Monthly Archives: October 2012

Y by Marjorie Celona-a review

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Y by Marjorie Celona- a review

Y is a book of contemporary fiction. Released in August 2012 Y follows a young woman’s plight in the foster care system from birth to 18years of age.  The story is told from the heroine’s first person POV but in between we witness her bitter conception and life of her birth parents and what happens when teens, drugs, alcohol and screwed up adults find their way into the body and mind. 

Shannon aka Lily aka Shandi aka Samantha aka Jo is the young child in question who was first found by a stranger with ‘foresight’ on the steps of the local YMCA on a small island off Vancouver Canada.  Once in the foster care system Shannon begins her young life (following a home birth where her mother knows that if the authorities are involved everyone will end up behind bars).  The decision to abandon the baby at the Y is fraught with pain and sorrow, but also one that must be done in order for the child to survive. 

Most of the novel is told from Shannon’s POV, literally from birth to 18years of age.  Her struggles in a system where foster parents are unable to cope, have lives they would otherwise like to lead or who are only in it for the money.  Passed from family to family, renamed and renamed, Shannon will embark on a series of families or facilities that are over-whelmed and unaware of the needs of a child in crisis. When Shannon is finally placed with a family willing to help a child with needs, she must incur the wrath of a jealous foster sibling and school system that is unprepared.  Here she will remain until the end of the story.  But like many in the foster care system, Shannon is restless and will eventually embark on a series of adventures that will bring her face to face with a life on the streets versus a family, who in their own way, has always loved and supported the strange little girl.

On the flip side, the third party narration will follow Shannon’s birth mother and her family.  This particular part of the storyline shows a side of life that is very familiar to many families-a loveless marriage, drinking, drugs, dementia, death and violence, and is interspersed between Shannon’s story and her POV.  We are witness to Shannon’s parent’s tumultuous relationship including the death of a sibling, an aging parent and the loss of freedom.  When Shannon finally catches up with the people from her early life, she will quickly realize who her real family has been all along.

Y is a difficult read at times.  The foster care system is obviously unprepared, understaffed and underpaid for the vast numbers of clients and children in need of love and care.  Y is not a story of perpetual abuse, although there is some as it relates to Shannon and a former couple.  Y is a well-written story about one young woman’s struggles within the system and ‘whys’ or ‘Ys’ as she endeavors to find the truth about herself.  Y is not a feel-good story, but a story that will make you think. How many children are lost within the system and how many children are forgotten?

Copy supplied by Goodreads Firstreads.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Kim Fay-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

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Kim Fay-Interview with the Author

The Reading Cafe would like to welcome Kim Fay-the author of The Map of Lost Memories which was released in August 2012.

Click HERE for Kim’s website

TRC: Hi Kim and welcome to The Reading Café. We would like to start with some background information. Please tell us something about yourself?

Kim: Born in Seattle, I spent my childhood in small towns around Washington State. After graduating from Washington State University, I worked for five years as an independent bookseller at the Elliott Bay Book Company. I traveled a bit in Europe and Asia during this time, and I decided I wanted the experience of living in a foreign country. I went back to school for certification to teach English as a foreign language, and the first job I was offered was in Vietnam. From the moment I arrived, I fell in love with the country and surrounding region, and from that point on, they have been the focus of my writing. Before the publication of The Map of Lost Memories, I created and edited the To Asia With Love guidebook series, and I also wrote the food memoir, Communion: A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam.

TRC: Your biography states that you lived in Vietnam for 4 years and travelled throughout Southeast Asia. What was the occasion for your adventure in Asia?

Kim: Asia has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My grandpa was a sailor in the early 1930s, and he often told my sister and me stories about Shanghai, Hong Kong, Manila, Tokyo—all sorts of intriguing, exotic-sounding places. Because of this I’ve always had a fascination with that part of the world, not to mention that it twined Asia and storytelling in my mind. I think it was natural that I ended up living in Asia. Even though it was new to me when I took my first trip there (to Thailand) when I was 22, it felt familiar, and during the time I lived in Vietnam, I felt at home. I think there are places in this world that touch something deep in our hearts, and Southeast Asia is that place for me.

TRC: Many authors start their love of writing at an early age. What was the catalyst that started you on the path to writing?

Kim: I can’t say that any one thing inspired me to become a writer. Certainly, my grandpa’s stories helped. My dad also made up bedtime stories that he told to my sister and me, all part of a saga about a pair of crime fighters, Raggedy Kojak (a bald Raggedy Ann doll) and Mousiestein (a rodent version of Frankenstein). In addition, my mom started reading to me when I was an infant; while my dad was at work she would keep up both entertained by reading novels aloud. Books and stories were the foundation of my life, and so when I wrote my first book at the age of ten, it was an organic part of my evolution as a reader and lover of stories. I still have that book: The Mystery of the Golden Galleon (62 hand-written pages complete with illustrations). By the time I graduated from high school I’d written about a dozen novels. I kept on writing until decades later I finally published The Map of Lost Memories.

TRC: THE MAP OF LOST MEMORIES is your latest novel. Would you please tell us about the premise?

