GUEST AUTHOR: Maureen McGowan

Today, guest blogger, author Donnell Ann Bell, author of THE PAST CAME HUNTING, is interviewing YA author, Maureen McGowan about her new release DEVIANTS.

Maureen McGowan always loved writing fiction, but side-tracked by a persistent practical side, it took her a few years to channel her energy into novels. After leaving a career in finance and accounting, she hasn't looked back.

Aside from her love of books, she's passionate about films, fine handcrafted objects and shoes.

She lives and writes in Toronto, Canada where she attends the Toronto International Film Festival each year.

DEVIANTS
In a post-apocalyptic world, where the earth is buried by asteroid dust that’s mutated the DNA of some humans, orphaned, sixteen-year-old Glory must hide and protect her younger brother.

If their Deviant abilities are discovered, they’ll be expunged—kicked out of the dome to be tortured and killed by the Shredders. Glory would give anything to get rid of her unique ability to kill with her emotions, especially when Cal, the boy she’s always liked, becomes a spy for the authorities. But when her brother is discovered, and she learns their father, who was expunged for killing their mother, is still alive, she must escape the domed city that’s been her entire world.

Outside in the ruins, they’re pursued by the authorities and by sadistic, scab-covered Shredders who are addicted to the lethal-to-humans dust now covering the planet. Glory’s quests to transport herself and her brother to safety make up the thrilling and fascinating first volume of The Dust Chronicles.

"A deliciously dark, harrowing world, brightened by dazzling characters and sparkling prose." --Kelley Armstrong

"A tense thriller with a strong, beating heart at its center. Glory and her impossible choices will keep you glued to the page. I'm still trying to catch my breath!" --Diana Peterfreund

"McGowan launches The Dust Chronicles with a bang, painting her post-apocalyptic world with a dark brush and featuring a strong-willed and determined protagonist. Readers will be immediately transported to this world where businessmen rule the job-based class system." -- RT Book Reviews
“Exciting... McGowan keeps the suspense throbbing...” –Kirkus Reviews

###Maureen is running a Goodreads giveaway of DEVIANTS (only open to members in only the following countries: US, CA, GB, and AU). It closes November 9th, 2012. If you're interested in entering, click here.

Donnell:  Congratulations, friend, DEVIANTS is getting rave reviews.  And is that the most amazing cover?  The characterization comes through even in your blurb.  Shredders.  Are these zombie-like people?

Maureen:  Thanks, Donnell! The Shredders are like a cross between zombies and the reavers from the short-lived TV show Firefly. They have bulging eyes and skin that looks scab-covered—mostly because they like to coat their bodies with the blood of their victims. They are pretty terrifying, and they definitely add an element of horror to DEVIANTS, but there’s more to them than meets the eye.

Donnell:  I see a pattern here.  Glory your main character is tempted to turn on her boyfriend who spies for the authorities.  Glory’s father killed her mother.  Am I reading something into this that isn’t there, or have you got some kind of major plotting going on in this series.

Maureen: Betrayal and its effect on the heroine’s ability to trust is a major theme in DEVIANTS. There are also layers of deceptions in these stories—even more in the series’ second book COMPLIANCE, which releases May 21, 2013. Not everything is as it seems.

Donnell:  Love the concept of this post-apocalyptic series.  Tell us about the dome that protects the survivors of the asteroid that buried the human race.  And what’s on the outside that makes them want to stay put.

Maureen:  DEVIANTS is set three generations after several asteroids hit the earth. The asteroids caused major destruction, and also triggered multiple earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. After the asteroids struck, huge clouds of dust moved through the world’s atmosphere and fell to cover everything. The dust is lethal to most humans and has changed the DNA of others. It gave some affected humans special abilities or powers, and turned others into sadistic Shredders.

The story begins inside a domed city called Haven. It was built soon after the asteroids struck, by a consortium of corporations, to protect its inhabitants from the dust. The executives who led the charge to build Haven wanted to save themselves from the dust. They took what they wanted and tossed aside anything they didn’t need—including people.

Three generations later, buildings are in disrepair, there’s massive overcrowding, and a clear separation between the haves “Management” and the have-nots—everyone else.

Donnell:  Glory has the ability to kill with her emotions.  That’s an intriguing and scary power.  She’s 16 years old.  I can’t even imagine the struggle she must face.  Can you share a bit of where you got the idea of this series?  Then tell us what we can expect from The Dust Chronicles in future work!

Maureen: I agree! I think it would be terrifying to know that your emotions can kill, especially at a time in your life when emotions run high! Imagine falling in love for the first time and not being able to look into the boy’s eyes for fear you’d hurt or kill him? At the beginning of the trilogy, Glory certainly sees her power as more of a curse than a blessing.

The next book in The Dust Chronicles is called COMPLIANCE and it will be out on May 21, 2013. I don’t want to say too much more, except that it will continue Glory’s story and she’ll be put in even more danger than she was in DEVIANTS and face even bigger challenges.

Donnell:  Quite different from your kick-ass fairy tale young adults wouldn’t you say?  How fun/different was it to transition into young adult dystopian.

Maureen: DEVIANTS is similar to the Twisted Tales books in that they all have a lot of action, a lot of worldbuilding and strong heroines. But because the publisher for the Twisted Tales books wanted them to appeal to younger readers as well as a YA audience, I couldn’t make them as dark as I would have liked to. My editor kept giving me notes like—remember the nine-year-olds! (I had some great ideas for Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer that were too dark for younger teen readers.)

