Virgil was no ordinary man. He had once fought alongside some of the world’s greatest heroes and saved entire cities from destruction. But after violently killing a young suspect, he was left on the wrong side of the law. Rather than be locked up, he opted to have the source of his powers removed, and to live out the rest of his days in his hometown watching the world go by without him.
Five years later, he had settled into his new life. Until one night, when he heard a kidnapped girl’s screams and came to her rescue. Reinvigorated by the experience, Virgil decides to become his city’s lone vigilante, even though he no longer has his power. But as he will soon learn, every action has a consequence and his world may very well crumble down around him.
GUEST POST
How To Write By The Seat Of Your Pants:
Outline or No?
The answer to this question really depends on a) what kind of writer you are, and b) what kind of project you’re working on.
First, you need to consider the type of writer you are. Some writers are rather meticulous. They need to feel as if they know exactly where a story is going, down to every last detail. They’ll want to know the precise order of scenes, what happens to each character in every moment long before they write it, every little nuance of what is to occur while the plot unfolds, etc. Other writers, on the other hand, like the idea of letting the story flow from within them once they know the basics of the plot. Perhaps they know the beginning, part of the middle, and the end. Just not every tiny bit of minutiae.
Second, you must think about the story you’re writing. Some stories require much more structure than others. For example, if you are writing a crime novel, where clues and hints are peppered throughout the story in nearly ever scene, leading to a big reveal, then you will probably want to outline as much of the story as possible. However, some stories – although, arguably, not as many – require that you write without a huge amount of direction. This can help you to write outside the box and let things flow naturally. For example, when I wrote my first novel, Patient Zero, from the point-of-view of a zombie virus, I didn’t plan out what “he” would say beforehand. I just let it flow. This may especially be true if, as in my case, the story is being told from a first person perspective. It may very well seem more realistic that way.
All that being said, there is no simple answer, nor is there a right or wrong answer. Personally, I’ve run the whole gamut of outlining. I’ll write one project where every storyline and character beat are sketched out in great detail, and then I’ll turn around and write a story with zero outlining. Just do what you feel is right for you and your story.
About Jim Beck
Jim Beck is a freelance writer and produced screenwriter who resides in Burbank, California with his loving wife, rambunctious son, and cute little dog named Monster. He has written for Cartoon Network’s Pink Panther & Pals, produced a short zombie film and independent feature film that was recently selected for Sundance, and is currently awaiting the release of his first direct-to-dvd creature feature.
Jim’s screenplays have placed very high (and in some cases, won) in contests conducted by Cinescape Magazine, Project Greenlight, Acclaim TV, Acclaim Film, and Writer’s Boot Camp, among several others. In the case of Writer’s Boot Camp, he was awarded a one year writer’s fellowship to develop future projects.
Jim runs his own website (www.blackroostercreations.com) and has self-published two full novels,Patient Zero and Virgil: A Superhero Tale. He is currently prepping his third and fourth, a supernatural story called Beneath and his own unique take on the classic Jekyll & Hyde tale. He is also the creator of two ongoing TV In Prose series, Alter Ego and Pest Control, which are books given the television treatment, split into seasons and episodes.
In his spare time, he enjoys watching movies, having open-heart surgery (though it was not his choice), playing video games, and searching the universe hoping to find more spare time.
Today on Novels On The Run I would like to welcome Courtney Vail as our Guest Author and her wonderful post she has written for us. I had this urge to find out what an author thought about brunettes as villains/psychos. Not bashing the brunettes, I just have to look in the mirror, I am one.
Oh and I just want to mention the book cover for Kings & Queens. It is absolutely smashing for the story within the pages. LOVE the crown on her lips and the blood splatters......oh yes you are in for a ride with this little gem.
Watch this trailer , it tells you what I won't repeat in my book review, before you go any further.
By: Courtney Vail
Published By : Little Prince Publishing
Released : 27th January 2012
Details: Digital , 328 Pages
RATING : 5 ADDICTIVE DEREK STARS!!
Book Blurb: Taken From Goodreads
Seventeen-year-old Majesty Alistair wants police to look further into her father’s fatal car wreck, hopes the baseball team she manages can reclaim the state crown, aches for Derek…or, no…maybe Alec…maybe. And she mostly wishes to retract the hateful words she said to her dad right before slamming the door in his face, only to never see him again.
