Author Interview/Giveaway - Under the Moon by Natalie Damschroder

Describe your book in five words or less.

Paranormal romantic adventure with goddesses.


How did the ideas for your books come to you?


For the first book in the trilogy, Under the Moon, I wanted to write about goddesses in modern society, and I wanted to write about guys similar to a couple of characters on a TV show I love. I also wanted to write a book in a month via National Novel Writing Month. Everything kind of squished together in my head enough to get me to start writing. The ideas for the next two books arose as I wrote the first one, with a lot of "what if" questions about the characters and the villains they face.


Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Nope, the only thing I hope my readers get from my books is entertainment. Anything else is gravy. :)

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?

The hardest part is both finding time to write, and making myself use that time wisely. There are always 150 other things that call for my attention and pull me away from my books. The easiest part is hard to describe. It's being "in the zone," when, for some reason, everything just works and the words fly through my brain.


What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?

Heavy Metal, the second book in the Goddesses Rising trilogy, is completed and with my editor, awaiting her brilliant comments for all the ways I have to change it. LOL Heavy Metal's heroine is a goddess who never knew it. I'm currently working on Sunroper, the third book in the trilogy. I have a non-paranormal romantic adventure, Acceptable Risks, coming out in April. When I can manage it, I hope to finish a paranormal young adult that I've been working on for a while.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?

I love writing paranormal because it allows for such imagination-stretching. And I don't have to do a lot of research. LOL I love writing romantic adventure because the stakes are so high, and yet so personal. Adventure stories are exciting because the pacing is fast, and the romance makes saving the world (or some part of it) even more important.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?

That is the most gratifying thing I could ever hear. I get giddy knowing someone out there really likes my books. It's the whole reason I write them! :)


What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

It's funny, I was driving home from a meeting yesterday and thought, "I hope no one in an interview asks me what no one ever asks but should, because I won't have an answer!" LOL This is why I don't give interviews from your side of things, and why I'm so bad at small-talk.

Oh, wait, I know! The question would be, "What are your editors like, and what's it like to work with them?" I have fantastic editors at both Entangled Publishing and Carina Press. One of the most difficult things an author can face is an editor who doesn't match well with them. I am so grateful every day that I've been matched perfectly with dream editors. At Entangled, KL Grady and Liz Pelletier have been fantastic at forcing the best book possible out of me, and at the same time supporting my delicate author ego. At Carina, Elizabeth Bass is a steady, brilliant professional who sees all my flaws and suggests fantastic cures for them.

What was your road to publication like?

I started writing seriously in 1992/93 and finished my first book in 1996, getting the second book I finished published in 2000. I've just celebrated the publication of my 10th novel, with more contracted for next year. So it's been slow and steady growth over the last decade, punctuated with lots of highs and lows and struggles and joys. I'm incredibly lucky to be actively publishing with two dynamic, high-quality publishers right now, and am excited for the future.

