Reading, Reviewing, Guest Authors, Giveaways and more.
Those of you who have been following my blog over the past few months, you know that I really enjoy giving independent authors, or as they are called “indie authors” a platform to showcase their work. They put their heart and soul into writing their novels and just need somewhere to visit and speak about their novel. The other thing you should know about me by now is how I feel about my followers and visitors and that is, you guys are the BEST. I also know most of your likes and dislikes when it comes to what books you like to read. So when I received a very gracious email from today’s guest and read the synopsis of her book, I instantly offered her a Guest Author showcase spot and booked her. So please help me welcome Ms. Grace Elliot!
Now available from most eBook stores including Amazon, price $2.99.
To find out more visit http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com/
If you could invite five people from history to a dinner party – who would they be?
Here are my choices.
As an author of historical romance, I have a fascination with history and characters from the past don’t come much bigger than King Henry VIII. Contemporary accounts indicate that Henry, as a young man at least, was a golden Adonis whom women adored, and yet he became such a monster – breaking up the monasteries, ordering the massacre of rebels, beheading wives…the list is almost endless. I’d love to know what motivated him: arrogance or insecurity.
My second guest would be the legendary Italian lover, Casanova. Now this choice isn’t as superficial as it sounds because Casanova was truly a resourceful man who lived life to the full. When he was down and destitute, he always found a way back up. It was Casanova who had the idea for the first lottery….I imagine his lust for life was something to behold, and just for a short time, I’d like to bask in that energy.
Now to balance the male guests, let’s invite a man of imagination and foresight, a man who envisaged the future and wrote about it in such extraordinary books as ‘The War of the Worlds,’ ‘The Time Machine’ and ‘The Invisible Man’ – author H. G. Wells. As a girl my father gave me H. G. Wells collected works and despite the intimidating thickness of the book, I couldn’t put it down. Here is a Victorian, writing about
technology not yet dreamt of and I imagine he and Casanova would get on like the proverbial house on fire.
My final two guests are both female. Let me introduce Lady Emma Hamilton (best known for being Admiral Nelson’s lover) and the scientist, Marie Curie. And my reasons for meeting them? Emma Hamilton, like Casanova, was one of life’s survivors. Born into poverty, she rose from walking the streets to inspire artists with her beauty, captivated a Lord and became mistress to the celebrated hero of Trafalgar, Admiral Nelson. I’d love to witness first hand that indomitable spirit that drove her to rise far above her station in life.
And the physicist Marie Curie, who harnessed the properties of radioactive materials to develop the first x rays – why would I like to meet her? Well, to warn her of the dangers of radioactivity and tell her to use lead screens, in the hope of preventing the cancer that killed her.
SO WHO WOULD YOU INVITE?
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND ONE LUCKY PERSON WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM TO RECEIVE A $10 AMAZON EVOUCHER.
Celeste Armitage has a plan…and that plan doesn’t include marriage. After deliberately humiliating a suitor, Celeste’s despairing parents exile her to thecountry. But once there she discovers a sketch book of daring nude studies and is shaken to find the artist is her hostess’s eldest son, Lord Ranulf Charing. This darkly cynical lord is exactly the sort of dissipated rogue she despises most…if only her blood didn’t heat at the thought of him…
Nothing is as it seems. Lord Ranulf’s life is a façade. Only he can save the Charing’s from disgrace as a blackmailer seeks to ruin his late brother’s reputation. But just asRanulf dares to open his heart to Celeste, the fury of his nemesis is unleashed… facing him with the stark choice between true love and family duty. However when Celeste guesses the truth behind his rejection, Ranulf underestimates her resolve to clear his name and in so doing places the woman he loves in mortal danger….
BUY LINKS.
Amazon.com $2.99
http://www.amazon.com/A-Dead-Mans-Debtebook/
dp/B0046REKBS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A7B2F8DUJ88VZ&s=books&qid=1
293833253&sr=1-1
Solstice publishing.
http://www.solsticepublishing.com/products/A-Dead-Man%27s-Debt–
%252d%252d%252d-PDF.html
Smashwords.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/26527
Fictionwise
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b115169/A-Dead
Today’s question:
What is the last book you struggled to read through to the end, even though you weren’t really enjoying it? What made you keep reading?
