Jennifer Krey Author Interview

Book Nerd Interview

Jennifer Krey resides in New York State with her wonderful husband and two adorable little boys. She is a stay-at-home mom who enjoys swimming, cooking, and reading, and her favorite things include ice cream, sharks, thunderstorms, and ebooks. Jennifer also likes to write in her free time.

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BookNerd Interview

Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop

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Tell us your latest news.

I am mentally working on several books right now. One is the sequel to "The Hollow of Mont Noir," another is a fairy tale with a paranormal twist, and the last is a dystopian novel. I plan to finish the sequel first, and then I'll see which of the others grabs my attention at that time.

Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way?

I've always been really into reading, and I think of myself as a reader first and a writer second. I only write things that I would want to read myself.

When did you write your first book and how old were you?

"The Hollow of Mont Noir" is the first book I've written, and I wrote it in 2011. (Never mind how old I was....) I liked to write short stories as a child and I started trying to write a novel several times, but this is the first complete book that I've finished.

For those who are unfamiliar with your novel; The Hollow of Mont Noir, how would you introduce it?

It is a young adult paranormal romance story about a seventeen-year-old girl who moves across the country with her parents to search for her missing brother. In her new town, she begins to learn that the world is much more complex than she ever knew. One of the recurring concepts in the book is "hope," and how it can be both wonderful and crushing.

Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?

I am currently working on the second book in the HOWL Series, called "Ochre Sky." It picks up where "The Hollow of Mont Noir" leaves off. I don't want to get into too much of the plot and give away the ending of the first book, so I'll just say that the main theme of this book will be "choices."

Do you have a favorite quote that you keep visible in your work environment to help inspire you?

I work wherever in my house is the quietest at that point in time, so I don't have many physical things related to my writing. One quote I like to think of is from "Horton Hears a Who" by Dr. Seuss: "A person's a person, no matter how small." It reminds me that even the most seemingly inconsequential characters in my stories need to be well thought-out, fully developed people, even if only in my own mind.

Did you learn anything from writing Allison and what was it?

I've learned how much a person's own experiences affect how they relate to a character in a story. Some reviewers have commented that Allison seemed very mature for a teenager, others that she was immature, and still others said that she was perfectly realistic for a teenager. None of them are right or wrong, the differences just come from having different perspectives and different perceptions of how a "normal" teenager would think and act.

If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

I can't answer this question without giving away the end of the series. All I can say is that Allison has some growing up to do over the next few books, and she will have some difficult decisions to make. Hopefully, by the end of the series, she'll be in a position to dispense sage life advice to female leads of other series.

What is the single worst distraction that kept you from writing this book?

When I was about three-quarters of the way done with "The Hollow of Mont Noir," my husband and I bought one of those wooden playground sets for the backyard and assembled it ourselves. It took forever, and for a couple of weeks, I spent all of my free time drilling, measuring, and hammering. That kind of derailed my writing for a while, and by the time we were done, it was summer and I just wanted to be outside.

Beyond your own work (of course), what is your all-time favorite book and why? And what is your favorite book outside of your genre?

If I had to pick one book, I'd probably say "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" because I read that as an adult and it renewed my love of young adult books. (But, ask me tomorrow and I may have a different answer...) I also love "Wuthering Heights" because Emily Brontë perfectly matches love and tragedy.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?

I don't lie very often and I'm not very good at it because I am uncomfortable doing it. If someone were to ask me about how much I weigh, though, I might be tempted to shave off a few pounds of baby weight still lingering from my last pregnancy.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

My awesome husband got me an iPad to use for writing, so now I can write anytime and anywhere I want to. I love it!

If you could be any mythology creature, what would you be?

A pixie with a little green tutu, just like Tinkerbelle.

What’s the worst job you’ve had?

Right after college, I worked as a chemist at this tiny little place, testing water and soil samples for contaminates. It was quite possibly the worst company ever, and safety was their last priority. Luckily, I only worked there a few months before I found another job, but I heard that after I left, a bunch of people got sick and OSHA was called in to investigate. Scary!

