[Tour stop] Interview with Nikki Broadwell (author of the Wolfmoon trilogy)

The Wolf Moon (Wolfmoon Trilogy Book 3) By Nikki Broadwell

It is close to the winter solstice when Maeve Lewin’s simple trip to Scotland to re-unite with her mother throws her headlong into a dangerous world.

A prophecy written centuries before seems to describe her as ‘the one’, and despite Maeve’s insistence that this couldn’t possibly be true, her mother and grandmother both agree.

What Maeve doesn’t know is that her boyfriend is part of her destiny, mentioned in the ancient text as ‘the one of noble birth who will stand by her side’. But Harold’s only plan is to join Maeve Scotland for the New Year before the two of them fly home to the States.

The night of the winter solstice brings Maeve face to face with a terrifying reality, but it's Harold’s arrival that forces her to come to terms with the truth. He seems to have lived in this parallel world before and his part in future events has been sealed as surely as hers.

With dark forces hunting her relentlessly and confronted with a fate she didn’t choose, Maeve must come to terms with her future and somehow find the strength to fulfill the perilous task set before her.

Where you can purchase this book?

Amazon

Other Books by Nikki Broadwell

 Book One                                                                  Book Two

Where can I purchase these books?

Amazon

Smashwords

About the Author

Nikki’s college education centered on English and Art and she graduated with a B.A. in both. While her children were in middle school she began a greeting card business and then later, when they were out of the house, she began painting on silk, selling her scarves and wall hangings to high-end galleries in California and Oregon .Now she writes full time, working on a sequel to Wolfmoon as well as a fictionalized version of her parent’s life based on journals her father kept during his time as a POW duringWW2.

Having recently located from Portland Oregon, Nikki has become a resident of Tucson, Arizona where she lives on a hill at the base of the Catalina Mountains with her husband, and standard poodle, Buddha and Eesa, the cat.

Website

Goodreads

Blog

Book Trailer

Interview

What have you published recently?

 Over the past year and a half I've published three books of a Celtic fantasy trilogy—“The Moonstone”, “Saille, the Willow”, and just this month, “The Wolf Moon”.

How, and when, did you decide to become a writer? 

I've always loved writing from the time I was in grade school. In college I majored in English and Art, going back and forth until I had enough units for a degree in both! However, I didn't do any serious writing until about seven years ago when I took a writing workshop. The moonstone, first book of the trilogy, was begun from a writing prompt in that class—from then on I've been hooked!

Where can we find your published writing?

I have several short stories up on my Goodreads site and my books can be found on Smashwords, Amazon, as kindle or paper, and can be ordered from any bookstore.

What is a typical day like for you as a writer? 

I don’t keep any particular schedule but usually I’m at my desk by eight or nine a.m. If I’m working on a project it’s hard to pry me away from my computer—I’m one of those who types rather than writing longhand. I leave my desk to eat and sometimes to take a walk or a yoga class but I can easily write for six hours in a day. What I have to watch out for is not writing into the evening—if I do I’m often plagued with insomnia as the characters parade through my mind willing me back to my desk.

What are your favorite characters that you have created? Tell us about them. 

The first one that comes to mind is the antagonist who has a part in all three books. He’s a priest gone bad, a complex character with a history of abuse and a twin sister who is a seer. He and his twin were once so close that they could communicate telepathically, but now Brandubh is taking his orders from their sorceress mother, a woman who feeds off others to retain her youth. MacCuill, a druid is another of my favorites—he’s a wise sort of Gandalf-like character who literally has magic at this fingertips! I also made up a race of people called the Crion who are the ‘keepers of the wisdom’ in the Otherworld. And of course I’m very fond of the main character, Maeve, a young woman faced with a destiny she didn't bargain for. She needs to find inner strength in terrifying circumstances. 

Do you find you “mentally edit” other writers’ works as you read them? Does doing this help you or bother you? 

