27 Nov 2012

Waiting on Wednesday - The Program by Suzanne Young

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

 

Expected Release Date:   30th April 2013
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone.

With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in.

And The Program is coming for them.
Continue reading Waiting on Wednesday - The Program by Suzanne Young

25 Nov 2012

Book Review: One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern

Journalist Kitty Logan's career is being destroyed by scandal. Simultaneously, she faces the death of her mentor and friend of ten years, Constance, who has guided and taught her everything she knew. 

All Kitty is left with is a file in Constance's office: a list of one hundred names. There is no synopsis, no explanation, nothing else to explain who these people are. 

The story Constance planned to write is simply a mystery. Kitty sets out not only to track down the people on Constance's list, but to find out what connects them. And, in the process of hearing ordinary people's stories, she starts to understand her own..


Released:  11th October 2012
Publisher:  Harper Collins
Goodreads Link:  Click here 

My Review     10 out of 10

First off, I have to admit that I am a CeceliaAhern-a-holic.  I absolutely adore her books and get so excited when I hear of a new book of hers coming out and with this one I was no different.  There's something about Cecelia's books that always surprise me.  I never guess what is happening until near the very end, which always keeps me hooked all the way through.  

Kitty is a character that appeared to me to have lost her way in the world of journalism.  We see  her at the start having a very bad time where she makes a wrong assumption, which leads to someone being accused of something they did not to and that backfires back onto Kitty.  She is also losing her best friend, Constance, who has cancer and is in the hospital.  Constance is the one person who I believe understood Kitty like no one else.   

Now, onto the one hundred names story.   This is one of the things that I really enjoyed about this book was following Kitty's journey in trying to figuring out what Constance's story is about, following her as she meets all these new and interesting people and seeing what a difference these people make on Kitty. 

This was an amazing read from a wonderful author.  The ending was a complete surprise to me, as always with a Cecelia Ahern book, and this was a book that even after I put it down I was still thinking about it.

Amazing read that I would highly recommend. 

Best wishes

Debs:-)
Continue reading Book Review: One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern

22 Nov 2012

Author Interview: Shannon Morton




A sheltered girl.

The perfect boy.

A mysterious stranger.

Random messages delivering a sobering prophecy plague Aspen's existence. With every curious encounter, her sanity wavers further. Before long, Aspen finds herself balancing the fate of humanity on her shoulders, until a single act turns her world upside down. She finds herself alone, isolated from those she thought she could trust.

Alone to damn the world.

Goodreads Link  -  Click here


QUESTION 1. If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why?
Shannon: Hmmm…outside of Amber, and since you didn’t specify whether or not they needed to be alive, I’d have to go with Jane Austen. It’s all about the character development for me and she does such an amazing job of telling stories through her characters. I would sit at her feet and worship/learn. 

QUESTIONS 2. What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?
Shannon: I teach Pilates so I have a fairly flexible schedule, minus the two kiddos running around. The short story is that I write when and wherever the opportunity presents itself. The long story is that I write everywhere: on a post-it, a napkin, or a bubblegum wrapper. I also write anytime: it could be the middle of the night or worse, the middle of someone’s conversation. But no matter what, I’ve learned to write it down, because if I don’t, it’s gone. 

QUESTIONS 3. What is the hardest part of the writing for you?
Shannon: Don’t laugh at me when I say that the hardest part of writing for me is the writing. If I could somehow create a device that would allow everyone to see the amazing stories in my head unfold as beautifully as I see them, it would be genius…and a little creepy. 

QUESTIONS 4. When and why did you first start writing?
Shannon: I started writing in the fifth grade when my teacher made it a priority in class every Friday. I took it up again a few years ago when my friend Bethanie and I had numerous conversations about the crazy stories in our heads – it was just such an amazing outlet.

QUESTIONS 5. How did you come up with the idea for your book?
Shannon: Well, Julian from Tempted by Evil is the boy that lives in my head. Thanks to my friend Bethanie, I was able to see some of the people around him a bit more clearly. Then Amber came along and we fully saw the story. It was a beautiful thing! 

