Blog Stop and Interview: Andrea Janes

Praise for Glamour:

“Glamour is pure fun! Characters crackle with humor and unexpected adventure, compel with heart and interest, and live off the page in a delightfully witchy world.”
— Leanna Renee Hieber, bestselling author of the Strangely Beautiful saga

“An exciting and fast paced story, with a wicked-witted heroine that’s simply quite adorable.”
— Katie M John, author of The Knight Trilogy

“Filled with magic and sharp wit. I can’t wait to see what Andrea Janes brings us next!”

—       Rebecca Roland, author of Shards of History

Summary:
Townie. That’s what eighteen-year-old Christina Sundy is. All year round she lives in a one-stoplight town on Cape Cod and when summer comes she spends her days scooping ice cream for rich tourists, who she hates. So when one of them takes a job in the ice cream shop alongside her, she’s pissed. Why does a blonde and perky Harvard-bound rich girl like Reese Manning want to scoop ice cream anyway?

Something else weird is happening to Christina: tiny blue sparks seem to be shooting off her fingers. It isn’t long before she realizes the truth about herself — she’s actually a powerful hereditary witch. But her newfound powers are too intense for her to handle and, in a moment of rage, she accidentally zaps Reese into another dimension.

So that no one will notice that the rich girl has disappeared, Christina casts a disguising spell, or “glamour,” and lives Reese’s life while she tries to find a retrieval spell. But as the retrieval spell proves harder than anticipated, and as she goes about living Reese’s life without anyone on the outside noticing the switch, Christina realizes that there’s nothing to stop her from making the glamour permanent… except, of course, her fellow witches, a 16th century demon, and, just maybe, her own conscience.

Interview:

Which authors inspire you the most?

I love the dark domesticity of Shirley Jackson, she’s definitely one of my favorites.

When did you first know you wanted to write?

I have wanted to be a writer since I was six, so basically I can’t remember why or remember a time when there was ever any other idea in my mind.

How did you get the inspiration for your novel?

GLAMOUR, was in a large part inspired by some of the friendships I’ve been lucky enough to have in my life. All friendships are subject to the wax and wane of the natural course of time. It’s also partly inspired by trips to New England summer towns, which are seriously filled with more ice cream shops than you can shake a stick at. I’m a big fan of beaches and beach towns. I’ve also always been really interested in witches for some reason.

So throw witches, water, New England, and nostalgia into a blender, and you get GLAMOUR.

I was also really inspired by John Updike’s The Witches of Eastwick, which is less about three women throwing themselves at a man and much more about female friendship that you would think. Here are the beautiful last lines from the novel:

"The witches are gone, vanished; we were just an interval in their lives, and they in ours.
But ... rumors of the days when they were solid among us, gorgeous and doing evil, have flavored the name of the town in the mouths of others, and for those of us who live here have left something oblong and invisible and exciting we do not understand. We meet it turning the corner where Hemlock meets Oak; it is there when we walk the beach in off-season and the Atlantic in its blackness mirrors the dense packed gray of the clouds: a scandal, life like smoke rising twisted into legend."

What is your favorite part about being an author?

I like making up stories, watching them grow. Creating characters, giving them little lives and personalities, watching them run around like little sea monkeys.

What is your least favorite part about being an author?

Very intricate plotting is hard work for me. My least favorite things though, hands down, are sitting still for hours at a time, and working forever and ever without pay.

Could you write a bit about what your publication process was like?

GLAMOUR took a long, roundabout journey. In 2004, I wrote a screenplay called SCOOPs, with Reese as the main character. It wasn’t very good, so I put it away for a few years and then when I was ready, re-wrote it with Christina as the main character. It was at that point I decided to make them have magic witch powers to spice things up. The screenplay was now pretty good, but who in their right mind would buy it? An indie movie with two female leads and lots of costly special effects? That’s a hard sell. So then I re-wrote it as a novel. At some point I also adapted it into a short story, because why not? So it took ten years and four different forms before it became what it was.

Do you have any upcoming projects?

Yes, I’m currently writing a horror novel about a haunted condo in Rockaway Beach Queens.

Glamour is available in trade paperback and ebook via
Amazon
Barnesandnoble
Kobo 
OmniLit 
 Ingram, and other online retailers.

Andrea Janes writes horror, dark comedy, thrillers, and historical slapstick. She is the author of Boroughs of the Dead: New York City Ghost Stories<http://boroughsofthedead.com/homepage/#shop>. She is also a licensed NYC tour guide, and offers a variety of ghostly tours around the city. Her many obsessions include New York City history, old photographs, Mabel Normand, all things nautical, and beer. She maintains a personal blog over at Spinster Aunt<http://bourbonandtea.blogspot.com/>, where she discusses these obsessions in more detail than is probably healthy.
World Weaver Press is a publisher of fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction, dedicated to producing quality works. As a small press, World Weaver seeks to publish books that engage the mind and ensnare the story-loving soul.

