Interview & Giveaway with Alexia Purdy, Author of Reign of Blood

This week on the Writer's Block we have cool chic Alexia Purdy, author of Reign of Blood (and so many others). Binge reader. Coke addict. Like's to freak out her kids. :) Let's take a few to minutes to get know this rabid vampire creator.

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What was your favorite book as a kid? Wait til Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn

If you were stranded on a desert island what is the one book you couldn't be stranded without? Gone with the Wind

What is your favorite genre to read and what makes it so awesome? Contemporary Literary Fiction- Cuz real life stories are the best.

 

Tell us your favorite author. Which book is your total fave from that author? I'd say it's a tie between Cassandra Clare The City of Glass and Alice Hoffman- The Third Angel

Any pet peeves you'd be willing to share? I hate it when people cut in line and don't say please. AND are clean freaks. Sorry, no one is THAT perfect.

If you could meet any dead person, who would you choose? Any particular reason why? Emily Dickenson. I want to know what she's like, what goes on in that head of hers.

If the Earth suddenly became uninhabital, would you rather live under the sea or in space? Under the sea.

What was your most favorite pasttime as a kid? Going to the Flea Markets with my dad or traveling around in our car with my family.

Take us through a typical writing day for you. Do you have anything quirky - like you have to have a certain pen to write with, or the desk laid out in a particular manner, does it need to be raining, do you require a certain food/drink/candy to work by? Will you have an absolute meltdown if the atmosphere isn't what you like? I need my laptop, lapdesk, coke, some sort of candy (starburst, sweettarts, kitkat, mambas) to munch on and lots of music. I don't have meltdowns while writing.

What do you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? I read. I binge read. Like, lots.

When you were little, what did you think you'd be when you grew up? A writer, a nurse, and a dancer. I did all three.

 

What is the craziest dream you've ever had? I was in some weird line with my two oldest kids, though they were little at that time. We were being shuffled along some sort of line that sent us to our deaths. Yeah, I have morbid dreams.

If you could live anywhere in the world you'd like, where would that be and why? Italy, anywhere in the country because it's beautiful and not here.

Do you have a secret obsession you'd be willing to share? I am a book hoarder. Enough said.

What food/drink would absolutely devastate you if they stopped production on? Coke. The actual Coke. Yes, I'd be so withdrawing.

Did you do anything special to celebrate your first book release? No, I just jumped up and down and ran around like a freak. My kids were weirded out.

Which is your favorite fairytale? King Thrushbeard

Which book are you most looking forward to reading this year? The Clockwork Princess, though it might be coming out next year, not sure.

Which do you prefer: ebook, hardback or paperback? I prefer, at the moment, ebook, though I still love paperback/hardbacks.

This or That
Underworld or Twilight
Original or Remake - Not sure, depends.
Sweet or Salty
Drama or Comedy
Fantasy or Romance
Spring or Autumn
Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston
Dirty Dancing or Footloose
Movie Theatre or Loveseat
Tea or Coffee
Rain or Sunshine
Skiing or Surfing
Tree House or Man Cave

Choose a challenge...if you dare! Write a sentence using all these words: Katniss, duct tape, shard, bread, explosives, rooster: The duct tape stuck to the shard of explosives that had already gone off all over the place made Katniss trip over the rooster, sending her bread flying. You know...I think you're the first one to attempt that question! :D
 

REIGN OF BLOOD BOOK TRAILER!

 

GIVEAWAY!!!

Alexia is giving away one ebook copy of Reign of Blood for my peeps. It's an awesome vampire book with a little twist to the types, and you can check out my review here. You can check out all her books at the following sites: Amazon, B&N, Smashwords

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Interview and Giveaway with Molly McAdams, Author of Taking Chances

 

Today on the Writer's Block, we have the spunky Molly McAdams, author of Taking Chances and From Ashes.  Man cave invader. Easily distracted by Scottish men. And her pet peeve is how her hubby handles his pet peeve - interesting. Take a coffee break and get to know this cool chick.  

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Interview with Rebecca A. Rogers

This week on the Writer's Block we have the sassy Rebecca A. Rogers. One of my partners in crime, total coffee-aholic, and writing whiz. Seriously...the books are just flying off the laptop.

