Interviews

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Interview with…Patricia Lynne

This week we’re welcoming author Patricia Lynne to the blog for a short series of features. Today we’ll be finding out more about her with an interview, on Saturday her book Being Human will be under the spotlight and finally on Sunday, she’ll be sharing some of her thoughts and experiences of writing in a guest post. Phew! With all that to get through, let’s get started with the interview! 

Author – Patricia Lynne

Hi Patricia, welcome to Aside from Writing, we hope you’ll enjoy your time on the blog. Let’s get started with your interview!
If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?

Tim Burton, Johnny Depp, Heather Brewer, Mike Rowe, my mom (because otherwise she’d be miffed I didn’t invite her!)

If you could have any superpower, what would you choose?

Hmmm, I’d say it’s a toss up between super speed because I hate car rides and being able to fly because Rogue of the X-men was my favorite and she could fly.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Mackinaw Island Fudge. It’s vanilla ice cream and fudge and oh so good and is a Michigan specialty.

Wow – that sounds amazingly good – how far is Michigan from Manchester?! 🙂 OK – still thinking of food – what is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

I never wake up in time to eat breakfast, because let’s face it, mornings are evil, so let’s count lunch as my breakfast so grilled cheese and tomato soup.

Lastly…a drink to go with your meal…Coke or Pepsi?

Neither. Mountain Dew. I love my elixir of life.

OK – now back to books! Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

Because if you don’t I’ll send Tommy after you and he has no qualms about getting flesh stuck in his fangs. 😉 Oh, sorry, did you want a serious answer? Being Human is a new take on a myth that’s been done a million times over, but with no sparkling.

You know – that might not be a bad thing for me – on the basis that the cover image is a very gorgeous guy, who is saying ‘please bump me to the top of the tbr pile’ with his sexy stare – I think it is enough to keep refusing. And let’s face it – we like vamps because of the danger 😉 

What are you working on at the moment? Any new books in the works? 

I have a few books that are in various stages of editing and I’m hoping to have at least one ready to get published soon. The one I’m most hopeful to have finished soon(ish) is called Snapshots and it’s about a boy who can see the future in others eyes so he keeps one eye covered earning him the nickname Cyclop.

What’s been your best experience from being published? 

This may seem mean but I highly enjoy hearing my story has made someone cry. Writers all strive to create stories that resonate with readers and make them feel, so hearing my book made someone happy or sad enough to cry is very rewarding. I did a good job.

What was your favorite book to read when you were a child?

I loved all the Clifford the Big Red Dog books. I had them all and I’m pretty sure my mom still has them stashed somewhere.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you “grew up”?

At one point I wanted to be a ballerina, but mostly I wanted to be an artist like my grandpa. I even when to college at Grand Valley State for a year in art.

How do you feel when you get a bad review? And how do you deal with it? 

I’ve only had one really bad review so far and I whined to my husband and a few friends privately, and then I got away from my laptop and got slightly (no, really) drunk. Then I didn’t really care about the review. Plus, the people I was with reminded me that every movie, book, TV show get bad reviews.

Take us through a typical day in your life…

Well, I lay in bed thinking about how I need to get up for way longer than I should. Then I finally force myself to jump up and go through the usual things (brush teeth, deodorant, get dressed) I check twitter and my email, comment on blogs or reply to emails. For some reason, I can never motivate myself to write until after I eat lunch. I can spend all afternoon writer/editing while checking twitter too much while having Mythbusters, Criminal Minds or Dirty Jobs playing in the background. I can’t write to music, but the TV is fine. I don’t have a real job (I have a small online handmade jewelry store and deliver a paper on the weekend) so I never have to worry about squeezing writing in between work. I make dinner when my husband gets home. If it’s nice out, we go for a walk and I try not to bore him with writing talk and he tries not to bore me with computer related jabber. Shower and then it’s back to writing, but usually I’m a bit worn out on writing and waste time on twitter talking about how I need to be writing. Around midnight, I trudge to bed and glower at my husband for being able to fall asleep in two seconds while it takes me a half hour.

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Patricia will be going under our author spotlight on Saturday – so come back and find out more about her and Being Human then!

And don’t forget the giveaway to win your own copy of Being Human – just comment in any of the features from Patricia posted this week and you’ll be entered to win an e-copy supplied via Smashwords!

