Days With The Undead Blog Tour and Giveaway

"It was eerie, suddenly not being able to see around you but knowing what was out there in the darkness, surrounding you. I’ve never been someone that felt the effects of claustrophobia but in that moment, in the dark with all of the undead bodies pressing up against the truck; it took a firm grasp on me. As I fought the panic, the sounds of them moving against the metal became louder.

If you've never heard those sounds, count yourself lucky.

Max put the truck into gear, thinking that it was time for us to put some distance between us and them. As he pressed down on the accelerator, the truck met with a lot of resistance. How many of them were actually there? The sheer desperation of the situation nurtured the twisting knot of panic growing in my stomach."

Days with the Undead: Book One Synopsis:

It’s a journal of survival.

Five people set out to escape the Undead who have risen too close to home. Join the emotional and physical struggle as they began on the third day after the awakening of Brooks VanReit, as they are recorded from the point of view of Julie, a former pathologist and part-time survivalist.

Each entry is geared toward helping those who want to help themselves and maybe give a few that don’t a swift kick in the ass. Join our group of survivors on their journey through these Days with the Undead.

Date Released - February 29th, 2012

ISBN: 1468007998

ISBN-13: 978-1468007992

Available in print and digital formats.

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When I was contacted about doing this blog tour, I knew I had to say yes! Who can resist a fellow writer who also loves zombies? Not me! (Yes, I am currently working on my own zombie novel-updates to come...) 

This novel is a fast paced zombie apocalypse set in Canada. A few days into the onset of the zombies taking over things, we find our group avoiding hordes and trying not to become a zombie's breakfast. Julie is a character I am looking forward to seeing more of. 

In reading the book, I would have liked to see more interaction between the characters in the form of dialog. The format is almost journal like in the description of how events transpired and I wanted very much to "meet" some of the characters appearing in the adventure. All in all, I did enjoy the book. If you are a fan of zombie stories, you should check it out. 

What I liked:

The adventure and the point of view of Julie. The fact that this begins in Canada is different from most American based novels and I enjoyed that.

What I Didn't:

The lack of dialog and interaction with the other characters. 

Overall:

The plot was fast moving and you get the feel you are looking for from a zombie apocalypse novel. Julie is a character I enjoyed getting to know. Her blend of survivalist and scholar is interesting. I did miss the interaction of the characters and verbal sparring. The story is very much in the mode of a diary style novel.

What would a blog tour be without a word from the author...

Zombie Girl Shambling – honestly, who could resist a name like that? I’m so excited to be guesting on Dana Wright’s awesome blog! If I’m ever wondering what books may be worth reading in the Zombie genre, I always check out ZGS to see if Dana has read it and what she has to say. Considering that, I thought I’d tell you all about the -

Zombie Lit That Has Influenced Me

I have been reading Zombie literature for quite some time. It makes sense though; I love anything to do with them. I've been thinking for quite some time about the Zombie literature that has influenced me and I ended up coming up with a relatively short list in comparison to the troves of treasures out in the world.

The first book that really made me realize that Zombies had invaded the pages of literature was Herbert West - Reanimator by HP Lovecraft. It is something I read in high school and it opened my eyes to a whole new realm of horror literature. I had been watching Zombies for quite some time but I hadn't really read that much about them. Nor had I really even looked, to be honest. I had my favorite authors already firmly entrenched and while I read books from other authors, my favorites kept me busy. When I stumbled across it, though, I found that Lovecraft has such a specific style in what he writes. Even with the simplest words, he can strike a chord of fear deep down inside. If you haven’t read it yet, I suggest you get to it!

One of the next books that I read was Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. While not a traditional Zombie story, it has all of the requisite elements. It was a piece of work that helped me to understand that a Zombie story can take on any form that you really want it to. The circumstances are totally up to you and you can take the story in any direction as long as you have those requisite elements of undeath and fear. What makes Frankenstein even more amazing is the lasting effect that is has on readers close to two hundred years later. Just think - Mary was only eighteen when she started writing it. Eighteen!

David Wellington's first book in his Monster trilogy, Monster Island introduced me to the concept of a serial novel. (For those of you that are unfamiliar with what a serial novel is, it’s a way of presenting a larger story in manageable chunks. The format drives interest and can develop quite the following that all wait for the next installment to be delivered to them via different and expanding mediums.) Monster Island is a magnificent story and another great take on the genre as a whole. It was absolutely encouraging to come to the realization that serial novels presented first on the internet can and do get published. If you have yet to read the series, I suggest that you pick it up – there are moments that will chill you to the bone and make you fear some of the aspects of our world.

