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Sarah Harian – The Wicked We Have Done – Interview and Review

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Sarah Harian – The Wicked We Have Done – Interview and Review

 

The Wicked We Have Done
Chaos Theory – Book #1
by Sarah Harian
Release Date: March 18th, 2014

The Wicked We Have DoneLinks to order The Wicked We Have Done:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Description:
Evalyn Ibarra never expected to be an accused killer and experimental prison test subject. A year ago, she was a normal college student. Now she’s been sentenced to a month in the compass room—an advanced prison obstacle course designed by the government to execute justice.

If she survives, the world will know she’s innocent.

Locked up with nine notorious and potentially psychotic criminals, Evalyn must fight the prison and dismantle her past to stay alive. But the system prized for accuracy appears to be killing at random.

She doesn’t plan on making friends.

She doesn’t plan on falling in love, either

 

Review:

The Wicked We Have Done by Sarah Harian is the first book in her new adult dystopian  thriller, Chaos Theory series. When asked to review this book, I thought the premise sounded interesting, and decided to give it a try. I was totally surprised to find myself immediately hooked and unable to put this book down until the very end. If this is Sarah Harian’s debut novel, please please count me in for the next one and thereafter, as this is a magical beginning to a wonderful career.

The Wicked We Have Done is a story of survival and redemption in a futuristic world.  Not quite like the Hunger Games, though with a survival theme very similar.  This is a story with young people who have been convicted of a major crime, who are given a choice; immediate death penalty or accept a one month stay in The Compass Room. If they survive, they will go free, but the percentage of survival is slimmer then none.  The Compass Room is even scarier than the arena in the Hunger Games.  This was a thriller a minute, and though these characters, many of whom were bad to the bone; some of the others you found yourself caring very much for, as you prayed and rooted for the their survival.

Evalyn Ibarra is our heroine, who is the major focus of this story.  Evalyn committed a terrible crime, and is considered a terrorist, and very much hated.  But is Evalyn truly guilty?  Throughout the book, there are some flash backs, as we find out what really happened, and why.   From the start, when we meet Evalyn, we find ourselves becoming attached to her, as we watch her say goodbye to her little 5 year old brother, who was adorable and precious.  Evalyn’s strong love for her brother stood out.  Allowing us to ask ourselves, “can you truly be capable of such love, and yet be a cold blooded murderer”? We knew there was something more behind it, as we anxiously waited to find out more.

When taken away, Evalyn travels with the other criminals who are going to The Compass Room, and before they reach their destination, a video is shown describing each of their crimes.  To tell too much more would be giving too many spoilers. But I will say that Harian gives us some fantastic characters; Evalyn is awesome; Casey, was mean at the start, but turned into an equally awesome hero; Valerie, was totally unlikeable when we first meet her, but she too turned out to be great; Jace, Tanner, were also very good, and the unredeemable characters were written very well.  Harian had us glued to our seat, as each of them in The Compass Room must face their past, and find a way to survive against the odds, at the same time prove that they can be redeemed.  Will Evalyn survive?  Is there life after The Compass Room? 

The Wicked We Have Done is a totally different story of survival, in a terrifying race to the finish.  Harian pulls quite a bit of our emotions in this exciting story, filled with nonstop action & great characters; while reading we range from emotional, scary, sad,  and very very intense. Within this tense story, there is a budding romance that at first you could not imagine, but turned out to be a beautiful slow to build relationship.  I cannot wait for the next book in this series.  Sarah Harian is an excellent writer, and I can look forward to more of the same in the future.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher

 

Interview-Blue

Sarah Harian 2

 

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Sarah Harian to discuss her debut novel.

Welcome to The Reading Café, Sarah.   Having read The Wicked We Have Done, I was completely in awe of your writing in your first book!  We are happy to do this interview and learn more about all things Sarah Harian.

 

 

Sarah: So glad I could share it with you. Thank you!

TRC:  Please tell us something about yourself?  Have you always been interested in writing?

Sarah:  I’ve been writing since I was eight. I was super into Nancy Drew as a kid, so naturally I started a novel about twins who discovered a secret tunnel in their basement. When I was older I got really into fan fiction. I kept trying to write a novel of my own but was always too impatient to get past the first 50 pages or so. Finally, when I was twenty, I finished my first book. So yes, I’ve always been interested in writing. The writing part sucks (haha) but I absolutely love creating stories.

TRC: Tell us how you came up with the idea of your Chaos Theory series?

Sarah:  Most of my ideas are wilderness-based because I love nature and the mountains. I also have a weird obsession with either combining technology and nature or pitting them against each other. I knew I wanted to do this in Chaos Theory, but I also wanted to write something that was both thrilling and emotional. I’m a huge fan of LOST and was re-watching the series when I came up with the idea, and the show inspired me a lot.

TRC: The Wicked We Have Done, the first book in this series, is your debut novel.  Can you share with us your reaction when you found out your book was being published?

Sarah:  I was actually hiking when my agent called me and had no service. It wasn’t until I was driving back into town that I got her voicemail and emails that all said “Call me!!!” I was having heart palpitations until I found a place on the side of the road where I had enough signal to hold a call. I’m pretty sure I just said, “Okay,” when she told me the news because I was in a state of shock, but my hiking partner/BFF was sitting next to me and could hear everything, and she started having a silent freak out, which was amusing to say the least.

TRC:  Can you please tell us the general premise for your Chaos Theory series? Also, how many books do you anticipate for this series?

Sarah : The Chaos Theory series is about a near-future world where scientists can predict the moral compass of an individual through readings of emotions and hormones. When criminals are convicted of a crime, they’re tested in order to see if their evil doing was a one-time act, or if they’re truly wicked. The wicked are killed in a Compass Room–a technologically-advanced prison that measures morality when inmates are faced with simulations of their crime.

Currently, the series consists of two novels and a novella.

The Wicked We Have Done

 

TRC:  Please give us a brief description of The Wicked We Have Done?

Sarah:  Twenty-two-year-old Evalyn Ibarra is sent to a Compass Room after being convicted of shooting up her school. While faced with terrifying illusions of what she’s done, she also makes friends with fellow inmates, and ends up fighting to save their lives.

 

 

TRC:  What was the most fun/most difficult scene to write in The Wicked We Have Done?

Sarah:  The most fun scene, and one of my favorites, is the scene where Evalyn paints a sky on Casey’s chest. I love writing foreplay and it is both an odd and sexy scenario.

The hardest scene was a death scene (I won’t be specific because I don’t want to give anything away). For being the author of a book with a lot of death in it, I actually hate thinking about death and writing it. I end up crying a lot and need to take constant breaks. It’s pretty pathetic. 

TRC:  A Vault of Sins is your 2nd book in the Chaos Theory, which is set for a September, 2014 release.   Can you tell us anything about this sequel? 

Sarah:  I can’t say a whole lot, but I can say that the book is going to be about choosing the harder path when faced with tough decisions, even when you aren’t obligated to. It’s also going to be about Evalyn coping with being a nationally-hated figure and how she chooses to handle the darkness that her public image brings her.

TRC:  The Chaos Theory is a dystopian New Adult book. Do you have any desire to write other genres?

Sarah:  I write Young Adult as well as New Adult. I really love speculative fiction and plan on sticking with writing science fiction/fantasy/horror, etc.

TRC:  Can you tell us what are you currently working on?

Sarah: I’m currently working on a Chaos Theory novella that’s slated for August. It’s going to be in Valerie’s point of view. I’m very excited about it.

TRC:  What is your writing process?  Do you like to outline your story before you start? Do you have a specific place you like to write? 

Sarah:  I usually write on my couch, at a café, or on my patio. I tend to do a very bare-bones outline before starting, but nothing more. Then I just write—well, word vomit would be a more appropriate term. I don’t even know the characters yet or what scene is going to come after the one I’m writing. My first drafts are atrocious, and I end up rewriting the entire book. But it’s a necessary part of my process. I hate following strict outlines because they leave me no room to consider what could be. TWWHD went through probably ten drafts and one complete rewrite.

TRC:  Many authors have friends or family, that they bounce ideas and information back and forth.  Do you have anyone you like to discuss your story with? 