All her desires get sidelined, though, when she overhears two fellow students planning a church massacre. She doubts cops will follow up on her tip since they’re sick of her coming around with notions of possible crimes-in-the-works. And it’s not like she cries wolf. Not really. They’d be freaked too, but they’re not the ones suffering from bloody dreams that hint at disaster like some crazy, street guy forecasting the Apocalypse.
So, she does what any habitual winner with zero cred would do…try to I.D. the nutjobs before they act. But, when their agenda turns out to be far bigger than she ever assumed, and even friends start looking suspect, the truth and her actions threaten to haunt her forever, especially since she’s left with blood on her hands, the blood of someone she loves.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind . . .
BOOK REVIEW by Michelle :
Curveballs are woven masterfully through this energetic read.
I went through a lot of emotions reading this book.
At first I felt confused with the Prologue.
Then the story kicks in like I should really know the
characters and where I am at. Now I am not criticising as this is a most
exciting read, but it just takes the reader a bit to get their bearings. But that is Courtney's style of writing, getting us to learn along with the characters. It felt like I was slotted into the story next to Majesty. I was her shadow.
This book has everything. It’s quite chaotic with the mind
games it plays on the reader.
It was amazing to watch myself change my rating of this book
, the more I read.
The title and cover image are very apt. This book is very
original and very cleverly written. I applaud an author that can keep me
guessing.
* clap clap
clap*
Now I will admit feeling a tad frustrated at the start as I
was having a bit of trouble getting my head around all this information I was
flooded with.
But!!
This story just kept rising to the occasion. Like, holy bat
man, it was an incredibly intriguing read with mystery that just keeps you
guessing! There is no slowing down once this story gets into 5th gear. The
pedal is to the metal ,and hang on cause........... it is going to be a
bumpy ride.
Bang! Bang!
The character Derek, Majesty’s best friend, appears at first
to be quite two dimensional. Just happy for a lay................*shakes head*
....holy cow!!! Keep reading!
Alec, Derek’s mate and also Majesty’s other best
friend..............keep reading!!!
This book has baseball, an incredible mystery thingy that I
can’t tell you as it is such a major part of the story even though you don’t
know it. Lust, betrayal, guns, explosive church scene, guys wanting to get it on
with Majesty, but she has eyes for Derek or Alec ( the girl is confused) There
is stuff going on that is woven in spits and spurts through the storyline but
it makes sense, a most interesting style of writing by Courtney. It’s hard to
explain the buzz going in your head when reading as you play catch up, but at
the same time it’s very well done. It’s almost a challenge for the reader to
get the right answer/s .
My brain was going all over the place and then
CURVEBALL....it was zipping around another corner..then...CURVEBALL.....
Courtney really plays her characters off the reader. What
appears to the reader is not necessarily what it appears. It's quite amazing the complicated puzzle and web of deceit that your brain
realises after finishing. Oh I need to shush up!!
I loved watching Majesty turn all Nancy Drew. She started to
turn the tables and it worked very well.
Oh the trust issues and ........... and.............and..................then.....
Bang! Bang!
There are enough characters ( so choosing my words carefully)
to keep the reader guessing and ????? and WT!!!!
LIELIELIE
This would make a brilliant movie. I can so see the brilliance of this on the big
screen and the viewer’s face as they start to get that moment of recognition,
then the curveball that slaps them in the face..hehe!
SHOCKSHOCK SHOCK
There is such a frightening thought, what if this story could
one day be a reality, the power and glory of being able to say................well
I can’t tell you that!
FAVE QUOTES:
“Mom. I’m
bruised, not broken. I hate to get knocked down. I hate to get screwed with.
And I hate to lose. Let me try and be strong. You don’t understand how
important this is for me.”
“A strip club? Why am I even surprised?”
“No, no, no. It’s close-to-nude art, a dancing theater … down to Band-Aids
and floss. Close enough. Awesome, huh?”
Majesty’s apology to Pete was about as well-received as a used tampon.
“Good. I need you to be really naughty and spend the day with me.”
He pinched his arm, making sure he wasn’t still asleep. Reality assured,
he licked his lips. “Sure, I can be as naughty as you want. I’ll bring the
whipped cream and the scarves.”
Do authors have a favourite hair colour for their bitches/villains?
In YA, many of the psychos I’ve encountered in books happen to be blond. It’s weird because blondes in America are depicted as clueless for the most part, like with the mountain of blond jokes that have accumulated over the years, and posters and T-shirts, but often in books, they’re the most calculating, the most diabolical, the most conceited, the most snarky, the most bitchy and the most antagonistic. So blondes also have a lockdown on “psycho” for some reason.
