**GIVEAWAY** + Interview with double RITA nominee Kristen Callahan about Winterblaze

Interview with double RITA nominee-Best First Book Firelight and best Paranormal Moonglow -   Kristen Callihan. When asked to describe Winterblaze she says––"Winterblaze is both a marriage in trouble romance and a high-stakes adventure story. I liken it to Mr. and Mrs. Smith with zombies. Lol...." See what else she has to say below

Those who aren’t familiar with the RITA Awards they’re sponsored by Romance Writer’s of America and named after their first president Rita Clay Estrada. Here’s their website’s description of the awards-“ to promote excellence in the romance genre by recognizing outstanding published romance novels and novellas.”

CONTEST DETAILS BELOW

• ISBN-13: 9781455520794
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Publication date: 2/26/2013
• Series: Darkest London Series , #3

Overview:
Once blissfully in love . . .
Poppy Lane is keeping secrets. Her powerful gift has earned her membership in the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals, but she must keep both her ability and her alliance with the Society from her husband, Winston. Yet when Winston is brutally attacked by a werewolf, Poppy's secrets are revealed, leaving Winston's trust in her as broken as his body.

Here’s what’s being said about Kristen’s novels;
"Compulsively readable...a compelling Victorian paranormal with heart and soul."
--- Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Firelight
RT Book Reviews
"Top Pick! 4 1/2 Stars! Like all good things, Callihan just keeps getting better and better. The third installment in the Darkest London series is not only a gripping novel, but also one that elevates the genre with its depth of emotion, passion and mesmerizing storytelling. Callihan doesn't just create worlds, she moves readers into them with unforgettable characters and stunning revelations. Once begun, it's impossible to put down WINTERBLAZE."
Diana Gabaldon
"Callihan has a great talent for sexual tension and jaw-dropping plots that weave together brilliantly in the end."
Hannah Howell
"A dark, delicious tale of secrets, murder, and love, beautifully shrouded in the shadows of Victorian London."
Nalini Singh
"Evocative and deeply romantic, Firelight was fascinating from the very first page."
Larissa Ione
"A sizzling paranormal with dark history and explosive magic! Callihan is an impressive new talent."

Library Journal
VERDICT Dark, dangerous, and totally enthralling, this latest addition to Callihan's "Darkest London" series treats fans to a heart-tugging, satisfying romance, fills in a few series blanks with well-handled flashbacks, and nicely sets the stage for the stories that are sure to come.”
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Kristen, welcome to my blog
Thank you for having me, Debbie. :)


First tell us about your newest release Winterblaze.
Winterblaze is both a marriage in trouble romance and a high-stakes adventure story. I liken it to Mr. and Mrs. Smith with zombies. Lol.

Poppy Lane is the secret head of the SOS, an organization dedicated to keeping the human world safe -and ignorant- of supernatural beings. When her husband, CID Inspector Winston Lane survives a werewolf attack, he finds out about her double life and leaves her for lying to him. Poppy is just as angry over his abrupt departure without giving her an opportunity to explain.

Unfortunately, one of Poppy’s old enemies decides to threaten Win, and Poppy must keep him safe. Win has definite opinions on who is keeping whom safe, and they must learn to work together to survive, and perhaps, somewhere along the way, fall in love again.


On your website it says that you are both a romance reader and writer and you credit your Irish heritage perhaps for your love of the magical, mystical and in your words “a peek of what might lie beyond the curtain of our reality”.
What does that mean in terms of how you write?
I don’t know if it affects how I write, but definitely what I write. I love romance, and so I write romance. I’m attracted to dark tales, involving the supernatural, and so I write those too.


Your novels are all in the Darkest London Series.
How are the novels connected?
They are connected by the idea that all is not what it seems, that there is this secret world of demons, lycans, and other beasties hiding in London, and that for all of these beasties strengths, they need love, friendship, and understanding just as much as we do. 


Should new fans start with the first?
Well, they don’t have to, but there is definitely a character progression throughout the books. So the emotional impact will be greater if the reader starts from the beginning. 


