Meet the Characters Blog Fest - Lots of fun and great prizes! #AmReading #October

Welcome to the Meet the Characters Blogfest!

Readers, get ready for a whole month of some of the most interesting, hottest, attention grabbing characters in today's YA, NA, Romance, Horror, and Paranormal fiction! 

All month long I'll be introducing readers to amazing characters through character bios, artwork, interviews, and contests. Check out the schedule below from what you'll find each day this month. 

That's Not All...

We'll be having some fabulous contests, each of which has it's own giveaway. Readers will get to vote on the characters, and one lucky voter in each contest will win a copy of the book the Winning Character comes from. The character giveaways will include: 

Hottest Guy Contest (10/4)

Feistiest Girl Contest (10/11)

Cutest Couple Contest (10/18)

Steamiest Couple Contest (10/25)

There will also be one MAIN GIVEAWAY starting today where 1 LUCKY WINNER will win a prize pack of 40 books from some of today's hottest new authors. Additional winners will be chosen to receive runner-up prize packs as well. Scroll down and enter below! 

SO, WHAT CAN YOU FIND EACH DAY?

10/2 -- Character interviews with Zadie Stonebrook (My Sister's Reaper - Dorothy Dryer),            Tizzy Donovan (Laid out and Candle Lit - Ann Everett), Kristi Becker (A Plain                  Wish - Cyndi Lord), Zander Roth (Wicked Hunger - DelSheree Gladden)

10/3 -- Character Bios from Kristi Becker (A Plain Wish - Cyndi Lord), Bryan Sullivan                    (Arcadia's Gift - Jesi Lea Ryan), Brandon James (Love and Other Games - Aria                  Kane

10/4 -- Hottest Guy Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/7 -- Character Surprise Posts from authors RH Ramsey and DelSheree Gladden

10/8 -- Character Artwork from The Other F Word (Susan Stec) and Wicked Hunger                    (DelSheree Gladden) 

10/9 -- Character interviews with Kate Everett (A Slight Change of Plan - Dee Ernst),                  Jean (In Polester Pajamas - Catherine Dougherty), Ben (Twenty-Five - Rachel                    Hamm), Vanessa Roth (Wicked Hunger - DelSheree Gladden)

10/10 -- Character Bios from Kassia (Ice Magic), Maze (The Ballerina and the Fighter -                    Ursula Sinclair), Lucien (Smoke, Wings, and Stone - Marijon Bradley)

10/11 -- Feistiest Girl Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/14 -- Character Surprise Posts from authors Kara Leigh Miller, Sharon Kleve, Linda                  Budzinski 

10/15 -- Character Artwork from On a Wing and a Dare (Linda Ulleseit), Invisible                            (DelSheree Gladden)

10/16 -- Character interviews with David Corbin and Jon Reyes (Sign of the Throne -                    Melissa Eskue Ousley), Rosie (In Polyester Pajamas - Catherine Dougherty),                        Ketchup (Wicked Hunger - DelSheree Gladden)

10/17 -- Character Bios from Nadia (love and Other Games - Melinda Dozier), (Karen                      Gastreich), (HL Carpenter)

10/18 -- Cutest Couple Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/21 -- Character Surprise Posts from authors Stephanie Wardrop, Lucy Crowe, Ana                    Blaze

10/22 -- Character Artwork from Haunting Joy (Lena Goldfinch) and The Destroyer                        Trilogy (DelSheree Gladden)

10/23 -- Character interviews with Rachel Blackstone (The Relcutant Medium - GG                        Collins), Nell (The King Series - Tawdra Kandle), Arcadia ( Arcadia's Gift - Jesi                  Lea Ryan), Olivia & Mason (Invisible - DelSheree Gladden)

10/24 -- Character Bios from (Karin Gastreich), Sam and Cole (Fate War: Alliance - EM                    Havens)

10/25 -- Steamiest Couple Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/28 -- Character Surprise Posts from authors Susan Stec, Shauna Roberts, Lisa                          Cresswell

10/29 -- Character Artwork from My Sister's Reaper (Doroth Dryer), Twin Souls                            (DelSheree Gladden)

10/30 -- Character interviews with Nathan Shaw (Reflection - Kim Cresswell), Nia (In the              Winds of Danger - Linda Ulleseit), Jayden or Merch (dark Night of the Soul - EM                Havens)

10/31 -- Winner's Announcements!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Javascipt for the Meet The Characters Blog Button Link for the Rafflecopter Widget • Embed on your site : http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YTFhNGU1ZmNjMWE0M2MxZjMxMWMwNTZkNDc2YzI3OjMz/ Link back to my Blog: http://delshereegladden.blogspot.com/

Get a jump on a new series! ARCADIA’S GIFT is #free 9/2-9/6 on #Kindle.