Again, thank you so much for this wonderful interview!


~~~~~~~~~~


About the Author:

Natalie J. Damschroder came to writing the hard way—by avoiding it. Though she wrote her first book at age six (My Very Own Reading Book) and received accolades for her academic writing (Ruth Davies Award for Excellence in Writing for a paper on deforestation her senior year in college), she hated doing it. Colonial food and the habits of the European Starling just weren’t her thing.

She found her niche—romantic fiction—shortly after college graduation. After an internship with the National Geographic Society, customer service for a phone company just wasn’t that exciting. So she began learning how to write the books she’d loved to read all her life. Now she struggles to balance her frenetic writing life with her family, the most supportive husband in the world and two beautiful, intelligent, stubborn, independent daughters (the oldest of whom has become a writer). She somehow also fits in a day job and various volunteer positions in and out of the writing industry.
Learn more about her at her website, www.nataliedamschroder.com, follow her on Twitter @NJDamschroder, or friend her on Facebook


Please leave a comment or questions on this post in appreciation of the author

The Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop (December 2 - 6)

The Book Lover's Holiday Giveaway Hop will run from Dec. 2nd to 6th.
Thanks to Alyson from Kid Lit Frenzy for co-hosting.


The winter holidays are just around the corner. Celebrate by participating in this holiday giveaway hop with prizes just for book lovers.

I giving away a $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card

2012 Ebook Challenge

I'm joining this Challenge for next year I've just discovered Smashwords an have already gotten quite a few books douwnload to the good old iPad

Check it ot at Workaday Reads

The 2011 E-book Challenge was hosted by The Ladybug Reads. She has decided not to host it for 2012, and I was the lucky lottery winner who gets to host it. That's right, there was so much interest from people wanting to host it that she had to hold a lottery.

Challenge Guidelines:
1.This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
2.Anyone can join, you don't need to be a blogger. If you don't have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).
3.Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.
4.You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5.When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.
6.You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7.Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.

Levels:
1.Floppy disk - 5 ebooks
2.CD - 10 ebooks
3.DVD - 25 ebooks
4.Memory stick - 50 ebooks
5.Hard drive - 75 ebooks
6.Server - 100 ebooks
7.Human brain - 150 ebooks

At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you to add your reviews for that month. If you forget, feel free to add your reviews in the following month. Any reviews submitted will be entered into the draw for that month.

Yes, there will be draws every month for participants. As long as you are signed up below, every review you add to the monthly roundups will get one entry into the giveaway for that month.

There will also be a grand giveaway at the end of the year for eveyone who achieves their goal level (or higher). There may be different prizes for different levels, but that is not decided yet. If you are an author and want to contribute to the monthly or grand prizes, please contact me.

Newly Discovered – Smashwords

I just recently discovered Smashwords when I was participating in the Blog Tour de Troops sponsored by the Indie Book Collective.

They were offering free books for the Veteran’s Day Weekend and for each comment you got a copy of a new book, but a copy of the ebook was sent to the troops also. It was a great way to support the troops and get some new and possibly good books also.

I want to thank the 10-13 authors a day for participating and helping to support the troops. I got several new books from new authors now a I a good reason to use my new iPad. I’ve been sending books to the troops for several years myself, but now everything is electronic.

Here is a list of the books I was able to catch:

A Grand Murder by Stacy Verdick Case
Without Mercy by Belinda Boring
Blood Oath by Belinda Boring (out 11/20)
Cinderella’s Secret Diary by Ron Vitale
The Keya Quests: Three Souls Destiny Bound by Glenn Skinner
The Keya Quests: The Battle for Shivenridge by Glenn Skinner
Dance of the Winnebagos by Ann Charles
Thrown Out: Stories from Exeter by Jennie Coughlin
Murder At The Rocks by Jill Paterson
Epsilon: Broken Stars by Erin Klitzke
Office Politics (Harper & Lyttle Book 1) by Sharon Gerlach
The Secret Dreams of Sarah-Jane Quinn (Harper & Lyttle Book 2) by Sharon Gerlach
Getting Well for The First Time by Paul Rice

Guest Blog - The Christmas Village by Melissa Goodwin

Finding Your Inner 10-Year-Old
