Author Interview & Signed “ENTHRALLED” + “SHADE” Swag Pack Giveaway w/ Jeri Smith-Ready

 

Can you tell a bit about the Shade series in your own words?

In the world of the SHADE novels, everyone the heroine Aura’s age and younger can see and hear ghosts, but no one else can. They call themselves “post-Shifters,” after the mysterious event known as the Shift that made ghosts visible. Aura wishes she could make the ghosts go away—they can be anything from annoying to downright dangerous
(if they turn into “shades”).

And then her boyfriend dies and becomes a ghost.

How did you get the inspiration for this ghost filled world?

I honestly don’t remember how I came up with the idea for the world, but I thought of it probably two years before I started writing SHADE. I knew that ghosts would be visible to a large portion of the population, so it would be accepted that they existed. I also knew that people could file lawsuits against ghosts or on behalf of them. But as much as I loved the tagline “We sue dead people” the story never took off until the character of Aura appeared to me. Then it all fell into place really fast—the young people being the ones to see ghosts, the dead boyfriend, and even the hot Scottish guy who would help Aura figure out the secrets to the Shift.

How many books do you have planned for the series?

Three. The third book in the trilogy, SHINE, will be out in May 2012.

Are you Team Ghost or Team Kilt?

I am Team Don’t Make Me Choose, or Team Whoever’s Scene I Just Wrote, lol! But seriously, I love the boys equally and for different reasons. That doesn’t mean they’ll both get to end up with Aura, though, but they will both be happy.

Can you tease us with anything about Shine?

I posted a bunch of teaser scenes and snippets on my blog during the YA Crush Tournament this summer, when Zachary went from last seed all the way to the finals, thanks to the amazing work of his advocates, Amy and Jen from Fictitious Delicious (and a few bribes on my part, like SHINE teasers).

As you may know, part of SHINE will take place in Ireland and Scotland, where I visited earlier this year. I loved it so much, I’m dying to go back. And now I have the perfect excuse: I’m also writing “Shattered,” a short story from Zachary’s point-of-view, which will come out next summer, a month or so after SHINE.

You also write an Adult Vampire series. Can you tell us a bit about it and when the last book will be out?

The WVMP RADIO series is about a radio station of vampire DJs and the former con artist who tries to keep them “alive” and well. The vampires get “stuck in time” in the era in which they were turned, so they each speak the slang and wear the fashions of their original “Life Times.” It’s SO much fun to write!

The first three books, WICKED GAME, BAD TO THE BONE, and BRING ON THE NIGHT, are out now, and I’m currently posting a chapter a week of a serial novella, “Let It Bleed,” on my blog. Think of it as WVMP #3.5. The final novel, LUST FOR LIFE, will be released in Fall 2012. There’ll be more short stories to come as well.

I have to ask because I LOVE your Fantasy series, Aspect of Crow, so much! Any chance you will revisit that world and characters? I miss them so much!

Aww, thanks, Larissa! At this point I have no plans to revisit the Aspect of Crow world. I put those poor characters through so much torture to get their happy ending, I’d hate to ruin it by adding another chapter. I’d rather just imagine everything going really well for them forever.

Thanks so much for being here today Jeri! It was a pleasure!

Thanks for having me, Larissa!

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeri Smith-Ready has been writing fiction since the night she had her first double espresso. Her nine published books include two series for adults and the SHADE trilogy for teens, about a world of ghosts only the young can see, which concludes May 2012 with SHINE. Like many of her characters, Jeri enjoys music, movies, and staying up very, very late. Visit her at www.jerismithready.com, or on Facebook or Twitter, where she spends way too much time. Logan and Zachary from the SHADE trilogy can be found on Twitter (@keeley_logan and @moore_zachary). The boys love to chat with each other and with their real-life fans.

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

ENTHRALLED: PARANORMAL DIVERSION, edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong

This collection of original paranormal YA short stories grew out of the 2010 Smart Chicks Kick It Tour, a multiauthor, multicity, author-organized tour of the US and Canada. With it, these 16 authors hoped to bring a little taste of the Smart Chicks experience to readers everywhere.

Contributors to ENTHRALLED:

 

Claudia Gray
Carrie Ryan
Margaret Stohl
Kami Garcia
Jackson Pearce
Rachel Vincent
Melissa Marr
Kelley Armstrong
Sarah Rees Brennan
Jeri Smith-Ready
Kimberly Derting
Ally Condie
Jessica Verday
Mary E. Pearson
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Rachel Caine

 

ABOUT THE STORY “BRIDGE”

In the world of the SHADE novels, everyone seventeen and under can see and hear ghosts, but no one else can. So when Logan Keeley dies and his eighteen-year-old brother Mickey blames himself, they can’t ease each other’s pain or reconcile their rage. Over the course of SHADE and SHIFT, Mickey sinks into a near-suicidal depression over Logan’s death.

