Author Spotlight: Interview with Judith Price

1.  Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

SUDDEN DECEPTION: A JILL OLIVER THRILLER The protagonist, Jill Oliver, is a contemporary American heroine—a fresh new take on the popular type of action hero previously embodied by Jack Bauer of the hit series “24” and the characters of Tom Clancy, James Patterson and other bestselling authors.

2.  How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

The first novel plot is about deception.  I've added deception in all three series titles

3.  Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

I love all my characters.  I would have to say Leila is one of thembecause she says what's on her mind.  Something that most people in real life struggle with.  Right now I am engrossed in Matthew McGregor as he is a psychopath and a serial killer.  I surprise myself that I can give him a voice and he scares the hell out of me.

4.  How about your least favorite character?  What makes them lessappealing to you?

Stan Brown.  Why?  Spoiler Alert.

5.  If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be? Why?

The editor I first hired to proof read.  I've since had to hire another more thorough editor.

6.  Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

Some of the scenes are actual locations that I have viewed myself.  Some seem almost unrealistic.  Trust me, I live in the Middle East and they exist.

7.  Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

I think my creative mind is my talent.  Sometimes though I live in my stories and right now I am writing about a serial killer and it scares the crap out of me some days.

8.  How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

www.judithprice.com

9.  What can we expect from you in the future?

MATTHEW MCGREGOR: A JILL OLIVER THRILLER is due out in March.  INDECENT DECEPTION: A JILL OLIVER THRILLER will be out this summer/fall 2012.

10.  Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writerstrying to get published?

It was an expensive journey to self publish, I'd budget for this and then tweet tweet tweet.

11.  Is there anything else you’d like to say? 

I'd really like to hear from the good folks that read my story regarding who their favorite character was and why?

12.  And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

Prologue

00:33 Zulu Time—Somewhere in the desert outside of DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

“Finish, khalas,” he heard a man say in Arabic. “It’s after 4 a.m. and it will be light soon.”

There it was again—talking. In Arabic.

His left eye was swollen shut. He tried to focus his right eye as he lay in the warm sand. He couldn’t see past the glare of the lantern which hung on a pole stuck in the sand beside him. His right eye winced shut when the hard boot cracked another of his ribs. Grains of sand burned his skin like a lit cigarette as they hit his open wounds. Only the release of a breath numbed the pain. A bead of sweat dripped onto his dry tongue, stinging his split, purpled lips on the way down. He licked them anyway.

 

He could hear no sounds from the brightly lit city of Dubai here in the dark desert. No honking horns or colorfully lit buildings typical of the steel and concrete metropolis. There was no refuge here, no friends in the desert. He could only see silhouettes of men reflecting off the sand, and their boots. Even falling in and out of consciousness, he could recognize military-issued special ops boots anywhere. He tried to focus. The talking grew louder, shouting now; he had to think.

   

Just move, he ordered himself. Now. 

   

He moved his hands ever so slightly. Nothing. They were stuck together at the wrists, bound tight. He couldn’t feel his legs—or could he? He shifted, as if to shiver. The sharp crystals of sand felt like razors against his raw skin. He was naked. His groin ached, but he couldn’t recall why. Then a moment of hope: His legs were not bound.

   

He searched for cognition.

  

Move. Survive …

   

But it was too late. Strong hands gripped his ankles, pulling his body fast; the sharp sand granules ripped his skin. His teeth jarred together each time his chin hit a rock. The large man hauling him across the desert's merciless landscape stopped, and before he could figure out what was happening, he was flipped onto his back. His hands dug hard into the sand underneath him. Thick fingers smelling of gasoline pried open his mouth. He choked as a mitt-full of sand was shoved into his mouth and down his throat.

   

“We must end this,” another man said in Arabic.

   

He understood Arabic and recognized this man’s voice.

   

Bastard.

   

He needed to survive. He coughed and spat, trying to breathe, gagging. A bright light swiveled closer and glared into his one open eye, blinding him. For a second, he thought he heard a whisper.

   

Whoosh! The smell of gasoline sizzled his nostrils. Then the pain began to soften as the light faded into blackness.

