Friday, November 30, 2012

Book Blast + $100 Amazon or Paypal Cash Giveaway

Keegan's Chronicles Trilogy Set
Books 1-3

Coexist:
 
Sixteen-year-old Keegan is struggling to keep her huge secret from her friends--she's an elf, descended from a long line of elves that live in secrecy alongside humans.

In elfin society, mates are predetermined but not allowed to meet until they are eighteen. Against tradition, Keegan's brother Thaddeus told her Rourk's name because his visions warned him she'd need Rourk's protection, especially since Keegan will play a key role in the coming war between the dark and light elves.


Conflicted: 
Keegan, is only alive now due to Black Magic, and her bond with her Chosen is broken. She cannot remember Rourk at all.

For the first time, she feels like a normal teenager. She is dating Donald, her long-time crush, and everything seems perfect. But Rourk still feels their bond, and despairs for the woman he was always meant to love.

Keegan's best friend Anna is determined to find a way to use her powers to return Keegan's bond, no matter what it takes. The question is does Keegan even want it?


Consumed: 
Keegan has dealt with a lot over the last two years: Death, black magic and the loss of her bond to her chosen mate. But on her eighteenth birthday, the bond with Rourk returns.

Now, Keegan faces her hardest decision. Tradition requires elves marry at eighteen. If she accepts the path laid out for her, she will be spared a lifetime of physical and emotional pain. But will that life ever really be her own?


Praise:

Really enjoyed this book. The story draws you in, and the characters are engaging, especially Rourk. I've never read a book about elves, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This was really good. Would recommend to anyone interested in a quick, fun, paranormal read. 
-- Amazon Reviewer

I am not one for Elves or Fairies but yeah these Elves RULE! What is not to love? You have an age old prophecy, destined loves, a great family and amazing friends. Not to mention .... Rourk *yummy* All that is left is the amazing way it all is put together into this fantastic story. 
-- Amazon Reviewer

If you pick up this book, I'm sure it will not disappoint, it had everything, it was cute, yet dark..and well that combo just makes for a perfect book on my shelf, Julia has truly written an amazing read. (: 
-- Haley @ Ya-aholic.com


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Amazon * Nook * iBooks</ div>



Author Julia Crane

Julia Crane is the author of the YA paranormal fiction novels: Keegan's Chronicles, Mesmerized, Dark Promise and Eternal Youth. Julia was encouraged by her mother to read and use her imagination, and she's believed in magical creatures since the day her grandmother first told her an Irish tale. Julia has traveled far and wide to all the places her grandmother told her about, gaining inspiration from her journeys to places like Nepal, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Italy, France and many more. And who knows? Maybe the magical creatures she writes about are people she met along the way.

Julia Crane has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. Although she's spent most of her life on the US east coast, she currently lives in Dubai with her husband and three children.

Links
Book Blast Giveaway Deatils (Starts November 29th)
$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/9/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it for the first person you follow and leave the others blank.

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Lawyers, Lovers, and Lies Promo Post


Excerpt




She peeled the neatly pressed suit from his body and watched, as it fell in a hump on the
shiny, black ceramic tile floor. “God, you look sexy,” she whispered. She nuzzled even closer
to him and held him tightly, covering his neck and ears with tiny kisses. Her eyes danced with
anticipation as she reached down and gently, almost teasingly, caressed him. “Come on, let’s do
it right here,” she lovingly said.
His eyes slowly traveled up and down every part of her curvaceous body, as he smiled
broadly. “I love it when you’re the aggressor, Tiff. It’s a real turn-on,” he tenderly whispered,
as his lips passionately met hers. He placed his hand on her hip, as he gently eased her onto the
thick terry towel, where their bodies moved together as one. She squeezed his firm buttocks in
her hands, as his pace quickened. Tiffany screamed out in pleasure, as the moment she’d been
longing for, that deep aching within her, was fully satisfied. Brad drew her close and kissed her
with such passion that she wondered if he wanted to do it all over again.
“You want more?” Her voice had a ring of disbelief to it.
“I can’t ever get enough of you, Tiff. You should know that by now.” He placed her
hand in his and helped her up. “Come on. Let’s get into bed and just see what happens,” he said
with a devilish tone. “It has to be a lot more comfortable than this hard tile.”
“True, but you’ve got to admit that the sex was pretty spectacular, even if it was on the
floor!”
“I can’t disagree with that,” he added, as he led her to their awaiting bed. “That’s one of
the things I love about you. You’re always full of surprises.”
Tiffany’s lips turned upwards. “You’re right about that,” she added, as she placed her
hand lovingly on Brad’s thigh. With a coquettish tone in her voice, she said, “I think this final
surprise will really turn you on.” And with those words, she reached over to the night-stand
drawer and pulled out a bottle of chocolate flavored body frosting. “Tonight,” she
whispered, “dessert’s on me!”












