Book Tour: Holly Hearts Hollywood by Kenley Conard @kenleyconrad @swoonromance @NereydaG1003 #Giveaway

Holly Hearts Hollywood

by Kenley Conard

Release Date: 09/23/14

Swoon Romance

Summary from Goodreads:
Sixteen-year-old Holly Hart wants to be a star. She moves to Los Angeles from the small town of Cedar Junction, only to hear she's too fat and ugly to be a famous singer.

But when Shell Shocked Records looks past Holly's plus-size and less-than-graceful-personality to offer her a recording contract, Holly cannot believe her good fortune. On closer inspection, however, the record execs want Holly to do all the singing, and a thinner and more beautiful girl, Lacey, would lip-sync and get all the credit. Holly goes for it because after all, she wanted to sing.

Contractually bound to secrecy, Holly is more than happy to sit backstage while Lacey shimmies in the limelight and basks in the fame. Before she knows it, Holly is friends with Serena, the pop-star daughter of a music-mogul, flirting with an intern, and developing a strange half-friendship with the seemingly bipolar Lacey.

When Grayson Frost, the biggest country star in America, and coincidentally, a former school bully begins dating Lacey, Holly hopes that he won't recognize or torment her.

Through a series of embarrassing and weird events, Holly gets to know Grayson and learns that he is much nicer and more mature than he was four years ago. Holly is horrified when she starts falling for him. When Grayson admits he fell for Lacey's voice, what is a girl to do when she can't legally tell the truth at the moment when the truth matters the most?

  

Excerpt:

Later, 10:00am-American History


Amanda says my fear of drawing attention to myself is a misguided attempt to appear humble. She says there's a Holly, deep down inside, who's proud of her singing voice waiting to get out. Then again, Amanda has Psychology for her first semester elective, and she's kind of gotten carried away.

Don't get me wrong, I love to sing. I just don't love to sing in front of other people. But the moment I'm alone in my room or in the shower, you can't stop me from singing. I only feel confident when I'm singing. I'm just afraid that if I sing for other people, I'll find out I've been wrong about my skills, like those people on American Idol whose parents told them they were great.

On the other hand, Meredith says it's smart to not tell the whole school about my potential record deal. If it doesn't work out, then it'll give everyone more reasons to make fun of me.

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776. The thirteen original colonies declared independence from Great Britain.

Oh, what's the point? This is why I don't actually take notes in class. Didn't we learn this stuff in fifth grade? Isn't this supposed to be my senior year of high school? I can't wait to go to college and learn something useful.

Then again, I might not even get into any of the colleges I applied to.

Ugh, thinking about it makes me feel sick.

About the Author:
I'm the author of the upcoming YA series Holly Hearts Hollywood, coming September 2014 by Swoon Romance. I'm a twenty-something cat lady who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. When I'm not working my office day job or writing books, you can find me either singing and dancing or binge-watching TV shows on Netflix.

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Double Cover Reveal: Fix Up & Change Up (Patch Up #2 & 3) By Stephanie Witter @StephanieR76 @XpressoReads #Giveaway

Fix Up
Patch Up #2
By Stephanie Witter
Publication date: October 14, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Saying "I love you'' doesn't erase the old scars and fears.

"I love you to insanity. I'm not even sure if it's a good thing.'' - Duke

Skye is trying to overcome what happened with Sean. Now that she's slowly healing, both physically and mentally, she's determined to do something she should have done sooner.

She's meeting twice a week with a new, very young therapist, Dr. Marshall.

There, she's able to talk freely, unwind, and question things. Most of the sessions she talks about herself and her hangups, along with her relationship with Duke, which is still on rocky ground.

"I want to taste his sweat. I want to hear his groans. I want to feel him inside of me.'' - Skye

But while Skye is slowly getting back on her feet, Duke feels like he's drowning. He's afraid of pushing her too much, of initiating intimacy, and it's weighing between them. Moreover, knowing that he's not the one she's talking to anymore is making him feel things he never thought possible.

"It's a matter of when I'll stop fighting." - Duke

As days pass, Duke is showing over and over how vulnerable he truly is and how Skye has more power over him than she ever imagined.

When Skye sees how they keep hurting each other, she's determined to do everything in her power to make things right, no matter what the cost. But one thing is still sure; she can count on Duke whenever she needs him, even if they disagree and fight. When Duke loves, he loves with everything he's made of, the good and the bad.

