Category Archives: Interviews

Moon Chosen Blog Tour: Q & A With P.C Cast

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Hey all you awesome people!

Today is a very special day. Today, I get to share with all of you an amazing Q & A with P.C Cast (whom I adore). If you’re a fan of House of Night or the Partholon series, or even a newbie falling in love with Moon Chosen, today is the day for you!

So I got to submit a bunch of questions, along with a host of other bloggers, to this amazing, beautiful woman. And SHE ACTUALLY ANSWERED THEM! Can you believe that? I died a bit, okay, I died a lot. I fangirled, and screamed, and cried, and went to my happy place.

1. What 3 words would you use to describe your book?

EXCITING – HEARTWARMING – UNIQUE

2. Writing a fantasy book seems like such a daunting task. How did you plan out the world?

It is a daunting task, indeed! Well, the inspiration for the plot came from the bond between my amazing personal protection dog, an Eastern European German Shepherd named Badger, and me. He’s my hero, my Warrior, and my confidant. He loves me unconditionally and would give his life for me.

Then a move to the northwest (Portland, OR), lit my imagination on fire. This part of the world is so incredibly beautiful! So, I had my setting and my basic plot inspiration. Then I called one of my best friends, Christine Zika, who was the editor for my Goddess Summoning Series. She and I had an old fashioned brainstorming session, and from that I wrote a loose outline. I did a lot of research about the NW (including fabulous hikes!), and of course I asked for my dad’s help with creating the biology of my post apocalypse world – and then dove in!

3. I’m intrigued by the idea of a totally different world with animal allies and Earth Walkers. Where did you get your ideas for this book?

Thank you for asking! The idea of animal allies and the bonds formed between animals, at first specifically canines and humans, was inspired by my bond with my working dog, Badger. I had something scary happen in my life about four years ago, and I decided to invest in a personal protection canine. I’ve always had a menagerie of dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc., etc., but I had no experience with working dogs or German Shepherds. They delivered Badger, my personal protection canine, and the moment he and I met we had an immediate connection. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced before, and was so profound that I knew it must be the foundation for a new adventure – for me and for my readers! I, of course, had to include other fabulous canine familiars, as well as a variety of felines, equines, and many other surprises.

The physical setting was inspired by my move to the northwest. The beauty and wildness of the landscape surrounding me set my imagination on fire, and as usual, I turned to my brilliant father who helped me extrapolate what might happen to our world if it had survived a series of massive solar flares that changed the atmosphere, topography, flora and fauna – as well as humans. Then I added a big dose of goddess magick!

4. Which do you find the hardest to write, the first or the last line of your novels? Why?

Definitely the first. I always struggle with a manuscript until a little after the midway point, then it’s like I’m on a roller coaster that’s finally found its downhill track, and the rest of it speeds by – including the final line.

5. What scene in the book are you proudest of, and why?

That’s a really hard question to answer! I’m very proud of this book, this world, this series – but if I have to choose one scene it has to be a scene between Mari and her mother – the one that happens after Mari calls down sunfire for the first time. It was one of the most difficult scenes I’ve ever written. I felt every word of it, and I am proud of every word. I can’t say more without giving away a major spoiler!

6. Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

To follow my gut, but to do it by using my brains and my experiences in the business. Also, to be kind to myself. Writers can have some very weird work hours. Sometimes I put in weeks of twelve hour days all in a row, and sometimes I take breaks in the middle of books to rethink plots, scenes, and characters. It’s easy to get down on myself during the breaks, and even after writing thirty plus books I have to remind myself that just because I’m not in front of my computer typing that doesn’t mean I’m not working.

7. What do you like most about the cover of the book?

The gorgeous German Shepherd modeled after my dog, Badger who inspired the series!

8. Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

Revising! Definitely! I revise the entire time I’m writing. Then when I finally finish my first draft I put it aside for about a week, then gleefully go back and begin revising from page one!