The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks – who doesn’t love this book? Many tout this tome as a how-to book for survival in a world full of the Undead, but it’s so much more than that. Inside is not only a guide for survival but there is a brilliant story that those tips weave around. If you consider yourself an aficionado and you don’t have this one, may I suggest picking up a copy and making your collection complete? A definite must-read for lovers of the genre!

The last book that I want to talk about is probably going to raise a few eyebrows. Cell by Stephen King is one of those books that you either loved or hated. Most people that I have discussed Zombie Lit with said that Cell was a story that started off so well, but then… Stephen King has a way with words – there is no question about that. It was an interesting take on the Zombie genre and I have to give kudos to King for coming up with an original concept. The reason that so many people are torn on their admiration for the book is the ending. I am firmly entrenched on the side of the fence that enjoyed the book. I even learned a little something – there are just as many consequences as there are benefits to extreme character development in a Zombie or Post-Apocalyptic story. Check it out if you haven’t already, I found it to be one of his better reads.

So there you have it. I have given you top five examples of Zombie Lit that have helped to shape my own writing styles and skills. If you’ve never read a Zombie story, what are you waiting for?

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It was while watching Romero's Night of the Living Dead at the tender age of 6 that solidified Julianne’s respect of the Undead. Since that day, she has been preparing herself for the (inevitable) Zombie Apocalypse. While classically trained in all of the ways to defend herself, she took up writing in order to process the desire she now covets; to bestow a second and final death upon the Undead. As the only girl growing up in a family with four children in the Canadian countryside, Julianne needed some form of escape. Her choice was the imaginations of others which only fostered the vibrancy of her own.

Days with the Undead: Book One is her first full-length book, the basis of which can be found in her popular web serial of the same name. You can find Julianne’s The Living Dead of Penderghast Manor in the anthology Women of the Living Dead and an upcoming story in Sirens Call Publications first anthology Childhood Nightmares: Under The Bed.

Thanks for visiting with us Julianne! Looking forward to the next book in the series! 

About the Author - Julianne Snow

It was while watching Romero's Night of the Living Dead at the tender age of 6 that solidified Julianne’s respect of the Undead. Since that day, she has been preparing herself for the (inevitable) Zombie Apocalypse. While classically trained in all of the ways to defend herself, she took up writing in order to process the desire she now covets; to bestow a second and final death upon the Undead. As the only girl growing up in a family with four children in the Canadian countryside, Julianne needed some form of escape. Her choice was the imaginations of others which only fostered the vibrancy of her own.

Days with the Undead: Book One is her first full-length book, the basis of which can be found in her popular web serial of the same name. You can find Julianne’s The Living Dead of Penderghast Manor in the anthology Women of the Living Dead and an upcoming story in Sirens Call Publications first anthology Childhood Nightmares: Under The Bed.

And now for the giveaway!

The Inquisitor by Mark Allen Smith: The Giveaway

A spectacularly original thriller about a professional torturer who has a strict code, a mysterious past, and a dangerous conviction that he can save the life of an innocent childGeiger has a gift: he knows a lie the instant he hears it. And in his business—called "information retrieval" by its practitioners—that gift is invaluable, because truth is the hottest thing on the market.Geiger's clients count on him to extract the truth from even the most reluctant subjects. Unlike most of his competitors, Geiger rarely sheds blood, but he does use a variety of techniques—some physical, many psychological—to push his subjects to a point where pain takes a backseat to fear. Because only then will they finally stop lying.One of Geiger's rules is that he never works with children. So when his partner, former journalist Harry Boddicker, unwittingly brings in a client who demands that Geiger interrogate a twelve-year-old boy, Geiger responds instinctively. He rescues the boy from his captor, removes him to the safety of his New York City loft, and promises to protect him from further harm. But if Geiger and Harry cannot quickly discover why the client is so desperate to learn the boy's secret, they themselves will become the victims of an utterly ruthless adversary. Mesmerizing and heart-in-your-throat compelling, The Inquisitor is a completely unique thriller that introduces both an unforgettable protagonist and a major new talent in Mark Allen Smith.

