Interview Nicole Conway Author of Fledgling
Give a warm welcome to Nicole Conway Author of Fledgling, book one of The Dragonrider Chronicles.
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?
Felix Farrow is a character that grew on me quickly. At first brush, he’s just the pretty boy best friend, a noble boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth and an appetite for mischief. But as the series progresses and more of his personality and backstory came through, he became so much more. That roguish, joking demeanor was a mask to a boy yearning for acceptance from his parents, desperate to prove himself, and loyal to the only real friend he’s ever had – Jaevid.
Do you find it easier to write from a male or female point of view? Why?
I almost always gravitate to male narrator. They’ve always been more comfortable for me, and I actually struggle with female narrators sometimes. I’m not sure why that is – I think it might have something to do with being a bit of a “tomboy” myself and also that growing up, my favorite stories had male protagonists, too. I love giving the underdog his shot at being hero, and I love providing good examples of noble heroes for my own son in literature.
What do you like to do when you are not writing?
I have a pretty busy schedule at home, but I love to spend time playing with my little boy in between work projects. We go on adventures, swimming at the pool, to the zoo, to the local museums, and walks around the neighborhood looking for treasure (also called geocaching). He’s four now, so I have to enjoy these times when it’s still cool to hang with mom while they last. I also like to draw, play video games, read, and go rock climbing!
Book One:
turned and started walking toward me. His large, curled black claws dug into
the dirt floor of the arena, and I couldn’t help but stagger back a few feet as
he crept toward me, chattering loudly all the way.
strange to watch, oddly smooth and feline for the way his body was built. He
stopped right before me, craning his neck to sniff at me again. Then he started
to crouch down. The dragon lowered himself until his belly was flat on the
ground. His huge horned head was low, too, and he looked at me expectantly.
figure out what I was supposed to do, Sile was right there beside me. “He wants
to seal the bond,” the knight explained as he grabbed me by the waist and
pretty much tossed me up onto the dragon’s back. “Don’t be afraid.”
say; Sile wasn’t the one straddling the neck of a wild dragon who’d already
proven he had a nasty temper. With my legs slung around the base of the
creature’s neck, sitting between the shoulders of his wing arms, I clung to
anything I could when I felt him start to move. There wasn’t much to grab,
though. His scales were slick, and the little knobby black horns that ran down
his spine to the tip of his tail were cone-shaped and hard to grip. I just had
to lay flat against his neck, my arms as far around him as I could reach, and
hung on for dear life as the dragon stood.
laughing loudly. I saw him smiling up at me as the dragon gave a wide yawn that
showed me just how many of those teeth he had. My heartbeat was skipping and
pounding erratically. My head spun like a top. I was sitting on a dragon. Not
just any dragon, though. This one was mine.
Book Two:
week, after our laps and drills were finished, I tolerated being teased while
Felix coached me through different line dances and waltzes. Lyon and I refused
to make eye contact as I was forced to hold his hand and, even worse, his hip.
The first time Felix actually got us to stand in a waltz pose together, he
burst into laughter. Lyon snapped. They punched each other for a few minutes,
and I considered leaving the room and walking off the nearest cliff. It seemed
better than having to hold Lyon like that ever again.
shred of dignity left, though. I was learning to dance, and Felix insisted I
was getting better. It gave me some hope that maybe I wouldn’t completely
embarrass myself at the ball.
like a three legged cow,” he assured me. “So it’ll be easier with a real girl.
They’re much lighter, and more graceful. And a lot less ugly.”
under his breath. “Oh right, well excuse me for not dancing like a girl.” We
only had a few weeks left before the ball, and I knew he was probably just as
ready as I was for this dance class to end.
said about greetings and introductions. Confidence. Eye contact. Charm. It’s a
state of mind.” Felix snapped his fingers at Lyon like he was summoning a pet
dog. “Let’s run through it one more time.”
few more curses as he stomped toward me. I tried to visualize Beckah standing
in his place with her warm smile and deep green eyes. It was nearly impossible,
though. Lyon was definitely a boy. And this was definitely the most
embarrassing thing I’d ever done in my life.
had gone through our awkward bows and stepped into an opening dance pose, the
dorm room door to our room burst open. I was holding onto Lyon’s waist and
hand, as usual, and he was pretending to hold up a dress. We both froze, too
stunned to react.
standing in the doorway. He looked at all of us, his brows raised and his
expression completely blank.
dignity withered and died. “When you’re finished with…whatever this is, I need
to see the lot of you downstairs to be measured for your formal uniforms.” Jace
managed to say, although he sounded a little hoarse. I could have sworn I saw
him suppressing a smile. “Hurry up.”
and I died a little inside. Lyon shoved away from me. Judging by the shade of
red his head was turning, he was too angry and embarrassed to speak. I couldn’t
say anything, either.
fell down on the floor, gripping his sides. I had to step over him in order to
get out of the room.
