Grave Expectations

Author: Charles Dickens and Sherri Browning Erwin
Series: ---
Publisher: Gallery
Publication Date: August 30, 2011

How Received: For Review

Summary: Heaven knows, we need never be ashamed of our wolfish cravings. . . .
Bristly, sensitive, and meat-hungry Pip is a robust young whelp, an orphan born under a full moon. Between hunting escaped convicts alongside zombified soldiers, trying not to become one of the hunted himself, and hiding his hairy hands from the supernaturally beautiful and haughty Estella, whose devilish moods keep him chomping at the bit, Pip is sure he will die penniless or a convict like the rest of his commonly uncommon kind.
But then a mysterious benefactor sends him to London for the finest werewolf education money can buy. In the company of other furry young gentlemen, Pip tempers his violent transformations and devours the secrets of his dark world. When he discovers that his beloved Estella is a slayer of supernatural creatures, trained by the corpse-like vampire Miss Havisham, Pip’s desire for her grows stronger than his midnight hunger for rare fresh beef. But can he risk his hide for a truth that will make Estella his forever—or will she drive one last silver stake through his heart?
Review: This book may not be my cup of tea but it may be yours so be sure to check it out. 
My Thoughts: The cover is a sad example of bad editing even my mother said she wouldn't read this book based off the cover. Then theres the difference in the werewolves. They transform even as babies. That is just not what i'm use to. So for lovers of classics please make sure to check out this book.

Scorpions Rebellion

Author: Mike Saxon

Series: 7 Scorpions Trilogy

Publisher:  Eloquent Books

Publication Date: May 13, 2010

How Received: For Review
Rate: 5

Summary: On May 7th, the mysterious dictator known only as the Zodiac unleashed an event called the Flash Storm, destroying every major city and military base across the world in one moment. No one saw it coming. There was no warning. There was no terrorist chatter. Hundreds of millions perished almost instantly. Humanity across the globe was plunged into chaos. In the days that followed, the enigmatic and frightening Seekers marched on the remnants of humanity, systematically enslaving or destroying everyone in their path. All attempts to stand up to Zodiac's Grand Army failed. His Seekers, who radiate a mysterious aura that induces intense fear were virtually unbeatable.  It seemed as though the prophecies of the End of Days were coming to pass until the day came that a glimmer of hope arose in the form of an exile who had been part of a super soldier experiment. It is up to this man, Vincent Black, to rally a resistance to free humanity from the grips of oblivion, if he can let go of his past.
Review: Although this book was kind of tossed at me It was well written. I did enjoy it but I kind of feel like Ive seen it before. Other that and the fact that I skipped over chapter I didn't find important the book was way better then I had ever imagined it. I wanted more Apocolyps-ish books and wow did I ever find a good one. 5 stars

Guest post with Maren Kaye

THE DEVIL'S GAME

by S.L. Pierce & Maren Kaye

Published June 29th 2011 by Pierce-Kaye Books

ASIN: B0058UFEO4

Is a stranger who stalks your stalker a friend or your worst enemy?

Rachel Pendelton is determined to break from her small town past and stake out a new life for herself with a dream job in the big city. But hard work and determination are no match for whoever is working against her. When anonymous gifts show up, she’s flattered. When they appear in her locked apartment, she starts worrying. What can she do when everyone she turns to for help looks suspicious?
What she doesn’t know is that a game has begun. A game with rules as baffling as they are deadly. A game that will pit her against the criminally insane. And only one can finish alive.

Guest Post by Maren Kaye

Recently I had the opportunity to sit on a full-blown jury trial. I say ‘opportunity’ because as a general rule, I try to view annoying set-backs in the most positive light possible. By the way, to any of you out there that think getting out of jury duty is as easy as acting weird or complaining about all the other things you have to do, sorry to burst your bubble. Not a single person who was called up wanted to be there. I got to hear every kind of excuse imaginable.

