Tag Archives: Author’s Interviews

Lisa Nowak-Interview with the Author

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Lisa Nowak-Interview with the Author

 

Lisa Nowak-Interview with the Author

The Reading Cafe would like to introduce YA Indie author Lisa Nowak.

 

 

You can find Lisa at the following:

LINKS:
Twitter
Facebook
Website
Amazon Kindle edition
B&N Nook edition

TRC: Hi Lisa and welcome to The Reading Café. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Lisa: I’m a YA author who writes coming-of-age books about kids in hard luck situations who learn to appreciate their own value after finding mentors who love them for who they are. I’m a retired amateur stock car racer, an accomplished cat whisperer, and a professional smartass.

TRC: You have posted (on your website) quite a bit of personal information about yourself and your love of racecars. How did your love of cars evolve?

Lisa: When I bought my first car (a ’72 Gremlin) my sense of independence led me to want to know how to work on it myself. Once I started learning the basics, I fell in love with cars and driving.

TRC: You are part of the INDELIBLES indie publishing website. How has your experience with the indie publishing affected your love of writing?

Lisa: Going indie empowered me as an author. When I was pursuing the traditional route, I was always scared, always waiting for someone else to tell me I was good enough. I’d put my dreams and goals into the hands of other people, so I had no control over them. Now I’m in charge of my own destiny and make my own decisions about every aspect of my publishing career. I love it.

TRC: What have been the challenges you have faced as an indie author?

Lisa: Mostly finding time to do everything I want and need to do. Marketing is the biggest issue. Like most indies, I have plenty of ideas about how to promote my book, but not enough time to implement them.

TRC: RUNNING WIDE OPEN, GETTING SIDEWAYS and now DRIVEN are all books you have released that focus on Cody Everett and the people in his life. Would you please tell us about the inspiration behind the series?

Lisa: My experience racing at Eugene Speedway introduced me to the stock car racing community, a group of loyal, passionate, family-oriented people, and I wanted to show the world what they were all about.

TRC: The references to the car makes and models, as well the movies and television shows of the late 80s and early 90s is very nostalgic, but can be somewhat confusing to those who have never experienced the history. Why have you focused the series timelines in 1989-1990?

Lisa: Three reasons. The first is that the landscape of Eugene, Oregon, the setting of the book, has changed quite a bit since I was racing there. The track doesn’t even exist anymore. I wanted to preserve a snapshot of that time and place. The second is that driving laws for teens are much more restrictive now than they were in 1990, and driving is a big part of my books. The third is that today’s technology, with cell phones and the internet, has open up all kinds of possibilities that teens didn’t have in the past. I wrote the original drafts of both Running Wide Open and Driven in the early ’90s, and rather than change the story to include all that new technology, I decided to keep it set in that time. Because these books work as crossover novels, and much of my audience is adult stock car racing fans, I haven’t found it to be an issue for most of them.
TRC: Would you please tell us about the premise behind your new release DRIVEN?(see our review below)

Lisa: Sixteen-year-old Jess wants to be a mechanic, but no one will take her seriously because she’s a girl. She’s never even considered having a boyfriend because she thinks no guy would look twice at her. When she lucks into the opportunity to work on a race car, she’s befriended by a boy who doesn’t mind the grease under her fingernails and drawn into the family-oriented speedway community. These new friendships make it increasingly difficult for her to keep her mom’s alcoholism and neglect a secret—something she must do at all costs to avoid getting stuck in a foster home.

TRC: The storyline POV (Point of view) in DRIVEN is now the female lead Jess Deland. Is there a reason you are now focusing on this particular point of view? Will the next installment in the series continue to focus on Jess?

Lisa: I never intended the whole series to be about Cody, and in fact, I liked the idea of showing him from an outside point of view. As a woman who loves cars, I wanted to write about a young girl who shares that trait. The next book Redline, continues with Jess as the protagonist. The last book in the series, tentatively titled Never Surrender, alternates between Jess’ and Cody’s viewpoints.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about the next book in the series? Do you have a working title or premise?
Lisa: Redline is already written and off with my editor. I expect to release it around Thanksgiving. It’s hard to say too much about it without giving spoilers for Driven, but it takes up where Driven leaves off, following Jess as she attempts to enjoy life as a normal teenager for the first time. And then her past catches up with her, leading to a devastating event.

TRC: Are the characters or experiences based on anyone you know or the events in your life?

Lisa: Not so much. A few of the minor characters share traits with people I used to race with, but the main characters are all straight out of my imagination. That said, there’s a little bit of myself in all of them. Like Jess, I’m stubborn and driven, and like Cody, my emotional nature makes life more difficult than I’d like it to be. I also poke fun at my own quirks, such as my extreme Christmas spirit and my habit of listening to the same CD over and over again in the car because I’m too lazy to change it.

TRC: You offer classes and guidelines (about writing) to new authors. What would you consider the most important thing to remember when writing a book or series?

Lisa: These days, most of my writing advice is geared toward indie publishing, rather than actual craft, but if I had to come up with a single piece of advice for new authors, it would be what one of my racing mentors once told me: you just gotta keep on keepin’ on.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas and information between friends, family and each other. With whom do you bounce your ideas?

Lisa: My husband, my critique group partners, my writing friends, sometimes even my landscaping customers (landscaping is my day job).

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Lisa: Now that Driven is out, I’m taking a little break to promote it and keep my landscaping customers happy. Later in summer, when my business slows down, I’ll either tackle revisions to Redline or I’ll make some changes to another book I’m working on, Dead Heat, and run it by my editor. Dead Heat is shorter and has a paranormal aspect, plus I have a unique marketing opportunity for it, so I’m considering publishing it next. It’s a gritty story about this kid, Alex, who’s a machine whisperer (he can figure out what’s wrong with any broken machine just by touching it). His meth addict dad beats him and exploits his ability. When his mentor, Cole, dies he gets a glimpse of just how bad things are for Alex, and what his future holds, so he hangs around as a ghost, risking his own chance at eternal peace to protect him.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Lisa: Perhaps an animated gif of a dancing hamster.

 

TRC: *snort*..I bet you didn’t think we would post the pic of the animated hamster 🙂

 

 

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
I hate having to choose only one. It makes all the other foods feel bad. But probably Mexican or pizza.

Favorite Dessert
Anything with chocolate

Favorite TV Show
Seriously? Just one again? Can I cheat? Leverage, House, Grey’s Anatomy

Favorite Movie
What if I throw you for a loop and say something obscure like Regarding Henry or Stand by Me?

Last Movie you Saw
Bridesmaids

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Dark

Favorite Song
Ugh. My brain just doesn’t work this way. It depends what mood I’m in. How about if I just tell you the song that was one of the inspirations for Driven? Car Crazy Cutie by the Beach Boys.

Thank you Lisa for taking the time to answer our questions. The Reading Café wishes you all the best with your writing career.

 

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MEAGAN SPOONER-Interview with the Author

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Meagan Spooner-Interview with the Author

The Reading Cafe would like to welcome NEW YA author Meagan Spooner

You can find Meagan at these LINKS:

Twitter
Facebook
Website
Goodreads

 

TRC:  Hi Meagan and welcome to The Reading Café.  We recently had the chance to review your new novel SKYLARK, which will be released in October 2012. Now is our chance to learn about the author behind the book.

TRC: Would you please tell us something about yourself?

 

Meagan:  Hi, and thanks for the welcome! Well, the short story version is that I’m a young adult author from Virginia, with a weakness for dark fairy tales and epic space operas. But some things the internet may not know about me? Hmm… well, I can stand on my head indefinitely, or until the blood rushes to my head and I pass out. I’m six feet tall. And I know how to fend off a drop bear attack.

TRC:  Your biography states that you have travelled extensively around the world
including Egypt, Greece, Chile and the Artic Circle. What were the
occasions to visit such exotic locales?

Meagan:  I was lucky enough to have the awesomest parents ever. I definitely inherited my love of travel from them. Ever since I was a baby, they’d take me and my older sister with them when they traveled the world. And they tended to gravitate toward the unusual and the exotic, as opposed to the more common vacation destinations. The best part is that even though now my sister and I are both adults, doing our own things, my parents still take us with them when they travel. I’m actually headed for southern Africa in a week!

TRC:  What is your favorite travel destination and why?

Meagan:  I’m torn, because if we’re talking about my favorite place to visit on repeat, that’s Australia. I love it there, and I love the people. I have so many friends there, and it’s a great place to live. But if we’re talking exotic vacations, then I’d have to say my favorite was Antarctica (though Egypt runs a close second!). There was just something completely awe-inspiring about being able to stand on the desk of the ice-breaker ship and watch the icebergs float by under the midnight sun… there’s no experience on Earth like it. It was truly like being on another planet.

