The Modified Cover Reveal & Giveaway!



The Modified Cover Reveal & Giveaway!

I am very excited to be part of the cover reveal for The modified by C.A. Kunz. C.A. Kunz is one of my favourite authors and very excited for this book! I loved The Childe Series and I am very excited for this series!  Here is a little about the book:

What would you sacrifice to save the one’s you love? To save the one who holds your heart? To save the world?

Kenley Grayson is all too familiar with these questions. After Earth is thrust into its first intergalactic war with an unknown race called the Bringers, our military forces begin to suffer heavy losses. Desperate for a solution, the Allied Federation issues a worldwide draft for every able seventeen-year-old to enlist. As Kenley turns seventeen, she finds herself thrown into the very war that took her older brother’s life. This year’s draft is a little different than in the past though. A new program, known as the Magnus Project, has been introduced, and only the best and brightest qualify. Kenley is amongst a select few whom are chosen to join this elite group of soldiers, and as a part of this project, undergoes a modification procedure that leaves her and her peers endowed with powers beyond their wildest dreams.

As Earth continues in its struggle against the Bringers, Kenley is transported to a high-tech training facility, the Magnus Academy, to prepare for the major battle that lies ahead. It’s here that she meets the California heartthrob, and son of a legendary war hero, Landon Shaw. As unexpected feelings toward Landon begin to develop, Kenley wonders if this is the right time or place for romance to bloom, especially when those feelings start to interfere with her training.

With the weight of the world on her shoulders, Kenley is constantly reminded of how important she and the rest of the Magnus cadets are to the fate of humanity. She is one of the Modified, Earth’s last line of defense against utter destruction.

Now its time for the cover reveal:


So, what do you think? I love it! It is def a book I would pick of the shelf to see what it is about if I saw it in a store. I can't wait for this book!

The Modified releases this Fall! Like the cover for The Modified? Well then head over to Nathan Szerdy's Websiter and peruse his amazing collection of works. We guarantee that you won’t be disappointed! The mom and son author duo, C.A. Kunz, thoroughly enjoys writing about things that go bump in the night and futuristic action-packed romances while drinking massive amounts of English breakfast tea and Starbucks coffee. To find out more about this duo and their books visit their Blog !

Now for the giveaway, which is International! Some awesome swag and a Choice of Either a Signed Paperback Copy of The Modified or an E-Book Copy When It's Released This Fall! 








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YA Feature: Lyn Stanzione


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This weeks YA author is Lyn Stanzione author of YA parnormal romance The Salem's Series. Enjoy the interview and feel free to leave a comment for the author!

 
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

Ive always loved to write and became an English teacher. When my students would complain about the length of an assignment Id say, “You could write a book about that.” I had a student call me on it. He said, “If its so easy to write a book, why dont you?” I completed my first manuscript before the end of the school year. Then I joined a writers group and started really learning the
craft.

Can you tell us a little about your series about 16 year old Salem Cabot?

She is a young girl who becomes psychic after a head injury in the car accident that killed her father. Her life is uprooted and she struggles to live with the loss of her father, moving across country and making new friends, and harnessing the new ability she has been left with.
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Where did you get the idea for the series?

My daughter. She asked me to write a book about a teen psychic because that was what she wanted to read. Actually, at the time she was in middle school and one day sat in the back seat of the car because she was mad at me about something. I started thinking, what if…? What if a child lost a parent when they were in the middle of an argument? When I put the two things together, Salem emerged.


Your books are YA paranormal romance is this the genre you prefer to write in? Would you like to try any other genres?

I have tried (and am still trying) different genres. My very first manuscript was contemporary romance. I like mystery and suspense. At this point I am still trying to find my true voice.

Why should we read your books in one sentence?

The Salems Series is a good read because it not only deals with teen issues, but is empowering.

Bookie Questions!

Fave book as a child and why?

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton because of the emotion it made me feel.

Fave 2012 read?

My fav YA this year was Hunger Games


Fave YA genre and why?

