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Book Review - The Beast of Noor, by Janet Lee Carey

9/30/2011

I’ve always loved the magical legends of norse folklore, to be pulled into the mystical realms and feel the very breath of the enchanted characters. And I was not disappointed with Ms. Janet Lee Carey’s tale The Beast of Noor.

Set in the country of Ennes Isle, just outside of Shalem Wood, young Miles and Hanna Ferrell find themselves in middle of an age-old thriller; embarking upon a quest only they can complete, to stop the supernatural rampage of the beast, The Beast of Noor.

The beast had once upon a time been a dog, a loyal dog to his master, Rory Sheen. But when death ensnared Rory, Rory bargained with death and gave death his dog in return for his life. Ever after, the dog was doomed to an eternity of shape-shifting. Its hatred for mankind grew because of Rory’s treacherous deed, killing to quench its vengeance upon every full moon...until now. Miles and Hannah (distant relatives of Rory on their mother’s side) are the only ones left who can stop the beast’s eternal hatred and save the villagers from sure death.

Within the beautifully crafted and vibrant scenes, Ms. Carey’s readers will find themselves transported to another world, a charming world or folklore, with fantastical creatures and characters you can almost reach out and touch. From the eccentric fairy queens, to the wind woman and sprites, the wise and devoted healer, and the dark creatures of trolls and the Beast of Noor, the characters come alive, sprinkling their magical dust on you, compelling you to keep reading chapter after chapter. Miles and Hannah pull you into the story as they weave their tragic tale from their modest home in the hills where they shepherd their sheep to how and why they must stop the creature that haunts their family and their country.

Brother and Sister embark upon their quest, sacrificing all they would have in order to right the dreadful wrong of their long-dead relative, learning as they go that love, loyalty and forgiveness are worth more than all the riches of the troll king.

The Beast of Noor is a delightful tale, one that you will not soon forget. Ms. Carey spins a deliciously imaginative story and I highly recommend The Beast of Noor for your next YA read.

C.K. Volnek

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Mind The Signs, Rebecca Ryals Russel.

9/28/2011

6 Comments

Leave a comment for Rebecca’s posting. One commenter will be chosen at random to win a FREE ebook or other PRIZE, such as an illustrated calendar, keychain, cover art notepad. You can’t win if you don’t comment. More details available at http://rryalsrussell.com/september-blog-a-thon/

Our MuseItUp MG/YA September blog is winding down. My last guest for the month is my friend, Rebecca Ryals Russell. Rebecca writes MG and YA Dark Fantasy and Horror while living with her family in a Victorian house on five acres of North Florida countryside. She also runs a Vacation Rental Log House on the property: Florida Black Bear Cabin. (http://flablackbearcabin.com )

She is a fourth generation Floridian. She was born in Gainesville, grew up in Sunrise, lived in Orlando and Jacksonville before moving outside Lake City to care for ailing parents.

The daughter of an Elementary-school principal and secretary, for fourteen years she taught Middle Grades, preferring English and Creative Writing. She had several students’ works published in anthologies as well as her own poetry, photography and stories. Her main interests are her four children ages 22, 19, 16, 11 and Irish hubby of 35 years. She enjoys spending her time writing, drawing, going to movies, reading, discussing philosophy with her 17-year-old son.

Over the course of the next few years she has several books being published.

Be sure to check out the special interactive Middle Grade Reader website http://tweenwordquest.com for tons of information about Stardust Warriors as well as the other projects Rebecca has in the works.

Welcome Rebecca. Now tell our readers why you like to write Fantasy.

Growing up I read one fantasy book after another and watched every episode of Lost in Space, Star Trek (every episode at least 3 times), Star Wars, anything Sci Fi. I devoured Lord of the Rings, every Anne McCaffrey book written, the Sword of Shannara series by Terry Brooks, I loved the Dark Tower series by Stephen King and read many of David Eddings series. In fact, it was while finishing a David Eddings book the concept for my first book was born. It then took me thirty years to finish writing it. I love writing Fantasy because of the room for invention. World building is so much fun I could just keep building and populating worlds. Does that give me a ‘god’ complex? Only on paper.

It is my belief that readers love Fantasy because of the escapism is provides. Fantasy as a genre has grown in popularity for that reason. Not only does Fantasy provide spectacular worlds to visit but the reader can wield a sword or crown, wings or breathe fire. What other genre allows so many fantasies to be borne out by the reader? And for those who enjoy Romance, it lends itself perfectly to the Fantasy world in a wide variety of ways. The reader can easily be the Princess finding her Prince or Faeries and Elves. And dragons can be good or bad, helpful or not. Not only that, but in the Fantasy world any kind of magical creature, Mythological or newly created, can be born and used.