9. What would you say is your superpower?

Creativity! And it’s definitely a super power. I’m surprised (and grateful!) over and over again as my creativity imagines new adventures and worlds and characters with which to fill them.

10. What’s up next for you?

Finishing SUN WARRIOR, book two in this series. Also, Kristin and I are going to begin a new YA series called THE DYSASTERS, which we’re super excited about! The first two books will be released spring and summer of 2018. And hard at work on a 10th anniversary House of Night surprise for our fabulous fans!

LIGHTENING ROUND:

Twitter or Facebook? Facebook

Favorite Superhero? Wonder Woman and Superman – I love them equally.

Favorite TV show? Currently Outlander

Sweet or Salty? Salty

Any Phobias? Birds and big things under the water – like the bottoms of ships. (shudder)

Song you can’t get enough of right now? Buffalo Springfield’s For What it’s Worth

Fall Movie you’re most looking forward to? WONDER WOMAN!! But, it’s not out until 2017 (it was the first movie I thought of).

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? PASTA!

If you haven’t already, go and check out Moon Chosen:

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

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Interview with Deanna Cabinian

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Hey guys! I come to you today with something exciting. A little while ago I received an email asking if I would like to do an interview, and of course I said yes!

Deanna Cabinian is the author of One Night, which is now available for preorder.

Goodreads

Amazon

Publication: September 5th 2016 by Timpi Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

Thompson may be only seventeen but he knows he’s just checked into Heartbreak Hotel for good, now that his girlfriend, Caroline, has put an end to their burning love. Since then he’s been sleepwalking through his summer job at Super Kmart while desperately dreaming of ways to win her back. He even drops by the Tiki House on Elvis Presley Night hoping that she, a diehard fan of the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” will be there as well. That’s when he meets Johnny Lee Young—real estate agent by day, Hawaii’s Favorite Elvis Impersonator by night—and the lovesick teen’s world suddenly takes a wild and unexpected turn.

As luck would have it, Johnny needs a temporary assistant to help with equipment and social media and Thompson eagerly accepts the offer, hoping it will distract him from his painful and lingering romantic issues. But like Thompson, Johnny is nursing a secret heartbreak and pining for his own lost love. So the new roadie starts making plans—with a little help from his friends Ronnie and Greta—to accompany the counterfeit King on an odyssey of a lifetime that will take them far from their island paradise home in search of true love.

1. What inspired you to start writing in the first place? Was it a teacher? A parent? A favorite story? 
I think it’s just always been in me. I’ve always had this need to create and write. I did love this book when I was three called Alphabears that I loved so much I memorized it and I thought I knew how to read. All I know for sure is that there’s an illustrated kid’s book about a family of sea turtles in a box in my parent’s basement that I put together when I was five. I haven’t stopped writing since then!
2. What advice would you give to any aspiring writers? 
My first piece of advice is: if writing is important to you, make time for it, even if it’s just 5 minutes a day or an hour a week. My second piece of advice is share your work with others and get feedback. It’s the only way to improve. Also, read as much as you can.
3. What was the most difficult part of writing One Night? What was your favorite part of writing One Night?
I think writing it was pretty easy; it was the editing that was tricky, lol. Trying to cobble together a cohesive, consistent, and entertaining story from a first draft is always the hardest thing.  My favorite part was getting to spend time with Thompson and Johnny, especially Thompson. He’s just so dramatic and a hopeless romantic and over-the-top at times. I still think about him like he’s a real person.
4. Who is your greatest inspiration?
I have a couple people to mention. My mother is the most intelligent and kindest person I have ever known. My dad is the hardest worker. He grew up in the Philippines and worked very hard to get to the United States and have a good life (*spoiler alert* my next novel is set in the Philippines which I’m super excited about!). I have to mention my husband, Milan, too. I had been writing for years and years and was kind of struggling with it, but then I met him and wrote One Night – I don’t think it’s an accident that I’ve done my best work since I met him. I always thought happiness would be a creativity killer, but it turns out that’s not the case!