I love paranormals - I think all people would like to have more power and control over their lives, but teens crave it more. They are at the point where they need to start making many decisions for themselves, yet at the same time are not allowed to make decisions. Its the “grow up” and “youre just a kid” catch 22. The thought of having special abilities and powers is thus so much more appealing.

Complete this sentence:

My perfect summer day would be sitting beside the pool drinking ice coffee, eating chocolate and having a stack of books to choose from in multiple genres!

Buy Lyn's Books:

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Stalk the author:


http://www.lynstanzione.com/

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Interview with Jodi Lynn Anderson

Tiger Lily
Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

I was very secretive as a kid, and very shy, so I poured all of my thoughts into notebooks, and I read all the time. I studied British Lit in college, and that led to a job as an editor in New York. I think being an editor helped me to realize that everyone writes rough drafts…it helped me to realize that I could actually turn all of my private scribbles into something that could be a book.
 
Can you tell us a little about your novel Tiger Lily?
 
It’s a bittersweet, teenage reimagining of the Peter Pan story, from the perspective of the native princess, Tiger Lily. Long before the Wendy Darling arrives, she meets Peter in the woods of Neverland and the two stumble into a big and complicated love. Then, of course, Wendy arrives. It’s a love story, and it’s pretty faithful to the themes of the original book: growing up, individuality, loss. And the scary bits are scarier: the woods are deadly, the mermaids are vicious, Smee is psychotic. Plus, it’s Tink – loyal, sassy, conflicted – who narrates.
 
Tiger Lily is somewhat based on Peter Pan. Is this a story you liked as a child?
 
 
I didn’t read Peter Pan until I was an adult – maybe ten years ago. I was blown away by the depth and beauty of the book…which is, of course, nothing like the Disney movie. Since then, I’ve read it several times. I love it because it is just so true.
 
Tiger Lily is a fearless heroine. Which other heroines have you loved reading about?
 
 
I love Katniss as much as anyone elseJ. I’ve also always loved Dicey in Cynthia Voigt’s Homecoming, and it’s hard to resist a Jane Austen heroine.
 
The cover of Tiger Lily is beautiful. Who designed it and did you have much say in the designing process?
 
 
Her name is Cara Petrus. Isn’t she talented?? I did get to weigh in a bit…which was nice! But really it was all Cara and the team at Harper.
 
 
Why should we read your book in one sentence?
 
 
Read it because, amidst the lush setting and the danger and the excitement, it’s a true and subtle, un-Disney-fied love story.
 

At What Cost Blog Tour: Giveaway


Today is the last day on the At What Cost Blog Tour. I want to thank everyone who took part in the tour and for all the awesome readers that commented. If you haven't checked out the posts from the week you can still check them out!

Book Excerpt via Read, Write and Read Some More Blog

Review via The Cover and everything in between

Guest Post via Young Adult Book Addict

Review via Letters Inside and out

Author Interview via We Do Write


To end the tour I am doing a giveaway of an Ebook of At What Cost by  J.Anderson! Enter via Rafflecopter below!


Blurb:
 
During her junior year, sixteen-year-old Maggie Reynolds expected to shop for prom dresses not maternity clothes. Now, instead of studying for the SATs, she’s reading, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Maggie’s ‘Mother Dearest’ lives in fear that Maggie will somehow taint the family name, so Maggie can’t turn to her for help. Meanwhile, her father is oblivious to anything but his 9-9 job. And her boyfriend, Justin? She’s pretty sure he’ll stay by her side.

While Maggie wrestles with her options, Justin offers a solution: abortion. It would solve all her problems quickly, easily, and effectively. And her parents would never know, which means they won’t throw her out and cut her off like they’d always threatened if she got herself knocked up. Now Maggie must decide which choice she can live with: abortion or teenage motherhood. Either way, it’ll be a tough road to travel.
 



 





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YA Feature: Melissa Groeling

 
This weeks YA Feature is author Melissa Groeling author of Traffic Jam! Enjoy the interview and don't forget to add Traffic Jam to your goodreads TRL!




Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

Well, lets see. Im a slightly-crazed redhead residing in the Philadelphia region in the great state of Pennsylvania. Im a major book-nerd. Im a New York Giants fan and I have an intense relationship with dark chocolate. Honestly, Im surprised I still have all of my teeth. I started writing when I was in seventh or eighth grade but I didnt really start taking it seriously until after I graduated college. Im not even sure exactly what it was that made me start taking it seriously. All I know is that its something that Ive always loved to do. My brain is constantly spinning tales and stories, some that make it on paper and others that just sit around, collecting dust. I also know that writers are a crazy bunch. Crazy but incredibly fun.


Can you tell us a little about your novel, Traffic Jam?
Traffic Jam
Of course I can! Traffic Jam is a young adult suspense novel that centers around Val Delton, a sophomore in high school, who is as awkward and burdened as any teenager. Her family is going through some rough times and it isnt long before she realizes that her older sister, Sam, is going through something even worse. I cant tell you what that is because it’ll totally give the story away. But I will tell you that the “something” is a terrible epidemic that takes place all over the world. It’s a heavy read and it can get pretty dark. But I had so much fun writing it nonetheless. See? I told you writers were crazy.




Where did you get the idea for Traffic Jam?

Oh, ideas, ideas, ideas! For Traffic Jam, the idea was relatively instantaneous. I was on vacation with my family and there was a special on MSNBC. Now I can’t tell you what the special was about because of plot reasons. But I will tell you that as I watched it, it was like getting kicked in the head. The wheels started turning and suddenly I just knew what to write. Thank God I had a notebook with me.

What genre would you class Traffic Jam as?

I would definitely classify Traffic Jam as a young adult suspense novel. Twelve years of age might be a tad bit too young for the content involved. But thirteen and up is definitely suitable.

Why should we read Traffic Jam in one sentence?

Hmmm, lets see. It has to be a good sentence, right? Okay, how about this: You should read Traffic Jam because its a wild ride, raw and it shines light on a subject that people would rather ignore.

Time for some bookie questions:

Fave book as a child and why?

A Wrinkle in Time (Time, #1)
Oh man, definitely A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline LEngle. That book had everything in it. Weirdness, fantasy, real-life, love, evilit was a whole ball of every genre known to man. Not to mention that LEngles writing style was top-notch.

Fave 2012 read and why?

Summer of Night Okay, I mightve mentioned this book before. Ive read it three times and the third time was in 2012 so it counts, right? Summer of Night by Dan Simmons. This book is amazing. It captures the summer for kids back in the seventies, when kids were actually kids. When they could ride their bikes and play baseball and be out from dawn until dusk and not have to worry about anything happening to them. The story centers on a group of boys who rally around each other when they realize that theres something very wrong in their town; something old and evil thats plucking them off one by one. Its such a great story and the details are so acute, you can practically smell the heat from the sun thats between the pages.

An author you would reccommend to my readers?

Wow, where do I begin? Lets see, Dan Simmons, Dean Koontz, Karin Slaughter, Christopher Rice and thats just to name a few….


Favourite YA genre and why?

Definitely suspense and something related to the craziness that most young adults face these days. Its always so interesting to get other peoples (authors) views on that.

Complete this sentence.

My perfect summer day would be sitting beside the sea/lake drinking Southern Comfort on ice and eating Tortilla chips while reading something that I can truly fall into. (on a side note, I would love to be eating chocolate while sitting beside the sea or a lake but if Im outside, the chocolate will end up melting and man, what a mess that would be.)

Buy Traffic Jam:

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YA Feature: Christine Hughes author of Torn


This weeks YA Feature author is Christine Hughes author of Torn. Enjoy the interview and don't forge to check out the book!


Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

I
m currently a stay at home mom/writer. Before this gig I was an English teacher for both HS and middle school students. In 2010 I lost my job due to budget cuts. With no school districts hiring, I pulled out 3 little paragraphs Id been sitting on for some time and began to expand. Within a year, TORN was finished and ready for query.