QUESTIONS 6. Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now?
Shannon: Absolutely! I’m currently reading Intuition by Amy Bartol and can’t wait for Impulse by Dannika Dark! I’m a huge indie author fan. 

QUESTIONS 7. Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?
Shannon: Make like Nike and just do it! And when you do, have a group of honest people around to give you feedback. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your novel won’t be written in one, either, but it’s worth the effort in the end.

Continue reading Author Interview: Shannon Morton

20 Nov 2012

Waiting on Wednesday - 17 & Gone by Nova Red Suma

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

 

Expected Release Date:   21st March 2013
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.

Seventeen-year-old Lauren is having visions of girls who have gone missing. And all these girls have just one thing in common—they are 17 and gone without a trace. As Lauren struggles to shake these waking nightmares, impossible questions demand urgent answers: Why are the girls speaking to Lauren? How can she help them? And . . . is she next? As Lauren searches for clues, everything begins to unravel, and when a brush with death lands her in the hospital, a shocking truth emerges, changing everything.
Continue reading Waiting on Wednesday - 17 & Gone by Nova Red Suma

Book Review: The Secret Circle:The Divide by Aubrey Clark



THE BELOW IS THE BLURB FROM THE FIRST BOOK IN THE SERIES, FOR MORE INFO ON THIS BOOK PLEASE CHECK OUT THE GOODREADS LINK BELOW


THE CIRCLE'S POWER HAS LURED HER HOME...

Forced to move from sunny California to gloomy New England, Cassie longs for her old life. Even so, she feels a strange kinship to a terrifying group of teens who seem to rule her school. Initiated into the coven of witched that's controlled New Salem for hundreds of years, she's drawn into the Secret Circle, a thrill that's both intoxicating and deadly. But when she falls for the mysterious and intriguing Adam, Cassie must choose whether to resist temptation or risk dark forces to get what she wants - even if it means that one wrong move could ultimately destroy her


Released:   6th September 2012
Publisher:  Hodder
Goodreads Link:  Click here

My Review    6 out of 10

I was very intrigued when I heard that a new Secret Circle book was going to be realease, albeit a little disappointed that it was not going to be written by LJ SMith but I was definately intrigued enough to want to try this out and see where the new author takes the Secret Circle.  When I first started reading I did worry and think that I would not remember much of what happened before because it has been quite a while since I read the first three books in this series but I have to say that Aubrey has done an excellent job at playing catch up in the first few chapters.  

Of course, there is a lot in this book I won't talk about here as this is a part of a series, but I have to admit that I really did enjoy this story, I liked how the different characters had new problems to solve and possible enemies to face.   The only part of this book that I particularly did not enjoy as much was the character interations with each other, they were constantly saying one thing and doing another and sometimes it seemed just for the sake of  being mean or selfish.  

The ending was not a complete surprise to me, I had figured it out earlier on in the book but, all in all, this was an enjoyable book and I definatley will be picking up the next book to see what happens next. 

Best wishes

Debs
Continue reading Book Review: The Secret Circle:The Divide by Aubrey Clark

18 Nov 2012

15 Nov 2012

Author Interview: Scott A Johnson




For Jeremy, Christmas is just another reminder that he'll never be able to enjoy the things that come so easily to other children. Then one night he has a dream that will change everything. Accompanied by stirring music, this story of finding faith and discovering the power of the Master Healer is sure to be cherished at Christmastime and all year long.

Check out the goodreads page here....



If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why? 
Michael McLean. He and I have produced similar projects with books and musical CDs taking place during Christmas. I would love to collaborate with him on a book and CD project.

What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write? 
Writing is not my full time job, so my typical writing day happens in the evening after the children are put to bed or on weekends. I write at home, where I can be comfortable. Luckily my wife is very supportive and allows me the space and time I need to write. I have had some late nights and long days on weekends writing, but I want to continue writing while I have ideas and the creative juices are flowing.

What is the hardest part of the writing for you?
 
I think it is knowing when to stop refining. I read and re-read my writing multiple times making minor adjustments and fine-tuning, but at some point I just have to let it go how it is, otherwise I would never produce anything.

When and why did you first start writing?
 
