Q&A and Giveaway: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

"I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear.
It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms.
"You didn't do that, did you? It was done to you?"
No one ever asked that question.
They stared. They whispered. They laughed. 
But they never asked.

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

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A Q&A with Katie McGarry

Q: What was your inspiration for writing Pushing the Limits?

A: I had two main inspirations: One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a story in which my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and create new futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was Echo and Noah leaving town after graduation. Two, I wanted to write two characters who were facing over- whelming issues and who, through battling these issues, found hope at the end of their journey.

Q: How did you come up with Echo’s name?

A: Echo went through several name changes as I wrote the man- uscript. For a while, she had a very normal name, but it alwaysfelt off. It wasn’t until I looked at Echo from her mother’s point of view that I found her name. Echo’s mother loved Greek my- thology so it made perfect sense that she would name her chil- dren after the myths. I read several Greek myths and the mo- ment I found Echo’s, I fell in love. Echo, to me, was the girl who lost her voice. Thankfully, she finds it by the end.

Q: Which character is the most “like” you?

A: All of them. I gave each character a piece of me (though some have larger slices of me than others). Overall, I’d say I’m a strange combination of Echo, Lila and Beth. Echo has my need to please, Lila has my unfailing loyalty to my friends and Beth encompasses my insecurities.

Q: Did you experience friendships with Grace types when you were in high school?

A: Yes. And the more people have read this story, the more this question comes up. Grace has struck a stronger nerve in people than I ever would have imagined. It seems most of us have un- fortunately experienced a relationship where a person wants to “like” you and wants “be your friend,” but only if it serves their needs. In case anyone is wondering, that isn’t friendship.

Q: Are there any parts of the story you feel particularly close to?

A: Yes. The relationship between Noah, Isaiah and Beth. Beyond my parents and sister, my nearest family members were over fourteen hours away. My friends became my family. The peopleI grew up with were more than people I watched movies with or talked to occasionally on the phone. These were people with whom I shared life’s most devastating moments, but also my hardest laughs. These were people who I would have willing- ly died for and I know they would have done the same for me. They shared my triumphs with smiles on their faces and con- gratulatory hugs. They held me when I cried and offered to beat up whoever hurt my feelings. These were also the same people who were more than happy to get in my face if they thought I was making a wrong decision.

Q: Did anything that happens to Echo happen to you?

A: Sort of. I was bitten by a dog when I was in second grade and repressed the memory. It felt very strange to have no memory of an incident that other people knew about. It was even strang- er to have injuries and not have an inkling where they came from. In college, I finally remembered the incident when a dog lunged at me. I relived the horrible event and sort of “woke up” a few minutes later to find myself surrounded by people I loved. Even though I “remember” the incident, I still don’t remember the whole thing. I only see still frames in my mind and there is no blood in any of the memories.

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LiLi

Teen Book Scene: Amplified Author Interview with Tara Kelly

Introducing author Tara Kelly...

Tara Kelly adores variety in her life. She's a YA author, one-girl-band, web designer, video editor, digital photographer, and literary agent intern. She lives in Portland with her ten guitars, supercool bf, and a fluffy cat named Maestro.

Onto the interview with some book line answers...

What instrument would you play if you were in a band?

Everything.

What sorts of advice would you give other musicians to pursue their dream?

I had to know if I was meant to be a musician. Otherwise, I’d spend the rest of my life regretting it. Asking myself…what if?

Have you ever had an instance where you were performing in front of an audience and couldn't play?

A second grade talent show comes to mind. I thought it would be a fun idea to sing “Cornflake Girl” by Tori Amos. Only it turned out I didn’t know the lyrics as well as I thought I did. And I hadn’t quite learned the concept of projection. The teacher ended up asking me if I wanted to lip sync.

Let’s just say “Cornflake Girl” remained my nickname throughout the course of my elementary school career—and nobody meant it as a compliment.

Author’s Note: The only difference between Jasmine’s story and my own is that it wasn’t “Cornflake Girl” by Tori Amos that I sang. It was a song by an artist I’m far too ashamed to name. And no. I won’t tell anyone. Even you.

Are there any songs and artists that both you and Jasmine love to listen to?

The Birthday Massacre, The Cure, Assemblage 23, Rob Zombie, and Placebo.

Would a boy ever distract you from playing?

No boy is getting in the way of me and my guitar. Music is far too important to me.

Thanks to Tara and Teen Book Scene!

LiLi

Teen Book Scene: Author Interview with R. T. Kaelin

R.T. Kaelin is a loving husband, father of two wonderful children, and a lifelong resident of Ohio, currently in Columbus. After graduating from college, for the first twelve years of his career he has worked as a software engineer. After creatively writing a local gaming group, it was suggested he try his hand at writing something more prodigious. Encouraged, he finally committed to the undertaking, writing the first book of his The Children of the White Lions series, Progeny. When he is not writing, he loves to travel and has a passion for cooking. 

Could you tell readers more about yourself?

I am just a person in my early thirties (with a birthday later this week) who decided to take a crack at writing a novel. I had read a few bad books, said to myself “I could do better than that,” and decided to try. I am married to an awesome wife and have two small children (who are the namesakes and inspiration behind the two main characters in the book). I live in Ohio but would love to be able to move to someplace warm. Phoenix would be nice. Or I could deal with Italy. I’d suffer the cold there if I could live in the Tuscan countryside.

How long did Progeny take to write?

From the moment I decided I was serious about writing the book, about a year in total. First, I spent a few months building the world with its countries, cultures, people, geography, history, etc. That was followed by seven months of writing and editing on my own and a two-month period of working with my copyeditor.

What was the basis of your inspiration for Progeny?

As a sort of an extension of my first answer: good stories and bad books. I love a good story. Love it. I love reading books and finding little nuggets that the author dropped in, hints of what’s to come without giving away the plot. I adore books where I find new things each time through that makes me realize there is a grand scheme behind everything. After reading three books in a row that were nothing like that – predictable from beginning to end and devoid of intricacy – I wanted to come up with my own sweeping tale. Now, the inspiration behind the characters – most started out based on a person in my life. Some evolved away to be their own character, some did not.

Do you have a favorite character - if so, who and why? (I'd find this one hard!)

