Monday 17 November 2014

Deadgirl interview.

Hey all well I recently got the chance to interview author of Dead girl  B.C.Johnson and this is what she had to say.


1. Where did you get the idea for your book?

My older brother Bill and I have always been working on this sort of “supernatural horror” type

universe, something we just started chatting about in the swimming pool as kids and just never stopped

building. At this point the whole universe pretty much just floats around in our brains like gumbo, but

we do plan on doing something with it at some point. Deadgirl is sort of the first major stab at the

universe.

 What Lucy becomes in Deadgirl is a new monster idea I had during those talks. What if a person was

supposed to die but just . . . didn’t?

2. How long did it take you to write it?

I’m not the fastest writer on the Earth, and by that I mean I’m super, duper slow. When I’m writing I

pound out the words like a mad man, but I’ll go months in between projects, or I’ll get stuck and have to

come back weeks later. I’m a “fits and starts” kind of writer, in general.

I started Deadgirl during the 2008 NaNo, but I didn’t finish the manuscript until late 2009. Most of my

books take about a year-and-a-half, generally. That’s not counting the abandoned books, of which there

are many. When I fall out of love with an idea, I fall hard and smash my face and never want to see it

again.

3.What is your writing process like? Do you storyboard?

Every book ends up using a different process, so I guess I just use whatever feels right for the book. I

wrote Deadgirl in one linear shot without any storyboarding – I knew the ending, I knew the characters,

and I just ran as fast as I could toward it.

The Deadgirl sequel, which is finished and winging toward the publisher within the next few weeks,

involved a ton of outlining. I even broke it down by acts, chapters, and scenes before I wrote a single

word. The story was more complex, and the world was getting bigger, and it was really important to

keep track of everything.

Other books I’ve done some mixture. I almost always write linearly, though – beginning to end. I’ve

never been good about jumping around through the timeline. Some writers love it, but I kind of want to

hear the story as I write it.

4.Should we all be on the look out for anymore books after this one?

Definitely! Unless the publishers hate the sequel (pleasenopleasenopleaseno) I’m hoping that will be out

within the next year, but there’s nothing official. Just desperate hope, which is where I tend to live.  I

have a short story in the second annual Curiosity Quills Anthology, which is out at the end of November I

believe.

After that I have a few manuscripts finished, and we’ll see where those take us. I do think the Deadgirl

series will be four books – I’ve already got the third book written almost entirely in my head, I just have

to pour it onto a keyboard.

5.How long have you been writing?

I’ve been dabbling since I was seven, but I don’t count that. I’ve been seriously writing since I was 19, so

10 years? Geez, 10 years. Well now I feel old.

6.Do you draw inspiration from any others?

Everyone and everything. Movies, TV, books, video games – I find the more I consume, the more I write,

and the better my writing gets. You can’t not help learning by exposure. You’ll absorb lessons about

storytelling by accident if nothing else.

7.Do you have any advice for young writers?

Kinda nicking off what I said earlier, but read. Read everything, in every genre that you love or want to

learn about. Pay attention to the exact moment when you started digging a character and take notes.

Pay attention to when the book gets boring, and write down why. When you’re reading a book that you

don’t want to stop, and it leaves you reading all night, try to figure out why (and more importantly how)

it’s doing that. Is there constant tension? That works for some people. Is there a good ebb and flow of

action, moments where the characters are allowed to relax? Some people prefer that, the “day in the

life” approach. Know what you want to write and do it on purpose, that’s the key.

Learn to read like a writer. Try to predict what’s going to happen next, and see if you’re happy or

disappointed when you’re proved right. If the writer pulls of a spectacular twist that blows your mind,

start looking back at the train tracks the writer laid earlier in the book to make certain he’d hit you with

the train in that exact spot.

And last but not least, write. Write when it’s great, write when it sucks, write when you’re tired, write

when you had a bad day, write when you just recovered from a stab wound (but don’t write while

receiving a stab wound), write on your birthday.

Look back a year ago – wouldn’t it be awesome if you’d started writing a book that day? So do it now,

and next year you’ll be like “Past-Me! You kick a$$!”

Sunday 16 November 2014

Hey all well I've been able to be apart of the cover reveal for Arrows of Darkness the second book in the world of Arcas series. 





