The Amazing Carian Cole @CarianCole

I first came across Carian Cole and her novel, STORM, via a Takeover on Facebook held by Bella Jeanisse. I was completely won over by Storm and have pimped it on my Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Groups, etc since then. I have not read the next books in this series, Vandal & Lucas, mainly because I was into other books. But, when I followed Carian on Amazon I found out she had a new release and I had to have it.

Not only is her new book, TALON, amazing… but, I now have the pleasure of introducing the author to you. I am thrilled she agreed.

Welcome Carian, and thank you for letting me interview you.

As you know, I just read “TALON” and loved it. I was sad when it ended. When I read a good book and I get involved with the characters I hate to say goodbye.

For the benefit of my blog readers, here is the synopsis and my review…

SYNOPSIS for TALON

DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL PARTNER:

Caring. Hard-working. A devoted family man, loves kids. Clean cut, funny, smart, quiet, but a good communicator.

~ Asia Jenson

DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL PARTNER:

Independent. Tall, blonde, sexy. Outgoing. Intelligent, neat. Unslutty. Confident. Loves to travel. Committed.

~ Talon Valentine

A SOCIAL EXPERIMENT.

The concept was scary but exciting...

Marry a total stranger.

Live together for six months.

Journal everything. (Feelings. Fights. All of it.)

After six months, we each get $50K in trade for our journals, whether we stay married or not. But the goal is to commit to the experience and see if the relationship experts could put together the perfect matches.

I have never been lucky in love. This was my chance to find my soulmate.

I couldn’t wait to meet the man the experts felt was perfect for me.

My hopes were immediately dashed when I saw him at the altar.

Shit. I married my worst nightmare.

Right?!

5 STAR REVIEW

“I absolutely loved this book. Again, I was impressed by the style of writing of Carian Cole and this book was the perfect companion for STORM - a book I also loved.

Asia (love the name) is a woman with a troubled past who seems unable to meet her dream man. Talon is a rock star known for his "reputation" with women, who is fed up with the usual one night stands and disappointments that follow from them.

Both are ready for a new start and become willing guinea pigs for a social experiment. They agree to marry without meeting first... it's a modern "arranged marriage" come science experiment. The idea is funny and interesting. Trademark to the previous book I read, Storm, the attraction at first is non-existent, but as they get to know each other sparks fly - sizzling in some parts!

But, the story, which has an unexpected twist, and writing is fantastic and I got drawn into this world SO easily!

I would personally LOVE to see the whole Ambers & Ashes series as a TV series and hope someone takes note. It's time for a new kid on the block - move aside vampires, open the doors to rock stars! As far as I know it has never been done and I think its time for stereotypes to be cast aside.

Another fantastic novel - a MUST read in my books. But, take note this is for 18+ only due to the sexual nature and swearing! (I might add that even though I hate swearing in this case it makes the main character, Talon, cute & funny at times - weird, I know!)”

So, on to the questions… what did you think of my review? Fair?

I absolutely loved your review!

Do you base your characters on real people?

Usually yes, however, this book was actually inspired by a relationship between two of my cats. Crazy, I know. But, I’ll take creative inspiration from anywhere!

Who was your favourite character in this book, Asia or Talon?

I loved them both, but Talon became my favourite. I really fell in love with him as I was writing him. I love a sarcastic bad boy with a hidden sweet vulnerable side.

I love the humour in your novels. Both in STORM and in TALON the female MC is SO funny in how she reacts when she first meets her man. I will never forget Evie in Storm thinking he was a hobo! Is it important to you that people smile when they read your books?

YES. I want readers to smile, and to feel all the feels if possible. Reading has always been a sort of escape for me -- to get lost in another world for a little while and that is ultimately what I want for my readers.

Obviously, you are tackling some prejudices in the way the female MC’s perceive their ideal man. Do you think how a person dresses, chooses to express themselves, defines them? Are you glad your books might help people overcome their ideas?

I’m very glad that my books may help people overcome their initial judgment of those that have long hair, tattoo’s, piercings, maybe dress a bit different, etc. I’ve personally always dated men with long hair – starting in high school. 

My father would immediately think these guys were junkies, poor, bad news – you name it. He wanted me to date the guys with short hair, clean cut, wearing nice clothes and not ripped up jeans and work boots. However, I am happy to say that most of the guys I dated proved my father wrong – they were nice guys that treated me good, had good jobs, didn’t drink or use drugs, and had hearts of gold. 

I don’t think appearances define a person, but it definitely gives us a glimpse of their personality, individuality, and creativity.

I have to ask because some of the scenes are pretty HOT. Many movies have sexual scenes that are explicit and work for the plot, yet I never think anything of it because you know by the rating it receives. Do you think books need to have a warning? Are you careful who you promote your books too? I know there are many books classed as YA, which sometimes cross the boundary and get away with it.

Being a new author, I have to admit I really didn’t think about putting a warning on my books. In hindsight, I think I should probably add a disclaimer to each book to avoid any confusion. There are such mixed reviews about what a reader perceives as romance and erotica. I’ve had readers tell me that Storm didn’t have enough sex scenes, and others say it had too much. It seems to vary per reader and every day is a learning process!  I certainly would not want my book to offend anyone.

I love the family aspect to Ashes & Ambers series – it remind me of classics like Dynasty & Dallas – just a Rock & Roll version. I seriously think it would be fantastic for TV. Have you considered submitting it anywhere? Will we see your books on the screen?