“Bridge” is the story, told in free verse, of how two brothers, with the help of a stranger, forge the chasm between them to find a lasting peace.

 

Find out more about Jeri on her website:

www.jerismithready.com

 

 

  Win a SIGNED Copy of “ENTHRALLED” + “SHADE” Swag Pack by Jeri Smith-ready!

INTERNATIONAL

Ends September 27th!

To Enter, Fill Out the Form Below!  

 

 

  Don’t Forget to Vote for the

Theme for My TOP 5 Sundays Post on

the Poll at the left sidebar!

 

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!

xoxo,

Read more...

Author Interview & International SIGNED "Hard Spell" Giveaway w/ Justin Gustainis

 

When did you first start writing?

More than 20 years ago, but it didn’t work, at first. I had the idea that I’d write some mystery short stories (since that’s what I was reading a lot of then) and get them published in some magazines. So I wrote some stories (which, looking at them now, really, really suck), sent them off to the top mystery magazines, and waited for my checks to arrive. Imagine my amazement when all I got was rejection slips. So I decided writing fiction wasn’t for me. Fifteen or so years later, I gave it some more thought – and so, here we are.

 

Have you always enjoyed Fantasy?

I liked fairytales as a kid. The classic Disney movies like “Snow White” and “Cinderella” were being re-released in those days, so I got to see them. Even then, I may have been a little warped. I was probably the only 9-year-old watching “Cinderella” who thought Malificent, the evil queen, was hot.

 

Why writing Urban Fantasy?

It’s what I like to read.

 

Were there any Books, Movies or Writers that have inspired you?

A lot of what I write can be considered paranormal mysteries or occult detective stories. I became interested in the genre after watching a couple of made-for-TV movies back in the 1970s: “The Night Stalker” about a vampire loose in Las Vegas (the movie, not the series that followed; even Darren McGavin hated the series) and “Spectre” about a couple of occult investigators seeking out demonic evil.

 

What is your favorite subject in the Urban Fantasy Realm?

See above.

 

Favorites:

Favorite Paranormal themed Movie?
“Constantine”

Favorite Paranormal themed TV Show?

“Millennium”

 

Favorite Paranormal themed Book?

“Anno Dracula,” by Kim Newman

 

Favorite Author?

Harlan Ellison

 

Favorite Urban Fantasy Author?

Kim Newman

 

Favorite Genre that is NOT your own?

Lesbian porn

 

Favorite one of your Books?

The next one.

 

Who is your favorite of your own characters?

Stan Markowski. He’s the kind of cop I’d want to be, if I were a cop.

 

Which was the hardest to write?

The demon who is called Ashley in “Sympathy for the Devil.” I had to keep stopping

myself from making her too cute.

 

What would you be if not a writer?

A master criminal. I hear the pay is pretty good.

 

If you Could be a Paranormal Being, Who would you be?

How do you know I’m not?

 

If you could meet any Urban Fantasy Character out there, Who would you like to meet?

Fox Mulder, so I could tell him, “No, dummy, the truth ISN’T out there.”

 

Quickies:

 

Vampires or Werewolves? Vampires

 

Zombies or Unicorns? Those are the choices? Seriously?

 

Angels or Demons? Demons

 

Reading or Writing? Reading

 

Print or eBook? Print

 

Hardback or Paperback? Hardback if I’m selling; paperback if I’m buying.

 

YA novels or Adult novels? Adult

 

Library or Bookstore? Bookstore (if I can find one these days)

 

The Movie or The Book? The Book.

 

PNR or UF? UF is PNR without the mush – definitely UF.

 

What is your favorite part of the writing process? Typing “The End”

 

What is your least favorite part? Typing “Chapter 1”

 

Can you talk about Hard Spell to us?

It’s set in an “alternate universe” where supernatural creatures are real, and everybody knows it. The “supes” are citizens now. But they still break the law, sometimes. When they do it in Scranton, Detective Sgt. Stan Markowski of the Occult Crimes Unit is the guy they call.

 

What are you working on right now?

I’m working on “Evil Dark,” the sequel to “Hard Spell.” Somebody in the Scranton area is making supernatural “snuff films” and selling them on the black market. Stan markowski is going to find the perp and stop him – permanently.