Interested in reading my new book ARCADIA’S CURSE, but haven’t read the first book in the series yet? Well you’re in luck! ARCADIA’S GIFT is on sale this week for free on Kindle. It’s a great way to jump into a new paranormal romance series risk free. 

All I ask is that you foster some good reading karma and post a short review on Amazon or GoodReads when you are done reading. Reviews serve two purposes - they provide me with much needed feedback, and they inform other interested readers whether a book is worth reading. All reviews are appreciated!

Thank you for all your support!

~Jesi

Happy book release day! ARCADIA’S CURSE now on #Kindle. #YALit

After a new bumps along the way, Arcadia’s Curse, the follow up to my novel Arcadia’s Gift, is now available on Amazon. 

“The build of the story is a slow burn, like a fuse curling through an empty storehouse ONLY to find out that the fuse is attached to ten tons of fireworks. 

Holy Climax, Batman!”

~ Shannon Mayer, author of Priceless and The Nevermore Trilogy

Think high school sucks? Try being an empath who has to experience everyone else’s suckage on top of your own. (Literally.)

In the months since her family life imploded and her psychic gifts began to arise, Cady has struggled to figure out how she can fit into her normal life without going crazy from the constant presence of emotional energy. Her grades have tanked. Her best friend is afraid of her. And she begins to have doubts about why her boyfriend, Bryan, is really keeping her around. But a chance meeting with another gifted girl online opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Unfortunately, this new world comes at an awful price.

Check it out today!

ARCADIA'S CURSE cover reveal! Hot new novel by @Jesilea coming soon. #AmReading #YA

Oh, I'm so excited to share with you the cover of my new book, ARCADIA'S CURSE! 

This is the second book in my Arcadia series, and I can't wait for you all to read it.  My tentative release date for the e-book will be Monday, August 26, 2013.  That's if the Kindle Gods are on my side. Keep your fingers crossed.

In the mean time, I wanted to tell you a bit about the book.  

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Editors:  Tawdra Kandle & Stacey Blake from Promotional Book Tours (Highly recommend!)
Publisher: Me!
Cover Designer: Phatpuppy Art
Font designer: Jose Casco

Description:

Think high school sucks? Try being an empath who has to experience everyone else’s suckage on top of your own.  (Literally.) 

In the months since her family life imploded and her psychic gifts began to arise, Cady has struggled to figure out how she can fit into her normal life without going crazy from the constant presence of emotional energy.  Her grades have tanked.  Her best friend is afraid of her.  And she begins to have doubts about why her boyfriend, Bryan, is really keeping her around.  But a chance meeting with another gifted girl online opens up a whole new world of possibilities.  Unfortunately, this new world comes at an awful price. 

***  For an exclusive excerpt, check into BestSelling Reads on Monday, August 26, 2013!

Cover reveal! DEADLY CALL by @Martha_Bourke. #shifters

Cover designer - Natasha Brown

About the Book

Deep in the shadows of Boston, Massachusetts, the Order—a secret brotherhood of New Breed warriors—is all that stands between a takeover by shifter supremacists.

Diesel, the most charismatic of the brothers, exudes a love for life all the while carrying a terrible burden. A veteran of the Iraq War, he is haunted by the traumatic events of a single night. Poisoned by shame and certain he is cursed, Diesel fears he is a danger to everyone around him.

Helen, the Order’s stunning and gifted surgeon, has a few demons of her own. Even as she and Diesel give in to the deepest pleasures of the mating call, something still holds her back. Destiny threatens to divide them, until, in the midst of unimaginable tragedy, they must banish the ghosts of the past to save their future.