Can you tell us a little about your novel, Torn?

With the sudden, mysterious death of her father, Samantha discovers her life isn't what it seems. Not only isn't she the normal teenage girl she thought she was, Sam must now take her father's place in the fight between two groups of fallen angels, the Faithful and the Exiled, in a race to save humanity. In addition to dealing with a devastating betrayal--and having feelings for someone she's forbidden to love--Sam must also fight the growing darkness within her as she struggles to make a choice between fighting alongside the Faithful or succumbing to the temptation of the Exiled. Both sides require sacrifices Sam isn't sure she can make.

Where did you get the idea for Torn?

At first it was three paragraphs I wasnt sure what to do with. Then one night I was watching The Vampire Diaries (the Founders Day episode) and I heard the song “All I Need” by Within Temptation and BAM! The entire storyline flooded into my head. It took a little bit to organize my thoughts and put together a playlist but it started to come together relatively quickly.




In Torn the main protangonist Samantha has to take her fathers place in a fight between two groups of fallen angels. What is the difference between the two sets of fallen angels? Do they have different characteristics and reason for "falling”?

Good question!

All angels here on earth are fallen and that fall goes back to the idea of Damien and the apple. TORN touches on that but the sequel goes more in depth into that scenario.

The Exiled are the group of angels who feel our world belongs to them. They revel in sin and greed and human weakness. They use free will against people but dont believe they should have it.

The Faithful are a group of angels who want forgiveness for falling out of favor with God. They work to restore hope in humankind, praying that their selflessness will eventually be noticed and that they will be forgiven.

 

What genre would you class Torn as?

Paranormal suspense with a sprinkling of romance…where would we be without a little teenaged angsty romantic thread in out YA books?

Why should we read Torn in one sentence?

Because I said so. Just kidding!
TORN reminds us there is a yin and yang in this universe, a relationship between good and evil, hope and despair, and begs the question can one exist without the other?


Now for some bookie questions:


Fave book as a child and why?
Child? Maybe “The Friendly Book”. It was full of visuals and a cadence that made it easy to read. My oldest loves it.

Fave 2012 read and why?

Oh gosh. Fave book of 2012 or fave book I read in 2012? I have to admit, Im behind on reading since I started writing. I still read but theres more time between books then there used to be.

Id have to say my favorite book I read this year would be The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. I know it was published last year or the year before but it was such a good book I highly recommend it.

An author you would recommend to my readers?

There are so many I love, its hard to choose just one. How about this a book everyone needs to read Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. If you cant read that book, written fifty some-odd years ago, and connect it to the world today, you need to pay more attention to current events.

Favourite YA genre and why?

I love YA paranormal though I never thought in a million years Id write in that genre. I just love the fantasy behind it all. Paranormal makes it easy to believe in things everyone else says dont exist like angels and vampires and such.

Complete this sentence.

My perfect summer day would be sitting beside the sea/lake drinking a “too fruity”
(my hubby and I made that one up) and eating chips and salsa while reading anything that will take my mind off the real world.


Buy Torn:

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Author Interview: Dan Krokos

Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

Before my book sold, I was working in a gas station. While I was there I would read lots and lots of books (sorry BP). I read the dark elf series by RA Salvatore and it was so vibrant and fantastic that I would sometimes have to step away from it while reading. I really wanted to do that for someone else.

So one day I sat down and started writing. Right away I knew it was what I wanted to do. BP was the perfect place to workI could brainstorm all day, then write all night.

Can you tell us a little about your debut novel False Memory?


False Memory is a YA thriller about a girl named Miranda North.

Miranda has lost her memory. When the novel starts, shes wandered inside a mall. She gets into an altercation with a mall cop, and discovers she has the ability to incite mass panic with just the power of her mind. Everyone in the mall loses control and takes off. When the dust settles, theres one person left overPeter.

Peter tells Miranda that theyve known each other since they were kids. Theyre part of a group of genetically altered teens whove been raised as super soldiers. And their creators are planning to auction them off to the highest bidder.

