing ability as I go along, but I think I’ll always be antsy about how they’re received by my fans.

S: What is your favorite thing about Serenya's Song?

M: I think my very favorite thing is that I took a little idea (broken-hearted Jayden moves to Summerwind and meets his true love) and turned it into a dark, complex plot. I surprised myself with how much I let my imagination run wild.

S: You did, indeed (pun intended) as I've noticed in my review of Serenya's story. Were there any particular parts you had trouble with in the story? Like being unable to make up your mind abut putting something in or taking it out?

M: I think you know that answer firsthand. I went through what felt like 287 drafts to get the plot on the right track. I had the most trouble with Sebastian. It was hard to nail down exactly the type of villain he needed to be and how he fit into the climax.

S: Do you still discover things about Tellenmere, or do you have it all planned out and you're drip-feeding the reader information about the world?

M: Tallenmere is still very much a fantasy world to be discovered. Sure, I have most of the world’s basic layout planned, but the topography in terms of not just land, but mythology, history, architecture, and technology keeps growing as I flesh out the series.

S: I know that you're now writing book 3 in the series and that you've had it planned for a while. Is there going to be a book 4? And if yes, what character might carry over?

M: There will be a Book Four. I’m not certain when it will actually be written, though I’ve got a few scenes and a basic plot in files and in my head. It’s going to tentatively be called No Place Like Home. Just for you, dear Stefanie, I will fill you in on who will star in it.

Do you possibly remember Mirabelle Hearton from A Ranger’s Tale? In that book, she’s one of the healers in the Temple. Here’s a little scene from Chapter 39 where she’s trying to nurse Galadin back to health:

A sensation of my skin knitting back together stilled me for a moment. More hands on my ribs—fingers hot as pokers. No one seemed bothered by my screaming. Liquid poured into my mouth and strangled me.

I sputtered and cursed. “Get away from me, damn it! I want my wife!”

A woman with dark hair and darker eyes gripped my face and made me look at her. Her mouth didn’t move, but I heard her clear as day. “Stop your cursing. I am Mirabelle, and you are in the Temple of Omri. We are helping you, and Lady Caliphany is near. Rest now, regain your strength.”

My body relaxed. I nodded and closed my eyes.

Mirabelle will also appear later in Hearts in Exile (Book Three) and will become one of Loralee’s closest friends. Unlike my other heroines up to this point in the series, Mirabelle is a completely normal human being, except for a few „gifts” she was born with. Can you guess what one of them is from that little excerpt?

S: I can easily guess. I wouldn't have remembered Mirabelle just from ART, but if she's a big part of book 3, we're all surely going to remember. Back to Serenya and Jayden. What was your inspiration for writing them?

M: Guilt, pure and simple. I felt so bad for Jayden at the end of A Ranger’s Tale, that I had to give him another shot at love. And Serenya had to be his perfect match, though she’s got a few *ahem* issues. Of course, I had to be Miss Evil Writer again and put him through hell for her. I’m glad he’s not here in the flesh standing next to me—he’d probably beat the snot out of me or at least give me a good tongue-lashing!

S: Speaking of Jayden beating you to a pulp, you're probably going to laugh, but is Jayden ever going to have a kid of his own? So far, he's raising other people's children.

M: Oh, yes, I totally LOL’d at that one! I just had a recent reviewer who asked the same thing. I’m not sure yet, actually, although I’m already forming plans for his stepchildren.

S: So I guess this means we'll see Jayden again. *rubs hands* Do you plan on writing novels outside the Tallenmere universe?

M: Yes, I’d love to branch out and do something different. I’ve even started a historical romance set in 1866 Lebanon, TN. Until I have more time for research, that one’s on the back burner.

S: I know what you mean. Somewhere inside my head I've planned to write a book in most genres. I keep kidding myself that someday I'll have the time. Maybe when I'm old and retired. For now, I seem to be stuck on paranormal and UF. Just seems to get the creative juices flowing best. I've always meant to ask this – how's life as a writer? I mean I know you're a stay-at-home mom, but now you're going to book fairs and stuff, so...you're a writer :D

M: Book fairs and signings, I’ve discovered, are really hit-and-miss in terms of sales. But, they’re very similar to any enthusiast who sets up at an event. You get to meet all kinds of interesting people who love what you love, and you can talk to them about it without their eyes glazing over. My sales aren’t great yet, but I’m really happy to have these experiences of meeting other writers and readers. I’ve even met some really famous people.