Melissa Ann Goodwin

I have a black and white picture of my fifth grade class hanging in my office. We’re sitting straight-backed and bright-eyed at our desks. We look smart and well-behaved, except for Robert, who has a smirk on his face and his very own row - for good reasons - close to Miss Cronin’s desk. We are 10 years old, full of possibilities and promise.

This photograph reminds me of something very important. It reminds me of who I really am. When I was 10, I knew exactly what I liked and didn’t like; what I dreamed of, what I loved, what excited me, what scared me.

I loved to read. I loved school. I liked those little troll dolls with the crazy orange hair. I liked my best friend Priscilla, cats, gathering chestnuts, Rex Trailer, hot dogs, going to the beach and playing dodge ball. I hated liver, eggplant, scary movies, and mean people. I loved walking home from school and writing stories in my head. By the age of 10, I already knew that I wanted to write the kind of books that I loved to read.

As I got older, I veered away from what I knew when I was 10. What other people said and thought began to carry more weight. There were norms about the path that life should take. I’m not alone – this happens to almost everyone. We get new ideas and we try new things. There’s nothing wrong with that. But later, many of us find we’ve wandered rather far from what we think of as our “true selves.” We feel empty, burned out and lost. We say that we “need to find ourselves again.” That expression implies that we once knew who we were, but have forgotten! When we feel this way, what we really need to do is rediscover our inner 10-year-olds.

But how do we do that? Well, here are a few ideas that may help:
• Close your eyes and picture yourself at age 10. Who was your best friend? Your mortal enemy? What did you do after school? What games did you play? What did you want with all your heart to get for Christmas that year? What subjects did you love – and hate?
• Write it all down.
• Spend five minutes every day remembering the details of your 10th year. When you remember something new, write that down too.
• Find a picture of yourself at that age and put it on the fridge. Every day, ask the person in the picture what he’d want to do today if he was in charge of your life. Consider doing it!
• Re-read a book or watch a movie that you loved as a kid, and remind yourself why you loved it.

If you think there is something you should be doing with your life, but you’re not sure what it is, remembering what you loved at age 10 can help you find your way. No matter what kind of work you do, it can only be enhanced by asking your inner 10-year-old to help. She knows your true essence and can help you tap into the deep well of expression that is uniquely you. Invite your 10-year-old self back in, and see if you don’t find a renewed sense of wonder and playfulness in everything you do.


Here is the trailer for her book


Author Bio

Melissa Ann Goodwin is a native New Englander, now living in Santa Fe, New Mexico with her husband, artist J. Richard Secor. She has written extensively for Fun for Kidz, Boys’ Quest and Hopscotch for Girls. She was a regular feature article contributor to the Caregiver's Home Companion for more than five years. Her work has appeared in Guideposts’ Angels on Earth, Caregivers’ Home Companion, Caring Today, The Lutheran Digest, The Peak Magazine, The Andover Townsman, and the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette. Her poetry took 10th prize in The Writer’s Digest 2010 annual competition. The Christmas Village is her first novel.

Author's Websites:

Melissa Ann Goodwin


The Christmas Village


FaceBook:


Twitter: @GoodwinMelissa

Note:

here is the link to Amazon


Link to Smashwords

What Are You Reading Monday? #30

Books I completed in the last week are:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)








Bookmarks are still living in the middle of:
*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)



Legacy by Danielle Steel (audio)




Up Next:


Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke (Audio)


Between Sister by Kristin Hannah(audio)



Reviews posted this week:



I am still way behind in posting my reviews.




Author Guest Posts/Interviews:



Blog Tour/Giveaway -The Christmas Village by Melissa Goodwin (WOW) (November 17)





December is Author Month – Interview/Guest Blog A Day



Author Interview/Giveaway - Shadowlander by Theresa Meyer (Entangled Publishing) (December 1)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Hushed by Kelly York (Entangled Publishing) (December 2)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Kiss Me, Kill Me by Lucianne River (Entangled Publishing) (December 3)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Shadow On The Wall by Pavarti Devi (December 3)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Under the Moon by Natalie Damschroder (Entangled Publishing) (December 4)