You are described as “a child of the eighties,” and now all I can picture is K.T. Oslin’s 80’s Ladies.
Tell us how this reflects on your life and your writing, and then get that song out of my head please :)
Lol. I suggest listening to another earworm-worthy song. J You know, another author told me I really ought to say that I WAS a child in the 80’s, as opposed to a child of. Minor distinctions aside, I think that the era and culture we grow up in affects us in countless ways. It shapes our thinking, our humor, our style, etc.

And if I wrote contemporary romance, you’d probably see these influences a lot more. As I write historicals, the only real way that this comes out is in the comic book aspect of the stories. Superhero cartoons, Dungeons and Dragons, and thriving comic book stores were all part of 80s culture.


Your novels are constantly at the top of the charts with RT (who I review for too) and now you’ve been a double RITA award nominee.
Do the accolades validate your writing to you?
Accolades are definitely validating. Who doesn’t want to hear that they’ve done a good job? But it’s also a bit surreal. A small part of me always feels like that those accolades are a dream, or a mistake. And there is definitely more pressure to top, or at least match, the last book. Of course, that pressure would probably be there regardless; I want every book I write to entertain and to be a satisfactory experience in and of itself. 

What do you attribute to the huge success of paranormal romance?
I think it is the mystery of the unknown. But what makes it attractive to me is the idea that superhuman physical strength and the promise of immortality do not solve all problems. In fact, they just might lead to further isolation and loneliness. 


What type of reader would enjoy your novels?
My books are a mixed bag; there is a little of everything. If you enjoy historicals, paranormals, romantic suspense, even urban fantasy, you might want to take a peek. :)

But no matter what, I work hard to give readers a good, emotional love story.


What’s next for you?
I am finishing up Shadowdance, book 4 in the Darkest London series, featuring SOS agents Jack Talent and Mary Chase. These two have been at each other’s throats for two books now so it was fun to finally get them together. And I’m also working on Entwined, a Darkest London novella, featuring a shy, ginger-haired blacksmith who is desperately in love with his brother’s intended. 


Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. Good luck to you in the future.
Aw, thanks! And thank you for having me! 

Kristen chats about her Darkest London Series with RT Book Reviews

 Connect with Kristen - Website - Facebook - Twitter - Pintrest

TO CELEBRATE HER RITA NOMINATIONS KRISTEN HAS OFFERED
BOTH HER NOMINATED NOVELS
FIRELIGHT & MOONGLOW
FOR THE GIVEAWAY
US ONLY
PLEASE USE THE RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW
THANKS KRISTEN
GOOD LUCK!

        

        

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Interview with author John Rector about his new release Out Of The Black

Today I welcome to The Reading Frenzy award winning author John Rector who is chatting today about his new novel available today, Out Of The Black. When I asked him to share his personal journey to authordom he said–"...I bought the audio book of Stephen King’s memoir, On Writing, for the drive. I listened to the entire thing, and that night I went down to the lobby of the hotel with a notebook and started writing. I think I was 30 at the time, and I’ve never looked back." Read the rest of his answer to this and much more below!

• ISBN-13: 9781477805046
• Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Overview:

To keep the light of his life, he’ll have to do some dark things.
After Matt Caine loses his wife in a car accident, all he has left is his daughter, Anna. But just as the little girl—who survived the accident—finally starts thriving, Matt’s former in-laws threaten to take her away via a bitter custody battle. Desperate to keep Anna and in debt to some dangerous local thugs, Matt has no good options. But he does have Jay, one very bad friend.

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Hi John, Welcome to The Reading Frenzy.

Happy to be here.

Tell us a little about your new novel Out Of The Black.

Out if the Black is the story of Matt Caine, an ex-marine who lost his wife in a car accident and is now raising his daughter alone. He’s broke, out of work, and at the end of his rope. So when he’s approached by an old friend asking him to help kidnap the wife of a prominent businessman, he doesn’t see any way he can say no, and eventually he agrees. Of course, nothing is as it seems, and things quickly spiral out of control.

The premise is a mixture of interesting plot angles.
Where did the idea come from?

I have no idea what sparked the original idea. All I remember is that I was sitting on my couch one minute, and the next minute I had half the book in my head. I was writing Already Gone at the time, so I pulled out a notebook and wrote the outline for the first fifteen chapters. Then I forgot about it for about a year until I was ready to start work on a new book.

When you start a new novel do you already know how it ends?