Eek that would be an unbelievable dream come true for me. I haven’t submitted my books anywhere for TV and honestly wouldn’t even know where to start.

Without sounding like a stalker, I have noticed that TALON is doing extremely well in both the US and the UK! Congratulations. Even though most of your reviews are amazing, some will always be disappointing. How do you deal with critical reviews?

Thank you!!  I love stalkers!  (Phew...)

I read all of my reviews and I have to admit that I’m a sensitive person and bad reviews hurt. I am extremely grateful that my good reviews far outnumber the bad, but those bad ones really dig deep. I know that we can never please everyone, but of course we want to. I’m a pleaser and a giver by nature, so I feel bad if someone doesn’t like my book. I’m trying to develop a thicker skin because as long as I continue to write, I know there will always be bad reviews. It comes with the territory. I try to at least learn from every review – whether its good or bad, to help myself grow as an author. 

In fact, one of my very best beta readers came from leaving me a low review. I respected her opinion and the points she made were all valid, and she has become a valuable member of my team as well as a good friend.

I don’t want to give anything away, but your plot was incredible. What gave you the twist idea? Let’s try not to reveal any spoilers!

The twist in Talon was my first major idea for the story. I was very intrigued with a young musician who had everything he could ever want suddenly faced with a life altering issue that could take everything away from him. Because I also like humor and ‘what if” situations, the marriage experiment seemed like a great way to bring the characters together in a unique way that gave me a lot of room for humor, sexual tension, a true falling in love story, and also to explore how far a person will take their commitment to someone.

What is the most important thing you have learnt, as an author, since you published your first book?

Not to rush. I learned I have to write my books in my own time, without strict deadlines. Some authors do great under the gun, but I am not one of them. I wish I was! I am a slow writer. I need to put a lot of thought into my writing before I’m ready to let it go. So now, I don’t give definite publish dates until I’m confident I’m ready to let the book go out into the world. I know that lack of a date can frustrate readers, and I feel bad for that, but I hope in the end the waiting is worth it for them.

I hope I inspire my children too :)

Growing up did anyone inspire you to write, either an author you read or someone in your life?

My mom was an avid reader and encouraged me to read a lot when I was young, and I fell in love with books. I started writing at a very young age and my mother always supported my dream of someday becoming a writer. 

Sadly, my books were not published until after she passed away. I wish I had taken the leap sooner in life to pursue publishing.

Where we can find out about you and buy your books?

You can check out my web site at www.cariancole.com.  I am also very active on Facebook and welcome friend requests. I do a lot of giveaways and I usually have some pretty cool swag. I donate a portion of my sales to pet rescue, so you’ll see a lot of pet-related stuff on my social media pages, but most of my readers seem to enjoy it.

Thank you again for letting us find out more about you. Readers – buy the book! You will not be disappointed.

Thank you so much for reading my babies. It means the world to me!

It was an absolute pleasure

KINGS AND QUEENS by Terry Tyler @TerryTyler4

Today, I introduce you again to Terry Tyler. Read on and find out why she is such an awesome author! 

Vanessa :)

As I said the last time I interviewed you (it was a year ago already!)… When I joined Twitter, you were one of the first authors I came across and I loved the way you came across. Straight-talking, friendly, and approachable. Your blogs portray the same image. And over the last year, nothing has changed! You are one of the nicest authors I have met online!

So, when I saw your book was up for grabs via Rosie’s Book Review Team I was in there in a flash!

You kindly let me have a copy of Kings & Queens and Last Child. I read both back-to-back! Here are my reviews…

*~*~*~*

KINGS AND QUEENS by Terry Tyler

“This book is intense!

For anyone who has watched series like Dallas, Dynasty, The Colbys or Falcon Crest (yes, I admit it - I have) this brought back so many memories! My grandmother was obsessed and I remember coming home from school and watching Falcon Crest with her, or when I was sick watching Dynasty. Dallas was much discussed at school! Yes, I am going back approx 30 years!

There was something about characters like Joan Collins, who nearly slept with her son and seduced anyone in sight that made for addictive viewing! As well as the alcoholics and drug addicts! (The rich have it SO tough)

So back to the book. Kings and Queens is all about this & more!

Romance, adultery, suspense, a lot of death and heartache, "fit" men and women, and also (which was nice to see) normal boring characters that fit in nicely to the massacre that is the old-fashioned Lanchester mentality!

Lanchester's Empire is a male dominated family business which relies on the family "male" heir to provide continuity.

Things do not go well from the start though. The first born, Alex, dies in a rock-climbing accident and the second son, Harry, takes the reins of the business at the age of 18!

The saga that continues as his love-life goes on the biggest roller-coaster EVER is extreme.

Personally, I found many of the scenarios to be unbelievable but this is the beauty of fiction! Perfect escapism into a world where many are crooks, adulterers and ruthless murderers!

I highly recommend this if any of what I have rambled on about makes you think, "This is for me!" I must add that having read several of Terry Tyler's books before her style is definitely makes for addictive reading, even though at times some of the character changes left me slightly disorientated.”

Rated: 4 Stars

*~*~*~*

LAST CHILD

“I have to admit that having read Kings and Queens I was immediately drawn to read the sequel. This is the great thing about reading a book after the next one has already been written. I have on many occasions waited for the next book in a series to be sorely disappointed.

