29 Jan 2013

Waiting on Wednesday - Dualed by Elsie Chapman

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

 

Expected Release Date: 26th February 2013
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.


 You or your Alt? Only one will survive.

The city of Kersh is a safe haven, but the price of safety is high. Everyone has a genetic Alternate—a twin raised by another family—and citizens must prove their worth by eliminating their Alts before their twentieth birthday. Survival means advanced schooling, a good job, marriage—life.

Fifteen-year-old West Grayer has trained as a fighter, preparing for the day when her assignment arrives and she will have one month to hunt down and kill her Alt. But then a tragic misstep shakes West’s confidence. Stricken with grief and guilt, she’s no longer certain that she’s the best version of herself, the version worthy of a future. If she is to have any chance of winning, she must stop running not only from her Alt, but also from love . . . though both have the power to destroy her.

Elsie Chapman's suspenseful YA debut weaves unexpected romance into a novel full of fast-paced action and thought-provoking philosophy. When the story ends, discussions will begin about this future society where every adult is a murderer and every child knows there is another out there who just might be better.
Continue reading Waiting on Wednesday - Dualed by Elsie Chapman

27 Jan 2013

Book Review - Cupcakes at Carringtons by Amexandra Brown


Georgie Hart had it all – as a top personal shopper in London, the heady world of Mulberry launch parties and Louis Vuitton goody bags meant she was living the dream. But all that extravagance took its toll on her bank balance and it was time to stop drinking champagne on beer money.

Now Georgie runs the luxury bag concession at Carrington’s Department store in the pretty seaside town of Mulberry Bay and her lavish spending is confined to a red velvet cupcake with butter cream icing in Carrington’s cafe.

But her plans for a quiet life are thwarted when Carrington’s goes into a recession-busting makeover and soon, with the arrival of Maxine, wielding the axe in her immaculately manicured hands, Georgie is fighting not only for her job, but also for the attentions of her dishy boss, James. And when newcomer Tom arrives, who may or may not be the best thing since sliced bread, Georgie must decide where her loyalties really lie…


Published - 24th January 2014
Publisher - HarperCollins 
Source: Review Copy from Publisher
Goodreads:   Click here

My Review     10 out of 10

By far, this was one of the most enjoyable chicklit dramas I have read so far this year...    Absolutely loved the comedy and seriousness...

Let's talk about the characters.  I found with this story that there were a lot of really great characters and a lot of really evil characters and this was one of the things that I enjoyed the most about this story.  Can't beat a good dose of good -v- evil.....   Mwah ha ha...   Georgie, the main character, is someone who has not had a lot of luck (except in the job department).  I loved following her story through different obstacles that get put in her path.  Moving over to the evil characters, absolutely love Maxine who is a new character to Carringtons and I always felt that she was up to something all the way along....  

There were a couple of other characters that I especially loved as well as Georgie.  The first being  Sam, who is Georgie's best friend and has been for a very long time.  Sam runs the restaurant in Carringtons, which is somewhere that Georgie goes up to ever chance she gets for a good gossip and for a bit of cake!  The other being Eddie who is another great friend of Georgie and is also the PA to the management.  There is a fantastic side line story that involves Eddie which I particularly loved.

There is a bit of romance in this story, as is expected in a chick lit really, and I really enjoyed the 'who will Georgie end up with' game throughout the story.  There are quite a few potentials at the beginning but I like that, as the story goes on, you can see the pros and cons of each chap... 

A really great chick lit that has great elements of comedy, romance and rivalry....

Debs
Continue reading Book Review - Cupcakes at Carringtons by Amexandra Brown

26 Jan 2013

25 Jan 2013

23 Jan 2013

Book Review: Love from Both Sides by Nick Spalding

Sometimes, the hardest part of finding love is keeping a straight face…

For Jamie Newman, being a single guy isn’t proving to be much fun, especially when confronted with a sexually belligerent divorcee and a goddess so far out of his league she might as well be a different species.

Mind you, being a girl in search of love isn’t a bowl of cherries either. Just ask Laura McIntyre, who’s recently contended with a horny estate agent on a quest for light relief, and a rabid mountain bike enthusiast with a penchant for genital display.

