Author Interview: Jamie Manning

How easy/hard is it writing this series from Ava's point of view. Being a guy do you stumble across difficulty writing from a female perspective?

It was actually fairly easy writing from Ava’s point of view (though I don’t know if I was successful at it, lol). She was such a strong character during the writing process, it would’ve been impossible not to convey what she was saying to me!

What inspired you to write a story about a half vampire?

I've always loved vampires. By far, they’re my favourite of all mystics in fiction (I secretly still hold out hope that they’re real, and one will swoop in and bite me. Yes, I'm weird). When Ava’s story came to me, she was just a vampire trying to survive. I knew that I somehow needed to make her story different. The idea that vampires could become human again just sort of emerged out of that thinking, and The Blood Prophecy was born.

In Blood Awakening, the characters have undergone some changes based on events that happened in Blood Born. Was it difficult to keep the characters familiar despite these changes?

I actually found it easier, given that they were so present to me. I’ve been with these characters for a while now, so their actions and thought processes are pretty familiar to me.

If you could invite any author dead or alive to dinner, who would it be?

Definitely Harper Lee (To Kill A Mockingbird). I would love to sit down to dinner (or even just coffee, Ms. Lee. Just so ya know.) and just let her ramble about whatever topic she chooses. Just being in the same room with her would be a dream.

What's next? More from The Blood Prophecy Trilogy?

There will be one more book in the trilogy (duh, right? Lol) which will come out sometime in 2014. But in between this book and the last, the first book of my next series, GENERATION Z, will be released. It’s dystopian, and far different from this series, so I hope everyone enjoys it. I’m working on several side projects as well, that I hope to get published very soon. I’m also toying with the idea of a sort of novella set in the Blood Prophecy world, about a couple of the characters and their lives before the first book. So keep an eye out for that. J

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

This question is always a tough one for me, because I don’t feel adequate to dole out advice. But for the sake of an answer, I’ll say that if you aspire to become an author, don’t ever give up. No matter what gets in the way, always know, in your heart, that your dream is waiting.

Author bio:

My name is Jamie and I am a writer.

I've always wanted to be a writer (like most writers, I'm sure) but not until the last few years have I taken it seriously (after I read a tiny, unknown book called Twilight). I was always told growing up that I had to get a job and take care of myself, so I pushed my dream of writing a book to the back of my mind and entered the workforce. Fast-forward many, many years and here I am, trying to make a go at it.


I stumbled across Blogger in 2010 and my world of writing exploded. I have met (via the web) so many amazing writers and industry professionals and book bloggers that have passed on their wisdom and experience and successes and failures. So many, in fact, that I have no excuse to sit down and write out the stories living in my head. Which is what I'm now attempting to do.


I enjoy reading more than most other things (well, except maybe for writing. And TV. No way am I giving up my TV) . I attempt to write YA (paranormal and dystopian) and I love it.


Blood Born, book one in The Blood Prophecy trilogy, was released by Pendrell Publishing April 24, 2012. Book two, Blood Awakening, is coming April 2013.

Author Interview; Jade Kerrion

Jade Kerrion is the Author of the award winning Double Helix series and as being kind enough to stop by and answer some questions.

How did you come up with the Double Helix series?

My undergraduate major from the Johns Hopkins University was in Biology and Philosophy, and I thought it was finally time to make some money off my college degree! On a more serious note, I wanted to write a novel that challenges our definitions of perfection and of humanity (without once mentioning the word “vampire.”) Science has been making one breakthrough after another in the area of genetic engineering, and the future depicted in Perfection Unleashed is more likely than most of us would believe.

Your love of science is evident in your books but well explained to novices like me, how easy/hard was it to write in terms that people without your knowledge would understand?

It’s like packing for camping. Pack everything you think you need, and then eliminate half of the things from the list. Likewise, for the scientific explanations, I wrote as much as much as I thought was necessary, and then deleted half of it.

How do you juggle your writing life with your family life?

With a fair amount of difficulty. I’m fortunate to have a very understanding and supportive husband. None of what I’ve done could have happened without his partnership.

If you could invite one author dead or alive to dinner who would it be?

