Blog Tour: Q & A with Kris Humphrey

Welcome to the Guardians of the Wild Blog Tour! I'm so excited to have Kris Humphrey, the author of A Whisper of Wolves, here today and answering some bookish questions! Don't forget to check out my review and enter a giveaway to win a copy of A Whisper of Wolves

How do you pick your character's names?

I usually have an idea about what kind of name I want for each character – a certain sound or a name that begins with a particular letter. Because Guardians of the Wild is a fantasy series I tend to invent a lot of the character names, some of which seem to pop straight into my head and others take a lot more effort – I might merged two existing names or look online for interesting names I’ve never heard before.

What comes first when you're writing, the story idea or the character?

It’s almost always the story idea, although character and story are inextricably linked. As soon as I start working on the plot of a book I also have to consider the characters involved because the action of the story depends on the motivations and personalities of these characters. You can’t just cram a random character into the fantastic plot you’ve constructed.

What inspired you to write A Whisper of Wolves?

I’ve always wanted to write fantasy books, and I’ve always loved animals too. I spent some time living in Canada and my camping trips to the Rocky Mountains were a huge inspiration for the Great Forest in A Whisper of Wolves. That was one of the few times I’ve been surrounded by true wilderness and it made a lasting impression.

Describe A Whisper of Wolves in ten words or less.

Whisperers, wolves and demons do battle in the Great Forest.

What's the best thing about being a writer? 

Daydreaming for a living – being able to drift away on your imagination and not having to feel guilty about it.

And the worst?

Biscuits. I drink a lot of tea while I’m writing and I just cannot resist having biscuits to go with it. It’s really very unhealthy.

A Whisper of Wolves is the first book in a series, do you already know how it's all going to end?

I’m just working on the details of the fourth and final book at the moment, so I have a general sense of how things will end – but nothing is fixed!

Do you listen to music whilst writing? Do you have a 'writing' playlist?

If I’m getting down ideas and not actually writing chapters then I sometimes listen to music. I do have a writing playlist, which consists of mostly instrumental tracks that I won’t be tempted to sing along to and distract myself! When I’m writing chapters I can’t have music on at all. I need to concentrate on the rhythm of the sentences I’m writing.

What books are currently on your reading pile?

The top section of my reading pile consists of Diamonds and Daggers by the always-brilliant Elen Caldecott, Scarlet and Ivy by Sophie Cleverly and Last Leaves Falling by Sarah Benwell – these are all brand new books that I’ve been looking forward to getting my hands on for ages. Also, I’m going on holiday to Burma very soon and I’ll be taking The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh, which deals with Burma’s troubled recent history.

What's the last book you read?

I just finished The Starlight Conspiracy by Steve Voake. It’s a fantastic YA thriller about an alien artefact that falls into the hands of a teenaged girl and sets her off on a journey from England to the New Mexico desert in America. The characters were great and there was much more depth and playfulness to it than your average thriller - The X-Files meets John Green.

What authors and/or books inspired you to write?

Brian Jacques’ Redwall series got me hooked on reading when I was at school. It made a book-lover of me and started me on the long road to becoming a writer. JRR Tolkien was also a huge influence on me when I was younger. I used to draw maps of my own fantasy worlds and dream about writing epic sagas to go with them; this was a direct result of the magic and drama I experienced when I read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Later on, writers like Michelle Paver, David Almond and Marcus Sedgwick have inspired me by showing me just how good children’s books can be.

About the Author

Hotly tipped by tutors on his MA course in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University, Kris Humphrey graduated with Distinction and was awarded the prize for Most Promising Writer. Skilfully combining the dramatic, vivid landscapes of Meridina with a fast-paced narrative, A Whisper of Wolves is Kris’s first novel. 

