❤author: Greg Kiser Interview and Giveaway!

❤ Today, as part of a NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™ blog tour, I will be hosting author, Greg Kiser with an interview and giveaway. Welcome to ¡Miraculous!, Greg! Will you please share a short bio with us?

Happily married to a wonderful and inspirational wife, Serena, with two beautiful children – Miller and Grace.

Graduated from Southern Polytechnic University in Atlanta with a BS in Electrical Engineering. Then earned an MBA from the University of South Florida.

Currently Client Service Director at Cisco, a fortune fifty high-tech multinational corporation.

Written extensively for fortune fifty high-tech firms in describing next generation networks and painting pictures of the true evolution of technology for the consumer.

My short story, Did They Tell You, was selected for the 2010 San Francisco Writer’s Conference Anthology, and is currently available on scribd.com, no charge.

❤ Tell us about debut release, inSyte.

It’s set in Tampa Bay, Florida and the year is 2020. Ex-Navy SEAL Mitch “Double” Downing discovers how to tap into the internet with his mind. His new inSyte provides transparent access to the sum of all human knowledge recorded since hieroglyphics.

If knowledge is power, Mitch just became the strongest man in the world.

But inSyte has ideas of its own as the software exposes a politician’s “divine” plan that will unwittingly slaughter millions of people. Is killing the man the only way to prevent Armageddon? The politician’s daughter would probably disagree. And she happens to be the love of Mitch’s life. Losing Kate would be too damn much collateral damage.

At the center of the conflict is a wolf-like killer who will stop at nothing to murder the ex-Navy SEAL. And Mitch must come to grips with inSyte’s dark side – a dominating addiction that soon controls his thoughts and places him on a steep slide to self-destruction.

❤ What inspired you to write it and then how did you get published? Tell us your call story.

I listened to Rudy Giuliani speak a year after 9/11. This was in August of 2002, just under a year since 9/11. Rudy spoke to a crowd of about 5,000 folks. He described the events of that day and it was very emotional, everyone loved the guy, he was held in such admiration.

He told the crowd that every great leader will possess spirituality. And when you have millions of people that you’re serving, there’s a natural temptation to believe that God put you there, there must be a divine intervention. Then the tendency is to think that any gut feeling you have, gut decision, must be God’s decision.

So Rudy talked about how you have to avoid falling into that trap, you have to remain objective and realize you’re only human and they are your decisions.

I found that fascinating because I had never heard a politician talk like that. I think there are a number of politicians in the US and abroad, recently and not, where pragmatism was nowhere to be found. I wanted to explore that in a novel. Come on, there’s all kinds of room for conflict.

As for publishing, I self-published on Amazon. The only way to go these days ;) Really pretty simple. Of course, the average book that self-publishes on Amazon sells 100 copies to, you guessed it, friends and business associates and the like. So the trick is – how do you market the book further; drive sales?

At the end of the day, it’s all about word of mouth. So you have to get your book out there and it has to be good and then you need for word of mouth to help.

So – be sure it’s ready for prime time before you decide to self-publish. I waited 3 years after my first draft because I wanted my novel to be as good as it could possibly be. Along the way I had some serious people read it and provide candid feedback. Enough good feedback to know I was onto something, enough bad feedback to keep me busy writing and rewriting and, yes, deleting!

❤ How much of your actual life would you say gets written into your fictional stories?

The best parts, because they're what gives my writing color, richness. There’s one scene in my book where my protagonist and his love interest meet at his apartment. She’s looking at photographs on a bookshelf and she sees one of him as a child with his family. The thoughts she has are directly related to thoughts I had looking at a picture of my young niece many years ago with her family.

It’s the little moments in life that must be woven into your book to make it real.

❤ I so contend to that! If inSyte were made into a movie, who would you cast as the main characters?

What a great question! I’ve actually thought about that. Why not? It’s fun. Here goes:

Mitch: Ryan Gosling
Kate: Kristen Stewart
Cheslov: Daniel Craig
Woody: Sean William Scott
Mayor: Alec Baldwin
Phelps: Željko Ivanek

❤ What are your biggest motivations for writing?

To get all this stuff that is swimming around in my head out. If I didn’t write, I’d probably explode. I’ve always had a really dark mind and I think that writing about scary things helps me stay sane.

❤ How would you describe your writing style and tone?