Author Interview/Giveaway - North of Need by Laura Kaye (Entangled Publishing) (December 5)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Girl Three by Tracy March (Entangled Publishing) (December 6)


Author Interview/Giveaway - The Last Beginning by Rachel Firasek (Entangled Publishing) (December 7)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Touch by Jus Accardo (Entangled Publishing) (December 8)


Author Interview/Giveaway - The Fallen Queen by Jane Kindred (Entangled Publishing) (December 9)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Hellsbane by Paige Cuccaro (Entangled Publishing) (December 10)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Busted in Bollywood by Nichola March (Entangled Publishing) (December 11)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Bittersweet Blood by Nina Croft (Entangled Publishing) (December 12)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Night Series #2 by Lisa Kessler (Entangled Publishing) (December 13)


Author Interview/Giveaway – Radiant Desire by Inara Scott (Entangled Publishing) (December 14)


Author Interview/Giveaway - Jacob T Marley by R. William Bennet (Shadow Mountain Publishing) (TBD)




Special Blog Hop Giveaways



Spooktacular Hop (October 24 – 31)


Gratitude Giveaways (November 17 – 27)


Midwinters Eve (December 21 – 22)



Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):



Too many to list right now trying to catch up so I can start the new year right




Giveaways on the blog this week and in coming weeks:


Primary Colors by Anonymous (ends 10/28)

Freebie Friday - Primary Colors by Anonymous (ends 10/28)

Goodreads Review:


A brilliant and penetrating look behind the scenes of modern American politics, Primary Colors is a funny, wise, and dramatic story with characters and events that resemble some familiar, real-life figures. When a former congressional aide becomes part of the staff of the governor of a small Southern state, he watches in horror, admiration, and amazement, as the governor mixes calculation and sincerity in his not-so-above-board campaign for the presidency.

What Are You Reading Monday? #29

Books I completed in the last week are:

*Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)

What You Wish For by Fern Michaels (audio)

Home in Time for Christmas by Heather Graham

Bookmarks are still living in the middle of: *Reading a lot of children’s book – I’m going to make a challenge of the titles found in 1001 Children’s Books to Read before I Grow Up (just need help with a button)

Legacy by Danielle Steel (audio)

Up Next:

Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke (Audio)

Between Sister by Kristin Hannah(audio)

Reviews posted this week:

I am still way behind in posting my reviews.

Author Guest Posts/Interviews:

Blog Tour/Giveaway -The Christmas Village by Melissa Goodwin (WOW) (November 17)

December is Author Month – Interview/Guest Blog A Day

Author Interview/Giveaway - Shadowlander by Theresa Meyer (Entangled Publishing) (December 1)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Hushed by Kelly York (Entangled Publishing) (December 2)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Kiss Me, Kill Me by Lucianne River (Entangled Publishing) (December 3)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Shadow On The Wall by Pavarti Devi (December 3)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Under the Moon by Natalie Damschroder (Entangled Publishing) (December 4)

Author Interview/Giveaway - North of Need by Laura Kaye (Entangled Publishing) (December 5)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Girl Three by Tracy March (Entangled Publishing) (December 6)

Author Interview/Giveaway - The Last Beginning by Rachel Firasek (Entangled Publishing) (December 7)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Touch by Jus Accardo (Entangled Publishing) (December 8)

Author Interview/Giveaway - The Fallen Queen by Jane Kindred (Entangled Publishing) (December 9)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Hellsbane by Paige Cuccaro (Entangled Publishing) (December 10)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Busted in Bollywood by Nichola March (Entangled Publishing) (December 11)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Bittersweet Blood by Nina Croft (Entangled Publishing) (December 12)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Night Series #2 by Lisa Kessler (Entangled Publishing) (December 13)

Author Interview/Giveaway – Radiant Desire by Inara Scott (Entangled Publishing) (December 14)

Author Interview/Giveaway - Jacob T Marley by R. William Bennet (Shadow Mountain Publishing) (TBD)

Special Blog Hop Giveaways

Spooktacular Hop (October 24 – 31)

Gratitude Giveaways (November 17 – 27)

Midwinters Eve (December 21 – 22)

Books still needing to have reviews written (as opposed to the ones that are simply awaiting posting):