Not usually. I knew how The Cold Kiss was going to end, and I know how the new book I’m working on now is going to end, but the rest have been a surprise.

Who is the first person besides you to read your manuscript?

My Wife is my first reader.

Your novel The Cold Kiss has been optioned for a feature film. Congratulations!
Do you know how closely the film follows the book plot?
Will you have any role in the production?

Thank you. I’ve seen the script and think it’s wonderful, but how the film is going to turn out is still an unknown. I have faith in the people who have the option, but things don’t always work out the way you hope they will. I’m optimistic, though.

As far as me having a role in the production, I hope not. I’m curious, of course, but I’m not a filmmaker, nor do I want to be. I’d love to see the book made into a movie because I love movies, and it would be a blast to see my characters on the screen, but I don’t have a strong sense of ownership when it comes to film. The books are all mine, and I’m satisfied with that.

In a previous interview you mentioned that you didn’t write full time.
Has that changed?

I’ve been writing full time now for over a year. It was a big change, and it took some getting used to, but I’m a bit more settled now.

You’re not only a novelist but also an award winning short story writer.
Was there a particular catalyst to your becoming an author?

Boredom, basically. I moved from Denver to Omaha in my late 20’s, and it was somewhat of a shock. I’d been a musician since I was a kid, but I’d burnt out on that scene and wanted to try something new. I’d always been an avid reader, but I never tried writing myself. That was always something other people did. Then my girlfriend at the time (later, my wife) and I took a trip back to Colorado, and I bought the audio book of Stephen King’s memoir, On Writing, for the drive. I listened to the entire thing, and that night I went down to the lobby of the hotel with a notebook and started writing. I think I was 30 at the time, and I’ve never looked back.

What do you enjoy reading?

Right now I’m reading a lot of non-fiction and old SF novels, but I’ll read anything that keeps my interest.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Ira Levin, James M Cain, Charles Willeford, Stephen King, Charles Bukowski, Larry Brown, Walter Tevis, Charles Beaumont, and Richard Matheson.

John will you be hosting any signing events for the new novel?

I’ll be signing at Bouchercon in Albany this year, and at the Iowa City Book Festival. I’d like to add some later dates this winter in warmer cities, but those are still up in the air.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Good luck with Out Of The Black.

My pleasure. Thank you for having me.

 Connect with John Twitter - Goodreads

Thank You Mary Sharratt

Mary thank you for your participation as we read and discussed your novel Illuminations
it was a tremendous help to our understanding more about the life and times of not only Hildegard but all women of that time in history.
I know I speak for myself and all my readers when I say that you made the read that much more enjoyable for us all.
I hope that you were "Illuminated" by us as much as we were by you
Please stay in touch

Interview with Debra Borys-Bend Me Shape Me-about the real life tragedy that is homeless teens

Today on The Reading Frenzy I'm bringing to you an interview with Debra Borys who is talking to me today about her heartbreaking novel based on a homegrown tragedy we all face here in the US; homeless teens. Here's part of her answer when I asked her if there was light at the end of the tunnel.–"There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if some of them don’t get there in time. It’s like Jack, the Night Moves therapist in Painted Black, says, “All you can do is try to save them all, and hope none of the good ones slip away..."

• ISBN-13: 9781614690412
• Publisher: New Libri Press
• Publication date: 7/30/2013
• Pages: 222

Overview
Snow Ramirez hasn’t trusted anyone in a very long time, not even herself. Memories of her childhood on Washington’s Yakama Reservation haunt her even on the streets of Chicago. When her squat mate Blitz slits his own throat in front of her, she knows it’s time to convince someone to trust her instincts.

Please welcome to The Reading Frenzy Debra Borys whose Street Stories series reflects the real problem of homeless street teens.

Debra, welcome, tell us a little about this novel Bend Me, Shape Me and your Street Stories series.
Thanks, Debbie, for giving me this chance to talk about the series. I love being able to share details like this. Because the character of Snow has been diagnosed bi-polar, it is difficult for the adults around her to take her concerns seriously. They think she is overreacting or perhaps even delusional. The reader, also, needs to sort through the angst and rage running through her mind to try to differentiate the truth. Is the psychiatrist that’s treating Snow’s brother responsible for Blitz’s suicide? Does that really mean, then, that her brother might be his next victim? Getting inside Snow’s head allows the reader to get to know her and care about what happens. Whatever the truth is, they want her to find a solution and be safe.