An Interview With Marianne de Pierres

 

 I'm so excited about today's post as I have read just about everything by Marianne de Pierres and I jumped at the chance to interview her! Angry Robot are hosting this blog tour to celebrate the launch of Marianne's latest book, Peacemaker, which is released on May 1st! Peacemaker has an amazing cover, courtesy of Joey Hifi and a fantastic plot. Read on to find out a little bit more about Marianne :)

1.       What comes first - the story or the characters?

It varies from project to project, but I would say, more often than not, it’s the setting. I become enamoured with these exciting, strange places I’ve created, and then I have to start thinking about the kind of people who live in them. That was certainly the case with my Glitter Rose themed short story collection, the Night Creatures series and the Parrish Plessis novels. With my Sentients of Orion space opera, the character came first but it then took a few rewrites to really understand the protagonist, Mira Fedor, properly.

2.      How do you pick your character's names?

Sometimes, they roll up and introduce themselves, but at other times, I literally scan lists and lists baby names and surnames on the Internet. Over at Shadowhawk’s blog, I recently wrote about how I select names of places and objects, and a little bit about characters at well. Names are SO important.

3.      Describe Peacemaker in five words

[a] pacy, magic-realism, crime, pulp Western 

Peacemaker

 4.      I'm really glad to hear there will be a sequel to Peacemaker next year, can you tell us anything about it?

The supernatural element is developed more deeply in book 2, as Virgin and Nate learn the true nature and power of the Korax.

Virgin grows through her experiences, and she begins to see Nate through a different lens. I’d describe book 2 as Gods and mayhem.

5.      You write both adult and YA fiction, which do you prefer?

I feel like I need them both in my life. Ideally, I’d like to alternate writing YA with Adult fic, but things never quite work to your plan in the publishing industry! Young adult readers are such a passionate, enthusiastic audience and I love writing for them. Sometimes though, the story I want to tell turns out to be darker than I’m prepared to go in a YA novel.

6.      What do you like about writing science fiction?

So. Much. Freedom. For the imagination. I can let my mind go wild as long as it’s anchored by logic. I get to play the creator of worlds. That’s a heady drink, in my opinion. Also, I’m a futurist, I think. Everything about what will come, fascinates me.

7.      Do you listen to music whilst writing? Does Peacemaker (or any of your other books) have a soundtrack?

Not any more. I find it hard to concentrate with music on. However, I’m always listening to music in-between writing sessions.

My dad was a huge Marty Robbins fan and I listened to him growing up. The Peacemaker soundtrack became a weird collision of classic western songs like Big Iron and pop beats like Timbr by Pitbull, ft. Kesha, and of course The Wild, Wild West by The Escape Club. 

Peacemaker does indeed have a soundtrack which you can find more information about here.

8. Are any of your friends/family recognizable as characters in any of your books?

Well, aspects of them at least. But you know that all fiction … is fiction, or so the disclaimer says!

9.     What books are currently on your reading pile?

The Little Brown Handbook (I’m teaching writing at the moment), New York Cult Recipes, The Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison and White Shotgun by Attilio Bolzoni.

10. What's the last book you read?

The Gods of Guilt by Michael Connolly

11.  What do you do when you're not writing?

Blog, read, watch TV series (I could talk about my favourite TV all day and all night), play sport, coach sport. I find that exercise and sport are an essential antidote to my writing life. Balance is the key to avoiding writers block. It’s a tough industry, you have to be resilient to survive it. If all you do is write, then when the knockbacks come, they are almost intolerable.

12.   What authors inspired you to write?

A. C Clarke, Octavia Butler, D.H. Lawrence and Carlos Castaneda. But they are just a few of many. I’ve been influenced by everything from Mills and Boon romances through to Existentialist writers like de Beauvoir and Albert Camus. I sometimes think I’m too much of a sponge. Maybe that’s why genre blending attracts me.

13. You've written science fiction, crime and a picture book. Are there any other genres you'd like to write?

I’ll always be attracted to speculative fiction, so crime and mystery are about as mainstream as I’ll ever go. But mixing genres offers limitless variations. I would describe my next SF novel as Cormac McCarthy meets Michael Crichton, plus I’m working on another SF crime novel. Futuristic mystery is probably my current love, but who knows where my evolving taste will lead me in the future! That’s the fun of it.

