Meet YA Author Michele Barrow-Belisle & FREEZE

Carpinello's Writing Pages

Introduces 

 

FREEZE—A YA Fantasy Romance

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Title: Freeze
Author: Michele Barrow-Belisle
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Cover Designer: AMDesign Studio
Publishing: BarBelle Publishing
Publication Date: Dec. 7th, 2021
Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

What happens when the hunter becomes the prey?

In a twisted game of following impossible clues to ceaseless dead-ends, The Shadow Faerie Zanthiel is forced to search for the girl he let go. Lorelei may be out of his life, but she's never far from his mind with the prophecy pulling them together. They both feel it, yet they both have reason to fight it. He might not be able to have her, but no force in this world, or any other, will stop him from saving her. Time is running out, and Zanthiel has only a fraction of it left to find her, before those hunting her do.

But finding Lorelei could mean losing so much more. Past, present and future are about to collide. Vows are fractured. Friendships severed. And a truce among enemies revoked. Will the prophecy that binds them together be what breaks them in the end?

Delve into the world of Shadow. Interwoven with flashes from his past, retrace the defining moments in Zanthiel's life and see how the darkest of the Shadow Fey became the infamous dark Prince.

Book Links:
Amazon
Universal
Goodreads

 

About the Author:

Michele Barrow-Belisle is a USA Today bestselling author who spends most of her days eating chocolate while talking to imaginary people. It's technically not considered crazy when they're your book characters. Her favorite genres to write are YA fantasy romance and paranormal romance, and her debut series FIRE AND ICE (Faerie Song Saga) is currently in development for a feature film.

Michele resides in southern Canada with her husband and son who indulge her ever-expanding obsession with reading, writing and most importantly... chocolate.

Where to find Michele:

 

Website
Blog
Facebook Author Page
Facebook Street Team
Goodreads
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
YouTube
BookBub
 

 

Meet Canadian MG/YA Author Suzanne de Montigny

Carpinello's Writing Pages is pleased to welcome back Canadian author Suzanne de Montigny along with her newest book.

First, a bit about Suzanne:

Award winning author, Suzanne de Montigny, wrote her first novella when she was twelve. Years later, she discovered it in an old box in the basement, thus reigniting her love affair with writing. She lives in Burnaby, B.C., Canada with the four loves of her life – her husband, two boys, and Buddy the dog.

Why did you pick to write books for Middle Grade/YA?

I taught elementary music for 20 years and that’s the age group I liked the best.

What types of books do you like to read?

I like a wide variety of books, but I’m not too crazy about action-packed stories. I’m more of a drama person. However, I loved Harry Potter. I was sorry when it ended.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

In the winter, we snowboard. It’s such a great escape into a winter wonderland high above the clouds. My boys and I are also heavily involved in music. Every summer, we go to a fiddling camp in Quebec. I also love hiking and cycling.

Tell us about A Town Bewitched and how the story came to be.

A Town Bewitched strangely came as a result of fiddling camp. The first time we attended a fiddling camp when my boys were nine and seven, we came back super hyped. We’d play our fiddles like fiends, walking around the house to the beat of the music. We were on fire. Then, a few months later, I thought, “Suppose what happened to us happened to an entire town, only there was something really wrong with the fiddler.” At first I giggled about it, thinking it was the dumbest idea ever, but it wouldn’t let go of me, so finally I sat down and wrote it. And I’m glad I did because it ended up winning Best Coming of Age Novel in the Dante Rossettie Competition.

Here's a peek at A Town Bewitched:

It’s tough for Kira, growing up in the small town of Hope as a child prodigy in classical violin, especially when her dad just died. And to make matters worse, Kate McDonough, the red-haired fiddler appears out of nowhere and bewitches the town with her mysterious Celtic music. Even Uncle Jack succumbs to her charms, forgetting his promise to look after Kira’s family. But when someone begins vandalizing the town leaving dead and gutted birds as a calling card, Kira knows without a doubt who’s behind it.






Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

Sure have. I’ve written a series entitled: Shadow of the Unicorn. It’s a trilogy about unicorns who survive an asteroid only to be exploited for the healing power of their horns with the coming of the humans. I’ve just finished book 3, The Revenge about a unicorn who’s born with something terribly wrong about him, but is very gifted. He’s bullied so much that he attacks the herd, using his gifts against them and they can’t stop him.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I’m about to begin a historical romance novel about a young woman who immigrates to Canada to get married after WWI.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Write what’s close to you.

Anything else you want readers to know?

Yes. That half of all my proceeds from my Shadow of the Unicorn series is donated to the Third World Eye Care Society, a group of eye specialists who travel to third world countries delivering thousands of pairs of used eyeglasses and performing eye surgery for free.

Where can readers find you and your books?
Amazon
Kobo
Chapters Indigo
Barnes & Noble
Book Trailer

Meet YA/New Adult Author Tricia Copeland

Carpinello's Writing Pages presents YA author Tricia Copeland. Tricia is a fellow Coloradoan.

First, a bit about Tricia:

Tricia Copeland grew up and attended college in Georgia. Following earning a master’s degree in microbiology, she moved to Pennsylvania with her husband where she worked as a research scientist. After nine years, they moved their family—one daughter, twin boys, and dog Jake—to Colorado.

Why did you pick to write books for YA?

My young adult years were challenging. I liked the idea of giving others ways of coping with issues they may face. Writing about situations that may arise in a young adult’s life helps me to communicate that there are solutions.

What types of books do you like to read?

My favorite books to read are paranormal books about vampires, werewolves, and witches.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

When I’m not writing, I enjoy hiking and biking with my friends and family. I like movies and games, ice skating, and curling up with a good book.

Tell us about Is This Me? and how the story came to be.

Is This Me? and If I Could Fly are upper YA/clean new adult contemporary fiction books. They are the first two books in the Being Me series. Told through Amanda’s perspective the series tells her story.

I began writing the series in 2008. A 150,000 word document was the result of several years of typing away at my computer after my kids went to bed. At first, it was just entertainment for me, but an author friend offered to read the pages. After finishing the story, she agreed to edit the work and the manuscript became Books 1 and 2 of the Being Me series. Book 3, as yet untitled, will be published in May, 2016.

Here's a peek at Is This Me?

Amanda has no trouble choosing a college or picking a major. What she does have a problem with is what she would have least expected, a guy. Smart and sexy, Doug is focused on school responsibilities and post-graduation plans. Their paths intersect ,and Amanda must accept his help or risk losing her scholarship. Determined to maintain appearances, Amanda begins to lie to family and friends. The ease at which she repeatedly deceives those closest becomes disturbing and leaves her questioning: “Is this me?”




Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

I am working on Book 3 of the Being Me series. It continues Amanda’s story as she begins her sophomore year in college. Right now it is top secret as I don’t want to divulge any spoilers to my readers. It will be available in early May, 2016.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

One of my goals for 2016 is to publish in a new genre. I want to push myself as a writer and expand my reader group. I am looking to partner with other authors to write in an anthology or possibly a Kindle world series.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Being an indie author is so much more than just writing the manuscript. You need a great editor, formatter, and cover design person. Also, you need to know how to market a book in a constantly evolving media world. Surrounding yourself with people who have these tools is key.

Anything else you want readers to know?

I love connecting with readers on social media! Message me.  I will respond! One of my favorite things is to hear predictions about upcoming stories. A couple I have incorporated into the plots lines!

Where can readers find you and your books?

Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest
Google

Is This Me?
Amazon
You Tube trailer

If I Could Fly
Amazon
You Tube trailer

Meet YA Author Pat McDermott

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes author Pat McDermott. Even if you didn't know her ancestors were from Ireland, you'd guess her ties to that country from her stories. She talks today about her Glimmer books.

First, a bit about Pat:

Born and educated in Massachusetts, Boston native Pat McDermott writes stories set in Ireland. Her maternal grandparents emigrated to Boston from County Sligo, and she grew up in a family filled with music and myths that helped inspire her tales. After receiving an Honorable Mention for children's fiction in a national writing contest, she went on to pen seven books in various genres. She lives near the spectacular New Hampshire seacoast with her husband and three chatty Tonkinese cats.

Why did you pick to write books for YA?

I had already completed the Band of Roses Trilogy when an acquaintance suggested the YA angle. I found I loved writing about my “Roses” characters as teenagers. Their romantic escapades are sweeter than those of their grownup personas, but their adventures are just as exciting, thanks to the Irish fairies who joined the cast and created all sorts of mischief with their magical Glimmer.

What types of books do you like to read?

Although I write fiction, I rarely read it these days. Most of my reading is for writing research. Sounds boring, but I love delving into history, mythology, folklore, memoirs, etc. Such books guide me through difficult plots and provide wonderful story ideas. I also read a lot of poetry. Oh yes, and cookbooks.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I can often be found in the kitchen trying new recipes or preparing old favorites. I love to cook and have my own cooking blog. Other favorite pastimes include reading, music, hiking, and traveling, especially to Ireland.

Tell us about the Glimmer books.

Adventure for Young Adults of All Ages! Each Glimmer Book spotlights a branch of Ireland’s fairy clans. The stories suppose that High King Brian Boru survived the Battle of Clontarf in 1014 A.D., and established a royal dynasty still on Ireland’s throne. The current King Brian upholds ancient traditions, as do his children, Princess Talty and Prince Liam. Teenager Liam stars in the Glimmer Books, along with his American friend, Janet Gleason, who can’t seem to stay away from the fairies.

Here's a peek at each of the Glimmer books:

In Book One, Glancing Through the Glimmer, Janet’s Bostonian grandfather becomes the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland. Janet hates living in Dublin until she literally bumps into Liam, who fails to mention that he’s a prince. Unaware of each other’s identities, they arrange a date. When they meet, the fairies steal Janet away. Liam’s attempts to rescue her triggers a series of misadventures that pit him against Finvarra, the quirky King of the Connaught Fairies.

Book Two, Autumn Glimmer, finds Janet settled into her upscale Irish boarding school. In late October, King Brian invites her and her grandparents to his country estate to celebrate Halloween. Janet and Liam enjoy their reunion until a troop of water fairies embroils them in their battle to constrain a bloodthirsty lake monster who wakes every seventh Halloween.

Book Three, my latest release, is A Pot of Glimmer, in which an ancient feud between a leprechaun and a Viking ghoul puts Liam and Janet in deadly danger. Janet's grandfather throws a Fourth of July celebration at the U.S. Ambassador’s residence. Even though the fairies’ escapades have dampened her romance with Liam, he attends with the rest of the royal family. The appearance of a gang of leprechauns triggers a chilling visit from an undead monster hungry for human flesh. Liam and Janet fall into a nightmare that tests their courage in ways they never imagined. Nor did they imagine that real leprechauns are nothing like the "little men" of Irish lore.

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

As mentioned, the Glimmer Books are “prequels” to my Band of Roses Trilogy: A Band of Roses, Fiery Roses, and Salty Roses. Each is a blend of fantasy, action/adventure, and romance. Ireland’s royal family plants a new rose to commemorate the birth of each child, hence the “Rose” titles. The pink Princess Taillte rose is dedicated to Liam’s older sister, Crown Princess Talty, who stars in this series. Talty dearly wishes to be anyone other than the heir to the throne. She sees a way out, goes for it, and finds her life turned horribly upside down. I’ve also written an adult contemporary romance called The Rosewood Whistle in which music, myth, laughter, and love provide an inspiring background for a widowed American writer and an Irish tour guide leery of love.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I’m currently writing a short ghost story loosely based on family lore concerning a great aunt. “Noreen” emigrated to Boston around 1900 but returned to Ireland with unusual contents in her steamer trunk, at least according to my version. Once I finish that, I’ll get to work on a sequel to The Rosewood Whistle.

What advice do you have for other authors?

You’re the only one with the ultimate vision of the story you’re trying to tell. Don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Join a writers' group, attend classes or workshops, and never stop reading. Exercise those writing muscles! Set goals and deadlines for yourself, and meet them. Persevere in your quest to become a published author, and enjoy the ride.

Anything else you want readers to know?

I think we’ve covered just about everything, but I’d like to add that no one has to be Irish to enjoy my stories. And I’d also like to add a huge thank you to you, Cheryl, for hosting the fairies and me today!

Where can readers find you and your books?

The best ways to contact me:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

Excerpts from my books are posted on my Website.
The books are available in print and eBook through Amazon where I have an Author Page.

Meet MG/YA Christian Author Christina Weigand

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes MG/YA Christina Weigand. She is a fellow MuseItUp Publishing author and writes the Palace of the Twelve Pillars series.

