Charlotte/ C.K. Volnek - Author - Story Teller
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Meet Jan Fischer Wade and her new YA Novel Veiled Virtues

3/15/2012

9 Comments

 
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Today I want to introduce a great newly published author…Jan Fischer-Wade. I’m so excited for her as she announces her new e-book, Veiled Virtues.

 Veiled Virtues Blurb:
 When Paige Stewart left America to house-sit in England, her only thoughts were to get away from her controlling mother and to have fun. Little did she know that her working holiday would find her hearing eerie voices, experiencing alarming dreams and bleeding from old scars. Although Paige's differences confuse and disgust her, she opens up to the shopkeeper of a strange metaphysical store in town, where she finds much more than tarot cards and crystals. Soon, Paige is stalked like prized game. Relentlessly pursued, her holiday takes a turn for the eerie and dangerous. Her only saving grace may be a modern-day English knight who sweeps her off her feet and recognizes the true virtues the American teen unknowingly possesses.

Doesn’t that book just sound delicious? Mmmmm. But, now let’s find out a little more about Janet and how she ticks…Right Jan?

Thanks Charlie. Glad to be here. I’m anxious to meet our reader and let them in on a few little-known facts about me.

Night owl, or early bird? I am definitely a night owl! While writing Veiled Virtues, I would write after the kids would go to bed until at least 11pm. With that book, I actually wrote long hand on <gasp> paper and then transcribed it later to my computer. I am definitely not an early bird, and love sleeping in on the weekends!

If you had 24 hours alone how would you spend it? Sleeping and writing!

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. Modern day English knights are just plain all-around hot – ‘nuff said!

Any other books in the works? I am hard at work finishing the sequel to Veiled Virtues with a working title of Latent Legacy. It continues the characters’ journeys and delves a bit deeper into the dark side.

Is there a song you could list as the theme song for your book or any of your characters?  Music influenced my writing a LOT . Here are some of the songs I would listen to for inspiration while working on various parts of the book:

 Metallica – Hero of the Day – Theme song for the Rosetta Guard

Rob Zombie – Feel so Numb – Theme for the sparring / fighting in the book

Nickelback – Burn It To the Ground – Theme for the Brotherhood of Cerberus

Twilight Soundtrack – Tremble for My Beloved (Collective Soul) – Protecting Paige

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?  I would love to live in the countryside of England ! I’ve been there twice, and fell in love with the history, culture and people.

What is your favorite Quote? “Fake it ‘til you make it.” I’m not sure who first said it, but it was my sister’s mantra while she went through grad school. I found it very fitting for my debut novel!

What's the craziest writing idea you've had?  That my character would give birth to the second Christ and he’d be named JC2.  This totally never materialized, but my husband and I still laugh about it.

Hidden talent? I can name, from memory, all 50 states in alphabetical order in less than 30 seconds.  Do you want to know how I did it? Sorry, can’t tell. If I told you, well, then I’d have to…get a new unique talent!

What was your favorite children's book? A Fish Out of Water and all the Richard Scarry books.

Nickname? Coincidentally, it was “Fish” growing up! A lot of friends still call me that and was based on my last name.

And here is an excerpt from Veiled Virtues. Enjoy!

Meeting Nathaniel:

Movement at the back of the store caught my eye and I peered over a shelf of books to get a clearer view. When the man turned around, I let out an audible gasp. He stood at the counter, sorting through the contents of a box in front of him, and his striking facial features hit me hard — ruddy cheeks, pink lips, perfect cheekbones, and a strong jaw, all topped by blonde, tousled hair. Aside from lacking a bronze tan, he looked like he belonged on a California beach. His entire being was just exquisite. Gorgeous.

When he suddenly looked up and caught my gaze, I was shocked at the crystal-blue eyes that met mine. I closed my gaping mouth and quickly looked away. A few seconds later, his smooth voice melted me.

“Can I assist you with anything in particular?”

It was the sexiest British accent I’d ever heard.

“Um, no,” I answered, feeling a rush of blood shoot to my cheeks. I pretended to be seriously browsing through some things called smudge sticks.

“What brings you in here today?” He started around the counter toward me, smiling.

“Just, uh, checking out some shops in town,” I stammered, and gawked at his lips and teeth fit for an actor in a toothpaste commercial. The outline of his chest muscles under his lightweight fitted navy t-shirt made my already warm cheeks grow tingly hot.

Wow, no wonder all the girls have crushes on him.

“Are you on holiday from America ?” he asked, apparently noticing from my American accent or lack of an English one that I was not British.

He walked closer to me. “Um, no. I’m, uh, house-sitting this summer for the Cooks, Nigel and Stephanie. Do you know them?”

“Dr. Cook?”

“Yes, and, um, her husband Nigel is an administrator at the school place, uh, cottage — I mean college,” I responded, tripping over my words and undoubtedly sounding like a bumbling idiot. He grinned.


Thanks for visiting with us today Jan. And I hope everyone checks out Veiled Virtues.
C.K. Volnek


9 Comments

Introducing YA Author Jan Fischer Wade

5/10/2011

4 Comments

 
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Hello everyone. Today I would like to introduce YA Author Jan Fischer Wade. I’m excited to have Jan join us and share her upcoming title. Welcome Jan!

Thank you for joining us today, Jan. As we begin, why don’t you tell everyone a bit about your book?