Review: Hollowland (The Hollows #1)

Title: Hollowland (The Hollows #1)

Author: Amanda Hocking

Page Count: 312 pages

My Rating: 4 TURTLES: A great read, I definitely recommend.

Synopsis:

Hollowland - the first book in the young adult dystopian series The Hollows... "This is the way the world ends - not with a bang or a whimper, but with zombies breaking down the back door." Nineteen-year-old Remy King is on a mission to get across the wasteland left of America, and nothing will stand in her way - not violent marauders, a spoiled rock star, or an army of flesh-eating zombies.

My Review:

Wow, what a thrill ride this one was! This was my first Amanda Hocking book (and, coincidentally, my first zombie book), which I had been meaning to read for a long time since I got it for free on Amazon. I'm super glad I finally got to it.

First off, I loved how tough Remy was! She definitely deserves to be up there with all the YA kick butt heroines! She was basically the only reason the people traveling with her were alive. Because of this she had to be tough as nails, but she also has a soft side which made her more likeable and human, and not just a zombie killing machine. I also loved how fast paced this book was! I recently finished Divergent, and I felt that this was even a bit more of a page-turner than that was. There was not a dull moment in the book, and the plot did not feel choppy, like some plots do when writers are trying to hurry from one action scene to the next.

Now, when I read any type of action novel, the type of writing I like best is the type that allows the story to move quickly. Some of the other reviews I have read of this book have complained of Hocking's minimalist style, but I thought it really fit with the story. There wasn't much flowery language, in fact, the little there was seemed out of place, and this, in part, enabled the pace to go as fast as it does. What did slow down the book for me was the amount of typos. It detracted from my reading when I was in the middle of an intense fight, and at times had to go back to reread something that didn't make sense, only to realize it was a typo.

All in all, the good definitely outweighed the bad. I don't know how Hollowland compares to other zombie novels, but as an action novel it is right up there. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting, dystopian read. I am looking forward to reading the second book in this series.

Buy Hollowland on Amazon

Blog Tour Stop: Baby Gone Bye

Baby Gone Bye

By Marilee Brothers

Genre: YA, Fantasy

Publisher: Bell Bridge Books (November 29, 2013), 212 pages

Baby Gone Bye Synopsis

High school senior, Gabe Delgado, is trying to trade his bad-boy ways for clean living. He remembers nothing about the night a mysterious girl loved him and left him at a party, except … there was a kind of magic around her that had nothing to do with his hangover the next day. Now he finds that “magic” in a basket on his doorstep, cooing at him like a happy little bird.

The note attached to the baby’s blanket says, “Gabe, you probably already know our baby is, well, different. If not, you’ll find out soon enough. Let’s just say she has certain qualities most babies don’t have. The thing is, I’m scared. I’m on my own and can’t keep her safe. But, you can. You’re strong. You have a family to watch out for her. Bad people want her. That’s why I left her with you. I don’t really understand what’s going on, but it has something to do with The Abolesco. Don’t try to find me. Please, take care of our baby girl and love her. Okay?”

Gabe soon discovers there are bad people on baby Birdie’s trail, but why? Suddenly party-boy Gabe has to man up to protect his daughter. Not so easy when her talents include vanishing into thin air. It’s up to Gabe and his girl-pal Abby—who has some extraordinary secrets of her own—to find out what’s up with something called the Scientific Academy of Merit, what the goons want with Birdie, and whether other people like Birdie can be saved too.

Interview
When did you first know you wanted to write?

I grew up loving books, but due to working full time and raising three sons, I had little time to write. I wrote poetry and short stories but didn’t tackle a book until my kids were grown. I sent a short story to a writing coach for evaluation and she said, “You need to write a book.” Without her encouragement, it wouldn’t have happened.

Which authors inspire you the most?

That’s like asking me which one of my kids I like the best – LOL. I read in many different genres but mystery is my hands-down favorite. I’m in awe of Elizabeth George, an American writer who writes British mysteries with great accuracy. And, for a thrill a minute, you can’t beat Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series. In the world of non-fiction, I loved Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand.

       How did you get the inspiration for your novel?

           As a school counselor, I worked in an alternative school that had 

           child care for the teen parents, predominantly girls. After rearing

           three sons, I wanted to explore the challenges faced by a teenage boy   

           suddenly presented with a five-month old infant, especially one with

           magical powers.

    What is your favorite part about being an author?

