Author Interview: Lucy Swing

Today's Author Spotlight shines on Lucy Swing! I first met Lucy on Twitter when she was in the process of writing her debut YA novel, Feathermore. Since Feathermore's March debut, rave reviews have been filing in. I’d like to thank you for joining us and begin by having you share a little information about yourself with our readers, Lucy!

Lucy Swing lives in sunny Florida with her husband and two children. She is a YA Paranormal/ Romance writer, whose works include: Feathermore (Feathermore Trilogy, #1), Bloody Valentine, a novella, and is currently working on Fallenmore (Feathemore Trilogy, #2.)
She is an absolute book hoarder and must always have a book at arms distance. Music is her muse, and there is always a soundtrack that plays along her life.
For more information on Lucy Swing please visit her website: http://www.LucySwing.com

* What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

LS: Spending time with my family. My husband works a lot and, well, the kids go to school, but I truly enjoy the few days we all get to be together and maybe go out on the boat. Although my kids spend most of their time fighting, I remind myself this will be over soon; they grow up way too fast!

* What are your favorite and least favorite parts about being a published author?

LS: Favorite: Being a published author! Hahaha, no, seriously, how cool is that? Every time I walk by the bookcase that displays the paperback copy of Feathermore I can’t believe it is MY name on the cover. But most importantly, whenever you find someone that really enjoys your work, nothing tops that. I have gotten a few fan emails and I literally squeal as I read them.

Least favorite: Worrying about sales. Ugh! It’s not fun. Luckily April has been treating me well, so I can’t complain this time!

 

* What was the inspiration behind Feathermore?

LS: It was a collection of things that got me to sit down and get started with Feathermore. I know the whole Twilight thing has been played out, but reading the saga is what got me into writing. I wanted to make people feel the way Meyer made me feel, the way she gave me that little escape from my own life. I hope to one day be able to do that.

Same thing with your book, The Willows:Haven, well, you know how obsessed I got! But one sentence just made me fall even deeper in love with your story: “You only have one heart, one chance to give it.” I love it!

* Can you tell us a little bit about your protagonist, Jade?

LS: Jade is for all intents and purposes a very typical girl, of course, until the paranormal kicks in. She is at the bottom of the social ladder and gets bullied for no apparent reason. I think a lot of girls will be able to sympathize with her, as many have to go through the same issues.

* What is the most important lesson you’ve learned on the road to publication?

LS: Never give up! You can do anything you set your pretty little heart on. Visualize your goal and go for it.

* What authors inspire you and why?

LS: As I mentioned before, Stephenie Meyer has been a huge influence. She is the one that got me where I am today. But honestly, every single author inspires me. Amanda Hockings story is just amazing, there is a girl with heart that never took no for an answer and is now where she always wanted to be. My dear friend Kira Saito, I remember when she was about to publish her debut novel, Bound, and was too afraid that no one would enjoy it, and look at her now, she is doing amazing and has an incredibly supportive fan base. But every author, whether it is by their personal story of how they got to where they are, their stories or their characters, they all have something for all of us to appreciate and be inspired by.

* Some authors gear up with a run or guzzle large quantities of caffeine before tackling a writing session. What, if anything, does your ritual consist of?

LS: Ah, coffee always helps, but the one thing I do without fail is, get ready because this is going to make me sound crazy, is clean the house. I know, I know, very OCD of me. But the beds must be made, clothes put away and kitchen cleaned before I can sit down and truly give in to the story.

* Why did you choose YA?

LS: It’s by far my favorite genre. Unfortunately we all grow up, but writing and reading YA keeps part of those days alive. It gives you a second, third, fourth, etc chance to re-do your teenage years in so many different ways. It’s just too much fun!

* What are you currently working on, and what can you tell us about it?

LS: I am working on the sequel to Feathermore, Fallenmore. It is the second book of the trilogy and I am hoping (crosses her fingers) to publish by late May, early June.

*  What advice would you offer others who want to be authors?

LS: Don’t give up; when the going gets tough, keep going! And I always say, there is nothing like B.I.C (Butt In Chair). Just write and read, it will help you broaden your horizon.

Rapid fire questions:

* Favorite book character – Jade! Lol, no? Okay, Zoey Redbird.

* Plotter or Pantser -  Pantser all the way baby!

* Choice of superpower – Is immortality a superpower? Didn’t think so, invisibility.

* Your life's theme song – It changes constantly and I probably can tell you Jade’s life theme song better than my own!

Thank you so much for taking the time to discuss your novel and share your experiences. Here's to a long and successful road in publishing! For more information about Lucy and her work, check out:

Website/ Blog:  http://www.LucySwing.com

Follow Lucy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Luceduceswing

Find Lucy on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/writerlucyswing

Where to buy the book:

AMAZON (Paperback and eBook): http://amzn.to/HQXiFa

Barnes&Noble: http://bit.ly/HhVvYV

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/HNUxWs

** Paperback copies are also available on my website (signed copy), Createspace and The Book Depository.

Happy Reading!