* * *

Thank you Judith for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com

Publishing my Newest Novel (And why that is so Scary)

As usual, it has been far too long since I've posted anything from my point of view (some of you might call that a blessing . . . ;)).  But all joking aside, the reason I've been so neglectful of late is because I have just recently finished and released a brand new book.  No, it isn't the fourth book in my Oescienne series (which still needs a title and whose completion will be one of my summer goals).  The book I'm talking about is titled Faelorehn and it is the first novel in my new, paranormal/supernatural, young adult urban fantasy series named the Otherworld Trilogy.

Now you might wonder at my title choice for this post; my suggestion that publishing a new book might be scary.  Well, there are a few reasons why launching this book made me a bit more nervous than publishing my last three (all of which were in the Oescienne series).  However, am I also very excited about this new book?  Absolutely!  I can't wait to get feedback from my readers, and I'm eager to work on getting the second book ready for publication (just need to edit it ;)), but in the back of my mind and in the pit of my stomach, I know I've got a mild case of New Author Jitters going on.

Just so you understand why I should feel this way (after publishing three books and one collection of short stories in the past several years), here are some explanations:

1.) The Otherworld Trilogy is a brand-new, never been tested series . . .

Was I nervous and terrified when I published The Finding (Book One in the Legend of Oescienne series)?  Of course!  I had no idea how readers would react to my book.  Would they love it?  Hate it?  Not even read a sample of it?  It is natural for any indie author, I think, to be at least a little bit unsure when releasing their first book into the world.  I am more comfortable now with releasing the subsequent Oescienne books because I now know that my readers are looking forward to them.  Despite the experience I've gained over the years with regards to self-publishing (I am no novice, but I am by no means an expert either), I still felt that flutter of uncertainty when I clicked that submit button for Faelorehn on my epublishing sites.  It is a whole new world of unknown characters, plot twists and concepts.  I'll be nervously tapping my foot and drumming my fingers on my desk until I get some feedback from those who have been so kind as to give my book a chance. 

2.)  Faelorehn falls under a very different genre and setting than my other books . . .

Okay, okay, I'm stretching it a little with that one . . . but not by too much.  The Oescienne books and the Otherworld Trilogy are both fantasy series, they both feature a female protagonist, and they both contain Celtic elements (with the Otherworld Trilogy it is much more obvious; with Oescienne it is more subtle).  The Otherworld series is different in that where the Oescienne books are middle-grade, epic fantasy, Faelorehn is a young adult, paranormal/supernatural urban fantasy.  Also, where my Oescienne books are well over 100,000 words each, Faelorehn screeches to a halt right around 70,000 words.  Finally, the main setting for Faelorehn is in this world, in modern times, and only towards the end of the book do we get a sense of another, Otherworldly setting.  As you can see, I'm testing new grounds here, so yes, I'm a wee bit antsy.

3.)  Faelorehn was written from an entirely different perspective than the Oescienne series . . .

I saved this one for last because, in my opinion, it is the most dominant factor that sets Faelorehn apart from my other books.  I've written, and plan to keep writing, the Oescienne books from the third person perspective.  Faelorehn, and all the Otherworld Trilogy books, are written from a first person point of view.  I am a big fan of third person: I find it easier to write in and I believe the reader can get a sense of what other characters are thinking and feeling.  However, Faelorehn, and I should really say Meghan's story (after all, she is my protagonist and she is the one telling it), came to me in first person point of view.

Why should this make me nervous?  Well, like I said above, I've never tested this perspective out before.  Why not just switch it to third person then?  A few reasons, actually.  First, I tried to change the story from first to third person, but it just wasn't having the same delivery (and it was even suggested that I try reverting to my third person ways by a friend).  I struggled with it for about a month, but it just didn't seem right to me.  And secondly, I kind of relish the challenge of writing in first person.  My book has only been live for a week now, so it is far too soon to discover if I've succeeded or not; time will tell.  But I'm hoping that even if my first person perspective falls short of my third person skills, the story will still shine through.

Perhaps my fears are unfounded and irrational (actually, I'm sure that they are :)), and despite all my misgivings, I am one hundred percent happy with Meghan's story and where she has taken me.  After the Otherworld Trilogy is complete, I'd like to work on some future books that tell the story of the characters from Faelorehn and the next two books in the series.  For the time being, I can see those ones being written in third person.  Is it because I am uncomfortable with writing in first person?  Nope, I think I'm starting to like it actually.  The truth then?  Meghan's story just wanted to be told from her perspective.  As an author, I don't always feel absolutely in control of the stories; I'm the vessel from which the words pour forth.  In this case, I get to live through my character as opposed to tagging along for the ride.