Sarah:  I have an army. I’m a very needy writer. Lucky I’m blessed with several AMAZING critique partners that will listen to me and help me figure things out. I believe strongly that every writer needs this sort of support base, as well as people who are willing to give brutally honest feedback.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Sarah:  These were awesome questions! Thanks so much for having me!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Sushi

Favorite Dessert: Cookie Dough

Favorite TV Show: Tie between LOST and Firefly

Favorite Actor & Actress (TV or Movies) Currently Jennifer Lawrence and Tom Hardy

Last Book You Read: The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman

Favorite Fictional Character (not your own): Currently a tie between Todd Hewitt from Chaos Walking Trilogy and Quintana from Lumatere Chronicles.

Milk or Dark Chocolate: Dark

Dog or Cat: Dog

If you want to learn more about Sarah, you can find her at the following links.
Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Sarah, thank you very much for taking the time to answer our questions.  The Reading Café wishes you good luck with The Wicked We Have Done.

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Catching Up with Anne Bishop

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Catching Up with Anne Bishop

Murder of Crows Banner 2

 

Anne Bishop photo

 

The Reading Cafe is thrilled to welcome back the wonderful Anne Bishop.

Anne has her new release, Murder of Crows being released tomorrow. This is the second book in her fantastic The Others series.

Let’s talk to Anne.

 

 

Hi, Anne.  We are thrilled to have you back with us again at The Reading Cafe, to discuss your new release “Murder of Crows”, as well as to give us an update as to what else you may be working on.

TRC:  You have just released the 2nd book in your The Others series.  For those of our members who have not read this series, can you give us a description of the premise of The Others? 

Anne:  The Others is an urban fantasy series set in a re-imagined Earth, where the earth natives, the supernatural beings like shape-shifters and vampires–are the dominant species that has control of most of the world. They see humans as lesser predators and a different kind of meat. Add into the mix humans living in cities surrounded by land controlled by the earth natives, always being watched for any transgression of the agreements made between the species. And to round things out, add in a girl who sees the future when her skin is cut, a girl who has run away from the man who owned her and wants to live her own life–even if it kills her. I stirred that collision of cultures and needs and came up with Written in Red, the first book in the series.

TRC:   Do you find it easier writing the second book of a series, especially having completed most of your research for the first book, and knowing your wonderful characters?

Anne:   No, it’s not easier. There is the challenge of remembering all the myriad details about the world so that simple things don’t change (is that a door or a gate?). There is holding on to the essence of each character while allowing them to continue to grow. And there is always more to learn. While Simon and Meg are still at the center of the story, in book two, our view of their world expands a little as we meet another group of humans who have their own secrets. So I wouldn’t say my research is done. It’s closer to the truth to say I have the foundation now to build on.

Murder of Crows.March 14jpgTRC:  Murder of the Crows is being released tomorrow, March 4th.  Can you please give us a brief description of the book?

Anne:   When Meg Corbyn has a prophetic dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard, the leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, starts wondering why Crows are being killed in so many human cities across Thaisia. Is it because Crows are easier to kill than the larger, predatory earth natives? Or is it because their tendency to poke around in human trash to find little treasures might uncover something humans don’t want the Others to know–something that reveals a secret about the girls called cassandra sangue?

Links to order Murder of Crows:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

TRC:  When we last asked you how many books you were planning on this series, you stated at least two.  Is Murder of Crows the last book in this series, or will there be more books? 

Anne:   I’ve just finished writing the third book in the series. It went to my editor the other day, so it doesn’t have an official title yet. Will there be more beyond that? I’m playing with some possibilities of what might follow the events in book 3. I’ll present those to my agent and editor soon.

TRC:   What was your reaction when you found out that Written in Red was nominated on Goodreads & RT Awards for being one of the best books of 2013?  I thought it was one of my favorite books of the year, and certainly best new series.

Anne:   There was dancing. And many phone calls. And face muscles that cramped because I smiled so much. I kind of color outside the genre lines because it gives my imagination such a zing of energy to mix things up a bit and create something different. That can be risky. The nominations confirmed that readers, and reviewers, were willing to have fun with the story too.

TRC:   Would you like to share with us what you are currently working on, and what you may have upcoming in 2014?

Anne:   As I said, I’ve just finished the third book about the Others and haven’t yet settled on the story I’ll write in 2014, although I don’t think the Others are quite finished yet. As for the books, Murder of Crows will come out in the US and Australia. Daughter of the Blood is coming out in the UK this week and will also be released in Brazil sometime this year. And the French edition of Written in Red may come out this year as well.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Anne:   I’m having a wonderful time writing about the Others, and I’m very glad you’re all having just as much fun reading the stories.

TRC:   Thank you, Anne for giving us an update on Murder of the Crows, as well as what we can look forward to in the future.  It was a pleasure having you visit us again. 

Anne:   Thank you, Barb. Arroo!

If you would like to learn more about Anne, you can visit her at the following links:  Website:
Facebook:
Goodreads:

 

Giveaway-redandblack_zps8ff4dc4b

Anne is offering a hardcopy of Murder of Crows and a paperback of Written in Red to one lucky commenter of TRC.

1. Please register using the log-in at the top of the page.

2. If you are using a social log-in such as Twitter or Facebook, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Giveaway open to USA & Canada only.

4. Giveaway runs from March 3 – 8, 2014

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Hot Rock by Annie Seaton-Review and Interview with the Author

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Hot Rock by Annie Seaton -Review and Interview with the Author

 

Hot Rock Banner

Hot Rock
by Annie Seaton
Release Date: February 24, 2014
Genre: romance, time travel,

Hot Rock

SPECIAL DEAL-ebook only .99cents:
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

HOT ROCK by Annie Seaton

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 24, 2014

Megan Miller is on a dream trip to research her doctoral thesis at a rock festival in England. When she arrives in town she’s stunned that her temporary neighbor is the spitting image of her 70’s rock idol, too bad he’s also a world-class jerk. So why can’t she stop thinking about him? Seventies rock star Davy Morgan is a man with a secret: rockin’ in one time and living in another. He holds his privacy close to his heart, so when a beautiful girl who not only loves but truly understands his music moves in next door, he works overtime to keep her at a distance. Easier said than done. Megan follows Davy to the rock festival, but it’s not what or when it seems. The lure of the music draws them closer, but can their newfound love span across the decades, or will it get lost in time?

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: HOT ROCK is a paranormal, romantic, time travel storyline that spans 1971 to 2014. Australian sociologist Megan Miller travels to England to research for her doctoral thesis on the cult of the rock band only to discover that her rude and flamboyant neighbor is an identical likeness to 70s rock icon Davy Morgan-a musician Megan has researched in the past.

The storyline follows Megan as she is swept back in time to 1971-to the beginning of Davy Morgan’s career and the very music festival where both of their futures begin to unfold. While staying at a small, village cottage in 2014, Megan meets ‘David Morgan’-nephew to the rock icon Davy Morgan-and an immediate love/hate relationship begins. But when David disappears and Megan follows closely behind, our couple will take their friendship to the next level as Davy’s career and that of his band begin its’ rise up the charts in 1971.

The relationship between Megan and Davy is quick to develop as the storyline encompasses a few days in the life. From frenemies to lovers, our couple is pulled to one another like magnets and there is no stopping the future as it unfolds in the past.

Annie Seaton draws the reader into the fashion, music and discrimination of 1971: where Davy Morgan meets David Bowie; and where ‘peace, love and, rock and roll’ was the anthem of a generation.

HOT ROCK is a quick read, where one woman discovers that her love for the music and the man from 1971 knows no boundaries including the time line and several generations of rock stars and music.

Copy supplied by the author

Reviewed by Sandy

Interview white:black

TRC: Hi Annie and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of HOT ROCK.

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

Follow: Website / Blog / Facebook / Goodreads /Twitter

Annie_Seaton_200x300This is me… straight from my bio… and it’s all true!

Annie: Annie Seaton lives on the edge of the South Pacific Ocean on the east coast of Australia and she is fulfilling her lifelong dream of working in the publishing industry.

As well as being a publicist and an editor, she is also a writer and has been delighted to discover that readers love reading her stories as much as she loves writing them.
Annie lives by the beach with her own hero of many years and since the children have fled the nest, they share their home with “Bob” the dog and two white cats.
When she is not writing, editing or promoting her authors’ books, she can be found in her garden or walking on the beach…or most likely on her deck overlooking the ocean, a chilled glass of wine in hand as the sun sets.

TRC: HOT ROCK is your February 24, 2014 release. Would you please tell us something about the premise?

