mercoledì 24 aprile 2013

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Evolution of Mara Dyer
The Mara Dyer trilogy #2
Author: Michelle Hodkin
PublisherSimon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: October 23rd 2012
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 544
Source: Bought.
Purchased: TBD, Amazon

From Goodreads
Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?


My Review

The Evolution of Mara Dyer is the mind blowing, breath-taking sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, a psycological thriller you will die to solve. I really loved the first book in the trilogy, even if the real mystery is just only mentioned at the end of it; in the second book instead Mara will be persecuted and tormented by the truth of what she has discovered and she will have to deal with the difficulty of being left alone, infact, how can anyone believe what she saw if she is not even sure of it herself?

Let's just start with how much I loved this book! It was so well developed, full of mysteries, crazy events that will create this huge tension for all the book, that will really make you sigh for Mara! 
Actually, at the beginning, I feared that The Evolution wouldn't keep up to my expectations because it seemed a little slow and didn't really satisfy my curiosity at first. I was confused, I didn't fully recognise the characters of the previous book and what I was more afraid of was Noah's character, he was so different and strange that I was afraid the author would have reserved some bad presents for us.
I don't feel like saying that The Evolution of Mara Dyer was an horror, but what is certain is that, compared to the first book it was so much more creepy and dark and this is probably one of the reason why I liked it even better. I immediately noticed (something that was also present in the first book) that chapters were a little too short but progressively, the book became more interesting and full of intricate mysteries and the fact that once bothered me, started to amaze me: Michelle Hodkin has this great ability of creating one hell of a chapter but, especially, one hell of an ending for each and one of them!This made it practically impossible for me to put the book down because every ending revealed a little piece of the puzzle and curiosity always tortured me to continue.
As the story proceeded the mystery became even more thick and Mara looses the track of what is real and what is not, and what made the book even more amazing is that I lost control with her, I couldn't make the difference between what I was actually reading and what was the product of Mara's visions.The author created this amazing, impenetrable dark-creepy atmosphere that completely upset the protagonists and the reader also, and just when you think you (and Mara) have lived enough, there is always something more powerful and fantastic to come!

The characters were so well developed and I really liked that the events were written by Mara's point of view because as I said, she is an unreliable narrator, since we do not know for sure whether she is crazy or not, whether what she is seeing is real or not. Also, I found the chapters told by Mara's grandmother point of view were also really interesting since their story seem to connect so much but at the same time, you can't understand what is really happening, and it's just "more meat on the grill", if you know what I mean. 

Another aspect of the narration that really caught my attention was the part in which the story is recounted through Noah's journal, because it finally gave us the possibility to know more about what he was thinking, since he had been a pretty mysterious character at the beginning.
Of course, what I enjoyed most in this book, is how the relationship between Noah and Mara grows into something perfect, an unbreakable bond that cannot be destroyed by neither the absurdities that tormented Mara. The fact that Noah was always ready to follow Mara in every situation she finds herself in, was simply adorable and touching and I can't get enough of them! 

Overall
I think the Evolution of Mara Dyer is an hard book to review without giving away too much of the story, so if there is something I feel like saying is if you haven't started the Mara Dyer trilogy yet, you really should. It's a book you won't regret reading, full- packed with action, strong and lovable characters and a mystery that will completely torment you!






Rated 5.0



My favourite quotes:

*May contain spoilers*

"What do you guys do together?"
Aside from evading my stalker and burning dolls? "We talk."
"About what?"
Genetic memory. "Books." Possession. "Movies." Jude. "People we don't like".

"What?"
"It wasn't Jude," Noah said quietly.
"What wasn't Jude?"
"The doll in your bedroom. He didn't put it there."
I blinked, not getting it. "Then who did ?"
It felt like forever before Noah finally spoke.
"You."

"You have me. You inhabit me. You want to know what I want? I want you to be the one wanting me first. Pushing me first. Kissing me first. Don't be careful with me. Because I won't be careful with you."

lunedì 22 aprile 2013

Guest Post: Sherry Soule Immortal Eclipse Dream Cast + Give@way!

IE Banner photo ImmortalE.gif 

Hey peeps! Today we have the pleasure to host Sherry Soule's 
guest post about her dream cast for her new novel Immortal Eclipse!
If you like supernatural suspense mingled with a dash of chick-lit and
a healthy dose of Paranormal Romance, purchase your own copy here.