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Interview with…Stephen Herfst

Author Stephen Herfst returns to the blog today for a ‘proper’ interview – let’s say “Hello!” 🙂

Hi Stephen, welcome back to Aside from Writing, thanks for joining us for an interview. So can you tell us a little about yourself, how you came to be an author?

Thank you for taking the time to read and review my book – I am always happy when someone reads and enjoys my story.

Well, I had an interesting childhood, having lived in Germany, South Africa, Holland, England and Australia. Each place I travelled to has in some way contributed to what I am today. I work in IT as a software engineer and, although you wouldn’t think it is very creative, it has put me in good stead. My inspiration to become an author came to me when I was reflecting on what I really wanted to do. It all began when I remembered the sports articles I wrote for my company’s soccer team and how they were well received. From there, I decided that I would work at becoming a successful author (still working on it).

We recently read and reviewed your book Zed (click here to see the review). It’s an interesting take on the zombie genre – what made you want to write this story?

Having watched an episode or two of The Walking Dead, and being bored to tears, I decided that the zombie genre needed a change. And that was how Zed came to be.

I wanted a story that would twist the traditional zombie genre and gave a different perspective to the well-worn stumbled path set out by George Romero. I wanted something that was humorous, funny and not gory – it was challenge to me to write a story that would appeal to the general public as well as the die-hard zombie fans.

What do you find are the best parts of being a writer?

The best part is being able to write the stories that you want to see or read. Being able to write your vision for a story and change things until you are one-hundred-percent happy is wonderful. It definitely appeals to my OCD!

 

And the worst…?

Translating your thoughts into a coherent and entertaining story can be quite harrowing! Even though I only took about a month to write the first book, it felt like a long time. I cannot visualize writing one story for a year or more – I think I would go insane!

What aspects of your ‘normal’ life or ‘day job’ do you find has helped you in your writing?

I find being able to divide my mind into a logical path and a creative path helps me. I have separated each path and I think clearer, I imagine better, my writing flows better. There is nothing quite like approaching a problem scientifically to gain a creative solution, strange as that may be.

 

What’s an ideal day for you – and how do you fit your writing into that?

An ideal day for me is to listen to good music while watching TV and writing while my laptop rests precariously on my lap. My writing environment is quite organic and I believe that my writing reflects that as well.

Any advice for people who have an interest in creative writing?

I would definitely recommend starting a blog, writing a novel without understanding the rules and being willing to say ‘I am wrong’ and being willing to go back on your hard-written writing and delete. The ‘I am wrong’ bit is the hardest part to do, let me tell you!

So – what else do you have planned for 2012?

I plan to write the remaining two books over the next six months (or less) – I have started writing the second book and it is going well. The story arch is better realized than the first and the new characters I am/will introduce are working well within the world I have created.

 

Random Questions:

If you could be a character from any book – who would it be and why?

I would love to be Paul Atreides from Dune (by Frank Herbert). Where he changes from a young prince into the messiah controls the spice thanks, in part, to his evolution into the Kwisatz Haderach. It is a very heavy book but a wonderful tale.

 

Favourite fictional world – where would you live?

I would love to live in Xanth by Piers Anthony. I think his world would be lovely to work through all the challenges and experience all the cheesy puns first hand while I am on a quest to Save the Princess (like a good hero should).

 

Best super-evil baddie?

Even though Smeagol isn’t really a baddie, I would have to pick him – I always found him creepy. The things that weren’t written about him painted him far more eerily than he the way he ever was shown in The Lord of the Ring films.

 

Thank-you for taking time to talk to us today!

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The story revolves around a teenage girl’s promises to save Zed from the human hordes.

Zed is not your typical zombie. He is cursed with the affliction of thought … although he tries to make the best of a bad situation. The goals for his unrest are simple: to improve his stride, to taste a lightly-seared pork loin once again and avoid Activists at all costs.

His life was predictable, controlled and good until chaos crashed the party. In just one day his world is destroyed and his ability to survive is tested. Would he be able to get through this in one piece? And would he somehow be able to survive the unstoppable force that goes by the name of Chase?

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Want to know more? Check out the links!