I believe we all have the desire to express ourselves creatively. Since I’m not capable of creating anything artistic with my hands—it’s like my fingers are blunt instruments—I try to paint a picture with words. I love creating characters, figuring out what makes them tick and then building a story around them.

     What is your least favorite part about being an author?

The promotional and marketing end of publishing are so important and, unfortunately, very difficult for me.

    Could you write a bit about what your publication process was like?

My first book, Castle Ladyslipper, was a medieval romance published by a small press. When I finished my second book, a romantic suspense titled The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam, I pitched it to an editor who rejected the book but suggested I concentrate on writing for young adults. I eventually sold Rock and Roll Queen to Medallion Press and then began writing Moonstone, which would become the first book in a 5 book series, Unbidden Magic. I entered the first few chapters in a contest. At the time, I had no idea Debra Dixon, one of the publishers at Belle Books, was a judge. When they started a new imprint, Bell Bridge Books, she hunted me down and asked me to send her Moonstone. That book led to a six-book contract. Baby Gone Bye is the sixth book. Yes, a lot of luck was involved and I’m very grateful.

 Do you have any upcoming projects?

Having finished my contract, I’ve decided to concentrate on the adult market again. I’ve just started a book tentatively titled Affliction with a twenty two-year-old protagonist, Honor Melanie Sullivan. My original intent was to aim for the new adult genre but the book seems to be morphing into a hybrid, combining romantic suspense with a bit of magic. Honor has been diagnosed with Asperger’s because she is socially awkward and doesn’t make eye contact. Real reason she doesn’t make eye contact? She can read people’s souls and, most of the time, she doesn’t like what she sees.

   Describe in three or fewer sentences what makes your book   unique and why a reader should buy it.

High school senior Gabe Delgado is trying to trade his bad-boy ways for clean living. He remembers nothing about the night a mysterious girl loved him and left him at a party, except … there was a kind of magic around her. Now he finds that “magic” in a basket on his doorstep, cooing at him like a happy little bird.

Author Info

Marilee Brothers is a former teacher, coach and counselor. The author of eight books, Marilee and her husband are the parents of three grown sons and live in central Washington State. After writing six young adult books, Marilee is currently hard at work, writing an adult thriller. She loves hearing from people who have read her books. Feel free to contact her at www.marileebrothers.com.

Links

My Twitter account is: @MarileeB.

My Facebook author page is: www.facebook.com/marilee.author.

My website is: www.marileebrothers.com.

My blog is: http://bookblatherblog.blogspot.com

Blog Tour Stop: Bad Monsters

Introducing – Dr. Booker and Devonne Booker

In Clinton D. Harding's debut novel "Our Monsters", Jon Graves and his friends escaped their parents and the military, leaving behind the only home they'd ever known, the small town of Carpenter. But their freedom is short lived as they find themselves in more danger than before they left Carpenter.
"Bad Monsters"—the second book The Our Monsters Chronicles, released March 2014—picked up where its prequel ended. Jon and his friends are on the run and hunted and by General Mauser and his military dogs. Jon can practically feel them breathing down his neck, as the jaws of the military dogs snapping at his heels.
Blood is spilled, friendly and not, and now Jon must answer his friends' questions sooner than later, or risk one of those friends dying. He's just not sure he's the person to be deciding their fates or if he, Alice, and George are fully prepared to walk away from their normal lives.
A farm in northern California may serve as salvation to this scared, but brave, group of teenagers. However, can they trust the inhabitants they find there, who themselves have a history with Carpenter? If Jon can talk his way past the shotgun in his face, he might just discover what he and his friends need; answers about the history of Carpenter, the hybrids, the powers the teens borrow from their hybrids and who are the true monsters. In all this confusion and danger, Jon may also find a young woman who can help heal the wounds left by Mikaila when she left him and the group.
Pick up "Bad Monsters", the second installment in The Our Monsters Chronicles, is now available and can be found in e-book and paperback form at major online retailers: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords.