"Loving her is confusing, making me afraid of myself and what I can do ... because I can break us both." - Duke

Change Up
Patch Up #3
By Stephanie Witter
Publication date: Fall, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

In Patch Up and Fix Up you had Skye and Duke's story. Now, it's time for Derek and Kate to find their path.

He fights for the people he loves.

She fights against love.

Kate Andrews is starting her second year of college in Seattle. She is happy to leave Chicago and her dysfunctional family behind to be with her friends again. Growing up she thought that her parents' loveless marriage was all her father's fault, but that summer she discovered that things are so much more complicated in life and love.

Her mother is bipolar. That doesn't mean her father isn't unfaithful, nor does he support her and her choices. Additionally, he isn't a great father or husband, but it brings a new perspective in her life; the way she envisions love.

Derek Williams graduated college a few months ago, and while he moved back in again with his single mother and teenage brother, he never thought that he would be struggling with two crappy jobs. He is not succeeding in either of his jobs or in his countless plans for the future.

Instead, he's trying to bring back his brother and set him on a straight path, while trying to avoid the wrong crowd hounding him, thanks to his brother. Together with fighting his mother on her lack of support in their family, this all has caused chaos.

"Yes, my life is a fucking mess. I have nothing for that girl who deserves everything, and yet I still can't just sit on my ass and wait for the next asshole to pursue her.'' - DEREK

Both of them are very different. Their upbringing is opposite; their vision of love and life contrast, and yet …

"I want to open up to it, open up to the possibility of heartbreak even if I'm scared to death. I'm ready to change up.'' - KATE

They're both still hung up on each other.

They can't forget that one night they shared months ago, can't ignore their attraction and quickly maturing love. They match in every way that matters, but time and time again their respective families are getting in the way.

"He's the commitment kind while I'm anti-commitment." - KATE

Are they willing to fight for each other? Is Kate ready to risk her comfort and everything else for love? Is Derek prepared to chose which battles are worth fighting for?

"It's never been friendship, and it'll never be.'' - DEREK

About the Author:

Stephanie Witter is a French dreamer. She started learning English at three, and fell in love with the language. Always with a book, or two close by, she started reading in English when she couldn't wait any longer for Harry Potter to be translated in French. After a while, reading wasn't enough. She started writing Young Adult and New Adult Contemporary novels and PATCH UP is her first New Adult Contemporary novel.

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Review of The Fourth Bride (The Blackstone Vampires Series, #4) By Carole Gill @carolelynngill

The Fourth Bride (The Blackstone Vampires Series, #4) By Carole Gill
Published January 12th 2014 by Carole Gill
Pages 192

Summary from Goodreads:

After the tragic and sudden death of her groom, Dia, cursed by Dracula as a babe, is taken to his castle. Once there, she is seduced and turned by the count, and she becomes his fourth bride. The other brides are to be her sisters, and they are all to love and feed upon one another. As her master says: "The joy is in the blood...the passion is in the blood...endless life is in the blood...!"

And so she finds it is.
Dia's tale is full of erotic sex and graphic violence. It is a tale of love and lust but mostly of blood, for the blood is everything.

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Excerpt:

We boarded a ship bound for Italy. The ship's captain married us. Edward had arranged it. I recall the service-joyful and full of light and flowers, a wedding breakfast and congratulations. We spent the day on deck, gazing out at the sea, watching the sunlight shimmering upon it. And when the sun sank into the horizon, we dressed for dinner.

When night fell and we were alone, I opened myself to him in our cabin. I, the new bride, the young woman who desired love and romance and my husband's heart, did wish to know what love was like, but he was ill. Something had seized him and sickened him. At first I thought it seasickness, but when he didn't get better and grew more pale and listless, I called for the ship's doctor.

"Your husband is quite ill, Madame. The captain is docking at Bilbao, in Spain. I will accompany you to the infirmary there."

The hospital was not far from the dock. I wanted so to go inside with him, but was told to wait outside.

The doctor returned later. I knew from the expression on his face that my worst fears were realized. "Señora, he is gone. I am sorry; it is a fever of unknown origin and he has passed from this world."

I laughed, oh yes I did a crazed cackle, and then I was silent. I stared at faces and saw that people were speaking to me, but I could not hear a word!

Until... "They will need to make arrangements. I can help. ... Will you be wishing to have the body sent on...?"

I broke down and it was decided he would be buried. Mercifully, there would be no autopsy.