First, a bit about Christina:

Christina Weigand’s a writer, wife, and mother of three grown children and a teenage daughter. She is also Nana to three granddaughters. She lives with her husband and youngest daughter in Pennsylvania. Currently, she’s working on fantasy novels and inspirational writing. Through her writing, she strives to share the Word of God and help people to realize the love and mercy He has for everyone.

When she’s not writing, she’s lectors at her Church and volunteers to help young people develop a love for reading and writing. Jesus fills her home with love as she shares Him through her writing.

Why did you pick to write books for MG/YA?

I actually write both MG and YA. It’s just that my YA got written and published first. Through my writing I want to provide to middle-grade and YA readers a balanced reading palette. While they may be reading vampire books and the like, I also want them to see God’s side and to have a fuller, more well-balanced vision of what is out there, so they can make informed choices in their lives. After all they are the future.

What types of books do you like to read?

I read a lot of YA Fantasy, but I like most genres except erotica. Since I’m writing YA, MG and now I’m trying my hand at beginning chapter books for young readers, I have been reading in those categories. I also read books for adults. I enjoy inspirational fiction. Like I said, I can read just about anything.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

Read, travel, spend time attending my teen daughter’s activities. I like to do crafts although I haven’t done much as of late. Oh and I like to hug my three beautiful granddaughters whenever I get the chance.

Tell us about Sanctuary of Nine Dragons: Book Three and how the story came to be.

The obvious answer is that I had to finish the trilogy Palace of the Twelve Pillars. Beyond that, when I wrote what was supposed to be a stand-alone book entitled Aaron’s Revenge, I realized that there was a whole other story that needed and wanted to be told. Joachim and Brandan, Aaron’s father and uncle, made their presence known and hounded me until I told their story. And Aaron/Airyn got relegated to the third book, Sanctuary of Nine Dragons. I guess I really wanted to know what people and actions brought Aaron to the place he was in Aaron’s Revenge.

In Sanctuary of Nine Dragons, Joachim banishes Brandan to prison island of Hyogo. His infant son, Prince Airyn disappears from his cradle. A chain of events is set in motion that will pit brother against brother, friend against friend, parents against children as Brandan and Joachim struggle for control of their sanity and their very lives.

With Brandan declared dead and his son missing, Joachim sinks into despair and anger, where those close to him fear he may never return. Is Brandan really dead and if he is, who is manipulating the Mantion and enemies of Crato?

Can Maeve save her country and her husband from the tentacles of evil pervading the land?

Here's a peek at Sanctuary of Nine Dragons:

Joachim cringed as he thought about what he had to do. The council had decided. He didn’t agree completely, but in the end, Joachim knew it was the only way; something had to be done. Maybe Brandan would give him a reason not to send him away.

King Brandan stomped into the room. “Why, Brother, have you no throne prepared for your poor, missing brother? I’m hurt. I expected more from you and my sister-in-law. Maeve, dear, couldn’t you have helped him prepare better?” He stepped toward her, quickly grabbed her hand, and kissed it.

Joachim lunged at him, pushing him from the dais. Brandan staggered then regained his balance and gazed at his brother. “Why such violence, especially when I am so recently injured?”

Stepping off the dais, Joachim stood eye-to-eye with his brother. “Enough! You’re no more hurt than I am. And you have no business touching my wife, or sitting on Crato’s throne.”

Brandan laughed, pushed him aside, and stepped up to claim his throne. Joachim grabbed his twin's shoulder, spun him around, and punched him in the mouth.

Rubbing where Joa’s fist had landed, Brandan smirked. “Well, my brother has finally developed some stones.” He raised his other hand to hit Joachim.

Matthias stepped forward, sword in hand and grabbed his arm before he could hit Crato's king. He pulled the king’s brother away, so Joachim could reclaim his throne.

Jerking himself free, Brandan straightened his tunic. “This has been fun; but as you seem to be in no mood to visit, I shall take my leave. Come to me when you’re in a better frame of mind.”

“Stop! You are going nowhere until I say you can.”

Brandan stopped and looked at his brother. “What did you say to me? Is that how you talk to a fellow king and brother?”

“Yes, it is. As of this morning, you are no longer a king, and I’m not sure I should even call you brother.”

“Why dearest brother, whatever do you mean?” Brandan asked.

“Ever since we were boys, you have done everything you could to make trouble. I was always willing to forgive you and hoped you would change your evil ways. But no more! You have pushed me—pushed this country—too far this time,” Joa thundered at him.

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

Aaron’s Revenge is a story about a boy who thinks he is the son of a farm boy, and after being kidnapped by his unknown Uncle, Brandan comes to discover that he is a prince and wizard. I’d like to mention here that the total of Aaron’s Revenge is told in Sanctuary of Nine Dragons. I kind of look on Aaron’s Revenge as an excerpt from Sanctuary even though it was written first. The other two books in the trilogy, Palace of the Twelve Pillars: Book One and Palace of the Three Crosses: Book Two, tell the beginning of Joachim and Brandan’s story.

I also wrote a Bible study Women of the Bible: A Study. I chose 12 women from the Old and New Testament and explored their lives and what they can teach the 21st century woman.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I have several projects in the works. My big one, my opus you could say, is another YA Christian Fantasy in which my dragons have come to Earth at the time of Christ’s ministry. In partnership with humans, they protect God’s people and spread the word of God while fighting the evils that we all face.

I recently started a Middle Grade novel that I am co-writing with my oldest granddaughter. It’s a fantasy involving princes, princesses, and all sorts of magical creatures. Two teen girls and their dragons travel into this fantasy world to lift a curse and save the world from an evil witch/queen. But like any good story, there are some interesting twists that keep the teens  on their toes.

I am also co-writing a beginning chapter book for younger readers with my daughter and granddaughter. This is another fantasy where two girls are drawn into a fantasy land where they have to learn to rely on each other and work together to save their dragons from a giant.

What advice do you have for other authors?

If writing is your passion, don’t let someone else convince you not to do it. Be true to yourself and what you love. Of course, the obvious, Read, Read and Read some more. Most of all Butt in Chair; Hands on Keyboard (or holding a pen/pencil). Just don’t ever give up.

Where can readers find you and your books?

MuseItUp Publishing Bookstore
Barnes & Noble Author Page
Amazon Author Page
Facebook Author Page
Wattpad Page
Twitter

Meet YA Author Gail Strickland

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes YA author Gail Strickland. It was an amazing twist of fate of brought Gail and I together. Actually it turns out that it was our love of Joseph Campbell and his Hero's Journey. It is a tale few would believe. Since we've met, we have held one book discussion on Campbell's influence in our books, Sons of the Sphinx and Night of Pan, and are gearing up for another. On January 20, we will be at the Highlands Ranch Tattered Cover Book Store (the largest Indie book seller in Colorado). If you live in the Denver area, we invite you to join us. And now, I'm excited to introduce you to Gail Strickland!