 
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What was your favorite book as a kid? I was really obsessed with the Little House on the Prairie series. I read a few Anne of Avonlea and Chronicles of Narnia books, and then, of course, the Harry Potter series, but I don’t recall having a favorite. I guess I just loved them all! :)

If you were stranded on a desert island what is the one book you couldn't be stranded without? The Lord of the Rings (in complete trilogy form, which is one book). :D

What is your favorite genre to read and what makes it so awesome? It’s going to be Fantasy for me. I just love hanging out with elves or dwarves, or other creatures that don’t exist. It’s amazing how, if one believes hard enough, they can transport themselves to these other worlds.

If you could meet any dead person, who would you choose? Any particular reason why? J.R.R. Tolkien. Who wouldn’t want to tap into that man’s imagination?

If the Earth suddenly became uninhabitable, would you rather live under the sea or in space? In space, most definitely. If the air/land on Earth is too toxic, why would I want to live under the sea?

If you could live in any time period other than the present, which would you choose and why? I normally respond to this with “Medieval Times,” but I think I’d actually like to live in the Renaissance time period. Everything was a bit brighter and less depressing.

Take us through a typical writing day for you. Do you have anything quirky - like you have to have a certain pen to write with, or the desk laid out in a particular manner, does it need to be raining, do you require a certain food/drink/candy to work by? I absolutely have to have coffee; it’s like putting gas in a car for me. If my tank is empty, you can bet my engine will start, sputter, and go dead. :) Other than coffee, nothing has to be in a particular order on my desk, but I do prefer lighting candles to keep the atmosphere calm.

What do you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? Move past it. If I know what happens ahead of where I’m at, then I’ll just write those scenes and come back to where I stopped. Usually, it works out.

When you were little, what did you think you'd be when you grew up? A princess who lived in a castle. (I still want to buy a castle! lol)

What is the craziest dream you've ever had? I still remember this dream I had as a kid, where I was in the ocean and being chased by sharks. They continually circled around me, and, finally, one bit my leg. Well, in real life, I bit the inside of my cheek (and didn’t know it). So, in the dream, I could taste blood from where the shark “bit” me, and when I woke up, I could definitely taste it, too. Ewww!

If you could live anywhere in the world you'd like, where would that be and why? Scotland or England. My ancestors originated in Scotland, and I’ve always thought both Scotland and England are beautiful countries. But I swear I’m going to own a castle in one of them someday! lol

What food/drink would absolutely devastate you if they stopped production on? Dunkin Donuts coffee.

Do you like to listen to music when you read or write? Tell us a few of your favorites. Sometimes, but the majority of the time, no. Favorites? Safetysuit and Tokyo Hotel. Their lyrics are poetic, in my opinion.

Which is your favorite fairytale? Beauty and the Beast. As a child, Belle reminded me of myself.

Which book are you most looking forward to reading this year? I have so many ARCs to finish reading this year. I’m backed up so much, it’s not even funny. I’m sure the publishers are like, “Gahhh. What’s wrong with this girl?” But next year, I’m skipping ARCs and focusing on the 650+ books I own. :)

Which do you prefer: ebook, hardback or paperback? I like all three, actually. I guess, for convenience, e-books are the way to go. You can continually add to your e-shelves and never have to worry about running out of room. At least, for a while.

This or That
Underworld or Twilight
Original or Remake
Sweet or Salty
Drama or Comedy
Fantasy or Romance
Spring or Autumn
Movie Theatre or Loveseat
Tea or Coffee
Rain or Sunshine

Choose a challenge...if you dare!

Write a sentence using all these words: joker, fireball, backpack, sticker, hula hoop: The last time I pressed a sticker on my backpack, the joker hurled a fireball through my hula hoop.

(Oh, my God. What am I doing?)

Write a sentence using all these words: wolf pack, mirror, pop rocks, cuckoo clock, Edward Cullen, hairspray: Edward Cullen looks at himself in the mirror and uses a cuckoo clock to spritz his hair with hairspray every time the wolf pack eats pop rocks.

(Wow, I need to stop.)

Write a sentence using all these words: lovebirds, Twizzlers, fireworks, Ferris wheel, turtle: Two lovebirds take their pet turtle on a Ferris wheel, while eating Twizzlers and watching fireworks color the blackened sky.

(Okay, this was better. lol)

Go to http://madglibs.com and fill in a mad lib using people, places, etc from one of your books. Copy and paste here to share with us. Don't forget to tell us which book you used!