My Review:

I received a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Dia was cursed by Dracula as a baby while her mother was killed. Rose and Louis Darton took Dia in at that time to love and raise her as their own. Rose and Louis had two children of their own Simon and Ada. Rose, Louis, Simon and Ada were all vampires with the exception of Louis being half-vampire/half-demon. As Dia grew into adulthood her brother and sister would never would. They will always remain children as they are vampires while Dia is not.

Dia met and fell in love with a nice young man by the name of Edward. While on their honeymoon poor Edward took sick and died. Dia was all alone until she was kidnapped by Dracula and taken to his castle to become his fourth bride, which she was destined to since she was cursed as a baby. Dracula had three other wives whom lived with him at the castle. They are sisters and were actually real sisters when they were turned. After taking Dia to his castle Dracula turned Dia into a vampire and she became his fourth bride. At first Dia was very upset and scared but eventually she learned not to be afraid of Dracula and she learned to love him in her own way. Dracula loved Dia very much or as much as he ever could with his dark and evil twisted heart.

The sisters were very jealous of Dia and did not like her at all but that was ok because Dia didn't like them either. She was just as jealous of them if not more so. So Dracula decided to take her away so just the two of them could be together so that it would be just the two of them and she wouldn't have to put up with the sisters.

Dia suffers through a lot of heartache and tortious things. She is made do unspeakable things that she would never dream of ever doing. The Fourth Bride is filled with so much evil, mind numbing events that will leave you with your mouth hanging open. If you are easily given to nightmares then I suggest that you read The Fourth Bride with the lights on and under no circumstance read it alone. Well unless you are like me and you love reading scary, gory and bloody books. If I dreamed about The Fourth Bride and I woke up right in the middle of it I would be so upset. I would want to go back to sleep so I could finish my dream. I would probably be laughing when I woke up. Not because I don't have a heart or care about people and things I do very much but hey I love horror. I was born in the horror month and love it.

Have you read The Blackstone Vampires? If you have not then you do not know what you are missing. The Blackstone Vampires is one series you definitely need to check out! It is an amazing series! Carole Gill is an awesome author and knows how to scare the living daylights out of you. And to me that is one fantastic book and author!

Other books in this series: Book covers linked to my review.

About The Author:

I write all sorts of horror but have a particular fondness for all things Gothic. Justine: Into The Blood Book One - Blood and Passion Series has just been released. I am the author of the acclaimed Blackstone Vampires Series. The Series is composed of four novels, each following upon the previous one. All four full-length novels comprise The Blackstone Vampires Omnibus.

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Book Blitz: Undertow (Undertow #1) By K.R. Conway @sharkprose @NereydaG1003 #Giveaway

Undertow (Undertow #1)

by K.R. Conway

Release Date: 10/18/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Luckless Eila is unknowingly the last of her kind: Rare. Gifted. Breakable. Stunning Raef is her kind's historic enemy: Soulless. Lethal. Lost. A legendary death 160 years before would set their lives to collide, forcing a beautiful killer to become a savior, a simple wallflower to become a warrior, and ruthless destiny to become a death sentence.

SUMMARY:
High school senior Eila Walker knows that good luck skips over her like an Easter Bunny on Speed. So when she inherits her grandmother's million-dollar Cape Cod home, she is downright shocked. And yeah, her new town isn't perfect: the cheerleaders are heinous clones, the local undertow can kill ya, and her Great Grams was supposedly fried by lightning in the harbor square. Still, Eila is hopeful her luckless days are in the past . . . until history decides to repeat itself.

A self-proclaimed loner and previous-social reject, Eila thinks she's hit the jackpot when drool-worthy Raef O'Reilly becomes her friendly, yet weirdly protective shadow. But being hauled beneath the waves by an unnatural undertow slams the brakes on bliss - especially when Raef storms to her aid with coal-black eyes and iron-like strength.

Eila, entirely freaked, demands an explanation and Raef comes clean, revealing that neither of them are average humans but rather the genetic remnants of an angelic pissing-match gone wrong. Eila supposedly can channel the power of human souls, while Raef is quite adept at stealing them. Even worse, the legend about her ancestor isn't such a myth, since Eila's grandmother was one kick-ass warrior until her lightning-like power backfired. A power that is written all over Eila's DNA.

Now sought by Raef's own family for her destructive ability, Eila must trust him to watch her back. But when a quest for information goes terribly wrong, Eila is suddenly left with only two options: become a weapon for the enemy or follow in her Gram's fearless footsteps to save those she loves. Unfortunately she needs a willing enemy to ignite her suicidal energy and the only one she trusts has been guarding her butt and scorching her lips.