Goodreads Author Page

Author Blog

Zed at Smashwords

Zed at Amazon.com


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Interview with…Loukia Borell

Today we’re pleased to be hosting an interview with author of Raping Aphrodite, Loukia Borell…let’s find out what she has to say!
Welcome to Aside from Writing, can you tell us a little about yourself and your book?
My name is Loukia Borrell. I am a native of Toledo, Ohio, but my family moved to Virginia Beach when I was eight. After graduating from Elon University with a journalism degree, I was a newspaper reporter for about 20 years. I am married and have three children. “Raping Aphrodite” is my debut novel. The book has two story lines. The first is about Tash and Christian Colgate, a married couple with a very intense, passionate history. They finally get together after a long separation, but when they agree to an exhibition of artifacts from Cyprus for their art gallery, they open the door on Tash’s secret past, something that poses a new threat to their relationship. The second story line is about a Peace Corps worker who escapes a hostage situation in Cyprus and walks to get help for the rest of her group. Toward the end of the novel, both story lines come together.    
How did you come up with the idea for your book? 
In the fall of 2009, my oldest daughter had to write a short story for English class. She was supposed to place a fictional character into a real period in history, like World War II, the Civil War or whatever. She chose to put her fictional character in Cyprus, when the Mediterranean island was invaded and divided by Turkey in 1974. My parents, her grandparents, are from Cyprus and we had a lot of relatives still living there in 1974, when the island was invaded. My maternal grandparents were killed and just about all our other relatives were refugees. I was impressed by her decision to explore the events in Cyprus and decided to give it a try. A year later, I had 75,000 words.
What do you consider to be the biggest influences on your writing? 
My personal experiences with other people, losing family members, my close relationship to my husband, my travels, working different jobs in various cities and meeting people. All of those things have shaped my thinking and made me the person I am today. I think my writing reflects those influences. 
Have you always wanted to be a writer? 
I think I gravitated toward writing in high school, because I made better grades in English, so it was a natural progression in college and after.
What’s your favourite aspect of being an author? 
I like controlling my characters and figuring out what they will do next. I also enjoy creating scenarios and dropping myself into their world to hang out with them. Of course, I am thrilled when someone has told me they saw this story I did, or read that. It is a cool way to reach people. 
And the most challenging aspects?
Finding the time to get things done and working through periods when I don’t feel motivated to write.
What’s coming up next for you? Are you working on something at the moment?
I am still doing interviews like these, and have begun to think more about the prequel to Raping Aphrodite, which I hope to begin later this year.

Now for the ‘Random Questions’…If you could be a character from any book – who would it be and why? 
Golly, am I supposed to say Scarlett O’Hara? I think I would like to be Wilhelmina Murray from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. To be obssessed by a vampire and swept away. 
Favourite fictional world – where would you live? 
This is hard. I tend to want to be in real places, like a small, historic town with cobblestone streets and terraces with blooming flowers, or a small cottage in the mountains, overlooking valleys. I don’t see myself in a fictional world, but if your readers can pick one they think I would like, based on what I have told them about myself, I will pick my favorite and send them a copy of Raping Aphrodite. Let’s do it! That sounds like a great challenge – post a comment on this post with your idea for Loukia and she can pick a winner at the end of the week! Get your thinking caps on! 🙂
Best super-evil book baddie? 
Tom Ripley from Patricia Highsmith’s novels. He is the neighbor you don’t want. A very bad guy who kills inconvenient people, but cultured enough to fool you into thinking otherwise.
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Thank-you for taking time to talk to us today!
 Thanks for having me as a guest!
I can be found on Book Blogs, Goodreads, and on Twitter @LoukiaBorrell.

 
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Interview…with author Larissa Hinton

Today we’re welcoming author Larissa Hinton to Aside from Writing for our first author interview in quite a long time…With Indie Author Month starting in a few short days, we thought it would be a good time to ‘ease’ you into all the upcoming author features and interviews with one today…so let’s see what Larissa had to say…

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Link to Larissa's Goodreads Pages

About the Author: The young adult fantasy and paranormal romance author, Larissa Hinton, grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia and Chesapeake, Virginia. She now lives in northern Virginia, but she always looks forward to going back to the sweet smell of the salty ocean.

Larissa has always loved writing since the age of 12 and hasn’t stopped since. After many years of writing whimsical tales of romance and fantasy, she is now proud to be a self-published author. When she’s not writing, she’s teaching English at a local middle school.

When seen out of the classroom, Larissa is shopping for the next great Wii game, searching for undiscovered treasure (a.k.a. sparkly jewelry) and plucking some fresh fruits (or vegetables, dependent on the year) out of her small garden.