Okay, I’ll go ahead and use Silver Moon. In keeping with the “Romeo and Juliet” theme, I’ll do the R&J Prologue Mad Lib, using these words: werewolves, Hartford, werewolf, lovers, magic, magical, transform, 6, golden, eyes, linger

Here it is:

Two werewolves, both alike in dignity,
In fair Hartford, where we lay our scene,
From ancient werewolf break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their magic bury their parents’ strife.
The fearful passage of their magical love,
And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Which, but their children’s end, nought could transform,
Is now the 6 hours’ traffic of our stage;
The which if you with golden eyes attend,
What here shall linger, our toil shall strive to mend.

Well, that worked out quite well after all. lol

Rebecca has a ton of books, so check out the full list at her website or GoodReads.

Interview and Giveaway with Jaye Frances, Author of The Possibilities of Amy

 

This week on the Writer's Block we have the spunky Jaye Frances. Lover of Strong Coffee. Roller skating diva. Crazy Party Girl. Let's take a few minutes to get to know the life of the party. :)

 

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If you were stranded on a desert island what is the one book you couldn't be stranded without?  My daily planner – I wouldn’t last a week without it . .

 

What is your favorite genre to read and what makes it so awesome? There are actually two genres that I especially enjoy. One is comedy, particularly satirical, edgy, wry—David Sedaris comes to mind. I also enjoy a great story woven around a supernatural element, even more so if the author has included enough realism and authenticity in the characters, location, and background to suggest the story is based in fact, even raising the possibility it could be true.

 

Any pet peeves you'd be willing to share? Folks with overflowing baskets of food clogging up the “Ten Items or Less” lane in the supermarket. Seriously, there’s a reason those lines are so short . . .

 

If you could meet any dead person, who would you choose? Any particular reason why? Most dead people these days seem to be zombies . . . I think I’ll stay inside for a while and wear a metal helmet.

If the Earth suddenly became uninhabited, would you rather live under the sea or in space? Let’s see… in space I’d face meteors, sun flares, and the risk of being captured and tortured by patrolling aliens. Under the sea, I’d have to deal with a pesky coating of salt covering everything, constant maintenance on the protective shell, and having to be on the lookout for a passing great white when I’m out for my afternoon swim. Tough call . . .

 

What was your most favorite pasttime as a kid? I loved to roller-skate. I still remember my first pair of skates—clunky metal frames with heavy cast iron wheels that required a key to tighten the tongue-grips around the tops of my shoes. But even when shackled with six pounds of metal on each foot, there was nothing better than skating around the block, swinging my arms for balance, and feeling the “skip” of the concrete sidewalk expansion cracks. When I was older, my mother took my sisters and I to the indoor roller rink, where I discovered full-shoe skates, pom-pom laces, smooth wooden floors, and “ladies choice” skating dances. I was hooked!

 

Take us through a typical writing day for you. Do you have anything quirky - like you have to have a certain pen to write with, or the desk laid out in a particular manner, does it need to be raining, do you require a certain food/drink/candy to work by? Will you have an absolute meltdown if the atmosphere isn't what you like? I’m most productive in quiet surroundings, so if there are motorcycles revving in the street, boomboxes blaring through the walls, or children (of any age) having hissy fits, my focus and creativity go right out the window. Curiously though, there are a couple of noisy distractions that get my juices going—the soft, rumbling thunder of a summer rainstorm and the throaty moans of the couple next door getting it on.

 

What do you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? I have three strategies to boost me out of a “nothing’s going on here” state of mind:

     1. Cleaning the house (surprisingly, scrubbing the shower is a real motivator,

     2. Going shopping, but only if it’s during the week and I don’t have to fight the crowds or traffic, and 

     3. Heading to my closet and pulling out a dozen pair of five inch heels and an armload of sexy dresses, then trying on each combination in an effort to decide what I’m going to wear on Saturday night (my husband likes this method best)

 

When you were little, what did you think you'd be when you grew up? When I was young, I was sure I could find a way to work on board Jacques Cousteau’s Calypso—thanks to the Discovery Channel. Then I wanted to be a tour guide in the south of France. In my teens, I briefly toyed with the idea of being an international call-girl, but then what girl hasn’t? Frankly, I’m still looking for a few good ideas . . .

