Book reviews, author interviews, and more! Contact me at kellysmithreviews (at) gmail (dot) com for more information! I also write books as USA Today bestselling author Lily Luchesi.
1. When/why did you decide to become a writer?
I started to write in my twenties with a love for the written word and a good story. I became a writer with a love for a story that could add richness as mine was with books. As well as a love for the creative process that is boundless, a story could go anywhere, anywhere, no rules, no boundaries.
2. What authors inspired you when you were younger? What books do you enjoy reading today?
When I was really young I didn't read. It was only later on did I start. An inspiration was " To Kill A Mockingbird." by Harper Lee which I read in a day. Thanks to my father. Then I fell in love with reading. Today I read mostly Literary fiction, horror and the classics.
3. What was the inspiration behind your novel Unsettling?
What inspired me to write "Unsettling" was my love for horror and the need to write about the darkness. To push it, to see how dark I could actually write.
4. Can you briefly tell the readers a little about your other works?
My other works range from short story collections that are filled with horror, literary fiction, thrillers and even romance. Some are reflections about life, touching on religious issues as well as mental illness. I have one book of poetry. And a novel, Testament of the dead, about a haunting, driving one to well deserved madness.
5. Everyone treats horror differently, and likes it for different reasons. Why does horror resonate so much with you?
I think I like horror because it has always been a part of mans soul. From Cain and Abel and mans first murder. The darkness has always been. A source of mystery and fear not knowing what is next and what one will find. When reading horror the mind expands with anticipation dripping with imagination with what is coming next? The fear as primal an emotion as love. And the darkness in one's mind waiting to be exposed in the light in a good story, great stuff!
6. Were any of your characters personalities or emotions taken from real life?
No characters but the emotions and fear, we all have ghosts and demons.
7. What other genres would you like to try your hand at?
I think I am writing in all the genres that appeal to me, I don't know if I would be any good at science fiction.
8. What would you do if you wound up as one of your characters in the three novellas that make up Unsettling?
If I were a character in my books I think I would keep my eyes closed, move forward and aim for the heart.
9. Your bio says you're also a musician. Does music influence your writing at all?
I think my music only influences me in the sense that I like everything in music from Led Zeppelin to Beethoven to Hole and Dave Brubeck. As in books anything from horror to literary fiction. From Stephen King and Joyce Carol Oats to Ayn Rand and Victor Hugo.
10. Would you like to see any of the stories in Unsettling as a film? If yes which one, and who do you want to see play your characters?
I would love to see any one of them in a film with anyone.
11. Where do you see yourself and your career in the next ten years?
To be honest I have no clue, hopefully happy with a little success and maybe a film or two.
12. What would you be doing if you weren't writing?
If I weren't writing I would probably be playing music or painting, which I still do sometimes.
13. Can you tell KSR what you're working on next?
Right now I am writing a novel about a teenager whose drug use has taken a dark turn with bad trips on acid, paranoia and demons abound.
14. What authors, dead or alive, would you like to collaborate with?
I would have loved to have collaborated with Dostoyevsky for his rich understanding of the depths of the human emotion and condition and Edgar Allan Poe for his rich understanding of the darkness and his mastery of the words.
15. Thank you for participating in the interview. Can you please leave the readers with three things that may surprise them about you?
I had to go to summer school for English or not graduate, I'm a poor speller and I'm a paranoid schizophrenic.
Find Mr. Macraven online via:
Book blogger/journalist. Lover of art. Contact me via notok02@hotmail.com if you want a book review, etc.!
1. When/why did you decide to become a writer?
I caught the writing bug in elementary school but only took it seriously when I was in high school. I was often sidetracked due since I also wanted to be a professional track athlete. I had a very wild imagination, so story ideas constantly came to me to the point I decided to write them down. Eventually I put together the first of several drafts which--after 12 years--would become PANDORA'S SUCCESSION.
2. What authors inspired you when you were younger? What books do you enjoy reading today?
Vince Flynn was the first author to inspire me after I read TERM LIMITS. Until then I thought that action/thrillers only existed in movies and wasn't something that could be found in books. Flynn opened my eyes to that genre, and it eventually led me to read from others such as Barry Eisler, Joseph Finder, and Eric Jerome Dickey.
3. What was the inspiration behind your novel The Demeter Code?
There were several news articles that inspired THE DEMETER CODE. I won't name them because doing so would reveal several spoilers. However, the first one which really sparked the idea was an article I read two years ago about accidentally creating a biological weapon through (spoiler). After I read it, I began reading several others and also watching documentaries about the same (spoiler) subject matter. I kept a list of all 53 articles and news reports which I then referenced at the back of the book.
4. The Demeter Code is a sequel. Will we see more stories featuring these characters?
Most definitely, and I also have thoughts of writing a sequel to my standalone thriller, CHILL RUN. I can't say when, but they're both in the works.
5. What is it about spies that interests you?
It's mostly the mystery. It's a world of secrecy and covert activities. From an entertainment standpoint, there's excitement when you never know who's who. I'm fascinated by how company and government secrets are obtained by their opposition, as well as the personal sacrifices that are made by the operatives who obtain them.
6. Were any of the characters personalities or emotions taken from real life?
Some of the characters in THE DEMETER CODE were based on real people who have either gone through or who have taken part in similar activities in real life as in the story. For instance, the arms dealer, Monzer Alghafari, in THE DEMETER CODE was based on the Syrian-born arms dealer, Monzer Al Kasser, who's currently in a New York jail after a successful sting operation by the DEA, thanks to the Patriot Act. I read extensively about him because his life read like a thriller novel. All that was left to do was fictionalize certain elements so that they could be incorporated into the story.
7. What other genres would you like to try your hand at?
I once wanted to write a horror story, but I put that on the backburner.
8. What would you do if you were Ridley Fox?
lol. If I were him I wouldn't give up on tracking down the person who murdered my fiancée and see to it that they're brought to justice.
9. I have to ask you about your short story collection, Unsavory Delicacies. In two of the stories, Ridley Fox is featured. In the other, it's about revenge via food. What inspired that?
The inspiration came from a true story out of Sydney, Australia, where a restaurant owner sued a newspaper because their food critic's review destroyed their business. It's funny you asked me this question because out of curiosity, I just googled this report for fun and just learned that last June, the restaurant won a libel suit against the Sydney Herald Times.
10. Would you like to see The Demeter Code and its predecessor as a film or TV show? If yes, who do you want to have play your characters?
Currently I'm writing the screenplay for PANDORA'S SUCCESSION after my friend talked me into it. As for who I'd like to play Ridley Fox and Nita Parris in the movie, here are my choices if the movie were released today.