 Marianne de Pierres is the author of the acclaimed Parrish Plessis, the award-winning Sentients of Orion science fiction series and the upcoming Peacemaker SF Western series. The Parrish Plessis series has been translated into eight languages and adapted into a roleplaying game. She’s also the author of a teen dark fantasy series.
Marianne is an active supporter of genre fiction and has mentored many writers. She lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband and three galahs. Marianne writes award-winning crime under the pseudonym Marianne Delacourt. Visit her websites at www.mariannedepierres.com and www.tarasharp.com.au and www.burnbright.com.au

 A huge thank you to Marianne for answering my questions and look out for a review of Peacemaker next week!

Stolen Songbird Blog Tour - An Interview With Danielle L Jensen

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for the lovely Danielle Jensen, the author of Strange Chemistry's new fantasy title, Stolen Songbird!

 For those who have loved Seraphina and Graceling comes another truly fabulous fantasy...

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the ruins of Forsaken Mountain. Time enough for their dark and nefarious magic to fade from human memory and into myth. But a prophesy has been spoken of a union with the power to set the trolls free, and when Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she learns there is far more to the myth of the trolls than she could have imagined.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind after she is brought to Trollus: escape. Only the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time, wait for the perfect opportunity.

But something unexpected happens while she’s waiting – she begins to fall for the enigmatic troll prince to whom she has been bonded and married. She begins to make friends. And she begins to see that she may be the only hope for the half-bloods – part troll, part human creatures who are slaves to the full-blooded trolls. There is a rebellion brewing. And her prince, Tristan, the future king, is its secret leader.

As Cécile becomes involved in the intricate political games of Trollus, she becomes more than a farmer’s daughter. She becomes a princess, the hope of a people, and a witch with magic powerful enough to change Trollus forever.

Hi Danielle, welcome to the Bookish Outsider and thanks for talking about your debut novel, Stolen Songbird!

1. Describe Stolen Songbird in ten words or less.

Trolls, witches, curses, magic, intrigue, revolution, adventure, friendship, mystery, and romance.

2. What inspired you to write Stolen Songbird? And why trolls?

I was inspired to write Stolen Songbird by a dream I had about a city buried by rubble. The trolls came into being when I started thinking about who would populate my city and why, and they sort of created themselves as I wrote the story.

3. What comes first when you're writing, the story idea or the character?

Usually, story idea. In the case of this novel, I was inspired by the setting.

4. How do you pick your character's names?

I’ve always liked the name Cécile, and I was taking a Arthurian Romance class at university when I started writing it, so that’s how Tristan got his name.  Otherwise, I have some websites with lists of French names that I use.  

5. How did you celebrate when you heard Songbird was going to be published by Strange Chemistry?

I was in shock for a few days, but eventually I pulled myself together and went for dinner with my family. A lot of champagne was consumed.

6. What's the best thing about being a writer?

Wearing pajamas to work.

7. Stolen Songbird is the first book in the Malediction trilogy, do you already know how it's all going to end?

Yes, yes I do *evil laugh*

8. Which character was the easiest to write, and which character was the hardest?

Marc and Tristan were the easiest to write. Cécile was the hardest.

9. Any other books in the pipeline? No pun intended regarding the gas & oil industry!

I love puns! Especially troll puns!

I’m pretty busy working on The Malediction Trilogy, but I do have another fantasy project that is about half finished. I’m not sure when I’m going to get back to working on it.

10. Do you listen to music whilst writing? Does Stolen Songbird have a soundtrack?

I listen to classical music when I write, and I particularly like soundtracks to movies. Stolen Songbird’s theme song is Lux Aeterna from the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack.   

  

11. What's your favorite place for writing?

My office in my house, but I can write anywhere as long as I am alone.

12. What books are currently on your reading pile?

I’m just about finished A Mad, Wicked Folly, and after that I’m going to read Defy.

13. What's the last book you read?

The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare, by MG Buehrlen. Everyone should read it.

