Interview: Ben H. Winters (Countdown City Blog Tour) + Giveaway

(Technically a post for Tuesday, July 2nd. May be dated as July 1st as I'm posting it just a couple hours shy of midnight.)

Today we have author Ben H. Winters joining us on the blog to share more about himself and his trilogy, The Last Policeman. I was provided the first and second book from Quirk Books to be part of this tour, and I'm excited to take part and have him join us!

Welcome!

The Last Policeman               Countdown City

Pixie: Let’s get one of the usual questions out of the way first. What inspired the idea behind The Last Policeman trilogy?

Ben: I had been interested for a while in doing a mystery novel, and specifically in doing detective fiction. A novel I wrote for kids, called The Secret Life of Ms. Finkleman, was nominated in 2010 for the Edgar Award, and I hadn’t even really thought of that book as a mystery—it’s a fun and silly romp, with a secret at its heart. So I suddenly began thinking, hey, you know what? I think this is what I am, I’m a mystery writer! And I was pleased. The end-of-the-world aspect came into it later. I guess I was curious about how I could take on this basic set up—man seeks murderer—in an unexpected way. I loved the bigness of the apocalypse, the sense of scale it gives to the whole story. Although I hope that part of what’s engaging about the Policeman books is that all of that, all that armageddon business, is very much in the background; where our interest lies is where Hank’s does, which is the business of solving the crimes.

Pixie: What would YOU do in the case of an impending apocalypse?

Ben: Every time someone asks this, I wish I were a flashier kind of personality, and I could claim I would go hang-gliding, or travel around the world and so on. In truth, I think I would do the things I love, as much as possible: read, be with my wife and kids, eat ice-cream sandwiches.

(Pixie: Ice-cream sandwiches sound really nice, btw.)

Pixie: A quirky question: If it was your last night on Earth, what would you like to be your last meal?

Ben: Well, I know the beverage would be a Brooklyn lager, and dessert would be ice-cream sandwiches. (And not to rain on the parade of the question, of course, but as we learn in The Last Policeman and especially in Countdown City, the reality of an impending apocalypse would severely disrupt agricultural production and global supply chains, meaning it would probably be hard for everyone to get ahold of all the luxuries they would want to enjoy at the end.)

Pixie: You wrote some “Monster Mash-ups” like Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters and Android Karenina. Do you see any more work like this in the future for you?

Ben: Probably not. Those two books were extremely fun to do, but I have found even more pleasure in writing books from scratch, as it were. 

Pixie: Speaking of future work, I know that we have book three of The Last Policeman coming sometime in the near future, but do you have any other projects in the works that you can talk about?

Ben: Actually, yes—I have written two books of scary poems for kids, the first of which is called Literally Disturbed and comes out this summer, published by Grosset and Dunlap, a Penguin imprint. A great joy to write, and a project that obviously taps into a very different part of my brain than the Policeman series.

(Pixie: Sounds exciting! I bet my youngest step-daughter—a growing bookworm herself would like that, too!)

Pixie: Who are some of your favorite authors? Books that you would recommend?

Ben: Recently I’ve been reading a lot of crime novels, including re-reading the always delightful Ripley series by Patricia Highsmith. In terms of new fiction, you should read The Unknowns, the debut novel by a guy named Gabriel Roth, which is remarkable—clever and sad and very gracefully written. Speaking of which, my fellow Indianapolis-based author Michael Dahlie’s book, The Best of Youth, is a remarkable character portrait and also funny as hell. Oh, and I also just read A Light Between Oceans, which really swallowed me up for a while.

Pixie: Anything else you want to add?

Ben: Only thank you for your interest in me and in my books!

Pixie: Thank you for taking the time to be here today! Be sure to drop by again!

P.S. I hope you know you kept me up all night after reading Bedbugs with creepy crawly feelings. Ha!

 

Be sure to check out Ben H. Winters on Goodreads, too.

 

 

Would you like to win The Last Policeman and Countdown City (the first two books in this exciting trilogy?) Check out the details below!

What’s the point in solving murders if we’re all going to die soon, anyway?

Detective Hank Palace has faced this question ever since asteroid 2011GV1 hovered into view. There’s no chance left. No hope. Just six precious months until impact.