Giveaway



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First Time Book Blast + $50 Amazon or Paypal Cash Giveaway

First Time: The Legend of Garison Fitch

"What if history didn't happen that way ... the first time?"

Garison Fitch was one of the most revered scientists in the Soviet Americas until he left fame behind to work on a secret project in his log cabin in the mountains of Marx.

But something went wrong. Instead of traveling interdimentionally, Garison has traveled through time ... twice.

Now, he's in something called "The United States of America" and a woman he's never met before is calling herself his wife. It it a hoax? Or, has he somehow changed history?

If so, can he return the world to what he believes is "normal", or must he live in this strange world he created?



Purchase



Praise:

"Sam continues to weave his magic as a storyteller. I always find myself anxious to find out what will happen next and what kind of twist will befall the adventurers. It helps to be familiar with the places that the heroines go, which adds to the story."
~Labdaddy, Texas

"I've had a few very unproductive but enjoyable days thanks to Samuel Ben White. If you haven't read Sam's books you have been missing a treat. These were funny, suspenseful, spiritual and kept you turning the pages."
~Karen S.

"Just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed your books. I have a Kindle and I have purchased all of the Garison Fitch novels. I am in Saudi Arabia and your books have really helped take me away from here."
~Scott, Saudi Arabia


Also Part of the Series:


Saving Time

Two years ago Garison Fitch traveled through time and rewrote history. An accident in the eighteenth century created a whole new world, and even gave Garison a wife he had never met before. Now, he’s got a daughter and he’s coming to enjoy this world he created. Until he’s attacked by men masquerading as Indians, and a funeral procession from out of the past enlists his help, and a tree grows from sappling to full-grown in a matter of minutes, threatening his daughter’s very life. Time itself is unraveling and Garison’s trips through time seem to be the cause. Garison must go back in time once again and keep himself from making the original trip that started the problem. But he can’t use his time machine to go back. How does one sew up a rip in time?





Lost Time

Jason Kerrigan and Brownwyn Dalmouth are pilots with the Republic of Texas Army Air Corps. A world war is going on and bombs have just brought an end to Crockett Air Field in south Texas. Jason and Bronwyn, though, are called away from the battle to be test pilots for a new aircraft that-they're told- will bring the war to an end. The experimental craft lives up to expectations in early tests, but then it lands them somewhere it never should have sent them. Another place? Another time? Another dimension? Somehow, they've taken a trip to the future and changed the past. Or did they? The answer to their change of reality may be known to a Justice of the Peace in Colorado named Garison Fitch. To figure it out, though, Garison may have to team up with his least favorite person: Bat Garrett.





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Author Samuel Ben White

Samuel Ben White (“Sam” to his friends) is the author of the national newspaper comic strip “Tuttle’s” (found at www.tuttles.net) and the on-line comic book “Burt & the I.L.S.” (found at www.destinyhelix.com). He is married and has two sons. He serves his community as both a minister at a small church and a chaplain with hospice. In addition to his time travel stories, Sam has also written and published detective novels, a western, three fantasy novels and four works of Christian fiction.</ div>





Links




Tour Schedule





Book Blast Giveaway
$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 12/16/12
*You need not enter your twitter name for each entry. Simply enter it when you follow Sam then you can leave the others blank.

