Cindy Young-Turner

Author interview – Hildie McQueen

I’m excited to have another great Crescent Moon Press author on the blog today! Hildie McQueen is the author of Desperate Betrayal and the recently released CMP “Little Moon” novella, Desperate Choices. And Desperate Surrender is coming soon! She’s one busy author putting out some amazing books!

The blurb:

Cynden Frasier (Cyn) is a member of a group of immortal warriors, the Protectors, assigned to protect humans in Atlanta, Georgia, the epicenter of a major uprising in demon activity. When Cyn is approached by a beautiful woman in a dirty alley, he is intrigued by the fact that she can see him for what he is, a terrifying demon slayer, and still dares to approach him.

Emma Blake, a half-demon, has to convince Cyn to help rescue her sister from powerful demons. Terrified that the Protector will kill her if he realizes what she is, she still goes against every instinct and approaches Cyn for help. Despite knowing that she is leading them both into territory so wrought with treachery, neither of them may survive.

Can Cyn and Emma overcome betrayal, the ancient rules that prevent Protectors from taking a wife, unless she is his one true mate? And if they do, will it even matter?

Now let’s find out more about Hildie!

Q: Where were you born? Are you the kind of person who likes to move around a lot, or do you prefer to live in one place?

A: I was born in Baja California, Mexico and grew up on the border between Mexico and California, USA. From my bedroom window in San Diego, I could see Mexico, that’s how close we lived. Up until moving to Augusta, Georgia sixteen years ago, I had never stayed in one place for too long. When I was younger, I lived liked a gypsy, moving from place to place. I lived in San Diego, South Carolina, Germany, Texas, Hawaii and even for a short while in Pasadena, California.

Q: What sparked your interest in writing? How long have you been writing?

A: I’ve been a voracious reader my entire life. My interest in writing came when I began to read paranormal romance. I wanted to be inside the characters’ heads, know more about what made them and what motivated them. The only way to do it was obvious. I began to seriously write romance about five years ago.

Q: What provided the inspiration for your novel, Desperate Betrayal?

A: Inspiration for my writing comes from situations that I daydream up, I took the story from there and drawing from what the characters ‘told’ me.

Q: How long did it take you to finish it? How many drafts did you write before you were satisfied?

A: I wrote Desperate Betrayal in about three months. The entire editing process was much longer. Satisfied? What is that? Every time I read it, I think…Oh darn I should have written this instead… (Ha, I feel the same way! Not sure I’ll ever be satisfied with my writing.)

Q: And congrats on being one of the first of CMP’s new line of novellas, Little Moons, with Desperate Choices! How did you approach that project?

A: Amazingly, I already had the idea and was hoping that in the future the opportunity to tell Roderick and Rachel’s story would present itself. Once I saw the opening for it, I rushed to write it since it was floating in my head.

Q: How would you describe your path toward publication?

A: It was a maze, chaotic and disorganized. How about that? Like everything I do, I rush head first into things until I get the answer I want. It’s not the best process, but that’s how I roll. *laugh*

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

A: Keep writing, don’t ever stop at one story. The more you write the better you get at it. Even after publication, keep writing!!! Sometimes you have to pull stories out dust them off and polish them to fill a request.

Q: Name a few authors who have inspired you and describe why.

A: Sherrilyn Kenyon – She is an amazing writer with a great gift for storytelling, plus her Dark Hunters are totally amazing males.

JR Ward – She just kicks butt when it comes to vampires. No one can beat the Black Dagger Brothers. I can read her over and over; I wish I could write like that!

Molly Harper – Vampire Rom Com queen is how I see her. She makes you laugh with her larger than life vamps, weres and the witty companion characters

Q: What are you currently writing?

A: I am writing a paranormal fantasy romance. Say that three times fast. The story “Ruling Esland” is about a reluctant king who falls in love with a woman he meets and has an affair with. Not only does she not know he is the ruler of kingdom she lives in, he doesn’t realize she is the leader of a rebellion against him.

Q: Coffee, tea, or hard liquor? (or all three?)

A: I rarely drink coffee, I drink a lot of tea, my favorite is Earl Grey. I also love a good southern sweet tea! My evening drink of choice…a good smooth Scotch Whiskey!

Q: What books are you currently reading or on your to-be-read list?

A: Just finished Lover Reborn, it rocked!

On my TBR list are mostly books written by friends of mine. Summerland by Elizabeth Cheryl, Perpetual Light by Jordan Rose, Breathless by Cole Gibson, The Never Prayer by Aaron Ritchey, Rise from Darkness by Ciara Knight and Stealing Breath by Joanne Brothwell…oh and how can I forget this book entitled Thief of Hope by Cindy Young-Turner! (*grin*)

Q: And now for the bonus fluff question: If you could be a character in your one of your favorite novels, which character would you be and why?

