Blog Tour: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Happy Saturday everyone!  Today I'm very happy to be part of the official blog tour for Lindsey Leavitt's new book, Going Vintage.  Going Vintage centers around thrift-loving Mallory.  She has a pretty great life: a job working for her dad's antique business, an awesome younger sister and an adorable boyfriend.  Unfortunately her life takes a dive when she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with an online girlfriend.  Mallory decides to swear off technology and live like it's the sixties.  After all, life was much simpler then right?  

As part of the the blog tour for Going Vintage I have an interview with Lindsey Leavitt, herself!  So let's just get on to the questions!

Sometimes we can all feel smothered by technology. If you could un-invent any piece of technology what would it be? 

Texting. Yes, it’s easy. I don’t have to call babysitters and have that awkward pause before they tell me no. But I just miss people talking. And I hate when people text during another conversation.

Conversely what is something you couldn't do without? 

My laptop, Holden. I sleep with him under my pillow

Have you ever tried giving up any modern conveniences for a period of time? 

Yep, did it for a week while researching this book. I have mostly blacked out that period of my life

What was your inspiration for Going Vintage? 

There was an article in The Wall Street Journal a few years ago about a man with a cyber wife who ignored his real life wife. That’s straight from the pages. A breakup drama involving a family member gave me plenty of material. And The List came after I found a list I wrote when I was 19, about what I wanted to accomplish in my life (and coolness-- #1 was publish a book!)

I have to say that this is one of my favorite covers, and I am going to find that pink carpeting (just maybe in rug form)! Did you have any input and were you happy with the result? 

 Isn’t it fabulous? The cover gods were surely smiling down on me. This one isn’t much different than the original draft. I had some input on color and fonts, but the designer, Regina Flath, found this image and shaped everything around that. I love she saturated the color. I think it fits the tone of the book perfectly.
What do you want readers to take away from this story?

Happiness. Fun. Maybe a shift in perspective. Oliver Kimball (read and you’ll understand)

What's next for you? Any projects in the works? 

I’m working on another YA contemporary for Bloomsbury that will likely be out in summer 2014. I can’t say much about it, because I still don’t have much to say, but the story is set in Vegas and involves wedding chapels. I’m gearing up to start revisions soon, and can’t wait to get back into this story. There are some characters I really, really love.

I want to thank Lindsey for being with us today and for bravely giving up technology for a week so she could write the book.  That's what I call dedication. Going Vintage is available now from Bloomsbury, make sure to check it out and let me know what you think!

Author Interview: Carolyn Meyer

 I am so excited today to bring you this interview care of Mod Podge Blog Tours!  Carolyn Meyer was always one of my favorite authors growing up.  She's written an amazing array of books that encompass all different genres.  She is one of the most prolific and beloved young adult authors living today.  Some of her most famous work includes The Young Royals series and several of the Royal Diaries books that most of us devoured in middle school (I know I did).  That is why I am so honored to have her here today as part of the blog tour to promote her newest book, Victoria Rebels.  This historical fiction novel is based on Queen Victoria's actual journals and, therefore promises the same realism and legitimacy that readers have come to expect from Meyer's work.  I, for one, can't wait to get my hands on it.  

Carolyn has very nicely agreed to an interview about her new book and so, without further ado, onto the interview!

Some of my favorite books growing up were The Royal Diaries series and your Young Royals series. The characters have such a genuine and unique voice. How do you prepare to get inside the head of someone that actually existed?

I become as well acquainted as I possibly can with my subject by reading about her and the world in which she lived. And you've put your finger on something here: voice. That's the hardest thing for me, because it involves language as well as thought process. Marie-Antoinette, an Austrian by birth who spoke French with some difficulty, was tricky enough, but I really had a rough time figuring out how to capture Cleopatra's voice from more than two thousand years ago. She spoke whatever kind of Greek was spoken at that time. Big debate: would Cleopatra have used the equivalent of contractions? I decided that she would speak formally to her father, informally to her sisters and servants. Fortunately, I had no such dilemma with Victoria, because she kept such extensive diaries that I had a pretty good notion of how she would have sounded.

How did you develop an interest in European royalty?

One day several years ago the editor with whom I had worked on several books remarked, "Have you thought of writing about the Tudors?" And I said no, I hadn't thought about it, I didn't know a thing about English history, and I wasn't all that interested. But then I began to think about it, and to read a little, and I became fascinated by the queen they call Bloody Mary. And the rest is history. (Sorry, I couldn't resist that.)

