Author Interview with Carlyle Labuschagne

I'm really excited about today's interview, because this author is a fellow South African! Yay! Carlyle Labuschagne recently released her debut novel, THE BROKEN DESTINY. I haven't read it yet, but you can check out the great reviews here on Goodreads. Also, we're doing an interview swap today, so you can find me answering questions over at her blog (please visit me!).

So onto the questions...

1. What is your earliest piece of writing that you still have?
A book full of poems and songs from my teenage years.

2. When did you decide you wanted to be a published author, and how long after that did you get your book deal?
In 2009 I decided the moment I started the first sentence of what is now THE BROKEN DESTINY. After the first draft I realized I had zero knowledge of the craft so I took a year off to finish a diploma in Creative writing. I stared submitting Jan of 2011 and finally landed something that suited my needs three months later.

Rachel: Exciting! It was also 2009 that I realized I wanted to stop just imagining stories and actually write them down and get them published.

3. For you, what is the best thing about being a published author, and what is the worst?
The Best - sharing my story! Being able to fangirl over my characters and book with others. Making new friends all the time. The worst - me being impatient and the editing oh the editing!!! *cries just thinking about it*

4. Do you have any weird little writing rituals? (Like you can only write best when you sit in a certain spot at a certain time of day!)
LOl yes. I can only write in my study. I write best when I have just woken up, and the rest of my neighborhood and family are asleep. So early morning is the best for me. It doesnt always work out that way as I have a day job, so sometimes I have to push myself every opportunity I get.

5. Speaking of ... What is your day job?
I work as a Marketing and PR consultant.

6. You live in South Africa and your publisher is based in Texas. How has it worked only being able to communicate electronically or telephonically?
Its time consuming as the time difference caused a delay. And like I said I hate waiting. But thank goodness for internet and smart phones!

And now for the book ...

7. What do fans seem to love the most about THE BROKEN DESTINY?
They love the Planet I created. The fact that they can relate to the heroine of the story, that she is not perfect and struggles. More so the vast character cast. Mystery and the play on words along with many quotes I incorporate.

8. Are there any songs you’d like to mention that inspired/influenced/are connected in any way to THE BROKEN DESTINY?
Oh wow yes. First the song from Prime Circle - What Ive become. A local super talented band that granted me permission to quote the lyrics in the book. Muse. Metric. Sia. Meese. Civil twilight (more SA greatness). Linkin Park - and dont forget the gorgeous band 30 Seconds to Mars. Ooh I meditated on their music a lot during this book.

Rachel: I can relate to that. I listened to a LOT of 30 Seconds to Mars while writing my first novel!

9. Which of the characters in THE BROKEN DESTINY would you most like to meet in real life?
Oh gosh thats a tricky one. All the good ones!! The villains can stay where they are. I love all my characters and I think the reason I know them so well is because I use people I know to base them on. Not all of them of course.

Thanks, Carlyle! Check out the pretty cover and the blurb for THE BROKEN DESTINY:

Blurb
Ava's People have been exiled to Planet Poseidon, where through a series of horrific events, Ava discovers that their existence has been fabricated by The Council, And She has a Destiny that could save them. Her Soul is a secret weapon that has been lost to an ancient race. To fulfill her destiny Ava needs to go through a series of "changes" that will reveal her true purpose. Throughout her journey she will become what she hates in order to save the ones she loves. And through it all she will find herself - for that is her Destiny, to rise above the fall. 

Prologue
All my life, I had searched for something, something I thought I ought to be. I felt like I was living someone else’s life, waiting for the awakening of my own. I felt like an empty shell burning for life. That was, until the day I lay dying in the prince’s chambers. I could no longer feel the pain from the tear in my gut. The only sensation left was a hollowed-out feeling that I had made a huge mistake in assuming that taking my own life, would have stopped the ancestors’ spirit from raging out. I had given up. I didn’t want to see myself killing the ones I loved. I was the Chosen one, but I threw it all away for what I thought would save a life. Could you end a life to save a life? I did, and I have regretted it ever since. I realized then that things like me are not meant to exist. What had been missing my whole life? It was I. To find myself, I had to lose myself in the worst possible way. The consequences of my actions became the legend of The Broken.

