Interview: REBECCA ROLAND, author of Shattered Fates!

Today, I have a special treat for you - Rebecca Roland, author of the newly released Shattered Fates is here answering some questions! Enjoy this interview, and then check out more info about the book below. 

1. Plotter or Pantser? Or do you have your own writing method? I've tried plotting, but it never works for me. It drains all the excitement that made me want to write the story in the first place, and it tends to make my characters feel two-dimensional. That being said, I sort of outline. I know what the beginning is, I have an idea what the ending will be, and I usually have a few major scenes tentatively outlined in my head. I'll write this down and work toward the major plot points and the ending I had in mind, but I find these things often change along the way as I get to know my characters and they make choices independent of what I'd prefer they do. For me, this makes the story stronger. But it does mean more work when it's time for revisions. I end up cutting chunks and adding new scenes. After writing six books, though, I've finally accepted that this is just who I am as a writer.

2. Do you write full-time or part-time? I wish I could write full-time! I have a day job (part-time), and I'm pursuing my Doctorate, and I have a seven year-old. And then I wonder why I'm perpetually tired… In all seriousness, though, I recall a writer commenting years ago that it's different for women who write. She suggested you can't have a day job and a family and write. I found this really discouraging, especially since she insinuated that something would suffer in order to make the other aspects of one's life work. It took me a while to realize that she was flat out wrong. You can juggle multiple aspects of your life, but you have to be realistic about it, and you have to be really good at time management. Usually I get up early and write for about fifteen to twenty minutes first thing in the morning. It doesn't sound like much time, but if I've left plans for the scene the day before, I can get right to it and get a few hundred words down. And right now, I'm on Spring Break, although that's somewhat laughable. I don't have a heavy school workload today, and I didn't for the past few days, so I got several thousand words down. Is it the word count I'm used to? No. Is it manageable and keeps me sane and happy and lets me focus on the day job and school and my family? Yes. Don't let anyone tell you what you should be doing. Figure out a way to do what you want.

3. What's the hardest thing for you when it comes to writing? This answer has changed for me over the years, depending on where I was in my career. These days, I would say that the hardest thing is to be patient and let the first draft suck. I think this is because it's taking me longer than usual to get the first draft written on my current work in progress, so I have more time to second guess myself. It's taken a lot of reminding myself that it's okay to let the first draft suck. It can all be fixed later.

4. Stand-alones or series, what is your preference? As a reader, I prefer series. When I invest my time in caring for a character, I want to follow them all over the place. I love the Vorkosigan series by Lois McMaster Bujold. She's written a lot about Miles Vorkosigan, and less so about his mother, Cordelia. Miles is such a fascinating character, and I've enjoyed following him from childhood to his forties. His body might have slowed down, but his mind is nimble as ever.

As a writer, I'm a bit more ambivalent. It's nice to write series because you invest a lot of time in characters and world building, but sometimes I just want to write something different and weird and only explore a bit of it.

5. Did you learn anything new while writing this book? My book Shattered Fates is the third and final book in my Shards of History series. I've finished another series, so this wasn't my first time wrapping up a series plot line, but that didn't necessarily mean it was easy! I feel like I learn something new with every story I write, and what I learned this time was about creating satisfying endings. I worked a lot at this story's ending, and I feel like I stuck the landing, so to speak. I hope readers agree!

About Shattered Fates 

The magic barrier protecting the Taakwa from their enemies, the Maddion, is gone. Malia, who led the Taakwa against the Maddion in the Dragon War, must convince the magical being, the changer, to repair the barrier before the Maddion invade to take revenge on her people and the winged Jeguduns who also call the valley home, even if it means reversing the healing the changer wrought for her. 

Chanwa, the wife of the Maddion leader, uses the disorder created by the changer to lead a coup against her husband in a desperate attempt to ensure she and the other Maddion women are treated as equals. Her life, and the future of every Maddion woman, depends on her success. 

Both women know the only way to succeed is to come together in an unlikely alliance. 

Shattered Fates is the exciting conclusion to Roland's Shards of History trilogy. 

Get the whole trilogy from Amazon.com!

Check out Rebecca Roland's books on Goodreads.com.