You are right. This is a tough question. I like them all for different reasons, even the antagonist. How about I change the question to: Who was your favorite character to write? That one’s easy: Nundle Babblebrook, Master Merchant of Deepwell. Hands down. Writing him is so easy and fun – it’s like writing stream-of-consciousness style. He says what he thinks, when he thinks it – I just type the words.

As an author how did you accomplish seamlessly tying so many stories into one? How did you keep track of them all whilst writing?

How did I keep things so seamless? A lot of planning followed by a lot of editing when the story took on a life of its own. I kept a three or four chapter outline ahead of where I was at all times, so I knew for what I was aiming. Sometimes I had to adjust, but the method worked well most of the time. Once or twice, I wrote parts of future chapters before it was ‘their turn’ just so I knew what to expect. You think trying to keep all the details and storylines woven together was hard for Progeny? Try doing it across books.

What are you future plans as an author - how many books will there be in this series?...When is the next one due out?

My plans are to keep promoting Progeny. It is a self-published novel (literary agents were scared away by its length for a debut author) via my own small press. The goal is to get picked up by a large publishing house and get some national exposure for the book. My writing has received comparisons to Brandon Sanderson, Robert Jordan, Scott Lynch, and David Eddings which is immensely humbling, but evidence that I am not completely fooling myself into thinking I can do this (I’m only mildly delusional). The Children of the White Lions series was meant to be four books when I sketched out the overarching story. However, I am thinking it will be more like five. I am in the midst of writing number two, and four novels will not contain the story. As for when the second comes out…it all depends on what happens with Progeny.

Are Eliza and Aryn's stories complete - it's hinted at that they may be dead but not confirmed?

The safest way I can answer that question: No comment at this time.

Will there be a definite winner of Sabine's affection in the next book...or do I sense a bit of sibling rivalry to come?!

I am literally smiling as I write this answer. As I said, I am in the midst of writing the second in the series, so I have a very clear idea of what happens with Sabine and the others (intentionally vague). Some things become clearer, then foggier, then a bit clearer, before getting foggier again. Then everyone’s world turns upside down.

Thanks to R.T. Kaelin and Teen Book Scene!

LiLi

Teen Book Scene: Author Interview with Tweets-Beth Barany

Introducing Beth Barany, author of Henrietta The Dragon Slayer...

Beth Barany has been making up fantasy and adventure stories all her life. She writes to empower girls and women with her kick ass heroines who have to save the world against great odds. In her off hours, Beth enjoys cardio kickboxing, stick yoga, reading and watching movies with her husband, author and musician Ezra Barany.

1) What about fantasy and adventure do you like most when you're writing?

Fantasy: I love creating a world where I make all the rules! Adventure: Love that my heroes take action and are brave even if it's hard.

2) Is there another specific sub-genre that you would like to tap into or would love to write more about? Why?

I would love to write more science fiction because I love the notion of living in space, even though it terrifies me to. Yet I'm so curious!

3) What is your favorite mythical creature to write about and why?

I love writing about the mythical qualities of my characters, but i also like writing about the phoenix and the griffin. Transformative!

4) What are some of your favorite private getaways when you're not writing?

I love Paris, France, and San Francisco, CA, and anywhere by the Pacific Ocean. I also love Sonoma, CA, where I grew up.

5) Anything else you'd like to tell my readers about your writing process, or advice for aspiring authors. :)

Keep writing and get feedback on your writing from knowledgeable and kind more experienced writers in your genre. And write some more!

Please comment in 140 characters or less to enter Beth Barany's giveaway. All the rules are HERE.

Find Beth Barany:
Henrietta The Dragon Slayer Summer Blog Tour
Novel available here: Amazon US, Amazon UK, Nook, Smashwords.

Blog: http://www.writersfunzone.com/blog/
Website: http://www.bethbarany.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Beth_Barany
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HenriettaTheDragonSlayer

Stay tuned readers, for my review will be posted August 11.

LiLi

Author Interview: Wanda Ernstberger

Introducing Wanda Ernstberger...

I'm a YA writer with a story "The Next Shakespeare" published by Etopia Press. I've also had short stories published by the Spilling Ink Review, Aphelion, and The Aroostook Review. I love to travel, cook, read, and watch anime. (I do, too--watch anime, I mean.)

1) What made you incorporate Shakespeare and World War Three into a short story?

Shakespeare often deals with blood, betrayal and death, much like World War Three. I used the two ideas to show how quickly tension can escalate even between good friends, when emotions like jealousy are involved.

2) What gave you the idea to write YA fiction?

I didn’t choose to write YA fiction, it chose me. I’ve been working on my YA fantasy Infinity Blue since I was thirteen. The story evolved throughout my high school years, and now, as a substitute teacher, I’m adding even more based on my students.

3) When you were in high school, did you take a special interest in Shakespeare or any other playwright or poets?

When I was in high school, I loved Shakespeare, especially Macbeth and King Lear. I would often sit at the back of math class and read for English. I almost failed math, but my appreciation for Shakespeare remains to this day.

4) What is your fantasy getaway that you would love to reside in for a couple weeks of vacation?

I’d love to go to Munich, Germany near the place where my father was born. The village hasn’t changed much over fifty years, with the church where he was confirmed, and the orchard where he stole apples after he was confirmed. Oma never found out, and that’s why he lived long enough to immigrate to Canada.

5) As a writer, what other ideas are you interested in writing about and possibly publishing?

I’m working on getting two manuscripts published. One is a fantasy called To Catch a Ripple about a woman who falls in love with a man bound to a family curse. The other is a YA fantasy series called Infinity Blue. Astra, the narrator in “Shakespeare” is the main character. After a tragic mistake and her father’s disappearance, Astra’s life has no direction until she meets Fate, the Goddess of Destiny in a world called Nemesis. Fate tells Astra she is the goddess Infinity Blue, and her mission is to find others in the Celestial Circle and rebalance the universe. But, after becoming entangled in a web of revenge and betrayal, will Astra lead the universe into salvation or damnation?

More about Wanda Ernstberger and “The Next Shakespeare”:

Check out Wanda's Facebook and Blog. 

Thank you for joining us, Wanda!