The judge was patient, but his face couldn’t hide the obvious fact that he had heard it all before. When they say you can be excused for a ‘legitimate hardship,’ they are not referring to anything related to children, jobs, back pains, honeymoons or slightly impaired grandma’s who might accidentally take the wrong medicine (that was my favorite).

Aside from being pulled away from my life and often forced to wait in a cubicle sized room with twelve other people who were even less interested in being there than I was, we were not allowed to discus anything related to the trial, the one thing all thirteen of us actually had in common.

At first, we chatted about one thing and another. One hot topic was how pathetic it was that our congress couldn’t agree on anything. That wouldn’t happen to us. Here we were- college students, farmers, lawyers and insurance salesmen, fully intending to come up with the required unanimous vote.

When it was my turn to tell something about myself, I proudly announced that I had just completed my first psychological thriller, The Devil’s Game, with the help of my awesome writing partner, S.L. Pierce. I was poised to talk about the story. Rachel, a recent college graduate, has a deadly brush with a stalker. But there’s a twist. What if there was someone stalking your stalker? Would that person be your friend? Or your worst nightmare? Good stuff!

But I never got the chance because I was immediately inundated with questions like, “You wrote a book with someone else? How did that work?” and “Which one of you did the writing?”

It wasn’t until that moment that I realized how fun the experience had been. We were like two kids playing grown-up ‘pretend.’ Neither of us had the final word, or maybe we both did, but either way, we needed each other to make the magic happen. S.L.’s fast-paced edge-of-your-chair writing style mixed with my love for strange and unusual characters made for the perfect mix. Did we disagree? Sure, we’re not mindless wussies! But by disagreeing, we were able to come up with something even better! It wasn’t about compromise, it was about having the same goal; a really kick-ass good book.

Maybe if our politicians started building alliances that were about making something great instead of tearing each other down, they could attract better talent. Or maybe arguing is just human nature. The trial? Hung jury.

Follow the tour for THE DEVIL'S GAME!

8/14 giveaway @ Jagged Edge Reviews
8/14 author guest post @ Deena Remiel’s Place
8/15 excerpt @ Reader Girls
8/15 excerpt @ Lisa’s World of Books
8/15 giveaway @ Deena Remiel’s Place
8/16 excerpt @ Keeping Up With The Rheinlanders
8/19 author guest post @ Reader Girls
8/17 interview @ Lisa’s World of Books
8/17 excerpt @ Books Glorious Books
8/19 giveaway @ Books Glorious Books
8/23 author guest post @ Keeping Up With The Rheinlanders
8/24 author guest post & giveaway @ Workaday Reads
8/25 author guest post @ As The Pages Turn
8/26 author guest post @ Sugarbeat’s Books
8/27 excerpt @ Sugarbeat’s Books
8/27 author guest post @ Jagged Edge Reviews

Yesterday was amazing...and crazy I learned how to Frolfing (Frisby Golf) It's a lot more fun then I thought it would be. I got offered beer. (I'm sorry there's no way I look 21. The bartender has to have been short a crayon in her crayon box) Anyways, It was an interestingly long day. I found out half of my family still doesn't know how to spell my name. (even after 18 years) I got a speaker for a car I don't have. I ate wings and pizza twice in one day from the same place. I almost got a car. I got lots of Mountain Dew and I found out my friend Miscarried her baby...But got pregnant again right after and she didn't even know.. In all I either spent the day with my brother and his friends or my grandma except at the end I spent with two of my five brothers and my dad. Thanks again to all of you who wished me a happy 18th birthday!

All the amazing Birthday wishes: RIGHT HERE

Guest Post with T.J. Boje

A lot of people ask me when I came up with the idea for ”The Eye of the Crystal Ball”, and I answer them that the story is very new, but the main character - the gypsy-girl Sara – has been with me always. She appeared in my head when I was still a child.

