Monday, July 30, 2012

Gary F. Vanucci - Epic Fantasy Author

Gary F. Vanucci
Epic Fantasy Author
      Welcome to week four of my fantasy authors! You're going to love not only the covers of these books, but the creative author who pens them for you. Gary was born in Pennsylvania in 1968. He enjoys writing, reading, music, art, anything at all that promotes creativity and activities that push the mind beyond conventional thinking. He has spent time as an amateur singer/songwriter and has spent multiple decades creating role-playing scenarios and playing games amongst various genres. Years of reading graphic novels, comic books, fantasy/science fiction novels and the like has led him to discover his true passion—writing! 
     His education includes a Bachelor’s of Science in the field of Information Technology and an Associates of Arts in the field of Graphic Design.
     
     Gary's invited us to the continent of Wothlondia, in the city of Oakhaven, in the Tall Tale Tavern to be served some fine dwarven ale from its proprietor, Melin Flinteye! So...come have a seat in the Tavern with us as we chat with Gary and enjoy a cold brew!

Deanna:  Gary, this is quite the place and my readers who enjoy Fantasy fiction are going to love it here! Thanks for sharing this place with us. I can't wait to try one of their dark beers. While we wait, please tell us a bit about yourself.

Gary:  I have a background in singing, songwriting, art, music and now writing. I think that my father, who was a pianist, is the closest thing we have in our family with regards to talent, so I guess it came from him!

Deanna:  Do you prefer wine, whiskey, scotch, or ice tea?

Gary: Beer, Coffee, Unsweetened Tea or water is all that I really drink. Though, on occasion, I’ve been seen drinking some Merlot.
 
Deanna:  What do you do to relax when you aren’t writing?

Gary:  I watch some TV shows, play Dungeons and Dragons with friends, or watch baseball. The TV shows are recorded; I almost never channel surf as I feel too many distractions inhibit my writing.

Deanna:  Do you have to split your writing time between a day job?

Gary:  Yes. I am looking to change that ASAP! I work tech support for Comcast as a means to provide income for now.

Deanna:  As authors, we’ve sometimes been accused of being several people. How many personalities live in your mind?

Gary:  I don’t really know…when I find out, I’ll let you know!

Deanna:  I guess that answers that question! How many plots do you include in one of your books?

Gary:  I have an over-arching storyline, a one-shot storyline (self-contained in the book) and then maybe another one or two sub-plots for the most part. It’s quite comprehensive.

Deanna:  What one thing would you pass on to new writers?

Gary:  Keep writing, keep reading, and keep practicing your craft. Listen to constructive criticism and toss the rest of the negativity out the window.

Deanna:  Great advice to those looking to get started. Tell us about your latest book and the type of reader if may appeal to.

Gary:  My latest endeavors are a full-length novel and continuation of my Realm of Ashenclaw novels entitled Secrets of the Ebonite Mines. This one continues the epic journey of some of the characters listed below in the next question and progresses the storyline into some interesting places. It also sets up more things to come for the readers to look forward to. I also have a collaborative anthology of short stories with the guys from my writer’s circle, Skulldust Circle, and have written the Legend of Ashenclaw (giant red dragon queen who burned the continent of Wothlondia to the ground decades prior to Covenant of the Faceless Knights), which I think my readers will absolutely love! This should be out by mid-August.

Deanna:  The mind of fantasy writers still amazes me! The worlds, characters and powers that you conjure up are wonderful! Tell us about Garius and Elec the heroes of your latest book.

Gary:  Garius Forge is the quintessential leader-type, a human Inquisitor of the Faceless Knights of Order, a zealous group of overseers to the Gods of Order. And Elec Stormwhisper is a high elf alchemist rogue/fighter with many magic items and uses his alchemical potions to enhance his fighting prowess.

Deanna:  Readers, I hope you taking notes here! Gary, you covers are so nice. Congrats on those. Tell us about Rose and Saeunn, the heroines of your latest book.

Gary:  Saeunn is a bad-ass barbarian with a massive chip on her shoulder, and if you read Tears of Blood, a short story in Wothlondia Rising the Anthology, you’ll find out why! Her family was overrun by a horde of orcs and she is one of only a few survivors form her village. Rose Thorne is a sassy, smart-ass rogue with quite a troubled history from her youth and she injects some real emotion and fun into the group.

Deanna:  Tell us about some of your antagonists.