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble /

Hot RockAnnie: Megan Miller is on a dream trip to research her doctoral thesis at a rock festival in England. When she arrives in town she’s stunned that her temporary neighbor is the spitting image of her 70’s rock idol, too bad he’s also a world-class jerk. So why can’t she stop thinking about him? Seventies rock star Davy Morgan is a man with a secret: rockin’ in one time and living in another. He holds his privacy close to his heart, so when a beautiful girl who not only loves but truly understands his music moves in next door, he works overtime to keep her at a distance. Easier said than done. Megan follows Davy to the rock festival, but it’s not what or when it seems. The lure of the music draws them closer, but can their newfound love span across the decades, or will it get lost in time?

TRC: Who or what was the inspiration behind HOT ROCK? Is the character of Davy/David Morgan based in reality-on any particular male rock singer (past or present)?

Annie: I’ve been a fan of seventies music since…the seventies! It seems that many of my favourite singers were Davids…so my fictional rock star had to be a David. I guess the music that Davy Morgan plays would be similar to David Bowie and in my mind, I imagined him to look like David Essex in his heyday!

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series or is this a standalone storyline?

Annie: This is a standalone book..which is unusual for me. All of my other books are in series.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Annie: When I write each day, I go back to the beginning and re edit what I have written so far. That way I can ensure that I am leaving enough clues, yet without giving too much away. I loved the creative freedom of writing the time travel in tis, but my editors kept a very close watch on the continuity…so that was easy to follow the different time periods.

TRC: If you could virtually cast the leading characters in this storyline, which models or actors best represents your ideal image?

Annie: Being an Aussie… I would have to say Chris Hemsworth.. but he’d need to have black curly hair! Johnny Depp would run a close second.

Anne Hathaway would bring that air of vulnerability to Megan’s character.

Outback AffairTRC: Outback Affair (October 2013) is the third storyline in your Affair series. Do you have any plans for another instalment?

Annie: Funny you should ask that. Many of my readers aare asking for another one and I’ve been thinking of a long lost brother…from before Tessa married. We’ll see.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Annie: That is such a good question. I used to be what is called an ‘organic writer’ otherwise known as a panster, but my editors prefer a good synopsis as soon as the book is contracted. Unfortunately my characters never do what I planned but I do think it enriches my stories .

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writer’s fail in this endeavor?

Annie: The old maxim ‘show versus tell’ is the key to his. It is so important to use words, settings and feelings that let the reader live in the character’s skin. I find this process quite easy as I also work as an editor and am constantly teaching my authors how to remove filter words and phrases that sets up a barrier between the character and the reader’s response.

I think writer’s fail when they provide too much narrative and don’t let the actions and events come out through the characters immersion in a scene.

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

Annie: As soon as I am stuck for an idea , I head to the beach. Water is my element and feeds my creative muse (as you can see by my Facebook photos) Many a scene has been written in my head as I walk along the beach.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (research, logistics, background) did you encounter writing this particular story and series?

Annie: It was easy to write this setting as I visited Glastonbury about eight years ago and had many photos that I took on that visit. I had to rely on my memory for the smells and sounds of the English countryside. I didn’t go to the rock festival so I relied on videos. There is a wealth of material on the internet for research.
I usually write in a quiet room, but I actually played a lot of Peter Frampton music as I wrote Hot Rock…to keep me in the zone.

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

Annie: I have a couple of fabulous writer friends …who I talk to every day on social media. We bounce ideas for each of our current stories and two of my friends read my manuscripts before they go to the editor.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Annie: I am working on three stories at once…yes I know…crazy writer! I have just commenced the third book in th Half Moon Bay series and am currently trying to get into Georgie’s skin. I am writing a historical book about a missing Emerald necklace (with pirates!) and I am working on a single title…a political romantic thriller set in the outback of Australia.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Annie: Thanks so much for having me visit. I love to hear from readers and answer every email or FB message that they send me. I love talking about my books and I have a reader’s group for each book.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food :Potato

Favorite Dessert: Tiramisu

Favorite TV Show: Big Bang Theory

Last Movie You Saw: Hmmm. Can’t remember…too busy writing. Probably one of the Pirates of the Caribbean!

Dark or Milk Chocolate: Dark

Secret Celebrity Crush: David Bowie

Last Vacation Destination: Hayman Island

Pet Peeve: Reality TV shows

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

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Something to Prove by Shannyn Schroeder – Review, Interview and Giveaway

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Something to Prove by Shannyn Schroeder – Review, Interview & Giveaway

Something to ProveLinks to order Something To Prove:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
Two ambitious people team up to prove themselves to their families—and find there may be more to their partnership than just business. . .

Elizabeth Brannigan is determined to show her father she’s capable of running the family business. Saving his struggling Chicago bar seems like the perfect project. But she’ll need a little help dealing with the rough crowd. Who better to assist her than the handsome co-owner of a thriving Irish pub? Of course, with so much work to do, there are bound to be a few late nights. . .

Colin O’Leary’s father passed away before he could prove to him that he wasn’t a screw-up. Now he wants to show his brother he’s responsible enough to own a bar of his own—and Elizabeth may be able to help him. But when their professional aspirations clash, tempers—and passions—flare. Are they mature enough to mix business with pleasure—or will they have to choose between the two?

 

Review:

Something to Prove by Shannyn Schroeder is the 3rd book in her O’Leary’s series.  I have not read the first two books in this series, as this is the first time I have read Schroeder.  After reading this book, I want to go back to the first two books and find out more about this great O’Leary family.  Don’t worry though, this book can be read as a standalone, as you meet most of the O’Leary’s throughout the story. 

Something to Prove is about Colin O’Leary and Elizabeth Brannigan.  Elizabeth, who works for her father’s business, has something to prove, as she is always in competition with her older brother.  She arrives in Chicago to take over an Irish Pub that is a disaster & falling apart.   Elizabeth knows that her brother owns the property, but she is determined to fix it up and make it a viable property to prove to her family that she can do this on her own and sell at a profit.  But it isn’t going to be easy, as she is faced with an impossible task, as well as incompetent employees.

Colin has recently returned to help his family with the family pub, which his brother Ryan runs.  Colin has to prove himself, as Ryan doesn’t trust him not to leave them again.  When Elizabeth does research on the bars in Chicago, she meets Colin and in a short time, Colin goes to work for Elizabeth to help revamp the Irish Pub.  He continues to work late at night for his family bar, but Colin wants his own place one day.  This time he wants the responsibility and to stay. 

There is immediate chemistry between Colin and Elizabeth, but they are two very unlikely people to make any kind of relationship work.  Elizabeth is uptight, a workaholic, and is obsessed with proving to her father that she is capable of taking over his business, as he nears retirement.  She resents her brother always being the favorite in her fathers’ eyes.  She wants nothing to stand in her way, and that includes the sexy fun loving, Colin.  He is most definitely a hunk, who is also a ladies man.  But even though Elizabeth will not mix pleasure with business, Colin finds himself totally attracted to her.  What follows is a wonderful contemporary romance that is against all odds,  

Besides the wonderful romance that slowly builds; the storyline of revamping the bar, sabotage, and meeting the other O’Leary’s was a lot of fun.  Watching Elizabeth slowly find herself unable to resist Colin, and part of her trying to fight it, as she plans to leave Chicago when her job is done, made this even better.   In comparison to Colin, with a wonderful family, Elizabeth was very much alone.  Her father’s tactic of putting the siblings in competition against each other was sad.

At times, Elizabeth was annoying, especially refusing to see how Colin felt about her, and her stubbornness in thinking she had to do this herself, even to the point of not seeing her brother trying to make amends.  Will Elizabeth allow herself to open up her heart to Colin?  Will she convince her father that she can run the company? Will Colin prove himself to have his own place?  Will they both end up together?   You must read this book to find the answers.  I really enjoyed this fabulous and unlikely romance that was a fast and enjoyable read, despite Elizabeth being annoying at times.  Shannyn Schroeder weaves a wonderful story of two people trying to prove themselves to their families, each with their own issues, and finding love along the way.  I wholly recommend reading Something to Prove.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher



Interview-Blueshannyn schroeder

We would like to welcome Shannyn Schroeder to The Reading Cafe today.  Shannyn is here to discuss her new release, Something to Prove, as well as to tell us what she has upcoming in 2014.

 

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

 

 

 

Hi Shannyn.  Thank you for taking the time today, to answer some questions for our members at The Reading Café.  We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Shannyn:  First, thank you for having me today. I’m a former teacher who discovered romance after deciding to stay at home with my kids. After reading hundreds of books, I decided to try my hand at writing one.