The main suspense plots in both books have been sparked by odd, sometimes obscure news stories that I read about and then do the traditional “what if?” thinking most writers engage in. For Bend Me, Shape Me, the news item was about a family suing their son’s psychiatrist for terrorizing the autistic boy in the name of therapy. The What If was “What if the kid didn’t have loving parents to notice or care?” This is what happens too many times to kids who have been kicked out or have to leave home to escape abuse or injustice. In the series, the protagonist is a reporter who not only notices and cares, but is willing to do something about it, even if it risks her own safety.

Debra, tell us how you personally got involved with homeless teens?
I had the idea for the main character, Jo Sullivan, before I actually had the concept for the series. It wasn’t until I moved to Chicago and started volunteering with the homeless there that I knew I wanted to use the series to give a voice to the people I met there. The first program I volunteered at in Chicago was Emmaus Ministries, which reaches out to young men on the street involved in prostitution. I walked the streets late at night with a staff person just meeting and talking with guys standing on street corners looking to make a little money for food and shelter.

When I began volunteering with Chicago’s Night Ministry, I was able to develop more long term acquaintances with some kids. One of the programs I was involved in weekly was visiting their youth shelter where kids can stay and get help completing school or getting a job and move on to transitional housing. Because I saw some of the same kids multiple times, I got to know them as individuals. By leading a writing workshop and working with a couple young men to study for their GED, I was able to learn bits and pieces of their stories. From that, I realized that if only everyone took time to listen, to get to know the homeless as people instead of lumping them under the “homeless” label, that alone could make a difference in the lives of these kids.

What portion of this countries homeless are teens?
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness about 50,000 youth sleep on the streets in the U.S. for six months or more. Quoting from their website: “The most commonly quoted number of homeless youth under the age of 18, just under 1.7 million, comes from the National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Thrownaway Children, more commonly known as the NISMART.”

The site also shows the table below, gathered from The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Category	Estimated Number of Young Adults	Percent
Transitional	122,000	81 percent
Episodic	13,000	9 percent
Chronic	15,000	10 percent
Total	150,000	100 percent

But I feel that statistics and numbers aren’t the real story. When you start looking, you will find estimates vary and are confusing. The only number that counts is how many kids you pass by as you’re walking to work from the train station. How many kids are turned away from the shelter in your neighborhood because the beds are filled?

Are your stories based on real teens or real situations?
The street kids in my stories are composites of people I met and are influenced by the personalities of some I got to know on a personal basis. I’ve witnessed Snow’s bi-polar behavior exhibited in several kids and her “mother bear protecting her cubs” devotion reflects two kids I knew personally. The sweet yet off-kilter personality of her brother reminds me of someone I still keep in touch with to this day.

The suspense plots, as I mentioned, are inspired by real life news stories, but the backgrounds and family dynamics of my characters are entirely made up. There are secondary scenes, however, that are fictionalized versions of things I saw or experienced. In Painted Black for instance, the first book in the series, Jo walks around the Lakeview neighborhood looking for Chris. I walked that same neighborhood with the Emmaus Ministries and visited it many times volunteering with the Night Ministry. We even sat on a bench one night to talk with a young man wearing headphones and bopping to an old Metallica song. I simply changed the conversation to be relevant to the storyline.

Debra, you’ve volunteered working with what you term “throwaway youth”.
What is one thing any of us can do to help even one teen off the streets?
The one thing everyone can and should do is very simple. Notice them. Smile as you pass, maybe even say hi. If they ask you for money and you don’t want to give them any, just smile politely and say, “Sorry, I can’t today.” Nine times out of ten, if you treat them with respect, they will return the favor. Being treated as invisible and contemptuous only erodes a person’s self-esteem which leads to antisocial anger and/or depression. 

Once you start doing this, you might find yourself taking the next step, which is to engage with them. Offer to buy them a bag of chips or something from the local drug store. Stop and talk a minute. Learn their name. Find out more about them if they are willing to share. Seeing them as people not that much different from ourselves is the first step toward social changes that could make great strides in eliminating homelessness.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel for any of these youth?