I would love to talk to Neil Gaiman. His Sandman series is fantastic. I love the way he weaves reality and mythology from a variety of sources into a seamless whole. It’s flawlessly put together. At first, you see only the threads, many of which do not seem to make sense, but at the end, it always comes together in a breathtaking tapestry of stunning complexity.

What is your favorite writing ritual? Is there a Favorite place beverage/snack/music that gets you writing?

I don’t really think I have a writing ritual. I’m fairly well-trained to write at any place and any time. That said, I love writing to the soundtrack from Final Fantasy: Advent Children. The music is triumphant and heroic—the celebration of the unlikely hero who finds a way to forgive himself and in so doing, saves himself and the world. I think it captures the essence of Danyael Sabre (the protagonist of the Double Helix series) Also, I think the chorus of the song Beautiful World, from Westlife, exemplifies Danyael’s courage and compassion:

I never thought that I was that strong to carry on, carry on tonight

Forgiveness in your eyes, with nothing to hide

All I know is you've shown me it's a beautiful world, it's a beautiful world

What is the last book you loved reading?

I really enjoyed Linell Jeppsen’s most recent novel, Onio. It’s a beautifully written fantasy about a Sasquatch and a young woman who cannot hear. I highly recommend it.

Have you got a favorite character from the Double Helix series that you loved to write?

Zara’s always fun to write, but I think my favorite is Danyael Sabre. Danyael has many facets. On the one hand, he is a doctor who works insane hours for little pay at a charity clinic in Brooklyn, New York. On the other hand, he is an alpha empath. He controls emotions and channels pain. Physical and emotional pain fuels his deadly mutant powers; with a touch, he can heal or kill. Craving privacy and solitude, he shields both his mind and emotions, but we catch tantalizing glimpses of his courage and compassion.

Even among the alpha mutants who redefine the boundaries of power in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, Danyael is rare and coveted by many who desire to control him and his power. His hard-won normal life is upended when Zara Itani, a mercenary whose abrasive attitude exceeds even her beauty, frees Galahad, the lab-created perfect human being from his laboratory prison. Danyael learns that his genetic code was used as Galahad’s physical template; that kind of news is enough to wreck even the best day…

What's next? More Double Helix?

Yes! More Double Helix. When the Silence Ends, a YA novel featuring Dee and Dum (with significant guest appearances from Danyael and Zara) will be released shortly. Earth-Sim, an occasionally whimsical and frequently irreverent novel about Earth’s history as seen through the eyes of the two students and android assigned to manage it, will be coming out in 2013, and I’m currently working on a new novel tentatively titled City of Eternal Night. Once that’s done, I’ll turn my attention back to the main Double Helix series and start working on the fourth novel in the series.

What  advice would you give to wannabe writers?

keep writing, and be committed to excellence. Whether you choose traditional or self publishing, writing requires dedication to the art, a dedication to always getting better.

There is much to learn from other authors, from writing manual' seminars, from critique groups, from editors... the list goes on.

Finish this sentence. When I am not writing I am...

…thinking about writing. It’s terrible, I know. I think I’m well past the stage of needing inspiration; writing is more of a compulsion now. In general, I have a compulsive personality; people like me should never get exposed to alcohol, cigarettes, or recreational drugs—we’re easy prey. Years ago, computer gaming and writing used to go hand-in-hand for me. My characters from my computer games inspired my writing. Since then, however, my characters have taken on a life of their own and thus, I have been freed to happily obsess about them without needing the occasional computer gaming boost to sustain them.

Thank you Jade for stopping by :)

Author Bio:

Jade Kerrion unites cutting-edge science and bioethics with fast-paced action in her award-winning Double Helix series. Drawing rave reviews for its originality and vision, and described as “a breakout piece of science fiction,” Perfection Unleashed, and its sequels, Perfect Betrayal and Perfect Weapon, are available in print and e-book through Amazon and other major retailers.

Synopsis

His genetic code sourced from the best that humanity offers, Galahad embodies the pinnacle of perfection. When Zara Itani, a mercenary whose abrasive arrogance exceeds her beauty, frees him from his laboratory prison, she offers him the chance to claim everything that had ever been denied him, beginning with his humanity.