This was not the case here, and I have I say I actually enjoyed Last Child even more than reading Kings and Queens.

There are a few reasons for this. Historically, Henry VIII has always been an interesting historical characters because of his many wives. Personally, I found History boring at school and never connected. What did I care that someone had so many? Seems like a bit of an idiot to me! So, when you read historical fiction written in a contemporary setting it brings everything to life. It makes you think, "Wow! Now I get it!" This is what Kings and Queens did - it made the illogical make sense.

But, in Last Child you see the consequences of someone so promiscuous and irrational via his offspring. The good and the bad. From the pampered male heir who wants to get everything his way (to dire consequences), to the deranged unwanted daughter who feels neglected and abandoned because her father rejected her via her mother, to the younger more exuberant child who had oodles of character and does not care what is expected of her, she just gets on with it.

The way in which we get to eavesdrop on their thoughts and actions again explains historical facts in a way that allows for compassion. I mean, seriously, I would never had thought a man who has an affair with a woman half his age would be rational. Yet, in this story it sound plausible (not for me personally, but I got how it happened).

So many details and actions that have so much relevance to society today. Again, it is like watching a TV soap - everyday events are embellished with tragic consequences.

However, in the end Terry has left us with some inner peace. Everything does not always go to plan, but you can make the most of a bad situation. She has also left an opening for another book - I practically screamed at the book at the end! More twists to come I think...

Anyway, if you have not read this author's books before you really should. She has a way of drawing you in, of getting you involved, of sympathising with characters you thought you hate, and feeling annoyed at characters you thought would be great. I love that. I want to be sent on a roller coaster ride when I read a book and this was definitely up, down, sideways and over!

One thing I will say is that the Lanchester family actually made me think of the Kennedy's not the British Monarchs. I guess it's really sad when a family seems to be so jinxed. Even the best of people have no guarantees in life. I guess we all have to live life to the maximum and make every day count, regardless of what the social niceties dictate.”

Rated: 4 Stars

So, what did you think of my rambles?

It's always interesting to see what people think of your books, Vanessa, as you know.  Everyone reads them so differently.  I will say, though, that Henry VIII did not take six wives because he was an idiot (though, indeed, that may be up for discussion!), but because it was important for him to produce a male heir, and marriage in those days was as much a political move, to form allegiances with other countries/noble houses, as to do with love.

I am in awe of you for the way in which you manage to keep the books coming. What or who inspires you to continue writing? My own muse goes for very long walks at the moment!

It's not always easy.  What keeps me doing it is simply that I feel a bit empty if I'm not currently working on a book.  I have had one on the go constantly for the last five and a half years; I at least plan out the next while the current one is being made ready for publication.  My 'to be written' list is always about four books long!

Which characters did you like and hate the most in these books?

My favourite characters in Kings and Queens are Hannah (everyone's favourite!), Annette and Kate, and I couldn't stand Jenny Seymour!  In Last Child I loved Erin, Jim and Raine; the only one I really disliked was Phil Castillo.

How did you go about doing the research for these books?

I was already pretty well versed in that period of history, but I also read David Starkey's book about the six wives, and also The Watchers by Stephen Alford, and The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory, and watched quite a few documentaries.

What is the most important thing you have learnt, as an author, over the last year?

Over the last year?  Hmm.... reading improves your writing, if you take note about why your favourite books work so well.  I also learnt, when writing my second novella, that writing one of these is not just a matter of writing a shorter story, it's a different process.  I've read novellas that should have been novels; the story has to suit the novella size.  I think I did a better job with my second than my first. 

What advice would you give to new authors starting out now?

• Make sure your book is as good and as professionally presented as it possibly can be; the market is saturated and competition is enormous.
• Write from the heart, not what you think sounds good.
• Do thorough research and make sure you have genuine, personal recommendations before spending money on advertising, marketing services, proofeading, critiques, editing, etc.
• Don't make the mistake of thinking that signing with a small, independent publisher means you have 'made it'; this is not the same as being traditionally published and you may find that you sell less books and make less money than you would if self-published.  Any publishing house that charges you for any aspect of the publishing process is a vanity publisher, and should not be touched with a barge pole.
• Make friends with lots of nice book bloggers!

Does it differ from advice you would have given when you started?

Not a great deal, no.  Promotion is a whole different ball game, though; what worked 4 years ago would have little or no effect now.

Thanks, Vanessa, I hope this has been of some interest to you and your readers :)

Where we can find out about you and buy your books?

Amazon UK page: Opera - [Amazon.co.uk: Terry Tyler: Books, Biogs, Audiobooks, Discussions]

Amazon.com

Opera - [Amazon.com: Terry Tyler: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle]

Blog:

Opera - [Terry Tyler's Blog]

Book Review Blog

http://terrytylerbookreviews.blogspot.co.uk/

Facebook page:

Opera - [Terry Tyler, author]

Goodreads:

Opera - [Goodreads | Terry Tyler (Author of You Wish...)]

ASTARTE RISING by Greg Thomas @InfrasonicGreg

Today, I have the pleasure of welcoming Greg to my blog, after reading his novel, Astarte Rising. 

I have not read a SciFi book of this nature in a long time and have to admit that I loved it. 

This was my 5 star review...

"An action & adventure read based on the premise of the discovery of a time travel source, or Time Faeder. Having not read a book of this kind in ages, I thought it was great. 