There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Even if some of them don’t get there in time. It’s like Jack, the Night Moves therapist in Painted Black, says, “All you can do is try to save them all, and hope none of the good ones slip away.” Youth workers and volunteers around the country are making huge differences in the lives of individual kids through the many programs, opportunities and shelters out there. There is much more hope for the youth than there is for some of the adults who are chronically homeless. The kids still have time and enthusiasm and energy to help them fight through to the brighter side.

What’s the biggest false belief we have of homeless teens?

That they are the juvenile delinquent versions of the smart-mouthed egotistical teens we know with homes but no respect for others. I would trust most of the street kids I got to know and received more respect from them then I do from some privileged kids with bright futures and parents willing to bail them out of every jam. Street kids come in all sizes, ethnicities, abilities and personalities but I’ve found them to be more appreciative of what little they have than those who have pretty much anything they want.

Debra, who is your main reading audience, adults or younger?

The language in the books is very true to real life street talk, which often means vulgarities. In addition, some of the scenes are dark, violent or sexual in nature. For those reasons, I see the series primarily as adult books, though I would have loved reading them as a teenager myself.

Debra will you be attending any signings/author events in the near future?
I’ve been waiting for the print book release of Bend Me, Shape Me, before scheduling signings and events. That will be live online next week (week of August 4-10) so I can start firming up dates with my contacts. One event I’ve been planning is a joint book signing and fund raiser for The Night Ministry in Chicago. My publisher is donating all profits from any books sold during the event to TNM. I just need to find out what timing works for them.

I also intended to contact my local libraries to do readings and hope the visibility generated by the fundraiser above will increase the chances some Chicago bookstores will be open to my inquiries about doing book signings. Keed watch on my blog www.debra-r-borys.com for news about dates and events.

Thank you so much for taking the time to enlighten us about your novel and this tragic societal problem.
Good luck with the novel and with your crusade.



For a great review of the novel click the link to read Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer’s review.

 

Debra reads from Painted Black

Author interview-Carol O'Connell-It Happens In The Dark

Today on The Reading Frenzy I'm welcoming New York Times Bestselling author Carol O'Connell who's just released the 11th novel in her Kathy Mallory crime drama series and who is chatting with me today about her new release, her series and her protagonist. When I asked her what irks her about Kathy Mallory she says ––"The certain knowledge that, if I could run into her in real life, I would not make the cut. She would not find some one like me worth her time." Read below to see how she finished this thought and what else she has to say.

• ISBN-13: 9780399165399
• Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
• Publication date: 8/20/2013
• Pages: 368

Overview:
The astonishing new Mallory novel from the New York Times–bestselling author and one of the most acclaimed crime writers in America.
The reviews called it “A Play to Die For” after the woman was found dead in the front row. It didn’t seem so funny the next night, when another body was found—this time the playwright’s, his throat slashed.

Reviews

Publishers Weekly
Mallory makes startling deductions; manipulates witnesses, suspects, and colleagues unsparingly; humiliates a brash official who tries to grab her case; and draws the smalltown sheriff who investigated the actual slayings to Manhattan. Her bravura performance wreaks justice both inside and outside the legal system

Library Journal
VERDICT This may not be the easiest entry point for readers new to Mallory's dark world, but fans won't want to miss another solid mystery from O'Connell.—Devon Thomas, Chelsea, MI

Kirkus Reviews
Mallory fans won't be disappointed in her latest adventure, even though sections of the book could have been tighter.

Carol welcome to The Reading Frenzy
Thank you so much. I appreciate your interest in my work.



Tell us a little about the latest Mallory novel It Happens In The Dark
A woman dies during the first performance of a Broadway play, and so it goes three nights in a row, one death after another, before it’s discovered that the play is loosely based on an old massacre in Nebraska (which gets more interesting when you learn that that’s not the way the play started out). The actors’ lines are being rewritten every night by a mean-spirited (no pun intended) ghostwriter, who becomes fixated on Mallory.