Where did she come from? Well, my parents actually. It is kind of strange I admit, but I think it is part of the reason why I have such a great imagination still as an adult. The thing is, my parents (mostly my dad – but my mom didn’t contradict him) used to tell me that I wasn’t their child. According to their story I was left on the doorstep at their house as an infant. They found me there in a small basket with a note on the pillow telling them to take good care of me. They told me I was a gypsy girl and that my real parents were going to come and get me one day soon.

I know it sounds like a horrible thing for parents to say to their child, but it wasn’t like I was young enough to really believe them. But I loved the story, and it made me very interested in gypsies and whenever we went on vacation to the Southern of France – where we always went because we had an apartment there – I would always go out looking for gypsies and try to get in contact with them. I didn’t believe the story – but I think maybe a big part of me wanted to. And that is where I think my love for storytelling began. My dad would tell me vividly about the gypsy way of living (in order to prepare me for when I had to go back, he would say while winking his one eye) and I would get drawn right into these stories of the dark and mysterious people from distant and exotic places. Stories filled with music and dancing and fluttering skirts. And my new best friend became Sara, the gypsy girl in a long red dress that would dance in my mind and make me dream of being different, or at least something else than the pretty ordinary girl from a middleclass family in Denmark that I really was.

As I grew up she followed me. I knew in my heart that I would one day write her story, and after having written four mystery novels, three in Danish that are published in Scandinavia and Germany, and one in English, I finally realized some time this spring that Sara had returned and she was getting ready to go on a dangerous quest to find a cure for her little brother’s strange illness.

I told my parents that I had written the story and they laughed a lot about it. So did I. To their defense I can tell you, that they told my older brother that he came from the monkeycage at the local Zoo, so I would prefer my story anytime over his.

But to be honest I loved that they gave me a world of imagination and they made me believe that I could do anything. Even fly. Yes, you heard me. Fly. My dad told me that he could teach me how to fly and every weekend for a long period of time we would practice in the driveway. My dad would put me on our garbage can outside and then he would have me jump towards him while he yelled: Flap your arms, flap!

And I jumped, of course, and flapped firmly believing that I one day would fly over the top of the roofs and look down at the small world underneath me.

Some small part of me still believes that one day it will happen. As long as I keep flapping … and believing.

Synopsis: When Sara was newborn her parents left her at the doorstep at Mr. and Mrs. Schneider’s house. 

When Sara was ten she discovered she was telekinetic. She began to move stuff around when she got angry just by her will alone.

When Sara was twelve her real parents came for her and took her with them to live like the Gypsy that she was – or Romani as they like to call themselves. They told her she was going to fulfill a prophesy. That it was once said that out of the Romani people the greatest sorceress who had ever lived would be born.
When Sara was thirteen she had a baby brother and when she was fourteen he got very sick with a strange illness.
To save her baby-brother Sara sets off on a quest to find his cure – well knowing that it will cost her dearly.
Soon Sara finds herself going through the Singing Cave, crossing Wild Witches Valley, talking to a ten foot giant snail, rescuing the Beads of Souls from the Hell-hounds, escaping a spell in Vamila, the Forest of Vanity, visiting the king at the City of Lights before she finally reaches the Black Castle where she is told the Eye of the Crystal Ball can tell her how to cure her brother’s strange illness.

But nothing is free in this world - and as Sara soon will know - everything has a price.

Bio: T. P. Boje is a hardcore cartoon lover, Tim Burton enthusiast, and enjoys any movie the Coen Brothers have made (with the big Lebowski being her favorite strongly followed by Burn after Reading). She is also a Y/A fantasy and mystery-writer. She is originally from Denmark but currently living in Florida, USA. Her books are translated into several languages.

To learn more follow her on Twitter, visit her fansite on Facebook or check out her web-page: http://www.tpboje.blogspot.com/

Birthday!