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Hi Larissa, welcome to Aside from Writing. Let’s start with your writing: how did you come up with the idea for your book?

Funny enough, my ideas came from my professors at the time (for Everblossom). You see, I was taking a Creative Writing class and for the first time ever, I had to write short stories. Before this point in my life, I never wrote a short story but I found something funny about it: I loved it. I was able to delve into the characters I loved, create new stories that would inspire bigger ideas, and it was a way to play with the inner thoughts that floated my mind. Even at one point, my professor told me that all of my novel ideas were really short stories. Granted, at that time, I did not appreciate him saying that, but some of my ideas were short stories. I just never knew it.

The poems in the anthology however, were inspired by mostly my personal life. And other times, by the urge to write it down. I don’t think I could fully explain it properly, but when an idea hits me, it’s like lightening and I’m alert and aware that a poem is in me that needs to be written. I’ve literally tried to go asleep with that feeling, but I couldn’t. I had to write it down into poetic form. It doesn’t happen so often (like once or twice a month) but when it happens, I have to write that poem down or I can’t think straight.

 

What do you consider to be the biggest influences on your writing?

The biggest influence on my writing is my life. It can stressful, crazy and fun at times to be me, but it has the biggest impact on my writing.

 

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Always. I’ve always loved to read and write since I began learning how to do so. I haven’t stopped since.

 

What’s your favourite aspect of being an author?

I know for me, the most rewarding thing about being a writer is getting back reviews from people who have bought and loved your book. And understood your ideas! I was really wondering about the poems I wrote called WSV (Words Speak Volumes). For the longest time I debated about publishing them in the first place since all they were was words written down a page telling a story in an odd way. I thought that maybe people just wouldn’t get it.

It warmed my heart that not only did people understand my poems, they loved them! I couldn’t be more thrilled since my poems have never been out to see daylight (yes, I get the Emily Dickinson irony there)! Therefore, I’m always glad to receive somewhat of fan mail on how my writing has made people think in a whole new way once they read Everblossom: A Short Story and Poetry Anthology.


And the most challenging aspects?

The hardest part about writing is putting your idea on paper and making it come across right. Especially for a novel. It’s a long journey from the first page until the last and to make sure it’s projecting the idea from cover to cover from word to word is the most difficult part. As a writer, you have to be consistent, persistent, and have excellent time management to be able to complete a novel with style, grace and be sane. Seriously. Ask some writers if they haven’t pulled their hair out over a story that just wouldn’t translate from their brain onto the paper right. Ah, the makings of a novel.

What’s coming up next for you? Are you working on something at the moment?

Absolutely! Right now, I’m editing Angel Diaries, a young adult paranormal romance. Incidentally, I just got the final proof for my cover! Here’s the blurb: Lindsey’s life couldn’t have been any more ordinary. So, she had two guys fighting over her, a psychic friend and a school dominated by Goths but, other than that, life was good. That is until horrible nightmare start about her mother being ripped apart by a monster, changing her life from the inside out. Literally. Her whole world was full of lies. She’s not human. She’s an Angel.


Thank-you for taking time to talk to us today!

Thanks for the fantastic opporunity!

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Want to know more? Check out the links! 

Buy the Book:

http://www.amazon.com/Everblossom-Short-Poetry-Anthology-ebook/dp/B005H5GKIY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313954227&sr=1-1

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/80600

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/everblossom-larissa-hinton/1104907595

Blog: http://teacherwritebookaholicohmy.blogspot.com/

Email: pocahantas89@yahoo.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AThreeWayTieL

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Indie Author Spotlight…Sara Zaske

Indie Authors Spotlight is a BRAND NEW weekly meme that will be held on every SATURDAY in the month. It is hosted by Beckie @Bittersweet Enchantment & CYP @A Bookalicious Story.
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The Author…This week’s spotlighted author is Sara Zaske.
Sara Zaske has lived a variety of places including eight years in Oakland, California where The First is set. A former journalist, she currently works as a freelance editor and writer in Berlin, Germany. She also hosts the book blog: YA Fantastic Book Review [link: http://sarazaske.wordpress.com] Occasionally, she still dreams of California.
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The Interview

Your book sounds like a genre-bending read – where did your inspiration for it come from?