 

Do you have a secret obsession you'd be willing to share? Unfortunately, it’s no secret. I’m a shoe whore. No kidding, my husband thinks my collection is obscene, and I actually dress from the shoes up, giving priority to heel height and level of discomfort. Some days, my feet really hate me . . .

 

Did you do anything special to celebrate your first book release? Yes, but after the clip was banned from YouTube and I was threatened with eviction, I made a promise with my family not to discuss it . . .

 

Tell us your favorite quote. “Wherever you go, there you are." I just can’t fault the logic . . .

 

Which do you prefer? ebook, paperback or hardback? EBook for the convenience and fun factor, paperback for the tactile fix, hardback to keep my desk from wobbling.

 

This or That

Sweet or Salty: Definitely sweet. I’m talking about the kind of sweet that makes your teeth disintegrate just thinking about it.

Drama or Comedy: Comedy every time. If you can make me laugh, I’m your biggest fan.

Fantasy or Romance: I have to improvise a little here: Romantic Comedy – just seems to be a more realistic representation of life (thankfully!)

Spring or Autumn: Autumn – crisp air, red and golden-hued leaves, cashmere sweaters, crackling fireplaces, pumpkins on the front porch, hot apple cider – damn, it’s time for a road trip to Vermont!

Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston: The dance moves of Michael, the voice of Whitney, and the wardrobe of both

Walter Mathau or Jack Lemmon: Gotta be Jack Lemmon – smart dresser, logical thought patterns, analytical organizer, well-groomed, great dancer. He’d have to take care of that sinus issue, though.

Dirty Dancing or Footloose: Dirty Dancing. In fact, the dirtier the better.

Loveseat or Movie Theatre: Loveseat! Nothing sits between me and my man when we’re watching a great movie except a tub of buttered popcorn.

Tea or Coffee: Strong coffee, with a splash of cream or Bailey’s, whichever is handy

Tree House or Man Cave: I’ve always liked sitting on the highest bough of a tree. That way I could see them coming.

 

Choose a challenge...if you dare!

 

Write a sentence using all these words: love birds, twizzlers, fireworks, ferris wheel, turtle. Tugging at the elastic in his new turtle-neck sweater, Bobby sucked on his last two strawberry twizzlers, wondering how the love birds sitting in front of him on the ferris wheel could remain so oblivious to the blazing fireworks lighting the night sky.

 

 

GIVEAWAY!!!

Jaye is giving away one Kindle version of The Possibilities of Amy. Just fill out the Rafflecopter, or pick up a copy at Amazon. And be sure to check out my review here!

 

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Interview and Giveaway with Jillian Eaton, Author of Pitch (Death Day)

This week on the Writer's Block we have the lovely Jillian Eaton. Awesome vampire writer, fantasies stuck in historical England, seriously addicted to coffee and chocolate, and anti-reality singing competitions. Take a minute to peek at some of these crazy answers before hitting up the giveaway (yeah...I know you're looking for that!) :)

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What was your favorite book as a kid? Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. I would read it, cry. Read it, cry. Read it, cry. It was a vicious circle.

Tell us your favorite quote. "Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." - Anton Chekhov

What is your favorite genre to read and what makes it so awesome? Historical romance is always my fallback, but young-adult, paranormal, science fiction... I'll read anything.

If the Earth suddenly became uninhabital, would you rather live under the sea or in space? Awesome question. Definitely under the sea. I'm imagining something out of The Little Mermaid or Atlantis. Atlantis would be cool.

If you could live in any time period other than the present, which would you choose and why? Regency England, but only if I was a wealthy heiress and I could marry a dashing Duke.

What do you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? Either start another project entirely, or go eat chocolate. Okay, so I just eat chocolate. A lot.

When you were little, what did you think you'd be when you grew up? A veterinarian.

What is the craziest dream you've ever had? Probably the dream that inspired the After in After Ever. It was pretty scary/freaky/how the HELL did my brain come up with this?

What food/drink would absolutely devastate you if they stopped production on? Extra buttered popcorn at the movie theaters. I am seriously addicted.

If you could step into the shoes of any fictional character for one day, who would it be and why? Hermione Granger because a) she's a witch and b) she is awesome.

Do you like to listen to music when you read or write? Absolutely not, and I fail to understand how other writers do it!