HEY!! Do you know what today is?? August 25, 2011!! Right you are!
But it is also my birthday!! My 18 birthday to be exact!
Today I am allowed to buy cigarettes, Get a tattoo, More jobs are opened up to me and I can do a lot more on the blog! Plus I can now go for my temps with out taking Drivers Ed and I can Hmm what else can I do? Any ways, of course I will never buy Cigarettes and I can't wait to get a job. But I am 18 and that is something to celebrate!
Now I have begone to notice that a lot of bloggers giveaway books on there birthday!
That's not me sorry the blog has its birthday on January 1.
Plus I will be moving three states over soon so I need to keep my money. But I will have more information about that in time.
Today is my day!
Hope where ever you all are you are enjoying yourself!
I hope I will too!!

Dark Taste of Rapture

Author: Gena Showalter
Series: Alien Huntress
Publisher: Pocket Star
Publication Date: August 23, 2011

How Received: For Review

Rate: 5+

Summary: Hector Dean is shaved, tattooed, and totally ripped—and he has a deadly secret. He is a walking weapon, capable of killing with a single brush of his fingertips. Little wonder he’s determined to remain on his own. But Noelle Tremain is a temptation like no other. She is beautiful and rich, with a party girl smile that hides a shocking vulnerability, and from the beginning his sizzling attraction to her is undeniable. For the first time, his stone-cold resistance is tested. But to be with her, he risks destroying her. When a wealthy businessman is murdered in New Chicago’s seediest district, the two are partnered, and there’s no escaping what they both want: each other. Yet neither Hector nor Noelle knows what to fear more—the killer case, or their own lethal desires. . . .
Review: This is one of those books that once you pick it up you cant put it down. You wont put it down. You just have this need to devour it. For this being my first book by her it makes me want to go out and buy every book shes ever written. Other then the one minor editorial error in the beginning of chapter three, I love this book. Oh and the sarcasm, love it! Its cute, funny and, down right sexy. This is a must read. 5 plus stars 

Angel of Death

Author: Karen Dales
Series: The Chosen Chronicles
Publisher: Dark Dragon Publishers
Publication Date: May 15, 2009
How Received: For Review
Rate: 4

Summary: (as quoted from Amazon) The Vampires of London are being murdered and only the Angel of Death can save them. When Father Paul Notus is captured and threatened with a gruesome death by the Mistress of London and her Vampires, the Angel is forced into a dark world of murder and deception to discover who is killing the Vampires of Britain. Forced into a partnership with the Noble Fernando de Sagres, a vampire of sadistic tastes, and joined by the beautiful and mortal Jeanie Stuart, the Angel seeks out who is behind these killings. Plagued by demons from his past and his increasing affections for Jeanie, the Angel walks a fine line between his heart and his fears. He discovers the culprits but at a high cost - the irrevocable discovery of what he truly is and the Destruction of one he loves.
My thoughts:
Angel of Death was a very entertaining read. The book, told through multiple viewpoints, is a beautiful balance of horror, mystery, and romance. The story starts when a man - know as "the Angel" - is forced to accept a summons to the Vampire Court, as they have kidnapped his Chooser, Notus. There, he, and another vampire (normally called Chosen) are thrust into a mission to discover who has been tainting human beings blood, and rendering Chosen unable to feed. As the Angel and Fernando - the other Chosen - search for an answer, along with Jeanie, the Angel's housekeeper, they find that not is all as it appears to be. I especially loved Karen's ability to write such a mysterious, well crafted story. Also, having Fernando, a seemingly cold-blooded killer, pair up with the Angel, a Chosen who despises bloodshed, called for a lot of funny moments that had me laughing out loud. Jeanie's Scottish accent was adorable, and her iron-will and determination made her both a relatable young girl and an amazing heroine at the same time. The only thing I think could've been improved in the novel is the punctuation, as well as sentences that seemed like they should be rearranged as to be clearer to the reader. Besides that, Angel of Death was a very thrilling read, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next installment, Shadow of Death.
4/5
~Moujnir

Guest Post with Alison Holt

First, I'd like to thank Kati and Moujnir for having me as a guest on their wonderful blog, Jagged Edge. I love their eclectic taste in books and have enjoyed reading their reviews and interviews.