Real. Direct. I spent many, many hours searching and deleting ‘had’. I rewrote to put as much as I could into present tense. I read through sentences and deleted words that were unnecessary. I read all the dialogue aloud to ensure I had contractions and cuss words but not too much of either because I wanted it to be real.

Real.

❤ I notice myself doing that too, when I write. Give aspiring writers a piece of advice you wish you had known before getting published.

Don’t let ANYBODY read that initial draft. It will suck.

Also, be ready for criticism. You may think it’s the best novel, potentially, ever written. It’s not. You need direction from others to make your book be all that it can possibly be.
Finish your first draft and then refine, rewrite, make it real. Until you love it. I’d say a year or more. For me, it took three years after the initial draft to get it where I wanted it to be. And at least one year before it was ready for anyone else to read.

Because before that, it sucked. To be clear, I never thought it sucked when I finished writing sections. Only when I re-read them months later.

You see, here’s another bit of advice. Don’t spend too much time on the polishing when you first get the words down. You’re just building the foundation. The polishing and finishing comes later.

❤ What's something about you that might surprise your readers?

I was on a Nuclear Cruiser in the Navy. That might surprise some people.

❤ Who are some books or authors your idolize?

Stephen King and Thomas Harris. Gods.

❤ If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?

Wow. That’s a really interesting question. Certainly not Ned Beatty’s character in Deliverance.

I’d say Clint Eastwood’s character in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Why? Because he was just so damn cool.

❤ What's the most interesting comment you've received about inSyte so far?

I loved the description of Cheslov from the Kirkus Review:

Woven throughout a story with many finely crafted twists, turns and revelations is the charismatic, mysterious, murderous Cheslov Kirill. As a classic merciless political operator, Kirill is unforgettable and chillingly, complexly rendered, especially for a man who uses a school of sharks off the Florida coast for corpse disposal.

❤ What lovely feedback! What's next for you?

Thinking about a sequel. Just thinking. Letting my mind sort through it subconsciously.

❤ I look forward to reading it! Where can you be found on the web?

At my website: www.gkiser.com.

❤ Before we conclude this interview, is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?

How many pages do you give a book to ‘grab’ you? Honestly? If you say it has to grab you off the bat, well, OK – everyone says that. But plenty of books will grab you in the first chapter, the first paragraph, even the first line. But the subsequent chapters have to follow it up. How many of those will you read before you decide you’re into it, or not?

What’s the criteria to grab you? Can you define it? Plot? Characters? Action? Drama? Conflict?

❤ Thank you for being here today, Greg! It was a pleasure getting to know you and inSyte better :)

Giveaway!

❤ Thanks to Greg's tour publicist, NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™, one lucky reader will win their very own print copy of inSyte. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this interview with an answer to Greg's question.

Giveaway runs through September 28th, 2011 at 11.59 pm (your time) and is open to US, Canada, and UK residents only.

Please include your email address in your comment! If I don't know who to contact once you are chosen as the winner, your prize will be forfeited.
As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated :)

Good luck!

❤author: Lynda M. Martin Interview and Giveaway!

❤ Today, as part of a NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™ blog tour, I will be hosting author, Lynda M. Martin with an interview and giveaway. Welcome to ¡Miraculous!, Lynda! Will you please share a short bio with us?

I was born in Scotland, started school in England, then immigrated to Alberta, Canada with my family at the age of six. I grew up close to the town of Medicine Hat, Alberta, went to university in Montreal, Quebec, lived in Manitoba for several years, and returned to Alberta. Along the way, I married an American and began a cross-border life that culminated in my now living on the Gulf Coast of Florida -- a life we share with two mastiff dogs.

I have two daughters, all grown up, and four grandchildren, whom I don’t see as much as I would like, but love with all my heart

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, a career that paid the bills and years of courses relating to childhood development and child protection, a career that satisfied my heart. Oh -- and also a number of courses in writing, which is a passion that fulfills my soul.

I’m a private person and have used an avatar for all my publishing, both on the internet and print, as well as the cover of my novel. Recently, I became a little daring and started sharing my real image (age having wreaked enough change; recognition, which might have compromised some connections from the past is unlikely.)

❤ Tell us about debut release, This Bird Flew Away.

I will use the words of my wonderful editor, New York Times bestselling author, Kathryn Lynn Davis:

This is a tender, wrenching, funny, brilliantly written novel about so many kinds of courage, so many layers of beauty and strength, and the bonds of family (however unique they may be) that help us survive even the worst life makes us suffer.