This would be Sherry’s dream cast of actors if her books were made into a movie. So without further ado here are her top actor picks... Skylar Blackwell is a snarky, stubborn, and passionate about fashion—especially foot wear—type of heroine, that any woman who can understand that being fashionable, spunky, and having designer shoes is important (a girl after my own heart)...even if you’re solving a supernatural murder mystery. For me it is a choice between these two radiant and talented actresses (love their shoes in these pics!), Kristin Kreuk or Nina Dobrev: 

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 Or I like tortured heroes, and Dorian is a broken man, who wrestles with his inner demons. He is haunted by his past, scarred by memories of an unrequited love that broke his heart. For the part of the tragic hero, I think these brilliant and hunky actors would be great: Kellan Lutz or Jensen Ackles:


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 OR For Skylar’s courageous friend, Emma, I like theses remarkable actresses: Drew Barrymore or Christina Applegate:

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 For the mysterious and smarmy Victor Pratt, I like this actor, Jay Ryan:

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  For the cute and outspoken, Margaret, I think this actress would be great, Jessica Parker Kennedy:

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  For the grumpy housekeeper, Mrs. Pratt, I like this amazing actress, Phyllis Logan:

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 photo Immortal_Eclipse200.jpg
Immortal Eclipse 
by Sherry Soule

A devoted fashionata and practical New Yorker, Skylar Blackwell doesn’t believe in the supernatural—until she inherits Summerwind Mansion. . . . 

When her uncle is brutally murdered, and the cops seem uninterested in following up the case, Skylar journeys to California to seek answers. Her search for clues is soon overshadowed by haunting nightmares of a young woman also murdered in the house. 

Now the inhabitants of Summerwind are mysteriously dying, leaving no evidence as to how or why, and Skylar finds herself in a deadly race against time to expose the killer—before they strike again. 

The problem is . . . whoever it is may not be human.

Armed with only wit and Pradas, Skylar begins questioning the servants, but the growing list of suspects includes the sexy and brooding caretaker, Dorian, a man desperately trying to forget his tragic past. And a major distraction for Skylar.

Determined to play detective—instead of the fashion police—and unravel the dark history of the mansion, Skylar is plunged into an otherworldly mystery that not even she can explain away. As the boundaries between reality and dreams blur, Skylar’s greatest challenge is to stay alive long enough to learn the truth.

Find Sherry
http://www.sherrysoule.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/writersherry
Buy Immortal Eclipse
http://amzn.to/1074dUY

The Give@way!
Hope you enjoyed this post. It has been an honor to share my actor picks 
with all of you. If you haven’t seized your copy of IMMORTAL ECLIPSE yet, please 
do so. Chilling and steamy escapades await you! Now go feed your mind 
and read a book. Preferably mine. ;-)

Open Internationally

sabato 20 aprile 2013

Promo Tour: Promises by Amber Garr [Excerpt]

Promises
The Syrenka Series #1

Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love. When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé, would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined. A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life she so adamantly tried to escape.