Arrows of Darkness by B.I. Woolet
(World of Arcas #2)
Publication date: Spring 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Jackson returns to Arcas expecting to find peace—a peace greatly lacking within his own home. But when a violent archer takes over as Lord of the White Palace, the future of the ancient kingdoms is shaken.
While Rigel, Otava, and Merope work together to rescue the six sisters trapped at the White Palace, Sephdar returns from shadowy crusades to find White Wings’ army leaderless. The new self-proclaimed ruler has a plan for the Seven Sisters and a plan for The Bridge to Earth. But when his ambitious arrows pierce the peaceful kingdoms, an unlikely force confronts the dark lord and the future of the crowns is changed forever.
In absence of the seven sisters, Jackson returns to find that dark creatures have overtaken the beautiful Starling Forest, destroying everything in their path. Jackson and Nekkar narrowly escape together, but Nekkar blames the Son of Earth for releasing the present darkness in Arcas. The rocky, new friendship strengthens as they journey through dangerous lands toward the Free Realms. Can their loyalties survive when the beautiful Princess Andromeda interrupts their quest and the darkness of war batters their souls?
Hold to your axe and hold to your lass as you join Jackson to combat the darkness spreading through the world of Arcas. But remember, the most powerful arrows do not pierce the body but the soul.



AUTHOR BIO:
B. I. Woolet (Benji & Ila Woolet) is the author of the World of Arcas book series. They enjoy creating lyrical and literary arts, playing music together, and exploring nature. They are happily married and live in Indiana with their children.

They are currently working on the second installment of the World of Arcas series titled “Arrows of Darkness” due for release in spring of 2015.

Tuesday 11 November 2014

Dead Beautiful ByYvonne Woon

Hey All!!

 Well I read this beauty awhile back and it was fabulous. The characters were string and the story line was complex..it was definitely one of the best NetGalley reads I've reviewed Highly recommending. sadly I don't have an excerpt for this post but I'll have it up on my facebook as soon as possible.




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Donna of the Dead by Alison Kemper

Hey all well today I have a review for a book that I read a while back ago. Donna of the Dead by Allison Kemper. Below I will have the excerpt.



Donna Pierce might hear voices, but that doesn’t mean she’s crazy. Probably.
The voices do serve their purpose, though—whenever Donna hears them, she knows she’s in danger. So when they start yelling at the top of their proverbial lungs, it’s no surprise she and her best friend, Deke, end up narrowly escaping a zombie horde. Alone without their families, they take refuge at their high school with the super-helpful nerds, the bossy head cheerleader, and—best of all?—Liam, hottie extraordinaire and Donna’s long-time crush. When Liam is around, it’s easy to forget about the moaning zombies, her dad’s plight to reach them, and how weird Deke is suddenly acting toward her.
But as the teens’ numbers dwindle and their escape plans fall apart, Donna has to listen to the secrets those voices in her head have been hiding. It seems not all the zombies are shuffling idiots, and the half-undead aren’t really down with kids like Donna…


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Saturday 8 November 2014

Here and Now by Ann Brashares

Hey ALL!!! Well this one is a YA Romance that involves time travel. Below is the Excerpt for this book.


Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.

This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins. 

Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth. 

But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves. 

I am not a romance loving person but this had a fairy good storyline. To me this book had only hints of romance so if your like me an don't like romance in your books this is a good book for you. 


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Knight Assassin by Rima Jean

Hey all this is a very magical book with supernatural roots its quite interesting and I'll let you read the excerpt yourselves


Seventeen-year-old Zayn has special powers she cannot control—powers that others fear and covet. Powers that cause the Templar Knights to burn Zayn’s mother at the stake for witchcraft. 
When a mysterious stranger tempts Zayn to become the first female member of the heretical Assassins, the chance to seek her revenge lures her in. She trains to harness her supernatural strength and agility, and then enters the King of Jerusalem's court in disguise with the assignment to assassinate Guy de Molay, her mother’s condemner. 
But once there, she discovers Earic Goodwin, the childhood friend who still holds her heart, among the knights—and his ocean-blue eyes don’t miss a thing. Will vengeance be worth the life of the one love she has left?
I recommend this for someone that likes books like Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen.


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Runes Book One By Ednah WAlters

Hey All!! I've got another review for you and this one is a neat one this book involves mythology and the paranormal and if you like any of that then keep reading to see the excerpt.


Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her. 

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run. 

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about him. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only is she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.


I was really impressed with this book I've always been a big fan of both subjects and to see them really come together just made it perfect I am highly recommending it for those mythological lovers out there.

For now Trisha Signing off.


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Second star by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Hey All!!! another book I've had for a while and haven't had a chance to review This is like a modern revamped version of Peter pan..which you can probably tell from the title...remembver the disney song with the lyrics.

The Second star to the right 
Shines with a light that's rare
And if it's Never Land you need
It's light will lead you there

Yeah that's from peter pan.