Available from:

Q & A with KR Conway

If you could be any character in your book (and receive their powers as well, if they have any), which would you be and what would you do?

Oh dang . . . Ummm. I'd be Ana Lane I guess - car fanatic, surfer girl, and basically an emotional psychic on crack who is pursued by a gorgeous and devoted guy named Kian. But I am lucky enough to have a real crew of teenaged models who I get to see on a regular basis. I found Cape Cod teenagers from the real Barnstable High School on Facebook that looked like the characters (at least, in my mind) and they were brave enough to become the models in a fancy-shmancy studio we use. So yeah - Raef, Kian, MJ, Ana, and Kian text me all the time - LOL. The entire "cast" will be at Stormfront's book launch on August 3rd here on Cape Cod (yup - you can get an early copy on Cape Cod that night, otherwise it is August 13th).

Do you incorporate yourself into your characters' personalities? If so, which character are you most like?

I think all authors pull from what they "know" so yeah, I'd say Eila's dry humor is me, the craziness of MJ is me, and Ana's take-no-crap attitude is me. Of course, all those personality traits help in my other job: driving a school bus.

What do you aim to teach your readers through your books?

Strength, perseverance, and devotion. I want my female readers to be bold and strong, and my male readers to understand that being protective does not equal being controlling. I want teenagers to see relationships painted in a positive light and that every relationship must be a balance of one another.

Where did you get the inspiration for your characters' names?

Kian, Raef, and Christian were all on my list of boy names for my son (he ended up as "Finn"). Jesse was a dear friend in high school as was MJ. Nikki is my niece's name, and Mae is my daughter's middle name. Ana, Eila, Rillin, and Collette were all just made up, though they seemed to fit the characters.

Have you always known that you wanted to become a writer?

HAHAHAHAHA - NO. I have a degree in Forensic Psychology from Mount Holyoke College (Criminal Minds type-thing), but while I was in college professors would say I had a "knack" for writing (I figured they were all high on something). Then I came out of college and was asked to interview an artist. From there other magazines and newspapers began approaching me. That was 16 years ago and the rest is history. I now teach fiction craft to teenagers at libraries and high schools. Truth = no one is born a writer, but you CAN be born a storyteller. Learning HOW to tell the story - that's what I teach.

Do you have any routines before writing to get the creative juices flowing?

Walking and driving actually allow my mind to wander and thus, begin writing in my head (I occasionally have missed a bus stop or two, LOL). I am a rocker-girl at heart, so I listen to music non-stop while I write and blog. I just saw Paramore, Fall Out Boy, and New Politics in Mansfield. AWESOME!

Which scene(s) did you enjoy writing the most?

-- in Undertow or Stormfront, or both. Oh man . . . The bonfire scene in UNDERTOW I enjoyed writing because I had just been at the boardwalk the night before with my daughter. It is also that crazy turning point in the book when readers suddenly realize I am a seriously deranged writer. I had a lot of fun writing STORMFRONT, but I laughed myself silly writing the scene where MJ convinces Eila to become a criminal. I also spent a great deal of time writing a certain scene between Eila and Raef on the yacht. I think I rewrote it 10 times. The next book I hope to have out is Kian and Ana's story known as CRUEL SUMMER.

If you could give one advice to every human on earth, what would it be?

Never judge someone if you have never walked in their shoes. So much hate is based on ignorance of the other person, race, or country. All it takes is a moment to step back and realize you may not know where the other person is coming from and that your hate is unwarranted.

About the Author

I have been a journalist for 15 years and serve on the Board of Directors for the Cape Cod Writers Center. I also drive a 16-ton school bus because I am ENTIRELY NUTS.

In addition to working jobs that should come with a warning label , I hold a BA in Psychos (Forensic Psych), torment the tourists about Jaws, and occasionally jump from the Town Neck bridge in an attempt to reclaim my youth.

I live on Cape Cod with two smallish humans who apparently are my kids, my fishing-obsessed husband, two canines (adept at both flatulence and snoring), and a cage-defiant lovebird that sleeps in a miniature tent. Nope - that's not a type-o. The bird is quite the indoor camper.

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Cover Reveal: Blood Island (The Secret of the Halflings #2) By Samantha Coville @sammycoville @NereydaG1003

Blood Island  (The Secret of the Halflings #2)

by Samantha Coville

Release Date: 2015

Cover Designed by: Najla Qamber Designs

Summary from Goodreads:

COMING SOON IN 2015, THE SEQUEL TO BLOOD OATH:

With Elizabeth on the loose and Byron free to roam the halls of headquarters, the Siren community is on edge, waiting for the impending first strike.