11. Where do you see yourself and your career in the next ten years?
In ten years I hope to have at least five other novels published and PANDORA'S SUCCESSION in cinemas worldwide.
12. What would you be doing if you weren't writing?
I'd still be working in sales.
13. Can you tell KSR what you're working on next?
I'm still unsure whether or not to write the sequel to THE DEMETER CODE or the sequel to CHILL RUN. My ideas aren't solid enough yet as I'm still doing research.
14. What authors, dead or alive, would you like to collaborate with?
I'd love to partner with David Goyer on a Superman/Wonder Woman script. For a long time I had an idea for one. The only reason I never wrote it was because the chances of it being picked up by an unknown author--such as myself--are one in a billion.
15. Thank you for participating in the interview. Can you please leave the readers with three things that may surprise them about you?
1) I was once on the Canadian Track Team in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay at the World University Games in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 1999.
2) I started back playing the violin after a hiatus of several years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5PTfv65kP8&list=UUGvAga_6rslbyZltozyOYlw&index=2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvTXYesvSng&index=1&list=UUGvAga_6rslbyZltozyOYlw
3) I often like to recite passages from novels and put them on video.
http://youtu.be/qbln3o7Vsgk?list=UUGvAga_6rslbyZltozyOYlw
Find Russell Brooks online via:
Official site (the home page will direct you to all of his social media profiles)
Book blogger/journalist. Lover of art. Contact me via notok02@hotmail.com if you want a book review, etc.!
1. When/why did you decide to become a writer?
I think I caught the bug back in elementary school; I was a big comic book fan all through grade/middle school and got the itch to tell stories around that time. Throughout high school I wrote short stories and had my own comic strip in the school paper about a deranged stick figure that prompted my art teacher to recommend I see a therapist… That’s probably when I knew I was cursed/blessed with a writer’s life.
2. What authors inspired you when you were younger? What books do you enjoy reading today?
I’d definitely say I was a huge spy fiction junkie when I was in high school/college (Fleming, le Carre, etc.) and I also enjoyed the classic sci-fi writers (Asimov, Verne, etc.) when I was younger. I’m still a fan of those writers but I’ve gotten more into authors like Bukowski, Burroughs and Selby, Jr. in recent years.
3. What was the inspiration behind your novel The Spartak Trigger?
As a big fan of both action thrillers and transgressive fiction, I wanted to write something that effectively fused the two genres, creating something as entertaining as possible with an extra layer of satire that made the work more readable and original while mocking its own shortcomings. In essence, I was wanted to do a self-contained parody of spy fiction with simplistic, straightforward prose that would serve as both a deconstruction of and tribute to genre tropes.
4. Will we ever see any of these characters again?
I am working on a sequel right now actually… It’s a little different structurally/tonally than The Spartak Trigger but retains a lot of the same stylistic elements and overall sensibilities.
5. Why make a lead character as offensive as Shane Bishop is? Was there a particular reason for it?
I’ve always enjoyed anti-heroes in fiction and, particularly in the neo-noir genre, the central characters tend to be naturally unlikeable, which makes their ‘character arcs’ easier to follow/plan out I suppose… I wanted to have Bishop undergo the antithesis of that, becoming even more of a jerk as the story went on, but he ended up being about the same, which I suppose belies the archetype somewhat anyway haha.
6. Were any of the characters personalities or emotions taken from real life?
I’d say certain elements of Bishop’s detached sensibilities come from people I’ve encountered but I definitely don’t know anyone as awful as him in real life thankfully.
7. What other genres would you like to try your hand at?
I recently finished a more straightforward thriller that I’m hoping to find a publisher for in the near future. I wouldn’t mind looking at doing some alternate history down the road as well.
8. What would you do if you were Shane?
Hmmm, that’s a tough one – he’s definitely not a character whose skin I’d like to be in any time soon! I suppose if I were Shane my destiny would be pre-determined by the narrator so I’d just go along for the ride much like he does.
9. Was there any intended symbolism behind the fact that the villains were just as involved in cyber crime as they were in actual, physical crime?
As we’ve seen this year/month, cyber terrorism is most definitely something we’ll be dealing with for quite some time. I didn’t set out to echo what was happening in real life but I originally thought that doing something with hackers/online criminals with grandiose ambitions a la a Bond villain would be unique and, as it turns out, I was completely wrong unfortunately.
10. Would you like to see The Spartak Trigger as a film or TV show? If yes, who do you want to play your characters?
I think Josh Brolin would make a good Bishop; he has that rugged leading man/action hero quality but is also capable of adding depth to seemingly-one-dimensional characters and he conveys a sense of vulnerability in his characters that I think would suit the role well. For Svetlana, I think Milla Jovovich would be great and I’d probably go with Michael Fassbender to play Kirill as I think he could be very funny/effective in a role like that. Luke Edwards would be the obvious choice to play The Wizard haha.
11. Where do you see yourself and your career in the next ten years?
I’d obviously love to be able to write full-time but I’m not sure how realistic that is this day and age… As long as I can continue to put out something every year or two and keep the Bishop series going in one form or another, I’d be cool with that.
12. What would you be doing if you weren't writing?
Part of me wishes I’d stuck with music as a hobby (used to play bass in rock bands) but it’s tough to have a more fulfilling side-gig other than this!
13. Can you tell KSR what you're working on next?
Right now I’m working on the sequel to The Spartak Trigger, which will see Bishop returning to the U.S. and engaging in more bizarro hijinks.
14. What authors, dead or alive, would you like to collaborate with?
I’d actually have to say Alan Moore for this one. His creative process seems so unique and off-the-wall, it’d be extremely interesting to see him develop something firsthand.
15. Thank you for participating in the interview. Can you please leave the readers with three things that may surprise them about you?
- I was once in a Poison tribute band for almost an entire year
- Even though I’m Canadian, I’m a terrible ice skater
- I still know all the words to the McDonald’s Menu Song from the 80s
Find Bryce Allen online via:
Book blogger/journalist. Lover of art. Contact me via notok02@hotmail.com if you want a book review, etc.!
1. When/why did you decide to become a writer?
I began with writing songs in my late twenties, having learned to play the guitar. This moved on to writing poems and stories, attending some evening classes for writing, and joining a local group of writers in my home town. I think the ‘why’ springs out of the enjoyment and consolation I have from reading, and wanting to see if I can make a poem or song or find a story that readers/listeners will care about and enjoy. The freedom of letting one’s imagination go where it may, to experience the lives of the characters that you write about, that is a delightful thing.