That being said, I hope you take a moment to check out Faelorehn.  You can visit The Otherworld Trilogy here on my site and read the first chapter and the blurb, or you can download a sample at amazon.com or smashwords.com as well.   Until next time, happy reading!

-J.E. Johnson

Author Spotlight: Interview with A. Meredith Walters

1.  Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline: 

Irresistible Fear is the first book in The Redeeming Trilogy...the dark story of a girl, a boy, and a love that could destroy them both.

2.  How did you come up with the title of your book or series? 

I played around with titles for a long time...but ultimately my book is about facing your fear, being drawn to it despite your instincts that scream to the contrary...it's about desire and need but also deep bone chilling fear that contradicts rational thought.

3.  Who is your favorite character from your book and why? 

I'd have to say my favorite character is the villain, Lilith.  Yes, that Lilith from biblical folklore.  I've written her as something more than a villain, she's at time sympathetic and you can understand what motivates her actions.

4.  How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you? 

Probably my main character's boyfriend Jeremy.  Yes, he's likable and supportive but he is so opposite from the hero, Tavin, who is dark and passionate.  Jeremy is more vanilla...and I'm just not a vanilla kind of gal.

5.  If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

I wish I could have added more in terms of the relationship between my villain, Lilith and her son.  It's an interesting dynamic and one that I wished I could have explored more...but the pacing and timing of the book made it hard to squeeze in.

6.  Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series: 

I got the idea for my book literally while in the bathroom.  I was taking a bath and my mind was drifting as it does and it hit me.  This story about a sad, depressed girl who is borderline suicidal, who is horribly abused and this supernatural boy who loves her and is in fact drawn to her because of it.  Though if you think about it, most great thoughts happen in the bathroom LOL!

7.  Do you have any unique talents or hobbies? 

I can twist my foot almost entirely around.  It's my fun little party trick that never fails to gross everyone out.

8.  How can we contact you or find out more about your books? 

My email address is ameredithwalters@gmail.com, or you can visit my facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Meredith-Walters/311504738868378

9.  What can we expect from you in the future? 

Well, I'm working on the next book in my Redeeming Trilogy, Frantic Hope...but I also have two new books that I plan to publish soon.  One is a modern re-telling of the Deidre of the Sorrows myth from Ireland and the other is another paranormal romance about a banshee.

10.  Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published? 

Just stick with it!  It's better to reach just one person than none at all.

11.  Is there anything else you’d like to say? 

Writing for me is an escape...I just hope everyone loves the journey as much as I do!

12.  And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us: 

"Her mind was racing, sweat pouring off her body in torrents.  She could hear the sound of her tennis shoes slapping against the pavement as she ran.  Her rapid steps echoing like gunshots through the quiet November night.  She felt her grip on sanity slipping.  Something was after her, she knew it!"

* * *

Thank you A. Meredith for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com

Author Spotlight: Interview with Nick Steckel

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

My book's title is Dead of Night, and it's about zombies in Nazi Germany.

2. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

It comes from the Depeche Mode song off their album “Exciter”. It's also the name of the virus that causes the outbreak of infected monsters.

3. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

It's an answer that will get weird looks from people, but Joseph Goebbels would be my favorite, simply because of the ethical turnaround he makes from Nazism through the book. My other favorite would be the fictional character Abraham Weiss, a young Jew stuck in the collapsing Berlin. He's entertaining to write for and I like his status as an outcast in a society that makes a rapid transition from totalitarianism to anarchy.

4. How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?

Adolf Hitler. I imagine it's pretty obvious why

5. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

I'd make the action scenes less repetitive. There's too much “see zombie, shoot zombie, run” in it.

6. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

Technically, the monsters in Dead of Night are not zombies. Zombies are corpses brought back to life. The monsters in Dead of Night, called Tinten (German for “inks”) are closer to what you see in 28 Days Later, people infected with a virus.

7. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

Nothing that absolutely nobody else has, but I do enjoy swimming and reading when I'm not writing.

8. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

Go to my blog at http://www.nicksteckel.blogspot.com, visit me on Fictionpress at http://www.fictionpress.com/u/434494/Nick_Steckel or email me at nicksteckel@yahoo.com, or add me on Facebook.

9.  What can we expect from you in the future?

I'm working on a new draft of an apocalyptic epic called And I Feel Fine. It should be released some time in late 2012. Just in time for the real apocalypse. =)

10. Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

Readers: Yeah, read my books. =) No, seriously, if you want to read, read what you like. Don't listen to what public schools say about reading classics or only things with “literary merit”. If it looks good, read it.

Writers: Keep writing and keep reading. That's really all there is to it.

11. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

If my books look good, give them a shot. Who knows, you might like what you've read?

12. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

No one would have guessed that the beginning of the end for the Third Reich would come on a brisk November day in 1937 or that it would come from within the crown jewel of Germany itself: Berlin.

Andreas Brauer woke up that morning in his large home in the Berlin locality of Grunewald. He opened his eyes and rose from his bed, heading to the bathroom for the usual routine. Brush his teeth, wash his face, and head down from the bedroom to the kitchen and have a small breakfast before checking on the experiment he was running in the cellar.

He finished up in the bathroom and headed downstairs. Alexa's poodle was sitting on the kitchen floor, hoping for a slice of bacon or two soon. Brauer never could find it in himself to be cruel to an animal, despite what he'd done to many humans over the past several months. His father had been cruel to the animals at the farm he grew up on, but he was cruel to everyone. Brauer still held scars of his father's abuse. Still, that was all in the past. Brauer was a surgeon now, or had been until January.

January 15, 1937 was one of those days that Brauer would remember forever. He started the day a respected surgeon. He was enjoying a calm moment in his office at the hospital in downtown Berlin when a high-ranking Oberführer had been rushed into the operating room after suffering a heart attack. The nurse had informed Brauer and he immediately prepped for emergency surgery. He scrubbed and the nurse helped him into a surgical gown. After instructing the anesthetist, he got to work.

The patient however, had died on the spot. He discovered that in his haste, he had ordered the wrong anesthesia. The Oberführer was allergic to that particular chemical, and Brauer knew he had just accidentally killed a high-ranking member of Hitler's SS.

The SS were not pleased with the matter. Heinrich Himmler himself had confronted Brauer the next day and informed him that they believed Brauer had intentionally murdered the Oberführer. Brauer had never formally joined the Party, mistrusting their extremism. He was a respectable German conservative, one of the old Prussians and believers in Germany from back in the Great War. He'd been in medical school during that war, and as such was unable to fight out in the front lines.

Brauer vehemently denied that he had killed the Oberführer intentionally. It didn't matter; Himmler pressured the hospital to fire him and destroy his reputation. Ever since, Brauer had been at loose ends looking for something to do. No hospital would hire him, so he began thinking about profiting through other means.

During his studies at the University of Bonn, he had written a dissertation on the viability of future modifying of viruses for the purposes of biological weaponry. Back in the 1300s, the Tatars had attacked a besieged city with bubonic plague-infested corpses. Smallpox-ridden blankets were distributed to Indians in America during Pontiac's Rebellion. It was the logical next step in warfare. During the Great War, chemical weapons such as mustard gas were used, and Brauer believed that if a second such war were to be fought, it would likely involve engineered viruses and bacteria. The dissertation was well-received, though the concept frightened the committee when he gave his oral defense.

He found his copy of the dissertation a couple months after being fired from the hospital, and it rekindled a desire he knew he'd had for a long time. His father's abuse had long caused him to be tormented by violent thoughts. He often wanted to just kill the nearest thing to him. The anger was a nightmare, and though he had no trouble controlling it in his behavior, thoughts were a different matter altogether. Now he wanted to create the first true biological weapon and sell it to the highest bidder. He wasn't about to let the Nazis have it, not after what they'd done to him. Perhaps the Soviets would be interested, or maybe Britain or the Americans. He'd heard the Japanese were doing similar experiments with diseases being tested on Chinese civilians. If the Japanese can do it, why can't I?