DEVIANTS was written for more of a true YA audience—which these days doesn’t just mean teens. More than half of YA readers these days are adults.

It was great to let loose and tell the story I wanted to tell. Today’s YA reader is sophisticated and the books are anything but juvenile. I actually think there’s more freedom in YA for authors to tell bolder, more “out there” stories than in the adult market. Plus, it’s easier to blend genres.

DEVIANTS has elements of sci-fi, thriller, horror and romance. I call it a post-apocalyptic thriller, with a dystopian setting and dollops of horror and romance.

Donnell: Congratulations, Maureen!

Maureen: Thank you Donnell! And thank you to Kylie from us both for letting us hijack your blog! 

My pleasure Maureen & Donnell - you both hosted a wonderful interview - thanks for sharing your latest release, Maureen!

You can keep track of Maureen here:
Website     Facebook    Twitter

Donnell Ann Bell is the author of THE PAST CAME HUNTING. Donnell is as at home in nonfiction as she is in fiction. She has worked for a weekly business publication and a monthly parenting magazine, but prefers her fictional writing compared to writing about stock portfolios or treating diaper rash. She has a background in court reporting, has worked with kids and engineers, and has volunteered for law enforcement and other organizations. Raised in New Mexico’s Land of Enchantment, Donnell has called the state of Colorado home for the past twenty-eight years.

From the Bookshelf...Coins of Power

Taken from the bookshelf this week is a standalone book, the first in a Young Adult series - COINS OF POWER by J.A.LESLEY. 

Author bio: J.A.Lesley has been writing for many years. After publishing two romances under the name of Jennifer Brassel (now  available through Amazon and all eBook retailers) she began writing young adult novels at the request of her daughter who wanted fantasy and adventure.

Jennifer has taught writing at local colleges and writing centers. She served as both president & treasurer of Romance Writers of Australia.

Title: COINS OF POWER (Young Adult)

Publisher: Parker-Publishing LLC.

Release Date: April 2011(1st in an upcoming series where four teens fight mythical monsters) 

Hero bio: Fifteen-year-old Cameron Sloan is new to school. His Scottish/American background has gifted him with ancient tools to fight evil but he doesn't yet know their true meaning. 

Heroine bio: Part Aboriginal Paige has just turned fifteen. Her crazy Welsh aunt keeps sending her weird birthday gifts but she has no idea what they're used for.

Interesting feature/s of this book: COINS OF POWER combines Celtic mythology and a battle of good over evil, along with first love.

COINS OF POWER

Paige loves stories about myths and monsters but she never thought she'd become part of one. When Paige's crazy Welsh aunt sends her the last in a series of ancient talismans for her fifteenth birthday gift, her whole world turns upside-down.

Cam, the new boy in school has mystical secrets too and when he sees Paige's birthday gifts he realizes his grandfather's warnings weren't nonsense, after all. Danger looms in the form of Balor and his band of sea monsters.

Along with friends Tegan and Jacko, Paige and Cam must learn how to wield their mysterious powers if they are to protect their treasures, their families and maybe even the world.

From the Bookshelf...the ONDINE series

YA author, Ebony McKenna, and her Ondine series feature today.

The Ondine books are a sparkling combination of romance and magic – perfect for teen girls. Written with genuine humour and unique eccentricity, the series is an obvious choice for fans of The Princess Bride and Ella Enchanted.
Ebony McKenna is a fantastically imaginative author whose scope and story-telling encompasses the bizarre, the mysterious and the romantic.
(Ondine series overview from Ebony's website)

Author bio: Ebony McKenna wasted a perfectly good education with her head permanently stuck in fantasy and science fiction novels instead of paying attention to the teachers. After university she spent many years in journalism before turning to writing novel-length fiction.  It took thirteen years and six rejected manuscripts before she struck gold with the Ondine series.

Ebony lives in Melbourne with her husband and school-aged son, who loves LEGO almost as much as his mum. She is going to have to grow up at some point.

Ebony: It's been a long road to publication for me. I wrote for 13 years without much luck. Then the ideas for Ondine took hold and I had to write it - if only to make my friends laugh.
I think what made the difference was that with Ondine, I didn't hold back. I poured everything I had into the book and wrote it for the sheer joy of it. Only when I'd finished did I think it might stand a chance out in the world. Even then, who would fall in love with a ferret hero?
This is the book that finally landed me an agent, and a publishing deal. The team at Egmont UK did a sensational job and were a dream to work with. 

Series: Ondine 
Title/s (in order):

1. THE SUMMER OF SHAMBLES
2. THE AUTUMN PALACE

Publisher: Egmont UK & Commonwealth and Hardie Grant Egmont Australia & New Zealand.

Series overview: Fifteen-year-old Ondine is set to have a perfectly normal summer when her pet ferret, Shambles, starts talking with a Scottish accent. Shambles is really Hamish the lad. He offended a witch and she cursed him a good one! Ondine will do anything to break the spell so that Hamish can be a real lad again.
First book and sequel are on sale and I'm madly writing the trequel.

Heroes & Heroines: Ondine and Hamish/Shambles drive the story.

Ondine is feisty, headstrong and prone to mistakes. She lives in her family's pub and is no stranger to hard work. She had two older sisters who amuse and frustrate her, and parents who want the best but can't help treating her like the baby of the family.