Hi Charlie, thank you so much for having me. My new book, VEILED VIRTUES, is scheduled to be published in February 2012 by MIU Publishing.  It is a young adult light fantasy novel, but has plenty of mystery, romance, and paranormal/supernatural aspects as well.  VEILED VIRTUES is set in modern day England, where our heroine, American teen Paige Stewart, finds herself pulling house sitting duty for family friends. 

While in England, Paige meets Nathaniel Brightmore, a young, handsome shopkeeper who owns a store in town that sells an eclectic mix of products, including crystals, tarot cards, amulets, Wiccan items and books on paranormal and extrasensory phenomena.  The word around town is that Nathaniel is not as angelic as he looks, and the more macabre items in the shop, like pentagrams, swords and books on Satanism and demons, seem to support the notion.

Paige runs into Nathaniel a little too often for it to be a mere coincidence, and Paige wonders what dark side Nathaniel may be harbouring.  However, the odd paranormal occurrences at the home where Paige is staying lead her to Nathaniel for answers.  She soon becomes aware that she is not your average teen, and that a dark group, the Brotherhood of Cerberus, wants her for their own devices.   Luckily for Paige, the Rosetta Guard, a group of modern day English knights, has her back.

You’ll have to read Veiled Virtues to find out why modern day knights still exist and how the Rosetta Guard and the Brotherhood of Cerberus become involved in Paige's life.

Ohhh, Sounds lovely! Where did the concept for your book come about?

I was somewhat tired of vampires and tried to think of something fresh I could write about.  I asked myself what type of fantasy guy would draw me in like no other.  Since I’ve always been a bit of an anglophile, I thought about those knights in shining armour with their massive horses.  It was intriguing, but I wanted a modern story.  So, I came up with the mantra, “Yes, modern day English knights do exist,” and proceeded to roll with it!

How long did it take you to finish VEILED VIRTUES, from concept to final product?

The first complete draft of the book took me about six months to write.  Once I found an agent, I worked on it with her for about another year.

Are there any authors that have influenced your own writing?

I swear, I am the most mainstream reader you’ll meet.  I completely admit that I love JK Rowling and Stephanie Meyer and I’ll take a pass on Shakespeare!  Sorry, it’s true! 

Do you have any favourite place where you feel your Muse is more apt to come and play while you write? Or perhaps you listen to music? If so, what do you listen to?

I normally have to have total peace and quiet when I write.  Having two small children and two feisty Irish Setters made the atmosphere at home difficult to concentrate in, so I would often sneak off to the grocery store parking lot and write in my car (my husband staying with the kids of course)!  Half the time I write on my laptop and half of the time in a plain old notebook, then transcribe later.

When I am driving in my car, I do listen to lots of music to help me think of ideas for the VEILED VIRTUES series.  Some examples:

I can visualize the knights sparring to Rob Zombie’s “Feel So Numb.”

Metallica’s “Hero of the Day” from their S&M CD is what I picture as the Rosetta Guard’s theme song.  I just love that song – its slow beginning and then the thundering parts where you can picture the group racing out on horseback to save the day.

Nickelback’s “Kick Out Every Light” has become the song I associate with the Brotherhood of Cerberus members – the evil group.  I can picture them going to the pubs, doing shots, smashing windows and terrorizing others to this song.

As a writer, what is your greatest fear?

Failure is an obvious answer, but I think another fear I have had lately is that when I am working on book number two or three in the series, that I’ll have messed up a great plot line for myself in the first book after it has been released!  Or, maybe it is the fear that once my book is released there is no ‘going back’ – no more changes, no more fixes, etc.  It’s done!

What normally occupies your desk while writing? Silly question but mine is always littered with pop cans and post-it notes.

A Diet Pepsi, black and red pens, a laptop or my trusty paper notebook, and a print copy of the manuscript I am currently working on – for easy hard copy reference.  I am pretty utilitarian!  I have to put my cell phone and ipad away, otherwise they easily distract me.

Do you have any new projects that you are working on?

I am currently working on the next book in the VEILED VIRTUES series, and starting an outline for the third.  I also have about 35 pages of a screenplay written, but that is going on the back burner for awhile.

What tip would you offer to a new writer who is just beginning their submission journey?

Once you have your final draft, create the perfect synopsis and query.  These represent your manuscript and must grab the reader before they will even look at the first chapter of your work.  Draft them and then recruit some friends and family to review the pieces and offer suggestions of what they want to see that would grab their attention.  I feel a strong title is also key.

Please tell our readers where they can find you.
www.veiledvirtues.com and www.janfischerwade.com

You can follow me on Twitter @VeiledVirtues

Visit Jan at MuseItUp Publishing
http://museituppublishing.com/musepub/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=212&Itemid=82

4 Comments
    Ghost Dog of  Roanoke Island
    - a tween ghost story with a twist of Native American Folklore and based on the real life mystery of the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island.

    Available in Print and E-book
    Picture
    View the Book Trailer for Ghost Dog of Roanoke Island
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbJEF9TjZzo

    A Horse Called Trouble
    A troubled teen must overcome her abused past to save the defiant horse who taught her to love and trust again.
    Available in  Print and e-book
    Picture
    View the book trailer for 
    A Horse Called Trouble

    Welcome to my blog.

    Hi. I'm C.K. Volnek, Author and Story teller. I love books and photography, dogs and horses, hiking and tulips, kids, pasta, sunsets and of course…writing. Please come back often and share your passion in writing.. 

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