When was the last time you cried?

I'm a total sap. I have two little boys, ages 3 and 9 months, and I get all choked up looking at pictures of them when they were younger. They're just growing up too fast.

What is your favorite Holiday and why?

Christmas. It's a magical time of year, especially with little children in the house. Their excitement is contagious, and my husband and I look forward to Christmas morning as much as they do.

Where can readers stalk you?

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/jenniferkrey
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5769691.Jennifer_Krey

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Allison Spencer was no stranger to the paranormal. An animal empath, she had the unique capacity to sense the feelings of animals around her - an ability she liked to call "Crittervision." She had never met anyone else with unusual powers and had gotten used to the fact that she was just an eccentric in a world full of normal people.

Allison lived an otherwise ordinary life and was looking forward to finishing high school along with her friends and her boyfriend in her hometown of Ocean City, Maryland. But when her older brother, Logan, suddenly disappeared from a small college town near the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, Allison's entire world was turned upside down.

Logan still hadn't been found after several months, so Allison's parents decided to move the family to the Hollow of Mont Noir, New York to look for him themselves. In addition to leaving behind her home and her friends and being dumped by her boyfriend, Allison suddenly had to deal with life in a small town, a strange creature that seemed to be stalking her, a new school full of cliques and cattiness, parents who were preoccupied with her missing brother, and an illogical fascination with an outcast boy who didn't talk to anyone at school.

As Allison settled into her new home, she began to realize that not everything - and everyone - was what they seemed. She soon learned of the existence of supernatural creatures living side-by-side with humans and was faced with a whole new set of questions - and some shocking answers - about herself and her family.

You can purchase The Hollow of Mont Noir at the following Retailers:

   

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And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you Jennifer for making this giveaway possible.

2 Winners will receive an e-copy of The Hollow of Mont Noir by Jennifer Krey.

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Book Nerd ARC Giveaway

Hello Book Nerds! I have some awesome ARC giveaways for you. Thank you for all you do!

I'm here to tell you today, that one of my favorite Book Store; Books Inc. have donated Breath by Sarah Crossan. 

Please click the Banner above to visit their Website.

Inhale. Exhale.
Breathe.
Breathe.
Breathe . . .
The world is dead.
The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen–rich air.

Alina has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

You can pre-order Breathe at the following Retailers:

    

8 Winners will receive NYMBC Bookmarks

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I am also donating my copy of The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater.

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

You can pre-order The Raven Boys at the following Retailers:

    

Alright Book Nerds, Let's all Thank Books Inc. for their donation!

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Lois Duncan Author Interview

Photo Content from Lois Duncan

Lois Duncan grew up in Sarasota, Florida, the daughter of internationally known magazine photographers, Joseph and Lois Steinmetz. She has one younger brother. From early childhood, she knew she wanted to be a writer. She submitted her first story to a magazine at the age of ten and made her first sale at thirteen to a magazine called Calling All Girls. Throughout her high school years she wrote regularly for young people's magazines, particularly Seventeen.

In 1962, Lois moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she taught for the Journalism Department at the University of New Mexico and continued to write for magazines. Over 300 of her articles and short stories appeared in such publications as Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, McCall's, Good Housekeeping, and Reader's Digest, and for a number of years she was a contributing editor for Woman's Day.

Lois is also the author of 48 books, ranging from children's picture books to adult novels, but she is best known for her young adult suspense novels. Many of those have been chosen as American Library Association "Best Books for Young Adults" and Jr. Literary Guild Selections, and they have won Young Readers Awards in 16 states and three foreign countries. In 1992, Lois received the Margaret A. Edwards Award, presented by the School Library Journal and the Young Adult Library Services Association, to honor a living author for a distinguished body of adolescent literature.

Lois has also written novels and non-fiction books for adults, including Who Killed My Daughter?, the true story of her search for the truth behind the brutal murder of the youngest of her five children, eighteen-year-old Kaitlyn. Although written for adults, this book has been embraced by young people.