A: I would be Julian, the leader of the Protectors; he is the most powerful and the one that seems to know where everything is headed. I want inside his head!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

I’m thrilled to be invited, thank you so much for the invite!!

After a jaunt in the Army, living in Texas, Germany and Hawaii, Hildie McQueen settled in Augusta, Georgia. She lives with her wonderful computer wiz, hubby Kurt and two tiny dogs (Pancho & Pepito) and a scardy-cat named Dyson that she hardly ever sees.

Writing has always been a part of Hildie’s life, but about three years ago, when a friend grabbed her and forced her to attend a Georgia Romance Writers, she decided to polish her skills and get serious about it. Now the characters won’t shut up and she’s always itching to get home and onto the laptop to write.

Amongst her hobbies, travel, reading, watching romantic comedies and occasionally scrap booking.

For more Hildie, visit her blog at www.hildiemcqueen.com.

Never again

Holocaust Remembrance Day was last week. A dear friend volunteers at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC. I’ve been there a few times and it’s incredibly moving. Not something you easily forget. And that’s the point, of course. We want to understand why and how such a horrific thing could have happened so we can prevent it from ever happening again. Yet slaughter on a large scale keeps happening. Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, Sudan. The fact is that the world has not stepped up to prevent things that “may” or “may not” be genocide. I realize I’m getting up on my soapbox here, but this is something I feel strongly about. People may argue that the rest of the world is not our problem and that we have enough problems here at home to deal with. Yes, there is a lot of work to be done in reducing the disparities in our own country, but we live in a global society. The world is everyone’s problem. Humankind should be our concern, regardless of country of origin, religion, race, gender, sexual orientation–we are all human beings and we all deserve a chance for a decent life.

I could go on about the ugliness that seems to have pervaded our country lately, the lack of respect and common decency, but I’d rather end with two quotes that really speak to me.

“Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind.”
―John Donne

“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—
and there was no one left to speak out for me.”
― Martin Niemöller

This is why we should never forget.

Author interview – Joanne Brothwell

Today I’d like to introduce you to newly published CMP author, Joanne Brothwell! Her novel, Stealing Breath, sounds great. And look at that beautiful cover! I love the colors.

The blurb:

Deep in the backwoods of North Dakota, Sarah Ross is searching for a missing child when she is attacked by a glowing-eyed, transparent creature. Using mysterious abilities, Sarah escapes, only to run directly into Evan Valente, a handsome, charismatic stranger who helps her back to safety. But why is Evan out in the forest so early in the morning? Sarah learns her eyes bear the mark of the Indigo Child, an evolved human with the ability to feel the emotions of others; unfortunately, her indigo aura is highly desirable to those who wish to steal her powerful essence. Soon, Sarah falls deeply in love with Evan and wants nothing more than to follow her heart, but she can’t ignore the lingering feeling that Evan is hiding a terrible secret. The deeper she digs, the more danger she faces, forcing her to face the darkest, innermost parts of her soul.

Now let’s get to know some more about Joanne

Q: Where were you born? Are you the kind of person who likes to move around a lot, or do you prefer to live in one place?

A: I was born in a very small town in rural Saskatchewan, Canada. I prefer to move around, I get bored in one place too long, unfortunately, my family doesn’t agree. So I’ve been in the same place for four years now.

Q: What sparked your interest in writing? How long have you been writing?

A: I’ve always been creative, and have always made up stories in my mind (Some say I am a daydreamer), but it wasn’t until three years ago that a story in my mind had finally become so unwieldy I needed to put pen to paper (or fingers to the keyboard!).

Q: What provided the inspiration for your novel, Stealing Breath?

A: I had been reading about the concept of the Indigo Child for a while, and I find the idea absolutely fascinating. I always thought it would be cool to read about an Indigo Child where their unique talents are really magnified.

Then I heard a story from a co-worker who believes in the Navajo Skinwalker. She told me a tale about how she had a first-hand run-in with a Skinwalker and how scary it was. Her story stuck with me for days, and then the storyline for Stealing Breath suddenly struck me.

I had never heard of an Indigo Child or Skinwalker before. You have me intrigued!

Q: How long did it take you to finish it? How many drafts did you write before you were satisfied?

A: It took three months for the first draft, which was absolutely terrible. I rewrote it so many times I lost count. I’m guessing at least fifty or more over three years. It is now almost unrecognizable from that first draft.

Q: And congrats on launching CMP’s new line of novellas, Little Moons, with Vicarious! How did you approach that project?

A: Vicarious is a prequel to Stealing Breath, based on Sarah discovering her empathic abilities and learning to embrace them. It was such a fun project to write because it was short and sweet. Very satisfying.

Q: How would you describe your path toward publication?