Hamish is a rogue and a charmer, living in reduced circumstances thanks to that witch's spell. Oh, and did I mention that witch happens to be Ondine's great aunt?

Hamish steals the show, but ferrets are like that.

Series extras: Not many novels have footnotes, but the Ondine novels do. They're set in the fictional European country of Brugel, a former Soviet Bloc country that hasn't quite made the full transition into the modern world. 

Blurbs:

Aust/NZ cover

There were two covers for the first Ondine novel. The Australian & NZ cover features the gorgeous sparkly bud lighting that reflects a turning point in the story when Ondine first sees Hamish in the flesh. (My favourite scene).

The UK and rest of Commonwealth cover features a stronger image of Ondine and a diminutive silhouette of Shambles the ferret.

UK/Commonwealth cover

 ONDINE - THE SUMMER OF SHAMBLES
"What is the point in falling in love with a man if he turns into a ferret when the moon goes down?"
15-year-old Ondine de Groot lives with her family in the European country of Brugel. She has a pet ferret called Shambles. But Shambles is no ordinary ferret... He's Hamish McPhee, a boy cursed by a witch. A witch who happens to be related to Ondine.
When Shambles turns back into Hamish temporarily, Ondine knows that she has to help him break the spell. He is the most gorgeous boy she has ever met and her one true love! He just can't remain a ferret forever. Can he?

Book #2 has the same cover in all territories: 

ONDINE - THE AUTUMN PALACE
One boy, one girl, one plot to be foiled!
Hamish the gorgeous man (and part time ferret) has a new job with the Duke as a spy in his Autumn Palace. So Ondine goes with him. She imagines a hugely romantic escapade together that involves lots of kissing.
What she hadn't imagined was having to do endless laundry, go to school and keep Hamish the man a secret. All the while trying to find out who is plotting to kill the Duke.
And if that weren't bad enough, it seems that Hamish is more interested in getting the Duke's attention than hers. Plus he's always in ferret form. Things can't go on like this!
Can Ondine foil the would-be assassin, save the Duke and get her man back in gorgeous human form? It's going to take a little bit of magic, a lot of stolen kisses and some ferreting around... 

Website link/s:
Ebony's books are available at:

The Book Depository (free worldwide postage)
Amazon US  Amazon UK  Amazon Canada
A&R Australia  Booktopia  Borders (Aust.)

The novels are also available as e-books, geographically restricted to the UK and Australia. (Sorry about that!)
UK readers     Australian readers

You can also keep track of Ebony's going's-on at her blog (Ebony: I'm often posting about writing and sharing epiphanies along the way. Please drop by and say hello!) and her website.

FAIRY BAD DAY give-away winner announced!

Thank you to everyone who commented and shared with us their nice or nasty paranormal creature!

Everyone who did this had their name put into my dragon coffee cup and one was drawn out.

Congratulations goes to...

Anonymous

(July 3, 3011 9:55 PM)

(Kaz Delaney)

Please contact Amanda - ashbyholt(at)yahoo(dot)com - and she'll arrange for the copy of FAIRY BAD DAY to be sent to you.

Happy reading! 

GUEST AUTHOR: Amanda Ashby

A change of pace for this interview - time to ask some new questions for a different slant from those in my hot seat.

My guest author today hates bananas, loves Joss Whedon (don’t we all?!?!), collects old handbags, makes the best coconut, cream cheese and cherry muffins, is a football nut (soccer, not rugby, league, Aussie Rules or gridiron) and believes David Boreanaz is a God.

Now for the more official version of her bio…

Amanda Ashby was born in Australia, has spent eight years in England and currently lives in New Zealand. When she's not moving country, she also likes to write books (okay, she also likes to eat chocolate, watch television and sit around doing not much, but let's just keep that amongst ourselves, shall we?).

She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children.

As well as writing, she works part-time at the children/teen desk of her local library, which basically means that someone pays her to talk about books.

Her debut book, YOU HAD ME AT HALO was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her current book ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEWBURY HIGH was listed by the New York Public Library's Stuff for the Teen Age 2010 as well as being nominated for the YALSA popular paperback 2011.

Amanda, welcome back to my blog! It’s great to see you again. She visited back in January this year, if anyone wants to go back and read that interview.

Let's get the low down on her latest release.

ABOUT THE BOOK... 
Title – FAIRY BAD DAY (out July 9th in the USA, and July 27th in Aust/NZ).

Setting – YA contemporary/paranormal.

Hero – Curtis Green.

Heroine – Emma Jones.

Scene you would never cut - The library scene when Emma and Curtis both have their chins on the desk while they are talking to each other.

Something your hero or heroine would never do or say - Emma would never say ‘eek, I’ve broken a nail’ and Curtis would never say ‘I hate you.’

What's one quirky thing about your hero/heroine?

Emma is pretty serious so I would say that her quirkiest feature is her self-delusions!! As for Curtis, right now his quirkiest thing is his adorable half smile and the fact that he’s got a broken leg and has to get around on crutches!

What do you think the readers will like about this book?

It’s nice and light and won’t make their head hurt. Plus the cover is really very adorable!