Open to anyone who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent's permission. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Dianne Harman – Blue Coyote Motel


You’ll never look at motel air conditioning the same way after you read Blue Coyote Motel.
Blue Coyote Motel is a suspense filled thriller about six travelers who stop and spend the night at a remote California desert motel. Each of them leaves the following morning “feeling good,” but unaware that they have inadvertently become addicted to a gaseous drug piped into their rooms. ‘
Jeffrey, the owner of the motel, is a scientist who was recently fired by a prestigious Southern California drug manufacturer for giving an anti-aging hormone he discovered to his beautiful Latina wife. Spinning slowly into the depths of insanity, he decides to test the effectiveness of another of his drug discoveries on unsuspecting motel guests. He calls the drug Freedom because it frees people from depression, anger, stress, grief, and aggression. Jeffrey has grandiose plans to make Freedom available throughout the world in order to bring about peace and harmony, but instead it causes grief and chaos in the lives of the motel guests. The cast of characters includes a defrocked priest, a Native American pediatrician, a wealthy widow, a Brazilian couple who owns gold mines and a salesman intent on finding himself.
Blue Coyote Motel presents an engaging look at the human frailties present in all of us.
Buy now @ Amazon
Genre – Suspense / Thriller
Rating – PG13
Connect with Dianne Harman on Facebook & Twitter

Author Interview – Dianne Harman


If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose? Ayn Rand, Buddha, Stephen King, John F. Kennedy and Georgia O’Keefe.
If you were a superhero what would your name be? Daring Dianne.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Dulce de Leche.
If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose? Buddha.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Leftovers from last night’s dinner.
Night owl, or early bird? Early bird.
Pet Peeves? People who talk loudly on their cell phones in public places.
Skittles or M&Ms? Definitely M&Ms.
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. You’ll get lost in the engrossing story and forget whatever problems you may have.
Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? Yes, Tea Party Teddy, a tell-all novel about California politics will be out in early 2013. I am in the process of editing the sequels to Tea Party Teddy and Blue Coyote Motel.
What inspired you to want to become a writer? A quiet air-conditioner at a boutique hotel in Palm Springs in 106 degree weather. What would happen if someone pumped a “feel good” drug into the air-conditioner and everyone felt good all the time?
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published. Having a trade industry buy 350 of my books to put in their “goodie bags” for attendees at their conference.
What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen? The Bobbsey Twins.
What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? Read Stephen King’s book, On Writing.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? I’m living there.
What is your favorite Quote? “I didn’t make the rules, but I can play by them.”
When you were little, what did you want to be when you “grew up”? I’ve reinvented myself so many times, I’m still not “grown up.”
How did you know you should become an author? I didn’t. It just stemmed from so many years of being a voracious reader.
Can you see yourself in any of your characters? Not completely, but places, circumstances and events that have been a part of my life certainly make their way into my books.
What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you? Take your time
Hidden talent? I’m a gourmet cook.
Favorite Food? Pasta.
Favorite Candy? Caramels.
If you were a bird, which one would you be? A quetzal.
You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy? An African safari photography trip.
What do you do in your free time? Read, cook, and play word nerd games.
If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? She played the hands that life dealt her and never looked back.
What’s your favorite season/weather? I live near the beach in Southern California so I rarely see rain and I love it the infrequent times it happens.
Who or what inspired you to become an author? My husband believed in me.
Favorite places to travel? Wherever I go.
Buy now @ Amazon
Genre – Suspense / Thriller
Rating – PG13
More details about the book
Connect with Dianne Harman on Facebook & Twitter