His first experiments began that spring. Late in April, he'd kidnapped a young German girl from the Grunewald forest by dressing as a Gestapo officer and convincing her that her parents were plotting against the Nazis. He lured her to his home and immediately infected her with samples of rabies. She died six days later. The Nazis blamed her disappearance on the Jews, but they blamed everything on the Jews. Brauer was a large, Nordic-looking German. He had nothing to fear from the Nazis anymore.

After writing down the results in his diary, he set out to kidnap more people and test modified versions of rabies on them. Most were young girls, though four of the test subjects had been boys. Alexa Stein had been his twenty-first victim.

He had kidnapped her yesterday. She was fourteen, the very image of what Hitler and his Nazis saw as the perfect German. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. If the Nazis ever do manage to bring their thousand-year Reich over Europe, she would go far there. After restraining and anesthetizing her, he infected her with the black liquid sample of a the newly engineered Dead of Night virus. The Dead of Night was his nickname for what he was certain would be the final product he would sell to whoever was interested. The virus turned the blood it touched pure black, hence the name Dead of Night. It acted similar to rabies, driving those infected to near-mindless insanity.

The girl had been out with her dog, a fluffy white poodle, and Brauer kept it as a companion. It was housebroken, which pleased the surgeon. The dog was lying on the kitchen floor and raised its head at Brauer's approach. It ran out of the kitchen once it saw him. He chalked it up to just one of those things and started fixing breakfast. He had no sooner cracked the eggs into the frying pan when he heard the terrified screech.

* * *

Thank you Nick for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com

Author Spotlight: Interview with K.R. Jacobsen

1.  Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

Omni, the first book in the Debate Team series, is a contemporary fantasy set in present day Southern California: A government agency so secretive it doesn't have a name collides with Ryan Sutter. With powers that defy reality, they must find those responsible for wreaking havoc on the city.

2.  How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

I'm terrible at coming up with titles, but I was fortunate enough to have my muse strike. Both the title, Omni, and the series name, Debate Team, come straight from the book. In Omni, some of the characters have abilities or powers that defy the laws of possibility, and Omni refers to those with multiple powers. The series name, Debate Team, is an inside joke that is used to refer to a team of characters who operate for the unnamed government agency.

3.  Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Choosing your favorite character is like choosing your favorite child: how can you pick just one? Well, perhaps that's taking it a little far, but if pressed on the matter I'd choose Malone. He's gruff at times, but I enjoy his dark sense of humor. He also pushes Ryan to better himself, and isn't that what we all want from our friends and colleagues?

4.  How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?

My least favorite character is likely one or two that were taken out of the final draft! I do, however, have one in mind that is the least likable one, but to reveal names might spoil things (hey, it's another cop-out answer!).

5.  If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?  Why?

If I could change one thing, it'd require a DeLorean, a flux capacitor, and some plutonium! Quite simply, I would have published Omni sooner, but that would require traveling to the past to tell my then-self that the publishing world is being shaken up and it's time to change your thinking.

6.  Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

This is a story that's been kicking around inside my head for years. It started well over seven years ago with a single scene that'll appear in book two or three (I'm not sure which yet). After trying to figure out what everything was about and why people had abilities that defied the laws of science and reality, I sat down to write this story a couple of years ago. It's been a very organic experience and I'm excited to get the next books in the series out (book two is roughly 25% complete, while I have the outline for book three written).

7.  Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

While I'm proficient in a variety of small, useless skills, I'm also a less-than-terrible drummer. Every week a group of friends all convene at my house and we play music for a few hours (we play everything from David Bowie to Metallica to Social Distortion to Black Sabbath and so on). It had been a long-standing goal of ours from well over ten years ago to do this, but it only came together when we started playing Rock Band (yes, the video game) and I transitioned from plastic drums to real ones. At the time, we had roughly six guitarists between us, but no one capable of playing any other instrument (yes, I was one of those guitarists, but I was beyond terrible!). Playing drums is a lot of fun, a great workout, and a heck of a stress reliever, not to mention how rewarding an experience it is to play music with others.

8.  How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

The easiest way to chat me up is to visit my website at http://krjacobsen.com where you'll find a link at the top that says "Contact Me". I also have a twitter presence, along with Google Plus, and begrudgingly, a Facebook page. However, I use those in a sliding scale of infrequency and generally stick to posting on my blog once every few weeks or whenever something particular strikes me. I  invite everyone to visit my site and contact me.