About the Author
Carlyle Labuschagne lives in Sunny South Africa, married her high school sweetheart and shares her creativity with her two young boys. Carlyle works as a PR and Marketing Manager by day, and writes by every other moment. She holds a diploma in creative writing through the writing school at Collage SA. Loves to swim, fights for the trees, food lover who is driven by passion for everything fantasy. Carlyle writes for IU e-magazine an inspirational nonprofit magazine that aims at inspiring the world through words. Debut author for 2012 - novel The Broken Destiny . Her ultime dream is to write songs and direct music videos. Her native language is Afrikaans and has just begun her journey into grasping the English language.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Trailer

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Magazine Famous!

Click to enlarge.

Yip! That's me! My first magazine "appearance", sharing space with a hair ad.

And I totally always write on the couch outside with my laptop on my lap.

(Um, not!)

Interview Time. Even in the Holidays :-)

I'm heading to Cape Town tomorrow, so I should be packing a suitcase, but instead I'm in bed with my laptop telling you fine folk to head over to Lynnette Labelle's blog to check out my latest interview :-)

Happy holidays!

Interview with Author Lindsay Paige

Today I'm interviewing Lindsay Paige about the release of Whatever It Takes, the third book in the Bold As Love series.

1. Let’s start with an easy one: are you a plotter or a pantser?

Plotter

2. What's a completely random fact about you that most people don't know?

I have a touch of carpal tunnel in my hands.

3. What was your favorite book as a child?

I didn't read much as a child. I didn't get into reading until about seventh grade. My favorite book back then was The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks.

4. What do you find is the hardest thing about writing?

The hardest thing about writing for me is to make sure I convey what the characters are feeling good enough for the reader to feel them too.

5. Who are your writing inspirations?

Jessica Park, Nicholas Sparks, Jamie Magee, and Elizabeth Waldie to name a few.

6. Out of all the characters you’ve ever created, tell us about the one you’d most like to meet in real life.

I'd love to meet Jake! He's my ideal guy.

7. Is there anything you’ve learned about your Bold As Love series SINCE you began publishing it?

I've found messages in my books that I didn't intentionally put there. I had one goal when I began and that was to make something that was real and these little messages about life were incorporated along the way.

8. If Whatever It Takes had a theme song, what would it be?

Whatever It Takes by Lifehouse. It was the song that played constantly in my head while writing, from beginning to end.

9. If for some reason you couldn’t be a writer, what would you be?

I have no clue. There's nothing I love as much as I love writing.

Interview and Excerpt with COLORS LIKE MEMORIES Author Meradeth Houston

Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of.

Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.

(Buy from MuseItUp Publishing)


Intriguing, right?! Well today we have the author of this book, Meradeth Houston, here to answer some questions. (And she's also sharing an excerpt of Colors Like Memories! See the bottom of this post.)


1. What is your favourite time of day to write?
If I had my druthers, I’d write in the mornings (well, starting at around 8 or 9—nothing too early!). Life gets complicated though, so I’ve become pretty adept at fitting writing time in whenever I can manage it!

2. Do you have any weird little writing rituals?
Define weird? :-) Sometimes I think writing in and of itself is kind of strange! But I generally sit down, put on music, and re-read what I wrote the day before. Not too strange, I guess, but it works for me!

Rachel: Sadly, I can't write while listening to music.

3. What's a completely random fact about you that most people don't know?
I can wiggle my ears, nose, scalp, and eyelids (not just blinking, I can move them horizontally). Definitely not something I do too often in public, haha!

Rachel: That is pretty random!