OMG. YES! I am always doing this even when reading authors who are on the best-seller list! I worked really hard to edit mine and it irks me to find typos and mistakes. Of course there are always a few that slip by, but it’s obvious when an author hasn't hired a proofreader. And dealing with the publishing companies such as Createspace or Lightning Source can be maddening when the formatting adds even more mistakes!

What music do you listen to, while writing? 

It is too distracting for me to listen to music while I write—especially songs with lyrics! If I listened to any it would be new agey with a drumbeat or rhythm—something to get my second chakra going…(creativity)

What do you eat while writing?

I bring in breakfast and lunch sometimes, spilling crumbs into my keyboard and making it filthy and greasy. I also drink espresso and if I’m not following my ‘no writing after five’ rule I bring in wine.

Five for Fun:

What is your favourite non-alcoholic drink? 

Caffe latte

What is your favourite cartoon character?

Hmm..I’m sure this will date me, but I would have to say the roadrunner. I don’t watch cartoons now so can’t even think of a more current figure unless it was a character from Studio Ghibli, the Japanese anime`—if you haven’t seen them, they’re remarkable!

What is your favourite movie of all time? 

Would have to say ‘”The King of Hearts”. I also loved the first three “Star Wars”, “Matrix” and “The Lord of the Rings” and many many more.

What do you like to do for fun or just to relax? 

I love watching series and movies and I love reading. I also love to hike in wild places with my dog. Yoga and meditation are a big part of my life as is going out for lunch and having a glass of crisp chilled wine!

Where can we find you on the web?

My Website: www.wolfmoontrilogy.com
My blog: http://niksblog-authorinprogress.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nikkibroadwell
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nikki.broadwell
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5321050.Nikki_Broadwell
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/nikkibroadwell

Tour stop: Jill Saunders Returning Pride

Iian Jordan runs a successful restaurant that has been in his family for generations, he has a large beautiful house that overlooks the shoreline and his wonderful hometown. Why then, does he feel like something is missing? And he isn't talking about his hearing, which he'd lost in a tragic accident over ten years ago.
No, what he is missing in his life, is the person who'd just driven back into town. Someone he's always loved from afar. Now, he needs to step up and grab what he wants, before she gets away again.
In the past two years, Allison Adams has made a name for herself in the art world. All she wants now is some peace and quiet from all the hassles and pressures of her demanding career. But, when she arrives home, she finds her mother trapped in an illness that consumes her every waking moment.
Just when she thinks she knows the path she wants to follow, everything is taken away from her in one scary night. But, with the help of the good people in her hometown and an old flame, she might just find that returning home was the best thing that could have happened.

Jill Sanders survived 80's pop music, and life as an identical twin in a chaotic family of nine. A feat by any standard! She was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, relocating to Colorado for college and a successful IT career at IBM in Boulder.

Narrowly escaping before all creativity was squashed, she jumped at the chance to trade the mundane world of computers for the sexy, exciting world of her own imagination. She now lives in charming rural Texas writing wonderful novels such as the Pride series.

Her debut novel, Finding Pride, was shortlisted in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards 2013, and has received glowing industry and reader reviews from around the world. Her latest release is Discovering Pride. Yet another novel, Returning Pride, is slated for July 2013.

To learn more about Jill, visit her website www.jillmsanders.com, where she blogs daily, or follow her on Twitter: @jillmsanders.

For a chance to win ebook click here and leave a comment!

OR BUY A COPY:

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/13h2F8f

AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/15ygj6Q

B&N: http://bit.ly/17gq8wT

KOBO: http://bit.ly/11t7vhB

SMASHWORDS: http://bit.ly/16buqkO

Review: Hillari's Head by Tim Stutler

Hillari's Head by Tim Stutler 4/5

The author sent me an arc in exchange for an honest review. And being honest i'm really not sure what I expected after reading the synopsis for this book, it's not like anything I've read before and when I read the words paralegals and attorneys it brought to mind shows like Suits and Law and Order and I was a little apprehensive, because court room drama isn't really my thing. But to my delight Hillari's Head was nothing like those shows, I really enjoyed reading it and i'm definitely going to read outside my genre comfort zone more often. Hillari's Head is about Kristina a paralegal starting her new life, she's certain she is over her traumatic past, the death of her father and leaving behind her sister Hillari who suffers from Oligodontia - where six or more teeth fail to develop - and an over sized head. But when the memory of Hillairi starts to haunt Kristina she has to learn that "You can't escape the past, until you accept what has passed." - I absolutely adore that quote.

