Author: Suzanne Schultz Pick

Blog Tour and Author Interview for Blood Oath by Amanda McCrina

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Link to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38503715-blood-oath   

Pre-order Link

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

Tour Schedule:

http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-blood-oath-by-amanda-mccrina/

Giveaway Info:

  • One (1) winner will receive a $15 Starbucks gift card or B&N gift card, plus a digital copy of Blood Oath by Amanda McCrina upon its release.

Blood Oath (Blood Oath #2)

by Amanda McCrina

Release Date: June 19, 2018

Publisher: Month9Books

The aftermath of what happened in the capital has shaken Torien to the core. Battling self-doubt and bitterness, he must find his resolve as he is sent back to Tasso to quell a violent uprising on the Road.

But Torien will need more than resolve to navigate the deadly path before him. His troops are inexperienced and his new adjutant untrustworthy. A series of murder attempts leaves the whole camp on edge. As the threat of mutiny builds, the mission seems doomed before they even reach Tasso—and Torien is beginning to suspect it was meant that way. He and his men are being set up to fail.

With his best friend in the hands of the rebels, his commanding officer refusing to negotiate a peace treaty, and his own men ready to turn on him at any moment, Torien must decide once and for all how much he’s willing to sacrifice for an empire he no longer believes in.

Author Interview

1. What is your writing process? Do you aim for a word count daily or maybe just a scene?

I usually aim for a certain word count (I like ending on exact thousands), but I try not to beat myself up if I don’t meet my goal. When I’m in the middle of a WIP, though, I do try to write at least something every day.

2. What sort of research did you do for this book?

As with Blood Road, the first book of the duology, I was able to use a lot of the research I’d done for my academic writing on the Roman army—very convenient. Specific things I researched for this book, though, included venomous snakes, poisons, and Roman wedding customs.

3. What are you working on now? What’s next for the series?

I have a YA historical, set in Poland during WWII, out on submission with my agent. For now, with the Blood Oath duology complete,I’m stepping away from fantasy and focusing on historical fiction—but that doesn’t mean I don’t have any ideas for further stories set in Torien’s world.

4. How did you come up for the idea of your book?

The world and some of the plot dynamics were obviously inspired by ancient Rome, but I also really wanted to write a story about friendship across class and culture divides. At its heart, that’s what Blood Oath is about.

5. Just for fun — what TV shows or movies have you really enjoyed (or disliked?) recently?

I don’t watch a lot of TV, but lately I’ve enjoyed rewatching Friends, and The Big Bang Theory is always my guilty pleasure. I also haven’t seen a lot of movies recently, but I disliked The Last Jedi and really enjoyed Black Panther.

About the Author

Amanda McCrina has studied in Italy, taught English in Japan, and currently tutors Latin in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her BA in History from the University of West Georgia, and is now pursuing her MA. She writes stories that incorporate her love of history, languages, and world travel. She drinks far too much coffee and dreams of one day having a winning fantasy-hockey season.

Website | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

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Book Tour and Author Interview for Just One of the Royals by Leah and Kate Rooper

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Just One of the Royals by Leah and Kate Rooper

Star hockey player Daniel Sacachelli wants only two things: 1) for the Falcons
to win next season, and 2) for his secret — the fact he’s actually the prince of Eldonia — to never make its way to Chicago. But if Daniel keeps avoiding his crown, their family will lose their kingdom forever.

Madison Myong can’t believe that her will-they-or-won’t-they best friend Daniel is really a prince! He’s always seemed more rebel than royal. But now, he needs to clean up his image, fast. Posing as his long-time girlfriend, Madison accompanies him back to Eldonia, intending to give Daniel a makeover fit for a king.

Only, the more royal Daniel becomes, the more Madison misses her best friend. And if she does her job right, she’ll lose him forever…

Author Interview

  • What is your writing process? Do you aim for a word count daily or maybe just a scene?

