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I have been unwell, I will be back to regular posting very soon, like with in the week soon :)

Interview With Maria V Snyder

Dont forget you can win a copy of the two released Healer Series books Touch Of Power and Scent Of Magic HERE

Maria V. Snyder is an American fantasy author best known for her Study Series of books. Her first  ovel, Poison Study was published October 2005, and won the 2006 Compton Crook Award for Best First Novel.

Thank you for finding time for this interview, How are you?

 Thank you for inviting me onto your blog! I’m doing well and keeping busy with writing and my family.



What are you working on at the moment?

 I’m working on Book 3 of my Healer series, Taste of Death. I have about 80% of the first draft done, but like all my books, it’ll need some revisions before it’s ready for my readers.



Is Belen going to be okay?

 Well, I don’t want to spoil anything for my readers ;)



How many books will be in the healer series?

 Three.



How different was the writing process of The Healer Series and The Study series?

 My writing process is pretty much the same for all my books. What’s different is the research. For the Healer series, my research focused on medical and healing information as well as guerrilla and biological warfare. I also had to be careful I didn’t repeat any of the problems/solutions that I’ve done in my other books and series – trying to come up with unique plot twists and characters gets harder the more books I write!



So many amazing Novels are being made in to Movies or TV shows these days, which one of your books would you like to see on the big screen most?

 I think Inside Out would translate to the big screen the best. It has all the elements, action, mystery, romance and a cool setting to make a good movie. Plus it would be cheaper to produce because everything happens inside that big metal cube J Poison Study would be better for a TV series since it has a more complex plot and setting.



I read somewhere that you used to be a Meteorologist, are there any similarities in the two careers?

 Yes. Both take years to master and both have to follow the laws. The weather follows the laws of physics and nature and writing the laws of fiction. I presented about how storms and magic are very similar at the Library of Congress and wrote a blog...can’t find a link – sorry! Another similarity is both have to follow logic – even if I create the world and the magic in the world, they must stay consistent and make sense within my world – just like the weather.



Do you have a favorite book?

 Of mine? I’d have to say Poison Study because it’s my first book so it has a special place in my heart. But Spy Glass is another favorite as it was the most difficult to write and I’m proud of how it turned out. And Inside Out was a fun book to write and I loved Sheepy and the twists at the end! Okay, I could go on – there are aspects of all my books that I’m proud of J If you’re asking about another author’s book – that’s harder to answer as I’ve many favorites. Here are a few: Soulless, by Gail Carriger, Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card, The Gate to Women’s Country, by Sheri S. Tepper, Rot and Ruin, by Jonathan Maberry.



Out of all your characters who is your favorite?

 Janco from the Study/Glass books. He’s just fun to write and I love how he views life.



What do you do when you are not writing?

 I’ve two teenagers, so I’m often running them to their activities or watching their games – they both play volleyball and soccer. When I do have time, I also enjoy playing volleyball (it’s a family sport), taking photos, making jewelry and reading, of course J



Do you have any advice for up and coming Authors?

 Yes, lots! Persistence and patience are important for all writers. Learn the craft of writing as well as the business of writing and attend writer’s conferences and classes if you can. Consider that time an apprenticeship. Be wary of predators, if someone is asking you for money proceed with the utmost caution. Get feedback on your stories from fellow writers before submitting. Joining a critique group is very helpful. I also find that if I let a story sit on my desk for a few weeks I can pick out all the problems, typos and inconsistencies easier. And I agree whole heartily with Stephen King’s advice in his book, On Writing. He wrote, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” And don’t give up! Ever!

I also have more writing/publishing advice on my website if you’re interested. Here’s the link: http://www.MariaVSnyder.com/advice.php


Thanks for your time Maria

You’re welcome! If your readers would like more info about me and my books, I have the first chapter of all my books on my website as well as a number of free short stories they can read (including stories with Yelena, Valek, Ari and Janco). Here’s the link: http://www.mariavsnyder.com And my blog is: http://officialmariavsnyder.blogspot.com

Interview with Kim Faulks

Raised on a staple diet of Stephen King and Dean Koontz I fell in love with the darker styles of writing. I started writing at a young age but quickly realised that I lacked an important ingredient, life experience.

Now I have this in spades.

I am firstly a Mum and a wife and second an Author of Dark Fantasy/Horror, although sometimes I'm sure my family feels it's the other way around. I live in Queensland Australia and work full-time. Writing is my passion and a dream and I'd love to share it with you.