❤ What inspired you to write this book?

This particular story came to me following a discussion I had with some friends over the unrealistic portrayals of victims of abuse portrayed in the media. I think it was an episode of “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit” that set me off, so twisted and dramatic. I pontificated on my issues with the vision that survivors were “ruined,” psychotic and suicidal. This is not true to my experience with real-life survivors at all.

I decided to write a story and a character that more truly represented survivors and their journey to healing, something optimistic. I have always been amazed at the ability of children to go on being children no matter what misery surrounds them. That’s why I call this novel a celebration of one girl’s triumph.

❤ There's always more intrigue in the What if...s and the truths we can't acknowledge superficially. How did you get your book published? Tell us your call story.

I quickly gave up on the idea of acquiring an agent and going the traditional route after receiving an interesting collection of rejection letters. My favorite came in three minutes after the query was sent and said, “After careful consideration, we’ve decided this work is not for us…” One agent asked for the manuscript and sat on it for a year before responding to the query on the rudest of terms.

As a newcomer to this country, I was loathe to self-publish, and began to query the boutique publishers. With five queries, I had four offers to publish and chose the one that let me have a free hand in the book’s final design, including cover art. (Do you like the image on the cover?)

Certainly, going with an independent publisher means more work in the promotion and marketing, but on the other hand, traditional publishing houses do not give you much time to prove your work in the marketplace. This way, This Bird Flew Away can take the time to build readership.

Would I go the same route again? I haven’t decided.

❤ The cover image seems relevant to the book! How much of your actual life would you say gets written into your fictional stories?

Quite a bit. Bria, the main character, is an amalgam of many girls I’ve known in the past, including characteristics of my own daughters, foster daughters, cases I’ve worked on, and yes, with a good dollop of my own tumultuous youth.

Many of the other characters are loosely based on people from real life, though none are exact.

The clinical treatment described is based on reality, as is the psychologist, Mrs. Friesen. In my years of involvement with troubled girls, it’s been my great privilege to work with some wonderful professionals.

Bria’s subsequent behavior, including her fixation on her guardian, Jack, is quite typical of young female survivors of abuse and exploitation, much to the consternation of the men in their lives.

So yes, my actual life experiences play a big role in this book. A necessity, as I strove to make it as realistic as possible. 

❤ How would you describe your writing style and tone?

The first word that comes to mind is intimate. My characters tend to share all. I think that’s why I so enjoy the first person voice -- so chatty, so open. What editors sometimes call the restriction of the first person (no getting inside another character’s mind) seems more of an opportunity for character development to me. The whole world and the people in it are seen only through the narrator’s perception.

This Bird Flew Away has two first-person narrators, Bria and Mary (her foster mother), as though you were sitting at a table and these two women took turns telling you the story. Jack, the third major character is seen only through their eyes, so we can never be sure that what we are told about him is the entire truth. We must judge him for ourselves.

This story had to be told in such an intimate manner for it to work.

❤ Interesting... Give aspiring writers a piece of advice you wish you had known before getting published.

Be aware that in most cases, you will be entirely on your own when it comes to marketing and promotion. Unless you’ve written what is judged to be the next bestseller, the resources given to you are likely to be minimal. If, like me, you’re no marketing genius, make sure you have the resources to get the assistance you will need. Keep your expectations reasonable.

But more importantly, write to please yourself, from the heart, and leave the thought of markets, sales, fame (most unlikely) and financial rewards aside.

❤ That's down-to-earth and realistic. Who are some books or authors you idolize?

If I had to point to one novel as being representative of great skill, I would choose To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee has crafted what I’d consider the perfect novel, tight writing -- not one superfluous word, -- superb character development, an understated tone, major themes, the intertwining of two plots into one without a single seam showing, excellent pacing and above all, masterful setting and atmosphere.

❤ What’s a question you always want to be asked in interviews? How would you answer it?

What do I consider a writing success? Finishing the book. Writing until you’re happy with the end project. Now, you’re a success. Anything else is icing on the cake.

❤ If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?

Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, an independent woman at a time such women are rare, who appears to be welcome everywhere she goes and is possessed of an excellent mind.

❤ What’s the most interesting comment you have ever received about your books?

"Different people will draw different things from this story, but one thing is sure; no one will leave untouched." – Morton Rand, Fiction Factory

❤ What's next for you?

