Interviewed by JeanBookNerd
Hope you enjoy some Thanksgiving Pictures and Poems
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
For flowers that bloom about our feet;
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;
For song of bird, and hum of bee;
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings. ~J. Robert Moskin
Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds. ~Theodore Roosevelt
Forever on Thanksgiving Day
The heart will find the pathway home.
~Wilbur D. Nesbit
A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues. ~Cicero
Thanksgiving is possible only for those who take time to remember; no one can give thanks who has a short memory. ~Author Unknown
Stand up, on this Thanksgiving Day, stand upon your feet. Believe in man. Soberly and with clear eyes, believe in your own time and place. There is not, and there never has been a better time, or a better place to live in. ~Phillips Brooks
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone
Book Nerd Author Interview
Elizabeth Miles is the debut author of FURY (Simon Pulse), a paranormal thriller and the first book in the Fury Series. She is originally from New York, she graduated from Boston University, and she lives today in Portland, Maine. A dark winter's night is one of the most creepy and beautiful things she can think of.
What got you interested/started in writing?
I've always written - short stories and journal entries as a child, news articles and analysis as a young woman, and now fiction. I love playing with words and making them do what you want them to do.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Like any job, writing can be a challenge, period. Blank pages, aka writer's block, occasionally plague every writer. So do terrible turns of phrase and overwritten passages, etc. My biggest challenge personally is probably finding different ways to describe the same/similar emotions.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
As an only child with teacher-parents, I was a total bookworm as a kid. I think I always knew that I wanted to turn my love for reading/writing into a career.
Tell us your latest news.
My debut novel, FURY, was released on August 30, 2011, by Simon Pulse. It's been a whirlwind few months - promoting the book, going on book tour with Becca Fitzpatrick and Moira Young, and getting all sorts of exciting news, all while writing the second book in the trilogy - ENVY.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I was surprised by the support of the author/blogging community, and by how much I enjoyed writing creepy scenes (which was surprising given that I'm still, at 28, a teensy bit afraid of the dark...)!
What do you think makes a good story?
Real, honest emotions - no matter the genre, no matter how unreal the subject matter may be.
What were your feelings when your first novel was accepted/when you first saw the cover of the finished product?
Of course, utter elation. Also a little bit of fear - once Simon Pulse bought the books, that meant I had to finish them!! As for the cover, I loved it. You can read more about the cover design process at my blog, elizabethmilesbooks.com.
Can you tell us a little about the Furies?
The Furies are mythological goddesses of revenge. In my books, they take the form of three mysterious girls; they are an embodiment of darkness, a deep-seeded feeling of evil.
Have you based any of your characters on someone you know, or real events in your own life?
Luckily I've never been stalked by otherworldly goddesses hell-bent on making me pay for my mistakes! :) But yes, for the high-school atmosphere and and romantic feelings, I certainly mined my own experiences. None of the characters is specifically based on one person, but Chase is an amalgamation of several Mainers I've met over the years.
If you could leave your readers with one legacy, what would you want it to be?
Wow, that's a big question. Honestly, I just hope my readers are entertained by my books. I hope I spin good yarns.
Where did you get your idea for Fury?
Fury evolved out of a combined love for mythology and folklore, horror films and movies, and YA lit - plus some, ah, personal experiences that made me question whether karma really exists.
Can you see yourself in any of your characters?
Em and I have some similarities - we're both somewhat introverted but can be cajoled into social times, and we both need to take more charge of our own lives. (And Em does, in Book Two of the series - Envy.)
Which author would you love to co-author a book with?
I would love to work (more) with Lauren Oliver, one of my childhood best friends. Luckily, we've already collaborated - she was instrumental in my writing of Fury, and we recently co-wrote a piece for the DEAR TEEN ME anthology, which comes out from Zest in 2012. We've gotten to know each other's writing/working styles and they mesh well.
What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?
"Do you think Em and Chase deserved to be punished for their so-called crimes?" My answer would be that yes, I believe Em and Chase deserve some retribution for their mistakes. But I do NOT believe that outside entities like the Furies deserve to dole it out.
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Read, cook, act/sing/dance, sleep, be outside.
What are your current projects?
I recently finished Book Two of the Fury series. That's being copyedited as we speak. I'll start Book Three soon; in the meantime, I am working on a theater project here in Portland, Maine, and enjoying the onset of winter!
What book are you reading now?
I'm reading a book called The Last Werewolf, by Glen Duncan. It's deliciously readable.
List 3 of your all time favorite books?
SO HARD TO CHOOSE. But if I must: Anne of Green Gables, The End of the Affair, and Anna Karenina.
What is a movie or TV show that you watched recently and really enjoyed?
I am addicted to the TV show Revenge. It has the same tagline as Fury - "What goes around comes around." - and is a modern retelling of Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, from a young woman's perspective. It's totally my guilty pleasure.
Social Media Links:
It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...
Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better--the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.
On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.
In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.
Em and Chase have been chosen.
Elizabeth Miles’ Fury is one of those paranormal books that cross over into horror and it was remarkably done. It was action-packed, riveting, eerie, and fast-paced. I must admit that the beautiful cover lured me in and I was even more hooked as I buried myself between the pages.
The opening of the story starts off slow but you can’t help but to continue reading as you know that something was rigorously wrong and things weren’t going to end well. The story follows two high school students, Em and Chase, who are tormented by Furies for their misdeeds. Miles’ character build-up of Chase was believable. She is like any human as she makes mistakes and sometimes isn’t the greatest friend. Miles’ writing style is unique as she is very detailed. It was distinctive and gripping. She built in words an environment that is very tangible that it literally sucks you in.
The creepiness level in this book is way up there. I didn’t expect it to be but there were times I had to make sure I was reading a fictional work just so I won’t be frightened. Miles’ is an expert at choosing words to express feelings in the reader. Her depiction of the girls and furies was absolutely eerie. The edge-of-your-seat adventure that Miles’ take you on is worth the read. I guarantee that it will be hard to put this book down once you start. You will be eager to learn how the Furies would choose to torment Em and Chase.
You can purchase The Fury at these following retailers.
Click LINKS below:
And now, The Giveaways
1 Winner will receive one Signed Hardback copy of The Fury by Elizabeth Miles.
WINNER:
J. Nicole
WINNER:
J. Nicole
More Awesome Giveaways
*If you're an Author and would like to do an Interview and Giveaway, you can e-mail me at jeanbooknerd@gmail.com*