LiLi

Author Interview: Lisa Schroeder

First a little background on Lisa Schroeder as an author...

Lisa Schroeder is a native Oregonian which means her childhood summers were spent camping, fishing, reading books (of course!) and playing in the sun, when it finally came out. These days, Lisa spends her summers, and every other part of the year, sharing all of the wonderful things Oregon has to offer with her husband and two sons. She is the author of numerous books for kids and teens, including CHASING BROOKLYN (Simon Pulse, 2010) and IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES (Aladdin, 2010).

And now on to the interview...

How does writing in verse help your stories?

I think the verse creates an atmosphere I couldn't create with regular prose. It also allows me to get to the emotional core of the story. I work really hard to make the verse accessible, and to not take away from the story. Story is always my number one priority - writing a book that will keep the reader turning the pages. The verse is just a way to tell the story in a way that will make the story more lyrical, perhaps, and more emotional.

If you could put a label on all your published novels, what would it be and why?

For my YA novels, it would be:

Try it, you might like it!

Some people open the cover and are turned off by the verse. So many people were reluctant to try it and then write to me or tweet about it and say how it was not what they expected it all, and that they really enjoyed the book a lot more than they thought they would. I don't want people to have preconceived notions about the book. It's still a story with a plot and compelling characters and I *promise* it's not hard to read at all. In fact, I have a good following with reluctant readers.

Is it conscious on your part to have a theme of loss in most of your books?

No, it just sort of worked out that way for the first three books. THE DAY BEFORE has a much different theme, I think, so hopefully readers will enjoy seeing a new area explored. In this one, I tackle fear - and that sometimes, you have to feel the fear and do it anyway, and trust that everything will work out as it should.

Would you ever consider writing a book not in verse? If so, what would it be about? If not, why not?

I've actually published a middle grade novel not in verse (IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES) and have another one coming out in September called SPRINKLES AND SECRETS. And I recently sold a YA to Simon Pulse that is in regular prose as well. It doesn't have a title yet, and publication is a long way off, so I'm not saying much about it yet, but yes - I do like to write in regular prose too! Verse isn't going to work with every story. In fact, I'd probably argue, it's not going to work with most stories. But when it does work, it helps make a story extra special.

Who is an author in the YA genre you admire and why?

Oh, that is so hard - I admire many, many authors. I especially admire the many mid-list authors who don't get a lot of recognition but write wonderful books and they keep writing and try to maintain a positive attitude in the face of it all. Authors like Saundra Mitchell (THE VESPERTINE), Sonia Gensler (THE REVENANT), and Cheryl Renee Herbsman (BREATHING). I'm starting to think writing the book is the easy part, it's surviving and keeping your sanity in this really tough business that is the hard part.

What are some of your favorite pass-times?

I love reading, of course, watching movies, walking my dog, baking yummy treats, and just hanging with the family.

Thank you for sharing, Lisa!

LiLi

Blog Tour Review and Interview: Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers (May 10, 2011)

ISBN-10: 0802722318

ISBN-13: 978-0802722317

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

Review:

Tempest has a lot on her plate with her seventeenth birthday coming up; it's not surprising that it comes as a shock to her when her mermaid tendencies come a couple weeks before they were expected to manifest. In fact, it comes as a terrifying revelation that they took up where they had left off six years earlier, where a sea witch was willing to drag Tempest to the sea floor for unknown reasons. For bad purposes are Tempest's guess.

When Kona/Kai is first introduced, it is doubtful you can resist his wash-board abs and mysteriously dark physique. While Tempest may have the perfect life--and no matter how hard she tries to hold on to it--Kai's addition makes for one rocking birthday that knocks Tempest back to the ocean in a confrontation with her dead-set decision she never thought she'd second guess.

Deebs mastered the waves that rolled and crashed in Tempest Rising. The main character, Tempest Maguire, was mindful of her past and she let it bleed into her perception of how she has viewed her mother for the past six years. Her resentment towards her is no secret, and she had long ago made her decision to be nothing like her mother. I believe that she had the right amount of blame for her mother and agreed with how she took it into consideration of all her mermaid-related choices. However, throughout the book, the reader gets a view of the variety of obstacles she endures in order to keep her secret hidden and her decision true. The book initially surpassed my expectations as I read the abrupt twists that were shocking and how fast Tempest was able to acclimate with it all. The plot was rough but original between the relationship of a mermaid and a selkie and their underwater world.

Honestly, I had low expectations when I saw in the synopsis that the author was going to attempt to create an underwater world to the plot's continuousness and I wasn't wrong to have them. I do believe that it could have been perfected and the knowledge behind underwater living could have been made more realistic but to a degree it cushioned the writing style of not going too in-depth of the scenery background and more into the character background. For that I was grateful.

My favorite character, who I just must mention because he had a major impact on the book subtly, was Tempe's father. Talk about the most loving and supporting dad ever. He not only was going through the same emotions that Tempest expressed in terms of her missing mother but he was compassionately supportive when  it came to be her time of decision-making.

The ending was a big hit with me as well, because it was written to accommodate the lessons and acceptance that Tempest was helpless to learn in her journey through the great big ocean. Overall, I enjoyed reading the struggle and adaptive qualities that made Tempest Rising an addictive debut. You not only want to know more about Tempest's relationships but also about how other characters will fare out in the future.

Grade: B+

ARC Source: Publisher

Interview:

1) To introduce new readers to Tempest Rising, what is your take on your fabulous debut?

I don’t even know where to start. I’m so excited that Tempest Rising is finally going to be on the shelves, but also really nervous (I swear, I have pterodactyls in my stomach instead of butterflies) as I wait for release day.

I really love this book. It’s my first YA, my first first person narrator, my first surfer book, my first mermaid book … you get the picture. When I was writing it, I poured so much of myself into the book that it’s both terrifying and exhilarating to realize that it will finally be out there for people to read and judge … I just hope my readers like Tempest as much as I do :)

2) With this new sweep on sea creatures going through the YA genre, what are your favorite sea-related reads and why?