TRC:  Your older sister started you on your love of science fiction.  Who is
your favorite science fiction author and book, and why?

Meagan:  Hmmm. Straight up science fiction? I’d probably have to say ENDER’S GAME, by Orson Scott Card. In my mind, science fiction is all about self-examanation–we use it like a lens through which to view our own humanity. And there’s nothing quite like the moral questions raised in ENDER, presented side by side with the sheer brutality humans are capable of. Of course, that makes it sound like a super dry, philosophical book! It’s also just really exciting and impossible to put down. Not to mention packing a twisty punch that still gets me every time I read it.

But my love of fantasy developed hand in hand with my love of science fiction–which is why it’s not always clear which SKYLARK is. For fantasy, I’d say some of my favorites include STARDUST by Neil Gaiman, THE LAST UNICORN by Peter S. Beagle, and THE GOLDEN COMPASS by Philip Pullman.

THE GIVER by Lois Lowry is one of my all-time favorite books. It’s not really hard science fiction, but it’s not fantasy either. It’s dystopian, but not in the way we think of dystopian novels today. It’s a quieter book, but no less harrowing. I think it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever read.

TRC:  SKYLARK (Young Adult novel) will be your first published novel.  What
inspired you to write your first book?

Meagan:  I think what inspires me to write is the need to reach out to other people I might otherwise never meet. It’s not just about telling a story, although I do love that part of it. But it’s also about forming a connection with someone while they’re reading your words. From “once upon a time” until “the end,” you get to speak directly to that person’s heart through your characters and your world. To me, that’s magic.

TRC:  Will you please tell us the premise behind SKYLARK and the Skylark trilogy? (see our review below)

Meagan:  SKYLARK takes place in a world much like our own, except that instead of electricity, magic powers technology. In the past, this power was abused to the point where wars broke out–now, the only safe haven in the world is a city inside a dome. Or so Lark believes. When she finds out that the rulers of her city plan to enslave her and make use of her newfound unique abilities, she decides to risk everything and flee beyond the Wall. No one has left the city and survived in over a century, and so Lark finds herself in a magic-ravaged wilderness unlike anything she could have imagined. She must fight her way through the magically twister monsters outside, and the machines her city have sent after her, searching for a fabled place where people like her can be safe.

TRC:  Did you find anything particularly challenging with writing SKYLARK?

Meagan:  Lark is alone for much of the book, which was extremely difficult. The easiest way to reveal information about a character is through their reflection in the people around them, so I had to find ways to bring the reader into Lark’s psyche without the benefit of those ready-made mirrors. But the cool thing was that this actually ended up being a real help–the necessity to give Lark someone to interact with when she first leaves the city led to the creation of a creature which quickly became one of my favorite characters I’ve ever written.

TRC:  If the Skylark trilogy becomes a runaway hit with the readers, would you
consider extending the series beyond 3 books?

Meagan:  I don’t think I’ll ever write another novel about Lark after the end of the trilogy. I could see a short story here and there, but I know where the series is going and her story will be done at the end of the trilogy.

That said, I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a prequel about Lark’s older brother, Basil. He left the city a few years before Lark did, but never returned, a disappearance that continues to haunt Lark throughout her story. Basil’s story is almost as fascinating to me as Lark’s, but we only learn about him in glimpses and flashes as Lark’s journey progresses. I’d love to go back after finishing all three Lark books and write about the boy who really started it all.

TRC:  THESE BROKEN STARS  is another Young Adult novel (and the first book in the trilogy) you have co-authored with Amie Kaufman due for release in the summer of
2013. Will you please tell us the premise behind this new series?

Meagan:  THESE BROKEN STARS is a dual-POV novel following two people who were never supposed to meet–Lilac, a socialite celebrity and daughter of the richest man in the universe; and Tarver, a young war hero from the humblest possible origins. They’re thrown together when the vast spaceliner they’re both traveling on crashes, and they have to depend on each other to survive on a planet which, by all galactic records, doesn’t exist. As they make their way across the wilderness in search of rescue, they begin to unravel the mysteries surrounding the abandoned planet; and together, they uncover a terrible secret that sets into motion a story spanning worlds.

Each book in the TBS trilogy follows a different couple on a different planet, and each builds upon the mysteries and revelations in the previous novel. Three worlds, three loves stories, one enemy.

TRC:  What are you currently working on?

Meagan:  I’m finishing up the first polished draft of the second book in the SKYLARK series, and working on line edits for THESE BROKEN STARS. Although having two trilogies going simultaneously is pretty hard, whenever I do get a spare moment, I spend it on a project titled HUNTED–a retelling of Beauty and the Beast set in medieval Russia. Given my current work load it’ll probably be years before I can do too much with it, but I love working on it.

TRC:  Have you learned anything during your writing experience that has been
beneficial to you as a writer?

Meagan:  Are you kidding? I feel like I learn something new and invaluable every day. But I think the single most important thing I learned happened when I first started writing SKYLARK. I used to think that creativity was something that came in inspired flashes, that you could just wait for your muse to show up. But this is rarely consistent enough to build a career on. I learned that books may get started through a burst of inspiration, but they get finished with hard work, every day, whether you feel like writing or not. If you want to be a professional writer, if you want to make books your job, you have to treat it like a job. One that you do every day, even on the days when you’d rather be outside, or playing video games, or reading.

Despite all of that, I still think it’s the best job in the world.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Meagan:  I love talking to readers and writers alike, and I don’t bite! So if anyone has a question or a comment, don’t hesitate to stalk me at any one of my various internet haunts.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Sushi

Favorite Dessert
Flourless chocolate anything

Favorite Movie
Contact

Favorite TV Show
Firefly

Last Movie You Saw
The Avengers

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Milk Chocolate

What book are YOU currently reading?
BITTERBLUE, by Kristin Cashore.

TRC: Meagan, we would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our
questions.  We wish you the best of luck with your writing career.  Please
keep in touch and let us know about your future novels and storylines.

Meagan: Thank you so much for having me here at The Reading Cafe! It’s been a blast answering these questions.

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Cassi Carver-Interview & Giveaway with the Author

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Cassi Carver-Interview with the Author

The Reading Cafe would like to welcome new author Cassi Carver. Cassi’s new release in The Shadow Slayer’s series- SLAYER’S KISS is now available.

TRC: Hi Cassi and welcome to The Reading Cafe. We will start with some bio information.

Name: Cassi Carver
Residence: Southern California
Marital Status: Married
Children: 4 children

TRC: Will you please tell us about yourself?

Cassi: Yes! I’m a full-time writer and a proud member of the Romance Writers of America, San Diego chapter. When I discovered writing as an adult, I knew I’d found something I could happily spend the rest of my life doing.

TRC: What was is like for you, growing up? Were you raised in the California area?

Cassi: People probably think warm, sandy beaches when they think Southern California, but I was actually raised in a rural area. I rode horses, shot guns, and was obsessed with critters of all varieties. My room was like a petting zoo.

TRC: Were your parents supportive of the choices you made? When and how did you become interested in writing?

Cassi: I started writing from a young age, and my parents loved to read my stories. My first novels were ten page choose-your-own-adventure stories, and my parents convinced me they were great works!!

TRC: Many writers bounce ideas and information with either a family member, a friend or another writer. With whom do you vent or bounce off ideas?

Cassi: When it comes to my stories, I’m a lone wolf. Heehee. Okay, not really. I don’t bounce ideas off many people, but I have a few trusted women in my local RWA chapter who I turn to in a bind for ideas andadvice—especially my critique partner, the fabulous author Melissa Cutler, debuting this year with Harlequin Romantic Suspense and Kensington. Yes, I’m a proud book aunty.

TRC: Is your husband involved with your writing process?

Cassi: Umm…he has ideas. Many ideas. I’ve learned to nod and smile when it comes to the writing, but he has great business sense and I often go to him with questions on marketing strategies. I’m sure he’d tell you he’s the inspiration for every steamy hero I create.

TRC: How were you notified that SLAYER’S KISS was to be published? What was your reaction when you saw your first published book?

Cassi: I was fortunate in that Slayer’s Kiss had several offers. It was the first book I’d submitted, but not the first book I’d written. (There are a couple “special” books under my bed that may never see the light of day.) Having Samhain as my publisher has been a wonderful experience. They are so supportive and easy to work with. Seeing Slayer’s Kiss out there in the world has been a dream come true!!

TRC: Where you involved in the selection of the cover?

Cassi: Samhain allows authors a lot of say on the cover. I fill out a detailed art form and then the artist gives back a preliminary design. I give feedback on that, and we adjust until the artist, the editor, and I think it’s just right. Samhain has an incredibly talented art department!