And it comes when three Elders are found dead after they go out for their monthly hunt.

Now, for the protection of the soon to be heir to the throne, Raya and her friends are sent to an unmarked island where Sirens walk in the sunlight without fear. It's their island.

And it might just be the key to a dark plan.

Sequel to:

(cover linked to Goodreads)

Available from:

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

About the Author

Samantha Coville is an editor and literary critic at her website, Sammy the Bookworm. She's been writing short stories for six years and has appeared in magazines, both in print and online. When she's not doing something book related, she is singing in her church choir or enjoying one of the theme parks in her home state of Florida.

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Interview + Review of The Island Trilogy (The Island #1-3) By Jen Minkman @JenMinkman

The Island Trilogy
(The Island #1-3)
by Jen Minkman
Published July 1st 2014 by Jen Minkman

Blurb:

All three books of the Island series in one volume - The Island Trilogy is the perfect young adult dystopian read if you are looking for something different than usual!

From the isolated island of Tresco to the wild moors of Dartmoor, this far-reaching tale of lost children, strange belief systems and shattered societies will make you wonder about our own culture, today's world, and our place in it. How much of that world do we take for granted without asking why things are the way they are?

Included in this collection are:

THE ISLAND - On one side of the Island's great Wall, children must abandon their parents and fend for themselves from the age of ten. Leia is used to it - but she's always been curious about what lies beyond. Then she meets Walt, a young man from the other side of the Wall, where the Fools live...

THE WAVES - Walt lives in Hope Harbor, a pious town inhabited by people who patiently waits for the Goddess to come to the Island one day. She will take them away and save them. Or will she? When Walt's best friend and future leader of Hope Harbor is silenced when he questions the religion of old, Walt sets out and discovers the shocking truth about the island they live on and the people beyond the Wall.

THE DEEP - Leia and Walt sail away to the legendary world of Cornwall. They've been told that all wars of the past have been forgotten and the people there live in peace, adhering to the tenets of an old religion that preaches forgiveness and non-violence. However, on a trip to Exeter, the ancient city of their ancestors, they discover more about the new world than they ever bargained for.

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My Review:

I was given a free copy of the book from the author for my honest opinion.

Imagine living on an island where the children are considered adults at the age of 10. When they become adults they have to leave their parent's home and go live at the manor; the big house on the island. The children will never live with their parents again and will never be more to them than a mere strange that they have passed on the street. The children go to the manor and learn to take care of themselves without any help from anyone. They can only leave the manor when they marry and then can live in the village where the parents live.

The children live by The Book that has been passed down through the generations from their ancestors. The Book tells them that they can't cross over the wall where others live that is known as the fools. The fools believe different from the children and the leader doesn't want them to find out the truth. But Leia wants to know the truth and sets out to find it. She wonders if they have been living a lie.

Walt (who is consider a fool by Leia and the children) lives on the other side of the wall from Leia and everyone on his side have been taught by their ancestors that Lady Annabelle lives across the water and that one day Lady Annabelle will be returning for them on a beautiful ship. Walt and his cousin Yorrick who just happens to be the son of the Bookkeeper, one who takes care of and reads all the books on the island, are starting to wonder if all they have been taught about Annabelle is true or not. They are beginning to think that they have been lied to all these years. Yorrick tells Walt that he thinks it is time he talks to the priest about what he has figured out by reading all of the books. Yorrick goes to the temple one morning and tells the priest that he doesn't believe Lady Annabelle exists. Walt gets in trouble at school and decides to leave early and go meet Yorrick a little earlier than was planned. When he gets there he sees Yorrick stretching getting ready for his run. Walt sees someone rushing toward Yorrick and before Walt can comprehend what is going on and warn Yorrick the guy pushes Yorrick off the cliff. Walt thinks that the person that pushed him off the cliff was an unbeliever from the other side of the wall. Walt goes for help to rescue Yorrick but he doesn't tell anyone that he was pushed off the cliff he is afraid that whoever killed Yorrick will kill him if he tells.

But Leia wanted to know the truth and it was time for someone to stop Saul. Leia's life became endangered so she ran away and climbed over the wall to the other side to meet with her new friend Walt a "Fool" who lived on the other side. Walt helped to keep her safe from Saul. Leia found out that Walt and the people who lived on the other side of the wall were not such bad folks after all. Walt and the "Fools" believed that their Goddess Annabelle was coming back for them one day. So they were always on the lookout for Annabelle's return.