About the author:

DEANNA CABINIAN has worked in radio,
television, and magazine publishing, but her
greatest passion is writing. A graduate of
Northern Illinois University, she has a
bachelor’s degree in journalism and a Master’s
degree in sport management. She writes from
wherever she happens to be, but the majority
of her writing is done from Chicago.
When she isn’t writing she enjoys traveling and
spending time with her husband and family.

Almost Midnight Review and Author Interview

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Title: Almost Midnight

Author: C.C Hunter

Series: Shadow Falls Novella collection

Publication: February 2nd 2016 by St. Martin’s Griffin

Pages: 407

Source: Publisher in exchange for honest review

Summary from Goodreads:

Nestled deep in the woods, Shadow Falls is a secret camp where teens with supernatural powers learn to harness their abilities and live in the normal world.

Independent and strong-willed Della Tsang did not believe in vampires…until she became one. Chase Tallman is the newest member of Shadow Falls, but what made him into the sexy, mysterious vampire he is today? And what led him to Della Tsang? And for Miranda Kane, magic has always been something she’s struggled with, but when an opportunity to test her powers takes her to Paris, she’ll have to prove that she’s a witch to be reckoned with and belongs at Shadow Falls.

Fans won’t want to miss these four remarkable stories of love, magic and friendship.

 

My Thoughts:

Just, let me get this out of the way real quick. *SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*

Alright, I’m composed now, sort of. I love, love, love the Shadow Falls series. I’ve been a fan of Kylie’s story since it started and I have followed it faithfully till now. That’s years of devotion people, so yea, I’m excited.

Almost Midnight is a collection of short stories, previously published for e readers, that tells the various stories of Kylie’s sidekicks and BFF’s now in print for the first time. So, you can imagine my excitement and complete bewilderment when I got a package in the mail and out popped this glorious thing. I might have died a little.

Novella numero uno is Turned at Dark, a story illustrating how the amazingly sassy Della became a vampire. We get an inside glimpse into her home life, of everything about her – and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me go all gooey inside. I have to say, this might not be my favorite story of the bunch, but it’s definitely high up there on my list because DELLA. The world building was ehh, I was sort of looking forward into gaining a deeper understanding of the vampires because they seem so aloof – but it was still just enough to wet my appetite, as it were.

Next we have Saved at Sunrise, the story of Della’s first mission with the FRU (The supernatural world’s FBI – they’re awesome). This one picks up right after Turned at Dusk, so it was both really easy to get into and to fall head over heels in love with. I mean, come on, Della being more badass than usual? Yes please. This story had some more hard core development compared to the first one, it really opened my eyes to Della’s character so much more. I loved it, I really did.

Then there is Unbreakable, the one book that broke my heart into a million tiny pieces. This, though somewhat unconnected to the other stories, is by far my favorite. I think it was the structure – this novella was gift wrapped in an emotionally charged batch of news stories that rip your heart out. It is real, surprisingly raw, and oh so satisfying. This book isn’t in your face supernatural, not like the others, it is more of a gentle, subtle approach into something that turns out to be so much bigger than you ever expected.

Next up: Spellbinder. Oh Miranda how I’ve missed you, you snarky little wench. Let’s just say, there is a mystery and Miranda tries her hand at figuring it out – and, if you know anything about Miranda, just picture how that goes. She is one hell of a comedic source of every possible infomercial you could imagine the supernatural world would need. Miranda is the poster girl, and it’s adorably frustrating. This ended up being a light hearted, fluffy, good timey sort of thing and it was perfect.