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Alison Holt and I'm a writer who just happens to have twenty years of law enforcement under my belt. Throughout the years, I've asked a lot of cops to tell me what bothers them the most about fictional officers that are portrayed either on television or within the pages of a book. I’ve managed to gather quite a list of complaints and I thought it'd be fun to entertain you today with a couple of their gripes.

One of my friends is a female sergeant with fifteen years on the job. She's one of the toughest cops I know; yet when she's off duty, heads turn when she sashays into a room in high heels and a short skirt. Honestly, she could be on the cover of a biker babe magazine. Her main complaint about fictional cops is when she reads about female officers who wear high heels and provocative clothing while they're doing anything other than walking the streets as an undercover hooker.

Well, this one’s pretty self-explanatory. You can’t run, fight, or in my case, walk, in high heels, not to mention the scuff and yuck factor of bloody crime scenes. And trying to walk through a muddy field without the heels sinking all the way down and getting stuck in the muck? Forget it.

Revealing shirts? Hah! I once had a sergeant tell me to button up the second button on my uniform shirt because he thought two undone buttons were unprofessional. And really, if you have any size up there, try running after a bad guy with a low cut bra. Talk about bruised chins... And the lewd comments the women would get from the bad guys defy description. Nope, female detectives have to dress professionally if they want to be treated like a professional, so if you read about female cops in a murder mystery dressed to the nines in heels and low cut bras, think of my friend rolling her eyes and relegating the book to the floor while she reaches for the next novel on her bedside table.

How about one of my shooting instructors who hates fictional cops who can hit a moving target, shooting from the hip, from 150 yards with a 2-inch revolver? Heck, I once saw a TV cop who pulled his gun, dove, rolled, came up shooting and shot the bad guy right between the eyes while the bad guy was holding a hostage as a shield. In reality, if a cop were stupid enough to do something like that, he'd dive, tweak his back, roll painfully, stagger to his feet, and put in a blue form in triplicate because he shot himself in the butt. And what about the opposite? Do you ever wonder about the crook who shoots at a cop from two feet away with a shotgun and misses? With a shotgun??

Throughout the years, I've thoroughly enjoyed listening to my friends complain about their fictional counterparts. I also enjoy when they poke fun at themselves, like one officer who got stuck when he vaulted over a chain link fence and his nightstick poked through the holes in the fence and hung him up...literally. All of these complaints and self-deprecating stories make for wonderful fodder for a writer who likes nothing more than to poke fun at her previous profession. The Alex Wolfe Mysteries, Credo's Hope and Credo's Legacy are chock full of funny incidents that I hope will entertain you and possibly even make you laugh out loud. Enjoy and Bonne lecture!

Bio: Meet Lt. Alison Holt, a cop for more than twenty years. She has arrested
everything from homicide suspects to emus, the latter earning her a spot on
America's Funniest Home Videos. She taught police procedures to officers,
and now in addition to writing books, she teaches writers how to write
realistic police scenes and characters. For more information, you can visit
her at www.Alisonholtbooks.com.

Monday Madness

It's Monday! What are you reading?

Hosted by Book Journey

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading is where we share what we read this past week, what we hope to read this week…. and anything in between! This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!

Read Last Week:

Kati: Entice, Daniel X, My Girlfriends Boyfriend

Reading this week:

Kati: The Secret Year, Playing with Fire, Ecstasy In Darkness


Probably will read a bunch of books not even on the list. 

My Girlfriends Boyfriend

Author: Elodia Kay Strain
Series: ---
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Publication Date: August 8, 2011
How Received: For Review
Rate: 5+
Summary: Jesse is looking for the "right guy." When she bumps into Ethan, a despairing writer who she inspires, she thinks she's found him. But only moments later she meets Troy, a successful advertising executive who makes almost every moment romantic. Both seem perfect, but things are not always what they seem. My Girlfriend's Boyfriend is a fun romance that blends warm sincerity with fresh storytelling.
Review: Love love love this book it's super funny and I just love Ethan and Jesse reminds me of myself. Laurel is ehh.. Crazy, materialistic. I am not her biggest fan. Then there's Troy another character Im not big on ick. Right away I just knew. I was giggling and laughing through the whole book. This is a definite must read.

