The time it was all about Auntie Heather

By now, everyone knows how I stalk adore Heather Brewer.  I finally met her at Comic-con in 2011 and was able to see her at CC in 2012 and then again at one of her signings. She is always so amazing and Minion friendly, so of course it was only a matter of time before I asked her to do an interview.

But before that, Heather has a few series... The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, The Slayer Chronicles and finally, The Legacy of Tril [which I'm more than in love with].

Tril is a world where Barrons and Healers are Bound to each other: Barrons fight and Healers cure their Barrons' wounds in the ongoing war with the evil Graplar King. Seventeen-year-old Kaya was born a Healer, but she wants to fight. In Tril, and at Shadow Academy, where she is sent to learn to heal, it is against Protocol for Healers to fight.

So Kaya must learn in secret. Enter two young men: One charming, rule-following Barron who becomes Bound to Kaya and whose life she must protect at all costs. And one with a mysterious past who seems bent on making Kaya's life as difficult as possible. Kaya asks both to train her, but only one will, and the consequences will change their lives forever.

Doesn't that sound amazing?

Anyways... onward to Auntie Heather!


1. Is is hard for you to juggle the different worlds between Joss and Kaya?
 

Sometimes, yes. Writing from a male perspective has always come more naturally to me, and it takes me much longer to get inside of Kaya's mind. Switching back and forth between genders is a challenge. Switching back and forth between worlds, however, is an easy task. I love worlds full of action and danger, so they're pretty similar in that regard.
 

2. Did the world building in Soulbound come easy for you, compared to the "normal" world of Vlad/Joss?
 

The world building in Soulbound was a lot of fun, and definitely more extensive than the world that Vlad and Joss live in. I can't say, however, that it came easily. My editor and I went back and forth on a lot of questions that helped me create the world of Tril. But the story itself came easily, and I loved every moment of exploring it. BUT...I'm a bit embarrassed to say that the story of Soulbound came to me in a dream. A dream about vampires, which just goes to show how my brain works.
 

3. When you wrote that evil cliffhanger in Soulbound, did you sit back and laugh knowing you'd be driving people crazy?
 

YES! I cackled with glee! I danced around my office and sang a little "ha ha ha, in your face, readers!" song at my monitor!

......No, really. I did all of that.
 

4. Who is your favorite character to write in the Soulbound world and why?
 

Darius. Because he's a TOTAL JERK OF HOTNESS.

Darius is so complicated. He knows more than he lets on. He challenges Kaya and challenges her, taunts her. And just when you wish he'd get swallowed whole by a Graplar, he does something tender and sweet. I love him. He's the Han Solo of Tril.
 

5. How many books will be in the Legacy of Tril series and do you know the ending?
 

As it stands right now, I can't really answer this question. But I can say that I think there needs to be at least one more Tril book. And the ending? Oh yes. I know it and can't wait to get to it.

 

Speed Round:

 

1. What is your go-to guilty pleasure thing to eat?
 

Lays potato chips. I eat entirely too many of them, and have to have a bowl of them every day. Besides, they were once potatoes...and potatoes are good for you. Right?

 

2. What are you reading right now?
 

Interview questions. But I have been known to read a Taco Bell sauce packet now and again. ;)

The book I'm reading is The Witching Hour by Anne Rice, on recommendation from my fabulous book blogger/reviewer sister, Dawn (http://absoluteforestofwords.blogspot.com).
 

