Author Interview: Jennifer Echols

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
Next Year by Foo Fighters

Was it weird writing about a writer?
No, it was easy, because I knew how that character felt.

Many songs tells a story. What song do you think would make a good novel?
So many country songs! That’s why I like to listen to the country station sometimes.

Out of all the books you have out now, is there one that's a bit more special to you then the rest?
My favorite is always the one I’m writing at the moment.

Did you make a playlist while writing Love Story? If so, could you share a few songs from it?
Yes, and it is awesome.
Sunday Best by Augustana
Lonely Day by Phantom Planet
Conspiracy by Paramore
There for You by Flyleaf
The Royal We by Silversun Pickups
7/4 (Shoreline) by Broken Social Scene
Little Secrets by Passion Pit
California by Phantom Planet
The Only Exception by Paramore

What's one thing you hope readers will take with them after their finished reading Love Story?
Sometimes we are the least respectful and communicate the worst with the people we love the most.

You're given two golden concert tickets that will take you to any show from any decade. The only catch is that you have to take one of your characters from one of your novels. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
I would take Summer from Love Story, because she is so much fun, and we are going to see my favorite band here in Birmingham, TOTAL A$$ET$, a funk band made up of middle-aged bankers.

What was the first idea that sparked Love Story?
A long time ago I was in a creative writing class with an adorable boy who wrote a very sexy story and made all the girls in the class fall in love with him.

Were there any troubles you had with writing Erin and Hunter's characters?
Not really. Once I planned this story, I could see them very clearly.

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?
Any time I finally figure something out after agonizing over it for a long time!

Author Interview: Suzanne Young

Guys I am so freaking excited to have Suzanne on the blog today! I adored her debut novel, The Naughty List and love how quirky she is just in general via her blog.

You're walking down the street - what song is playing?
Hm… probably something from The Black Keys (Sinister Kid), or maybe Radiohead’s Karma Police.

What was the first idea that sparked A Need So Beautiful?
A sick family member and a stranger who helped me through it with just a random conversation. It sparked the idea of the Forgotten.

Did you make a playlist for A Need So Beautiful? If so, could you share a few tracks with us?
I did have a playlist, but I wrote it so long ago, I’m not sure if the songs really work. But here’s what I’d have on a new playlist:

She Talks to Angels- The Black Crowes
The Scientist-Coldplay
Iris- The GooGoo Dolls
Just Breathe- Pearl Jam
Closer- Kings of Leon

I know in writing some days you just want to throw in the towel or choke a character or two. Who was the most difficult character to write?
Definitely Monroe Swift. His character was really complex because his motives were never clear, at least until the end. So sometimes I thought of just killing him off. haha

Many songs tell a story. What song do you think would make a good YA novel?
I love Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car. The lyrics are so bittersweet and Tracy puts such heart and soul behind it. It’s amazing.

If Tessa from The Naughty List and Charlotte met up, do you think they would be friends?
I think Tessa could be friends with anyone. But I doubt their friendship would last long. Charlotte is trying to keep a secret, and Tessa thrives on DISCOVERING secrets. So I think Charlotte would stay clear of Tessa and the Smitten Kittens.

You've been given two golden concert tickets to see any band from any era. The only catch is that you have to take one of your characters from any story with you. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
Well, I’m definitely bringing Harlin. I’m scared of motorcycles, but I think I’d be safe with him. Then we’d have donuts and go see The Beatles. And then take the long way home.

I know from your blog and via twitter you are an Eddie Vedder fan. What is your favorite song by him? Mine is Guaranteed :)
Oh, I love Guaranteed! I really love The End on the Backspacer album. I love Black and Corduroy, as well. Oh, heck, I love most anything that Eddie sings.

Tell us five random facts about yourself:

1. I name my dogs after 80’s TV show characters
2. I haven’t read any of my books in book form
3. My favorite food is candycorn
4. I have a superhuman sense of smell
5. My favorite vacation was to the Grand Canyon

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?
Not many, to be honest. I remember early on meeting a girl who recognized me from my blog—and she was dying to read The Naughty List so I gave her an ARC. She was over the moon and I felt kinda cool for a second. Haha. I’m pretty accessible to bloggers and readers here in Portland so they’re used to seeing me by now. So I think my rockstar days are over.