You often get the popular cheerleader who is the direct antagonist of the MC. She’ll be bitchy, snarky, rude to her friends, dating the captain of the football team, ruling the school and dumping on the misery by the heapload onto Miss Protagonist. Or there’s the cold chick in the church youth group dating the hottest guy, and everyone else can see that she’s a nightmare and that her sweetness is saccharine-based, except the one, totally blind, but amazing guy she snagged. And said MC will be in that youth group pining for Blind Guy and hoping he comes to his senses. And there’s the vampire/fairy/werewolf/teacher from hell/drunk mom/murderer--the worst of the worst, are often blond. The teacher may be grey and haggard in the story’s timeframe, but back in her day, I’ll bet anything she was blond.
Usually the mousy brown-haired chicks are insecure, shy, quiet, klutzy, nerdy and understated. Very rarely will this brunette be anything close to evil. But … she will BECOME evil and start turning on what little friends she has, as soon as she goes blond in an infamous transformational makeover. Her new blondness will warp her judgment, make her mean, and eventually, turn her psycho.
Redheads are sometimes the protagonist, just to shake things up on the hair color spectrum. Red hair is seen as a little more edgy or bold in choice, over blond or brown, and some authors make the mistake of thinking the red hair will carry the character, and they won’t fully develop their MCs. Redheads are the least likely to be pscyho or evil. So watch out! A surprise in the murder mystery you’re reading may be headed your way. In books, red heads are usually fun, strong, loyal, vivacious, maybe artsy, perhaps dancers or singers or violin players. Sometimes you get the freckled-faced meany, with of course FRIZZY red hair, but that’s a rarity. The meanness, not the frizzy. Rain and I have met on many occasions and over the state of my locks.
Brunette seems to be the predominant hair color for protagonists. It is the most prevalent in society, so this only makes sense. I don’t know if they make better psychos, but I’d really like to see more brunettes breaking out of the blah mold for sure. So many brunette protagonists have very little personality, much less than other hair colors, which I don’t get. I guess there’s a perception that blonds and red heads have more fun, and more bubbly and testy personalities come with the hair. And brown-haired characters will often be loserly or self-loathing in some way. You do get the occasional brown-haired guy that’s a stalker or nerd-gone-wild or whatever, but on the jerk scale, blond guys and girls remain on top.
In Kings & Queens, Majesty, my main character is brunette and I didn’t let hair color determine who she was in the story. When I first wrote the book, I had her kind of insecure because guys didn’t pay much attention to her in a romantic sense, but she defied that and ended up emerging as strong, feisty, sensitive, weird, gutsy, mouthy and athletic. She’d be the same exact girl with any hair color.
I really do hope for more brown-haired psychos, and for more personality overall in books, especially YA. I’m so tired of tripping, sadsack, sour-faced drips who complain and kick stones all the time. Brunettes can have fun too … and they can just as easily burn your clothes on the lawn.
Thanks for having me.
About this author
COURTNEY VAIL writes totally twisted YA and adult suspense. She enjoys braiding mystery, suspense & romance with some kind of weirdness. Her addictions to crazy coffee concoctions, Funny Bones, Ben & Jerry's, and bacon keep her running and writing. She currently lives in New England with a comedian stud and a wild gang of kidlets.
I would like to welcome Heather M. White to Novels On The Run today. I hope you enjoy her guest posting.
GUEST POST by HEATHER M. WHITE
Pen names – To pen name or not!
What are your views on pen names, pros and cons,
if any?
Before I published my first book, I considered using a pen name. My name,
to me, is very ordinary. I thought using "Heather M. White" would make me harder
to find... I considered using my maiden name, Cockrum, but decided against it. I
figure I'll save that in case I ever decide to write erotic novels *just kidding
by the way* ;) Plus, my name is easy to pronounce and spell! I've tried to find
authors before, and I can't spell their name! So I give up trying to find
them!
In the end, I knew my real name, Heather M. White, would be the best way to
go. I threw in the M (middle name is Michelle), just to make me stand out a
little more. I just wanted people to know the real me. I felt like if I used a
pen name, I would be hiding. And, I think I made the right decision. I'm Heather
M. White, and I'm proud of what I write :)
To anybody who is considering what their author name should be - just make
it something easy to pronounce and spell. That's very important. However, rather
to use a pen name or not - that is a tough one!!