3. Are there any authors that you fangirl over?
 

There are three authors that I would gladly eat dirt for. Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Poppy Z. Brite. But I'm a huge fan of Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, A.S. King, and Lisa McMann. It's so cool when you can fangirl over your friends!

~~~~~~~

A huge thank you to Auntie Heather for taking the time!! Not only is she busy with writing and being awesome, she's also putting together an amazing anti-bullying conference.  Visit http://lessthanthreeconference.com/ for more information!

And now...

Want to flail about the ending of Soulbound? I'm giving away a signed copy!!

 

 

Rules are listed on the "terms and conditions" of the Rafflecopter widget.  Good luck!!

 



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The time it was an inquiry

So.  Everyone should know about my epic love for Michelle Hodkin and all things Mara Dyer.  Especially Noah Shaw.  Even though I flew to Chicago for her, I want to fangirl over meet her again.

Today the cover for Retribution was released and it is stunning.

  

Look at them all together.  Aren't they gorgeous?

 

 

I realize that it's too early for Michelle to know tour dates.  However, it's not too early for me to be trying to get her to Southern California.  I've already been in contact with Maryelizabeth at Mysterious Galaxy and she is more than happy to put in a request with the publisher to get Michelle to the Redondo Beach store.

 

This is where you come in...

 

Would you come see a Michelle Hodkin event?  I need to provide Maryelizabeth with some basic stats as to how many people would be attending.  She needs to give that to the publisher to show that it would be a great stop with excellent book sales.

 

As far as I know, Michelle hasn't been to the LA area.  When she toured for Unbecoming, she was up in San Francisco. 

 

Please please please leave a comment below if it's something you would go to.

 

Thank you!!

 



The time I did a blog hop

So.  This is my first attempt at a blog hop. The lovely ladies at The Book Hook Up invited me to try one. I love the idea of it and I'll pretty much jump at any chance to pimp out my favorite books.


As soon as I learned that it was a Bad Boy Hop and read the "definition" of a Bad Boy, I was certain of what my giveaway book would be...


Because Noah Shaw is the most delicious bad boy there is.  And while he is mine [I have proof], Unbecoming is one of the best wtf-is-going-on-mystery-type books that screwed with my head and had me thinking about it for weeks afterwards.

I can't recommend it enough. Not convinced? Click on the book cover to be taken to the GoodReads page.

Rules for the giveaway are listed under the "terms and conditions" on the Rafflecopter widget.

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Now that you've entered here, check out all of the other blogs on the hop [listed below] for a bazillion chances to win other phenomenal books! You can also check out the hosts' blogs: I Am a Reader, Not a Writer and The Book Hook Up

Good luck!!

The time there were snacks

I don't know how I found Timeless. I do know that I read it in one sitting [not surprising] and by the time Timekeeper came out, I still remembered the ending [very surprising]. I had met Alexandra previously, so I was quite thrilled to see that she was holding her release party at the Santa Monica BN.

We got up that early and bought books before walking around the promenade.

 

We were back up to the events room around 6pm and the doors were closed. The tubs and boxes that were scattered throughout the events room were still visible through the partially closed blinds. I sat down behind two ladies and started flapping my books. As always, I got looks for being prepared.

They let us in around 6:40. There were snacks and punch and a video projector set up with the book trailers playing.

Alexandra came out around 7:15. She talked about writing the first book and gave a brief overview of the second one.

She really enjoyed writing Michelle and her inner struggle in Timekeeper. She also talked about introducing a villain and the workings of the time society.

Alexandra then read a passage from the ebook Secrets of the Time Society. After that, she also read the scene from Timekeeper that happens right after that cliffhanger ending in Timeless.

 

The Q&A session started after that. Alexandra talked about the music that is in both books [she wrote the lyrics and recorded the songs], the possibility of more to the series [Timekeeper ends with closure, but there's definitely a chance for more], her next book [it's called Suspicion and is an Alfred Hitchcock type suspense novel with a romance at the center], and how she thought of Emma Watson and Ian Somerhalder as Michelle and Phillip.

After that, it was time for the signing. I was the third person up to her.

I congratulated her on the release and we chatted about the other time we had met. She asked if I was me. When I said yes, she pointed to Shane and said that he had told her about me and my drive from San Diego. She thanked me for driving up.

Alexandra asked if I had read Timeless and after saying yes, asked if I had enjoyed it. I told her that I did, but not the horrible cliffhanger ending. She laughed and said that it would all be worth it.

She signed my book and then I motioned to the other books and said those were mine too, that they were for a giveaway. She asked about my blog [squeeeee] and I actually remembered I had a card, so I gave her one.

 

After taking a picture with her, I again congratulated her and with a brief goodbye to Shane, we were off. As we left, we literally ran into Luke Wilson, who didn't seem very nice. At all.

Now. Haven't read Alexandra's books? Never fear. I have a paperback copy of Timeless and a hardcover copy of Timekeeper [both signed] as well as Alexandra's cd and a keychain/mirror up for grabs!

Rules for the giveaway are listed on the "terms and conditions" link on the Rafflecopter widget.

 

Good luck!!

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The time it was a contest

So. There's a super secret event that's not really going to be a secret anymore... Check out the post below to see how you can win an amazing YA author event with Beth Revis, Marie Lu, Marissa Meyer, Victoria Schwab, and Megan Sheppard.

Have you ever wished that a big YA book tour would make a stop in your hometown? Well, here's your chance for that wish to come true! YA2U is a program that features five award-winning and best-selling authors who are holding a contest to see what city they should visit in an exclusive tour stop!

The authors are collecting votes from January 1 to February 15, and any city in the continental US or any Canadian city that has an international airport can win an exclusive visit from all five authors, including an author panel and book signing! Entering is super easy--and if you help spread the word about the contest, you can also enter win a signed copy of all of their books (TEN signed books in total!)--and the book contest is open internationally!

The authors in the program are:

• Marie Lu, the New York Times best-selling author of Legend & the upcoming Prodigy
• Marissa Meyer, the New York Times best-selling author of Cinder & the upcoming Scarlet
• Beth Revis, the New York Times best-selling author of Across the Universe, A Million Suns, & the upcoming Shades of Earth
• Victoria Schwab, author of The Near Witch & the highly-anticipated upcoming The Archived
• Megan Shepherd, author of the debut novel The Madman's Daughter

And they want to have an event in your home town! To participate, just got to the YA2U website and let them know what city you want them to come to. And while you're there, help spread the word about the contest and you can be entered to win all of their books--TEN signed books in total! 

Here's why the YA2U Team should come to MY hometown! 

Now.  I always think authors should come to the west coast.  Obviously, I want everyone to come to San Diego specifically, but most just don't.  So, instead, I hope to get them to LA.

I have been lucky enough to meet Beth, Marie and Marissa.  But, I really want to meet Victoria and Megan. 

I want the 5 ladies to come to LA -- specifically Mysterious Galaxy in Redondo Beach -- because who doesn't love sunshine and Disneyland and the ocean? MGRB is a fantastic independant bookstore with an amazing and friendly staff.  They also have an excellent YA section of the store.

There is ample room for a large event, plus an excellent coffee shop inside the store that makes the best hot chocolate.  Oh and they serve beer and wine and scones, if that's your sort of thing.

Why should the YA2U Team come to your hometown? Why not join in the fun today and share with others about this program and your hometown. The more votes your town gets, the closer you are to having your very own personal tour stop! Vote for YOUR town here!

And if you help spread the word, you can also participate in the book giveaway. Tell them that you learned about YA2U from me and we both get extra entries in the contest! 

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