The Last Policeman presents a fascinating portrait of a pre-apocalyptic United States. The economy spirals downward while crops rot in the fields. Churches and synagogues are packed. People all over the world are walking off the job—but not Hank Palace. He’s investigating a death by hanging in a city that sees a dozen suicides every week—except this one feels suspicious, and Palace is the only cop who cares.

The first in a trilogy, The Last Policeman offers a mystery set on the brink of an apocalypse. As Palace’s investigation plays out under the shadow of 2011GV1, we’re confronted by hard questions way beyond “whodunit.” What basis does civilization rest upon? What is life worth? What would any of us do, what would we really do, if our days were numbered?

 

See it at Goodreads

Until the 26th of this month, I have a giveaway up that you want to enter if you're the slightest bit interested in these books. Here's your chance to win the first AND second book-- The Last Policeman and Countdown City, and see what it's all about!

Rules:

U.S. Only (Sorry, my international lovelies!)
As with all of my contests, I'm not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged packages.
Don't try to cheat the system. I check before I draw a winner.
Speaking of winner, if the chosen one doesn't reply back in a timely manner to email (48 hours), I have the right to choose a new one.
18 or over--or 13 and up with parental permission.

Thanks! Enter below with the Rafflecopter form!


 

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Triple Threat Blog Tour: Interview with Yelena Black

Hey everyone! I'm here today hosting part of the Triple Threat Blog Tour for Bloomsbury! In case you missed it earlier last month, I had Megan Miranda at the blog, talking about her newest release Hysteria! This time, I'm happy to have Yelena Black to share about her recent release, Dance of Shadows! :)

 

 

ME: Welcome to The Bookaholic, Ms. Black! Could you tell us a bit about what inspired the idea behind DANCE OF SHADOWS?

YB: I love mysteries and the world of ballet—and there is something inherently mysterious about the world of ballet, which dates back many centuries. I loved the idea of taking that quality of the dance and crafting a story about legend and ritual, but also about a young girl—Vanessa Adler—and how she and her older sister (and her friends!) get tangled in this world. 
 
ME: What sparked your interest in writing? Did you always want to be an author?

YB: I have always loved reading. I actually used to sleep with the Anne of Green Gables series. They were so heartfelt and honest. I also loved Kurt Vonnegut’s books, because they always made me laugh. I loved Judy Blume, because she spoke to me girl-to-girl, and told me things that I could never ask my mother about. And of course, Harry Potter, which still gives me that magical feeling of excitement, even though I’ve read it dozens of times. So I guess my answer is: Yes. I have always wanted to be a writer. I also have a love of dance, and studied ballet when I was younger, which helped to inspire my book, Dance of Shadows.

ME: What is one quirky fact about yourself?
 
YB: I love bicycling and running, and was once a trained bicycle mechanic. I'm also an amateur seamstress and thus loved writing about the clothes in this book.

ME: If you could cast your own characters for a movie, which actors would be your choice?

YB: I would cast Emma Watson as Vanessa, Logan Lerman as Justin, and Dave Franko as Zep. Fingers crossed!


ME: Do you have any other future projects in the works for us to look forward to?

YB: I am currently editing the sequel to Dance of Shadows!


Thank you so much for being at the blog today!


Follow Yelena Black on Twitter

Read my review of Dance of Shadows. Add Dance of Shadows to your Goodreads.



　

Blog Tour: Hysteria by Megan Miranda (Review + Author Interview)

Welcome to today's stop for the Triple Threat Blog Tour for Bloomsbury! I have Megan Miranda here with a lovely little interview, but first I'd like to share my review of Hysteria--her sophomore novel recently released this past week(February 5th).

Title: Hysteria
Author: Megan Miranda
Genre: YA Contemp, Mystery

See it at Goodreads


Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.


I liked the overall tone of Hysteria immediately from the first sentence. It was one of those reads that just pulled me right in and I held on until the very end. Though admittedly, I enjoyed Fracture probably more so than this title, I did find Hysteria thrilling, mysterious, and compulsively readable. I enjoyed the romantic interest, Reid, who seemed to be non-judgmental and open-minded. He showed easily that he didn’t care about the typical school gossip, no matter his popularity, and that what mattered was seeking the actual truth of the situation. The character dynamics and emotional reactions are well-done.