Author Interview – Cheryl Carpinello


If You could choose only one time period and place to live, when and where would you live and why? I would pick Medieval Wales around 600/700 AD. I‘m an Arthur groupie. I’m also a romantic. The times of knights riding in on white horses to rescue maidens in trouble appeals to me. The code of chivalry encompassing honor, loyal, and friendship, even though it didn’t work, is for me a blueprint of how people should live their lives.
Another reason I would pick this time is that I would love to be a knight. I’m still a tomboy at heart. A Dame is what I would be called. I’d like to think that I could be as brave and honorable as those knights in shining armor.
What is your favorite Quote? Sic volvere Parcas – So spin the Fates. Another of my favorite historical eras is Ancient Greece.
Who are your favorite authors of all time? I devour everything written by the duo Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, and have since I first discovered The Relic way back when. I love JRR Tolkien and have read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings several times.
Can you see yourself in any of your characters? I think any author can. Mixed in with each characters’ individual traits are pieces of their author. My own sense of loyalty, friendship, and honor are imbedded in all my Arthurian characters. I also carry my own love of adventure, mystery, and magic into my stories for my characters to enjoy as well as my readers.
What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year? I actually have two movies I can’t wait to see. The first is the new James Bond film Skyfall. It opened in November and is on my short list for December. I’ve been a James Bond since high school. The second film is The Hobbit which will be released in December. I’m excited to see it.
You have won one million dollars. What is the first thing that you would but? Before I ever bought anything for myself, I would give my kids and their families some mad money. Then I would buy children’s books to donate to the schools in our area who  are unable to buy them. I do this now each year, and it gives me such pleasure. I would be able to give to so many more. Then I would put myself and my husband on a tour around the world. There is so much out there to see, and I want to see it all.
Which authors have influenced you the most and how? I would have to say Joseph Campbell. I first read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien in 1973. I was newly married and looking for my place in the world. Looking back, I see it was the journey of Bilbo and Frodo that drew me in. Like them, I was also on a journey and had no idea of the ending. A few years later, I discovered Joseph Campbell and the Hero’s Journey. I realized that this was the attraction for me and a whole world of readers in the works of Tolkien, T. H. White, George Lucas, and J. K. Rowling. What I have tried to do in The King’s Ransom (Young Knights of the Round Table) is write a story that would couple the Hero’s Journey with the King Arthur Legend.
What are your favorite places to travel? Of places I’ve already been, it would be Mexico and Egypt. Mexico time runs much slower than my time. I feels as if I could catch up with all my work if I stayed there long enough! I would love to go back to Egypt and spend more time there. It felt unreal to be touching the pyramids, viewing the temples of Karnak, Luxor, and Abu Simbel, and walking through the Valley of the Kings. We explored only the surface when we were there. I know so much more now that I’m eager to go back and learn more.
Of places I have yet to visit, there are several. On the top of my list is Wales and the country of King Arthur. I’m a lover of history, so I also want to see Greece and Mount Olympus, Italy and the Roman Coliseum, France and where the Bastille once stood, and Transylvania and the heart of the legend of Dracula.
If you could travel in a Time Machine, would you go back to the past or into the future? I would go back to Ancient times. The past has so many lessons to teach us, and it actually lives in the world today right along side of us. The cliche of learning from the past is not really a cliche, but a truism. I’ve taught the literature of Ancient Greek and Rome for many years, and would love to be there to experience what is thought to be the beginning of the modern world.
What is the one book everyone should read? The Once and Future King by T.H. White. He brings the Arthurian Legend right into everyone’s home with his story. Through Wart’s (young Arthur) experiential lessons, readers understand the idea of might not being right, the fragile nature of this world we live in, and that none of us are perfect. The amazing thing about this is that White does all this with stories of knights, jousts, and quests.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Coconut ice cream. I first had this in Mexico. It tastes delicious!