9.  What can we expect from you in the future?

At the moment, I'm in the revision stage of my next book, an untitled dark fantasy that I hope to have available in the first part of 2012. Cover art for the book is in production, and as soon as I finish my revisions, it'll go to the editor. This book is closer to what I usually write about--sword and sorcery fantasy--but is a bit darker than other things I've written. I'm hoping to get the second book in that series out before the end of 2012, but that may be slightly ambitious.

As I mentioned before, I'm also at work on book two in the Debate Team series. I'm exploring a couple of changes with that series in terms of expanding perspective and story, but I'm really enjoying where it's taking me and think others will also enjoy getting to know some of the characters a little better. I'm hoping to have book two finished and available by spring of 2012, and am really hoping that book three will be available by winter 2012. It's a lot of work, but I'm up for a challenge!

10.  Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

The publishing world is a whole new beast now compared to six months ago, let alone a year ago or two or so on. Six months from now, it could be entirely different all over again. The best advice one could give is to do your homework. Six months ago I was still convinced that getting a traditional publishing contract was the way to go, but now I clearly don't think that. There's a lot of opportunity in the current market thanks to the rise of ebooks, and now is the time to dive in.

11.  Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Thank you for the opportunity to reach a few folks about my books and what's happening in my world. Writing is one of the absolute, unconditional true loves in my life and is something I've been doing for more than half of it. I invite everyone to visit my website and feel free to contact me about anything at all: http://krjacobsen.com

12.  And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

“What the hell…” Ryan navigated the shelves and stopped short twenty feet of the door. The lights hit the glass at just the right angle to be blinding, but as the occasional person walked in front of the vehicle and dimmed the glare, he thought it looked like the police. But why would the police be gathering around a library, especially when it wasn’t even open yet for the day? Certainly no one had called to complain about the internet crowd. They may have irritated him, but they generally kept to themselves outside and didn’t cause problems.

Ryan turned and went into the back and found a couple of his coworkers looking out of the window in the break room. Emergency vehicles zipped by with lights flashing but no sirens.

They stared outside and Ryan broke the silence.

“What’s going on out there? There’s a bunch of cops right outside the front door, and one even parked there.”

Neither of them turned to regard him, but Cassie Cox spoke quietly.

“I… I think some of the police have their weapons drawn.”

“That’s not standard issue for patrol, either.” Thomas took a drink of his coffee without looking down at it and continued to look outside. He held the mug in both hands like a sacred object. “That one’s carrying an AR-15. Definitely not standard issue for patrol.” He took another sip, his gaze intense as he stared out of the window.

Ryan looked from one to the other then looked out again. A couple of police cars stopped and officers emerged from either side carrying shotguns and assault rifles. The pairs went different directions, and it looked like one was headed for the front of the library before they passed out of sight of the window.

“Do you think there’s something going on at city hall?” Ryan put his nose up to the glass and turned his face to look to the side, past the park to city hall, but he couldn’t see anything through the sea of vehicles and bodies, and the flashing lights.

“Something big, whatever it is. Those guys don’t suit up like that to get a sleeping bum to leave the park.”

Ryan looked at Thomas, calm and matter-of-fact with his coffee, and then noticed that Cassie was shaking just slightly. Her eyes darted as she looked out of the window and she hugged herself tightly.

Ryan, about to make sure she was okay, instead turned when he heard unrecognized voices coming from somewhere outside the break room. Cassie and Thomas seemed intent on watching the window so Ryan went to the door and looked out. Cops, several of them, were walking through the back offices in that irritating way that cops seemed to have when they thought they belonged somewhere they didn’t. They were talking on their radios at the same time and he couldn’t pick out their conversations. However, they appeared to be making their way toward the break room.

One of the cops shoved past Ryan to get into the room. Ryan fell back a step and bumped into a wall, and he withheld his protest when he saw some sort of submachine gun in the officer’s hand. Thomas’s words ran through his head.

Another of the cops walked into the room and went to the window, a submachine gun hanging on a hook at his side. The officer that shoved past Ryan looked up at the library employees. “We’re taking over this building. Get your coworkers and bring them to the back where we’ll give you more instructions.”