♥amber

Author Interview: Cara Chow

How does it feel being a debut author?
Being a debut author is somewhat like being a debut mother. During my pregnancy, the OB medical staff called me “Mrs. Chow.” The moment I went into labor, the OB and pediatric staff started calling me “mom.” Suddenly, I lost my name and became identified, not as an individual but by my role. My sense of purpose expanded, but so did my sense of responsibility. I had to stretch rapidly to accommodate this new role while trying not to tear. The process has been joyful, stressful, and unpredictable.

As a debut author, I feel a similar sense of heightened joy, stress, purpose, and responsibility. The first time I got a candid email from a teen reader, I felt a strange cocktail of honor and anxiety. I always wanted my book to touch people in a deep place, but when that actually happened, I felt intimidated by my own success. Because my book features Chinese-Americans, people expect me to be a spokesperson for my ethnic group. This especially became the case after the publication of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. That’s a lot of pressure for someone who doesn’t proclaim to be an expert. Because I wrote literary fiction, as opposed to genre fiction, people also expect me to be articulate and profound 24-7. People have approached me during book signings, asking me to write something “profound” on their book. They seemed to expect that I should exhale vapors of insight and sweat pearls of wisdom every moment of the day. The person they saw seemed so much cleverer and wiser than the person I knew myself to be. Before the publication of Bitter Melon, I wanted to succeed for myself. Now that I have an agent, publisher, and publicist on Team Bitter Melon, I push myself even harder because I want them to be successful too because they deserve it.

What's one thing you want readers to take away when they read Bitter Melon?
Frances’s and Gracie’s behaviors may be difficult to understand at first glance, but as readers read further, the economic, cultural, and psychological factors influencing their attitudes and actions become clearer. People’s behaviors are the result of powerful external factors, as well as free will choice, and it is important to keep that in mind as we perceive others.

Do you ever base any of your characters or situations in your novels on people or experiences you've had?Yes, of course! Our own lives are the richest source of information and inspiration we have. Who else can tell our stories better?

We're always up for new music. Tell us five songs we should be listening to.

I’m not the best person to be consulting for cool music right now. I used to listen to the radio in the car (I live in the LA area, so I spent a lot of time in the car). I had a CD collection at home. I also worked at a physical therapy office that played music all day in the background. Now that I am home with my son, I no longer work at the physical therapy clinic, I spend very little time in the car, and due to our home remodel, most of my CDs are in boxes in the garage. These days the only songs I ever hear are songs for small children.

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
Twinkle twinkle little star . . . (I sing it with a little more RB flavor.)

You've been given two golden concert tickets to see any band/singer from any decade. The only catch is you have to take a character from Bitter Melon with you. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
I think I’d take Nellie with me to go see Madonna or Lady Gaga. I think she’d have a really good time there, jumping up and down and whistling in her hot pink, jaguar print jogging suit. On the way home, I bet she’d sing all the songs loudly and get the words wrong. Then I’d invite her to the opera or symphony.

Is there any genre you don't see yourself ever writing?
Romance.

Ironically, several drafts into the writing of Bitter Melon, I was talked into adding a romance to the plot. In fact, one of the ways I entice readers to buy the book is by telling them that there is a forbidden romance in it. At the rate I’m going, my second book could be the Asian-American Jane Eyre!

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?
Alas, Bitter Melon has no wizards or vampires, so the paparazzi are not waiting outside my front door, and I am able to shop at Target unaccosted. I do get touching fan mail and nice reviews though, so I am quite happy with my thimble of fame!

Wanna know more about Cara Chow? Check out her website here!

Amazon | Goodreads

♥amber

Author Interview: Suzanne Selfors

With Mad Love being your sixth release, has the writing process gotten any easier?
It never gets easier. Isn't that crazy? You think it will but every novel comes with its own set of problems. What does get easier, however, is accepting the fact that not everyone is going to love every word you write. And some will like one book but not the other. That's how it works and it's all good.

I know characters are like your children, but do you have one you favorite a little bit more than the rest?
Yes. I adore Isabelle from my kids' book Fortune's Magic Farm. I based her on my daughter, Isabelle, and she's about the most hopeful, wonderful, beautiful person I've ever written and have ever known.

Is there any topic or genre you don't think you'll ever write?
I'm not into crime stuff. Don't watch CSI or any of those shows that open with a gruesome murder and then they start picking at the dead body to determine the cause of death, which is always something beyond disgusting. Not my thing.