Book blurb –
While most students at Burtonwood Academy get to kill demons and goblins, fifteen-year-old Emma gets to rid the world of little annoying fairies with glittery wings and a hipster fashion sense. She was destined to be a dragon slayer, but cute and charming Curtis stole her spot.
Then she sees a giant killer fairy - and it's invisible to everyone but her! If Emma has any chance of stopping this evil fairy, she's going to need help.
Unfortunately, the only person who can help is Curtis. And now, not only has he stolen her dragon-slayer spot, but maybe her heart as well! Why does she think it's going to be a fairy bad day? 

What's next for you?
I’ve got a Mid Grade trilogy that should start coming out next year as well as another YA novel that is scheduled for late 2012 or early 2013, plus I’m really excited about the projects that I’m working on now so watch this space!

ABOUT YOU...
Favorite movie of all time – Toss up between Star Wars and Clueless (which again explains a lot about me as a writer!)

Favorite fairytale - Anything by Hans Christian Anderson.

Favorite story to disappear into - I’m a big Raymond E Feist fan and every year I look forward to a new book so that I can disappear back to Midkemia (and Kelewan since I’m just about to re-read Daughter of the Empire!).

Favorite TV program - So many that I couldn’t possibly pick one! I’m a massive fan of Buffy/Angel/Firefly as well as Deadwood, Skins and Friends.

First book you remember reading - When I was ten I remember reading Trixie Belden and THE HOBBIT in close succession (which is sort of a weird mix, but explains a lot about me as a writer!!!!).

Dog or cat person (or other) - Equal opportunity! Cats are so smart but dogs are so cute!

Author (living or dead) you'd most like to meet - Georgette Heyer or Jane Austen. Or both!

A romantic retreat for you would be... Sand. Water. Wine and a distinct lack of children (my own I mean, because while I love them dearly, it’s nice to have a break sometimes!!!).

What do you do to unwind or relax?
I try and walk for an hour everyday and it’s the perfect way to right the world and listen to music all while getting rid of the sneaky Twix bar that I no doubt ate for breakfast!

What era would you like to time travel and visit? And why?

Regency England, which is of course ridiculous because I’m sure it doesn’t look like a Pride and Prejudice set, but I’m stubborn so I really want to see for myself what it was like!

What does love mean to you?

Love to me is actions not words. It’s easy to say lots of fancy things but I prefer to see those words put into something physical and concrete – both in real life and in books/movies.

Amanda, thanks for being such a sport and answering all my questions. Here's to a FAIRY BAD DAY flying off the bookshelves (groan, yeah - OK, so that wasn't the best pun invented)!

Good news is Amanda has one copy of FAIRY BAD DAY to give away (open internationally) - woohoo!

**Keeping in with the theme of FAIRY BAD DAY, share with us your favorite paranormal creature - nice or nasty - and why you like it.**

All answers put in by Wednesday, 6th July 2011 (noon Aussie time) will go into the draw. Just in time for FBD's release on the 9th (USA only - for Aussie/NZ'ers we have to wait until the 27th July).

Amanda's other books:

You Had Me At Halo

Zombie Queen of Newberry High

  
Amanda's website has excerpts and more details about her books.

Who's That Girl? interview with Cody Young

Cruising across The Ditch, you get to learn about another Kiwi, folks! Well, actually she's an import but...I'll let Cody tell you all about herself...

Name? Cody Young.

Where are you? I’m in Auckland. I’ve lived in New Zealand since I was a teenager, but I’m from the UK. I was born in the New Forest – which sounds very romantic – but actually it was a perfectly ordinary little hospital. 

How many years have you been a member of RWNZ? I’ve been a member of RWNZ for three years, and plan to join all the others (RWAustralia, RWAmerica), if they’ll have me.

I know I wouldn’t be published if I didn’t belong to RWNZ – all the encouragement and advice from other writers has been invaluable.

I found my publisher, Embrace Books UK, through a call for submissions in the RWNZ newsletter. 

What genre/s do you write? Historical romance and Young Adult fiction. My novella, SCANDAL AT THE FARMHOUSE, is out now.

Who are your favourite authors? Charles Dickens is a big favourite. Jane Austen. Shakespeare. Yes, I know, golden oldies. Marian Keyes, Lee Child and Ruth Rendell.

In the romance world I like Anna Campbell, Lisa Kleypas and Diana Gabaldon. 

What inspired you to write romance? I went to get some advice about becoming a writer from British playwright Tony Parker  - he came to our local library one snowy evening when I was seventeen.

I told him I wanted to write plays full of ‘social comment’, but at home, under my bed, was my work in progress – a story about an English girl falling in love with a Russian guy at the Olympics.

Eventually I must have realised that I wanted to write romance. One of these days I’ll finish that story, too. 

Who's your dream agent/publisher? I don’t know. I already have my dream editor – Jane Holland – she’s an author herself, and she’s the daughter of prolific romance writer Charlotte Lamb. Jane is incredibly knowledgeable, and she has helped me to take my writing to a whole new level. 

What's the best thing about going to conference? Our conferences are the highlight of my year. I learn so much every time – but I’d have to say the best thing is being with my writer-friends and making new ones. I wonder if that should read ‘writer-fiends’ …they all write so fast! 

My greatest strength as a writer is... my determination to succeed. It isn’t easy taking the knocks and the rejections, but if you don’t get back up and send out the next manuscript, you’ll never get to enjoy the successes. 
A sexy hero needs to be... good-looking enough to catch your eye, witty enough to make you laugh, and wise enough to know when to shut up and move in for the kiss. 

Cody's twins...