Goodreads

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This is a thriller in the extreme. Although there are no zombies to haunt its pages (darn) it is still a quite impressive story that will have you turning the pages. I am reading it now and am finding it very engaging. 

Geiger is The Inquisitor

A Master Interrogator

An Expert in Psychological Pain

He Always Gets the Answer

Geiger: Nothing stands between him and the truth

The Inquisitor

Mark Allen Smith

Mesmerizing and heart-in-your-throat compelling, The Inquisitor by Mark Allen Smith is a completely unique thriller that introduces an unforgettable protagonist and blurs the line between good and evil.

Geiger has a gift—he knows a lie the instant he hears it. And if he wants the truth from you, he will get it. Geiger works in the unsavory business of “information retrieval.” To put it bluntly, he tortures people for a living. But when a twelve-year-old boy is brought in for interrogation, Geiger instinctively rescues him and finds himself the target of a deadly manhunt and a ruthless adversary.

Praise for The Inquisitor

"This is one of the best and most engrossing debut novels I've read in years, and also one of the most original. Mark Allen Smith has created an unusual hero named Geiger whose occupation is torturing the truth out of people. Geiger is good at what he does, and so is Mr. Smith. The Inquisitor will keep you locked in a room for days."—Nelson DeMille

"Information retrieval takes on a sinister cast in Smith’s mesmerizing thriller debut… [Geiger is] a fascinating piece of work… This may be the most unusual and talked about thriller of the season."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"[Geiger is] one of the most utterly distinctive protagonists in a recent thriller, and one of the most unexpectedly sympathetic… Smith invests his first novel with psychological dimensions you might expect in a third or fourth book… A breezy, involving thriller that handily overcomes any resistance to its grisly premise and leaves you hoping for the return of its oddly winning hero."—Kirkus (starred review)

"An adrenaline-fueled cat-and-mouse game… [Geiger] is a fascinating protagonist with a revealing backstory. A compelling debut thriller that blurs the lines between the good and bad guys."—Library Journal (starred review)

Want to win a copy of your own? Enter the contest below...

Tooth and Nail: A Review and Interview with Author Jennifer Safrey

Gemma Fae Cross, a tough-girl amateur boxer whose fiance is running for congress, has just made a startling discovery about herself. She is half faerie - and not just any faerie, but a tooth faerie A hybrid of fae and human, Gemma is destined to defend the Olde Way and protect the fae - who are incapable of committing violence - from threats to their peaceful and idyllic way of life, which must be maintained by distilling innocence collected from children''s baby teeth. But when a threat to the fae mission emerges, Gemma is called upon to protect her heritage, and become a legendary fae warrior... even if it means sacrificing everything she knows about being human. 

Goodreads

There are some books that grab you the second you see the cover. Yes, I know. It is shallow, but cover art matters. So does the story hidden under it. Happily, the wonderful publisher sent me a copy of this amazing book to review. Tooth fairies, boxing, kick butt fae politics and the hidden terrors masked behind the shining facade of your neighborhood dentist. (shudder) This book was one rocking great time and I was even more thrilled when author Jennifer Safrey took some time out of her busy life to answer a few questions.

What I liked:

The use of tooth fairies as fae is unique. Except for that memorable movie with the Roc, I don't remember another tooth fairy book or film. Gemma is a tough character with depth that you can't help but start to care about. Every piece of dialog and action is well written and the plot is original with exceptional orchestration. This book is a sleeper that I want to tell everyone about. 

What I Didn't:

Why, oh why couldn't it have been another five or six hundred pages? (*sob*) I hope it becomes more than just one book. 

Overall:

The plot, characters and voice are amazing and I can't wait to read more from Ms. Safrey. Gemma is a character that will stick in my mind for a long time. I can honestly say that I will be looking a little more closely at the samples I get from the dentist. Excellent book. Make sure you post it on your Goodreads page as a book to read this year. 

5/5

Now for the interview!

1. When did you find yourself interested in the fae?

 I am a longtime fan of paranormal romance and urban fantasy (even back when romance writers were told it's a small niche market!), and after a long period of time travel and vampires and shapeshifters, I began to see fae pop up here and there. I like fae as a catch-all term for the supernatural, and I suppose that's how I use it in my book.