Book Three:
roaring winds and frozen rain, I saw the shape of someone standing at the top
of that staircase. At first glimpse, it looked like a knight; a petite man clad
in armor that shimmered like obsidian glass and adorned in painted golden
wings, even on the gauntlets and helmet, giving the wearer an angelic
appearance.
my hand toward the black armored knight, who had started descending the steps.
Once we were both inside, we began working together to push the door closed
again to keep out the cold.
off her helmet.
dark hair fell down over her shoulder in a braid. Some of her bangs were
sticking to the moisture on her forehead and the sides of her face, and her
lightly freckled cheeks were flushed from the cold wind. When her bright green
eyes looked up at me in the darkness, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
was a much deeper, more passionate kiss than any we’d ever had before. She put
her arms around my waist and hugged me close, and for a long time we just stood
like that. I couldn’t believe how much I’d missed her in such a short amount of
time. Under all that armor, she was still the simple, beautiful girl I’d eaten
peaches with on the beach in Saltmarsh. She was still the Beckah I loved.
The Dragonrider Chronicles
Book Four:
group of dragons and their riders continued to land on the platform and file
into the tower. One hundred proud warriors had left to retake the city only a
few days before. Less than forty of us returned.
only looking for one.
Does anyone see him?!” I shouted at the top of my lungs and shoved my way
through the other dragonriders. I called his name over and over, hoping to spot
him or his blue dragon making their way down the corridor ahead of me. They
must have fallen behind.
bloodied, war-beaten face that came walking in from the rain. Before I knew it,
I was standing back at the open gateway that led out onto the platform.
was nowhere to be found.
my shoulder. A bolt of hope shot through me as I spun around, hoping to see him
standing there.
partner, Lieutenant Prax, standing over me like a giant in blood-spattered
battle armor. He was much older than I was and a far more seasoned rider.
That’s why the look on his face absolutely terrified me.
or Jace depart with us.”
easily. We’d made it this far, gone through all of our dragonrider training
together from beginning to end – so I knew he could fight.
This exciting, dragon-filled world returns in the DRAGONRIDER LEGACY trilogy, which concludes with book 3, LEGEND, on May 7, 2019.
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Dragonrider Chronicles!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged fantasy, Fledgling, Nicole Conway, The Dragonrider Chronicles, YA by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Interview Chris Stoneheart Author of Unhuman Light
Give a warm welcome to Chris Stoneheart, author of Unhuman Light! Released February 7, 2019.
What inspired this particular story?
This world has been in my head for decades, in one form or another. When you look at the old mythologies, sometimes you can see how old tales from different civilizations are the same story as seen from a different culture. Jupiter and Zeus are the most obvious example, but there are a thousand others. However, in some mythologies, things seem contradictory. The vampire myths, for example. To me, it seems as if there are multiple kinds of vampire, else the mythologies don’t work. So, my story has three species of vampire. Two of the species “die” at dawn, the other can choose when to sleep or be awake but can’t handle direct sunlight. All of them drink blood, of course. One species is evil — the changing process turns them into a monster. The other two can decide whether to be good, evil, or something in between.
Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?
If an idea comes to me in the middle of the night, I reach for my phone and send myself an email using the speech-to-text feature. More ideas come to me when driving than any other time though, and at least once a week I have to pull over and send myself an email. If I don’t, it’s probably gone forever.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
Write what you know, right? I put pieces of myself into characters, and pieces of family and friends, too. I was once a professional juggler, for instance, and Kaitlin knows how to juggle. I know what learning to juggle does to your brain and your reflexes, so using it in the book was a no-brainer (pardon the pun). Someone I’m close to was adopted from another country, and elements of her personality show up in Lauren’s character. I used to have a mixed-breed dog with a lot of Newf in him, so parts of his personality show up in Shadow, Kaitlin’s Newfoundland dog. I guess it would be more accurate to say that pieces of my life are strewn throughout my books, in no particular order.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
I can still remember the magic and awe I felt when I first read Tolkien around forty years ago. I want to give my readers the same feelings. His stories were of middle earth, but they were supposed to be our history. He gave us the original poem that turned into our “and the cow jumped over the moon” tale, and inserted other similar tidbits into his novels. It made his story more real, and there were lots of goose bumps. My books take place in our modern-day world, but I try to make the old mythologies make sense. It’s the reverse of the way he did it, but I hope I can evoke the same basic thoughts and emotions.