So far this year, I’ve met Heather Graham, Lori Foster, Sean Astin, and John Rhys-Davies. I saw Corey Feldman up close. I think the most fun was meeting some lovely authors I’d only spoken with online, like Ruth J. Hartman and Nell Duvall. Such great ladies! And now that I’ve been to a few fairs, I see some of the same writers again and again. We’re fast becoming event-buddies!

S: If you come to Romania, give me a shotout. I'd love to meet with you! I know you have theme songs for all your books (and I love music). What are they and why?

M: You can see the entire playlists (via YouTube vids) for A Ranger’s Tale and Serenya’s Song on my blog. Click this link:

My theme song for A Ranger’s Tale is ‚Chasing Cars’ by Snow Patrol because I thought it fit Caliphany and Galadin’s love story so well. Not that there are any cars on Tallenmere, but the lyrics simply fit their coming together so well. At the moment when they finally admit their love for one another, especially. I played it over and over as their love blossomed into the beauty that it was. These lines from the song give me goosebumps: If I lay here, if I just lay here, would you lie with me and just forget the world...all that I am, all that I ever was, is here in your perfect eyes. They’re all I can see.

The theme song for Serenya’s Song is much darker, but fits that story perfectly too (in my mind at least). It’s ‚Bring Me to Life’ by Evanescense. Partly, because I drew Serenya’s look and sound from the fabulous Amy Lee (lead singer), but mostly because the lyrics portray the perilous journey that she and Jayden take in order to survive the trials they must face.

These lines gave me the inspiration to make the rescue a two-way street:

All this time, I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark but you were there in front of me
I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems
Got to open my eyes to everything

Without thought, without voice, without a soul
Don't let me die here
There must be something more
Bring me to life.

Yes, Serenya needs Jayden to intervene in a powerful way, but he also needs to be saved from his broken heart and guilty past.

S: I'm curious about Hearts in Exile – leave that one in the comments :D (Since I already have a song in mind for it) Now, who was your favorite character in SS?

M: It’s hard to pick because I love them all, but I think Lilly is my gal. She’s such a spunky halfling who isn’t afraid to keep Jayden and everyone else around her in line. Plus, she adds a lot of humor to an otherwise dark book.

S: I hoped you'd say that, because, to me, in SS, Lilly really stood out. Which book did you enjoy writing more? SS or ART?

M: I really can’t say. They were both challening in different ways. It took longer to work out the plot in SS, but I felt more comfortable with my writing skills than with ART. Mostly, I’m just thrilled I got them finished!

S: And now for a bonus question: If you could have a wish come true right this instant, what would it be? Give me the first answer that's on your mind. It doesn't have to be world peace.

Quite honestly, I’d like all our bills to be paid off *POOF*, just like that. It would take a bit of stress off the mind, being a poor writer and all.

S: Good one. I'd like sleep right about now. But hard luck there. Now, before I ask you for a short excerpt from your novel (which has to be your favorite), I want you to describe the following characters to me using just one word:

Jayden: jaded

Serenya: tragic

Lilly: spunky

Sebastian: misunderstood

Caliphany: impulsive

Galadin: daring

Cevil Delmarr: shady

S: Now, give us some yummy story ;)

I’m rather partial to this scene. Jayden is hunting for one of the creatures who’s been wreaking havoc around Summerwind. Unfortunately, he fears Serenya is involved, which may force him to make a very difficult choice. Read on to see what I mean:

From Chapter 28

Jayden

Rain pattered sharp notes in the sparse leaves above, falling to flatter beats at it reached the duff below. Wind fluted through the branches, the pitch changing tone as it passed along thick ebonwood boughs and narrower limbs of maple and oak. Minutes passed, or hours, perhaps a lifetime. Was it gone? Or was it ready to pounce? How would it feel to be torn apart and devoured alive?

The memory of my father’s advice calmed me. If they know you’re afraid, you won’t survive. Show no fear, son. Show no fear.

Breathing silently through my mouth, I scanned the dark surroundings. Rain sheeting along the trees and ground reflected a miniscule amount of moonlight edging its way in from breaks in the clouds.

I strained my eyes and ears for any sign of my hunter. Unbidden memories came as I tried to concentrate on my surroundings. I thought of Caliphany, how innocent we had both been eighty years ago, riding into the forest. Reclining on a blanket, I recited poetry, my head in her lap, while she braided small sections of my hair.

I remembered my father’s face, the disappointment in his eyes when Caliphany’s father dismissed me from his employ because of our relationship. His voice in my head chilled me even deeper than the rain. Your mother and I work tirelessly to give you the best of everything, and this is how you repay us?