TRC:  Did you always have an interest in writing?  When and how did you first start writing?

Shannyn:  When I was younger, I wrote. Throughout high school and college, I often wrote poetry or short stories. I never considered writing as a career because I was sure I wouldn’t get a regular paycheck – and I wanted that paycheck. Once I started teaching, writing fell by the wayside, but I rediscovered it after staying at home with my kids for a few years.

TRC:  Something to Prove was released in January, which is the 3rd book in your The O’Leary’s series.  For our members who have not read this series, can you tell us the premise of The O’Leary’s?

Shannyn:   The O’Learys series is based around a large Irish-American family in Chicago. When I wrote the first book, I hadn’t planned to write a series, but by the time I learned about all the O’Leary siblings, I knew I wanted to write their stories.

Each book in the series is a standalone – only the supporting characters and the city of Chicago are the same. There are no cliffhangers or overarching plot elements. Each O’Leary sibling is getting his or her own story.

TRC:  Can you please give us a brief description of Something to Prove?

Shannyn:  Something to Prove is the story of Colin O’Leary, the oldest, and Elizabeth Brannigan. They team up to rescue a failing bar. These two are opposites. Colin is laid back and friendly, while Elizabeth is all business. However, they complement each other well, and they’re both working toward the same goal: to make the bar profitable to prove to their families that they are successful.

TRC:  You write contemporary romance. Have you thought about writing in other genres?

Shannyn:  When I started writing, my first 2 attempts at novels were romantic suspense. I love to read romantic suspense and as writers, we’re told to write what you know. The premise for these books was pretty good, but something was off. It was my voice. It wasn’t until I wrote More Than This that I found my writing voice is contemporary romance. I might try something else somewhere along the line, but I’m having a lot of fun right now.

TRC:  Can you please tell us what you working on now, and what you have upcoming in 2014?

Shannyn:  I just turned in the revisions for Catch Your Breath, the 4th O’Leary book – Moira’s story—which will come out in July. I’m starting Liam’s book now. In addition, I will have 3 non-O’Leary novellas coming out later in 2014.

TRC:  What is your writing process?  Do you like to outline your story before you start? Do you have a specific place you like to write?  Is there a special time of day that works best for you?

Shannyn:  My process starts with learning about the characters. I create collages with photos of famous people who look like my characters (or at least how I envision them). I also create a soundtrack for each book. Then I spend some time staring at pictures and listening to the music. I don’t outline or plot much of anything. I picture some scenes that I think will be in the book, but for the most part, I just sit down and write.

I do have a desk in the guest room where I write. My corkboard hangs nearby with my collages. I do most of my writing there, but I can write anywhere. When I started writing, I only wrote while my kids were in activities – an hour of ballet, an hour of writing. Now that I have deadlines, I try to have a better routine, but I still work around my kids’ schedules. I do my day job stuff in the morning and then write for an hour or 2 before I get the kids from school. Sometimes I write some more at night after they’re in bed.

TRC:  Many authors have friends or family, that they bounce ideas and information back and forth.  Do you have anyone you like to discuss your story with? 

Shannyn:  I have my critique partner, Paly. She is a lifesaver. She likes to plot, which is something I’m horrible at, so when I need to figure out where my story is going, I call her. She also reads my early drafts and lets me know when I’ve screwed up a character.

 

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: chocolate or popcorn

Favorite Dessert: chocolate cheesecake

Favorite TV Show: too many to choose from – Justified, Shameless, Criminal Minds,  Sherlock Holmes…I could go on and on

Favorite Actor & Actress (TV or Movies) – I don’t have a favorite

Last Book You Read: Too Good to be True by Kristan Higgins

Favorite Fictional Character (not your own): Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye) will always hold a special place in my heart, even though I haven’t read him since I was 16. My favorite romance character changes too often because I fall in love all the time with the characters I read.

Milk or Dark Chocolate: milk, unless it’s sea salted dark with caramel

Dog or Cat: dog

Thank you Shannyn for taking the time to answer our questions.  We wish you the best of luck with Something to Prove.  Please keep us informed about your upcoming new releases, as we look forward to working with you again.
giveaway

Shannyn & Kensington Books are offering an ecopy of Something to Prove to one lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. 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 post your email address along with your comment.

3. Giveaway open USA only.

4. Giveaway runs from February 2, 2014 to February 6, 2014

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The Cougar Diaries Part III by Aoife Brennan-Review, Interview and Giveaway

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The Cougar Diaries Part III by Aoife Brennan-Review, Interview and Giveaway

 

 

The Cougar Diaries
Part III
by Aoife Brennan
Release Date: December 17, 2013
Genre: contemporary, romance, erotic

__________________________________

 

 

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 17, 2013

.99cents at: Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/

This is the third and final chapter in Aoife Brennan’s THE COUGAR DIARIES series focusing on the fictionalized account of her life and struggles following the demise of her marriage. Aoife will take us on a journey of sexual experimentation; love and loss; betrayal and expectations. In the end, she will discover that being happy is easy but staying happy is another quest all together.

 

REVIEW:   THE COUGAR DIARIES Part III is the culmination of one woman’s journey as she endeavors to push forward when the world is trying to bring her down. Aoife Brennan is a woman whose husband walked away-never to be heard from again. She has struggled with unemployment and loss of income in a country where the people are struggling right along beside her. And the one bright light in her life-the man with whom she had fallen in love- walked away when he perceived something better for the future-or so he thought.

Part III follows Aoife (pronounced ee-fa) as she struggles with depression and a broken heart. We watch as she finds solace in wine, writing and taking on the next political cause. Aoife will discover and explore a different sexual reality –one that focuses on the pain and resulting pleasure; and she will also learn that to keep her head above the proverbial water, she must push forward when, in reality, she wants to curl up and go back to sleep. Along the way, well meaning family and friends, will take her on adventures and explore people and places she would never have done before. From the world of BDSM and role playing to plaster casting her body, Aoife will find that there are many ways of expressing your inner most thoughts and desires.

Aoife Brennan has written a wonderful series about one woman’s struggles with divorce; single parenthood; financial disasters; and betrayal. The character of Aoife is strong but vulnerable, especially where her heart is concerned, and in the end, she will focus on healing her emotional health as well as her heart. There is a mix of heartbreak and sorrow; humor and fun; friendships and love. The storyline will take you from the mind of a woman lost in a world of hurt to a place where she is able to look forward to a future – with or without the man that she loves. Aoife is a woman pulled between the past and the present but knows that her future will mean making choices that will not be pleasant for all.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Sandy

 

 

 

THE COUGAR DIARIES Part I by Aoife Brennan

Click HERE for our review of THE COUGAR DIARIES pt 1.

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 2013

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

The Cougar Diaries is a year in the life of Aoife Brennan, A newly single woman, Dubliner and mother to two teenage boys – she has to fight for her way of life, overcome the antiquated legal divorce system, secure a fair future from her estranged ex and LIVE! This is about a woman living and loving again, making mistakes, embracing life and giving it lots of welly!

_________________________________

 

THE COUGAR DIARIES Part II by Aoife Brennan

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 17, 2013

Click HERE for our review of THE COUGAR DIARIES pt 2.

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk/ Barnes and Noble / KOBO /

Aoife Brennan, 40-something Dubliner, carries on her madcap year battling the recession in Ireland, trying to find new love in Athens and overcoming austerity in Ireland

 

••••••••••••••••••

Interview white:black

TRC: Hi Aoife and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the recent release of the third book in your COUGAR DIARIES series.

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

FOLLOW: Goodreads / Website/ Twitter/ Facebook

 

Aoife: Thank you I am delighted to be here. Thank you also on congratulating me on the completion of my trilogy. It took the guts of year of non-stop writing and I was delighted when I was able to write ‘The End’. Although I have to say I was also very sad. The project had consumed me for twelve months and I almost felt bereaved when it was finished.

I am an Irish woman in my forties from Dublin. I am divorced with two teenage children. I started off writing a non-fiction book on divorce with my literary agent when the bottom fell out of my world financially. So I segued into a fiction book full of fun, drama and sex. A book where the magic pen can alter the future.

TRC: What or who influenced your foray into writing?

Aoife: I have always written. I have a degree in English Lit and I have written professionally in my job ever since. From a very young age I always said I was an author but it wasn’t until I hit forty that I realised I had better start writing my fiction books. I started off writing children’s books, then a full length children’s novel. Then when my marriage and world fell apart I took courage and dipped into writing erotica. However, I was less influenced by the fifty shades juggernaut and more by writers such as Anais Nin, DH Lawrence and Erica Jong which is, I acknowledge, a strange mixture.