***

"Bad Monsters" introduces many new characters. Enemies to harry the teenagers and their hybrids toward trouble. Allies to provide sanctuary and answers.
Two new characters are a father and his daughter, Dr. Tobin Booker and Devonne Booker. When one of the teenagers' and hybrids' number is mortally injured during a skirmish with the Carpenter Army unit hunting them, the group has no choice but to look up an old colleague of Dr. Rush's to ask for medical aid. They get more than they bargain for when they arrive at the Booker Farm and veterinary clinic and find themselves staring down the barrel of a shotgun.
Is Dr. Booker friend or foe? Jon, George, and Alice will need to decide if they can trust the veterinarian. The allure of a quiet place to rest and the attention of the veterinarian's daughter Devonne—a smart, witty, snarky teenager—will cloud Jon's judgment and threaten to misdirect his and his friends' course.
Jon had two women in his life during the events of the first book "Our Monsters". Mikaila was the girl-next-door. She was the heart of the misfit group until her departure at the end of the book. A best friend to Jon. Cute. Gentle. Nurturing. Jon could never see her as anything more than a confidant, someone to watch his favorite movies with, to laugh, and to joke. Mikaila desired a relationship with Jon but he could never let go of her as his best friend, despite the strange feelings he had when he saw her go out on a date with another classmate. Then there was Alice. The one-night-in-heaven desire of every high school boy. Every boy's not-so-secret wet dream. So high on the trophy self, Jon would never think of reaching for Alice. Seductive. Sassy. Popular. Sharp tongued. Queen of high school. Broken. (More on Alice in another article.)
Devonne is somewhere between Mikaila and Alice. She is beautiful. Quick witted. Fearless. And a female nerd. While Mikaila would challenge Alice's superior attitude, trying to make peace while chiding her, Devonne is tough as nails and will challenge Alice with witticism and a quick tongue. She is new and exciting to Jon, someone who shares no backstory with him, and she is the first girl who will show Jon outward affection rather than dance around their friendship. Her presence will irritate Alice and rub her the wrong way. Drama and conflict... yes!
Her father is another story. While Devonne will come into conflict with Alice over the position as queen bee, her father and Jon will have a hard time trusting each other. Jon and his friends may bring a storm to the Booker farm. And the veterinarian and his daughter are running from their own ghosts. Visitors are not what Booker is looking for or wants. He has his secrets he's running from too. Secrets that will affect the futures of Jon, his friends, and the hybrids. Booker is also an adult, a parent, and adults are hard for Jon and his friends to trust. Their own parents kept secrets from them, why should they trust this man? Booker doesn't like Jon either, especially when his daughter is making googly eyes at the teenager.
Jon has many decisions to make in "Bad Monsters". New characters—friends or foes?—only add to the complexity of his options. Believe me, there are other new characters besides the Bookers too. Those that would spare but use the teenagers and hybrids and those who would capture them. Jon better decide which are which soon.
Who are these new characters? You've briefly met the Bookers, read "Bad Monsters" for additional introductions.

***

When Clinton D. Harding is not busy wrestling and taming wild Scottish Terriers in wilderness of Oxnard California, he's using a magic pen he pulled from a stone to craft new worlds filled with fantastic beasts and evils that need fighting. He is also the author-publisher of The Our Monsters Chronicles, a YA series of novels that combines fantasy/sci-fi elements with horror chills. For more information about Harding and his creations visit his website, like him on Facebook, follow him on Twitter, or become a fan at Goodreads.





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Blog Tour: The Forest's Heir

Guest Post:

Writing is something I’ve always wanted to do. People say I’m good at writing drama and angst. They say I can break your heart with my words. I don’t know about all that, but I know that there’s one thing that’s hard for me… it’s so hard for me to write mystery. Mostly because I give everything away.

         

   I love reading mysteries, especially murder mysteries like those that inspired the television show Bones. I’ve always wanted to be able to write a story that has a mystery embedded into the entire story and not give it away until the very end of the story. I want to be that kind of writer.

     

       So I sat down and started thinking about my favorite young adult mysteries. Why did I like them so much, and which ones topped the list? So here are my top five favorite young adult mysteries.

1.The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

2. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

3. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

4. Changeling by Philippa Gregory

5. Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

I think what draws me so much about these kinds of stories is that they draw you in at the beginning and don’t let go until the end. They drop little clues throughout the story to let you figure out what’s going on, but they never give you the big picture until it’s time for the big reveal. There are a few close calls and a little bit of misdirection, but the writers NEVER give it away.

I wish I could do that.

Maybe that will be my next project. I’ll write a mystery. Just as soon as I finish the third Elemental Royals novel.

It might take a while though. I like to give away too much.

Buy Links:

Amazon 

Barnes & Noble

Synopsis of The Forest's Heir:

Seventeen year old Rosalind Rowan was born a princess, the apple of her father's eye. She loves the thick forests and lush meadows of the Forested Land. She is sometimes selfish and reckless, but she is also kind and loves fearlessly. Rosalind-who is known to everyone but the Queen as Rose-is desperately in love with Gavin Ashford, the dashing and intriguing son of an important lord. She wants nothing more than to marry Gavin and live in a country manor, far away from court. Because once her older sister marries, Rosalind must take up the position of Regent of the Forested Land. But things aren't always simple. When Rosalind uncovers abilities she should never have and sickness tears through the kingdom, the ordered world Rosalind thought she knew threatens to crash around her.