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Character Interview with Sarah and Evan (Silencing Breath) by Joanne Brothwell

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Character Interview with Sarah and Evan (Stealing Breath series) by Joanne Brothwell

Stealing Breath Collage

March 2013 saw the release of Joanne Brothwell’s second installment in the Stealing Breath series Silencing Breath. The Reading Cafe would like to welcome Sarah and Evan-Stealing Breath’s leading couple.

Interview-Purple

TRC: HI Sarah and Evan and welcome to The Reading Café. *offers Sarah and Evan a cup of coffee*

Sarah: Hi Sandy.
Evan: Hello.

TRC: Congratulations Evan on the success of Valente Enterprises.

Evan: Thank you. Although, as you know, most of the success has little to do with me. Truthfully, this company was been built on my father’s greed and ruthless ambition. And when I say ruthless, believe me, I’m not kidding.

TRC: We would like to start by having you both introduce yourself.

SARAH:
Hi, I’m Sarah Ross, soon to be Sarah Valente (smiles at Evan). I am an Indigo Child, but I prefer not to tell people about that, so please don’t share, okay?
EVAN:
Hi everyone, I’m Evan Valente. As Sandy already mentioned, I own Valente Enterprises, a land development company my father built. I’d like to say I am proud of my family history, but growing up in a Malandanti family is not exactly something I like to brag about.

Stealing BreathTRC: How did the two of you meet?

SARAH: We met out in the forest one morning, right after I’d been attacked… by a Skinwalker. (Turns to Evan and they exchange a ‘look’). Evan helped me back to safety.
EVAN: (Evan’s expression is tight, and he nods). That’s correct.

TRC: Was it love at first sight?

SARAH: Was it ever! I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite so, um, mesmerizing.
EVAN: Absolutely. I couldn’t have predicted that my target would have turned out to be my soul mate.

TRC: Evan-you can be honest. Knowing what your original intentions were for Sarah, how did you ‘really’ feel when you first met Sarah?

EVAN: I felt sick. I knew what I was tasked to do, but that all just disappeared the moment we touched. It’s not every day you meet your spiritual counterpoint.

TRC: Sarah (as an empath) what difficulties and challenges occurred for you when you realized you were unable to ‘feel’ or ‘sense’ Evan’s emotions?

SARAH: I was so confused. I didn’t know if my ability wasn’t working or if he was different, you know? And if he was different, was he purposely hiding them from me? It was just so totally disorienting.

TRC: Evan-do you believe there will come a time when you can forgive your parents for the lies you were told?

EVAN: I don’t know if I can really forgive, per se, but I am working on letting go. I can’t remain a hostage to their lies by remaining angry.

TRC: Sarah, would you please tell us exactly what is an ‘Indigo Child’?

SARAH: Sure. The “Indigo Children” are small group of humans with a special purpose: healing. We are unable to resist the deep inner purpose. We possess an inborn ability to “read” other people because we are unusually sensitive, the basis for our healing trait.

Indigo is the colour of the aura, an obvious manifestation of their healing ability, also representing the “third eye” chakra, the perception centre. Soul-readers can identify the Indigo Child by the colour of their aura; but to the average person, they would be viewed exceptionally attractive, with startling indigo coloured eyes.

TRC: Evan, would you please explain what is a ‘Sapphire Child”?

EVAN: Sure, I can try, but I’m still trying to figure that out. The Sapphire Child represents the throat chakra, the communication centre. What this really means in terms of life purpose, I’m not sure.
SARAH: Evan has a way with words. He’s very persuasive. I think his life purpose has something to do with his ability to express himself through language.

Silencing Breath Apr 2013TRC: Sarah, how did you feel when you learned that Evan was hiding a secret? Have you forgiven Evan? What are you biggest fears?

SARAH:
I was furious! Betrayed doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt when I found out he was lying. Have I forgiven him? Yes. Because I see the bigger picture now. There are always reasons for things. I only fear that he is at risk of being harmed in some way by the Malandanti family heritage.

TRC: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

SARAH: Sometimes I wish I could just not care so much. I know my ability to feel so much is a gift, but it can also be a burden.
EVAN: I wish I could change my past. I want to be able to scrub all of those evil memories from my mind and start over with a fresh slate.
SARAH: (Grabs Evan’s hand) We’ll start over together.

