Author Interview

Check out our newest author to the blogger contest.

She's just joined the contest and agreed to an interview with me.

I'll be updating her book info pretty soon.

Hi Aida, where were you born and where do you call home?

I'm an east coast girl, all the way -- I was born in New Jersey but live in a suburb of Philadelphia not far from Media, Pennsylvania, where Between Seasons, my first novel, is set. I'm a firm believer in writing what you know, so all my writing involves settings I'm familiar with.

If you gave some of your characters an opportunity to speak for themselves, what would they say?

They probably tell me to let them sleep (I have a tendency to write constantly until I finish things)! Patrick, the main character in Between Seasons, would likely yell at me for killing him off in the opening paragraph of the novel. Granted, I think it worked out okay for him in the end. :maniacal laughter:

Do you have plans for a new book?   Is this book part of a series?

Between Seasons is the first novel in a two-book series, although I had a dream the other night that I changed the ending of the second novel and made it a trilogy. I suppose I could do that if it feels right by the time I finish North of Frost, which is the title of the second book. Right now, North of Frost is about 20% finished, so I have some time yet!

Would you like to giveaway a copy of your book on this blog?

Absolutely! I'm happy to offer up an electronic copy of Between Seasons (Kindle, Nook, or PDF format).

How did you come up with the title and cover design?

The title came when I was about halfway finished with the novel. I tend to be really bad at naming things -- in fact, I make one of my critique partners name just about everything I write. However, with Between Seasons, the name of the novel was part of the dialogue in the book, and it fit the mood and theme pretty well, so I opted to use it as the title. As for the cover design, I toy with graphic design a bit, and I prefer simplicity when it comes to book covers. I chose the fonts before anything else because I think fonts really say a lot. The photo was one I found when I was haunting stock photo sites. Just like the title, it really fits the mood to me.

Have you based any of your characters on someone you know, or real events in your own life?

Oh yes. Jules, Sara Oswald's sister, is based on someone in my life . . . but I doubt she'd recognize herself, though, because people like are rarely that self-aware. And, of course, Patrick himself is based on the ghost who lives in my house -- not the plot, mind you, but just what I've imagined what he might have been like in life.

Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover?

I have an iPad and read books on it when I travel, but as a rule I'm a firm lover of physical books. Whether it's paperback or hardcover, I don't care. I like the smell and heft of a book, and I appreciate the craft of a well-made book. I have two prized possessions: my signed copy of Mary Roach's Stiff and a miniature book from artist Mark Ryden's BLOOD exhibit. I get that digital books are easy to get your hands on and they take up less space, but I guess I'm just old school.

Where do you prefer to buy your books?

When I'm feeling lazy, I buy from Amazon, but when I'm able I like to support small, local bookstores. There's a great shop in Chestnut Hill (a neighborhood in Philly) called Big Blue Marble that's really great. I'd love to have a book signing there one day.

Have you ever read a book more than once?

Absolutely! I have read A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving so many times I can probably recite the entire novel to you. I've also read most of Kurt Vonnegut's and James Morrow's books at least three times each as well.

Is there a particular movie that you preferred over the book version?

Jaws. Oh, and Salem's Lot. The book of Salem's Lot was scary, but the movie scared the crap out of me when I was a kid.

What book are you currently reading and in what format (ebook/paperback/hardcover)?

I'm in the middle of reading Sleight by Kirsten Kaschock (a novel from Coffeehouse Press), and it's in paperback.

What book do you know that you will never read?

I have tried to read The Elegence of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery at least five times and have never been able to make it past chapter one. I gave up.

Are there any new Authors that have grasped your interest and why?

Hmm. I'm not sure if they're really new, but they're new to me: Ilsa J. Bick, Melina Marchetta, and Monica Drake are all really great, and I had no idea who they were before this year. Marchetta has written one of the best YA novels I've read in years (Jellicoe Road) -- the plot was incredibly well-done. I read Bick's book, Draw the Dark, when I was contemplating trying my hand at YA horror, and I love that she's not afraid of an unusual ending. Monica Drake is an amazing writer. I loved her novel Clown Girl -- it worked on so many levels, and it was so emotionally satisfying.