I'm always curious of what the first idea was to spark a novel. What idea turned Mad Love into what it is now?
I love Greek and Roman Mythology. I'd just finished my book, Coffeehouse Angel, in which I reimagined the messenger god, Hermes. So I knew I wanted to do something with Cupid. That's how it began. But what could I do with Cupid? What if Cupid was walking around amongst us? So the idea emerged to turn Cupid into this eternal 17-year-old teen who has a final mission, and that is to tell his true love story. But he's not a writer and he needs someone to help him tell his story. That's when Alice Amorous, daughter of a famous romance writer, popped into my head.

Do you base your characters off of anyone you know or even yourself?
It's not possible to write a story and keep yourself completely out of it. Bits of my personality will always seep into my books. I see parts of myself in many of my characters. I have, however, based a few of my characters on real people. My father has appeared in many disguises, as have my kids.

Why Cupid?
See #4

What is one thing you want readers to take away from Mad Love?
Alice, the main character, believes that she's unloveable. She feels abandoned by love. What she learns is that love never left, it was always swirling around her. She just had to open her heart to it.

If you were in Alice's shoes, meeting Cupid and all, what do you think your reaction would be?
Same as hers. I'd think he was a lunatic.

What are some of your favorite young adult books?
Hunger Games, The House of the Scorpion, Catcher in the Rye.

Lastly, tell us five random things about you:
I draw cartoons, I love dark chocolate, I live in a hundred-year-old farmhouse, my best friend is a bellydancer, and I'm so grateful that I get to make my living as a writer.

Rock This! Thursday Interview with Laurie London + GIVEAWAY!

Through the wonderful site that is Twitter, I've gotten to talk to debut author Laurie London a bit. She's super sweet and I'm very excited about her debut novel, Bonded by Blood! Today she's hanging out at the blog and answering a few questions about books and music.


How does it feel being a debut author?

Exciting and a little frightening, actually. I still pinch myself that a big publisher liked my story and story world enough to want not just one book, but the series. Other than the few contests I entered and the handful of agents I sent the manuscript to, this will be the first time people I don’t know will be reading what I’ve written. My published author friends tell me that you get used to it, but for now it’s all pretty surreal.

Can you tell us a little bit of what gave you the idea for Bonded by Blood?

Although I’ve always been drawn to vampire stories, both on the screen and in fiction, I didn’t consciously set out to write one. The first scene, set in a cemetery, just came to me and it created a lot of questions in my mind. Who is this man and how did he become injured? Why is he hiding under a pile of leaves and branches? Who is this woman? Why does he attack and almost kill her if he’s not the villain? The answers to these questions form the basis of the book.

Given my obsession with the movie Fright Night as a teenager and my romance reading habits (chances are, if there’s a vampire in the book, I’ve read it or have it in my TBR pile), it was an obvious conclusion to me that the guy in the cemetery was a vampire. A really hot one.

As I was going through my playlists, I noticed that two of my favorite songs have tie-ins to vampires, but they didn’t when I bought them. The first is Jace Everett’s Bad Things. I’ve had it on my Ipod forever, so when it became the song for the opening credits of True Blood, I thought it was perfect. The second song is Are You Afraid by Rooney, my favorite band. I’d been listening to it for awhile when they made the music video. In it, they’re all vampires trying unsuccessfully to live normal lives with human girls. It’s really funny. http://tinyurl.com/ckjqm6

So, see? I’ve got a thing for vampires.

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?

I’m in love with Magic by B.o.B. featuring Rivers Cuomo. I first heard it when someone made a tribute video for the amazing racehorse Zenyatta, a mare (yeah, girl power!), and now it’s a song on my running playlist. It puts me in an instant good mood.

If Bonded by Blood was made into a movie, who would you cast for it?

What a fun question! For Dom, I’d have to say Rodrigo Santoro in this picture, because he served as my inspiration. Just looking at him makes my heart beat faster. For Mackenzie, I’d cast Stana Katic.

I know some authors like to make playlists to their novels. Did you have one for yours? If so, can you share a few songs with us?

Although I can’t listen to music with lyrics when I write—I get too caught up in the stories of the songs—I listen to playlists for my books when I run. Here is the playlist for BONDED BY BLOOD.

Violet Hill – Coldplay
It’s About Time - Barcelona
Back in Your Head – Teagan and Sara
Come Back When You Can - Barcelona
I Will Follow You into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
Nothing In My Way – Keane
Satellite - Guster
When We Die – Bowling for Soup
Easy Way Out – The Pink Spiders
Believe in Me – Rooney
A Glorious Day – Embrace

Can you think of a song that would make a good book?