My latest work in progress is... a full-length novel set during World War Two. The hero is a handsome RAF pilot who has been badly injured, and he’s afraid he’ll never walk again. Before his accident he was a real Romeo so he thinks his life is over. He is wrong. He falls for a fiery young Irish girl who is working as a servant in his house, but she is determined to resist him and all the other men in the village. It’s been great fun to write.
My best writing milestone to date is... finishing a full-length manuscript in three months – the housework may have suffered a little, though! I have four-year-old twins and they need lots of love and attention so I have to plan my writing around them. 
When I write I like to... block everything else out and write as fast as I can before the inspiration disappears or the twins fill the vacuum cleaner hose with water.

You can follow Cody on her blog.

Winter Rose winners!

Congratulations to my fellow RWAustralia members who took out their respective sections in the Yellow Rose RWA "Winter Rose" contest!

(This is the contest I took out 2nd place in paranormal section last year.)

• Bec Skrabl - The Devil of Whitechapel (Paranormal section)
• Bec Sampson - Alli's Playground (YA section)

Must be something about the first names...

Go, Aussie, go!

Who's That Girl? interview with Shea Berkley

We're headed inland USA today to meet another fellow 2010 Golden Heart® finalist. 

Name? Shea Berkley
My kids call me "Hey, lady."
My husband calls me "Woman, where's my supper?"
I think I've been kidnapped, but the authorities assure me this really is my family.

Where are you? At this moment in time I'm in my loft typing away at revisions that for some odd reason my editor is insistent I do.  I don't get it.  She bought the book.  Why would she want me to change the perfection that it is?

Okay, tongue out of cheek. (maybe not all the way, but mostly)  I live in the Northern Hemisphere in a little place called the United States of America in an obscure state, New Mexico which most Americans don't even know is part of the United States.

I kid you not.  I live with said aforementioned husband (aka my sugar daddy). Against our country's wishes we've produced five children whose sole mission in their collective lives is to make me insane.  They just haven't realized I was crazy enough to marry their father ... so HA! on them.

Stunning New Mexico landscape

Oh, New Mexico! I traveled through there...(mumble, mumble)...years ago when I was twenty after taking part of an exchange program with Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania.
I loved the stunning landscape, particularly around Albuquerque (and of course, a hop, skip and a jump away in Arizona is the Grand Canyon)!

The Grand Canyon, AZ

How many years have you been a member of RWA® America? I'm not sure.  A while. More than ten years.  I think they want me to forget I belong, but I keep sending them my dues and they grudgingly take them.

What genres do you write? I started out writing nonfiction and then got the bug to write fiction. My first foray was in historical romantic fiction.  I lived in England at the time and was just soaking in the history so it seemed like a no brainer.  Over 200,000 words later and a sweetly worded rejection from Avon, "You've got to be kidding me this is seriously way, way, way too long."

I switched to contemporary romantic fiction and finaled for the first time in the Golden Heart® contest.  It was fun, but I realized I was not romantically inclined enough to write straight romance, so I then turned to writing Fiction with Romantic Elements and finaled in my second Golden Heart® contest. Fun again. Then I decided, because I read so many Young Adult stories (yeah, I've got a Peter Pan complex) I'd try my hand at writing YA and I finaled for the third time in the Golden Heart® contest.  Super fun.

Between all that, I wrote a story called TORREIN: AGE OF FEAR, a epic coming of age fantasy.  For a long time the market for epic fantasy was dead.  Then my agent found an amazing publisher that loved my story and bought it.  TORREIN: AGE OF FEAR will be released November 2011 with Variance Publishing.  Super fabulous fun!!!

Who are my favorite authors? Oh, I'm a fickle girl.  I usually fall into a mad crush with the one I'm reading. Suzanne Collins is spectacular.

Then there's Sharon Sala. Bernard Cornwell. Dean Koontz. Darynda Jones. Melissa Marr. Lisa Gardner. Jordan Dane. Susan E. Phillips. Lesley Kagen. Sarah Addison Allen. Holly Black.

See?  I could go on and on and on...

Hmm, I don't think you're fickle at all, Shea! It looks like most writers recognise and love a good story, doesn't matter who wrote the book. So it's logical our tastes and favorites will change over time!

What inspired you to write romance? I read, a lot.  I've always loved romance.  People love to be in love or find love or remember love or defend love.  But we're playing by the truth game today, well sort of. Not everything I'm telling you is strictly 100 proof truth, but a lot of it is. You figure out what's real and what isn't. (big, fat grin)

But what I'm about to tell you is true.  I'm not much of a romantic.  I love romance, but I can't seem to be romantic.  I'm more interested in playing and making out than being romantic, so when I sit down, I have to force myself to think in a way that is in direct opposition to how I view life.  But I get points for trying, and sometimes I actually pull a miracle from my sweet ... ahem ... gluteous area and please my agent with a romantic scene.

Who's your agent? I have a dream of an agent, Laurie McLean for the wonderful Larson and Pomada Literary Agency.  She's got my back. Love her dearly.

Ohh, Laurie was one of the agents I had on my top ten list! Good on you for snaffling her, she sounds like a gem!

