Not Your Average Interview

Here celebrating the release of her debut YA book, My Dad’s a Paranormal investigator: Seeking Shapeshifters, is Rebekah L Purdy.

Now, I say this isn’t your average interview because not only is Rebekah one of my favorite authors, she’s also my sister.

So Bec, first off, let me say I loved My Dad’s a Paranormal Investigator and can’t wait for the fan mail (e-mails) to start pouring in. What would you say was the driving force behind this story?

RLP: Can it be my husband? (lol) Really, he’s the one who inspired me to write the dad in the book. Every year he (my hubby) arranges trips and nights out in search of Big Foot, ghosts, and hauntings. As something fun for the family. Plus, I’m a HUGE fan of the shows Ghost Hunters and Destination Truth.

~How long did it take for you to write My Dad’s?

RLP: Probably 3 months. (I fast tracked it during the mentor program, hosted by Romance Diva’s–an on-line romance writers group I belong to.) 

~And how long from the time of completion to publication?

RLP: This book sat on the shelf for some time, so almost two years.

~What inspired you to begin writing?

RLP: I’ve always loved reading, which branched into writing. But I’d have to say my fourth grade teacher Mr. McGrath was the person who introduced me to books, where I fell in love with the stories and wanted to write my own.

~What’s your favorite part of the writing process?

RLP: I like it all. But probably coming up with a new idea and the excitement of creating new characters–and stalking my character look-a-likes on IMBD (Internet Movie Data Base–at least I think that’s what it means) And yes, Taylor Lautner’s available to play the character part in my next book.

~(lol) If he can’t maybe Ian Somerhalder can.

RLP: No, I’m saving him for myself because he’s spicy like a meatball. (She says in an italian accent)

~I’m allowed to say you’re a dork because we’re sisters, right?! Anyway, is there anything you must have when you’re writing?

RLP: A damn good playlist, lots of water, chocolate, my dog on the back of the chair, a notebook-for character sketches, IMBD-again to stalk my “characters”, and a theasuarus . Oh, and a computer.

~Yeah, a computer helps. (lol) Next is a question I know you’ll enjoy. Does your love of Star Wars influence you as an author?

RLP: Are you kidding me, I have the force in my blood. I am one with Yoda, ye-es. Seriously though, I think Star Wars is the first thing to help me connect with the whole good-vs-evil vibe. My crush on Luke Skywalker aside, I believe Star Wars embodies everything you’d look for in a good story. Because it has the light and dark sides, romance, action…

~What is one bit of advice you’d like to impart to a beginning writer?

RLP: Don’t eat yellow snow. (ha!) Not don’t put that…

~It’s already there.

RLP: Let’s see, one bit of advice. Don’t quit writing. Even when you think a story may not go anywhere. Basically, every story you write is a stepping stone and helps you to improve your craft.

~From one writer to another that is excellent advice. Now, I know you’ve been writing seriously for 7 years, what are some things you think have helped you improve your craft?

RLP: Anytime I finish one book I immediatley begin working on the next. I also have a fab crit group, which includes my darling, beautiful sister. *wink*wink* Also, I think not taking rejection too personal helps.

~Speaking of the dreaded “R”, any thoughts on dealing with agent/publisher rejection?

RLP: Again, don’t take it personal. And make sure EVERYTHING is ready to go before you send it. As in, edit your work and/or have someone else critique or read it.

~Great advice. And one final question, what’s next?

RLP: I’m working on a story now and awaiting a contract on book I submitted last fall.

~Be sure to let me know when your next contract comes rolling in. (I know you will).

To find out more about Rebekah click HERE and enter for a chance to win her YA Paranormal Romance, My Dad’s a Paranormal Investigator: Seeking Shapeshifters.

Congratulations again Bec, I look forwad to celebrating many more releases with you!

(Read the blurb for My Dad’s below)

My Dad’s a Paranormal Investigator: Seeking Shapeshifters

Sixteen year old Ima Berry (pronounced I’m a) leads anything but a normal life. For starters, the ridiculous name her eccentric dad gave her is always the opening for a good joke. Not to mention the fact he makes his living as a supernatural investigator, which has them moving around every few months. It’s hard to hang out with new friends when she spends all her time trying to prove the existence of Bigfoot, ghosts, fairies and any other number of paranormal creatures. Unfortunately, the cases always end in disaster. That is until now.

On a whim, Ima’s father decides to move them to Point Hope, Alaska. Here, he plans to investigate the possibility of shifters amongst the Inuit tribes. Ima isn’t thrilled with the move, until she meets an Inuit guy named Carsen. Not only is he hot, but he’s also a star basketball player, and he’s interested in her. Too bad his best friend, Talon, doesn’t like her and takes every opportunity he can to discourage the relationship. Ima has no idea what she’s done to make him mad, but there’s no denying the strange connection between them.