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO

Kim: I have a friend who has told me to describe my novel as a female Indiana Jones meets The English Patient. While this might sound silly, in a way it’s true, since it blends a mystery and adventure with character development and a strong sense of place. Influenced by both Nancy Drew and Graham Greene, The Map of Lost Memories is the story of Irene Blum, a young American woman who in 1925 is passed over for the curatorship of a Seattle museum. Irene had built the museum’s international reputation, and she is devastated until her mentor gives her a hundred-year-old diary, whose owner claimed to have seen scrolls containing the lost history of Cambodia’s ancient Khmer empire. To restore her reputation, Irene sets off for Cambodia, in search of the secret temple believed to contain these scrolls. Along the way, she travels through Shanghai and Saigon, where she is joined by a drug-addled temple robber, a handsome bar owner and an archaeologist who specializes in the Khmer temples. It turns out that each person has his or her own reason for wanting to find the scrolls, and that each is tied to one another in ways Irene never could have imagined.

TRC:  Would you please tell us how your experiences in Vietnam inspired your novel?

Kim:  Vietnam inspired my novel in a roundabout way. When I first moved there, a friend gave me a book called Silk Roads. This is the true story of Andre and Clara Malraux, a young French couple who looted a Cambodian temple in the 1920s. Their experience provided the spark for The Map of Lost Memories. Because I was living in Vietnam, Cambodia was accessible to me. As well, living in Vietnam, I became fascinated by the colonial history of Indochina (now Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) and the moral issues posed by colonialism, all of which play large roles in the novel.

TRC: How much research was involved in the writing of THE MAP OF LOST MEMORIES?

Kim: Aside from the plot, every aspect of this book (geography, botany, architecture, clothing, transportation, etc.) involved in-depth research. This could mean reading travelogues from the 1920s or traveling to a specific place, given the item I was dealing with. Aside from spending time deep in the jungle, I visited the site of most of the book’s scenes. For example, I spent days in the National Museum in Phnom Penh, studying the artifacts and taking in the atmosphere—the museum provides the setting for a crucial confrontation between Irene and her traveling partner/rival Simone Merlin. Period travelogues were particularly useful because they helped me understand the voice of the era and the pacing of travel at that time. I also had a great time on the Internet. I could spend hours scouring the Web for photographs. In fact, I was able to use vintage postcards and an old map to create a diorama of 1920s Phnom Penh.

TRC: What difficulties or challenges did you face writing this particular novel?

Kim: The biggest challenge for me when writing fiction is character. Plot is great fun; setting is pure pleasure; but character development can break me! Characters appear to me easily—all of the characters in The Map of Lost Memories existed from the very start, with the exception of the Cambodian woman, Clothilde. But once characters exist, they often baffle me. I have to write to find out who they are. I revise and revise, with one draft layered over the top of another. As I do this, the characters grow organically with the story, and then I’m able to step back and understand who they are and write them fully as I enter the home stretch. When I started writing this novel, I thought Irene was just in it for revenge and adventure. I didn’t know that she and the others would become so interested in the ethics of art ownership and historical identity. This was such a fascinating aspect of the book that caught me completely unawares. And even though it’s a struggle, I’m glad my mind works like this. If I knew everything about the characters from the start, the writing process would be a bore, and the story would become flat. Strangely, as difficult as it is for me to work with my characters, The Map of Lost Memories is a story about character development. The adventure aspect is the backdrop for a story with twists and turns reliant on how the characters are evolving as the book progresses.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas with other authors, friends or family. With whom do you bounce ideas and why?

Kim: While I write in solitude, I do not consider writing a solitary pursuit. I love talking about my stories and characters, and will happily talk about them with anyone who will listen. I have a writer’s group that I adore, and one particular woman in this group is essential. Connie Brooks was by my writing side for most of the fourteen years it took me to write The Map of Lost Memories. She came to know the story and characters as well as I did, so when I got stuck and certain that I could never figure something out (usually, the latter involved me calling her in tears), she knew exactly how to talk me down from the ledge. I think there is nothing greater than the moral support a writing group or writing friends give. But I also think it’s crucial to choose your writing entourage carefully. Just as it doesn’t help to have people who pick apart every word you write, it doesn’t help to have those who love everything you do—that’s what moms are for!! The thing I appreciate most about Connie is her tough love approach and her true respect for what I’m attempting to achieve. A good writing friend never imposes her own wishes on a story. I can honestly say that without her and the support of so many others, The Map of Lost Memories would never have been published.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Kim: There will definitely be a sequel to The Map of Lost Memories, although it’s difficult to talk about without revealing spoilers. But that’s not my next book. I’ve had another novel meandering around in my head for the past ten years, and now that The Map of Lost Memories is published, I’m excited to dig into it. Taking place in Vietnam between 1937 and 1975, it’s the story of an American woman born in Vietnam who goes on to become a culinary anthropologist. Along with studying the country’s imperial cuisine, she also feeds homesick soldiers. I want to use the book to explore the domestic side of Vietnamese life during an era associated solely with war. I also want it to be a love song to the country. But because of my affection for Nancy Drew, I can’t help myself—there will also be a murder and a mystery to be solved.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Kim: No, thank you. Your questions are great!