The Excerpt

I barely heard her parting words as the screen door slammed shut. My head spun in desperation as the anger coursed through my bones. “Get back in here Eviana!” she continued to scream at me. “We are not finished with this conversation!”
I was already racing down the deck stairs toward the sandy beach, kicking off my shoes and unbuttoning my blouse. We are for now, I thought as my blood boiled with rage and resentment. I was going to be trapped! How dare they? This was not the eighteenth century anymore! I had rights!
I stumbled onto the sand, taking just a brief moment to savor the warmth and the feeling of the grains massaging my toes. My shirt came off and I started to unzip my jeans. No one was
around. But I wouldn’t care anyway. The water was calling me and it was the only voice that I could hear now. With one pant leg off, I hopped along in my forward progression until the other one was free. My oasis was so close now that I could taste the salt in the air. The sun broke free of a cloud, stopping me for a moment. It was late afternoon with sunset still a few hours away, but the sky had already turning multiple shades of pink and orange. The coloration reminded me of the inside of a brilliant conch shell.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I knew there would be hell to pay when I returned to the house. Marguerite, my mother, had tolerated my rebellious behavior when I was younger, giving me more freedom and second chances than anyone in our clan. But apparently now, at seventeen, I was an adult. Adult enough to bear children. Adult enough to participate in clan gatherings. Adult enough to navigate our youth through their transition period. But not adult enough to choose who to love.
A slight breeze wafted off the ocean, bringing with it scents that filled my gut with longing. The freedom of the ocean. Why couldn’t I just stay there forever? A gull called overhead, beckoning me to join him. The splashing waves calmed my inner rage as they ebbed and flowed in a hypnotic pattern. A distant moan of a shipping vessel reminded me of our history. I opened my eyes to see that I was standing alone along miles of sandy beach interlaced with large rocks and cliffs emblematic of the northern California coast. So beautiful. I stripped off the rest of my clothes and ran into the ocean.
As soon as I was under the water, I could feel the transition begin. My lower body ached as the bones adjusted from a life on land to one at sea. Both legs began to fuse together and work as one. My foot bones elongated while I prepared for the agony. I was accustomed to the changes now, but it was still a struggle of mind over matter. Breaking through the surface of the water, I grabbed one last breath before the final jolt of pain ravaged through my body. I bit my bottom lip and squeezed my eyes shut, willing the moment to be over. At last I felt an electric tingle move from my hips to my toes as the hardened iridescent, scales appeared on my tail. I opened my eyes to find that the internal transformation was complete as well. My vision cleared. My lungs expanded. I could hear for miles. I was free.
So I swam. I swam away from the shore and the house that I lived in. I swam away from my fears and obligations as though they could disappear with the distance. I would temporarily forget my responsibilities, my duties, and the argument with my mother. In here, I wasn’t trapped. The sea was my true home. I was a mermaid and this was my world.

Other books in the series




The Author

Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. Amber is a multiple Royal Palm Literary Award winner and the author of The Syrenka Series and The Leila Marx Novels. When not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.




Find Amber
Website: http://www.ambergarr.com 
Blog: http://ambergarr.blogspot.com 
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amber-Garr/232359720165110?sk=wall 
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5374297.Amber_Garr

Buy Links

venerdì 19 aprile 2013

Interview with Fleur Gaskin, author of Arabelle's Shadows + Give@way!


Fleur Gaskin
author of Arabelle's Shadows

1.Can you tell us a little about your book, what inspired you and why should we read it?
Arabelle’s Shadows is a novel about an international model called Arabelle. The story moves between Arabelle’s present - where she is living in Bangkok and dating a Thai socialite called Naak - and her past – Arabelle becoming a model and as a depressed teenager. I was inspired to write this story because I feel that many people are looking for happiness in all the wrong places. Arabelle is beautiful and thin but it wasn’t enough to make her happy. Other characters have a lot of money, some are happy, some are not. I wanted to show that happiness comes from within.
Through out the novel Arabelle battles her vile Shadows. The Shadows are those dark thoughts in your mind telling you that you’re not good enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, that you’re unlovable. We may not all be so controlled by our Shadows that we become as depressed as Arabelle, but we all have own Shadows to contend with. Arabelle’s Shadows will hopefully show you how to beat them.
2. You said that Arabelle's Shadows is based on a true story, is that your own story?
Arabelle’s Shadows is based on my own experiences. I love reading books based on real life, it makes the novel so much more personal. I chose to make it a novel instead of a memoir for a couple of reasons. One, I don’t feel I’m old enough yet to be telling my life story. Two, you have a lot more creative freedom when a novel is fiction. I wanted to tell the story of my emotional journey rather than worry about names and details.
3. There are a lot of references to the world of fashion in your book, do you like it? Have you worked in that sector in real life?
Honestly, I don’t really think that much about fashion. I think that people should have their own style, their own fashion sense, but I think always following and buying the latest trends is just too much effort! That said, I worked as an international model for six years and I know the modelling industry well. There are certain aspects of being a model that are fantastic, like being able to travel and live in cities all over the world. You meet some really great people too. However, I wouldn’t recommend it as a career. I believe that the industry often takes advantage of young girls, using them more like commodities than people. 
4. What was the hardest part of writing Arabelle's Shadows?
The hardest part of writing Arabelle’s Shadows was talking about the depression. As the novel is based on my life writing about some of my darkest moments was extremely difficult and emotionally exhausting. I had to be very careful to make sure I didn’t lose myself to my own Shadows. Thinking about being depressed all the time is a great way to become depressed!
5. Your book obviously moves a critique toward the obsessions of teens nowadays, what was exactly your purpose while writing Arabelle's Shadows?
I think that teens have always had issues. I think that the problem with being a teenager is that you have no control over your life. Your parents, your school, your friends are always telling you what to do. You’re trying to work out who you are but you don’t have the freedom to express yourself fully. My purpose for writing the Arabelle’s Shadows was more to show how difficult it can be to be a teenager. I also wanted to show all the mistakes I made with the hopes that some readers will learn from Arabelle and not have to go down the same path I did.  
6.Your dream cast for an eventual movie adaption of your book?
Most people in the book are pretty young so I’d like it to be a completely unknown cast. I want all the model characters to be played by model actors and actresses. The cast would have to be from all over the world.
7.Who or what inspired you to become an author?
I was modelling in Paris in 2002. I’d just finished reading Wuthering Heights and I thought I would like to make people feel emotions the way this book just made me feel. My parents always taught me that we could achieve anything we wanted in the world if we worked hard enough for it. So I immediately thought of the plot of two novels and got started working out how to write a book.  
8.Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?
I have two books that I would like to write. They are both quite different from each other as well as from Arabelle’s Shadows. I’m still in the plot development stage though. I think a lot but I haven’t started writing anything just yet.
9.Print or eBook?
I’ll let you know when I finally get an e-reader. I really hope I like it because it’s so much more environmentally friendly. That said, my dream house would have an enormous library filled from floor to ceiling with books about everything!