As things grow more serious with Carsen, Ima uncovers a secret about him and some of the residents of Point Hope. A secret that will force her to choose between her father’s already dwindling career and her new found love. And with the knowledge of this secret comes danger…a danger that could cost them their lives.

BIG NEWS: The Replacement and Rules of Attraction Blog Tours!

Two Fabulous Authors Doing UK Blog Tours.

And since they’re on line tours, we can all play!! Thanks to Jenny over at  Wondrous Reads, for this Fab info!! She says to check out all the details on the banners and join in! (banners made by the talented Kat at S&S!)

I adore both of these authors. Simone Elkeles who I author crush…BIG TIME! And Brenna Yovanoff, who was absolutely lovely participating on a YA panel at Romance Divas! So excited for this event arranged by Simon & Schuster Children’s UK (@simonkids_UK on Twitter).

Tell me, will you be available to play on any of these dates?

Before you go click over to read the most recent December ‘SHORT REVIEW’.

YAFF Muse: Every Opportunity

Welcome again to YAFF Muse: blog rounds. The ladies of YA Fiction Fanatics have come together for YAFF Muse. To have a little fun, explore different styles of writing and to give you some kick-butt shorts to read.  Enjoy!

Foggy sunlight by walyir

 

Every Opportunity

by: Rachel Marie Pratt

“Mackenzie, get up.” Trae nudged me in the leg with the tip of his steel toed boot.  A solid reminder, last night hadn’t gone at all how I’d planned.  On my way down to Peterson’s barn, I played over and over in my mind how perfect we would be together. But reality was nothing like I imagined. Laying on a haystack opposite him for five-long-hours, listening to the torrential rains pummel the sides of the barn, the trees splintering as the wind wrestled the branches to the ground. I didn’t get a bit of sleep.

Through squinty eyelids I peeked up at him and stretched as if I was just waking. Lord, he was beautiful in the morning. Even in torn jeans and a filthy shirt, he looked good. Of course, it helped that under his dirty clothes were the lean muscles of a bull rider. I pushed from the scratchy straw to stand. Pieces of last night’s bedding poked my hands as I combed my hair with my fingers.

“I’m sorry about coming here. It’s just I thought—”

“I know what you were thinking, Mac.” His head shook and he walked toward the barn door.

Of course he knew, I didn’t exactly leave much to his imagination coming there wearing nothing but high heels and a trench coat.

Slowly, I crossed the barn to stand beside him. The minutes past while I mustered up the nerve to whisper, “The truth is I like you. A lot.”

“I like you too.” He continued to stare straight ahead.

“Yeah.” I lowered my voice, pulling the trench closer. “Just not enough to be with me.”

“Christ. You’re oblivious, you know that?”

My chest tightened at the frustration in his voice. He really must hate me. The thought turned my stomach sour. What was I thinking coming here? We’d been friends for as long as my dad stabled our horses at Peterson Farms. From day one, I talked to Trae without feeling self conscience. At least until the day I realized I wanted him more than anything else in the world.

Tears burned my eyes.

“I’d better go.” I went to move around him.

The shock of his hand sieving my arm, halting my retreat, was nothing compared to his mouth suddenly capturing mine. Like an electric current coursed through me, my body tingled. His lips crushed mine with feverish demand. I ran my hands up the front of his shirt, bringing them to rest at the nape of his neck. When I tugged him closer, deepening our kiss. He groaned and pulled back.

“What?” I asked, breathless.

His hesitation stirred my fear. “Mac, last night…I wanted you. I still want you. But not like this. Not here. Don’t you see?”

He waved his hands through the air at our surroundings, at him and me.

“See what?”

“I’m nineteen.” He began to pace. “I muck out stables for a living. Dammit. You’re not even seventeen.”

“I will be in a week.”

“You’re dad talks about you and Harvard.” His pacing stopped and he turned to face me. “Harvard, Mac. Not community college or working in a factory.”

“So you can’t like me because of some college?”

“That’s not it at all. I love you enough not to get in the way.”

“Love?” The word hung there, a web of admissions spun between us. He loves me. I love him. “What if I don’t go—”

“No.” Trae bowed his head. When his chin lifted the pain in his eyes is unbearable. “Can’t you see I don’t want you to give up your dreams?”

“Then don’t push me away.”

His mouth parted, but no words came. For the longest time we watched one another. Neither of us moved. My mind was made up a long time ago. And by the way he looked at me I could see his was too. It looked as though it might come down to whoever was more determined, when the barn door burst open.

“Daddy?” I gasped. My gaze shifted to Trae then back to my father, who grabbed me by the forearm and yanked me outside.

