Susan B. James: YA Paranormal

Showing posts with label YA Paranormal. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

YA and a new kind of Time travel? Yes! Meet Carly Jordynn

Posted by Susan B James on 3:30:00 AM with 5 comments

Meet Carly Jordynn, author of Sasha Bishop, Retired Slayer and the YA Forest Mist series. At the end of this post, you'll have a chance to win one of her books.
Carly, lease tell us a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in Northern Kentucky. I have lived in three houses within a three mile radius my entire life. Following my divorce, I graduated from college, started tinkering with writing, and adopted my daughter. I wrote my first book in longhand because I didn’t own a computer at the time. That book is safely tucked away until it gets a major rewrite. I work full-time in the import/export business. When I’m not reading or writing, I enjoy dinner with friends, hanging out with my daughter, planning parties, travel, shopping, and walking.
I love firsts, so tell me about the moment when a publisher told you they wanted to publish your book.

I remember that day clearly. I had so many close calls with Forest of the Mist: Travelers. Editors and Agents loved the story, but couldn’t figure out where to place it. I stumbled upon Debby Gilbert and Soul Mate Publishing about a year before I was offered a contract. Like the others, Debby loved the story, but Soul Mate didn’t have young adult or time travel at the time. Almost a year later, I contacted Debby again to see if they would be representing young adult or time travel anytime soon. The answer was yes! She remembered me and my book, which I thought was very flattering. I sent it back to her and was offered a contract within a few days. It was a couple of days after Christmas 2013, when I signed that first contract.

Blurb:

Lily Lavery never dreamed her homecoming night would turn out like this. She never expected to become orphaned, in a coma, and enter an alternate reality, all in one evening. She thought she would arrive at the dance to the cheers of her classmates after being crowned homecoming princess at the big game, dance the night away with her handsome boyfriend, Alex McGuire, and maybe end the night in his arms. Her heart betrayed her when she met and fell in love with Connor O’Brien in the alternate realm known as Paradise Valley. Now she must battle foes in the Dark Land and her own feelings as she struggles to return to reality

I love the cover. I read Travelers and I can't wait to read the sequel. I want to know what happens to . . . (Nope I am not going to do spoilers.)

If it isn’t too nosy. How about the first time you kissed your true love?

Wow, there have been so many, LOL! I don’t think I’ve met my true love yet, or if I have, I totally missed him. So instead, I’ll tell you about my last kiss. In middle school, I had a crush on the most handsome boy. He had blond hair, blue eyes, nice build, a great smile, fantastic legs, and was an all around nice guy. Everybody had a crush on him. We never dated. Fast forward to late last year when I learned that this man was dying. I made arrangements to go visit, but had to revise those plans when he was moved to hospice. When I did go see him, I was unsure of the reception I would get. I mean, he was only forty-nine years old and dying. We talked and talked and talked some more. I confessed my schoolgirl crush on him. He was very nice about it. While we were talking, he took my hand in his and ZING! the same old butterflies went winging through my body. He kissed me that day. It was the perfect kiss. . . everything I ever imagined kissing him would be like. When I left that night, he said, “I enjoyed our first kiss.” To which I responded, “I’ll be back tomorrow for more.” I’m grateful for the time we got to spend together and the kisses shared before he passed away.
Wow. Thank you for telling us. This is another book. You know that, right? Alternate time line where he doesn't die and you get together.

Other than your own, who are your favorite (heroes/heroines/writers) in your genre?

I have lots of these too! One of my favorite heroes is Jace Herondale from the Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. That cat was just too cool. He was brave, strong, vulnerable, and sexy as all get out. One of my favorite heroines is from Meg Cabot’s Vanishing series. Her name was Jessica Mastrianni. She rode a Harley, did the right thing even if it would get her in trouble later, and loved the good guy that everyone else perceived as the bad boy. As for the writers, there are many. Meg Cabot, Cassandra Clare, David Eddings, and J.K. Rowling to name a few.

Carly and Meg Cabot

I loved Jessica too. Meg Cabot's 1-800 Where Are You and her Mediator series are on my Keeper Shelf.

What is the most exciting moment, so far, in your writing career?

That’s a tough one. I guess it would be when I met Meg Cabot, Nora Roberts, and Brenda Novak at a writer’s conference a few years ago.

That sounds wonderful to me. I am going to RWA this year. I hope to meet some of my idols.

What is your favorite pastime, other than writing?

I love to read. I also enjoy researching my family history.

How do you motivate yourself when inspiration takes a vacation?

I have journals for each of my books that I keep complete backstory on every character. I read through these and sometimes an idea for a twist in the storyline will be the result. I also come up with ideas while on the treadmill or going for a walk.Got a recipe you want to share?