Which of the young royals was the most fun to write about?

I like the bad girls, particularly Anne Boleyn and Marie-Antoinette, because history has painted them as such evil women. And they weren't evil. They were complex people caught up in the currents of the times and made some pretty serious miscalculations. I also enjoyed writing about Victoria and showing that she wasn't nearly as prim and proper as we assume she was.  

Historical fiction continues to be one of the most popular genres in literature. What do you think makes historical fiction so relevant and relate-able, especially with younger readers?

I think it's the recognition that thoughts, feelings, fears, desires--the whole gamut of human experience--has not changed, although the trappings have. I believe it's empowering for a girl who, like Victoria, doesn't get along with her mother, to see that this kind of conflict is nothing new, and that you can survive the rough times and go on to live your life.

You write across so many genres. Along with historical fiction, you've written contemporary, mystery and even non-fiction. Which is your favorite genre to write?

Actually non-fiction gave me the foundation for writing fiction--I learned how to do research effectively and how to use it to tell the story. I used to do contemporary novels, but frankly I find historical fiction much more fun. 

Which books inspired you growing up?

Remember that I grew up a looooong time ago, and I don't really remember what I read as a kid. I was always trying to talk the librarian in our little town into giving me more grownup books to read, but she was a friend of my mother and made sure I didn't get my hands on anything at all racy, which of course was what I was interested in. 

If you are remembered for one piece of work, what would you like it to be?

I don't think I've written it yet! (LOVE IT!)

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. It is truly an honor to be able to interview you.

And my pleasure to reply, Catie! 

Thanks so much for checking out the interview guys and please take a look at Victoria Rebels and let me know what you thought.  Also don't forget to enter the giveaway below for you chance to win a copy of Victoria Rebels or Cleopatra Confesses care of Mod Podge Blog Tours!

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Blog Tour: Me Him Them and It Review and Interview

Author: Caela Carter

Genre:  Contemporary

Pages: 320

Published: February 26th, 2013

Publisher: Bloomsbury 

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Source:  I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"ME is Evelyn Jones, 16, a valedictorian hopeful who's been playing bad girl to piss off THEM, her cold, distant parents. HIM is Todd, Evelyn's secret un-boyfriend, who she thought she was just using for sex - until she accidentally fell in love with him. But before Evelyn gets a chance to tell Todd how she feels, something much more important comes up. IT. IT is a fetus. Evelyn is pregnant - and when Todd turns his back on her, Evelyn has no idea who to turn to. Can a cheating father, a stiff, cold mother, a pissed-off BFF, and a (thankfully!) loving aunt with adopted girls of her own help Evelyn make the heart-wrenching decisions that follow?"~Goodreads

 I've got something really special for all of you today.  I'm so happy to be a part of the official blog tour for Caela Carter's new teen contemporary Me, Him, Them and It. This awesome debut deals with teen pregnancy in an honest, responsible and incredibly poignant way and I'm pleased to have an interview with Caela, herself, about her new book.

1. There is such a genuine voice to this book. It is very easy to believe that we are inside the head of a scared, lost teenage mother. What was your research and preparation like for this kind of story and this character in particular?

I’m so glad you enjoyed the voice! But I’m a bit worried I won’t be able to answer this question too well. I did a lot of research about pregnancy. With all of the blogs I was following and “what to expect” books I was ordering, I’m pretty sure my computer thought I was pregnant! But I’m not sure I actually researched the character of Evelyn. I’ve spent most of my adult life (and obviously my teenaged life) around teenagers and I find them endlessly fascinating and wonderful, even when they’re angry, sullen and lost, like my MC. And, in the past, when I was teaching and working with real-live teens, I’ve done a lot of reading and studying of developmental psychology to understand how they tick. I think all of that went into my creation of Evelyn, like, subconsciously. But, I honestly don’t remember where she came from. Once she was in my brain, she was just there. 