1. Tell us a little about your book.

Well, my next novel is, End of Dreams, Book One of The Immortal Destiny Series which will be released at the end of next month is a Dark Fantasy novel. It centers on my two main characters, Adley and Eve. The below blurb probably covers it better than anything I can come up with:

End of Dreams, Book One of The Immortal Destiny - a heart-pounding, dark paranormal novel which that will tip you off the edge of your seat...

An ancient prophecy is coming to fulfillment and events are being played out across the globe by two opposing factions of immortal beings. The fragile, divine balance of all things is at stake, and the world is the ultimate prize.

Drawn into this battle are two unlikely players - Eve, a young woman whose unexpected pregnancy has brought her to unwanted immortal attention, and Adley, a brave detective whose desire for justice against a vicious madman has thrown him into a brutal game of cat and mouse.

Against a background of universe changing events and an ensemble of vivid, unforgettable characters Eve and Adley will begin to learn the truth of The Immortal Destiny.

2. How did you come up with the title?

The title for the series came to me pretty well straight away, but the title for book one was a little harder to find.

3. What inspired you to write this book?

The inspiration for this book came from a short story I wrote a while ago. I had a vision that it was more than the few thousand words it started out as and I wasn’t wrong. It’s now over 90,000 words!

4. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I would love readers to come away with the sharing the love of my characters, the love for each other and the love for complete strangers. There are those that sacrifice everything for the idea that the world will be better, that there will be something to leave for the generations to come. This story was written with them in mind.


5. Do you have a favorite line or scene from your latest release?

I have so many, but one character in this story has touched me on so many levels, so I will share her with you:

The Angel Azarel has come, Rashda. It is time.

Rashda closed her eyes, exhaled and opened herself up to her gift of a Seer once more. The words of The Mistress of Shadows rang true inside her heart. The resonance of those words had watched over her for hundreds of years, now they were about to come true.

A vision of the Angel Azarel appeared before her, his presence alone demanding. His body was made of flesh and bones. A mortal’s body. Although like hers, this was far from the truth. His wings spanned the breadth of the tunnel behind him. The rustling of feathers sounded like whispers, enticing her closer with the secrets they held. Death rode on those black wings. Death, destruction, and ultimately creation, as the prophecy foretold. A prophecy she had guarded alone for hundreds of years, but not anymore. That time has now ended and the battle of survival begun.

Rashda turned away from the vision, instead reaching out to touch the words of the prophecy. She ran her fingers over the words carved into the heart of The Mountain Lythe while the angel waited before her. Flesh and Blood against Eternal Life. The war for survival will be fierce and many will fall. But be warned, that when the dust settles only one will remain.

The language had been carved by hands that were no longer of this world and had not been for many lifetimes. How she wished she could have known them, those bloody, calloused hands that spent so many years gouging into this unforgiving rock, desperate to convey this message. This message had now come to life and he stood before her now. Rashda could only hope that The Family would survive.

6. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I loved the idea of writing from a younger age. I tried it and failed. I didn’t think about it until a few years ago when my husband encouraged me to join a local writers group. I started writing and haven’t stopped.

7. Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

I’d have to say Stephen King was my most influential writer. Is work really grabbed me in the way that he can draw the reader in with stunning descriptions and a seemingly effortless array of fantastic characters.

8. Have you published anything else?

I have self-published a few titles, The Fire and Ice Series consists of: Reclaimed (which is free on Amazon) Seductive Sands, Enslaved and Emergence. I will be writing the last installment in this series this year some time. I also have Hells Angel which was my first Dark Urban Fantasy novel.

9. What’s next for you? / What is your next project?

I have lots happening. End of Dreams will be released next month and I will start editing my next novel, The Secrets Room which is a stand-alone Dark Fantasy novel. I’m in the process of writing the first draft on an Erotic Pagan novel with the plans to make this into a series as well. This novel will be published through Naughty Nights Press.

10. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I’d just like to say thank you. Thank you for support, your love and well wishes. Thank you for your friendship and the messages I receive. I honestly didn’t know if what I write was something that people would love and connect with. And I am so glad to see readers who love my work reach out and tell me that they have. I value each and every one of you and my friends list grows by the day!

Connect with :

Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Kim-Faulks/126527087440714?ref=hl#

Website: 

http://dark-paranormal.com/

Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/AuthorKimFaulks

Carlyle Labuschagne Stops by

If you have been following The Book Mystress a while you will know that I am very good friends with the amazing Broken Destiny Author, Carlyle Labuschagne, she stops by today to celebrate The Book Mystress's birthday by offering a eARC for  some one who leaves a comment on THIS blog post (winner will by chosen at Random, Carlyle is also giving away a copy of her novel over on goodreads!

A Good book can go a long way. 