My answer:
This is a difficult question for me to answer. Lately I am struggling to read every book I pick up. Not that I am not enjoying it, but I just can’t find the time to put into it or when I do, I am not focusing. I did pick up a book this month that is due for a review, Bloodline, by Mark Billingham and struggled to get through the first 50 pages so I put it aside thinking it was due to my frame of mind and picked up my current read. I realize, that since I am further along in The Good Sister by Drusilla Campbell, maybe Bloodline was not a good match for me. But that really doesn’t answer today’s question because I never struggled to the end, I struggled to my cut off point.
Please send email with following info:
*Name
*Blog Name
*Blog URL
*Email
*Facebook Name
*Twitter Name
*Comments
ex: likes, dislikes (cozies fantasy, erotica) EReader, Info of past tours, Any other info
Those of you who have been following my blog over the past few months, you know that I really enjoy giving independent authors, or as they are called “indie authors” a platform to showcase their work. They put their heart and soul into writing their novels and just need somewhere to visit and speak about their novel. The other thing you should know about me by now is how I feel about my followers and visitors and that is, you guys are the BEST. I also know most of your likes and dislikes when it comes to what books you like to read. So when I received a very gracious email from today’s guest and read the synopsis of her book, I instantly offered her a Guest Author showcase spot and booked her. So please help me welcome Ms. Grace Elliot!
Now available from most eBook stores including Amazon, price $2.99.
To find out more visit http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com/
If you could invite five people from history to a dinner party – who would they be?
Here are my choices.
As an author of historical romance, I have a fascination with history and characters from the past don’t come much bigger than King Henry VIII. Contemporary accounts indicate that Henry, as a young man at least, was a golden Adonis whom women adored, and yet he became such a monster – breaking up the monasteries, ordering the massacre of rebels, beheading wives…the list is almost endless. I’d love to know what motivated him: arrogance or insecurity.
My second guest would be the legendary Italian lover, Casanova. Now this choice isn’t as superficial as it sounds because Casanova was truly a resourceful man who lived life to the full. When he was down and destitute, he always found a way back up. It was Casanova who had the idea for the first lottery….I imagine his lust for life was something to behold, and just for a short time, I’d like to bask in that energy.
Now to balance the male guests, let’s invite a man of imagination and foresight, a man who envisaged the future and wrote about it in such extraordinary books as ‘The War of the Worlds,’ ‘The Time Machine’ and ‘The Invisible Man’ – author H. G. Wells. As a girl my father gave me H. G. Wells collected works and despite the intimidating thickness of the book, I couldn’t put it down. Here is a Victorian, writing about
technology not yet dreamt of and I imagine he and Casanova would get on like the proverbial house on fire.
My final two guests are both female. Let me introduce Lady Emma Hamilton (best known for being Admiral Nelson’s lover) and the scientist, Marie Curie. And my reasons for meeting them? Emma Hamilton, like Casanova, was one of life’s survivors. Born into poverty, she rose from walking the streets to inspire artists with her beauty, captivated a Lord and became mistress to the celebrated hero of Trafalgar, Admiral Nelson. I’d love to witness first hand that indomitable spirit that drove her to rise far above her station in life.
And the physicist Marie Curie, who harnessed the properties of radioactive materials to develop the first x rays – why would I like to meet her? Well, to warn her of the dangers of radioactivity and tell her to use lead screens, in the hope of preventing the cancer that killed her.
SO WHO WOULD YOU INVITE?
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW AND ONE LUCKY PERSON WILL BE CHOSEN AT RANDOM TO RECEIVE A $10 AMAZON EVOUCHER.