TRC: The Cougar Diaries is described as a fictional account of your life following the demise of your marriage. Would you please tell us about the series?

Aoife: The Cougar Diaries is a fast paced series of books charting the life of Aoife Brennan as she comes to terms with the end of her marriage, deals with the difficult legal issues, faces job insecurity and then repossession of her house. In the midst of all these problems she meets Chris, a younger man. The series charts their romance and deals with issues facing a love affair between an older woman and a younger man.

 

TRC: Are the secondary storyline characters based in reality or a culmination of fact and fiction?

Aoife: Everyone is a fictional character. I could not say one character in the books is based on a real person. But I have and frequently did steal lines and conversations from people around me without shame.

TRC: Has anyone recognized themselves in the storyline and if so, what was his/her reaction?

Aoife: Friends had said they see other people but they are only clutching at straws. However, one early character (the butcher) was called the same name as a real boyfriend who also happened to be a butcher in a previous life. It was only when a friend who read an early version pointed this out that I realised it could have been read as such. I changed his name but in all honestly I was surprised at the coincidence for it surely wasn’t on purpose!

TRC: Have you considered writing a series of novellas to keep the reader up to date on your continuing story?

Aoife: One of the things that I liked about writing the three books was that there was a beginning, a middle and an end. It is not my life, just my life if I could convert it into fiction. I quite like happy endings and find real life is a little short on such conveniences.

TRC: If you could virtually cast the leading characters in this storyline, which models or actors best represents your ideal image?

Aoife: For Chris I have no doubt that Mr Michael Fassbender would be wonderful. For Aoife, it’s a hard choice but I would say Irish actress Orla Brady – one of her most recent roles was in Dr Who when she got to kiss the last Doctor played by Matt Smith. I know I have chosen Irish actors but it is really hard to listen to actors try and do the Irish accent. If I mention Tom Cruise in Far and Away then you have an idea of what an ‘oirish’ accent sounds like.

TRC: How do you keep the plot unpredictable without sacrificing content and believability?

Aoife: You know I actually think that real life is a lot more unpredictable than fiction can ever hope to be. If you will indulge me, may I quote from book three where Aoife is talking about coincidences with her brother George.

‘It’s like Edgar Allan Poe and his novel about Arthur Gordon Pym,’ said George.

‘I don’t remember that one,’ I said. ‘I only remember the one about being locked in the coffin.’

‘It’s Poe’s only full length novel but it was dissed by the critics,’ said George. ‘Poe called it a silly book at the time although it was supposed to have inspired Herman Melville afterwards. In the novel, there were four survivors of a shipwreck in an open boat.

As they ran out of food, they drew lots and killed and ate the cabin boy called Richard Parker. Poe said it was based loosely on reality, and it was. But this reality hadn’t happened – yet. For some sixty years later a boat called the Mignonette floundered with only four survivors left in an open boat. Eventually the three senior members killed and ate the cabin boy, whose name was also Richard Parker.’

‘Spooky,’ I said.

TRC: Are you a plotter or a panster (write by the ‘seat of your pants’)?

Aoife: A bit of both. Sometimes story lines overtake me, such as #strawberrygate in book one. There I was writing a serious sex scene and I started to giggle as I thought about an alternative ending. I was in stitches laughing as I continued to write the scene. It was certainly not what I intended. Other times I find I need to really think about the plot and where it is going. Then I go for a long walk and try and figure out what makes sense for the story.

TRC: When writing a storyline, do the characters direct the writing or do you direct the characters?

Aoife: Again, it is a bit of both. Sometimes the characters just march away with the story with little or no direction from me. Sometimes, I pull them up, especially if I need to move the story to a particular point.

TRC: The mark of a good writer is to pull the reader into the storyline so that they experience the emotions along with the characters. What do you believe a writer must do to make this happen? Where do you believe writers fail in this endeavor?

Aoife: I am no expert but I write from the heart. I truly believe in my characters and the story. If I believe then I have some hope that my readers will also believe. As I write, it is like watching a film, with muted volume, with the characters waiting for me to say ‘Action’ and then they start talking and moving around.

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

Aoife: I walk. I walk. Then I walk some more. Most days I walk two hours both for pleasure and head space.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties (research, logistics, background) did you encounter writing this particular story and series?

Aoife: I feel like a human newspaper. I read everything that is happening – in print, online – then it forms the backdrop of my story. Small stories and big. The story is everywoman in Ireland in 2013.

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

Aoife: I don’t actually bounce ideas. When I have done so in the past, sometimes people have said it could not be done. I believe in the adage that whether you say you can or whether you say you can’t, you are right!

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Aoife: I am working on four projects now – all very separate. The first is editing a non-fiction book about a family where the middle child has severe celebral palsey. The impact on the whole family is devastating. Sometimes we only hear the success stories, but for every disabled person who is winning, there are ten who are not. The very same with able-bodied people. I think it is a very important story and needs to be told.

The second is the true life story of an amazing woman who founded the only equine charity in Ireland. Her own personal story and that of saving horses is better than any fiction.

The third is a new novel. Fiction. Only 1200 words in. It is a romance with a difference. I’m very excited about it.

Finally, I am writing with a friend, an erotic writer in the UK. We finished our first novella before Christmas. It is pure filth! We write paragraph about, each pushing the boundaries of the other. It is such fun. We hope to publish this soon under our joint names and then start number two!

Oh, I should add that I am also writing my autobiography. If you think Aoife’s fictional life has been crazy then you should see the real one! I think that will be the book out next.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Aoife: I just want to say that while walking kept me sane, writing saved my life. So for everyone who reads my book you are truly a life saver!

 

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Sushi

Favorite Dessert
Death by chocolate

Favorite TV Show
Currently Breaking Bad – I’m in season three now so don’t tell me how it ends (I’ve seen loads of spoilers on Facebook but have avoided all so far!)

Last Movie You Saw
Shame (again)

Favorite Place to write
In bed. My house is very small and I share it with my two teenagers. I want to earn enough money to buy a writing shed!

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark

Secret Celebrity Crush
Michael Fassbender (only it’s no secret)

Last Vacation Destination
Galway on the West of Ireland for the weekend.

Pet Peeve
Rudeness

TRC: Thank you Aoife for taking the time to answer our questions. Congratulations on the release of The Cougar Diaries 3 and the success of the series.

 

Aoife is offering the following prizes to four (4) lucky commenters at The Reading Cafe

 

 

GRAND PRIZE: 1 winner will receive ecopies of The Cougar Diaries Pts 1, 2 and 3-the trilogy.

RUNNER UP PRIZE: 3 winners will each receive an ecopy of The Cougar Diaries Pt 1.

1. If you have not registered at The Reading Cafe, please register using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Giveaway run from January 26, 2014 to January 30, 2014

4. Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.

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Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey – Review, Interview & Giveaway

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Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey – Review, Interview & Giveaway



Fragile Spirits Banner

 

Fragile Spirits

Links to order Fragile Spirits: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
Paul has always known he was a Protector, fated to serve a Speaker who could hear the voices of spirits lingering after death and help those souls find peace.

Vivienne ignores the voices of the dead.

Paul has always followed the Protector’s rule book, preparing diligently for the day when he’d be matched with his Speaker and fulfill his destiny.

Vivienne never does what she’s told.

So when Paul is matched with Vivienne, they both find the pairing less than satisfactory. But a kidnapping, a malevolent spirit and power stronger than both of them may just prove that they are two halves of the same whole.

In a stunning story about the beauty of fate and the power of secrets, Mary Lindsey returns to the world of Shattered Souls with a breathtaking thrill-ride of a novel.

**Note from author: This book begins one month after Shattered Souls leaves off. Lenzi and Alden are featured in this book, but reading Shattered Souls is not a prerequisite

 

Review:
Fragile Spirits is the second book in the Souls series by Mary Lindsey. The story follows Paul Blackwell whose only life’s mission is to fulfill his dream of being a Protector. A Protector to a Speaker who can talk to spirits that are in the between where they need to be.

Paul has always followed the rules, has memorized everything he needs to know to be a good Protector one day. All of that is completely lost when he is finally paired with his Speaker, Vivienne Thibideaux.