Arabelle's Shadows
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Everything in Arabelle's life is coming together. She has confidence, great friends, she's even dating Naak, a wealthy Thai socialite. But there are too many models in Bangkok. Arabelle’s broke, she can’t find an agent in New York, and Naak isn’t as wonderful as he first appears. Slowly the Shadows creep back into Arabelle’s mind, bringing with them thoughts of hopelessness and despair. The vile Shadows know something Arabelle’s refusing to remember and, if she’s not careful, they’ll use it to destroy her. Based on a true story, Arabelle’s Shadows takes us on a journey through the struggles of growing up, not quite making it as an international model, and attempting to overcome a crushing depression.



The Give@way!

domenica 14 aprile 2013

Showcase Sunday #19


Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by Vicky at Book, Biscuits and Tea
               The aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag
                and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought
            in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week.


Hey peeps! How are you doing? This weekend has been amazing, the weather 
was awesome and I can already smell summer in the air! ^^Moreover, 
some books I was expecting finally came so, let's get started with this
week's haul!


Exiled - M.R. Merrick, Won @ StuckInBooks, Thanks Valerie!
Shift - M.R. Merrick, Won @ StuckInBooks, Thanks Valerie!
Ten Little Indians - Agatha Christie, Gifted



Netgalley



What did you get in your mailbox!? Leave me a link!

venerdì 12 aprile 2013

Review: The Emerald Tablet by Joshua Silverman

The Emerlad Tablet
Legends of Amun Ra #1
Author: Joshua Silverman
Published: 15th September 2012
Publisher: Enchanted Forest Press
Format: eBook
Number of Pages: 408
Source: Received from the author for review.
Purchase: Amazon, TBD, B&N

From GoodReads

Leoros doesn't have many friends. The son of a scientist and archeologist, he is constantly on the move. But when his parents make a startling discovery in Egypt, Leoros' world is turned upside down.
Do you wish you could have the power of a god? Would you use it for good…or for evil?
When an archeologist discovers the mythic Emerald Tablet buried beneath Egypt’s desert, her son decodes the ancient text leading him to a distant world.
On that world, a slave girl begins a journey towards a destiny she cannot imagine. But when an ancient foe rises from the ashes, they will be brought together
by forces neither understands.
Leoros, who dreams of being like the heroes in the comic books, must fight to unlock the secrets of the universe to save a people he never knew existed.
Atlantia, whose bloody visions wake her in the night, senses the darkness coming.
Together they will face an enemy with the power of dark energy, lose a mentor to the assassin’s blade, and be betrayed by someone they trust. Their fight for the future is just beginning, and before it is over, a final sacrifice must be made. When the darkness comes, will they stand and fight or will they join it?

There is darkness in everyone.