 

Do you have any advice or tip to those like me that want to become a published Author someday?

Somebody, I think it was Andre Norton, explained that becoming a writer is a simple, three-step process. 1. Place butt in chair. 2. Write. 3. Repeat.

 

Anything you would like to say to your fans out there?

I love you all. I just wish there were more of you.

 

Thank you so much for being here!

Find out more about Justin on his website:

www.justingustainis.com

 

 

 

 

 

Win a SIGNED Copy of "Hard Spell" by Justin Gustainis!

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL!

Ends August 16th!

 

To Enter:

 

Leave a comment or question to Justin!

&

Please leave an email or a way to contact you!

 

That's all =)

 

Don’t Forget to Vote for the Theme for

My TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Check Out My Design Blog:

Great Anti-Piracy Badge Up for Grabs!

*Great Freebies Available!

Sign Up for…

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!

xoxo,

 

Read more...

Happy Book Birthday: “Deceived by the Others” by Jess Haines + Author Interview!

 

 

Have you always planned to take the Shiarra and Co. to where they get in "Deceived by The Others"?

Yes. I’ve had a bigger plan in mind for Shia for a long time. The path she’s taking to get there has always been plotted out to one degree or another, though I work out the kinks and the details as I go. DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS is just the next stepping stone to make her into the bad ass chick I know is hiding in there somewhere.

I have my favorite guy for Shiarra, but is a HEA in her future at all?

I wouldn’t want to spoil the surprise… ;)

Can we expect a lot of changes for "Justice for The Others"?

Absolutely. Lines will be crossed. Words will be said that can never be taken back. Actions will be taken that can never be undone.

Also, Royce’s butt. I just had to throw that in there. *g*

If you would write the series in another POV than Shiarra's, whose would it be?

I’ve written a story from Sara’s point of view (Spark of Temptation in the NOCTURNAL anthology), so she would be the most likely choice. Then again, just for kicks, I’ve rewritten some of HUNTED BY THE OTHERS from Royce’s point of view. If I have the time for it, someday I might finish it.

How many book would like to have in the series? Any idea, or is it open ended?

I’m contracted for six so far, but I’ve got plans for nine, total. I have a definite arc in mind and don’t want to push Shiarra’s story beyond what it needs to be.

Any chance you start giving us 2 books a year? LOL I just love them and want more, faster!

LOL, thank you! :D

At this point, not in the H&W Investigations series. Other books? Well… No promises, but I am working on some other stuff that may or may not someday see the light of day.

Are going to get to see Shiarra interact with her family more?

Absolutely. The situation that crops up at the end of DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS will not go unresolved. That’s not to say that it will be resolved right away, and perhaps not quite in the way that anyone expected, but I do have plans for them.

I have to say, the one thing that drives me nuts about writing these books from Shiarra’s point of view is that you don’t always see what’s happening in the background or get much “screen time” for every character who deserves it.

Any tidbits you can share about the direction the series will be going in "Justice for The Others"?

Hmmm. Well, I once summed up my description of the next four books like this:

-- Book Four: In Which Shiarra Realizes She’s Been Dumb and Goes Kinda Nuts

-- Book Five: In Which Shiarra Visits California and Also Deals With Zombies

-- Book Six: In Which Shiarra Has to Deal With Some Issues That I’m Being Totally Vague About On Purpose

I think it’s safe to also tell you that, yes, I can confirm the rumors that book four does indeed contain a sex scene. Also, if you thought Max Carlyle was gone, think again. As for the rest? My lips are zipped!

Thanks again for having me!  :D

<3,

-J

Find Jess Haines Online:

Website | Twitter | Blog

Goodreads | Facebook

Buy Jess’s Books:

Amazon US | Barnes & Noble

Book Depository | Books On Board

 

Check Out My Reviews Of The Series:

Hunted by the Others!

Taken by the Others!

Deceived by the Others!

 

 

For The Next Couple Days Both, Hunted by the Others and Taken by the Others will be FREE Nook/Kindle Download!

&

This Saturday at 3pm EST

Jess will join me and Jackie for our

Bookish Escape chat on TalkShoe

To discuss the series!

You don’t wanna miss it!

 

 

Don’t Forget that you can win a SIGNED Set of the H&W Investigations series by Jess Haines on the BHSV Event!

Click HERE to enter!

 

Don’t Forget to Vote for the Theme for

My TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Check Out The BHSV GIVEAWAYS:

GIVEAWAYS END ON JULY 15th!