I have this odd love of enjoying the whole boarding school setting thing. And while I wasn’t entirely wowed by it from this title, I did find it interesting enough to keep the story moving along. My only nitpicks might’ve been that I felt sympathy for poor Mallory pretty often--especially when it came to how her parents treated her after the murder--and being sent away within months afterward while still suffering from the trauma (enough of it to where she is on sleeping medication still). I was glad she’d at least found her friendship/relationship with Reid, because I felt her hopelessness at that point, and she really needed that connection as a character. It helped add some oomph to the pages.

I found the mean girls a bit cliché and predictable, but it didn’t pull me away from the story. I still found myself easily breezing through it and finished quickly.

Hysteria was an enjoyable fast-paced read that will steal your breath away with its strange mystery.

 



Now, welcome Ms. Miranda to the blog, everyone! I know I'm delighted to have her here. :) Welcome Ms. Miranda! I only have a few quick questions so I don't take up too much time. I want the next book to get here as fast as possible, of course. Ha!

Me: What began your interest in writing?

MM: I loved to read and write growing up, and I also loved science. Writing was something I always enjoyed, but I let it go after high school, thinking I was supposed to pick one thing to do. So I picked science, because it seemed more practical. I always read, but I'm ashamed to say I went many years without writing. It wasn't until I had changed careers and then quit to stay home with my kids that my husband asked me why I wasn't writing, since it was something I loved to do. I started writing again that night, and haven't stopped since.

Me: What was your inspiration behind Hysteria?

MM: There wasn’t one single event that inspired Hysteria, but a bunch of smaller things that all came together. For one, I had the idea for Mallory already—a girl who had gotten away with killing her boyfriend. So that was one piece of the story already. As I was writing, I got very interested in the definition of the word haunt, and all the things that can haunt, and all the ways they can do it. I started researching memories and psychosomatic conditions, and I read stories about people who had psychological conditions that manifested in physical ways. All of these elements came together as I was coming up with the idea behind Hysteria.

 

Me: If you could cast your own characters into a movie, which actors would you choose?

 

MM: Oh, I am typically so bad at casting questions! Mostly because I am pretty out-of-it when it comes to current entertainment. Or past entertainment. All entertainment, really.

I picture Mallory as maybe a cross between Nina Dobrev and Melissa Benoist. Reid would be maybe Tyler Posey. Colleen I’d picture as a young Scarlett Johannson.

 

Me: Might I just interrupt to say that I adore Nina Dobrev? You certainly have good tastes there. ^-^

 

Me: Your debut, Fracture, was released last year in January. Some inquiring minds want to know if there’s going to be a companion or sequel. So, yes or no?  ;)

MM: Yes! The sequel/companion will be coming out in early 2014. It will be told from Decker's point of view and it takes place about 8 months after the events in Fracture.

Me: Now I will be on the edge of my seat all year. Decker's point of view? Win.

 

Me: Could you tell us one quirky fact about yourself?

MM: Just one? Oh boy. Um… I have a thing about even numbers. Like I need to eat chips in even numbers and stuff. Or maybe that’s just weird. How about the fact that I talk with my hands so much (seriously, I can’t get them to stop), even when I’m on the phone… and sometimes it makes me drop the phone.

Me: Anything else you would like to add?

MM: Just that I really enjoyed writing Hysteria, and I hope you like it! Thanks for having me on your blog J

Me: Thank you so much for being on the blog with us today!

About the Author

Megan is a scientist - turned - teacher - turned - stay-at-home-mom - turned - writer. She is not nearly as indecisive as she sounds. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, where she volunteers as an MIT Educational Counselor, does the mom thing by day, and writes by night.

Official Site |  Twitter | Facebook 

 
   

**My thanks to Bloomsbury for asking my blog to take part in the tour. I received an e-galley in exchange for my honest review.**

Interview w/ Marta Acosta + Giveaway

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of reading Dark Companion by Marta Acosta. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and then found myself adoring Ms. Acosta just as much (well, more of course!). I knew I had to bring her on the blog and finally have. I didn't have to threaten her or anything. :O  Haha.. just teasing. :P

So today, I have a treat. A lovely interview with Marta, and to top it all off--a fantastic giveaway that you'll find at the bottom! Hope you enjoy!

First off, thanks so much for being on the blog with us today!

Thanks for inviting me here, Pixie, especially after I made some snarky pixie comment in a book and you called me on it!

