Wednesday Author Interview: Evelyne Holingue

Chronicles from Chateau Moines

BI: Today, I’m very happy to welcome Children’s and Young Adult writer, Evelyne Holingue. Evelyne, so nice to have you here. Let’s get the ball rolling by you telling us a bit about how you became a writer. When did you decide that’s what you wanted to be, and what steps did you take to prepare for a writing career? 

EH: When I was a child I was very shy and was afraid to talk to people. Books gave me the friends I longed to have without having to ask for anything. I learned almost everything from a book. I think that most people who love to read write also. I wrote when I was a kid. Poems mostly but also a short novel for my sister, completely inspired by the Famous Five, my favorite books when I was really young. I lived in a small town and had no idea how books were made and this was fascinating to me. By the time I moved to Paris as a student, I had decided to work in the publishing business. As soon as I started to work full time I wrote less. I wonder if I would have been writing had I stayed in France. 

What Are You Reading?

It’s Friday again, and time for What Are You Reading once again. I know I’ve been remiss for a couple of weeks, but you’ll have to excuse me. The last six weeks or so have been totally out of control. Travel, illness, family drama, and other pressing issues got in my way, but…to paraphrase a certain spooky someone…I’m baaaaaaaa-aaaaaack. More or less. 🙂 So on to the burning question of the day.

I’m re-reading Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys, Book 1 in what I think is a trilogy. I have Book 2 waiting for me, but I realized I really wanted to revisit Book 1 before starting it. This is a complicated tale, and I had forgotten some bits and pieces. I also had forgotten how completely beautiful and compelling Chapter 1 of The Raven Boys is. Maggie Stiefvater is an enormously gifted writer. Not just capable of telling great stories, but of using words, phrases, and imagery like no other. She’s who I want to be when I grow up. Her words pull me into her books like no one else’s, and they just don’t let go. I can’t imagine anyone reading the graveyard scene in Chapter 1 and not being caught hook, line, and sinker. I’ve already reviewed this book here and as soon as I finish re-reading it, and then reading the second book, The Dream Thieves, I’ll be reviewing that one, as well.

Now it’s your turn. What are you reading? As always, inquiring minds want to know, so don’t be shy. Let me hear from you.

The Raven Boys

The Dream Thieves

Wednesday Author Interview: Meet Yvonne Ventresca

LOVE this Cover!
Can’t Wait to Read The Book

Today, Bookin’ It would like to welcome Children’s/Young Adult Writer, Yvonne Ventresca. Yvonne, it’s great to have you here with us today. Could you tell us a bit about how you became a writer? When did you decide that’s what you wanted to be, and what steps did you take to prepare for a writing career? 

Wednesday Author Interview: Meet Marcia Strykowski

 

Call Me Amy by Marcia Strykowski

Bookin’ It is happy to have Childrens/Tween author Marcia Strykowski with us today. Hi, Marcia! Nice name! *grin* Could you tell us a bit about how you became a writer? When did you decide that’s what you wanted to be, and what steps did you take to prepare for a writing career? 

Wednesday’s Author Interview: Elise Abram

Today, our guest author is Elise Abram who writes what might be called “light science fiction,” and also has a newly released YA adult book available. Elise, welcome to Bookin’ It. So nice of you to join us today.
 
BI:. Tell us a bit about how you became a writer. When did you decide that’s what you wanted to be, and what steps did you take to prepare for a writing career?
 
EA: Being a writer was never a choice for me; I’ve always felt compelled to write. Growing up, I told myself stories to keep myself occupied. Sometimes I wrote them down, but I never really liked how they sounded. I kept telling myself one day I’d write all my stories down and get them published, but I never did. The Internet changed all that, because I suddenly had access to content I couldn’t get before and I was able to teach myself how to write well. With practice, I got to the point where I actually liked what I was writing. Now I look back at my first stories and cringe, but I can also see my progress, which is really gratifying.

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Ever since reading my first Brandon Sanderson book last year, The Alloy of Law, I have been planning to read more. I loved Alloy. It was funny, witty, and very imaginative, and I decided I would delve into Sanderson’s fantasy a bit more, and read the Mistborn Trilogy. (The Alloy of Law is a sort of addendum to the Mistborn Trilogy, taking place about 300 years after that series). Somehow, I kept getting sidetracked, but when I saw Steelheart, a YA Sanderson novel, I couldn’t resist giving it a try, and I have to say I’m glad I did.

Sanderson’s imagination is wonderful, and his characters are well thought out. The book isn’t perfect, but I don’t care. I enjoyed every minute of it. Yes, I figured out several plot points before they were revealed, but it was still fun, seeing how our young hero would figure things out for himself. And speaking of the hero, David Charleston, he is a boy bent on revenge for the murder of his father, but beset by so many obstacles as to make the task seem pretty daunting. The world of Newcago is a dark, frightening place, and dealing with the evil superpowers in charge of the planet, known as Epics, is not something your typical teenage boy should be able to handle. But David joins a group of rebels, the Reckoners, with much the same goals as his, and a plan is put into action that will change his life, and the world forever.