LIGHTNING ROUND

* Favorite Food – I have a hard time playing favorites, because I’m fickle and love different foods depending on the mood I’m in

* Favorite Dessert – my mom’s raspberry pie

* Favorite TV Show – The Rockford Files

* Favorite Movie – The Year of Living Dangerously

* Last Movie You Saw – Cisco Pike

* Dark or Milk Chocolate – Dark

TRC: Thank you Kim for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you all the best.

Kim and Random House are offering a copy of THE MAP OF LOST MEMORIES to one lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1. You must be a registered member at The Reading Cafe.

2. If you are not a member, please register using the log-in at the top of the page, or by using one of the social log-ins.

3. If you are using a social log-ing, please leave your email address with your comment. Twitter and Facebook do not allow for email addresses and we are unable to contact you without an email address.

We would like to emphasize the email address.  In the last few months there have been several potential winners who have not responded to our attempt to contact them using Facebook and Twitter.  Email is the easiest and most efficient.

4. Giveaway open to continental USA and Canada only.

5. Giveaway runs from October 7-9, 2012

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The Map of Lost Memories by Kim Fay-a review

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The Map of Lost Memories by Kim Fay- a review

About the book from the author’s WEBSITE
 

Suspense and secrets are woven together in this engrossing fiction debut by Kim Fay. The Map of Lost Memories takes readers on a daring expedition to a remote land, where the search for an elusive treasure becomes a journey into the darkest recesses of the mind and heart.

In 1925, the international treasure-hunting scene is a man’s world, and no woman knows this better than Irene Blum, who is passed over for the coveted curator position at Seattle’s renownedBrooke Museum. But she is not ready to accept defeat. Skilled at acquiring priceless, often illicitly trafficked artifacts, Irene is given a rare map believed to lead to a set of copper scrolls that chronicle the lost history of Cambodia’s ancient Khmer civilization. Such a find would not only restore her reputation, it would be the greatest archaeological discovery of the century.

As Irene travels from Seattle to Shanghai to the Cambodian jungles, she will encounter several equally determined companions, including a communist temple robber and a dashing nightclub owner with a complicated past. As she and her fellow adventurers sweep across borders and make startling discoveries, their quest becomes increasingly dangerous. Everyone who comes to this part of the world “has something to hide,” Irene is told—and she learns just how true this is. What she and her accomplices bring to light will do more than change history. It will ultimately solve the mysteries of their own lives.

Review:
 
I have to admit that I’ve always been a bit of an Indochina junkie, so, when I was approached about reviewing this book, I was a little leery.  But, I am very thankful that I took on the task.  Kim Fay knocked it out of the park with this one.  I also have to admit that I am not a fan of a lot of descriptions of one’s surroundings, but this one was so well written, that I literally could feel the balmy, humid climate. I could hear the pounding rain.  I could hear the insects in the jungle and see the streets of 1925 Shanghai and Saigon.  I could smell the incense and the smoke from their hand-rolled cigarettes.  I was mesmerized with the temples and the different statues that stood guard in Cambodia.
 
The characters are so well written that you can’t wait to see what happens next.  There are so many twists in this book.  Irene is very determined and very stubborn.  And to say this lady has more courage than anyone else in the book is an understatement.  She constantly surprised me with the depth of her courage and conviction to see her task through to completion.  And, in my opinion, she surprised herself.  Her parents have both died, her mother when she was a child, and her father more recently.  Mr. Simms, a family friend, has been her father figure, benefactor and biggest champion, plays such an integral part in Irene’s growth throughout this story.  There are several supporting characters that have a lot of depth as well.  Simone, the Communist temple robber, gives new meaning to dysfunctional.  Louis, Simone’s first love, stays true to his cause.  And, then there’s Marc, the dashing nightclub owner.  Would love to tell you his back story, but that would give away one of the surprises within the story.
 
There is murder, mystery, a little political intrigue, a little romance and a great adventure.  For me it is a little Indiana Jones in respect to adventure and a little Out of Africa in respect to the strength of the lead female character.  I can’t express in words how well written this book is.  You can tell that it was definitely a labor of love for Fay.  I can only hope that she doesn’t stop here.  I look forward to her next adventure.  And hope that she doesn’t make me wait too long.  Very well done Ms. Fay, very well done.


LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO

 
Copy supplied by author.
Reviewed by Vickie
 
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Dark Storm by Christine Feehan – a Review

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Dark Storm by Christine Feehan – a Review

Dark Storm is Christine Feehan’s 23rd installment of her widely popular Dark series.  Where to begin with this…I must say, I was completely surprised throughout the majority of this book. A good surprise you may ask? Yes….and no.