The writing was superb, the author did a great job with Kristina's character she felt very real and I really liked her. I'm always surprised when a male author creates such a realistic female character that I really connect with, Stutler must of done some research on female protagonist because Kristina was expertly developed. The story line was so original  I loved the twists and I didn't see the end coming at all, Hillari's Head was a real page turner, I couldn't put it down until the very end.

I actually think i'm going to read this book again in a couple of years, it was really touching and will stay with me for awhile. The relationship between Kristina and Duck was great, he was a great character and gave Kristina more layers. I found the way that it slowly became apparent to Kristina that she wasn't as over her past as she thought very moving. I know what its like to think your past something just to have it reappear and realize it had never really gone in the first place. Kristina was a fighter, she seemed pretty fragile and vulnerable for most of the book but as we learn more about her it comes to light that she is stronger than even she knows, I like the way she comes to realize that at the end. I thought the ending was brilliant, I like the fact the author forwent the typical route for the books closing. It made the book more original and memorable to me. Hillari's Head is a highly enjoyable read, I won't easily forget. I really recommend it for anyone who loves a good original story line.

                                                            ~ Goodreads ~

Feature and Follow Friday #5

This is a weekly blog hop hosted by the wonderful Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. 

Q: Favorite literary quote:

Mine is from The Dead Tossed Waves by Carry Ryan I loved it so much I put it on an image at the side of my blog. Part of the reason my blog is called All We Have is Stories is this quote.

"We are nothing more than our stories and who we love. What we pass on, how we exist... it's having people remember who we are. We're terrible at that in this world. At remembering. At passing it on."

Since GFC is ending please follow with bloglovin, thank you <3

Interview with Zoe Cannon author of The Torturer's Daughter

The Torturer's Daughter by Zoe Cannon. 4/5 (Review)

Synopsis
When her best friend Heather calls in the middle of the night, Becca assumes it's the usual drama. Wrong. Heather's parents have been arrested as dissidents - and Becca's mother, the dystopian regime's most infamous torturer, has already executed them for their crimes against the state.

To stop Heather from getting herself killed trying to prove her parents' innocence, Becca hunts for proof of their guilt. She doesn't expect to find evidence that leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew about the dissidents... and about her mother.

When she risks her life to save a dissident, she learns her mother isn't the only one with secrets - and the plot she uncovers will threaten the lives of the people she loves most. For Becca, it's no longer just a choice between risking execution and ignoring the regime's crimes; she has to decide whose life to save and whose to sacrifice.

It's easy to be a hero when you can save the world, but what about when all you can do is choose how you live in it? THE TORTURER'S DAUGHTER is a story about ordinary teenage life amidst the realities of living under an oppressive regime... and the extraordinary courage it takes to do what's right in a world gone wrong.

Amazon

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About Zoe
Zoe Cannon writes about the things that fascinate her: outsiders, societies no sane person would want to live in, questions with no easy answers, and the inner workings of the mind. If she couldn't be a writer, she would probably be a psychologist, a penniless philosopher, or a hermit in a cave somewhere. While she'll read anything that isn't nailed down, she considers herself a YA reader and writer at heart. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and a giant teddy bear of a dog, and spends entirely too much time on the internet.

Stalk Zoe on:
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Her Website.

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Interview

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?
Honestly, I can’t think of a time when I didn't want to be a writer. I've been writing for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up I spent most of my time with my nose in a book, and writing my own books seemed like a natural extension of that.