Superheroes with superpowers aren’t normally my thing, with or without capes, but Steelheart pulls it off with flair, and I’m looking forward to seeing what David and the Reckoners get up to in their next book. If you are a Sanderson fan, you will want to read this one, for sure. If you enjoy YA sci-fi fantasy, you’ll probably want to check it out, too. And if you are just looking for a light, fun read, set in an imaginative future world, it works for that, also. But be warned. Once you have read one or two of Sanderson’s books, you’ll find yourself looking for more. I have finally downloaded a boxed set of the Mistborn Trilogy, and I’m halfway through Book 1 already. Absolutely loving it. Talk about a great escape!

Steelheart

Wednesday Author Interview: Aimee Easterling

I am happy to present my first official Wednesday Author Interview for your enjoyment. My guest today is Aimee Easterling, author of the Young Adult paranormal werewolf novel, Shiftless. Please feel free to comment on Aimee’s interview, and ask any questions you might have about her book, her writing style, or what’s coming up next for her. And if you enjoyed this interview, please let her know that as well.

Welcome to Bookin’ It, Aimee, and thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

~~~

Aimee Easterling has been spoiled by four dogs, has spoiled six cats, and has largely been ignored by two guinea pigs, four turtles, and a slew of fish during her thirty-some year life. Studying biology and working as a naturalist have both informed her writing, but she’s quite willing to let reality slide in favor of a good story. When not writing, she loves to read and always keeps books by Robin McKinley, Patricia Briggs, and Elizabeth Peters on her shelf. She is currently hard at work writing the sequel to Shiftless, her first werewolf novel.

1. Tell us a bit about how you became a writer. When did you decide that’s what you wanted to be, and what steps did you take to prepare for a writing career?

DON’T FORGET!

Be the first to email me today, after 3:00PM EST, and win a free download of Maggie Stiefvater’s Scorpio Races! FREE is GOOD! 🙂

Monday Giveaway!

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Today starts one of my new features…Monday Giveaway Day! Be sure to make a note. Every Monday, I will give away a free download (or maybe more) of one of my favorite books. There will be many genres over the weeks ahead, so you’re sure to find something you’d like.

Today, I am giving away one that I dearly love by Maggie Stiefvater, Scorpio Races. It is a re-imagining of the Celtic water horse myth, told as only Stiefvater can. Scorpio Races is listed as a YA book, but trust me on this. It works for adults, too. The writing is lovely, the characters, touching and poignant, and the water horses…capaill uisce…are terrifying and beautiful at the same time.

A favorite quote of mine:

I don’t look away from Puck. “I think you assume too much, Dory Maud.”
“You leave nothing to assumption,” Dory Maud says. “You swallow her with your eyes. I’m surprised there’s any of her left for the rest of us to see.”

I know some of you would love this book as much as I do, so here’s what you do to win a free download for your Kindle: email me and ASK. That’s it. The first person to email me at mmeara@cfl.rr.com AFTER 3:00PM EST will win a copy. (I want to give folks on the west coast a chance, too, hence setting the time a bit later in the day.)

So…make a note. Set your timer. And email me after 3:00PM Eastern Standard Time. Be first, and you win. Be second…and you MIGHT win, too. I’ll think about it! 😀 😀 😀

Don’t Forget!

Just some reminders:

1. Don’t forget to enter HERE for a Free Signed Copy of Aimee Easterling’s YA paranormal werewolf fantasy, Shiftless. Plenty of chances left to win, and you can enter multiple times, in various ways. Don’t miss out!

2.  Don’t forget to check out Evey’s Writers Blog, where I’m the featured author all this week. Read a bit about my newest book, Swamp Ghosts, as well as Wake-Robin Ridge, and Summer Magic. There are excerpts from both novels! Please come by and say hi. I promise to answer any questions you might have. 😀 Thanks, Evelyn!

 

 

3. And last but not least…oh, no! Definitely not least! Don’t forget that Swamp Ghosts goes live on Amazon, Thursday, May 1. (That’s the day after tomorrow!)This is the one you’ve been asking me about. Snakes and alligators and psychopaths, oh my. A beautiful red-headed heroine, and a big, blond Viking of a guy who’s a wildlife photographer. Oh, the adventures they have, canoeing on some of Florida’s most remote backwaters, in pursuit of the rarest of the rare. Danger and romance, galore. Tune in Thursday for the link for the Kindle download. Print book will follow in a week or two.

Watermelon Summer by Anna Hess

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

I have been a big fan of Anna Hess and her almost “off the grid” lifestyle for a long time. I’ve followed her blog and chatted with her via email for at least a year or more, and I bought (and reviewed) her non-fiction book, The Weekend Homesteader. When I found out she was writing a Young Adult novel,

Serissa by Megan Cundy FREE October 25 Thru October 27