Lois is married to Don Arquette, and their children are also highly creative. Robin Arquette (Burkin) is a singer and composer and collaborated with her mother on a series of musical CDs for children called “Songs of Childhood.” Kerry Arquette writes children’s books – the most recent two are Daddy Promises and What Did You Do Today? – and is also co-owner and editor-in-chief of Cantata Publishing Company. Brett Arquette is the author of three adult novels, two of them horror books, and the third – Tweaked – something even stranger. Donnie Arquette is a free soul who does his own thing, but is an extremely talented artist.

    

What was the greatest thing you learned at school?
How to study.

Is there such a thing as a formula for storytelling?
Someone the reader likes and relates to/ overcomes obstacles/to reach an important goal. The more important the goal, the stronger the story will be. (Survival is the most important goal of all.)

What are “Character Rules” and give us some examples.
The only rule I can think of is to know why your character acts as he or she does. Don’t just describe the actions but know the motivation behind them. I think psychology courses are as important for aspiring writers of fiction as English courses.

What are some of the common challenges that new and experienced authors face and what advice do you have for over-coming them?
Most new writers tend to believe that if they write a story or book, that’s the end of their job. They don’t realize that they need to go over and over it, trying to find ways to make it even better. They need to check every sentence, asking themselves, “Did I used that same adjective three paragraphs ago? If so, I’d better find a synonym. Is this adverb necessary, or would the sentence be stronger without it?” etc. Their job’s not done until the story or book is as perfect as their capable of making it.

In your book, Down a Dark Hall; can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about the novel?
DOWN A DARK HALL is a Gothic ghost story, laid in an isolated boarding school, where the gates close behind the students and they are cut off from any contact with the outside world. In that atmosphere the ghosts can take over their lives.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating Kit Gordy?
I didn’t learn anything in particular by creating Kit Gordy. She was fully developed in my mind before I started writing. But I learned a lot from the research I did to create the situation at that boarding school. I did a lot of reading to come up with identities of appropriate artists, writers and composers who died at young ages and whose work I was able to describe and (in the case of the poet “Ellis”) duplicate. And I had to consult with professional artists to learn the process of artificially aging new paintings to make them appear to have been painted hundreds of years ago.

If you could introduce Kit to any character from another book, who would it be and why?
Possibly “Nore” from LOCKED IN TIME, since she, too, was dealing with people and events from the past.

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?
I’ve just finished updating ten of my older young adult suspense novels to bring them into the 21st Century so readers of today can better relate to them. (Giving the characters cell phones and computers, etc.) Of course, in DOWN A DARK HALL, that created problems, because I had to make sure the students didn’t have access to those cell phones and computers so they couldn’t reach out for help.

What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?
How much would you like me to pay you for doing this interview?

Most horrifying dream you have ever had?
I often have dreams about the murder of my youngest daughter, Kait. (At age 18, she was chased down in her car and shot twice in the head, as you know if you’ve read my non-fiction book, WHO KILLED MY DAUGHTER?) I hear gun shots and Kait’s voice screaming, “Mother! Help!” and I’m unable to do anything to save her.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
I never answer any question with a lie, although I might say, “I’d prefer not to respond to that.”

If I came to your house and looked in your closet/attic/basement, what’s the one thing that would surprise me the most?
That there’s nothing of interest in there.

When was the last time you cried?
On Mother’s Day. Because I missed Kait.

Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?
I don’t call anybody. I wait until my husband gets home and then I unload on him.

Where can readers find you?
My Face Book page is open to the public. People don’t have to “friend” me to read it. I’ve even filled in the whole Time Line going back to my birth, so they can see photos of me when I was their ages.

Kit Gordy sees Blackwood Hall towering over black iron gates, and she can't help thinking, This place is evil. The imposing mansion sends a shiver of fear through her. But Kit settles into a routine, trying to ignore the rumors that the highly exclusive boarding school is haunted.