Quick! What are you thinking right now? (those who have read Dark Companion would get this reference)

I am thinking “I am so behind on all my work!” I’m trying to catch up on all the emails I had to let sit in my inbox while finishing a book for a new editor. It’s a big secret, but maybe not for long. Thanks for the nod to Mary Violet.

What inspired you to write Dark Companion?  Could you tell us a bit about how the idea came to be?

I’ve always loved Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and other gothic stories, and I wanted to write a modern story with gothic conventions: the poor orphan, the isolated and strange setting, sinister secrets, rich people who have dark desires, and the natural world having an important role. Dark Companion isn’t an update of Jane Eyre, which is perfect as it is, but I tried to capture a little of the mood.

Did you write any of your characters based on real people you know?

No, and that’s why I call it fiction! I just make up the characters. They become more developed as I think about them.

What inspired your main names? Mary Violet, Jane, Jack…

A good friend has a sister named Mary Violet. I’ve never met her and I have no idea what she’s like, but I fell in love with the name and saved it for just the right character. Jane is named in honor of Jane Eyre. Initially Jack’s name was Edward, for Edward Rochester, but then another Edward became very famous, so I changed the name. I promised a pal at a party that I’d named a character after him, and he’s Jacob, aka Jack. My pal Jack isn’t like my fictional Jack, except that they both have a sense of humor.

Is there a sequel to be expected?

I’m working on a story featuring Mary Violet for a proposed gothic mystery series. The first book is tentatively titled Mary Violet and the Mystery of the Silent Songbird. Mary Violet is invited to an ancient poetess’s decrepit mansion to help curate her papers. While she’s there, MV experiences ghostly happenings and uncovers clues to an unsolved mystery. She also meets some supercute guys and writes poetry.

Any other upcoming writing projects?

Please see above! Also I have a top secret book coming out in June 2013. I’m not at liberty to discuss it yet, but it’s funny. At least, I think it’s funny. In fact, I think it’s awesome.

Now I want to know about YOU!

 

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I still live. We have great moderate weather – leave the doors and windows open every day of the year sort of weather. The downside is earthquakes.

If you couldn’t write, what would you be doing instead?

I would be reading. If I had any practical skills, I’d be an electrician. Then I could fix things around my house. I don’t have practical skills, so I have been a publicist for nonprofits. I loved doing that.

Favorite books/authors?

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Persuasion by Jane Austen

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

Middlemarch by George Elliot

The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

 

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

That I only get one pet peeve. I have a kazillion peeves. I’m very peevish. I walk around the house grumbling, “I am so annoyed.” It’s my mantra.

Angel or Spike?

Spike in Buffy, but Angel in Angel. Well, I like Angel better in his series, but it’s always Spike with me. Always a trashed out car, surly attitude, and cranked up sound system blasting punk.

Dean or Sam?

It used to be Dean, but I love me some Evil Sammy. He was so much more interesting without a soul.

If you could become immortal (turned into a vampire, some kind of supernatural being, etc.), would you?

Good question. I might, but I’m afraid I’d be even more annoyed with people. I’m sure that I’d eventually use my immortality for evil, not for good, so I’d probably decide to spare humanity and decline the offer.

Scenario: You get the chance to bring one of your characters to life. Which one and why?

Milagro! I love Milagro from my Casa Dracula series and I’d love to be her friend. I created her from aspects of my favorite characters and her good-natured enthusiasm would cheer me out of my peevishness. I miss her quite a bit and think about writing a story or two featuring Mil and her new husband. They’d be like Nick and Nora Charles of the Thin Man series – lots of cocktail parties and murders to solve, but with paranormal creatures.

Quick! What are you thinking now?

I’m feeling that I’m betraying Mary Violet by choosing Milagro, but MV has lots of friends and a big loving family. She doesn’t need me as much.

Thanks so much for joining me on the blog and answering my questions!

Thanks so much for inviting me to be here and to be so patient in getting my answers! I know everyone talks about how bad pixies are, but I think you’re proof that pixies can be good. Well, goodish!

Anything else you would like to add?

Blah blah website blah Twitter and blah blog!

 

 

Now for an additional treat. Marta and her team of awesome peeps are providing a hardcopy of Dark Companion to one lucky person. It’s U.S. only, though. Sorry! But be sure to enter below! It’s a great read. Here’s a link to my review from earlier this year in case you’d missed it.