My Review

The Emerald Tablet was a great fantasy book, full of action, well developed characters and interesting legends that will make you travel between several of the most amazing countries on Earth (and not only!) Starting from the very beginning, I can not avoid sharing with you my first impression: I immediately had a wrong sensation of this book, because as I started reading I really couldn't understand anything! There were way too many characters with strange names introduced from the beginning and I thought; this is going to be another book full of characters with unpronounceable names, that I should take notes of"; but as soon as the story got clearer I also realised that there were not as many characters as it seemed and I definitely became more relaxed but above all more passionated, in the story. Actually, I have to say that in the end maybe, the fact that there were several characters was probably one of the best aspects of the book, for at least three reasons:
- I think that one of Joshua Silverman's best qualities is his ability in describing and developing characters progressively, and above all through their actions and through the choices they decided to take during their path.
- The abundance of characters increased the tension and the suspence that revolved around the mystery of who the traitor was and the fact that there were so many suspects made the mystery even more intricate. The author, indeed, perfectly played with the relationships between them, creating an enjoyable web of intrigues and bonds that were really entertaining and interesting to discover.
- It was absolutely perfect the way the author decided to describe the events, constantly changing point of view; apparently, it may seems like something enervating, but the change of the speaker was so harmonius with the narration that it doesn't create repetitions (as it usually happens) and just contributes to give us an idea of how each character was living that particular situation.
It is evident that what I enjoyed most about this book is the attention the author paid to characters, and another aspect I really liked is how Joshua didn't hesitate in describing also harsh situations; speaking of which, a character that really surpised me in this sense, is Leoros' mother (the protagonist's mother) who really changes from night to day to save her son.. I guess when my mother told me "a mother would do anything for her children" she literally meant anything, didn't she?
Talking about the framework, I think that Joshua's world was quite original, even if sometimes I didn't quite understand everything about the rules of the Priests of Amun, even if I am sure all the doubts will be clarified next; Potara was actually a great fantasy world, a mix between an ancient Egypt and a modern city like New York. Infact there were still the traditions and the religion of the ancient, but the characters often used very technological tools, just like cars and armours.

Well, at least but not last, if there is something I should reproach to the author is, why such a rushed up ending? I expected the final battle between the antagonists and the protagonist to be a little more detailed and above all more tough to win, but on the contrary, there wasn't an actual battle and ... grrr I can't even express what I mean without giving out spoiler, and I really don't want to!

So, if you want to know what I am talking about, and my review made you curious about this book, what are you waiting for? Purchase immediately your own copy!

Rated 4.55!

lunedì 8 aprile 2013

Tour: Valley of Glamorgan by Julie Wall [Guest Post]


Hey peeps! While you are here reading Julie's guest post, keep in mind that
Valley Of Glamorgan is free on Amazon from April 8-11th, you can purchase it here!

My Road To Being an Author
by Julie Wall


I started to write when I was eleven years old. My parents had a computer in their bed room, and I remember giving up my time to spend outside even on warm beautiful days, which was abundant because I lived in Myrtle Beach South Carolina at the time.
I would spend all time typing away; I wrote about mythical beings such as unicorns and magical places. I have always loved writing about the unknown or the impossible. I enjoyed writing classes all throughout my grade school years. I knew from a very young age that writing was what I wanted to do as a career, even though I knew it would be hard to make a career out of it, seeing that it is so sought after. I therefore gave up on writing for some time. I got lost in others instead, spending most of my time reading wonderful books usually in the paranormal romance genre.
Even though I loved reading and still do, I still felt like there was something missing, and that maybe I should start to write again, maybe I could write a book like some of my favorite authors, which include P.C Cast, Lauren Kate, Amanda Hocking, and many others.
I set down and began writing ago and it took me a little over a year to get the too where I wanted it, and then my computer where I had the book stored had gotten a virus and I lost everything! I felt so overwhelmed and felt that maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.
Then one rainy day I was riding in the car and had my face leaned against the cool glass, when all of a sudden the idea of the Valley of Glamorgan story line popped into my head! As soon as we got home I wrote it down and kept writing a year or so later I was finished and self-published it on Kindle. I have hit a few bumps in the road and did in fact give up at times, but here I am. Following my dream to be a writer and I am hoping that the Valley of Glamorgan will be my ticket to a whole new life and to completing my lifelong dream.


Valley of Glamorgan
by Julie Wall

Genre: paranormal romance

Number of pages: 122

Cover Artist: Zack Eads




As if assisting in burying two bodies wasn’t enough! Carmina learns that her life is anything but ordinary, and it is too late to turn back. She is forced to leave everything she has ever known behind and follow a stranger on an unforgettable journey to a world that is just too surreal! She learns of a life she didn’t even know that she had and meets people who would give their lives for her that she doesn’t even remember!