Carol this is the 11th in the Kathy Mallory series.
Does its longevity surprise you?
You mean . . . did I think it would tank early on? No, the reviewers have always been kind to me, and my editor’s faith in the character was contagious. What truly surprises me is that I’m able to earn my living at something I would do whether I got paid or not (which must seem like a cheat to those who say if you don’t hate it, it’s not work). I believe the American dream is going to sleep when you’re tired, then waking up when you’re completely finished sleeping to sit down to coffee, an ashtray and work that you love. (And I’m guessing that could alienate any Reading Frenzy followers who hate their jobs. Sorry.)



What’s the biggest thing that irks you about your protagonist Kathy Mallory?
The certain knowledge that, if I could run into her in real life, I would not make the cut. She would not find some one like me worth her time. Conversely, given her sociopathy, if she did take an interest in me, that could not be a good thing.



Should new fans start at the beginning or are these novels read well as stand alones?
Every single book is a stand-alone novel. No book in the series would be spoiled by reading it out of order. Crime genre authors have a covenant with readers, a promise of a book with bones of structure and a resolution. No one has to buy another book to find out how my last one ended. I believe in fair play.



Carol I understand that your being an author happened accidentally.
Can you elaborate on that?
You’re being kind. Most people use the word “backward” instead of “accidental” when they ask why a New York writer would send a manuscript to an English publisher, who then sold that first book all around the planet, and—as an afterthought—sold it in a New York book auction back here, when every fool knows the saying about New York goes, “If you can make it here, you can make anywhere.” So making it everywhere else first was apparently not the way I should have done this, and that’s been pointed out to me many a time, even though it worked out rather well. 

Or perhaps you’re alluding to the fact that I began as a painter who wrote in the closet, and I left school with the intention of being a starving artist and dying a gutter, a plan that clearly just didn’t work out. Becoming successful as writer did seem accidental. As you may have gathered (given all of the above), it’s not like I could’ve I planned it that way.



Do you still paint?
No, I used to paint by compulsion, but now all of my time goes into my writing, and it seems that I only need that one creative outlet.



Do you think you would have still been a published author had your painting career been more successful?
I don’t know. But you may have noticed, my ideas of success are rather whacked and perhaps not recognizable to normal people. I can tell you the writing would have continued, published or not. More than painting, it always fed the compulsive drive to create.



You have a couple of stand a lone novels.
Will there be more?
Definitely. Though I realize that nobody wants to hear that. The stand alones were very well received, but even the generous reviewers wanted to know when the next Mallory book was coming out. (Sigh.)



What are you working on now?
I don’t talk about novels in progress because I once knew a writer who talked his work to death, sucked all the energy out of it—and never wrote down more than ten words. . . . Then I met others just like him.



A British publisher Hutchinson published your first Mallory novel Mallory’s Oracle.
Why?
Big New York publishers could no longer be bothered to read their slush piles (an actual pile in a publishing house, where unagented manuscripts go to die.) So, forget New York, I aimed small. I got the name of a tiny British publisher from an old paperback, and I got the address (the wrong address) from a wildly out of date reference book. I figured: small country, small press, fewer manuscripts to slog through. (I got that wrong, too. Evidently, every man, woman and child in England is madly scribbling a book.) So when I sent my book—to the wrong address—I didn’t realize that tiny Hutchinson had been eaten by a bigger publisher, Century, which in turn had been eaten by the giant Random House UK. However, even though I had thoroughly screwed up this simple plan, the British Post Office managed to find Hutchinson among the RH imprints. And one day, an editor was looking for diversion after being bored silly by a nonfiction book. At that moment, my manuscript landed on his desk. Somehow, it had managed to crawl out of Hutchinson’s slush pile, I assume by it’s own accord—nothing else fits with the reality of publishing.

In context with everything else on this page, things are beginning to fall into place now, aren’t they? This is the mythology of me: It almost seemed like I was trying to fail in life, but I just could not pull that off.


Carol will you be touring with this release?
Yes, I will be at Macintyre’s Books, Pittsboro, NC on August 20th; then Murder by the Book, Houston, TX; and on to Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ; and finally Anderson’s in Chicago, IL. 

I credit independent books stores with launching my career. Years ago, these kind people took the time to read my first book, and they hand sold it to their customers. I would not be here if they had not been there from the beginning.


Thanks for sharing a few secrets with us. Good luck with the new novel!
Thank you. 