We crave books that suck us in, take us worlds away; transporting our emotions, moods and minds into the impossible even if it is only for a few moments. For me a good book must be adventurous, daring, thrilling, romantic, sad , sometimes scary, and very good looking. Yes I shop by covers, covers do so much for a book. But it’s the entire book, the way it’s constructed, the flow, the feel – the interior layout. I am a bookish snob and proud of it. Put all that aside what is truly needed is a good writer to spark your imagination, and once you have read a book that does exactly that, your imagination sets the stage for the enjoyment of any. I have had my fair share of books that were hard to get through, but I suck it up, lighten up and off we go. There is nothing more exciting than picking up a fabulous book that hold all the elements that make a book spectacular. Those books linger and stay with you for a while, you dream about the Hero of the story, sometimes the villain. I love good Villains, the kind that just won’t die, never gives up, are charismatic and charming. When that is all said and done, what sets a book apart from all the hundreds of thousands of great books out there? Bottom line -. The lessons, what I learnt, what I felt, the Message behind it all. There is no sense in writing a book if you’ re not going to write for something of significance. To breathe meaning into it. That is my kind of book that stays with me for a very long time. 

My list of books that will stay with me for a very long time. 

Fire by Kristin Cashore 

The Twilight Saga’s 

The Glimpse by Claire Merle 

The Hunger Games 

Books by Rae Hachton 

Novels by Casandra Clare 

The Eve Trilogy by Ana Carey 

If I stay by Gail Forman

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Broken Destiny

by Carlyle Labuschagne

Giveaway ends May 22, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Review: Scent of Magic by Maria V Snyder

Dont forget you can win a copy of the two released Healer Series books Touch Of Power and Scent Of Magic HERE

Hunted, Killed—Survived?



As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.



Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.



War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again

Review:

Scent of Magic picks up right where Touch of Power left off, and boy is it so hard to write this review with  out putting spoilers in it. . . . 
Maria has done such an amazing job creating this world. 
The friendships between the main characters seams so real and even though I'm not naturally to fond of Avry's character I do like how she will do pretty much anything to not only keep her friends and the people she loves safe and will do pretty much anything to prove that she is worthy of their forgiveness. 
It also made me think of common morals, If your best friend was two days from death and she ended up miraculously living, and told her partner to lie to you that she had actually died how would you feel?
I Think Avry while trying to think of everyone she loves can still be rather selfish. . . 
We met the northern tribe, who where lets say. . . interesting, i cant wait to see what type of role they play in book three, 
I know, my review,  its confusing , I cant say to much with out spoiling it for you and believe me you dont want me to do that but it will all make sense when you read this book and PLEASE read this book. 
Again the Maria V Snyder is amazing at creating worlds, as an author i truly admire her ability to do this, 

Thanks for stopping by The Book Mystress

Blogoversery giveaway time!!!!

Its The Book Mystress's second birthday and you get a chance to win the prizes :)

Thanks to Harlequin and Some special Author friends I am happy to be giving away the prizes below, enter to be in with a chance to win

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview Jade Kerrion `Author of When the Silence ends

Hey guys, Today we have an interview with Jade Kerrion i was supposed to have a review up for her book as well  but i haven't finished it yet, hoping to finish it this week when i get some bus time, so far so good! Dont forget to check back this week for some awesome blogoversry giveaways

Jade Kerrion, an award-winning author, got her start in fan fiction. She developed a loyal reader base with her fan fiction series based on the MMORPG Guild Wars. She was accused of keeping her readers up at night, distracting them from work, housework, homework, and (far worse), from actually playing Guild Wars. And then she wondered why just screw up the time management skills of gamers? Why not aspire to screw everyone else up too? So here she is, writing books that aspire to keep you from doing anything else useful with your time. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her wonderfully supportive husband and her two young sons, Saint and Angel, (no, those aren't their real names, but they are like saints and angels, except when they're not.)

1. Tell us a little about your book.
On the one hand, When the Silence Ends is the story of an ordinary girl, Dee, facing ordinary challenges. She holds down two jobs to pay the rent, makes sure her twin brother gets to his speech therapy class, and wonders how to pay for college. Dee, however, is an ordinary girl in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution—a world that is struggling to deal with the social and political repercussions of human derivatives: the clones, in vitros, and mutants. What chance does “ordinary” have in a world of “extraordinary” people?



2. How did you come up with the title?
Silence is a key theme in the novel. Dum, Dee’s twin brother, has not spoken ever since a shattering event destroyed their family when they were five. The novel is the story of Dum’s journey out of silence. A secondary theme is that of secrets. Danyael Sabre, the alpha empath who trains Dum, has secrets of his own, and as the story unfolds, the silence around an eighteen-year old secret comes to an end.