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? I love breakfast burritos complete with chorizo, potatoes, green onions, red and green peppers, cheddar and Pepper Jack cheeses, salsa, and sour cream all smothered with green chili!
Night owl, or early bird? Definitely a night owl. I never go to bed before 11:30/12 pm, and I detest getting up before 8:30 or 9 am. When I was teaching full time, I had to be up at 5:30. On the weekends, I never got up before 9:30.
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. Experience the true meaning of friendship and loyalty as three friends, motivated by their belief in the Wild Man’s innocence, embark upon life-changing quests testing their limits and forcing each to confront and conquer their fears or face humiliation and/or even death.
Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? My current work-in-progress takes my readers out of Medieval England and back to Ancient Egypt. Sons of the Sphinx is a mystery/adventure for tweens/YA and introduces readers to a different type of quest.
Future projects include a sequel to Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend. I’ve had several readers ask me what becomes of Guinevere’s friend Cedwyn, so I’m working on a storyline there. And, somewhere soon, I’m going to do another Young Knights of the Round Table. I haven’t decided yet whether to continue with the same characters, or to give a new group of young people a chance at joining the Round Table.
What inspired you to want to become a writer? Teaching students in high school who didn’t like to read or who found a million other activities to do rather than read motivated me to dig deeper into my curriculum. It is always challenging to find reading material that excites every student. In fact, it’s nearly impossible. Then one spring I decided to do The Once and Future King by T. H. White. My freshmen were ecstatic. We read; we discussed; we drew murals of chapters; we wrote poetry and songs; and we attempted to earn Knighthood in seven days! Boy, what a discovery I’d made.
I continued to teach the King Arthur Legend, and the enthusiasm never waned. I had students who would give 100% on this unit when I struggled to get them to read other literature. These kids were my inspiration for choosing the legend of King Arthur for my writing. I use the appeal of King Arthur to encourage young kids to read more and to believe that they can write. I always come away from a school visit believing that I have helped the students relate better to their writing, and hopefully, ignited a little spark in the reluctant readers to pick up a book.
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published. This would have to be my Medieval Writing Workshops for elementary and middle school students and the Colorado Girl Scouts. We explore writing and reading, and it is fulfilling to see young students excited about writing and reading. The kids enjoy writing their own medieval stories complete with dragons, wizards, unicorns, and knights!
What was your favorite book(s) when you were young? Like many young girls, I was and still am crazy about horses. For years (and I mean years) all I read were horses stories. My two fiction favorites are the Golden Stallion series by Rutherford Montgomery and theBlack Stallion series by Walter Farley. I also read non-fiction dealing with horses.
What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? I know it’s been said many times, but writers need to write what they love. Also, don’t be afraid to explore and expand on that. It was my love of the works of Tolkien along with the connection to Joseph Campbell and the hero’s journey that inspired me in my writings. It has taken me beyond Arthurian Legend to ancient Egypt where a young pharaoh embarks upon his own journey to write a wrong and be united with his one true love.
Sometimes a person’s writing can take them places they never imagined. Rejoice in that and embrace it!
If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be and why? Athena. She is the goddess of wisdom, judgment, peace, and courage. She is also a teacher as exhibited inThe Odyssey when she guides Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, in his journey to become his father’s son.
Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords
Genre – Arthurian Adventure
Rating – G
More details about the book
Connect with Cheryl Carpinello on FacebookTwitter & GoodReads