4. Do you remember when you first decided you were going to one day be a published author?
Hmmm, I’m sitting here trying to think about when I first thought that I’d want other people to read what I’d written. It was probably in fifth grade when one of my teacher’s commented that he really liked my poetry and asked me to make a little hand-made book with it. That probably sparked the idea. Of course, there were a lot of bumps along the way, and it wasn’t until much, much later that I decided to act on the idea.

5. Are there any songs you’d like to mention that inspired/influenced/are connected in any way to Colors Like Memories or its characters?
Colors Like Memories was originally sparked by Shadow of the Day by Linkin Park. Gah, I love that song! It may be old, but it’s awesome. Anyhow, that one was played hundreds of times while writing. Also, Coldplay's Cemeteries of London should also get a shout-out for helping me set the tone I wanted in my mind. There are so many others, but those have the most plays on iTunes.

6. What was your favourite book as a child?
Wrinkle In Time, by far and away. I read a LOT as a kid, and had many books I loved, but that one is still one I revisit regularly to enjoy and re-read. Meg is, well, she’s wonderful. 

7. If you were stuck in an elevator and had the choice of any writer, living or dead, to be stuck with, who would it be and why?
I guess the question I have is: do I want this writer to help me get out? Because then I think someone like Michael Crichton who was so insanely creative would be great (also, so we could have some words about his book Next, which I won’t get into here…). But, just to chill with? JK Rowling would be fun, as would Mark Twain. I think either of them would be incredibly entertaining. 

Rachel: Good choices!

8. Out of all the characters you’ve ever created, tell us about the one you’d most like to meet in real life.
I have one character who I love dearly, who only has a cameo in Colors Like Memories (he has his own story that I’ll be writing soon). Not to get into too many spoilers, but I’d very much like to spend some time with Jassen, the heir to the leadership of the Sary.

9. Have you ever based an entire character on a real person you know, and would you tell that person?
I can also feel my mother perking up at this question! She’s always worried she’ll end up in my stories :-) But, I’ve only done this once, with the current novel I’m working on, and that’s because I had a flat-mate who was just, well, nuts. And he fit perfectly into this role I was creating and I couldn’t resist. Should I ever run into him on the street, I might be tempted to tell him thanks for being so entertaining.

10. Lastly (and most importantly): cake or ice cream?
Wait, not both? Hehe! If I had to chose, I’d go with cake. I like ice cream a lot, but cake is good even when it’s cold out :-)

~  ~  ~

I greeted his tombstone the way I always did—with a swift kick. The release of frustration was more than worth the sharp pain in my toes. The polished marble tilted to the left because of all my visits; a crooked tooth in the rows of pearly white graves.

I folded my legs under me, shuddering as the chill of the damp grass seeped through my clothes. “I keep hoping one of these days you’ll be here waiting for me.” The words were tradition. Some small part of me still clung to the hope I’d come over the hill to find him leaning over his grave, wearing a sly smile. He died so very long ago, but I couldn’t stop wishing.
Leaning forward, I rested my forehead against my knees and closed my eyes, longing for a few minutes of rest. A few minutes to pretend it was someone else buried beneath me. I tried to explain this to him, but tonight I didn’t have the will to pretend it was more than starlight that listened.
It took a long time to notice, building imperceptibly until I finally looked over my shoulder. Someone was there, watching me. It hadn’t been a sound that alerted me so much as the feel of their gaze, heavy in the darkness. After so many nights spent here, I could tell the difference.

For just a second, I thought I saw Frederick’s tall form step from the shadows. My heart stopped, and I started to scramble to my feet before the breeze scattered my wishful thinking. Scanning the rest of the cemetery, it was clear no one else was around. The sprinklers were hissing their rhythmic beat in the next section over, and it was better to leave before they started watering the grass over his grave. It had to be just my imagination—no one was watching me. It was for the better. If anyone saw me here, there would be problems I couldn’t face.