We always start by drafting the whole project out scene by scene. Our books usually have multiple POVs, so usually we’ll each choose a character to write. From there, our writing process changes depending on what project we’re working on. When we’re working on a book for a deadline, like JUST ONE OF THE ROYALS, we aim for a certain word count each day (usually around 2000 words). When we’re working on a project for ourselves, we usually divvy it up by scene instead!

  • What sort of research did you do for this book?

We had to do a lot of research on small European countries and monarchies to understand how the line of succession often works. We wanted Eldonia to feel authentic, so we looked up European architecture, climate, and agriculture. For the hockey portion, we didn’t need to do too much research! Thankfully we’ve been life-long hockey fans, so most of the rules and terms were already ingrained in our brains. We did have to research how junior hockey leagues work though!

  • What are you working on now? Any chance of a sequel?

Yes! There will be a third book in the Chicago Falcons series, coming out November 2018! This book will focus on Daniel’s little sister Eva and one of Daniel’s teammates. This will also be the last season that the whole gang — Alice, Hayden, Daniel, and Tyler — are playing hockey together, so readers will get a peek into what their futures beyond the Falcons look like ☺

  • How did you come up for the idea of your book?

We came up with the idea for the first book in the series, JUST ONE OF THE BOYS, from playing NHL games on our PlayStation as kids. There was always a Create-A-Player mode, and we always wished we could make female players!  We always made one player named Alex and pretended she was a girl disguised as a boy so she could play on the team. As we played the video game, we would make up stories about her, especially ones about her falling for the star of the team, Ryan. As we got older, we decided we wanted to write their crazy story! Alex and Ryan turned into Alice and Hayden. When it came time to write the next book in the series, JUST ONE OF THE ROYALS, we knew we needed to do something big to top the whole disguised-as-a-boy thing! With the Royal Wedding just around the corner, we were inspired by the drama of ball rooms and royalty. And what is more dramatic than a secret prince?  

  • Just for fun — what TV shows or movies have you really enjoyed (or disliked?) recently?

We absolutely loved The Greatest Showman and have been listening to the soundtrack non-stop! We also have always loved the Marvel movies and really enjoyed both Black Panther and Infinity Wars. For television, we’re giant Disney fans so we’re finally watching Tangled: The Series, which is amazing!

About the Authors

Leah and Kate Rooper are sisters from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Growing up beside the Pacific Ocean and inside a temperate rainforest fed their sense of adventure as children, and nourished a curiosity for strange and distant lands. They fed this curiosity with books – lots and lots of books. After experiencing the magic of Middle-earth, they began creating their own worlds. When they’re not writing, Leah and Kate spend their time blogging and vlogging about their travel adventures and their writing journey.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Pinterest

Chapter by Chapter

Blog Tour and Giveaway for Burning Bright (Going Down in Flames #5) by Chris Cannon

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Burning Bright (Going Down in Flames #5)

by Chris Cannon
Publication Date: June 4, 2018

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Bryn is back for her senior year at the Institute for Excellence, also known as shape-shifting dragon school. She isn’t sure which is scarier, the life-force sucking dragons stalking campus or the fact that she’s officially betrothed to Jaxon, a guy who will never love her. Not that she could ever love him, either… That’s just ridiculous.

Senior year should be fun. Her parents are alive, she’s finally fitting in, and she’s learning how to be a Medic. But what’s with Jaxon giving her strange looks? He runs hot and cold, and he doesn’t even have the excuse of being a hybrid fire-and-ice-breathing dragon like her. One minute they’re having a great time and the next, she wants to blast a fireball at his head. The marriage contract of doom looms over them–unless this match not made in heaven kindles a flame…

Excerpt

I guess I should say thank you for coming to look for me.”

“You’re welcome, though you seemed to have the situation taken care of by the time we got there.”

“Mostly,” he said. “But it’s nice to know that someone notices when I’m not where I’m supposed to be.”

And now this felt awkward and a little too serious. “I guess it really is our job to look out for each other now, isn’t it?”