What about you? If you had a pen name, what would it be?
Michelle: Oh, I have had my pen name for a long time...but ........hehe!! Maybe oneday:D
When Destiny Strikes is a fun, quick, easy read, filled with multiple crazy zombie beheadings, with the use of the faithful shovel. I did laugh at the conversation Karlie was trying to have , and the zombie just wouldn't stay down....he really should have..... ha! Clunk!
There is an army coming to kill Karlie, the Chosen One and she has a group of ever faithful protectors on hand to support her. Our fave subcharacters, Shane and Alex are back with sidekicks Savannah, Jessica, Jarrod, and Mark.
I love Hugh and Hubert, the twins. They are dragon shapeshifters and if I had a team to pick in a battle I would be waving my arms in the air madly if they were on my team. They are the bomb!
Karlie has been written almost unstoppable.....well until Serenity , in the name of slowing Karlie down, shows her she can be stopped. She can do it all, cause, she is the chosen one, control weather with emotions, heal herself, heal others, teleport ( rather handy) , doesn't need sleep and can mind read, throw in being uber strong and she is a nightmare of a package to the baddie.
Serenity is an unusual character, the things she does for the good of the other characters, sometimes had me giggling.
Dear dad, well he is an absolute hoot. He knows what Karlie does , what she is, but , school is a major priority. Several times I was chuckling to myself at the way Karlie fitted in her schooling around beheadings of the creatures coming to kill her.
This book has 60ft dragons, shovels, 8ft Ogre, atleast 1,952 zombies to play swing the shovel at, vampires, shifters, poker, '69 Mustang, 1/2 demons ( hello Nicholas) trip to Vegas, jealousy, angels, demons........and that's just for starters.
I had fun reading this second installment. It was a cute read.
Michelle
About the Author:
Heather M. White I am a returning resident to Arkansas. I just migrated south from Saint Louis, MO with my husband. We have a married a year. :)
I love to write. I have been writing since I was a kid - literally. I decided in the 2nd grade I would write a book. I wrote lots of short stories and poems... And did I mention I wrote over 200 songs? (Yeah, I'm a musician too - guitar, bass, drums and vocals). So I wrote my very first novel at the ripe age of 14... My Mom still has it :-/. OK, so maybe it wasn't my best work, but I had a LOT of fun writing it!
When I'm not writing, I am normally reading. I am also a caffeine addict... Dr. Pepper and NOS (the energy drink) are my drugs of choice :)
I would like to welcome authorSue Lawsonto Novels On The Run and thank her for taking the time to write this wonderful guest post.
Hi Michelle. Thank you for hosting the Forget Me Not Blog Tour. It’s terrific to visit ‘Novels On The Run’, and I love your question!
The importance of critique partners you can trust.
Author critique partners vs family member/friends
Writing can be a lonely business, as the bulk of it is done on my own at the computer. If you’re not careful, you can become isolated and out of touch. I’m incredibly lucky as I’m surrounded by people who support, encourage and help develop my writing and are always there if I need an ear.
As much as I love my friends and extended family, I don’t tend to discuss my work, especially while I am writing, unless I am quizzing them about something that falls within their area of expertise. For example when I needed advice about a hospital or medical scene, I talk to my sister who is a nurse, or if it’s an artistic inquiry, I seek out my girlfriend who is an artist.
When it comes to the nuts and bolts of writing – character, plot, grammar etc, I turn to my husband, my critique group and my editors.
My husband is a journo and former editor of a newspaper, so his skill is immense and invaluable. While I am writing, he’s a patient and invaluable ear when I carry on about plot issues and bits I am excited. This talking process helps me clarify what I am trying to say. I used to pick my daughter’s brain too, but she’s doing VCE and has enough on her plate without me going on about what a character or another has done. My husband is also the first to read my draft and picks up mistakes, holes and ‘issues’ I’ve missed. This helps make sure my drafts are as clean as possible when I send them to my editor.
While my husband and my daughter are an incredible support, I don’t rely on them totally. I’m very lucky to have wonderful friends who are also talented writers. We listen, laugh and discuss our work, critiquing, supporting, rebuilding and problem solving. My books wouldn’t anything like they are if it wasn’t for these three friends. And clearly from the photo, we play as well!
My final most trusted advice comes from my incredible editors. I trust my editor and publisher implicitly and welcome their feedback. Their goal, like mine, is to make the book the very best it can be. My editors have a way of finding within the story and me things I didn’t think I could do.