Is there anything you would change in your last book and why?

No. I'm pretty happy with it, and I'm really enjoying telling more of Patrick and Sara's story. The second novel gives a bit more of the how and why of what happens in Between Seasons, so it's always fun to be the god of my own world.

Who designed the cover of your book?

I did. I'd hire a designer if I wanted something more complicated, but Between Seasons and its sequel require simple and clean -- and that's something I can do.

Do you have a book trailer?

I don't. I've been thinking of teaching myself to make one, but it might be too complicated for my meager skills. I'm not 100% sold on their usefulness, though. They're nice and all, but do they really help sell novels? I don't know.

What are your thoughts on book trailers?

Hah! Well, aside from generally wondering if they're useful, a well-done trailer is pretty to look at.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Keep writing!! Writing is one of those things where you're convinced that everything you write is horrible most of the time, and it's easy to give up. But giving up means you'll never improve. Write, write, and write some more!

What is the best advice that you have ever been given when it comes to writing?

Rejection by an agent or a publisher is not a measure of quality, nor is it a statement about the marketability of your work. Novelists like Kurt Vonnegut and Tom Robbins would likely never have gotten picked up by agents in today's market because their plots are really unique, and there's a real fear of straying too far left or right of the center. 

Do you ever write in your PJ’s?

All the time. Writing is my career (I'm a freelance writer), so nearly every day involves me writing in my pajamas.

Cats or dogs?

Both! I have both.

Coffee or tea?

Both! I drink both equally . . . maybe that's weird, but I'm an equal opportunity beverage girl!

Favorite food?

At the moment, I would say bread -- my favorite bakery has these killer loaves of rustic bread studded with kalamata olives. Served up with really good olive oil and a bit of balsamic vinegar? And now I'm hungry . . .

Vanilla or chocolate ice cream?

Chocolate. Preferably from Cold Stone Creamery and mixed with cherry pie filling and brownies.

What do you normally eat for breakfast?

It depends on what I have in my house. My two favorite breakfasts are cranberry scones with clotted cream or poached eggs and toast.

What are 4 things you never leave home without?

My driver's license, my Blackberry, my keys, and a bottle of water.

Laptop or desktop for writing?

Laptop. I like to be mobile.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

Most of the time I write on my couch, but I also have a favorite coffee shop that I work at a lot. They have amazing soup and coffee! Since I'm a freelancer, I write whenever I have time, which can range in time throughout the day.

One of your favorite quotes -

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." -- Albert Einstein

What is a movie or TV show that you watched recently and really enjoyed?

I'm kind of digging Grimm, but I will admit to being a huge nerd for The X-Files. I still watch old episodes at least once or twice a week.

Where can your readers stalk you?

Feel free to stalk me on Twitter at @aidabrassington, at my website (aidabrassington.wordpress.com), or on Goodreads (http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/4886231-nicole-wolverton).

Is your book in Print, ebook or both?

Both. I'm also looking into releasing it as an audiobook.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with me and allowing us a glimpse into your writing word.  Tima

No, no -- thank YOU!

Savage Rage

Savage Rage

Brent Pilkey

Jack has been transferred to another division after his partner is killed in the line of duty.

It's supposed to be a quiet division with little happening. But a very sick person is on the loose in his old district and Jack gets pulled back into the thick of things.

The book is about a evil criminal and the police officer that is going to bring him down. But it's also about how hard life can be when chasing crime. Not only for the officer, but for the family members as well.

I haven't read the first book, but it didn't seem to matter. This book started out strong and stayed that way till the end. The author has an amazing writing style and is really able to bring the characters to life.

The subject matter is a little dark, as expected. I had to put the book down a couple of times and read something more light-hearted before returning. But it was well worth it. Definitely a must read for a crime novel fan.

I received this book free of charge from in exchange for my honest review.