I began writing in first grade when a teacher gave me the opportunity to write very short stories with illustrations. They were on very large paper and mostly illustrations, but I had fun doing it. My parents and grandparents praised my stories and encouraged me to write them. From there I never looked back. I continued to write short stories and even produced two novellas with illustrations when I was very young. I used cardboard as the “hard cover” and stitched them together with a needle and thread to bind them. I still have them and my kids really enjoy those two novellas.

How did you come up with the idea for the book your book?
 
I originally wrote “Jeremy’s Christmas Journey” as a short story for my family to enjoy at Christmas. I love Christmas stories and the spirit felt at Christmas-time. While attending the play “The Forgotten Carols” by Michael McLean I had the idea to expand the short story and incorporate music. From there I believe I received a lot of inspiration from my Father above as I wrote the rest of the story and penned song lyrics.

Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now?
 
Yes. I enjoy reading and often spend my lunch hour reading a good book. I am currently reading Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game series.

Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?
Don’t get discouraged. The publishing industry is a tough business and rejection is almost guaranteed. Keep working toward your dream and explore all alternatives to make it happen. The only limits we have are those we place on ourselves.

My YouTube channel has trailers and samples of the music from the CD: http://www.youtube.com/user/sjohnson2221
My author website: authorscott.com
Twitter: DocScottJohnson

Continue reading Author Interview: Scott A Johnson

14 Nov 2012

Waiting on Wednesday - Taken by Erin Bowman

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

 

Expected Release Date:   16th April 2012
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?
Continue reading Waiting on Wednesday - Taken by Erin Bowman

12 Nov 2012

Author Interview: Kevis Hendrickson

LUST AND FURY COLLIDE IN A GALAXY ON THE VERGE OF WAR.

Fearing retribution from ruthless gangsters over an unsettled debt, intergalactic bounty hunter Zyra Zanr ventures to a distant world to collect the reward for Boris Skringler, a notorious terrorist, who has been sentenced to death by political rivals of the InterGalactic Alliance. When she fails to secure his release, she decides to break him out of prison. Zyra soon finds herself an unwilling participant in events that lead to a climactic showdown between the most powerful worlds in the galaxy.

Torn between her desperation to rid herself of the threats to her life and her guilt in agitating the conflict between two galactic superpowers, Zyra is horrified to learn that the lives of an entire world of people hinge on her ability to return Skringler to his captors. However, her distrust of Skringler gives way to lust, unraveling her plans. Will Zyra give into her passion and allow Skringler to go free? Or will she surrender him to her enemies to stop an impending war? The fate of billions depend on whether she chooses life for a killer or the death of her lover.

GOODREADS LINK - CLICK HERE


  1. If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why? 

Very interesting question. I haven’t given much thought to playing in anyone else’s universe, so I imagine that whatever the project is it would have to be collaborative from conception. Under those conditions, I would actually enjoy working with George Lucas. He has absolutely wonderful ideas, but I do question the manner in which some of his material is written. In particular, I know that if I were ever to work with him in which any romantic scenes or dialogue were involved in our project, I would have to take the reins. My ears still bleed every time I hear his characters confess their love for each other. It’s absolutely dreadful stuff!

  1. What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?

I have a very irregular schedule when compared to other authors. I eat, drink, and sleep writing. My typical day can start anywhere from early in the a.m. to late in the afternoon. It depends on how I schedule myself around my daily distractions. However, my ideal time to wake up is around 4 or 5 in the morning, grab a cup of Joe, and write for about three or four hours. Then I’ll take a short break, grab some breakfast and spend the next three or hours reading and sending emails, networking, promoting, updating my website, book keeping and other book-related activities. I’ll usually spend another two to three hours after that writing or editing before calling it quits during the evening so I can dive into a good book or pursue some other non-writing activity such as eating dinner or sneaking in a couple hours of sleep. Then it’s rinse and repeat the next day. My days are usually a bit more chaotic than I describe here. But as long as I can get around 7-8 hours of writing done every day, I’m a happy camper. When I don’t, I’m very grumpy.