He grinned. “I’d like to point out that I’m normally a lot less trouble than you are, so you’re getting the better end of this deal.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m one lucky girl.”

He acknowledged her joke with a grin and then pushed to his feet. “Do try to remember that.” He walked to the door and let himself out.

She locked the door behind him. Weird how she felt closer to him now. Shared drama probably had that effect on a relationship. Whatever kind of relationship she had with Jaxon, it seemed to be shifting…which was natural given their strange circumstances. Nothing to worry about. Nothing at all.

Link to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40019526-burning-bright?

Purchase Links:

Amazon | Amazon Australia | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Link to Tour Schedule:

http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-burning-bright-by-chris-cannon/

Giveaway Details:

$20 Amazon Gift Card (INT)

About the Author

Chris Cannon is the award-winning author of the Going Down In Flames series and the Boyfriend Chronicles. She lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and several furry beasts. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies. You can find her online at www.chriscannonauthor.com.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Pinterest • Goodreads

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Electronic books for May 2018

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At my work, I’m sort of an advocate for the electronic book. I’m the one who teaches people how to use apps for eBooks and eAudiobooks. I like promoting technology and reading, obviously, so here’s a list of books I’ve checked out in electronic form lately.

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (Older book but a great audiobook that is very easy to get in to.)

The Surface Breaks : a reimagining of The little mermaid by Louise O’Neill (This one is on hold and I’ve heard so much buzz about it.)

People Like Us by Dana Mele (If you like PLL, read this!)

Dracula by Bram Stoker (We’re going to Whitby this weekend, so I wanted to get into the goth mood)

Patrick Melrose Vol. 1: Never Mind, Bad New, and Some Hope by Edward St. Aubyn (Benedict Cumberbatch must influence so many library shelves)

Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks (how could I not try this out?)

Love and War by Melissa de la Cruz (We didn’t get to see Hamilton this year but I’m hopeful that one year, maybe I will.)

I also have The Subtle Art of Not Giving an F book which is in print and both Mister Pick and I have enjoyed reading.

And, as always, if you have a library ticket/card, ask what eBook and eAudiobook app they use and get yourself registered. What am I saying? Of course you have a library ticket!

Book Tour for Tribal Affairs with an Interview with Author Matt Dallmann

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Tribal Affairs by Matt Dallmann

Genre: YA Fantasy

Brief Description

Dahlia, a centuries-old genie, lies hopelessly trapped in a damaged golden locket charm attached to an ankle bracelet. Its owner, sixteen-year-old Liana, wears it for the first time during her father Jamison’s opening night illusion spectacular. Not only does its presence cause Jamison to folly his performance, but it also starts a chain of bizarre events that lead to a showdown with Dahlia’s mortal enemy, Stefan, and an unsuspecting romance between Liana and his son.

Interview with Matt Dallmann

1. What is your writing routine? Do you aim for a word count, to tackle a certain number of pages at a time, or do you go scene by scene? (Something else?)

I try do at least write 5 pages on the days that I write. If I’m on a roll, I’ll write more, but I think 5 pages is enough to make me feel like I’ve made some progress.

2. What was your inspiration for your book? What was the most fun and the most difficult part of getting the story just right?

I’m not quite sure why, but I latched onto the genie folklore several years ago. Possibly because I felt that it was a relatively unexplored mythology that could be my niche. The most fun part of the story for me was reimagining genie powers and capabilities. The most difficult was getting the point of view just right. I wrote two overlapping storylines that eventually merge into one, so it was a challenge deciding which point of view I would use, and then making it work for both storylines. I went back and forth quite a bit on this.

3. What are your favorite books? What authors inspire you the most?

I really like Gore Vidal and Kurt Vonnegut. I just finished the first volume of Proust’s In Search of Lost Time series. That was a bit of a challenge. His writing is pretty dense, but if you stick with it, you’ll find he can turn the most mundane moment into a whimsical happenstance that you’ll swear you experienced before.