Then her classmates begin to show extraordinary and unknown talents. The strange dreams, the voices, the lost letters to family and friends, all become overshadowed by the magic around them.
When Kit and her friends realize that Blackwood isn't what it claims to be, it might be too late.

Suspicious and uneasy about the atmosphere at her new boarding school, fourteen-year-old Kit slowly realizes why she and the other three students at the school were selected.

The highly suspenseful Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan tells a creepy story about a fourteen year-old girl named Kathryn “Kit” Gordy who is sent to a boarding school. Once she checks into Blackwood, an exclusive all girls school, she discovers the school is peculiar as she’s one of the only four students enlisted. Kit immediately sense evil lurking around the corner and the four students begin having unusual dreams. Soon after bodies are possessed and the book that starts out less-than-creepy, follows a path that will send chills up and down your spine.

Lois has a grand talent of building up suspense. Right from the beginning, she foretells dark happenings and continues to stack more on top of it. My mind was in a trance reading this book that it formed a thick fog inside my head. Everything about Blackwood had creepiness written all over it. The writing style and plot is similar to all of the great Lois Duncan books. She produces very imaginative and innovative stories each time. She is a skillful writer and a natural at keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The story itself is frightening, with menacing elements unhurriedly building until its explosive culmination. This has been a favorite for many young readers for many years and it continues to do so. Down a Dark Hall will have you looking over your shoulders whenever you find yourself in a dark place.

You can purchase Down a Dark Hall at the following Retailers:

    

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you LOIS DUNCAN for making this giveaway possible.

1 Winner will receive a copy of Down a Dark Hall by Lois Duncan.

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Richard Harland Author Interview

Book Nerd Interview

Hi! It's now over ten years since I became a full time writer - and it's still working out for me. In fact, getting better all the time!

Right now, I'm working on some revisions for the U.S, edition of Worldshaker. The Australian edition is out in May, from Allen & Unwin, the American edition probably early nxt year. (Can't say more, but it was a BIG advance!) Worldshaker is a steampunk/Victoriana fantasy, in the tradition of Philip Pullman and Jonathan Stroud, I guess. I've been working on it for more than 15 years - seriously I started making notes for it all that time ago! I started work on it three times and finally got it right. What a great feeling, when something like that comes good in the end.

If you want the full life story, it's there under the Biography button. I've left up my old brief tips on writing under the On Writing button, but they're now outdated by a much bigger project. if you want the real deal - 145 pages of free writing tips for anyone writing fantasy or genre fiction - it's up on a separate website, at www.writingtips.com.au.(About two thirds of it under the writing tips button at the top of the pages of this website.)

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Was there a defining moment during your youth when you realized you wanted to be a writer?

There was, when I was about 11 or 12. My best friend at the time was my cousin who lived just down the road, and behind his house was an area we called the ‘chicken run'. No chickens, just an amazing collection of junk: old baths, rubber tires, carpets, packing cases, steel drums, planks of wood - you name it, we had it. We used that junk to build everything we could imagine - castles, airplanes, submarines, all big enough to live in. Then we invented adventures that sometimes ran for days, defending the castle, going on a mission in the submarine, etc. etc.

One time when it wouldn't stop raining, we passed the time by writing out some of our adventures as short stories. My girl cousin read them and thought they were OK – ‘why didn’t you try selling them at school?’ So we made copies and hawked them around the playground in the lunch breaks. They were a huge success! We didn’t make much money from them so much, but we got heaps of candy, comix and stuff! Everyone wanted to swap things for our stories.

That was when I discovered the thrill of having someone come up to you and say 'Hey, that was great, have you got another of those?’ From then on, I decided that my dream in life was to be a writer. It took a long, long time for the dream to come true – but I never gave up on it!

Why is storytelling so important for all of us?

I love this question because I’m always trying to convince people that storytelling is absolutely the most important human activity!