And there was Serenya—the night I met her, that haunting voice as she sang, how it had warmed me to the core, filling holes in my heart I never knew were there. What would I do if I was forced to live without her?

I bit down on my tongue to stay alert and to lock the memories away. What was that? A flutter to my right. Circling through the trees. A soft thud of something landing. Deliberate steps squished through the muddy leaves. It was tiptoeing—each wet, noisy step driving my heart into near-frenzy. Only one of them, I was sure. I wondered if the other was hunting Zeph, and which one it could be. What if he had to make the choice I could not? He was one of my best scouts. I had to trust him to handle the situation.

Still in concealment, every muscle in my body tensed. Swiveling my torso in the saddle, I silently readied my bow and an arrow. My senses tuned outward, gauging the distance. I imagined the creature closing in, drool stringing down its jaw from the scent of elf and horse flesh.

It smells me—of course it does. Come on, just a little farther.

I drew back the string. My fingers buzzed, wanting to fire, but I willed them to remain steady.

Wait for it.

The creature inched forward. It knew exactly where I was, so there was no use hiding anymore. I couldn’t tell whether it was Serenya or not, but I dropped concealment and decided to try reason first.

Still holding my bow as steadily as possible, I spoke in a low, soothing voice. “Serenya, if that is you, listen to me. I know you don’t want to hurt me. If you’ll just come with me now, I’ll do all I can to help you. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

A raspy chuckle was the only reply. Hollow breaths met my ears between beats of raindrops on my hood. My eyes strained to see something, anything, until finally, a dark outline appeared against the shine of the rain-soaked ground. A whiff of sulfur burned my nostrils, triggering me to release the bowstring. But the creature flew upward and out of sight at the last second. The arrow missed its mark.

S: Thanks for being here Mysti. And I look forward to having you again!

M: Anytime, my friend, anytime!!

It might be sooner than she thinks *insert evil laugh here*. Now, for all you Mysti lovers, here are some handy links:

Mysti's awesome blog called Unwritten: 

You can also find her via Facebook:

And Twitter: @Mysti Parker

Goodreads, too: 

And you can buy the awesome books:

Melange 

Amazon 

B&N

Goodread  (lots of reviews here)

Oh, yeah, before I forget, Happy 4^th of July to everyone across the pond.

And another thing. I'm actually giving stuff away! TWICE! First, since this is part of Mysti's Blog Tour, there is a PDF of Kindle copy of Serenya's song to be won. Just fallow and leave a comment and you get the DOUBLE chance to win. Either on my blog OR as part of the tour as a whole when, if I'm not mistaken, you could win a copy of BOTH ART and SS.

And one last thing. I'm fast approaching the 5000 hits mark. And, since Mysti is here, I decided to take a leaf out of her book and host a giveaway. BUT for that I need books. So, whoever feels like donating a little something, let me know.

Peace out!

Let's announce some winners

As most of you know (well, people who've been by), I offered some prizes in the RAOK week.  I said I'd keep it open till Wednesday, but I stretched it out until... right about five minutes ago.

So, using random.org, I ran every person's name and the prize list to see what everyone will get. And *drum roll* here are the results.

Brad has randomed prize number 3 - a copy of Hunters once it comes out in late July. I won't forget.
Angel has won an interview on my blog - Just choose a date, and I'm game.
Lindsey has won a book review from me - If she'll let me have the book, I'll gladly read it and give an honest, detailed review, like the one I gave Mysti a while back.
 Diane has also won a book review from yours truly - if you don't have a book you want me to review, you may swap it for a prize of your choice (except the grand prize and secret one)

And here's why. Because Mysti actually managed to random the grand prize. Wow! I guess it's interview, review and book for you.

So, congrats to everyone and thanks for playing. Contact me for appointments and how and when you'd like to receive your goodies.

I'll be back soon, I hope, with some writing related posts. I do actually have some things that have been bothering me lately and I want to set them straight.

I'll be back *she said ominously*

Random Acts of Kindness

Okay, so I've been missing like... a whole month and stuff. Even more. The thing is, Real Life has this habit of eating up one's time.

I've been through a lot these past few weeks. From getting married (Yay for me :D), to almost getting fired and then not getting fired but getting more work assigned (not liking that one bit) to struggling to finish my masters' course and trying to figure out how that damn Facebook Fanpage works...

Yes, I've been busy.