2. What made you choose to write about teen pregnancy?

Jeez, again, I just don’t know. I think one of the things that fascinates me most about teenagers is that they are so close to adulthood and so close to childhood they they are able to dance back and forth between the two worlds. The way I remember my own teenaged years, sometimes my maturity level felt like a choice and it was kind of incredible that I could choose to engage in the most intelligent conversations at the dinner table, or to silently excuse myself and read my Seventeen magazine. Other time, that fluctuating maturity level was so limiting and frustrating when my parents or my body or my friends were insisting that I act either older or younger than I was feeling at the moment. I have spent time with pregnant teenagers and with teenaged mothers and with women who were pregnant as teenagers, and I think it is this aspect that fascinated me. The pregnancy completely changes everything about the teen’s own fluctuating maturity. So, when I reflect back, I think maybe that’s why it came to me. But, and I hope this is something that your readers can understand, when Evelyn got pregnant, I didn’t actually think too much about it. It kind of just happened. At that point, I was drafting the novel in the tiny, claustrophobic Manhattan bedroom I had just moved into, and it was only me and Evelyn who were involved. I made choices for the book, like that the MC would be pregnant, without ever thinking anyone else would ever read about them and wonder. So, it does probably say something about my psyche or interests or something that what I ended up writing was about pregnancy. But I have no idea what it says because at the time, it didn’t really feel like a choice. It just kinda happened.  

3. Without going into any detail, I'll just say that the ending was not what I was expecting. Did you know from the beginning how the book would end, or did you have several options that you played with?

I did. The ending was about the only thing I knew (which is maybe not that surprising considering this is the only question I’ve answered without saying “I don’t know” A lot of the things Evelyn does and says and reacts to surprised me in the drafting, but I always knew the ending. What’s funny is that when my writerly friends first started reading my draft, I was worried the ending would be predictable! 

4. In a world of Sixteen and Pregnant how do you think the way teen mothers are looked at has changed over the last several years, or has it?

Hm. Sorry to say this again, but to be honest, I really don’t know. I do hear a lot that pregnancy is a “current issue” or something of that sort, and I don’t really think that’s true. It’s more of an eternal issue. For as long as there have been teenagers, there have been pregnant teenagers. And for as long as there have been pregnant teenagers, there have been confused, pregnant teenagers. I think Sixteen and Pregnant and other such docu-series have put a face on the issue and turned it from abstract to real for many people, and I think that’s a good thing. I appreciate that those girls are willing to put their real stories out into the world and I think that’s very brave. (I’m terrified at putting an entirely fictional story out there!) I give them a lot of credit. But I’m not sure that the show and the fact that the general population is now more aware of teen pregnancy actually changes the reality of it that has been around for generations. 

5. What do you think are the most important issues facing teens today?

Oy vey! I don’t know that either. I don’t know that there even is a universal answer to that. For the teens I worked with in Chicago, the biggest issue was probably gangs and street violence, but there are obviously many teens (like Evelyn) who never even have to think about those things. So, I’m not sure there is one all-encompassing answer to this question. But, I do think it’s kinda cool when we can stop to consider the question of issues that don’t directly effect us. So I like to think that we as a community are all responsible for the issues that effect others. So, in that case, every issue is a big one for teenagers and for people of all ages. I’m totally failing at the question. I probably should have just stopped at “I don’t know.” But, that’s what I think. 

6. What has the response been from young women who have gone through the struggle of teen motherhood?

I honestly only know of one person who was a teen mom and who has read the book, and I’m proud to say that she liked it! But I suppose I’ll have to wait for that general reaction. However, I’ll take the opportunity to send a little love out into the universe to all pregnant teens and all women who were pregnant teens, whether they enjoy the book or not. It was not an easy thing to write about, but I’m aware that it’s at least a million more times difficult to live and deal with and I think those who are facing the choices Evelyn did need as much love and support as we can give them. So: hugs! 

7. What do you most want readers to take away from Me, Him, Them and It?

Boy, Catie, you’re really putting me through the ringer! This is another tough one! Again, I guess I’d like to emphasize that I wrote it in the solitude of my own head and my own bedroom. When I was writing, it was utterly private. (Even though the actual content has nothing to do with my life, ha!). So I wasn’t actually writing it for anything. I’m thrilled beyond believe that it’s getting published, but I’m also very aware that whatever a reader gets from the book belongs entirely to the reader. 

8. What do you want to write about next?

Next! I’m working on another project for Bloomsbury that I’m really excited about. I don’t want to say too much, but it involves friendship and family and romance and it does NOT involve pregnancy :-) And more abstractly, I’m endlessly fascinated and charmed by the many, many ways to define family and the many, many ways our personal definition makes us who we are. I think that’s something I’ll always be exploring as I write.

This was so much fun! Thanks for having me, Catie! 

Thank you again for being with us today Caela and congratulations on your debut!  And, by the way, I think your answers were great!