And then Fierce. HOLY BATCRAP ROBIN I’M IN LOVE *flails*. Fredericka, aka: the person I hate the most besides the obvious bad guys in the Shadow Falls books, is our protagonist in this beautiful mash up of issues. She has a serious character arc in the small amount of page time she gets, and it was lovely. She struggles with her own emotions and yet she also seems to be steadfast in her beliefs and everything else. I loved getting a glimpse into her head – especially because there were little easter eggs for those who have read the original series. This was a well rounded, heart pounding, and brilliant addition to an already amazing collection. I think I need to go reread the rest of the books now, maybe I won’t hate her as much this time around.

Overall, this is an amazing collection that only made me fall in love with the series even more. Even if you are new to the series, C.C Hunter does an amazing job of introducing things and pulling you deeply within the vortex that is the world of Shadow Falls.

 

Interview with the amazing and wondrous C.C. Hunter (whom I love immensely):

  1. What inspired the world of Shadow Falls and Kylie’s story? Kylie is such a
    wonderfully complex character, did you have to go through a lot of planning or
    outlining before you started?
    I’m a pantser. Meaning I don’t plot, I write by the seat of my pants. I sit down to
    write and discover who my characters are as I put words on paper. But I have
    always been interested in what makes people tick. I like to link things that
    happen in our lives to what makes us who we are. One of the first things I knew
    about Kylie was that she had night terrors. My son had night terrors and they
    were scary, so when I gave that to Kylie I started to figure out what it could mean
    in a paranormal world.
    2. I love how it isn’t just one species. You have some very specific lore, say like for
    the shapeshifters and werewolves, how did you keep it all straight? How did the
    ideas for each species shift from start to finish?
    I could tell you that I research and write theses on each type of species. But it
    would be a lie. I just make it up. But since these stories were about teens, I took
    a stroll down memory lane and recalled all the different types of clicks there were
    in my high school. I started giving each type of click a species according to their
    traits. For example, the werewolves were those groups who were tight knit and
    who didn’t socialize a lot with others. The shapeshifters were those who were
    class clowns and could fit into any group, but deep down didn’t have a good idea
    of who they were. The faes were the people who you went to and always told
    your problems to, because they always seem to understand your issues.
    Creating these species around groups that I’d grown up with, make it easier.
    3. Speaking of werewolves, Lucas. Lucas has to be one of my favorite characters
    ever, and so I have to ask: why did you introduce him the way you did and how
    did you decide what roll he would play?
    Again, I’m a pantser. So I just started writing and when it came to the scene
    where she first arrived at school, I thought…hey, what if she recognizes
    someone and it’s someone who left an impression on her. Then it hit, ah, this
    should be a boy. And something we need in every scene is conflict. So what if
    this impression leaves Kylie both frightened and a little intrigued. And magically
    Lucas’s story started to form. He intrigued me.
    4. Was it a plan from the start for Kylie to be in a love triangle/square with Derek,
    Lucas, and Trey? Did you have a set plan as to who she would end up with from
    the beginning or was it sort of up to chance and the fan’s reactions?
    My editor suggested that I add a love triangle. Trey was never meant to really be
    part of that mix. But I’m a firm believer that we are in part who we are because of
    our past. At one time, Trey was very important to Kylie. He was also a lesson for
    her. I didn’t know who Kylie was going to choose, Lucas or Derek. My editor
    said she loved that, because that meant the reader wouldn’t know either. When I
    wrote Whispers at Moonrise, I will say that I was actually leaning more toward the
    boy who didn’t win Kylie. My husband, who reads my books, was rooting for the
    same guy. But my editor and agent were big fans of the guy who did win her
    heart. I know it sounds crazy, but I kind of let Kylie choose. When writing the
    last book, I tried to write it with an open mind. And then all the sudden it just felt
    right.
    5.How did you get started writing and who or what is your biggest inspiration?
    I’m dyslexic, I wasn’t a reader when I was young, and I never dreamed of being a
    writer. But I was raised in Alabama and storytelling was second nature to me.
    And I spent a lot of time spinning tales in my head. I would go off by myself and
    make up stories that included cute boys and adventures. I was twenty-three
    before I even admitted that I would like to be a writer. My husband said, “Then
    write!” He was a big inspiration to me. But I also had a grandmother who was an
    English teacher. At the time, they didn’t know what dyslexia was, but she always
    told me, “You can do anything you want. You just need to work harder.” It
    wasn’t until I was writing that I learned she had secretly wanted to be a writer all
    her life. She had even been offered a job with a newspaper, but her older
    brother refused to let her take it, because good girls didn’t do that. He told her
    she could be a school teacher or a nurse. She was alive when I sold my first
    book. I don’t think anyone was more proud of me than she was.
    6. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
    I do a lot of workshops for aspiring authors. The most important thing I offer
    them is that if you want it, you just don’t give up. You keep learning. Keep
    writing. I wrote ten years before I sold my first book. I have thousands of
    rejections. And I mean that literally. Not all from books, but from magazine
    articles when I went down that path of writing. At the end of my talks I do what
    has been dubbed the Rejection Dump. I start talking about when you should give
    up, and I start pulling rejections out of a big envelope and dropping them into a
    suitcase, talking about how many times I had been told “No, thank you.” I kept
    learning, kept writing, kept believing in myself. And look what happened. I tell
    them, write because you love it, not just to get published. Eventually, your writing
    will improve, or you’ll find an editor who gets your writing voice. But if you love
    it, you never quit.
    Find the world of Shadow Falls:
    Goodreads
    Amazon
    Barnes & Noble