In wake of the storm the sky hazed over with a thick fog, but it didn’t hide the anger that drew hard lines across Dad’s face. “You’ve got some explaining to do young lady.”

“But—”

He twisted around to Trae. “I’ll be talking to your boss.”

“Dad, please.” I begged as he rushed me to the car.

“You think I’ve given you every opportunity so you could blow it all on some cowboy and a romp in the hay?”

“We didn’t do anything.”

“You expect me to believe that boy didn’t take advantage of you?”

I stopped walking. Dad halted too.

“His name is Trae. And he didn’t take advantage of me.” Tears flowed warm on my checks. “I came here because I thought he might like me. But he didn’t want anything to do with me, except to say, we could be friends.”

Relief softened Dad’s features. “We’ve got a lot to talk about, Mac. You can’t go around offering yourself to every guy you think you like.”

I stayed quiet. It was better to let him believe that than to admit that I’d fallen for Trae years ago, and that he loved me too, especially if I wanted to save Trae’s job.

“Lucky for you that boy’s got morals.” He pointed at me.

Dad was right. Trae never once crossed the line. He wanted what was best for me and now, more than ever, I knew he was it.

I settled into the passenger seat then glanced at Trae in the side mirror. As the car pulled away, Trae disappeared into the fog. A smile tugged the corners of my mouth. We’d be together again. Just not today.

© 2010, December 15, rmg.

Thanks for coming by. Please be sure to drop by my fellow YAFFers blogs and don’t forget to leave a comment. This will be our last Muse until after the holidays! But make sure you check back after the first of the year for more YAFF MUSE!

Miranda Buchanan

Rebekah L. Purdy

Traci Kenworth

Vanessa Barger

YAFF Muse: Sunkiss

Welcome again to YAFF Muse: blog rounds. The ladies of YA Fiction Fanatics have come together for YAFF Muse. To have a little fun, explore different styles of writing and to give you some kick-butt shorts to read.  Enjoy!

Photo title: Wooden Gate

Sunkiss

By: R.M.Gilbert

Seven hundred twenty-five days, I’ve been confined to the upper level of the white chalet. Suffocating, in my bedroom—my five-by-seven foot personal prison. I toss my book aside on the desk and watch as groups of kids pass by. School let out for the weekend, so I won’t see them until they walk by again on Monday.

I pick my book up for the second time and glance at the vampire donning the cover of my newest purchase. “At least you turn to dust in the sun,” I say. Not me, I break out in a rash and my throat closes in, choking off my air supply. Turning to dust and blowing away in the wind would be welcome, compared to this hell.

“Allergic to the sun,” I mutter and turn to the chapter where Tristan McGregor swears he’ll always love Juliet Rodea. When something tinks against my window sill and collides with the curtain.

A tiny pebble lands on the floor, near my feet. I stand, leaning forward to peek out the window. Below, a boy, about fifteen, stands there. From here he looks cute. Not pretty boy cute either, but scruffy. Like he’d stopped on his way home from work, instead of school like the rest of the kids. And for a second I think he’ll toss another stone, but he just stares up at my window until eventually he fists his hands in his jacket pockets and leaves. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him before. Not in all the days I’ve spent at this window, peering out beyond our gate. If only he could take me away from this place. If only he didn’t go away…

What am I saying? Mom would have a fit if she saw him here, which makes me glad she’s gone to the market.

With a sigh, I lift my book:

Tristan watched as sweet Juliet took her final breaths. He had promised he’d never take her as his own without her consent.

He whispered softly, “As your blood courses through the generations, I will find you. I promise my beautiful Juliet, as your children grow and their children after that, I’ll always remember it is your blood that courses through their veins.” He paused to kiss her cheek, tempted to take her blood and keep her forever. But instead he made his oath, unmarred by time or circumstance. “One day you will need me so that you may live. For this reason, I will stay with you until the end of time. I will follow your bloodline until you give me a sign that you are prepared to live a life at my side.”

Juliet drew her last breath.

Tristan leaned and spoke into her ear. “Place un caillou sur votre seuil.”

~~

I stare at the final words in the book. Of course they’re in French, which is Tristan’s native tongue. I flip to the very last pages, where thankfully the publisher has thought to add a French glossary, defining the forty or so phrases Tristan spoke in the book.

“Let’s see.” I flip through the pages, repeating “Place un caillou sur votre seuil,” over and over as I slide my finger down the page. When I spot the phrase, I trace my finger over to the translation. “Place a pebble on your sill,” I read.

Wait. What?

I glance at the pebble on the floor. Then turn to the final page of the story once again.

“One day you will need me so that you may live. For this reason, I will stay with you until the end of time. I will follow your bloodline until you give me sign that you are prepared to live a life at my side.”