14. What authors inspired you to write?

I’d say my love of fantasy novels stems from reading David Eddings when I was a kid. That was where it all started. 

Pawn of Prophecy

15. What's the worst thing you could do in front of a troll?

Get caught lying.

Well, should I ever meet a troll I shall remember not to lie to him... Thank you so much for answering my questions Danielle, and for reminding me of a beautiful piece of music from one of my favorite films! Ah, Jared Leto... If you should want to watch Requiem for a Dream please remember it is an R rated movie (18 certificate in the UK) because of the intense depiction of drug addiction, graphic sexuality, strong language and some violence. Only watch if you're old enough :) Look out for my review at the end of the week and I'll be giving away one copy of Stolen Songbird, open internationally as it will come via the Book Depository!

Scion of the Sun - Blog Tour, Interview & Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the amazing blog tour for Scion of the Sun by Nicola Marsh! Find the rest of the tour stops here! Read on for my bookish inquisition (a.k.a. an interview), find out more about Nicola and enter a giveaway (US and International prizes) to win copies of both Scion of the Sun, reviewed here and Endless by Amanda Gray which I reviewed here.

Bookish Interview with Nicola Marsh

 What books inspire you?    

 Thrillers. The more complex the better. I’m always in awe of authors who can write them.

What authors inspire you?    

Barbara O’Neal, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nora Roberts, Harlan Coben

What's your favorite childhood book?    

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton

Do you like to listen to music whilst writing? If so, what sort of music?    

No, I prefer silence. My day is filled with noise, usually from my kids, so to write at night in silence is bliss.

 
Where's your favorite writing spot?   

 My cosy, crammed, windowless office. It feels like home to me.

 What are your essentials whilst writing?     

Keyboard, PC, gorgeous hardcover notebooks, colored pens, my ideas.

Do you have any writing tips for someone who is just starting out?    

Write, write, then write some more. Writing is a craft honed by doing. And read widely in the genre you’re targeting.

What's the last book you read?    

In the Midnight Rain by Ruth Wind (Barbara O’Neal’s older pen name.) I love all her books. Lush and evocative and truly wonderful.

What's the last book you bought?    

Out of Line by Jen McLaughlin

Apart from being an author, what's your dream job?    

Travel agent.

What's the one question you'd love to be asked but never have?  

‘Can I offer you a five million dollar advance?’

 Thanks for answering my Bookish questions Nicola, always love to hear that other people write in gorgeous hardcover notebooks as I have a collection that will last me years!

Scion of the Sun (Soul Snatchers #1) - Nicola Marsh
ISBN - 9780988340923
Publisher - Month9Books
Release date - November 5th 2013

'When she least expects it, sixteen-year-old Holly Burton’s unremarkable life is shaken to the core. A vision of the mother Holly never knew leaves her questioning everything she believes.

Eager for answers, Holly enrolls at a boarding school for highly gifted students in Wolfebane, New Hampshire. But Holly's complicated life worsens when she accidentally transports to a parallel existence where she's confronted by a dark and ancient evil.

With the help of Joss, a sexy alpha warrior sworn to protect her, and her new BFF, the equally swoon-worthy Quinn, Holly faces her fears and an unlikely adversary in a showdown that is worse than anything she could’ve possibly imagined …'

 Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | iBooks

USA TODAY bestselling author Nicola Marsh writes flirty fiction with flair for adults and riveting, spooky stories for teens.

She has published 43 contemporary romances with Harlequin, Entangled Publishing and indie, and sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Her first mainstream romance BUSTED IN BOLLYWOOD was nominated for Romantic Book of the Year 2012. Her first indie romance, CRAZY LOVE, was a 2012 ARRA finalist.

Her debut young adult novel, a supernatural thriller BANISH, released with Harlequin Teen August 2013, and her YA urban fantasy series kicks off with SCION OF THE SUN, November 2013, with Month9Books.