Instructions for the End of the World Review & Interview

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“You said the world might end in fire, or in ice, and that the how of it didn’t matter so much as the importance of being prepared for the worst. You said only the strongest would survive.”

Title: Instructions for the End of the World

Author: Jamie Kain

Series: Standalone

Publication: December 8th 2015 by St. Martin’s Griffin

Pages: 224

Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

 

Summary from Goodreads:

He prepared their family for every natural disaster known to man—except for the one that struck.

When Nicole Reed’s father forces her family to move to a remote area of the Sierra Foothills, one without any modern conveniences, it’s too much too handle for her mother, who abandons them in the middle of the night. Heading out to track her down, Nicole’s father leaves her in charge of taking care of the house and her younger sister, Izzy. For a while, Nicole is doing just fine running things on her own. But then the food begins to run out, the pipes crack, and forest fires start slowly inching their way closer every day. Wolf, a handsome boy from the neighboring community, offers to help her when she needs it most, but when she starts to develop feelings for him, feelings she knows she will never be allowed to act on once her father returns, she must make a decision. With her family falling apart, will she choose to continue preparing for tomorrow’s disasters, or will she take a chance and really start living for today?

Instructions for the End of the World is a gripping, young adult novel that explores family, friendship, and love in the midst of the most difficult and dangerous circumstances.

 

My Thoughts:

Instructions for the End of the World is more than just another “end of the world” story, it is a breathtaking tale that explores the deep bonds of family and what it means to survive. This wonderful book has nothing to do with the apocalypse or the world ending, contrary to what the title leads you to believe, but rather – it is a narrative about dealing with being abandoned and forced into taking the weight of raising a younger sibling on your shoulders. It is a story of discovering the importance of individuality and freedom.
The Reeds are doomsday preppers, well, Nicole and Izzy’s father is a doomsday prepper. He has prepared them for every type of disaster possible – earthquakes, fires, floods, and volcanoes – everything except what actually happens: him leaving. Nicole and Izzy are left alone in the woods, and soon the food beings to run out. It falls on Nicole to take care of Izzy, and using all of the handy-dandy survival training, she does just that.
Instructions for the End of the Worldis told in four points of view: Wolf, Nicole, Izzy, and Laurel. Each character had a unique voice and a different way of looking at the circumstances or what was going on around them. Wolf was my favorite by far – despite the fact that this story was mainly about Nicole and Izzy. Personally, I would have preferred one or two POVs. This story felt far too convoluted with the four of them going at it all at once. The writing was beautiful, lyrical even, but that replaced character development and a more fleshed out plot line. The book was still amazing and I loved reading it – don’t get me wrong here – I just think it could have been so much more, you know?
As for the characters, like I said, each one was unique in their own little way. I loved Wolf, I really did. Not only is his name badass, but he had this deep understanding and connection with nature that I absolutely loved reading about. I think I connected with his character the most, actually – even though on a surface level I was much more in sync with Nicole. Each voice brought something a little different to the table and opened your eyes in a different way – it was pretty enjoyable. Nicole was the most fleshed out of the characters, as well as being the only one that showed real development over the course of the novel. She starts off trying to do the right thing and care for her sister, and while at the end she is still doing the same, she is now doing it for her own reasons rather than what her father always told her to do. Izzy… I didn’t like her. There, I said it. She was just too stereotypical “I hate everything” younger sibling who did stuff simply because you would tell her not to.
I have to say – there were two things that made this book a hit for me: the setting and the focus on family. The fact that The Reeds is a thing in this book in no way affected my view (that’s a lie). The setting of this book is breathtakingly beautiful – and, considering I’ve actually been there, I felt even more connected to the setting than I did to the characters themselves. The world we find ourselves in is vivid, colorful, and full of life. My other favorite part was the exploration of the family dynamics here – it was stunning. I love it when a book focuses more on the relationships between siblings or between a child and a parent rather than a love interest. There is still romance here, trust me, but it is not the focal point. Seeing the way the relationship between Nicole and Izzy was strained and then how it blossomed into what it is at the end was by far the best and most rewarding part of reading this book.
Overall, Jamie Kain has created an unforgettable, original, and exciting coming of age novel. Instructions for the End of the World explores what it means to be family and how those bonds can be tested. It explores the meaning of losing innocence, or recognizing the fact that your childhood is over. Instructions for the End of the World illustrates the incredible idea that freedom is not only important, but it is only yours to control. Surviving the end of the world may be a possibility, it may even be a definite outcome, but what’s the point if you’re not living your life for you? What’s the point of surviving the end of the world if nothing good is waiting for you on the flip side? This book is definitely one I will remember for the rest of my life.

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

On top of my review, I was given the chance to interview the wonderful Jamie Kain. Do you know how much fun that is? Check it out down below:

1. What made you decide on the setting of the Sierra Foothills? Did that influence the way you told the story?

I love the Sierra Foothills and have spent plenty of time there, so when I wanted a rural setting, one in which a family might be able to set up a sort of compound—as well as one that would be likely to have a spiritual retreat type of community present and a good likelihood of wildfires, it was a natural choice. I’ve been to several spiritual retreats in the foothills, so it felt very appropriate, and I could imagine in great detail the place I was writing about. Plus it was easy to take a short drive there when I wanted to do research!

2. I have to ask, mostly for my own enjoyment, why did you choose the last name Reed for your protagonist? (I applaud)

Ha! I just like the name. I wish I had a more scholarly answer, but I tend to choose protagonist names based on what the character is like in combination with what I like the sound of—or what just feels right when applied to the character.

3. Did you do any research regarding doomsday prep before delving into the writing?

Oh yes. The research was fun and fascinating. I know someone who is a prepper, and I know a few would-be preppers as well, so aside from talking to them to get insights on their reasons for believing what they believe, I did lots of reading about the world of prepping. I totally understand and appreciate the desire to be self-sufficient. You don’t have to live in California for long to feel the limits of civilization—from a population standpoint as well as with regard to water resources and possible natural disasters (especially fire in recent years). In fact it was the post-apocalyptic feel of having wildfires near where I live (the smell, the air pollution, etc), visiting charred forests, and having it constantly on the news that partly inspired the story and made me more curious about the world of prepping.

4. I loved the focus on family and the relationships between family members. Why did you decide to make that the focal point rather than romance like a lot of other Young Adult contemporary books?