I think we’re all born with an instinct for narrative as our fundamental way of making sense of the world. We know that one thing leads to another, and we’re sure it all hangs together if only we could get behind the surface of events. Someone is snappy with me at work – yes, but there has to be a reason, maybe their partner has threatened to leave or their kids said something hurtful. In real life, I’ll probably never discover the reason, I’m too busy batting off a million more pressing problems. But I’ll still believe there’s a story there. That’s why I love reading novels – because I can take time to see the workings behind the mess and chaos. Stories are real and meaningful even when they’re fictional!

I think that’s a kind of meaning we have to hang on to, or life wouldn’t be worth living.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received from another author?

I often remember what Garth Nix told me – that a writing career is like putting a satellite into orbit. It won’t just go up and stay up! Every new book will fall back by and by, just as every satellite has to submit to gravity. The only aim that matters is to get a little bit higher up than last time …

In your newest book; Liberator, can you tell my Book Nerd community a little about it and why they should read your novel?

My other favourite question!

Liberator tells the story of the second phase of a revolution, when fanatics and extremists take over from the original revolutionaries and bring in an era of terror and persecution. It’s a sequel to Worldshaker, but it's also a stand-alone - no need to read them in order.

The action takes place on board a juggernaut named ‘Liberator’, a vast moving mountain of machinery two miles long and three-quarters of a mile wide. This is an alternate history fantasy, where the 19th Century has taken a turn away from real history. By the time of the events in Liberator, steam age technology has evolved to the point of constructing land-vessels far larger than the largest present-day supertanker - yet still steam-powered, no oil, no chemicals, no electronics. Many such juggernauts roll over the surface of the globe, but ‘Liberator’ is the only one that has gone through a revolution and overthrown its tyrannical ruling class.

I still haven’t got on to the real reason for reading the book! The best part of Liberator is that it's a great human story, with an unusual love triangle, many terrifying moments and plenty of seat-of the-pants action. Did I mention some tremendous twists and surprise revelations? The feedback I've been getting is that it's a very, very difficult book to put down. That's music to any author’s ears! Actually, I couldn't put it down when I was writing it either …

Col used to belong to the old ruling class, and the new fanatical rulers won't let him leave that past behind. Riff is caught between her feelings for Col and her loyalties to her own people, the slaves who now rule the juggernaut. Mysterious acts of sabotage increase the fanatics' paranoia, and their paranoia grows to a kind of madness when other un-liberated juggernauts converge from all parts of the world to attack and destroy ‘Liberator’. The intensity builds up and up and up!

What part of Col did you enjoy writing the most?

Col is me in many ways, so I identify strongly with many things in his experience. In Liberator, I identify with him especially when Riff starts siding with her friends against him. He belongs to the old tyrannical ruling class, and she becomes embarrassed to be seen with him in public. Under peer group pressure, he finds himself getting gradually squeezed out of her life. Her new friend, Lye, becomes his particular enemy and competitor, bad-mouthing him to Riff at every opportunity. Those episodes have a lot of resonance for me – they practically wrote themselves!

In Worldshaker, Col undergoes a dramatic shift when for the first time he starts to question the adult world around him. Before that, he’s been very good, very docile, very obedient – exactly as I was, up until the age of twelve. Like Col, I switched from obedience to rebellion very rapidly. It was like an awakening, almost a discovery that I had a personality of my own! Col’s switch is more extreme and happens at an older age, but I loved delving back into that strange phase of my own life.

If you could introduce Riff to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

I’d like Riff to meet Katniss from The Hunger Games. Partly because they’re similar – self-reliant, fast-thinking, fast-moving – but also because I’d like to see how they relate. I think Riff would become the leader – she has more experience of leadership, whereas Katniss is naturally more of a loner. Riff is also more advanced in ‘politiical’ awareness; whereas Katniss is always kicking against authority in small ways, it takes a long while before she really stands up against the system. On the other hand, I’d hope that Riff would learn from Katniss’s solid common-sense – she has a bad habit of acting on impulse and blundering into mistakes!

What are some of your current and future projects that you can share with us?

I’ve had my international breakthrough as a writer of steampunk fiction, which fits with my own deepest inclinations. So that’s what I intend to keep writing … more novels set in the same world, where history took a very different turn at the start of the 19th Century.