Firstly, I want to warn fans who have yet to read; that this book unfolds like a single title. Come to Dark Storm expecting a vastly original, unique premise, unlike anything else we have encountered prior. Much of this novel is made up of content as unknown to this series; as it’s main couple. There is not much familiarity at all; to the World we have come to know with our Carpathians. If you are a fan of cohesiveness compared to previous installments. If you crave for everything to make sense at the end of the journey. Loose ends being tied up. NOT feeling somewhat confused, or that you have more unanswered questions upon completion, than you did when you began–this novel may not be as likable for you.

Moving on to said content, let me begin with the high notes. As always, Christine has a beautiful gift with words. I could see clearly within my mind the lush vegetation of the Amazon. I could feel the heat of the majestic volcano. I could hear the sounds of wildlife. The descriptions were quite vivid, colorful, and I always appreciate when an author can form images within my mind as clearly as if they were pictures. I truly felt as if Ms. Feehan brought us to a whole different place than ever before. Everything felt…new. Instilling a feeling within me akin to how I felt upon reading Dark Prince for the first time. I spent the several opening chapters trying to soak up the details, and learn all I could about this unfamiliar place.

As the pages continue to turn, we see familiar faces come to the fore. One of whom we finally get the chance to know, and one of whom we see a whole new side. Jubal Sanders and Gary Jansen. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I found myself drawn to Jubal. We were given little previous information about him, so although known; he felt like a secondary character newly being introduced. This polite, quiet, loyal man; came out of left field. Sneaking up on me, touching my heart before I even realized it was happening. And then my beloved Rambo…who I must say…has DEFINITELY earned his nickname. These two surprised me with their grit, and tenacity. I was impressed by their willingness to travel into danger, risking their lives for the race who depends upon them. The reason they have traveled to this remote location, is in search of something rare, believed to be potentially vital for the survival of the Carpathian race.

This is where we meet our heroine. Riley Parker. Descended from a powerful line of women of whom Mother Earth considers her children. Riley possesses gifts that are very unique unto this series. The ability to harness elements such as fire, water, air, and the very earth itself. I have read about such gifts in other literary works, and have found them to be quite fascinating. In addition, we see healing abilities unlike that of even the most powerful of Carpathian healers. We spend several chapters with this mysterious female lead, and her mother Annabel.

We also get the first, telling glimpses of our hero in the opening chapters. Danutdaxton. Or simply Dax. We experience his awakening senses to an uncomfortable resting place. We experience his awareness of being alongside an evil as ancient as himself. Readers bear witness to a harrowing journey taken within this volcano…to claim a rare, forgotten power. We watch the attempt of this Carpathian to become MORE in order to defeat an evil unlike the world has ever seen, because Dax knows that the force keeping himself and Mitro Daratrazanoff imprisoned, is not going to hold this time around…

It is at this point, 8 chapters into the story….our two protagonists, and familiar secondary characters meet. I must say, the clashing of these four lives…and their shared enemy….was something to behold. My heart was pounding in my chest. The breath trapped within my lungs as all hell broke loose in a plethora of misunderstandings on all sides. Who was friend? Who was foe? Terrible sounds of bones breaking…the deafening blast of a gun firing at close range….someone collapsing to their knees. I was truly enthralled, and found this meeting of characters quite memorable.

Now. Doing the math we have something incredible. New characters. New plot threads away from the main story arc. Unique gifts from both the hero, and heroine. Enough fantasy elements to please any fan of the genre. A living, breathing story of good versus evil…so why then did I personally finish with a sense of incompleteness? This is MY type of book. Brimming with content that is a breath of fresh air in a long running series. I like when authors offer me something different, show their diversity, and creativity. The main hero merges souls with something I have been a fan of my ENTIRE life, and still I am left wanting. Why?

Remember my warning to other readers in the beginning of this review? My problem is that I am fan of cohesiveness compared to previous installments of a long running series. I crave for everything to make sense at the end of the journey. Loose ends being tied up. NOT feeling somewhat confused, or that I have more unanswered questions upon completion, than I did when I began. *laughing* An author I discovered this year, has completely changed me as a reader. Finding the good of a novel, and focusing on that, without allowing the things that don’t “fit” for me in a novel to get in the way of my enjoyment, is now very difficult.

When I read I want to FEEL. I crave stories that are brimming with emotion. I crave characters who are not just larger than life, and magical, but fictional characters who move me so deeply that I come to care about them as if they were real. This is my biggest gripe in a nutshell. After the intensity, and staggering emotion of Dark Predator, Dark Storm leaves me…under whelmed. Simply put; Riley and Dax as a couple….did not move me. Perhaps this was from the fact that it take 130 pages for the main couple to meet, in a 387-ish page novel. That throws a serious wrench in relationship development. Also, a big damper for me was the violence. I mean, sick to my stomach, shocking displays that seemed sort of out of place in this world. Instead of making Mitro a multi-faceted, despicable villain it sort of gave off a cartoon-ish, over the top vibe.