Gary:  Well, the overall leader of the dark forces is a fallen holy warrior named Zabalas Dimonia. He has quite a tragic history that will one day be told in a novella or perhaps even more as I feel it is worth telling someday soon. Needless to say, he is a fallen hero himself and as the next book nears release, you will find out a bit more about Zabalas. The reveals are coming, so keep your eyes peeled for my next full length novel, tentatively entitled Dance of Deceit, due out hopefully by the end of the year if all goes well! Zabalas also has a small group of emissaries that he employs, too, including Phaera Sine, a succubus demon, Megnus Bloodstone, a Slagfell dwarf and Prishnack, a Djinn with vast magical powers that I have not even begun to touch on.




Find Gary at his links below:






      Please feel free to leave any comments or questions you might have for Gary and be sure to visit his sites! Don't forget to follow him on Twitter and FB! Gary, thank you so much for hanging around with us. I think someone just ordered another round for all of us!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, July 27, 2012

Hero's Blog Hop!


Are you ready??

     Thank you so much for stopping at my blog on your way through the list! I'm honored to be a part of such a great hop and wish each of you good luck in winning this weekend! Be sure to book mark the many sites so you can return later to read at your leisure. May you find some wonderful books with heroes to fall in love with. The contest and entry info is listed below.


    My hero is the Duke of North Yorkshire, Nathaniel Clairmont. Not only does he enjoy being at court with the king or attending a ball with the London ton teasing the ladies, he's also comfortable on the open sea showing the woman in his life how exciting it is aboard his ship.
     Nathan's had his heart broken due to the jealousy of another man who is no stranger to murder and continues to be a thorn in his side throughout my book, No Turning Back. Unlike his antagonist, Nathan is a one woman man once he has his heart set a particular woman. He'll steal your heart as he does Vanessa's and will make you a believer that love truly can happen a second time.
      If you love English historicals, this story will transport you back to 1778 to experience life in London, riding in carriages through the city or riding a horse through Hyde Park. You can read Chapter One on the left by clicking the open book.
      In my next book, Whispers at Ghost Point, I bring the characters back to life...200 years later...in Wilmington NC at an abandoned lighthouse. If you've read No Turning Back, you'll easily recognize the characters in Whispers. I hope you enjoy both books! Again, thank you for stopping in; book mark my site and enjoy the rest of the blogs and heroes!

On to the other blogs!!!
 
      We are EACH doing a giveaway at the blogs listed below. Yep. There will be over 100 giveaways hosted by that Author or Blogger.
       But that's not all....
    We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 100 times! You're entry on each blog puts you into the Grand Prize drawings so leave your email addy so you can be reached; you don't want to miss out on winning. Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: 
A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
(International)
(if you have a Kindle/Nook, this will be a gift card)

2nd Grand Prize: 
A $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: 
The following Swag Pack!
(US only, sorry)


Enter to win at THIS blog:

Prize: $25 Gift Card
(International)
(All Romance, Amazon, B & N, Bath & Body Works)

To be eligible to win on my blog:

1 - Follow my blog
(I pick one winner a month - $10 gift card + more!)

2 - Leave a comment, with your email address
so we can reach you. Please let me know
which gift card store you'd like yours to.

3 - *Second chance to win 
each month in the future:
Subscribe to my newsletter!
 (I pick one winner a month - $10 gift card)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, everyone!

Thank you for stopping HERE!

Now click over to the other blogs!

(leave my page open, right click on each blog, 
open in NEW tab, enter their contest, then close 
that tab and right click on the next link below)

  

Monday, July 23, 2012

RaShelle Workman - YA Sci-Fi Romance


RaShelle Workman
YA Fantasy/Romance
 
     Thank you for stopping by this week! I've another special treat for you. We're at 9,400 feet in the Colorado Rockies at Glacier Gorge Junction to enjoy a picnic spread with enough food for everyone! Our picnic tables are close together so you can chat with RaShelle. I'm honored to have her here this week to continue with the YA Fantasy books we heard about all month. RaShelle has several books out and several series so be sure you head over to her site and check them all out.

Deanna:
RaShelle, the number of books you have available is amazing! Congratulations on the many series that envelope your books. Tell us a bit about yourself.

RaShelle: I’ve lived all over the US, and have been to Canada, and Taiwan. 