About the Author 

Martha Bourke grew up in Burlington, Vermont, a magical place where street art meets cosmopolitan sensibilities meets nature. She is an accomplished teacher who has spent the last fifteen years creating Spanish language programs for elementary schools and traveling extensively. For most of her life, she has had a fascination with foreign languages, culture, and mythology – a passion that colors and enriches the world of Jaguar Sun, which now encompasses two series.

Martha and her husband of fifteen years have carved out their own little piece of Vermont in the Massachusetts countryside. When not writing, she loves spending time with her animals, listening to good music, thrifting, and adding to her Converse collection. 

Cover Reveal: NINETY EIGHT by Shannon Mayer #Romance #NewAdult

Title:  Ninety Eight

Author: Shannon Mayer

Expected release date:  October 17, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult/Adult

Cover designed by:  Damon Za;  (http://damonza.com)

Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours; http://atomrbookblogtours.com

GOODREADS:  http://bit.ly/13xx8yG

Book Description:

Speed Limits

Lottery Tickets

Elevator Buttons

Numbers are everywhere—they play such a vital role in our everyday lives. But what would happen if we measured love with equations just as we do our morning cup of coffee? My nana had many recipes in her cupboards, but it was her calculations for love that she insisted I live my life by; and I’ve followed her rules all these years.

One Animal

One Moment

One Critical Impact

That’s all it took for the numbers to start flying in a jumbled mess through my brain as I stared into the violet eyes that would forever make me question my choices. In a split second, the possibilities and reality of true love are revealed and I’m questioning all I’ve ever known.

A Tree

White Fences

Stolen Moments

I can’t ignore the storm brewing around—and within—me. Everything I am is confronted by these new numbers, and all they represent. My past, present and future will all be determined by the gambles I make right here, right now. Again, it’s all about the numbers.

And what I’m learning is, one plus one doesn’t always equal two and sometimes three times isn’t always the charm.

About the Author

Shannon Mayer lives in the southwestern tip of Canada with her husband, dog, cats, horse, and cows. When not writing she spends her time staring at immense amounts of rain, herding old people (similar to herding cats) and attempting to stay out of trouble. Especially that last is difficult for her.

She is the author of the The Nevermore Trilogy; a romantic suspense series, The Rylee Adamson Novels; a paranormal urban fantasy romance series, A Celtic Legacy; an urban fantasy romance series and High Risk Love; the first new adult romance novel in The Risk Series.  Her newest romance, Ninety Eight; a contemporary new adult romance, is scheduled for release in October of 2013.

Author’s social media links:

Website:  www.shannonmayer.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ShannonMayerAuthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TheShannonMayer

Disturbing trend in #Youngadult & #NewAdult books

I read a ton of YA and NA romance, and I’ve noticed a trend for some time now that bothers me.  For a long time, I ignored it and let it go, but it has gotten to a point that I feel I need to speak up.

Dear teen and adult readers:  Jealousy, possessiveness and violence do not equal love.

I like an alpha male as much as anyone, but I find so many authors turn their male leads into brutes.  If your hero punches a guy in the nose for having a perfectly innocent conversation with the heroine, he has anger and control issues.  That’s not cool.  If the girl can’t speak on the phone with the boy who has been her best friend since they were in diapers without lying to the hero about it for fear he will lash out, there is a problem.  If the heroine is afraid of the hero’s violent, jealous outbursts, that is abuse.

I’m not talking about the normal every day jealousy within reason.  If the girl has given the hero a reason to mistrust her, then I can see him being upset or cautious when he witnesses a situation that looks bad.  But if an entire relationship is built around him controlling her that is wrong.

My concern here is that by romanticizing this bad behavior, authors are sending the wrong message to young women. I won’t say which books I’m talking about, because I’m sure you all have your own examples, but I finished a book this morning where the entire story revolved around the hero and his brothers being psychotically controlling over the girls in the book, including their (not so) little sister.  While the guys were acting like bullies, the girls giggled and made excuses about how much the guys love them and want to protect them. 

This is not normal behavior.

When I was in high school, my best friend was a boy.  We each dated plenty of other people.  Whenever a guy expressed an interest in me, I let him know up front the role that Phillip played in my life.  If he had a problem with it, then he was free to move on to someone else.  That said, most guys were cool with it and didn’t give me any grief.  So if real guys can be reasonable and understanding, why can’t book boyfriends? 