My YA series, Seraphym Wars has been a trip to write. Although it took me thirty years to finally sit down and put the words to paper, the story went through so many evolutions it wasn’t really even the same story by the time I finished. I chose to go the evil dragon route and incorporated the apocalypse and Revelations from the Bible as well as pulling actual news accounts for the evil committed by the dragon-demons. I couldn’t imagine worse evil than I have found in the daily news. Then I created a world that is Steampunk because Narciss, the head dragon and ruler of Tartarus (Mythological Hell) suppressed technology to control the planet’s population. The planet is predominantly primal forests full of dangerous creatures designed from Mythological elements. But in the farthest corner of the globe away from Narciss sits an enchanted island. After the Great Shuddering, the arrival of the dragon-demons on the peaceful planet of Solsyl, the Majikals who had been living all over the planet migrated to this island. So now what remains of the Elves and Faeries, Dwarves, Mermaids and other creatures I designed live on the island with a Majikal shield around it. This is where my main character, 18-year-old Myrna leads the other six Vigorios. These are the teenaged demon hunters prophesied to defeat the demons in the final battle between the Seraphym and Demons. On the island they will train with the Majikals and finish assembling the army. But just because something is prophesied doesn’t mean it will come to pass. And that is what the Vigorios are finding out.

Would you write Fantasy, even if no one read it?

Yes, absolutely. I write it for me. If others want to read my books that’s awesome, but I’m the one that has to be happy with the story first.

Zarena Blurb:

14-year old Zarena spends time with a Holy Order of Clerics on their hidden world of Revrum Natura, while she receives training in Martial Arts, Herbology, Astronomy, Weaponry and Mind Control. Destined to become the leader of the Vigorios, child warriors, who will assist the Seraphym in the war against the demon-dragons of Dracwald, Zarena grows up in a hurry. Lonely and homesick, she meets a Mermaid who encourages her to talk about her training. Is this new friend too good to be true? Zarena learns a valuable lesson about trust and betrayal—a lesson that will serve her well as leader of the Vigorios.

Prophecy Blurb 151 words

For centuries the residents of Solsyl lived in peace and harmony with the planet. Then the dragon-demons arrived, causing the Great Shuddering. Majikals from everywhere scurried to find shelter from the evil while humans hid. Laud regretted his rash decision of exiling the demons on Solsyl and asked one of his advisors, a member of The Conscientia, to protect his people. Jeremiah Holyfield agreed to leave the peaceful world of Revrum Natura for a life of constant strife and fear on the newly renamed planet of Dracwald. But Narciss, ruler of Tartarus and King of the demons, desperately wants what Jeremiah has sworn to protect—a Prophecy of Narciss’s future doom. And Narciss refuses to take no for an answer. But Jeremiah discovers allies along his path and even true love, which he never dreamed possible.

But forever is a long time to protect something without ever letting down one’s guard.

Odessa Blurb:

17-year-old Myrna is drawn into the middle of an epic battle between Seraphym and Demons. An average High School student from Florida, struggling with inner demons resulting from an attack when she was 15, she wakes one morning on the Steampunk planet of Dracwald, home of the demon-dragons responsible for her brother’s recent murder as well as many other atrocities in the news. She meets sweet and sensitive Michael, who explains that according to prophecy, Myrna must gather the remaining six Vigorios (teen warriors with special talents) then train with the Majikals on an enchanted island. He accompanies her on the quest, but harbors a secret past that ironically would destroy all the faith she has placed in him. A handsomely roguish Scientist with suspect motives haunts her dreams and makes sudden appearances in unlikely places, while a sensual dragon warrior defends her against her will.

Will love and lust, jealousy, greed, deceit and distrust break the delicate tie that binds these teen warriors called The Vigorios? Can a troupe of teens help the Seraphym finally defeat the massive empire of evil dominated for eons by the demon-dragons of Dracwald?

LINKS
http://rryalsrussell.com
http://tweenwordquest.com
http://teenwordfactory.com
http://flablackbearcabin.com
http://northfloridavictorian.com

BOOK RELEASE INFO:
April 2011-Odessa, Seraphym Wars YA Series-available at Amazon
July 2011-Zarena, Stardust Warriors MG Series
September 2011-Prophecy, Seraphym Wars
October 2011-Don’t Make Marty Mad (adult Horror story)
November 2011-Jeremiah, Stardust Warriors
January 2012-Harpies, Seraphym Wars
February 2012-Laman, Stardust Warriors
April 2012-Mercy, Stardust Warriors
June 2012-Magaelbash, Stardust Warriors

Thanks Rebecca for joining me today!
C.K. Volnek

Remember to leave a comment for Rebecca’s posting. One commenter will be chosen at random to win a FREE ebook or other PRIZE, such as an illustrated calendar, keychain, cover art notepad. You can’t win if you don’t comment. More details available at http://rryalsrussell.com/september-blog-a-thon/

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Meet Sue Perkins and her MG Novel SPIRT STEALER

9/27/2011

5 Comments

Today MG/YA Blog Tour takes us to visit Sue Perkins, author of the MG novel Spirit Stealer. I hope you enjoy her delightful post.

Where has the month gone? This is my last visit on the MuseItUp Young Adult/ Middle Grade Blog Tour. I’ve visited a lot of lovely people and so many different blogs and enjoyed every minute of it. I’d like to thank CK for inviting me to visit her blog today.

Who am I? My name is Sue Perkins and I live in the South Island of New Zealand. I love to read and write fantasy books. Reading favorites for adult fantasy are David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Terry Pratchett and Naomi Novik. For Young Adult or Middle Grade I love Brian Jacques, Jenny Nimmo and Terry Pratchett. I know Terry’s in twice but his Wee Free Men series on Discworld is hilarious as is his Bromeliad about the world of the gnomes.