Check out Rebecca's backlist on Amazon.com.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Guest Post: ANNA KYLE, author of "Skye Falling"!

Please help me welcome author Anna Kyle! She's here to chat about paranormal romance, and to promote her new release SKYE FALLING - be sure to check out the buy links at the bottom!

I said to a writer friend recently “shapeshifters are my jam!”  I love paranormal romances. Can’t get enough of them. Gobble them up like peanut M&Ms, which are also my jam.  I knew that whenever I got serious about not talking about being a writer anymore but actually taking steps to BE a writer that, of course, that book would be a paranormal romance.

I was lucky to not start from ground zero. I had a writing background (and no, I’m not counting the girl and her horse “book” I wrote as a horse-crazy kid, which was, as best I can recall, awesome).  I studied communications/journalism in college, got a job writing for a local newspaper – where I paid my damn dues in full by covering township meetings and city council projects – and branched out later into writing feature articles and interviews for bigger publications.  

When I finally took that step to write a book, the do or die step, the sink or swim step, the nut up or shut up step, I figured the book would take maybe five or six months because I already knew how write, right? Oh that woman I was then was so naïve, so misguided. Instead I plunged into 15 months of writing then another six months in revision hell.  Some of that time was easy, most of it wasn’t. At the end, though, when I poked my head out of my writing hidey-hole blinking at the sun I had two completed books of the Wolf King series which were soon picked up by Red Moon Romance.

My first book (and omg I STILL love saying that and don’t think I don’t stare at that gorgeous purple cover 56 times a day) was released into the world last month.  SKYE FALLING is a paranormal romance novella, book 2 in my Wolf King series (Book 1, OMEGA RISING, will be out early 2016, I know it’s weird but for this series it works so just go with it). The story follows Skye, an impulsive fae halfling princess, who slips into the human realm with a resolute goal and half-assed plan to find the rumored Wolf King. Lake, a smoking hot wolf shapeshifter, is unwillingly charged with capturing the petulant princess but this easy-peasy job goes quickly awry.

As the reviews and ratings came in I could relax my death grip on everything around me and pour myself a scotch to celebrate because that’s what grownups do. And then I danced in the street because that’s what tipsy grownups do. The response to SKYE FALLING has been wonderful.  A few days ago it landed the AllRomance ebook (ARe) bestseller list.  From the comments, readers seem to be connecting with Skye’s sass and determination and Lake’s struggles to rein in the whirlwind that is Princess Skye. That is amazing and overwhelming to me as well as a hundred other emotions; joy, excitement, even a bit of alarm; like what if the next book doesn’t meet their expectations? But that’s a freak-out for another day. Today, I am happy.

I truly loved writing the journey of Lake and Skye. I hope your readers love reading it.

EXCERPT FROM SKYE FALLING

Sand whipped into the air. A whirling vortex sprang up and halted the shifter’s forward progress and then lifted him four feet above the beach. Stunned by what she’d created, Skye dropped her hand and the wolf landed on the beach with a thump. Sand coated every inch of his body, but before he could act on his growl’s implied threat, Skye hurriedly lifted him back into a new sand tornado.

She’d practiced her power regularly, in secret as advised by her father, but had never been able to marshal this kind of force before. Skye could snuff out lanterns and blow papers off her father’s desk but not much more. The wolf’s surprise had turned to anger in his second ride. His eyes were narrowed against the stinging sand, but Skye could see their golden glow. The enormity of what she was about to do hit her.

She could stop it now and be returned to her father or, the lesser possibility, the torture of the Dark Fae. Both meant death.

Or.

That small word meant life. Not a tough decision. He strained to get to her and shouted, but the roar of the wind whipped his voice away. She summoned a life jacket onto his torso, followed by a pair of orange water wings around his arms. He glanced down and roared helplessly as he comprehended what she planned. He pointed a finger at her, then pointed down. Yeah, like she’d do that. Stupid wolf.

“It’s not personal, wolf,” she said, pleased her voice was calm. Skye raised her shaking hands. With a flick of her wrist she flung him out into the deep lake, far enough that she’d have a chance to escape but not so far he would succumb to hypothermia. She winced as he bounced across the lake’s surface like a skipping stone. Once. Twice. Three times before she could see him bobbing in the waves. It was done. No going back now.