My next novel swaps to a female point of view. Liberator and Worldshaker are seen entirely through Col’s eyes and Col’s experience, but the main character and point of view in the new story is the girl Astor … which brings out a different kind of appeal and interest.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?

The question every author dreads: “Where do you get your ideas?” My standard answer is about one quarter true. With Worldshaker, for example, I tell the story of the two dreams that inspired the novel. All true! What’s not so true is the suggestion that I’m revealing the whole inspiration for the world and story. In fact, three quarters of the inspiration came from the usual place - that is, absolutely nowhere, out of the blue, from thin air! I can’t pretend to have some secret meditative state, no trick with music or incantation or anything like that. For most of my idea, I just can’t say where they come from.

If someone asks me that question about Liberator, well, I won’t pretend or lie or say it began with a dream. But just watch me switch the question and answer as though I thought I was being asked about Worldshaker!

What’s the best advice you can give writers to help them develop their own unique voice and style?

This might seem perverse, but I’d say, the best way to develop your own unique voice and style is to stop worrying about it. Think about your story and characters, not about yourself! Plunge into your world and the experiences of those living within it! If you do have a distinctive slant on reality, it’ll come out anyway - because it needs to, because you can’t help it. Worrying about your own unique quality seems to me a dangerous approach – too self-regarding, over-concerned about your own image as an author. Pursue something beyond yourself, and your voice and style will take care of themselves.

Who is the first person you call when you have a bad day?

My partner, Aileen. Always.

What's the worst summer job you've ever had?

My only summer job for many years now has been Summer Session university lecturing, a carryover from when I was a full-time academic. Now I do it as a kind of hobby. After all the months I spend alone as a writer, it’s a buzz to socialize and interact and bounce ideas around. So, right, that would be a best job …

Maybe my worst summer job was when I was a kid in England. For six weeks, I worked on a delivery van, delivering grocery orders to houses in all the nearby villages. The worst part was the incredibly pedantic way everything had to be done so many times over. First, setting out all the orders on benches in the warehouse, divided by vertical wooden blocks; second, re-packing those same orders into large cardboard boxes, now separated by horizontal sheets of butcher’s paper; thirdly, taking out the orders in the back of the van and re-arranging them into smaller cardboard boxes for carrying into individual houses. And each time, every single tin and packet and bottle had to be checked off against the customer’s order book! Red tape nightmare!

When was the last time you cried?

The last time I should’ve cried was four days ago, when I skidded and came down a flight of stone steps on my spine. I’m typing my answers to this interview lying on my bed, and the pain in my spine still makes me blink when I move. But blinking doesn’t exactly count as crying …

I think the last time I cried was when my wife played me that excruciatingly sad Gary Jules song, “Mad World”. Maybe it was a mood-of-the-moment thing, but I suspect I’m always more likely to cry over songs and movies …

What is the one, single food that you would never give up?

Ah, I’ve been thinking about this lately, because I’ve gone on a diet and surrendered many of my favourites. And I’ve discovered I can’t give up chocolate or corn chips or marzipan. Absolutely no way!

Where can readers stalk you?

I’m at -
richard@richardharland.net
or go via my website at -
www.worldshaker.info
or there’s my Richard Harland Facebook page at -
www.facebook.com/pages/Richard-Harland/119581011438848
(memo to self: get moving on that vanity UR!)

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Equality remains elusive in this stunning steampunk sequel to Worldshaker.

In the aftermath of the events of Worldshaker, the Filthies control the massive juggernaut, now called Liberator. Many members of the former upper class, called Swanks, have remained behind to help teach them how to operate the juggernaut and to build a new society together. But all is not idyllic aboard Liberator.

A saboteur seems determined to drive up anti-Swank sentiment among the more volatile Filthy factions. And the Swanks are finding that their best efforts to work with the Filthies are being tossed aside. Even Col, who thought his relationship with Riff was rock solid, is starting to see their friendship crumbling before him. As tensions run high and coal supplies run low, Liberator is on the verge of a crisis. Can Col and Riff unify their divided people before disaster strikes?