I love selkies. I think they’re totally cool, and while I haven’t read another YA with them yet, I really like Virginia Kantra’s Immortal series with them. I also like the new books that are coming out with sirens as main characters—Siren by Tricia Rayburn was a great YA. I also really liked Tera Lynn Childs’s Forgive My Fins

3) If you could, would you consider living coastal-side in California, or is this your fantasy residence only?

I grew up in San Diego, and the beaches Tempest surfs in the book are the beaches that I surfed and roamed when I was her age. Though I am currently landlocked in Austin, Texas, I would love the chance to move back to the California coast.

4) Would you consider writing a sequel for Tempest Rising, or do you consider it a stand-alone?

I’ve always wanted the Tempest books to be a trilogy. The second book, Tempest Unleashed, is under consideration by my editor right now as we wait to see how Tempest Rising does.

5) How much would you enjoy have your own Kai that'd like to sweep you off your feet and into something even more dangerous? :)

I love Kai. I really love Kai (whose name, incidentally, got changed by my publisher to Kona in the final draft), although Mark is no slouch ;) I actually married my own dark, sexy and mysterious guy, and in some ways Kona is a much younger version of my husband (except for the whole selkie thing, which would have been very cool, LOL).

But seriously, when I created Kona and Mark, I wanted them to represent the best part of Tempest’s life on land and in the water. A choice between them isn’t just a choice of the guy, it’s a choice of the life she wants. In Tempest Rising, as she’s exploring the underwater world that she’s both loved and hated for so long, Kona really is the best choice for her. In subsequent books … we’ll have to see ;)

What! What is this "In subsequent books..." teaser? That's just plain mean. Thank you, Tracy, for answering my questions and congratulations on your debut, Tempest Rising releasing May 10.

LiLi

Mini-Interview with Johnathan Maberry

Just to introduce Mr. Maberry and his insurmountable accomplishments...

JONATHAN MABERRY is a New York Times best-selling and multiple Bram Stoker Award-winning author, magazine feature writer, playwright, content creator and writing teacher/lecturer. His books have been sold to more than a dozen countries.

His novels include the Pine Deep Trilogy: GHOST ROAD BLUES (Pinnacle books; winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel in 2006), DEAD MAN’S SONG (2007) and BAD MOON RISING (2008); the Joe Ledger series of action thrillers from St. Martin’s Griffin: PATIENT ZERO (2009, which was nominated for a Bram Stoker Best Novel Award and is in development for TV by Sony Entertainment), THE DRAGON FACTORY (2010; now available), THE KING OF PLAGUES (March 2011), THE OTHERS (March 2012), VISITORS (2013); THE WOLFMAN (NY Times bestseller from Tor, based on the Universal Pictures film starring Benecio Del Toro, Emily Blunt and Sir Anthony Hopkins); the Benny Imura series of Young Adult dystopian zombie thrillers from Simon & Schuster: ROT & RUIN (Sept 2010) and DUST & DECAY (2011); and the forthcoming standalone zombie thriller DEAD OF NIGHT (Summer 2011)

His nonfiction works include: VAMPIRE UNIVERSE (Citadel Press, 2006), THE CRYPTOPEDIA (Citadel, 2007 –winner of the Bram Stoker Award for Outstanding Achievement in Nonfiction; co-authored by David F. Kramer), ZOMBIE CSU: The Forensics of the Living Dead (Winner of the Hinzman and Black Quill Awards and nominated for a Stoker Award; 2008), THEY BITE! (2009 co-authored by David F. Kramer), WANTED UNDEAD OR ALIVE (2010 co-authored by Janice Gable Bashman), and THE VAMPIRE SLAYERS FIELD GUIDE TO THE UNDEAD (2001, written under the pen name of Shane MacDougall).

He writes a variety of projects for Marvel Comics involving CAPTAIN AMERICA, BLACK PANTHER, DOOMWAR, WOLVERINE, DEADPOOL, THE X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, the NY Times bestselling MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN, and THE MARVEL UNIVERSE vs THE PUNISHER. All of Jonathan’s comic book collections are released as Graphic Novel collections within a month or two of individual comic publication.

Recent short stories include “Pegleg and Paddy Save the World” (HISTORY IS DEAD, Permuted Press 2007), “Doctor Nine” (KILLERS, Swimming Kangaroo Press, 2008; and reprinted in THE STORIES (in) BETWEEN Edited by Greg Schauer, Jeanne B. Benzel, and W.H. Horner. Fantasist Enterprises, 2009), “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Greenbrier Ghost” (LEGENDS OF THE MOUNTAIN STATE 2, Bloodletting Books, 2008), “Clean Sweeps” (AND SO IT BEGINS, Dark Quest Books, 2008), “Family Business” (THE NEW DEAD, St. Martin’s Press, 2010), “Like Part of the Family” (NEW BLOOD edited by Patrick Thomas and Diane Raetz, Padwolf Press, 2010)), and “Zero Tolerance” (THE LIVING DEAD 2, Night Shade Books). Jonathan also created several Joe Ledger short stories for the Internet: “Countdown” and “Deep, Dark”, available through his website.

Jonathan is the co-creator (with Laura Schrock) of ON THE SLAB, an entertainment news show in development by Stage 9 for ABC Disney / Stage 9. He was also a ‘blog correspondent’ on Sony’s zombie-themed web show ‘WOKE UP DEAD’; and a recurring character on Laura Schrock’s ‘IT’S TODD’S SHOW’.

Jonathan’s Big Scary Blog (www.jonathanmaberry.com) focuses on the publishing industry. Jonathan’s interviews include Sandra Brown, Gayle Lynds, Alafair Burke, Charlaine Harris, James Rollins, Harlan Coben, Jeff Abbott, John Saul, Jonathan Kellerman, Barry Eisler, CJ Box, Laurell K. Hamilton, Jack Ketchum, Tom Piccarilli, Dale Brown, Kevin J. Anderson, Joe Lansdale, Peter Straub, Ramsey Campbell, Carrie Ryan, and many other best-selling authors.

Jonathan is a Contributing Editor for The Big Thrill (the newsletter of the International Thriller Writers), and is a member of SFWA, IAMTW, MWA, SCBWI, SFWA and HWA. He is a frequent guest at genre cons, writers conferences and publishing industry events, including ThrillerFest, San Diego Comic Con, Sisters in Crime, BackSpace, PennWriters, Dragon*Con, PhilCon, Horror-Realm, Boucher Con, HorrorFind, Monster Mania, New York Comic Con, Philadelphia Writers Conference, Balticon, The Write Stuff, Hypericon, Hypericon, KillerCon, NAIBA, LunaCon, and many others.