 

Week Three The Finale of Illuminations by Mary Sharratt

                     

                                      

Week Three Illuminations

First I thought I'd present the paperback cover and audible cover for Illuminations both beautiful and worth showing.

This tale of Hildegard is over but never all told so I thought we'd visit some other facts about her:
October 7-2012 Hildegard is made Doctor of Church
Hildegard was one of the first officially applied to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church
Her name was taken up in Roman Marytorolgy at the end of the 16th Century
Hildegard also appears on the calendar of saints of the Anglican Church
Her Feast Day is September 17th

She also has a planet named after her and she's been portrayed in documentary film.


Now let's focus on the last part of Illuminations.

We've talked about Hildegard in terms of her visions, her passions and her nurturing. I'd like to know
what you thought about Mary's portrayal of her throughout the novel not only in her spiritual persona but her very humanized personality too.

Character stand outs in the last section- did anyone we haven't mentioned to this point make you want to sing their praises or feel contempt for.
Or someone we've chatted about before that you think deserves more.


Final Thoughts

What one miracle, vision, occurrence stands out for you in the life of Hildegard?

Interview with Si Wall about his new fantasy adventure novel entitled Amelia and the Elf a novel for the entire family

Please welcome filmmaker and author Si Wall who is chatting about his first foray into fantasy with his novel for the whole family; Amelia and the Elf. Here's what he said when I asked why he chose to write fantasy –"I’ve written scripts before, but drama, so it was a nice change to write something longer and to forget reality, it opened up a lot of doors that haven’t been there before."

• BN ID: 2940045182133
• Publisher: Si Wall
• Publication date: 7/27/2013
• Sold by: Smashwords
• Format: eBook

Overview:
An Elf living in a tree in your garden could be something to worry about, but Amelia chose to go on adventure to a land she never imagined possible. Prompted by a sudden illness to her father, Amelia goes off in search of magical dust to make him better, undeterred by countless warnings of the dangers ahead.

...

Si Hi and welcome to The Reading Frenzy

Thanks for having me here!

Tell us a bit about Amelia and The Elf

It’s about a young girl, who is taken to Bulgaria by her parents, reluctantly of course and finds an Elf living in a tree at the bottom of her garden. She persuades him to return to his own land, where he is an outlaw, to help her get some magic dust, to make her Dad get better.  The trip back to Elfingdorn is nothing like she imagined, or the creature that inhabit it.

Why did you choose to write a fantasy?

I’ve written scripts before, but drama, so it was a nice change to write something longer and to forget reality, it opened up a lot of doors that haven’t been there before.

On the Website for Amelia and The Elf it’s touted as a Fantasy Fiction Novel for all the Family.
Is there a certain median age group that you’re focusing on?

I wrote it for children and young adults, but then again, the Hobbit was written for children too, and that has proven to be a very popular book, and films, with adults too. The test readers were all adults and loved it, which was a nice surprise.

Will this only be a digital printing and when and were will it be available?

It’s digital for now, apart from 100 limited edition copies of a hardback book, but it would be nice to get it into a bookshop in the real world. I’m happy to have it available for download around the world though.

Si you’re a filmmaker both documentary and drama, TV director and storyteller.
Did your writing come after the filmmaking and directing or is it in combination with the other two?

I’ve been making drama features for a few years now and have written scripts for myself as well as others, although a book was a departure from the norm. I don’t think I would have attempted a book if I hadn’t written something before and seen that it worked on an audience. At least with a film, you can sit in the theatre and see the reactions, which I like to do.

The Amelia website also says this is the first in a series of five novels.
Where did the idea for Amelia come from?

I was ill for a short while and made a comment ‘about my ‘elf’, and it sort of grew from there.  I had two months to formulate an idea and I liked Erivon, so kept making notes and when I had the time, I wrote it.  I have a script that is just about finished too, although it’s quite long, epic almost!

How long has the idea been forming?

I first had the idea in early 2011, but had filming commitments until late last year, so the characters were knocking around my head for a bit, but they were welcomed guests.

The novel is illustrated by Lynn Adams.
Why did you choose her for this work?

Lynn is amazing, she obviously had the novel, but in chunks and we swapped a few emails to discuss, but really, she exceeded my expectations on every piece of Art she did.  She certainly has a talent and I couldn’t be happier with the artwork.