Richard Harland’s well-crafted Liberator is a very intriguing look at a post-revolutionary world. The cities, or Juggernauts as they call it, are on rollers that travel the world using steampower. Even after the revolutionary, problems still plague the cities as they fight for power and deal with relations with the other cities.

Richard has certainly created one of the most remarkable worlds I have ever encountered in a book. The way he describes these giant cities on wheels is simply superb. The rich descriptions he supplies will give readers an exact sense of how truly complicated and enormous the Juggernauts are. The plot is incredibly well thought through leaving no plot holes. It is very gripping right from the start and Richards manages to hold on to readers’ interests all the way to the end.

The issues between the cities are very pragmatic. It is clear that Richard has done extensive research giving his incredible book real world problems. It continues on to his vivid descriptions of the Juggernauts. His writing style is clear and precise that leaves readers with a complete understanding of a world that is unlike ours. Liberator consists of all the elements for a great story: action, mystery, tense conflict and of course romance. With Richard’s writing leading the path, it is the perfect combination.

You can purchase Liberator at the following Retailers:

    

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And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you Richard and Simon&Schuster for making this giveaway possible.

1 Winner will receive a copy of Liberator by Richard Harland

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T.M. Goeglein Author Interview

Photo Content from T.M. Goeglein

T.M. Goeglein began his career as a writer of print and television ads for a host of advertising and media companies. As a screenwriter, he created both original scripts and worked as a script doctor for several production companies in Los Angeles. He was an original contributor to the Huffington Post 'Living' section, and continues to write for both the national edition and Huffington Post Chicago. Read T.M. Goeglein's stories on the Huffington Post.

His debut young adult novel, COLD FURY, will be published by Penguin/Putnam in 2012 and is the first in a trilogy; he’s currently working on the second book. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Laura, and two young children.

        

Age Range: 12 and up
Grade Level: 7 - 9
Series: A Cold Fury Novel (Book 1)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Speak; Reprint edition (June 13, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0142426318
ISBN-13: 978-0142426319

Praise for COLD FURY

"Readers will no doubt enjoy the action-packed scenes and quick getaways . . . an engaging thriller." ―VOYA

"Engaging, including action sequences that are forthright and expeditious." ―SLJ

"For readers who have had to look to adult suspense like James Bond for a rush, this one has a heroine worth cheering." ―Booklist

“...several fun hooks...” ―Publishers Weekly

"Goeglein’s book has a lot going for it—Sara Jane's school friendships, her warm relationship with her family, cool Mob stuff, boxing action, some humor . . . " ―Kirkus Reviews



How would you describe yourself in three words?
Determined, patient, and suspicious (so much so that even now, I’m wondering why you asked that question.)

Where were you born and where do you call home?
I was born in Indiana but have been a Chicagoan for a long time. There’s nowhere else I’d want to call home, except in the winter, when I want to live anywhere else.

What was the greatest thing you learned at school?
Honestly, that I didn’t belong there. I struggled with the structure and strictures of school from day one. For me, graduating from college was like being paroled.

For those who are unfamiliar with your novel, Cold Fury, how would you introduce it?
Sixteen-year-old Sara Jane Rispoli believes that she has an ideal life until her family suddenly and brutally disappears, and then realizes that her entire existence up until that moment has been a lie.

Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
Cold Fury is book one of a trilogy. Sara Jane will appear twice more as her story goes deeper into the violent world of organized crime.

What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about Sara Jane?

She doesn’t like violence. Really. I mean, until she’s forced to fight. Hey…you don’t have to like something to be good at it.

When asked, what’s the one question you always answer with a lie?
"Did you win the fight?”

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?
Two pieces of advice. First, write a lot. All of the time. Write until your fingertips squeal, and eventually you’ll develop a style all your own. Second, never, ever plagiarize. The moment you steal from another writer, you sacrifice every shred of legitimacy, forever.