Jonathan was the Executive Director of the Writers Room of Bucks County (2005-06) and co-owner of the Writers Corner USA (2006-2009). Jonathan regularly visits local middle schools, high schools and colleges to talk about books, reading, publishing and the writing life.

Jonathan is a founding member of The Liars Club, a group of networking publishing professionals that includes celebrated authors L. A. Banks, Merry Jones, Gregory Frost, Jon McGoran, Ed Pettit, Dennis Tafoya, Keith Strunk, Don Lafferty, Kelly Simmons, Marie Lamba, Solomon Jones, Sara Shepard, William Lashner, and Laura Schrock. The Liars Club works to support booksellers, raise awareness and support for public libraries, and cultivate a joy of reading and books.

On the last Sunday of every month Jonathan hosts the Writers Coffeehouse, a free three-hour open-agenda networking and discussion session for writers of all genres and levels of skill. The event is held at the Barnes & Noble in Willow Grove Pennsylvania.

Jonathan has been a popular writing teacher and career counselor for writers for the last two decades. He teaches a highly regard series of classes and workshops including Write Your Novel in Nine Months, Revise & Sell, Experimental Writing for Teens, and others. Many of his students have gone on to publish in short and novel-length fiction, magazine feature writing, nonfiction books, TV, film, and comics.

In 2004 Jonathan was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame largely because of his extensive writings in that field. His martial arts books include Self-Defense for Every Woman (Vortex Multimedia, 1985); Introduction to Asian Martial Arts (Vortex Multimedia, 1986); The Self-Defense Instructor’s Handbook (Vortex Multimedia, 1990); Judo and You (Kendall Hunt, 1991); Ultimate Jujutsu Principles and Practices (Strider Nolan, 2002); The Martial Arts Student Logbook (Strider Nolan, 2002); Ultimate Sparring Principles and Practices (Strider Nolan, 2003).

Visit his website at www.jonathanmaberry.com or find him on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, GoodReads, Library Thing, Shefari and Plaxo.

Obviously, John is a very busy man. I'm glad he could be here today to share his view on all things zombie.

CR: What is it about zombies that has you the most intrigued? Why?

JONATHAN MABERRY: Well, there are two reasons I dig my life-impaired fellow citizens. First, from a fan point of view, they scare the bejeezus out of me. I’m a pretty tough hombre –a former bodyguard, an 8th degree black belt with nearly fifty years in jujitsu—so I figure I’d do okay against a vampire and maybe even a werewolf (yes, I have spent way too much time thinking these things through). But zombies come at you in waves. Even with a sword or a gun, you’re eventually going to get tired (and they won’t) or you’re going to run out of ammo (and they can’t). That’s scary.

From a writer’s point of view, however, zombies offer an unlimited storytelling potential. The best zombie stories are NOT about the zombies. From the beginning of the genre (with George A. Romero’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD), zombies have been symbolic stand-ins for those things that frighten us. Personally and on a cultural level. They are the ‘BIG CRISIS’ that everyone in the story has to deal with, and which impacts every life, every action. This could be fear of a pandemic, racism, ethnic cleansing, rampant consumerism, the loss of identity in a busy world, fear of invasion, and so on.

Once introduced, the story then becomes about how people deal with this massive shared crisis…and that’s the basis for all drama. People in crisis. Stress and tension warp personalities; it causes personality traits to change so that our true selves emerge. A person who has always been timid may discover that in a time of crisis he is a natural leader. A tough jock-type might discover that his courage is only skin deep. And so on.

This gives a writer the chance to tell any kind of story he wants to tell, and that story will be character driven…which is the best kind of story. There needs to be action, of course, but action does haven’t enough meat to sustain a reader through an entire book. Good characters, on the other hand, are very nourishing to the readers.

CR: If you could meet a zombie, but it's a dead long-lost relative, would you approach? What would you say?

MABERRY: Zombies can’t talk and they have no personality. However, they were human once and if this is a relative, friend or neighbor, I would certainly respect the person they were. I would endeavor to ‘quiet’ them. That’s a concept I explore in ROT & RUIN. Tom Imura, the older brother of the protagonist, Benny, is a ‘closure specialist’. He’s hired by families to find family members who have become zombies. He reads the family’s last letter to them (even though the zom can’t understand), and then he kills the zombie in a quick and humane way…usually with a sharp piece of metal call a ‘sliver’ inserted into the base of the skull to sever the brain stem.

I’d attempt to do the same thing.

CR: Would you work again with the themes of death and apocalypse or try something new in another book?

MABERRY: I’m always trying new things, though most of what I write deals with combating darkness. My first three novels (GHOST ROAD BLUES, DEAD MAN’S SONG and BAD MOON RISING) dealt with vampires and ghosts. I did the novelization of THE WOLFMAN (based on the recent movie with Benecio Del Toro, Emily Blunt and Anthony Hopkins). Then I did the first two (of at least five) mainstream thrillers, PATIENT ZERO and THE DRAGON FACTORY, which feature Joe Ledger, a Baltimore cop recruited by a secret government organization to stop terrorists who have exotic weapons. Then I did ROT & RUIN and I just finished its sequel, DUST & DECAY.

None of them are ‘about’ darkness or monsters. They’re all about the people who combat darkness. There’s a lot of hope and optimism in my novels. And there’s a lot of humor in my writing, too.

CR: What was the motivation that kept you interested in writing Rot & Ruin?

MABERRY: I love to write. It’s been my passion since I was a little kid and it’s wonderful that this is my full-time job!

ROT & RUIN…and the other tales featuring Benny Imura and the survivors of First Night (the zombie apocalypse)…are deliciously fun to write. I love the characters and I’ve been having a great time constructing their world, which is what our world might be like fifteen years from now –if a zombie plague happened today. I want everything to have a realistic, lived-in feel…as if this is all normal and natural (for them) and yet new and fun for the readers. That’s the kind of intellectual and creative challenge that revs me up as a writer.