And now onto the review portion of our program, er...blog.  To put it in simple terms, I loved this book.  I'm always iffy about issues books because they can tend to be angsty and seem to either err on the side of irresponsibility or sound like they've been written by some know-it-all adult who doesn't really remember what it's like to be sixteen.  Me, Him, Them and It doesn't have any of these problems.  Evelyn's life isn't perfect to begin with.  Her parents' marriage is a a sham, the guy she's in love with doesn't want anyone to know about them and she's acting out to get attention.  We begin our story after she finds out she is pregnant and follow her throughout the pregnancy.  Evelyn is an enormously real character and the reader feels all of her ups and downs.  I found myself wanting her to be okay so badly that I had to remind myself she was fictional.  She is a lost little girl with a very grown up problem and very grown up decisions to make.  The story-telling was very realistic and the way that Evelyn reacted to each situation was entirely believable.  More than that, the story was not preachy or biased in any way.  This is not a political book, it is merely the story of a girl living with the consequences of some life-altering decisions.

The most amazing thing about this book for me was the emotion.  I didn't feel like it was sappy in the least, but I found myself sobbing on more than one occasion.  I knew going into it that this would probably be an emotional read but I was not prepared for how connected I felt to the characters and how much the story affected me.  By the middle of the book I was flying through the pages.  I needed to know how this all ended!  And that's the crazy part, the ending took me completely by surprise.  In fact, there were many parts of the story that came out of left field, in a good way.  I love a book that I am surprised by.  If you're looking for a quick read with lots of heart and amazing characters, you must pick this one up.  You won't be disappointed!

Audrey's Guide To Witchcraft: Review, Giveaway and Interview with Jody Gehrman

Hello all of you lovely lovely people.  Today I have the awesome and exceedingly patient Jody Gehrman with me.  Jody is the author of Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft, a fun new book about a normal girl named Audrey who finds out that she is anything but.  Here's the full synopsis care of Goodreads:

"Falling in Love, baking a magical cake, fighting an evil necromancer—it’s all in a day’s work for Audrey Oliver, seventeen-year-old witch-in-training. When her mother goes missing and her twenty-one-year-old witchy cousin shows up out of the blue, Audrey knows something’s gone horribly, dangerously wrong. Now it’s up to her to get her own magical powers up to speed before everyone she loves is destroyed by the sorcerer intricately connected to her mother’s secret past."

This book was just tons of fun.  I really felt like I got to know Audrey, who is a quiet-ish girl (except when it comes to protecting her best friend) and not what you would expect from a new witch.  Her love and loyalty really make her stand out as a character and her passion for learning gives this book a unique feel.  I also fell in love with Sadie, Audrey's very strange cousin.  Sadie is everything a good witch should be: kooky, clever and just a little scary.  She also happens to travel with a menagerie of interesting animals that she seems to be able to communicate with.  This includes a giant snake:

"When embarking on a new, potentially dangerous adventure, never hurts to have an overly protective boa constrictor on your team." ~ Sadie

Sadly I didn't feel this same connection with the other characters in the book.  They all have great potential but I just would have liked to see it explored more.  However, there is going to be another book so maybe we'll get to know them better then.

The other thing I really enjoyed about this book is relationship between Audrey and Julian.  There are some signs of insta-love here but not in the way that makes you cringe.  In fact, the characters seem to be surprised that they have feelings for each other so quickly and I can't help but think this is a wink to those of us who don't really care for insta-love.

Finally, I really like the idea of the guide.  This is one of the things that pulled me into the book.  It makes the reading experience unique.  I only wish it would have been focused on a little more in the middle of the story.  Overall, this was a fun, charming read and I would certainly recommend it to lovers of the paranormal!

If you would like to see my full video review, you can find it below:

And now onto the interview!!!!

First a little about our guest:

Jody Gehrman is the author of seven novels and numerous plays. Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is her most recent Young Adult novel. Her other Young Adult novels include Babe in Boyland, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, and Triple Shot Bettys in Love, (Penguin's Dial Books). Babe in Boyland has recently been optioned by the Disney Channel. Her adult novels areNotes from the Backseat, Tart, and Summer in the Land of Skin (Red Dress Ink). Her plays have been produced in Ashland, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and L.A. She and her partner David Wolf won the New Generation Playwrights Award for their one-act, Jake Savage, Jungle P.I. She is a professor of English at Mendocino College.