The Chronicles of the Light is urban fantasy, but if you enjoy fantasy of any kind, I hope you’ll take a chance and dive into my world.
GOODREADS ➔ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18780566.Chris_Stoneheart
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Unhuman Light!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Chris Stoneheart. Chronicles of the Light, Unhuman Light, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Books I Discovered on Social Media #L&SR #Wednesday Blog Challenge 4.24.19
Here we go Books I discovered on Social Media!
What a fun and interesting topic, since I spend quite a bit of time on social media, not necessarily looking for books. But once in a while one will catch my eye and I’ll follow the link to find out more.
Such was the case with Troublemaker by Linda Howard. A friend told me about her, but as I was on deadline, I didn’t pay much attention until I saw a blurb about the book and the dog that stole the story. I’m a sucker for companion animals, so off I went to check it out despite my time constraints. Linda Howard as several series, but I enjoy the go teams series the most.
Another author that caught my eye was Molly Harper and her werewolf series. The book cover and title had me clicking on How to Flirt with A Naked Werewolf. Have you ever wanted to get in touch with your inner animal?I wasn’t sure, but was totally entered by Molly Harper’s wit and snark throughout the book and subsequent books. Since that time, one-click pre-order her new releases is a no brainer.
Well there you have it. Books I Discovered on Social Media. Now this isn’t to say these are the only ones. Everyday I see interesting titles, blurbs and covers from authors new to me and author friends. I could spend the next several hours listing them, but that wouldn’t get my WIP polished and submitted to my editor. Not a good thing. LOL Let’s see what the other authors in this blog challenge have discovered: L&SR
Pssst… While you’re here, don’t forget to check out my paranormal romance/mysteries click here.
See you next week when you learn what Things I wish More Books Talked about. See you then!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Books I Discovered on Social Media #L&SR #Wednesday Blog Challenge, Tena Stetler by Tena Stetler with 10 comments.
Interview with Jean Grant Author of Will Rise From the Ashes
Give a warm welcome to Jean Grant author of Will Rise From the Ashes released April 17, 2019. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Jean and Will Rise From the Ashes.
Tell us where your writing journey began and why you write across genres?
I began my writing journey in the Scottish middle ages. My first love has always been medieval romance (and yes, later, Outlander, ahhh Jamie Fraser). Castles and crags, warring clans and cultures, sweeping landscapes of mystery and moor, lairds and ladies, gallantry and greed. So much fun! After spending a good deal of time hanging out with my medieval heroes and heroines, I jumped ahead in time and wrote a contemporary novella (Soul of the Storm). At the same time, I delved into a contemporary women’s fiction story. Now I’m back finishing up a trilogy in historical Scotland. Jumping around through time and space…
Why do I write across genres? Simply put, I have diverse interests. Maybe too many? By writing different genres I feed various passions. Maybe I am too faceted, a bit scattered, and just write what my heart tells me. Going back and forth in editing between my brogue Scottish men and my modern voices can be tricky, but it keeps my brain sharp (and exhausted!). I also write in both first and third person.
Will I delve into another genre? Never say never. I’ve found my niche in historical (with paranormal elements) and contemporary romance, and women’s fiction.
Finding a thread. There is a central thread weaved into all my stories: journeys of hope, spirituality, and of course happy-ever-after. Or as I like to say: stories of heartache, healing, and hope. My women’s fiction usually has a romantic element, too. Even though I write across genres and sub-genres, I find that I home in on a central theme with each story. Each character has an emotional wound and backstory they must heal (in some way or another), and I always end with hope.
Now for the Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh rubbing my hands together with glee>
Favorite movie: The Princess Bride
Favorite book: Outlander
Last book read: Spirited Quest
Favorite color: Pink
Stilettos or flipflops: Neither
Coffee or tea: Coffee
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: All
Pencil or pen: (red) pen
Favorite song: Sleepwalk (Santo and Johnny)
Streak or not: yes!
Favorite dessert: anything
Favorite junk food: cheese (any!)