Celeste Armitage has a plan…and that plan doesn’t include marriage. After deliberately humiliating a suitor, Celeste’s despairing parents exile her to thecountry. But once there she discovers a sketch book of daring nude studies and is shaken to find the artist is her hostess’s eldest son, Lord Ranulf Charing. This darkly cynical lord is exactly the sort of dissipated rogue she despises most…if only her blood didn’t heat at the thought of him…
Nothing is as it seems. Lord Ranulf’s life is a façade. Only he can save the Charing’s from disgrace as a blackmailer seeks to ruin his late brother’s reputation. But just asRanulf dares to open his heart to Celeste, the fury of his nemesis is unleashed… facing him with the stark choice between true love and family duty. However when Celeste guesses the truth behind his rejection, Ranulf underestimates her resolve to clear his name and in so doing places the woman he loves in mortal danger….
BUY LINKS.
Amazon.com $2.99
http://www.amazon.com/A-Dead-Mans-Debtebook/
dp/B0046REKBS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A7B2F8DUJ88VZ&s=books&qid=1
293833253&sr=1-1
Solstice publishing.
http://www.solsticepublishing.com/products/A-Dead-Man%27s-Debt–
%252d%252d%252d-PDF.html
Smashwords.
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/26527
Fictionwise
http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/b115169/A-Dead
Today’s question:
What is the last book you struggled to read through to the end, even though you weren’t really enjoying it? What made you keep reading?
My answer:
This is a difficult question for me to answer. Lately I am struggling to read every book I pick up. Not that I am not enjoying it, but I just can’t find the time to put into it or when I do, I am not focusing. I did pick up a book this month that is due for a review, Bloodline, by Mark Billingham and struggled to get through the first 50 pages so I put it aside thinking it was due to my frame of mind and picked up my current read. I realize, that since I am further along in The Good Sister by Drusilla Campbell, maybe Bloodline was not a good match for me. But that really doesn’t answer today’s question because I never struggled to the end, I struggled to my cut off point.
Please send email with following info:
*Name
*Blog Name
*Blog URL
*Email
*Facebook Name
*Twitter Name
*Comments
ex: likes, dislikes (cozies fantasy, erotica) EReader, Info of past tours, Any other info
I would like to explain how this came to fruition. Hubby and I were having a discussion about the old days, (for the young’ens reading this..a little history lesson) but before the dark age. When Sundays were special and had traditions and rituals. Sunday mornings Church, come home to a big gravy (sauce) cooking on the stove, a big Sunday dinner, then either off to visit relatives/friends or wait for relatives/friends to drop by. We would spend the afternoon sitting around the table, talking, catching up, having coffee, pizza, calzones, etc etc, dessert. And now, how sad, all those traditions are gone. And then I got to thinking, why not have something similar here on my blog. This past year, I have met so many amazing and wonderful people (some I now call friends) through blogging, and how I am in awe of what they do and accomplish. How much respect I have for them, for their honesty, integrity, credibility and so enjoy when a bit of their personality shines through. So every Sunday, here at my place, the coffee will be on, the dessert is on the table and friends will be stopping by. And I will be rolling out the red carpet for my Sunday Shining Star Blogger guest.
I was told when I first found this community of book blogging that “book bloggers were the nicest bloggers there are” and I have never forgotten those words. And over the past year, I have truly met the nicest people. I also believe, even though we live behind a screen, a bit of our personality shines through. That is one of the reasons I am having so much fun with this weekly event, and hoping you are too, because we are getting to know those “nicest bloggers” around and about bloggyland a little bit better.
How is everyone today? Since last week was a relaxing day by the pool, I thought that this week we would do some travelling to meet our blogging friend. Today we will be going to India so I hope you packed enough, but then don’t we always over pack when going away? And that grumbling you hear…..ignore it…..it’s Jeff and Steve complaining……that the luggage is too heavy……it’s the perfect day to be on the golf course……how come Lori packed 4 pieces of luggage…….MEN!!!!
Today’s guest, I am sure most of you know, either from comments that she has left on your blog or you visiting her place. But we have the treat today of getting to know her better. Today’s guest is GAUTAMI from EVERYTHING DISTILS INTO READING
*When and why did you start blogging?