To sum it all up. This is a wonderfully written novel, by a master class talent in the literary world. Creatively presented and brilliantly imaginative. I can understand why so many have called this their favorite so far, and how the slow courtship from Dax to win Riley’s heart has soothed the fans who were so angry over Zacarias‘s behavior. I am truly glad that Christine has won back some fans in this regard….but the level to which you enjoy this novel, will depend on the type of reader you are. For me personally, Dark Storm is forgettable, because I did not connect to the characters. Give me the intensity and emotion of Zacarias in Dark Predator, any day of the week. 🙂

Reviewed by Miranda

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Until There Was You by Jessica Scott-a review

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Until There Was You by Jessica Scott-a review

UNTIL THERE WAS YOU by Jessica Scott (a review)
 
A Coming Home series by Contemporary Military Romance writer, Jessica Scott, tells a love story about the brave women and men actively serving the war who finds love and passion from the most unexpected people. Her second novel, UNTIL THERE WAS YOU (October 2012), brings together two imperfect couples with a dreadful past to have a chance at a happily ever after.
          
             The Military has strict orders that breaking them will result in disciplinary action or worse, a military discharge…Not something you want if you love what you do. But sometimes, no matter the consequences, rules are meant to be broken. At least, that is what Captain Claire Montoya believes; especially if it means saving lives or to spare a dear friends career. She has made very few friends, a result of trust being broken one too many times in her youth. She now hides behind her uniform to face the world and uses her rank to conceal her terrible past. No one strong and arrogant enough to shake the impenetrable wall she had built around herself… until there was Evan.
     
             One fatal mistake made a long time ago has forever changed Captain Evan Loehr’s outlook of life. He now strictly follow the rules, got his rank naturally by sticking to those rules.  One important personal rule he was sure not to break: mixing business with pleasure. So why, after meeting Claire Montoya that one time a few years back, was it difficult to get her off his mind? Not that they can have a decent conversation without having to throw insults at each other. Evan wants answers, and to get it, he must willingly throw his “I don’t date Army women” rule out the window…
              
             UNTIL THERE WAS YOU is a lesson in love for both Claire and Evan. Proving that opposites do attract, they must also learn the power of forgiveness and acceptance of the tragedies in their past and together lead a new path for a brighter and happier future. This is a sweet and tender love story. You will enjoy reading about Claire and Evan as they make tough decisions and sacrifices for love.
 
   Jessica Scott’s Coming Home Novels will make you laugh, cry and sigh with gratification. Besides having her Heroes in the Army and loving what they do, they also share a love of enigmatic tattoos… I wouldn’t be surprised if Trent in book 3 (BACK TO YOU~Trent and Laura~Spring 2013) carries a similar mysterious body art; I will then have to assume the tattoos on Scott’s gorgeous male leads to be her trademark to all her coming home heroes…Unless of course she denies this 🙂 So what would it be Ms Scott, True or False? 😉
 

LINKS TO ORDER
B&N Nook and Paper
Amazon Kindle

Copy supplied by author.
Reviewed by Neni
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Anne Allen-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

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Anne Allen-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

TRC: Hi Anne and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of Dangerous Waters. We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Anne: My home is in Devon, by my beloved sea. I have three children and my daughter and two grandchildren live nearby. I was born in Rugby, to an English mother and Welsh father. As a result I spent many summers with my Welsh grandparents in Anglesey (now famous for being the home of Prince William!) and learnt to love the sea. My restless spirit has meant a number of moves which included living in Spain for a couple of years. The longest stay was in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years, after I fell in love with the island and the people. However, I contrived to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns!

By profession I’m a psychotherapist but have long had creative ‘itches’, learning to mosaic, paint furniture, interior design and sculpt. At the back of my mind the itch to write was always present but seemed too time-consuming for a single mum with a need to earn a living (my husband died while young). Now the nest is empty there’s more time to write and a second novel is gestating, but novels take a lot longer than children to be born!

TRC: Your bio states that you were a hypnotherapist, psychotherapist and counselor, as well as a Master Reiki Practitioner. Would you please explain to our members, what entails a Master Reiki Practitioner?

Anne: Reiki is a form of healing devised by a Japanese man, Mikao Usui, and aims to balance energy levels – physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s very gentle, with the practitioner placing their hands a few inches away from the client’s fully clothed body and moving down from the head to the feet. A practitioner will practise meditations, treat themselves and follow simple spiritual principles. A Master Practitioner is someone who has trained to Level Four Reiki and can then teach others.

TRC: Do you believe your experiences have helped with your writing career?

Anne: Definitely! Both personal and professional experiences have impacted on the way I see people and I‘ve learnt a great deal about human nature. All useful for a writer! And a significant character in my book is a psychotherapist who uses hypnosis.

TRC: What challenges have you faced as an author?

Anne: The usual, I guess – lack of time, a great deal of procrastination, feelings of isolation and loss of confidence in my ability to write.

TRC: DANGEROUS WATERS is your latest release. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Links to Order
Amazon Paper Books
Amazon Kindle
B&N Nook
The Book Depository
KOBO

Anne: It’s a romantic mystery set in Guernsey, Britain following the loves and losses of Jeanne Le Page. She’s a thirty-something who left the island 15 years before after a family tragedy and now is forced to return after her grandmother’s death. The old lady has left Jeanne her cottage but she doesn’t want to live there, planning to sell it and leave. Heartbroken after the recent end of a relationship she is feeling completely lost. But then Jeanne starts to unearth secrets going back to the German Occupation together with the truth behind the unexplained tragedy. She had been injured in the accident and suffered traumatic amnesia. With the help of hypnosis Jeanne slowly recovers her memory but this puts her in mortal danger from an unexpected source.