Perfection cannot be unleashed without repercussions, and Galahad’s freedom shatters Danyael Sabre’s life.

An alpha empath, Danyael is rare and coveted, even among the alpha mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution. He wields the power to heal or kill with a touch, but craves only privacy and solitude—both impossible dreams for the man who was used as Galahad’s physical template.

Galahad and Danyael, two men, one face. One man seeks to embrace destiny, and the other to escape it.

The award-winning Double Helix series, consisting of Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon, will challenge your notions of perfection and humanity, and lead you in a celebration of courage and compassion. Science fiction, urban fantasy, and action-adventure readers will enjoy this thrilling roller-coaster ride as it twists and turns through a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution.

Social media and buy links:

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Perfection Unleashed: Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords / Sony

Perfect Betrayal: Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords / Sony

Perfect Weapon: Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords / Sony

Author Interview; Ashliegh Wolfgang

I am so pleased to be able to share this interview with you.

Ashliegh is the auther of the Ramblings of the damded series click to see my Review of the first book in the series The Devils Serum

You were originally a vocalist with the orphan punks what made you decide to write novels?

I was always writing fiction in some capacity for nearly as long as I can remember. I hadn’t given a lot of thought to making my work available to the public until recently however. I see a lot of parallels in music and books, both are an effort to express your thoughts and connect with others whether a listener or a reader. It just seemed like a natural progression in my case.

Where did you get your inspiration to write devils serum? 

The Devil’s Serum revolved around a really simple thought. When someone is head over heels in love they feel invincible, and if that love is betrayed it feels like death. The one constant seems to be that time heals all wounds, but what if it didn't and what if that time were infinite. It would be an awfully big burden to carry for all of eternity. My protagonist Christian is in this very simple yet extremely complex set of circumstances, living with a wrong that can never be righted, or never forgotten.

Christian seems like a tortured soul how easy/hard was it to write his character? 

It was easy to write Christian in some capacity, but it takes its toll on me. Christian is dark and unlikeable and doesn’t always make the best decisions, he’s emotional and reckless. I have to admit it gets difficult to smile when I’m writing Christian, I really am empathetic towards him.

You have three books in the devils serum series, what’s next? 

I’m currently working on a longer work that is about a modern day 16 year old female vampire, it really is out of my comfort zone but I think it’s a great story. I also plan to finish The Ramblings of the Damned Series and resolve Christian’s story in the near future.

If you could invite just one author dead or alive for dinner, who would it be? 

I think it would be Anne Rice, because not only do I love her writing and her characters but all indications are that she is just a really great lady, with really great interests and opinions.

What advice do you have for aspiring authors? 

Just write. Write,write, and then write some more. It’s not all going to be gold but you’ll get better every time and eventually you’ll find your voice. Secondly, ignore negative critics…it’s easier said than done but the fact is that someone will always hate what you’re doing and if you try to cater to them you’ll lose someone along the way that already loved what you do. Write for yourself and your characters and those that enjoy it will follow, there is no sense in trying to reinvent yourself for those that didn’t care in the first place. Just write.

Finish this sentence when I am not writing I am……First and Foremost a father, I have no greater pride in life than my children. I already believe that they are going to be smarter and more prepared for what life brings than I ever was…and they are a lot better looking.

Thank you so much Ash for taking the time to do the interview, I cant wait to read more from the ramblings of the damned series and your new vampire story which may be out of your comfort zone but is smack bam in the middle of mine.

The Devils Serum, Book Blurb

When Christian met the girl that would become the love of his life, he thought it was the most amazing thing that could ever happen. It wasn't even close to the most amazing thing that happened that day. Christian discovers he has become immortal after drinking from a mysterious silver flask. Is this a gift or a curse?

The Devil's serum is the first installment of the Ramblings of the Damned series and is followed by The Devil's Folly (Book Two) 

Ashliegh Wolfgang first gained notoriety as founding member and vocalist for National Recording artist "The Orphan Punks." The Devil's Serum novella is his first foray into writing fiction and has since been followed up by The Devil's Folly.

To find out more about Ashliegh  and his books click the following links.

Goodreads

Twitter and his

Website

Interview and giveaway with Robert Bryndza

I am so pleased to be able to share this Interview and give away with you all.