I find family dynamics endlessly fascinating—and so fraught with inherent conflict, I just love writing about families. Also, I have two young adult readers at home, in addition to reading YA myself, and none of us read much YA romance. I’ve noticed how hard it is to find contemporary YA stories that aren’t romances, too, and so in part I was writing what I like to read.

4. How did you come up with writing the separate point of views? Do you have a process for keeping everything specific to one character straight?

I love writing stories from the POV of multiple characters. All 4 characters are very real people to me, and they just happened to be the people who wanted to tell the story. I didn’t have to decide who was telling me what. The characters decided that. Perhaps that sounds nutty, but I do feel like I’m not a big part of the process. Once the characters are fully imagined, they are just people who are telling me a story, and I’m writing it down. I love switching from one point of view to another in part because it keeps the story fresh, and in part because I’m always curious about what the other main characters are seeing and feeling about the situation.

5. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

I was an aspiring writer for a long time, so I remember some of the advice that kept me going during hard times. It’s important to know that those who make it as writers are the ones who keep trying—they keep trying to improve their craft, keep writing in the face of rejection, and keep submitting their work, taking feedback, and trying again to improve. It’s partly a game of endurance. There is luck involved too, but the more you get your work out there, the more chances you give yourself to get lucky.

Also, always respect your audience. Never write for cynical reasons, such as “YA is where the money is.” I don’t even think that’s true, but I hear people say it a lot and with great confidence, and it always makes me do a double take. I don’t think about the fact that I’m writing for a certain audience, honestly. I sit down and write a story I would love to read. I pour everything I have into it. Someone told me about my first YA novel, The Good Sister, that I was wasting my talent writing for teen readers, that what I was writing would be lost on them. I don’t believe that at all. Teens are at a unique place in life where they have the chance to decide what they believe about life’s big questions, so if you are going to write for teenagers, why not give them a chance to ponder big ideas and big questions in their fiction?

The advice I hated the most as an aspiring writer but appreciate the most now that I’ve been writing for my entire adult life is that you absolutely must find your joy in the process of writing, day in and day out, all alone in a room—and not in the goal of publication. Publication is ephemeral. It comes and goes. It’s joys are very temporary. What you are always left with though as a writer is the process of writing. If you don’t find your joy there, go do something that does brings you joy.

 

Cover Reveal and Author Interview: Tone Deaf by Olivia Rivers

Posted in Cover Reveal, Interviews by

So, I have to start this post by saying that when Olivia Rivers contacted me to do this reveal, I screamed in the middle of class and fangirled so hard that my professor asked if I was okay.

So, yea, that happened.

Alright, so before I get into the fun stuff, here is some basic info about Tone Deaf (Which I am growing more and more excited to read the more I write for this post).

Title: Tone Deaf
Author: Olivia Rivers
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Release Date: May 3, 2016

Summary:

For child prodigy Ali Collins, music was life. All that changes when a brain tumor lands her in a silent nightmare, controlled by her physically abusive father and the deafness she’ll never get used to. When Ali accidentally wins a backstage tour with the chart-topping band Tone Deaf, she reluctantly accepts the prize, only to be kicked out. Jace Beckett, the lead singer of the pop-punk band, refuses to even speak to Ali because she is deaf.
Ali threatens to report Jace’s discrimination, but ends up agreeing to keep quiet in exchange for money. With a bit of cash, she can escape to New York and get away from her father. Then Jace notices her fresh bruises and changes the offer, claiming he’ll use his influence and connections to help Ali escape. But even when Jace reveals a baffling fluency in American Sign Language, she can’t bring herself to trust him.
When Ali’s dad crosses a new line, she’s driven to accept Jace’s offer despite her fears. Soon she’s traveling cross-country, hidden away in Jace’s RV as the band finishes their nation-wide tour. As weeks pass, the members of Tone Deaf start to resemble a quirky little family. Then there’s Jace. Ali can’t figure out his mood swings, but she knows she’s falling for the passionate and secretive musician. Jace’s hardened attitude melts away more with every mile they travel, and Ali finds herself ever closer to understanding his attitude towards the deaf. But when tragedy strikes, Ali must decide between walking away from Tone Deaf, or sacrificing her freedom to save Jace and his band.