What's the best thing about going to conference? Hands down, meeting other writers. It's a geekfest of talking story, structure, character and motivation.  I get all blushy and my heart speeds up when I think about it.  Sadly, I won't be attending the 2011 RWA conference in New York, but I wish I were.  (sniffle, sigh)

And lastly, finish these statements...
My greatest strength as a writer is...umm, I don't know.  I've never thought about it.  Seriously, I don't want to think about it.  If I know, I might freak myself out because I'll know I can always do better and then I might freeze up and then, well, I'd be an unhappy, woman sitting in the corner sucking my thumb and rubbing my blankie against my cheek.
A sexy hero needs...to act confident, look good and make me laugh, then make me cry, then make me want to know more after I read The End.
My latest WIP is about...I can't tell you, but I can say it's a Young Adult novel that my agent is soo excited about she's getting a little demanding, which is a good thing even though it makes me crazy at times.
When I write I like to...have copious amounts of coke. The soft drink not the narcotic.  I also eat chocolate. Every day.  That's right.  I'm an unhealthy writer.  What of it?  Seriously, if I didn't do kickboxing everyday, I'd be enormous.  Other than those two things, I like to snuggle my feet under my dog and pray she doesn't pass gas. Don't judge her. She has tummy issues.
My best writing milestone to date is...signing a contract was pretty dang awesome, gotta say.  But my biggest writing milestone is convincing my husband that if I got a "real" job, I'd probably only get fired for doing something inappropriate ... like singing to a customer, or shouting out BINGO just cause, or pretending to be pregnant and that I'm going into labor.  (I sorta, kinda, mighta done all those things before). That he agreed made me a tad annoyed that he'd think I was that juvenile, but then I realized he'd said I could stay home and write.  Booya!  I win!

Shea's latest YA is THE MARKED SON and will be released from Entangled Publishing in August 2011.

If you'd like to learn more about her, she has a gorgeous website with more information about her and her books.

Who's That Girl? Interview - T.G.Ayer

Today, please welcome Tee, another Kiwi and RWNZ'er!

Hi Kylie, I feel honored to be in the company of such wonderful writers.

It's great to have you here, Tee! 

Name? My pen-name is T. G. Ayer aka Tee.

Where are you? I currently live in Auckland, New Zealand but I hail from Durban, South Africa.

How many years have you been a member of Romance Writers of New Zealand? March 2011 will be a full year with RWNZ. A decision I will never regret.

What genre/s do you write? I am currently writing paranormal YA, and have a YA mythological drama on the back burner. I hope to also complete a historical romance based in my home country in the 1700's.

Who are your favourite authors? For YA Melissa Marr and Cassandra Clare and Alyson Noel, Maria v Snyder. Paranormal - Nalini Singh, Marjorie Lui. I also love horror - Koontz. King and Saul. And a secret passion for crime Tess Gerritsen being my current fave.

What inspired you to write romance? I don't write specific to the romance genre BUT romance is such an integral element in any popular written work it's hardly possible to write a novel that's love-free! It's definitely a key element around which my stories grow.

Who's your dream agent and/or dream publisher? I would love to publish with Harper Teen or Walker Books. As for an agent, I'm still on the lookout for one who would love my work and me, too. :)

What's the best thing about going to conference? Conference is like injecting inspiration drive and determination straight into one's veins. My first experience was so amazing I'm still not sure when I'll come down from the high!

I'm still amped and now looking forward to the 2011 conference. It's the amazing people you meet, all the inspirational stories, being able sit side-by-side with published authors, meeting agents, editors, publishers. I've made true some fab friends out of conference too.

And lastly, finish these statements...
My greatest strength as a writer is...my imagination. It's always in control and when it wants out I have no choice but to write.
A sexy heroine needs...courage and fire. Even if she is a damsel in distress she most certainly has to have fire in her blood and a dagger in her boot!
My latest WIP (work in progress) is about...an angel who accidentally ends up as the Ruler of the Underworld. This WIP is Greek mythology meets Nephilim aimed at YA readers aka Hells Angel.
When I write I like to...listen to music anything from melody Gardot to Linkin Park! - depends on the scene.
My best writing milestone to date is...the completion of my very first novel in the space of 8 months. I also completed Nanowrimo 2010 and wrote my first draft for my Hell's Angel WIP and am hoping to complete this novel by the end of February 2011.

You can follow Tee's blog or her on Twitter (Storymage).

Tee, thanks for answering my questions. It's been great having you here!

GUEST AUTHOR: Amanda Ashby

Amanda Ashby was born in Australia, spent eight years in England and currently lives in New Zealand. When she's not moving countries, she also likes to write books for young adults.

Her debut book, YOU HAD ME AT HALO was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award, and her current book ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEWBURY HIGH was listed by the New York Public Library's Stuff for the Teen Age 2010 as well as being nominated for the YALSA popular paperback 2011.

Please welcome first time visitor, young adult romance author, Amanda Ashby.

When did you start to write and how long did it take you to be published? I tinkered with writing for a few years but didn’t get serious until 1999 when I first moved to the UK. I then wrote about twelve manuscripts before finally selling in 2005.

Of course along the way there were tears and tantrums and multiple genre swapping, but in the end I sold the right book at the right time for me (I’m a majorly slow learner so if I’d sold my very first book I think I would’ve struggled to adjust to it all).

Are you a panster or plotter? Is it your characters or your plot that influence you most? What's your writing process from start to finish when writing a book? I’m a panster, with a capital panster, though infuriatingly enough I often don’t get a character or a plot to guide me. Normally I start with a small slither of an idea and then have to feel my way around in the dark to try and decipher what that slither of an idea really means.