Oh, I know.  The jealousy creates a conflict and thus adds to the plot.  If this was happening in only a few books, I wouldn’t have an issue with it.  If in the end the hero learns his lesson and grows from it, I’d be over-the-moon excited.  But lately it seems to be the main plot point in most of the YA and NA romances I read, and it is always the heroine giving in to the hero’s ridiculous rules and demands in the end.

Authors, I’m pleading with you, please be a little more responsible about the messages you are sending.  Be careful equating romance with things like possessiveness and control.  Would you want your daughter dating a guy who treated her in this way?  If not, don’t do it to your heroines.  

Brains, Power & Courage: My favorite romantic heroines

Girl Power!

Single/white/female, twenty-six years old, stunningly beautiful virgin, living in modern day New York City seeking sexually experienced bad boy with a heart of gold who will teach me the wonders of carnal love.

Why is it that we think this sounds ridiculous in a personal ad, yet we accept it so easily in many of the romance novels that we read?  Are readers really so sexist that they can’t accept a heroine who is sexually experienced?  Or is it the authors who are simply giving us what they think we want?  I don’t know about you, but I am getting fed up with heroines being treated sexually inferior to the men.  With this in mind, I thought it would be nice to talk about what qualities make for a good heroine, and who some of my personal favorites are. 

Let me start with a classic romantic heroine.  Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind started off as a feisty, spoiled girl, but the tragedies of war hardened her into a strong, fascinating woman.  In a time when women were expected to sit back and let the men take care of them, Scarlett did the opposite.  When tragedies struck, it was Scarlett’s intelligence that prevailed.  She knew how to work with the cards that life dealt her.  She married Frank Kennedy for money and security, farmed a plantation to keep her household from starving, transformed curtains into dresses and took advantage of reconstruction by starting her own successful lumber business.  

And then there was her sexuality.  Even as a teenage virgin, Scarlett knew how to wield her sexual power like a sword in battle.  Her pouty lips and blue eyes were her weapons of choice.  But by the time she and Rhett Butler came together, Scarlett was far from the blushing virgin.  She had been married twice and had conceived two children already.  (The kids prior to Rhett were cut out of the movie version.  I think this was done so that the first time sex is mentioned, it would be with Rhett, not her two former husbands.  That was Hollywood in the 1930’s for you!) 

Another of my favorite heroines is Claire Fraser from the time-travel romance series, Outlander.  Claire is one of the most practical and capable heroines I have ever read.  Very few women I know would willingly give up the conveniences of the modern world in exchange for a harsh life in eighteenth century Scotland.  Not only did Claire do this, but she put herself through medical school first so she could have useful skills to share with the highlanders.  I love the scenes where she sets bread out purposely to spoil so she can make penicillin from the mold.  Every twist and turn this strange and brutal culture throws at her, she meets head-on with strength and courage. 

These qualities were the glue that held together her relationship with her husband, Jamie.  No time or distance would ever stand in the way of their love.  She didn’t even allow their marriages to other people get in the way.  As far as sex went, Claire had been married in her own time period before meeting Jamie, and it was she who took his virginity in the marriage bed.  But from that point on, the two met each other as sexual equals.

When it comes to female sexual power though, nothing beats Georgina Kincaid from Richelle Mead’s Succubus series.  Georgina is a succubus, which means she literally feeds off of the sexual energy of others.  Since she needs sex at least every couple of days and she is a couple thousand years old, I think it is safe to say that she is the most sexually experienced heroine I have ever read.  For me, this is a symbol of female empowerment.  Women should be able to take control over their bodies and their pleasure. 

Before you assume that Georgina is nothing but a walking sex machine, she is also a productive member of society.  She is the assistant manager of a large book store with a good head for business.  She also enjoys her quiet time with good books and spending time with her close group of friends.  There is a strong moral streak in Georgina which she must balance with her feeding instincts. 

So, now I’d like to open it up to you.  Who are your favorite heroines?  What qualities set them apart from the crowd?  And what are your thoughts about sexuality in female romance characters?  

Best rest + #Amreading = 7 books in 5 days & micro-reviews!