I wondered how ticked off dryads, mythical tree spirits, might be if I dropped them into the the modern world. But dryads in Greek myths are kind of wussy, always running away from lustful gods and turning into things, so I took it up a notch and made up my own more powerful group of magical people who are closely connected to nature.

The genre smash is my attempt at better defining the book. The term urban fantasy doesn’t tell you much: all it means is there’s a magical element, and it takes place in city. By eco-thriller, I mean that the book centers around the theme of environmental responsibility and then, I threw in a lot of action and life-threatening peril in the story–you know, to make it fun.

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

Magic, romance, friendship, wild animals, environmental destruction–all under the golden glow of the California sunshine–what more could you want?

Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

I am revising my first novel (Yes, ironically, The First is my second novel). It’s about a girl with an uncontrollable fire talent who gets abducted by a dragon.

Then I have a really scary ghost story in my mind that I need to get on paper, so I can stop thinking about it. It’s kind of creeping me out.

What inspired you to want to become a writer?

Fairy tales. My mother read to me every night, but after she left and turned off the light, I’d still want more stories, so I started making up my own.

What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Seek out and learn to use criticism. Find people–not relatives, spouses or good friends–who will read your work and tell you honestly what they think. My writing group continues to help me really grow as a writer.

Which authors have influenced you most and how?

Two of my current heroes are Ursula Leguin and Margaret Atwood.

I love the way Ursula LeGuin uses fantasy and science fiction elements to get at larger issues in the “real world.” Plus she’s simply a great story teller. Margaret Atwood has a fantastic, sharp sense of humor, and she’s not afraid to write in any genre.

I can only walk in their shadows, but I strive to be like them by incorporating important issues in my stories while placing a premium on humor and story telling.

Give us a glimpse into a typical day in your day starting when you wake up till you lie down again.

Oh no, it’s too boring. Just cut to the montage of a typical working mom juggling caring for kids, editing for clients, housework, writing, errands, etc. Life is full. Some days I don’t get to actually sit down at the computer and write–fiction anyway. But I make a conscious effort to write in my head during every spare moment. That way when I do get screen time, I know what I want to say. It does make me a bit dreamy sometimes though, and I’ve been known to get on the wrong train and go several stops without noticing.

Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is….

The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente. Not that The First is like this book. It’s not. But I love fairy tales and Valente does something very unique in her book. I envy that fact that she got to spend her days writing in that imaginative world.

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The Book 

A young adult urban fantasy/eco-thriller, The First, follows 15-year-old Cassie Craig as she discovers that the strangest girl in her class is more than just a little weird. She’s part of a group of people who were here on earth long before us. Powerful people. And they aren’t exactly happy with the way we’ve been treating their planet.

The First is available for a free download on Earth Day weekend, April 21-23! Available on Amazon – so don’t hang around – grab your copy today!! 

[link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007UZ72K4]

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Want to know more? Check out the links!

Book Links: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007UZ72K4

Website: http://sarazaske.wordpress.com

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Interview…with Amber from Just Another Book Nerd

Our guest today is Amber from Just Another Book Nerd blog. We met Amber through Goodreads and as she’s very active as a blogger, commenter and now mod of one of the YA groups, we ‘speak’ to her a lot. So let’s find out a little more about her 🙂

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Hi Amber, welcome to Aside from Writing, can you tell us a little about yourself and Just Another Book Nerd?

Hi! Thank you 🙂 My name is Amber, and I’m 23. I am a major bookaholic. You will probably find me with a book in my hands at any given time. When I’m not reading, I’m either working with GIMP (my other hobby) or hanging out with the little ones, I’m the oldest of 6 🙂 Just Another Book Nerd is my first attempt at blogging, and I love it. I’ve actually started reading more frequently because of it.

 

What prompted you to start writing it and was there anything particular you wanted the blog to achieve?

I started looking at the blogs other members of Goodreads shared, and I thought I’d give it a try. I wanted to share my thoughts on books I’ve read. Was there anything particular? I think I just wanted others to know what I thought of a book. And maybe they’d come across books they would like to read.

What’s been the best part of running the blog? Any particular highlights for your first few months?

I think the best part of running the blog would have to be meeting other bloggers, and authors. It’s nice belonging to a little community. I don’t have a local book club, so blogging is the next best thing for me. And I’ve met some really cool people.  One highlight for the blog is winning an award, which was awesome.

 

And the hardest parts?