In my Mailbox

Thanks to everyone who sent me a book! (Mike Saxon, Beth, Etc)
Video reviews
Where the romance reviews will be posted.

Magic Lamp Friday

So this is a meme hosted by Ya-Aholic. 

• It's called If I had a Magic Lamp Friday or for short MLF. 

• For MLF you will post that if you had a magic lamp what would you wish for?  It can be anything from meeting your favorite author, wishing you had a book way before it was released, or well anything! 

Yes I have missed a lot of these so let me get caught up!

Wish 1: I want to finish what I started aka, The stories all over my room and computer.

Wish 2: I wish we had another Assistant on this blog.

Wish 3: I wish I could for once have a not cursed birthday (if you want to know what I mean ask)

Wish 4: I wish I could complete a few of my series on my wishlist.

Wish 5: I wish I was in college already

Wish 6: I wish I had a job.

Entice

Entice
Author: Carrie Jones
Series: Need
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication Date: 12/14/10
How Received: Borrowed
Rate: 5
Summary: Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out. For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla? And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't turned into just any pixie. . . She's Astley's queen.
Review: There is one big thing I have to say about this book..... How can that be the end? I want more and more and more! This book and entire series is amazing. I cant wait to read more by carrie and possible add more to the story in my head. Aha. Defiantly a series to check out.

Interview with Robert Roman

Welcome to Jagged Edge!

Would you like to tell us a little about yourself?

Sure! My name is Robert, and I'm a Farmvilleoholic. It's been six hours since my last… Wait, wrong group. Ignore all that. OK, my name is Robert C Roman, but other than that you can ignore it. I'm the author of the Iron Angel and Artifice series, and I write action, adventure, romance, sci fi and fantasy.

What inspired you to write?

I'm not sure anything in particular inspired me, really. I've always been a storyteller, and then one year during National Novel Writing Month I wound up unemployed. I got some really nice compliments on my 50 KWords, and I've been writing since.

What authors influenced you as a writer?

Terry Pratchett. John Ringo. David Weber. Mary Janice Davidon. CJ Cherryh. David Brin.

What is your favorite Quote? Why is it your favorite?

The one on my website, although it wasn't *intended* the way I'm using it. The quote is "Finis vitae sed non finis amoris", and it means "The end of life is not the end of love". The author who wrote it didn't believe that. I do.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

That's a tough one. I've read so many cool ones. Agatha H and the Airship City? Legacy of the Aldenata? Maybe even Soon I will be Invincible. Personally, I'd want the *ability* to jump into books. Super Why wastes it. Yeah, I've got little kids, why do you ask?

What is at least one thing that every writer needs to have or do?

Read. I want to say 'have a marketing plan', but I've read too many marginal books lately. Some of them in print, which makes me super jealous. Read more, that your writing might be improved.

Are your books different to your personal favorite books by other authors?

I'd like to think that my books are comparable in quality to my favorite authors at my stage in their careers. Other than that, I'd say my books are different to anyone I've read, although some comparisons have been made. I mean, right now I'm writing about a werecamel. I don't think anyone out there has done that yet.

What lead you to writing in this genre?

I write in multiple genres. I write whatever genre the story calls for.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Actually writing. I'm a storyteller, and I love telling the story. Close behind, I think, is listening to someone reading my work.

Least favorite part of the writing process?

Promotion. I'm not really good at it, and I don't know how to do it right.

What are you currently working on?

Two things. One is a rewrite of the aforementioned werecamel book. The other is the third in my Iron Angel SteamPunk series.

Where readers can find you?

My website is www.robertcroman.com

LAST QUESTION:

Was there a question you wish I would have asked but didn't?