2. What authors inspired you when you were younger? What books do you enjoy reading today?
As a child, my reading would have been chiefly comics (Marvel / D.C.). As a young man I gravitated to horror and ghost stories (Pan used to do a fantastic series of anthologies). Edgar Allan Poe and H. P. Lovecraft spring to mind. Then, whilst training as an actor, I read mostly plays and poetry: Shakespeare, Chekhov, Miller, Brecht, Philip Larkin, Brian Patten. As I gradually became interested in writing, writers like Jean Rhys, Raymond Carver, and Chekhov again (for his stories) inspired me greatly, as they do today. Today, I find myself reading quite a lot of independently-published fiction, which might be from any genre. Some books I have recently read and enjoyed very much include: Friendship and Afterwards by Daniel Gothard, Dreamcatcher by Beverley Jones, Gone Fishing With Willie Nelson & Norah Jones by Austin Roarers, and a poetry collection, To the Lions by Claire Meadows. I am currently reading Venetian Cousins (It’s brilliant!) by Stephen Carroll, and am about to start The Syllabus of Errors by Ashley Stokes.
3. What was the inspiration behind your novel The Blue Box?
It started off as a short story really, or at least I had no idea it would become a novel. It just grew, and I followed where it led. A man being woken up late one night by a knock on the door was the only idea in my mind at the time. I’m so glad he opened the door and allowed the story to develop from there.
4. Will we ever see any of these characters again?
That’s a fascinating thing to ponder. I have no definite plans at the moment. I know that some writers, such as Stephen King, have characters that crop up across his different novels. That’s a nice idea, even if they are in just one or two scenes, it would be lovely to meet them again. In The Blue Box, the characters of Daumen and Peter, the truck driver, are strong possibilities for this, but potentially, any of them could make a return.
5. What was the intended symbolism behind the miniatures of the characters?
I am fascinated by the concept of the Doppelgänger. In The Blue Box, these entities start small and grow into the shadow-selves of their counterparts. Miniaturisation is also fascinating, and as with the double, I believe engenders a feeling of the uncanny, or the Unheimlich, as Freud termed it. The uncanny is a quality I find irresistible in fiction, from E. T. A. Hoffmann’s tales to a novel like The Glamour, by Christopher Priest.
6. Were any of the characters personalities or emotions taken from real life?
The characters in The Blue Box are wholly fictional, albeit the quest for purpose and self-actualisation upon which many of the characters embark has clear resonances for me in my life, and hopefully for other people.
7. What other genres would you like to try your hand at?
I would really love to try writing a play, perhaps a radio or stage play in the first instance. Writing a screenplay would also be very exciting. I will definitely make an attempt.
8. What would you do if you were Thomas?
I feel that Thomas did what his underlying nature compelled him to do. The concept of character being revealed under pressure holds true for him. I hope I would have done the same as him, given his circumstances.
9. Why a theater, in the end? What was it about performing that made it such a central point in the book?
Perhaps, for me, writing about the theatre and acting is inevitable in some ways, due to my previous training as an actor, and my subsequent experience of working in the theatre for a number of years. I do feel that the novel deconstructs and explores ideas about character, persona, and performance, both in real life and on stage. The theatre is a very limited space in a physical sense, but it contains worlds. I felt the stage setting acted as a crucible to bring together the major themes of the novel, as well as being a suitable venue for the novel’s denouement.
10. Would you like to see The Blue Box as a film? If yes, who do you want to see play your characters?
I would absolutely love The Blue Box to be a film. I have started making some moves in this direction, in respect of writing to potential directors. Turning the novel into a screenplay is also a possibility. I have a sense it will be a film one day, by some means or other.
With regard to a possible cast, I love the Austrian actor Bruno Ganz (from Wings of Desire, the Wim Wenders original), and think he would make a fabulous Daumen. I wonder if the younger characters would be better played by as yet ‘unknown’ actors. They are all in their early twenties, so this would seem a good idea. For Reynard, just thinking about this now, I would love a younger John Hurt, or perhaps Javier Bardem.
11. Where do you see yourself and your career in the next ten years?
I hope to have written at least two or three more novels, as well as collections of stories and poems. I have recently published three long stories on Kindle, which are getting some very nice reviews (Sliding, Walking Man, and Is it the Cleaner?), and next year I aim to publish a first collection of stories, and a collection of poems. As per a previous question, I would love to have written a play and seen it produced. Writing songs is something I will always do. I have a few up on Soundcloud at the moment, here: https://soundcloud.com/pumpstreetsongs and shall be recording more in the new year.
12. What would you be doing if you weren't writing?
Currently, I need to do other work to pay the rent and bills, and I am grateful for that work. I believe writing is my vocation, and it’s taken a long time to feel secure about saying that. I hope one day that I may earn my living wholly by writing. That would be a wonderful position to be in. I think it will happen, eventually.
13. Can you tell KSR what you're working on next?
I’m putting together a first collection of stories, and also a first collection of poems. Many of these have been published in magazines and anthologies, or broadcast on radio, over the years. I am also developing an idea for a novel – incidentally, this began as a short story as well, so you never know where things will lead.
14. What authors, dead or alive, would you like to collaborate with?
Jean Rhys, Chekhov, Hermann Hesse, Raymond Chandler, Brian Patten, Raymond Carver, to name a few.
15. Thank you for participating in the interview. Can you please leave the readers with three things that may surprise them about you?
· I played a creepy guy who steals underwear in an episode of the TV police drama series, The Bill.
· I’ve probably had over a hundred different jobs over my working life so far. Some didn’t last very long.
· Dustin Hoffman came to speak to us at RADA while I was a student there. He was appearing as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice in the West End.
Find Jürgen Olschewski online via:
Book blogger/journalist. Lover of art. Contact me via notok02@hotmail.com if you want a book review, etc.!
1. When/why did you decide to become a writer?
At thirteen. That's when I wrote my first novel. It was right around that time that I talked my teachers into launching a newspaper at Twin Hills Junior High in Sebastopol CA. Along with being the editor, I wrote a little serial mystery story for each edition that garnered rave reviews. Needless to say, I was hooked. Sometimes life takes a meandering path and I lost track of that dream for awhile, while I was busy living other dreams. Not regretting a single moment, because sprinkled along that path are all my experiences. many of them written about at length. There are probably a dozen leather bound journals filled with a million random thoughts, safely tucked in the back of my closet. Exactly where they belong.
2. What authors inspired you when you were younger? What books do you enjoy reading today?
My tastes have always been and continue to be eclectic. I love biographies about historical figures, fiction, and everything in between. Amelia Earhart's story was the first one to capture my imagination. I was sure I was destined to pick up where she left off, circling the globe, looking adorable in my little leather jacket. I had a change of heart when I read Florence Nightingale's biography and thought perhaps I might selflessly devote my life to caring for the sick. But then I read Gone With the Wind and realized that I was Scarlet O'Hara. Well...you get the point. Today my tastes still run to biographies, history and good fiction. I love Pat Conroy, Jan Karon, Garth Stein and Suanne Laqueur. I'm a sucker for a great line, where ever I may find it.