When Jamie and Laura bump into one another (quite literally) it looks like their luck may have changed – but sometimes finding the right person is only the start of your problems…

Based on real-life tales of dating disaster and relationship blunders, Love... From Both Sides is a warts-and-all romantic comedy for everyone who knows how tricky (and occasionally ridiculous) the quest for love can be.


Published:  31st January 2013
Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton
Source:  Review Copy From Publisher

My Review         7 out of 10

Now this was a very surprsing read...  When I picked this up I had thought that this would be a nice chicklit, easy to read romantic story.  Yes it does have romance and is a great chick lit but what surprised me was the amount of sex and sexual references it has in it, particularly at the beginning where you are following the stories of Jamie and Laura and their many dating stories.  I have to admit that I do not normally go for stories that have a lot of sexyiness in it but I stuck with it and it was well worth sticking with.

Sometimes when you come across a chick lit book that has been written by a man, when you start reading it you can't tell that it was actually written by a man and sometimes you come across a chick lit book written by a man and you can tell it was written by a man.  This book is definately the second of the two.  The language and comments in the book are definately from a male perspective and for me I found that very refresing, especially when a lot of chick lit books I read are written from the female perspective. 

Jamie Newman is a character who at first I thought was very predjuce about certain types of women until I followed his story further.  I really warmed to his character as the story went on.  Laura McIntyre is a character that I really did enjoy reading about right from the start, particuarly liking the strength in her personality.  

There are two things that I really loved about this book.  The first is the comedy in the dating from both Jamie and Laura's perspectives.  One in particular, I just found so funny was when Laura meets a mountain bike enthusiast.  So funny!

Debs
Continue reading Book Review: Love from Both Sides by Nick Spalding

22 Jan 2013

Waiting on Wednesday - My Name is Rapunzel by KC Hilton

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

 

Expected Release Date: 2013 - Exact date not yet confirmed
(Release date obtained from Goodreads)


Goodreads link is here.


Fairy tales are for children. My name is Rapunzel and I will tell you my story. I will tell you the truth.  (Full description not yet available).
Continue reading Waiting on Wednesday - My Name is Rapunzel by KC Hilton

21 Jan 2013

Author Interview: Libby Heily


I'm a bookworm and a writer, a nerd that's seen every episode of Farscape and can't wait for the next Dr. Who Season to begin. I enjoy running and playing sports and am always hopeful the Baltimore Ravens will win a superbowl. I love movies but don't care about the Oscars. I eat apples regularly but find apple juice bitter and don't like it. I'm a foodie and a beer snob. I eat babies. Okay, just baby carrots. I studied acting, video production and creative writing. I've had very few jobs that reflect any of those years of study. I am Libby Heily, and it's nice to meet you.





Danger lurks everywhere in eleven year old Reggie's world—from the bully next door to the unwanted attentions of a creep at school. Raised by her mentally ill mother, Reggie is left to fend for herself in a rough neighborhood. She escapes in daydreams, battling aliens with her alter ego, Tough Girl.

When Reggie's mother disappears, her fantasy life spirals out of control and starts to invade reality. She is hunted by a creature of her own design, and even Tough Girl is not strong enough to stop him.

Will Reggie survive long enough for her mother to return, or will her dream world take over?


GOODREADS LINK - CLICK HERE


If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why?
There are definitely living authors I would like to work with, but if I could choose anyone living or deceased, it would be a toss up between Virginia Woolf and Muriel Spark. Woolf because she's a genius and I'm in awe of what she can do with language. She was also my first female writing hero. Spark because we have similar sensibilities. She has an interesting take on humanity where she sees the darkness and the humor simultaneously.

What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?
When I don't have a day job, I wake up, check email and settle in for five to six hours of writing. Right now, I write in my little computer nook. It's a small space between our apartment entrance and the actual office. I like the smaller space, the way I can see out but still feel like I'm tucked away. When I have a job, I write whenever my schedule allows, usually one hour at night and weekend mornings. Sadly, I cannot write in coffee shops. I need privacy.

What is the hardest part of the writing for you?
My stories tend to have a lot of twists and turns and complications. Getting the plot exactly right gives me headaches. Tough Girl took me four full drafts and countless edits to get right. It also took the generous help of eight beta readers.