For me, the key to receiving feedback is to trust the person who offers it and to remember, especially when the feedback is tough, that it is an invaluable gift that only serves to make my story better, and at the same time develop my skills as a writer.
Just when her new life as a TouchStone — a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds — seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away…let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed.
The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faerie is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding elven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves.
BOOK REVIEW : A SLIVER OF SHADOW
I absolutely loved this sequel in the Abby Sinclair series.
Brystion , Brystion where are you ? The hunky daemon, Brystion takes a nice amount of leave from this instalment. Who we do get instead is Talivar, the body guard in spades, whose character progresses in this instalment. We are introduced to Talivar, Moira’s brother at the end of ‘A Brush of Darkness’.
I love this, taken from Allison's page.
Brystion is keeping his distance for the most part, he packed up and left the Heart that Abby left for him. Abby is pining for Brystion but at the same time a light is glowing for Talivar and things move a lot slower than they did with Brystion. Talivar is into courting and not bamming in the cheap room , even though if Phin hadn’t been causing trouble with Melanie and Katy , it may have been the cheap room * waggles eyebrows*
Phin is still super naughty and mischievous , but we learn more about the little fellow. I liked what Allison did with his character. Phin is a total scene stealer. Whenever he pops up , his dialogue and actions steal the show.
I quite liked seeing Abby in mamma mode with baby Benjamin, it was quite cute. Baby Benjamin is very cute with his wings, but mamma Moira is in Faery attending to her mother who appears to have lost the plot a little.
Yes, I think I am Team Talivar. I do love Brystion, but he needs to pick himself up. Abby - Brystion was quite full on and smexi from the word go in ‘A Brush Of Darkness’. A total of like two weeks they knew each other.
This story takes place six months down the track.
I love at virtually the half way mark of this story we took off to the CrossRoads, due to a reason you can find out for yourself. There begins an adventure for Abby who is separated from Talivar for a short bit and we meet some great sub characters. I quite liked Jimmy, and now this is the second book only I have come across a Kitsune, oh and a talking horse that isn’t really a horse....hehe!!
Team Brystion does turn up again, but now we have me all confuzzed as I got myself a t-shirt with Team Talivar as he is gorgeous and we see things develop at a more manageable pace and it wasn’t based on sex . I don’t like the term the Crippled Prince, but this is what he is known as. I love that he is an Elf. So we have the daemon and the elf.
We actually get some lovely twists all round with several characters. There are a lot of places Allison takes us that really made this book enjoyable. The pace was exciting and smart.
Plus the errrr.... triangle......* wink *
I am almost begging for ‘A Trace Of Moonlight’ due out October 2012.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend this series. Allison really pulled out all the stops in this instalment and then some...* wink* .
FAVE QUOTES:
The elf had changed into an outfit I hadn't seen before, dark leather vambraces at his wrists and a thick vest over his tunic. His sword hung lose at his side , but now he also had a massive bow slung over his shoulder, a quiver of nasty looking arrows bristling at his hip. His hair was neatly braided and tucked out of the way. "It's like having my very own pet Legolas."
His mouth curled up in a private smile. "You have no idea."
"Not to interrupt the whole kumbaya vibe you've all got going on , maybe we ought to can the love-in for the moment.
"What's to slander ?" I retorted. "She's like a child, running her little tea party into the ground while the big bad wolf stands outside getting ready to piss on the gates. And the rest of the pigs are sitting here in their house of straw playing canasta. What's it going to take for you guys to get out the bricks?" My voice dropped lower.
Now I would like to introduce Allison to the blog and thank her for this wonderful guest blog spot.
ENJOY!!
GUEST BLOG POST WITH AUTHOR ALLISON PANG
Sidekicking It
One of the most prevalent characters in UF and PNR today is that of the sidekick. Not that we don’t see sidekicks in other genres, but it’s unlikely that we’ll read about talking skulls or cat-demons or even tiny pervy unicorns.
*ahem*
But sidekicks in general aren’t just there for looks. They serve a purpose, often as a companion or even a foil to the main character. They can make observations the main character might not see, give advice, be a shoulder to lean on. Not that the main character is required to take that advice, but it’s out there and sometimes the most innocuous of comments can lead into something much larger down the road.
Sometimes a sidekick can *become* the main character for a while (think Samwise in the Lord of the Rings – one could argue that without him, the One Ring wouldn’t have been destroyed. Without his support, Frodo might not have made it to Mordor.)