Robert is the author of The Not so secret Emails of Coco Pinchard And Bitch Hollywod. 

You have travelled around quite a bit where is your favourite place?

Right now, it’s Slovakia. It is a beautiful place and the town we live in is magical. I loved the ten years I was in London and the year in America, but Nitra is a mix of everything I love. It has one of the best theatres in the country, parks, restaurants, a cinema and the old town and castle, which we love to visit. It’s only a short drive to the capital Bratislava and Vienna for anything work related, and an even shorter drive and you are in mountainous wilderness.

How much of your writing is based on your own experiences?

Quite a bit, but I find you have to take the essence of an experience and make something new out of it. You can’t just write down real life or it would be rather dull! My first novel The Not So Secret Emails Of Coco Pinchard had a great deal of me in it, my experiences as a writer. Also, the finale of the book is set at the Edinburgh Festival. I’ve performed three times at the festival– the last time in a play I had written and I wanted to capture the agony and the fun of being there.

My second novel Bitch Hollywood is based on a lot of what actually happened to myself and my partner Ján when we lived in Hollywood – when came back from America and took stock of our year we realised what a crazy time we’d had and what a great story it would make.

You wrote Bitch Hollywood with your partner, how did you find that. Did you get along easily while in the writing process?

We got on better than I thought we would! Writing can be stressful at the best of times and we gave ourselves a crazy deadline when we wrote. I think we began in September last year and we wanted it done by Christmas – we were also writing two books, as the English version took shape Ján was translating it into Slovak. Overall, it was fun – but we often worked fourteen hours a day. It was cold and snowy outside for most of it and there was something very cosy about working together in the warm. We took over Ján’s mum’s living room and sat at opposite ends writing whilst she cooked for us. It was made even more exciting when we sold the Slovak version to a publishing house in early January. The Slovak version came out last February as Mrcha Hollywood and has been a big hit.

What made you decide to be a writer?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I think it was a few years ago when I realised I was constantly thinking about writing, how to describe something I’ve seen or develop an idea. I always thought I wanted to be an actor, and I went to drama school and acted for six or seven years, but nothing tops being a writer.

What advice have you got for other wannabe writers?

Keep writing. Never stop wanting to learn more about your craft, read just as much as you write, and don’t talk about it- do it!

You have released two books The Not So Secret Emails of Coco Pinchard and most recently Bitch Hollywood. What's next?

I’ve just started writing the sequel to The Not So Secret Emails Of Coco Pinchard, Ján has just finished its Slovak translation and it will be published in Slovakia in February next year. Also, we’re just finalising the print-on-demand editions of Bitch Hollywood and The Not So Secret Emails.

Finish this sentence. When I am not writing I am....

Reading and daydreaming.

Robert Bryndza is a British born writer. His books include The Not So Secret Emails Of Coco Pinchard and Bitch Hollywood.

He currently lives in Slovakia with his Slovak partner Ján. They have been lucky enough to go on many adventures. Their year spent living and working in Los Angeles was the inspiration for Bitch Hollywood which was also a best seller in Slovakia as Mrcha Hollywood.

When he’s not writing or learning Slovak, Rob enjoys rollerblading, cooking, going to the movies and planning the next adventure.

He also writes a blog; A British Guy In Slovakia at www.teambryndzabooks.com

Thank you so much Robert for the interview. Slovakia sounds so beautiful.

Robert as also offered to do a give away of a Kindle edition of Bitch Hollywood to enter just comment below before the 19th september and leave your email address so we can contact the winner. :)

                                             Bitch Hollywood Blurb
Filip, a young Eastern European guy arrives in Los Angeles to follow his dream and become a Stylist to the stars. At first Hollywood is a shock, moving from a down to earth comfortable life in London into the cut-throat world of Tinseltown.

A stroke of luck first meeting leads to a job with fading movie star Veronica Madison. Soon Filip is pulled into the dark and hilarious world she inhabits, surrounded by the famous (and infamous) residents of the Hollywood Hills.

Filip faces a dilemma, should he leave his morals behind and become one of them; rich, successful, corrupt? Or should he choose happiness and return to the love of his life he left back home in London.

Remember, you always have a choice…

See my Review