That shook Cassie awake. “What’s going on? Why do you need the library?”

* * *

Thank you K.R. for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com

Author Spotlight: Interview with Marie Symeou

1. Quickly, give us the title and genre of your book and a 30-word or less tagline:

FROZEN IN TIME, historical fantasy/vampire romance

"An engaging vampire story of love, loss, immortality and what constitutes humanity"

2. How did you come up with the title of your book or series?

Well, vampires are frozen in time as they do not age. Also, it relates to something else in the novel I can't reveal because it would be a spoiler.

3. Who is your favorite character from your book and why?

Philip, the main character. He is a complex character and was fun to write. I liked him the more I wrote his story and as I got further into his head.

4. How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?

I don't think I have a least favorite character. They were all fun to write and I believe they are all interesting in their own unique way. Even the villain Scylla. I enjoyed exploring her character and how she came to do the things she does.

5. If you could change ONE thing about your novel, what would it be?

I don't think there's anything I really want to change. I've worked so hard at getting it the best it can be. I'm happy with it.

6. Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book or series:

Philip's wife in the novel, Amaranthea, was originally called Amalthea. But then my favorite band Nightwish released a song called Amaranth and everytime I came across Amalthea in my novel as I wrote it, Amaranth kept popping into my head. Then it became Amaranthea. Now, Amaranth comes from the Greek word amarantos, meaning "unwithering" and so it is a flower that never fades, never dies,and symbolizes immortality. Great for a vampire novel, right? In my novel it stands for the soul's immortality as well as eternal love. It's not a new idea, of course. Amaranth has always been used as a symbol of immortality since ancient times.

7. Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?

Well, I sing and write songs. I also have a natural affinity with animals and am studying to be an animal healer/communicator.

8. How can we contact you or find out more about your books?

http://mariesymeou.com/

http://marie-deepthinker.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/#!/marie_p_s

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Symeou-Author-Singer/119520001398734

My novel links:

Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005NW1XHO/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_03y-ob123838Z

Amazon US

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005NW1XHO/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

Booktrailer

http://youtu.be/0njTkzIUBvM

9. What can we expect from you in the future?

Two more novels in The Chosen Ones Series, a cat memoir, perhaps screenplays of my novels, and of course, more songs.

10. Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?

For readers, don't stick to just one author, there are so many to choose from. And please give indie authors a chance, don't just read what publishers want you to read.

For writers, the main thing is believe in yourself and make your book the best it can be. Never give up.

11. Is there anything else you’d like to say?

I'd like to mention my other novel which is not a historical fantasy or anything to do with vampires and the paranormal. AGE OF DREAMS is the first book I wrote and so it's quite semi-autobiographical. 

Here's the blurb and link.

"A gripping coming of age drama of fame, addiction and love, which takes the reader on an unexpected and deeply absorbing journey.

It's the 1980s and Nicola James' dream of becoming a famous singer has come true. But the pressures of the music industry combined with the emotional baggage from her childhood turn her dream-come-true into a nightmare.

On a soul-searching journey, which takes her to hell and back, Nicola must find a way to conquer her troubled past and decide who she really is, and what to love and being loved truly means."

Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Age-of-Dreams-ebook/dp/B005SE2VMS/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2

Amazon US

http://www.amazon.com/Age-of-Dreams-ebook/dp/B005SE2VMS/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_t_1

12. And now, before you go, how about a snippet from your book that is meant to intrigue and tantalize us:

From FROZEN IN TIME

Prologue 

Philip could not believe his eyes. His Amaranthea. Sweet Amaranthea - a temptress in the silver moonlight.

He felt as if he were in a trance. Perhaps all the wine he had consumed had gone to his head. Trying to blink the vision away, he realized this was no alcohol-induced apparition. No, this beauty was alive. Solid. As clearly defined as the craggy rock at his side, a glorious sight clad in a scarlet cloak.

Strange mysterious music rang out as she called his name. Bewitching. Caressing.

'Come my love, be mine.'

Without a second thought, he took her jewelled hand and let her lead the way along the rocky mountainside.

The air was thick with dust. Down below in Darius' camp the flames from the torches outside the tents glowed brightly, flickering in the light breeze. Alexander had instructed his men to monitor Darius' every move and nothing should have deterred Philip. But Amaranthea was his life.