Just a heads up that Megan Cundy’s Young Adult book, Serissa, will be free Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I know Megan from her blog, and though I haven’t finished reading her book yet, I’m sure I have followers it will appeal to. She has a different take on angels and a story that involves pop music, along with the romance factor. Check it out. Did I mention it’s free?

Serissa

The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars and  A Lot of Romantic Swooning

Let me get it out of the way up front: This series made me “squeeeeeeeeee” like a fifteen-year old fangirl! I admit it. I’m a hopeless romantic, and a growing fan of steampunk, and the series worked for me on every level. It was crazy good, for what it is. Is it “Great Literature?” Probably not. Do I care? Definitely not. Why? Because I was pulled into the world from the very first book, Clockwork Angel, and wasn’t sent back to the merely mundane (pun intended) world until the last page of the last book, Clockwork Princess. And  frankly, I really didn’t want to return to reality at all. I wanted the story to go on and on and on, kinda like the theme song from Titanic!

A Hat Full of Sky by Terry Pratchett

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

In keeping with my promise to myself to read the four Tiffany Aching stories before starting at the beginning of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series, I finished the second Aching book over the weekend. A Hat Full of Sky started a wee bit slower for me than The Wee Free Men, but it began to pick up pace rapidly, and I was soon

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Where have you been all my life, Terry Pratchett?  How could you have written so many books, and I am just now discovering you?  The bad news is, I have missed out on so much good reading, here.  The good news is,

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Zombies.  Eeew.  Why are they so popular?  They aren’t all dark, mysterious and sexy, like vampires, aiming to seduce their way into your bedroom, while promising eternal life.  They don’t possess that, ahem, “animal magnetism” that werewolves do, complete with moonlight races through the wild places, hunting excitement with the same fervor they use to hunt deer.  Heck, they don’t even sparkle, for Pete’s sake.  I don’t really get the attraction, most of the time.  However…you knew there was a “however,” didn’t you?…

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Maggie Stiefvater has become my very favorite Young Adult Urban Fantasy writer in the world.  Period.  I don’t know another author, Young Adult or not, who can make my heart ache more deeply for her characters than Stiefvater.  Her writing is exquisite

Good Stuff Comin’! Sept/Oct Urban Fantasy Release Dates

Coming Soon!  Release Date:  9/18/12

For those who enjoy Urban Fantasy, like myself, there’s good stuff ahead!  Here are a few of the titles coming to a bookstore near you.  All are available on amazon.com, too.

Leopard Moon, Jackal Moon, & Hyena Moon by Jeanette Battista

   

My Rating for Each Book:  3 of 5 Stars

Thought these three books could easily be combined into one review, so here it is.  This is another Young Adult urban fantasy series, but the first three books are better than many, so they are worth a look if you like this sort of thing.  I do, so I enjoyed all three books more than I expected to.  I couldn’t find a good image of Jackal Moon, but we’ll go with what we’ve got.  Let’s take them one at a time. 

Young Adult Books

You might wonder why I read and review Young Adult novels when I’m certainly well beyond the”young” part of that designation.  The reason is simple.  The only difference between a Young Adult novel and a novel for us not-so-young adults should be

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

MY RATING:  3 of 5 Stars

A deliciously creepy little story, easily read in one night, and filled with a more interesting than usual array of sympathetic characters. A weird variation on

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

My main comment upon completing Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is that the book is…peculiar! In a good way, to my mind, though I know it’s not

Quote #9 – Maggie Stiefvater

“Dory is what Mum used to call a “strong-looking woman,” which means that, from the back, she looked like a man, and, from the front, you preferred the back”
― Maggie Stiefvater,  The Scorpio Races

Wither & Fever by Lauren DeStefano

MY RATING:  4 of 5 Stars

This was really a pleasant surprise to me. An unusual premise, interesting & mostly believable characters, and a forbidding mood that lingered for quite awhile after I finished the book.   Quite nice for a Young Adult book, and worth the time to check out.  Definitely glad I had the second book in the series ready to go.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

MY RATING:  5 out of 5 Stars

It’s hard to find words to describe a book so hauntingly beautiful and thought-provoking as this Young Adult novel by Maggie Stiefvater. Okay, I found some words, but I’m not sure any of them are the RIGHT words. All I can say is Maggie Stiefvater writes like an angel. She can slowly, but inexorably, pull you inside of a character’s heart and soul better than almost any writer I know of (except maybe Marisa de los Santos). I loved Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, but this eerie tale