Where did you get the idea for False Memory?

Id written a crappy urban fantasy, but it had a cool idea in it. The bad guy had invented a new kind of magic that allowed users to control fear in others. I really wanted to use that for something. It was a little while later that I decided to write a book for teens.

All I knew was that Miranda North had no idea who she was. I knew I wanted to write a pure thriller (something that I wish there was more of in YA), and that it would have some futuristic elements in it. So I brought back the fear idea in a contemporary setting, and combined it with a girl who had no memory of who she was. Ive written something like 11 manuscripts now, and none of them have ever come together that way.

How are you feeling about the release? Nervous/excited? Both? LOL

All of the above. The book sold in fall of 2010, so Im really ready to get it out there. Im more excited than anything.

Who designed the cover of False Memory and did you have much say in the process?

There were a team of people involved, and they were all super awesome about getting my feedback. They would change something and get my opinion on it. Or give me options for a particular aspect of the design, and then they would listen to me! It was an amazing process, and the end result blows my mind. Its stunning.

What genre would you class False Memory. Dystopian? Fantasy? Parnormal? All three?

None of those. Its a contemporary thriller. There are some futuristic elements, but not too much. I do love fantasy, though, and figured out a way to work in swords.

False Memory is the first in a series. Do you know how many you plan on writing?
Three. It is firmly a trilogy. I love the three act structure of a trilogy, though I dont think two book series get enough love. I only agreed to write three books because I knew book 2 was not going to be some weak branch between books 1 and 3.

Why should we read False Memory in one sentence?

It has sword fights and motorcycle chases.

For more info on Dan and his book False Memory head to his website:

http://dankrokos.com
 

A Measure of Disorder Blog Tour


Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

I’m a single dad of two daughters, who keep me very busy! I run a graphic design business, called MAD Design, which I also use to publish my books. When I can find the time (less and less lately!) I also enjoy coaching youth soccer.

I’ve always written, ever since I was little, but in most cases I would start something but not have an ending, or vice versa. Business was a little slow a few summers ago, so I thought I’d give this story a shot. About four months later, I had a complete first draft finished. Then, I sent it out to a few friends and relatives who encouraged me to take it farther. I haven’t really looked back since.

Can you tell us a little about your series?

The stories chronicle the adventures of Jenni Kershaw and her eighth grade classmates after they get sent to a magical world called Mother, and eventually transform into different beings that are native to their new home. They battle evil, and sometimes themselves, along their journey to discover just who they all really are.
In your novel Jenni and her classmates are unknowingly transported to another world, if you could go to any other world/era where would you go and why?
Tough question! I guess I’d want to go someplace that was either full of magic, or enough scientific advances to mimic magic. I’m always dreaming beyond the confines of our world.

What is your fave genre to read and why?

I love reading fantasy and science fiction equally. I suppose I’m really an explorer at heart!

Who is one author you would recommend my readers check out?

Only one?! Wow, that’s tough. I’ll pick another Indie who’s looking for more fans, like myself, and say Elise Stokes. She’s written a couple of middle grade adventure/super hero books about a girl named Cassidy Jones. They’re both well-written, fun reads.

Why should we read your books in one sentence?

I write simply to entertain, so if you want a fun, exciting escape from the everyday, give my stories a try!
 
Check out the first book in the series A Measure of Disorder It is free everywhere!

Tess, Terrorists and the Tiara Blog Tour: Review & Giveaway


Book: Tess, Terrorists and the Tiara
Author: Terry Baldwin
Publisher: Middleton Books
Pages: 213
Recieved copy from publisher for review

Tess, Terrorists and the Tiara is a great middle grade book from debut author Terry Baldwin. It surrounds thirteen year old Tess, a spunky, scatterbrained girl who has a wild imaganation. Tess and her older sister Brianna go and stay with their grandparents at the lake to compete for their grandmothers beautiful and expensive tiara. (Their grandmother won the tiara when she was Miss Land of the Free)

Brianna and Tess are very different. Tess would desribe her sister as smart, beautiful and popular, they are total opposites. Tess thinks she has know chance of getting enough helpful points to win her grandmothers beloved Tiara.