That would require me to cook. So. Not. My. Thing. Thank goodness for microwaves. I tell my daughter she should hangout with my mom, who is an excellent cook, and learn from her so we don’t starve in the future.
Any advice for new writers just starting out?

I cannot stress editing enough. Also, grow a thick skin for rejection. Never give up on your dream. Learn from the reject and move on. It only takes one editor, agent, or publisher to get your books on shelves.
What genre or genres do you write? I write young adult fantasy romance and paranormal. I also have a couple of adult romances I am working on.
Tell us about Awakening

My newest book is due to release in August from Soul Mate Publishing. Awakening, book two of the Forest of the Mist series.

Jennifer Burke Kyle has been in a coma. Upon waking, she discovered her infant son was half-grown, has some rather unique powers, and she has been ordered by her dead husband to marry a complete stranger, Alex McGuire. As if that wasn’t enough to make her want to go back to sleep, she, along with her friends from the alternate realm Paradise Valley, must escape the government research group, PRI, and it’s agents, in order to protect the still comatose, Colin O’Brien.

What’s your current WIP? I have a few WIP’s I’m working on. The first is Sasha Bishop: Shifter. This is book two in the Sasha Bishop series. In this book, a shifter vampire has the ability to change into Sasha, making it seem that it is she who is systematically killing off her classmates. Another one is The Last Girlfriend. This is an adult romance about three friends who find love ten years after high school. The last is Guardians, book three in the Forest of the Mist series. In this book, Davy has grown up, taken over as ruler of Paradise Valley and the Dark Land, and has kidnapped the girl who will grow up to be his co-ruler.

They all sound intriguing. The first Sasha book is Sasha Bishop, Retired Slayer. Such a great title!

Blurb:

An impending war and ineffectual Slayer has seventeen-year-old Sasha, coming out of retirement. With her 167 year old vampire boyfriend, his great-great-grandson, her Watcher, and a select group of vamps, Sasha faces the monster behind the war, as well as, the battle for her heart.

Love this premise!

And finally, where can we find you?

I can be found on my website, Facebook, Twitter, my blog, and Pinterest.
www.carlyjordynn.com
www.facebook.com/carlyjordynn777
www.twitter.com/CarlyJordynn
http://carlyjordynn.blogspot.com
www.pinterest.com/CarlyJordynn

Thank you for being here, Carly. Carly is giving away one ebook. Winner gets to choose from her titles.

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Meet Michelle De La Garza and April Luna. 2 authors in one body. 2 giveaways

Posted by Susan B James on 3:30:00 AM with 4 comments

Michelle De La Garza writes YA and NA. . Her doppelganger, April Luna writes adult novels. I am delighted to meet another author with two writing names. Since I write adult as Susan B. James and Children's books as Susan J. Berger, I understand the need for dichotomy. Michelle/April Please tell us a little about yourself.

Okay, let’s see…I’m a Gemini—or a rooster if using the Chinese zodiac—an extreme introvert, and I have an overactive imagination that used to plunge me into the hot seat (daily) as a child (my mother can vouch for me on that point). My hobbies consist of walking, jogging, writing/reading, hiking, swimming, writing/reading, cooking mystery meat (don’t ask), people watching, and did I mention that I like to read and write?

I love firsts, so tell me about the moment when a publisher told you they wanted to publish your book.

The drapes were drawn and sunlight filtered into the room. Snug in my chair, my fingers danced across the keys of an old laptop. The ‘f’ key popped off (as it so often did back then) which forced me to lean in close to snap it back on. My phone vibrated against the worn wooden desk it was perched on . . . the telltale sign that another email filled my inbox.

Never one to ignore a ringing phone, pings on Facebook, a ringing doorbell, or a vibrating phone, I checked my messages on that warm mid-August day—Wednesday, August 21^st, 2013 to be exact. It was 12:55 in the afternoon when Ms. Deborah Gilbert’s email crossed my path.

Dear Michelle,

Great news! I enjoyed Truth or Consequences so much, we’d like to publish your book. You are an excellent writer!

My hands shook and I read the same three sentences over and over again. I’m not sure how long I sat there, eyes glued to the screen before I finally moved. At the stairs, I gazed down. The distance to the lower level of the house seemed to stretch before my eyes.

Half way down the stairwell, my husband asked, “Hey, you okay?”

Unable to trust my words, I nodded. At the base of the stairs, I handed him my phone. He drew in a deep breath; then looked at the screen. A smile stretched across his face that made his eyes brightly shine. He read the email out loud—in its entirety—with a grin as wide as the Cheshire cat’s, but with genuine merriment and glee.