A: Long. I’m sure to others three years seems like an appropriate length of time to get published, but for me, it felt like it took forever. I just kept at it, revising, learning the craft, rewriting. I was quite determined, and luckily, that bull-headed determination paid off.

Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

A: Persistence is key. Make sure you seek out every opportunity to learn as you can and just keep working at making that manuscript shine. Get critique partners, join writing groups, ask for feedback, go to conventions and read, read, read!

Q: Name a few authors who have inspired you and describe why.

A: Cassandra Clare is a fabulous writer. I’ve enjoyed how her writing has evolved and improved from her first book, City of Bones to her latest work, Clockwork Prince. She has such wonderful description and beautifully tortured characters (Jace). I aspire to be as fabulous as Cassandra Clare one day.

Q: What are you currently writing?

A: I’m writing a sci-fi/paranormal crossover called The Fifth Daughter of Eve. Here’s a little blurb:

Adriana Sinclair is an evolutionary mystery. Her blood type matches nothing in modern medicine. When a failed blood transfusion kills her little sister, Adriana discovers she’s a throwback to an original human scientists have coined the “Mitochondrial Eve.”

Adriana is shocked to learn her strange blood type is her family’s most protected secret. Her grandmother is the only key to learning the truth, but dementia has ravaged her memory. Working with spotty clues and partial facts, Adriana is determined to find the truth.

Still reeling from her sister’s death and the subsequent realization of her family’s secret, Adriana struggles to put her life back in order. She finds comfort in Kalan, the new guy whose striking Albino features and friendly manner keep her distracted from the wreck her life has become. Kalan is exactly what she needs right now, even if he does seem a bit too interested in her mysterious bloodline…

Sounds interesting!

Q: Coffee, tea, or hard liquor? (or all three?)

A: Coffee! At least five cups! (Only five? LOL!)

Q: What books are you currently reading or on your to-be-read list?

A: Fifty Shades of Grey. I love this book, which is a surprise to me because I don’t read erotica. But whenever you hear of something big in this industry, I believe it is wise to know what everyone is talking about. I can’t wait to see what happens to the publishing industry because of it.

Q: And now for the bonus fluff question: If you could be a character in your one of your favorite novels, which character would you be and why?

A: Elena from the Vampire Diaries. Who wouldn’t want two drop-dead gorgeous Salvatore brothers drooling over you?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Joanne Brothwell lives in the country on the Canadian prairie with her family where her stories are inspired by the dead things that appear at her doorstep on a daily basis.

Find Joanne online at: www.joannebrothwell.com.

Cover reveal: Crimson Sunrise

I’m sharing another great CMP cover today, Crimson Sunrise, by Renee Reardon. It’s another winner!

The blurb:

Saari Mitchell attends a Tueri conference in Las Vegas, Nevada to strengthen her bonds with Dhelis Guidry and Brogan Vincent—and see if they can make their three-sided relationship work. But when Saari and her vampire brother Mag’s lives are threatened, her trip to paradise soon becomes a surreal fight for survival.

Dhelis and Brogan’s psychic abilities are no help in finding Saari. Desperate to save their mate, they call in favors from the psychic and preternatural community, but the information leads only to more questions. Is the threat against Saari personal or part of a larger plan that threatens every human and Tueri’s existence?

Crimson Sunriseis the second novel in the Tueri Fated Souls Series.

Said of the first novel in this series, Moonlight Bleu:

“Moonlight Bleu by Renee Rearden is one of those ‘blow your socks off’, totally awesome, amazingly entertaining and, completely wonderful stories that make you want to yell about it, at the top of your lungs, from every roof top you can get to! Rearden’s talent is fresh and brings a new face to the world of the paranormal genre.”
~YzhaBella’s BookShelf

“Renee Rearden has exploded onto the paranormal fiction scene with this debut novel—Moonlight Bleu! The concepts in this novel are fresh and creative, and I look forward to seeing future developments…from an exciting new author to watch!”
~Digigirl’s Library

Renee’s links:

www.reneerearden.com
www.reneereardenblog.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/ReneeRearden
www.facebook.com/ReneeRearden
www.goodreads.com/ReneeRearden

Compton Crook Award finalist

Thief of Hope is a finalist for the 2012 Compton Crook Award! It’s awarded at Balticon by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society to the best first novel in fantasy, science fiction, or horror. It’s such an honor to have made it to the final round. I’ll be a participant at Balticon this year. It will be my first con. I’m not really sure what to expect, but it will be fun. I’ll post more info on panels and times once I have it. You don’t really want to fight traffic and go to the beach on Memorial Day weekend, do you? Come to Balticon instead!

And for those who are eagerly awaiting the second book, yes, I’m working hard on it. I’m also working on a prequel for CMP’s new line of ebook novellas, Little Moons. With any luck I’ll get that finished soon!