When I first started writing, I found my process very trying—especially all the re-writing that it involved—but these days I’m a lot more accepting of it. Sure I would love to be organized and not have to cut about a third of what I write, but now that I know I do finally find my story in the end, I’m happy to accept it.

Because of this, my books often start out fast as I get all excited about what’s going on. Then I hit a certain point where it all falls apart and that’s when I need to do a lot of work trying to uncover the real story from the false trails. However, once I finally nail that, then the final part of the book is normally pretty quick because everything is in place.

Can you tell us about your new release? FAIRY BAD DAY is out in the US next June with Puffin.

Blurb: My life seriously couldn’t get any worse.

First, my rightful designation of dragon slayer is STOLEN right out from under me by Curtis Green. Sure, he’s really cute, but that doesn’t give him an excuse.

On top of that, I am assigned to slay fairies. I know what you’re thinking—how hard could it be, right? Wrong! These menacing beasts with their tiny hipster clothes and mocking sarcasm love taunting me. And they won’t STOP!

But the thing that tops my list of stuff to ruin my day? That would be the GIANT KILLER FAIRY that I have to hunt down and slay because I am the only one who can see it. There is someone who can help me. Unfortunately…it’s Curtis.

It’s going to be a fairy bad day.

What’s the worst writing mistake you ever made that taught you a valuable lesson? After I sold my first book, I started on another one but I didn’t want to send it to my agent until I knew what the story was about (see above notes on my pansting process).

My CP (yes, Sara Hantz you were right) kept telling me that I should run it past my agent first, but I was too worried about it not being right so I kept on writing. So anyway, by the time I got to 50k I finally knew what was happening and sent a two paragraph blurb to my agent about it. It was a no! She just didn’t feel it was right for the market.

That was such a shock, especially since I was desperately trying to establish my new career. It was a big lesson to me on how to work with my agent. Now I send her a blurb before I even start the book to see if she likes the concept or not.

Thankfully that half-written book wasn’t wasted since I totally stole the world building and used it in my upcoming book, FAIRY BAD DAY (which started life as another book entirely but my agent hated the idea and loved the title so we had a little brainstorm and a new book was born!).

So my valuable lesson was that if you’re lucky enough to nab yourself a smart, savvy agent who you trust, then work with them, don’t work against them!!!!

What’s the most unusual book you’ve read that’s made a lasting impression on you? The Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula LeGuin is probably the book that has made the biggest impression on me (there were more books in the series but they didn’t have the same effect on me as the first three books did).

What's next for you? What are you working on? I’ve just finished a mid-grade trilogy that should be out sometime in 2012.

It’s about an eleven year old girl who accidentally gets turned into a djinn the day before she starts sixth grade and then has to learn to deal with her new powers, while keeping it a secret from her mom. Oh, and her djinn guide happens to look like Zac Efron’s older brother and is addicted to Cheetos!

Do you have any advice/handy tips/craft skills you'd like to share with unpublished authors? In a way, being an unpublished author is the best way to really discover who you are as a writer and what kind of stories you want to tell because there are no expectations on you, so my advice is to enjoy this part and not be so desperately attached to the idea of being published.

My other advice is to really hold onto that belief you have that one day you will sell a book, because that will be the one thing that helps get you though the rejections and the self-doubt.

Oh, and eat chocolate, because that always makes everything more fun!

Amanda, thanks for joining me today!

Amanda's other books:

You Had Me At Halo

Zombie Queen of Newbury High

You can read more about Amanda & her books on her website. She's also on Facebook, Twitter, or you can read about her on her blog.

GUEST AUTHOR: Barbara Binns

Today, my guest author is fellow Unsinkable, 2010 Golden Heart® finalist, Barbara Binns. Welcome to my blog!

Tell us, who is B.A.Binns?
B. A. Binns, that's the name I use for my YA novels, although my plans are to distinguish my adult novels (when I finally launch them) by using my given name. Since I'm concentrating on one genre at a time, B. A. works for now.

From what part of America do you hail?
I'm a Chicago area girl, born and raised. I went away to college at UW Madison and Michigan State in E. Lansing, then lived and for a brief time in Virginia and Washington D. C. before returning.  Of course, every year this time I wonder why I'm not in Florida or southern California.

How many years have you been a member of the Romance Writers of America®?
I joined RWA in 2007. And now I'm a member of several chapters, including Chicago North, WisRWA, YA RWA, The Golden Network and Rose City Romance Writers.  I am also pleased to be part of the Unsinkables, the 2010 Golden Heart® finalists.  (As you can tell, I'm a joiner)

What genre/s do you write?
YA Romance and Romantic Suspense.

Who are your favorite authors?
The problem with a question like this is I inevitably miss someone I absolutely adore. Lisa Kleypas, Sharon Draper, Tanita Davis, Simone Elkeles, Anne Golon, and the list goes on.

What inspired you to write romance?
I liked reading romance, and stories about people falling in love kept going through my head. There was this one about a former prostitute and a killer that wouldn't leave me, and while I know that's not the usual romance couple I couldn't shake them so I ended up writing them. That became my 2010 Golden Heart® finalist novel, and whether it ever finds a place on the bookshelves or not, I know it's one of the best things I've ever written.