I started blogging in June 2005. My poetry, rooted, exists from that date. I was always a reader but did not know about book blogging. I got to know about it from another book blogger, who used to visit my poetry blog and insisted I answer the book memes that she tagged. I started my book blog, My Own Little Reading Room, in 2006. However, I lost that blog to Malware in April 2009. I started the current blog, Everything Distils Into Reading, in May 2009. I had to rebuilt it from scratch. I could recover my review posts with dates, as I had subscribed own blog in Google Reader.
*How and what made you decide on the name of your blog?
My life revolves around reading. Even my poetry writing revolves around reading. So Everything Distils Into Reading just fell into place.
*What would you say is the main content of your blog?
I would say book reviews. The memes I do are also book reviews. I try to incorporate my reviews into my blog in all ways possible.
*If books, what genres do you mostly read?
I read Crime Fiction, Literary Fiction and poetry. Sometimes Historical novels, Memoirs, and Travelogues. I am trying to incorporate other genres too. I pick up th difficult reads somehow.
*How often do you post?
On my book blog, almost daily. On poetry blog 3 times a week.
*What are some of the things that you love about blogging?
Books and Poetry. I keep my personal self away from it!
*What are some of the negatives?
I spend too much time blogging and blog hopping!
*Name 1-3 favorite items/postings that you have/do on your blog?
All book reviews on my book blog
Everything Distils Into Reading
All my poetry on my poetry blog, rooted.
*Any advice you would give to new bloggers?
Keep you blog simple. No blings, not animations. Keep it user friendly. Your writing should be good and interesting.. And network. But have patience.
*What draws you to follow someone’s blog?
Good content. Artful writing. And my kind of genres. For poetry blog..POETRY!
*Do you have any “pet peeves” that other bloggers do?
Yes. I don’t like intensedebate, disqus and embedded comment system. Then music, blings etc. If it is book blog, it has to be about books. Not Music and the likes. I also don’t like too much of author interviews, All those challenge posts, only book promotions.
*Would you please share 5-7 things about the person behind the screen so that we get to know the “real” you!!
Well, I am a math teacher.
I love to cook.
I have to learn about each little thing.
I am single.
I love children.
I like doing math puzzles.
I am a good listener
I am a very positive person.
*Any other info you would like to share.
Anyone interested to write poetry with me??
Gautami thank you for being my guest today. I found this interview to be so much fun because I have been following her blog for quite some time now but really didn’t know the person behind the screen. I knew about her poetry blog, absolutely beautiful work. If you get a chance, do stop by. There are blogging peers that have that in common with Gautami, that they may not have known. I didn’t realize that Gautami was a math teacher and embarrassed to say that was my worse subject in school, I may need some tutoring in that area. However, I was not surprised to learn that she is a good listener or a positive person because I feel that has come through from her postings. The advice she has given, has given me a few thoughts to ponder. Her reviews are excellent, and my only negative with Gautami….. lol….. is Teaser Tuesday. It never fails, the book that she showcases goes on to my tbr bucket list. Another great blogger. Another Shining Star!!!!
Addendum: After drafting this post on Wednesday morning, I sent Gautami an email to let her know she was this week’s Shining Star. My TV is on when I blog, tuned on to a cable news station, and there was breaking news that there had just been bombings in India. Sometimes we don’t realize or take it for granted, that in today’s world with the internet, we have made wonderful friendships from around the world. I was quite anxious, waiting to hear that she was OK, until she emailed me. I expressed my concern and she sent me to her FB page of a poem she had written 3 years ago, that I would like to share: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/notes/gautami-tripathy/undead-for-eternity-repost-from-my-blog-for-the-mumbai-attacks-07132011/10150235981411608?notif_t=note_tag
I would like to explain how this came to fruition. Hubby and I were having a discussion about the old days, (for the young’ens reading this..a little history lesson) but before the dark age. When Sundays were special and had traditions and rituals. Sunday mornings Church, come home to a big gravy (sauce) cooking on the stove, a big Sunday dinner, then either off to visit relatives/friends or wait for relatives/friends to drop by. We would spend the afternoon sitting around the table, talking, catching up, having coffee, pizza, calzones, etc etc, dessert. And now, how sad, all those traditions are gone. And then I got to thinking, why not have something similar here on my blog. This past year, I have met so many amazing and wonderful people (some I now call friends) through blogging, and how I am in awe of what they do and accomplish. How much respect I have for them, for their honesty, integrity, credibility and so enjoy when a bit of their personality shines through. So every Sunday, here at my place, the coffee will be on, the dessert is on the table and friends will be stopping by. And I will be rolling out the red carpet for my Sunday Shining Star Blogger guest.