That’s how I found out my publisher wanted to publish my first book.

I read that twice. Terrific prose. Now I have to read your book(s)
Readers, Here is a link to Truth or Consequences.

What is the most exciting moment, so far, in your writing career?

There have been many exciting moments, thus far, in my writing career, but there is one that stands out above the rest.

A couple months ago, I ran into a reader at a local library, who had just finished reading my third novel, Child of the Night. We engaged in an in-depth conversation pertaining to love, happiness, and loss. The woman expressed how my book helped her cope with a difficult time in her life. She had just lost a brother-in-law of 20+years. The death was sudden and shook her family to the core. Plus, it made her reexamine her views on life, love, family, and death.

I’ll never forget the expression on her face. Her soft brown eyes, filled with anguish and pain, openly spoke to me of a great loss. The dimple in her chin—the one that quivered with intense emotion, related the true depths of her pain, and how she fought valiantly to maintain a strong composure. Even the way her sultry, rich voice broke when she talked pulled at my heartstrings. Then, with a simple question, she floored me. She asked, “Do you and Wulf (the hero of the story) share the same religious views?”

To be honest, I didn’t know how to answer that question. The complexity of the content is a topic I was taught (as a child) one never discussed. Part of the ‘Big Three’—sex, religion, and politics—it was never to be discussed openly in public. With teary eyes, she took my hand in hers and recited a paragraph (from memory) from the pages of my book. It was a section from Chapter 21 right after Sarah De Luz asked to pay her last respects for a lost loved one.

‘Your family is not there. In death, they shed their essence, which was separated from their bodies at passing. All that remains now is their outer shells, an empty vessel. You should celebrate the life they lived, not mourn their release from this world.’

She told me she found comfort in my words, and then she hugged me. We talked a while longer, and other patrons joined in on the conversation. When I finally walked out of the library, I was a raw ball of emotions. To have had my words touch someone in such an intimate way was both touching and humbling at the same time. Even now, I can close my eyes and see her face and hear the words she recited. This memory will forever be engrained in my heart, body, and soul.

Just. WOW!!!

What is your favorite pastime, other than writing?

Other than writing and reading, I love to spend time with the family, watch movies, and I especially enjoy people watching.

Any advice for new writers just starting out?

Write often, write honestly, and enjoy what you write.

Tell us about your latest release(s) As April and Michelle..

Child of the Night, under pen name April A. Luna, is my latest science fiction novel release. It was released on September 16, 2014. The sequel (When Darkness Falls, Book 2 of the Sarah De Luz Files) is due for release summer of 2015.

Child of the Night book blurb:

One single act can change a person’s life for good—or bad—and every choice comes with consequences. Sarah De Luz must forge a path through resistance to save those she loves while struggling with her own inner demons.

A late-night excursion takes Sarah to Chase Pond, her one true refuge. She soon finds there are formidable secrets hidden under the dark waters of the pond. A wealth of knowledge about man’s quest for longevity and love is waiting to be discovered. But whispers of war and unspeakable horrors loom in the shadows, waiting for her to choose a side.

Haunted by her past and driven forward by fate, she must fully embrace her destiny and awaken, even if it means losing her identity in the process.

Note: This book contains sexual content, adult situations, and profanity.

Chronicles of the 4^th World, written as Michelle De La Garza, follows the formation of the ‘circle of six’, who are prophesized to bridge the evolutionary gap between man and generate a universal brotherhood of peace'

Chronicles of the 4th World book blurb:

An internal clock ticks. It’s counting down, but to what?
Nicolas Armani and Brooklyn 'Brooke' Adams must choose between freedom and a life of servitude. Known as a threat to national security by some and an evolutionary link to others, they sit at the edge of the doorway looking in.
Armani and Brooke are on the brink of discovering their ancestral story, which leads to The Lost Chronicles of the 4th World. Will they bridge the evolutionary gap, generating a universal brotherhood? Or set off a chain reaction of events that will send mankind into another dark age?

What’s your current WIP?

The Lost Chronicles of the 5^th World, under Michelle L. De La Garza, is my current work in progress. It is the second book in The Lost Chronicles series.

The Lost Chronicles of the 5^th World book blurb:

Nicolas Armani knows war is inevitable. But in a fleeting moment, a single decision can change the course of history.

The circle of six finds themselves divided by love, loyalty, and leadership. Armani must choose between following his heart and leading a freedom faction on the 5th World, Orionis. His choice will shock those closest to him and himself. But new found friend, Ara—of the Arroyo Clan—has a secret of her own, one she is determined to keep hidden, because on the 5th World, what makes one different often proves deadly.

And finally, where can we find you?