Vivienne, does everything against the grain, against the rules, against society. She is the epitome of teenage rebellion and doing anything and everything not to fit in seems to be the life she has chosen.  Until she meets her Protector…

The pairing is undesirable by both Protector and Speaker. But as time wears on and challenges present themselves, walls begin to fall.  It is then that Vivienne realizes that she may just be able to trust this man sent to be her …the Protector.  And that the more you allow someone into your world – the more they may actually want to be there.

I read this book as a stand alone – not having read the first in the series. I must say, I was captivated and absorbed within the first few pages. Reading and finishing this book in one day I found it fast moving and intricately detailed. I wanted to know everything about all of the characters, the Intercessor Council and the way of life for the Protectors and Speakers.  Paul, to me, seemed like and intelligent, studious, goal-minded Protector – ready and willing to do what was needed to be done for his Speaker. Vivienne is an outspoken, rebel, with a bad attitude. But there are reasons for the way she is. I loved how the story is interwoven with the past and the present – giving you insight into how and why Vivienne is like she is. Paul’s back-story was heartbreaking and moving and within that story came love and understanding.

The sub-characters were wonderfully written – my favorite being – Race.  Race is arrogant and sexy and he knows it.  And he wears it quite well.  He is the character you love to hate or is it hate to love?  Hoping and looking forward to his story one day.  Two things I can say in closing about Fragile Spirits – One, I went out and bought the first book in this series, Shattered Souls – because this authors writing and ability to pull you in is definitely something I want more of.  And two, this is definitely a book I will love to and anxiously want to pass this book on to my daughter to read. There are wonderful and meaningful life lessons to be found inside these pages.

Reviewed by Erin

Copy provided by publisher


Interview-Black and Deep Rose

mary lindsey

 

We would like to welcome Mary Lindsey to The Reading Cafe today.  Mary is here to discuss her new release, Fragile Spirits, as well as to tell us what she has upcoming in 2014.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

 

 

 


Hi Mary.  Thank you for taking the time today, to answer some questions for our members at The Reading Café.  We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book. 

TRC: Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Mary: I live on the Texas Gulf Coast with my husband, three teens, and a menagerie of odd animals. I teach private acting lessons when I’m not writing.

TRC:  Did you always have an interest in writing?  When and how did you first start writing?

Mary: Like most kids, I composed stories, but I never wanted to be a writer. I was (and am) first and foremost a reader.

I majored in English with a focus on the classics. A majority of my writing in college was literary analysis; in law school, it was technical writing and briefs. I avoided creative writing like the plague. In high school, I went so far as to fake sick on days I would have to write a poem or story.

I started writing several years ago by accident. My daughter had just discovered teen literature and had burned through several popular series. She was lamenting the fact that most heroes in paranormal books were demons, vampires or some type of inherently evil creature fighting their wicked impulses. She asked me why the hero couldn’t be a “normal” guy who has some kind of special/magical power, but didn’t have evil impulses.

I told her that for her birthday, I’d write her a book like that. (To this day, I have no idea why I would offer such a crazy thing. I’d never written fiction and had no desire to do so).

True to my word, I gave her a chapter a day for a month. By then, I was hooked and writing was my favorite thing to do.

TRC:  Fragile Spirits was released in January.  How did you come up with the idea of this book?  Is this a standalone book, or will this be a series?

Mary: Fragile Sprits is a companion book to Shattered Souls (2011). It takes place in the same world and features the same characters as the first book, but has a different hero and heroine.

The premise for Shattered Souls and Fragile Sprits came from my youngest daughter when she was a preteen. We got into a discussion (I use that term loosely) over something—I forget what now—that caused her to say, or rather screech, “I wish that for just one day, you could put your soul in my body to see what it’s like to be me!”

Um, no thanks. I’d been her age and going back did not appeal.  However, I was intrigued by that scenario.  Not trading bodies, but two souls in one body. Could you share memories? Did it hurt or feel claustrophobic? Maybe you experience the host person’s feelings, like a magic decoder ring to the heart.

“Hang on,” I told her, “That’s a great idea. I need to go write it down.” I left her mid-teen-angst eye roll and outlined the first book in the series, Shattered Souls, that afternoon.

Fragile Spirits is dedicated to her, appropriately. 

Fragile SpiritsTRC:  Can you please give us a brief description of Fragile Spirits?

Mary: At heart, it is the story of two teens overcoming prejudice and pain from their past in order to achieve their potential. It’s an opposites attract love story centered around mediating for hindered spirits. I think my publisher summed it up beautifully on the jacket copy:

Paul has always known he was a Protector, fated to serve a Speaker who could hear the voices of spirits lingering after death and help those souls find peace. 

Vivienne ignores the voices of the dead.

Paul has always followed the Protector’s rule book, preparing diligently for the day when he’d be matched with his Speaker and fulfill his destiny. 

Vivienne never does what she’s told.

So when Paul is matched with Vivienne, they both find the pairing less than satisfactory. But a kidnapping, a malevolent spirit and a power stronger than both of them may just prove that they are two halves of the same whole.

TRC:  You write mostly in the Young Adult genre. Have you thought about writing in other genres?

Mary: I also write adult romance, both contemporary and paranormal.

TRC:  Can you please tell us what you working on now, and what you have upcoming in 2014?

Mary: I’m working on several projects, both YA and adult. I am working on a Robert Frost-based ghost story that I am loving.  I also have several books scheduled for release in 2014 and 2015 under the pen name, Marissa Clarke. http://www.marissaclarke.com

TRC:  What is your writing process?  Do you like to outline your story before you start? Do you have a specific place you like to write?  Is there a special time of day that works best for you?

Mary: I outline in full before I write. It cuts way down on the rewrites. I write anywhere at any time, but I am not a night person. By 11:00 pm, I’m worthless. The only things I need for this job are daylight, a computer, coffee, and quiet. I do not write to music.

TRC:  Many authors have friends or family, that they bounce ideas and information back and forth.  Do you have anyone you like to discuss your story with? 

Mary: I have a few writer friends I bounce stories off of from time to time. Sophie Jordan (Firelight Series, Uninvited) has been a blessing in my writing life. Another resource is my agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette.  My friend, Kari Olson and author friend, Leah Clifford (A Touch Mortal) were lifesavers with Fragile Spirits. Both of them did a one-day turnaround on the manuscript for me when I had a plot issue. Of course, my best resource for Fragile Spirits, once it was drafted, was the editorial team at Philomel/Penguin. Jill Santopolo is a wonder.

TRC:  Would you like to add anything else?

Mary: I want to thank all the readers who have supported me since the release of my first book until now. You guys are what it is all about.

And thank you for inviting me on The Reading Cafe today.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Sushi

Favorite Dessert: Fudge

Favorite TV Show: BBC Sherlock

Favorite Actor & Actress (TV or Movies) Helena Bonham Carter (esp in Room With a View) Anne Hathaway, Jeremy Irons & John Malkovich

Last Book You Read: The Goldfinch

Favorite Fictional Character (not your own): Severus Snape

Milk or Dark Chocolate: Dark

Dog or Cat: Both, but right now, I have a darling Cairn Terrier named Annabel.

Thank you Mary for taking the time to answer our questions.  We wish you the best of luck with Fragile Spirits.  Please keep us informed about your upcoming new releases, as we look forward to working with you again.


giveawayMary and her Publisher, have graciously offered to give One member of The Reading Café a copy of her new release, Fragile Spirits.

1.  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.  Giveaway open US only.

4.  Contests runs from January 24 to January 27, 2014

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Sharon Biggs Waller – A Mad Wicked Folly – Review and Interview

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Sharon Biggs Waller – A Mad Wicked Folly – Review and Interview

 

A Mad Wicked FollyLinks to order A Mad Wicked Folly: 
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository

Description:
Welcome to the world of the fabulously wealthy in London, 1909, where dresses and houses are overwhelmingly opulent, social class means everything, and women are taught to be nothing more than wives and mothers. Into this world comes seventeen-year-old Victoria Darling, who wants only to be an artist—a nearly impossible dream for a girl.
           
After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?

Review:

I am still in AWE after reading A MAD, WICKED FOLLY by Sharon Biggs Waller.  I love England and its rich history.  I was so impressed with the amount of research that went into writing this rich and unique novel concerning the Suffragette Movement in England that afforded us modern day women with so many opportunities. 