She hoped he could swim and wished for a moment she had sent a raft with him. Skye took off toward Union Station in the pre-dawn shadows, ignoring the enraged wolf’s cursing dwindling in the distance. Her fingers wove as she ran and her soggy dress changed to her standard gray tunic and leggings and boots. Fear gave her an added boost of speed as she zigzagged through the city just starting to wake up. The first train out was at 6:00 a.m., only an hour away.

BACK COVER COPY FOR SKYE FALLING:

Skye, a Fae-shapeshifter halfing, could die if she doesn’t find out how to wake her dormant wolf, so mere rumors of the Wolf King’s return are enough to convince her to sneak through the portal between Faerie and Chicago in search of his aid. But the dizzyingly bright lights and sounds of the human realm are too tempting to ignore. So is the sexy shapeshifter wolf intent on capturing her—the one who stirs her sleeping wolf just long enough to bind the handsome stranger in a mate-bond.

Lake is willing to do anything to protect the Wolf King, a man he also calls friend. So when he receives word that a Fae princess has slipped into Chicago, he suspects a plot to assassinate the Wolf King. He’s certain capturing her will be as easy as locating her—that was his first mistake. Not only is his wolf a little too interested in Skye, but the wolf accepts her mate-bond without any say-so from him. As he unravels the truth surrounding the smart-mouthed princess and whether she’s hunting his friend or being hunted by someone else, Lake’s mission changes: protect Skye at all costs. And keep her for himself.

BIO:

Anna wrote her first story at age 12 on her dad’s old manual typewriter and though the technology has changed, she hasn’t stopped since.  She lives in the Midwest surrounded by family and friends and dogs and horses.  They’ve forgiven her (mostly) when they appear in her stories.  She reads everything she can get her hands on but romances, especially paranormals, are her favorite. Vampires, humans, Fae, shapeshifters, or demons, it doesn’t matter - Anna’s heart goes pitter-pat for the Happily Ever After.  Hot heroes + strong, funny heroines = Awesome.  Also a proud RWA member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WOLF KING SERIES:

Whispers of the Wolf King’s return after a thousand years absence foretell the resurrection of an ancient evil and stir up hidden enemies. The shapeshifters, magic-users, Omegas (the shifter/mage hybrids), and the Fae must turn their blades, fangs, and claws away from each other and work together to defeat a growing horde that threatens the extinction of them all.  The key to the Others’ future is connected to the past but they’re so busy fighting each other they may not see it in time.

Twitter:           Anna Kyle@SandsOfTime5050

Blog:               meandersandmuses.blogspot.com

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

Interview!: Three authors of CORVIDAE answer questions about their new release

Please welcome three of the authors of the newly released "CORVIDAE" anthology! Mike Allen, Michael M. Rader, and Megan Engelhardt are answering a few questions to celebrate their new release.

Author Name: Michael M. Rader

Website Address: www.michaelmrader.com

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @michaelmrader

What is it about corvids that inspired you to write about them?

I read a lot about animal behavior, and I’m particularly interested in animals that use tools and exhibit higher intelligence like mirror self-recognition. Naturally, most of these animals are great apes, but there are two fascinating outliers: cephalopods and corvidae. Cephalopods have giant brains, so that’s maybe less surprising. However, the phrase “bird brain” exists for a reason. Birds have physically small brains, and anyone who has spent a lot of time with your average bird is not going to be terribly impressed with their intelligence. Except for corvidae. Ravens can use tools, Eurasian Magpies can recognize themselves in mirrors (the only non-mammal capable of doing that), and crows can recognize faces and communicate descriptions. No other family of bird can do that. They’re not just weirdos in the animal kingdom, they’re weirdos in their own class. I guess I just have a soft spot for that.

Was there one corvid characteristic you wanted to highlight more than others?

Definitely the concept of the corvidae family’s higher intelligence, and also how some members of their family (blue jays) aren’t quite as impressive. 

Do you think you were successful?
I set out to tell a story about intelligence, how it differs from sense, and how just being in the right bird family (or academic setting) doesn’t make you intelligent, practical, sensical or sane. I believe the characters in my story, and the corvidae they study, really highlight that characteristic.