My writing career has encompassed contemporary and historical romance and I have had several adult fantasy books published. I am now stretching my wings and Spirit Stealer my first Middle Grade fantasy will be released by MuseItUp Publishing in October.

Blurb
Spirit Stealer is set in the nighttime world of a library. After the library closes the characters emerge from the books and float around the library, scaring any children who have been accidentally locked in. These phantoms are playful but the evil green Spirit Stealer lurks in the basement. He takes control of the nighttime world, using the phantoms to drive the children into his evil clutches.

Excerpt
The clock in the market square struck half past eleven. Fader stopped reading as a whooshing noise welled up the stairs. He shivered when he heard an eerie wail. Something invisible brushed past him. He heard groans and clanking of metal from further along the back wall. He crept from his hiding place, keeping the last bookshelves between him and the rear of the building.

Fader stuck his head round the final barrier, ready to pull back. Swirls of white mist appeared and disappeared in the air. He’d forgotten about the book in his hand. A misty vapour shot from the pages to join the other swirls of white. Fader dropped the book with a gasp.

The clock in the square struck midnight, and the mist vanished. A hollow groan heralded its departure.

Fader shook his head. The mist and noises appeared harmless. They showed no recognition of his existence. What were they doing? A new library building shouldn’t have the ghosts found in an older building.

He watched the same thing happen night after night, but the mists grew denser and the noises more intense. They sharpened, allowing Fader to see the shapes making the noises. One night a fascinated Fader watched a Viking stomp down the aisle, his axe held high above his horned helmet, the metal links on his leather armour clanking loudly.

A huge Tyrannosaurus Rex rushed through the cross aisle, mouth open as it roared, head swaying from side to side, searching for prey. Fader shrank back into the shadows when he noticed a large striped cat creeping along the top of the bookshelves.

*********************

Thanks for hosting me for my last blog stop, CK. It’s been great fun hasn’t it?

Don’t forget to leave a comment. You’ll find several of my fellow MuseItUp authors have visited. See you there.

http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.com

http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com

http://museituppublishing.blogspot.com/p/muse-bookstore.html

Yes, this has been great fun Sue. Thanks for joining us here today. It's been a joy having you.
C.K. Volnek

5 Comments

And the Winner is...

9/25/2011

2 Comments

Friday was a grand day.
We celebrated the Book Birthday for
Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
...and I offered a FREE e-copy of the book to one of my lucky visitors who left me a commetn.
So...
Drumroll Please....
The Winner of the FREE e-copy of
Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island is...

Rebecca Ryals Russell!

Yay! Congratulations Rebecca.
Thanks to each and every one who attended my Big Birthday Blast. I was truly humbled and honored to have so many people stop by. What a great group of friends, peers and readers! You rock!

Thanks again.
C.K. Volnek

2 Comments

September MG/YA Blog Tour Continues with Barbara Ehrentreu

9/23/2011

5 Comments

Whew, I'm partied out! We had one heck of a Book Birthday party! Thanks to everyone for coming. I am so humbled by your kind words and good will. Please come back on Sunday when I will reveal the winner of my contest…a FREE e-copy of Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island.

But today, our MG/YA Blog Tour continues with my next guest and dear friend, Barbara Ehrentreu. Barbara’s YA novel, If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor, was just released last week and is already claiming five-star reviews. Congratulations Barbara. Welcome to The Mind’s Eye.

Barbara lives in Stamford, Connecticut, with her husband and two grown daughters, but she spent most of her life in New York State. She is a retired teacher who now tutors children who have learning difficulties. Since she was a little girl, she has loved reading and writing. A few years ago, she received her Masters in Reading and Writing K-12 and became a certified Reading teacher.

Barbara stays very busy and wears lots of hats. She hosts Red River Writers Live Tales from the Pages on Blog Talk Radio every 4th Thursday. In addition, her children’s story, “The Trouble with Follow the Leader” and an adult story, “Out on a Ledge” are published online. She writes book reviews for Authorlink.com. and several of her reviews have been on Acewriters and Celebrity Café. She is also a member of SCBWI.

When she wanted to attend a workshop with Paula Danziger as the leader, she wrote three chapter of a YA story that just popped into her head. When Paula took an interest in working with her story, she was thrilled and decided it had merit. So in the next two years, she worked on finishing it.

The book became If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor and was picked up by MuseItUp Publishing. This is what Barbara says about Muse:

Being a part of MuseItUp Publishing has brought me another online family and I am thrilled to be one of the increasingly large members of this warm and encouraging group.

I’m happy to host Barbara on my blog today. Here is an excerpt from Barbara’s novel, If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor, a young adult novel about the trials of being high school students.

“If you have been checked on your somersault, you can jog around the gym until the bell rings.” Miss Gaylon is going to be nominated most annoying teacher in the whole school soon.

Why do we have to run now? Did I have any energy to do this?

Jennifer and I start to run, but soon she forges ahead of me. Is this a race, I wonder? Or am I so slow, she can pass me anytime she wants to? We’re halfway around the gym when suddenly I see Jennifer starting to slow down. She stops running and starts to walk. She looks almost white, and I wonder if she is really sick.

“Jennifer, are you okay?” I pass her at a slow trot.

“Just tired I guess. All of a sudden I felt a little faint. Don’t laugh. It can happen to anyone.”