Did you do anything special to celebrate your first book release? The fiancee took me out to Applebees. I chattered on, and on (and on on on) about my book. We haven't been back since.

Which is your favorite fairytale? Cinderella.

Which do you prefer: ebook, hardback or paperback? I swore I would never switch to a kindle, but I did and now I am in love. So ebook.

This or That

Underworld or Twilight

Original or Remake

Sweet or Salty

Drama or Comedy

Fantasy or Romance

Spring or Autumn

Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston

Walter Mathau or Jack Lemmon

Dirty Dancing or Footloose

American Idol or X-Factor or The Voice: none of the above

Movie Theatre or Loveseat

Tea or Coffee

Rain or Sunshine

Skiing or Surfing

Tree house or Man Cave

Choose a challenge...if you dare!

Write a sentence using all these words: wolfpack, mirror, pop rocks, cuckoo clock, Edward Cullen, hairspray: Edward Cullen glanced at the cuckoo clock above his dresser mirror and finally put down the hairspray as he muttered "pop rocks" under his breath, for once again he had taken too long on his hair and was going to be late meeting the wolfpack. ROFLMAO! That's pretty good!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!! Jillian is giving away one ecopy of Pitch (Death Day #1). You can check out my 5 star review here. :) Good luck!

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Interview with Denise Grover Swank, Author of HERE - Get Your Personalized Copy Today!

My guest this week on the Writer's Block is Denise Grover Swank. She's a single super-mom of six kids, the author of a slew of books, coffee nut, and probably has every episode of Little House on the Prairie memorized. Let's take a few minutes to get to know this uber-efficient multi-tasker!

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What was your favorite book as a kid? I LOVED the Little House on the Prairie series! I wanted to have my own sunbonnet, so I found a rufflely baby dress, cinched up the neck hole and sleeves, tied a string around it and made my own. I wore that thing everywhere for awhile.

If the Earth suddenly became uninhabital, would you rather live under the sea or in space? That's really a tough call, but I'm going to go for space-- as long as I'm with other people. Space is so vast and limitless. I can only imagine all the things I could see and experience, as long as my space ship has warp drive. Otherwise, I'll never live long enough to see it all.

Take us through a typical writing day for you. Do you have anything quirky - like you have to have a certain pen to write with, or the desk laid out in a particular manner, does it need to be raining, do you require a certain food/drink/candy to work by? Will you have an absolute meltdown if the atmosphere isn't what you like? I'm pretty flexible with my writing and editing. I have to be with all the kids in my house. I have six kids, although only five live at home. My youngest is five and my kids often have their friends here which only adds to the chaos. So, the only thing I really require is my laptop, and I move around from place to place in my house to write. (My new outdoor gazebo is my favorite place when it's not too hot.) Other than that, I need my iTunes and my Bose noise cancelling headphones--my Christmas present to myself.

What do you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? After I make myself stop procrastinating, I usually push through. But lately I've begun to stop and try to figure out where I went wrong. It saves me from lots of rewriting later.

Do you like to listen to music when you read or write? Tell us a few of your favorites. I've become so accustomed to working with music, I can't write without it. My playlist changes from book to book. With HERE I listened a lot of Linkin Park's album, Minutes to Midnight as well as Lifehouse and Red. I've already added Evanescence new CD to the playlist for THERE and I haven't even started writing it yet.

Which do you prefer: ebook, hardback or paperback? I used to prefer paperbacks, but lately I prefer my Kindle.

This or That

Drama or Comedy: It depends on my mood. More often than not, comedy.

Fantasy or Romance: A combination of both.

Spring or Autumn

Movie Theatre or Loveseat: Movie theater. I don't get out enough.

Tea or Coffee: Coffee!!!!

Rain or Sunshine: Rain but not for too long

Choose a challenge...if you dare!

Write a sentence using all these words: love birds, twizzlers, fireworks, ferris wheel, turtle. The turtle crawled into the backpack and ate Twizzlers while two lovebirds rode a ferris wheel and watched fireworks.

You can see my review of Here here - totally 5 stars! Pick yours up at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. And you can order personalized autographed copies of all her books here.

Interview and Giveaway with Joann I. Martin Sowles, Author of The Brookhaven Vampires

This week I have the lovely Joann I. Martin Sowles for my Writer's Block segment. She's the author of the Brookhaven Vampires series and this indie writer becomes more and more popular as the weeks fly by. I'm sure you all recognize her New Adult Urban Fantasy novels Laney and Darkness, so let's take a few minutes to get to know this cool chic.