Twitter

SMP Author site

Facebook Writer’s page

Writer’s Blog

Michelle/April, Thank you so much for being here. Michelle has graciously offered 6 ebooks for giveaway:

3 copies of her Adult Novel: Child of the Night. And 3 copies of her NA/YA Novel: The Lost Chronicles of the 4^th World

You know the drill, peoples. Enter below and may the odds be ever in your favor.
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Meet Dale Ibitz, Romantic Urban and YA Fantasy Author. Giveaway.

Posted by Susan B James on 2:30:00 AM with 8 comments

Dale Ibitz was born in Oxford, Connecticut, grew up in the state of Washington, and then re-located back to Connecticut as an adult. Always a lover of books, she spent much of her childhood reading, visiting the library (her best friend's mother was a librarian), and writing. She majored in English at Central Connecticut State University, and she's been writing young adult fantasy and mid-grade contemporary for seventeen years. Wow!

Dale's a fan of hiking and the outdoors, seriously good writing, and she never, ever starts the day without chocolate and coffee (preferably together). Music inspires her, and she likes to listen to alternative metal. When she listens to lyrics, she finds herself imagining stories behind the words...it's a great writing exercise. What a great idea for a fantasy writer.

Dale is, by nature, a klutz and has years of funny tidbits of real-life comical events which she constantly seems to stumble in to. If you were to visit Dale's house, you'd meet her husband, 2 kids, their dog Lea (most people simply refer to her as The Beast...and for good reason), and their cat Luna (affectionately known as Loony Luna). And Yes, I stole this from Dale's Amazon Author Page where you can see her YA Fantasy series, which also looks like good reading.

Thanks for being here, Dale.
I love firsts, so tell me about the moment when a publisher told you they wanted to publish your book.
It was Soul Mate Publishing in fact! When they first showed interest in Kiss Me Dead, I wasn’t putting too much stock in it…other publishers had expressed interest and then passed. When SMP offered me a contract, my stomach dropped to my toes and then swooped up into my chest. It’s a euphoric feeling!

If it isn’t too nosy . How about the first time you kissed your true love?
We’re all friends here, right? LOL That first kiss was actually a disappointment (don’t tell him that) because it was pretty sedate (which is code for no tongue action). The 2nd kiss is what’s memorable. That one had all the bells and whistles, heat-inducing, heart-thumping, sensual and hot. That’s about all I’m gonna say on that one!

Other than your own, who are your favorite (heroes/heroines/writers) in your genre?
Okay, when I want steam factor, I always go to Gena Showalter’s Lords of the Underworld series. Not only are they smokin’, but she has a way of writing that makes you fall in love with characters that you’d otherwise think were dicks. Can I say that word on your blog??

Definitely. Say it three times if you want.

What is the most exciting moment, so far, in your writing career?
What I really love is when people talk about characters in my books as though they were real people. It means I’ve connected with someone through my writing.

What is your favorite pastime, other than writing?
Well, reading, natch. But I love the outdoors, whether it’s sitting in a lawnchair, putzing in my garden, or walking/hiking.

What’s your snack of choice while writing?
Coffee. And Chocolate. Preferably together.

Soul Sister!!!

What genre or genres do you write?
I have a YA fantasy series, called the Last Moon Rising series, and a new adult urban fantasy. The book I’m writing now is a venture into the steamier side of urban fantasy.

Tell us about your latest release.

Kiss Me Dead

follows the paths of two characters. Christian is half-reaper, half-human who’s enslaved to Giltine, the Goddess of Death. He bargains with her for his freedom, because what Christian wants most in the world is his freedom; freedom from living in the Other World, freedom from reaping souls, but most of all, he wants the freedom live life as a human and fall in love. Giltine curses him with the kiss of death, so while he does earn his freedom from her world, it ends in disaster. He needs an angel to break the curse.

Brooke is a long, long long lost descendant of a Naphil. She has issues of her own, because not only can she see reapers, she saw one steal her brother’s soul. After the traumatic experience, she sort of resigns from life because she fears the reapers. What she discovers about herself is that she has the power to stop reapers from stealing souls.

When the two meet, sparks fly. Christian can break his curse by kissing Brooke dead. Brooke can avenge her brother's murder by killing Christian. Neither planned to fall in love.

Wow. I love where your imagination takes you.

What’s your current WIP?
The working title of my current WIP is The Reaper’s Kiss. A little steamier than Kiss Me Dead, it follows the path of William, one of the minor characters in Kiss Me Dead. I like building characters that live in that gray area, embracing the idea that bad people can do good things, and good people can do bad things. We don’t live in a world that’s totally black and white, and neither do my books. That would be boring!