Too many to list right now trying to catch up so I can start the new year right

Giveaways on the blog this week and in coming weeks:

Primary Colors by Anonymous (ends 10/28)

September 2011 Winners

Congratulations!!

All winners have been notfied.

9/1 - Author Interview/Giveaway - Pleating for Mercy by Melissa Bourbon (Entanled Publishing) Marjorie

9/7 - Author Interview/Giveaway - Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin - Taylor

9/8 - Guest Interview/Giveaway - One Wish for Winifred Witch by Cheri Hallwood – Anna Sindt

9/13 - Author Guest Post/Giveaway - Dead Man's Switch by Tammy Kaeher – Sharon Smith

9/17 - Author Interview/Giveaway - Lucky Girl by Cate Lord (Entangled Publishing) – Julie Witt

9/19 - Author Interview/Giveaway - The Last Rising by Rachel Firasek (Entangled Publishing) – Meredith Miller

9/20 - Author Interview/Giveaway - Out in Blue by Sarah Gilman (Entangled Publishing) – Valerie Long

9/21 - Author Interview/Giveaway - Thrill Me by Lucianne River (Entangled Publishing) Laura H

9/23 - Author Interview/Giveaway - Break Out by Nina Croft (Entangled Publishing) Na

9/24 - Author Interview/Giveaway - Ward Against Death by Melanie Card (Entangled Publishing) C D Meetens

9/25 - Author Interview/Giveaway - The Marked Son by Shea Berkley (Entangled Publishing) JHS

9/28 - Author Interview/Giveaway - The "What If" Guy by Brooke Moss (Entangled Publishing) – Julie Barrett

9/29 - Author Interview/Giveaway - Paradise 21 by Aubrie Dionne (Entangled Publishing) – Maria

Guest Post/Giveaway by Rayka Mennen

Compulsions by Rayka Mennen

Thanks so much for hosting me at BBTMF. As I ran through ideas for this post, I thought about my books, my characters, my ideas, why I write and then, Wham! It hit me so hard, I had to blink away stars. Why do I write? Because it’s a bloody compulsion, that’s why.

I can’t tell you how many times people have asked why I could possibly want to have two careers, or stay up Friday nights writing. I’ve asked myself that a few times, these past few months too. But I find I really cannot stop writing. My love of romance novels began, when as a teen in my native India, I discovered Georgette Heyer. From there, it was a quick journey to Mills & Boon. And later, Loveswepts, on old imprint that the publisher is bringing back. The happily ever after hooked me, reeled me in, and kept me enthralled.

Enter college and other detours like marriage and grad school and a career as a research scientist. My love for reading romance never died. And one day, about ten years ago, I turned on my laptop and started writing. A cowboy romance. LOL. Thank goodness for critique groups—that one widely went into the box in the dusty guest room closet. My next attempt was a romantic suspense, followed by a paranormal romance, and it became a compulsion.

That’s what my current release, Enchanted Destiny, is about. Destined soul mates and finding an HEA when you’re thrust into each other’s lives by fate.

So you do have a calling? A certain something you just have to do? I’d love to hear from you.
Rayka Mennen raykamennen@gmail.com

Enchanted Destiny - Book One - by Rayka Mennen

Destiny’s never looked so good…

Kat never believed she’d fall victim to her family’s stories about destined soul mates—she makes her own fate, thank you very much. When she walks by a construction site and admires the same sexy architect for the zillionth time in a week, the last thing she expects is to be slammed by a vision of his death.

Which activates the spell that will change their lives forever.

Jake is a single dad with a singular focus—create a stable life for him and his son. His ex-wife cured him of any desire to fall in love, but when an intriguing woman saves him from what should’ve been a deadly accident, he can’t shake his fascination. Too bad she’s crazy, claiming she’s a witch and that they’re soul mates—not exactly the “stable life” he had in mind.

Kat’s destiny comes with a deadline. If they don’t fall in love by her twenty-fifth birthday—a mere three weeks away—Jake will never find the peace he seeks and Kat will lose her magic forever.

Please leave a comment/question on this post in appreciation of the author

Author Interview/Giveaway - Paradise 21 by Aubrie Dionne (Entangled Publishing)

Describe your book in five words or less.

1. Adventurous 2. Romantic 3. Piratical (of/or including pirates-Did I make that word up? Maybe.) 4. Otherworldly 5. Thought provoking (Or at least I hope it is)

How did the ideas for your books come to you?

The ideas come at the strangest times: When I’m driving, doing laundry, or in the shower. If I try to force myself to come up with ideas, nothing happens, but if I let my mind wander, there they are!

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

You control your own destiny. You can make things happen in your life if you put your mind up to it. Also,We need to work together to save this planet and balance our population with our resources.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?