But today, I want to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness. (I'd love to add the official photo, but for some reason, I'm quite unable at this time). The awesome gals at the Book Shelf Muse have started it as a way to celebrate all the help they have received and the launch of their book, The Emotional Thesaurus.

I can't say I've received many random acts of kindness. Whatever kindness I do receive... well, it doesn't seem random. But I do want to do someone else some random good. And when I say random, I mean random. Which is why I won't nominate anyone.

There are so many awesome people out there who have helped me and I want to give some of them back. Which is why I'm giving away the following: *drum roll*

- 5 author interview spaces on my blog

- 3 book reviews (though I'll kinda need the books for that O:))

- 2 free copies of Hunters  when it will hopefully be coming out in July

- 1 Grand prize of interview + book review + copy of Hunters

- Surprise hidden present

So, leave a comment, mention what prize you would like (you could chose 1, 2 or more off the list). I'll be keeping this open until Monday, when the RAOK flurry ends.

Hope I make someone's day. :)

Also, maybe I'll be back around here soon. (Of course I will - I need to give out the prizes, right?)

And the winner is...

As promised, it's been 2 weeks since my interview and giveaway with lovely Ashely Lynn Willis. (you can read the interview here). She was also awesome enough to give away one copy of her newly released book The Calling.
Using Random.org, I've drawn a winner... and it's... Coral! Congrats! I hope you enjoy the book (I bet it's great).


In other news, my blog just got 3000 hits. Whoa! That's amazing. I wasn't even prepared to celebrate the occasion, but I'm getting ready for the 5000th hit. Just like I'm probably gonna celebrate reaching follower number 100 (since I missed out at 50). So, I wanna thank everyone who takes the time to read all my nonsense. I hope it's at least good fun.

Regarding NaNo - things have slowed down a bit because my brain got a little tired. I'm in that place where nothing seems to make sense anymore and I really need a break. I'm pushing on, though, hoping to reach a more exciting part of the novel. Not that I mind what's going on now, but I needed to build some happiness and security in order to fully crush it later. And happy doesn't usually make for good reading (that's why books usually end when it's achieved.) Hope it will work anyway.

Stay tuned for when I draw the prize for the giveaway with Wanita. You can still comment for the chance to win here! And congrats again to Coral!

Interview and Giveaway with Wanita May

Hey, that kinda rhymed! And it was completely unintentional. But let's cut to the chase before my computer has a change of heart and crashes again.

I’m back with a new author interview and Giveaway (aren’t I busy this month – doing this and NaNo), today with the lovely Wanita May. Her new book Rae of Hope is already available as an e-book and will soon be out on paperback (nov 15).

S: So, Wanita, grab a cup of hot chocolate (since it’s cold outside) and sit down for a chat.

Wanita (W): Thanks for inviting me over for some cyber cocoa and some babble! I feel truly honoured!


S: Well, not to toot my own horn, but... Yeah, I think I just won't toot my own horn. So tell us a little something about yourself.


W:  I’m in my thirties, three great kids and hubby, along with a Weimeraner  (that’s a kind of dog for those of you scratching your head :))  Now, I sound like the color of my hair – except I honestly don’t mean to come across that way.



S: Wow, not to toot your horn now, but you sound like supper woman (with three kids and all).  Okay, maybe I’m being rude, but I’ve just got to ask. You have a pretty unusual name. What’s the story behind it?



W:  Great question and not rude, I get asked all the time.  Especially when you see me.  I’m blonde, blue eyed.  Most “Juanita’s” I know have Hispanic descent – there are not a lot of dutch ones around :).  Both my folks immigrated from Holland, and met in Canada.  I’m the youngest of six (four bro, one sis) and then me!  I’m not sure if they got inventive or never thought of it as a unique name.  I’m named after my grandmother (my Friesan “Beppe”) who wad Weastka.  My folks Canadianized it to Wanita.  And somewherealong the line there was a Hungarian foster girl in my mom’s house during the war who’s name was Wanita and she also thought it was a pretty name.  (Bet you weren’t expecting that much detail on this answer! Ha ha)



S: Well, actually, no, but it was very interesting to read all the same :D  Tell us a little about your book.



W: Rae of Hope is YA Fantasy.  It’s the first book in the Chronicles of Kerrigan.  Rae, the MC, wakes up on her sixteen birthday with a tattoo on her lower back that enables to do supernatural things.  – It’s a lot more complicated than that but that’s it in 20 words or less :)


S: Wow, I couldn't shut up about my own work. You're so very professional *drools in admiration* How was your writing experience?