“Did you forget to breathe as you ran? That could cause it.”

“Very funny, Carolyn; did I forget to breathe?”

“I thought it was. Do you need to see the nurse?”

“No, I’m fine, but I’d like to sit down.”

“There’s Miss Gaylon. I’m sure if you tell her you don’t feel well, she’ll let you.”

“This is funny. Now it’s me who needs to go to the nurse, but I’ll be okay. Just need to sit down. Once I do, I’ll be all right.”

Jennifer slows down, and soon she’s stopped completely. I look at her, and she looks way too pale. I grab her around the waist and walk her over to the bleachers. Miss Gaylon notices and comes over immediately. Jennifer looks dazed.

“Jennifer Taylor, are you sick? You don’t look good at all.”

“Miss Gaylon, I think she hurt her foot, twisted her ankle, but she’s okay now. I’ll stay here and check on her.”

“Let me see that ankle. Hmm, it doesn’t look swollen. You will be fine in a few minutes. The bell is going to ring soon. You stay there, and in a few minutes go get changed.”

“Thanks, Miss Gaylon. I’m feeling much better now.”

Jennifer looks at me with surprise and happiness.

“You are always amazing me, Carolyn. I guess I should have eaten a little more at lunch. Now I remember. I got sick after breakfast today, too. No wonder I have no energy. Thanks for helping me. I might have fainted if you hadn’t brought me over here.”

Across the gym, Becky and her partner are staring over at Jennifer and me. Becky mouths to me, “What happened?”

I mouth back, “She’s sick and needs to rest.”

“Are your plans off?” Becky keeps miming to me.

“No, she’s feeling much better now, must be her period.” This is the last lie I want to tell

Becky today. All of the lies I have told seem to be lying in a puddle at my feet.

The bell rings for the end of the period, and I race toward my locker. I change in a flash and run down the hallway to my other locker. I grab my books and streak down to the front door.

Meanwhile, I scan the halls for Brad. I don’t want to bump into him again.

I’m in a fog racing toward the front door. Brad comes from the staircase, and we are separated by a hundredth of an inch. This time we meet face to face in the middle of the front hallway. Jennifer walks out of the gym looking a little frazzled. Jennifer Taylor looking frazzled?

The end of the world is coming. Brad sees her and walks straight over like a guided missile. “Jennifer, you look awful. What happened?”

“Brad, I’m so glad to see you. I felt sick in gym, but it’s probably not eating enough for lunch. We had to run, and I couldn’t keep going. Do you know who helped me though? She’s like my savior—Carolyn. She got me over to a seat, and I didn’t even have to go to the nurse. What a girl.” She smiles at me. Even better, Brad smiles at me, too.

“Jennifer, it’s the least I could do for you,” I say. “Now we’re even, right?”

“Yeah, I guess we are. See you outside in a few minutes. You’re ready I hope?”

“Yes, I zoomed over and got my stuff. How about you? Are you feeling okay now? We could postpone this you know.” I keep my fingers crossed.

“No, I’ll be fine. You’re coming over, and we’ll study, okay?”

I look at Jennifer and wonder why she didn’t tell him about the makeover.

“What do you mean you’re studying? I thought we were going to spend tonight together.”

Brad sticks out his bottom lip and pouts.

“Tomorrow night, I’ll go out with you. Remember, my parents only allow me one night a week for dates.”

“Okay, I’ll call you tomorrow and see you tomorrow night.”

“Thank you, Brad. You do understand don’t you?” Jennifer purrs to him, rubbing her hands up and down his arm. Brad puts his arms around her and gives her a big hug. Jennifer gets up on her tiptoes and kisses him on the cheek. I’m way too jealous to continue watching this sappy scene.

I walk outside and try to forget what I just saw. Brad will never like me the way he likes Jennifer. I don’t think she cares about him as much as he likes her, but she can sure twist him around her finger. I want to learn how to do that, too. One minute he’s angry and sullen, the next he’s hugging her. For the fifty thousandth time in my life, I wish I could be like Jennifer Taylor.

Barbara, that was a great sample of your story, leaving us wondering what is going to happen next. Great job!

Her books are available on the MuseItUp Bookstore and also at Amazon.

You can find Barbara at her blog: Barbara's Meanderings
http://barbaraehrentreu.blogspot.com/

Thanks Barbara, for joining us today.

C.K. Volnek

5 Comments

It's My BOOK BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island.

9/22/2011

51 Comments

Glitter Graphics | http://www.graphicsgrotto.com/

Funniest Gifs

It's finally here!
Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
is NOW AVAILABLE Here:
MuseItUp Bookstore
Amazon

So, grab a cupcake and a glass of punch and raise your glass with me to celebrate!
In celebration, I'm also going to give one lucky reader who leaves me a comment a FREE e-copy of Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island. So, just say 'hi' and you may WIN! Good Luck.

Thanks for stopping by!
C.K. Volnek

Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
In 1587, 117 colonists disappeared from Roanoke Island, NC,
leaving behind not only unanswered questions, but a terrifying evil.

Now, it's up to twelve year-old Jack Dahlgren to unravel the age-old mystery and save his family from the hateful beast haunting his home.