I was told when I first found this community of book blogging that “book bloggers were the nicest bloggers there are” and I have never forgotten those words. And over the past year, I have truly met the nicest people. I also believe, even though we live behind a screen, a bit of our personality shines through. That is one of the reasons I am having so much fun with this weekly event, and hoping you are too, because we are getting to know those “nicest bloggers” around and about bloggyland a little bit better.
How is everyone today? Since last week was a relaxing day by the pool, I thought that this week we would do some travelling to meet our blogging friend. Today we will be going to India so I hope you packed enough, but then don’t we always over pack when going away? And that grumbling you hear…..ignore it…..it’s Jeff and Steve complaining……that the luggage is too heavy……it’s the perfect day to be on the golf course……how come Lori packed 4 pieces of luggage…….MEN!!!!
Today’s guest, I am sure most of you know, either from comments that she has left on your blog or you visiting her place. But we have the treat today of getting to know her better. Today’s guest is GAUTAMI from EVERYTHING DISTILS INTO READING
*When and why did you start blogging?
I started blogging in June 2005. My poetry, rooted, exists from that date. I was always a reader but did not know about book blogging. I got to know about it from another book blogger, who used to visit my poetry blog and insisted I answer the book memes that she tagged. I started my book blog, My Own Little Reading Room, in 2006. However, I lost that blog to Malware in April 2009. I started the current blog, Everything Distils Into Reading, in May 2009. I had to rebuilt it from scratch. I could recover my review posts with dates, as I had subscribed own blog in Google Reader.
*How and what made you decide on the name of your blog?
My life revolves around reading. Even my poetry writing revolves around reading. So Everything Distils Into Reading just fell into place.
*What would you say is the main content of your blog?
I would say book reviews. The memes I do are also book reviews. I try to incorporate my reviews into my blog in all ways possible.
*If books, what genres do you mostly read?
I read Crime Fiction, Literary Fiction and poetry. Sometimes Historical novels, Memoirs, and Travelogues. I am trying to incorporate other genres too. I pick up th difficult reads somehow.
*How often do you post?
On my book blog, almost daily. On poetry blog 3 times a week.
*What are some of the things that you love about blogging?
Books and Poetry. I keep my personal self away from it!
*What are some of the negatives?
I spend too much time blogging and blog hopping!
*Name 1-3 favorite items/postings that you have/do on your blog?
All book reviews on my book blog
Everything Distils Into Reading
All my poetry on my poetry blog, rooted.
*Any advice you would give to new bloggers?
Keep you blog simple. No blings, not animations. Keep it user friendly. Your writing should be good and interesting.. And network. But have patience.
*What draws you to follow someone’s blog?
Good content. Artful writing. And my kind of genres. For poetry blog..POETRY!
*Do you have any “pet peeves” that other bloggers do?
Yes. I don’t like intensedebate, disqus and embedded comment system. Then music, blings etc. If it is book blog, it has to be about books. Not Music and the likes. I also don’t like too much of author interviews, All those challenge posts, only book promotions.
*Would you please share 5-7 things about the person behind the screen so that we get to know the “real” you!!
Well, I am a math teacher.
I love to cook.
I have to learn about each little thing.
I am single.
I love children.
I like doing math puzzles.
I am a good listener
I am a very positive person.
*Any other info you would like to share.
Anyone interested to write poetry with me??