First, a bit about Gail:

Gail Strickland loves music, art, writing and languages. She has spent her life performing as a pianist in cabarets in San Francisco, symphonic orchestras and a little known eclectic country rock band called The Prairie Dogs. During her years as a piano teacher helping children discover music, Gail also pursued her passion for languages and foreign lands. She lived for months in Greece and Ireland and studied in Stuttgart, Germany. Gail's also translated much of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. But beyond her love for all the arts, Gail has always sought the magic that lingers between the words, within the silent void we cannot paint or play or write.

Why did you pick to write books for YA?

I wrote Night of Pan, a YA historical fantasy because, as a Greek scholar in college and a music teacher who has worked for many years with young people, I was eager to share the ancient myths and wisdom with young people. Also, I tired of many modern historians—even the History Channel—telling us that the young Oracle of Delphi did not know what she was doing. Night of Pan reclaims history for the young Oracle in 5th Century BCE Greece who spoke and the entire world listened. I believe she helped save the cradle of democracy and change the course of history. I hope young people will understand after they read Night of Pan that one person can change the world … even one young person.

What types of books do you like to read?

Everything! I love YA books (anything by John Green and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak are some of my favorites!) I also love books that talk about myths from all over the world, showing the similarities between cultures. Myths are not just ancient stories with no relevance to our lives. They are stories that connect nations and live beyond time. The Power of Myth and The Hero with A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell are both great. But like I said, I read everything: novels, historical fiction and even books about quantum physics and fractals and consciousness. (LOL) Well, that’s me in a nutshell … always curious. Always reading.


When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I’m a musician and a piano teacher besides being a writer, so music is a big part of my life. Living at 7600 feet on top of a mountain high above Lake Tahoe, I also love to hike, ski, snowshoe or just sit on my back porch and watch for the gray fox that likes to visit.

Tell us about Night of Pan and how the story came to be.

Night of Pan is my first book and the first of my Oracle of Delphi Trilogy. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to walk up a mountain and come face to face with a god … a satyr-god who is half goat and half man? I did. I also decided that the History Channel is wrong when they claim that the Oracle of Delphi was only a drug-crazed teenager being controlled by priests who had their fingers on the political pulse of 5th Century BC Greece, so I decided to reclaim history for all of us.

I translated four mysterious prophecies that the young Oracle declared about the million Persians who invaded Greece 480 BC. The same period of history that the movie 300 depicts. My book describes real events, but sometimes history can be confusing—lots of dates and battles and generals. I wanted to tell the story of a simple village girl who was very brave. She is a fictional character based on the real Oracle of Delphi. Her name is Thaleia.

Though the largest invasion the ancient world had seen is in my book, my story isn’t about the kind of courage where someone picks up a sword and chops off heads. My book is about the courage it takes to know who you truly are.

Here's a peek at Night of Pan:

The slaughter of the Spartan Three Hundred at Thermopylae, Greece 480 BCE—when King Leonidas tried to stop the Persian army with only his elite guard—is well known. But just what did King Xerxes do after he defeated the Greeks?

Fifteen-year-old Thaleia is haunted by visions: roofs dripping blood, Athens burning. She tries to convince her best friend and all the villagers that she’s not crazy. The gods do speak to her. And the gods have plans for this girl.

When Xerxes army of a million Persians marches straight to the mountain village Delphi to claim the Temple of Apollo’s treasures and sacred power, Thaleia’s gift may be her people’s last line of defense, but is one girl strong enough to stop an entire army?
-->

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

My previously published works are travel writing stories in Travelers’ Tales anthologies, Venturing in Southern Greece and Venturing in Ireland: Quests for the Modern Celtic Soul, and two poetry books: Clutter and Poems from my Father’s Living Room.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I am currently working on The Oracle’s Inferno, second book of the Oracle of Delphi Trilogy. The entire book is set in Erebos, the Greek Underworld. Great place to wander around! Giants, Medusa with snakes in her hair, rivers flowing with fire and The Lord-of-Many-Names: Hades. I’m having a great time writing it! My only problem is that readers who recently finished my first book of the trilogy have told me that I need to write faster and finish this second book so they can read it!

Anything else you want readers to know?

There’s a secret I want to share with you that I learned from the ancient Greeks. In fact, I first learned it from Homer, the blind poet. I found it in the first three words of his epic poem, The Iliad, the story of the Greeks at Troy fighting for the return of beautiful Helen, fighting even the gods: Menin aeida thea … sing to us goddess of the wrath.

Now, Homer didn’t say, “Just send me a text message. Or even … just email me about that anger of Achilles. He asked the goddess to sing about the wrath of Achilles. And that was not a mistake. Homer asked the goddess to sing the entire song of Achilles, all 15,000 lines because ancient Greece was a song culture, a world in which they knew in their hearts the universal language and power of song. The ancient Greek song culture that survived for over two thousand years knew that power caught in the subtle resonance between musical notes and words, between the artist and the audience. That song is heart and yearning … it is everything. It will lead us to the stars. It will guide us to ourselves. It is the song of the universe.

So, don’t text me or email me. Walk along a dark sand beach beside the sea, and let’s sing and dance together … and don’t ever let anyone kill your song.

Where can readers find you and your books?

I want to encourage readers to go to their independent bookstores and order it. However, Night of Pan is also available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble as e-book, paperback and hardcover.

Readers can find information for book clubs, book readings and reviews on my website.

Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Google+

I also belong to the Worlds of Myth, an international Facebook group started in Greece to return a love of myth and ancient wisdom to the world. Check it out!

Meet MG/YA Author Lorraine Carey

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes MG/YA author Lorraine Carey and her latest book Jonathan's Locket.

First, a bit about Lorraine:

Lorraine Carey is a  veteran Children’s Reading Specialist, Teacher, and Author. She has lived and taught in Ohio, Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Grand Cayman. She had a short memoir published in 2010 called Losing Ground. She has also written three novels for tweens to young adults which feature a male hero. All of them are fantasy and revolve around true historical events. She currently resides on Grand Cayman Island with her husband and dog, Matty. Her passion is reading, writing book reviews and writing Fantasy novels for tweens to young adults.