So I had surgery last week and not able to work for a few weeks. While I have certainly been better, it's kind of nice to catch up on my reading. Unfortunately, I don’t have the energy to write full reviews right now, but I thought I’d post some micro-reviews on the few books I’ve read in the last few days.  (I'm not including the summaries, so for more info, click the cover art.)  If you have read any of these books, feel free to let me know what you thought of them in the comments.  Enjoy!

Broken Pieces by Rachel Thompson

Not my normal read.  This is a collection of personal essays and poems where the normally comedic author gets serious about tragedies in her own life.  Honest and sad.  Not what you might want if looking for a pick-me-up, but still an important, emotional read.  Sometimes it’s good to know that you are not the only one who has experienced pain.  The weightiness of the subjects might be tough, but this is a book that is easy to read a little at a time between other things.

* I don't do dream casts for non-fiction. It's a little weird.

The Deepest Cut by J.A. Templeton

Ooh, a YA ghost story with kissing! I loved the paranormal aspects of the story.  It was a bit insta-love, but it’s a short book, so you’ll have that.  The evil spirit was super creepy.  The only part that felt off to me was the whole cutting thing.  It felt disconnected from the rest of the story.  It could have been left out without losing any of the emotion.  I also think the title and cover art should have focused more on the creepy paranormal plot line. 

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Britt Robertson (Riley), Brant Daugherty (Ian)

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

I would read Julie Kagawa’s shopping list.  She has never disappointed me with anything she has ever written. The Eternity Cure is a perfect follow up to The Immortal Rules.  The characters all had a chance to grow and come into their own.  Allie is getting super bad-ass.  Jackal provided some much needed comic relief in this dark and serious novel.  Seeing him, Allie and Zeke have to work together was fabulous. 

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) -  Brenda Song (Allie), Armie Hammer (Zeke), Chris Pine (Jackal), J.D. Pardo (Vampire Prince dude...forgot his name)

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

It’s no secret that I’m in love with Richelle Mead. But when you add together Richelle Mead + sci-fi world + kick-ass heroine + brainy hero + ancient gods + a murder mystery, that equals up to a whole lot of AWESOME!  I took me a few chapters to get into the book because there is so much world-building that needs to be set up and a lot of characters to introduce, but stick with it.  I can already tell I am going to love this series!

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) -  Anna Torv (Mae), A younger Dean Cain (Justin), India Eisley (Tessa)

For Everly by Raine Thomas

Excellent new adult read!  The characters were fun; I liked the awkwardness between Everly and Cole at their first business lunch; there was some great family drama; the love story was exciting.  My only problem--and this is a major pet peeve of mine and is no way isolated to this book alone--but I am so f’ing sick of the virginal heroine.  Twenty-two years old, looks like a super model, and never been kissed? Really??? Why can’t women and men meet on a more level playing field in the bedroom?  We're all about having empowered heroines in every area except when it comes to sex.  There still seems to be a stigma around girls who embrace their sexuality.  I’m ready to go on a crusade to champion realistic female sexual power.  Who’s with me?!?!

Okay, done with my rant.  Seriously, For Everly is a really good book.  Don’t let my bitching discourage you from buying it. 

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Channing Tatum (Cole), Karen Gillan (Everly)

Damaged by H.M. Ward

Yeah, I’d say these characters were damaged. Both Sidney and Peter come with serious emotional baggage.  Add to that he is both her professor and boss...yeah, there is no shortage on present drama either.  While I liked the book and thought the characters were interesting, the back stories were a tad bit on the over-dramatic side.  They just felt too contrived and not so believable.  That said, I'm a sucker for a great love story, and there were enough comedic elements to keep the story from getting too bogged down. #CouchSniffer 

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Sarah Hyland (Sidney), Xavier Samuel (Peter)

Unbreak Me by Lexi Ryan

This book was really messed up, but I loved it!  Maggie has made one poor decision after another in her young life, but she has the best intention of getting back on track.  The book opens with her as a bridesmaid for her sister who is marrying Maggie’s ex-fiancé, Will.  I immediately did not like Will for this reason alone. Whether Maggie broke up with him or not, how could he move on to her sister?!?  Then, enter Asher, the hot next door neighbor.  While he wasn’t perfect either, he was so much easier to like.  The book started as a train wreck of family drama, but ended up turning into a beautiful love story. 

Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) - Jacqueline Emerson (Maggie), Penn Badgley (Will), Robbie Amell (Asher)

Anastasia V. Pergakis discusses her writing and causes close to her heart. #Interview & #Giveaway @AVPergakis

Joining us on the blog today is fantasy author and my friend, Anastasia V. Pergakis.  Her novel Cleanse Fire is the first in the Kinir Elite series, a military inspired fantasy series about an Elven Captain who leads his team on a missions while he is haunted by his past.  

Welcome, Anastasia!

Jesi:  First of all, I loved your book!  Cleanse Fire opens with an incredibly emotional scene. What was it like to write that scene? Did you have any reservations about starting the book out setting such a dark tone right in the beginning?


Anastasia:  I honestly don't remember much of the "writing" part for that scene. It just was sort of, 'there'. It wasn't until after it was written and I went back to read it over that I felt shocked and surprised. I knew the scene going in was going to be emotional and graphic, but I didn't expect that. I was a bit scared that I could write a scene so graphic. I almost didn't include it because of the graphicness of the scene, but in the end, I left it there as it really is a great scene and gets the reader into Derac's head right from the start.


Jesi:  Many times when I read fantasy, I have trouble with the names. Either they are ridiculously long, unpronounceable or spelled crazy. I love the names of your characters because they are different enough to set a fantasy tone, yet very readable. How did you come up with your character names?


Anastasia:  Some of them I made up – or felt like I made up – out of thin air. The name was just there and it fit. Kie's, Derac's, Rakan's names were like this. I also get out my baby name book and try to find names that have a particular meaning. But, to make it fantasy, I often change the spelling in a radical way to make it fit with the language and culture I've created for my fantasy creatures. Aeli's name was one such name where I changed the spelling in a funky way to fit with the elfish language. Other times I take two different names and mush them together to form a new name. Tyn's full name is Tyngrad and I came up with it looking at the names "Tyler" and "Grady" at the same time. Surnames though, are always just me throwing some letters together until it sounds right.


Jesi:  I know you have donated some of the profits from Cleanse Fire to charity. Can you tell us a little about the charity you support and why?


Anastasia:  I support two charities now, actually. Wounded Warrior Project (http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org) helps wounded soldiers and their families in the United States heal after returning home with both the physical and mental injuries of war. Help for Heroes (http://www.helpfforheores.org.uk) is an organization that helps wounded soldiers in the United Kingdom.

My Dad served in the US Army for 20 years, so soldiers hold a special and personal place in my heart.

I'm sure some are wondering why I would help an organization in the UK when I live in the US. Well, I could get all political and talk about them being our allies and on the same side, etc. But, truthfully, it's from a long story my Dad once told me that for some reason has wedged itself into my heart. Many times the US and the UK soldiers get together for some "skirmish war games" and my Dad gained a close friend through one of these times (after the guy knocked out his two front teeth!).

A soldier in the UK makes the same sacrifices a soldier in the US does. It's wonderful when they work together toward a common goal and so I support both with all the thanks I can muster.

Jesi:  Such great causes!  Thank you for your generosity. You recently produced your first audio book for Cleanse Fire. How was that process for you? Can you tell us about your narrator and why you chose to work with him?


Anastasia:  It was a whirlwind of fun! Chad Tindale and I met through ACX.com when he auditioned to be the narrator for my book. He read the excerpt I posted with such intensity, I listened to it about five times in a row! He totally blew me away with his talent and energy.

I sent him a copy of the book and he fell in love with it. He went above and beyond than just "reading" it in audio format. He gave each character their own voice and unique accents even! The girls too! He got into reading the lines as if he was on a stage acting – full of emotion. His wife even loved the story so much, he wasn't allowed to record chapters until she was at home to hear it!

It was great fun having such powerful feedback for my book and then having a great new medium to showcase it, is just a bonus for me. The audio book was finished much sooner than I ever anticipated thanks to Chad's love of the book and his dedication to helping me get it out there. I could never thank him enough and I can't wait to work with him again when the next book in the series is finished.