Jody's Info:

Website ~ Facebook ~ Audrey's Guide Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog

First some bookish warm-up questions:

Hardbacks or Paperbacks? Paperbacks.

Stand-alones or Series? A good series allows you to go more in-depth (both as a reader and a writer) but I've been known to walk away from many a series if the first one doesn't totally reel me in.

Favorite book/series of all time? Sorry, I just can't! I have so many, and it depends on my mood. For some reason today I'm feeling especially partial to Harry Potter. I feel nostalgic for that deliciously enchanting world. I realize that's wildly unoriginal, but there you go.

Favorite character of all time? I really admire the villain in Water for Elephants, August. He's so complex, a terrifying mixture of charming and vicious.

Best book to movie adaptation? The Hunger Games stayed faithful to the novel, the casting was ingenious, and it convinced me to read the books. I'd say that's pretty great.

Mr. Darcy or Mr. Rochester? Man, you're cruel! I love them both. Okay, Mr. Rochester. But in a different mood I'd totally choose Mr. Darcy. Still, Rochester's just so complicated; I'm a sucker for mysterious and troubled.

And now onto the real questions:

Your main character, Audrey, loves to cook.  Are you a master chef as well and if so what is your favorite thing to make?

Confession time: I'm actually a wretched chef. Well, I have potential, but I get distracted. Just last night I totally burned the green beans while checking my email. My husband does most of the cooking in our house, but I do bake on occasion. Once in a while I make my father's Irish scones. When I'm feeling especially decadent I've been known to whip up a batch of dark chocolate espresso cookies; once you've eaten a few, you just know you have superpowers!

The witches in your book all have different types of talents, if you were a member of the Clan what would your power be?

I'm really good at killing things--plants, specifically--so I could be the anti-garden witch. Not sure that would make me terribly popular, but I'm trying to be realistic here.

Which character do you relate to most strongly in the book?

Sadie was my favorite character to create in many ways, though I don't know if that's because we're alike. Maybe we have some qualities in common; perhaps my secret self is Sadie-ish. I love her sense of style, her relationship with nature, and her willingness to mentor Audrey even if she doesn't really understand Audrey's power. I also felt a connection with Megan from the very beginning. She's a natural rock star, which has always been a fantasy of mine. Audrey was the trickiest character to understand. It took me quite a few years before I found the right protagonist to tell this story.

What made you decide to write for young adults?

When I stumbled on the idea for my first YA book (Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty) I just knew it needed a teen heroine. Once I got into the genre, I realized I loved writing for young adults. My very favorite aspect of this brave new YA world is the range of topics open to authors these days. There's such a renaissance happening in the genre; I'm so proud to be a tiny part of that. I also feel inspired by the emails I get from young readers. I love that this audience is so unpretentious and open; most of them don’t judge books based on preconceived notions about “great literature.” They’re eager to get lost in stories, and their imaginations are still vivid. That’s a demographic I enjoy working with.

Who is your biggest inspiration, either personal or literary?

My family has been incredibly supportive all along. My father and my husband are always my first readers, because they generally think I'm a genius. That's kind of important in the early stages, just to be loved and encouraged. They also keep me going when things look grim. I guess that's the more personal side of inspiration. My writing group also keeps me from getting too freaked out over rejections or bad reviews. I've had wonderful writing teachers over the years who are also great authors; working with them made my dream seem more attainable. A few of my best teachers were Gina Nahai, T.C. Boyle, David Scott Milton, and Robin Hemley.

What do you want readers to take away from Audrey’s Guide to Witchcraft?

I hope it puts them in the mood to create a little magic in their own lives, and to recognize everyday magic when it happens.

Finally Jody has very graciously decided to do a giveaway there will be a Signed print copy available for a US/Canadian reader and one e-copy available for an international reader.  The rafflecopters are below.  I want to thank Jody again for being with us today.  Make sure you check her out and especially make sure to pick up Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft.

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Sara Walsh Interview and Giveaway!

Hello all you wonderful people!  Today, I have the super awesome Sara Walsh here for an interview and a giveaway of her upcoming book The Dark Light, set to be released on August 28th.  Here's the blurb from Goodreads as well as the new slightly tweaked cover:

"Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she's concerned, that's about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.
That is, until Sol arrives. Mia's not one to fall for just any guy, but she can't get Sol--or the brilliant tattoo on his back--out of her mind.
Then Mia's brother goes missing, and Mia's convinced that Sol knows more than he's sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol's not who Mia thought he was--and neither is she." 