The hardest part is when I hit a road block, or have trouble tying things together. Sometimes the story is crystal clear to me, and other times I feel like I’m looking through a smoky glass, trying to uncover a real gem.

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?

I just finished the sequel, Tundra 37, about the Matchmaker on another colony ship. Now I’m writing a novella tie-in told from the perspective of the space pirates as the colony ships leave them behind on a crumbling Earth. This one has zombies of a sort in it, and has been a roller coaster ride to write!

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?

I love anything about science fiction. I grew up watching Star Wars and Star Trek TNG, and I wanted to create my won space opera, because you can never have enough of them can you? 

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?

Exciting and scary at the same time. I hope they’ll like it, but you can’t please everyone all of the time. I can only write what I would enjoy reading myself.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Who has helped me along the way to publication?

Definitely my family’s support, my writing critique partners, my agent, and Entangled Publishing for believing in my book!

What was your road to publications like?

A lot of typing. I kept writing books until one of them caught fire. Paradise 21 is my fourth book, and I’ve already written two others and half a novella since then. I’ve also written about twenty short stories, and several hundred blogs.

You have to keep writing. I thought I’d write one book and be famous, but it took several books to hone my craft and create a good recipe of well-developed characters, action, plot, and setting.

Thank you for having me here today!

About the Author:

Aubrie is an author and flutist in New England. Her stories have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, A Fly in Amber, and several print anthologies including Skulls and Crossbones by Minddancer Press, Rise of the Necromancers, by Pill Hill Press, Nightbird Singing in the Dead of Night by Nightbird Publishing, Dragontales and Mertales by Wyvern Publications, A Yuletide Wish by Nightwolf Publications, and Aurora Rising by Aurora Wolf Publications. Her epic fantasy is published with Wyvern Publications, and several of her ebooks are published with Lyrical Press and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. When she’s not writing, she plays in orchestras and teaches flute at Plymouth State University and a community music school.

http://www.authoraubrie.com http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com

Please levea a comment/question on this post in appreciation of the author

Author Interview/Giveaway - The "What If" Guy by Brooke Moss (Entangled Publishing)

Hi, and thanks for having me here today. What a fun blog to be a part of!

Describe your book in five words or less.

Um, let’s see….funny, romantic, relatable, emotional, and poignant.

How did the ideas for your books come to you?

I get ideas everywhere! Every time I meet a new couple, and I learn about how they met and fell in love, I feel inspired to tell a new story. Inspiration for contemporary romance and women’s fiction is all around me! It’s just a matter of picking one story to tell at a time.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Actually, there are a few. First, don’t let too much time pass, and too much hurt happen, between you and a loved one before you take the first step towards reuniting and working things out. You never know when you might run out of time. And second, if your heart longs for someone, don’t force yourself to be with another. Your heart loves whom it loves. Go out and get them.

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?

For me the hardest part is definitely doing the promotion. I am happiest when sitting in my sweats writing a new story. Trying to “sell myself” takes me out of my comfort zone. But I am learning with time, that when you publish a book, connecting with readers is key. And I’m starting to appreciate it, too. My readers are amazing!

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?

I am currently working on a really cool WIP that I hope to pitch at the Emerald City Writer’s Conference all about…wait for it…carnies. Ha! That should be interesting. Plus, I am working on the edits for a really special trilogy that will come out next summer from Entangled Publishing. Think “My Best Friend’s Wedding” meets “Pretty In Pink”, with a dark twist a’la Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson. I can’t wait to share it with everyone.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?