With the help of newfound friend, Manny, a Native American shaman, and an elusive Giant Mastiff, Jack must piece together the clues to the disappearance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island to uncover what really happened. Shrouded in ancient Native American folklore, it's up to Jack to discover what the evil is and why it haunts his island in a horrifying campaign of revenge. But can Jack stop the beast...before it destroys him?

51 Comments

Count Down!

9/22/2011

3 Comments

Less than 24 Hours til the debut of

Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island!

Please come back tomorrow and raise a glass of virtual punch, grab a cup cake and help me celebrate the Book Birthday of my MG Novel!
See you then.
C.K. Volnek

3 Comments

Romancing With Mackie, In Fantasy and Imagination

9/19/2011

7 Comments

I love a good romance. Nothing warms my heart like feeling that true love still exists in the world. And when you couple that romance with paranormal, the hair on my neck stands in anticipation. What a great combination. And so, today I’m happy to introduce Lawna Mackie, author of ENCHANTMENT, a magical romance, set to make your heart tingle.

Hi, Lawna. Can you tell us something about yourself?

Hi, C.K. Thanks for sharing your blog with me. A bit about me? Well…I have always believed in fairy tales and when I got tired of the old ones I made up my own. Each story would have a hero and heroine, but they were anything but typical.

I devoured my first romance novel when I was a teenager. I couldn’t read them fast enough. Years later I stumbled across my first paranormal romance…an injustice would be done if I tried to explain my joy when I found this genre of romance. My passion was finally in print.

Now, with the help of my bizarre dreams and crazy imagination, I have started to write and intend to share my stories with you. I hope you’ll love them as much as I do.

I am truly blessed. My husband is my inspiration and soul mate. We live on a small acreage in Didsbury, Alberta, with our most beloved companions, Dozer, Daisy and Mandarin.

Happy reading everyone and please stop by to visit me.

IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD – December 19, 2011 released through Liquid Silver Books http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com

ENCHANTMENT – January 13, 2012 released through Muse It Up Publishing http://museituppublishing.com

The books sound wonderful, Lawna. So what got you started writing paranormal romance?

My love for reading inspired me to write a story. When I discovered paranormal romance as a teenager, I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. Many years later while my husband and I were on summer holidays, which included a trip to the Enchanted Forest in British Columbia, I took the leap and started writing. That was the start and I haven’t looked back. I was hooked.

What inspired this book?

That’s easy! Mountains, water, camping, animals and my husband…not necessarily in that order. Surrounding myself in all those things typically causes me to dream. My dreams are creatively crazy and I always have to write about them. For my novel ENCHANTMENT, I somehow created a creature called a Hippo-dog-burrowing owl. Go figure! I called him Threeo because of his three parts and now he lives within my world of Enchantment.

When I’m not writing I work fulltime and love spending time with my family. I have three furry critters: Dozer, my Alaskan Malamute, Daisy, my Bichon Shitzu, and Mandarin the Bengal cat. We love to go camping and fishing.

How does your writing influence your life-and how does your life influences your writing/book?

I don’t find the act of writing difficult, but I do find the discipline needed to find the time to write difficult. Therefore, surrounding myself with others who write is a huge influence. My fellow writers are my very good friends. I admire how they work fulltime, have children and manage many other tasks plus juggle time to write. My hats off to them! On the flip side, because of writing, I’ve become very determined. My dream was to become a published author, but now that I’ve accomplished that my focus is to become a New York Times Best Selling Author. NEVER GIVE UP. ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS.

Give us a sneak peek into the writing of Lawna Mackie…what’s in every book/story and why?

For me it’s all about love. I’m thrilled to write romance, but you’ll also find some very bad villains and bizarre creatures. I don’t think there could ever be enough love in the world so I like to write about it.

Where did you grow up? Do you live there still?

I reside in Alberta, Canada and grew up in the Canadian Rockies.

How much of you is in your books, and what?

Oh…that would give a lot away about me, but I guess I’d say that readers would find my love of animals/creatures, and just how much I’m a sucker for love and happy endings. I enjoy writing about good and evil and the struggles for each type of power.

What would you want people to take away from your book?

First of all I’d like them to be entertained and whisked away into another world where love and goodness eventually prevails.

What is your favorite part of the book and why?

Definitely my favorite part is the first encounter between the hero and heroine and the tension, conflict and anticipation that builds between them. I also like the crazy characters I introduce like, Catz in ENCHANTMENT, and Baja who is a Sea Horse in my novel IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD. They are quite the characters! My writing is meaningful when I write something that makes me cry…either out of happiness or sadness.

Do you have a specific type of writing process?

I’m a pantser through and through! I never outline or plot, so I write by the seat of my pants. I’m inspired by my dreams and go from there. The story just grows.

Finding time to write is the difficult part. I write at night, first thing in the morning around 5:30 AM, and on the weekends. I have many places I write around my house. I’ve recently purchased a small writing desk that I can roll around and pick up. It’s great because now I can write outside on my deck or on the lawn and still be ergonomically correct.

I also write by hand a lot, especially when I’m distracted on my computer!

What a great interview, Lawna. It’s been such a treat to have you on my blog. Thanks for joining us today. And thanks to all our readers for stopping by to visit!

Cheers!