3. What was the inspiration behind your novel The Bootlegger's Wife?
Real life. It's a true story, based upon my grandparents. When the idea presented itself to me, I was shocked that I hadn't thought of it before. But I'm a firm believer that things happen when they're ready to happen. So, apparently I wasn't ready to write this story until now.
4. Will we ever see Frances and Frankie again?
The short answer is yes. But not in a sequel. They will appear in a future story when I tell the tales of my childhood years. Those two provided the solid foundation upon which I stand today. And it will be lovely for me to talk about them again.
5. Do you think, personally, that love is worth what Frances endures?
Absolutely. Life is difficult, and hardships will fall across your path no matter which road you take. But to have a love like that, a hand to hold through it all...isn't that what we all search for?
6. What is it about Prohibition and the Depression that, you think, makes stories set then so engrossing?
It seems to me as if the country was in her teen-aged years. Quite full of herself. Testing boundaries. Embracing everything that was new. The dresses were short and flirty, the hair-styles were sassy, the champagne flowed and like I said in my book... "people had been riding high on a carnival ride that had no end when suddenly the wheels came off." I also think we're drawn to that period because so many of us have grandparents who are not some dusty statistic in a history book, but rather people we've known and loved who lived those years. Perhaps they've shared some of their own experiences with us. Therefore the connective tissue to that era hasn't been stretched too thin yet. It's very real.
7. What other genres would you like to try your hand at. Were any of the characters based on real people?
I don't know about genres. I can't see myself writing something that I'm not interested in reading, so I doubt if there will be any Zombies in my future. My first novel, Back to Austen, was a regency era romance. Jane Austen would approve. And the story ideas that are lined up in the pipeline are all diverse enough to keep me excited. But there's always one common denominator...love.
9. What would you do if you were Frances?
I would have chosen the same path. I am her granddaughter. For me, love is the only answer.
10. Would you like to see The Bootlegger's Wife in theaters? If so, what actors would you like to see play your characters?
I love this question, because I have a Pinterest board devoted to The Bootlegger's Wife that provided all kinds of inspiration during the long months of writing. Mila Kunis is Frances. Her tiny petite frame, dark hair and big doe eyes are exactly what I pictured for Frances Durant.
Frankie is a little more difficult. I really can't think of a current actor who captures his essence. But Leonardo DiCaprio when he played Jack in Titanic...there...that's the look. That lock of hair falling over his face. That devil-may- care grin. Those gorgeous blue eyes. That's Frankie Lee. [Author provided photos of chosen actors are below.--KSR]
11. Where do you see yourself and your career in the next ten years?
I hope to still be telling stories and I hope that people are waiting in line to read them.
12. What would you be doing if you weren't writing?
All of the other things that I already do. Love, laugh, read, garden, cook, decorate...but I can't imagine NOT writing. I've always written. Mostly for myself. And that's fine too.
13. Can you tell KSR what you're working on next?
My current work-in-progress is still in the development stage. Lots of research, plotting and outlining are taking place. Lucky for me...I love the entire process. I can tell my fingers are itching to get into the story. I know when it's time, because the characters start pushing harder. Talking more. They can be quite demanding. This story is set in the south in the early 1960s. This affords me another chance to delve into history. Back to Austen was set in 1815. The Bootlegger's Wife in 1920s...so hey, at least I'm moving forward. Ha ha.
14. What authors, dead or alive, would you like to collaborate with?
I can't imagine collaborating with another author, because writing is so personal to me. But of course there are writers I'd love to sit with and pick their brain for an hour or two. I'd have to throw it way back to Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Mark Twain. Three literary giants, who represent their time yet are just as fashionable today as the day they first put pen or quill to paper.
15. Thank you for participating in the interview. Can you please leave the readers with three things that may surprise them about you?
Three things? This reminds me of the picnic scene at Box Hill in Emma. Where the participants are asked to provide "One thing very clever... two things moderately clever...or three things very dull indeed." I shall strive to not be too dull.
Number 1: I married my high school sweetheart. Like every other good love story, we have defied the odds and just celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary.
Number 2: I love silliness. Silly words. Silly faces. Which makes me quite the hit with my grandchildren. I'm a comedian's dream audience. I'm wired to laugh.
Number 3: I wrote my first REAL novel in my mid-fifties. More than surprising, I think that's inspirational. It just goes to show that it's never too late for your dream to find you.
In closing I'd like to thank you Kelly, for providing such insightful questions. I loved the fact that I had to give these a little thought. It's been a real treat. Thanks for inviting me, and I hope your audience will be intrigued enough to take a chance on The Bootlegger's Wife.
Find Terri Lee online via:
Book blogger/journalist. Lover of art. Contact me via notok02@hotmail.com if you want a book review, etc.!
1. When/why did you decide to become a writer?
I loved writing in school (it was my favorite subject), and my mom loves to whip out a book I wrote in third grade and remind me how much I've always loved it. It was just written with marker and taped together, but I loved writing even then. I actually originally chose Creative Writing for my college degree focus. I ended up playing around with my visual arts interest as well and transitioned to a Digital Arts degree, but the summer before my final semester, I missed writing so much, that I decided to pick it back up in my spare time, and I ended up writing an entire novel in a couple week period that summer (my first full manuscript). I decided then that I obviously couldn't stay away from writing. So, after I graduated, I started researching publishing options.
2. What authors inspired you when you were younger? What books do you enjoy reading today?
I don't want to get too carried away with a whole history of all the books and Authors I adore, so I'll share a quick rundown. In elementary school, I loved Stephen Cosgrove's Serendipity books (still have a couple). They're imaginative, heart-warming and often have meaningful messages. Gertrude Chandler Warner's Box Car Children books were also a favorite when I was in Elementary and Middle School; I couldn't get enough of their adventures and independence. They're still very nostalgic because my dad and I read them together. These days, one of my favorite books ever is still The Hobbit, by Tolkien. I love The Shannara Series by Terry Brooks (I got to participate in a Goodreads Live Chat with him that was amazing) because the stories are full of adventure and excitement. His books immerse readers in a fantasy world, often with wonderful female protagonists and fun animal side characters. I'd be remiss if I left out a couple other favorite Authors such as J.K. Rowling and Rachel Morgan.
3. What was the inspiration behind your novel The Labyrinth Wall?
The idea was originally a series concept sparked from Dante’s Inferno but in a Fantasy world (think Lord of the Rings meets Labyrinth). That then melded with my thought of 'what if I explored a character that never had a childhood because they are actually a creation? So as a writer I am forced into a very strange perspective of someone learning to understand themselves and others for the first time.' All those strands of thought intertwined into what is now The Labyrinth Wall, the first novel in my Obsidian series.