It sounds so great and lets not even get me started on that cover!  I mean, sheesh.  I'm gettin' the vapors over here (you really have to imagine that in my best Scarlett O'Hara voice.)  So, anyway, while I calm down, let me introduce you to the fabulous Sara Walsh!

From her bio:  Sara Walsh is British, but happily lives in Annapolis, Maryland. She graduated college with a degree in psychology, but soon decided that telling stories was much more fun. When not writing, Sara is usually reading, drowning in tea, or frolicking around town with the world's cutest St. Bernard. The Dark Light is her first novel.

Website Twitter Facebook

And now, onto the interview!



Hello Sara, thanks so much for hanging out with us today!


Hi, Catie! Thanks so much for having me here!


First some bookish warm-up questions:


Hardback or Paperback? Hardback


Stand-alone or Series? Series.


Favorite book/series of all time? Harry Potter.


Favorite character of all time? Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind  


Best book to movie adaptation? Gone with the Wind. Love it!  
(There seems to be a Gone with the Wind theme with this post and that is fine by me)


Mr. Darcy or Mr. Rochester? Mr. Darcy!


And now, on to the real questions:


First, some cover talk. The cover of this book is being raved about and it is GORGEOUS! How
important was the cover design to you and how important are covers in general?


Great question. Covers are crucial. We all know the saying, “Never judge a book by its cover”. Yet covers remain a major reason why a reader will pick up a book. Publishers are very aware of this, and put huge amounts of time and effort into creating book covers that perfectly capture an author’s story. My editor did ask me about ideas for covers, but I have to admit, I’m no designer and really wasn’t very helpful. I knew that my publisher created amazing covers, but I had no idea it was going to be such a showstopper. I literally screamed when I first saw it.


Along the same lines, some readers have said that this cover may be too risqué for a YA book,
thoughts?


I have heard that, and I understand the point of view. In fact, the cover has very recently been tweaked to address those views. To me, the image was always more romantic than risqué, but then I know the characters well and know the connection between them. Mia is strong and determined. Sol is focused, but reserved. I think the models perfectly capture that.


Can I have the number of the male model on the cover? (Pretty please?)


Sure, it’s 555… I know. He’s yummy. Here’s a fun fact: The tattoo was actually designed by a real life tattoo artist, and then digitally added to the model’s back--a very fun job! Apologies if you’ve heard that before, but I tell it to everyone, because I think it’s so cool!


Why did you choose to write Young Adult lit as opposed to adult fiction?


I actually write both! In fact, The Dark Light was the very first YA I ever wrote. I worked in a British high school for seven years, and had always wanted to write for teenagers. When I got the idea for The Dark Light, I decided to go for it, started writing, and had an absolute blast. I wrote for fun and had no idea it would ever be published. I feel incredibly blessed by how things turned out.


What drew you to Paranormal Romance?


That’s another good question. To me, The Dark Light was always going to be a full on, action-packed fantasy with tons of drama and adventure. I knew there was going to be romance in it--I love romance! --but I had no clue that Mia and Sol’s relationship was going to become as central as it did. It was only when people started reading that I realized I had something a little different on my hands. I think we’re calling it an epic romantic fantasy! I like that!


Who is your biggest inspiration, either personal or literary?


So many. I’ve always admired Stephen King, not just because I enjoy his stories, but because his work ethic is so amazing. To be able to produce so many fantastic stories over such a long period of time is a huge inspiration to me as a writer.


The action in this book is kicked off when Mia’s brother goes missing and she tries to find out what happened. How big of a role does family play in Mia’s story?


A huge role, but I don’t want to give too much away. I love a story that contains some family soap opera and The Dark Light certainly has plenty of that. There will be revelations!


What do you want readers to take away from The Dark Light?


I want for readers to escape for a few hours and have fun. I read a lot as a teenager (I still do) and the stories I remember most fondly are the ones that took me away from the world. There are some more subtle messages within The Dark Light, specifically about our environment and how we connect to the world. I like that it’s in there, and hope some readers will enjoy that aspect of it.




I just want to thank Sara again for the amazing interview and for agreeing to a giveaway!  That's right, one of you lucky people with be getting your hands on a copy of The Dark Light.  This will be for a pre-order of either a Hardback copy of the book (US/INT) or an e-copy (US only).  Just fill out the rafflecopter below and good luck.

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