C.K. Volnek

7 Comments

Shellie Neumeier is DRIVEN

9/18/2011

4 Comments

Do you like to read good vs. evil? Do you like paranormal? Then you’ll love Shellie Neumeier’s book DRIVEN. I’ve been following her blogs this month of September and am so intrigued by her YA Novel. Today we’re going to find out more about her.

Shellie holds a degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a minor in Psychology, Sociology and Social Studies. A devoted mother of four, Shellie previously worked on staff with Northbrook Church as the King’s Kids ministry assistant (serving children in grades 2nd through 5th). Shellie’s YA novel, Driven, is available from Risen Fiction and her middle grade chapter book The Wishing Ring will release February 2012. She is an active member of SCBWI and ACFW as well as a contributing author for various blogs. Shellie is located in southeastern Wisconsin.

Welcome to The Mind’s Eye, Shellie. Can you tell us about your book?

Hi, C.K. Thanks for having me here today. My book is about a girl, Robyn, who loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to hanging with the new guy, Caleb Montague. But a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, forcing Robyn to choose between defending the group’s right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request.

She must learn what God wants her to do. And learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy, a demon named Sebastian, whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost.

Sounds great. Who did you write your book for?

I wrote the book with my 17 year old daughter in mind. I’d been reading a series she got hooked on, just to see what it was like and it was so discouraging. I mean life is discouraging, but to leave someone there, just seemed depressing. That’s when I decided I wanted to write something for her. Something that would lift her up and encourage her.

What is the biggest headline in your book?

Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school, but she ignores the arrival of another being—a demon sent to destroy her.

Why a young adult Christian novel?

That’s easy. I still think like a kid. Always have. Young adult is a world of possibilities. They’re willing to go places the adult reader just isn’t so it makes the adventure more unpredictable. And since God is the director of my life, it had to be Christian. One way or another, He was in.

I admire that. It’s wonderful to see someone holding onto her faith and sharing it in their writing. What inspired you to write this book?

What inspired me to write this book was the desire to encourage the next generation. To let them know that God does have a plan for them and it’s a good one, even though it may not seem that way right now. This generation of young adults has almost unlimited access to their world with the ease of travel and the internet. They have the amazing opportunity to change their world unlike any previous generation, but they’re also bombarded with harsh realism and even harsher dramatized “realism” at a very young age. It would be very easy to forget that they have a purpose and it comes from God.

What is the biggest benefit the reader will take away from reading your book?

Hopefully my readers will come away with a renewed sense of power. A sense of I-can-do-that, whatever “that” may be in their lives. And of course I hope they come away having enjoyed a great ride from the story.

DRIVEN is an intense book. It gets hold of you from page one and doesn't let you go till the end. How did you manage that?

I love drama and suspense, so to write that way was one of my goals. I wanted to write something the reader wouldn’t want to put down, so that was a part of the craft that I studied first. I worked hard on making sure there was conflict and emotion that would draw the reader in and pull them through the book. Plus I tried to create characters the reader would root for so when those moments come that leave you afraid for Robyn and the gang, you’re really afraid for them and you can’t wait to flip the page to know they’ll be okay.

What is the part of your book you personally like best?

That’s probably one of the hardest questions to answer. It’s like picking a favorite child. But I’ll do it anyway. There’s a part in the book, where Robyn and Stewart realize there might be another player in the mix, one they cannot see, but is calling a lot of the shots. It scares them, but Robyn also figures out that she’s not alone in the journey. She realizes that she has a team she can lean on. It’s a moment that motivates her to complete her journey.

When you write, which comes first, the story, the characters, or the setting?

Definitely the characters. When I start a story, I look at who the characters are, what are their personalities like, how would they interact in real life, How would they react in certain situations, right down to what type of parents they had and what job would they get when they’re older. That way I know how they react when things get tough. And things do get tough.

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

A little and a lot. Some of the setting pieces were pulled together from real places I’ve been to or lived in. Having lived in the Midwest for the better part of my life, writing a winter-timed piece was second nature. And writing a novel based in a high school did come from both memories of my experiences as a teen, but also as a secondary ed teacher. But I’ve never gone ice sailing (watched it though) and the demonic parts are purely imaginative.

Are the characters, like Robyn and Caleb modeled after people in your life?

I think there’s a little bit of several people I know or knew in both of them. They’re not framed after one individual. That’s the beauty of writing, you can take the characteristics you want in a person and tuck them away, but you can also choose which ones you don’t want them to have and toss those out. After a while, the characters took on personas of their own and it became akin to watching a movie.

If you could compare this book to any book out there, which book would it be?

Reviewers have compared it to Frank Perretti’s This Present Darkness and C.S Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. Mostly because of the glimpse into the spiritual world.

So, what’s next for you?

I’m finishing a MG written with my youngest two children and working on a 4 in 1 novella, co-authored with a Lisa Lickel. We’re also considering a sequel to Driven.

Who should read this book?

EveryoneJ. But it’s geared toward teen girls. Although there are elements of suspense that may engage teen boys, too. Oddly enough there’s a section of middle-aged men and women that have been reading the book. So I guess it strikes interests across the board.

I’d like to know more about your characters. Can you share something about them? Maybe interview one of your characters for us…

I'd like to introduce the main character of the story. Her name is Robyn Stanley and she's like most seventeen year-old girls I know. She hales from Brookfield, WI where she is finishing her junior year in high school and she spends most of her time hanging out with her youth group friends.