Deanna:  For an evening out, would it be dinner or a movie? What would the dinner be? What might the movie be?

RaShelle:  I’d choose dinner over a movie. Food is my favorite. Dinner would be Fondu. It was all the rage in the 70’s and has started to make a comeback. The movies would be action/adventure. Like The Avengers, Iron Man, or Brave.

Deanna:  Fondu is wonderful! What's your favorite beverage?

RaShelle:  I prefer water, and cherry coke zero.

Deanna:  What do you do to relax when you aren’t writing?

RaShelle:  I love to read, watch a good movie, or play games with my family. 


EXILED (#1 Immortal Essence Series)
Worlds divided them. Chance brought 
them together. Only love will save them. 


Deanna:  Do you have to split your writing time between a day job?

RaShelle:  My children and husband are top priority. After them, I write.

Deanna:  How many plots do you include in one of your books?

RaShelle:  I choose a main theme, and then have a couple of sub-plots. It’s fun keeping readers on their toes.

Deanna:  Our readers are pretty smart and most can follow more than one two plot lines! They also love to know how writers spend their day. Tell us about a typical day in your life as a writer.

RaShelle:  Typical day: Breakfast in bed while my feet are massaged. Shower. Write. Fly to Paris, France for lunch with my husband. Write in a nearby garden. Fly home, and have a BBQ with friends.

Deanna:  Okay, I'm coming to your house for a week! What one thing would you pass on to new writers?

RaShelle:  Be patient with yourself. Writing takes practice. Even the most gifted gymnast has to practice several hours a day. Make sure you do the same.

Deanna:  Do your books have a common theme or are they all different?

RaShelle:  My common them is always LOVE.

Deanna:  Tell us about your latest book and the type of reader if may appeal to. 

 RaShelle:  My latest book is a series entitled “Blood and Snow.” The first three novelettes are out, and the fourth will be out in a few weeks. It’ll appeal to anyone who enjoys fractured fairytales, vampires, and magic.

CONTEST:  Up for grabs is a $5 amazon gift card! In your comment,  include your email so she can contact the winner and tell us what you like best about reading Fantasy Fiction...is the characters, the fantasy world, the powers? One winner will be picked by RaShelle on Saturday! Good luck and again, thank you for stopping in.



Author of YA sci-fi romance & romantic thrillers




Blurb for Sleeping Roses:  Her marriage may be dangerous, but leaving could be deadly.
 

SLEEPING ROSES (#1 Dead Roses Series)
Sophie married into a lie. It's hunter versus hunted. 




CONTEST:  Up for grabs is a $5 amazon gift card! In your comment,  include your email so she can contact the winner and tell us what you like best about reading Fantasy Fiction...is the characters, the fantasy world, the powers? One winner will be picked by RaShelle on Saturday! Good luck and again, thank you for stopping in.


Monday, July 16, 2012

Karen Hooper - YA Fantasy



Karen Hooper
YA Fantasy

     I hope all of you are enjoying the fantasy authors who have been my guests this month. There are so many great books out there. This week we're chatting with Karen at the Black Cow Café in Sedona, AZ, a great coffee shop with a view of the Arizona landscape and cacti!

Deanna:  Hi Karen! What a busy little cafe! I love the smell of brewing coffee!

Karen: Hi! Maryah and I just finished meeting for hot chocolate and talking about book 2 of her series. Deanna, you really should try the hot chocolate. It’s amazing.

Deanna:  Well I do love hot chocolate! Readers, let's pull over a few more tables so we can all chat with Karen and Maryah. Karen, tell us a little about yourself so our readers can get to know who you are and what makes you tick.

Karen:  I’m a self-proclaimed twisted little pixie. I believe that magic and true love really do exist, even in a world that can be ugly at times. I like to dance down rabbit holes and ride shooting stars while playing a never-ending game of “Imagine If…” Then I write about my impossible and fantastical musings and call myself an author. Honestly, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I love storytelling way too much.
     I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, but I’ve also lived in Colorado. Eventually, I had to move to a place where I’d be surrounded by water, so I now live in Florida.
     When I’m not writing I can be found reading, people watching at Disney World, hanging with my amazing friends and family, listening to music, dancing, traveling, pondering the Universe, or enjoying breathtaking sunsets and a good glass of white wine.
      Readers, I hope you stick around to enter my contest at the end. I'm picking three winners on the 21st!