TRC: What are your plans for the future?

SARAH: I decided to use my gift and get my degree in psychology. Having healing powers like this shouldn’t go to waste. I feel like I owe it to the world to at least use them, to contribute to society.
EVAN: I wish I had such a selfless goal like Sarah, but I think I’ll stick to what I know. Land Development. Besides, being married to Sarah is a dream come true for me.

TRC: Tell us ONE thing about yourself that the other does not know

SARAH: (Turns to Evan and smiles) Did you know I humiliated my ex-boyfriend in public?
EVAN: What?
SARAH: Yeah. Didn’t you read about it in the prequel Joanne wrote, Vicarious? I told you he was a douche. He deserved it.
EVAN: (Eyebrows high on his forehead) I wouldn’t have predicted you have a vengeful bone in that gorgeous body.
SARAH: I guess it’s true, you do learn something new every day. What about you? Any secrets, Evan?
EVAN: Um, I’m an open book. (Smiles his thousand-watt smile).
SARAH: Bullshit.
EVAN: Some things are better left unknown.
SARAH: (Rolls eyes)

TRC: Tell us something about Joanne we would not know? You can tell us—we won’t tell anyone!!

Forest of the ForsakenSARAH: Joanne’s writing is getting way more steamy. Have you read Forest of the Forsaken? Holy sh*t, it’s hot!
EVAN: Yeah, Joanne is definitely venturing into new territory. I don’t know what I think about that.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

SARAH: Thanks for having us here today, Sandy! I love hanging out with you!
EVAN: Thanks, Sandy! Great coffee, by the way. Keep up the great work!

TRC: Thanks guys for answering our questions. We are looking forward to your next adventure.

*******************

Silencing Breath (Stealing Breath #2)
by Joanne Brothwell
Release Date: March 15, 2013

Silencing Breath Apr 2013

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

Silencing Breath, book two in the Stealing Breath series.

Just as Sarah Ross is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an Indigo Child and settling into a normal life with her beloved Evan, her entire world shatters when Evan disappears without a trace.

Desperate to find him, Sarah’s search leads her to a sadistic serial killer who confirms her worst fears are true; Evan has been kidnapped, and he is once again in the clutches of his abusive family of necromancers.

Sarah uncovers not only Evan’s dark past he tried so desperately to protect her from, but also The Key of Solomon, an ancient text for summoning the dead.

Knowing her abilities are limited in the face of this ancient power, Sarah is forced to face the Malandanti in order to save him. However, one question remains: once he is found, will Evan be the same man she fell in love with?

About The Author Black and Purple

Joanne Brothwell

Joanne Brothwell lives in the country on the Canadian prairie where her stories are inspired by the dead things that appear at her doorstep on a daily basis.Of course, her two pets, a retired police dog with titanium fangs and a feral barn cat missing two toes, make the safety of surrounding wildlife, at best, uncertain.

Nicknames are something Joanne has in abundance; most notably “Grumpy Bunny” (her husband), and “Princess with a Sailor’s Mouth” (her friends). She’s known to daydream, and ever since grade school has been accused of having a poor attention span. The truth is, Joanne has an alternate reality inside her head, where characters speak to her, sometimes so loudly (and incessantly) she just can’t hear anything else!

Joanne is thrilled to see her alternate universe finally become real with the publication of her novel, Stealing Breath, and her prequel novella, Vicarious. Now, with the sequel Silencing Breath on the way, you can be rest assured you will see much more of Joanne’s writing in the future, as those characters in her head, having tasted the sweet freedom of release, simply refuse to be silenced!

Follow Joanne: Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter/ YouTube

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Silencing Breath (Stealing Breath #2) by Joanne Brothwell-a review

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SILENCING BREATH (Stealing Breath #2) by Joanne Brothwell-a review

Silencing Breath Apr 2013

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

ABOUT THE BOOK: Released March 15, 2013
Silencing Breath, book two in the Stealing Breath series.