The sequel to This Bird Flew Away, with a working title, Fly High; Fly Blind, is in draft form and currently in the hands of some selected readers for their input prior to final revision and edit. I have not yet decided how and when this book will be published.

I am currently working out the skeleton for a new novel, entirely removed from these characters and subject matter, one based on life’s later problems. For the past while, I’ve been working with the elderly, helping them stay in their own homes and providing companionship and care. Listening to their stories, helping them overcome their problems and just getting to know these people has given enough grist for several novels.

I also write articles for various sites and organizations, but hold a personal publishing page on Hubpages, where I share my thoughts and views on all kinds of subjects. This has become a favorite place of mine, where I am free to publish as I wish. To my great surprise, it has developed a large readership and led to a number of other opportunities.

❤ Where can you be found on the web?

Website | Hubpages | Facebook | Purchase Book

❤ Thank you for being here today, Lynda! It was a pleasure getting to know you and This Bird Flew Away better :)

Giveaway!

❤ Thanks to Lynda's tour publicist, NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™, one lucky reader will win their very own print copy of This Bird Flew Away. To enter the giveaway, leave a meaningful comment or question on this interview post for Lynda. 

Giveaway runs through October 6th, 2011 at 11.59 pm (your time) and is open internationally.
Meaningful comment means something other than "Hi, please enter me in this giveaway." Your comment or question should be thoughtful and relevant.

Please leave your email in your comment so I know who to contact as the winner.
As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated :)

Good luck!

♥♥♥♥♥♥: Rhapsody for Lessons Learned or Remembered by Georgia Ann Banks-Martin

Rhapsody for Lessons Learned or Remembered
Georgia Ann Banks-Martin

Release Date: November 1st, 2010

Publisher: Plain View

Page Count: 66

Source:  NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™  for review, as part of the Rhapsody for Lessons Learned or Remembered virtual book tour

Georgia Banks-Martin walks us through an art gallery. We view art, which she has processed and questioned, through her lens: Lawrence, Monet, Van Gogh, Beardon, Sargent, Degas, to name a few of the artists. She challenges the reader to face slavery, grief and joy, to feel the weight the South bears, to examine art across centuries for lessons. These poems revive what has been omitted in our history books-individual life stories. She uses sound, music and voice to make imagery pulse in these ekphrastic poems. In her poem "Railroad Station," after a Jacob Lawrence: "Those leaving the towns where father and mother/labored in fields without being offered a yard of thread spun/from the cotton they pulled, have assembled./Packed: Hopes of work, three bedroom homes/water heated in water tanks, classrooms." As memories populate her poems, so does the theme of hope permeate her book; in "Death Dancing" after a Max Slevogt: "I wish memories could be buried as easily as bodies." . . . a book to remember as you stand face to face with art.

What Stephanie Thinks: Art fanatics will delight in Banks-Martin's collection of poetry based off inspiring, memorable masterpieces. Though I am not familiar with many of the paintings she references in her verses, her vague, nostalgic prose flows to make me imagine them. The poems don't all fit together in any way, which sort of confused me at first. Though well-written with strong, vivid imagery, the inconsistency of the poems, and the fact that I couldn't gather the subject of her writing, had me weary by the first few pages.

I normally love poetry, and had looked forward to understanding the "lessons learned and remembered" in this book, but unfortunately, that was difficult for me. I wish they had been connected more thoroughly, rather than including random tidbits of Banks's life.

For anyone with a background in art—those timeless treasures we keep cherished through years of evolution—Rhapsody for Lessons Learned or Remembered will no doubt, be a refreshing and consuming read.

Stephanie Loves: "Soon star-like buds will appear / on the fence born of a vine that during / the first week of fall had continued climbing / hoping the sun wouldn't turn its back, / the wind would only stroke still green leaves, / allowing them a few more hours, / before rain, twisting, tearing, / tumbling through unpaved alleys— / the shedding of seeds." —from "Remembering an Autumn Day".

Radical Rating: 6 hearts: Satisfying for a first read, but I'm not going back. ♥♥♥♥♥♥

❤author: Emily Kimelman Interview and Giveaway!

❤ Today, as part of a NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™ blog tour, I will be hosting mystery author, Emily Kimelman with an interview and giveaway. Welcome to ¡Miraculous!, Emily! Will you please share a short bio with us?

Hi Stephanie. Thanks for having me at ¡Miraculous! It’s very exciting to be here.