Our main character, Vicky is strong willed and vibrant.  She wants to be an artist more than anything in the world.  After posing nude at her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French Finishing School and shipped home to England in disgrace.  She was only taking her turn during class and what’s the big deal?  In Edwardian England, it was enough to ruin her chances for a proper marriage and her rights in society.  Her father made his fortune in toilets and her parents don’t want their position in society threatened!   Ironic, isn’t it?  They quickly find a “younger son” to marry Vicky and they work hard to repair her reputation.  Vicky doesn’t care about any of this and she only wants to go to the Royal College of Art.  She works hard on her portfolio and finds herself involved in the Suffragette Movement. 

The events captured this time in England splendidly.  I felt like I was with the women as they sang and marched to Parliament demanding equal rights.  Time after time, Vicky is saved by a police constable named Will Fletcher.  She is drawn to him and uses him as her art muse.  You know that Vicky’s world is going to come crashing down!  Society was very strict and her chances of becoming an accomplished artist are slim.  Will Vicky marry a man that she doesn’t love to please her family or will she work hard at achieving her dreams?  The women in the Suffragette Movement and a certain police constable are on her side! 

This is a brilliantly written novel, I felt like I was part of this great moment in history.  The world was changing, but it came at a high price for some women.  As a fan of a certain television program based on this time period, I have to say the details in A Mad, Wicked Folly are more accurate.  I know that my great, great grandmothers worked in America on getting equal rights for women.  Knowing the hardships that these women had to endure made me teary eyed in some parts of this novel.  Well done Sister Suffragettes!  I highly recommend this novel to all women and the men who love them! 

Reviewed by Jules

Copy provided by publisher

Interview

Hi Sharon.  Thank you for taking the time today, to answer some questions for our members at The Reading Café.  We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

Sharon:  Thank you!  It’s so nice to be here.

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Sharon:  Sure! I’m a freelance writer for magazines and newspapers and I’ve written three non-fiction books about horses.  My latest is called THE ORIGINAL HORSE BIBLE.  I’m a dressage trainer and rider and I live on a ten-acre hobby farm on the southernmost tip of Lake Michigan in northwest Indiana, just outside of Chicago.  I have two horses, five dairy goats, five geese, 35 chickens, a beehive, two dogs and four cats!  My husband is British, a former Metropolitan mounted police officer, and I met him when I interviewed him for an article. I lived in England with him for six years before we moved home to build our farm.  A MAD, WICKED FOLLY is my debut novel.

TRC: Did you always have an interest in writing?  When and how did you first start writing?

Sharon: I’ve loved writing ever since the first grade when I wrote a story about a little witch and her cat.  My teacher told my mother about it during a parent teacher’s conference and she came home and told me how much she loved the story.  I remember thinking how neat it was that I could make my mom smile like that.  I was an extremely bookish child and I hated not having a book with me. I was always happy when it was free reading period.  I never thought about writing books of my own until I had shoulder surgery in my 20s and my surgeon suggested another occupation besides training horses.  I’d written when I was a park ranger, so I started writing young adult and middle grade novels.  In the meantime I thought it would be great to get some publishing experience so I started querying magazines.  I’ve been writing for 17 years now.

TRC: Your first novel, A Mad Wicked Folly, was released in January.  How did you come up with the idea of this book?

Sharon: When I lived in England I used to walk past Emmeline Pankhurst’s statue in Victoria Gardens near Parliament.  It made me think about what it took to fight for rights when women were so restricted.  And then I thought about being a teen during that time.  What would it take to break free? FOLLY was originally a short story in a bigger novel that wasn’t working.  I loved the protagonist so much that I decided to spin her off into a story of her own.  It took me three years to research and write Vicky’s story.

TRC: Can you please give us a brief description of A Mad Wicked Folly?

Sharon: The story is about upper class Victoria Darling, an Edwardian teen who longs to become a fine artist but is restricted by society.  When she’s caught posing nude for an illicit art class, she’s expelled from her French finishing school and sent home in disgrace.  Her humiliated parents try to tame her by taking away her art and arranging a marriage to a wealthy young man.  Unwilling to give up her dream, Vicky tries to get into the Royal College of Art, despite the obstacles.  When she falls in with a group of suffragettes and meets a handsome young police constable who becomes her muse, and maybe the love of her life, Vicky has to decide whether to remain in a world where she feels safe or to step out into an unknown world where her voice is heard and her opinions matter.

TRC: This is considered a Young Adult genre. Can you please tell us what made you decide to do a Y.A. novel?

Sharon: I love this age group; it’s such an amazing time of life.  It’s when you’re discovering who you are and trying new things and really forming your own opinions.  I love writing for young women in particular because they have so much to say and so much to give.  They are important and wonderful, and I want them to know they should never dismiss themselves.  Who they are is so important.

TRC: Can you please tell us what you working on now, and what you have upcoming in 2014?

Sharon: I’m revising an 18th century/contemporary mash-up, and researching a mid-Victorian.

TRC: What is your writing process?  Do you like to outline your story before you start? Do you have a specific place you like to write?  Is there a special time of day that works best for you?

Sharon: I have a writing studio in the back of my house that my brother just restored for me.  We brought it over from England with us and it needed some work, so he finished that in the fall.  Otherwise I write in my library in front of a window that looks out onto my farm fields.  I have to have a window when I work because half the time I’m staring out into space!  I try to write in the morning for two hours (I set a timer) at least. But I’m constantly living with the story in my head, mulling plot lines over and thinking about my characters.  After I work I head out into the woods near my house to walk.  I live on the border of a national park and there’s a four-mile walking trail that hardly anyone uses apart from me.  So I take the dogs and put in my iPod (usually set to the story soundtrack I’ve made) and start walking.  It’s such a great way to sort through ideas and issues I’m having.  I also daydream and imagine scenes, which is really fun.

As far as outlining goes, I do outline a bit, nothing formal, but there are “signpost” scenes that I know will be in, and it helps me think about how I’m going to reach the scenes.  I also have a pretty good idea about the story before I start. I have to know where I’m going, and what my characters want.  I also keep a notebook where I jot down plot ideas, maps, characters, brainstorms, etc.  It helps to hand-write things.  After I write the first draft I make a scene tracker and a plot planner and hang those on the wall.  I use stickies and I can move scenes around and see where the fit.  This is a Martha Alderson thing, and I highly recommend it.  It stops you getting lost in your book.

TRC: Many authors have friends or family, that they bounce ideas and information back and forth.  Do you have anyone you like to discuss your story with? 

Sharon: Great question.  I have some friends in New Jersey, Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, Lisa Reiss, and Melissa Azarian, who are fabulous critiquers.  They are amazing writers (Jen has published two YA novels) and I know I can trust them to push me when I need it!  I also have a nice group of SCBWI writers here in Indiana that I meet with a few times a year who are very supportive.  But I also work with Martha Alderson, the plot whisperer.  She wrote several books on plot and she does phone consultations.  She is simply amazing.  I worked with her a lot with FOLLY and she really helped me deepen the story.  She’s a writer’s oracle, she really is.  And of course there’s my awesome agent, John M. Cusick.

TRC: On your website you talk about your love of horses, and that you do horse training, and specialize in dressage.  You write magazine articles and have written non-fiction books pertaining to this. Are you still active in training, and what does dressage involve?

Sharon: Dressage is a French word meaning “training,” and it elevates the communication between rider and horse to an art form.  The highest example of dressage is the Spanish Riding School of Vienna.  It’s also one of the three Olympic equestrian disciplines (eventing and showjumping are the other two). I train very rarely now, only the occasional student.  Before I moved to England in 2000 I used to ride around eight horses a day and work with a trainer every week. Dressage is a discipline much like ballet where you have to work at it daily, and right now my writing and my farm take up a lot of my time. But I know I’ll get back to it again someday.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Sharon:  I’d love to hear from readers, so if anyone has a question or comment please feel free to drop me a line.  There’s a contact me form on my blog www.sharonbiggswaller.com. Also there are lots of background and behind the scenes stuff about FOLLY on my Friday blog post called Folly Friday.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Gotta love pizza!

Favorite Dessert: Cake—especially red velvet.

Favorite TV Show: Anything on Masterpiece Classic and the Big Bang Theory.

Favorite Actor & Actress (TV or Movies):  Carey Mulligan & Colin Firth

Last Book You Read:
Fiction: FAULT LINE by Christa Desir
Nonfiction: CAT SENSE by John Bradshaw

Favorite Fictional Character (not your own):  Gosh, this is a tough one. For adult books I love Jamie Fraser from the OUTLANDER series by Diana Gabaldon.  For juvenile fiction I’ll choose Sara Crewe from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s Little Princess.