I’ve dabbled in other genres, but I seem to keep coming back to the contemporary romance and women’s fiction genres. They say to write what you read, and since I tend to lean towards those two genres first, that’s what I write. Plus, I really enjoy books that are relatable. With storylines that could potentially happen to me, or someone I know.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?

Incredible. Sometimes I feel like I am having an “out of body” experience. All I’ve ever wanted with my books is to have people read and enjoy them. Nothing pleases me more than hearing that someone enjoyed a story I wrote. It’s better than any reward or contest win I could get. Fan feedback and praise is priceless.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

When I was writing The What If Guy, it played out in my mind like a movie the whole time. I would love to be asked who would play the roles of the main and secondary characters. And what songs would be on the soundtrack.

For the role of Autumn Cole, I always pictured Isla Fischer; for Henry Tobler, I pictured Gerard Butler; and for Billy Cole, I pictured Ed Harris. On the soundtrack, I would have “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere” by Dwight Yokum, and plenty of Willie Nelson songs.

What was your road to publications like?

It was sometimes painful, but completely worth it. I’ve been rejected a lot. And I have friends who live in fear of rejection, and who get completely depressed by rejection. I have been down a time or two, but never once did I contemplate giving up and going into a completely new field of work. I’ve contemplated self publishing before, but since I am not very good with self-promotion, I think it’s best to just stay the course I am on with Entangled, who makes it impossible for authors not to succeed.

My name is Brooke Moss, and my debut novel, The What If Guy, is available now from Entangled Publishing. It is the story of single mom, Autumn Cole, who is returning to her miniscule hometown to reluctantly reclaim her role as daughter of the town drunk. Things become even more complicated when she realizes that her son’s history teacher is none other than Henry Tobler, the college sweetheart she never stopped loving.

The What If Guy is available at Barnes & Noble.com, Amazon, Diesel Books, Books on Board, and your local bookseller. Grab a copy today, and let me know what you think!

Find me elsewhere on the web, at my website, blog, Twitter, Goodreads, and Facebook.

Fondly,

- Brooke Moss Please leave a comment/question on this post in appreciation of the author.

Author Interview/Giveaway - The Marked Son by Shea Berkley

I’d like to thank Sue for inviting me to her blog today. Honestly, when you let a Young Adult writer on a blog, you never know what’s going to happen. We’re pretty pubescent. So I apologize beforehand for my behavior.

The Marked Son quick overview:

Seventeen-year-old Dylan Kennedy always knew something was different about him, but until his mother abandoned him in the middle of Oregon with grandparents he’s never met, he had no idea what.

When Dylan sees a girl in white in the woods behind his grandparents’ farm, he knows he’s seen her before…in his dreams. He’s felt her fear. Heard her insistence that only he can save her world from an evil lord who uses magic and fear to feed his greed for power.

Unable to shake the unearthly pull to Kera, Dylan takes her hand. Either he’s completely insane or he’s about to have the adventure of his life, because where they’re going is full of creatures he’s only read about in horror stories. Worse, the human blood in his veins has Dylan marked for death…

Describe your book in five words or less.

Dangerous. Demented. Dynamic. Totally Cool.

How did the ideas for your books come to you?

I woke from a dream and the hand of God touched my temple and inserted the story right then and there.

I wish, but nope.

Honestly, I’m not sure where the actual storyline came from, but my fallen angels (aka my children) realized I was doing a lot of writing on the computer and figured out I was writing stories and they harassed me until I promised I’d write one for them. I, in turn, grilled them about what kind of book they wanted and fantasy won the rock, paper, scissors contest and The Marked Son was born… or something very close to that. No, really.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Whatever message is in my books, it’s completely up to the reader to uncover. In other words, I didn’t write it with a social message in there. I write for the entertainment factor.

That sounds so shallow, huh? Here’s the mind twist, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a message in my stories. It’s just that any message is secondary to the story. I find that stories that tout a message as its main goal are often dull and didactic. (bleck!) I’m not here to preach; my job is to tell the story as I see it unfold and whatever comes out of that telling is a product of the character I created, good or bad.