Who are your influences?
Madeleine L’Engle has been a huge influence for me. She’s proof that just because a book is written for a young audience doesn't mean it should be simplistic. Her books have always felt magical to me, full of ideas and wonder and a sense of what matters in the world. I think that’s because of two things: the depth and complexity of her stories, and how (I suspect) she wrote a lot of herself into her books – what drove her, what mattered to her, how she saw the world. I try to include both those elements in my own writing. Orson Scott Card is another influence of mine – I read a lot of his books when I was younger, and I think it’s where I got my love for stories that are full of philosophy and moral dilemmas.

Who is your favorite author? what is your favorite book?
It’s hard to name my favorite author – there are so many to pick from! But if I had to choose just one, I think it would be Lois McMaster Bujold. Her science fiction is good on so many levels – her stories are smart and well-thought-out and just plain fun. As for books, I have three tied for my favorite right now. There’s Benighted by Kit Whitfield, a complex and thoughtful urban fantasy set in a world where almost everyone is born as a werewolf. There’s Warchild by Karin Lowachee, a sci-fi novel with amazing characterization, going deep into the main character’s head as he tries to find a place between his native human race and the aliens who raised him. And there’s Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, a story of friendship in World War II that will not only make you cry but has one of the most interesting character voices I've ever seen.

What do you like to do when your not writing?
I spend a lot of my non-writing time reading. I love books – if I didn't, it wouldn't make much sense for me to write them! Other than that, I like to play computer games, poke around on the internet, and hang out with my husband and dog. My life is pretty boring, really. :) But my books have more than enough excitement for me.

What inspired you to write The torturer's daughter?
I love dystopian fiction – that’s the main reason I write it. But beyond that, I wrote this book because I wanted to see what dystopian oppression would look like in a place that wasn't an exotic future, but was instead someplace just like our own world. I wanted to see what it would be like if one of the villains of the dystopian world, a woman who tortures and executes anyone who questions the regime, happened to be an ordinary person with a life and a family… and what would happen when her daughter was forced to confront the things that her mother had done.

Which of the characters you've created is your favorite?
That’s a tough decision – but I think I’d have to say Becca. Especially now that I've written the sequel to The Torturer’s Daughter. When I sat down to write the sequel, I had some idea of how she had evolved between one book and the next, but I didn't fully appreciate the person she had become until I actually started writing. Even though I know she’s entirely a creation of my own imagination, there were times in the sequel when I just wanted to hug her and tell her how proud I was of her.

Do any of your characters remind you of yourself?
I don’t think I've ever written a character who was based on me, or who reminded me of myself more than not. But I put bits of myself in most of the people I write about, often without realizing it until after the fact. I can see myself in Becca’s contemplativeness, in Micah’s idealism (you’ll meet him soon!), and even in Raleigh Dalcourt’s sense of conviction.

How many books are there going to be in the Internal Defense series?Right now I have five novels planned, as well as two novellas, although that’s not a hard-and-fast number – a story might not work out the way I planned, or another addition to the series might show up demanding to be written. Not all the books will be about Becca and the other characters from The Torturer’s Daughter, either; although the next book, Necessary Sacrifices, will be a direct sequel to The Torturer’s Daughter, I also have plans for stand-alone novels within the series that will explore different characters and different aspects of the world.

What is your favorite thing about writing?
The best thing about writing, in my opinion, is that it lets me take the stories in my head and share them with other people. There’s something magical about that process – how you can start with something that doesn't exist anywhere except your own mind, and turn it into something that complete strangers can experience.

Are you going to stay in the dystopia genre for future projects?
I have ideas for several more dystopian novels, both in the Internal Defense series and in different but equally dark worlds. I've always loved dystopian books, so it makes sense that so many of my ideas fall into that genre. But I also have some non-dystopian stories planned – although everything I write tends to contain darker elements, no matter the genre.

When is the sequel Necessary Sacrifices out?
Necessary Sacrifices will be coming out on July 15th!