Juliet drew her last breath.

Tristan leaned and spoke into her ear. “Place un caillou sur votre seuil.”

I close the book and pick the pebble up off the floor, grasping it tight in my palm.

©2010, August 25, rmg.

This weeks YAFF story was, in part, inspired by my daughter. I was going to write looking from the outside-vs-the inside, but she suggested going inside the gate…so I took it a step farther. The other bit of inspiration came from a program I saw a few years ago about people who have sun allergies. I remember being surprised that there was such a thing as being allergic to sunlight. And for one reason or another this program came to mind. (to learn more about sun allergies visit: MayoClinic.com)

Thanks for coming by. Please drop by my fellow YAFFers blogs and don’t forget to leave a comment.

R.L.Purdy

Traci Kenworth

Vanessa Barger

Strawberry Sundae Saturday…

Sitting in a booth at a local truck stop, sucking down a strawberry sundae with whipped cream on top. I glance over at my husband and admit to having the urge to jump across the table to kiss the crumbs, from his fried mushrooms, off his lips. lol. I’m not sure what triggered the thought but it was there. So much so, that I put my spoon down and gripped the bench I was sitting on to keep from doing just what I wanted. (There was young children in the room after all.)  🙂

Anyway, I asked him, why he thought I was wanting to leap over the table and devour him. He shrugged and said, maybe it was because he was smiling more today.

This got me thinking about the characters in books and what triggers their attraction to each other. Contrary to what some may think, not all characters are so beautiful that they immediately want each other. An author/friend of mine has said on several occasions that it drives her crazy reading romances where the hero and heroine are attracted to each other but for no apparent reason. She says, “Feelings come from somewhere.”

And she’s right.

Today’s feelings for my husband were brought on by a smile. (That’s what he said.) But after further thought, I like to mix sweet and salty foods. So, I’m chalking up my urge to jump over the table, to eating a strawberry sundae and wanting something fried/salty with it. And it’s not my fault the crumbs were clinging to his lips. 🙂

When you write do you consider the ‘why’? Why does your character feel this way or that? If you can’t answer the why you may need to go back to the drawing board. (Also, do you mix sweet/salty foods?) I recently taught our kids to dip french fries in ice cream. (But only as a treat. Once or twice per summer.)  😉

Romantic Reasoning!

Valentines Day tends to bring out the romantic side in even the most rational prosaic person. (I prefer a little irrationality on Valentines Day).  While I fully understand flowers die, a box of chocolates is fattening, and an extra “I love you” comes just because its expected. I can’t help but rejoice in a day that celebrates that we love one another. After all, everyday should be a day of love and so few are.

Many days are spent with our real life blinders on. Homes to tend to, kids to care for, work, co-workers, long drives, bills, groceries, pets…the list goes on forever it seems like. In all of this, our focus on love-romance gets pushed to the way-side. Sure, we may share an occasional hug or other affection. We’ll remember an ‘I love you’ as we head out the door or before we go to bed. But  do we remind ourselves daily that those words mean something.

I think it would be wonderful if we worked to keep love alive everyday. And remember why we enjoy our romance books so much. One reason I like to write them so well: love is… (we each get to fill in this blank and writing allows me to fill in the blank several times over).

What is love to you? Who do you love and what do you love that they do?

Not Just Romance – Wednesday Writing Topic

How do you know what to write? Or for that matter what to read?

The average reader would be shocked by the number of genres (aka categories) authors can write under. We don’t just wake up one day and say, “I’m going to write romance.” Okay, so maybe we do. But as authors we are suppose to give our romance a name. For instance, I’ve recently finished a Young Adult Paranormal Romance (aka YA Para Romo). My current WIP (Work  in Progress), is a Post WWII Novel, and is considered a Mainstream Romance. As well as a 2nd WIP. It’s a  YA Fantasy Romance.

But there are many, many, more: Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance, Sci-Fi Romance, Historical Romance, Inspirational Romance and Romantic suspense. Gasp, Erotica. (And any combination of these) 😉 Of course there are others I’ve missed.But I’m sure you’re catching my drift.

So how do we decide what we write?

For many of us, we are geared to write what we read. And for those of us who’ll devour any book no matter what the genre, its simply what we’re passionate about.

I love romance in almost any genre, though I have my preferences when it comes to which genres I like best. So I write my passion, Romance. And I choose the genres I write because they are what I like to read with the exception of Romantic Comedy. I avoid writing Romo Coms like the plague. You can’t force funny, if you know what I mean.

So if you’re a reader, what do you like to read the most, and why?

If you’re an author, what is your passion and what genres do you prefer?

After you comment click on here for Wikipedia Free Encylopedia-Romance Novel to read more about my passion and where/how it originated.