Everything on the trip doesn't go to plan as Tess's imagnation runs wild and it involves suspected terrorists that may try to steal the prized Tiara or hurt her grandmother!

Tess, Terrorists and the Tiara teaches an important lesson of not judging people on their race or religion, or the actions of other people of the same belief. It was also a great story of people overcoming diversity within their societies and making the most of life and accomplising greater things. It also touches on people with austism and alzemhemiers. Overall Tess, Terrorists and the Tiara is a beautiful story that I really enjoyed!

Buy the book:

http://www.middletonbooks.com/html/tess/tess1.html

Facebook Fan Page is:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tess-Terrorists-and-the-Tiara/160212034103829




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YA Feature: Katilin Bevis


This weeks YA Feature author is Katilin Bevis author of Persephone. Enjoy the interview and leave a nice comment for the author!



Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

I've always loved writing. When I was younger I would rewrite the ending of books and shows that didn't agree with me. As I got older I found creative writing classes, and eventually majored in creative writing in college. It's not something I remember waking up one morning and deciding. I've always been a writer.

Other than writing, I'm a graduate student at UGA, happily married, and have a very cute toddler. I run a local mom's group and a writer's group, and keep myself insanely busy.

Can you tell us a little about your book Persephone?

Persephone is a modern day retelling of the Greek myth with a twist. It's a coming of age story with a big splash of supernatural thrown in. In my version Persephone didn't know she was a goddess until Boreas comes after her, and Hades rescues her. She's stuck in the Underworld all winter, and has to come to terms with her divinity and growing feelings for Hades. There's more going on in the Underworld than it seems, and some big stuff is revealed at the end. The sequel, Daughter of the Earth and Sky, is coming out in January.
 
Where did you get the idea for Persephone?

From the trailer of Clash of the Titans. Something about all the music, and yelling, and the whole "damn the gods" quote got me thinking. If any god was damned, it would be Persephone. In the classic version of the myth she's betrayed by Gaia (she allows Hades to open the earth), abducted by Hades, raped, held captive in the Underworld, and tricked into eating the food there. Her father witnesses the whole thing and looks the other way, only relenting to Demeter's demands she be rescued AFTER Demeter starves half the planet. And even then, she has to return every six months. It would be terrifying, sitting on the surface, knowing that you have to go back to the man that did that to you. I'd be counting down the days in dread.

That was a pretty depressing line of thought, so I started thinking of other ways it could have gone. What if we missed a bit of the myth. What if Hades hadn't taken her to be a jerk, maybe he was helping. From there all the pieces fell into place and suddenly I had an outline.
 
In Persephone some characters are from mythology like Hades for example. Do you like reading books involoving mythology?

All of the characters, except for the random girls at school, are from mythology. Even Persephone's best friend Melissa (Melissa was a title for Priestesses of Demeter). Pirithous, Boreas, Persephone, Demeter and every resident of the Underworld (except I think for Gloria) made an appearance at one time or another in ancient myths. Tons of research went into this book, which is exactly why I love reading books about mythology. It's very interesting to see the way a different creative mind interpreted the same facts and twisted them to suit their plot line. It's fun seeing mythical figures pop up in literature. It's seeing an old friend in an unexpected place.
 
Why should we read your book in one sentence?
Don't you want to know what really happened?
 
Some Bookie Questions:
Fave book as a child and why?
 
Ella Enchanted. It was a fantastic book. Best version of Cinderella ever.

Fave 2012 read and why?
 
Thirteen by Kelley Armstrong. It was the end of an amazing series. I love the Women of the Otherworld.

An author you would reccommend to my readers?
 
Scott Westerfeld. If you haven't read Uglies, download it now. He balances an amazing premise with tons of action and very solid characters.

Fave YA genre and why?
 