Sometime Around Midnight by Airborne Toxic Event because the music has an epic feel to it and the lyrics are descriptive like a scene from a book. I want to know what happens to the guy and the girl at the end. He loves her, but I don’t think she loves him.

What are some of your favorite books?

I’ve got so many, it’s hard to single them out. Here are few off the top of my head.

The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Lover Awakened by JR Ward
Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost
Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Highland Sinner by Hannah Howell
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook

What was the publishing process like for you?

I’ve written middle grade fiction, YA, and contemporary romance, but it wasn’t until I started writing paranormal romance that I guess you could say I found my groove. I read a lot of YA and paranormal romance, so it makes sense that my writer’s voice would be stronger in those areas. Things happened fairly quickly after I finished writing BONDED BY BLOOD. It did well in the few writing contests I entered. In a roundabout way from one of those contests, I found an agent and within a few months, the series sold.

Is there a song out there that instantly just makes you tear up?

Yes! Show Me What I’m Looking For by Carolina Liar “Save me, I’m lost. Oh Lord, I’ve been waiting for you.” I’ve written a few chapters of a YA ghost story with this as the theme song. Makes me teary-eyed just thinking of it.

Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments?

I’ve had so many ‘rock star,’ ‘pinch me this can’t be really happening’ moments that it’s hard to pick just one. From one of my author-idols, Cherry Adair, shoving her phone number into my hand with instructions to call her the minute I sold my book to my agent texting me that she’d closed my book deal at a cocktail party. Oh, and my first fan letter. I totally cried when I read it.

GIVEAWAY

One winner will get:


- Signed copy of Bonded by Blood
- Revlon Lip Balm of Just Bitten

- Must be 13 years or older to enter
- Must have a US or CANADA mailing address
- Giveaway will run until February 10th 

FILL OUT THIS FORM TO ENTER!

Blog Tour: Interview with Keary Taylor + GIVEAWAY!

As part of the Teen Book Scene, I have author Keary Taylor stopping by today to discuss her debut novel, Branded. The first book in her Fallen of Angels series. You can check out more of about Keary and read the first chapter of her book over at her website.


What was the first idea that sparked Branded?

I was watching “The Phantom of the Opera” with my husband one night and it kind of struck me when the Phantom was referred to as the “angel of music”. The phantom was this really scary man capable of terrible things, not what you would normally call an angel. And so the idea of terrifying and sometimes unjust angels kept turning in my mind till the whole concept of Branded came about!

Why angels?

I’ve always had a fascination with supernatural beings. I love vampires, immortals, etc. but wanted to take on something that hadn’t been tapped into as much. I had been trying to come up with something when the idea for Branded sparked. And it was such an open subject, there weren’t the same rules as say, vampires had. I had a lot of freedom to have them do what I wanted.

Are you anything like your main character Jessica?

I always put a little bit of myself into every character I create. I’m the obsessive hopeless romantic like Jessica is. My drink of choice is Dr. Pepper, like Jessica. I also hate doing the dishes, like Jessica.

You're walking down the street - what song is following you?

Oh man, that changes from day to day. Right now probably Soldier by the Goo Goo Dolls.

What's one genre you don't think you'll ever write?

I never thought I’d write a dystopian or a contemporary but now those are my upcoming projects… lol. Hum, I don’t think I’ll ever write an all-out mystery novel.

Name three parts of history you would have loved to have witnessed.

I’m not a big history buff so I really had to think about this one. 1- the first shuttle going into space. 2- I’d love to just visit ancient Egypt, I’ve had a long fascination with their mythology. 3- It would be amazing to go to a Shakespearian play in his day.

If Branded was to turn into a movie, who would you cast?

Well, Emmy Rossum is who Jessica is in my mind. I guess that’s because the character came from afore mentioned movie. Alex has been really hard. I haven’t found a perfect person yet but the closest would be Liam Hemsworth or Robert Hoffman. Orlando Bloom could be Cole if he was a little more built. I haven’t yet found a good Sal.

What is one thing you want your readers to walk away with after they've finished reading Branded?

Hum, that’s a hard one. I guess that my whole idea with Branded is just that not everything is as it seems.

Can you tell us what's next for you?
Well, I’m currently on the 4th draft of the next book in the Fall of Angels series, Forsaken. It’s releasing in January. I am also working on a dystopian YA called Eden. I’m about half done with the first draft. And I’m toying with the idea of attempting NaNoWriMo with an idea I have for a contemporary YA. I just wish I didn’t have to sleep so I could have more time to write!