~  ~  ~

Eeeeeek, don't you just love that opening line?! That whole opening paragraph, in fact! I can't wait to find out more about this story! And if you want to know more about Meradeth and where you can stalk interact with her and her books online, visit these links:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

An Interview With Author Laura Josephsen

Yesterday was the launch of Laura Josephsen's book, RESISTANCE, and today I've got her over here to answer a few questions :-)


1. What is your favourite time of day to write?
At night; I'm such a night owl.

2. Do you have any weird little writing rituals? (eg. the curtains must be open in just the right place, and a container of green M&M’s must be within reaching distance of your computer)
Nope! I write while doing all sorts of things—in between homeschooling, sitting at my daughter's dance class, stuff like that, so it's kind of wherever, whenever I can. I do like to have coffee while writing, if I can manage it.

3. What's a completely random fact about you that most people don't know?
I have weird fingers. They bend slightly backwards. It grosses some people out.

Rachel: Okay, that IS random!

4. Do you remember when you first decided you were going to one day be a published author? 
I really didn't have a "one day I'm going to be a published author" moment. I had someone tell me I should look into publishing Awakenings, the first in a series Faith King and I are writing. (And a publisher did sign it and publish it.) Publishing had always seemed like a distant, far-off dream until it wasn't so distant and far-off, and then I was (and still am) trying to figure out how to navigate the publishing side of things.

5. Are there any songs you’d like to mention that inspired/influenced/are connected in any way to RESISTANCE or its characters? 
Oh, where do I start? I usually end up with playlists for each book…sometimes songs that I just happened to be listening to at the time, or sometimes songs I hear and go, "That is perfect for X character!" I think my biggest song for Rising Book 1: Resistance was "Roadside" by Rise Against. The words fit my character Mairwyn perfectly.

6. What was your favourite book as a child? 
Can I count the Chronicles of Narnia as one book. ;) If I'd had to pick one as a child, The Silver Chair or The Magician's Nephew was probably my favorite. As I got older, The Horse and His Boy was my fave…but my mom read those to me at bedtime, and then I read them myself so many times as a child.

Rachel: Yes, you have permission to count them as one! I understand, because I loved them all too!

7. If you were stuck in an elevator and had the choice of any writer, living or dead, to be stuck with, who would it be and why? 
This will go with my last answer. C.S. Lewis, because I think it would have been really insightful and amazing to have a conversation with him.

Rachel: He certainly has written some incredible stuff that I'm sure has changed MANY people's lives.

8. Out of all the characters you’ve ever created, tell us about the one you’d most like to meet in real life.
Ever created? Ack, this is hard. Hmmm. I'd probably say Sephie (real name Persephone) from Confessions from the Realm of the Underworld (Also Known as High School). That was my oddball book—I typically write speculative fiction, but it was contemporary. I just love her voice and her snark and the way she views the world.

Rachel: Ah, I know Sephie :-) Your 'oddball' book was entertaining!

9. Have you ever based an entire character on a real person you know, and would you tell that person? 
I haven't ever based an entire character on a real person. I don't know if I'd be able to even if I wanted to—my characters take on lives of their own and often become unexpected things anyway.

10. Lastly (and most importantly): cake or ice cream?
Cake! But not chocolate cake; I actually don't care for it much (unless it's chocolate cheesecake).

Rachel: Yay, cake! Me too! My fave is carrot cake though. (And you're insane for not liking chocolate cake!)

Thanks, Laura, for some awesome answers!

An excerpt from Resistance (Rising, Book 1)

By the time an infant's cries pierced the air, the sun was rising and Alphonse was ready to fall over—whether from exhaustion or relief that it had ended, he wasn't sure.

"Alphonse!" his mother called. "Alphonse, I need that knife!"

Alphonse dragged himself to his feet and ran into the house. He located the sterilized knife and took it to the bedroom door. When he knocked tentatively, his mother said, "You can come in. Meet our new neighbor."