TRC: The first book in your new Shadow Slayers series is called SLAYER’S KISS. Will you tell us about the premise of the story? (see review below)

Here’s a blurb! 

Kara Reed is a supernatural failure. But where her magic falls short, her fists get the job done. The criminal element doesn’t stand a chance once she hits San Diego’s dark streets.

When two smoking-hot tenants move in next door, she thinks her love life might finally be heating up. Just being near Gavin and Julian is enough to make her want to offer her body on a platter.

Gavin and Julian know it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. They’re fallen angels sent to watch over the king’s daughter, one of the last females of her kind. Trouble is, she doesn’t seem to think she needs watching—unless they’re watching her shimmy out of her clothes.

No matter how tempting her guardians, Kara’s not about to let anything stop her from tracking down a sadistic killer who carves into his victims and leaves them for dead. Even when she realizes her target may be the very scourge of heaven from which her angels swore to protect her…

TRC: How many books do you have planned for this series?

Cassi: Three will be coming out this year, and I have at least a few more planned after that. I’m working on another series right now as well, so I’ll have to see how the readers receive the Shadow Slayers series. If people are enjoying the world, I’ll keep writing. But I would never leave readers hanging. There will be a final book when the time comes—hopefully in the distant future—and it will be packed full of happy!!

TRC: Will Gavin, Julian and Kara be the principle characters throughout the series? Will each successive novel involve a different hero and heroine?

Cassi: Because this series is urban fantasy, Kara will remain the primary heroine. I can’t see her falling in love with anyone besides Julian and Gavin. That love triangle is messy enough and keeping her plenty busy. As for the novellas, like the one coming out in December, those will be paranormal romance novellas focusing on a different hero and heroine in the same world who find their happy ending.

TRC: The first book in any series is usually filled with plenty of background information to let the reader know about the overall premise of the series. Was it difficult to blend the premise of SLAYER’S KISS with the background information required for the readers?

Cassi: Ha! Yes, it was! I try to go easy on backstory, mostly because I find it boring to read and so do most readers. I prefer action and romance. There was a point in Slayer’s Kiss where the copy editor was confused, so I had to go back and add some world-building explanations. Some reviewers found that part slow, and others appreciated being able to more easily understand Kara’s species. Because this is a continuing series, the next books won’t have so much background info. You’ll have to start with book one for lessons in Demiáre breeding!

TRC: Will you tell us something about the premise of SHADOW RISING (book 2), to be released September 25th 2012, in the Shadow Slayers series?

Cassi: Oh, my goodness! The blurb is just being finalized now, and I wish I could share it! I have to say that my editor really enjoyed Slayer’s Kiss—that’s why she bought it—but she loved Shadow Rising. In book two, Kara is finally over her mating heat and she’s learning what it means to be a Demiáre in control of herself and her choices.

Someone she loved and lost is back, but he’s not the same man he was before. In this book, Kara begins to understand what it really means to love and put others before herself. And of course, all that mushy stuff happens while lives are on the line and asses are being kicked… Oh, and we get to briefly visit the Shadowland! Which is by far some of the most fun writing I’ve done. You also have a novella scheduled for a December 2012 release.

TRC: Have you started writing the novella, and if so, will you tell us about the characters and premise?

Cassi: Oh, yes! The novella, tentatively titled The Silverwing’s Sorceress, is Jaxon’s story. I’m almost finished with it! I can’t tell you who his lady is, but by the end of Shadow Rising, you’ll have an idea! The Silverwing’s Sorceress coincides with the last four days of Shadow Rising.

TRC: You classify your writing style in the erotic-paranormal genre. There is always a fine line between erotic and pornographic. Where do you believe the line should be drawn with regards to writing erotic storylines? Do you believe there is a fine line between erotic and pornographic writing?

Cassi: Slayer’s Kiss is erotic urban fantasy. Because urban fantasy revolves around the same heroine in every book, they tend to be on the tame side, sexually. I wanted to see what would happen if I injected edgy passion into traditional UF.

I had a great time writing Slayer’s Kiss, but I’ve seen that it’s definitely hard to keep up that level of sexuality in subsequent books—Kara can’t remain in perpetual heat. I think her sexual experiences are deeper and more emotionally profound in book two. As for the difference between erotic fiction and pornography…this can be a difficult subject, especially when you come from a conservative family. But it’s always seemed simple to me—pornography is pictures or videos of naked people engaging in sex acts. Erotic fiction is simply words on a page.
No matter your opinion on pornography, it’s easy to see the difference between watching real human beings having sex versus piecing together words that create the experience only in your own mind.

Most readers of erotica aren’t using it for nefarious purposes. In fact, many women will tell you that spicy romance novels actually improve their libido and their marriages.

TRC: Under the circumstances, with erotic novels, there is a ‘parental warning’ or ‘content warning’, but many young adults (under 18) have access to most novels, especially now that ebooks are so readily available. Do you have any comments with regards to young adults and teens reading erotic novels? What would I tell teens in regards to reading my books?

Cassi: Uh…please don’t. I think reading erotica might give a young adult a skewed idea of what true intimacy is. When you’re older, you are better able to process what is reality and what is fantasy.

TRC: Have you ever considered writing a Young Adult series?

Cassi: Truthfully? Never. It would drive me crazy if my hero and heroine were never able to consummate their relationship. I write books with consenting adults who can explore where their passion takes them.

TRC: What are you currently working on?

Cassi: Currently, I’m editing Shadow Rising, finishing The Silverwing’s Sorceress, and beginning a brand new paranormal romance series! My life is never dull.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Cassi: Just that I had a lot of fun, and I’m so glad you invited me here today!!

LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite Food: Cheesecake

Favorite Dessert: Cheesecake. Hey—it’s a real food!

Favorite Movie: The Boxer, with Daniel Day Lewis

Favorite TV Show: TRUE BLOOD—Woot!! Woot!!

Last Movie that you saw: I can’t remember the last, but my favorite recent movie was “This Means War.” It was hilarious! I saw it twice!!

Dark or Milk Chocolate: There is no such thing as bad chocolate, but milk.

Last book that you read: Nalini Singh’s Visions of Heat

White or red roses: Red

Last vacation destination: A cabin overlooking lake Cuyamaca.

Ideal evening getaway: I’m always dragging my husband to the Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego. I’d like to eventually get a studio apartment there where he and I can get away for the weekend! (But we only live 15 minutes away right now, so we make do.)

Thank you Cassi for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with your writing career. Keep us informed about upcoming releases and any new books or series that you have planned.

LINKS:
Website: Cassi Carver
Amazon Kindle: Slayer’s Kiss
KOBO: Slayer’s Kiss
B&N NOOK: Slayer’s Kiss

******************GIVEAWAY*******************

Cassi is offering an ebook copy of SLAYER’S KISS to one lucky eligible member at The Reading Cafe.

1.  Open to all registered members.  If you are not a member, please register using one of the social log-ins or using the log-in tab at the top.

2.  Please post a comment and say hello to Cassi.

3.  Contest is open internationally.

 

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Rachel Caine-Interview & Giveaway with the author

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Rachel Caine-Interview with the Author

 Rachel Caine Interview with the author.

The Reading Cafe would like to welcome author of the new release YA novel BLACK DAWN-Rachel Caine

 

Hi Rachel. Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions. We are always excited to know about the author behind the books we love to read. WE would like to start with some background information.

NAME: Rachel Caine (aka Roxanne Longstreet/ Roxanne Conrad/ Julie Fortune)
BIRTHPLACE: New Mexico
EDUCATION: Bachelors Business Admin. From Texas Tech University
RESIDENCE: Fort Worth, Texas
MARITAL STATUS: Married to R. Cat Conrad
NUMBER OF YEARS WRITING: 36 (20 published)

TRC: Your bio states that your first novel was published when you were 28. What was the title of your first published novel? Looking back, would you have changed anything with the storyline content?

Rachel: The first book was a work for hire, a game tie-in novel called STORMRIDERS. I’m sure there is a lot I would change, because it was the first complete novel I’d ever written … I wrote it in omniscient POV as I recall, and I had a ton of very serious and/or quirky characters. I’d probably add a lot more humor and take out some of the odd quirks! (I was at that stage all writers seem to go through, where you think characteristics are character.)

TRC: As a child or young adult, what were your interests/hobbies?

Rachel: Music, mainly. I was a Very Serious Musician, and intended to be a star – as much as is possible for a classical clarinetist. I also dabbled in making ceramics. Bad ones. Writing was a major hobby, as was reading. On weekends, I would usually read at least 8 hours a day.

TRC: You are a writer of many different genres. Which genre do you believe is the most difficult to write?