Why did you pick to write books for MG/YA?


I chose to write Middle Grade/Young adult due to the many years in working with children from all ages as a reading specialist. I read so many novels and some were of great interest to them while others would turn them off after the first chapter. They would always be asking me if we could change our pic for that week. They loved ghost stories and books about children or teens in trouble. I always said when I retire I would write books that would hopefully inspire them, especially boys.

What types of books do you like to read?

I actually love to read YA Paranormal, Fantasy and love Paranormal Romance.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

When I am not writing you can find me reading, beaching or boating with my hubby around this beautiful island on our boat, The Angelica.

Tell us about Jonathan's Locket and how the story came to be.


Jonathan’s Locket is a Paranormal Tale which stems from a real historical event that happened here on the island back in the 1700s. It was The Wreck of the Ten Sails off the east end of Grand Cayman. When I went to visit the monument here on the island that is in the area where the wreck occurred, I walked away thinking that there was surely a story there. I also felt a sadness in my heart.

Here's a peek at Jonathan's Locket:

Orphan Jonathan Palmer is a fifteen year old stowaway aboard the doomed ship The Convert which was part of the fleet that crashed into the reef on Grand Cayman in 1794. This famous shipwreck was known as the Wreck of the Ten Sails. Jonathan was not lucky enough to survive the wreck along with eight other seamen. Problem was, no one ever knew he was even on board.

Two centuries later strange sightings have been reported of ghost ships, screams, and eerie lights off the east end of Grand Cayman. Brandon Wallace, a troubled teen, seems to acquire a strange affliction and begins to have bizarre encounters from the sea where he befriends a mystical sea turtle who holds the secrets to the mysterious sightings as he plunges into the world of the paranormal. Here he is compelled to embark on a dangerous journey, risking his life to uncover the dark secret of Jonathan’s death. This task proves to be even more dangerous when one of Brandon’s closest friends has other plans for him.

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

My first novel was a short memoir in 2010 called Losing Ground which chronicled some of the odd experiences I had encountered leading up to a family tragedy and how I coped with it. I also have Mysteries of the Red Coyote Inn and it’s sequel, Out of the Ashes, which is a Paranormal Western set out in the mysterious Superstition Mountains of Arizona. This also is a spin on the real Lost Dutchman Gold Mine and an Apache Massacre during the 1800s.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I have completed a new novel called The Last Vestal Virgin, which features a young Italian American teen who learns a dark secret about herself on a visit to Rome. She must deal with an ancient Roman Goddess, an obsessed lover, and a mysterious chaperone who will lead her into a realm she never knew existed.

What advice do you have for other authors?

I still regard myself as a Newbie Author, but if I had to give advice to others it would be to form a great support group with other authors who are genuine and can guide you along the way. I have been extremely lucky in that sense.

Where can readers find you and your books?
 
Readers can visit my website for additional information on me.

All of my books are available on Amazon in Kindle and print.

Meet YA Christian Author Hannah Lapehn

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes YA author Hannah Lapehn and her Christian suspense story The Hands.

First, a bit about Hannah:

Hannah Lapehn grew up in the Midwest and married her college sweetheart. She attended Indiana University, where she graduated with a degree in Communications and Culture. Hannah is a military wife and mother of two young boys, Jackson and Jordan. Her husband was deployed for the second time when The Hands was written. In an effort to distract herself from the separation, she poured her heart into writing which became an overflow of self-expression.

Why did you choose to write books for YA?

I chose YA because I remembered that time vividly. It’s when we are figuring out who we are, and we have the ability to make a lot of mistakes and learn from them.

What types of books do you like to read?

I like to read mystery/suspense and dystopian novels. When someone comes up with a truly unique idea, like The Hunger Games, it really thrills me. It is such an escape to be taken into a completely created world, with only the author to navigate you through.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I like to spend time with my family. I have two young boys that keep me super busy! My favorite pastime is watching movies because I like learning about what motivates the characters and seeing different perspectives.

Tell us about The Hands and how the story came to be.

The Hands was a yearlong project for me. It was my first Christian suspense novel, and I had to take breaks to really gather my thoughts and create a complete story line. I got the idea from a school assembly I attended in high school. In chapter six, there is a scene where a Holocaust survivor comes to speak to Taylor’s high school, and I wrote that scene the way I wish it would have played out for me.

Here's a peek at The Hands:

After sneaking out to a forbidden party, Taylor Donavant is faced with an unusual punishment that sets her on an unexpected path. Shortly after, she receives a supernatural ability that alienates her from her peers, and she has to question why she would be chosen for something so significant. In a spellbinding battle of good versus evil, Taylor struggles to preserve her newfound identity as a dark force lurks close by, watching and waiting for the right moment to manipulate her gift. 

 



What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I am working on several new storylines at the moment. I began my next book in January. I plan to write a book a year, always starting in January.

What advice do you have for other authors?

My advice for new authors is to get help. Critical feedback is essential when starting out and although it’s hard to hear, we always need someone with a fresh set of eyes to tell us where our writing needs work.

Anything else you want readers to know?

I wrote this book because I see our culture fascinated with supernatural abilities.  I wanted people, especially young adults, to consider where this power comes from and that it truly only comes from the Lord.

Where can readers find you and your book?

The Hands is on Amazon.

For readers who'd like to join in the conversation, there is a Facebook.
 

My Writing Life

As 2014 pushes on, I wanted to share with my readers what the future holds for this author. So hang onto your hats because we're going to be busy! 

"It is the legends and tales that call even the most reluctant of us into the world of books and adventure."

2014

Re-release of a revised Tutankhamen Speaks

Release of the YA paranormal Quest Sons of the Sphinx

Projects waiting in the wings 2014-2016

Sequel to Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend—Guinevere and Cedwyn keep calling for me. Seems they've gotten themselves in a spot of trouble and need my assistance.



Feather of the Phoenix fantasy Quest trilogy

• 1st—The Atlantean Horse
• 2nd—The Ashes of Pompei
• 3rd—The Norse Star

 
Caribbean Nightmare (Or Reasons Not to Vacation in the Caribbean!)—Not a kids book!

An Invitation for You

I'm inviting you to stop by my FB Cheryl Carpinello Author page to "LIKE" my page. This will keep you abreast of my progress. I hope to announce some exciting milestones this year!

Click on/Copy this link and then click on the LIKE button at the top part of the page:

https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.carpinello1

Meet Young Adult Author Sherry Antonetti

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes YA author and fellow Muser Sherry Antonetti and her story The Book of Helen.