Yes, because he wanted to see Nella for the first time in two years after he'd spent half the night listening to her labor pains. "I'd really prefer to stay out here."

The door opened and Alphonse's mother held out her hand for the knife. She looked exhausted, but there was both amusement and happiness on her face. "Very well. Thank you for staying close. You can—"

"Mrs. Redding?" Nella sounded equally exhausted and there was a sudden fear in her tone that made Alphonse's mother turn quickly, the knife in her hand pointed down.

This was the worst thing that she could have done, for it gave Alphonse a wide view of the bedroom and the bloodied cloths and sheets. He got a glimpse of Nella on the bed, holding a baby whose umbilical cord had not yet been cut. Coupled with the sweat and blood smell wafting from the room, Alphonse's nausea and dizziness overwhelmed him and his vision went black. The next thing he knew, he was opening his eyes from the floor, his glasses pressed uncomfortably against his face.

"Alphonse, are you all right?" his mother asked.

"I'm…unnnghh…" Alphonse scooted backwards out of the bedroom. He must have only been out for a second or two, because the conversation within the bedroom continued as though he had not just fainted like a coward at the sight of blood.

Blood…

Alphonse pressed his face to his knees and decided maybe he should wait a moment before trying to stand up again. Though his mother might not know it yet, her chances of ever having a grandchild had just dropped to zero percent.

"What are these?" Nella asked. "These bumps on her back…is something wrong with her? Is my baby all right?"

There was a heavy silence, in which Alphonse imagined his mother to be examining the newborn. "Oh," his mother breathed. "Oh, Nella…these aren't bumps."

"Then what are they?" Bryce spoke this time, and he had more dread in his voice than fear, as though he already knew the answer and was afraid to say it.

His mother's reply was so quiet Alphonse almost didn't hear it. "They're wing buds."

~  ~  ~

Laura Josephsen lives with her family in Tennessee. She is a co-author of the Restoration series and the author of Confessions from the Realm of the Underworld (Also Known as High School). She likes music, reading, socks, rainy days, chocolate, coffee, and sci-fi and fantasy tales.

Author Links

Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Resistance (Rising, Book 1) Links

Amazon (ebook) (paperback) | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Goodreads

Defying Gravity: Book Review & Author Interview

Book Summary:
Homesick upon the SS Perseid, Linia, a young linguist, thinks she signed up for a mission of peace, but her crew members have another plan: attack the planet Medusa. Bored with his dying planet, Alezandros, a space cruiser pilot, joins the Medusan Army in his quest for adventure. When the SS Perseid clashes with the Medusans’ space cruisers, Alezandros and Linia’s lives intertwine. Sucked through a wormhole, they crash upon a post-apocalyptic Earth and are captured by cannibals. In adjacent cells, Alezandros and Linia cast their differences aside for a common bond: escape. But when romantic feelings emerge between them, they might do the unthinkable, because for a Medusan and a Persean to fall in love, it would defy gravity.

Goodreads | Amazon


My Thoughts

Confession: I'm scared of aliens. I'm kinda scared of space too. So I've never been much of a sci-fi fan. BUT I made an exception for Defying Gravity, and I'm glad I did :-)

Things to enjoy:

• The alternating points of view: It adds another dimension to a story when you can see it from more than one perspective. And I always enjoy it when I'm allowed to know what the characters think of each other! The author switches from one POV to the other at just the right time, building tension and keeping readers' interest.
• The world-building: It makes sense that on another planet they wouldn't use the same language and words we do. Planet-specific words add to the believability of this story. I like "pairing up" for dating and (my fave) "pegasifly" for some kind of insect :-)
• The characters: Linia is sweet and Alezandros is kind-hearted and understanding. If the situation were slightly different they could have hated each other, but with a prison wall separating them and only a tiny hole to speak through, they get to know each other for who they really are.
• The cool powers! I won't say what they are (duh, spoilers), but they're not your average mind reading/super strength/super speed etc. They're pretty darn awesome.