Hey Robyn.

Hi. Thanks for the interview.

Yeah, sure. No problem. So tell us what it's like being the main character in a novel.

Well, it's pretty cool, I guess. I get to do things most girls don't, like ice sailing, TV interviewing, and dueling demons. And the hero of the story is pretty cool, too. It's fun playing opposite him.

Would that be Caleb or Taylor?

Actually, I can't say. That's part of the suspense. You don't really know who the hero is until the very end. You'll just have to read it to find out.

Gottcha. Was there ever a moment when you wished you weren't the main character?

Yah. Like when I got cornered into a TV interview with a waspish news reporter. Or when I had to confront my principal. Who wants to do that? I would have shrugged that off on Em, but she didn't want to do it either.

Em?

Yeah, she's my best friend, ever. The kind that let's you do all the talking and has your back when you do something stupid. I love her. But you gotta hide the M&Ms when she comes over. She eats them all.

I hear your story has a tragic twist to it.

It does. All because of a demon who can't leave me alone. He's bent on destroying me and he'll use every one and every thing to do it, too. Kinda makes it hard to be my friend...or my family.

Any advice for your readers?

Sure. Don't give up. Ever. Sometimes God's purpose for you is in the tough stuff. You just have to ride it through to find out. Hey, I've gotta go...homework and all. I'll see you inside the covers of DRIVEN.

Thanks Robyn. If you'd like to ask Robyn a question feel free to add it to the comment section below.

**Robyn is a fictitious character and this interview was conducted in jest because I simply had too much time on my hands. Thanks for reading...

Thanks Shellie. Where can our readers find out more about you?

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/098409315X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=shellneume-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=098409315X">Driven</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=098409315X&camp=217145&creative=399373

Links:

Contact Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001729933656

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/shellie_c

Website: http://shellieneumeier.com

Booktrailer: http://youtu.be/D0iUtvrC_PU

Thanks for joining me today, Shellie. It’s been a lot of fun getting to know you more. Good luck with your book.

C.K. Volnek

4 Comments

Passionate About Paranormal...Author Kim Baccellia

9/15/2011

5 Comments

As a fan of ghost stories and all things that creep, I’m happy to introduce my next guest in our MuseItUp MG/YA Blog-a-thon...Kim Baccellia, author of CROSSED OUT.

Kim has always been a sucker for the paranormal. She blames it on her families' love for such things such as having picnics at cemeteries, visiting psychics, and reading her mother's copies of the daily horoscope. She even had her own horoscope column in middle school, which was a big hit!

Kim is happy to announce her YA multicultural fantasy, Earrings of Ixtumea, will be re-released by Muse It Up and will be out March 2012. Her light YA fantasy No Goddesses Allowed will be out early 2012 and published by Zumaya Publishing.

A member of SCBWI and YALITCHAT, Kim is currently writing the sequel to CROSSED OUT. She's also putting the finishing touches on a multicultural dystopia. She lives in Southern California with her husband and son.

Welcome Kim. Please tell your readers something interesting about yourself AND/OR your favorite character.

Hmmm, let’s see, I’m a huge Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. Yes, I bought all of the season 8 comic book series and plan to buy the first one of season 9 this week.

I admit I like carob. I know, I’m weird.

I love all kinds of animals and when I was little wanted to become a vet only I get sick at the sight of blood. Not a good combo!

Too funny. I was the same way. A friend’s burn took care of me wanting to be a nurse. What was your favorite book as a teen? Tell us about it and how it affected you as a person.

Forever by Judy Blume. It was very controversial when I was in high school and the school library banned it but that didn’t stop me or my friends from getting a copy to read. Blume ‘got’ us and didn’t do the whole preachy thing which only made me want to go out and do that.

I also loved The Insiders too.

Tell us about the genre you have chosen to write for. Why do write specifically for them?

Right now I’m writing YA because I guess I’m still a teen inside. I love the raw honesty. Also when I started writing, my books ended up with teen protagonists. It just felt ‘right’. Maybe it’s because I’m an educator and work with children and teens. This doesn’t mean I won’t branch out later. I know I will but right now this genre is the one my Muse is listening to.

Tell us about your new book. How did it come about and share your favorite excerpt/scene.

Crossed Out is about Stephanie who’s a rescuer, someone who helps murdered girls go to the Other side. She makes talismans like crosses and decorates them with the essence of that girl and places them at the site where the girl was murdered.

Here’s an excerpt:

I couldn’t deal with Mom and her holier-than-thou attitude about decorating crosses. If she had any clue why I needed to do this, maybe she’d back off. I pushed my hair aside and looked down at the wooden beams. My box of paints and Sharpie pens lay close to my side. I had to get the design just right. Roses, or something plainer? It didn’t help that it was so cold in the garage.

Why was it so hard to help the dead go to the other side? It’d be a whole lot easier if they told me what they wanted on their crosses. Dead girl comes, asks for help, and tells me she’s into pink roses. Yes, that would make my job a lot easier.

But one thing I’ve learned is, life isn’t easy. Cliché, but true.