First, Sherry tells us about herself:

My name is Sherry Antonetti. I’m a married Catholic mother of ten. I have a master’s in Special Education and write columns, articles and blog. This is my first book.

Why did you pick to write books for YA?

It’s not so much that I picked writing for young adults, I picked writing stories about powerful women. I patterned these women after corporate CEOs. For people entering into the work force, they probably have experienced a boss or professor who dominates or controls everything like the two strong women in my book, Helen and Polyoxo. They (like my character Pythia), have to find their voice and find their feet in the world. This is done in part through apprenticeship to these difficult leaders/employers, and in part by graduating from being a mere follower and recipient of information, to being an active creator/orchestrator, speaking up and acting independently, and sometimes, in direct confrontation of those who have up to now, been the people in charge.

What types of books do you like to read?

I won’t say everything but I do love the classics, stuff English majors get assigned and everyone else rolls their eyes.  Obviously Greek Mythology and the subsequent inspirations drawn from those early Greeks is a big part of my reading stack. I also enjoy historical fiction and auto-biographies (The Liar’s Club trilogy is a favorite) and semi-memoirs (Stephen King’s On Writing which I’m currently reading). They’re brilliant because even though every book that tells a person’s life or even selections of life, it reveals more comprehensively than the writer even knew at the time, they were revealing. I think that’s the joy of reading, finding that jewel of truth in whatever book you’ve found yourself.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I’m a mother, I do everything. However I like to play games with my children and to cook. I’d love to tell you I collect tea kettles and raise heirloom tomatoes and meet with friends at the museum downtown to discuss politics. The reality is I make cupcakes not Instagram worthy, my husband is the gardener, and the closest I get to a museum is my refrigerator. The upside is every day I’m treated to new works of art from up and coming artists who show lots of love and passion for their craft and give me one on one analysis of their work for cupcakes.

Tell us about The Book of Helen and how the story came to be.

I started writing and submitting articles to various places in 2005. Amazingly, I had a rash of beginner’s luck with acceptances and that encouraged me to keep writing. By 2007, I'd begun to think, I should try something more than articles. I should write a book...but about what? My daughter Regina was born that year in April. She contracted a respiratory disease that took us to the hospital for a week. When a baby is sick and you're the mom stuck at the hospital, you can do three things...pester the doctors, watch bad television and worry over your child. Having done all three, while my daughter slept, I tried reading. My husband had placed the new translation by Faegles of The Odyssey in my overnight bag. Reading it, the line about Helen slipping a drug (opium) into the wine to allow the men to think about the Trojan war without getting upset, jumped out at me.

That afternoon I wrote the story with the tag, "It started with an apple." I liked the person who told the story so much, I began writing more Helen stories. The original idea had been to do a series of stories (sort of an Arabian Nights) based on the various trinkets and treasures Helen deemed sentimental. It turned into something more.

I thought about how she had to manipulate and charm and work the ancient world and envisioned her as a CEO in a predatory world. Helen became a composite of multiple strong women I've known in my life plus a goodly dose of the mythic woman from all the literature. As I researched, I discovered Helen to be the original Fan Fiction woman. She has been reinvented in almost every age of Western civilization. She still holds a grip on our imagination and culture today as illustrated by a recently coined word; millihelen: the amount of beauty needed to launch a single ship. Beauty can be measured using the metric system. Who knew?

Writing this book, I sought to answer three basic questions that go unanswered in the original texts and many of the subsequent reinvisionings of the Helen/Paris/Menelaus Trojan war story.

1)      What made Helen leave Sparta? (She's queen, she's in charge; she's the actual power of that world). Most of the time it's simply Paris being beautiful or the gods directly compelling the action or Menelaus bashing which oddly is designed in most cases to exonerate Helen for leaving.

2)      What made the Trojans keep her? They could have ended the siege by sending her out or killing her. Her beauty alone would have been sufficient perhaps for Paris, but what made all of Troy decide to stick it out? If you read The Trojan Women, you’ll find not all of Troy found her beguiling, but the Helen in that play is so strong, she defeats the justified wrath of Queen Hecuba. So Helen had to be more than a pretty face to warrant a ten year war that ended a civilization.

3)      What made Menelaus take her back after all of that? She’s the most famous adulterer of the Greek world. She’s shamed him. She’s forced Greece to empty its city states of grown men on her behalf to bring her back. She’s caused the deaths of countless people and suffering to those left behind. The line in The Aeneid, “She bared her breasts, he dropped his sword,” is all the explanation of their reconciliation we get. Yet in The Odyssey, it is clear that the two of them have a happy marriage later in life. So how do we get from running away and a 10 year bloody war to apparent tranquil domestic hearts in accord with one another?

I had fun running through all the myths to answer these questions. For a first time writer, having that wealth of material to draw from, allowed me to focus more of my attention on the crafting of their personalities and their interactions.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

Yes. A sequel of sorts, The Book of Penelope. When Odysseus went off to war, he took ten triremes.  Those ships needed 200 people to operate. Thus he gutted Ithaca of 2000 people to fulfill his oath at the wedding feast of Helen, leaving his wife (a foreigner) to manage the decimated people not headed to Troy. Ithaca is an island based economy. There would be a tremendous strain on the whole community from the knowledge and labor base evaporating overnight. How she held them together for those ten years of the war and then coped when no men came home the following ten, interests me. I also think there was one hell of a fight when he returned, and that wasn’t because he slaughtered 108 suitors.  So their relationship has some fire and spark, but there are long term ramifications to their relationship from his actions at home and abroad, and her long loneliness. Lots of unknown stories buried within the original material to tell.

What advice do you have for other authors?

First, read books. Read read read. Read everything. Good books will inspire, bad books will demand you prove you’re better.
Second, write. Every day. Even if the words are blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. I belong to a poetry group just for this purpose, to make sure every day the creative muscles get stretched.
Third, rewrite. Editing stinks. You have to kill things you love. It’s painful, (for me, like weeding a garden). But it is the craft of writing, to trim and prune and pull out whatever does not advance the story. How? Read your work aloud. Nothing edits faster than hearing your own clunky prose out of your own mouth. As an added bonus, you will grow into your character’s voices faster.
Fourth, use coincidence to get into problems, but never to get out of them. Forced action feels forced. It makes the reader put the book down, it’s too hard a sell.
Fifth, writer’s block. Pick up a book and read. You can’t pour out words if your mind is empty of them, or all the words you have feel used up.
Final thoughts: Remember, all writing is an orchestration, a manipulation of words to create effect, so the goal of a writer is to shape the words to be as invisible as possible, and let the crafted creation pull people past the words and into the experience.