Hope (AKA Izzie ;)

YA Paranormal Activity Giveaway!

Time for this month's giveaway!

Chirenjenzie is partial to paranormal, and so we were so excited to be a part of this giveaway! Remember, click on the pic at the top of the page to find other blogs that are joining in the fun! This month we've chosen PC Cast's Marked to share!

Synopsis:

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed.  In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire -- that is, if she makes it through the Change.  Not all of those who are chosen do.  It's tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling.  She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx.  But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers.  When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

I love P.C. Cast's voicing in this one! If you'd like a chance to win the copy, just fill out the Rafflecopter! And thanks for "hopping" by!

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Review: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared--the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in his own blood--but she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night held.

The memories her family has tried to bury resurface when Daniel returns, three years later, and enrolls in Grace and Jude's high school. Despite promising Jude she'll stay away, Grace cannot deny her attraction to Daniel's shocking artistic abilities, his way of getting her to look at the world from new angles, and the strange, hungry glint in his eyes.

The closer Grace gets to Daniel, the more she jeopardizes her life, as her actions stir resentment in Jude and drive him to embrace the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind the boy's dark secret...and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it--her soul.

Let me preface this by saying, I don't like negative reviews where people bash authors. It's unprofessional and flat out rude. When I don't like a story, it's nothing personal; it just means that particular book isn't for me.

I'll be honest on this one. It's the first book I ever laid down without finishing. I slogged through over 250 pages, and it never grabbed my attention. I'd hoped after all the glowing reviews, and the incredible cover, that it would live up to my expectations. Alas, it wasn't meant to be. Page after page held more rambling and lacked the oomph I desired. A few people told me if I'd continued, that's where the story really gets good. Don't get me wrong, I love me some build-up, but if you haven't reached that point in 250 + pages, it's futile.

The story begins with Grace Divine, the daughter of the local pastor. She works hard and has her priorities straight. Enter Daniel. Daniel is a friend from the past who mysteriously disappeared some years before. Now he's back in school and back in Grace's life ... despite her family's wishes otherwise. Daniel is the bad-boy with a past. Nothing really exciting there and rather derivative. Had I not known what the book was about, I wouldn't have suspected Daniel of being more than a troubled youth. Yeah, there are a couple of "hints" that he's more, but honestly, it's kind of boring. Grace is the good girl that falls for him. Still more stereo-typical plot line. Seeing as I didn't finish, I don't know where their relationship goes.  

The interaction between Grace and Daniel was kind of mundane. I would've liked to seen more chemistry or conflicting emotion that felt genuine. There were a lot of misused opportunities. The story would have had great potential (for me) if it had simply moved along faster. There were several paragraphs I skipped over because they didn't move the plot forward.

A (very) long story, short: It's all a-day-in-the-life-of... If you're going to live in someone's head that long, they'd better have a head worth living in. I'm giving it 2-stars, because I can't stand the thought of giving someone's work a 1-star. There were pieces here and there that were unique ... just not unique enough to overcome the other issues.  For anyone who likes a deeper story, a character-driven plot or mystery and action, I don't recommend The Dark Divine.

Izzie

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows. (From Goodreads.)

I have conflicting emotions about this story. Certain aspects are beyond incredible, while others made the read barely tolerable. I laid it down for two weeks about halfway through and didn't give it a second thought. I did pick it back up, but it didn't exactly "stick" with me. For that reason, I don't feel I can fairly rate the story, but here are my thoughts.

The Good: I've never read a story quite like this. It's completely unique in every way. The pictures and ideas behind them are brilliant! They really added a special touch to the plot. Another plus, I appreciated reading a story from a guy's POV. It adds a different flavor that's much appreciated. The time travel/sci-fi feel was a neat idea, and it worked well to fall under a multi-genre kind of story. The writing was witty and Riggs has a humorous way with descriptions. I loved the quirky, Tim Burton-esque feel of the story. The settings were just phenomenal! Riggs nailed the eerie factor on this one. A scarcely populated island. An enormous, creepy manor. The "bad" guys … Just perfect. And his lead-ups into scary scenes were very well done. 

The Mediocre: Some of the characters lacked depth. I found it frustrating to want to know more or expect more in a certain scene, only to be disappointed. Explanations fell short in some places, leaving me confused or unsatisfied that everything had played out fully. There were times where the story stalled, as if he'd run out of ideas and was just looking to fill the white spots in the pages. In the end (as much as I hate to say it), I don't feel like the story lived up to its potential. I think Riggs would've benefited from a little more exploration in the characters a little bit at a time as opposed to this is xxx and their power and this is what xxx can do. It felt rushed. A picture isn't enough to truly see a character. It would've been nice to have Riggs show us with writing versus relying on the photographs. More often than not, opportunities were missed to really make it sing. 

All in all, it's a decent read. Fans of Burton and all things eclectic will like it. I did enjoy Riggs writing style and would recommend Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children ... just don't get your hopes up too much.

By: Izzie