So that sort of leads us into which is better? Human vs nonhuman sidekicks? Is there a preference for one over the other? There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
Starting with animal sidekicks – they tend to come in two flavors. “Normal” animals – dogs, cats, and the like, which may or may not talk or have some other power…and those that do. It’s obviously up to the author how they want to work it – certainly there’s a place for both, but in the UF and PNR genres, there definitely seems to be more of the latter as opposed to the former. Given the nature of the worlds the characters inhabit, I think readers often expect talking cats or whatever. It adds to the worldbuilding and can give the reader a more in depth view of things.
Which actually brings up another point – if we’ve got a creature sidekick, should they be able to speak? I think a lot of it depends on the overall role of the sidekick. I know for myself, when I first started writing Phineas into A Brush of Darkness, I hadn’t intended him to talk at all. He was only supposed to be there for comedic effect. When he speaks for the first time about half-way through the book? That’s pretty much just want happened. He opened his mouth and boom! Instant change of character.
But it worked. Instead of merely becoming a leg-humper, he became a pervy little thing, with the ability to leer and be wildly inappropriate – but now it’s mixed with actual advice. He’s got a much larger part to play in the next few books and let’s just say his arrival in A BoD was not an accident. There’s a purpose behind many of his actions, though you’ll have to read to find out what those are.
Human sidekicks may have things a little easier at times – they don’t have to be hidden, like maybe a magical animal sidekick has to be, but it comes with its own level of complexities too.
Human sidekicks often have lives outside of the main character. There’s a greater possibility for conflict there. Rivalry, mistrust, miscommunication – all of these things can drive a wedge between sidekicks and add to the plot. (And that’s not to focus on the negative – just that friendships can have their tense moments as well, and perhaps human characters often seem to have a greater depth to them. Also, I think there may be a prevalence for characters to trust animal sidekicks more. Which may or may not be wise, but it’s ingrained in many of us to accept that animals like dogs and cats can grant us unconditional love. It’s not that far a stretch to assume the same for animal sidekicks. They’re not going to potentially compete for the love interest, for example.)
Plus I do think that humanoid sidekicks have a greater chance of being main characters in their own books. Not that all sidekicks don’t have their stories to tell, but I know in my case, Phineas is really only good in small doses.
Although he’s one of my most popular characters (and I get requests all the time for me to write up a book with him as the main character), I’m not sure that would ever work. In this case, Phin really only is a sidekick. It’s a bit like a spice. Too much and it’s going to turn off the readers. Plus, Phin with real depth might be a tad boring – snark only carries you so far.
So who are your favorite sidekicks? Do you prefer one type over another?
I would like to welcome ANDREA CREMER author of the NIGHSHADE series to Novels On The Run and thank her for her lovely guest blog spot. I thought a great topic would be the boys of the Nightshade series and Andrea's thoughts and fave quote from each of her books associated with her guys. So without further ado, take it away Andrea.....
Ah, the boys. I do love talking about them! Though Connor, Ethan, Ren, and Shay are very different from one another, something they share in common is the reason I adore them: with each guy there’s a lot more than what you get at first glance.
Actor pick: Jensen Ackles
Take Connor. He jokes and teases to the point of being annoying – maybe half his jokes are actually funny (sorry Connor), but inappropriate remarks and off-color jokes are simply another layer of armor for this warrior.He uses humor to fend off fear and doubt, not only for himself but also for his companions. He’s fiercely loyal and deeply sensitive (though he would never admit it!).
Favorite Connor quote:
Connor shook his head. “I wouldn’t recommend it, Shay. Once you get past fifteen things start to poke in nasty ways any time you move.” (Wolfsbane)
******
Actor pick: Ryan Gosling
Opposite Connor’s jokester is Ethan’sstraight man. Once upon a time, Ethan might have occasionally joined in Connor’s pranks, but since his brother Kyle was killed by the Searchers Ethan has adopted a classic sullen, brooding, bent-on-vengeance guise. Beneath his grief and rage, a funny, clever man remains, but it will take a serious intervention and a person with fire in their blood to melt the ice that surrounds Ethan’s heart.