And, quite frankly, I’m writing the kinds of books I would read…so I’m entertaining myself as I work.

CR: Any future works that you can enlighten us about?

MABERRY: This has been my most insanely productive year to date. Between novels, nonfiction books, short stories and comics, I’ve had something new coming out every month, and often multiple things coming out in a single week.

In early 2011, I have my third Joe Ledger thriller, THE KING OF PLAGUES, hitting stores in March from St. Martin’s Griffin. It follows PATIENT ZERO (2009) and THE DRAGON FACTORY (2010). The whole series has been optioned by producer Michael DeLuca (Blade, Magnolia, Se7en) and is in development for TV.

Then in summer 2011 St. Martin’s Griffin will publish DEAD OF NIGHT, a standalone zombie thriller –which I’m currently writing. It’s definitely NOT for kids! (I’m not even sure I’m old enough to read it!)

Next fall, Simon & Schuster will release DUST & DECAY, the sequel to ROT & RUIN. And we’re seeing some pretty serious film interest on this series. Fingers crossed.

I’ll also have some short stories out soon, including a GI JOE story in an anthology being edited by Max Brooks for IDW. Max has put together a great line-up of writers to tell some over-the-top JOE stories.

I also have three mini-series from Marvel in the pipeline. MARVEL UNIVERSE VS THE PUNISHER just finished and will be out as a hardback graphic novel in December (it’s a post-apocalyptic existentialist adventure. Very strange, even for me.) Next up is BLACK PANTHER: KLAWS OF THE PANTHER, kicking off in October; and then in January we launch CAPTAIN AMERICA: HAIL HYDRA, a five-issue Marvel Event that follows Cap from World War II to present day. And my graphic novel, DOOMWAR, debuts in hardcover on November 10. That collects the six issues of the limited series I wrote for Marvel in which the Black Panther, the Fantastic Four, the X-Men, War Machine and Deadpool go up against Doctor Doom. 


Thank you, John for being here today and sharing your worldliness with my readers!

LiLi

(Mini)Author Interview: Rachel Vincent

I just finished reading My Soul to Take and yes, I cried a little at the end. ;) However, since I knew Rachel was awesome, I thought I'd conduct a short interview to answer some questions I had relating her two famed series:

Shifter

Stray

Rogue

Pride

Prey

Shift

Alpha (Oct. 1)

Soul Screamers

My Soul to Take

My Soul to Save

My Soul to Keep

Even though I haven't read them all, I suggest you start both series and you can thank me later. Now on to the grilling...

CR: If you switched places with Kaylee Cavanaugh for just one day, what would be the main thing you'd focus on first: Nash or her bean sidhe ability? Why?

Bean sidhe heritage. Because boys come and go, but your species is forever. ;)


CR: You've probably heard this one most often but what was the transition like between Faythe's world and Kaylee's? What would you say was the biggest difference between the two?

The biggest difference is the freedom that comes from Kaylee's world. The world building is on a much broader scale, so there are many more possibilities for plotlines, conflicts, and characters. But then, there's also the extra challenge involved in making sure the narrator's voice is authentically adolescent, allowing for the fact that Kaylee is no ordinary teenager. ;)

The transition between the two series can be tough, but I've done it several times now. The Shifters series is six books long, and I'm writing book five in the Soul Screamers series, so jumping back and forth is getting easier. But writing the books is not. ;)


CR: What's something you most liked exploring in Kaylee's bean sidhe story that you aren't able to in Faythe's Pride?

The Netherworld. Faythe's world doesn't have an alternate dimension.


CR: Where did Kaylee's character come from initially and what was the inspiration of using bean sidhe mythology?

I never know how to answer questions like this one. Kaylee didn't come from any one place. She developed over the course of the first book, and in fact, she's still developing and maturing, and losing a little bit of that shiny optimism in exchange for a really bitter dose of reality. But she's strong, and only getting stronger. And I don't think you could ever really stomp all the grit out of Kaylee. ;)


CR: Closer to the ending of My Soul to Take (and this is something I noticed deeply considering my personal relationship) what made you write Kaylee's father more of a non-existent character where as in the Shifter series Faythe's father is a fundamental character?

That wasn't a conscious decision, and for the record, he's much more of a real father figure in the subsequent books. But here's how it worked: When I sat down to write My Soul To Take, I thought about who I wanted Kaylee to be, including her strengths, her weaknesses, and her fears. Then I took her life and worked backward, deciding what would have to have happened to her in the past to create the girl I wanted to write about. Part of that backstory included a dead mother and an absentee father. Part included time spent in a mental institution, which gave her control issues and a fear of being confined. Make sense?




Totally makes sense, specially if you read My Soul to Lose, the prequel that started Kaylee's madness. It is a free short ebook that have no excuse for not reading.

Thanks again, Rachel!

LiLi

Author Interview: Christine Brodien-Jones (The Owl Keeper)

I had a chance to interview Christine this week to promote her latest release The Owl Keeper, since I'm dedicating this week to her novel.

1) What were the first aspirations you had for The Owl Keeper?

I started writing THE OWL KEEPER two months after 9/11, when the world seemed bleak and hopeless, and I think in the back of my mind I wanted to write a book about hope. I also wanted to write a book that children would love – the kind of fantasy that I loved reading as a child.

2) What first got you interested in the theme of owls in general?

Owls are night creatures, with an aura of mystery about them. In certain societies they symbolize wisdom, the ability to see things that are hidden. In others they represent good fortune, magic, sometimes even death. Owls are very powerful birds: stealthy predators that attack without warning. They’re also eerily beautiful. I loved the idea of owls with silver feathers and creating a myth around these fabled, magical creatures.

3) What's an anecdote of a fun experience you had while writing this novel?

One fun thing I did was adopt a rescue barred owl through the Adopt a Wildlife Ambassador Program at the Center for Wildlife in Cape Neddick, Maine. I chose the barred owl because she reminded me of Max’s silver owl in THE OWL KEEPER, except this owl is much bigger!

Her name is Bianca and in 1995 she was hit by a car and suffered a broken wrist. They couldn’t release her into the wild, so she lives at the center. Over the years she’s been a foster parent to other barred owlets and travels with programs to educate the public. I’m hoping to go visit Bianca this spring!