Giveaway time! Rules are simple:

U.S. only
13+
You don’t have to be a follower (but you can if you want!)
Ends on 10/21/12

Enter in the Rafflecopter form below!




 

 

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My Rockstar is Tiffany Truitt (Authors Are Rockstars) *Interview + Giveaway*

“Stories enabled you to forget your life and your limits. They urged you to reach for a world that was never meant to be yours. There was nothing more dangerous than an imagination.” --Chosen Ones



There are rare occasions in our lifetimes when we come across books that touch our hearts so deeply that we know from the start we won’t forget them. We follow the authors’ updates and events, read everything they release/will release, and connect with their characters on a personal level. We laugh and cry with the characters. We laugh and cry and cheer on the authors. These are our gems as readers. These are the authors we look for. These are our rockstars.

I was graced with Chosen Ones earlier this year, first as part of the cover reveal, then a short time later for early review. You can find my glowing 5-star review here. Even through all of the books I’ve read so far this year, it’s still at the top of my list as one of my favorites--not just for the 2012, but for all time.
(Note: the ARC review was never edited with the later changed release date--which had been in June--and still has the original expected April set date on it, I believe.)

Tiffany Truitt is my Rockstar. The rare gem I’m always looking for that touched my heart. Chosen Ones is an unforgettable read. I’m happy to be Ms. Truitt’s cheerleader (and her characters’) always!

I’m so honored to not only be a part of the Authors Are Rockstars event, but to host the fantastic author Tiffany Truitt here at The Bookaholic today as well. Be sure to read the wonderful interview below and enter the giveaway for your chance to win an e-book of Chosen Ones!

Thank you for joining us today! I've been excited since I found out. Bouncing in my chair a little bit over here. ^.^

I am so excited to be part of this event!  Even more stoked that I got a super awesome host J

Could you tell us about Chosen Ones (for any of those who haven’t had the pleasure of reading yet) and what inspired this idea?

I am a huge nerd. I like to listen to movie and television scores while driving. The idea just came to me on a drive one day. I don’t know what inspired it, but I just went with it. To be fair, the story has changed a lot since I first started working on it.

Chosen Ones is a YA novel which mashes together the Dystopian genre with elements of Victorian literature. It explores the idea of cloning and what it means to be human.

Did anyone you know in real life somewhat take play into the creating of your characters? Do you have anything in common with Tess?

I don’t think I consciously based any of my characters on people I know. Subconsciously? No doubt. Most writers don’t live in secluded cabins in the woods, so they are inspired by the people they choose to be around. I’m pretty lucky to spend my time with some pretty crazy and passionate people. They inspire me every day.

I think I have more difference than similarities when it comes to Tess. I think we share a lot of similar political beliefs and interests…and we’re both really stubborn…darn, maybe we are more alike than I thought. While I was editing this novel, I was in sort of a dark place myself, so that might have slipped into the character of Tess. But I like her much more by the end of the book than the start. I like to think I am more like that version of Tess. 

I also like the many messages and thoughts regarding Chosen Ones and Naturals, rebellion, and being true to yourself. Was it your intention to put out a strong message through symbolism and the ideas from the start?  What age range would you personally recommend the book for?

No. I never intended to create a book with an overt message. This is partly because as an avid reader I know the reader will construct any meaning that he or she desires without any regard to the author’s intentions. Did it turn into a book with an overt message? I think so. What that message is I’ll let the reader decide.

Chosen Ones ends on quite the cliffhanger. Jaw-dropping. Are you allowed to give information away on the sequel yet (Title? Expected Date?)? How many books will there be in the series?

The series will be a trilogy. The next book, The Naturals, will be out in Spring 2013. While I can’t tell you much, I can say Tess will get to explore a whole new world. And the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Do you have any other upcoming projects to look for in the future?

I am in the middle of edits on a YA / Contemp for my agent. I am having a ball working on it. It’s super snarky and fun. I really hope it gets published.

Now for the fun questions!

Where are you from?

I like to say Illinois because that’s where I was born and where my family resides…but I have spent most of my life living in Virginia. Navy Brat.

If you couldn’t write, what would you be doing?

Realistic answer? Teacher (my current job). Dream job? Television writer for a J.J Abrams show.