  1. What is the hardest part of the writing for you?

Without a doubt, the toughest part of writing is editing. In recent years, I’ve learned how vital proper editing is to producing a good book. Most people have no idea just how much work goes into taking a story from a ‘supposedly’ final draft to a highly polished piece of literature. You’ll often hear readers lament how much they hate typos and misspellings in a book. But that’s the lowest rung of editing. Good editing involves much more than catching a dangling participle or the improper use of a comma. A properly edited book tears into the bones of a book exposing and addressing structural flaws in the narrative. Plot issues, pacing, character development, dialogue, redundancies, timeline, etc. Many authors cringe at the thought of having their precious darlings killed during the editing of their books. But without this first and critical phase of editing, many books fail to reach their full potential. It’s in the editing phase where a writer earns his salt and takes most of his or her punishment. Just speaking about it makes my head hurt!

  1. When and why did you first start writing?

I’ve been writing for as long as I could hold a pencil. I remember spending my days as a child drawing my own comic books. As I got older, I found it was more effective to write the script for the comics before drawing them. Eventually, I found that I had more success writing my stories than drawing them and abandoned my artwork in favor of writing exclusively. Fast forward a couple of decades and here I am still penning stories. But I owe it all to that ambitious kid who wanted to tell his own stories just like his favorite comic book writers.

  1. How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I realized when I was a teenager that I had an obsession with writing stories about women. It’s interesting to note that at the time, there wasn’t this cultural fascination with female action heroes as there is today. When I first came up with the concept of Zyra Zanr, the female bounty hunter and protagonist for my Rogue Hunter series, Xena hadn’t even made her debut yet.

When I decided to reboot my Rogue Hunter series, I felt the time was right to introduce readers to New Venus, the all-female planet where Zyra has her latest adventure. Rogue Hunter: inquest takes the war of the sexes to the utmost extreme pitting a race of warrior-women against a hostile, expansionist government led by aggressive males who want to seize control of New Venus. This story gave me the opportunity to explore the extreme aspects of chauvinism and feminism and use it as a backdrop for an epic space opera adventure. I don’t think readers have encountered a story quite like this one before, especially since the main character doesn’t align herself with either of the opposing viewpoints held by the warring factions in the story. Of course, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that part of me just wanted an excuse to write some cool action sequences and make stuff blow up.

  1. Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now?

I read quite a bit and mostly enjoy reading the classics like The Iliad or a Shakespearean drama. But I do read a wide range of works from legal dramas to historical novels. Right now, I have the pleasure of reading A Tale of Two Cities. I must have been playing hooky when the book was assigned in grade school. So I’m glad to have a chance to read it for the first time.

  1. Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?

To all the aspiring writers out there, I’d say that no matter how many people try to put you down or tell you it isn’t possible, never give up your dreams of being a writer. We often hear about the successful authors and think how lucky they are to have made their dreams a reality. But the only reason they’re successful is because they never threw in the towel when things got rough. Even on the best of days, being a writer can test one’s mettle. Persistence and patience will see you through to the end. There’s a reason they say winners never quit. That’s because they don’t.
Continue reading Author Interview: Kevis Hendrickson

8 Nov 2012

Author Interview: KW McCabe



In a thoughtless final act of destruction, humans awaken the one creature of legend they have no protection against. Years after the complete subjugation of the human race, Derek, heir of the Dragon Queen, and Cecily, create a tentative friendship. But something or someone is stalking the human enclave. Cecily and Derek must find out who and why before she's next.


LINK TO GOODREADS PAGE - CLICK HERE




1. If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why?
 Michelle Sagara West. Her stories are fantasy entertwined with absolutely awesome prose.

2. What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?
A typical working day is me dragging myself out of bed, sending my kid off to school, then getting back on my bed to write on my laptop. Usually this is interrupted by twitter, facebook, and google+. I like to think of it as networking.

3. What is the hardest part of the writing for you?
 It really depends on the stage of the story. If I'm writing a novel, the middle is hardest to write. If I'm writing a sequel, the beginning is hardest to write. The easiest part of writing, for me, is always the end :)

4. When and why did you first start writing?
 I've been writing since I was five lol. I wrote this really aweful story about a diamond thief. I still don't know where that story went... I can't help writing, though. I'm not happy when I'm not writing something.