3. What inspired you to write this book?
Young Adult novels abound with extraordinary protagonists. I’m sure that in your travels through books, you’ve met the child of destiny who’s fated to end a war and unite two worlds. You’ve probably also met the quiet kid who doesn’t quite fit in, who discovers his amazing super powers and uses them to save the world. Of course, there’s the protagonist who stumbles upon a mysterious world that coexists alongside her reality, populated by sparkly vampires and handsome werewolves.

I’ve found two major themes running through most YA novels: the first, as I noted above, the extraordinary teenage protagonist, and second, the adults are frequently the enemy, ranging from indifferent parents to murderous despots. Neither of those observations particularly aligns with my observations of life.

So, when I set out to write a YA spin off my award-winning Double Helix series, featuring Dee and her twin brother, Dum, I wanted my readers to appreciate adults in more roles than that of the enemy. Some of them are, of course, but like the real world, there’s a vast spectrum of them; some adults even become Dee’s friends and mentors. More importantly though, I wanted my readers to appreciate the power of “ordinary.”



4. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I’d like my readers to realize that “extraordinary” is within all our grasps, and it has nothing to do with destiny, superpowers, or being loved by a vampire. Dee is the embodiment of ordinary, but she still manages to change her world for the better. If she can do it, there’s no reason at all the rest of us can’t.



5. Do you have a favorite line or scene from your latest release?
It’s hard to choose just one scene. I enjoy many of the scenes involving Jessica—the fifteen-year old alpha mutant, who, unlike Dee, isn’t ordinary, but is striving to find her own brand of normality, nonetheless. My favorite scene, however, is the very last scene at the concert when the silence ends. Several readers have reported tearing up at that scene.



6. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I started at the age of thirteen when my school essays were returned to me with a bunch of “A”s scrawled over the top. Teenagers are impressionable. Being much more impressionable than most, and believing that my teachers knew what they were doing, I figured I was destined to be a writer. It’s only taken me tens of thousands of hours of work since then to be halfway decent at writing (and I’m still learning each day), but one has to start somewhere.



7. Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Neil Gaiman is pure genius in his storytelling ability.



8. Have you published anything else?
My award-winning Double Helix series includes three books, Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon. When the Silence Ends is set in the world of the Double Helix, and readers will find that many of their favorite characters play much larger roles in the main series. My YA science fiction novel, Earth Sim, was just released as well and is currently on tour. It is a compelling and whimsical view of Earth’s history through the eyes of the two students assigned to manage our planet.



9. What’s next for you? / What is your next project?
I’m currently working on a paranormal romance called City of Eternal Night. Once I finish that, I’ll start work on the fourth novel in the Double Helix series. My plan is to release three novels in 2013.



10. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I just want to say thank you. Thank you for your support, your enthusiastic reviews, and your outraged e-mails over what I did to some of my characters. Thank you for loving them. Thank you for rereading my novels. Thank you for trusting me with your time. I do promise to honor that trust and keep delivering fantastic novels that keep you reading past your bedtime.

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Blog / Facebook / Twitter

When the Silence Ends (Blurb) 

What Amazon reviewers are saying: 5 stars! “Wow! When the Silence Ends is captivating! I laughed, I cried, but overall I could not put it down… Forget Harry Potter and Twilight. Every young adult should read this book!”

When you choose your friends, you also choose your enemies.

Seventeen-year old Dee wants nothing more than to help her twin brother, Dum, break free from the trauma in their childhood and speak again, but the only person who can help Dum is the alpha empath, Danyael Sabre, whom the U.S. government considers a terrorist and traitor.

The search for Danyael will lead Dee and Dum from the sheltered protection of the Mutant Affairs Council and into the violent, gang-controlled heart of Anacostia. Ensnared by Danyael’s complicated network of friends and enemies, Dee makes her stand in a political and social war that she is ill equipped to fight. What can one human, armed only with her wits and pepper spray, do against the super-powered mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution?

America, nevertheless, is ripe for transformation. Exhausted by decades of belligerence between humans and their genetic derivatives—the clones, in vitros, and mutants—society is on the verge of falling apart or growing up. Dee, with her sassy attitude and smart mouth, is the unwitting pebble that starts the avalanche of change. In her quest to help her brother become normal, Dee will finally learn what it means to be extraordinary.

When the Silence Ends is the Young Adult spinoff in the award-winning Double Helix series and can be read as a standalone novel.

Buy Links (e-books) 

When the Silence Ends: Amazon / Amazon UK

Buy Links (paperbacks) 

When the Silence Ends: Amazon / Amazon UK