Stacking the shelves #4

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews to showcase the books we got this week. They can be physical or virtual copies and it doesn't matter if they're won, bought, borrowed or received for review.

Bought paperbacks
Acid by Emma Pass
The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Crossed by Ally Condie

Won e-copy
The Last Witch by Debbie Dee




For Review e-copy
Foreverland is Dead by Tony Bertauski


What did you get this week? <3

The end of GFC :(

it has been announced that GFC (Google Friend Connect) will no longer be available after July 1st 2013. Most of you have heard the news already and have assimilated over to Bloglovin'.

If not, you can easily import the blogs you are following with GFC into your Bloglovin account.



You can read more about Bloglovin' and importing blogs here:

Bloglovin as Google Friend Connect Replacement / Alternative

Bloglovin' is a user friendly site and the process of importing the blogs you follow via GFC is as quick as clicking a button or two. It's easier than going through all of your favorite blogs and adding them manually.

You cannot import your followers, though. That is up to the follower!

So, if you are a follower, be sure to join Bloglovin' and import all the blogs you follow so you don't miss everyone's posts and giveaways!

I'd very much appreciate it if my followers continued to follow me through Bloglovin'! Over there! -->>

P.S I stole this post from Lazy Day Literature.  

Review: The Tourturer's Daughter by Zoe Cannon

The Torturer's Daughter by Zoe Cannon 4/5

I received an e-copy of The Torturer's Daughter from the author in return for an honest review. I love dystopia so of course I loved this. After Becca's best friends parents are arrested for dissident activity she searches for evidence of their guilt but what she find turns her world upside down. Everything she thought she knew about herself and her mother -the dystopian regime's most infamous torturer - is shaken and Becca must decide who's side she's on. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel it was captivating from the very first page. The character development of Becca was great while still staying true to her original personality. I thought the predicament that she found herself in - torn between what she had been taught and what she had learnt about the society she lived in - was very well imagined. The two sides to her mothers personality the mother and the torturer was very intriguing and realistic and the decision Becca faced at the end of the book was a great way to draw the book to a close.

Zoe Cannon's writing was consistent throughout the novel and made for a great page turner. I liked the way the book was formed from Becca's initial trip to 117 to get her friend, when she was completely in the dark as to the situation, to the way everything was wrapped up at the end leaving just enough of a cliff hanger to leave me excited for the sequel. Zoe layered all of the characters enough to give them a realistic feel and leave you guessing what their motives were. The writing around the books more heart wrenching moments was good, things happened in a well paced way and didn't leave time to dwell on things that had passed before Becca was in another situation that called your full attention. Flawed characters are always the best and Becca was definitely flawed, she was very naive in the beginning and eventually had to make decisions that would drive anyone to the edge, I'm interested to see how she recovers from these events in the next book, I imagine she would be very emotionally scared from what she went through and I look forward to seeing how Zoe writes her character.

I absolutely loved The Torturer's Daughter and I can't wait to read the sequel. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the dystopian genre.



                                                            Goodreads ~ Amazon
                                                     

Teaser Tuesday #8

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

Grab your current read.
Open to a random page.
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"She didn't understand the things her mom was screaming. It all blended together into a nonsensical jumble."

P.g 129 (of epub format) "The Torturer's Daughter" by Zoe Cannon

Review: Oath of Servitude by C.E Wilson

Oath of Servitude by C.E Wilson 3.5/5

This book wasn't even on my radar when the author requested a review, but after I read the synopsis I was eager to read it and I'm very glad that I had the opportunity too. Oath of Servitude is centred around Cailin a pixi who is determined to herself and Teague a human who has lost his sight. Cailin is forced to take an oath of servitude to Teauge's family as a punishment for going against pixi ways. Cailin must spend a year in Teague and his fathers home. But as their relationship grows so do tensions in her clan, someone is determined to make Cailins family suffer, but she doesn't know why.