5. How did you come up with the idea for the book your book?
 Actually, I wanted to write something YA, but I HATED the idea of writing anything with vampires. A certain author killed them for me. *cough*Stephanie Meyers*cough* So, I thought, what about something not over-written? I know! Dragons! *grin*

6. Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now?
Yeah, I love reading more than I love writing, though I don't always have a lot of time. I just finished reading Michelle Sagara's book Cast in Peril. It was awesome.

7. Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?
Join a writing group like the Internet Writing Workshop. Getting feedback from other writers is so important!


http://www.facebook.com/kywmccabe
http://kwmccabe.blogspot.com
https://twitter.com/!!/kw_mccabe
Continue reading Author Interview: KW McCabe

6 Nov 2012

Waiting on Wednesday - Hysteria by Megan Miranda


 
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly memo that is hosted by Breaking the Spine Blog.

 

Expected Release Date:   5th February 2013
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.



Mallory's life is falling apart. Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can't remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear ...When Mallory's parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There's the hand that touches her shoulder when she's drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory's name is on their lips. Her past can be forgotten but it's never gone. Can Mallory live with that?
Continue reading Waiting on Wednesday - Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Book Review: Bane by Trish Milburn (Book 2, The Coven)

BELOW IS THE BLURB FROM BOOK 1 IN THIS SERIES, WHITE WITCH.  PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR A LINK TO THE GOODREADS PAGE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ THE  BLURB FOR THIS BOOK (2).

Witchcraft Is Her Family's Business.

No One Quits The Family And Lives To Tell About It.
"Jax" Pherson has power, enough power to know her future will end in service to the dark coven her father controls. Unless she can stay hidden in a small community in the mountains of North Carolina. She must find a way to live without magic and deny the darkness she feels welling up inside her-the same dark power that fuels the covens around the world. 


All she wants is a normal life. A boyfriend. Friends. Some place to belong, but all too soon Jax's barely begun new life hangs in the balance when she discovers that the boy she's attracted to is sworn to kill her kind. He's a hunter with good reason to kill everything that goes bump in the night. 


Even the most fleeting use of her power is tantamount to signing her death warrant and will bring both hunter and coven down on her. But can she walk away when her friends are threatened by an old evil? Something created by the magic of witches? Jax's only hope of survival is to convince the boy she loves to forget everything he's ever been taught and help her find a way to fight the covens. To believe there is some good in her.


Published:  31st May 2012
Publisher:  Bell Bridge Books
Source:  Netgalley Review
Series:   Book 2, The Coven

My Review

10 out of 10

There is so much I could tell you about this book that will make you want to risk over and pick up this series straight away but unfortunately those things are all what make this series great.  Those things being the little twists and turns in the story, the things that Jax finds out along her way to wanting to seperate herself from her Witch coven and her family.  There are also so much that Jax has to learn and discover about herself and her family history.  This story is more about a quest.  In this second book, it does answer some of the questions that I had from book 1 but adds some more questions that I am definatley very keen to find out....  Friendships in this story get tighter along with meeting new friends in Jax's race against time.

This is such a fantastic second book in the series.  I absolutely adore this series and cannot wait until I can read the next isntalment.  

Series Video Review



Best wishes

Debs :-)
Continue reading Book Review: Bane by Trish Milburn (Book 2, The Coven)

Book Review: White Witch by Trish Milburn (Book 1, The Coven)

Witchcraft Is Her Family's Business.

No One Quits The Family And Lives To Tell About It.
"Jax" Pherson has power, enough power to know her future will end in service to the dark coven her father controls. Unless she can stay hidden in a small community in the mountains of North Carolina. She must find a way to live without magic and deny the darkness she feels welling up inside her-the same dark power that fuels the covens around the world. 


All she wants is a normal life. A boyfriend. Friends. Some place to belong, but all too soon Jax's barely begun new life hangs in the balance when she discovers that the boy she's attracted to is sworn to kill her kind. He's a hunter with good reason to kill everything that goes bump in the night. 


Even the most fleeting use of her power is tantamount to signing her death warrant and will bring both hunter and coven down on her. But can she walk away when her friends are threatened by an old evil? Something created by the magic of witches? Jax's only hope of survival is to convince the boy she loves to forget everything he's ever been taught and help her find a way to fight the covens. To believe there is some good in her.