Sometimes I’ll get a brainfreeze trying to figure out what to write. I don’t want to give away too much, or any spoilers. Or, writing negative things about a book. Luckily, a lot of books I read are really good, so I don’t have that problem too much.

You’re really active on Goodreads – we’ve seen your comments on lots of groups and subjects, even before you became a mod – what do you like best about the site and getting involved?

I think finding Goodreads has to be the best thing I’ve done. I like that I can have all my books in one place. I can look for more books to read. And there are so many different groups on there. There is always somebody to connect with. And you get to share and get ideas from other group members, which is nice.

And how’re you finding the role as moderator?

I’m liking it. Everybody gets along, so that’s great. I think this has to be one of the easiest groups to moderate.

What genres/authors do you love to read? 

I like reading paranormal and chick-lit. I’ll read dystopia from time to time. I’ll mostly read YA, but I’ll occasionally read a non YA. The authors I like reading most are PC and Kristen Cast and  Meg Cabot. I’ve recently started reading Anne Rice.

 

Any ‘must have’ books that you want to get hold of in 2012?

The next House of Night book. I have to wait til October for it, so I’m going crazy. And the next Sookie Stackhouse novel.

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The Random Questions

 

If you could be a character from any book – who would it be and why?

Mia Thermopolis from The Princess Diaries. She’s kind of an anti-princess. She’s more of an everyday, down to earth person. She has her problems just like everyone else. And I have to admit, I’m a bit jealous of her. She has the perfect boyfriend.

 

Favourite fictional world – where would you live?

Wonderland

 

Best super-evil baddie?

Neferet from House of Night. I don’t think I’ve dis-liked anybody so much! She is truly evil.


Thank-you for taking time to talk to us today!

Thank you for having me!

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Want to know more? Check out the links! 

http://myyathoughts.blogspot.com/

 Twitter  @justabooknerd

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Interview…with Sharon from Obsession with Books

For today’s blogger interview we’re welcoming Sharon from Obsession with Books. 

Hi and thank-you so much for having me!

Can you tell us a little about yourself and the blog you write? 

I am a full-time mum to 2 beautiful children and live in Sydney, Australia. I started my blog Obsession with Books in March 2011 and mainly focus on book reviews, author spotlights, weekly memes and giveaways.

What prompted you to start writing it and was there anything particular you wanted the blog to achieve? 

I originally started Obsession with Books as a way to collect my thoughts on books and series that I love to read, I was updating Goodreads constantly but never reviewing so once my children both started school it was an outlet for me to keep track of what I read and loved (or disliked). It also gave me an opportunity to interact with other bloggers with the same interests.

What’s been the best part of running the blog? Any particular highlights for you?

No-one I know in real life has the love of reading that I do so it has been absolutely wonderful to interact with fellow bloggers, publishers and authors alike who share my passion. The biggest highlight for me would be knowing people are stopping by and reading my thoughts on the books I have read.

And the hardest parts?

Writing objective and informative reviews without them each sounding the same, also writing reviews on books I didn’t particularly love – I find that tough and admit at times to avoiding it.

What’s an ideal day for you – and how do you fit the blog into that?

My day revolves around my family and school commitments, being a mum to two young children can be quite full-on so I work my day around them. Fitting in a review or two or working on my blog is generally done when I get a spare 2 minutes.

You must meet a lot of authors – what do you like best about the engagement you get with them writing the blog?

I have had contact with a number of wonderful authors who have written some amazing books and I try to help promote their book/s in any way I possibly can on my blog whether it be by doing an interview, guest post or review either directly through the author or as part of a tour. I thoroughly enjoy the interaction and introduction to books I wouldn’t have normally looked into.

And what’s the best bit about connecting with fellow readers?

Learning about new releases. Same dislikes and likes and receiving feedback on what I am doing.

What genres/authors do you love to read? 

I enjoy a variety of genres, I am going through a YA phase at the moment but I also enjoy Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Dystopian, Contemporary Romance and Sci-Fi. My all time favorite author is Karen Marie Moning, I became obsessed with her Fever series.

Any ‘must have’ books that you want to get hold of in 2012?

The first book which popped to mind is Pure (Covenant #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout, I read the first book in the series, Half-Blood last year and absolutely loved it. Karen Marie Moning is also releasing another book from the Fever world this year titled Iced which I am also pretty eager to get hold of.


Random Questions:

If you could be a character from any book – who would it be and why?

