Shameless Promotion Part 1

Hi everyone. I am rounding up my friends and doing a panel on indie-publishing.  I asked a bunch of questions (things I want to know and others probably do to), they answered, and I am putting it together. Stop by every Wednesday for the next four weeks.

So why the title of this post? Because right now you are going to hear about their books and then next week they are self-promoting how awesome they are. :)

My authors are: Erica Cope, Heather Diemer, and J.A. Lantz

Panel - Round 1. 

Erica:
What is your latest and greatest? In the Shadows (Lark #2)

What inspired this manuscript? It all started with a dream I had that inspired Lark.

Tell us about your leading character? Why would a reader like him/her? Oh gosh, I hope that people like Mia because she feels real.

Care to share a tid bit from your writing? 

“Grey, do you think it’s too late?”

He nods sadly. “I’m sorry, Mia, but if they have her, I’m not sure if there is anything we can really do.”

The world distorts itself around me like a Fun House mirror, making me feel dizzy and nauseated. My lungs collapse in on themselves as the furious beating of my broken heart threatens to slam right out of my ripped open chest.

“I—can’t—breathe,” I gasp as Grey pulls me into his arms and holds me close to his chest, whispering words that I don’t understand. My tears fall freely, staining his shirt with wet splotches but he doesn’t care, he continues to hold me tight, comforting me just like he has done before. I feel his lips press down on the top of my head and even though this sweet gesture is completely innocent, my stomach flips unexpectedly which in turn elicits a crashing wave of guilt that instantly squashes the butterflies that had suddenly been awakened by his simple touch, shredding their wings into powdery oblivion until they no longer have any semblance of beauty.

What’s your favorite thing about this novel? Can I say the cover? LOL It's so pretty!

J.A. Lantz 

What is your latest and greatest?

My latest and greatest would have to be Helix, the manuscript I just reached the final draft stage with. (At least, I think I have.) Also, I’m quite pleased with the manuscript I’m currently working on which developed out of Helix.

What inspired this manuscript?

My inspiration for Helix was my love for comic books and super-heroes and heroines. Combine my love of comics with my enjoyment of young adult literature and there you have the origin story for how my story was born.

Tell us about your leading character? Why would a reader like him/her?

Well, in order to talk my leading character, I have to talk about both leading characters since the novel is told from their respective points of view. Samantha Martin, or Sam as she prefers, is a small town girl who cares a great deal about her family and friends, loves to read, works at a book store to feed her book addiction and expects to lead a pleasant and ordinary life. Enter Collin Kane, the handsome new guy at school or as Sam initially dubs him: “ the untamed raven-haired hunk with the deep emeralds eyes and an amazing ass”. Collin and his siblings have a secret, of course, and will forever alter Sam’s life.I think readers will like Sam because she is very empathetic while I think readers will like Collin because he’s the good guy everyone wants to have in their life. I don’t want to say to much as I want readers to make up their own minds as to why they like Sam, Collin, and the other characters.

Care to share a tidbit from your writing? 

The handsome face, which I had come to know every detail intimately, was twisted with rage, twisted with betrayal, and – most terrifyingly – twisted with hatred: hatred directed entirely at me.

What could I have possibly done to deserve such animosity?

His every gesture, his every look, scared me to my very core. Instinctively, I backed away from him as he strode across the debris littered room toward me.

What could I possibly do to fend him off?

He out-powered me in every way conceivable and in many ways I had never thought possible until I met him and his family. His family lay unconscious, broken looking and bloody, scattered about the demolished living room. The back wall of windows shattered outward, the wind blowing through chilling me, but not as much as the deadly gaze in his cold emerald eyes.

What would he do to me?

I knew I was not willing to stay and find out. Turning, I ran for the front door knowing with each footfall I would never get away from him. A scream escaped my lips as his hands clamped fiercely onto my shoulders cutting off my escape. Roughly, he spun me around to face him, his emerald eyes boring into my own gray eyes, searching for something he obviously did not find as his eyes grew ever colder.

“Collin?”

He flinched as I spoke his name, a deep growl rumbled in his chest, as if his own name both scared and offended him. He said nothing as he forcibly shoved me toward the front door, his hand clutching my upper arm in a death grip. I tried not to cry out, but I whimpered anyway.