Published:  1st March 2012
Publisher:  Bell Bridge Books
Source:  Netgalley Review
Series:   Book 1, The Coven
Links:  Goodreads  /  Amazon.co.uk  /  Amazon.com       

My Review 

10 out of 10

I absolutely adore witch stories so I knew when I read the title of this book that I had to read it and I am so happy that I did.  This is definitely one of the best series I have read so far this year.  The main character Jax is suck a strong fiery character, I got the feeling very early on that there were going to be a few battles along the way.   This is the first time I've come across a witch story about a witch who is trying to get out of being one.  Jax does not have to do this alone either, after escaping and moving back to 'normality' she meets some really great friends.  These friends may just have secrets of their own.

What I loved about this story is finding out more about the different characters in this story, both that Jax meets and those that Jax knew from her past.  There is a lot of back story, which helped me in setting the scene in my imagination and building a fuller picture of what Jax was up against and what she had to do next.  

This is a fantastic start to a really fantastic series so far.  I am really looking forward to reading book 2 in the series.

Series Review Video



Best wishes

Debs :-)


Continue reading Book Review: White Witch by Trish Milburn (Book 1, The Coven)

2 Nov 2012

Author Interview: Lisa Rumsey Harris

The Unlikely Gift of Treasure Blume
By Lisa Rumsey Harris
Synopsis

GOODREADS - CLICK HERE

Treasure Blume is a pear-shaped first-grade teacher with a love of embroidered sweaters and an awkward tendency to blurt out whatever she's thinking. And she has a family curse (or gift, depending on who you talk to); everyone who meets her (over puberty but under Alzeheimer's) initially dislikes her.

If you ask her grammy, Tabiona Blume—passer of the gift, keeper of the family lore, and star of the elite over-sixty dance team "Ruby's Red Hot Chili Steppers”—she’ll say it's a blessing. But Treasure isn't buying her explanation. Especially since Grammy Blume hasn't exactly embraced the gift in her own life. 
 
Treasure leaves St. George, Utah bound for Las Vegas and her first job, where she referees show-and-tell, creates Sneetch shirts for the Dr. Seuss Party, and tangles with Bonnie B. Baumgartner, the school secretary.  But when Grammy Blume gets kicked out of her retirement community and has to move in with her, Treasure gets tutored in the power and pain of her unlikely gift.

With her life full of kids and codgers, Treasure has given up on ever falling in love. And so has Dennis Cameron, a divorced chef who sinks from near culinary stardom to working with the lunch ladies in the school’s cafeteria to be near his daughter, Micaela, a student in Treasure’s class. At first Dennis (like everyone else) can’t see anything redeemable in Treasure. He’s busy juggling the demands of his six-year-old daughter, his terminally-ill mother, and his selfish, plastic ex-wife. But somehow, the more he comes in contact with Treasure, the less he dislikes her, until finally he finds himself falling in love with her. Treasure and Dennis's relationship is full of spats and spurts. Together they share little kindnesses, verbal blow-outs, wet pants emergencies, dinner with Filipino refugees, dancing grannies, and a blizzard in Vegas. As Dennis watches Treasure, he begins to see how she can find beauty in the most unlikely places. And that, he learns, is her real gift.


Author Bio

Lisa Rumsey Harris grew up writing stories and riding horses in Southeastern Idaho. She received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English from Brigham Young University, where she now teaches writing classes. Lisa lives in Orem Utah, with her ancient Siamese cat, her husband (who cooks nearly as well as Dennis) and her two adorable daughters. When Lisa began writing this book, her oldest daughter was in first grade. Her youngest daughter finished first grade this year. Check out her world at www.treasureblume.com or on facebook at Lisa Rumsey Harris, author.




If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why?
That’s a tough question. Can I raise the dead? If so, I’d work with Olive Ann Burns, author of Cold Sassy Tree. She had this amazing way of capturing poignancy and humor all in the same book. And I’d like her character, Grandpa Blakeslee, to meet my character, Grammy Blume.