Favorite Ethan quote:
He twisted away from Sabine, jumping to his feet, limbs shaking. “That…” His face took on a haunted cast as he stared at her, backing away. The expression dissolved into a scowl. “I didn’t want that.” (Wolfsbane)
******
Actor pick: Taylor Kitsch
Renguards his true feelings by donning a bad boy attitude that most women find irresistible. Beneath his reckless, playboy ways Ren has a turbulent spirit, filled with doubt and fears he doesn’t want to face head on. Being the son of pack leader, Emile Laroche, is anything but easy. Emile is a brute who resents Ren rather than loving him as a father should. Emile’s abuse makes Ren desperate to prove himself as well as to claim what’s his.
Favorite Ren quote:
“This is only about love.” (Nightshade)
******
Actor pick: Chace Crawford
People often post Shay as the ‘good’ boy opposite Ren’s ‘bad’ boy role, but as boys go Shay is pretty naughty. Orphaned as atoddler and raised by his oft-absent Uncle Bosque, Shay is used to living independently. He doesn’t like rules so he’s happy to ignore them. His curiosity leads him to dangerous places, but his instincts and wit usually can get him out of a bad situation. Since he had no siblings or even long-time friends to curb him, Shay wears his heart on his sleeve and is unwilling to hold back his true feelings even when it might be safer to stay silent.
Favorite Shay quote:
““Ah. Too personal.” He raised his eyebrows. “The relationship of a girl and her favorite novel can be complex indeed.” (Nightshade)
Is true love worth the ultimate sacrifice?
Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is.
In the final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Andrea Cremer creates a novel with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final pages. A dynamic end to this breathtaking trilogy.
ONLY OPEN TO AUSTRALIAN ENTRIES IF YOU ARE OVERSEAS AND WANT TO ENTER TO GIFT TO AN AUSTRALIAN FRIEND ( Aust address) , THAT WOULD BE COOL OF YOU.
2 WINNERS 1ST PRIZE = 2 BOOKS Nightshade and Wolfsbane 2ND PRIZE = 1 book Bloodrose
TO ENTER
Please tell me in comments :
Your email address ( to contact winner)
Your GFC following name ( Please be a follower to enter)
You are Australian ( or will gift to Australian friend if you win, a random act of kindness)
Feel free to tweet about this giveaway, that would be lovely
Answer this question: Are you Team Shay, Team Ren , Team Connor or Team Ethan? You don't have to have read any of the books to answer. Just go on what Andrea says about each of them in her posting.
GIVEAWAY STARTS NOW!!
ENDS 18TH MARCH 2012 MIDNIGHT AUSSIE TIME
Pleae be sure to drop by Tales of the Inner Book Fanatic & Eleusinian Mysteries for more chances to enter to win books in the Nightshade series and the exciting postings they have with Andrea Cremer and her characters.
Novels On The Run would like to welcome Marie Lamba author of 'Drawn' and thank her for taking the time to write this wonderful Guest Blog Post.
Marie Lamba (MarieLamba.com) is author of acclaimed young adult novels including What I Meant… (Random House), Over My Head, and Drawn. When she isn’t writing or fantasizing about other times, she’s working as an Associate Literary Agent at The Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency in NYC.
Guest Post by Marie Lamba, Author Of The New Paranormal
Drawn
I’ve always been a sucker for a good time travel tale. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, The Time Traveler’s Wife, and A Knight in Shining Armor are all favorite books of mine. And then there are the flicks: “13 Going on 30,” “17 Again,” “Kate and Leopold,” and the ultimate time travel movie “Back to the Future.”
I think what I love most about time travel is the way it allows me to toy with what it’d be like to visit another time. Not to be someone who lived in that time long ago or far away, but to be myself encroaching on another world. Whenever I visit an old building, a castle, or a ruin, I can’t help but wonder what the people were like back then. Were they very different? Would I connect with them somehow?
If you could go anywhere, or rather, anywhen, when would you go?
I’d end up smack-dab in the Middle Ages. I’d love to see a fully functioning castle, and women whisking about in those elaborate gowns and pointy headpieces, and knights clanking in their armor, and foppish troubadours strumming lutes.
Honestly, that’s one of the fun things about being a writer -- being able to bring your own imaginings to life. In my new novel Drawn, Michelle De Freccio is a practical teen. She’s an artist, but still is someone firmly grounded in reality and the normal. When she moves to England, she keeps drawing pictures of some guy. Then she starts bumping into him at the town’s castle. That’s when things start to get really strange. Michelle refuses to believe he’s actually from another time, or that she’s no longer in the present. She’s convinced he’s just some nut, until this moment in the novel:
“Try taking your meds,” I tell him, stuffing these things back into my bag. “Try not wearing that cape and boots all the time. While you’re at it, why don’t you take up a hobby, like going to Star Wars conventions as a Jedi knight?” I hang the bag over my shoulder and grab my drawing pad. “I’m leaving and if you follow me, I swear to God I’ll scream and you’ll be in prison faster than you can say Society of Creative Anachronism. Got that?”