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Keary is offering up one copy of Branded. US ONLY! You have until December 5th at 11:59 pm central standard time to enter.





Click here to enter! And good luck :) 

♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Stacey Kade

What were you doing when your first idea of The Ghost and the Goth came to you?
Honestly, I don’t remember, but a good guess would be that I was at work or driving there.

Do you base any of you characters on people you know?
Nope. Though, all of them are based on observations of real people. If Alona is a fairly accurate example of a “mean girl,” it’s because I knew plenty of them in high school and paid attention.

I read on your website this will be a trilogy. Any hints to what we can expect in the second book?
More trouble for Alona and Will, more kissing, more bickering…but there’s also someone new in town who is causing trouble between them.

Do you make playlists when you write? If so, can you share a few songs?
I do, usually. With Ghost and the Goth, I picked one artist, Tegan and Sara. My favorites on that list are: “Where Does the Good Go?” “I Know, I Know, I Know” and “You Wouldn’t Like Me.”

If we lived in a world where books and writing didn’t exist (I know, scary thought) what would you be doing?
Telling stories in whatever way was legally allowed! I’d be a bard, perhaps? :-)

Thanks for stopping by, Stacey!


Okay girls and boys - that's it! No more Crossroads Tour after today. I hope you all have enjoyed the tour and a HUGE thanks to Judith Graves for putting this together. 


Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!


♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Jackie Kessler Morse

I asked Jackie if she were sucked into one of her books, which book would it be, and what kind of reaction or hopes she would have.

Let’s Talk About Death

By Jackie Morse Kessler

Growing up, I read comic books. Not Archies, either; superhero comic books. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America…you name it, I probably read it. When I was a kid, maybe 10 years old, I read a graphic novel (which back then meant a deluxe edition trade paperback comic book) called The Death Of Captain Marvel. It was all about, you guessed it, how Mar-Vell, the Kree warrior whom humans called Captain Marvel, died…of cancer. At one point, all the superheroes have gathered, waiting for the end, and Spider-Man—who is perhaps the most human of all the Marvel Universe superheroes—breaks down. He laments that this isn’t how superheroes are supposed to die. They die in battle; they die saving the world; they die doing the right thing; they’re not supposed to succumb to cancer.

That haunted me. I actually crawled into my closet and sat there, rocking in the dark, thinking about how unfair it was for a superhero to die from something so mundane. Death didn’t care about things like Good and Evil. Death is a constant. All living things die, period.

My God, that’s terrifying.

It wasn’t until I read Neil Gaiman’s Sandman that I saw another side of Death: a friendly, charming side. Oh, Death still does her job; if anything, she’s incredibly dedicated. But she also appreciates life. That stayed with me, too, just like the death of Captain Marvel.

And then, there’s Piers Anthony’s Death, from On a Pale Horse. That’s just some guy who gets the job. Death…as a regular person? Uncanny. That, too, left its impression, as did Terry Pratchett’s Death, who speaks in small caps and without quote marks.

The character of Death in my book HUNGER definitely has its roots in all of these previous incarnations. For some reason I still don’t know, Death in my world looks and sounds exactly like Kurt Cobain. (I wasn’t even a Nirvana fan when I wrote HUNGER.) He’s got a wicked sense of humor and can be rather terrifying at times, but he’s also a bit of a dreamer (and the other Horsemen have actually called him a slacker; in his point of view, everyone comes to him in time, so what’s the rush?).

And currently, he can play the guitar and has a haunting singing voice.

Would Death have appeared in HUNGER, even if I’d never read The Death of Captain Marvel? Of course. But it would have been a very different sort of Death, quite possibly one that didn’t hint at very frightening things, the things that make us retreat to our closets and rock in the dark.

Happily, I’ll never know.

I don't really want to pick favorites, but Jackie's post is definitely a favorite of mine throughout this tour. Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!


♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Jeri Smith-Ready

You guys have no idea how psyched I am to have Jeri Smith-Ready stopping by the blog today. Her YA book, Shade, became an instant favorite of mine and I'm really excited to see where she plans to take the series!

You’ve scored a golden ticket to see any band from any decade. The only fallback is that you have to take one of your characters with you. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
Ooh, I would take Logan to see the original Pogues, or maybe the Sex Pistols or the Clash. It would be epic!