Anything else you want readers to know?

I can be bribed with good chocolate and a diet coke?

I have a Facebook page: The Book of Helen. You can go there, like it, find links to buy the book, reviews and supplemental material about the story, like things that were left on the cutting room floor, character sketches and other tips on writing.

Where can readers find you and your books?

Museitup Publishing took a chance on me, assigned editors, a cover artist and helped launch this book.  They’re the easiest and least expensive way to purchase it.  They also have all the formats for e-readers available.

The Book of Helen is also available through Amazon in the e-books section or you can search their platform for Sherry Antonetti. 

Meet Texas YA Author Susan Royal

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes YA author Susan Royal and her fantasy adventure/romance In My Own Shadow. Susan is our second Texas author this month! Go Texas!!

First, a bit about Susan:

Born in west Texas and raised in south Texas, Susan makes her home in a 100-year-old farmhouse in a small east Texas town that comes complete with a female ghost who has been known to harmonize with her son when he plays guitar. 

Susan is married, with three children and four grandchildren. Her family is rich with characters, both past and present. She spent her childhood listening to her grandmother’s stories of living on a farm in Oklahoma Territory with three sisters and three brothers and working as a telephone operator in the early 20th century.  Her father shared stories of growing up in San Antonio in the depression, and through her mother’s eyes she experienced how it felt to be a teenager during WWII.

Why did you pick to write books for YA?

I’m guessing you would say my books are just on the other side of YA, in that the MC is twenty-something. Just past the angst of teenage years, but not quite settled into adulthood yet. Why did I pick it? I didn’t. It picked me. I wanted my MC to be young enough to still be in awe of her experiences, yet old enough to take it in stride—well, most of the time, anyway.

What types of books do you like to read?

I read urban fantasy (think Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, Ilona Andrew’s Kate Daniel’s series). I read time travel (Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series), historical fiction (Mary Stewart’s Merlin Series), historical romance, historical action, thrillers, some horror and mysteries. I love classics like To Kill a Mockingbird and Gone with the Wind. I also love young adult (The Hunger Games, Divergent).

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I live in a 100 year old frame farmhouse that is in a constant state of remodel and repair. We are about to tackle the kitchen. I paint with acrylics, create greeting cards and sew. I’ve had a long going love affair with repurposing even before it was popular. I love garage sale finds. I have four grandchildren who give me lots and lots of exercise. I love to shop, and my husband and I like to read, watch movies, and our entire family loves music. Everyone plays a musical instrument except for me—hey someone has to be the audience!

Tell us about In My Own Shadow and how the story came to be.

It has been years in coming. I started writing it long before I had a home computer, and it was the first story I ever finished. The idea swirled around in my head for a long, long time. I wanted to write an adventure that had romance, fantasy elements and involved a quest. Finally one day I decided if I was ever going to get the thing written I needed to start it and keep writing until it was finished. So I did. At least three times!

Here's a peek at In My Own Shadow:

Talk about the worst first date ever! Lara lets her friend Carrie talk her into a blind date, only it turns out the handsome stranger waiting for Lara after work isn’t Carrie’s cousin after all. And, when they’re chased through a portal to another world, Lara realizes Rhys really is out of this world.

Rhys believes Lara’s alternate in his dimension, Lyra, has left clues in her subconscious to the whereabouts of the Book of Secrets which explains the mystery of time travel. Power-hungry telepaths pursuing them will stop at nothing to get it, even if it means breaking Lara’s mind. To complicate matters, Lara gets tangled up in her feelings for Rhys while exploring her connection with Lyra.

With Rhys as her guardian, a bear of a man named Azle to guide her, and the spirit of Lyra haunting her dreams, Lara must find the Book of Secrets before it falls into the hands of those who want its power. Only then can she return to her world safely.

Enjoy this excerpt (I had to read the whole first chapter. Couldn't stop!):
 
-->

Someone coughed. I jerked my head around to see a man standing near the reception area, a canvas duffel bag at his feet.  That’s got to be him.

My heart thudded with relief. “Sorry I’m late. I hope you haven’t been waiting long.” I motioned toward the rain spattering against the windows. “This weather is awful, isn’t it?”

The man watched me with a self-assured air that left me feeling like an awkward teenager.

So much for witty conversation.  At least Carrie hadn’t exaggerated when she said he was good looking. His sensitive mouth held the only trace of softness in a finely chiseled face. Broad shoulders and powerful hands. He would have been right at home on the cover of a sports magazine. Was I drooling? “Umm…” His intense stare made me squirm. “I should introduce myself. I’m—”

 “Lara. My name is Rhys.” We shook hands briefly while his eyes flickered over me. My height intimidated some men, but it didn’t seem to bother him. “I never imagined you’d be so—”

“Don’t bother with flattery. Surely Carrie told you I’m immune.” The grin across my face was so he would know it was a joke, but his stern expression remained unchanged.

Doesn’t this guy know how to smile? “Umm…My car’s across the street. We really should go before it starts pouring again.”

Without a word, he grabbed his bag and followed me through the big glass doors. The wind had picked up, and thunder rumbled in the distance. Streetlights flickered on, a halo of light crowning each pole. We crossed the street and hurried toward my car parked beneath one of the lights in the middle of the empty lot.

  I stuck my umbrella under my arm and dug in my purse for the keys. “Do you like Italian food?”

Rhys drew his eyebrows together and frowned slightly.

Doesn’t he understand plain English? Funny how Carrie never mentioned he was the silent, brooding type.  I’d get even with her for this. “Okay, what about Chinese? There’s this great little place not too far from here…”

He jerked his gaze away from mine and stared into the darkness behind me.

A finger of cold traced its way along my spine. “Did you hear something?” We were alone in an empty city parking lot after dark. Not the safest place in the world.

 He grabbed my arm. “Quiet.”

          I flinched in surprise and pulled away. Rhys was beginning to give me the creeps. “What is it? Did you hear something?”

Have you written other books?

If so, tell us a bit about them. My first book is a time travel adventure/romance, Not Long Ago, and it was released in June of 2012. Right now I’m finishing up the sequel. I hadn’t really planned on writing one, until my daughter insisted there was more to the story. And she was right.