Rachel: I think they all have their specific challenges … If you are writing straight real-world suspense, it’s getting all the details right, or as right as possible. By contrast, in fantasy your world you create needs to be real, consistent, and as complete as possible in your mind without forcing your audience through ALL of it – backstory is as important as main narrative. In YA, the challenge is always to remain grounded in how it feels to be facing new experiences … Not easy when you’ve gained a lot of life experience. (I say that in preference to *cough* old.)

TRC: Young Adult storylines are no longer just for teens and young adults. Many of today’s authors write books and series knowing that ‘grown ups’ will be reading their stories. AS a writer of Young Adult fantasy novels, where do you draw the line between adult and young adult storylines?

Rachel: It wasn’t difficult for me at first … My characters are a specific age, and experiencing very specifc sets of problems that go with it. Some adult themes exist because when you are sixteen or seventeen, you don’t perceive yourself as a child … You are almost an adult, and those are things you think about, long for, and fear. But it is becoming more difficult now that I have 15 novels coming for Morganville … Claire is inevitably maturing and growing up. Hard to make it solely YA.

TRC: The release of your next Morganville Vampire novel-Black Dawn is scheduled for May 2012. Will you tell us about the premise?

Rachel: In LAST BREATH, we found out why the vampires hide out in the inhospitable desert … Because they have enemies whose home is in the water. But now their enemies have used storms to invade the town, and vampires and humans are fighting for their lives.

TRC: Do you have an expected release date for BITTER BLOOD-Morganville 13? Will you please tell us the premise of Bitter Blood?

Rachel: I believe the release date is the first week of November 2012! BITTER BLOOD starts from the slow rebuilding of Morganville, and the gradual rise of feelings among vampires and humans of a kind of basic mistrust and bigotry… And before long, Claire and her friends find themselves at in the very lonely and dangerous middle as both sides wage a war for control.

TRC: Many authors are contracted to a certain number of books in a particular series, but you are currently writing number 13 in the Morganville series, as well as novellas. Do you have plans to continue this series, or is there a finite number?

Rachel: We have a contract for 15 books in the series. I just started work on book 14, which is currently untitled.

TRC: Many authors of Young Adult storylines are now or have considered TV shows (e.g. Vampire Diaries). You had an option for a TV show, but that has expired. Have you re-considered developing The Morganville series into a television show or motion picture?

Rachel: Sure, but the author can’t do that alone. It takes a huge amount of money and expertise to make either a TV show or movie possible, and right now there is a feeling that the public’s appetite for vampire-themed material is not as strong (for new launches) as it was a few years ago. But that is always the case …. It’s not popular until someone takes a risk and makes it popular again. So maybe that will happen!

TRC: The Outcast series involves a supernatural being known as the Djinn. What was your catalyst (your aha moment) in the development and writing of the Djinn and their powers?

Rachel: Oddly enough, the Djinn dropped into the very first scene I wrote of the Weather Warden series (Outcast Season is a spinoff of that) … And it surprised me. Sometimes your subconscious takes command and leads you interesting places, and that was what kicked off the Djinn. Then I had to understand how they fit into my urban fantasy world … As a sort of natural world kind of angels, closer to the sentient Earth than humans. It was really exciting, and gave the story all kinds of depths.

TRC: Is there a particular character that drives you with your writing in the Outcast series?

Rachel: Cassiel, my outcast Djinn, is obviously the main character (and super fun to write) but I think it has to be Ibby, her partner Luis’s niece, who is orphaned in a drive-by gang shooting. Ibby grows from innocent child to a commanding, competent magic user in four books, and I loved her arc.

TRC: Will you please tell us about the idea or history behind your new Contemporary Fantasy series-The Revivalist? Did you have to do any research with Thantology?

Rachel: I did do quite a lot of research into death, dying, and – as insiders sometimes call it – the Death Business. I also had some very interesting research conversations with a nano technologist. The outcome was Revivalist … In which my main protagonist Bryn has a job as a funeral director, yet is captive to a nano-based kind of life support that she must take daily. The prospects for corporate abuse of this technology seemed stunning … After all,if they literally hold your life in their hands, your loyalty as a customer or employee is assured. I look on it a bit like the stranglehold health insurance has on us in the US, whether we realize it not.

TRC: The premise for The Revivalist is quite unique. Not zombie or vampire etc, but basically re-animation. Have you ever read or heard of anything similar?

Rachel: It harkens back to some early SF, and the 90s TV series Invisible Man, a bit. … But nothing else I’ve seen or read recently. Thankfully! Though if you stop taking the drug, you become a walking corpse, decomposing along the way, so there’s your zombie element!

TRC: You are currently working on the second instalment -Two Week’s Notice. Will you please tell us about the premise? Will Bryn continue to be the main heroine throughout the series?

Rachel: Bryn does remain the focus of the books, and she becomes in TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE very much a kick-ass action heroine. Now that she’s “Returned”, she needs to work off her debts to the government, who want to stop a new shadowy corporate entity much worse than Pharmadene, the inventors of the drug …. And she’ll find her ability to heal comes in VERY handy. Her relationship with Patrick flourishes, but everything she’s built will be put at risk as the enemy … And one very scary lady with a personal agenda… Come after her with guns blazing.

TRC: Do you have any plan to continue the Weather Warden series e.g. novellas/anthologies?

Rachel: Yes, but probably not until 2013 … Too many deadlines in 2012! I miss Jo and David and Lewis, though.

TRC: You are married to fantasy artist R. Cat Conrad. How many of your covers was your husband involved in the planning or art work?

Rachel: Virtually none … We try to keep our artistic lives separate, mostly, since we both work at home. He gives me thumbs up or down on cover art, and based on this feedback I sometimes ask for changes. He did do covers for a couple of reissued early books I sold through iUniverse for a while. But his passion is for space art, and my books aren’t SF enough to benefit.

TRC: Does your husband’s art work influence any of your storylines?

Rachel: Hmmmm! Interesting question .. I sometimes consider writing space- centered SF just to have one of his great art pieces on the cover, though! He is a very gifted artist, and the pieces are stunning.

TRC: Many writers and artists are perfectionists, and at times, the process can be frustrating and anxiety ridden. How do you and your husband handle the pressure of a deadline?

Rachel: I love deadlines. What’s the quote, I love the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by? No, seriously, I am quite deadline oriented indeed, and I try extremely hard to meet all of them, so often that means sacrificing social events, holidays, vacations, normal life … And luckily my husband is pretty understanding. But since my deadlines come every 3 months if not more frequently, we also have learned to step back a little and breathe. You must live sometime!

TRC: Do you bounce your storyline ideas with your husband? A friend?

Rachel: Sometimes we talk about them, but I’ll be honest, most people find a writer talking plot BORING. I generally talk with other writers if I need feedback.

TRC: Would you like to add anything?

Rachel: If you find yourself in the position I’m in, of having 4 books out a year, it’s because of the amazing support of readers, teachers, reviewers, friends, librarians and bookstore workers … Not me. And I am humbled and grateful for your trust and enthusiasm.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food

Creme brûlée

Favorite Dessert

Seriously. My favorite food is a dessert. WHAT?

Favorite TV Show

So many, but probably Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly, or The Lost Room. I’m a total TV addict.

Favorite Movie

Aliens.

Last Movie that you saw

Hunger Games!

Where did you meet your husband?

On a dance floor, at a convention … Or alternatively in the pages of John Steakley’s novel VAMPIRE$. (he was a main character.)

Where was your last vacation destination?

I’ve just finished 10 days aboard a transatlantic ship, the Azamara Journey. Although I’m heading for tour AND finished a book, that still counts, right? Closest I get!

Dark or Milk Chocolate

All of the above. There is no bad chocolate, unless you mess it up with fruit. Ugh.

TRC:  Thank you Rachel for taking the time to answer our questions. We wish you the best of luck with your upcoming releases.

Website: Rachel Caine
Amazon Kindle: Black Dawn
KOBO: Black Dawn
B&N Nook:Black Dawn

Rachel:  Thank you so much for this great opportunity!

************GIVEAWAY*********

Rachel Caine has graciously offered a giveaway to 2 eligible members at The Reading Cafe. One eligible winner will receive a copy of BLACK DAWN and another will receive a copy of UNBROKEN.

To qualify:
1. You must be a registered member at The Reading Cafe.If not, please register using one of the social log-ins or LOG-IN to complete registration.
2. Contest is open to continental USA and Canada only
3. Contest will run May 7-12, 2012.