W: I’ve got a BS degree and competed in athletics during and after university. I wrote through high school but lost touch with it when I began competing for Canada and focused on my highjump career.  I lost my father three years ago to cancer and one of our last conversations was him telling me to make sure I did what I wanted to do… if I put anything off with excuses I should do it, or I’d regret it later.  He passed in September and that December I wrote my first book.  I started writing Rae of Hope shortly after and everything just fell into place.  I landed an agent, then a publishing contract and now, here I am.


S: See above comment about superwoman. Right...so, let’s talk characters. MCs and antagonists and everything. Who’s your favorite as a person, favorite to write and hardest to write? Which one is most like you?  



W:  I’m slightly answering the question here, and slightly going off on a tangent.  I LOVE FORESHADOWING.  I always say that foreshadowing in a book is irony in real life.  So I love characters that grow and realize some of the irony in their own life.  In Rae of Hope, I love Rae, Devon, Julian and Carter.  Some of them have a bigger part in the rest of the series (Rae obviously does since she’s the MC)



S: I love foreshadowing, too. It's maybe half the reason I write - to smartly plan everything ahead and then surprise people with how stuff comes out.  So, I stalked you and saw that this book is a part of a series. Tell us a little something about this series.



W:  I’ve signed a four book contract with Mitchell Morris Publishing.  The first two books are written, the next started and the fourth already plotted out.  It’s a fantastic series – with supernatural, fantasy, mystery, etc… I love the series (and am completely biased too, of course :) )



S:  What’s it like to work with your publisher?



W:  MMP are great.  They work closely with their authors, and make themselves available.  This is my first book being published so I asked a lot of questions (and I mean A LOT). And all the time.  Not just at the get-go.  My agent is also so amazing.  Anytime I had a tidbit of a concern, she made sure it was addressed immediately so I could focus on the writing, then editing and now helping with the marketing.



S: That sounds like a dream. And you might just be the first agented author I interview (yikes!) But, enough about that. Let's get to the lightning round.


Summer or Winter?



W:  Summer… wait, I like Winter too (we’re spoiled where I live – we get all four seasons to their fullest)



S:  Sand and sea or mountains?



W:  Sand and sea



S:  TV or books?



W: Books 



S: I think I should make that question harder.  Writing or reading?



W:  Honest? Reading :)



S:  Favorite food?


W:  Chicken Curry.


S: Yum. Well, with that delicious meal, you've unlocked the secret question of the interview. If you could change something in the world right now, what would it be?


W: Injustice.  We can all help to change that by being kind.  – Kindess and giving would help stop poverty, abuse, anger, war, faith…   Seems so simple, and yet, so complicated.


S: Yeah, good point. It would be a much better world. *sigh* How about giving us your personal fave part of the book?


W: The sins of the father are the sins of the son, or in this case, daughter.

 -         First line, and it’s been my favourite line of the entire book since day one. 

S: Awesome.  I hope you had fun here :)

W: Loved it!  Thanks so much for having me and letting me chatter away.  You’ve got a fantastic blog and wish you the best with your writing and blogging!

S: Aw, thanks a whole bunch, Wanita!

Okay peeps, here's how it's gonna go down. Wanita will be giving away one free copy of  her book. Together with it she's also giving away a bookmark, as I understand. You know the drill. Comment with your e-mail addy to enter the draw for the fabulous prize.

Here's a little more about the book:

How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth about the past?

Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to Guilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is an exclusive, gifted school. Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her.

She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become inked with a unique tattoo (tatu) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatu enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their ink-art. Both of her parents where inked, though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young. Learning about her family's past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope in her own life.

Also, you can find Wanita on her personal blog, on Facebook ( Author W. J. May ) and twitter ( @wanitajump ) Book trailer here.

This is it for now, folks. Will be drawing the prizes in about two weeks :) Signing off. Am behind with my NaNo work.

 

Interview and giveaway with Ashley Lynn Willis

Hey peeps. I know I've been MIA over the last days, but I had family over and had to entertain for them ;) Today, I have a surprise for everyone.

I don’t even want to get started on all the crimes I’ve committed to get anywhere near this next guest of mine. I’ve been stalking her since forever, and through some threats, disguises, and an epic battle with swords and nunchucks, I finally managed to get to her. Ladies and gentlemen, (drum roll)… Ashley Lynn Willis.

She’s a long time friend and an awesome writer, so it was about darn time her book came out for the masses. Of course, I’m talking about her paranormal romance novel, The Calling.