4. Odd question – what TV shows do you like?

I love West World. I’m a huge fan of Twin Peaks and recently got into Barry on HBO. Of course, I love all the standards of the 90s; Seinfeld, Friends, etc.

5. Lastly, is there anything else we should know about you? Do you like to listen to music when writing? What book projects are on the horizon for you?

I would like to follow up Tribal Affairs with a second and possibly third installment, but time is a big luxury these days. Also, I’m oddly into Legos. They’re kind of like Tetris. I’ve found it’s a good way to pass the time while I’m hanging out with my girls in their playroom. Most recently, I built a huge stage theater, complete with box seats, balcony, orchestra pit and even a bar for intermission cocktails.

About the Author

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Matt Dallmann has a background in acting and holds a BFA from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. His films and screenplays have been featured at film festivals across the United States including Cinequest, Big Apple Film Festival, Seattle’s True Independent Film Festival, DragonCon and Zero Independent Film Festival. His piano compositions have been published for commercial use and he is a member of ASCAP. Matt is also the Co-Founder and Vice President of the boutique medical billing firm VGA Billing Services, Inc. in New York City. He lives in New Jersey with his wife and two daughters.

On Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/genietribalaffairs/

On Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2HSKUXt

On Amazon: http://amzn.to/2G3pAhn

On BookGrabbr: https://bookgrabbr.com/books/62137-tribal-affairs

The author is hosting a Goodreads Giveaway (50 kindle copies) from 5/3 to 5/31! Enter here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36547842

Blog Tour and Author Interview for Perfectly Misunderstood by Robin Daniels

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 Book Title: Perfectly Misunderstood
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy
Book Synopsis: Jayden Valdez is an overachieving intellectual. Mike McGinnes is Franklin High School’s dumbest jock. Even though they barely know each other, she finds his personality repulsive and he thinks she’s got a giant stick up her you know what. Mike and Jayden are surprised and annoyed when their teacher pairs them together for Spanish tutoring. Both feel it’s a complete waste of time, since nobody could learn from a person who bugs the crap out of them. Not to mention that their reputations might be ruined if people realize what they’re doing. But it doesn’t take long for Jayden to discover that Mike has a secret—he isn’t the person he appears to be. Much to her dismay, Jayden finds ‘Secret Mike’ strangely attractive. And for some crazy reason, Mike is amused by Jayden’s clever insults and witty banter. Suddenly, they have a much bigger problem than their mutual disdain. What started as irritating tension is beginning to feel more like romantic tension and acting on it would be a very bad idea.
Author Interview:
  1. What is your writing process? Do you aim for a word count daily or maybe just a scene?

My writing process is different every day. I have five kids, two of which aren’t in school yet and one of them is an adorably naughty two-year-old. I’m trying to be a full-time writer and a full-time mom and it’s a huge juggling act. I’ve had days with a word count as high as 10,000 (those are rare) and other days I don’t get to write at all. My schedule is very hectic.

My goal each day is to write as much as I can. Sometimes that means waking up before the kids or not even starting until after they’re in bed. But once I sit down to my computer, I definitely aim to finish at least a chapter. I never stop mid-scene unless I absolutely have to. My kids are used to it by now and have given up complaining because it’s futile. If I’m fifteen minutes late picking them up from school, or dinner doesn’t get made until seven, it’s probably because I was in the middle of a conversation and didn’t want to lose my momentum or train of thought. My perfect work day would include eight hours of uninterrupted quiet time. But I’m not holding my breath for that anytime soon.

  1. What sort of research did you do for this book?

So far, none of my books have required a ton of research. This one has required the most though, because I don’t speak Spanish. I made some jokes in the book about Google translate, but it was basically my best friend while writing. A lot of the learning process explained by Mike is exactly what I went through. For example: checking a word from English to Spanish then Spanish to English, to make sure it was the same both ways. Sometimes, when I intentionally needed words that didn’t translate correctly, I had to try translating a bunch until I found one that worked. I’m not Hispanic/Latina, so for this book I also had a bunch of Latina beta readers and spent extra time with their reviews. Then I did some rewriting in an effort to make sure nothing sounded offensive or incorrect.