Doesn’t this sound amazing!?! Okay, I have to admit – part of my excitement stems from the fact that the love interest’s name is Jace. Plus, the entire idea is awesome XD. Deaf girl and musician romance? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued by the idea of a deaf main character, I can’t wait to see how the narrative is written!

Here is some info about the wonderful author, Olivia Rivers:

Olivia Rivers is a hybrid author of Young Adult fiction. Her works include the independently published “Tortured Elements” and “Duplicity” series, along with the traditionally published novel “Tone Deaf” (Skyhorse 2016.) As a certified geek, she enjoys experimenting with new publishing technologies, and her online serials have received over 1,000,000 hits on Wattpad.com. When Olivia isn’t working as a writer, she’s a typical teen attending college in Northern California. Olivia is represented by Laurie McLean of Fuse Literary, and nothing thrills her more than hearing from readers.

And now, for the beautiful lady herself, please welcome the wonderful creator of this book for an interview! *squeals uncontrollably*

1. What inspired you to write this book?
“Tone Deaf” was inspired by a lot of little ideas slowly mushing together. For one, I wanted to see more disabled characters represented in YA books, so writing a medically deaf character really appealed to me. But I was also interested in doing a story about music, since the world of bands is so unique and crazy. Then one day, I was jokingly brainstorming terrible band names with a friend, and “Tone Deaf” was one I came up with. It led to a light-bulb moment—what if I combined a music story with the story of a girl who loses her hearing?
2. What made you decide to write from a deaf narrator’s point of view? Is this connected to your title, Tone Deaf?
The idea for “Tone Deaf” just sort of sprang up, and as soon as I realized it would require a deaf narrator, I was really excited about the prospect. As for the title, it’s the name of the band in the book, and the reason for that name plays a part in the plot!
3. Did you do any research on being deaf and Sign Language before writing your book?
Yes, there was actually a bunch of research that went into “Tone Deaf.” Researching medical deafness, Deaf culture, and American Sign Language was actually one of the best parts of writing this book—they’re such fascinating topics to learn about! Since my main character loses her hearing to a medical issue, a lot of my research was done by reading medical articles and books. But I also got some amazing help from Deaf readers I connected with online, and I had a professor from Gallaudet University (which is the nation’s leading college for the Deaf) also offer some great feedback.
4. What is your favorite book? Did it inspire you in any way to become an author?
Oh, this is such a tough question! “Redwall” by Brian Jacques is a book that I both love and find hugely inspiring. It’s an adorable Middle Grade Fantasy, and it made me fall in love with reading as a kid.
5. Who is your role model when it comes to writing?
I have so many authors I consider role models, but Ellen Hopkins is one of my favorites. Not only is her writing drop-dead gorgeous, but she’s also such a humble woman who works so hard to help at-risk teens.
6. What advice would you have for aspiring authors?
Write! It sounds overly simplistic, but finding the motivation to sit down and write is the biggest obstacle for most authors. Everything else in life will try so, so hard to distract you from your writing, but you’ve just got to buckle down and get it done.

Now, without further ado, here it is – the amazing cover of Tone Deaf.

Look at it…. looooooookkkk. Isn’t beautiful? LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY RAINBOW LIGHTS!!! Aghhh XD Okay, I might be dying a little inside. Excuse me while I scream uncontrollably and salivate till next May. (Why is it so far away? DX)

You guys can find Tone Deaf here:

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Also, here is a link to the raffle copter giveaway for an Amazon giftcard! Go forth and enter my precious readers ❤

a Rafflecopter giveaway