Favorite food:

I LOVE sides. Mash taters. Green beans. Macaroni. Yummmy. Also, do we consider coffee a food??

Summer or Winter:

I love both. Winter is great because I get to wear fun hats and scarves. Summer is great because I get time off to travel. I like to make the best of all seasons.

Favorite authors:

Jane Austen. Thomas Hardy. Shakespeare.

Do you like hugs from strangers (i.e. fans giving you hugs at book signings)?

Can we settle for a side hug? I am big on personal bubbles. I don’t do enclosed spaces. Last weekend, I got stuck in a stampede at Lollapalooza. I had to be pulled out and brought to the medical tent. Space is good.

Thank you so much for being at the blog today. You ARE a rockstar, one of MY rockstars, and a fabulous author!

About Chosen Ones

The Lost Souls, book 1 available now from Entangled Publishing!

I pushed down a key. The hair on the back of my neck shot up, and my skin tingled.

I imagined this was what it felt like to fall in love.

In that moment, I was ready to fall.

Life is bleak but uncomplicated for Tess, living in a not-too-distant future where the government, faced with humanity’s extinction, created the Chosen Ones, artificial beings who are extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.

When Tess begins work at Templeton, a Chosen Ones training facility, she meets James, and the attraction is immediate in its intensity, overwhelming in its danger. But there is more to Templeton than Tess ever knew. Can she stand against her oppressors, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?

Order your copy of Chosen Ones at Amazon | B&N

About Tiffany Truitt

Tiffany Truitt is an 8th grade English teacher in Suffolk, Virginia. When she’s not traveling the world, she enjoys reading, writing, and obsessing over coffee. Lost Souls: Chosen Ones is her first novel. Find out more about Tiffany Truitt at her Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Want a chance to win an e-book of Chosen Ones? Entangled Publishing will provide one copy to a lucky winner! Enter below in the Rafflecopter form--it's easy! And trust me...if you haven't read this book yet, it's a  definite must. ;)

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**I want to thank Tiffany Truitt again for the visit, Entangled Publishing for the giveaway, and the awesome hosts, authors, and other participating bloggers for the fantastic event. Be sure to visit the other stops by clicking on the tour banner at the top of the post.**

Author Interview: Jessie Lane

Today I have the fabulous Jessie Lane on the blog. Read the interview to learn more and then add the book to your TBR piles! :) Blurb and excerpt are at the end! :)

See it on Goodreads

Jessie Lane's Site

First off, thanks so much for joining us here at The Bookaholic today!

Thank you for having us Pixie!

Can you tell us about your novel, The Burning Star?

The Burning Star is a story about an awkward seventeen year old girl named Kay diagnosed with terminal cancer. After months of tests and being told that treatments won’t help, Kay has given up all hope when the doctors tell her that it’s only a matter of time before she dies. Her mother Carlie however refuses to give up.  So Carlie moves them just outside of Asheville, NC so that they can look into experimental treatments. However before they even get to go see the doctor Kay stumbles into someone in the woods that will change the course of her fate forever. Ryan.

Ryan tells her things that are unbelievable. Stuff you find in horror stories and fairy tales. Things that can’t possibly exist and it makes her think that Ryan is a first class trip to crazyville. But when Ryan proves to her that what he’s telling her about is very real, can all of it possibly help her find a way to save herself before it’s too late? And if the cancer doesn’t kill her before she finds a cure, the secrets her mother has hidden from her may be the beginning of the end.

Surprisingly, Jessie Lane is actually a two author team. What is it like writing a book with a co-author? 

Melissa: Actually it’s quite amusing for the two of us; and maybe for our husbands too. I love working with Crystal, it’s effortless and we get along great. She’s my partner is crime or in this case writing. When she starts to stress out about something or just needs a kick in the butt to help her get back on track I’m there for her even though I’m all the way across the country. And she gives me the time I need to focus and ideas to keep our creative process flowing. We balance out each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Crystal: What she said. (Cause she’s practically psychic and always says what I’m thinking before I can say it. Sometimes it SCARY but I love her because she’s not just my partner in crime, she’s my sister-in-law too.)

Do you ever think about publishing your own projects in the future alongside your current ones?

Melissa: At the moment I am writing a novel with my brother Matthew Leo, other than that we will see what the future holds. But so far writing with Crystal is a blast. We understand each other and while it may be stressful it’s still worth it. I get to work with one of my closest friends which is awesome because she just so happens to be married to my brother.