Now that we have had our little music time and a throw back..er...Saturday.. Here is the Excerpt.


A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward his nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of J. M. Barrie's classic tale, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up—and the troubled beauty trapped between them.

This was really youthful and at the same time packed a punch this is a Peter Pan for the older kids and its wonderful. I truly adore it and I highly recommend it to anyone that loved Peter Pan as a child.

For now Trisha Signing off.

The Truth About Alice byJennifer Mathieu

Hey All!!! Well this book is heartbreaking and brutal as well as so close to the truth its not even funny.

This book is about a girl who is plagued by rumors that everyone in the school has made up about her. Alice is called a lot of things in this book and of course where rumors are a degree of bullying comes along with it. But she was used to it until one of the boys who was "Connected" to her through a rumor dies in a car crash after his death the rumors spiral out of control and the book is seen through four of the teens that started the rumors in the first place...but no one truly knows what happened...except for Alice.


As I read this book so many emotions came from it..you could feel the anger and jealousy these girls had and you could also feel the sadness that Alice projected...Miss Mathieu has written a book that flawlessly shows the ins and outs of bullying and the consequences that come with it..I had read this book months back but I couldn't fully write a review for it fore it felt as though I was there watching all of this occur. Thank you so much Miss Mathieu for writing this book and I truly hope that many will read it and see the wrongs of bullying.

For now Trisha Signing off.

I am the Weapon by Allen Zadoff

Hey All well today I have a review for a book that I got off Netgalley months ago and I'm just now reading called I am the weapon and below I will have the excerpt and my review.


Description

Previously published under the title Boy Nobody
They needed the perfect assassin.

Boy Nobody is the perennial new kid in school, the one few notice and nobody thinks much about. He shows up in a new high school in a new town under a new name, makes a few friends and doesn't stay long. Just long enough for someone to die -- of "natural causes." Mission accomplished, Boy Nobody disappears, moving on to the next target. 

But when The Program assigns him to the mayor of New York City, things change. Somewhere deep inside, Boy Nobody is somebody: the kid he once was; the teen who wants normal things, like a real home and a girlfriend; a young man who wants out. And who just might want those things badly enough to sabotage The Program's mission. 



This book is a YA thriller and well worth the read. It gets your blood pumping and adrenaline running as well as makes you think...you can really get lost in this book. 


For now Trisha Signing off.

Interview with B.I Woodlet Authors of The Hunter, The Bear and the Seventh sister,

I recently got in touch with B.I Woodlet authors of The Hunter, The Bear and the Seventh sister and got the opportunity to do an interview with them before their new book hits shelves Arrows of Darkness check it out below.





1.How did the idea for The Hunter, The Bear and the Seventh sister come about?


Well, it’s kind of a funny beginning. One cold November, Benji (the “B” in B.I. Woolet) was hiding in my parent’s back room and staring into the blazing fireplace. He was hoping to disappear from the awkwardness of being a guy present at someone else’s baby shower. While alone, Benji started thinking about what it would be like if he traveled to another world. This simple, momentary daydream turned into the 1st book in the World of Arcas.  


2.Why did you choose to write a young adult novel?


We like that the YA world is full of first time experiences. It’s a genre where characters awaken to new realities, confront old fears, gain deeper independence, fall in love, and look to a future where they have the opportunity to change themselves and the world around them.  


3. When you were writing The Hunter, The Bear and the Seventh Sister what inspired these characters?


The stars! Around the same time we starting writing, we purchased our first telescope. To navigate the night sky properly, we needed to learn and recognize many different constellations. We’d always enjoyed hearing the Greek stories about the constellations, but as we stargazed, these characters danced their way into our story with new life.


4. How long have you all been writing? Apart and together?


As children, Benji created stories about a superhero eraser, and I (Ila) wrote poems for fun. But when we first met, we shared a love of music. I sang in the high school choir while Benji accompanied the choir from the piano. During college, I studied English and he studied Music Composition. Our combined love of literary and lyrical arts first morphed into writing songs together, but about 3 years ago, we started writing The Hunter, the Bear, and the Seventh Sister. It’s been an adventure for us as a married couple with little children running around, but we enjoy the challenge, the fun, and the partnership.


  1. How many books will be in the Arcas series?


We know that there will be at least 3 books in the World of Arcas series, but there are many unique and interesting characters that are beckoning us to dig deeper into their stories and histories. We aren’t going to make any guarantees, but it could end up being 6-8 books.