Just as Sarah Ross is learning everything she can about her new abilities as an Indigo Child and settling into a normal life with her beloved Evan, her entire world shatters when Evan disappears without a trace.

Desperate to find him, Sarah’s search leads her to a sadistic serial killer who confirms her worst fears are true; Evan has been kidnapped, and he is once again in the clutches of his abusive family of necromancers.

Sarah uncovers not only Evan’s dark past he tried so desperately to protect her from, but also The Key of Solomon, an ancient text for summoning the dead.

Knowing her abilities are limited in the face of this ancient power, Sarah is forced to face the Malandanti in order to save him. However, one question remains: once he is found, will Evan be the same man she fell in love with?

***********************

REVIEW: *sniff* Silencing Breath is the second storyline in Joanne Brothwell’s Stealing Breath focusing on Sarah Ross and Evandro Valente. Evan comes from a family of skinwalking, neromancing warlocks and witches whose patriarch was not above using his family as his weapons of choice. Sarah and Evan will be pulled into the family dynamics when it becomes clear that the Malandanti (evil) are alive and well and, their leader has risen from the dead thanks to the Keys of Solomon and a dutiful son.

The love between Evan and Sarah is pure. From a time when Evan was willing to end her life to a place where they are planning their future together, Evan’s love for Sarah is never questioned and grows with every breath he takes. But Sarah knew something was not right the day she returned home to find her fiancé missing and clues pointed to that fatal day –four years earlier-when Evan’s brother walked out of their lives-or so they thought. Caught up in the upheaval of her life, Sarah did not notice that there were others willing to take them down.

We follow Sarah and her friends as they try to uncover the whereabouts of her missing fiancé only to find themselves in the same predicament as our tortured hero. Without any means of escape, the small group of friends will begin to unravel until aid comes from an unlikely source. There were rare moments of relief and each encounter with freedom or release of frustration would be matched by an equally dark moment in time.

Joanne Brothwell has written a dark tale of torture, hatred, power and death. In fact, the storyline is fraught with enough torture that my stomach hurt and I had to read quickly through the passages lest my tears begin to fall for a fallen hero whose only sin was to fall in love with an Indigo Child. The torture is graphic and may not be suitable for everyone.

I have to add that I did not expect the gruesome scenes. There are some authors who we know their writing style and expect certain situations and styles, but this was unexpected and heartbreaking. The descriptive nature of the torture and humiliation took me out of my comfort zone. To know that the one being tortured would eventually turn on everyone he loved was gut wrenching and difficult to read.

Silencing Breath is a well-written, fascinating tale of power and greed, hatred and love, and one woman’s fight to save the man that she loves. The storyline will cut you to your soul and your sorrow will be matched by the sorrow of the characters.

Reading Order
1. Stealing Breath
2. Silencing Breath

Copy supplied by author.

Reviewed by Sandy

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Joanne Brothwell-Interview with the Author

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Joanne Brothwell-Interview with the Author

TRC: Hi Joanne and welcome to The Reading Café. We would like to get to know a little bit about the author. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Joanne:  I’m a goofball with an addiction to coffee and a strange obsession with The Vampire Diaries. I find myself daydreaming at the most inopportune times, and I love to torture my characters for fun!

 

Photo: Photo by Karly Woolsey Photography, Photo manipulation by Glass Slipper Designs

TRC: What inspired you to write your first book?

Joanne:  I think the idea had been brewing in my mind for quite some time, and I just reached this point in my life where I thought, Hey- it’s now or never. On March 8th of that year I started writing, and three years later to the day, it was released.

TRC: Do you find anything particularly challenging about writing?

Joanne:  Trying to fit it into my busy life. I’m a wife, soccer mom of two, and have a full time job. There are snippets of time I fit it in, but it’s not easy.

TRC: STEALING BREATH is your latest novel. Would you please tell us about the premise?

Joanne:   Here’s the blurb:

Deep in the backwoods of North Dakota, twenty-one year old Sarah Ross is searching for a missing child when she is attacked by a glowing-eyed, transparent… creature. Sarah survives, destroying the monster by using mysterious abilities she didn’t even know she had.

Bloody and bruised, Sarah flees the scene and runs directly into Evan Valente, a handsome, charismatic stranger who helps her back to safety. But what is Evan doing out in the forest at five in the morning?