4. You intimated that there will be a sequel to TLW. What can you tell us about it?
For those who have not yet read The Labyrinth Wall, I don’t want to give away too much. I will just say that the second book is a continuation of Araina’s story as she discovers the true nature of the world, which is not what she once perceived it to be. Also, this book is in the final editing stages and the first draft of the third book has actually already been written as well. All that to say, expect big exciting things to happen for the Obsidian Series in 2015.
5. Was there any intended symbolism behind the Mahk and Creators' relationships with each other?
Absolutely, in the sense that the harsh rule of the Creators which forces the Mahk’s dependence on them is not unlike historical relationships between societies. Dare I say, this sort of “rule by power” leaving those with fewer resources at the mercy of those with greater resources, is certainly not extinct in modern times. I think a lot of people can feel powerless as they find themselves in a role (even sometimes one which seems to have more power) and therefore a tension develops which leads to suppression and rebellion. Well, I could go on about this, but yes, I would say there is symbolism in that relationship. And, hopefully it doesn’t give away too much to readers to add that things aren’t always what they seem…
6. Aside from writing novels, you've won blogger awards. What can you tell the readers about your blogging?
Thank you for asking about my blogging, Kelly. I don’t normally have much inquiry about that. My blog can be found on my website at www.emilyanngirdner.com and the main theme is “Anything Imagined.” I initially started the blogging venture as a way to keep writing, even on breaks between novel projects and also as a way to begin to reach an audience. However, along the way I have met a wonderful network of other creatives and have been privileged to form some meaningful friendships with my readers in the process. As far as content goes, I stick to a couple of main series concepts most of the time, and those typically include Movie Mashup Monday (sometimes originally created by me and other times an attributed compilation of other mashups), Throwback Thursday Fantasy Relay (discussions of popular Fantasy books and movies), and Fellow Creatives (interviews with talented writers, artists and musicians). As you might expect, I also share novel project updates as well, but the best place to stay up-to-date on my news is by signing up for my newsletter here.
7. What other genres would you like to try your hand at?
I love this question because it makes me nervous but excited to consider the possibilities. I have considered Children’s Fiction and Adult Fantasy, as well as publishing some Poetry. Part of the fun of writing for me is trying new things, so exploring a new genre could be a great experience. We shall see ;)
8. Were any of the characters based on real people?
No one character was based on one specific person. However, many of their traits came from myself or people I know.
9. What would you do if you were Araina?
Another interesting question, for which I will try to muster a worthy response. To be bluntly honest, I’m not sure I would have survived nearly as long as Araina. It is hard to say without being in the situation, but I tend to be a pushover and I often have difficulty standing up to anyone. And I have about as much experience with weapons as my cat does with skydiving (none). So, if I were created in the labyrinth like Araina, I would probably do my best to hide away (like she did), but I don’t think there’s any way I would have embarked on the journey she did. Araina is very explorative and has difficulty being content, so it was more natural for her to want to learn more and be brave enough to fight for freedom. I think I’d be likelier to follow along for the ride, but not lead the way. In fact, I sometimes think it is because I am more timid and settled that I loved exploring Araina’s world, because all I do is type while she takes on the madness.
10. Would you like to see The Labyrinth Wall in theaters? If so, what actors would you like to see play your characters?
Absolutely I would love to see a film adaptation of The Labyrinth Wall. As a huge fan of movie soundtracks and high fantasy film productions, it would be my dream to see the film accompanied by a lovely instrumental composition, like The Lord of the Rings or Star Wars. As far as actors and actresses….
Araina: Dakota Fanning (Or possibly Candice Accola from The Vampire Diaries)
Darith: Engin Akyürek (He just looks almost exactly how I picture Darith)
Korun: Tyler James Williams (Currently Plays Noah on The Walking Dead)
Rase: Hayden Panettiere (Hayden has the same build as Rase and I think she could pull off the sass)
11. Where do you see yourself and your career in the next ten years?
In ten years I see myself still writing (I have ideas and characters bubbling in my mind and all over notepads, so I don’t suspect I will be slowing down by then). The Obsidian Series will have been out for some time and who knows, there may even by films too. I see myself continuing to write and hopefully readers will continue to enjoy the adventures.
12. What would you be doing if you weren't writing?
If I ever become Catwoman then I will fulfill my childhood dreams (haha). Writing is my number one passion, so I will always be doing that, as long as I’m able. But in all serious I am an opportunist, so it would depend on what comes my way. Even now, I hold a marketing position in addition to my writing, and I love it all. I like to stay busy and take up new projects because I love to learn and grow.
13. Can you tell KSR what you're working on next?
I’m polishing up book two in the Obsidian Series and have just completed draft one of the third book. Also, I have a short story project currently being edited that I plan to release for free as a gift to my readers. It will be out before Christmas and anyone who is interested can sign up for my newsletter to be among the first to learn it is released and grab a copy.
14. What authors, dead or alive, would you like to collaborate with?
I would love to work with Terry Brooks, Jo Rowling or Rachel Morgan.
15. Thank you for participating in the interview. Can you please leave the readers with three things that may surprise them about you?
3 Facts About Me:
1. A brown recluse spider bit my forehead and nearly killed me when I was a little one.
2. Due to my loving of writing, I work daily to overcome my insecurities and challenges of having dyslexia. Wonderful mentors in school taught me methods to help catch my errors and polish my skills. All of the work has been worth it and I hope to inspire anyone who faces similar challenges to push past them in pursuit of their dreams.
3. My first language was Turkish.
Find Emilyann Girdner online via:
Book blogger/journalist. Lover of art. Contact me via notok02@hotmail.com if you want a book review, etc.!
1. When/why did you decide to become a writer?
In my teen years I was always impressed by books, films and series and I remember even then wanting to read and see so much that I would inspired enough to one day add my own work to the genres I love.
2. What authors inspired you when you were younger? What books do you enjoy reading today?
J. R. R. Tolkien and J.K Rowling. Benard Cornwell and David Gemmell. Conn Iggulden and R. A. Salvatore. Eric Nylund and George R. R. Martin. Today I'm enjoying the works of many indie authors as well as A Song of Ice and Fire.
3. What was the inspiration behind your novel Blood Bonds?
A long list of many works have led to a love of fantasy and a need to add something to the magical genre. The two most predominant authors who inspired my work have to be J. R. R. Tolkien and George R. R. Martin. Many themes in fantasy are shared and although there are some who criticise this fact the majority of people appreciate it and understand that the underlying themes are invincible and should be harboured and expressed in as many ways as possible by as many authors as possible.