Anna Oliphant from Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins – perfect location, perfect boyfriend.

Favourite fictional world – where would you live?

Again, it would be Anna and the French Kiss – France would be pretty perfect for me. Otherwise Hogwarts would be truly magical and wonderful!

Best super-evil baddie?

Ooh, Lord Voldemort from the Harry Potter series I think tops my list.

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Thank-you for taking time to talk to us today!

Thank-you kindly for having me!!

Want to know more about Obsession with Books? Check out the links!

 Blog – www.obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com

Twitter – @SharonBooks

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meme…Indie Author Spotlight – NEW!

Indie Authors Spotlight is a BRAND NEW weekly meme that will be held on every SATURDAY in the month. It is hosted by Beckie @Bittersweet Enchantment & CYP @A Bookalicious Story. The idea of this meme is to promote indie authors and to help them and their books to get recognize. This will be a great way for book bloggers to take part in helping these authors be spotlighted for their hard work. Please visit their site to check out the rules if you’d like to join in 🙂
As you’ll know – with our Indie Author Month in May – we love finding out about new authors and so a weekly spotlight is perfect for us! Join us this weekend to see who we spotlight and if you’d like to feature in the future, please get in touch via the usual contacts.
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Interview…with La-ren from Twin-Bred

Hi La-ren, welcome to Aside from Writing, thanks for joining us today. You are the second ‘outer space’ alien character we’ve interviewed for the blog – so can you start by introducing yourself to our readers? 

My name is La-ren. The hyphen represents a sound that humans usually compare to a hiccup. Any approximation will do. I am not easily offended.

How did you come to know any humans?

My species, the Tofa, is acquainted with humans because a small group of them came to my planet, Tofarn, approximately 85 Terran years ago and established a colony. I personally became acquainted with one human, my twin sister Judy, from the moment I can be said to have existed at all. Our host mother Laura carried us both. (Actually, Judy is Laura’s biological daughter as well, but I do not believe it has made much difference.) Judy and I lived with Laura, in a cottage on the grounds of the L.E.V.I. Project, until our early teens, when we moved into the main compound to share a room near other Twin-Bred pairs. We are very fond of our host mother, but it is more entertaining and less constricting to live near our peers — even with the constant oversight of Project staff.

What is the L.E.V.I. Project?

The initials stand for Long-term Emissary Viviparous Initiative. The acronym has a significance that I am not at liberty to explain.

The goal of the Project is to enable the human and Tofa communities to understand each other better. Before the Project was initiated, and even while it has been underway, our mutual inability to comprehend each other’s attitudes, motivations and behavior has led to many confrontations, any of which could have escalated into a major conflict.

What do you think of humans?

My experience of humans is somewhat limited so far. I cannot expect those humans who chose to join the Project to be typical. If I did make that assumption, I would believe humans to be dedicated, curious, hard-working, friendly, and relatively hard to startle. But if that were the general human profile, I doubt the Project — and Judy and I — would exist at all.

What is your role in the Project?

I am meant to serve multiple functions. From birth onward, I and the other Tofa Twin-Bred have been accessible for human observation and study. The difficulty is that we present a perhaps extreme example of the observer altering the phenomenon observed. We were altered in small ways at an embryonic stage in order that human women could carry us. We shared a womb with a human fetus, with results difficult to isolate. And we have been raised around more humans than Tofa. I wish I could tell you — I wish I could know — how much we differ from what you might call “normal” Tofa.

I hope to have the opportunity, before too long, to answer that question. We — all of us Twin-Bred, Tofa and human — have been trained to act as mediators between the human and Tofa communities. That is the second essential function we are meant to perform. There appear to be political obstacles. My friends and I are becoming impatient.

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Thank-you for joining us for an interview La-ren – we wish you a safe journey home 🙂 

Buy the Book:   Amazon     B&N 

La-ren appears in Twin-Bred by Karen A. Wyle – a sci-fi novel which reviewers have recommended for all ages.

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About the Author: Karen A. Wyle was born a Connecticut Yankee, but eventually settled in Bloomington,Indiana, home of Indiana University.  She now considers herself a Hoosier.  Wyle’s childhood ambition was to be the youngest ever published novelist.  While writing her first novel at age 10, she was mortified to learn that some British upstart had beaten her to the goal at age 9. 