Yeah – "What's the most interesting thing that has happened to you as an author?" Since the convention last week, I can now honestly answer "Dakota Cassidy saying she loves the taste of my balls. I made Pfefferneuse for the convention. She immediately christened them 'ball cookies'. She liked them enough to eat them anyway.

Interview and Free e-book (if you can find it hidden) :]

Welcome to Jagged Edge!

Would you like to tell us a little about yourself?

Okay. I’m a 29yo adventurer. I love to travel, learn different languages and try different things. I work in Real Estate full time and write when I can. Between all that I manage to play basketball, participate in traditional archery tournaments and go bird watching.

What inspired you to write?

Adventure and imagination. I always wanted to be a real mystery solver or explorer but since I was a good kid at school, writing was the only way to have those adventures.

What authors influenced you as a writer?

Isobelle Carmondy, Tomara Pearce and Raymond E Feist.

What is your favorite Quote? Why is it your favorite?

“I reject your reality and substitute my own,” – Mithbusters. It makes me laugh and at times can be so true. No matter what you think, I’m happy thinking my own little story.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

Ohh… Narnia would be pretty cool, but the world of Midkimia from Raymond E Feist would be interesting.

What is at least one thing that every writer needs to have or do?

To have someone else who can read your work. No matter how many times you read your own work, you’ll always miss something!

Are your books different to your personal favorite books by other authors?

I think my books are different because they’re still new, first editions. I look up to the authors I’ve already mentioned and always wonder ‘will I ever be half that good?’ Once can only hope so.

What lead you to writing in this genre?

My high school librarian introduced me to fantasy after I’d read all the mystery books in my home town of Seymour. I loved it and haven’t looked back since! My first novel was dedicated to Mrs. Hall.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Writing a brand new story. Some times it is as if I’m reading the story as I write it – even I don’t know how it ends until it happens.

Least favorite part of the writing process?

Editing. I’m getting better at picking up my grammatical errors but it can be a nightmare!

What are you currently working on?

Book 3 (Elflings) and Book 5 (Deceiver). Elflings is going through the draft process with the help of some critters (become a critter at critters.org) while Deceiver is still being hand written.

Where readers can find you?

www.mlsawyer.com.au,

http://www.facebook.com/QOTDMLSawyer

http://www.equilibriumbooks.com/tallen.htm

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/39579 - discount coupon for your readers VU75D expires 30/09/11

LAST QUESTION:

Was their a question you wish I would have asked but didn't?

No, it’s all good. I think your interview was most informative. I had to think about which world I would like to visit… but now I’m thinking even more… what about the Far Away Tree… that was a fantastic place as well!

Guest Post with Rhiannon Paille

About Me:

Rhi was never a normal girl. She tried, but she couldn’t get rid of the visions, the voices in her head, and the hallucinations. When she was on the edge of crazy someone pulled her back and explained it all. She wasn’t insane. She was psychic, really psychic, too psychic. Her life was an urban fantasy wrapped in a paranormal romance and served with a side of horror. To escape her everyday weirdness she began writing fantasy. She frequents twitter and facebook, but if you really want to get to know her you should visit her site: www.rhiannonpaille.com  

Her book FLAME OF SURRENDER (The Ferryman and The Flame #1) Comes out November 1st, 2011. Check it out here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11841693-flame-of-surrender

The Bella Swan Factor: How to avoid stereotypes

I feel lately like YA Fiction is trying to strangle us with stereotypes. There are multiple books on all the usual trendy things, vampires, werewolves, dystopias, faeries, etc. etc. Through these stories we’ve also seen every type of character repeated over and over again. It’s hard to come up with a character that isn’t a long lost twin of another character from another series.

And I did things backwards. I wrote my characters and got to know them long before I got back into reading YA again, which was somewhere in 2008, and yes it was Twilight in case you were wondering. What I did with Kaliel and Krishani is I listened to their voices in my head for years and then I read YA Fiction and I tweaked them to be trendy.