What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?
I’m an owl. I write from about 10p.m. to 2 a.m. usually during the summer months (in fall and winter, I’m teaching and that absorbs my focus). During the day, I keep a notebook within reach so I can jot down ideas or scenes or dialogue. Sometimes, when my husband gets home early, he’ll give me a gift: several hours of uninterrupted daylight writing time. When that happens, I grab my laptop and run away from home.

What is the hardest part of the writing for you?
The hardest part of writing for me is not checking my email and looking at facebook. It takes some time to immerse myself in the world of book. But once I’m there, it’s hard to come back out of it. That’s why I try to write at night, when my children won’t need me. During the day, I’ll go somewhere that I know doesn’t have wifi so that I won’t be distracted.

When and why did you first start writing?
Honestly, I can’t not write. It’s always been part of who I am. When I was seven, I won a young author’s award for my elementary school. Looking back, I realize that my story, titled Locked in the Room of December, was a bit edgy for a second grader. But instead of sending me to the school psychologist, they sent me to a writer’s day camp where I met real live published authors. Thanks, Mrs. Brim, for giving me that opportunity.

How did you come up with the idea for the book your book?
Treasure Blume was born when I had a no good, very bad, horrible day, during which I felt like everyone I met hated me. I remember coming home and thinking, “Wow, I’m glad everyday isn’t like today.” And then I began to wonder, “But what if it was?” I spent hours digging in my garden that afternoon, and when I came in, Treasure came with me. That night, I wrote about 20 pages of background material (that never made it into the book) just so I could get to know her better.
Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now?
Right now, I’m reading student papers. But yes, I love reading. My kindle is my lifeline. I have to have a book or I feel panicky. I’m usually reading several books at once. Right now, I’m reading Jennifer Chiaverini’s Circle of Quilters. I’m also reading War and Peace (great for the nights that I can’t sleep). And I’m eagerly awaiting the release of Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Princess and Ally Condie’s Reached.

Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?
Keep working to make your characters real, distinct, and believable. If you don’t believe in the reality of your characters, neither will anyone else.

Continue reading Author Interview: Lisa Rumsey Harris

Author Interview: Sara Fitzgerald


    Devan can't help but blame God for his wife's death, so the last thing he wants to do this holiday season is celebrate. But when his daughter, Savanna, makes a special Christmas wish, their little family will never be the same. Filled with faith and tenderness, this heartwarming story is sure to remind you of the real power behind the magic of Christmas.

    GOODREADS LINK - Click here

      
    1. If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why? I would love to work with Debbie Macomber because she writes heartwarming Christmas stories that touch readers’ hearts.

    2. What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write? 
My writing schedule is never set in stone. I have a six-year-old daughter who takes up most of my time and a thriving AVON business. But I do try to squeeze in writing time each day. Sometimes it is in the morning while my daughter is in school or after she goes to bed at night.

3. What is the hardest part of the writing for you?
The hardest part for me is finding time to do it. Also marketing is hard for me. I am blessed to be published by Cedar Fort. The company and employees are extremely supportive of their authors, and do everything they can to help us promote and sell our books.
 
4. When and why did you first start writing? I started writing as a child.  I was extremely shy and writing was a way to express myself.

5. How did you come up with the idea for the book your book? To be honest, I am not sure. It just came to me.

6. Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now? I do love to read. I am not currently reading any book right now. But I do have a stake of Debbie Macomber Christmas books to start reading next month. Reading her books each holiday season is one of my favorite ways to celebrate Christmas.

7. Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers? Write because you love it. Make friends with other supportive writers. Join writers’ groups and attend monthly meetings and conferences. Never give up. I have heard of so many twenty years overnight success stories these last few months. Also so many authors said it wasn’t their first manuscript that got published, but their sixth or tenth. If you want to be a writer, then write it is as simple as that.