Jeanne has to relive the past as the ghosts continue to haunt her. But over time the Island works its magic, encouraging her to live and love again. . .

Click HERE for our review of DANGEROUS WATERS

TRC: What was the inspiration behind the storyline?

Anne: The island of Guernsey was the initial inspiration and I wanted to write a romance with a twist – some mystery. The story covers love and loss, which can and does happen to most of us, meaning it’s something everyone relates to. Both my own experience and my clients’ stories offered examples of how people overcome tragedy. This was the central theme – that whatever, or whoever, we’ve lost, we can always love and live again. There is a parallel story concerning Jeanne’s grandmother which flags up events from the Occupation which actually occurred. So there’s a mixture of fact and fiction with the characters and their stories being pure fiction of course! I also knew that there had to be an old house hiding a secret.

TRC: If you could virtually cast the storyline characters, which model or actors would you select for Jeanne, Marcus, Peter and Molly?

Anne: Emily Blunt as Jeanne.

Ben Affleck as Marcus.

Tom Wilkinson as Peter.

Julie Walters as Molly.

TRC: Have you faced any difficulties on the road to publication?

Anne: I sure have! I sent my MS. out to what seemed like all the literary agents in the UK, but was possibly nearer 20, and in the main just received short, pre-printed rejections. Very depressing! I did receive a couple of personal replies which were encouraging and it was these that kept me going. I obtained some professional critiques which really helped me to see where I needed to make changes to the novel. I ended up chopping out about 10000 words! I later realised that sending out my first draft to agents was very foolish and I’ll know better another time J

TRC: Writer’s Block is a very real phenomenon for many authors. How do you handle the stress and anxiety of writer’s block?

Anne: It’s usually been short-term – perhaps a few hours or days at the most- and I find it best just to walk away and do something different. Usually when I’m not actually thinking about the book, the answer to any problem will pop into my mind. Otherwise, I’ll just write something to move the story on, knowing that I can change it later.

TRC: With whom do you bounce ideas and storylines?

Anne: Well, I have a couple of girlfriends who are happy to listen to my ideas and read rough drafts. We all need someone to encourage us!

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Anne: Finding Mother, the story of a young woman’s search for her natural mother. Along the way family secrets are revealed going back to the Second World War. It’s based primarily in Guernsey but has excursions to England, Spain and Jersey. It’s another story of lost love but it will have a happy ending! I’m hoping to see it published next year.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Did you attend ANY of the Olympic events?
No, I’m not really into sport. But my children went one night to watch the track events in the fantastic stadium. My youngest son treated his brother, sister and brother in law and they all really enjoyed it!

Favorite Food
Lobster (Have expensive tastes!)

Favorite Dessert
Baked Alaska

Favorite TV Show
Inspector Montalbano (Italian – not sure you get it in the US)

Favorite Movie
Shirley Valentine

Last Movie You Saw
The Iron Lady (on DVD)

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark

Favorite Flower
Freesias – from Guernsey!

Do you have any pets?
No

TRC: Thank you Anne for taking the time to answer our question. WE wish you all the best in your chosen career. Good luck on your next life-adventure.

Anne is offering a copy of her novel DANGEROUS WATERS to one lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1. You must be a member at The Reading Cafe to qualify for the giveaway. If you are not a member, please register using the log-in at the top of the page, or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter, please post your email address with your comment, as Twitter etc does not allow for email addresses.

3. Giveaway is OPEN Internationally for ecopy. Giveaway is OPEN to UK residents for Paper Only. (Please let us know if you are a UK residents when you comment)

4. Giveaway runs from October 6-8, 2012

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An Interview with Jennifer Ashley

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An Interview with Jennifer Ashley

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome the fabulous Jennifer Ashley as our guest today.

Jennifer just released Mate Claimed, her newest book in her Shifters Unbound series.  We posted our review of Mate Claimed yesterday.   

Let’s begin our interview with Jennifer

 

 

Jennifer, we at the Reading Café would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. We are always looking forward to learning more about the author behind the book.

Jennifer: It’s great to be here. Thank you!

TRC:  We would like to start with some background information.  Would you please tell us about yourself?

Jennifer: I love to write. 🙂 I also like to travel and explore new places. I was lucky to grow up living in various places around the world. Then I married an army man, and went to more places around the world. While other wives seemed fearful of venturing off the US posts and bases, I jumped aboard trains to see where they’d take me. I haven’t been everywhere I want to go (I got busy, sadly), but I have been able to see many countries in Europe and Asia just by wandering through them. I strongly advise travelers to venture off the well-trod tourist paths (carefully in some areas, I realize). You see far more and learn much more about real life, history, and people when you wander.