Turning to a healer, Sarah is shocked to learn her eyes bear the mark of the Indigo Child—an evolved human with the ability to feel the emotions of others. But her indigo aura also makes her an easy target for those who wish to consume her powerful essence.

Soon, Sarah is falling deeply in love with Evan and wants nothing more than to follow her heart and trust that he is the man he says he is. But she can’t ignore the lingering feeling that Evan is hiding a terrible secret. The deeper she digs, the more danger she faces, leading her on a course that will force her to face the darkest, innermost parts of her soul.

TRC: What were some of the challenges you faced researching the background information with regards to the Native North American heritage?

Joanne:  I didn’t find it too difficult, really. But the interesting thing about Skinwalker folklore is that it is not to be talked about, or one will face the possibility of inviting an attack. So finding some first-hand accounts is difficult. They are limited to a small handful of people who are willing to speak about it publicly.

TRC: Are any of the Native myths and lore directly associated with STEALING BREATH ?

Joanne:  Skinwalker lore is directly associated, but the lore in my book has a unique twist. True Skinwalkers are also able to shapeshift into animals, but I wasn’t interested in having a shapeshifter, so I completely eliminated that aspect of the lore. However, other aspects remained true to the lore: that they are evil shaman who can perform soul-travel, they have glowing yellow eyes and perform malicious rituals.

 

TRC: VICARIOUS is a prequel novella to STEALING BREATH. Would you please tell us about the premise? Why did you find it necessary to release a prequel so close to the release of the main novel?

Joanne:  Vicarious is the story of how Sarah came to discover her empathe abilities. It was an idea the publisher came up with, to have an imprint called “Little Moons”; novellas using characters from our novels, and at the time, I felt like writing Sarah’s backstory and submit it to the imprint.

 

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

Joanne:  Three. Silencing Breath is slated for release in March, 2013, with the third and final novel to follow in 2014.

TRC: Did you learn anything from writing STEALING BREATH?

Joanne:  I learned to just keep pushing forward despite all of the odds seeming completely insurmountable. I’d write, get critiqued, and then rewrite. I’d query, get rejected and then cut 50,000 words in one day. This happened so many times I lost count. Persistence and tenacity are the only ways to make it in this industry.

TRC: Did you face any difficulties getting your book(s) to publication?

Joanne:  Oh, did I! I was rejected many, many times before I had an offer. After that, I had to rewrite most of the manuscript once again! It was quite a process.

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

Joanne:  I have a super smart husband who I bounce my ideas off of. That is so useful to me because he is a sort of MacGyver in his day job and he always has plausible ways to solve seemingly unresolvable situations.

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Joanne:  I just finished writing a Science Fiction/Fantasy novel called The Eve Genome. I’m in the process of sending it to some Beta readers for feedback. While they’re going through it, I’m in the very early phases of plotting out a whole new book.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Food
Popcorn

Favorite Dessert
Apple Crisp

Favorite TV Show
The Vampire Diaries

Favorite Movie
The Hunger Games

Favorite Song
Maroon 5: One More Night

Last Movie you saw
Snow White and the Huntsman

Dark or Milk Chocolate
Milk – the sweeter, the better!

Do you have any pets?
I have a retired police dog with titanium fangs and a feral barn cat missing two toes.

TRC:  Amazing….titanium fangs.  You could write a novel around a retired police dog 😉

TRC: We would like to thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Stealing Breath is an intriguing look at paranormal storyline that detours from the usual. We wish you the best of luck with your writing career.

Joanne:  Thank you for having me, Sandy!

 

 

 

 

Joanne is offering an ebook copy of STEALING BREATH to one lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

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

2. If you are using a social log-in, please leave your email address along with your comment, as Twitter etc does not allow for your email address, should we need to contact you.