I found the overall story line of the novel very original and addictive, I have rated this book as 3.5 stars because its midway between good (3 stars) and great (4 stars). as much as i enjoyed the novels originality and the characters uniqueness I found the book did drag a little without much happening in parts and end very suddenly. This is C.E's first novel which was noticeable as the writing of the first twenty pages felt rather stiff but when she became comfortable and found her style the writing flowed well and I look forward to seeing more improvement in book two of the punishment sequence.

I liked the character development of Cailin and Teague as we learnt more about them and they began to trust each over, the involvement of the mysterious past of both of their parents was very intriguing and I can't wait to find out the story behind it. C.E's world building was great and I really felt involved in the scenes she had portrayed and committed to uncovering more about the characters as the book progressed. The book was a relatively fast read, it only took me a week to finish it, but I think the book could of done with being a bit longer, with the late introduction of the other pixi characters their wasn't enough time spent getting to know them, and the book was really lacking an ending in my opinion.

In conclusion I'm very glad the author contacted me and gave me the chance to read this book it was enjoyable and addictive but needed to be longer. I'm looking forward to the sequel and to finding out more about the characters and their motives. C.E Wilson is an upcoming author who I hope to read more from in the future. I would recommend this book YA and fantasy fans.

Goodreads ~ Amazon

WWW #5

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading.

You just answer these three questions:

What did you recently finish reading?

What are you currently reading?

What are you planning to read next?

What have I recently finished reading?

Eden at the Edge of Midnight by John Kerry 4/5

The author sent me an e-copy of this book for review and I absolutely loved it. I can't wait for the sequel. John Kerry was also nice enough to be my first ever interviewee, so please check that out. (Review) (Interview)

What am I currently reading?

Oath of Servitude by C.E Wilson

The author sent me an e-copy for review and its way more enjoyable than I had anticipated. It's a very original book about pixies. 

What am I going to read next?

The Torturer's daughter by Zoe Cannon

I'm looking forward to reading this book so much, the author sent me an e-copy for review. It's dystopia which is my favorite genre & I think it will be a great read.

Teaser tuesday 7#

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along. Just do the following:

Grab your current read.
Open to a random page.
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"Come to think of it, he still didn't know why Cailin had being banished. Would it have been inappropriate to ask her?" 

P.G 154 "Oath of Servitude" by C.E Wilson 

Spotlight: Book/Author too look out for!

Emotions make things complicated, but swallowing a pill is easy. Being numb, dulling the extremes, programming you to be the perfect citizen; that is what the Triad Of Colors is for. We make things easy for you. We do the work for you. We think for you. We are the Officials.
Here's some water: swallow fast.

In a world that over medicates for the good of its people, a government monitors your feelings and can even review your thoughts at the push of a button. Rebellion is out of the question, until it isn't.

Jessica Keefe

I’ll be the first one to admit that I want to make a career of writing. I want to be famous. I figure if E.L. James can grow to literary infamy with a trilogy of smut books and erotica, surely a novel that has deeper meaning than BDSM and sex can sell if written well enough. I’m a dreamer though. I lie in bed at night and think about providing for my family, about starting a college fund for my son, about buying a pair of pants that are the perfect size and height and not wincing because they’re double the price I usually pay. Some people just want to get their work out there and be known by their family and friends as a true blue author, complete with a book that’s sold 23 copies in the past two years and sits so far down in the ranks it’d take three days to find. But I want more. And I won’t stop until I get it.

Website ~ Facebook page ~ Goodreads

Interview John Kerry (Author of Eden at the Edge of Midnight)

John Kerry is – to the untrained eye – an average-sized, average-looking, marginally out of shape white guy, but depending on which day you observe him, in his head he could be about to take down a cartel of drug dealers with his bare hands. On another day he might be about to force push a lorry from the path of a baby stroller before they collide. Or, on yet another, he might even be getting ready to dive into a telephone box so he can rip open his shirt and fly off round the world backwards turning back time for some reason known only to himself. When John isn't living in a fantasy world he can be found in the city of Sheffield, UK where he lives. Originally from Ipswich, he lived in London for a while, before moving up north to raise his three Padawan daughters. And one day he hopes to move to the US because that’s where all the other superheroes live and where alien invasions often occur. Books wise John loves virtually anything containing adventure, fantasy, Sci-Fi, monsters, Harry Potter, Hunger Games, or Lovecraftian cyclopean horror.