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What was your favorite book as a kid? Well, I wasn’t much of a reader as a child. I was well into my twenties when I discovered my love of reading. But, as a child, my parents had this book that was about several unexplained mysteries. I was fascinated with the section on the Loch Ness monster. I would read it over and over. I’m still quite fascinated with Nessie today.

Tell us your favorite quote. One of my favorite quotes is by Lucille Ball: "I would rather regret the things I have done than the things I have not."

What is your favorite genre to read and what makes it so awesome? My favorite genre is paranormal romance. I love the supernatural and mix that together with a fantastic love story, you can’t ask for anything better.

Tell us your favorite author. Which book is your total fave from that author? I have quite a few favorite authors, it’s hard to choose just one but the one that I’ve read the most of lately would be Rachel Caine. I love her Morganville Vampires series, and to choose just one of them… I don’t think I could do it. The entire series is just fantastic! I love the relationships between Claire (the main character) and her friends and all of the action and excitement. Oh, and Shane and Myrnin… They are just the best!

If you could meet any dead person, who would you choose? Any particular reason why? I would love to meet Walt Disney. His imagination and his devotion to his dreams are truly inspiring.

If the Earth suddenly became uninhabitable, would you rather live under the sea or in space? Under the sea. I’d find myself a group of mermaids to take me to the Lost City of Atlantis. Cuz you know they know where it is. ;)

If you could live in any time period other than the present, which would you choose and why? Arthurian. I would love to see the time/age of Arthur and Merlin and even be a part of it.

What do you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? Oh, writer’s block, how you torment so many of us. For me, I usually walk away for a bit. I take a break and play a game on my phone or take my dog out back and throw a ball for her or play something with my kids or rockband with my husband. I just try to clear my mind completely and start fresh after thirty minutes or so. Usually, things will start to flow again when I’m focused on something else.

Do you have a secret obsession you'd be willing to share? <wink, wink> Now, if I shared them they wouldn’t be a secret, would they?. ;) I will tell you that I have a serious addiction to Annie’s Gummy Bunnys. I can’t stop at one bag, I’ll eat the entire box in one sitting! Oh, and Kettlecorn. Same story, I’ll eat the entire bag. We can’t keep either of those items in the house, I just can’t control myself.

Do you like to listen to music when you read or write? I do, especially when I’m writing. It’s a must in my not-so-quiet house, I have to have my ear buds in to get any writing done.

Did you do anything special to celebrate your first book release? A friend of mine surprised me with cupcakes. She made mini versions of the cover and put them on popsicle sticks. It was super cute!

Which book are you most looking forward to reading this year? I have a huge to-read list but there are a few that I can’t wait to get lost in: Rachel Caine’s new Morganville books: Black Dawn and Bitter Blood, Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance. Charlaine Harris’ Deadlocked, the fourth installment in Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush series, and the sequel to Tess Oliver’s Camille.

Which do you prefer: ebook, hardback or paperback? Hardcovers. I’ve always loved books, even before I was a reader. I love the way they look, feel, and smell but I love hardcovers the most for some reason.

This or That

Underworld or Twilight: That’s a toss-up… I think it would depend on my mood.

Original or Remake

Sweet or Salty: Both! Kettlecorn, baby!

Drama or Comedy

Fantasy or Romance: Fantasy with some romance thrown in. ;)

Spring or Autumn: Both!

Dirty Dancing or Footloose

Movie Theatre or Loveseat

Tea or Coffee

Rain or Sunshine

Skiing or Surfing: Neither, but I’d take the beach over the mountains anytime!

Tree House or Man Cave: Tree house and a book, and I’m pulling the ladder up so nobody else can get inside.

Choose a challenge...if you dare!

Write a sentence using all these words: joker, fireball, backpack, sticker, hula hoop: I gave the Joker a sticker for doing such a great job shooting fireballs through a hula hoop from his backpack.

Thank you for the great interview!

I’d also like to thank all who have stopped by and taken the time read this interview. I invite all of you to visit my website where you can read the first 3 chapters of both Laney & Darkness.