Leia and Walt both wonder if there was anything else out there or other people. Are there other people across the water or were they the only people left alive? Their new friend Tony who came from across the water told them that there were other people out there and that there was a whole other world across the water. Leia and Walt along with some of the other people on the island wanted to go see what was across the water. So Tony took them on a long voyage across the water to meet these other people.

I am going to miss all of the characters in this series. I would like to go along with them on their new voyage and to be with them when they reach their destination. Will Walt and Leia finally tie the knot? Will they have a family of their own? What will they tell their children? What will they teach their children to believe in? You know it really doesn't matter as long as they are good people and parents.

Have you read "The Island" Series? No? Then what are you waiting for? Go grab your copy today and get started. It is one of the best and I mean best series ever written. If you have an open mind and can handle reading something that is way different than anything that you have read before then jump on board and let the light in.

An Interview with Jen Minkman:

Where did you get your idea for writing The Island Trilogy?

I started out by thinking 'what if'. What if the world in a far-away future was so radically different, yet so similar, to our own, that the reader wouldn't know what had happened to it right until the end? That's what I wanted to do in Book 1, The Island.

When you got this idea for writing The Island Trilogy was it like a light bulb kind of moment or did the idea come upon you gradually?

The first book was definitely a light bulb! The second and third came to me gradually, mostly because readers were asking for sequels and I initially hadn't anything planned - The Island was a novella for a writing contest in Holland (my home country).

Was writing The Island Trilogy harder or easier for you to write than one of your other novels?

I think it was a bit easier to write books 2 and 3 because I already had characters to work with! Also, The Island Trilogy is set in a mostly made-up world, so I didn't have to do a lot of research. That was very different from the others novels I wrote, since Shadow of Time was set on the Navajo reservation (which I'd never visited before writing the book) and The Space In Between was set in Wales (in a town I'd never visited either).

Did you enjoy writing The Island Trilogy?

Of course! If not, I would never have even considered writing books 2 and 3. I loved revisiting the characters and get to know them better with each book.

When you wrote the first book The Island at that time did you have any plans for a second book or even a third book?

No, because The Island was specifically written for a dystopian writing contest and it had a limitation of 20,000 words. Once I published it in English I kept reading reviews that said: but I want to know MORE! So I caved and wrote a book 2, and then my mom said there should be a book 3, so I wrote that too :

What made you decide to write a second and third book?

Mostly reader feedback. I figured I had the obligation to tell my readers what was on the other side of the island (book 2, The Waves) and then I just had to tell them what would happen once the island people crossed over to the other side to visit Dartmoor. Fortunately, I've been to Dartmoor myself tons of times so I had a lot of inspiration.

How do you decide on the name of the characters?

In the case of Leia, it wasn't hard (but you'll have to read the book to find out why!). In all the other cases, the names just sort of come to me. I always liked coming up with names when I drew fairies or other mythological creatures when I was younger, so I never run dry, really.

Where is your favorite place to write?

It used to be at home, but lately I've been getting too distracted at home. Also, I now write three days a week, and I like having a 'workday' feeling about it so I sit in the library these days. When the library is closed I go to Bagels and Beans and stuff myself with nice food while writing!

Do you like listening to music when you write?

Sometimes. There are days when it distracts me. I do listen to music before writing, though, to get into the right mood. Also, I tend to write songs for my books (soundtracks, if you will). You can listen to them on my site!

About The Author:

Jen Minkman (1978) was born in Holland, in the town of Alphen aan den Rijn. When she was 19, she moved between The Hague, Salzburg (Austria), Brussels (Belgium) and Cambridge (UK) to complete her studies in intercultural communication. She is currently a teacher of English, career counsellor and teenage coach at a secondary school in Voorburg, Holland. She tries to read at least 100 books a year (and write a few, too!). She is a published author in her own country, and translates her own books from Dutch into English for self-publication.

In her spare time, she plays the piano, the guitar and the violin. For every novel she writes, she creates a soundtrack.

'I have always been drawn to writing. My first book was a sci-fi novel at the age of eight, which I painstakingly typed out on my dad's typewriter and illustrated myself. Nowadays, I stick to poetry, paranormal romance, chick lit and/or fantasy. In my home country, I am the first-ever published writer of paranormal romance, and I will gradually make my books also available in English (seeing I have to re-write and translate the books myself, this will take some time!).

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