When and why did you first start writing?
I've always loved stories. When I was a kid, it was cartoons and TV shows. When I learnt to read, it was books. I think writing was just a natural extension of my love of stories. I've more or less been doing it since I learnt to read.

How did you come up with the idea for the book your book?
The idea for Tough Girl came to me rather slowly. I knew I wanted to write a story where a child slips away into a dream world. Alice In Wonderland and my own habit of daydreaming were huge influences there. A second project I had in mind was a film script about four siblings that were part of a crime family and had to fend for themselves when their father died. I thought about the two separately a good bit, usually while running, and slowly they merged over time. All the little nuances, characters, and world building (2 worlds) came over the two years it took me to write the novel.

Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now?
I'm a slow reader but I do read constantly. Right now I'm reading An Actor Prepares (Stanislavski), Something Wicked This Way Comes (Bradbury), A Little Bit Lucid (Sven Scheppokat), and slowly making my way through Don Quixote (Cervantes).

Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?
Perseverance is all that is going to help you in this world. Writing really comes down to making yourself do it. Put in the time, grow a thick skin because you're going to need it, and listen to critiques. When the writing is done, it's you who is going to have to work hard to get it published, whether you go with traditional publishing or self publishing.

 






Writing Credentials:

2011 Pushcart Nominee for my short story "Grow Your Own Dad"
2011 Honorable Mention in Ohio State Newark New Play Contest for my play "The Last Day"
2011 Semi-Finalist for the Eugene O'Neill National Playwrights Conference for my play "STUFF"
2010 Attendee Kennedy Center Playwriting Intensive
Published in The Write Room and Mixer Publishing
Continue reading Author Interview: Libby Heily

19 Jan 2013

17 Jan 2013

Author Interview: Tabitha Short


Tabitha Short is the writer of many horror short stories including The Roller Coaster of Death (found in the compilation titled Misery Loves Company) and The Please DO Feed The Animals ZOO. Her YA novel, Arena Games: Petrova's Legacy, is contracted and due for publication January 19, 2013. The Corpses of Old Farm Hill Road: The Arrogant Man is the first in a series of horror short stories. The second will be subtitled The Lost Soul. There are expected to be five to seven books in the series and will be released throughout 2013. You can purchase her books at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and smashwords.com as well as at her author website at http://www.authortabithashort.blogspot.com. Tabitha also operates the literary blog The First Five Pages, which can be found at http://www.thefirstfivepages.blogspot.com



1. If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?
I would choose Tamora Pierce. I love the worlds she creates and would give anything to have a hand in the creation of a movie of one of the Beka Cooper series. I think it would be phenomenal.

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

I have a full time job as an Employment Specialist with a mental health agency so my writing takes place at night and on weekends. I once even took a vacation just to finish a book.

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

Having to stop. I wish I were permitted to read, write and edit all day, everyday. I'd be the happiest person in the world.

4. When and why did you first start writing? 

I started writing in school and won awards, so that encouraged me to continue. I'm a storyteller at heart.

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

I had been researching torture devices for another book and at the same time happened to watch a show on TV about women serial killers. I drew inspiration from both and started writing it. I finished it in three days.

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

I read a lot, but I also do freelance editing. I'm currently reading/editing a manuscript.

7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?  

Get an editor, even if you're an editor. I generally send my work through three separate editing services or freelancers. It might be overkill, but we are humans and sometimes we don't always catch everything. It's better to have it over edited than under edited.



Blurb:
He wakes up every morning knowing the world owes him something. Every woman was created for his demand, except for Vanessa Roundtree and her mother. Once lured onto their farm in the middle of nowhere he becomes their prey. As they torment his body, they break down his arrogance. Will he be able to escape? Or will he become just another of the corpses of Old Farm Hill Road?