4) If--and I mean this as inoffensively as possible--The Owl Keeper wasn't published, what would you be doing right now?

I’d probably be working on another book! Or re-writing The Owl Keeper to make it better! I can’t imagine a life without writing. However, if I wasn’t writing, the next best thing would be to pack my carry-on bag and take off, ideally to Europe or South America. I’ve found that exploring different corners of the world fires up my imagination; travel is a great way to discover new ideas and delve into myth and history.

5) With all the great feedback your released novel is getting, what would you hope your next novel to exude from readers?

My next novel is very different from THE OWL KEEPER; however it still has the elements of adventure and magic and terrifying situations. The book is set in the Sahara Desert, in Morocco, and there’s a feisty young heroine who finds herself in strange and harrowing circumstances. My hope is that young readers who loved THE OWL KEEPER will enjoy this book too.

6) Any guilty pleasures outside of the writing/reading business done at home? (Eg. spending time at the park, travel)

I love listening to music and sharing good times with a few close friends, and spending time at our old country house in Deer Isle, Maine. I adore the summer when I can hike, sail, kayak and go rowing on Gloucester Harbor. Winters my husband Peter and I travel to Buenos Aires where we study Spanish and tango.

7) What are some of your favorite books that you like to go back to from time to time?

All the whimsical time-travel books by Edward Eager, including “Knight’s Castle” and “Magic by the Lake” – I devoured those as a kid and they inspired my writing; I also love the illustrations by N. M. Bodecker. Other books I read when young and still go back to: Susan Cooper’s THE DARK IS RISING series, Ursula K. LeGuin’s EARTHSEA trilogy, Tolkien’s LORD OF THE RINGS, the odd sci-fi fantasies of British author John Wyndham.

8) Now that The Owl Keeper is published, what are some of your future goals in the writing industry?

As I said earlier, I want to write books kids will love to read – books that stir their imaginations, with heroes and heroines they can identify with. I can’t think of anything more wonderful than getting books into the hands of young readers – especially reluctant ones – and having them fall in love with books and the amazing power of stories.

The short answer is: I’ll keep writing books for young people.

9) After the whole process to get The Owl Keeper out in the world, do you feel relieved? Successful? Why?

I’m amazed and thrilled, to begin with, that this book is out there at last. I feel incredibly grateful to all the people who made THE OWL KEEPER happen – and they were many! – especially my agent Stephen Fraser and my editor Krista Marino, who both loved the book and believed in it. I suppose, too, I feel a certain relief that the book is finished and out there: now I’m free to let go and move on to the next.

10) To finish things off on a light-note, how would you describe The Owl Keeper to young readers debating on picking it up?

Well I’m not sure how “light” this will be, but here goes:

Have you ever felt afraid or alone? Ever kept a secret too dangerous to tell? Max Unger, hero of THE OWL KEEPER, has always loved the night. He used to be brave, exploring the forest with his grandmother after dark. But the forest is dangerous now, his gran is gone, and Max is alone and afraid. He misses Gran's stories about the silver owls and the world before the Great Destruction. And…Max has a secret: one he doesn't dare tell.

What if you’re a kid and there are no adults you can trust? What if you find yourself in a scary place? That’s where Max finds himself at the start of this book. But Max has a hidden strength deep inside him and, when faced with impossible circumstances, he sets off on a quest that he doesn’t completely understand, taking his silver owl and friend Rose with him. THE OWL KEEPER is a quest of hope, a story of friendship. It’s also about conquering one’s darkest fears.

If you enjoy impossible quests and underdog heroes, this book is for you.

Thanks for the interview, LiLi, it’s been fun! (: 

 It was great to have you, Christine.

If you haven't entered for a chance to enter for your own ARC of The Owl Keeper go here.

Thanks for stopping by!

LiLi

The Dark Divine Blog Tour

Everyone, please welcome Bree Despain--author of her debut novel, The Dark Divine--as she travels through the blogosphere to celebrate her release. ChicaReader is one of the many lucky tour spots that get to host Ms. Divine for a day. I have the delight to present you readers with an interview that Ms. Divine so graciously accepted to participate in.

1. What were your worries/delights during the process of writing The Dark Divine?

While I was working on TDD, I worried that no one would want to publish a book that delved into Christian/religious themes and paranormal mythology in the same story. But even though I thought there was a possibility that the book would never be published, I knew I had to write it. It was the story inside of me that needed to be told. I think the biggest delight has been just how well most people have responded to the story that I feared no one would ever get to read.

2. What are some [major] changes in your daily routine that were caused by the writing/publication of your novel?

The biggest change is the time commitment to my writing and also to the business side of being an author. I used to write for a couple of hours in the afternoon while my kids napped, but now that they are older and I am much busier, I’ve had to hire a mother’s helper to entertain them for a few hours a day so I can focus on my work—especially when I’m under a deadline.

3. Not saying that you dislike the original cover, but if you could design it, what would the cover of The Dark Divine look like?

First of all, I have to say that I LOVE my cover and I definitely couldn’t come up with something better myself. However, when I first sold my novel, I envisioned it having a cover that was a picture of girl’s back (kind of like A Great and Terrible Beauty) who was wearing a white dress with a bright red or purple sash wrapped around her waist.

4) What are some great reads that you've enjoyed lately that you would like to recommend to your readers? Why?

If any of my readers haven’t read SWEETHEARTS by Sara Zarr yet, I think they would really love it. I read this book after I’d already sold TDD to my publisher, but I was surprised a similarity in the two books (in a non-paranormal way). The two books are quite different, yet have a similar idea to them about a girl dealing with the reproductions of an old friend suddenly reappearing in her life.

5. What gave you the idea for the dark, murky background settings for the different eventful scenes in The Dark Divine?

Hmm, interesting question. I started writing the book while living in downtown Salt Lake City. My neighborhood was mostly comprised of very old houses, mixed in with a few new buildings, old statues, and a few churches that were built over a hundred and fifty years ago. I think I just kind of had this urbany feeling in the back of my head while I was writing.