Will she be illustrating all the Amelia novel?

Absolutely! I can’t imagine anyone else working on Bok-Boks or Amelia, plus the following books have quite a lot of new characters and species in too, so it needs Lynn.

Could you walk us through a “day in the life” of Si Wall please.

The beauty of that question is that no two days are the same. I could be working on a script, like now, I am about to submit a comedy series to UK Broadcasters, which has been with me for a while, but the first two episodes are written now, so that can be sent off.  I also am rewriting a script for animation, converting a barn into a studio, talking to a writer about a new screenplay and I have a WWII drama that we hope to get funding on any time soon.

Si it says on the website that you used to tell stories with your camera lenses.
Does this mean that your days of filmmaking are over?

Absolutely not!  It’s just another way of telling stories. It could be animation, drama, writing, in fact, anything that tells a story to an audience. I feel more at home behind a camera though it’s a relaxing place for me.

Si will there be any brick and mortar signing events after the release of the novel?

I hope so, we are talking about doing some live events, maybe book signings and limited edition art from Lynn, but we’ll have to see.

Si thank you so much for answering my questions. I can’t wait to see Amelia and Good Luck!

Thank you, and I know Erivon, Amelia and Reddish and Pinky thank you too!

Connect with Si/Amelia – Website – Facebook -  Twitter

Here are some of Lynn's illustrations

September Line UP

The kiddos are back in school and things are calmly getting back to normal after the hectic Summer months of travel, visitors and disruptions of life. Not so here at The Reading Frenzy where September is just as hot as ever with - Giveaways - author interviews - reviews - and our monthly book club read. So before the harsh winds of winter blow grab a mug of fresh apple cider a good book and check out The Reading Frenzy blog everyday in September.

           

So slow down just a bit to read what's coming for the first month of Autumn:

Monthly Featured Read

Drum roll please our September author has graciously agreed to participate in our monthly read feature


The discussion begins Monday September 9th 
Thank you Margot Livesey !!

Reading Schedule

Week One September 9th - 15th Parts One and Two
Week Two September 16th - 22nd Part Three
Week Three September 23rd-29th Parts Four and Five

I hope you can join us! The More the Merrier :)

Interviews & Giveaways

Monday September 2 nd                   

Tuesday September 3rd  Interview with Elizabeth Nobel - Between a Mother and her Child

Wednesday September 4th - Giveaway- Interview with John Dobbyn - Deadly Diamonds


Thursday September 5th- Interview with Susan Boyer - Lowcountry Boil


Friday September 6th - Interview with Sonya Fitzpatrick There are no Sad Dogs In Heaven


Monday September 9th - Week One of The Flight of Gemma Hardy  &
                                    Giveaway - Interview with James J. Kaufman - The Concealers

Tuesday September 10th - Interview with Hank Phillipi Ryan - The Wrong Girl

Wednesday September 11th - Interview with Emily Liebert - You Knew Me When



Thursday September 12th- Giveaway - Guest Post by Jane Porter - The Good Wife


Friday September 13th Interview with award winning poet turned author Jason Mott - The Returned



Monday September 16th Week two discussion of The Flight of Gemma Hardy

Tuesday September 17th Interview with JT Ellison - The Final Cut


Wednesday September 18th -Interview with Nelson Demille - The Quest


Thursday  September 19th Interview with PhD Jeffrey Hall - The Five Flirting Styles



Friday September 20th Interview Megan Hart - Tear You Apart


Monday September 23rd - Week Three discussion of The Flight of Gemma Hardy begins

Tuesday September 24th - Interview with Susan Wilson - A Man of His Own













Wednesday September 25th Partners In Crime Blog Tour - Interview with Frankie Bailey -
The Red Queen Dies


Thursday September 26th Interview Michelle Sagara - Cast in Shadow


Friday September 27th Interview Jeannie Lin - The Lotus Palace


That's all for now folks but I'm sure there will be late entries and more goodies in store and remember for those days inbetween the interviews and reviews and giveaways there will be some thoughts for the day and some history too.

Enjoy your September, make the most of what fall has to offer and stop by the blog everyday to leave a comment, talk about the monthly feature and enter a giveaway or two.