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Brandon R Luffman-Interview with the author

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Brandon R Luffman-Interview with the author

Born in Statesboro, Georgia in 1976, Brandon Luffman was raised in rural North Carolina from the time he was old enough to walk. In the sixth grade he discovered The Chronicles Of Narnia. Soon after that, he was on to Stephen King and Arthur C. Clarke. At the same time, he was making his first forays into writing fiction. After creating a series of short fantasy pieces for a class assignment that were received with praise, he was hooked on writing fiction for the entertainment of others. Now Brandon writes supernatural horror as well as fantasy, science fiction and other genres. His short fiction is available online in various formats. Brandon still lives on the family farm in northwestern North Carolina with his wife and family. Taking inspiration from his homeland, he brings southern sensibilities and a modern flair to these classic genre themes. His upcoming survival horror novel, Frostwalker, is expected to be released in 2012.

TRC: Hi Brandon Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. It is always nice to meet new and upcoming authors.

Brandon: Hi! I’m very flattered to have a chance to talk with you. Thank you!

TRC: We will start with some background information.
Name: Brandon R. Luffman
Year of Birth: 1976
Birthplace: Statesboro, Georgia
Residence: North Carolina
Marital Status: Married
Children: Three kids, 2 boys and 1 girl

Would you please tell us about yourself.

Brandon: I mostly define myself as a geek, if I have to put myself into a box. I’ve always been fascinated by science and technology, particularly astronomy and computers. Growing up in rural North Carolina, I was a bit of a minority. Instead of a large group of friends, I had only a few, but they were (and still are) very close ones. I’m generally rather shy, so trying to get my name out there as a new author is a bit alien to me. But I’ve met lots of new friends in the process, and that’s helped immensely.

TRC:As a child, growing up what were your hobbies and interests?

Brandon: I was into the usual things at first, the typical toys and cartoons that everyone was interested in. But, in the 6th grade, a couple of things happened that would shape my future for a very long time to come. The first thing was when a friend introduced me to the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. For those who have never really tried pen and paper RPGs, the thing to understand about them is that they are, at their heart, a cooperative storytelling experience. The social aspect of that is part of what made my close friends closer and shaped a lot of my ability to create fiction that, I hope, works on a personal level. My wife and I still play these games today, with friends or with our children. Humans are natural storytellers and these games tap into that in a very satisfying way.

TRC: Were you always interested in writing?

Brandon: This was something else that happened in the 6th grade, actually. My teacher had these boxes, several of them, all filled with pictures she had clipped from magazines and laminated. As a writing exercise, she would have each student pick a picture from the boxes and then write a one page story about it. My first one ran to something like four or six pages and I found it to be fun to write. However, I learned that we then had to share these stories with the rest of the class. I was petrified at first, but after seeing the positive reaction that the story got, I saw that stories could affect others in a very basic way. I was immediately hooked on that ability to reach others. Being able to elicit a reaction from my readers and the ability to entertain them with something I created is really what drives my desire to write. I’ve been writing fiction off and on ever since.

TRC: You have several short stories available for free from lulu.com, kobo and itunes. Please tell us about your series of short fantasy writings….Out After Dark and Best Served Hot.

Brandon: Best Served Hot is really a bit of a catalyst in all this. I elaborate on this a bit more in my first blog post “Falling Up The Stairs”, but essentially that story was what finally moved me from hoping to be a writer someday to actively pursuing it seriously. During the 2011 NaNoWriMo event, I saw that Lulu was having a short story contest. Since the word count limit was only 600 words, I figured I could bang that out pretty quickly. It turns out that it’s really hard to squeeze any sort of story into 600 words! However, it was a fun exercise. The fun part was trying to build this personal history between these characters, but none of it is explicitly stated. Due to the tight word count restriction, everything from their past is only hinted at in the dialog. I don’t know if Best Served Hot is really all that well written, but it’s a fun little piece of micro-fiction.

Out After Dark is an interesting piece. Most of my writing is kind of organic. I don’t normally work from outlines or plot things out ahead of time. Instead, I tend to start with some idea for a scene or a character and it just grows from there. Out After Dark was simply an idea that I had for this one specific scene and it was predetermined in detail. I wanted to try and turn that traditional vampire vs. hunter story around a bit. So, from the start, it was intended to only be just what it is.

However, a funny thing happened once I’d finished it. Every person who’s read that story comes back to me with the same reaction: “Where’s the rest? I want more!” Honestly, I even felt a bit of that myself, and had tried to rein myself in because those characters really seem to have a much larger story they want to tell. So, in the future, Out After Dark may become something more. The current manuscript is about 14,000 words and it looks like there’s at least a novella, if not a full length novel, in there somewhere. I’m really coming to like these characters!

TRC: Your current writing genres include, supernatural horror, fantasy, science fiction as well as others. Which genre do you prefer to write and why?

Brandon: I would have to say that horror is my main genre, but I’m not sure if I have a preference so much as I have tendencies that I don’t really control. I read a lot of different genres, so I often write a variety of types of fiction. However, the supernatural has a tendency to creep into my work over time. Another story I have in the works is an adventure/thriller type of book. Around 40,000 words in, I came to realize that it would ultimately have supernatural horror elements by the time it was finished. Almost everything I write comes back to these elements for some reason. Maybe not always horror, but almost always something supernatural.

TRC: Which genre do you prefer to read and why?

Brandon: I really do read all sorts of fiction and it’s hard to pick one genre. I tend to favor horror, but my favorite authors range from Stephen King and Dean Koontz to Tad Williams, Arthur C. Clarke and Tom Clancy. For me, the real key is a protagonist I can identify with. If you can develop that empathy with the main character, the story can take you anywhere. A great example of this is Simon, from Tad Williams’ Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy. We’ve all had times in our lives when we felt like we were in over our heads and things seemed hopeless. So it’s easy for the reader to cheer for Simon and understand the troubles he faces, even if they’re taking place in a fantastic fictional world. I hope that I can capture some of that empathy in my own characters, but it truly is an art.

TRC: FROSTWALKER is your current novel. What is the release date and where can we buy the book?

Brandon: At this point, Frostwalker is in the final stages of editing, but a solid release date hasn’t been set. I’ve been working with some really talented editors to put the final polish on it, but I’m unsure of how long this process will ultimately take. Meanwhile, I’ve been working to get the rest of the project lined up. I got the preliminary version of the cover artwork from my artist back in February and now I’m working on ideas for a possible book trailer as well as all the other promotional bits needed for a proper launch.

So, the hope is that Frostwalker will be released in the next few months, but that’s all still up in the air. Once it is released, our plan is to make it available in as many eBook formats as possible as well as a print edition. So, we should have it available in the usual places – Amazon, Smashwords, iTunes and so on – but we hope to get it into bookstores as well, over time.

TRC: Please tell us the premise behind FROSTWALKER and the title of the book? In which genre would you categorize the novel?

Brandon: I think Frostwalker is probably best categorized as Survival Horror. The easy answer is that it’s a “zombie book”, but that isn’t really accurate. The creatures in Frostwalker aren’t zombies in the traditional sense. The story centers on Jake Marsden, a geeky sort of guy who finds himself in the middle of this nightmare scenario where his rural hometown is threatened by an evil force of prehistoric origins. The story tells how Jake and his friends come together to face this threat and how Jake has to step up to the greatest challenge of his life. Along the way, maybe he can get the girl, too!

TRC: You have the preliminary Cover art posted on your website. Is this the final cover picture? How much say do you currently have with the selection of the cover art?

Brandon: I’m very lucky to have a close friend who is a fantastic artist. He’s worked closely with me throughout the process to create this specific concept and it turned out beautifully! There may be a few minor adjustments made, but that is likely to be the artwork we go with.

Since I’m probably going to be self-publishing Frostwalker, I will likely have total control over the art layout and design. This is one of those double-edged swords that shows up in independent publishing, because it’s great to have that level of control, but you also have total responsibility for making sure it’s done well!

By the way, while my friend isn’t currently accepting work, he does plan to make his services available in the near future. When he does, I’ll be posting about it on my blog and Facebook page, no doubt!

TRC: Many authors talk to their partners and spouses, bouncing ideas and information back and forth for books. How involved is your wife in your writing process?

Brandon: My wife is my first beta-reader. Everything that I write goes through her hands first. While we don’t generally discuss my work in detail during the writing stages, her input is often invaluable when it’s time to revise and rewrite. She’s a voracious reader and enjoys a wide variety of genres, so she can give me a different perspective. That’s something a writer really needs, because we get so close to our work that we often fall prey to a sort of tunnel vision. She can see the other angles that I might miss.

TRC: What are you doing today?

Brandon: Foremost is to get Frostwalker finished and released. This includes thinking about some of the other supporting work for the book, such as working on my media kit. However, there’s a lot of down-time while I wait on results from my editors so there are other projects ongoing as well.