I now live in the beautiful Sonoran desert of the Southwestern US and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

TRC:  When and how did you first become interested in writing?  What was your first book ever published?

Jennifer: The first book I ever got published was Perils of the Heart, a book I sold to Leisure / Dorchester. It was an obscure midlist book, but it did well enough to let me have another contract, and away we went.

I love Perils, a humorous high-seas adventure about a shy governess who gets caught in an evil pirate’s plans, and the handsome ship’s captain whom she’s sent to distract and seduce. Evangeline has no idea how to seduce a man, but she fears for her brother’s life if she doesn’t. Unfortunately, Captain Blackwell sees through her attempts and slaps her into the brig.

I had a lot of fun writing that book. I decided to stop trying to follow the romance “rules” and just go for it. And lo and behold, I finally got published (after six other romances that got nothing but rejections).

I have written stories all my life, since the tender age of eight, and fortunately was encouraged by my parents, teachers, and friends. Took a lot of hard work and figuring out how to write a “real” book and get it published by a New York publisher, but I finally did it.

TRC:  Besides Jennifer Ashley, you also write under the names of Ashley Gardner and Allyson James.  As Jennifer Ashley, you write Historical Romances/Paranormal; as Ashley Gardner, you write more Urban Fantasy/Paranormal; and as Allyson James, you have written more erotic series such as Tales of the Shareem and Stormwalker.  How do you keep each separate? What are the challenges in doing so?

Jennifer: It’s easy for me to keep each separate, because the characters and situations are unique to each one. When I’m in one world, I’m not thinking about any of the others. I can immerse myself.

The greatest challenge is getting everything done!

This year alone I’ve written four full-length novels, two half-length novels, and one novella, revised and released three backlist books, and I still have two half-length novels to write before the end of the year. And still readers tell me I don’t write fast enough!

TRC:  Which genre do you prefer to write and which is the most difficult?

Jennifer: I like all the genres I write (paranormal, historical, mystery, urban fantasy, erotic romance). Each gives me something new and different to explore, and keeps me fresh when I return to the other genres. I have always loved historicals—that’s what I originally set out to write, and those storylines come to me most easily.

Erotic romance is the most difficult to write. The stories need to be emotional, sensual, sexy . . . without becoming tedious, repetitive, or just plain stupid. Love scenes can cross the line from sensual to boring very quickly, and it’s a lot of work to make sure they don’t.

TRC:  What is your process in writing?  Any specific place you like to write or special times of the day/night?

Jennifer: I like to start the day writing while I’m eating breakfast at a bakery / coffee house. I can get a lot of writing done there for some reason. Then I return home and spend most of the day writing. I sit on my sofa with a laptop—writing at a desk hurts my back. Sometimes I’ll go out to another coffee house if I find myself getting too distracted by stuff going on at home. That’s about it. Butt in chair, fingers on keyboard, cushion at back. 🙂

TRC:  Can you please tell us the premise of Shifters Unbound series?

Jennifer: Shifters Unbound is about shapeshifters who have revealed themselves to the world, only to be rounded up and made to live in Shiftertowns, and wear Collars (half Fae magic, half technology) that spike pain into them if they turn violent. Humans believe they have Shifters tamed, but Shifters, who were dying out in the wild, are using their captivity to grow stronger.

Shifters are very family oriented, valuing mates and cubs above all else. The sexy male Shifters will do anything to protect their own.

TRC:  Mate Claimed is the latest book in that series, which was released the other day, October 2nd.  Can you please tell us a little about the story?  How many books do you plan for this series?

Jennifer: Eric Warden knows that half-Shifter wildcat Iona is passing for human, living without a Collar in the human world. He also knows that if she does not acknowledge her Shifter nature and her mating hunger, it could kill her.

Eric has a lot on his plate, though. Another Shiftertown has closed, and those Shifters are being stuffed into Eric’s town. The leader, an alpha Lupine called Graham, makes it clear he wants to take over. Eric needs Iona to help stop him.

Iona finds the mysterious and dangerous Eric, a wildcat and leader of his Shiftertown, haunting her dreams, but she vows never to take the Collar, fearing backlash against her mother and sister for hiding the fact that she’s Shifter. But Eric is a compelling Shifter male, and Iona’s hunger calls to him.


TRC:  Highland Pleasures is another one of your successful series. The Duke’s Perfect Wife came out in April, 2012, which we reviewed.  January, 2013 is the release date of the next book in the series, The Seduction of Elliot McBride.  For those who have not read about your wonderful Mackenzies, can you please tell us about this series?  Is there an end in sight?….Hopefully not anytime soon.

Jennifer: The Mackenzie brothers (and son / nephew) are a highly dysfunctional Scottish family in the Victorian age—they are decadent, rich, scandalous, talked about, and they don’t care.

The family is led by Hart Mackenzie (the duke of Duke’s Perfect Wife), followed by Cameron (a womanizer who owns and trains racehorses), Mac (an artist whose attachment to alcohol made his wife Isabella leave him), and Ian, the youngest, who spent time in an asylum. (Ian has Asperger’s Syndrome, though at the time there was no name for it.)