4. How many books will the series span?
The Thundous Saga will be comprised of two trilogies, Ethriel and Nariel.
5. Why elves and orcs instead of vampires and werewolves?
I absolutely love vampires and werewolves, especially where Darren Shan is involved. But it is my preference and always has been that I prefer elves and orcs. That said, why not merge the two? Forgotten realms proved it works every time.
6. Were any of the characters personalities or emotions taken from real life?
I believe that all characters and all emotions in all books will only add to an author's success if they are based on real life experiences, otherwise they will be unbelievable and difficult to develop.
7. What other genres would you like to try your hand at?
Sci-fi and horror... maybe a sci-fi/horror.
8. What would you do if you were one of your characters in the book? Van or the princess, for instance?
If I was a character in my books I would trust in my friends. The sense of unity with the four main characters is unshakable and they should hold on to that at all costs.
9. You are an English teacher in China. What made you decide to duo that as a career and has it been influential to your writing career at all?
I'm a big fan of creation and I think it is a teacher's duty to emphasise the need to create to children everywhere. If I preached that belief without being creative myself I'd be a hypocrite.
10. Would you like to see Blood Bonds as a film? If yes, who do you want to see play your characters?
I would want Blood Bonds to be a film and I would want new and undiscovered actors to play the roles as I totally believe that everyone deserves a chance in life and if Blood Bonds were to hit the big screens I'd want that to be theirs.
11. Where do you see yourself and your career in the next ten years?
I try not to speculate where I will be and where I hope to be as they can fundamentally disagree at the best of times, but for honesty's sake I'd like to be comfortably settled as a full-time writer (cough cough).
12. What would you be doing if you weren't writing?
Perhaps I'd spend the time learning an instrument or drawing.
13. Can you tell KSR what you're working on next?
The next stop is the final instalment of Ethriel - Freedom. Then it will be onto Nariel.
14. What authors, dead or alive, would you like to collaborate with?
I'd like to make a sci-fi with Tolkien - he could create worlds and I would go live on them.
15. Thank you for participating in the interview. Can you please leave the readers with three things that may surprise them about you?
Thank you for having me; it's been a pleasure :) A lot of people tell me that I'm young at 22 to have two books up for sale and a third one well on the way. I want to learn Latin, Elfish and Dwarfish... oh and Orcish. I wish I had been born in Roman times.
Follow Joe Walker on Twitter.
Book blogger/journalist. Lover of art. Contact me via notok02@hotmail.com if you want a book review, etc.!
1. When/why did you decide to become a writer?
I became a writer because it felt like the right thing to do. I know that might be a boring answer, but it's the truth. When I was growing up, I always had different story ideas wandering around my head, but I couldn't do much with them. It wasn't until I got my Masters in Creative Writing that I really "unlocked" the author living in the back of my mind all these years and let her flex her writing muscles.
By day, I am a freelance copywriter, so writing is truly my job. But writing fiction is like therapy for me. I get to go off into these worlds and lives that I've created and just have fun.
2. What authors inspired you when you were younger? What books do you enjoy reading today?
I was a HUGE Star Wars nerd when I was younger, so I think I've read just about every Star Wars book there is. Troy Denning was one of my favorite authors, for sure. Today, my tastes have changed just a tad. Gillian Flynn is my new favorite author. I often joke that she's the author I want to be when I grow up. From her genre to writing style, she is the epitome of the kind of author I want to be.
3. What was the inspiration behind your novel The Mirror Stage?
My love of crime shows, for sure. There aren't many crime shows I'm not watching. I really wanted to take that affinity and see if I could take all the parts of shows that I enjoyed and create my own story.
There are a lot of pieces of me in this book. I set it in Seattle because I'm absolutely in love with that city. It's where my husband and I honeymooned (we actually stayed on Whidbey Island!) and I really connected with that place. I also wanted to write a story that was more than just a crime thriller. While one of the main themes of the story is an FBI investigation, I also wanted to make it a story about change and acceptance and coming to terms with parts of yourself that you have spent years burying.
4. Why decide to make it a trilogy?
To provide a little backstory, The Mirror Stage was written originally as a One Hour TV Show script for my thesis project for my Masters degree. As part of the project, I had to create a show bible that included a 13-episode story arc. After I graduated, I knew I wanted to really write this story that I'd spent a year working on. So the pilot episode I'd scripted became Book 1, and I decided to crunch the rest of the "season" into two other books.
5. Why did you make your main character a novelist? I always wonder, because every writer has a different reason.
Funny story: Ada was originally a criminology professor. But there were just too many gaps and issues with her teaching something that she is essentially terrified of. So I changed her to a novelist. I did this because, in my mind, she wants to write about crimes that she controls the ending of. She didn't have a say in how her crime story ended, so now she controls the endings.
6. Were any of the characters personalities or emotions taken from real life?
I wouldn't say any were taken from real life, but I definitely spent a long time figuring out who my favorite characters have been over the years. Once I had that list, I picked out the personalities and quirks I gravitated toward and clumped those into the characters in The Mirror Stage.
7. What other genres would you like to try your hand at?
I think YA might be fun to try. I also love reading dystopian books, so maybe one day I'll try that!
8. Are you a fan of serial killers? Do they interest you?
I literally don't know how to answer this without sounding completely creepy! They do interest me, simply because of how differently their thought processes run. They are such complex personalities, they are so easy to make incredibly intriguing.
9. Will we learn more about James's past in book two?
Absolutely. Book 2 is (drum roll please) titled The Imaginary, and it will dig deeper into basically character. I'm sure authors aren't supposed to play favorites, but James might actually be my favorite character. I go back and forth between him and Ada. In The Imaginary, we will get a better idea of why he's searching for his sister. We'll also meet the team's actual analyst, Janice Otto, which is going to provide an interesting dynamic to the investigation when we pick back up with the story.
I know most people were in a love/hate relationship with James by the end of The Mirror Stage, but I'm hoping that by the end of The Imaginary, everyone will be rooting for him more than loathing him.
10. You said that The Mirror Stage was originally a screenplay for college. Would you like to see it as a film? If yes, who do you want to star in it?
A film would be interesting! It was laid out to be a TV show, so I think that would still be the best medium for it.
As far as who would play who...I'm not sure if this is another thing that authors are supposed to shy away from saying. I've heard some authors say that they don't want to set faces to their characters because then they're intruding on the reader's interpretation. I can understand that, but at the same time, I write these characters with specific "faces" in mind, so I want to see if who I've been picturing lines up with how everyone else sees the gang!