She’s also a Waldenbooks, Bookscan and Barnes & Noble bestseller, a 2013 RBY (Romantic Book of the Year) and National Readers’ Choice Award winner, and a multi-finalist for a number of awards including the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, Booksellers’ Best, Golden Quill, Laurel Wreath, More than Magic and has also won several CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards.

A physiotherapist for thirteen years, she now adores writing full time, raising her two little heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, and her favorite, curling up with a good book!

 Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway Information

One (1) Print copy of both Scion of the Sun by Nicola Marsh and Endless by Amanda Gray and one (1) $15 Starbucks Gift Card (US only)

One (1) ebook copy of both Scion of the Sun by Nicola Marsh and Endless by Amanda Gray (INT)

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Blog Tour - Six Months Later Review & Interview

Welcome to my stop on the tour for the fabulous Six Months Later by Natalie D Richards hosted by The Fantastic Flying Book Club and check out all the other amazing blogs taking part here!

Six Months Later - Natalie D Richards
ISBN - 9781402285516
Publisher - Sourcebooks Fire
Release date - October 1st 2013
Find - Goodreads / Book Depository / AmazonUS (eBook) / AmazonUS (paperback) / Barnes & Noble / Indiebound

Chloe didn't think about it much when she nodded off in study hall on that sleepy summer day. But when she wakes up, snow is on the ground and she can't remember the last six months of her life. Before, she'd been a mediocre student. Now, she's on track for valedictorian and being recruited by Ivy League schools. Before, she never had a chance with super jock Blake. Now he's her boyfriend. Before, she and Maggie were inseparable. Now her best friend won't speak to her.

What happened to her?
And why can't she remember?

I love reading thrillers/suspense/mystery novels, as there aren't that many around in YA fiction when you do find one that sounds so original you just know it's going to be good and Six Months Later was no exception! When Chloe wakes up Six Months Later her world has changed beyond all recognition. She's gone from average student to A-grade student applying to all the best colleges, from a huge crush on the best looking boy in school to being said boy's long-term girlfriend, but worst of all, her best friend no longer wants anything to do with her. The first few minutes of waking up and realizing her world has changed were both satisfyingly creepy and wonderfully brought to life, it was truly horrifying for Chloe to discover that she really had gone to sleep in summer and woken up in winter. Even worse, realizing that the one person you want to call, that knows you the best, no longer appears to be part of your life and having no idea why. Right from the very beginning I had all sorts of weird and wonderful explanations about what had happened to Chloe, the truth was certainly not what I was expecting it to be but what an amazing idea. The whole story kept me guessing, just when I thought I'd worked out who was a good guy they turned out to be the bad guy and vice versa! 

There were some real 'love them/hate them' characters but one of the things that impressed me most was that Chloe's parents were very much involved in her life even if if they didn't appear to be much help at times which doesn't seem to be the norm in most YA books I've read over the years. I adored the character of Chloe from the beginning, not sure if it's because of the great writing but she came across as so real. I loved how even though she was confused and in danger for much of the book she kept on pushing to find out what had happened and what was still happening, even though her parents and so-called wonderful boyfriend kept insisting there was nothing wrong, with Chloe or themselves. I also adored Maggie, the best friend, who had gone through so much already during Chloe's 'lost' six months. I love that she made Chloe work to renew their friendship and to earn her respect again, that she didn't let Chloe waltz straight back into her life again. The other character that I really liked was Adam, the bad guy - or is he? I loved how he was there for Chloe, letting her lean on him even though he didn't want her to and wanting to help her knowing that he had his reasons for holding back. Thankfully any confusion over what he may or may not have done is cleared up by the end of the book so there are very few loose ends. Not so much a loose end but I would love to hear more about Julien, a girl from Chloe's class who obviously went through the same things as her and ended up moving away from her home. Who knows, maybe that would make a great novella???