3. Giveaway is open internationally.

4. Giveaway runs October 24-27, 2012

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STEALING BREATH by Joanne Brothwell-a review

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STEALING BREATH by Joanne Brothwell-a review

STEALING BREATH by Joanne Brothwell

STEALING BREATH is the first book (March 2012 release), but second storyline in Joanne Brothwell’s new paranormal romance series. Bordering on urban fantasy, the story takes place in and around the Native American Navajo reservations in North Dakota. Based loosely on the myths and lore of the fabled skinwalkers, Stealing Breath is a fascinating look at a paranormal subject that is becoming more popular. This is my second series featuring skinwalkers, and the premise is very intriguing.

21 year old Sarah Ross is an empath-with the ability to feel people’s emotions. Hoping to aid in the search for a missing 8 year old girl from the local Wakina reservation, Sarah and her friends embark on an overnight campout in the local forests of surrounding the reserve. Several days had passed without a trace and the prospects of finding the child were slim. But when Sarah suddenly finds herself confronting a ghoulish apparition with yellow eyes, she knows she is about to die, Building her strength from within, Sarah is shocked when the force of her fear and anger, shove aside the being trying to draw her last breath. Injured and scared, Sarah tries to escape only to run into a beautiful stranger who is instantly attracted to the girl with Indigo Eyes.

Evan Valente owns Valente Developments- a young businessman hoping to set down roots and developing a nature preserve for both locals and tourists. His attraction to Sarah sparks something between the two and the chemistry is instant. Within days, the couple is an item, but trouble and strange electrical phenomenon seem to follow them. But with sudden realization, Sarah suspects Evan knows what has been happening. Loosing her heart to Evan was never what she had planned. And her friends begin to suspect Evan is hiding a secret or two as well.

Throughout the storyline, Sarah is counseled and confronted by the local Native elders regarding her encounter with the ghoul. But what the elders reveal with shock Sarah-she has the eyes of an Indigo Child- a human evolved with special abilities and it is these abilities that have made her a target. And someone close to Sarah has brought the trouble to North Dakota.

Sarah and Evan’s relationship begins to blur when their powers feed one another. But when the truth is finally revealed, Sarah will force herself to look at the bigger picture. Heartbroken and in pain, she knows to save herself and her friends, it is time to leave her life behind but trouble and love will follow Sarah, and with a renewed determination, Evan will prove to Sarah, that love does conquer all-even with family who wished you were dead.

STEALING BREATH is a bewitching story-shamans, witches, demons, skinwalkers and stories of myth and legends from both North America and across the sea. Joanne Brothwell weaves an exciting storyline that compels the reader to turn the page. There was an April 2012 prequel-Vicarious released with the back story of focusing on Sarah’s relationship with an ex-boyfriend –3 years before she met Evan.

LINKS TO ORDER
Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO / Books a Million

Reviewed by Sandy

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VICARIOUS by Joanne Brothwell

VICARIOUS is the prequel novella to Joanne Brothwell’s  paranormal Stealing Breath.  Set 3 years prior to Stealing Breath, Vicarious follows Sarah Ross as she endeavors to discover the truth about her relationship with Tyler Mansbridge. 6 months together and things were beginning to fall apart. 

It was Tanya’s big summer party and Tyler again bailed on Sarah for the weekend.  But with Sarah’s empathic powers and ability to sense emotions, Tanya was hiding something from Sarah. And it wasn’t until Tanya had too much to drink did the truth about Tyler’s weekend reveal.  And confronting Tyler about the accusations only made Sarah feel worse.  Without any proof she looked like a raging jealous girlfriend. But finding the object of Tyler’s new affections in close proximity forced Sarah to look for the truth-and she knew just who was going to tell her.

Setting Tyler up was going to take some skill, but with her friends and accomplices at her side they made plans to meet up at the local fair.  Not knowing who would be present, it too only a few minutes for Tyler to realize he had been set up.  Humiliation and anger radiated from Tyler, but Sarah knew that her relationship was over with the young man who had once said he loved her. Coming into her own, Sarah knew that one day she would find the right person for her, but it would probably take about 3 years.

VICARIOUS is a short story about 5 chapters in length (told from Sarah’s POV) that introduces the characters and premise behind Joanne Brothwell’s new series.  Although Vicarious never touches on the adventure that will almost end Sarah’s life, it does lay the groundwork for a wonderful storyline.

LINKS TO ORDER
Amazon

 Reviewed by Sandy

 

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