Here presented - Awesome cover

Welcome, Ashley. Grab some cookies and fizzy drinks and settle down for a chat with me.



S:  How does it feel to finally be a published author?



Ashley (A):  Scary as heck. It was almost a letdown, if you can believe that. After a year of writing, editing, and getting pushed around by my critique partners, beta readers, and editor, my book was finally live. After I pressed the Publish button, I just stared at the screen, thinking, What’s next? Then, the blog hops, interviews, guest posts, and giveaways began, and I haven’t had time to think since. That’s a good thing because, if I had to think, I’d just obsess over my reviews as I worried that readers wouldn’t like the book.



S: Wow, that sounds a bit... sad. After all that work. But I think it's all for the best. People responded really well to your book.  What made you decide to go indie with The Calling?



A:  I started writing The Calling in November of 2010. I actually penned the book in hopes of landing an agent or ePublisher. My first book, Killing Abel, was too long and crossed genres, so I needed something easier to sell. About a month into writing The Calling, I read on Critique Circle about Victorine Lieske’s journey as a self-published author, and I was immediately intrigued. After hearing her success story, I decided that I would go the Indie route. I loved the idea of controlling my destiny.



S: It is an interesting idea, and I confess I feel pretty attracted to it as well. Might have to give that some thought. Now, tell the masses a little something about yourself. (I’m kidding myself that I know most of this stuff. :))



A:  There’s really not much to tell. I’m a stay-at-home mommy to two preschoolers, and when I’m not wiping snotty noses, kissing boo boos, or performing my short-order cook duties, I’m writing. Boring as it sounds, that’s pretty much my life.



S:  What’s your awesome book about?



A:  You can read the blurb and the first chapter on my website. The main theme in The Calling is to never lose hope. Mandy is recovering from emotional and physical scars after having breast cancer. Justin is trying to come to terms with his family’s dysfunctional state, caused by a paranormal event in his childhood. Together, they are stronger and able to cope with life’s tragedies. In each other, they find hope, peace, and love. It is a love story in the truest sense.



S:  What made you decide to write this book? Where did you get the idea?



A:  I always know the ending of my books well before I plot out the beginning or middle. As I wrote Killing Abel, the seed for this book grew roots in my mind. I outlined the dramatic ending that had to do with a paranormal event, and the story germinated while I continued with Killing Abel. By the time I’d finished that book, I had the beginning of The Calling worked out. From there, I had to fill in the middle, outlining how my characters got from point A to point B.  That’s always a lot of fun because it’s where I learn what my characters are made of.



S: It's a bit weird for me. I always figure out the beginning first, then usually a few major turns that shape up the story and I figure the ending out last. For Hunters, I actually had a different ending planned (just talking, no fighting), but the characters butted in and changed everything (lol, Daniel's a fighter, not a talker).  What’s your favorite part of this book?



A:  My favorite part by far is the ending! I loved, loved every minute of writing the last six chapters. Those chapters were how the book started in my mind, and I had to wait so long to get the ending on paper that, by the time I got there, I was chomping at the bit. The ending is very tense and action-packed. It’s almost a hopeless scenario. Almost… *wink, wink*



S: Lol, you're making me so curious, and I still don't have a copy of this to read (sniff, sniff).  How did you choose the title?



A:  That’s a secret. Hee hee. It’s too ingrained in the book and would spoil some of the surprise.



S: I think I actually know this, but won't be spoiling for everyone else. But you're lucky. I usually have a lot of trouble with titles (though for my NaNo novels, I came up with the titles before I even thought up the story. And honestly, I'm very proud of my current novel title). Let's move to marketing.  What do you do to promote your book?



A:  Book blogs, blog hops, interviews, and guest posts. I gave away lots of copies of my book for review. I’m active on Kindleboards.com, but with all the blog activities, not nearly as much as I should be. I am very active on Goodreads. As an author, I feel it’s important to go where the readers are, places like Goodreads, Librarything, and Shelfari. But no one has unlimited time to spend on the internet, so I decided to pick one venue, Goodreads, and spend the majority of my time there. I’ve met some awesome people there, who I’m happy to call friends.



S:  So… I hear you’re writing a series (wink, wink, nudge, nudge – I’m hoping you’ll get back to that as soon as possible) What’s that about?



A:  Killing Abel is a series about redemption. You can read more about it on my website, and I’ve made the first chapter available there as well.



S:  What are your plans with this series – traditional publishing, or are you going to go indie with them, too?