Jesi:  As readers of my book reviews know, I have a habit of casting real people, usually actors, in my mind as the characters when I read.  As you are writing, do you base your characters on real people?  If Hollywood made a movie of Cleanse Fire, who would you like to see playing the leading roles?

Anastasia:  Well, I so love the cast you came up with when you reviewed Cleanse Fire. I even shared it on the Kinir Elite blog because the cast was so fitting!

While writing though, I do have a particular person(s) in mind when writing each character, if only to get personalities shown correctly and such. But when it comes to their looks, no, I don't think of any particular person.

So, to answer the last question, if Cleanse Fire was made into a movie, I'd probably go with the cast you saw while reading it because like I said, they fit so well!

Henry Cavil (Derac)

Keira Knightly (Kie)

Sean Patrick Flanery (Tyn)

Rosamund Pike (Aeli)

Sean Bean (Rakan)

Armie Hammer (Jardel)

Jesi:  The Speak Loudly campaign has been fighting censorship in teen books, specifically in schools.  Of the books under fire, many include issue books which deal with heavy themes or controversial subjects such as eating disorders, abusive relationships, sexuality issues, teen suicide, alcohol or drug abuse, etc.  Do you feel there are topics which should be considered off limits in Young Adult literature? 

Anastasia:  As a recovering alcoholic, no I don't think these topics should be off limits. Teens have always struggled with these things and in my personal opinion it seems to get worse with each generation as the drugs are stronger, culture views on things like sexuality change, and even the way parents raise their children change.

Having these "controversial" books, even those that are fiction, can help struggling teens make it through hard times. I was bullied and ridiculed as a teen and like I said, I was a raging alcoholic and addict during my teen years as well. But books – reading about the same struggles, knowing that I wasn't alone, that someone at least thought about the things I was going through - made all the difference to me. The characters in the books were able to make it through – they dealt with whatever monsters were in the book, and within themselves. They made it! Feeling alone is the worst thing a teen can feel and knowing that I wasn't, even on a subconscious level, kept me going.

Books – not even controversial ones – ANY book, can help a teen cope. It's an escape and sometimes even a life lesson thrown into an epic adventure. I'm an adult now (and sober for almost 7 years) and I still read for the escape and for the adventure. Books should never be banned. EVER!

Jesi:  I appreciate you sharing your story with us.  People who overcome such obsticles in life never fail to amaze me.  What are you writing now that Cleanse Fire has been released? 

Anastasia:  "Blood Trade" is the sequel to "Cleanse Fire". The story picks up a few days after Cleanse Fire ended but it's an entire new adventure for the team. They are asked for help from the Tinally Elite (the faery team) dealing with a ruthless terrorist.

The other project is titled "Burden of Prophecy" and it's the first book of an entirely different series, "A Faery's Tale". As the title suggests, there is a prophecy that must be fulfilled - unite the five faery kingdoms. But, of course, tensions are high because of hatred and ignorance brewed over the last thousand years. It's heavy on the romance themes as the two main characters, Aelic and Rosyani, are a fated pair meant to bring about the fulfillment of the prophecy, but they were born as enemies and now have to make their sudden and rash marriage work somehow AND fulfill the prophecy.


 Jesi:  Thank you so much, Anastasia, for joining us today.  Readers, Anastasia is hosting an awesome giveaway.  See below for details!

GIVEAWAY

Use the rafflecopter widget below to enter to win an E-BOOK COPY OF CLEANSE FIRE. Simply leave a comment on this post, answering the question: "Who is your real life 'super hero' and why? (Can be anyone!)" then enter on the raffle copter! I can't wait to see your answers, and I wish you luck!

Giveaway runs from June 1 to June 7!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY

Grand Prize #1: A paperback copy of “Cleanse Fire” – signed by the author, a color poster of the team – signed by them, a special edition bookmark of Derac – signed by him, and five Kinir Elite bookmarks.

Grand Prize #2: A paperback copy of “Cleanse Fire” – signed by the author, a black and white poster of the team – signed by them, and five Kinir Elite bookmarks.

Head over to the Kinir Elite website (http://kinirelite.com/2013/05/cleanse-fire-tour-2013/) to enter! Follow along on the tour to have more chances to win one of these amazing prize packs. Contest ends on June 12, 2013!

*Open Internationally!*

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