I’ve always loved mystery novels so when I went to college I studied them. I graduated from NYU with a degree in the history of homicide, forensic science, and detective novels. I worked as a dog walker while obtaining that degree which gave me the idea for Unleashed. When not writing I work with my husband, Sean Gilvey, in our glassblowing studio and gallery, Hudson Beach Glass.

❤ Tell us about debut release, Unleashed.

Unleashed is the first in my Sydney Rye series. It’s a fast-paced read with lots of action, some naughty sex, and a surprise ending. It stars a tough, young woman working as a dog walker and her adopted mutt, Blue. While the story starts out with just a hint of darkness by the end Joy Humbolt, our main character, SPOILER ALERT has transformed into a dangerous woman named Sydney Rye.

I like to picture people reading Unleashed in one or two sittings. I like to think of it as a well-written story that rocks, but I’ll admit that I’m biased.

❤ You certainly have reason to be proud of it! I haven't gotten the chance to pick up my own copy yet, but it sounds like the perfect mystery novel. When and why did you begin writing?

My earliest writing dates back to when I was about 11. My family took a trip to the Alps and we were in this picturesque village, when I saw a portable accordion file in a store window. It was a dark brown leather and tied at the top with a red ribbon. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen and I begged my Mother to buy it for me.

My mom was happy to buy me school supplies but could not understand what a kid my age was going to do with an expensive leather-bound accordion file, no matter how beautifully crafted. But after I explained it would hold my first novel, she quickly relented. I don’t know if I even had plans to write a novel before seeing that file system, but I immediately got to work. It was a mystery that took place in the large, rambling hotel we were staying in. I believe there was drug smuggling going on and, of course, murder. I put each chapter into the file and they are still there today.

I wrote for years after that, but in high school, I became more interested in the visual arts. I took a couple of years off before going to college and worked as a photographer, but there was just something missing from the work. My brother and a number of friends pushed me to return to writing. I think my brother even referenced the story in the accordion file as proof of my talent :)


❤ What inspired you to write your first book and then how did you get published? Tell us your call story.

I was working as a dog walker and felt that the profession was perfect for an amateur sleuth. I had access to all my clients' homes and yet they’d never even seen me. Also, as a dog walker, I got to know all the people who worked in the buildings and heard all the best gossip.

I had tons of support from family and friends, so it was easy to tell everyone I was going to be a mystery writer. My best friend, Mette, just couldn’t wait for me to finish so she could read it.

It took about three years to get a manuscript I was happy with. Then, I sent Unleashed to Mark Bowden who wrote Black Hawk Down. Mark is a good friend of my family and he had offered to read anything I wrote. He loved it and recommended me to his agent, Jennie Dunham. Jennie read it over a weekend and offered me a contract that Monday. It was very exciting. My future husband and I polished off a bottle of champagne and I felt a huge sense of accomplishment.

However, Jennie warned me that though she loved my book, it did not fit into any category that publishers were looking for and therefore it would take time to find an editor who wanted it. Three years later we still had no offers and only a stack of very complementary rejection letters.

My brother was the first person to suggest I needed to self-publish. At this point, I owned my own business selling my husband’s high-end glassware so knew about finances, marketing, and PR. What, my brother asked, did I need a publisher for? So I wouldn’t feel like a loser was the best answer I could come up with.

It took another six months for me to realize that it was a stupid reason both personally and financially. When I started writing, I was a kid but now I’m a businesswoman and can see that self-publishing gives me much more freedom than any publishing house could offer.

I paid for a professional editor before I even submitted it to publishers and before publishing it myself, I had a proofreader go over it with a fine tooth comb. I didn’t have to change anything to make it fit better into a box and I got to pick my own cover. The illustration is by one of my best friends, the incredibly talented Autumn Whitehurst.

I feel very lucky to be starting my career when e-pubbing exists. It is so rare to have so much control over your own destiny.

❤ Definitely something to be thankful for in competitive publishing times like these! How did you arrive at writing mystery? Is there any other genre you'd like to tackle in the future?

It took me a very long time to learn to read, but when I was about 11, it suddenly made sense to me. I went from reading See Spot Run, to Agatha Christie, overnight. My father had read me The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Encyclopedia Brown, so I was familiar with the genre, but Agatha Christie was the first author that I’d read on my own. I can still remember racing through Christie’s books; I was filled with excitement about the mystery and about how many pages I could get through in a sitting! I guess I fell in love with mysteries as soon as I could read them.