When I know an author is a huge music fan like myself I love asking them to suggest a few songs for my readers. In this case, what are five songs that Logan would want us to listen to?
Logan is a huge fan of Irish music, everything from traditional to rock to punk. Earlier this year on St. Patrick’s Day he put together a great playlist, which can be found on the SHADE music page below the SHADE “soundtrack.”Here are five of them:

1. “Black Friday Rule” by Flogging Molly
2. “Siobhan” by the Tossers (as a jab at his sister)
3. “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya” as covered by the Dropkick Murphys
4. “Sally McLannan” by the Pogues
5. “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” by the Chieftains

What do readers have to look forward to in Shift?
In SHIFT, we’ll find out the answers to a lot of Aura’s questions about her parents and their connection to the Shift. But of course those answers will lead to more questions, as answers often do. On the personal side, the love triangle will be settled, but not until after it gets much more complicated (a love pentagon?).

Thanks for stopping by, Jeri!

Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!

♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Karen Kincy

I asked Karen, if her book was ever turned into a movie - who would she cast and why?

Other: The Movie. Coming to a theatre near you. (I wish!)

Rachelle Lefevre would make a good Gwen with her red curly hair and all, and I’ve always liked Takeshi Kaneshiro as a Tavian inspiration. I’m not so sure about Zack, Chloe, Randall, etc. However… both of these actors are too old! I’m afraid I would run up against this problem with most of my characters. What does everybody else think? Who would you suggest as good actors for the movie Other?

Also, I hope they would film Other: The Movie in the forests of western Washington, where Klikamuks (the fictional town where Gwen lives) is supposed to be. There’s some really gloomy, creepy forest that would work great for the werewolf and dead body scenes, as well as the perfect big-leaf maple trees for Chloe, the dryad who’s best friends with Gwen, to sleep in. Plus that means I could easily swing by while they film the movie, since I’m a native Washingtonian.

Thanks for stopping by, Karen! Here's hopes that one day it will turn into a movie! Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!


♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Amanda Ashby

For Amanda Ashby, I asked her why she loved the supernatural so much. Here's what she had to say. 

I blame Buffy Summers, I really do! I just loved that show so much, not just because of the vampires (though hello Angel) but because Joss Whedon showed the world that you can use the supernatural to really show what it’s like to be a teenager. I also love a bit of action and if I wasn’t writing about supernatural things I would probably be doing mysteries because I love when external things come along and set off a landmine of problems.

I'm a HUGE Buffy fan, too! While Angel was always nice to look at, we cannot forget about Spike. *sighs* Thanks for stopping by, Amanda!


Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!


♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Joy Preble

When you were working on Dreaming Anastasia was there ever a scene or a plot line that had to be cut that you wanted to keep? Or maybe an idea that came to you after the book was already out on shelves?
Well, actually there were a set of scenes that took place at the Art Institute in Chicago. But that’s all I’m going to say. You never know when I might need them! I keep an “orphans” file for all my books. That’s where I store scenes/lines, etc that I cut but might want to go back to in future drafts or books. And oh yes, there was also a wonderful scene in an earlier version of the novel where Anne and Ethan kiss while waiting for the El train. But my editor at the time was insistent that these two needed to wait longer to finally kiss. So I had to cut it. That one was hard to get rid of for me!

If you could choose one person’s dreams to slip into whose would you choose?
I already have such vivid and often disturbing dreams that this is a tough question. But you know, now that you ask, I’d say Lady Gaga. Cause I’d really love to know what’s going on in her creative imagination!

Name three events in history you would have liked to have either witnessed or been apart of.
I would LOVE to have witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Independence. After that, I think it would have been amazing to watch the Wright Brothers’ first flight. And I’d have loved to have been with the Apollo astronauts when they walked on the moon!

Is there a subject or genre you know you’ll never write?
I will probably never write a Harlequin romance. Not that I dislike the genre, just that I tend to create these angsty characters who struggle with happy endings. So I’m probably not a great fit. Other than that, I’m pretty wide open!

Out of all the supernatural powers out there, what’s one you WOULDN’T want?
I would NOT want to read people’s thoughts. Imagine what you’d have to listen to! I definitely wouldn’t want to know what most people are actually thinking.

Well...there are a few peoples' minds I wouldn't mind taking a listen to. Thanks for stopping by, Joy!


Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!


♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Linda Joy Singleton

What first pulled you into wanting to write paranormal/supernatural books?
I have always found psychics interesting, and reading about them led me to other supernatural topics like ghosts. I’m not a fan of monster-lit (although I did enjoy Twilight) but I do love mysteries, and the mysteries about what is on the “Otherside” fascinate me. After reading psychic biographies and meeting with psychics, I based Sabine on real psychics, so that the abilities she has are more spiritual than supernatural. Of course, in my DEAD GIRL series, it’s all creative fun with Dark-Lifers stealing bodies and my heroine Amber accidentally jumping into other bodies. There’s romance, too, which adds to the fun.

Have you ever had a supernatural encounter?
I wish I could tell you I’d seen a ghost or something spooky. But the most I can say is that I get really strong feelings sometimes, warning me not to go somewhere or to avoid people, and I’ve learned to listen, believing there’s a good chance it’s a spirit guide trying to protect me. I have had some dreams which felt real and where I’d see my grandmother (who died 30 years ago) and when I hugged her in the dream it felt real, so I’d wake up and wonder if it was.

Thanks for stopping by, Linda! Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!



♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Kitty Keswick

For today's post I asked Kitty Keswick to tell us moments where she felt like a freak in high school:

Who hasn’t felt a little freaky, like they don’t belong. I was really involved in clubs and such in school. I also competed in Debate; I once fell on my butt in front of a large group of people and then had to go up and speak...it rattled me. I felt stupid and awkward.

Yeah, falling on the bum is always a bit mortifying. And here, have a random list of Kitty's Top 10 Favorite Halloween Movies: 

- American Werewolf in London
- Underworld
- Halloween
- Friday the 13th
- The Ring
- From Dusk ‘til Dawn
- Nightmare on Elm street
- The Ring
- The Grudge
- Dracula

Thanks for stopping by, Kitty!


Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!


♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Jordan Deen

What was the first thing that sparked your idea to write The Crescent?
Hi Amber, thank you so much for hosting this interview! ‘The Crescent’ came to me late one night when I was home alone and my german shepherd wouldn’t let me into the house. It was horrible and I let my overactive imagination get to me. I imagined a robber was waiting in my house for me. Ultimately, I let the dogs in to inspect every inch of the house before I could settle down.

Are there any other supernatural things you’d like to explore in writing?
I’m a sucker for a good paranormal character. I love the depth that urban fantasy novels have. I’m not a huge fan of high fantasy, so getting the real world with a bit of oddity thrown in always draws me in. I’m currently working on a witch novel, a shape shifter novel, and a healer novel. I always have a full plate of ideas waiting in the wings as well.

You really do have a full plate, but I so admire that with writers. You’re favorite part of writing your novel?
Great question! My favourite part by far is letting the characters play out their story, the way they intend it. I eat, sleep, and live my characters; there isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not thinking of the characters, thinking of their story and watching their life like a movie in my head. When you connect with a character so much that they tell you their story—that is magic.

So true! You’re not so favorite part of writing?
This is such an easy question. EDITING. Yup, that word is a curse word amongst writers. Ask anyone.

Do you make play lists while writing? If so can you share a few songs with us?
Yes. For ‘The Crescent’ I listened to a lot of ‘Pull the Pin”, “Framing Hanley” and “Linkin Park”. For “Half Moon” I had a lot of “Disturbed” “Lady Gaga” and “Breaking Benjamin”. The current novel I’m working on, I’ve played “Love the way you lie” and “Airplanes”. I have to feel the words of the song and connect it to the characters, otherwise, it really throws off my groove.

Thanks for stopping by, Jordan!






♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Shannon Delany

I asked Shannon for her stop if she's ever had a run in with the supernatural, and here's what she had to say:



I once had a well-reputed psychic kick me out of her house and utterly refuse to do a reading for me. She claimed that something very dark was following me and she was very nervous even having me in her house briefly. I tried to convince her to do some sort of reading, but she refused and told me the best thing I could do was get some training myself and examine my past lives. According to her it was all connected, the dark thing following me from one lifetime to another. And that’s only one little oddity during the course of my *cough* young life. People who know me understand that writing paranormal stories *is* my normal in some odd ways. ;-)

Whoa. If that was me, I'd be freaking out! Thanks for stopping by, Shannon!





♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Judith Graves

While the paranormal is a very hot genre there are still some readers who are hesitant. What are five reasons you would tell someone why they should give the unknown and the unexplained a spin?

1. If an author is offering an explanation for the unexplained….why not take a chance and be entertained by the ideas?

2. If you like horror movies, or fun houses, or those mini cinnamon donuts at the fair – you might enjoy a thrill ride of the paranormal fiction kind. They’re sweetly dangerous.