Coupon for Christian fiction

If you are interested in Amish Christian fiction then this post is for you.

I just signed up to review 

The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall.

I will be posting a review within the next couple of days, but wanted to let you know about a coupon that you can use to purchase the book (or any other book) through WaterBrook Publishing.

Click on either link provided above and use the coupon CHRISTMAS11 at checkout to receive 30% off and free shipping. The coupon expires on the 20th of December so make sure to check out their books and order something for yourself for Christmas. =)

For more information on the book you can read an excerpt from the first chapter here.

Here Burns My Candle

Here Burns My Candle

Liz Curtis Higgs

Possible spoiler alert!

Lady Elisabeth wasn't always a lady. She was a merchant's daughter before she married Lord Donald and went to live with his mother, Lady Marjory, brother and sister-in-law. She has secrets that she won't tell anyone. But her husband's secrets of infidelity are becoming common knowledge. 

The country is at war and the family must choose which side to support. For some it will be a fatal decision.

This book is very well researched and written. It took me several chapters to become engaged, but then it became a bit more interesting. The story is a more modern (set in the 1700s) version of Naomi and Ruth. At least I began to recognize some similarities towards the end book. I am assuming there is another book telling the story of Lady Elisabeth after she returns to her mother-in-laws home town.
A very well written book, but certainly not one of my favorites.

I received this book free of charge from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

Smitten

Smitten

Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, 

Diann Hunt & Denise Hunter

Four best friends hatched a plan to save the town of Smitten when the mill closed down. This is a sweet romantic tale of how love and faith saved a town and it's people.

I really enjoyed reading this novella. Even though each of the four stories were written by different authors, it flowed together very smoothly. I appreciated the way each woman's faith was shown. The authors sort of mirrored the characters after themselves and I loved how they added little details to the story that made it more personal to them. Each woman was different and yet they were able to come together and put their faith into action to implement something beautiful and successful.

There are discussion questions and an interview with the authors at the back of the book.

A very cute story that makes for a fun, fast read.

I received this book free of charge from Booksneeze in exchange for my honest review.

the Very Thought of You

the Very Thought of You

Rosie Alison

Anna is evacuated to the country when England goes to war. She arrives at the Ashton estate and meets Thomas and Elizabeth. The book tells the stories of both families. It begins with a history on the Ashton estate and then jumps back to when Anna comes to live at the estate with the other children.

It's a story of love found, love lost and love never realized.

It seems to portray the years during the war accurately (although I probably wouldn't know if it didn't). It gives a sense of the gloom and despair that the residents felt during the years of separation during the war. Several reviewers called this a romance story. I suppose if you added the word tragic it might apply. It certainly isn't a romance story that I'd want to live out. 

I would liken this story to Sarah's Key. It was a well written story and one I can easily see becoming a best seller. But it's so sad that I'm just not sure how to rate it. I alternately loved and disliked this book. I loved it because of the style of writing. It's hard to tell that this is the author's first book. But I hate sad and therefore disliked the book. But any book portraying a war era is bound to have at least some sad elements. So I would recommend this book because it's so well written and by a new author.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review.

Room

Room

Emma Donoghue

Jack's entire life consists of Room, his mother and the things that Room holds. He's just had his fifth birthday and is learning that there is a world out there that he didn't know existed.

This is one of the best books that I've read in a long time. Considering the amount of books I read weekly that is really saying something. The story felt so real and the characters really jumped out.

I felt the pains, joys and stresses of the two main characters.

The story is written from the viewpoint of the five year old and this keeps the story from being too dark, which I appreciated as a mother of a five year old boy.

Some of the people in my book club complained about it not being realistic in a couple of places. I guess I didn't notice until it was pointed out. But even once I noticed it just didn't seem to matter. It IS fiction and the story moved so quickly, especially in the beginning, that I didn't pay much attention to the tiny details.

This book is a wonderful book for book clubs, individuals and parents. It makes you appreciate the blessings in your life without being depressed.