I always rate a book highly that I could see as a film and this would be brilliant.

A lot of characters in this, but the main ones I liked were Harry and Rosa. Add some zombies brought to life by an evil demon and the rise of Astarte and you have a cracking read. Highly recommend."

So, Greg, how did you come to write this novel?

I’ve always had a love of books and admiration for the writers who create them, and Astarte Rising is my attempt to contribute to the multitude of fictional worlds and dreams that are available for readers to enjoy.

What inspired you? A book, film, or both?

It would be difficult to single out one book or film, but rather the works of authors such as Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials Trilogy), Ursula K Le Guin, together with humour inspired by Terry Pratchett.

Tell us more about your characters. Which one was your favourite and least favourite to write and why?

It’s hard to pick favourites, but I do like the main character Harry Bonneville, as he’s a good guy trying to do the right thing in extraordinary circumstances.

I’d like to mention Professor Rowan Forrest too. He’s partly based on a very kind, intelligent and incredibly curious old family friend. He wasn’t a professor, but he was an engineer, and that’s pretty good in itself.

My least favourite character would be the cruel Captain McVelley. But we’ve not seen the last of him yet…

Do you think time travel will ever be plausible?

Professor Stephen Hawking has just materialised from the future and told me to keep quiet, so as not to alter the timelines. OK, seriously, I’m no scientist but Professor Hawking maintains it’s theoretically possible, and who am I to argue?

For a writer, it’s a very useful device to move your characters to unusual places, and I needed a mechanism to do just that. I tried to dream up an original, hopefully believable, way this could be done and decided on the part-organic Time Faeder. However, as will be explored in future books, time travel by this method comes at a great cost.

Why did you choose the destination and how did you research the past? A few times, I wondered if Rosa would have been so easily accepted, as a woman in that time?

The destination of ancient Israel (or Palestine) was chosen for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I wanted the team to carry out “the strangest rescue mission of all time” where it was especially important to never alter the timelines. This area has seen incredible cultural and spiritual change and has witnessed the passing of the old gods, for example Baal and Astarte who later became demonised as part of that process. The “divine feminine” seemed to become suppressed as monotheism became accepted and so I developed a story whereby our heroes not only struggle to complete their rescue mission, but there’s another rescue that involves Astarte, once known as “the queen of heaven” being seen in a more positive light.

To answer your question with regards to Rosa: you’re absolutely right to doubt that Rosa would not have been so well received, but it was important for the character to be strong even in a very male-dominated world, and so I guess historical accuracy lost out to story and character. Rosa has her faults, but she’s incredibly intelligent and more than a match for anyone. She just wouldn’t have accepted anything less than equality with men.

Some of the names are familiar, e.g. Herod. Did you do this on purpose?

By choosing ancient Israel at around 7 B.C. as the destination of the rescuers, old Herod invited himself into the story as he was responsible for creating a magnificent city, the ruins of which can still be seen today. He did many, many bad things, but if it’s any consolation to anyone, he seemed to die from a variety of nasty and embarrassing illnesses.

One of the helpful characters is named Joseph, and there is absolutely no connection with any other Joseph who may have been around at this time.

The strange female character, Frau Schalke, was interesting. Tell us how she came about. I want to know more about her... Will you use her again?

I absolutely love Frau Schalke, and yes, she is strange isn’t she? Firstly, I wanted strong female characters, and there are no stronger characters than our beloved Western Valkyrie who brings solace to the living and the dead. She is a guardian-type figure who derives from Norse mythology, but instead of the traditional Valkyrie who would choose the souls of fallen warriors to be escorted to Valhalla, I’ve adapted her so that she helps all people – the living as she offers physical protection - and the dead as they need to find their way home. I’ve mostly kept Harry’s adventures distinct from those of Frau Schalke and her friends, but they can and do intertwine. She’ll be back…

I am not sure your cover is as striking as it could be for an action & adventure book of this kind. Would you change it? I have changed my covers loads of times!

I’ve seen your new book covers and they’re stunning. As for my relatively stark cover, I’m hoping that it doesn’t put readers off, and I guess it doesn’t communicate all that the book is about, but it represents Astarte Rising out of the darkness, which is a vital part of the story.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us to make other readers take this book up?

I’d like to think that Astarte Rising is, first and foremost, a good adventure story, but it also has humour, and re-visits an old goddess.

How have you gone about marketing your book?

So far, I’ve set up a website, joined Goodreads and set up a Twitter account. I realise there are other social media tools such as Instagram and Pinterest, but I don’t quite feel ready to join those yet. I was delighted to accept your offer of an interview on your blog.

Would you ever write in another genre?

Possibly yes, because I think it shouldn’t really matter what the genre is, provided you write stories that your reader will enjoy, however we all have our favourites and mine would be SciFi & fantasy.

Where can my readers buy your book and find out more about you?

Astarte Rising is available for Kindle via Amazon and it won’t be long before the paperback is out. In a month or so I’m looking forward to releasing it into the wild on Barnes and Noble, Kobo, anywhere I can.

Should readers want to get in touch, I’d be delighted to answer any questions on Goodreads or twitter @InfrasonicGreg.

Thank you for answering my questions and I wish you all the best with sales and the rest of the series…

My pleasure, thank you so much for inviting me.

Thomas Hardy - what a find!