As she is thrown into this new life she learns that her destiny is much greater than she had ever thought it to be, as if she could focus on her new life or destiny when she meets a handsome charming blue-eyed distraction who quickly turns her life upside down even more than it already was!


The Author

Julie lives in Bloomington Indiana; she is twenty one years old, and recently has attended Ivy Tech community College. When she is not listening to music or getting lost in reading, or writing. She is spending time with her family, or cuddled up watching a movie with her fiancé. Julie is an avid book lover, and enjoys reading every day; she reads anything from paranormal romance to biographies.
She loves to go against the grain and to be different. Julie is also an animal lover, and when she is not reading or spending quality time with her family, she is spending time with her cat lily. She is hoping one day to become a full time writer, and is currently working on her next great book!


Links
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Valley-Of-Glamorgan/245106688954272
http://valleyofglamorgantrilogyandotherbooksbyjuliewall.weebly.com/







giovedì 4 aprile 2013

Interview with A.F. Firebird, author of The Reluctant Goddess


Interview with A.F. Firebird
Author of The Reluctant Goddess


A.F. Firebird is the alter ego of a sociologist/psychologist turned web developer from the UK. While A.F. Firebird has worked in several fields her primary focus is the exploration of six virtues: appreciation, forgiveness, compassion, humility, understanding and valour. Her first novel, The Reluctant Goddess, numerous short stories and children's books, all investigate aspects of these virtues.


1.What was the inspiration behind The Reluctant Goddess?


The book just turned up in my head, no idea where it came from. I had little experience writing anything, let alone an entire novel but there it was in my head so I started to write it down. In the beginning it was like writing and reading at the same time. I didn't really know what was going to come out. Once the first draft was done, I started the hard work of learning how to write.


2. Speaking of Gods and Goddesses, I can not help thinking about Greek mythology, do you have a favourite character from the Greek mythology, a favourite god/goddess?

I can't say I have a favourite character from Greek mythology, despite studying Greek literature at school. Many of my readers think Hector is based on the Greek legend but in fact he is based on the character from Hector's House, which is a very old cartoon. Here is a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_tVxvnEJko . He is a very sensible old Hector!


3.Is this a genre you prefer to write in or is there any others you would like to try?


When I started work on this book I was not thinking about genre at all. When I finished the book thirteen years later I was amazed to discover a new genre that perfectly described my work. Here is a good description of Metaphysical Fiction from “The awesome indies” website:

“Metaphysical fiction is a growing, but little-known, genre of stories about the inner, incorporeal, supernatural, spiritual or transcendent aspects of human experience that emphasise an individuals movement towards self-actualisation, and/or some form of philosophy. Readers may gain insight into, or be stimulated to reflect on, such things as the nature of existence, the mind, the soul, the psyche, psychology, the spiritual journey and so on.” http://awesomeindies.net/metaphysical-fiction/


4.Favorite Scene or quote from your book?

This is my favorite scene. There are several like this through out the book, where the reader sees all of LIFE responding to the changes made by the main characters.

LIFE noted the change in Ellena, like the chiming of a cymbal in a symphony. Its volume was low but the wave was strong. It rippled through LIFE, into the spaces between matter and the pauses between breaths. Building a harmonic that rolled on: out past Mercury, Mars, l7789-6 and everything in between, past the Hyades Cluster, through the Orion arm, on to the Magellanic Cloud, across all the satellite galaxies, on through Andromeda I, II and III. On and on it rolled filling the Virgo super cluster, Columba and all its neighbours, the Capricornus, Bootes and Sculptor Voids, until all of LIFE hummed with it.
Then it reverberated back to the world where the planet responded making it manifest and giving it form. Just outside Monterey Bay, California, three Pacific white-sided dolphins launched themselves towards the sky, flicking their tail fins as they went, then slipped artfully back into azure waves before
speeding away in synchronised joy. In South London Malcolm Fielding, who was sitting in his high chair with dribbles of stewed apple on his pale green babygro, focusing on co-ordinating his fingers to pick up a rusk, stopped for a moment and chuckled to himself. Meanwhile, the newest member of the lemur family in Chile's National Zoo swung with effortless grace across the branches of its enclosure, landed in front of his mother and hugged her. Farther east, in Kabul, a seven-year-old boy put down a stone, stepped back from the UN patrol he had been tracking and ran home for his tea. And so it continued creating and recreating itself in the world.