A:  I had planned to send Killing Abel out to ePublishers, but after watching a friend’s relationship with her ePublisher fall apart, I decided to self-publish the series instead. I already have such an amazing team with Lynn O’Dell of Red Adept for an editor, Glendon Haddix of Street Light Graphics as my cover artist, and my wonderful critique partners—you included, Steph—that I just don’t know what an ePublisher would bring to the table.

I’m not knocking traditional publishing at all, but the major marketing budget is reserved for the high earners.  If I’m expected to shoulder the brunt of the one thing a traditional publisher could help me with—marketing—then I’m not sure why I would go that route, except maybe to eliminate editing and cover design costs. Now don’t get me wrong, if a publisher came to me with a six-figure deal, you can bet I’d run with it, but I don’t see that happening, and I’m content self-publishing.



S:  From all the characters you’ve ever written, which do you like most? And which was the hardest to write? Which one is most like you?



A:  Jessica, the heroine in Killing Abel, is the one most like me. Stubborn and a bit naïve, she’s definitely the easiest character for me to write because I just tap into myself when I need to figure how she’d react to a situation.

The most fun to write is Constantine. He’s a hard-drinking, potty-mouth womanizer who’s found himself in love with an unobtainable woman. That kind of conflict makes for some intense scenes that are a blast to write. The hardest character to write has been Abel because he’s so reserved. He also carries a huge burden that weighs on him every second of every day. Being in his skin can be exhausting. Did you notice I haven’t mentioned any characters from “The Calling?” Hmmm. I really need to get back to my first love, the Killing Abel series.



S: Okay, enough chit-chat. It's time for the Lighting round – rapid fire stuff:

Cats or dogs?



A: Cats



S:  Sweet or spicy?



A: Spicy



S:  Books or TV?


A: Books


S: Jessica or Mandy? (ha! Have you here!) 


A:   Jessica! Didn’t even have to think about it.



S:  Justin or Constantine?



A:  Ugh, OMG! You are so mean. I love, love Constantine, but really, I think I might have to go with Justin. He’s just so sweet. If I had to pick a guy to marry out of all my characters, it would be him. And he’s the character most like my husband.



S: Yes, I am evil.  You’ve also unlocked the secret question of this interview. If you could be a character in a book, who would you be in what book?



A:  Hmmm. This changes based on my mood. Today, I’d like to be Annwyl the Bloody from G.A. Aiken’s Dragon Kin series because she can kick butt, and Fearghus (her dragon lover) sounds yummy right now.



S: And now, I want you to give us your favorite excerpt of your book, for the readers to feast their eyes upon. :D

Mandy glanced across the beach, wondering why more people weren’t milling about on the sand. Not that she minded, the fewer beachgoers who saw her in a swimsuit, the better. Though, thanks to her best friend Lori, she was wearing a cute tankini that even showed a little cleavage without revealing her mastectomy scars. Tomorrow, she’d buy that girl flowers for her Herculean efforts.

Justin led her to a quiet, flat spot and laid out a beach towel big enough for four. “I figured we’d share.”

Mandy chuckled as she plopped her bag down on the blue terrycloth. Slipping off her sandals, she stared at him. Something about him seemed different. She’d noticed the change yesterday at the hospital, but hadn’t been able to put her finger on it until this moment. The three years she’d known him, he’d always looked sleep deprived, with bloodshot eyes ringed by dark circles. Now, his eyes were crystal clear and sparkling brown. “You seem well rested.”

Justin tilted his head. “You noticed?”

She nodded. “Sleeping pills?”

He sat down on the blanket and tucked his long legs beneath him. “Busy summer. I always rest better after a rescue.” He held out a bottle of sunscreen. “Do you mind?” As soon as she took it from him, he slipped off his shirt.

She’d seen him bare-chested more times than she could count, but she’d been so in love with Ty she’d never paid attention to his attributes. Turned out, he had plenty. His shoulder muscles curved in smooth ridges under his golden skin, and his chest tapered to a trim, flat stomach, cut with washboard abs. His swimming trunks hung low on his hips.

As she stared at his perfection, a tingly feeling traveled down her spine, then lodged in her stomach. Attraction? The prickling sensation turned into a brick that sat heavy in her gut. She hadn’t taken notice of a handsome man in so long, she’d forgotten how it made her feel.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. No tingles allowed.