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1. When did you realize you wanted to become a writer?

It wasn't something I ever considered as a kid. I've tried my hand at various creative projects. I wrote and produced a couple of short films. I also wrote the story for and designed a mobile phone game. So I guess it took me a while to realize that every creative project I took on I always enjoyed the writing and story creation side most.

2. Who are your influences?

This seems like a cop-out answer but JK Rowling was a huge influence for me. She was the first children’s/teen writer I read (as an adult) that completely immersed me into the world around her characters.
I've always loved the worlds that stories are set in. Often as much as the characters. C.S. Lewis’s Narnia. GRRM’s Westeros. Middle Earth. I love the Star Wars universe, Marvel and DC universes. All that back-story the character relationships and history. Which is why I spent a lot of time crafting the realm of Perseopia around my main characters.
The rest of my influences form a huge jumbled pile of writers and include: Philip Pullman, H.P. Lovecraft, Justin Cronin, Cormack McCarthy, James Herbert, Chuck Palahniuk, Suzanne Collins. Whatever I’m reading at the time of writing tends to influence me. Which is why whenever I begin a book that I feel is badly written I have to abandon it.

3. Who is your favorite author? What is your favorite book?

There are too many to choose from. If I was forced to pick one, I’d have to go with The Road by Cormac McCarthy.

4. How do you like to write (computer, typewriter, pen & paper)?

Computer. I make too many mistakes to use paper. I’d need half the Amazon rain forest cut down and pulped for the number of mistakes I make. Much easier to use a computer...and it leaves a smaller carbon footprint!

5. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Reading mainly. Life is so noisy and busy that quiet time with a book is my ideal pastime. But I enjoy anything with a story. Movies, TV shows, video games, anything that can evoke an emotion or thrill with adventure.

6. What inspired you to write Eden At The Edge Of Midnight?

The birth of my eldest daughter. I wanted to write (and paint) her a picture book about a young girl and her adventures in an unusual and magical fantasy world. My imagination has always been my strongest asset and I realized early on that I had too many ideas for a simple picture book. (And that my paintings weren't particularly great) That’s when I decided I had to write a novel. And then later a series of novels.

7. Why did you decide to make the main character a teenage girl?

Because I wanted my main character to be young enough that she would display a sense of wonder and naivety like a child thrown into a magical world would, but I also wanted her to be grown up enough that she had some independence and confidence too. There are a lot of emotionally needy female protagonists in teen fiction at the moment. Girls that need boyfriends to feel validated in their lives. I wanted to create a strong female lead for my daughters. A young woman that is an outsider, geeky and vulnerable, but shows strength and courage too. In the sequel two years have passed since Eden, she’s stronger still and on her way to becoming a serious badass!

8. Are you working on the sequel?

Yes. I have the plot all worked out and even the overall arc for the next three books. I’m a hundred and fifty pages into the sequel. Which isn't very much, so I need to concentrate and get writing! I’m really excited by the sequel. A lot of things will get explained and I’ll be introducing characters that were only hinted at in the first book.

9. How many books are there going to be in the series?

At minimum 5. But probably 6.

10. Are you going to stick to the fantasy genre in the future?

Certainly for the rest of The Vara Volumes, yes. I've had a few other ideas that I suppose you’d file under the Sci-Fi, and separately, paranormal genres. But I’ll have to leave those as notes for the time being as I’m fully committed to delivering the next installment of the Vara Volumes.

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Eden at the Edge of Midnight 4/5 (Review)
 From the 4th to the 6th of June Eden at the Edge of Midnight (Kindle) is going to be 75p (99 cents) on Amazon.