Lines to enjoy:

She couldn't place Mixi's age, since her white-blond hair was pulled back in a bun so tight it gave her a face lift.

"Well, I was thinking--"

"That's dangerous for you, and the answer is no." 

She tumbled and fell into the infinite darkness of unconsciousness.

AND NOW.... we are fortunate enough to have the author herself here to answer a few questions!

About the Story

1. How did you come up with the title, Defying Gravity?
Ah, that’s easy. I was trying to think of a title, and then the song “Defying Gravity” from Wicked popped into my head. It seemed to fit the main characters, what they were doing, and sounded a bit sci-fi to me.

2. Are there any songs you’d like to mention that inspired/influenced/are connected in any way to Defying Gravity? 
Well, “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, but in name only. I also liked listening to Katy Perry’s “E.T.” as well because it always got me into a forbidden alien mood.

Rachel: LOVE that song!

3. Do you plan to write any more stories set on the same planet/s mentioned in this novelette? 
Originally, Defying Gravity was a stand-alone book. Then, I got the idea of making it a series of novelettes. I debated on whether to continue Linia and Alezandros’s stories or to use the universe and focus on new couples. The latter is what I’ve decided to do. Right now I’m working on Fighting Gravity, which involves Phoebus (an Aresian) and Marissa’s (an Earthling) story set on the post-apocalyptic Earth as in Defying Gravity. The third and most likely final story of the Gravity series will be Pull of Gravity involving the Earthling Nike and the Cupidian Edonys on the planet Cupidis.

Rachel: I like the gravity theme you've got going there.

About the Author

1. What's a completely random fact about you that most people don't know? 
When I’m thinking on what to type next, I often tilt my head to the side. Usually it is to the left if I’m trying to think of a word or phrase. Then, I’ll tilt it to the right, if I’m trying to be more creative. I’ve found I do that when I took exams too in school.

2. What is your favourite time of day to write?
I would have to say morning. By nighttime, I’m usually too tired, or if I do write, it makes me awake and that’s not good for bedtime and work the next morning.

3. Do you have any weird little writing rituals? (eg. coffee in a specific mug that must stand on the left side of your computer)
I do most of my writing at the day job, so I’m limited on my quirks, but at home, I do love a cup of hot tea. I have noticed I sometimes make facial expressions like my characters when I write too.

Rachel: Must be entertaining for someone to watch you write ;-)

4. If you were stuck in an elevator and had the choice of any writer, living or dead, to be stuck with, who would it be and why?
Good question! I would have to say Michael Crichton. I loved his books, particularly Jurassic Park, and he’s one of the authors I’ve regretted not meeting before he died. His passing still makes me sad to this day.

5. Out of all the characters you’ve ever created, tell us about the one you’d most like to meet in real life.
That’s easy. I would want to meet Apenth. He’s the god of prophecy, wisdom, and a few other things in my Phoenix trilogy. He’s also my muse.

6. Who would you say is the fictional book character that resembles you the most? 
Of Defying Gravity, it would be Linia. Of all my works, it would be Rose from my novel Starred. From all the books out there, it would be Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series.

Rachel: Hermione = good choice!

7. Lastly (and most importantly): cake or ice cream? 
Cake or ice cream? Are you really going to make a girl choose? Hm, I guess I would have to go with ice cream.

Rachel: Yay! That leaves all the cake for me!

~  ~  ~

Cherie Reich is a writer, freelance editor and library assistant. She enjoys writing horror, fantasy, and mysteries, but she doesn’t let that stop her from trying other genres. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her e-books include Once Upon a December Nightmare, The Best of Raven and the Writing Desk, and Defying Gravity. She is a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Valley Writers and placed third in Roanoke Valley’s BIG READ writing contest.

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+

Book Links: 

Surrounded by Books Publishing 

Goodreads 

Amazon