Orangeberry Book Tours – The King’s Ransom


At Pembroke Castle in medieval Wales,11-year-old Prince Gavin, 13-year-old orphan Philip, and 15-year-old blacksmith’s apprentice Bryan, brought together in friendship by the one they call The Wild Man, embark upon a quest to save The Wild Man’s life when he is accused of murder and robbery. If they have any hope of succeeding, the three will have to confront their fears and insecurities, and one of them will have to disclose the biggest secret of all. But it is the arrival of King Arthur and what he reveals that surprises characters and readers.
A Tween Adventure Novella
Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords
Genre – Arthurian Adventure
Rating – G
Connect with Cheryl Carpinello on FacebookTwitter & GoodReads

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Orangeberry Book Tours – Something In The Cellar by Ryan Casey


“Casey has a talent for creating tension, and seems to understand that true horror writing isn’t about scaring your readers-it’s about leaving them unsettled enough that they scare themselves… a steal at $0.99.” - James Parsons, author.
Well written, thoughtful, and with just enough creep and fear factor…quick reads that stay with you after; the mark of well told stories.” - Parent’s Little Black Book 
*****
What would you do if your partner were lying dead at the foot of your cellar?
Imagine if Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft collaborated to create two chilling stories featuring murdered husbands and a nail-biting sprint towards freedom.
Meet Something in the Cellar - a collection of two dark short stories from Ryan Casey that hit the #1 spot in Amazon Short Stories. The title story follows a mother, Sandra, who is hiding a rather large secret in her cellar in the form of her murdered husband. Struggling to do right by her child, Sandra tries to convince herself to face up to her fears. Does she have the courage to tackle the situation, and deal with the body once and for all?
The bonus story - The Runaway - follows a mysterious character as they escape the depths of a dark, industrial tunnel. Who is the unnamed ‘He’ that the protagonist is obsessed with, and just what exactly are they running from? Questions will be answered, and new ones will form, as the story hurtles to a shocking conclusion.
Something in the Cellar is a 5,000-word pair of short  stories that pull the rug from  under the feet of the reader, with endings that will stay in your head for days.
NOTE: Contains UK-English spellings.
Buy now @ Amazon
Genre – Suspense / Horror / Short Story
Rating – PG13
Connect with Ryan Casey on Facebook & Twitter