Favorite thing to do to relax: flower-garden
Champagne or gin: champagne
Paranormal or Historical: historical
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman
Favorite TV show: TWD
Hot or cold: Hot
POV: First
I’d die if I don’t have: taxes
Review or Not: Yes
Click on the cover to read more or purchase.
A little about Will Rise From the Ashes.
Living is more than mere survival!
Young widow AJ Sinclair has persevered through much heartache. Has she met her match when the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, leaving her separated from her youngest son and her brother? Tens of thousands are dead or missing in a swath of massive destruction. She and her nine-year-old autistic son, Will, embark on a risky road trip from Maine to the epicenter to find her family. She can’t lose another loved one.
Along the way, they meet Reid Gregory, who travels his own road to perdition looking for his sister. Drawn together by AJ’s fear of driving and Reid’s military and local expertise, their journey to Colorado is fraught with the chaotic aftermath of the eruption. AJ’s anxiety and faith in humanity are put to the test as she heals her past, accepts her family’s present, and embraces uncertainty as Will and Reid show her a world she had almost forgotten.
Buy links:
Amazon ~ Barnes and Noble ~ iTunes
A sneak peek between the pages of Will Rise From the Ashes.
A gray column of ash exploded on the screen. The plume darkened the sky.
“Mom, come look!” Will said, without turning from the TV.
She fidgeted with the mail on the kitchen counter. Then said a bad word. The metal trash lid clanged open, and she grumbled. He tapped a finger on his thigh as he listened to the newscaster.
A few minutes passed. “Mom…”
“One minute,” she called. He turned. She dragged the basket of dirty laundry from their vacation to Yellowstone down the basement steps. Thump, thump, thump.
“But it’s the volcano! On TV!” His pulse flickered. This was important. She needed to see.
“Hang on a sec, Will.”
The clock read 9:03 p.m. Eastern Time, but it still felt like Mountain Time and he wasn’t sleepy. He counted to one second. He knew she didn’t mean that. Her “a sec” or “a minute” could be way longer.
She returned from the basement and opened the window over the kitchen sink. The metallic, vibrating hum of the foghorn sounded in the distance. He rose and added a tally mark to the chart on his clipboard. Soon, he’d need to make his snow charts, too. But it was only August.
“Where are they?” Mom said.
She came through the doorway to the living room with her mug in one hand. It smelled like burnt stinky milk. He covered his nose.
“Mom, watch out!” She almost stepped on his eight red volcano cut-outs lined in a row in front of the TV. His heart kerthumped. He straightened one, so the bottom edge realigned with the rest. There, better.
“So, honey, what is it? Find an interesting documentary to watch?” she finally asked, drawing her gaze to the TV as she stumbled. “Will, the tape and scissors. I need you to pick them up, okay?” She yawned. “We need to go to bed soon.” She leaned over the coffee table and clicked her laptop shut with another curse. “I can’t even track their flight. Where are they?” she repeated to herself.
Her brown eyes were shiny, holding that sad look she got when she thought about Dad. Some expressions confused him, but Mom was easier to understand than others. She was sad a lot these days. Was she sad about his little brother Finn not returning home yet? He approached her and hugged her around the waist. He nudged the top of his head against her ribcage. “It’s okay, Mom. Finn and Uncle Brandon will be here. Maybe their flights were delayed again?”
She exhaled. Coffee breath. His stomach squeezed. Delays. Yuck, he didn’t like delays either.
She said in a whisper, a raspy grating sound, “They should’ve landed by now…the traffic north to Maine from Boston isn’t awful this time of day. Finn’s going to be so wired.”
But he’s not a robot, Will wanted to say, but he knew it was just one of Mom’s weird phrases. The commercials ended. He grabbed her hand. “Look, Mom. Yellowstone! Maybe Finn and Uncle Brandon saw it erupt since we were all just there! How lucky of them to see that, huh?” He pointed to the LIVE symbol in the bottom right corner.
Her mug slipped and fell in a crash, spilling all over his volcanoes.
About the Author:
Author of historical and contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Travel writer. Former Scientist. Daydreamer. Hiker girl. Loves sharks, lip-balm, Post-its, and Snoopy.
Social Media links:
Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon Author Page ~ The Wild Rose Press
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Will Rise From the Ashes!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Fiction, Jean Grant, Will Rise From the Ashes, Women's Fiction by Tena Stetler with 16 comments.