Check Out My Design Blog:

Great Anti-Piracy Badge Up for Grabs!

*Great Freebies Available!

Sign Up for…

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!

xoxo,

Read more...

BHSV–Interview w/ Sterling Packard by Carolyn Crane + SIGNED “Mind Games” Giveaway!

 

 

What? It’ s the end of June already? I’ ve been slaving away at my computer this summer, with the occasional walk outside. Writers tend to lead pretty boring - and busy - lives. That’ s why you don’ t see any reality shows with writers in them. We would just sit there in front of our computers.

HOWEVER, characters are another story. That’ s the thing about characters - most of them don’ t have jobs. Heck, they don’ t even do chores!

Do you see many characters doing laundry? Has Justine Jones ever once shaved her legs? Has Shelby ever cleaned a sink? Has Sterling Packard ever cleaned a cat litter box?

The answer is NO. Instead, these bums have endless free time to visit with each other and solve mysteries and get into trouble.

So instead of talking about my summer, I’ m going to ask Packard about his summer.

Hey Packard, what are you up to this summer?

Packard: Did you just call us bums?

Carolyn: Yes, but you know I didn’ t mean it. So what are you up to this summer?

Packard: I can’ t tell you, or I’ d ruin the series for readers. But I think, of all people, you know that I’ ve been up to things.

Carolyn: Yes, you have, haven’ t you? Do you want to give our readers a hint?

Packard: Big things.

Carolyn: * grins* Okay, let’ s talk about what you wish you were doing this summer. You have always loved beaches.

Packard: My ideal summer would definitely involve a beach, Carolyn.

Carolyn: Did you love beaches before you were trapped in the Mongolian Restaurant for 8 years?

Packard: No. Back then, I felt like beaches were more for families and young singles with frisbees, not so much for tortured masterminds.

Carolyn: Right, because what would a tortured mastermind wear to a beach? Plaid slacks with a
polyester sports coat? And unibomber sunglasses?

Packard: * long stony silence * If, in one of your books, you send me to a beach in plaid slacks with a polyester sports coat, and unibomber sunglasses, I will go on strike.

Carolyn: How about if I send Otto to the beach in that outfit?

Packard: * looks thoughtfully into the distance* I wouldn’ t stop you.

Carolyn: Do you know how to play frisbee? Or swim?

Packard: You know I don’ t. I might as well have been raised by wolves.

Carolyn: Right. My fault. And we all know who you WISH you could go to the beach with.

Packard: Yes you know who I wish to go to the beach with, don’ t you? I wish she was with me all the time. I’ m miserable without her. Happy? Carolyn, if you’ re feeling angry that you’ re spending this summer inside banging away at a keyboard, don’ t take it out on me by reminding me of things I desperately want but don’ t currently have.

Carolyn: Never mind, we’ re in no comment territory. What else? A beach ball. You would need a nice bright bouncy beach ball.

Packard: * total silence*

Carolyn: What if I found you a black beach ball? Would that be more appropriate for a tortured
mastermind?

Packard: No. But maybe a dog. I’ ve always wanted a dog.

Carolyn: Really? A dog?

Packard: I never had a dog of my own.

Carolyn: That’ s kind of sweet.

Packard: * shrugs *

Carolyn: * stares off thoughtfully, then rushes off to her laptop, leaving Packard brooding.*

***

Hey, have a great summer everybody, and Larissa, thanks so much for inviting me to the summer vacation event!

Goodies for all: In addition to the free copy of Mind Games up for grabs, I have a whole bunch of new trading cards.

Just email your snailmail address to:

carolyn@authorcarolyncrane.com

within the next week or so, and I’ ll send the entire set of 5 out to you. International: I have a few International stamps left, so try me. I’ ll send until I run out!

 

 

For more information about Carolyn Crane and her books, check out her website at

http://authorcarolyncrane.com

 

 

Win a SIGNED Copy of “Mind Games by Carolyn Crane!

 

To Enter:

 

Leave a comment about anything on this post

 

&

 

Fill Out THIS Form! 

 

INTERNATONAL!

 

Extra Entries in The Comments WILL NOT COUNT!