Figures, this was how I’d spend my time on a Saturday – sitting cross-legged on the floor in our garage, worrying about finishing a cross for some dead girl. In a few hours, Mom would drag me to Mrs. Swanson’s house for a sleepover. I didn’t really have time to decorate a cross.

And each time I tried to sketch, thoughts of the meeting drove any thought of the design out of my mind. I mean, how could I even think of helping others – albeit dead ones – when my own life was such a disaster?

I didn’t want to go. But Mom was using the whole sleepover as a way to get me to be around Hillary, whom she thought would be such a good example for me. But I couldn’t tell my mother the truth – I hated Hillary. Yes, we’d once been close, but it wasn’t as if we were BFF anymore. No, Hillary made sure of that when I’d been stupid enough to trust her with my secret. A secret that was better left hidden. No one believed the dead could talk to you.

According to my last counselor, the only way that could happen is through serious Steven Spielberg special effects.

When I admitted to seeing one of my dead friends, he didn’t freak. No, he did something worse. He ended up suggesting to my parents that I needed to see a counselor – for serious psychological help. I mean, only crazy people see the dead.

And, I hate to say this, but his anti-anxiety and antidepressants don’t keep them away. Sometimes I wished the drug cocktail could just erase them. It sure would make my life a lot easier.

Sighing, I decided to go with pink roses. What girl didn’t like pink?

A sudden coldness permeated the garage. Jeez, did Dad forget to close the back door again?

I pulled my hoodie tighter. Working in near darkness was bad enough without the drop in temperature.

Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

I dropped my black Sharpie.

Over in the corner of the garage loose papers and dust whirled around – a funnel growing larger and larger.

A light shone next to Mom’s holiday plastic boxes, illuminating some Christmas ornaments, tinsel, and wrapping paper.

“Stephanie…careful….”

The childish voice grew louder. A chill went up my back. I know that voice!

I blinked once and when I opened my eyes I saw the girl. Her long dirty blond hair was clumped into two pigtails, and her bikini top and cut-off Levis brought back memories of the YMCA pool three years ago where I’d spent my summers.

Allison!

Omigod! I pushed the wooden cross aside. A tingling sensation burned through my whole body. Once I helped a dead person cross over, that was supposed to end the whole rescue scenario. The bright light appeared and poof! Well, not this time.

I scooted away, over the rough, cold pavement. This didn’t make sense. Though I was used to visits from the “other” side, having Allison reappear scared me. I didn’t know what to do.

“Allison, why are you here?” My voice broke.

She took a step toward me. Her lips trembled.

“Careful…danger….”

Danger? Did that mean her murderer was out of prison? Just the thought of that perv touching or killing someone else made me want to hurl.

“No… another….”

Someone else?

“Allison, what are you trying to tell me?” I slowly got up off the ground. “Is the guy who killed you, out?”

Allison shook her head. It still freaked me out how much the dead looked like us, not fuzzy or semi-transparent like they show on TV. The ones I helped still looked the way they had when they’d been killed, complete with all the blood and stuff.

Yet here was Allison. She should be in Heaven singing in one of those heavenly choirs Mom always talked about.

I bit my hangnail, ripping it off. I couldn’t deal with this. Not now.

“Careful….”

The wind picked up, tossing loose papers everywhere. None of this affected Allison.

I had so many questions to ask her. I missed her. I knew she’d understand me, even when others – including my mom – were clueless.

“Allison, what’s it like to be...?”

The wind howled drowning out her answer.

And just as quickly, Allison left.

I felt as if something had punched me in the stomach. I pushed back the sickness threatening to escape. What was going on? But even worse, I didn’t know what to do. One thing had been made perfectly clear. The rules had all changed and no one bothered to give me the new players’ guide.

How has writing affected your life? And what’s your favorite part of being a writer?

Well, it’s not a steady source of income like teaching was! But I couldn’t ignore writing anymore and knew I needed to just do it. Let’s just say Ms. Muse is one persistent chica. Kind of like me!

I love being able to write in my PJs with no make-up and no one knows any better. Also I love to get into the head of my character and let her/his world take me over. I do this by listening to Pandora and selecting certain artists that reflect my character. Stephanie is totally into Linkin Park, Plumb, Brandon Flowers, Paramore, and Evanescence.

What advice can you give regarding the writing process?

A book doesn’t happen on its own. You have to make the time to write and do it. So if that means you write crap at first, do that. You can go back later and revise.

Regarding publication and marketing, what advice can you offer aspiring writers?

Don’t expect the publisher to do it all. You need to get out and get your name out there. Unlike what some believe, even my YA friends with bigger name publishers have to do this too.

I recommend having a blog and also a website. Also you hear about establishing a brand. I suggest doing that too. More than anything don’t be afraid to use social networking to your advantage. By this I mean don’t just twitter or blog—buy my book—write about yourself and other things. That way the reader gets to know you.

How can your fans find, follow or friend you?

My website: www.kim-baccellia.com

I’m on Twitter @ixtumea

My blog: http://kbaccellia.livejournal.com

I’m also part of this group of YA authors:

http://obscurekidlitauthors.blogspot.com/

Thanks for joining us today Kim. The book sounds delicious and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into it.

C.K. Volnek

5 Comments

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Romancing With Mackie, In Fantasy and Imagination

Shellie Neumeier is DRIVEN

Passionate About Paranormal...Author Kim Baccellia

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