He flashes a half smile. He’s so attractive. He’s so cocky. I grit my teeth and back away. I’m near the steps. I turn, about to run down, when I see over the wall something far below. My heart seizes up. No tourists. No tents. No cars. No parking lot. Just grass, a water-filled moat and a deep forest in the distance.
From this point on, Michelle is forced to believe in things she never thought possible. Like the ability to connect with another time. Or how two people from such different times can feel so close. Of course Michelle and Christopher have serious differences in their beliefs and outlooks on life. Like in this scene:
He drinks a few handfuls of water, then sits back. “First you must tell me, do you support the House of York and the true and rightful king? Or are you with the so-called King Henry, that addlepated idiot who is not sane enough to know his own name?” “You shouldn’t call him an idiot. He’s sick. Like your father was sick.” “He is nothing like my father,” he says, indignant. “I mean King Henry is mentally ill. It’s a sickness. It’s pretty sad.” Christopher snorts, which seriously annoys me. “Lots of people are mentally ill, Christopher. Lots of good people.” The tremble in my voice makes him look up. “If there was a cure, maybe he would get better and have this really great life.” “Michelle, I happen to know for a fact that physicians have bled the king and attempted to drive out the demons that possess him, and to no avail.” “That’s not science. It doesn’t fix anything. You know, some day in the future they’ll come up with all sorts of medicines and treatments that will—” “You think too much.” He stacks his armor in a neat pile. “And you don’t think enough. You are so, so…” I’m about to say “medieval” when Christopher says, “So concerned about getting through every day alive.” He holds up the dented piece of armor to punctuate his point, then throws it clattering to the ground.
One of the most fun things about writing a time travel is tossing in modern stuff and contemporary comments into the mix. Like when Michelle, after watching “Back to the Future” in her own time, goes to Christopher’s time with a book outlining all the battle outcomes of the 1400s. She tells him:
“This book holds all this information about what will happen. In the wrong hands, it could be disastrous. At least according to Hollywood.” And Christopher responds, “I do not know of this Hollywood person…”
And what does happen with this book? If Christopher uses it, people will live who shouldn’t have, and others will die who shouldn’t have. Quite a mess. Then there’s a scene when Christopher is unconscious from a battle wound, and Michelle tries to save his life with one of those impossibly tiny first aid kits people keep in their purses:
“Okay, modern science to the rescue.” I open the kit and inside are three Band-Aids, a Midol pill, a small foil tube of antibacterial cream and one alcohol wipe. That’s it. I sink onto the chair.
Throughout the novel, the couple faces a ton of challenges as they fall in love. How can they have any sort of life together when every time Michelle sees him, she’s changing destiny in dangerous way? Plus Christopher is “no prince.” His life is intertwined with treachery and murder. And adding to their couple issues is this biggie: every time they kiss, she’s thrown back into her own time.
Can love overcome all of these problems? Should it? Drawn is my way of exploring these questions…and of getting completely lost in past.
About Drawn:
Teen artist Michelle De Freccio moves to England in search of a normal life...instead she finds a hot medieval ghost with a sketchy past.
It all begins when a strange guy appears in Michelle's drawings. When she actually meets him at the town’s castle, she's unmistakably drawn to him. But something is definitely not right. For starters, he wears medieval garb, talks of ancient murders and tends to disappear each time they kiss.
Could he possibly be a ghost? Could Michelle be losing her mind? Or has she simply uncovered a love so timeless it’s spanned the centuries…
Praise for Drawn:
“A lushly romantic ghost story…captivating and haunting. I didn’t want it to end.” –Cyn Balog, author of paranormal YA novels Fairy Tale, Sleepless, and Starstruck
"...a wonderfully spooky tale of romance and discovery. It’s a magical exploration of the unconquerable power of love. Highly recommended!” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of Rot & Ruin and Dust & Decay
“In DRAWN, Marie Lamba deftly entwines romance and mystery, past and present, into a page-turning adventure. Buy it today and I promise you’ll be finished reading far too quickly!” —Joy Nash, USA Today bestselling paranormal romance author of The Immortals series, The Grail King and The Unforgiven.
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