2. What are some of your favorite faerie movies and books?

I loved, my whole life, the fairy tales that were as likely to turn out gruesome as happy, like Grimm stories. The crazier the story, the more real it seemed to me. I mean, the princess was so pissed at the frog for taking advantage of her that she picked him up and threw him against the wall as hard as she could, and that was when he became a prince. The best part is that the frog had been holding the princess accountable for broken promises, and she was beyond angry that he was right. Impetuous Gemma would totally do that, even though it was not the right thing to do, but she is a human caught in a fairy tale. That's great stuff.

3. Did you write with music playing while you were working, or did any particular music inspire you?

 I really can't write to music. Lyrics are something I memorize and listen to so if I hear words being sung I can't concentrate on creating my new words. Sometimes I listen to wordless yoga music, which is nice, but I listen to that so much at my studio now that it doesn't really translate well anymore in the writing part of my life.

4. Gemma is a fierce heroine and a character I have come to care about in only a few pages. How did she come about?

 When I created Gemma I really wanted to set her apart from other urban fantasy heroines. The problem is, I love urban fantasy heroines, so differentiating her but still keeping the kind of moxie I love was not easy. I wanted her to be more real, somehow. I wanted the reader to come away with feeling that she is always human first, fae second. And humans make a lot of mistakes. In some scenes, her timing really sucks. She is quick to emotionally react to things. But deep down, she is intrinsically good. She doesn't want to kill anyone, even the bad guy...and that was crucially important to me in building her character. In a lot of urban fantasy there is a lot of killing, and often killing with zero remorse because in those worlds, that is the expectation. But if Gemma is a human first, she's no more likely to kill someone as any normal human. Warrior or not, she thinks murder is not what you do. I worked very hard to make that come across as heroic and not righteous.

5. Tooth fairies are an original topic when you think of faerie tales and even current fiction or movies (except for that really interesting movie with The Roc in a tutu).  What made you decide to take faeries down this road? 

 I did a writing exercise some years ago with a freewriting group and the prompt was to write something from the point of view of the tooth fairy. I think I was the only one really interested in what came out of that. I thought about it for a long time. I saw that paranormal stories were beginning to feature fae and I wondered what angle of fae wasn't being covered, and wondered what I could really bring to the table in terms of unusual and unexpected. I ended up with an amateur boxer fae warrior. Go figure. :)

6. Outlining is something I am learning a greater appreciation for. Do you outline or write by the seat of your pants?

 If I don't have a contract I have a tendency to just meander around with writing, but if I am under contract I can't mess around. I have tried having extensive outlines and I think I don't do it because once the outlines are done, I am drained of energy to creatively fill in the blanks. At this point, I outline three chapters ahead. I know the beginning, the end, the general middle, and the general direction the story is going in, and so I'm always plotting the chapter I'm writing, and two chapters ahead. It's like a flashlight in the woods. My flashlight won't go to the edge of the woods and the way out, but if I illuminate enough of the space in front of me, I'll find my way.

7. What is your best advice to prospective writers out there? (Every scene is down pat and your dialog and movements are solid.  Wonderful!)

 I guess my best advice is to get physical with the writing. I read every single scene, every single dialogue exchange out loud, many times, until it sounded like I wasn't reading, but just saying casually. Only then did I know it wasn't stilted. For the final showdown fight, I took stuffed animals and made each one a character and moved them around my office to make sure their actions made sense. I pantomimed every kick, every punch, to feel if it was genuine and gauge what the character's effectiveness could be. Of course, if you'd opened the door to my office and saw me pretending to 360-degree roundhouse kick my teddy bear, you'd think I was nuts, but it worked for me. I'm not a spatial thinker so I need to see everything in front of me. I loved this part of the writing...getting phsyical with it. If you do it, and you feel it, your readers will feel it too.

8. Your descriptions of being in the ring at the gym are very visceral and real. It is not your typical meat market gym either, but the not so posh side that makes it interesting. Have you ever participated in sports in that setting? Did you find your experience was like Gemma's?