I watched the DVD of Far From the Maddening Crowd by Thomas Hardy and loved it! So, I quickly downloaded free eBooks via amazon and read "The Trumpet-Major". I will read Far form the Maddening Crowd next, but will not be as shocked since I know the plot already!

"The plot of "The Trumpet-Major" is fantastic, with so many twists along the way that I was shocked on the last page at the outcome!

To summarise, Anne is a woman sought out by three different men... two brothers and the detestable Festus! The scenes where Festus gave chase made me laugh out loud and cringe at the annoying man's insistence!"

Read the Full review on my Reader Blog.

Thomas Hardy's style of writing is fantastic, and there is nothing predictable in his plot. Considering this book was published in 1880, I found it easy to read and was lost in that world of Napoleonic Wars and marital pursuits!

It is interesting to reflect upon a time when men acted like peacocks trying to lure females... respectfully, or not in the case of the character, Festus - he made me laugh!

In this modern age, there will always be an annoying Festus - the one we don't want, but wants us. The admirable John, who is so guarded you never know where you stand. And the frivolous, Bob, who no matter how they act will always be forgiven!

Nothing changes over time... or, does it?

I recommend this classic tale and will persevere on my intention to read "War & Peace" - at 20%, but it's going to take a while.

Again, needless to say, my writing has come to a standstill. Tomorrow, the kids go back to school and I will endeavour to focus!

All the best to you all,
Vanessa :)

FREE TO BE TEGAN by Mary Grand @authormaryg

Welcome to my blog, Mary! I saw your pictures at the Cowes library a week or so ago and also saw you featured on the Isle of Wight County Press! So exciting. I read your short story collection, Catching the Light, and then read the excerpt within from your novel Free to be Tegan, and was hooked.

I usually post my interview next, but I don’t want to give too much away at this stage to give you a chance to enlighten us on why you think this book is such a roaring success (with 44 FIVE star reviews in the UK to date)

So, firstly let me share your book blurb for FREE TO BE TEGAN so that readers can find out a about your book.

‘You are dead to us’

Tegan, aged twenty seven, is cast out of the cult, rejected by her family and the only life she has known. She is vulnerable and naïve but she also has courage and the will to survive. She travels to Wales, to previously unknown relations in the wild Cambrian Mountains.

This is the uplifting story of her journey to find herself and flourish in a world she has been taught to fear and abhor.

Guilt and shadows from her past haunt her in flashbacks, panic attacks and a fear of the dark. However she also finds a world full of colour, love and happiness she has never known before. The wild beauty of the hills, the people she meets and the secrets slowly revealed by the cottage all provide an intriguing backdrop to Tegan’s drama.

The novel is set in spring, a story of hope, new growth, of the discovery of self and the joy of living.

REVIEWS

“This debut novel is a triumph.”

“Loved the book …. I was gripped and couldn't put it down.”

“It was very thought provoking and emotional with lots of plot twists to keep you on your toes. I highly recommend this book.

How does this story relate to your ‘real’ life? What inspired you to write it?

The story of “Free to Be Tegan” is partly based on my own experience. I was brought up in a strict religious sect called the Plymouth Brethren. I received regular graphic teaching about hell and punishment and was threatened with being ‘left behind’ by my family and friends at the end times if I did not follow the strict teachings of the sect. These teachings were very disturbing and, I believe, psychologically damaging.  

I have read a lot about other people who have been through similar and far worse experiences in high demand groups, cult and sects. I wanted to write a novel that reflected some aspects of my experiences and those I learned about in my research particularly looking at the effects of psychological abuse. Although the subject matter is serious I wanted the novel to be a positive book about healing and finding love. Hence the book is set in the springtime and in the stunning Cambrian Mountains in Wales.

Wow… I wondered if it was based on your true experience. Makes it all the more amazing to read.

Tegan is childlike in the way she views life, even though she is 27 years old. She has no idea what she wants from life or how to live in the modern world. Was it hard to decide how old she should be? Do you think if she had been 18 or say 40 the story would have changed much?

From the outset the age of 27 fitted with where I wanted Tegan to be in her life’s journey. She is someone who has come through adolescence and would be expected to have started to have some understanding of who she is and what she wants. The sect has denied her that but she is more than ready for that stage in her life.  

If she had been much older, certainly in the sect she had been raised in, she would have had a husband and children. That would have been a very different story and maybe one to save for a latter novel!

There are many characters in this book who are harsh and cold-hearted. For example, Tegan’s parents and her community friends. Do you think this is common amongst sects? In an ideal world, they are supposedly happier with their non-materialist way of life.

Although some characters appear harsh I think most are vulnerable, hurt people. I tried to show this in the hospital scene towards the end with Sarah, Tegan’s mother. The sad thing about people who have lived in sects and cults is the effect of the mind control on their way of looking at themselves and the world. Eventually they will believe that only their way is right, that the world is evil and misguided. However they also can suffer form very low self esteem and a very poor sense of self. 

I think the character in the book who is the most manipulative is Daniel, the cult leader. Study into the characteristics of cult leaders shows their need to control, to be followed and obeyed unconditionally. There is one scene in the story where Tegan confronts Daniel and for the first time she sees through him and loses her fear of him. We see him momentarily panic.  That for me was one of the pivotal moments of the book.

Many background characters added depth to this novel. Which was your favourite and why?

My favourite background character was probably Angharad. She was great fun to write. I felt she gave the story an injection of glamour and a chance to look at Tegan from a completely different point of view.