Crystal: At this time I would say no. I have so many projects that I have started with Melissa that I’d just like to see those come to light before I think about doing anything else.

Biggest pet peeves?

Melissa: Snoring. Oh wait does that count? Haha, actually I don’t really have a pet peeve, well maybe except for someone being fake.

Crystal decides to plead the fifth in the event that someone she knows realizes she has written her pet peeve about them and decides to make her pay…

Favorite authors:

Crystal: *waves hand about like excited school girl in the classroom* Oooo. Oooo – ME FIRST!

I have tons of authors that I love and adore! My first would have to be Karen Marie Moning. Her world building is unreal and I love her characters. Her lead female character in the Fever series, MacKayla ‘Mac’ Lane is the inspiration behind the ‘Lane’ in Jessie Lane. Another author would be Shelly Laurenston because she writes hands down some of the best comedy moments in her romance novels. Other authors I can’t get enough of are Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Jaci Burton, Maya Banks, Lora Leigh, Melissa Marr, Charlaine Harris, Kristen Ashley, Jill Shalvis-

*Melissa slaps her hand over Crystal’s rambling mouth while Crystal looks at her sheepishly*

Melissa: She’d go on forever if we let her. Anyways - Man that’s hard for me to choose. I read pretty much everything, so I would have to say all time fave is Anne Rice, but at the moment it’s Cassandra Clare and her Mortal Instruments series. It is something I can read over and over again and always find something I missed. Cynthia Eden is great author as well.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you can tell us about?

We have two other series that we are working on simultaneously. Both are adult romance series but on different end of the spectrums. Our Ex Ops series is contemporary romance and starts off with the first novel called Secret Maneuvers. It is about a group of ex-military or ex-government agents that work together on a black ops team that it is secretly run by the CIA and there very crazy love lives that they deal with in addition to their missions. The second series is a paranormal romance titled  the Big Bad Bit series. The first book is also titled Big Bad Bite and you can expect to see all kinds of fun supernatural beings and their very mixed up love lives while living in the shadows of an unknowing society that is oblivious to the dangers around them We hope to have one out by the end of summer beginning of fall and the other the beginning of winter.

If you couldn’t write, what would you be doing?

Melissa: Photography for me, Crystal maybe anything crafty she has a knack for all of it.

Crystal: (SCARY psychic again…) I think my next dream job to pursue would be something with book cover designs. I think it’s fun.

What’s your current ringtone?

Melissa: Well it depends on who is calling. Friends its Fallen Angels by Black Veil Brides, the hubby gets Linkin Park’s What I’ve Done (I’m a transformer movie freak and so is my beautiful niece). When Crystal calls she gets Juliet Simms version of Roxanne but when she texts me its Sponge Bob’s goobey goober song.

Crystal: *looks at Melissa like she’s nuts!* You gave me Spongebob?! Juliet Simms is cool but Spongebob? Gah. Anyways call me old fashioned but I only have the ringtones that came programmed on what my husband is now referring to as ‘my ancient like phone’. So my hubby and call it my “twinkling”. Someone calls me and I have a twinkling sound. It may be lame to others but I like it.

Summer or Winter?

Definitely Summer for both of us.

Have you read any undiscovered gems recently that you would recommend?

Melissa: Rock Chick Series by Kristen Ashley.

Crystal: I saw Kristen Ashley first so she’s totally my undiscovered gem! But I’m checking out H.P. Mallery next. Although seeing as she’s gone from indie to published it’s safe to say she’s been discovered.

Where did you come up with the pseudo name Jessie Lane from?

Instead of playing rock, paper, scissors or having a wrestling smack down over what our name should be we both chose some of our favorite female fictional characters and wrote one long list. In the end we both agreed on ‘Jessie Lane’. ‘Jessie’, is Melissa’s favorite female lead character in the movie, Queen of The Damned, and ‘Lane’ after Crystal’s favorite female lead character from Karen Marie Moning’s ‘Fever Series’ with MacKayla ‘Mac’ Lane.

Thank you again for being on the blog! Loved the answers!