If you were a corvid, what would you build your nest out of?

Memory foam for comfort, pages from Discworld novels for entertainment and strips of political manifestos just to be edgy.

What’s your favourite ‘shiny’ thing?

 Love? No, that’s far too sappy. I’ll go with bits of broken glass instead.

Author Name: Mike Allen

Website Address: http://descentintolight.com | http://mythicdelirium.com

Social Media Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mythicdelirium
Facebook: https://twitter.com/mythicdelirium
Other: http://time-shark.livejournal.com/

What is it about corvids that inspired you to write about them?

In this case a little bird approached me, heh, heh, and asked me to consider creating a corvid story that didn't involve crows, ravens or magpies. I was intrigued with the idea of writing about a bluejay, because I have a thing for blue, and the more I read about these birds, the more inspiration I found. I had already written two short stories ("The Hiker's Tale," "Follow the Wounded One," published) and a whole novel (unpublished) that take place in a world where certain special people have spirit animal forms possessed of immense power. I didn't start out intending to set "The Cruelest Team Will Win" in that universe, but the elements just snapped into place unbidden.

Was there one corvid characteristic you wanted to highlight more than others?

In the case of the bluejay, the ability the bird has to smash open acorns with a single peck of its beak.

If you were a corvid, what would you build your nest out of?

The scalps of my enemies.

What’s your favourite ‘shiny’ thing?

For me, there's nothing shinier than a wickedly good story.

Author Name: Megan Engelhardt

Website Address: megengelhardt.wordpress.com

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @MadMerryMeg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megengelhardt?fref=ts

What is it about corvids that inspired you to write about them?

They're so smart -- almost creepily so.

Was there one corvid characteristic you wanted to highlight more than others?

That intelligence, and their adaptability, as well. Corvids are birds that get the job done, whatever the job happens to be.

If you were a corvid, what would you build your nest out of?

Judging from my kitchen junk drawer, my nest would be built of bits of ribbon, slips of paper inscribed with things that I'm supposed to remember, Sharpie pens and small toys I've taken away from my children.

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~

GUEST POST: Rebecca Roland talks FRACTURED DAYS!

Hello all! Today, I am pleased to have author Rebecca Roland visiting my humble little blog. Rebecca has a new book, "Fractured Days," sequel to "Shards of History." Be sure to look for Rebecca's books at all online retailers (available in paperback and ebook). Without further ado, I bring you a post from the author herself!

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I chose a different type of setting for my fantasy novels Shards of History and Fractured Days because while I enjoy pseudo-medieval settings, I didn't want something that evoked images of castles and knights. I wanted something that reflected the American Southwest. And I wanted dragons. What better place for fire breathing dragons than the high desert, rolling plains, and mountains of the Southwest? When I look at the Sandia Mountains that border part of Albuquerque, I can easily imagine the huge beasts roosting there, hunting there, and swooping down from the craggy granite mountaintop.

The Mesa Verde cliff dwellings inspired the Jeguduns' homes in the cliffs surrounding the valley where much of the series takes place. The Jeguduns are winged, wolfish, humanoid creatures that are sort of like gargoyles in appearance and function. Making their homes in the middle of a cliff makes sense. Only they can easily get to their homes, making them easily defendable (a magic barrier prevents the dragons from getting to them).

The Valles Caldera in particular inspired the setting for the Taakwa Valley. It's a valley situated in a volcanic caldera near Los Alamos, New Mexico. My fictional valley is much, much bigger than the real caldera, but it was formed in the same way and also has hot springs. The flora and fauna are similar, and the homes that the Taakwa people build are reminiscent of pueblo style homes, mostly because the building materials are handy and plentiful.

The Taakwa remain in their valley home rather than live a nomadic life. They plant crops, gather, and hunt the animals that come through their valley. They normally have plenty of water due to a large river that cuts through the valley, along with its many tributaries. A couple of villages even have llamas, which not only provide wool, but also act as guard animals. 

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Sounds awesome! And be sure to look for Fractured Days on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and any other online retailers!

Happy Reading!

~!~ Amanda, Novel Addiction ~!~