I totally agree. This was a hilarious character! The classical “Alpha” female.

I personally loved her relationship with Cerys. I thought it worked well to have someone that was sympathetic to her plight, but not pushy. How carefully did you plan her character?

I am so glad you picked up on this, I loved the character of Cerys and worked very hard on her. By the end I felt I knew her as well as Tegan and found her as hard to let go. She is one of those essentially good, kind people we are all fortunate to meet  and who are so easy to underestimate. For someone like Tegan who has been taught that the world and the people in it are evil it was really important to meet a kind, person who gives love and friendship unconditionally.

This is a very clean, but not religious read. Do you think traditional religions are important in this day and age? Some people think the world would be better off without the conflicts caused in the name of religion.

In most of the leading world religions there are teachings about care and compassion. Many good things are done by the followers, working with the underprivileged and poor. I also think some people find a sense of community and belonging, as well as the comfort of prayer and ritual that can be enormously supportive.

Having said that, there can be a dark side to religion, where fanatics and extremists inflict terrible suffering on others and whose aim seems to be to spread fear and hatred. 

In ‘Free to be Tegan’ I tried to show the two sides of the coin. There is manipulative, controlling Daniel in the cult, but also Bethany, the vicar in the village, a loving, balanced person who shows Tegan a positive and caring side to someone of faith.

Even though this is a clean read, there was a romance running alongside the main plot! That satisfies the need some of us have for a HEA ending! Did you write for readers or was this the ending that you wanted?

It was very important for Tegan to be faced with the challenges of how to cope with romantic relationships in the modern world. She makes some bad choices and it is a steep learning curve. Without wanting to spoil the end,  it was important to me that  Tegan learned to love herself and that she wasn’t ‘rescued’ by a romantic attachment, but rather ultimately chose who she wanted to be with and how she wanted to live.

You book was on a Kindle Countdown Promotion. How did you go about advertising it? Are you loyal to Amazon?

‘Free to Be Tegan’ is, at present, exclusively with Amazon. The countdown promotions are a very useful way of promoting your book. I am fortunate to have had fantastic support from family and friends as well as having had wonderful support from some people on Facebook and Twitter.

I admire your success. Even with the support of family & friends a lot of authors struggle to get anywhere near the charts.

Where do you go from here? Are you planning more books about Tegan?

I am not planning any more books about Tegan at the moment. I feel her story was complete in the book. However the theme of women finding themselves and learning to love themselves is one I keep coming back to. It is at the heart of some of the short stories in ‘Catching the Light’ and again in the novel I am presently working on.

What is the most important thing you have learnt since you published your book?

One of the most exciting things I have discovered since publishing is the whole community of readers and writers that exists. I have made the most wonderful friendships and cannot imagine now not being in this world.

Now, a little about you. What is the best book you have read and why did you enjoy it?

It is very hard to pick on a book but, if I had to, I think it would be ‘The Rector’s Wife’ by Joanna Trollope.  

I love the characters in the story who are so rounded and complex, particularly Anna, the central character. She has been everything a priest's wife should be, but then her husband fails to gain promotion to Archdeacon, and is thrown into crisis.  Anna rebels, and tastes independence for the first time since she left university. 

I think it is a really good book, in fact writing about it has made me want to go and read it again!

Where we can find out about you and buy your books?

“Free to Be Tegan” is available on Amazon on Kindle and in paperback form.

“Catching the Light” is on Amazon on Kindle and in paperback. It is also on Smashwords, Barnes and Noble, Ipad and Kobo. The eBook is currently FREE to download!

I have an author page on Facebook, Author Mary Grand, and am on Twitter 

My review follows. Do you think my review is fair?

I appreciate the time and thought that went into your review, Vanessa. It was interesting for me to read about your experiences and reactions to Tegan’s story. I feel it was a very fair review and I hope it will encourage other people to read the book and share their feelings about it.

Thank you again for letting us find out more about you. I sincerely wish you all the best.

A Reader’s Perspective Review:

“I have to admit that I was totally hooked by this book after reading the preview in the free eBook collection by the same author.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, but it did slow down in pace in the latter part of the book. It did have a great ending and I was glad that Tegan found her way.

I was brought up as a Roman Catholic and as a teen I was lured into attended prayer groups & retreats. Therefore, I understood some of the "brainwashing" techniques that can be adopted. Although, I never saw anything like is described in this book.

The idea of being brought up in a "cult" of this nature is frightening. But, its amazing how easily you can be made to think that everything you do is evil and how quickly you can start to judge people.

Thankfully, I left when I realised that I had nothing to apologise for! But, I have to admit that the sense of community and "love" you experience is something I have struggled to find again. Support groups and prayer groups can be a positive experience for many overcoming abuse. It’s a shame some people choose to exploit the weak and lead them into these communities.

I recommend this book as great value for money in a time when eBook prices for known authors seem to be sky rocketing. On a slightly negative note, I did find quite a few grammatical errors that started to annoy me on the latter part of the book. Excusing those, a fantastic read.”

Talking to Susan Ward

I met Susan Ward via Goodreads. She recommended her book on my Group and I decided to give it a go. After reading it and enjoying it a lot, I have the pleasure of welcoming her to my blog.

“The Girl on the Half Shell” is a fantastic book with a lot of layers. I thought it was an incredibly addictive read. Enjoy my review…

Stunning cover too! 