She kneeled behind him, squirted a large dollop of sunscreen on her hand, and rubbed the lotion onto his smooth skin. Reminding herself that he was Justin, her ex-fiancé’s best friend, she squashed her lustful thoughts. But the reminder didn’t stop her from noticing every hard muscle as her fingers glided across his back.

Trying to distract herself from the tingles that refused to go away, she allowed her palm to linger on the sea serpent tattoo wrapped around his bicep. In the black scales of the reptile, she spotted hidden profiles of sharks, corals, sea turtles, and even a barracuda. She’d never considered tattoos as artwork, but his was a masterpiece.

She traced the head of the snake, lingering on the slithering tongue. “Have I ever told you I love this?”

He turned his head and, suddenly, their faces were inches apart. “No. I would’ve remembered.”

She felt his dark eyes gazing straight into her, and her heart pounded uncontrollably. She rocked back on her knees to put some distance between them and picked up the pace, quickly covering every inch of his back with lotion. “There. Not even a gamma ray would burn you.”

“I’ve got a spray in my bag if you want me to douse you.”

“I already put on my sunscreen at home.” Thank goodness for her foresight. If he so much as touched her right now, she’d turn into a giggling puddle of female hormones. She cleared her throat. “You’re supposed to apply lotion thirty minutes before you go in the sun, you know. It’s more effective that way.”

“You’re the nurse,” he said.

She screwed the lid back on the sunscreen and handed it to him. Time to get in the water, she thought as she sat next to him. Reluctantly, she fidgeted with the hem of her white cover-up, twisting the cotton fabric between tense fingers. The scars aren’t visible, she reminded herself. She’d made sure by contorting her body like a Cirque du Soleil performer in front of the dressing room mirror. Even though she had no reason to be self-conscious, her nerves were firing up like bullets without a target, bouncing around in her stomach and wreaking havoc.

“Ready to get in?” he asked.

She nodded. Swallowing hard, she grabbed the bottom of her cover-up, lifted it over her head, and tucked it in her beach bag. As she adjusted the straps to make sure everything remained covered, she looked up to see Justin’s gaze resting on her chest. After a second of staring, his brow furrowed.

Mandy cringed, wanting to wrap her arms around her breasts. “Is there a problem?”

Justin’s widened eyes darted to her face, then to the crashing waves pounding the beach. “Wow. I’m being rude.” He blushed bright red. “I just… I didn’t…”

She knew exactly what he meant. After her surgery, she’d caught most of her friends staring at her missing breast, even though she wore a falsie. A woman without a boob, especially a young one, was a subject of fascination. Justin must have thought she’d still be deflated on one side. “You expected me to be lopsided?”

He nodded, his gaze locked on the surf.

“Reconstructive surgery.” Had he thought she’d be flat forever?

He blew out a noisy breath, grabbed both the boogie boards, and stood. The smile that spread across his face didn’t reach his eyes. “Still remember how to use these?”

Thankful for the change of subject, she jumped to her feet. “It’s been a while, but I think I can manage.” She took a board from Justin, surprised by its light weight given the size. Had it really been so long that she’d forgotten how a bodyboard felt in her arms? Good thing she was getting back in the saddle before she forgot how to swim altogether.

“The last time I surfed, I was with you,” she said.

“You were a fast learner.”

“I’ve probably forgotten everything you taught me.”

His smile came with the crinkles around his eyes that marked it as genuine. “Then, I’ll teach you again.”

Justin had been so patient with her back then, she had no doubt she’d be an expert by the time she left for home. After she fastened the Velcro bracelet to her wrist, she scanned the water. “I don’t think the waves are big enough.” They seemed no more than a foot or two, not exactly high enough for a riveting ride.

He winked. “They’ll get bigger.” With that, he dashed into the sea. Water sprayed around his legs and body as he plunged into the surf. Sure enough, the waves seemed to follow him, cresting higher and ebbing lower. Was a storm moving in, kicking up larger swells? She glanced at the sky. Fluffy white clouds floated lazily toward the east, and the blue surrounding them was endless. She shrugged, then hurried after him.

Alright people. That would be it from Ashley today. I hope you enjoyed finding out things about her. I know I did. And just because I'm she's so awesome, there's a giveaway involved. So if you're not a follower, do that, and if you are, just leave a comment to say hi to Ashley and give her your email address, for a chance to win her awesome book. I'll be announcing the winner in about two weeks, most probably ;)

You can also buy her awesome book here (Amazon), here (B&N), here (Smashwords) and it's on Goodreads here.

I'll be back soon with another post on NaNo (Check out the nifty bar of the right) and how my characters are giving me a monster headache.