For Ada, I've gone back and forth between three actresses: Ana Giradot, Minka Kelly and Alicia Vikander. For James, it's always been Jensen Ackles. I am a massive Supernatural fan, and I love him as an actor. I honestly can't imagine anyone else playing James because Jensen Ackles has been his "face" in my mind since day one. Dade is another one that I've always had one actor in mind for: Theo James. Brenda is another toss up. I like either Thandie Newton or Zoe Saldana. She needs to be someone strong yet gentle.
11. Where do you see yourself and your career in the next ten years?
Still writing books! I'd love to be published traditionally, too.
12. What would you be doing if you weren't writing?
Honestly, I have no idea. Writing is my job and my hobby!
13. Can you tell KSR what you're working on next?
Book 3 of The Imago Trilogy! It's actually pretty bittersweet to be getting ready to close this story out. It's been part of my life for a little over two years now! The Imaginary is about to release, as well, and I can't wait to share the next part of the story with everyone.
14. What authors, dead or alive, would you like to collaborate with?
J.K. Rowling. Is that a lame answer? The journey she went through to become an author is similar to mine, and I think we would have a lot of fun.
15. Thank you for participating in the interview. Can you please leave the readers with three things that may surprise them about you?
1. I was having trouble coming up with new character names. As I was walking one of my Great Danes, we passed by a cemetery and I started scanning tombstones without thinking about it. Oddly enough, I think I found the name I was wracking my brain for!
2. I think clowns are the most terrifying things. Ever.
3. Opening presents in front of people stresses me out.
Find Ms. Stone online via:
Book blogger/journalist. Lover of art. Contact me via notok02@hotmail.com if you want a book review, etc.!
<h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">GETTING LUCKY</span> IS NOW AVAILABLE!</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><img class="alignnone wp-image-309 size-full" src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e178/bethaboo555/GettingLucky-BethanyBoulden-500x750.jpg" alt="Getting Lucky" width="267" height="400" /></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I'm so excited to finally release the second book in the Portland Pioneers series, <strong>GETTING LUCKY</strong>.</p>
<strong>HE MIGHT HAVE STRUCK OUT…</strong>
Noah Fox’s life is changing. Ever since he was hit in the head by a pitch, nothing has been the same. Fighting daily headaches and the growing fear that his baseball career is over, Noah goes in search of the woman who once loved and left him.
<strong>BUT HE REFUSES TO STOP SWINGING.</strong>
What he finds in the tiny town of Sand Point is nothing he could have ever expected. A trained chef and a certified “foodie,” Maggie May King has been perfectly content to devote the last three years of her life to running her baby, the Sand Point Café. Noah’s never met anyone less awed by his good looks or his celebrity, and even though she’s the last person he should be befriending, he finds himself seduced by Maggie’s sweetness and her even sweeter orange rolls.
<hr />
<strong>BEHIND THE STORY:</strong>
When I published <em>The Lucky Charm, </em>all I had of <em>Getting Lucky </em>was the setup of Noah Fox's injury and a wild, crazy idea that maybe the last person he should be interested turns out to be the ONLY person he's interested in.
What can I say? Apparently I love making things difficult for myself.
By the way, that will totally be written on my tombstone: "Beth: making things difficult for herself since 1984."
I also made the crazy, ambitious choice to try to write this book in four months. Yes, I know some people write like four books in four months. Unfortunately I own this whole other business and I don't think my clients would have been very happy if I disappeared into my writing cave. I don't think my fiance would be very happy either.
I've talked about some of the struggles I had writing <em>The Lucky Charm</em>, which in all its iterations took me about 2 and a half years to finish. So four months was pretty ambitious. My worst fear was getting to the end of the draft and realizing it all had to be different.
But guess what! You learn <em>so </em>much writing your first book. So many, many things to avoid. So many things you keep saying to yourself, "I wish I'd done <em>this </em>differently." <em>Getting Lucky </em>was my opportunity to make good on the learning experience, and this book practically wrote itself.
Noah was so fun to delve into--a little bit more melancholy at first than he was in <em>The Lucky Charm</em>--and Maggie May was a breath of fresh air. I didn't actually end up putting this in the book, but Maggie May's mom is definitely a huge Rod Stewart fan, and yes, that is where she got her name!
<hr />
<strong>An Excerpt from GETTING LUCKY: </strong>
Noah Fox was practically holding a press conference in <em>her </em>Café. Apparently word had spread overnight that a famous baseball player had arrived in Sand Point and this was apparently the most exciting thing anyone had experienced in years, because the awed expressions on everyone’s faces was just plain sickening.
Unsurprisingly, he was eating up the attention, smiling and laughing like he was just like them, but he wasn’t, Maggie inwardly raged. She stomped right up to his stupid, hot self and poked him hard in the arm. She resolutely ignored how firm and muscley his biceps felt.
“I hear you’d like to talk to me,” she said when he turned to her.
“Oh, Maggie. Just the woman I wanted to see,” he said with so much transparent delight she wanted to smack it right off that ridiculously handsome face. No man should look that good, she thought rebelliously, it was unfair to the rest of the mortal world.
“My office,” she spit out, and walked off, weaving between the tables and slack-jawed customers, not even bothering to glance behind to see if he’d followed her.
He was in Tabitha’s thrall, and Maggie was apparently the only way he could find her; of course he’d follow.
They reached the office and she gestured him inside and shut the door behind her. It was only at that moment, looking up at him, thinking, <em>god, he’s so tall</em>, that she realized she’d made a slight miscalculation.
The office was so small, there was barely room for her desk and a single chair, with the built-in shelves towering over her desk, but Noah was definitely not a small guy. He filled the open space so completely, Maggie pressed her back to the door and still felt nearly overwhelmed by his over-sized presence.
Shit.
But she couldn’t back down now by opening the door and moving this meeting to another location. That would be tantamount to admitting he got to her and he really didn’t. She wasn’t as weak-willed and superficial as the rest of Sand Point—or her sister—was.
“You have time to talk to Tabitha last night?” Noah asked with nearly as much transparent eagerness as Hannah had displayed earlier.
Maggie shook her head sharply. She really didn’t want to go into why she’d been so distracted either. Even though this Noah Fox presented himself as everyone’s super genial friend, he was still a complete stranger.
“Oh,” Noah replied, ducking his head down low, a faint flush of embarrassment on his cheeks, and for the second time, she saw the depth of the darkness in his eyes. And didn’t it intrigue her more this time than it did before? Maggie cut off that thinking hard and sharp. She was not going to forget what Hannah had said before she’d been forced to interrupt her search for a repair.
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing,” Maggie said more than a little testily. “Or what you’re saying.”
His disarming smile was practically a master class in innocent charm. When he folded those muscled arms against his firm chest, she had to remind herself yet again that he was a huge jerk.