I got into writing YA because I began reading YA, and the stories are compelling, vibrant, risk-taking, and keep pulling me back. Today's YA is so much more than what it was when I was young, and publishers are willing to take risks with subjects that are edgy, different and sometimes pretty much verboten in adult books. I write YA because the edginess appeals to me, and I have the opportunity to hear from young readers about how my words reflect and sometimes impact their lives. I love those emails.

I guess I write romance and YA for the same reasons I read them, they give hope. And youth is both a stressful time and the time in life when people feel the most passion about things. All that makes for enjoyable writing.

Can you tell us a little bit about your book, PULL, and its characters?
PULL is a YA romance between two high school students, David and Yolanda. Each has suffered loss and each has developed the kind of strength the other one needs. It’s also a coming of age story where both of them have to make choices that will forever alter their futures.

In the beginning David believes his only goal is to fulfill his dead mother’s last wishes because he feels guilty about not saving her life.  But there’s a deeper truth he hides even from himself--the fear that he is just like his father, the man who murdered the woman he supposedly loved. The stresses that descend on David as he struggles to protect his sisters and deal with his guilt only increases a natural feeling of resentment that leaves him fearing he should abandon his sisters to protect them from himself.

Everything is seen and experienced from David’s point of view and I hope male readers will see something of themselves in him. I hope girls will see the potential in him and in the young men in their lives and see Yolanda as a role model whenever they start feeling they are nothing without a guy.

One last PS - In English classes I used to hate when teachers talked about THEME. Now I realize I have a deep theme of my own. I write about relationships and people being more than just the sum of their parts.  PULL's t heme is our relationship with our parents, and whether we owe them a debt that includes giving up our own dreams for them.

You can check out Barbara's trailer for PULL here.
And here's the blurb:
Seventeen-year-old David can’t escape from a past that includes his mother’s murder at the hands of his father. When he departs the elite Grogan Hills Academy and enters a new school on Chicago’s south side, he’s prepared to give up sports, friends, and his desire for independence to care for his orphaned sisters.


His quest for anonymity is shattered when he’s obliged to rescue one sister from an attack by members of the school’s elite pack led by Yolanda, “The Dare,” the acknowledged school slut. David is prepared for the school psychologist’s attempt to force him out of the shell he’s drawn around himself. But he’s not prepared for the way guilt makes him lash out at the people he loves, forcing him to confront the fear that he’ll follow in his father’s destructive footsteps. Nor is he prepared for his growing attraction to Yolanda, a girl hiding a secret shame more destructive than his own. 

Do you have a dream agent and/or dream publisher?
My dream agent happens to be MY agent, Andrea Somberg from the Harvey Klinger, Inc. agency. Not just because she loved PULL, and I don't use the word love lightly, but because of the way she worked overtime to find my publisher, WestSide Books, all in a matter of months from the time she first read the manuscript. You can't beat that enthusiasm. And she gives great career advice too.

Dream publisher, again, right now I have to go with my publisher. How could WestSide not be my dream when they believe enough to put my guy's face on the cover of the hardback book they worked overtime to get published in under a year?  I do not write aiming at a specific publishing house. I wrote my story and then went out looking for people who shared that love and were willing to publish my vision. Not that WestSide Books didn't edit things carefully, and I spent many nights working on their changes, but they loved the overall vision.  I won't think about the so-called dream publisher until after my books are finished because I write the books of my heart. Hopefully I'll be able to stay with people who are of like minds.

What's the best thing about going to conference?
All the different people I get to meet. My first conference I tried to attend every possible session and just wore myself out. Now I go for the purpose of meeting people. Anything else is gravy.

And lastly, finish these statements...
My greatest strength as a writer is...that I know how to pull a story apart and revise and edit it nearly to death before resurrecting a phoenix that's all the better for that near-death experience. I'm really not a great writer, my first drafts make me cringe. But I'm a darn good fixer, so once my page is no longer blank I roll up my sleeves and figure out how to fix those darn scenes, make the pace zing and whip the characters into shape.
A sexy hero needs...to really care about other people. Not just the woman he's falling for, but other people as well, and be willing to reach outside his comfort zone to help them. That's how the heroine knows he will always be there for her. My hero in PULL even tries to help people he doesn't like.  And, as one of PULL's reader said, "you can tell a guy's a keeper by the way he treats his mother and sisters." That's as important a part of being a hero as a six-pack (which he has) and good looks (which he also has in abundance). I made my David to be a keeper, and frankly, I'm jealous of his girlfriend.
My latest WIP (work in progress) is about...this really sexy con-man (ex con man, he wants to go straight in spite of the urges he still feels when he sees an easy mark), and a very brash high school psychologist who can't believe she's even attracted to a guy like him when the wealthy scion of a business magnate - and her brother's business partner - wants to marry her. Then her brother's secretary turns up dead and all signs point to our con man. But she can't make herself believe he's guilty, not even when someone begins stalking her.
When I write I like to...relax in bed and let the thoughts flow. I'm a late-night writer, so a good cup of hot chocolate and good music is what I need to get words pumping.
My best writing milestone to date is...having one of my novels final in the 2010 Golden Heart® contest.  Really it was gathering up the guts to send my manuscript into the Golden Heart® last year. That was a huge act for me, because I didn't believe anyone but its mother would ever love it.

For anyone wanting to know more about Barbara, she'd love to hear from you. You can find her contact details on her website, her Facebook page, and you can follow her on Twitter (barbarabinns).

Barbara, thank you so much for visiting today. It's been a pleasure having you here!