Much Love,
Joann I. Martin Sowles

And now for the Giveaway!!! Ms. Martin Sowless has generously offered up signed bookmarks and paperbacks of Laney and Darkness for you guys. :) Just fill in the rafflecopter below!

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Interview with Michelle Pennington, Author of Candid

This week at The Writer's Block I have debut novelist Michelle Pennington. She's fresh on the scene with Candid, the first book in the True Images series. She's a shark week finatic, and Super Mom, who's not afraid to let the kiddos veg out in front of the TV to get some writing time in! And as Christmas-obsessed as she is, she's probably one of those people ready to knock you down for that Black Friday deal. :P Let's take a few minutes to get know this overworked mommy.

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Tell us your favorite quote. My favorite quote of the moment is one by Albert Einstein: “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”

What is your favorite genre to read and what makes it so awesome? I love to read many genres, but if a book doesn’t have romance in it, I have a hard time getting into it. Conversely, I’m really picky when it comes to the kind of romances I’ll read because they have to be clean. I am a sucker for those moments in a romance where your heart swells up so that you can barely breathe and you have to take a moment to gather yourself so that you can fully appreciate the storm of gooey emotions in a good love scene. I love the moment when they confess their love for each other. Nothing beats that.

Tell us your favorite author. Which book is your total fave from that author? My favorite author is Georgette Heyer. She’s the queen of regency romance and no one will ever match her wit or story crafting – at least in my eyes. Choosing a favorite among the gems of her books is like trying to choose which of my children is my favorite. Since I have three kids, I’ll try to narrow it down to that many: The Masqueraders, The Nonesuch, and Devil’s Cub.

Any pet peeves you'd be willing to share? If we’re talking about life in general, it’s when my husband asks what the kids are up to in another part of the house when I’m in the same room he’s in. Seriously, does he think I can see through walls? If we’re talking about writing, I hate when an author tells you the same thing over and over and over again.

If the Earth suddenly became uninhabitable, would you rather live under the sea or in space? I confess that I would choose under the sea. For one thing, I always had a fascination for Marine Biology, but since I grew up in Arkansas, I didn’t see that I had much chance up competing in the field against people who grew up with the sea in their back yard. I still watch every documentary on the oceans, marine animals, and I’m a Shark Week fanatic.

Take us through a typical writing day for you. I write early in the morning before my kids wake up and my day gets crazy. I admit that I let them veg on the couch in front of cartoons for a while if they wake up too early so I can get my writing time in. When I wake up, I’m alert and full of ideas. I turn on some music, open my laptop on my kitchen table and zone for as long as life lets me.

What do you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? In college, I was taught that writing block was caused by not knowing who your audience was. I’ve found that there’s sometimes some truth in that. If I let pressure from writing a story that so and so would like affect me, I stop listening to my gut and my characters’ voices. Sometimes, I just get ahead of my brains’ advance work. (when it’s thinking on its own without any interference from my conscious self) and I just have to go do something else for a while until it catches up. It’s a weird feeling to realize that so much of what I write comes from a part of me that I don’t control. I guess writing is taking that unconscious part and translating it for other people to understand.

What is the craziest dream you've ever had? I live in tornado country, and I’ve never been afraid of tornados. I do have a healthy respect and awe for them though and I have recurring dreams about them. I’m always hunkered down in a building somewhere, watching a tornado spin towards me while my heart is about to beat out of my chest. It gets closer and closer, the building expands and contracts like a pair of lungs, the wind roars and things start to get really surreal right before it hits. Then the darn thing bounces of the window and goes another direction. It’s pretty anti-climactic, but always a relief. If anyone can tell me if this means something, I’d love to know.

If you could live anywhere in the world you'd like, where would that be and why? I’d live on Roatan Island, Honduras because it’s a dream of my hubsand's to live there. Anywhere he goes, I go, and I have to admit, it would be pretty fabulous to live there.

Do you have a secret obsession you'd be willing to share? <wink, wink> Christmas. That’s right, Christmas. Everything about it. Especially the music.

What food/drink would absolutely devastate you if they stopped production on? I’m not sure if it qualifies as a food or a drink. It’s kind of a food, but I do drink it. La Martinique French Vinaigrette. I pour too much on my salads just so I can slurp up what’s left at the bottom of the bowl. My local grocery stores don’t carry it, so I drive over to the neighboring town to stock up occasionally. The cashiers probably think I’m crazy to buy so many bottles at once. One time I couldn’t find it because they rearranged the shelves and I almost had a heart attack that they weren’t carrying it anymore.