There are several projects in various stages but, aside from Frostwalker, the primary thing I’m working on right now is a new short story, currently titled The Card. I recently finished the first draft on it, but I’m waiting on feedback from beta-readers and editors before I begin revisions. It’s about a poorly-behaved tarot card and is twice as long as Out After Dark – currently at 4,200 words and likely to end up a bit longer after revision. Once it’s finished, I’m not sure what I’ll do with it. I may release it either for free or perhaps at 99 cents, or I might shop it around to various markets.

TRC: Do you have plans to turn FROSTWALKER into a series of books? For example: Frostwalker is book ONE

Brandon: At this point, Frostwalker is intended to be a stand-alone story. I’ve had a few beta-readers express an interest in knowing what other adventures these characters might have later on, but for now, the story ends with the one book. Still, you never know what the future holds!

TRC: Is there anything you would like to add, that may be of interest?

Brandon: The only thing I’d add is that I’m really enjoying this social media stuff. If people would like to chat, I sometimes spend an alarming amount of time on

Twitter: Brandon R Luffman
Facebook: Brandon R Luffman
Blog: Brandon R Luffman
LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – Beef, in just about any format

Favorite Drink – Iced tea

Favorite Author – Stephen King

Last Movie you saw – Identity, with John Cusack

Favorite TV show – Supernatural

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Dark

Who is your muse? – Not sure… She’s flighty and I’ve not been able to pin her down long enough to ask her name!

TRC: Thank you Brandon, for allowing us to interview you today. We will let you know when the interview will be published.

Brandon: Thanks! It was lots of fun!

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JENNIFER LYON-Interview and Giveaway with the author

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JENNIFER LYON-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

The Reading Cafe would like to introduce author Jennifer Lyon. Jennifer grew up under the shadow of the Matterhorn at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. She attended Walt Disney elementary school and her very first playmate was her beloved dog, Duke, who was cast in the role of hero in all their adventures.

Clearly Jen was born to daydream. But it took her years to figure out how to turn her imagination into a career as an author. After marrying and becoming a full time mom to three sons, Jen launched her career with the award winning Samantha Shaw Mystery Series and other romantic mysteries under the name Jennifer Apodaca. Later, she took the name Jennifer Lyon, combined her love of witches, alpha males and sizzling romance into another award winning series, the Wing Slayer Hunters. For more information on Jen or her books, please visit her website www.jenniferlyonbooks.com

TRC: Hi Jennifer and welcome to The Reading Café. We would like to start with some background information.

Jennifer: Thank you so much for having me! I’m excited to be here.

TRC:Would you please tell us about yourself?

Jennifer:   I’m pretty ordinary. I found my husband at the dog pound…now I know what you’re thinking. You got a man instead of a dog? Are you crazy? Well here’s the thing, my husband puts gas in my car and washes it. A dog can’t do that. So…Okay I’m kidding. I was working at the animal shelter, and my husband was sent there to do an audit. We fell in love, married and had three sons. I loved being a full time mom, but I also wanted to write. Eventually, my husband went back to school for his masters degree, and I realized it was time for me to start persuing my dream too. It took me eight long years, but I finally published.

TRC: Do you recall how or where your interest in writing originated? What inspired you to write your first book?

Jennifer: I originally got interested in writing back in high school. My father had passed away suddenly the summer before my freshman year, and we had to move states. I was alone a lot, became a voracious reader, and dreamed of writing novels someday.

TRC: Do you have a specific writing style?

Jennifer: Desperate? LOL! It’s hard for me to pinpoint a style, I just write what I think serves the characters and story.

TRC: You have also written romance novels and the Samantha Shaw Mystery series under the name Jennifer Apodaca. Which genre do you prefer and why?

Jennifer: That’s a tough question. I’d have to say that deep down, paranormal is my first love. It’s the bigger worlds, with higher stakes, and characters with more to lose that attract and hold my attention. In the Wing Slayer Hunter books, the heroes have more to lose than just the heroine; they are fighting to keep their souls. You know how people say, “I’d give my soul for him/her?” When these guys say it, they mean it quite literally. Writing the mysteries was a lot of fun though.

TRC: Many authors and writers bounce ideas with their spouses or significant others. Who do you bounce ideas (with)? Do you have a muse?

Jennifer: When I wrote the mysteries, I did bounce ideas off my husband. But in the paranormal world, I work with a critique partner, Laura Wright, and two author friends, Maureen Child and Kate Carlisle. The more I write, the less I talk about it randomly with people. I’ve learned to save that passion for the actual writing.

TRC: Would you please tell us about your Wing Slayer Hunter series? What was your inspiration for this particular series of storylines?

Jennifer: Even though the Wing Slayer Hunter series is nothing like the old TV show BEWITCHED, that was my original inspiration. I saw it in reruns when I was a kid, and even then, it absolutely drove me nuts that a smart, powerful witch was married to an unsupportive, and in my opinion, unworthy man. So I created men WORTHY of witches; strong, extremely alpha men who are not threatened by a woman of power. And then I put them in stories that forced them to fight to earn the right of loving, and being loved, by a witch. That was my initial goal. But the Wing Slayer Hunter world is very different from the old TV sitcom—much darker, more dangerous, emotional and very sexy.

TRC: Your latest storyline is the new release e-novella-Forbidden Magic. Would you please tell us the premise of this particular story? (see our review post below)

Jennifer: My premise is: Which is more powerful—the choice of love or the bonds of fate?

Here is the back cover blurb to the story:

Wing Slayer Hunter, Ram Virtos, must find his soul mirror witch and convince her to mate with him before his Thunderbird tattoo kills him. But while that witch might be able to save Ram’s life, it is the mysterious Ginny Stone who inflames his passion.

Ginny has been deeply fascinated by Ram for months, but dared not act on it or she’d be torn from her mortal life on earth and thrust into her dreaded destiny as a half-breed angel. But when her beloved brother’s soul is at stake, she must do the one thing she both fears and desires…

Take Ram to her bed.

TRC:  Will Ram and Ginny ever see their HEA–together?

Jennifer:  I want that very much. I have their book planned and intend to write it. Next is Linc’s book, then Eli’s, and then Ram and Ginny. The answers the two of them are searching for just aren’t as easy as they had hoped at the end of FORBIDDEN MAGIC.

TRC: Your next instalment in the Wing Slayer Hunters series is Cage Magic. Will you please tell us something about the premise for this particular storyline?

Jennifer: This is Linc and Risa’s story. Evil erupts on the Las Vegas strip, and shield-witch Risa rescues a baby girl and runs, only to be captured by a true demon spawn. Linc touches Risa’s blood left at the scene of the abduction and quickly realizes they are soul mirrors. Now he must win Risa in a death match cage fight. And that’s just the first battle as the two of them struggle to overcome dark pasts and deep secrets while battling to defeat a fiendish enemy and save the baby that Risa loves as her own.

TRC: Your publisher has decided against continuing your Wing Slayer Hunter Series but your many fans and readers of the series have urged you to publish independently. What did you learn through the process to indie publishing?

Jennifer: I am still learning! First, I have to say that I am touched and amazed by the support of my fans. They, combined with my love of the series, are the reason I’m doing this. It’s a huge motivator for me. Otherwise, I’m essentially turning into a publisher as well as a writer. That’s something I thought I’d never want to do, yet as it turns out, I love the freedom and the control that gives me. It takes time to search out editors and various professionals to help me deliver a solid book, but I like having control of the production process of the book.
The downside is that I feel I’ve lost a safety net. I’ve worked with some really great editors, and I always knew they’d catch things like dropped plot threads, uneven pacing or characterization problems. Now it’s all on me, and I feel that responsibility deeply.
I will make mistakes, but so far, I’m enjoying the process and absolutely thrilled to be able to share more Wing Slayer Hunters with both established and new fans.

TRC: What were your challenges bringing Forbidden Magic to self-publication?

Jennifer: Many of the challenges were in my own head. And I ran into some scheduling headaches—all normal stuff that so far that I’ve been able to manage. I’ve had great support, particularly from Laura Wright and Maureen Child who were my first readers, helping to find any problems in the first draft. Also, my husband has been extremely supportive. I can’t think of a huge challenge, but I’m sure I will run into a few on this journey.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Jennifer: I know the publishing industry is changing rapidly, but I don’t think our desire for good, fulfilling stories will ever change. I love connecting with readers who love books as I do. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to hang out fellow book lovers!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food: Right now, I’m into Chicken Bruschetta Pasta

Favorite Dessert: Chocolate Lava Cake Dark or Milk Chocolate Dark

Favorite TV Show: Big Bang Theory

Favorite Movie: Ghost is the movie that springs to mind, but I don’t think I have a true favorite.