 I did some boxing for a few months. It was at a trendy gym but they did have an actual boxing ring and I loved it. My instructor was a black belt in taekwondo and encouraged me to give that a try because I must have done something to make him think that could be my thing. I moved to taekwondo, trained for years, and earned my black belt.I competed a little bit, but then I opened my yoga studio, and the new business left no time for martial arts training. Recently, though, I began to study muay thai. It's nice to be training again. I tried a little jiu-jitsu and I might pursue that as well. Gemma has had a much more hardcore, inner-city experience than I ever did, but I liked the idea that not only is she accepted at a tough boxing gym, but she is considered a real leader there because of her tenure. Competitive fighting is really opening up for women, expecially in mixed martial arts. Also, for the first time in the Olympics this year, there will be a women's division in boxing. I think even women who don't fight for sport are inspired by and respect other women who do use their bodies and their brains to fight competitively. And I know from experience that men will respect a female fighter. I certainly am not the best muay thai fighter in my class of all men but I am always treated equally. I like that Gemma is showing female readers this side of sport, this surprisingly fair dynamic between genders in a gym setting.

Many thanks to Jennifer Safrey for this 

great interview! Thanks also to Night Shade Books for

providing a review copy of Tooth and Nail.

We will be looking forward to your new writing

projects and hoping for another glimpse of Gemma

and the morning fae!

Pure: An Upcoming Movie and A Book You Have To Read

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . . 

Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run. 

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . . \

There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her. 

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

Goodreads

This book had me sneaking off into corners every second I got. Optioned for a movie and a three book deal, it has every element of a page turner. If you loved The Hunger Games you have to read this book.

5/5

The Weeping Blog Tour

What do you get when you have a ghost story, a hunky guy laden with guilt issues and a murdering psycho on the loose? A story that will keep you reading long into the night. This book kept my attention from the first page and didn't let go.


What I  Liked:


This story had characters that had flaws and were easy to identify with. The dialogue had spice and felt real world without being trashy. Yes, there is some language, but it is handled wonderfully and I didn't mind it being there in the least. The author did a masterful job of balancing the plot twists, character emotional development and story arc, all the while keeping my interest and at the end, practically screaming for more. 


What I Didn't:


It ended. Dang. Could have done a few hundred more pages of Heath and his ghostly adventures. (hopeful crossing of fingers for more!)


Overall:


This book is for teen audiences as there is language and mild sexuality involved. The plot is a mover and a shaker and you definitely see some character development as Heath deals with the aftermath of causing the death of his three friends and the horrendous feelings of guilt he is dealing with. Add to that a mystery laden ghost story and you have the elements of a well written story that will keep you on your toes and begging for more from this author.


5/5


And now for the interview!

1.How did you decide to make this book about ghosts and the theater?

Ghost stories and theatre are two of the things I love most, so it was inevitable that someday I would combine the two. I’ve had a few “weird” experiences at the theatre where I currently work, which was really what inspired me to finally sit down and write, “The Weeping”.

2. Were you ever in theater? What part did you play?

Oh yeah, I’ve done a lot of theatre - both acting and directing. I think the first play I was in was in second grade. A few of the shows that I have been in include: Wait Until Dark (I was a cop), Seascapes with Sharks and Dancer (Ben), She Loves Me, Cabaret (chorus/male swing in both), The Dying Gaul (Robert) to name a few. I’ve directed countless others including: The Laramie Project, Extremities, Crimes of the Heart, Closer, Noises Off!, Five Women Wearing the Same Dress, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead, bare, RENT and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

3. I loved the basis for the story. Tell us a little about Heath, the main character.

Thank you! I had a lot of fun writing it.

Heath is fairly complex. In high school he was always the popular jock. Everyone loved him, respected him and all the girls wanted him. He’s a little cocky and, in his mind, untouchable. After the accident, he completely changes. He feels responsible for killing his friends and he can’t deal with the pressure. He is an only child, so his parents smother him, pushing him to get better rather than just letting him grieve. Everywhere he goes he feels like people blame him for the accident. It gets so bad, he tries to commit suicide. His parents send him to the fictional town of Rock Harbor, Oregon to work with his uncle. Heath is actually looking forward to getting away from Seattle (and his parents) for a while, and hopes to start over. He is completely out of his element at the theatre. He’d never been interested in theatre before, and this is a whole new world for him. When he meets Molly, things start to look up for him, even though he doesn’t feel like he deserves her. She’s so happy and carefree and he is still very broken. Then of course, Catherine comes along, and that’s when things get really interesting.