Between the characters, the storyline and the beautifully descriptive writing Six Months Later kept me glued to the pages until the last one was turned, I read it in one sitting finishing about 4am the following morning so that's how much I liked it plus I desperately had to know who was really involved and why. I loved the twists and turns, the ups and downs, the thinking you've got it all worked out only to be proved wrong on the very next page, even the romance which was completely realistic - they all added up to one fantastic read. Six Months Later will no doubt feature in my top books of 2013 list, if you only read one YA thriller this year make it this one.

About Natalie:
At seven, Natalie D. Richards wrote about Barbara Frances Bizzlefishes (who wouldn't dare do the dishes.) Now she writes about awesome girls, broody boys, and all things dark and creepy. Natalie lives in Ohio (Go Bucks!) with her techno-wiz husband, three amazing kids, and a seventy pound dust-mop who swears he's the family dog. Her psychological thriller, Six Months Later, will be released on October 1, 2013 by Sourcebooks Fire. Until then, you'll probably find her writing her next book or trying to wade through the towers of dog-eared paperbacks that have taken over her bedroom.
 Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Natalie was kind enough to endure the Spanish Inquisition and answered a few bookish questions I had to ask her!

What books inspire you?

I like your wording, here!  I'm fortunate enough to write in a genre overflowing with amazing things to read.  But when I think inspiration, I think about the books that actually changed me--they grabbed me by the chin and shifted my perspective.  Books like John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, Barbara Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible, Jay Asher's 13 Reasons Why, Gayle Forman's If I Stay....those are the ones that changed everything for me.

What authors inspire you?

I admit, this one is impossible.  Writers, in general, inspire me.  Since I'm lucky enough to call many of them friends, I'm inspired pretty often!  But for your purposes, I'm going to go with writers that possess a voice and creativity that blows me away.  Hope that's okay!  

If I listed them all, I'd be here all day, but the list would never be complete without Neil Gaiman, Libba Bray, Suzanne Collins, Maggie Stiefvater, Laurie Halse Anderson, and my amazing blog-buddy for this tour, Romily Bernard.  

What's your favorite childhood book?

A Light In the Attic, The Hobbit, Jumanji, Frog and Toad books, and absolutely anything and everything by Dr. Seuss.  My baby nursery was Dr. Seuss.  And it was AWESOME.  

Do you like to listen to music whilst writing?  If so, what sort of music?

Yes, I do!  And boy do I listen to an oddball mix.  The xx, Florence & The Machine, Placebo, and Lana Del Rey were frequent repeats on my playlist for Six Months Later.  I tend to like music that's pretty dark and broody when I'm writing.  Music that sort of swallows me, if that makes any sense.

What's the last book you read?

Dare You To by Katie McGarry, I think.  Not positive though.  I've been reading a lot lately.  Dare You To is beyond awesome, for the record.  Go. Buy. Devour.

What's the last book you bought?

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han.  And I really want to read it, but work has to come first.  Dang it.

Apart from being an author, what's your dream job?

I really can't imagine doing anything else.  I usually go with editor or writing teacher.  Though it might be cool to own a bookstore, too. I'm sure I'd get SO much work done.  ;-)

What's the one question you'd love to be asked, but never have?

Hm....I'd love to be asked "Would you mind if I sent you these really cool pajama pants I found with Chewbacca/Blade Runner/Wile E. Coyote/insert-nearly-any-geek-character-here printed all over them?"

The answer would be, "Yes, Please!  I'll send you my size!"

Seriously, though, it's hard for me to think of a question I'd love to be asked, because I think bloggers are a heck of a lot better at it than I am.   My blogger interview questions have been a blast, and have managed to stump me a few times -- which is the mark of greatness in interviews, I think!

Fi, thank you so much for having me!   I'm so thrilled to be here! 

Natalie, thanks so much for writing a fabulous debut novel and for giving some great answers to my questions, if you should ever find the perfect geeky pajama pants feel free to send a pair my way ;) Last but not least, here's an amazing chance for lucky readers in the US/Canada to win a signed copy of the book & some promo goodies! The giveaway ends on October 3rd 2013, good luck!

Question of the Day

If you woke up Six Months Later who would be the first person you called?


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