 

*please read my Contest policy*

Extra Entries:

• +50 Write a Blog Post about the event
• +25 Add the event button to your blog {Grab the Button HERE}
• +10 Google Friend Connect Follower {Follow Publicly}
• +10 Networked Blogs Follower
• +10 Subscribe to The Blog by Email {Form near the top of the Right Sidebar}
• +7 Follow me on Twitter {@larissa_sarah}

• +5 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook
• +5 Be my friend on Goodreads
• +1 For spreading the word {+1 per link - Twitter, Facebook, etc – Please add links to the Form of the Giveaway you are entering}
• +1 Add all your entries! {including this one!}

 

 

Don’t Forget to Vote for the Theme for

My TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

 

Check Out The OTHER BHSV GIVEAWAYS:

 

 

Check Out My Design Blog:

 

Great Anti-Piracy Badge Up for Grabs!

*Great Freebies Available!

 

Sign Up for…

 

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!

xoxo,

Read more...

BHSV–Jeanne C. Stein Interview & 7 Signed Book Set + Swag Giveaway!

Before I start the interview, I’s like to congratulate Jeanne, because HEXED, with an Anna Strong novella, debuted at #32 on the New York Times Bestseller list!

Super congrats Jeanne and all the author on the Anthology!

Thanks for stopping by at my blog again Jeanne, it's a pleasure to have you!

*Thanks for inviting me, Larissa. It’s hard to believe this is the seventh in the series, isn’t it?

- Absolutely! How many book are you planning to write for the Anna Strong series?

*I’ve just finished the eighth book and am contracted for a ninth. I think with that ninth book, the Anna saga will draw to a close.

- Have you always had a plan for where you wanted to take these characters?

*Not specifically, but I do have a clear idea of how the ninth book will go and who the main characters will be and how it’s going to end.

- Is Anna ever going to get a Happily Ever After, or whatever is possible and closest to it?

*Yes. She’s going to finally find her soul mate. Course, I’m not telling who it will be. You get a big hint in Crosssroads, though.

- I love where you are taking Anna as a character and I really appreciate her evolution as a person/vamp and the development of her relationship with the people around her. In the last book, I felt some hint that there might be some changes in her relationship with a certain shifter, am I mistaken?

*No. And that relationship gets stronger even though she has a different love interest right now. Someone she met in the novella Blood Debt from the anthology HEXED (released June 7th) But she and Daniel Frey have a special relationship and something happens in Crossroads that makes it more difficult and complicated but better at the same time.

- Any plans to write a different series parallel to the Anna Strong one? Maybe something is a different genre?

*I’m not sure right now. My editor and I are discussing different ideas but I’m waiting for that bell to go off or the light to go on that signals the right one! But I’ll keep writing. In the meantime, I have Anna to keep me busy.

- Can you give us some hints of what we can expect from the next Anna Strong Novel, Crossroads?

* Anna goes on a journey both personal and for her friend, Daniel Frey, and the truths they discover change both of their lives. Crossroads takes place on the Navajo Reservation in Monument Valley. I took a trip there several years ago and fell in love with the area. There are Navajo characters in the book and one thing I didn’t think of while writing it was that when the book is read for audio, the Navajo language would be difficult to deal with. My narrator Dina Pearlman contacted me for help and I had to refer her to the websites I used for translation. So, if there are any Navajo speakers out there, contact me and I’ll put you in touch with her!

For more information about Jeanne C. Stein and her books, check out her website at

www.jeannestein.com

Win a 7 SIGNED Book Set of the Anna Strong Series by Jeanne C. Stein {Books 1-6 + Hexed} & Swag!

+

SWAG

To Enter:

Leave a comment about anything on the Interview above.

Fill Out THIS Form! 

INTERNATONAL!

Extra Entries in The Comments WILL NOT COUNT!

*please read my Contest policy*

Extra Entries:

• +50 Write a Blog Post about the event
  
  


• +25 Add the event button to your blog {Grab the Button HERE}
  
  


• +10 Google Friend Connect Follower {Follow Publicly}
  
  


• +10 Networked Blogs Follower
  
  


• +10 Subscribe to The Blog by Email {Form near the top of the Right Sidebar}
  
  


• +7 Follow me on Twitter {@larissa_sarah}

• +5 “Like” Larissa's Life on Facebook
  
  


• +5 Be my friend on Goodreads
  
  


• +1 For spreading the word {+1 per link - Twitter, Facebook, etc – Please add links to the Form of the Giveaway you are entering}
  
  


• +1 Add all your entries! {including this one!}

Don’t Forget to Vote for the Theme for

My TOP 5 Sundays Post on the Poll at the left sidebar!

Check Out The OTHER BHSV GIVEAWAYS:

Check Out My Design Blog:

Great Anti-Piracy Badge Up for Grabs!

*Great Freebies Available!

Sign Up for…

Thanks so much for tuning in and I’ll see you soon!

xoxo,

Read more...