Where was he taking me? What would he do when he got me there?

I dreaded to find out.

What’s your favorite thing about this novel?

Um, too many favorites to put in a concise answer. Plus, I don’t want to give any spoilers. I will say, however, that writing the novel was a great experience.

Heather: 

What is your latest and greatest?

I’m currently working on an adult contemporary romance about Helena, a girl who’s a little lost about her future until she meets Josh and he turns her world around.  Can his love save her? 

What inspired this manuscript?
Ummm...I’m not really sure.  I was just talking to a friend and the title of the book just came to me and the story just tumbled out after it. 

Tell us about your leading character? Why would a reader like him/her?

Helena was adopted as a child after her father and mother both died the day she was born.  The number 42 has followed her throughout her life, even before she was born.  She’s considered it her lucky number and uses it to make major life decisions.  Helena is an introvert and prefers to keep to herself. She has a small close circle of friends to whom she’s fiercely loyal.  I think readers will like her because she’s funny, a little neurotic, and has a spontaneous nature about her. 

Care to share a tid bit from your writing?

Watching the sun travel across my rear view mirror, I rounded the last curve toward Josh’s house.  Our last text conversation replaying over and over again in my mind. 
Josh: I want to meet you. For real.
Me: I want to meet you too
Josh: Then come see me this weekend. I’m off all week.  Stay with me.
Me: I don’t know. Wouldn’t that be weird?
Josh: I have a guest room…
I know we’ve been exchanging texts for over a month now, forty-two days to be exact, but as I drive closer and closer to him, the more anxious I become.  All the fears I expressed to him that he shot down are reemerging.  What if changes his mind when he sees me?  What if I’m too fat?  What if the literal and figurative scars on my heart turn him away?  What if the forty-two thing weirds him out?  I’ve opened myself more to Josh than anyone else.  Ever.  But he doesn’t know about my forty-two obsession.  How do you discuss that through text messages?  “Hey, I ‘m obsessed with the number 42 and I use it to make all my life decisions.”  That’s weird right? How do you make someone understand that something as silly as this is actually really important?  

What’s your favorite thing about this novel?

This book is my NaNoWriMo project and right now it’s totally random.  It’s taking on a life of its own and I love it.  Every character is a little crazy. Anna and her fiancé Jacob (Helena’s BFF’s) are hilarious and help bring Helena out of herself.  They don’t believe her crazy number obsession, but play along with her anyway.  

Me: 

What is your latest and greatest?

I am working on a NA dystopia. The US has had it's borders restructured and the government is now a monarchy. Except, the white house falls under attack and the princess has to get out of there. The Princess then has a mission (working out the kinks in the mission).

What inspired this manuscript?
Dean Winchester. Not a joke.

Tell us about your leading character? Why would a reader like him/her?

Emma Rayne is the Princess of the US is trying to become the Queen. She has to travel through battle stricken cities and learn the life she has been leading, wasn't realistic. Her job as Queen is scary for her, but throughout the novel, we watch her grow up. We watch her become stronger. We watch her be able to kick the crap out of people. 

Care to share a tid bit from your writing?

            The only thing I could hear was the sound of my heavy breathing. Maddox and Harper seemed like statues besides me. Or maybe my breathing was just too loud for me to comprehend anything else.

            “All we want are your weapons and anything of value. Give it to us and we won’t have a problem,” our captor said.

            My reaction was: Fine, take whatever you want just go away.

            Harper had a different reaction.

            “You aren’t taking anything from us.”

            This, like the men in the bar, amused our captor. He gave a short laugh. “Oh really? Let’s remember I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your head.” He pushed the barrel of the gun into Harper sending her body forward a little bit.

            “You don’t have it in you.”

            I couldn’t see the guy’s face, but this comment clearly caught him off guard. “What did you say?”

            “I said: You don’t have it in you.” I could see Harper out of the corner of my eye. She had righted herself. “As in you don’t have it in you to kill us.”

What’s your favorite thing about this novel?

It's not my comfort zone. I am actually struggling a lot with descriptions and belieable scenes - but that's great. It's making me better (and it's making me a little nuts). 

There you have their current manuscripts, WIPs and novels in a nutshell? Intrigued yet? Come back next Wednesday to learn more and hear more about Indie Publishing!