6. How did it feel writing all the male roles in the plot that made such an effect in the story? (Jude, Pete, and Daniel, of course :))

I am actually surprised at how much I enjoyed delving into these male character’s brains. Not because they were male, but because of all the conflicts they had going on in their lives.
I used to think that I could never write from the male POV, but I am considering doing to in a future book.

7. With all your history of working with/for young teens, how do you see yourself as a writer in the next few years? Staying in the young adult genre or risking a different territory?

I love YA. It really is where my voice belongs and I love the audience. I’ve had a few ideas for some middle grade or adult books, but nothing that has screamed “Write Me!” yet. If that were to happen, I wouldn’t be afraid to try something new.

8. From the acknowledgments, you can obviously see that you have a lot of people to give props to in their helpfulness in The Dark Divine. Could you possibly say which scene it was that your writing posse helped you so graciously to revise?

Ah, the @$&% scene? That would be the one where Grace and Daniel rescue Baby James in ravine and bring him home. That scene was rewritten many more times than any other scene in the book. Each time I turned it in, my editor would say, “It’s good, but it needs to be fantastic.”

At the time, I cursed him for it, but now I am so grateful to him for pushing me to make it what it is now. So many people have told me that is their favorite scene. And I’m also extremely grateful to my writing posse for reading that scene over and over again and giving their suggestions.


From the good people of Goodman Media International, Inc., I have received some lovely purple nail polish to giveaway with for this blog tour. I have three bottles available for 3 winners that will selected specifically for their answers to this question left in the comments: Do you have a loved one you'd practically give anything to save? If it's not to personal, who is that person to you? Eg. Mother, boyfried, father, husband, brother, friend, etc.

Remember to visit the next blog tour stop for Bree Despain in the blogosphere at The Story Siren tomorrow.

Catch up on new things happening with Bree on her...
Twitter
Goodreads
Blog
Facebook

Become a fan of The Dark Divine on Facebook.

LiLi

Forget-Her- Nots Debut Release/Author Interview!

Here’s the blurb:
When someone leaves three mystery flowers outside her dorm door,Laurel thinks that maybe the Avondale School isn’t so awful after all — until her own body starts to freak out. In the middle of her English presentation on the Victorian Language of Flowers, strange words pop into her head, and her body seems to tingle and hum. Impulsively, Laurel gives the love bouquet she made to demonstrate the language to her spinster English teacher. When that teacher unexpectedly and immediately finds romance, Laurel suspects that something — something magical — is up. With her new friend, Kate, she sets out to discover the origins and breadth of her powers by experimenting on herself and others. But she can’t seem to find any living experts in the field of flower powers to guide her. And her bouquets don’t always do her bidding, especially when it comes to her own crush, Justin. Rumors about Laurel and her flowers fly across campus, and she’s soon besieged by requests from girls — both friends and enemies — who want their lives magically transformed — just in time for prom.

Celebrating the awesome release of Forget-Her-Nots by Amy Brecount White, we are being treated to an interview with the fabulous author herself. Let it begin...(what secrets will she uncover about herself/her novel??)

What type of environment are you in when you're writing? Eg. music, background, etc.

*I really prefer to write in absolute silence whenever I can. Otherwise, it’s hard to hear the characters talking to each other in my head. My sentences have a rhythm, too, that I need to listen for. Lots of times I read what I’m writing out loud, so it’s not very quiet. You’d probably think I was nuts if you were in the other room. :)

What were your initial hopes and fears when Forget-Her-Nots was going through the whole editing and publishing process?

*I think every writer is a tad nervous when she’s awaiting that editing letter. I was, but Greenwillow has always been very respectful of me, and I came to agree with the vast majority of their edits. Every writer also hopes her book will find a home in the hearts of many readers. Most of my ARC readers (and Publishers Weekly) love FHN, so it’s been wonderful already.

How have you been--or are going to be--celebrating the your debut release of Forget-Her-Nots?

*Woo-hoo! I’m having a really big release party at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. (I love paintings!) About 300 people are coming, including lots of teen girls I’ve taught or coached, and all my friends. OMG – that’s tonight! I can’t wait!

What was the mind set that had you inspired to start writing a novel about flowers particularly?

*I’ve always loved gardening, so when I found out about the language of flowers, I started thinking what if flower wishes came true ….

What were you thinking when you first began writing the novel?

*I was actually pretty clueless. I’d read so much for all of my life that I thought it would be pretty intuitive to put a novel together. It’s actually more like a puzzle requiring complicated engineering and architectural skills! I love it. The solutions come at the oddest times, too, like when I’m roller blading. It’s a good reason to exercise.

What are some lessons/experiences that you've been through, that you'd like to share?

*Oh, gosh. I think I’ll do that through my novels. I don’t want to give all my material away. The most important piece of advice I can give everyone is to grow and give more flowers. They bring peace, happiness, and beauty to the human condition. (Now I’m really starting to sound like the teacher I once was!)

Miscellany:

What are your top 5 favorite movies?

The Princess Bride; Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Ten Things I Hate About You; Henry V; Pride and Prejudice.

What flower do you favor the most?

It’s very hard to choose! I love them all, but especially Siberian irises, the scent of gardenias, dogwood trees, lily of the valley, and bleeding hearts.

If you were stranded living in a small cabin surrounded by endless snow cutoff from any communication, what would be essentials that you would ensure you have to survive?

That sounds like my winter!

Water, chocolate, pen & notebook, and a few Russian or Gabriel Garcia Marquez novels that would take me a very long time to read and reread. And Earl Grey tea with milk, please.

This is where I gush about nervousness over the questions I created. This is what she nicely says to calm my psyche down:

*You did a great job! Fun and different questions. Thanks so much for having me!

Now since I am participating in Amy's blog tour of flower-love-spreading, I was required to choose a flower of my favor so I chose *cough* Lily of the Valley....duh! Plus they're kind of a contradiction toward all flowers every where, look below to see what I mean:

Aren't they just the darnest things?!! According to The Language of Flowers they are supposed to represent the return of happiness, where as I would spread to you followers that love to read the crap I type to cheer you up from any past pains that you've recently suffered. Bless your wide eyes for reading this!

I thank Amy for being with us on her release date, now I shall sign off with a command: Read the blurb above and tell Amy how awesome she is in the comments...GO!

LiLi