“I don’t appreciate you going around talking about me that way,” Maggie repeated. “We’re not involved. You’re here to find Tabitha.”
His white teeth flashed against that tan skin again. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Maggie’s temper roiled. This was probably how he lived his whole stupid, privileged life—going around doing whatever the hell he wanted, and blasting women with that goddamn smile when his trail got too messy and he had to clean up a bit. “Buddy,” she bit off, “you do not want to fuck around with me today. It’s been a spectacularly awful twenty four hours, and I really can’t take your bullshit right now. So cut the crap and stop making people think <em>I’m </em>why you’re here.”
“What’s happened? I hope it wasn’t me that made things tough on you.” He had the nerve to look genuinely concerned.
Maggie grimaced. “Hardly. You’re not so high on my priority list that you showing up in my town ruins my life. If we want to start with this morning, my exhaust fan wouldn’t turn on and Cal, who could normally fix it in a heartbeat, won’t answer his phone because he’s probably mad at me. And now I’m going to have to spend money I don’t have on a repair.”
She hated the sympathy in his stupid face. “I could take a look at it for you,” he offered and it was such a nice thought she actually stopped herself from rolling her eyes again. She could be difficult sometimes, but she prided herself on not being an ungrateful bitch.
“That’s really not necessary. You wouldn’t know what to look for.”
Noah shoved his hands in his pockets and Maggie resolutely ignored the way the muscles and tendons of his arms flexed at the movement. “I’m actually pretty handy with stuff like that,” he said softly and so unassumingly she never would have guessed he was the same show-off who’d dealt out smiles and genial handshakes in the dining room only five minutes ago.
It was proof of just how close Maggie was to the end of her rope that she considered the idea. It wasn’t like he could do much <em>harm</em>, right? He’d really only be marking time until Cal decided to stop pouting.
“Sure, why not,” she finally said, leaving out her silent assumption that he couldn’t break it worse than it was already broken.
“And, for the record,” he said genially, “I never told Hannah anything. She made her own assumptions.”
Maggie suddenly remembered she was supposed to be furious with him. The ability to disarm women was probably another one of the many tricks he had up his sleeve. “Hannah isn’t prone to vast exaggeration,” Maggie insisted, “<em>some </em>exaggeration, yes, but not making up stories out of thin air.”
In the approximately fifteen minutes they’d spent in each other’s company, she’d never seen him look uncomfortable, but he did now. “I might have hinted a <em>little</em>,” he allowed. “But she was so. . .determined to flirt. And I don’t do that.”
“Anymore,” Maggie added helpfully.
He shot her a look like she was crazy, and it was a testament to how bizarre the last day had been that Maggie actually preferred that look to the panty-melting smile he usually employed.
“I mean,” she added, “that you don’t do that <em>anymore</em>.”
He was beginning to look downright disgruntled and Maggie was secretly—or maybe not so secretly—thrilled at this. He was cute mad. Maybe even cuter than when he was trying to be so hot all the time. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” he practically grunted.
“You said you don’t do that. But look at you.” She gestured absently in his general direction but she’d forgotten how cramped the office was, and her fingers brushed the soft fabric of his t-shirt and the firm stomach muscles beneath it. Snatching back her hand, she glanced up at him, ready to apologize for nearly groping him, but the sudden heat in his eyes caught her off-guard.
Maggie knew she should reach behind her, open the door and stop this conversation right now. She didn’t, though, and the only reason she could figure was it had been so long since a guy looked at her with that soft, almost reluctant attraction, even though she knew he was only looking because she faintly resembled her elder sister. She’d needed something all day to cleanse her palate of Cal’s ridiculous flirting, and Noah seemed made-to-order.
“Look at me?” he asked. “What about you? Are you so ugly that nobody could ever imagine you flirting?”
Maggie knew she wasn’t ugly. She also wasn’t her sister. “Hardly.”
“Hardly,” he chuckled, “Not quite how I’d put it, but I guess that works.”
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QB2RD74"><img class="alignnone wp-image-167" src="http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e178/bethaboo555/scr2557-proj697-a-kindle-logo-w-rgb-lg-300x80.jpg" alt="scr2557-proj697-a-kindle-logo-w-rgb-lg" width="165" height="44" /></a>
<strong>ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!</strong>
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<strong>ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-397 size-thumbnail" src="http://bethbolden.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/1601370_1556863084534105_8490565538357074425_n-150x150.jpg" alt="1601370_1556863084534105_8490565538357074425_n" width="150" height="150" />
<strong>Beth Bolden</strong> lives in Portland,Oregon with one cat and one fiance. She wholly believes in Keeping Portland Weird, but wishes she didn’t have to make the yearly pilgrimage up to Seattle to watch her Boston Red Sox play baseball. After graduating from university with a degree in English, Beth unsurprisingly had no idea what to do with her life, and spent the next few years working for a medical equipment supplier, a technology company, and an accounting firm. Now Beth runs her own business as a Girl Friday for small business owners, assisting them with administration, bookkeeping and their general sanity. Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled <em>Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings</em>, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal.
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Connect with Beth</strong></p>
<p align="center"><strong><a href="http://www.bethbolden.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bethboldenauthor" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/beth_bolden" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8137900.Beth_Bolden" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://eepurl.com/3WFOH" target="_blank">Mailing List</a></strong></p>
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MY REVIEW:
I was familiar with Beth Bolden from Frequent Flyers, but hadn't read her novel, The Lucky Charm, when I was asked to review Getting Lucky, her latest release. I immediately knew I was going to like it: the main character is a baseball player!
But I was surprised to see that the book wasn't actually centered around sports, rather it was centered around the characters and the beautiful small town they inhabit. It was more about winning hearts than winning games.
Maggie is a delightful character, unique in the fact that she's not immediately described as a knock out, rather as someone who takes more pride in cooking than in styling her hair. She's realistic and very relatable.
Noah is your typical male lead, with a dream job and stunning looks, but he's also much deeper, as he reveals his vulnerabilities and his dreams to Maggie and to us, the readers. You will want to jump into bed with him in one scene, and cuddle him in the next!
The lesser characters, like Cal and Ella, are excellent additions, like spices in an already delicious stew. Cal, especially, has a big role to play in Maggie's life. Tabitha, though absent in most of the story, is a central component to the book, being the reason Maggie and Noah meet to begin with.
With a heartwarming plot, great setting and a flair for detail, you can't go wrong with Getting Lucky!
4/5--a delight!
Book blogger/journalist. Lover of art. Contact me via notok02@hotmail.com if you want a book review, etc.!
Book blogger/journalist. Lover of art. Contact me via notok02@hotmail.com if you want a book review, etc.!