Continue reading Author Interview: Sara Fitzgerald

1 Nov 2012

Author Interview: Melissa Andrea

Sara
Sara's life is forever changed -
Waking up, buried & hidden deeply in the last place anyone would want to be, will do that. She is determined to find out how she ended up there & why, but when the only person who can help her, continuously lies to her, she finds herself forced to suffer alone. She can't ignore the strange things that begin to happen to her nor can she hide from the nightmares that haunt her sleep. And when her world collides with Adan - the mysterious boy whom she can't seem to stay away from, literally - she is consumed by the flutter that sparks whenever he is around and she is desperate to discover the reason why.
But the biggest discovery will come from the secret of what she is…

Adan
Adan’s mission to find Sara has finally begun -
It seemed simple: bring her back to the enchanted world that lives, breathes and survives because of her, but he quickly finds himself faced with an entirely new challenge. Immediately, Adan realizes that staying unknown to Sara is a task he will fail before he even begins; the pull to her is far too strong to refuse, and being with her will defy the very reason he existed. He was the key to her survival and loving her was not part of the path that he had been born to follow. Can he find it in himself too resist the urge to be with her and follow through with their destiny or will he destroy everything that had been left to Sara to protect and defend -
And the kingdom she is unaware she rules…

Flutter
As Sara and Adan struggle to overcome their own separate battles -
There is a far more determined evil that is stalking the shadows and waiting to annihilate them both.
Sara will figure out that not everything is what it seems and knowing what she can and can not trust will be the key to finding out the truth of what happened to her, the reason why she was buried alive and who she really is…

Sara and Adan will discover why she was the reason he existed and why he would be the reason she survived & together they will fight to change the rules and rewrite their fate.
Discover the Meaning,
Discover the Secret,
Discover

GOODREADS LINK - CLICK HERE

Melissa Andrea
I find it hard to sum up my life in a paragraph, but I’ll try.
Reading has always been a passion for me, and writing as instinctive as breathing. Every inhale is an idea; every exhale a creation. Flutter will be my debut release, and I couldn’t be more excited about it! The only thing I do better than writing you ask? Making beautiful girls. My daughter’s will always be my greatest accomplishment.
I was born in Denver, Colorado –but I will always think of sunny Arizona as my home. I don’t have a big family, but I’m close with my sister, brother & my mom. My mom is my hero, my inspiration, and I couldn’t have asked for a more amazing person to be raised by.
4 things you should know about me: I’m very girly, but I can get down and dirty with the best of them. I adore the color pink, I love things that sparkle (including vampires) and I like even numbers (hence 4 things about me, not 5)

1. If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why?
I would have to say Sandra Brown. She does romance novels and I absolutely love her work! It would truly be an honor!

2. What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?
I don’t get to write until after everyone goes to bed haha. My writing hours are between 8pm-3, sometimes, 4 in the morning. It’s when I get most of my writing done. Then I am up at 6 to take my daughter to school. I get another hour or two of sleep before Kate is up and wants to nurse. I try to get some writing done during her naps, but unfortunately, it’s not a lot!

3. What is the hardest part of the writing for you?
Finding time to write haha! & during crunch time of a book! It’s absolutely chaos for my family, but they love and support me. Even when laundry is in piles instead of folded and put away!

4.
When and why did you first start writing?
I wrote my first story in High School. It was a children’s story and it was for a contest, which I won! Why did I start writing?? I think I got it from my mom. She used to tell us stories, which she would make up before we went to bed. I think it kind of stuck with me.

5. How did you come up with the idea for the book your book?
I actually thought of the idea on a car ride home from the store haha. Nothing fancy, no confetti or fireworks, but I will always remember that car ride home… *insert soft sigh, dreamy look off into space and cheesy smile here*

6. Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now?
I am! Reading has always big an addiction of mine! It started out with romance novels, but I am not a big fan of YA Paranormal/Fantasy. Right now I am waiting to finish three books: In My Dream’s by the lovely Cameo Renae, Touching Smoke by Airicka Phoenix, & Sovereign Hope by Frankie Rose.

7. Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?
Favorite question and I will have the same answer every time! Always believe in yourself! Don't be your own worst enemy! It's very easy to psych yourself out. So step back, read a book, eat some ice cream, watch a movie - do anything to relax your mind & then try again. Don't give yourself limitations, writers know no such thing.


Don't forget to join the online release party for Flutter! The link below will lead to the part-ay!
There will be games, prizes and more!
It will be hosted by 3 AMAZING women!!
Krystal, Amber & Kristina! Hope to see you there!



Continue reading Author Interview: Melissa Andrea