4. Have you ever experienced a haunting?

I’ve definitely experienced some really weird things. The logical part of me looks for reasonable explanations, but I can’t always find one. I wrote a post about some of the weird things that happened to me at the theatre which inspired, “The Weeping”. You can view it over at http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com or over at Jordan Dane’s Dark YA blog, http://ADR3NALIN3.blogspot.com

5. What are your favorite ghost stories? (Movies and books)

I think one of the first books I remember reading that truly creeped me out was “The House with a Clock in its Walls” by John Bellairs. I was very young when I first read it, and it scared me to death. I also really enjoyed “The Woman in Black” and “The Turn of the Screw”.

As far as movies, “The Others” with Nicole Kidman is one of my all time favorites. It’s very creepy and atmospheric and the twist at the end blew me away. I also really like the “Paranormal Activity” movies.

6. When you write, do you outline or plotline your stories before you begin your project or are you more by the seat of your pants?

I didn’t have much of a plot when I sat down to write “The Weeping”, just a few plot points and character arcs that I had jotted down. This was both good and bad. Good because I had total freedom to write anything, and bad because my story kept taking very sharp turns that kept sending the story in a new direction. This is awesome in a way, but it took me a very long time to go back and connect all the dots and plant the threads to make the story cohesive. A lot of stuff got cut, some good and some very very bad.

7. As you develop the story, what part is the most challenging for you to work through? Beginning, middle or end?

Definitely the middle. Hands down. The beginning is always the easiest. I can usually knock out about ten chapters fairly quickly, and I almost always have a good idea how the story will end, but the middle always kills me. This is where the meat of the story lives and I always struggle here - mainly because I want to make sure everything is just right before moving on because every little thing I place in the middle needs to be explained/resolved by the end.

8. What music do you listen to as you write? 

I tend to not listen to music while I’m writing the first draft as I am easily distracted. I will, however, put some music on for inspiration just before I start writing. I will also stop and turn on music if I get stuck and need inspiration for a particular scene or character. Here’s a playlist of music that helped inspire me while writing, “The Weeping”:

Nine Crimes by Damien Rice (Inspiration for Heath)

Down by Jason Walker (Inspiration for Catherine)

Dancing by Elissa (Inspiration for Molly)

Somewhere a Clock is Ticking by Snow Patrol

Beautiful People by Rusted Root

Hysteria by Muse

It’s All Over But the Crying by Garbage

When it Rains by Paramore

Cut by Plumb

Forever by Fireflight

Don’t Stay by Linkin Park

Terrible Lie by Nine Inch Nails

Fix You by Coldplay

After the Storm by Mumford & Sons

Belong by Cary Brothers

Haunted by Poe

I’m Only Happy When it Rains by Garbage

While My Guitar Gently Weeps by Spineshank

Time is Running Out by Muse

Famous Last Words by My Chemical Romance

Cry Little Sister by Seasons After

9. What other books have you written? Anything in the works right now?

I self-published a book titled “All About Daisy” a year ago. I’ve since pulled it because it just wasn’t ready to be seen by the world. It still needed work. It was a contemporary book with themes of bullying and forgiveness. I loved the characters and I really hope to revisit them someday.

Right now I am in revision hell for another paranormal thriller/horror/suspense that I am REALLY excited about.

10. Will you be continuing this book into a series?

At this time I have no plans to continue with this story. I don’t want to turn Heath into a ghost hunter. I know the ending kind of leaves you hanging, but then again, a lot of ghost stories do. My favorite ghost stories were always the ones where I would ask “Then what happened?” and the response was “Nobody knows…”

11. What is your weirdest habit when you write?

I don’t allow myself to have weird habits. I’m totally awesome and perfect - and obviously a very good liar if you believe that. :)

I’m not sure if this is weird, or just kind of annoying, but my house has to be absolutely spotless before I can sit down to write. I am almost positive I have ADD, and if I’m writing and get to a spot where the words aren’t really coming to me I get fidgety and then I’ll find a sock that needs washed, or a piece of paper that needs to be tossed and then before you know it I’m up cleaning instead of writing.

I also have to turn off the internet so I’m not tempted to play on Twitter or Facebook or Pinterest (which, I am convinced, is some sort of evil, internet crack.)

Thanks for having me, Dana!

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Wow! What a great interview! (I too have to clean my house before I can relax enough that the hair balls aren't mocking me as I try to make cohesive sentences. )