Wyle is an lawyer, photographer, political junkie, and mother of two daughters.  Her voice is the product of many years of reading both literary and genre fiction.  Her personal history has led her to focus on themes of family, communication, the impossibility of controlling events, and the persistence of unfinished business.

Want to know more? Check out the links!

–My author page: www.KarenAWyle.net

–My author Facebook page: www.facebook.com/KarenAWyle

—Twin-Bred’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TwinBred (no hyphen)

–My blog, Looking Around: http://looking-around.blogspot.com


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Interview…with Jayden from Amethyst Eyes

Welcome, Jayden, and thank you for taking time to talk with us today. We’ve been meeting some really interesting…people…recently in these interviews and you’re no exception – being an alien and all. So, to introduce you to our readers can you tell us a little about yourself and where you come from?

My name is Jayden, just Jayden, and I just turned fifteen. I am from the planet Sirius, orbiting a star of the same name. We look just like you because we come from the same original seed. Our planet was colonized way before yours and we were tasked (by the Forefathers) to oversee the survival of all sister colonies, like you here on Earth.

I live with my father on the Crisis Intervention Ship, (which comes to the aid of colonies in dire situations) along with 210 other people. I go to school and follow required training as I would if I lived planet side.

How did you come to be Tommy’s mentor? What do you think of him?

Now that’s a sore subject. I was told to not only watch over him, but to help him fit in. I don’t know if you realize how hard that was, because he didn’t know anything about us, about our technology, our ways…nothing! He’s from Earth, by the way and he didn’t even know how to use a digipad or take a shower here. You see, the Commander, Tommy’s father, is my father’s friend, and somehow the two of them thought that this would be a good idea. Anyway, nothing seemed to work out and I kept making mistakes, one that almost killed him too, but Father dealt with that.

What do I think of him, you ask? Now I think he’s OK, and we have found that we have a few things in common. He’s not a bad guy and he never stopped being nice to me, no matter how mean I was. So I guess he’s all right.

What made you change your mind about helping him fit in?

I didn’t really have the option to not help him, though I did try to get out of it at first, but what really did it for me was when we went to his planet, Earth, and I saw how he lived. He’s from the Rocky Mountains. Gods, you should have seen it! That’s when I realized how different our worlds were, how difficult adapting must have been for him.  Not to mention having to leave his whole life behind…

So you did actually visit Earth with Tommy; tell us a little about your experience.

Neither Tommy nor I knew that we were going there. It was because of a dangerous situation that I can’t really talk about, but yes, I did visit Earth.

It was quite an experience. He had me collecting eggs from chickens, can you imagine? I rode a horse which was fun, and I got to play out in the snow. He showed me one of his notebooks. At least I think that’s what he called it, with his biology notes inside. Let me tell you, our digipads are so much better. I will admit that I fell in love with his mother’s library and I read a lot while everyone else slept.

Once, we had to drive home from town in one of their personal transportation devices, a mini-van. I couldn’t take it, it was horrible. My legs went numb and I felt sick. I don’t know how they do that every day.

We’ve got some random questions for you now about books – hopefully you’ll have read enough human stuff during your time with Tommy to be able to answer them.

If you could be any character from any book – who would you be and why?

Omni. I guess you probably don’t know who that is, but he’s from two books, the Price of the Phoenix, and the Fate of the Phoenix. He comes across as a bad guy because of what happened in the past, but he does care deep down inside. If I was him, I could only hope I’d get over it and help people, you know, because he’s that powerful.

Why? I think it’s because when I first met Tommy I was very angry at having lost my mother, and especially angry with my father for not having saved her. He is a doctor after all. I was in a very dark place but because of Tommy I started to change, grow. Omni is also in a dark place and I kind of relate to that.

Favourite fictional world – where would you love to live?

That’s easy, Hogwarts and the world of Harry Potter. I only read a few of the books, but it really is a magical world. Tommy let me bring them back with us so I could finish them.

Best super-evil book baddie?

Hmm, since I’m new to your literature, I would have to decide between Queen Jadis of Narnia, or Lord Voldemort. They both…how did Tommy put it, creeped me out?

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Thank-you for taking time to talk to us today!

If you’d like to know more about Jayden and the adventures she’s shared with Tommy, you can check out their facebook page. She also stars alongside Tommy in Debbie Brown’s book Amethyst Eyes, available now in over 100 online bookstores.

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