Had been his life.

He wouldn't even be in this war if it had not been for her. In all honesty, it meant nothing to him. He cared not whether he lived nor died.

Amaranthea led him to an opening buried deep within the jagged rock. Philip hesitated, turning to glance back at the campsite he had just left behind. Through the hazy air he could see in the distance the masses of tents where the army rested for the night. They had all feasted well, as if tonight was their last, in preparation for tomorrow's battle. By walking away, he had betrayed them all. Betrayed Alexander.

But the life of a soldier didn't suit him. The thought of the terror and bloodshed he witnessed made him want to vomit. He had no real desire to kill anymore. And yet he had. So many times. It was what he was paid to do. But there were also times when he simply wished that an enemy spear would soon put an end to his misery.

Amaranthea's voice drew him out of his dark thoughts, 'Come, my love,' she said, the breeze catching her long red hair.

He turned towards her, meeting her dark gaze. How could I have wished to die? he thought. We are together again.

They stepped into the vast cave. It was pitch black, but as Philip followed her she seemed to glow, lighting his way up ahead. Philip blinked in astonishment at the network of passages that clearly came into focus.

As they walked the light illuminated something. Philip jumped back as the figure of a winged serpent with a woman’s head leapt out at him. The cave was painted. Walls covered in images, both beautiful and terrible. Recoiling, Philip caught the image of a serpent woman devouring the head of a child.

'Why have you brought me here?'he asked.

No reply. He paused, staring at the figure of Amaranthea walking steadily ahead of him. More paintings of monstrous creatures and women with half-serpent bodies, of winged maidens and warriors with snakes and torches in their hair came to view.

'Why have you brought me here?'he asked again.

Still no answer, but he could not help but follow Amaranthea towards a welcoming gleam of light. The sound of gently plucked harp strings floated in the air towards them, a melody so calming to a man whose ears had grown accustomed to the cries of war.

On entering the chamber, the intense heat hit Philip’s face. Fires and torches blazed brightly. Shadows from the flames danced on the ochre-painted walls, and fragrant oils burned - awakening his senses to memories of times long passed. On the ground, he noticed a scattering of rose petals. Whatever this dwelling-place was, he soon began to feel at ease.

Amaranthea guided him towards a large bed draped in shiny silk of crimson and gold. Philip sat his aching body on it. He so longed for a good night's sleep. To lie back on those sumptuous cushions.

Amaranthea stood before him, holding his gaze. Her dark eyes flashed. Removing her scarlet cloak, she let it drop to the ground. Naked, her pale skin glistened in the glowing torch light, her red hair cascading over her shoulders. Philip had never seen anything so beautiful. So perfect, like a goddess. Overwhelmed with desire, he pulled her to him...

They made love. He had waited a long time for this.

'Amaranthea,' he cried.

Then everything changed. She hissed like a snake. Alarmed, Philip opened his eyes and to his disgust, he found himself staring into a pair of red demonic eyes. This was no longer Amaranthea but a strange woman that hissed like a serpent. In place of Amaranthea's slender hands, sharp claws reached for him.

He tried to move away but it was too late. Something sharp pierced him in the neck and he felt his blood oozing out from the wound. He roared with pain. The creature pinned him down and began to suck his blood, licking and devouring it. He grew weaker. Then once again, he heard Amaranthea's sweet voice.

'My love, you are dying. I will give you back your life if you promise to be with me always. Until the end of time. I will not let the gods take you from me. You are far too beautiful for that. But you must be mine. Always. You will never love another. Do I have your word?’

He could barely speak. 'Yes.'

Blood gushed into his mouth. He tasted it and hungered for more.

As more hot blood flowed into his veins, his heart throbbed strongly, its pulse heavy in his ears. He shuddered, felt cold, shivered. His eyesight began to flicker. Images of his life flashed before him. His childhood. His mother. His brothers. His wedding to Amaranthea …

* * *

Thank you Marie for taking part in my Author Spotlight interview! I hope your writing continues to flourish and we hope to see more of you in the future.
*****
If you or an author/illustrator you know is interested in being interviewed, feel free to send me an email at jejoescienne@yahoo.com