5. How long did it take you to publish your first book, after you started trying?

It was amazingly quick – all this new technology means everything is speeding up!


6.Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

I am reading mainly non-fiction books at the moment .“Contagious” by Jonah Berger, is currently on my night stand and I am loving it. I highly recommend it.


7.What's the craziest writing idea you've had?

I don't know how crazy it is but a story line that really appeals to me, which I may never write, goes like this:

Mia, a nurse from London, has a secret. When she touches people she knows their thoughts and their recent history. Raised by her Mother with no knowledge of her father, she has been trained to think of her “gift” as an inconvenience that she must hide from everyone.

A series of brutal murders brings her past into the present. Her Father, who has watched over her for years from his home world, Tír na nÓg, realises the decision to raise Mia as a human was wrong. Now she is in mortal danger as her very existence threatens the status quo. With her father's help her powers grow until together they can piece together the reason for the murders and challenge the organisation behind them.

It's basically, a murder mystery fantasy with conspiracy twist. I love a good conspiracy theory!


8.You're all time favourite book. 

This question is just too hard so here are my favorite books: Altered Carbon - Richard Morgan, Spares - Michael Marshall Smith, Thief of time - Terry Pratchett, The Lies of Locke Lamora – Scott Lynch. Hyperion – Dan Simmons, Reality Dysfunction – Peter Hamilton. Anything by Maggie O'Farrell.

All of these writers are awesome in different ways. Each one of them makes me think I should shut down my wordprocessor and step away from my keyboard. If you have not read some of these, I am really happy for you because you have so much to look forward to.

The Reluctant Goddess
by A.F Firebird

Published: March 31st by POSE

Ellena Ripley is a bookshop owner from a rural town in the south of England – or so she thinks. But lately, she has a growing sense that life is not as it seems. At night, she dreams of a serene man who appears to be trying to tell her something; In the day, she can't shake a feeling of expectation. But of what? 

Meanwhile Hector, servant of LIFE and the man from Ellena's dreams, has a dilemma. How do you tell someone they are a goddess? His previous attempts have met with disaster so he must be cautious, particularly when his new trainee, Boudica, formerly Queen of the Iceni tries to help. The question is can they succeed before it is too late?

If you like your metaphysics spiced with humor and drama this book could be for you.

Buy The Reluctant Goddess
http://www.amazon.com 
http://www.amazon.co.uk
http://www.posegroup.org/books/trg/buy/index.html#buy

martedì 2 aprile 2013

Cover Reveal: Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani + Give@way!


Today we’re celebrating the cover reveal party for serial novella Sunbolt. The author was kind enough to offer 3 digital ARC copies for giveaway to 3 lucky winners! Scroll down for the Rafflecopter form to participate! 

Sunbolt
Sunbolt Chronicles #1

AuthorIntisar Khanani
Genre: Serial Novella

The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she conceals her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to bring down the powerful and corrupt Archmage Wilhelm Blackflame.
When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she has to escape with her life.


The Cover
*drum rolls*



Add to GoodReads:
Sunbolt (The Sunbolt Chronicles, #1)



The Author

Intisar Khanani grew up a nomad and world traveler. Born in Wisconsin, she has lived in five different states as well as in Jeddah on the coast of the Red Sea. She first remembers seeing snow on a wintry street in Zurich, Switzerland, and vaguely recollects having breakfast with the orangutans at the Singapore Zoo when she was five. She currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two young daughters. Until recently, Intisar wrote grants and developed projects to address community health with the Cincinnati Health Department, which was as close as she could get to saving the world. Now she focuses her time on her two passions: raising her family and writing fantasy. Intisar is hard at work on two new projects. The first is a companion trilogy to her debut novel Thorn, following the heroine introduced in her free short story The Bone Knife. The second project, The Sunbolt Chronicles, is a novella series following the efforts of a young mage as she strives to bring down her nemesis, a corrupt and dangerous Arch Mage who means to bring the Eleven Kingdoms under his control.

Find her: GoodReads || Intisar’s Website || Facebook Page


The Give@way
 
Images by Freepik