Deanna:  Tell us a bit about yourself  that our readers might not know.

Karen:  I’m scared to drive in the rain. I have no idea why. It’s a fear that developed about a year ago, and it’s ridiculous, but I become filled with anxiety and usually have to pull over until the rain stops. I love skydiving, yet I’m terrified of hydroplaning. Go figure.

Deanna:  Do you prefer wine, whiskey, scotch, or ice tea?

Karen:  I do like white wine, especially Riesling, but I recently discovered loose leaf tea and I’m loving it.  Plus, the green and white teas are so good for you!

Deanna:  Riesling is one my favorites, too. As authors, we’ve sometimes been accused of being several people. How many personalities live in your mind?

Karen:  Ha. Well, I’m a Gemini, which is the sign of the twins. They say Geminis have two personalities, but I think I’m more of a triplet or quadruplet.  Add two book series with LOTS of characters in each, and my mind is a very crowded place.

Deanna:  How many plots do you include in one of your books?

Karen:  However many show up. I’m not a plotter. I write by the seat of my pants and I don’t even write in order. Somehow, maybe by universal magic, the pieces all end up connecting nicely. And usually subplots show up that I never planned or anticipated.

Deanna:  What one thing would you pass on to new writers?

Karen:  I can’t pick just one. Can I pass on three? Write what you love. Always be a work in progress (meaning never stop trying to be better). And if you really love this, don’t give up.

Deanna:  Perseverance is important in this business. Do your books have a common theme or are they all different?

Karen:  They all focus on the power of love. And I adore my secondary characters and the support and strength they provide to the main characters because I believe those people are so important in real life. Friends and family mean the world to me, so that’s reflected in all of my books.

Deanna: That's a great tie-in! Tell us about your latest book and the type of reader it may appeal to.

Karen:  Grasping at Eternity is a magical love story about soul mates with superpowers. I think it would appeal to romantics, readers who enjoy stories about reincarnation (but with a new spin), and anyone who ever wished they were one of the X-men.

Deanna:  Tell us about Nathaniel, the hero of your latest book.

Karen:  Poor Nathan. He’s such an amazing guy, but he’s heartbroken worse than any of us “normal humans” could ever fathom. Imagine spending nineteen lifetimes with your soul mate and then they erase any and all knowledge of you. He deserves a medal for getting out of bed each day. I couldn’t do it.

Deanna:  Tell us about Maryah, the heroine of Grasping at Eternity.

Karen:  Oh, Maryah. She’s so frustrating, but also oblivious as to why she’s so frustrating, so it’s hard to stay mad at her. Plus, she has such a big heart. She has more strength and power than she can even begin to comprehend, and an incredible and emotional journey ahead of her.

Deanna:  Many young people today have more power and strength than they know they possess...they can follow their own path and go after what they want in life. If your characters from Tangled Tides met up with your characters from Grasping at Eternity, would they get along?

Karen:  They would adore each other. I’m sure they’d share and compare their magical powers, and swap their amazing stories of the adventures they’ve had. Treygan and Yara, and Nathan and Maryah, could go on double dates and inspire innocent bystanders with how sweet and romantic they are.

Deanna:  I must say how beautiful your covers are, wow! Love them! What are you working on right now?

Karen:  I’m currently writing book 2 of each series. However, most of Taking Back Forever, book 2 of The Kindrily series was written years ago, so now I’m trying to clean it up and make it better. My writing has come a long way in two years (Thank goodness!)
     Also, several reviewers have said they wished there was a prologue to GAE where they could have seen Nathan and Maryah’s love before she erased, so I’m working on a short story that will be my free gift to readers.
      Readers, I hope you click over to my website where you can grab and bookmark the other places to find me! You can keep up with the progress of my new books as I go. I love chatting with readers so feel free to drop me a note!

Deanna:  That's a great idea. Readers love when we can give them free books! I'm sure your readers will love that so they can learn more about Nathan and Maryah's life. Karen, thank you for hanging out with us all week!

CONTEST:   Karen will pick THREE winners who leave a comment with their email addy so she can easily contact you. Winner’s choice of Grasping at Eternity or Tangled Tides so please let her know what choice of e-book you'd like if YOU are picked as a winner. What do you enjoy most about reading fantasy fiction? Good luck everyone!

 Readers, if you love historical romance,
please be sure to scroll down and meet Erin Quinn!