Excerpt:
His face lit up as his hand gripped the handle of the car door. His entire body felt relief and his chest rattled with cries of happiness. He pulled the handle and the familiar sound of the car door opening that met his ears brought an unsurpassable amount of joy. He climbed into the driver’s seat, arranging his broken leg with his unbroken arm. It was excruciating, but he had to get through it to get away. He was almost there. Sweat beaded up on his forehead and he prayed he wouldn’t pass out again. He just needed a few more hours of consciousness to get out alive.
As his breaths slowed he felt his way to the ignition switch to start the engine. His heart sank when he discovered the keys were not in the ignition. No worries, I can hot wire it, he said to himself. The wiring was easy to find, hidden behind an access cover. Fumbling with the wires because of his swollen fingers, he quickly found the two he needed. Bending forward was agonizing, but he managed it and used his teeth to strip the wires. He twisted the copper strands together and found the purple wire. It gave him a little bit of trouble, but he was able to skin the plastic covering from it as well.
He heard a loud clunk on the hood of the car and his head jerked to attention. Standing in front of the vehicle was Vanessa. She was jingling the keys in her hand.
“You…are…one…stupid girl,” he said aloud, most of it coming out as nothing more than mumbles. He hit the wires together and the engine stuttered and then came to life. He laughed heartily, his chest rising and falling painfully. He glanced out the front windshield, ready to enjoy the look on the stupid girl’s face, but she was not there. His fingers quickly moved to lock the doors just as he heard her grip the handle. She was at his driver’s side window.
Her face grew angry when she could not open the door. She removed her shirt, wrapped it around her fist and began hitting the driver’s side window, trying to bust it. Mathew put the car in reverse, looked over his shoulder and began to back down the driveway. He was free! As the car rolled down the curved driveway, Vanessa ran after it. He laughed out loud and considered running her over, but thought against it as he neared the end of the driveway.




Facebook:Click Here
Twitter: @tabithashort2
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16029584-the-corpses-of-old-farm-hill-road
Website: http://www.authortabithashort.com

Where to buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Corpses-Farm-Hill-Road-ebook/dp/B009Q5OILC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350173547&sr=8-1&keywords=the+corpses+of+old+farm+hill+road

iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781301537297

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236513

Diesel ebooks: http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/item/SW00000236513/Short-Tabitha-The-Corpses-of-Old-Farm-Hill-Road-The-Arrogant-Man/1.html

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-corpses-of-old-farm-hill-road-tabitha-short/1113573540?ean=2940045002103

Author Website: http://authortabithashort.blogspot.com/p/short-stories.html
 
Continue reading Author Interview: Tabitha Short

15 Jan 2013

Book Review; Finished being Fat by Betsy Schow

Not everyone can win the race, but everyone can finish it.
Find the strength to conquer even your most daunting goals in this inspiring account of one woman’s journey to the life of her dreams. It all started the morning Betsy Schow woke up ten pounds heavier than the month before and surrounded by the clutter of halfhearted projects and discarded hobbies. She decided she’d had enough.


What followed in her quest to wish away the extra 75 pounds around her middle accidentally changed her life for good. Using her Philosophy of Finishing, Betsy snowballed her efforts from weight loss into a bucket list of seemingly impossible dreams. Now she’s here to share the simple secret to her incredible success.


Whether your goal is losing weight, running a marathon, cleaning out the basement, or all of the above, this informative book will teach you how to achieve more than you ever thought possible without sacrificing your sanity or your sense of humor.


Published:   8th January 2013
Publisher:  Cedar Fort
Goodreads:  Click here
Source:  Review Copy from Author

My Review      9 out of 10

So, its a new year with yet another New Year's resolution made.  I have vowed this year will be the year that I get my bum in gear and lose some weight.  Over the last couple of years I have tried numerous diets etc with no success so this year I am going with the 'mind over matter' theory.  Reading up as much as I can and just give my life a healthy balance.  

I really enjoyed this book and following Betsy's story.  I viewed this book as more of a self-help book than a guide as such, a very inspiring story.  I often start things and not complete them, especially when it comes to diets and this book definitely inspired me to really get things finished, persevere and not give up. 

A really great inspirational read for all those of you who are either wanting to lose weight or just need a bit of inspiration in finishing goals...

Best wishes

Debs
   
Continue reading Book Review; Finished being Fat by Betsy Schow

8 Jan 2013

Book Review: Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan (Wicca (Sweep) Book 1)

Something is happening to me that I don't understand.

I see things, feel things in a new way. I can do things normal people can't do. Powerful things. Magickal things. It scares me.

I never chose to learn witchcraft. But I'm starting to wonder if witchcraft is choosing me.



Published:  29th January 2001
Publisher:  Speak 
Goodreads Link:   Click here
Source:  Bought


My Review     10 out of 10

OK, so I have had this series on my shelf for at least a year now and I thought it was about time that I picked it up and read it.  I love everything witchy so this book is definitely right up my street.  