             Melissa   Crystal

Jessie Lane is the writing team of Crystal Leo and Melissa Pahl. The two sister-in-laws share a great love of breath-taking romance, cliff hanging suspense, and out-of-this-world characters that demand your attention or threaten to slap you around until you do pay attention to them. Because really, it is ALL about the characters.

When not loosing themselves in a story they remember they have real lives. Crystal lives in Kentucky with her husband and two little girls who plot daily the many ways they can drive their poor mother crazy. At the end of the day Crystal then calls Melissa and threatens to ship her two nieces to their favorite Aunt with lots of air holes punched through their box. Melissa answers Crystal’s crazed calls in Washington state where she lives with her husband and big furry baby of a Rottweiler named Yuffie and reminds her that children aren’t shippable.

This is their first novel but they are all geared up and excited to be releasing other projects soon!

The Burning Star is now available on:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

CreateSpace

For any other links and updates, please visit their site! :)

Blurb:

She'll have to believe the unbelievable to survive.

 The doctors have told Kay that she will die before she reaches her eighteenth birthday. Her mother’s determination to save her life leads them to a move outside of Asheville, NC to a new set of cancer specialists in the hopes to help her. But it’s not what Kay and her Mom find in the doctor’s offices in Asheville that lead them on the journey to save her before time runs out. It’s what Kay finds in the woods outside of Asheville, and an inhumanly gorgeous guy named Ryan, instead.

 Myths and fairy tales come to life before Kay’s eyes, bringing her closer to the ultimate cure if she can stay alive long enough to get there. And if the cancer doesn’t kill her before she finds the cure the secrets her mother has hidden from her may be the beginning of the end.

Can she reach her destiny before tragedy strikes?

Excerpt:

I stood there frozen knowing that I would probably die because of this wretched creature. All of a sudden I saw the quick movement of an arm bringing down the point of the knife slicing towards the large creature’s skull. The animal’s enraged screams ripped through the woods around us. My brain tried to analyze what was happening before me I stood as still as a statue and watched as the monster started crumbling away. That’s right, I said crumbling. Like something that had been burnt from the inside out and then fell apart, it was just disintegrating into nothing. This can’t be real. I looked up from the ashes into the face of an angel. No, he’s not an angel, he’s just a guy right? He was staring at me like he had just seen me sprout a second head and I was staring at him like I was about to scream again and that’s when I fainted. At least I didn’t scream again, right?

When I opened my eyes to see his two ethereal blue eyes staring back into mine my head felt like it might split in two from a raging headache. “Are you okay?” his strong but sweet voice whispered.

But before I could stop myself from saying anything ridiculous I replied, “Are you an angel? Did I finally die and go to heaven?”

He bellowed a laugh and I blushed a shade that was more than likely lobster red. I really just didn’t say that did I? Stupid, stupid, stupid Kay. I smacked myself in the forehead and tried to hide my face. That’s a great way to make a first impression to an extremely hot guy. Let’s just faint like an air headed girl, which I am not, and then wake up asking stupid questions. And then that’s when it hit me. The past few moments of events flooded my brain again and I started to panic. “Wait, wait a minute! What was that thing and how in the world did it just, just…”

“The dog? I’m sorry to tell you I had to cut it with my knife to scare it away. It wasn’t a mortal wound though. He took off through the woods in an escape. Sorry if you’re one of those animal lovers, but I was afraid it might kill one of us.”

I shook my head to try and clear it. “No, no, no, no. That was no dog. Well I mean, it was at first, but then it became something else. It was black, and huge, and had those red eyes…” And before I finished my sentence I looked up at him to see complete shock and amazement on his face. I had never seen anyone look so bewildered. “Don’t look at me like that! I know what I saw! Now what was that thing and what happened to it at the end. It didn’t run off, I saw you kill it. And I would point to the body to prove it, but it; well it fell apart or something.”

And in just a split second the shock had disappeared from his handsome face and was replaced by something more masked and calculating. “I’m sorry. You’re quite mistaken. I didn’t kill it. I only wounded it. And it was a dog. Are you sure you didn’t hit your head or something? I’m afraid you might be having some kind of hallucinations of some kind.” Somehow, when he said it, it didn’t seem as scary or grotesque as it did when I played what I thought I saw back in my head.

Doesn't that sound great? Don't forget to add it to your TBR piles and keep a sharp eye out for this one! Oh, and what a GORGEOUS cover, too! :)

Happy reading!