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

I have a coming of age WIP about a young man in the sixties. When Eli goes to live with his grandparents in a small town in the Texas hill country, he starts seeing ghosts. What’s more, they carry on conversations with him. I’ve had a lot of fun researching paranormal for this one.

What advice do you have for other authors?

Don’t ever give up. If you have a story to tell, keep working on it until you get it right.

Anything else you want readers to know?

Feel free to email me and let me know what you think of my books. I love hearing from you. I also want to offer a free ecopy of In My Own Shadow if you comment and leave an email address.

Where to find Susan and her books:

Susan:
http://susanroyal.moonfruit.com  

http://susanaroyal.wordpress.com

MuseItUp Publishing:

In My Own Shadow

Not Long Ago

Both books are also available on Amazon and B&N.

Meet MG/YA Author Kai Strand

Carpinello's Writing Pages welcomes Middle Grade and YA author Kai Strand. Kai is a fellow MuseItUp author.

First, a bit about Kai:

Kai Strand writes fiction for kids and teens. She is a (very lucky) wife and the mother of four amazing kids. The most common sound in her household is laughter. The second most common is, "Do your dishes!" She and her family hike, geocache, and canoe in beautiful Central Oregon, where they call home.

Why did you pick to write books for MG/YA?

I write both young adult and middle grade. I jump between the two because the middle grade years are so formative. Kids are really figuring out who they are, who they want to be and learning some of the uglier truths of life. Reading is really important in those years to help them figure it all out. With young adult there are no limits. All subjects are open, all means of telling the story are available. The readers are smart and dialed in to the story and passionate about what they love. That passion is what I truly love about young adult readers – regardless of their age.

What types of books do you like to read?

Again I fluctuate between middle grade and young adult, and I try to read all the genres within that: fantasy, contemporary, mystery, horror, humor. I also try to alternate between books published by traditional big publishers, self-published books, and books from small publishers. There are so many good writers and now that there are choices out there for authors, you can find gems everywhere.

When you are not writing, what do you like to do?

I’m a mother, so I like to do the things that mothers do: taxi service, grocery shopping, cooking, laughing at – oh, I mean helping with homework. I’m a wife, so I spend a lot of time adoring my husband.  Great guise to sit and relax. I’m a compulsive walker, so I try to walk 3 miles, 5 or so days per week. I love to be outside, gardening, reading, wandering downtown.

Tell us about Beware of the White and how the story came to be.

My latest middle grade novel is Beware of the White: A Concord Chronicles Book. I recommend it for fans of Narnia because it has an alternate reality, magical abilities, fantastical creatures, prophecy, and adventure. I wrote this book while waiting for the fifth Harry Potter book to be released. I was so enamored with the world of Hogwarts and I thought, “I can create a world of my own while I wait.”

Here's a peek at Beware of the White:

As is tradition, Terra learns on the Saturday past her twelfth birthday that she is a Nature’s Spirit. It is her legacy to serve in the peaceful underground city of Concord. Learning she is named in a prophecy and being threatened by the leader of the death tribe…that part breaks tradition.

The Trepidus are the death janitors of the Underworld, responsible for delivering fatalities with a smile and cleaning up after themselves. Until Blanco, leader of the Trepidus, decides the day of reckoning for his species is coming, at Terra’s hand. He begins organizing the creatures and leads them toward an uprising. The prophecy says there is one person who can stop him. Terra.

With Spirit of Security, Frank, protecting her, Terra attempts to complete her training and discover her Spirit talents. Together, they go on a rogue investigation to learn out how to defeat Blanco. In the end, it comes down to a battle of the minds. The future of Concord is at stake. Will Blanco, the older, more experienced being win? Or will Terra, the young, new Spirit earn back the peace of the city?

Have you written other books? If so, tell us a bit about them.

I have a middle grade series called The Weaver Tales. There are currently two books in the series. Both books are set in the fictional village of The Tales filled with storytellers called Word Weavers. The people speak in story, so the books are lyrical and offer several examples of different types of storytelling. The Weaver, the first book in the series, was a finalist in the 2012 EPIC eBook Awards. In The Weaver, Molly Wordsmith lives in a town of storytellers, but can’t tell a good story to save her life. The Wishing Well: Another Weaver Tale is similar to Cinderella because the main character Molly has a horrible mother and two terrible sisters. In both books our girls meet a strange gnome/elf, named Unwanted who grants them each one wish, but it doesn’t solve their problems; it might have made them worse. The books don’t have to be read in a specific order.

Save the Lemmings is a contemporary fiction for the older middle grader or tween reader. Natalie is a young inventor and her latest invention makes her an overnight sensation. At first the media adores her, but then they turn on her and start to print lies. Natalie has to figure out how to take back control of her life.

Finally, I recently broke into the world of young adult with my most recent release King of Bad. Everybody loves a bad boy, and Jeff Mean is King of Bad. A self professed pyromaniac, Jeff wears his bad boy image like a favorite old hoodie, until he is recruited by Super Villain Academy  - where you learn to be good at being bad. When the fellow students in your school can suck all the water out of your body or perform psychic sex in your head, bad takes on a whole new meaning. Is Jeff Mean bad enough for SVA? I’m thrilled to say that King of Bad is a #1 bestseller for Whiskey Creek Press!

What’s next for your writing? Are you working on a new story?

The second book in the Super Villain Academy series is under contract with Whiskey Creek. I’m finishing a contemporary young adult that I like to say is a cross between National Treasure and Wuthering Heights. And finally, I’m writing a Concord Chronicles novella. This will be Frank’s story, which will make more sense after you’ve read Beware of the White. All I can say is, sigh, “Ah, Frank.”

What advice do you have for other authors?

Read a lot from the genre and age range you want to write for. Never stop reading books, magazine articles, graphic novels written for that target audience. Read the good and read the bad, and learn from it all.

Anything else you want readers to know?

Feed an author, buzz their book. With everyone online these days, it is so easy for readers to share their favorite books. They don’t have to be eloquent writers and leave lengthy professional grade reviews, just share their opinion in a one line review on Amazon or the publishers website or even share the link with their facebook friends and say, “What a fun book!” Your friends value your opinion and sharing it is GOLDEN for that author.

Where can readers find you and your books?

I’m online all the time (blushes). So whenever someone wants to talk books, they can find me on Facebook, Twitter, or send me an email. All of my contact information and the blurbs, buy links and companion materials for my books can be found on my website: www.kaistrand.com.