Author Interview – Ryan Casey


If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future? Tough question. I think it would have to be the future, as fascinating as the past is. I think a lot of people think they could just jump into the past and be understood, language-wise, and everything, but of course language is a completely different beast now to how it was. And fashion, too. I wouldn’t want to end up arrested for wearing a bit of colour on my T-shirt, or anything like that. The future is fascinating, but there’s also a problem — what if the Earth has vanished, or something? I’d hate to step out of my Tardis and drop into eternal oblivion. The present day–I’m cool with that.
If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose? Very interesting. There would have to be some sort of balance. Like, I’d probably invite Chuck Palahniuk because I think he’s a fantastic writer. I’m a big fan of my music too, so perhaps a genius like Trent Reznor. I have a feeling him and Palahniuk would get on just fine, too, so that’s all good. I’d get Ryan Gosling to come along because he’s probably the coolest person alive right now. I’d invite George W. Bush, although that might cause some friction. I don’t particularly like the man on a political level, but I’m fascinated by George W. Bush ‘the man’. Fascinating character, I feel. I’d like to learn about what drives him, and the like. My fifth guest would be Natalie Portman. She could sit next to me. Just a thought.
If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you? My mind. I’d hate to go completely insane on an island, so keeping my sanity would be absolutely top priority. Then again, if I’m alone on an island, I’m not sure it would matter so much really. I’d also absolutely require my music collection and some way of keeping it charged. Is that three things? Can I turn that into an iPad perhaps? That way I get internet, music, films…yeah, my third item could be a working WiFi connection. That way I’d get in touch with my Facebook friends, track myself on Maps, and get the search party out to get me before the battery ran out. Oh, it’s Apple Maps? God help me then.
What is one book everyone should read? The Power of Now. I’m not necessarily someone who sings the praises of self-help books or anything like that, but it’s such an enriching and life-changing read. I don’t believe in all of the principles, but it’s a fantastic way to reframe your life and the way you live it. Once you break down that illusion of the past and the future, the present becomes all the more important to you.
If you were a superhero what would your name be? Damn, I’m awful at these name things. I’m going to cop out and suggest my own name. RyanCasey. Then it’d catch on and just become standard superhero jargon.
If you could have any superpower what would you choose? Teleportation would be awesome because it’d cut out so many boring journeys in life. Imagine the hours and days we’d save if we could just go, ‘alright, take me to [WHEREVER].’ We could visit the wonders of the world in the space of a few hours. That would be brilliant, truly brilliant.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Vanilla. Not the Mr Whippy stuff, as nice as that is, but the proper old-fashioned ice-cream from those amazing ice-cream stalls in English seaside villages. Gorgeous stuff.
If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose? There’s a few, but I’d love to meet one of history’s great villains. Just try to see what drives them, see if they do normal everyday things like drink tea and water the flowers. And if it started to get awkward for me, I could always just teleport out of there with my superpower.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? I hate breakfast. But I always eat it ‘cause I’m kind of mad about having three meals a day, and it’s such an important meal. When I’m in the mood, nothing beats a good English fry-up. Eggs, bacon, sausages… delicious.
Night owl, or early bird? I love the idea of being an early bird, but I’m most certainly a night owl. I always have the intention of getting up early and starting fresh, but technology has ruined any hopes of me getting an early night. The iPad is sleep’s biggest enemy, and I absolutely love it for it.
One food you would never eat? I’m pretty open to anything, however I don’t think I could stomach live squid. The thought of it wriggling around in my mouth brings me to a point of heaving. Also, I couldn’t touch rotten milk. That’s one university experience I’d rather keep firmly in my past, thank you very much.
Pet Peeves? People who go over the top with how busy they are. It’s like, sure, you’re busy, that’s fine. But we’re all busy. You’re not the only person to have ever have been busy in history.
Skittles or M&Ms? Skittles. Especially the purple ones.
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.
Something in the Cellar is a creepy couple of short stories, the title story focusing on a woman who has murdered her husband and left him to rot in the cellar, unbeknownst to her young child.
Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects? Sure–I have my debut novel, What We Saw, launching in just a few weeks. It’s a nostalgic mystery novel about a couple of kids on a caravan site who witness something truly shocking in the woods. I’m working on a new first draft at the moment, too. It’s kind of a ballsy thriller about a contract killer (poetic, I know). I don’t want to talk about it too much yet, but it should be out some time next year. I find talking too far in advance takes the energy away from a project. As for goals: keep on writing. Get my name spread all over that digital shelfspace. It’s the best way to market one’s self, that’s for sure. Not that I’m rushing — just eager to stay focused.
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published. Every time someone tweets me, comments on my blog, or leaves a review, positive or negative. Seeing my work and effort recognised — that’s the biggest buzz of all.
What is your dream cast for your book? Sometimes when I’m writing, I have clear actors and actresses in my head, however in Something in the Cellar it didn’t really work like that. If I were to help in a cast selection process though, I’d love to see someone like Tilda Swinton in the lead role of Sandra. She proved in We Need To Talk About Kevin that she can capture that tough-but-mortified mother role perfectly. The imagery at the start of the accompanying story, The Runaway, is inspired by a French film called Martyrs, so I’d have Mylène Jampanoï in the lead role.