Favorite places to travel?
Any place hot with a good beach and ocean nearby, and of course, Italy. Venice is crawling with tourists until late October or so, and then the joint is all yours. Bring boots.

What are 4 things you never leave home without?
Telling my kids I love them, a kiss from my daughter, money to buy coffee – and boots, if I’m going to Venice.

What do you normally eat for breakfast?
One of those cereals that taste like tiny rocks made out of cardboard. It’s an old habit.

Jason Bourne meets The Sopranos in this breathtaking adventure

Sara Jane Rispoli is a normal sixteen-year-old coping with school and a budding romance—until her parents and brother are kidnapped and she discovers her family is deeply embedded in the Chicago Outfit (aka the mob).

Now on the run from a masked assassin, rogue cops and her turncoat uncle, Sara Jane is chased and attacked at every turn, fighting back with cold fury as she searches for her family. It's a quest that takes her through concealed doors and forgotten speakeasies—a city hiding in plain sight. Though armed with a .45 and 96K in cash, an old tattered notebook might be her best defense—hidden in its pages the secret to "ultimate power." It's why she's being pursued, why her family was taken, and could be the key to saving all of their lives.

Action packed, with fresh, cinematic writing, Cold Fury is a riveting and imaginative adventure readers will devour.

T.M. Goeglein’s addictive novel, Cold Fury, follows 16 year-old Sara Jane Rispoli after coming to an upside-down ransacked home. Blood is everywhere and her family is nowhere to be found. When she digs into their whereabouts, she find herself being sucked into a world of danger, mobs, and violence. With this cold flame of fury within her, she is determined to bring down the people responsible for her family’s disappearance.

I really enjoy a total badass heroine. Sara Jane is crafted with thoughtful consideration to maintain a sense of realness with might and susceptibility. Although she carries a gun and a suitcase full of cash, she is still your typical teenage girl who worries about finding a date for prom. But she realizes when action is required to find the location of her family, even if they are dead or alive.

Goeglein’s writing style is precise and highly detailed. You can almost smell the gunpowder each time the gun pops and taste blood when fist and flesh meet. The descriptions of Sara Jane’s dangerous journey are so real it will keep readers on their edge. Goeglein puts the reader straight into Sara Jane’s mind as reader and heroine try to solve each presented clue.

The writing approach puts the reader in the middle of all the action with great visualization. Cold Fury brings breathtaking mystery and fiery action to every page. With a well-structured dialogue that compliments a very intriguing plot, finely tuned unforgettable characters, and action that screams, it is the perfect formula for an action-packed roller-coaster of a ride.

You can purchase Cold Fury at the following Retailers:

        

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you T.M. GOEGLEIN for making this giveaway possible

1 Winner will receive an ARC of Cold Fury by T.M. Goeglein.

WEEK ONE 

JULY 16th MONDAY Beneath the Cover REVIEW & GUEST POST

JULY 17th TUESDAY Sabrina's Paranormal Palace FAVORITE THINGS

JULY 18th WEDNESDAY Mad Sheep Reading SPOTLIGHT

JULY 19th THURSDAY Mundie Moms GUEST POST

JULY 20th FRIDAY A World of Words MUSIC PLAYLIST

WEEK TWO

JULY 21st SATURDAY Anne Brewer Writes REVIEW

JULY 22nd SUNDAY Paranormal Book Club REVIEW & EXCERPT

JULY 23rd MONDAY Bookville GUEST POST

JULY 24th TUESDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

JULY 25th WEDNESDAY Sassy Book Lovers REVIEW

WEEK THREE

JULY 26th THURSDAY Mel's Book Blog REVIEW & EXCERPT

JULY 27th FRIDAY Paranormal Reads REVIEW & EXCERPT

JULY 28th SATURDAY Best Books REVIEW

JULY 29th SUNDAY Tsk Tsk What to Read THIS OR THAT

JULY 30th MONDAY Rose's Book Corner REVIEW

JULY 31st TUESDAY James Vallesteros ARTWORK 

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