  1. What are you working on now? Any chance of a sequel?

My motto is always quit while you’re ahead, so there won’t be a sequel or spin off to Perfectly Misunderstood. This was even the last book in the series.  I’ve had requests to write Brady and Beth’s story (from book 1), Jake and Lilly’s story (from book 2) and most recently to write a spin-off for Becca. And while I’m glad that readers have loved my supporting characters enough to want a whole book about them, I know there’s no way I could please everyone. Plus, I have too many ideas floating around in my head. It’s time to move on to something new.

Currently, I’m working on a book about two people brought together by a series of mysterious events, which are orchestrated by a secret matchmaker. It has a hint of mystery and elements of magical realism, but it’s basically another YA contemporary romance. This one is unique because it’s a series of four different novella length books and each book covers the same week in time but is told from a different character’s point of view. Each point of view builds on the last and reveals different scenes or clues that tie into the overall story. I’m not sure yet if I will release them as four different novellas or compile them into one really long book.

  1. How did you come up for the idea of your book?

I knew from the second I mentioned Mike McGinnes in book one, that I needed to do a story about him. There was just so much potential for something ridiculous or funny because of the type of guy he is. But I also knew that it would be fun to give his surface character some unexpected depth. As for the storyline, that adapted a lot as I wrote it (as do all of my books). I’ve always enjoyed a good hate-to-love story, so I knew from the beginning that’s what Perfectly Misunderstood would be. I love writing humor, sarcasm and witty comebacks. Also, I find stories where the characters dislike each other in the beginning, particularly rewarding in the end when they get together.

  1. Just for fun — what TV shows or movies have you really enjoyed (or disliked?) recently?

When I watch TV, I tend to binge watch my favorites over and over again. Right now, my husband and I are in season 4 of Psych. If you can’t tell from my writing style, I love to laugh, and the Sean and Gus relationship is so funny and over the top. I love their little quirks and shenanigans. Other shows I’ve watched start to finish, multiple times include: The Office, Community and Raising Hope. If I could achieve any goal as a writer, it would be to write for a television show like one of those. Steve Carell is a comedic genius.

About the Author:

Robin Daniels is a sixteen-year-old trapped in a middle-aged body. She’s married to an amazing guy and has five cute but crazy kids. When she’s not chasing children or writing books, she’s coaching volleyball or working on her blog. She tries to read as much as possible, especially when she has housework to do. Robin’s favorites include napping, dessert, pedicures, Christmas, Arizona winters, and Diet Coke.
Read below for an excerpt from the book:

Jayden’s glare intensified, and I could tell she was sending me mental death threats. Eventually, she gave up and sat down across from me. “Was that so hard?” I asked.

“About as hard as you head.”

“I have harder parts than my head,” I countered. Her eyes grew wide at the implication. I let her stew for a second before lifting my sleeve and flexing my bicep. “You think that’s hard? You should see my abs.” I’d said it as a joke, but it was basically true.

She was surprised for the briefest moment, then she grunted. “How Cro-Magnon of you.”

“Your grunt suggests you’re familiar with the genotype on a personal level.” I smirked.

Jayden’s eyes narrowed. “At least I’ve evolved. Your face suggests that you haven’t yet.”

I tsked in good nature. “Your face might be prettier than mine, but your manners prove you haven’t evolved as much as you think.”

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Book Tour and Guest Post by Justin Joschko for Yellow Locust

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Link to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32173465-yellow-locust   

Purchase Links:

Google Play | BAM | Chapters | Indies | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | TBD | iBooks

Tour Schedule:

http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-yellow-locust-by-justin-joschko/

Giveaway Info:
One (1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a digital copy of Yellow Locust by Justin Joschko (INT)

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Yellow Locust by Justin Joschko

Release Date: May 8, 2018

Publisher: Month9Books
Selena Flood is a fighter of preternatural talent. But not even her quick fists and nimble feet could save her parents from the forces of New Canaan, the most ruthless and powerful of the despotic kingdoms populating America-that-was.