Let's talk about the story.  I have deliberately not put the blurb from the book at the top of this post as when I read that I thought great this story sounds amazing but as I was reading it I realised that in the blurb was everything that happened in book 1.  I was a little disappointed that there was nothing extra but that was it.  I absolutely loved the story and its predictability.  You have Morgan who is the main character and who is learning all about witchcraft and how it affects here, you have Cal who moves into the place were Morgan lives and befriends her and others, enticing them to a mysterious party.  Morgan also has a best friend in this story, Bree who also gets swept up in all the action.  Immediately we are sunk into a 'love triangle' type of situation (which I love) between Morgan, Cal and Bree, which I really enjoyed following and finding out what happens next. 

Turning to the characters in the story, I adored Morgan and her inquisitive nature in wanting to find out more.  She tends to move by instinct and I always find that type of character interesting.  Cal is a mysterious character in this first book.  He moves into the place where Morgan lives, arrives at school, makes friends with near enough everyone and then asks people to join a mysterious party.  I get the feeling that there is more to Cal's story that we will find out in later books.

What I liked the most about this book is the descriptions of places, people and magic.  All through this book I very much felt that this was was an introduction to places, people and magic and I loved that about it.  After reading this book, I feel like I really know the characters, places etc and am ready to take on the rest of the series...  I can't wait to start the next one now!

Best wishes

Debs

 
Continue reading Book Review: Book of Shadows by Cate Tiernan (Wicca (Sweep) Book 1)

7 Jan 2013

Book Review: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

A man with a faded, well-worn notebook open in his lap. A woman experiencing a morning ritual she doesn't understand. Until he begins to read to her. The Notebook is an achingly tender story about the enduring power of love, a story of miracles that will stay with you forever. 

Set amid the austere beauty of coastal North Carolina in 1946, The Notebook begins with the story of Noah Calhoun, a rural Southerner returned home from World War II. Noah, thirty-one, is restoring a plantation home to its former glory, and he is haunted by images of the beautiful girl he met fourteen years earlier, a girl he loved like no other. Unable to find her, yet unwilling to forget the summer they spent together, Noah is content to live with only memories. . until she unexpectedly returns to his town to see him once again. Allie Nelson, twenty-nine, is now engaged to another man, but realizes that the original passion she felt for Noah has not dimmed with the passage of time. 

Still, the obstacles that once ended their previous relationship remain, and the gulf between their worlds is too vast to ignore. With her impending marriage only weeks away, Allie is forced to confront her hopes and dreams for the future, a future that only she can shape. Like a puzzle within a puzzle, the story of Noah and Allie is just beginning. As it unfolds, their tale miraculously becomes something different, with much higher stakes. 

The result is a deeply moving portrait of love itself, the tender moments, and fundamental changes that affect us all. Shining with a beauty that is rarely found in current literature, The Notebook establishes Nicholas Sparks as a classic storyteller with a unique insight into the only emotion that really matters.

Published:   2004
Publisher:  Bantam
Goodreads Link: Click here 
Source:  Bought

My Review   10 out of 10

Some of you may know that I am re-reading all of the Nicholas Sparks books this year and The Notebook is the the pick for this month, being the oldest Nicholas Sparks novel.  I thought about re-reading these books probably around the middle of last year and was so excited to get started, especially knowing that this book was the top of the list.  Although The Wedding is my absolute favourite, The Notebook definitely comes second.  

I just adore the characters of Noah and Allie in every way that is told in the story.  I can't talk much about this part because it would spoil the story, which I will not do, but all I will say is that I loved these characters and the love they show throughout the entire novel.  

I have yet to re-watch the movie but from memory there are some differences between the two and a major difference at the end of the story.  For example, in the movie there is more background about Allie's mother and why she is so adamant that Allie should not be with Noah when in the book its just glanced over (unless I missed something there).  

What I loved most about this story is the theme of love and romance standing still through time, never lost.  From the beginning of the story, where you see Noah and Allie meet you instantly get a 'feeling' that there is something special between them. 

Such a beautiful story and I can't wait to re-read it again and again.... 