I also love science fiction and admire authors who can create such complete worlds on paper. And paranormal romance is so fun to read.

One day, I’d love to write science-fiction and paranormal romance but right now I’m still totally obsessed with mystery novels.

❤ Wow! And to think I considered myself a pro for jumping from See Spot Run to Junie B. Jones overnight :) I agree with you about your genre; a lot of my favorite books are mysteries! How much of your actual life would you say gets written into your fictional stories?

Tons. All of my ideas start in the real world and then transform themselves into fiction once I start writing. A lot of people have told me that one of the things they love about Unleashed are the descriptions of New York City. I spent years walking that city and a lot of that made it onto the page.

My mom thinks that Sydney Rye is me and while she was reading Unleashed she kept leaving me these hysterical message like “Don’t go down there. It’s too dangerous!” Mind you, I’m not nearly as brave as Sydney and could never do the things she does.

One of the great things about being a writer is, no matter what I’m going through, I can always think: “At least I can use this in a story one day”. It also gives me a great excuse to get to know strangers. I love an over-sharer. They fuel my fiction.

❤ It's amazing how you can use personal experience and knowledge to craft such wonderful fiction. I imagine it'd be a bit of a pain in the ass to have to research things like descriptions of New York City if one's never been there before! What is your biggest motivation for writing?

To get all this stuff that is swimming around in my head out. If I didn’t write, I’d probably explode. I’ve always had a really dark mind and I think that writing about scary things helps me stay sane.

❤ Who are some authors you idolize?

I am greatly influenced by Raymond Chandler and P.D. James. Whenever I get stuck, I read their work to remind me why I’m doing this in the first place. I like to think I’ve done a good job of incorporating both the literally style of James with the rough style of Chandler and created something all my own. I also think my character, Sydney Rye, does a lot of the work for me. She is the narrator and doesn’t let me get away with anything.

❤ That's a surprisingly encouraging way to keep yourself on track. Give aspiring writers a piece of advice you wish you had known before getting published.

This might sound nuts, but it’s easier than you think. I put my book on Kindle with a cover I made myself and a crap description just to see where it would show up on searches, and to get a feel for the thing. I was shocked when I went back into work on the description and change the tags around, to see I’d sold copies. There are lots of readers out there (I’m one of them) who are desperate for something new and different. I think it is very exciting to find all these authors out there who are writing really original stuff, so original, no publishing house would take a chance on them.

❤ What and who are some books or authors you idolize?

I’ve already mentioned my love for P.D. James and Raymond Chandler. I also love Hemingway, Jane Austen (I’ve read Pride and Prejudice more times than I can count), Don Winslow (Cool Breeze on the Underground is one of my favorite books of all time), Sue Grafton (I named my dog Kinsey after her main character), Charlaine Harris, and so many more.

I think my favorite Indie author right now is Susan Bischoff. Her book, Hush Money, has me salivating for the next installment.

I idolize all these authors and any other who writes a book that takes me away from my own world and into theirs.

❤ What’s the most interesting comment you have ever received about your books?

Tyson Adams was the first person to review my book and he said that the ending surprised him. That made my heart sing.

❤ I'm sure authors enjoy all sorts of praise from readers. What's next for you?

I’m working on the sequel to Unleashed and hope to have it out by Christmas.

❤ I look forward to reading it! Where can you be found on the web?

I have a website: www.emilykimelman.com. I am on Facebook and Tumblr as well. You can also check out our family glassblowing business at www.hudsonbeachglass.com.

❤ Before we conclude this interview, is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?

I’d love to know what your readers are looking for in a series. Do they like the character to be a rock that does not evolve like James Bond? Or do they prefer a character who is effected by what they experience like Sookie Stackhouse?

❤ Thank you for being here today, Emily! It was a pleasure getting to know you and your books better :)

Giveaway!

❤ Thanks to Emily's tour publicist, NURTURE Virtual BOOK Tourz™, one lucky reader will win their very own print copy of Unleashed. To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this interview with an answer to Emily's question.

Giveaway runs through August 4th, 2011 at 11.59 pm (your time) and is open to US, Canada, and UK residents only.

If your email is not publicly visible in your Blogger profile or if you don't have Blogger profile, please leave it in your comment! If I don't know who to contact once you are chosen as the winner, your prize will be forfeited.
As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated :)

Can't wait to hear what you all look for in a series. Good luck!