3.Don’t look behind you! (If that line made you uneasy or gave you a laugh….imagine what a whole paranormal book could do.)

4.What is paranormal fiction but the modern fairytale?

5.Because I said so. ;)

Thanks for stopping by, Judith! And of course thank you for putting together this tour :) Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!


♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Tonya Hurley

What is a ghost story or dream that still haunts you?
“Johnny on the first step” or “Hook for a hand.”

The personal one that still haunts me is when Lisa and Cookie Ficara, our friends, were watching my twin sister and I. We walked past an old stone wall and there were cement balls on the top. They told us that the heads of little kids were trapped inside of the balls. I still cringe when I visit back home and see the wall. It’s still there and I still think there are heads in there.

I could see that really freaking someone out! It kind of reminds me of Killer Klowns from Outer Space and how I was scared of fun ball balloons for years because of it! If you turned into a ghost, what places or people would you haunt?
My twin sister. I love to see her terrified for some odd reason.

I'd totally haunt my sister, too! Thanks for stopping by, Tonya! 






♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Lucienne Diver

What made you want to write about vampires?
I’ve always adored vampires. Always. Growing up, I was a severe asthmatic. The way it was treated back then was with stimulants and steroids...meaning I never slept. My parents gave up trying to keep up with me and monitor my late-night viewing, so midnight would frequently see me bundled up in a blanket with an old Christopher Lee vampire movie, scaring the bejeebers out of myself. Then I’d go from can’t sleep with my meds to can’t sleep without my bejeebers.

I never thought I’d actually write about vampires, because I couldn’t imagine what new I had to say. I’m still not sure...my heroine Gina doesn’t let me get a word in edgewise.

Do you and Gina share any similarities?
We’re both bossy . We both love a hot geek. (Bobby in Gina’s case, my husband in mine.) If you’d asked me in high school, I’d have said, “Nothing but the big hair.” Back then, I was as close to being a fashionista as, well, any of the guys from The Big Bang Theory.

If there was a show down between Buffy and Gina, who do you think would win?
I think they’d start out fighting and end bonding over their “stylish yet affordable boots.” If we could get Buffy and Gina together on a shopping spree (maybe with Cordelia thrown in for good measure), we could turn this recession right around.

What is your favorite vampire movie?
Love at First Bite with George Hamilton and Susan Saint James. I mean, a vampire with a tan? What could be better? Plus, some of the greatest lines, “With you, never a quickie. Always a longie.” More here.

If you weren’t writing, what would you be doing?
Mourning.

Any hints of what is going to go down in the sequel?
In Vamped, Gina and her minions defeated a vampire vixen, a psycho-psychic and the vampire council of Mozulla, Ohio. Gina was all ready to expose vampires to the world in all their fanged fabulosity…until the Feds arrived to sweep everything under the rug and make them an offer they couldn’t refuse.

In ReVamped, Gina and her boyfriend Bobby are sent undercover to infiltrate a New York high school where some seriously weird stuff is going down. Worse than that, Gina’s new super-secret identity is as goth-girl Geneva Belfry. No color palette to speak of. More chains than a bike rack. And don't even get her started on the shoes. At least she won’t be too worried about blood spatter when kicking the butt of her newest nemesis, who’s decided that the high school makes a perfect playground.

In Fangtastic (forthcoming), the real vamps and the lifestylers meet, issues between the Feds and the fangs come to a head, and Gina and Bobby have to decide which side they’re on.



Thanks for stopping by Lucienne! Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!
♥amber

Crossroads Tour: Amy Brecount White

If your book was turned into a movie who would you cast and why?
I would want Laurel to be a complete unknown, because she has to be unaffected and a little overwhelmed by it all. For Ms. Suarez, I’d love to have someone like Salma Hayek, just maybe a little older. And for Spinster Spenser, you’d need a classical type actress. I’m not very good at this ….

What are some monsters or legends that scared you as a kid?
The flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz were pretty freaky. UFO’s were big when I was growing up. The idea of people being abducted and carried off was scary too.

The flying monkeys freaked me out too! What does magic mean to you?
I definitely believe in flower magic. If flowers didn’t add something special and magical to our lives, why would we include them at nearly all celebrations?! It’s fascinating to me. Scientific studies have shown that having flowers in your life can lift your mood for days! That’s a kind of magic, isn’t it?!

Scarlet poppies for your Halloween, Amber!!

Aww thanks, Amy! *whispers* I hope that's something good. 


♥amber