Best wishes

Debs
 
Continue reading Book Review: The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

6 Jan 2013

Author Interview: Katie Ashley

With her thirtieth birthday looming, Emma Harrison finds her biological clock clanging and the elusive knight in shining armor yet to appear. She’s running out of options, especially after her gay best friend backs out from being her sperm donor. Of course, there’s always a sperm bank, but Emma fears a donor mix-up might impregnate her with the spawn of Satan.

Resident company womanizer, Aidan Fitzgerald, is used to always getting what he wants, especially in the bedroom. When Emma spurns his advances at the company Christmas party, he's determined to have her no matter what it takes. After Aidan learns of Emma's predicament, he is quick to offer a proposition that will benefit them both. He will father Emma's child, but she must conceive it with him naturally. Not one for hook-ups or casual sex, Emma is reluctant to take him up on his offer, but his charm, coupled with her intense desire for motherhood, wins out.

Soon their baby-making sessions become more than just physical. Aidan can't seem to walk away from her while Emma begins to wonder if Aidan could be the one. But can Aidan leave his past behind to become the man Emma needs him to be?


1. If you could work with any other author, who would it be and why?
Wow, that’s a tough one. The Southern Steel Magnolia in me would love to write with Harper Lee or Fannie Flagg. But if we’re talking romance, it would have to be either SC Stephens or Olivia Cunning. Both authors bring very different strengths to the table, and for a romance/erotic writer, I think you can learn a lot from both of them. They’re also two writers who got me back in the adult writing world. I am very blessed to have great critique partners in the business as well. Kelli Maine has been invaluable to me as a friend and writing buddy for the last three years.

2. What would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?
A typical day has me working full-time educating the Youth of America aka teaching 11th grade American Literature to high school juniors. Most of my writing time comes after work. I have an upstairs office that fits the “writer” profile, but alas, most of the time, it’s me and my laptop on the couch or the chair!!

3. What is the hardest part of the writing for you?
I think rejection has been the hardest part. When I set out on the journey four years ago, I was so very naïve. I had no idea about agents, publishing houses, query letters, etc. All it was for me was the beauty of the story and the amazing high of creating something. Sadly, all that got spit and trampled upon when I tried publication!! This was also before self-pubbing became more mainstream.
Even now though, rejection hurts. No matter how many times you go through it, the sting is still there. Whether it’s having a book go to the editorial board of a publishing house and not get support, or it’s someone hating your book or ripping apart the characters you love and adore.

4. When and why did you first start writing?
I actually started writing seriously for publication four years ago—although my late mother claimed I wrote my first story at four! After writing a Southern Literary Fiction, I read Twilight and went down the Young Adult path. Two novels, two agents, and two almost publishing deals later, I decided to go back to my roots in the adult world. I’m not giving up on Young Adult entirely. However, it has been a complete 180 joining the Romance community. I have never met such amazing, supportive, and caring people in all my life!! Every time I get on Facebook, Goodreads, or Twitter, I have a goofy grin on my face from the fangirling or support. It has really built back the shattered writing self-esteem I had after my experiences in the traditional publishing world. 

5. How did you come up with the idea for the book your book?
First, I’m a huge fan of the June and Johnny Cash type love stories—the love of a good woman turns the life of a bad boy around. Then I’ll openly admit that there is a bit of Emma that is a Mary Sue !! For many years now, I’ve been saying that I would take the plunge and have a child on my own if the perfect man—scratch that and say ANY DECENT MAN—didn’t come along. A lot of Emma’s pain of wanting and needing a family of her own comes from my own life experiences.

6. Are you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now?
Yes, I am a huge reader. I usually average 100 books or more a year, and that’s not counting the books I critique or beta read for writer buddies. I just finished the AMAZING On Dublin Street. Probably one of my Top Five FAVS of the year.

7. Do you have any advice for other aspiring writers?
Keep with it. No matter how hard it gets, how bleak it looks, how many rejections you get, don’t give up. It’s hard because it happens so easy for some people. Others have to struggle and struggle to make it. It hasn’t been an easy journey for me—often it’s been a step forward and three steps back. But the true reward comes when someone loves your characters and story as much as you do.
I’d also give Stephen King’s advice from On Writing—read, read, read. Whatever genre you’re wanting to write, you need to be very, very familiar with it.



Continue reading Author Interview: Katie Ashley

1 Jan 2013