All authors are actors. We just relate the story through the written word. So message? If you find one, awesome! If you just breeze through it and have a good time, that’s great, too!

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What's the easiest?

The hardest part of writing? Everything.

The easiest part of writing? Something about writing is easy? Seriously? Nobody told me that. What is it?

I kid you not, writing is mentally and physically exhausting for me. I love the feeling of creating and perfecting what I’ve created, but it’s just as often bone-scrapingly painful. Writing is not for sissies. Or lazy people. Or anyone who wants to make a lot of money. (grin)

What's next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?

I’ll tell you if you don’t tell anyone else. I’m working on the second and third books in the Keeper of Life series. Yep. And that’s all I’m telling you. Sorry. I can’t talk about books I’m working on. I find when I do, all the magic of that story slowly ebbs away, and then I don’t want to write about it anymore. So nope. Not talking.

Why did you choose to write for specific genre?

Different stories lean toward different genres. Dylan’s story leaned toward fantasy, so I had little choice in what kind of story it was. I’ve written middle grade books, picture books, adult books and books for young adults and within those categories the stories have run the gamut from straight fiction to fantasy to paranormal. All I want is to write an engaging story. Pretty simple goal for me.

What's it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book's release date?

Surreal. (yeah, like that’s an original answer)

From my vantage point, my writing is fun for me, and hopefully entertaining for others, but nothing special. So, when people get all fangirl/boy on me it makes me smile. Shoot, I can’t wait for the next book to hit. I want to know what’s next for these characters and what they’re going to do, but honestly, I figured I’d be the only one. I’m just glad I’m not.

What is one question that you've always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Boxers or briefs?

Dude, I’m a girl. Really. I just write in the guy’s POV. So, cute, lacy thongs, duh!

What was your road to publications like?

Long.

Umm, not really that long, but longer than I wanted it to be. I’ve been writing fiction a long time, but not with the focus of ever getting published. I wrote non-fiction for publication. Then, when I finally finished my first book, I had to do something with it. So I sent it out to a publisher and it went nowhere fast. I’m okay with that. I love that book. It taught me a lot about writing and I learned about my voice and rhythm and all sorts of crazy tricks we use in fiction.

Over the years I’ve almost been published more times that I’d like to remember, but each time I was grateful the deals fell through. So when Variance came knocking (even though my books with Entangled came out first, I sold to Variance first), I was thrilled and then Entangled scooped up another series, and I was doubly thrilled. So I have two books coming out in one year from two different publishers and it’s freaky, but fantastic.

Torrein: Age of Fear is an Epic Fantasy coming out November 1st 2011 from Variance Publishing. Here’s a quick overview:

What if the only hope of saving a magical world depended on an ordinary boy?

Peace is not easily found in the divided kingdom of Taelyon; its mortals distrust anything magical; its wizards are indifferent to the suffering of others, and hate infects everyone. The battle for dominance is never ending. Yet, there is hope in a boy named Torrein. When magic is denied him, he's chased from his own village by those he once called friends. Torrein doesn't understand that his destiny is far greater than any he could have achieved if magic had been granted him. Who wants a destiny soaked in blood? All Torrein wants is what he can't have - to be with his family and friends.

To claim his rightful power, Torrein must calm his fears and reveal the real evil working to destroy Taelyon. It will be a fight till the end of the age to reclaim the freedom they’ve all been denied, and though it's hard for him to accept, it’s up to Torrein to protect those who have been deceived, and to make sure the evil in their midst doesn't kill them all.

Author Bio

Shea Berkley started out writing nonfiction (not so fun) and quickly moved into fiction (totally fun), and knew she’d found her calling. (Her family was thrilled she’d found friends to play with even if they weren’t technically real.) She’s still pleasantly surprised people are willing to pay to read her stories.

Besides writing, her many diversions include kickboxing, reading awesome books and hanging out with her loud and rambunctious family. With five kids (all girls), her biggest job is to make sure the little darlings don’t harass the neighbors and then play dumb when the cops come knocking on her door.

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