Gautami thank you for being my guest today. I found this interview to be so much fun because I have been following her blog for quite some time now but really didn’t know the person behind the screen. I knew about her poetry blog, absolutely beautiful work. If you get a chance, do stop by. There are blogging peers that have that in common with Gautami, that they may not have known. I didn’t realize that Gautami was a math teacher and embarrassed to say that was my worse subject in school, I may need some tutoring in that area. However, I was not surprised to learn that she is a good listener or a positive person because I feel that has come through from her postings. The advice she has given, has given me a few thoughts to ponder. Her reviews are excellent, and my only negative with Gautami….. lol….. is Teaser Tuesday. It never fails, the book that she showcases goes on to my tbr bucket list. Another great blogger. Another Shining Star!!!!
Addendum: After drafting this post on Wednesday morning, I sent Gautami an email to let her know she was this week’s Shining Star. My TV is on when I blog, tuned on to a cable news station, and there was breaking news that there had just been bombings in India. Sometimes we don’t realize or take it for granted, that in today’s world with the internet, we have made wonderful friendships from around the world. I was quite anxious, waiting to hear that she was OK, until she emailed me. I expressed my concern and she sent me to her FB page of a poem she had written 3 years ago, that I would like to share: https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/notes/gautami-tripathy/undead-for-eternity-repost-from-my-blog-for-the-mumbai-attacks-07132011/10150235981411608?notif_t=note_tag
If you follow my blog then you know that my favorite reads are thrillers, suspense, and mysteries. So when I was contacted by Allison from JKS Communications if I would be interested in hosting today’s guest, I didn’t hesitate. So please help me welcome A. J. Scudiere!!!
For A.J., texture reigns supreme. Whether it’s air or blood or virus, it can be felt and smelled. School is a privilege and two science degrees (a BA and MS) are mere pats on the back compared to the prize of knowledge. Teaching is something done for fun (and the illusion of a regular paycheck) and is rewarding at all levels, grade school through college. No stranger to awards and national recognition for outstanding work as a teacher, trainer and curriculum writer, like most true teachers, the real joy for A.J. is in the “oh!” – the moment when the student sees the connection and it all makes sense.
A.J. has lived in Florida and Los Angeles among a handful of other places. Recent whims have brought the dark writer to Tennessee, where home is a deceptively normal looking neighborhood just outside Nashville.
You can visit A. J. Scudiere at her website, Facebook, and Twitter.
*Your thriller books have captivated readers from your debut as an author in 2008 with Resonance – where do you find the inspiration for the incredibly vivid details your share?
ANSWER: I find inspiration all kinds of places. Mostly, I tuck away details for years, waiting for the right character to use them with. My friends are really familiar with me asking “Can I put that in a book someday?” For Resonance, the last piece was an article I read from two Harvard geologists proposing this hot spot theory. As I read their idea and the evidence they had, all the characters and the story of Resonance just gelled. I almost immediately put down the article and started writing the opening scene.
*You are on the cutting edge of Audio Books, releasing not just words being read from the story you’ve written but an actual Audio Movie (www.AJsAudioMovies.com) with actors and sounds to accompany the book. Tell us a little about those.
ANSWER: AudioMovie credit goes almost entirely to Stefan Rudnicki and SkyBoat Road Productions. Stefan is a master at audiobooks and has so many awards. I remember talking to him and complaining about the number of audiobooks I’d listened to in which readers had barked like a dog or tried to imitate the sound of a shotgun being cocked. Stefan had been wanting to do an audiobook with multiple readers, but it takes an author who uses point of view the way that I do in order to make that kind of narrative. Ultimately, the AudioMovie format is the only unabridged version of full cast reading with soundtrack and score. Stefan did such an amazing job making the background subtle, but really adding to the texture of the story. It’s like being in a movie theater with your eyes closed: you hear everything!
*Has being a female affected your career as a thriller writer? How so?
ANSWER: At this point, I don’t know that it does affect things. But initially, I was shocked by how many agents called me and were surprised to find out I was female.
*You’re a scientist. Is the science behind your novels true?