I'm torn between dystopian future and urban fantasy. I love reading the way different authors imagine future possibilities. It's interesting to explore the potential consequences to our actions generations down the road. But on the other hand, magic and supernatural stuff is tons of fun. I read both genres to an excess.
Complete this sentence
 
My perfect summer day would be sitting beside the sea drinking soda, eating pizza and reading a new book
I drink way too much soda, probably eat too much pizza too, but they are delicious. It doesn't matter what I'm reading. I love the thrill of reading through a new book.

Interview: Charlotte Bennardo & Giveaway

Today on Reading Away The Days and am happy to have co-author of the Sirenz series, Charlotte Bennardo on the blog with an interview and an awesome giveaway!


Can you tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing?

I've wanted to write since I was about 8 years old, although initially I studied, got a degree and was a journalist for a while. The pay was so bad that sometimes it came to feed the car or pay the rent. I went back to school to get my paralegal degree, which I used for a number of years--while earning my degree in English. Through that time, I wrote. Not seriously enough, now looking back, but life, family, kids intervened. It took me 10 years to complete my first novel, a ghost story that I'm currently reworking from adult to YA.



You co-write the Sirenz series with Natalie Zaman, can you tell us a little about them?

Sirenz and Sirenz Back In Fashion are based on several of the Greek myths. Most notably (much to the delight of many) is the character of Hades, Lord of the Underworld. What fun is it to have him as a creepy, zombie-looking god. How can THAT tempt you? Put the same villain in haute couture, make him sexy and sophisticated, with devious ulterior motives (and unlimited wealth), and well, it's a lot easier to sell your soul without thinking about the consequences. We used a number of gods from the pantheon because they're like a big, bickering family, always into each other's business, and always tormenting the poor humans, like Meg and Shar.

Where did you get the idea for the series?

Initially, our idea was a vampire story, but EVERYONE was writing vampire stories, so after some trolling through Barnes & Noble bookshelves, we threw around the idea of Greek mythology, Zena Warrior Princess--and the idea of sirens. No one had done sirens at that point. From there, it was just twisting the myths into a more contemporary, but accurate portrayal. Plus, the guys had Rick Riordan; when we wrote Sirenz, there didn't seem to be much for girls at that time.

In Sirenz frenemies Meg and Shar are made special-assignement siren by Hades. What exactly are sirens?

Here's a fun aspect; most people hear 'sirens' and they think of mermaids on the beach,calling to the sailors, causing them to wreck their ships on the rocks. In traditional Greek mythology, sirens were half woman, half bird. Since we stuck with the traditional, Sirenz is not included in the mermaid genre, which surprises many people after they read the books.

What is it like working with Natalie on the series?

Half the work, half the editing (which I am NOT a big fan of after the 3rd time....) and fun. We giggle and make jokes, which comes out in the books since we decided that a humorous book would stand out among all the dystopian and dark books currently in fashion. (Unintentional pun, but let's go with it!) It's nice to have someone to cheer you on, help work through blocks, inspire dialogue. You're never alone, struggling. But, we do have to work through disagreements- we've both wanted to cut something from the other's chapter (the series is written in alternating points of view of Meg and Shar). We had to come up with (sorry to be gross...) the Tampon Box Rule. In the first draft, there was a scene in which Meg stuffs expensive pantyhose in the tampon receptacle in the Ladies Room. I thought it was too gross, but she insisted that was the point. I'd cut it out when I revised, she'd put it back in. Finally, we had to agree that if one couldn't convince the other to scrap it, it stayed in--unless the agent/editor cut it. Their word was final. It's worked well for us.

Can we expect more from the series?

We planned 4 books in the series. The first two are published by Flux, the third will go straight to ebook, unless we get another publisher. The fourth is in limbo, although we have the synopsis written.

Why should we pick up the series in one sentence?
Life is hard enough, so lighten up--and enjoy the guilty pleasures of gal pals, to-die-for fashion, delicious dark gods, and laughing out loud.
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*Note: Independent bookstores, if they don't have the books, will be happy to order it for anyone.*


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