Last Movie that you saw: Act of Valor

Pink or Red Roses: Red

Do you have any pets? No, but I have visiting rights for my son’s dog, Bailey. He’s a Miniature Pincher/Chihuahua mix who has won all our hearts.

TRC: Thank you Jennifer for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to your next storyline in the Wing Slayer Hunter series. And we wish you the best of luck as an independent publisher.

Jennifer: Thank you! I’ve enjoying visiting with all of you today.

LINK TO: Jennifer Lyon’s Site

*************GIVEAWAY**************

The phenomenal Jennifer Lyon has offered a giveaway to 3 of our eligible members at The Reading Cafe: One signed copy of Night Magic:  One signed copy of Sinful Magic: one ecopy of Forbidden Magic

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe.  If not, please register today, using the social log-ins or at the bottom of the page.

2.  Paperbook giveaway open to CANADA and U.S. only

3.  ecopy open internationally

4.  Giveaway open from April 26 to May 1, 2012

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Katie Reus-Interview & Giveaway with the author

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Katie Reus-Interview with the Author

 

The Reading Cafe would like to introduce paranormal-romance author Katie Reus. You can find Katie’s website at: Katie Reus.

TRC:  Hi Katie.  Welcome to The Reading Cafe.

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

Katie: If you want the unofficial bio: I write romantic suspense and paranormal romance, live in the South, love red wine, the beach, spending time with my family and visiting old cemeteries. I love reading (no surprise!), flip-flops and have a 9 month old son who is incredibly adorable and takes up a lot of my time nowadays. If you want something more official, check out my website: http://katiereus.com/about/

TRC: When did you start writing? Have you always been interested in writing?

Katie: I started writing about six years ago and no, I haven’t always been interested in writing. The desire to write took me by surprise but I haven’t looked back since I started.

TRC: Many authors will bounce ideas and information with their partner or spouse. Who do you go to when you want to throw ideas around?

Katie: Heh, I love my husband but he usually gives me very inappropriate responses when I ask for help with ideas so for the most part I turn to writer friends. Kaylea Cross and Laura Wright are very fun sounding boards! And, Kaylea’s husband has even been known to help out with ideas too 😉

TRC: Who is your muse?

Katie: I don’t have one. I know some people talk about their muse, but I just write the stories in my head and some most days I wish there were more hours in the day because it feels as if I never have enough time to write all I want. I’m not one of those people who ‘waits for inspiration’ to strike. Unless I’m editing or on vacation, I write almost every single day.

TRC: You write both romantic suspense and paranormal romance. Which genre do you prefer to write? Which genre is the most difficult to write?

Katie: I actually enjoy writing them both equally, which might sound like an easy answer but it’s the truth. Usually I alternate between the genres and it’s a good way to keep things fresh. And both genres have equally difficult aspects. Researching laws, regulations, government procedures etc. can be a very time consuming part of romantic suspense and actual world building for paranormal is equally time consuming. But I’m a total geek and love research so it’s always fun.

TRC: Alpha Instinct (released Feb 7, 2012) is the first novel in your new Moon Shifter Series. Will you tell us something about this book and the series? Where did you come up with the idea?

Katie: It’s the first book in a projected 3 book & 1 novella series (I’m hoping my publisher will want to publish more!). The official back cover copy is:

Fear has a scent. So does desire…
Ana Cordona has been a strong leader for the lupine shifters who survived after all the males and most of the females in her pack were mysteriously poisoned. As tough as she is, with no Alpha male, the pack is vulnerable to the devious shifter Taggart, who wants to claim both their ranch and Ana as his own. When Connor Armstrong comes back into her life, promising protection, it’s almost enough to make Ana forget how he walked out on her before—and reluctantly accept his offer to mate.

The minute Connor sees Ana again, it reawakens a raw hunger. He must have her for his bondmate—his wolf cries out for it. But his human side knows he must proceed with caution because of their complicated past. If he is to truly have her body and soul, he must go beyond his burning desire and win back her heart. Whatever it takes, he is determined not to leave her side again.

But Taggart and his rival pack are not their only enemies. A human element in town is targeting shifters. Their plan not only threatens Ana and Connor’s future, but the lives of the entire pack…

And as far as how I came up with this story, it sort of evolved from my original intent. What was supposed to have been a simple paranormal novella grew and I realized that a lot of the characters needed their story told. When I finally let my characters take over, everything flowed from there. Book 1.5 is an e-novella, due to be released in August 2012.

TRC: Have you chosen a title and a premise for the novella?

Katie: The title is Lover’s Instinct. Oh yeah, it’s completely finished and has already gone through edits. I’m just waiting on a cover! The official description is:

Lupine shifter Nikan Lawless has it bad for Esperanze Cordona, the sweet and curvy woman who only views him as a friend. But when Nikan is assigned to act as Esperanze’s bodyguard during a weekend education conference, he knows it’s the perfect opportunity to seduce her off her feet—away from the pack. To put his plan into motion Nikan cancels one of their hotel rooms, giving them time to get to know one another in a whole different way. But when a man from Esperanze’s past shows up in need of help, Nikan must shield her from a group of dangerous rogue shifters, all while trying to prove that they’re destined to be mates.

TRC:  Why release the novella in ebook format only, when the first book is available in several formats?

Katie:  That’s my publisher’s decision so I’m guessing the reason it’s available strictly in ebook is because of the length. It’s about 28,000 words which is shorter than even a category romance novel so I don’t think it would work in a print format. Book 2 (Primal Possession) releases the month after Lover’s Instinct and it will definitely be in print and digital format.

TRC: How has the electronic age helped or hindered you as an author?

Katie: It has definitely helped me. I started off digitally publishing and that’s how I gained readers in the first place. I love being published in mass market format but I hope to continue publishing in various formats. I’m all about being diversified! The electronic age has also opened up self-publishing options (something I never would have considered two years ago), which has been a great addition as far as new venues and reaching more readers.

TRC: You are releasing Protector’s Mate in April 2012. Would you tell us something about Protector’s Mate?(See our review below)

Katie: It will be available from Harlequin Nocturne as part of their new-ish Cravings line. It’s a paranormal novella and will be out in digital and audio format. The official cover copy is:

After two years in a war zone, werewolf Felicia Serna has finally returned to find another pack has taken over her territory…and the new second-in-command is the very man who haunts her fantasies. Alaric has wanted Felicia from the moment he laid eyes on her, and now he’s ready to claim her. When a threatening shifter begins stalking them, he’s determined to protect her…even if it means putting his seduction on hold. But even in the heat of danger, their red-hot passion cannot be denied. It is a stand-alone paranormal novel.

TRC: Do you prefer the series format, as you can continue the storylines?

Katie: It’s a stand-alone, though it is in the same world as Destined Mate (my first Nocturne Cravings novella). I do love writing a series. In a way it makes writing easier and more difficult. I get to develop the characters over much longer periods of time which is awesome because I love my characters. But I also have to keep a much thicker research and character folder so I keep everything consistent.

TRC: Which is more difficult for you to write-the stand alone novel or a continuous series and why?

Katie: A series is more difficult to write simply because there are a lot more characters and keeping everything consistent means I have to stay uber organized.

TRC: Your novel Danger in Paradise, was a re-release of a previous book Finding Hope. What was your decision to re-release a revised version of this particular book?

Katie: I received my rights back to the book from a small epress and knew I wanted to do more with the story. My sales were incredibly small and I knew a big part of that was their agency pricing and lack of exposure. My decision to release it on my own was a multitude of things; I’d have control over pricing, final cover, and would be able to add some stuff that was originally cut. I sold more copies in the first two months that I released it on my own than I did in two years with that publisher. Sales are continuing to rise every month so it’s a decision I’ve been very happy with.

TRC: His Secret Past (January 2012) was your latest release in the romantic suspense genre. Will you tell us something about His Secret Past?

Katie: I LOVED writing His Secret Past. I know you’re not supposed to have favorites, but this story will always be very special to me. It was the first thing I ever wrote (though definitely not the first thing I had published) and even though it’s undergone major edits and I ended up throwing out many many truly awful and unnecessary scenes, this is the story that propelled me into writing. The official cover copy is:

Six years ago, Alexis Baptiste’s world was turned upside down when Hunter Cassidy disappeared without a trace, leaving her alone and pregnant. She’s finally moving on with her life when he resurfaces, just in time to rescue her from a would-be assassin. Forced to join him on the run to protect herself and her young son, Alexis is now in even more danger: danger of falling for Hunter all over again.

Betrayed by rogue CIA agents after infiltrating an infamous drug cartel, former DEA agent Hunter Cassidy has spent years trying to clear his name. He’s not proud of the things he’s done, and knows he doesn’t deserve a future with Alexis, or the son he never knew he had, but he’s determined to protect them from the men who ruined his life. Convincing Alexis to trust him—and denying his feelings for her—is going to be the hardest mission he’s ever faced.