Then there’s Daniel, Cameron’s son, who’s a teenager during the first four books, but will grow up and have his own book next year. He’s an inventor, loving to tinker with his machines when he’s not seducing beautiful women. Then he meets a lady who turns all his assumptions upside down.

The McBrides (in The Seduction of Elliot McBride), are the brothers of Ainsley, the heroine of Cameron’s book.

Elliot McBride was captured and imprisoned for ten months while living in India, tortured and starved before he escaped. He’s now fighting PTSD (another condition not understood at the time), and has decided that buying his great-uncle’s rundown house in Scotland and marrying the woman he’s loved since childhood is the answer to his madness. Too bad the young lady (Juliana) is about to walk up the aisle to marry another man . . .

Elliot’s story is a spinoff, but I hope everyone likes it.

This Christmas, though, I plan to release a short novel, A Mackenzie Family Christmas, which I’ll be putting out on my own. This will be an Ian / Beth story, but all the Mackenzies will return, as well as some of the spinoff characters.

I’ll do at least another 3-4 full-length books, and 3-4 short novels / novellas.

TRC:  As Allyson James, you have a new Stormwalker book out (Nightwalker).  How many books do you plan for this series?  Also for Tales of Shareem, any new books coming out in that series?


Jennifer: Nightwalker is finally out, I am pleased to say. I plan several more books for this series, including shorter novels. The Tales of the Shareem will wrap up in one or two more books. I never say it’s over, though. If I have ideas, I’ll do more stories.

 

TRC:  As Ashley Gardner, you have just written your 8th book in the Captain Lacey Regency series, A Disappearance in Drury Lane.  Would you like to tell us the premise of this series, and how many books do you plan?

Jennifer: These are not lighthearted, frothy Regencies! 🙂 They show both sides of Regency London—the elegant ballrooms and the dirty backstreets.

Gabriel Lacey is a cavalry captain who’s come home from the Peninsular Wars and lives on half pay in London. His father, a landed gentlemen, lost most of his money before he died, so Lacey is poor and has only a rundown house in Norfolk to his name.

While walking through Hanover Square one day, he gets caught in a commotion and discovers a distraught father convinced that one of the respectable gentlemen in the square has abducted his daughter.

Lacey gets involved, and soon becomes entangled in a dark, underworld crime, complete with a crime boss, James Denis. With the help of his friend Lucius Grenville (a wealthy man-about-town) and a street girl (Black Nancy), Lacey solves the crime.

A romance arc develops in the series starting in Book 2. I am working on book 8, and plan at least a dozen. Ideas keep coming to me, darn it.

TRC:  What are you working on now?  Any new series on the horizon?

Jennifer: Working feverishly on all my series. There will be more of what I’m already doing, but I’d love to start something new. I’m hankering toward contemporary romance or an out-and-out suspense / thriller.

TRC:  Who is your Muse?

Jennifer: Anything beautiful. Musicians who can really play. Art. Great writing / storytelling. Miniatures. 🙂

TRC:  Your websites showcasing your miniature worlds is amazing.  How do you do these beautiful dollhouses?  How do you find the time to work on the miniature worlds with all of the book you write?

Jennifer: Thank you! I love minis. I’m nowhere near as good at it as the artisans out there, but I enjoy myself. I collect pieces, build from scratch or from kits, and just play.

How do I find time? Good question! I make the time. I find that working on minis, which means working with my hands, is a good way to take a brain break, work out a plot point, just step away from the keyboard for a while. No computers involved.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Jennifer: Thank you so much for taking time to interview me, and readers for taking time to read my books. You’re awesome!

 

LIGHTNING ROUND:

FAVORITE FOOD: Cheese.

FAVORITE DESSERT:  Butterscotch pudding

MILK OR DARK CHOCOLATE:  Dark!

FAVORITE BOOK: Oh. Um. Uh. I don’t know. I love too many!

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING: Two: The Bourne Identity and The Widow of Larkspur Inn (two very different books, I must say!)

FAVORITE FICTIONAL CHARACTER (NOT YOUR OWN): Eleanor Dashwood (from Sense & Sensibility)

FAVORITE MOVIE: Get Shorty (love me some Elmore Leonard)

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Right now: New Tricks (British series about retired cops working cold cases—funny but with depth)

TRC:  Thank you, Jennifer for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Mate Claimed.  We look forward to talking with you again in the future.

Jennifer: Thank you! I’ll do a giveaway 
TRC: See below for Giveaway instructions

If you would like to know more about Jennifer Ashley, or her other pen names, you can find her at the following links:

Website: http://www.jennifersromances.com/
Twitter:
Facebook: 
Goodreads:
Allyson James Website:  http://www.allysonjames.com/
Ashley James Website: http://www.gardnermysteries.com/

Jennifer has graciously offered to give a member of The Reading Café a chance to win a copy of Mate Claimed or another book of her series.

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Please post a comment and say Hi to Jennifer.

4.  Giveaway open to U.S. & Canada Only

5.  Contest runs from October 5th – October 8th.

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