Forced to flee the tyrannical state with her younger brother Simon in tow, Selena is now the last chance for peace in a continent on the verge of complete destruction.

In her pocket is a data stick, the contents of which cost her parents their lives. Selena must now ensure it reaches the Republic of California—a lone beacon of liberty shining across a vast and barren wasteland—before it’s too late.

Between New Canaan and California stretch the Middle Wastes: thousands of desolate miles home to murderers, thieves, and a virulent strain of grass called yellow locust that has made growing food all but impossible. So when Selena and Simon stagger into Fallowfield, an oasis of prosperity amidst the poisoned plains, everything seems too good to be true—including the warm welcome they receive from the town’s leader, a peculiar man known only as The Mayor.

As Selena delves deeper into the sinister secrets of this seemingly harmless refuge, she soon learns there is a much darker side to Fallowfield and the man who runs it. Before long, she must call upon the skills she honed in the fighting pits of New Canaan to ensure not only her own survival, but that of her brother, in whom the Mayor has taken far too keen an interest.

And she’d better act fast, for an all-out war inches ever closer, and New Canaan is never as far away as it seems.

Guest Post

Why You’ll Love this book

I’m gonna be honest here: I really don’t know if you’ll love this book or not. It seems presumptuous to assume you will—there are plenty of books heralded as great or essential that I didn’t care for, so why should Yellow Locust be sacrosanct?

So instead, I thought I’d tell you why I love this book. Feel free to agree or disagree with any of them.

1) It has a kick-ass protagonist. Selena Flood knows how to bust heads. A seventeen-year-old street brawler, Selena is a pampered member of New Canaan’s elite Seraphim who scorned the posh gyms and gentlemen’s leagues of her native class in order to hone her skills in the roughest fighting pits of New Canaan’s slums. When her parents are executed for treason, Selena flees her homeland but takes her fighting skills with her, along with a data stick containing highly sensitive intel and enough anger to fuel a thousand brawls. It doesn’t take her long to find a way to put her talents to use on the road, for America-that-was is a dangerous place, and the most savage parts of it are those that pretend to be civilized. Which leads me to…

2) It has a great villain. Though driven by the threat of New Canaan’s impending war, most of Yellow Locust is set a thousand miles from the empire’s border, in a bucolic farming community called Fallowfield. With lush crops and well-fed citizens, Fallowfield stands in stark contrast to the lands around it, which unfurl with mile after mile of a blighted, poison plant called yellow locust. Running the show in Fallowfield is a man known only as The Mayor, a foppish figure with a charming smile beneath a pair of reflective sunglasses. He greets Selena and Simon warmly, offers them every kindness, but behind his mirrored lenses lurk unknown intentions. Erudite, devious, and ruthlessly intelligent, The Mayor is my favorite type of villain—the kind who’d sink a knife in your back if necessary, but would rather trick your friend into doing the deed instead, the better to keep from getting his hands dirty.

3) It has a lot of action. Street brawls, knife fights, ambushes, insurgencies—the world of Yellow Locust is a violent place. Not a great place to live, but a lot of fun to write about (and hopefully to read about, too!)

4) It took me a long time to write. Yellow Locust is a book ten years in the making, a cask-aged brew given ample time to mellow. The manuscript swelled to 150,000 words and whittled down to 90,000, shed plots and characters, survived a crucible of edits to emerge sleek and sharp and hard as steel. None of this might mean much to the reader, but after all that work, how could I not love the thing?

Anyhow, those are my reasons. I hope you agree, but even more so, I hope you pick it up and give it a chance.

About the Author

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Justin Joschko is an author from Niagara Falls, Ontario. His writing has appeared in newspapers and literary journals across Canada. Yellow Locust is his first novel. He currently lives in Ottawa with his wife and two children.

 Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Book Tour and Author Interview for Reyet Trap by Dee Garretson

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Link to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37915823-reyet-trap  

Purchase Links:

BAM | Indies | Amazon | B&N | TBD | iBooks

Tour Schedule:

http://www.chapter-by-chapter.com/tour-schedule-reyet-trap-by-dee-garretson/

Giveaway Details:

  • One (1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a digital copy of Reyet Trap

Code:

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Reyet Trap (Torch World #2) by Dee Garretson

Release Date: April 3, 2018

Publisher:  Month9Books

No planet. No hope.

Quinn Neen and his friends have survived the uprising and the ruthless Fosaanian leader’s attempt to kill them, but the galaxy is still hurtling toward war. With just a few days before Quinn starts his mandatory military training, he plans to spend the time with Mira, the Fosaanian girl he’s in love with. When a mysterious message forces them on a journey to an isolated planet named Reyet, Quinn’s plans quickly change.

A coup on Reyet throws everything into chaos, leaving Quinn and Mira evading enemies they know, and some they don’t, including the planet itself. Now, time is running out for Earth, Fosaan, and Reyet, and there may be no place left in the galaxy that’s safe.

Author Interview

  1. What is your writing process? Do you aim for a word count daily or maybe just a scene?

On a good day, I aim for 1000 words, but that means I often have to write more than a thousand, because I often edit as I write. Some writers don’t edit until they finish a first draft. I just can’t work that way. It’s a lot easier for me to go back and forth between editing and drafting new material.

  1. What sort of research did you do for this book?

Since the story is science fiction but set on a planet where people don’t have much access to technology, I didn’t have to do as much research for this as I might for other stories. The research I did do broke down into two very different parts. One part was considering how people live in a hot dry climate. The most fuin part of thinking about that was getting ideas on what types of clothes people wear that would fit a futuristic society. I found some terrific work by up-and-coming fashion designers. Even when I don’t end up writing long descriptions, details like clothing help me picture the scene in my head. I made a Pinterest board for some of the things I found: https://www.pinterest.com/deegarretson/torch-world-book-2-reyet-trap/

As to more scientific research, I did a little on neurotoxins and other aspects of disease transmission to come up with ideas for the mysterious illness affecting certain people on the planet. No Pinterest board for that!

  1. What are you working on now? Any chance of a third book in the series?

I just finished a draft of the third book and it should be released in 2019. Like a lot of readers, I don’t want a series to end, so it was fun to continue with this one, especially when the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance. ☺  I also have another book coming out in 2019, a historical I like to describe as a YA Downton Abbey with spies. It was also a lot of fun to write. Science Fiction and historical writing have quite a bit in common-You have to create worlds you’ve never experienced.

  1. How did you come up for the idea of your book?

I’ve always loved science fiction and I am also a huge STAR WARS and STAR TREK fan, so writing a science fiction series has long been a dream of mine. I wanted to explore a story that involved two people from very different cultures and very different histories who have to figure out where they belong and if they can overcome all the obstacles to be together. I have a degree in International Relations, which is largely the study of the clashes of different cultures, so the idea for the plot arose from that.

  1. Just for fun — what TV shows or movies have you really enjoyed (or disliked?) recently?

I love movies and some TV so this is my kind of question. I like old movies and I like adventure movies, not surprisingly. I just watched an old WW2-set movie called OPERATION CROSSBOW. I could swear George Lucas saw this movie at some point and the end scene of A NEW HOPE with the death star was influenced by the final moments of this movie. Heart-pounding! I’ve also been watching THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE. Somehow, I’ve never read anything by Philip K. Dick so once I finish watching the series, I want to read the book it was based on.

  1. About the Author

    Dee Garretson writes for many different age groups, from chapter books to middle grade to young adult to adult fiction. She lives in Ohio with her family, and in true writer fashion, has cat companions who oversee her daily word count. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, watch old movies, and attempt various kinds of drawing, painting and other artistic pursuits.

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