“WOW... I am emotionally drained. This book has it all. What an incredible story.

Chrissie Parker is the daughter of famous rock star, Jack Parker. She is a very confused and traumatised 18-year-old girl, who carries a burden from years earlier. She believes that she had something to do with the death of her brother, Sam, and has self-harmed numerous times to help deal with the guilt that she feels. This is so sad and is portrayed brilliantly in the writing.

She is about to audition at Julliard to become a cellist, like her mother, and heads to New York with her crazy best friend. However, before she does she meets Alan Manzone, a rock star on the brink of disaster, who has been helped back to the road of recovery by Jack for the last few months. The attraction is instant and fate decides to give them a helping hand by cancelling her flight the next day. Alan comes to her rescue and gives her a lift on her private jet to NYC.

Chrissie is out of control and Alan is frankly too old for her (10 years older) but the chemistry that develops between them is unstoppable. I was totally hooked and loved how their story develops.

There are a few scenes that annoyed me a bit. She has a lot of baths, he washes her a lot, and the sex develops too fast and becomes too extreme considering her limited experience. I would have thought that if Alan truly loved her he would have realised she was really just out of being a school girl. These issues could have been avoided if she’d been in her early twenties, but I understand why it worked better to catch her when most vulnerable. Even so, at times I honestly thought he had pushed the boundaries in the relationship too far.

Saying this, Chrissie acts irrationally a lot. She is not a stereotypical girl. She does not do what you’d expect. I love this about her. We can all act a bit insane at times.

The ending is fantastic. I will not give a spoiler, but it is not what you would usually expect. Chrissie grows up and makes the right decision. Alan has helped her on many levels and it’s wonderful to see so many issues potentially resolved.

Overall, I found the author on Goodreads and asked to review her book! I am SO glad she let me do this and am so lucky to have come across this book. Definitely recommended, but not for those who can’t stand references to ‘Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll!’”

*~Rated: 5 stars~*

Now, let's start with my questions. 

First off, I have to ask this… How does this story relate to your ‘real’ life? What inspired you to write it?

It is based in my hometown, in the world I grew up in, in the era I grew up in, and Chrissie is a composite of girls from my clique in high school and parts of her are me, but I won’t tell you which parts.

(I promise I wasn’t going to ask…)

Jack is based on a real person I knew all through my childhood. Chrissie’s house is modelled after a real house. The neighbourhood, Hope Ranch, is my childhood stomping grounds. Everything in the book is based on something real or really lived, either personally, or through a friend.

(I loved Jack as a character, I can understand why you made him so real now)

Your female MC, Chrissie is a very confused character. She has no idea what she wants from life. Was it hard to decide how old to make her? 18 is very young and can be considered to be when young people are most vulnerable.

We have five children. I’ve been raising girls for over 30 years. That’s definitely the way I was, growing up in a very sheltered environment before the world of technology. You have to remember this is before the internet age. For better or for worse, most of us, what we knew of the world, was direct experience.

(I must have led a sheltered life then… or at least, I know I kept away from many situations that could have gone bad!)

Us Santa Barbara girls were not sheltered and naïve about the world. As for girls, they haven’t changed. Eighteen is a very confused, volatile state for a girl, in my opinion having raised so many.

(I have two sisters and no brothers and we all kept away from trouble. But, I know friends who made mistakes along the way. I also have two daughter myself. If any of my daughters got together with an older man at 18 I’m pretty sure I would flip! Ha ha)

Your male MC, Alan Manzone, has such a harsh take-it-or-leave-it attitude. Yet, his honest approach made him more believable. As much as I wanted to slap him at times, I also feel head over heels for him. Funnily enough, his commitment to Chrissie was never in doubt.

Your reference to drugs and its use is harrowing and realistic throughout. Alan is one of the victims. Do you think drugs can be the ultimate escape for those looking for meaning in their life?

Drugs are never an escape or assist in finding the meaning of life. They are the trap that prevents both. However, having known addicts, it’s usually in recovery when they make their greatest personal growth.

(True, but I have seen many get into drugs for escapism or due to peer pressure. I said no, but many of my friends didn’t. In the end, it can destroy people, as I saw in the recent River Phoenix documentary! So sad…)

Many background characters add depth to this novel. Do you think Chrissie, like many at times, purposefully surrounded herself with ‘needy’ people? She comes across as very innocent, even though frustratingly stupid on occasion.

Most fragile people surrounded themselves with needy people. Those who need rescued personally often grab on to be people who need rescued. I’m old. This is a theme of human behaviour that hasn’t changed in my lifetime. Beneath every person I’ve ever known trying to rescue someone, is a personal crisis they need rescuing from.

The reference to sex in this novel is very raw and animalistic at times, definitely for over 18. How do you feel when you write these scenes? Are you ever embarrassed to talk about it with friends and family? I know, personally, I got a few looks from friends from some of my scenes!

My husband and children have not read my books. They don’t want to run into a sex scene written by mom J However, I’m not at all embarrassed to discuss my view on sex scenes in romance novels. Sex is the expression of who we are and our emotional state and should be consistent with that state. I don’t believe in writing a sex scene just to include a steamy bit. I have a novel that’s over 400 pages that is a bestseller that does not contain a single sex scene even though it’s romance. Not having sex was the physical expression of the state of those characters.