ANSWER: Obviously, what I write is fiction, but I do my research very carefully. I hate when writers get details wrong – anyone who knows the material better than the author can have the story shake loose on them when they see something they know isn’t true or doesn’t work. For Resonance, I read tons of articles and applied everything I know from my masters degree in physiology. So, yes, the science there is real. Much of what happens at the beginning of the book that starts the polar reversal is actually happening in the world around us right now. And a lot of people predict that the earth’s magnetic poles will trade places soon, given the speed at which they are moving.
For Vengeance, I did much the same. Only this time I spent my time working with my black-belt friends and out at the gun range. I worked up to where I can shoot pretty accurately two handed. I’m sure if I practiced with Lee’s dedication, it would be more than possible to do what he does. As for the crimes Lee and Sin commit, I have to admit my family got a bit tired of me breaking into our house. So, everything there is plausible. I don’t recommend it! But it can be done.
*What makes a good thriller in your opinion? Any favorite authors you follow?
ANSWER: A good Thriller has to have that can’t-put-it-down quality. You have to believe that if you turn the page you’ll get an answer to a burning question or a serious stand-off will be resolved. The best thriller writers do this by not dragging out the scenes, but by answering your questions. Only – as the reader starts to feel relief that the question has been answered – he realizes that he can’t put the book down because there’s another question, or something else has happened. Thrillers also follow the laws of other books. 1] The writing itself should be high quality. The turn of phrase should be easy to read and well crafted. 2] The plot should be solid: no gaping holes, no unmotivated actions that drive the plot forward. 3] And if you’re really good, your work can be read on multiple levels – it can be a breezy beach read that you enjoy, or you can take it into a literature class and dissect it, looking at the deeper questions the book raises. I have a few authors that I love, but few hold up over time. I hate recycled plots, and books (or even movies) that bring back beloved characters only because they are beloved. They need a good story behind them! Some favorites are: Nabokov, Tim O’Brien, and Orson Scott Card.
*How do you express yourself outside of writing?
ANSWER: Aside from being really talkative? I’m a teacher, and I think both writing and teaching are similar. In both cases it’s my job to convey a story with clarity so the listener can understand. Whether that’s a story I made up or content about where each electron is most likely to be found in the subshells of an atom, it’s still something that has to be conveyed well.
*Your newest novel, God’s Eye (www.GodsEyeTheBook.com), releases October 2011. What’s it about?
ANSWER: God’s Eye is the story of what happens when your world gets shaken and everything thing you think you knew is no longer true. Katharine has lived a golden life, she inherits her mother’s trust fund and has a guaranteed job at her father’s investment firm. Though she can’t say everything is right with her life, she believes nothing is wrong with it. But because of her malleability and willingness to accept things at face value, Katharine becomes the prize in a tug-of-war between an angel and a demon. Both appear to her as human and ask her to change her world; she’s in a situation where she’s forced to choose one side or the other. The problem is she can’t tell which man is the angel and which is the demon. These are the bigger questions Katharine and all of us face: what is evil? Would you recognize it if you saw it? And how responsible are you for the ramifications of your actions, even the unintended ones?
*If you could be any of the characters in any of your books, who would you be and why?
ANSWER: That’s tough. There’s no ‘good’ guy in any of my books. Everyone, even the supernatural creatures aren’t purely one way or the other. And just like people, even the greats have flaws. I love Jillian’s ability to learn, even when it’s hard for her. I wish I had Jordan’s innate vision into people, and Carter’s irreverence and Becky’s peace. But each of them has things they struggle with, too. I’d love to kick butt like Lee or Sin, but wouldn’t want to shoulder their burdens. I try to ‘do the right thing’ like Owen, but wouldn’t want to face his difficult decisions. I think in the end, I’ll stick with being me. Besides, as me, I get to be each of them for a while!
Every soul he claims is another chance to advance. Until he can walk among us, look like us, make us believe in him. The only thing holding him back is . . .
The rules of the realm bind him from fighting on the demon’s terms. But this is his chance to steal something away from the demon, to steal the thing the demon wants most . . .
A woman who has been chosen. Katharine is suddenly a pawn in a game where the rules and the stakes are beyond her comprehension. She must take a side even though she can’t tell angel from demon. And in the end, they will all be judged.