6. Do you have any advice for young writers or authors?


Writing is a journey. It can take a long time to reach the destination. You may get tired along the way. You may question whether the work and the editing and the money are worth investing into it. And the hardest thing is, you may not always know exactly where you are going or if you will be well-received when you get there. But if you choose to put one foot in front of the other each day and continue down the path, you are sure to be changed through the process. Dare to take the first step toward your dreams. Dare to share your stories with friends and family who can inspire and encourage you along the way. And dare to let the journey change you into a better, wiser, and more compassionate person.  


7. Can you tell us anything about the 2nd book in the Arcas series?


We’d love to! Fans will be happy to know that all of their favorite characters are back as the adventures in Arcas continue with book 2: Arrows of Darkness. Life in Arcas is getting darker and more intense since Jackson left. Here’s a small sneak peak from the back cover!
“Jackson returns to Arcas expecting to find peace—a peace greatly lacking within his own home. But when a violent archer takes over as Lord of the White Palace, the future of the ancient kingdoms is shaken.”


8.Where did you get the names for your novels?


Like our characters, our titles are related to the stars. The Hunter, the Bear, and the Seventh Sister came from the constellations Orion, Ursa Major, and the Pleiades. Arrows of Darkness came from the Saggita constellation, which means “arrow.”


9. Did you write these books knowing that you would be publishing them? or was it just an experiment that worked out fabulously?


At first, we were exploring and experimenting with the wild dream that maybe, someday, we would publish. We didn’t necessarily think it would happen, but after 2 years of writing and editing, we realized that the novel was complete. So, we started researching and began the next adventure of publishing!  


10. Do you have any plans to further the Arcas series after book 2 or are we drawing to a close with this series?


Oh, yes! We have a strong gut feeling that the World of Arcas series has many more years and many more books to explore before the journey is complete.  

11.And I think everyone wants to know this. Do you have any plans for any other works in the future?


Definitely! Now that we’ve had our first taste of being authors, we don’t want to stop. We have several ideas for stand-alone novels once this series is complete. We love fantasy but also want to explore writing in the realms of mystery, thriller, and futuristic Sci-fi.  



There you have it. There is a possibility that B.I Woodlet will come out with stand alone novels as well as new books in the Arcas Series so for now Trisha Signing off.

Sunday 2 November 2014

Interview with R.J. Truman.

Hey all well I just got done interviewing a UK bestseller. I asked her some questions about publishing and writingnand these were her responses.



1. "Where do your ideas come from?"

The ideas for the White Light Chronicles came, when I decided to think of a way to combine elves and vampires in the same story. I liked the idea that elves could be like angels, and vampires are demons. After I thought of that the other ideas flowed from that.

2. "When did you start writing?"
 I started writing when I was in my teens, and wrote the original draft for Obsidian White when I was about 17.

3."How do you create your characters? (storyboarding, notes, ect,)"
To be honest I start writing them and develop them along with the plot. I make notes on basic things like their relation to the other characters, and their appearance. But the rest develops along with the story.

4."You are on the UK’s best sellers list. What’s that like?"
 and how did you feel when you first found out? It was really crazy, and great to know that people out there are actually reading and enjoying my books.

5."You first published in 2012 how do you feel your writing has changed since then?"
 I think my writing style has improved as I’ve gained more confidence in myself. I have also put a lot more time into developing my characters, and their back stories.

6."You are planning 7 books in your series? How are you coming up with enough ideas for all of
these book?"
 I’m working on writing a book for each of the main characters. Each one has their own history, and although they cross over in each other’s stories there are lots of details that I leave open for development in their individual books. Also with the more I write the stories the more ideas come to me.

7."Who is your favorite character in your books?"
That’s a difficult one, I do really like Lucifer, and he is a fun character to write. He has lots of different elements to his personality. He is witty and charming, but you can’t trust him.

8."Why did you choose to self publish? and what was that experiance like?"
I decided to self-publish as I wanted to have total control over my stories. I didn’t want to have to make changes to them to please anyone. Or write to any sort of constraints. I wanted it to be all me.


9."Will you self publish again? I think I will self-publish my future work?"
That way I will continue to have control over my work.

10."Do you have any advice for young writers and authors?"
  I would say writing the story is the easy part. The real work comes when you have to promote it. You need to be focused and driven, and to have faith in your work. Self-publishing is a great way to get your work out there, and thanks to social media you have access to a whole world of people. So make the most of it.

11. "What do you think is the most important part of being an author?"

Coming up with new and original ideas, that people will want to read and find inspiring. If you can inspire at least one person with your words, then I consider that an achievement.


Please check out her books at vampiercove.com and for now this is Trisha Signing out.