Do you like to listen to music when you read or write? Tell us a few of your favorites. It’s almost impossible for me to write without music. I’ve got different playlists for different moods or situations. Some of my songs range from “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles to “Fallin’ for You” by Colbie Caillat to “All of Me” by Evanescence.

Which do you prefer: ebook, hardback or paperback? I love the feel and smell and comfort of a physical book, though I prefer to read paperback over hardback. I have to say though, I’ve been totally converted to ebooks the last few years though since I got my kindle. Benefits include: I can buy them whenever I want. I can afford more books. My kids don’t turn the pages or rip them out. I can take it anywhere and have a whole library of books with me. Nobody makes fun of me for reading a romance with a cheesy cover on it. Most importantly, my husband doesn’t knock my book out of my hands so that I lose my place. He thinks it’s hilarious to bug me like that, (so annoying!) but he doesn’t want to break my kindle, so I’m safe. Once my brother even threw my book out the car window while we were driving down the highway at 70 mph! He would never have done that to a Kindle, so if you have men in your life like the ones in my life, ebooks are the way to go.

This or That

Sweet or Salty – I like Sweet and Salty together…I always add ¼ to ½ tsp of extra salt to my cookie dough recipes.

Drama or Comedy – Comedy all the way.

Fantasy or Romance – Romance, but put the two together and I’m so there

Autumn or Rain

Tree house or Man Cave – Hello Swiss Family Robinson

Candid was a really cute read that I just breezed through in one sitting. I highly recommend picking it up, and you can check out my review here.

Interview and Free Download with Elle Strauss

Howdy gals and gents! This week we have the lovely Elle Strauss with us on the Writer's Block. She's the author of the adorable Clockwise novels you see below. Another fan of the unsinkable Jane Austen. Addicted to dark chocolate and red wine. And she even spends time teaching the English language to poor farm kids in Romania . 'Super Awesome' sticker goes right here! Yeah, there's a free download attached to this interview, but let's take a minute to learn a thing or two about this generous gal!

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What was your favorite book as a kid? The Reddy Fox books by Thorton Burgess and Nancy Drew

If you were stranded on a desert island what is the one book you couldn't be stranded without? Bible

What is your favorite genre to read and what makes it so awesome? I love YA. I like reading about first experiences and a world that can still be fresh and not jaded. 

Any pet peeves you'd be willing to share? Finding out that the stand alone book you're reading is actually the first book of a trilogy on the last page. 

If you could meet any dead person, who would you choose? Any particular reason why? Jane Austen. Just to see if we got our perceptions of her right. :) 

What was your most favorite past time as a kid? Reading of course. I also loved to water ski, a sport I no longer do. 

If you could live in any time period other than the present, which would you choose and why? I think I'd like to live in the fifties. Lived seemed simpler and more wholesome then (though I'm sure it wasn't). I think that's why I chose 1955 for the main character to travel back to in Like Clockwise. 

What do you do when you experience that lovely problem called writer's block? I do something physical, like hiking or yoga. It seems to unlock things for me. 

If you could live anywhere in the world you'd like, where would that be and why? Right now, it would be somewhere tropical because winter this year felt so long. :) 

What food/drink would absolutely devastate you if they stopped production on? Dark chocolate and red wine. And soy lattes. :)

Which book are you most looking forward to reading this year? Probably Insurgent by Veronica Roth. 

Which do you prefer: ebook, hardback or paperback? I've swung from paperback to ebook this year. 

This or That

Underworld or Twilight

Original or Remake

Sweet or Salty

Drama or Comedy

Fantasy or Romance

Spring or Autumn

Dirty Dancing or Footloose

American Idol or X-Factor or The Voice

Movie Theatre or Loveseat

Tea or Coffee

Rain or Sunshine

This series is super cute. If you're still on the fence, check out my reviews of Clockwise, Clockwiser and the companion novel Like Clockwork. There's also a fourth done in Nate's POV called Clocked, but I haven't gotten to that one yet! Now for the FREE DOWNLOAD of CLOCKWISE! This book is so freakin' adorable it's a crime we get it for free! So be sure to pick this up at either Amazon, iTunes, Kobo or Smashwords.