TRC: Will you ever consider writing a series in this particular genre?

Katie: I would love to write a romantic suspense series. Once I finish the current proposal I’m working on I plan to start working on the outline for a romantic suspense trilogy.

TRC: The last book you published in the erotic-romantic-suspense genre was Dangerous Deception. Are you no longer writing this particular genre? What was your decision to change directions with your writing style?

Katie: I still write erotic romance, I just do it under another name. After releasing three books in the erotic romance genre I knew I wanted a separation from my romantic suspense and paranormal romance. So I haven’t stopped writing it completely, but I don’t plan to write another erotic romance for at least another year—I don’t have time, lol! 😉

TRC: What are you working on today?

Katie: A proposal for my editor with Harlequin Nocturne.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Katie: Thank you to everyone who has stopped by today and thank you for having me!

LIGHTNING ROUND

FAVORITE FOOD: Enchiladas

FAVORITE DESSERT: Chocolate

FAVORITE MOVIE: Underworld Rise of the Lycans

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Being Human

LAST BOOK YOUR READ: Sheltered by Charlotte Stein

DARK OR MILK CHOCOLATE: Milk

PINK OR RED ROSES: Neither

FAVORITE SPORTS TEAM: New Orleans Saints!

TRC: Katie, we would like to thank you very much for answering all of our very detailed questions. Looks like an e-novella. We wish you the best of luck with all of your future novels and stories.

Katie: Thank you so much for having me!

**************GIVEAWAY***********

Katie is offering an ebook copy of PROTECTOR’S MATE to one lucky eligible member at The Reading Cafe.

1.  To be eligible, you must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not, please register using one of the social logins (FB, Yahoo, Google etc) or at the bottom of the page.

2.  Giveaway is OPEN Internationally.

3.  Please leave a comment and say hello to Katie.

4.  Contest duration April 25-28, 2012

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Carly Fall-Interview with the Author

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Carly Fall-Interview with the Author

 

The Reading Cafe has the pleasure to interview indie author Carly Fall.

You can find Carly at : Carly Fall

Carly’s Six Savior novels are a fantastic new series. See our review (below) of her latest book:  Finding My Faith

 

 

TRC:  Hi Carly and welcome to The Reading Café. It is a pleasure to meet you.

Carly:  Thank you for having me, Sandy!

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Carly:  I am wife to Geoff, mother to Riddick, and a slave to the dog Nicky. We all live happily in Arizona where we enjoy the weather, the pool, the parks and hiking. I believe that chocolate and wine should have their own space on the food pyramid, and nothing in the world makes me happier than listening to my son’s laughter.

TRC:  Do you recall how and when you were first interested in writing?

Carly:  I have always been a writer. When I was little, I would make books. In high school I wrote for the yearbook, in college I wrote for the paper. My husband and I own our own business, and I have written business materials for more years than I care to think about. On the side I also wrote fiction for years, but never did anything with it until about a year ago.

TRC:  Your first novel in the Six Savior series was THE LIGHT WITHIN ME. Would
you please tell us the premise behind the SIX SAVIOR series and The Light
Within Me?

Carly:  The story started when we toured a decommissioned missile silo down in Tucson. They had a program where you could spend an enormous amount of money and stay in it overnight. I thought about how it would be to live in one. And then I thought it probably would be kind of cool if you had the money to go in and put the best of everything in it – do a lot of remodeling. And then out of nowhere, my husband and I were joking, wouldn’t it be funny if a bunch of aliens lived in a decommissioned missile silo and no one knew? And there it was.

When I started outlining and writing The Light Within Me, I knew Noah would be the guy who is loosely in charge. I wanted him to be focused on his job, but angry that he had to do it, and that it was taking so damn long. He doesn’t have much use for humans unless they can give him the information he needs. Until he meets Abby, of course.

TRC:  I find the premise for this series very interesting-a unique idea. How did you come up with the idea for planet SR44 and the beings of smoke and
color?

Carly:  Thank you for the compliment!

I hate the word alien, so thank you for using “beings!” However, that’s what my Warriors are – aliens. I wanted my aliens to come from someplace nice – almost a utopia. They are a peaceful people, they have no interest in other worlds or conquering anyone. Some residents live in the cities consist of golden colored buildings, while others live in the dense forests. It is twilight there many hours per day. The Six Saviors really don’t want to be on Earth, but they are here for a specific mission that needs to be completed.
When I think of aliens, I think of E.T., that horrible creature from the movie Alien, Alf, War of the Worlds, and that poor guy they supposedly caught down in Roswell many years ago with the big head and eyes. I wanted my aliens to be pretty in their natural forms, and the smoke and color forms came to me on an oddly cold night when we had a fire going. I was watching the flames dance and the smoke filter up the chimney, and I thought about how pretty it was…and there were my aliens.

TRC:  FINDING MY FAITH is the second novel in the Six Savior series. Would you
please tell us something about the premise for this book?

Carly:  At then end of The Light Within Me, Rayner plays a pretty significant roll, so I knew the next story would be about him. As I thought about his character, I wanted him to find someone on Earth who was very similar to him, like two pieces of a jigsaw puzzle coming together. Based on his life on SR44, I knew that I wanted the woman to be Native American. With her being Native American, I wanted to include the rich heritage of Native American legends.

Rayner is an all work and no play guy, worse than Noah ever was. Rayner is a Forest Dweller on SR44, and he has made a pledge to his mother that he would indeed return home one day. He also greatly misses the carefree life of his forest, the person he was when he lived on SR44. Rayner has a special ability that he considers a curse – he can see spirits trapped between life and death. He can’t do anything for them, so he ignores them.
Faith is a carefree life explorer who moved to the big city to get out from under her father’s thumb. In the city, she gets kidnapped and almost dies. When Rayner sees her, he ignores her until he realizes that she may very well be an important stepping stone to completing his mission, so he’s forced to engage her.

TRC:  So far Noah and Rayner have found their mates. Do you plan on writing a
storyline for each Savior/Warrior? How many books have you planned for
this series?

Carly:  I do have a book planned for each Warrior. So far, there are six.

TRC:  Your series and the individual book TITLES have a ‘religious’ connotation,
yet the books are sci-fi/fantasy, and definitely NOT religious in any
aspect. (Light-referencing the internal color/light of the being: Faith
–the name of the heroine). Do you think the book titles could be confusing
to some readers?

Carly:  You know, that was completely unintentional, and I didn’t even realize it until I was talking to my dad a couple of weeks ago. He asked what the name of the new book was and I told him it was Finding My Faith. He was the one who pointed out to me that they had religious connotations, and frankly I was shocked. I could definitely see how that could be confusing to a reader, but hopefully the pictures of half naked men on the covers dispel any confusion quickly! 🙂

TRC:  What are you currently writing?

Carly:  I’m writing book three of the Six Savior Series, which will be about Hudson. Oddly enough, while tossing around titles, the word “demon” keeps popping up for me, so that religious theme may continue!

TRC:  Many writers bounce ideas between spouses, other writers or friends. Who
or what inspires you to write?

Carly: Would it be too weird if I said the voices in my head?? LOL!! I swear I’m not crazy, well I hope not, but I’ve got six alpha males all talking to me at once in my head. If I didn’t write them, I’d probably go insane. Every now and then I’ll turn to a fellow author or a friend and say, “What do you think about this?” It’s always nice to get feedback from the people who don’t hear the voices!!

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food – garlic mashed potatoes and a Filet Mignon. Or chocolate.

Favorite Dessert – anything chocolate

Favorite Movie – I’ll like just about anything as long as Tom Cruise isn’t in it

Favorite TV Show – Fringe

Last Movie You Saw – The Hunger Games

Last Book that you Read – Pulled by A.L. Jackson

Pink or Red Roses – I’m not trying to be difficult, but I gotta go with yellow 🙂

Milk or Dark Chocolate – Milk

TRC:  Carly, we would like to thank you very much for taking the time to answer
our questions. We wish you the best of luck with your writing career, and
look forward to the next storyline in your Six Savior series.

**************************GIVEAWAY**********************

Carly is offering an e-copy of her first novel in the Six Savior Series:THE LIGHT WITHIN ME

To be eligible for the giveaway:

1.  You must be a member at THE READING CAFE.  If you are not a member, please register or sign in using one of the social logins at the top right side of the page.

2.  The giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY to all members at TRC.

3.  Giveaway closes at midnight Tuesday April 24, 2012

You can find Carly’s Six Saviors Series at:

Amazon: Finding My Faith  $2.99
Amazon: The Light Within Me  $2.99

B&N NOOK: Finding My Faith $2.99

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