Milk or Dark Chocolate:  Both, but I tend to lean toward milk.

Dog or Cat:  Both, but if I could have only one animal (perish the thought) I’d choose cat. But it would be a really hard choice.

TRC: Thank you Sharon, for taking the time to answer our questions.  We wish you the best of luck with A Mad Wicked Folly.  Please keep us informed about your upcoming new releases, as we look forward to working with you again.

Sharon: You’re welcome!  Thanks for having me.

 

about the author

FOR JACKET - Sharon Biggs Waller author photo - credit Edda Taylor
Sharon Biggs Waller grew up around artists and developed a passion for Edwardian history and the Pre-Raphaelites when she moved to England in 2000. She did extensive research on the British suffragettes for her novel, A MAD, WICKED FOLLY when she wasn’t working as a riding instructor at the Royal Mews in Buckingham Palace and as a freelance magazine writer. She also writes non-fiction books about horses under her maiden name, Sharon Biggs. She is a dressage rider and trainer and lives on a 10-acre sustainable farm in Northwest Indiana with her British husband, Mark.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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An Interview and Giveaway with Jenn Bennett

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An Interview and Giveaway with Jenn Bennett

Bitter Spirits Banner
The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome Jenn Bennett as our guest today.

Jenn Bennett

Jenn is here to discuss her book, Bitter Spirits, which was released last week, and is the first book in her Roaring Twenties series

Our review of Bitter Spirits is below this post.

Let’s meet Jen.


Interview

Hi Jenn!  Thank you for taking the time today, to answer some questions for your fans at The Reading Café.  We are always looking forward to learning more about the author behind the book.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Jenn:  It’s my pleasure to be here, so thank you for having me! For those who don’t know, I write the Arcadia Bell romantic urban fantasy series for Pocket Books (the fourth book comes out in May). BITTER SPIRITS is the first book in my new 1920s paranormal romance series with Berkley Sensation. In addition to writing, I’m also an artist. And I currently live in Atlanta with my husband and two (very) bad pugs.

TRC:  Did you always have an interest in writing?  When and how did you first start writing?

Jenn:  A few years ago, I decided I wanted to write a book. A year after that, I’d written a couple more, signed with a literary agent, and sold two books to a major publishing house. I’ve since sold six books and never looked back. I don’t think my story is the typical path to traditional publishing, but I like to think all the daydreaming I’ve done over the years finally got put to good use. Writing feels like what I was meant to do.

TRC:  You have a new series, Roaring Twenties.  How did you come up with the idea of this series? Any particular reason that drew you to the 1920’s as opposed to other historical time periods? Tell us a little something about the premise of this series…

Jenn: I’ve always been attracted to the 1920s, especially in America—Prohibition, flappers, jazz… But from a writer’s point of view, the most interesting thing is that it was a decade in which women broke social barriers and ventured into institutions that were previously regarded as Men Only. Women got their hair bobbed at the barbershop, smoked cigarettes, and sat at the bar alongside men. They moved to big cities to find work. Drove cars. Voted. They were pioneers, learning how to be independent, and that’s exactly the kind of heroine I like to write. And though I’ve seen a few romances written in 1920s New York, my series takes place in San Francisco, where the hills and fog and Pacific Ocean give things a very different flavor.

Bitter SpiritsTRC: BITTER SPIRITS, which was released last week, is your first book in this series.  Can you please give us a brief description of the book?

Jenn:  Spirit medium Aida Palmer channels the dead on stage at the Gris-Gris speakeasy. She meets Winter Magnusson—a scarred, brick wall of a man known around town as the “Viking Bootlegger”—who is haunted by the ghost of a murdered Chinese prostitute and enlists her help to exorcise it. The mystery of why he is haunted draws the two of them together and takes them through foggy San Francisco, from luxury homes to the backstreets of Chinatown—during which, they fall wildly in love. It’s spooky, thrilling, erotic, and terribly romantic. (At least, I think so!)

TRC:  How many books are you planning for your Roaring Twenties series?

Jenn: Hopefully three, at least, and they all center on the Magnusson family. BITTER SPIRITS is Aida and Winter’s story, and GRIM SHADOWS is Lowe and Hadley’s story (Winter’s archeologist brother and a museum curator). The third will feature Bo and Astrid (Winter’s baby sister, who is secretly in love with his assistant).

TRC:  The bootlegging culture was such a business of intrigue and back alley deals, what kind of research did you do to get such a great understanding of the business back then? And have you ever been to a modern-day speakeasy?

Jenn:  Aside from the countless hours I’ve spent online looking through San Francisco archival photos, I’ve amassed a small library’s worth of 1920s research material, including both original material (1920s magazines and maps of San Francisco) and secondary sources (books and films about Prohibition). Though gangsters like Al Capone snagged all the splashy headlines, I’m more interested in people like Roy Olmstead, a former Seattle cop known as “the Good Bootlegger,” who didn’t dilute his liquor or mass-murder his rivals to make a buck.

And yes, there are a couple of speakeasies here in Atlanta (Prohibition in Buckhead, Edgewood Speakeasy), but I’d really love to visit PDT in New York or Bourbon and Branch in San Francisco. Who’s up for a cocktail?

TRC:  You have written Urban Fantasy and now Paranormal Romance.  Do you have a preference of either genre?  Are there any other genres you’re itching to try? 

Jenn: The bootlegging culture was such a business of intrigue and back alley deals, what kind of research did you do to get such a great understanding of the business back then? And have you ever been to a modern-day speakeasy?The bootlegging culture was such a business of intrigue and back alley deals, what kind of research did you do to get such a great understanding of the business back then? And have you ever been to a modern-day speakeasy?For me, it’s all about romance, no matter what I’m writing. My urban fantasy is a May-December love story between a magically gifted bartender and a sexy Earthbound demon, told over several books, with an HEA at the series’ end. The Roaring Twenties series is one couple/one HEA in each book. One day, I’d like to try my hand at contemporary romance. As long as I can write characters that fall in love, I’m happy.

TRC:  Please tell us what you working on now, and what you have upcoming in 2014?

Jenn: I have three books out this year: BITTER SPIRITS, BANSHING THE DARK (Arcadia Bell #4, May), and GRIM SHADOWS (Roaring Twenties #2, June). I’ve recently written a sexy contemporary young adult romance—no paranormal!—and am currently working on a 1940s young adult mystery/romance.

TRC:  What is your writing process?  Do you like to outline your story before you start? Do you have a specific place you like to write?  Is there a special time of day that works best for you? Or how about writing fuel? Candy/coffee/cereal?

Jenn: I only need to know two things before I start a book: how it begins and ends. I outline a few chapters at a time and readjust the story as I create the characters. I do all my writing in my office, day and night, with lots of tea and Fox’s Glacier candy.

TRC:  Many authors have friends or family, that they bounce ideas and information back and forth.  Do you have anyone you like to discuss your story with? 

Jenn:  My husband. He’s a copywriter, smart and creative, and he’s a terrific brainstormer. I occasionally use beta readers after I’ve written a first draft, but not always. My agent, Laura Bradford, is also hands-on with editing after the first draft and her feedback is invaluable.

TRC:  Your website details your extensive travels. What are some of your favorite places you visited?

Jenn:  Taipei, Taiwan. I love that city; it’s given me great stories about drunken karaoke with transsexual bar owners and insane, near-death cab rides. I also love Hong Kong—it’s vibrant and exciting, day or night.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Prosciutto, olives, and tater tots—but not necessarily all at once!

Favorite Dessert: Cake with French buttercream frosting

Favorite TV Show: Twin Peaks

Favorite Actor & Actress (TV or Movies): Cary Grant and Irene Dunne

Last Book You Read: SHADOWDANCE by Kristen Callihan

Favorite Fictional Character (not your own): Lyra Belacqua

Milk or Dark Chocolate: Both, but I’m snobby: no Hershey’s!

Dog or Cat: My pugs are in earshot…so I’ll choose dog.

Thank you Jenn, for taking the time to answer our questions!  We wish you the best of luck with BITTER SPIRITS.  Please keep us informed about your upcoming new releases, as we look forward to working with you again!

If you want to learn more about Jenn, you can reach her at the following links:
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads


giveawayJenn and her Publisher, have graciously offered to give One member of The Reading Café a copy of her new release, Bitter Spirits.

1.  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.  Giveaway open US only.

4.  Contests runs from January 15 to January 19, 2014

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