 

However, people in crisis, I’ve often found, become sexually intense. That’s why the scenes in Half Shell are raw and animalistic. Both Chrissie and Alan are dealing with intense, deeply buried emotional conflict. Those issues struggling to come out are expressed in their sexual interaction.

I think Alan expresses this pivotal point in his life with, “The opposite of death is not life, Chrissie. The opposite of death is you. You are my opposite of death.”

It is the physical expression of our being, our emotional condition, and I hope, that how I’ve written the scenes. I don’t think anything less raw and animalistic would ring true.

With the advent of Fifty Shades, a book I am still to read, do you think people like to read about situations considered taboo before? Especially from the privacy of their kindle?

I don’t write about things I consider taboo. I try to write and speak to young women about the issues in their, in all our lives, that we don’t talk about. Poor Chrissie, however, is getting a handful of my contemporary women’s issues. She’s struggling a lot, for all of us.

Additionally, I wanted to write a character who self-burns in a way readers could understand her, maybe help someone who has issues. This issue has personally touched my life through someone I love. I’ve received so many emails from people with substance and self-harming issues, whether it be anorexia, burning, cutting that humble me, their kind praise and appreciation for writing this book.

You book is currently on a FREE promotion. How did you go about advertising it? Are you loyal to Amazon’s KDP program? Many authors, including myself, would love to know how you got into the top 100 in the US & UK! The Holy Grail…

The most important thing to me is readers reading my work. Some people chase NYT bestsellers list, US Today. Me I chase something I call shelf space. That’s the number of people who have read my books. Now, being virtually unknown last year, Amazon KDP offered me the best way to distribute my work to readers. Chrissie has been slowly growing in fan base for the past twelve months. This book is alive based on word of mouth. The readers who love it really love.

So, it was a combination of timing and word of mouth.

(AWESOME!)

I help back from ever offering her free until my one year anniversary. I wanted her book birthday to be perfect. I didn’t know any major promotion, Bookbub or Ereader News, I let my reader base know she was going free. I would say word of mouth and regular tweeting is how she got into the top 100.

Which is the character you have created to date and why?

Chrissie is my favourite. She is the narrative in my head, though you would never know it if you met me. Her uncertainty. The way watches the world. Her mess, all internally contained in your least likely women. She’s my favourite because I think she’s like most women.

Have you ever watched that Movie, What Women Want, (I have indeed – love it!) with Mel Gibson and he’s out walking and he hears all the women’s thoughts around him. I loved that because it’s true. We think, we worry, we doubt, we are hardest on ourselves.

The life in our head is often different than the life we live. Just like Helen Hunt’s in What Women Want. It’s so true.

Do you get a kick out of reader feedback? How do you deal with reviews that are critical?

It may surprise you but I thank ever reviewer, positive or critical, and if possible establish a discussion with the critical readers. I will never be able to please every reader with a work, we have five kids I’ve never been able to please all of them on a single day, but I love to listen, hear, get feedback and sometimes learn from the people who did not like my work. It’s the only way to grow in your craft. The productive review can often be the review that is critical of you. It also helps define who is and isn’t my reader market. I’ve learned a lot about the demographic of who my books appeal to and don’t appeal based on critical reviews. And what I learned surprised me.

Do you think social media is important? If so, how do you prioritise your time?

Very important. When I first released I wasn’t on twitter, Instagram, and had only 20 Facebook Friends, my kids & a few intimates. I didn’t know anything about social media. It took me 6 months and the help of a girlfriend who is a blogger for me to get up to speed, but it’s really improved my market exposure. Throughout the day, I periodically touch base. Pretty regularly actually. I try to leave my desk and relax my mind about every two hours. I go sit outside and stare at the ocean. That’s when I touch base with my social media.

What is the most important thing you have learnt, as an author, since you published your first book?

That I didn’t know a darn thing when I started. It’s hard work to sell a book, and it takes a village to do it. I have a tightknit of supporter and author friends, and we work together for each other. It’s made a definite difference in the level of success I have.

(I hear you on this… the road is long!)

Do you think books are timeless, or do you think some fads disappear?

Great books last forever because what they say to people is timeless. Enjoyable books can have longevity. The trite, trendy fad driven creation dies quietly. (This is true in all things. Fashion. Music. Cinema) However, no author knows which kind of book they’ve written until the readers tell them and they face the test of time.

What is the best book you have read and why did you enjoy it?

The best book I've ever read is Through a Glass Darkly. I thought it was an amazing accomplishment. The blend of history, drama and characterization. I just ached for Barbara on every page and got a definite feel for the time she lived in. It kept me flipping pages for 700 pages, and while I didn't want it to end the way it ended, I still love the book.

I thought it was an absolutely amazing read.

What is the best book you have written, and why did you enjoy writing it?

Without a doubt The Girl on the Half Shell. I enjoyed it because if readers what to see what I’m saying to women in that book, there is something to find. So many women have told me that this book has helped them. I get a lot of “how did you know” messages. However, if you just want an intense and raw story, you can have that as well. It’s a book where you can take away something different depending on what you want to take away after reading it.

Where we can find out about you and buy your books?

I’m exclusively on Amazon. Amazon buypage

Our you can visit my website and read my blog www.susanwardbooks.com

Or you can like me on Facebook

And follow me on Twitter @susaninlaguna

Thank you again for letting us find out more about you and for your honest responses!