What was your favorite book when you were a child/teen? I was mad for Lord of the Rings as a young-teen. I’d buy the figures and paint them, pick up basically any magazine covering it. I remember being really aggrieved at a certain scene not being included in Return of the King from the book. Probably the first time I got annoyed at an adaptation, as brilliant a piece of cinema as it is.
Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters? YES. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It’s dark, dirty, and totally captures the mood of Something in the Cellar.
What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors? Stop calling yourself an aspiring author. The sooner you can rid yourself of that dreaded ‘aspiring author’ tag, the better. Seriously. By calling yourself an aspiring author, you’re committing yourself to a stasis that you’ll find it very difficult to break out from. You need to stop aspiring and start being — that, I would argue, is the greatest piece of advice I can give.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you “grew up”? I actually wanted to be a binman/trash collector. I used to enjoy playing with those toy bin-wagons. Funnily enough, I’ve mentioned said toy bin-wagons to friends and they’ve all given me a strange look. You know which ones I mean, right? Still, it could have been worse: one of my male friends aspired to be a ‘mummy’ when he grew up.
If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play the lead role and why? Ryan Gosling, because he’s called Ryan and because I’d love to think I’m anywhere near as cool as him…
Can you see yourself in any of your characters? Oh, totally. You see, I have a problem that all writers encounter whereby people who read my books see themselves in the pages. That’s just natural, I think — we project our reality into our fantasy worlds. However, I kind of see fragments of myself in each of my characters, because those characters are a part of my imagination, right? I guess it helps to be a little unstable as writer in that respect.
What’s the craziest writing idea you’ve had? Crazy ideas are just the best. I honestly believe that the crazy ideas are the ones that we should just run with. I tend to turn the craziest ones into shorter works, as with Something in the Cellar/The Runaway. What We Saw–my debut novel–is something of a breather from the craziness of those. But we’ll just have to see what the future holds on that front!
What’s the best advice anyone has ever given you? There’s so much good advice out there, I can’t even begin to narrow it down. However, a piece of advice that will always stick with me is to use criticism constructively. It’s so easy to get bogged down when somebody says they don’t like something or other, but it’s important to weigh up what the person actually says before immediately dismissing it. They could just be making the most important writing tip of your career.
Hidden talent? I can pick objects up between my toes rather successfully.
How do you react to a bad review? Take it on the chin and accept that no piece of work can please everyone. I do my damnedest to make sure the writing quality of my books is as good as it can be, so after that, it’s simply a matter of personal preference than anything. That said, I did receive a review for Something in the Cellar saying that the reader wasn’t a ‘fan of short stories and didn’t like open endings.’ That kind of baffles me a little — if you aren’t a fan of open-ended short stories, then why are you reading one? But still, I bit my tongue and carried on writing.
What do you do in your free time? Free time, haha. Being at university and being a writer doesn’t allow for much of that. But seriously, I listen to music and I watch the occasional film. I think music is a fantastic way to ground one’s self after a tough, busy day. It’s the best form of therapy, and everyone should give themselves an hour of listening every day.
If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be? The Not-So-Accidental Zillionaire (I wish).
What’s your favorite season/weather? Summer when it’s winter, and winter when it’s summer.
Who or what inspired you to become an author? I know it’s the age old cliché but I’ve wanted to write stories ever since I was a little kid. I always remember being in the first year of school aged, like, five, and writing a 50-ish word epic about a girl who fell down the stairs and woke up on the loo to find it was all a dream, then fell down the stairs in reality. I guess that’s pretty deep for a five-year-old, but I knew right at that moment that writing was my calling.
How did you celebrate the sale of your first book? It was pretty surreal, actually. Me and my friend were having a few drinks and watching some film or another when I saw Something in the Cellar had gone live on Amazon at like, 2am. The funny thing is, it made two sales instantly. It was a pretty amazing feeling, and although it didn’t necessarily maintain such a pace throughout the rest of launch day, it was so cool seeing those two purchases. I wish I could find those buyers and thank them.
What is your guilty pleasure? I spend far too many hours playing the Football/Soccer Manager games. Not as many as some — I know friends who have put literally weeks of their life into this simulation — but too many. I’m currently on the verge of breaking Premier League history by winning it four times in a row with Chelsea. I should manage that just in time for this year’s update…
What TV show/movie/book do you watch/read that you’d be embarrassed to admit? I’m not actually embarrassed about anything I watch or read. I guess the closest to embarrassing is probably Eastenders, a British soap-opera. It’s trashy, but it can get pretty gripping from time to time. It’s also pretty great watching it and thinking, ‘damn, if they let me write for them I could do THIS and THIS and THIS…’
Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is…. The Dead Zone by Stephen King.
Favorite places to travel? I’d have to say Paris. I have a connection with that city. Maybe it’s the romantic within me speaking, I don’t know. Dubrovnik and Rome are pretty spectacular too.
Favorite music? I’m really into the latest Chromatics album at the moment. It’s one of those albums that requires a lot of time but leaves you feeling like the coolest person afterwards. Some amazing things going on in there: Italo Disco revival, gorgeous soundscapes. Brilliant record.
In your wildest dreams, which author would you love to co-author a book with? Chuck Palahniuk. I think we’d throw some awesome ideas together. I reckon working with somebody like that could actually be very liberating too. Otherwise, Stephen King. He’s a master at creating worlds, and I’d very much love to be a part of that world-building process.
Buy now @ Amazon
Genre – Suspense / Horror / Short Story
Rating – PG13
More details about the book
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