Similarly, when Maggie Steifvater created Sam she originally wanted a sad boy that was losing himself. Turning into a werewolf became the metaphor for that loss. (Check her chat at Mundie Moms for the source)

What most aspiring writers do is they start at the wrong end of the spectrum. They begin by saying they want to write a Vampire story, or a Werewolf story or a Dystopian story.

I did this too, after reading The Hunger Games and Delirium, I wanted to write a Dystopian novel. That’s ALL that was in my head. So like a puzzle I went around and around in circles coming up with something crafty, not trendy and unique. I unfortunately kept hitting blocks in the logistics and therefore I gave up and shelved the ideas.

Months later I’m talking with an editor who needs a Superhero v.s. Zombies story for an Anthology. I rifle through my collection of ideas I left and find this little gem of a half created Dystopian world and bam, it became a superhero v.s. zombie dystopian story. (Yes yes I promise you’ll get to read it once I have more information from the publisher I’ll release it on my blog)

The thing is, you have to decide on the type of character before you decide on the metaphysical attributes your characters have. Make them normal, and then add to their character. Think of it like models. They’re stripped to nothing, no makeup, no body glitter, no clothes and then the designers paint their faces, do their hair and put clothes on them. They give them the attitude they have to have in front of the cameras, give them their background inspiration, and then the model has to run with it.

Maybe I need to explain it step by step?

1.      Start with a blank character. Choose the basics, male, female, looks, etc. etc.

2.      Choose attitude, disposition, mannerisms, emotional range, etc. etc.

3.      Look at what’s trendy, give your character something the opposite of trendy.

4.      Give your character inspirations, reasons for being alive, chips on the shoulder, back story, etc. etc.

5.      Save the metaphysical / supernatural elements for last. Make sure they can actually fit into the character you’ve already created. (I don’t think Sam could have lost himself and been a sad boy if he were a vampire.)

6.      Test out the character voice, does he/she work better in third person POV or first person POV? Write a sample 2-3 pages from their POV. Make sure it’s the first scene that pops into your head.

7.      Let it marinate for 5-7 Days.

8.      Take out of the fridge (wait you don’t keep your WiP’s in the fridge?) Stick in the oven and bake on high for roughly 25 – 45 days.

9.      Fluff with fork when done. Fork should come out dry, not goopy. (If your characters are goopy you have a problem, go back to step 1 and try again.)

Under His Spell

Author: Marie P. Croall
Series: My Boyfriends a Monster
Publisher: Lerner publishing group
Publication Date: 10/1/11
How Received: For review
Rate: 5
Review: The drawing is cute. And the story is sooo adorable. Ps. It has to do with Fae so if you loved the Iron Fey series and like manga's you most deffinatly need to check this out!


Past Reviews for the Series:
#1 I love him to pieces 
#2 Made For Each Other
#3 My Boyfriend Bites

Beyond the Grave

Author: Mara Purnhagen

Series: Past Midnight

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: September 1, 2010

How Received: For Review
Rate: 3.5

Summary: I can’t move forward with my life until I know my demons are confined to the past... Being Charlotte Silver, the daughter of famous paranormal investigators, means my life isn’t like that of other teenage girls. Especially after what happened to my parents. Things changed. I missed prom and deferred my big college plans. But I still have my boyfriend, Noah. He’s everything I could want—if I can figure out what’s up with him. Suddenly Noah is secretive. I fear it has something to do with what happened to us three months ago. The bruise Noah suffered during a paranormal attack has never completely faded. Now I’ve learned Noah is researching demons. And when he disappears, it’s up to me to find him—before something else does.
Review: I'm not sure what to do for this review. A big part of the book was Majorly depressing. Then there was the fact that it was a lot easier to distract me while reading this book. Then there were all the problems that happened. I feel like there are too many different things in one book. When I got past 85% of the book it got good. Really good, fast paced, amazing. I wish the whole book was that good. Then the end was awesome.