Q&A with author Tiffany Current

MY MAKER’S KEEPER by Tiffany Current 

Release Date: November 1, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance 

Hannah Clark used to be an ordinary girl. She used to be a lot of things. Until she was bitten.
Five months ago, Hannah woke up in the middle of the woods as a vampire. She didn’t know how it happened or who turned her. She just knew she wasn’t safe in her hometown anymore.
Fort Wayne was supposed to be her fresh start. Her chance to finish high school without any other incidents. But then she met Jackson. Their attraction was instant and awakened something deep inside of her. Her thirst for blood.
Things only got worse when her maker, Lucas, came to town. He might have been sexy, but he was one dangerous vampire. And if Hannah wanted to keep Jackson safe, she had to protect him from Lucas’ ravenous ways. Even though she found herself excited by them.
But Lucas wasn’t there for her. Something sinister was happening in town. Vampires were going missing, and if Hannah didn’t want to be next, she had to work with Lucas to solve the mystery. But could she trust him? Or should she trust Jackson? She had to make a choice—and her life might just depend on it.

Author Interview

Can you tell us a little about your latest book?

My Maker’s Keeper is about an 18-year-old girl who gets turned into a vampire against her will. She tries to start fresh in a small town, but she ends up falling for a local boy who ignites her thirst for blood.

What inspired you to write it?
I was trying to decide what to write next and I knew I wanted to write something about vampires. (I’m a huge vampire fan.) So the story just kind of came to me after that point.

If it was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
Zendaya for Hannah, Liam Hemsworth for Jackson, and Sam Claflin for Lucas

Where is the novel set and why did you choose to set it there?
It takes place in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I actually went to high school there, so I can honestly say it’s the perfect city for a vampire to hide out. Overcast, lots of woods, what vampire wouldn’t like that?

What made you want to become an author?
I don’t think I actually decided to become a writer until I was older, but I’ve been writing since I was kid. Well, journaling, really. But as I got older, my journal turned into a book of ideas. And eventually, those ideas morphed into short stories. It wasn’t until college that I realized I could actually do this for a living and I’ve been going for it ever since.

How do you come up with character names?
Honestly, I just pick names that I really love. Hannah and Jackson (two of the leads in my book) are some of my favorite names. Of course, you have to make sure it goes with the personality, but I want to like the name too.

Do you struggle to come up with book titles? Do they come before, during or after you've written your book?
I’m awful at coming up with titles. I generally always have to ask my friends/families for book title ideas.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
The full Harry Potter series.

Name two of your favourite authors.
Tom Robbins and Sarah J. Maas

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
I’m working on an urban fantasy novelette right now. It’s about this cynical and sarcastic woman who doesn’t believe in the supernatural – only to discover she is supernatural and has to team up with a hot guy to rid the world of monsters. I’ve finished writing it, but the next step is for it to go to my editor. I’m hoping to have it published in February 2017.

About the author

Tiffany Current earned her Bachelor's degree in dramatic writing from Drexel University. Her first book, the self-help relationship guide How to Move in with Your Boyfriend (and Not Break Up with Him), was published by Turner Publishing in 2011.
Tiffany writes paranormal romance, young adult, urban fantasy, and self-help books. In her spare time, Tiffany enjoys reading books, watching trashy action movies, and eating chocolate.
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Giveaway 

To celebrate the release of my book, I’m giving away a $15 Amazon gift card and 3 eCopies of my book. The giveaway will run from October 21 – November 6.

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Review: Goddess Awakened by Cate Masters

Goddess, Awakened
The Goddess Connection Book 1
Fantasy/paranormal romance
Release Date: July 7, 2014

With a little help from a goddess, battling evil is a piece of cake for Jocelyn Gibson.
A descendant of the goddess Iris, Jocelyn Gibson may have forgotten about the realm of magic, but it hasn’t forgotten her. When Eric Hendricks is targeted by a demon, Joss must step in to battle the evil and save the town’s awkward, but endearing, vet…who also happens to be the man she loves.
Joss’s new inn, a culinary career specializing in cooking with lavender and a new love all make for a fine recipe of disaster. She needs to embrace her inner goddess and harness the powers she never knew she had before it’s too late.

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Review

Contemporary fantasy romance is not something I've read much of lately but I know I'm going to have to change that right away. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, connecting to the main character almost immediately. The fantasy element didn't really kick in until the latter part of the book, but that didn't matter because it built up to it particularly well. 

I loved the earth fantasy element (for want of a better description!) with the importance of certain plants in Joss's life - lavender, for instance. (I am so adding more lavender to my garden after reading this!) I also totally fell in love with Taz the dog and almost cried my eyes out at a certain part in the story (nope, not giving anything away). 

There was a line that I had to underline because it was so beautiful: 'Every woman is a goddess in her own right, and deserves to be treated at sacred.' In fact, I might have to print that out and stick it to my desk!

A beautifully written novel with lots of paranormal excitement and romance to keep me thoroughly happy and entertained.

Interview with the lovely Cate Masters

Thanks so much for having me at Fiction Dreams, Suzy! I love your blog header – so cute! :)
It's my pleasure, Cate! It's great to have you here :)

Do dreams ever inspire your writing? What did you last dream about?
I wish! I’ve never dreamed a story like some writers do. However, I spend a good part of the day daydreaming. :)
I do dream almost every night, but usually wake up with only a vague recollection of the actual dream. When I was young, I kept a dream diary and still vividly recall some of those – riding on white horses with The Beatles (yes, I was a Beatlemaniac), a very cool castle under the ocean.
Last night’s dream, I remember because it was kind of awful. I was forced to return to a job I hated, one that stole all my energy and time and focus. I was miserable when I worked there because I had zero time to write.

When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?
Long, long ago in a galaxy far away.... lol. A solitary childhood brought out the writer in me at age 11, mainly poems back then. I was on the school newspaper staffs, and loved essays. In my 20s, I turned to fiction, though I didn’t seriously pursue publication for another decade, at least. Aside from a few short stories published in literary magazines and ezines, my first stories were with online publishers in 2009.

What is it about 'chick lit' that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres? 
I love the humor of chick lit, but love that it’s also so realistic. The heroines are women I’d love to befriend!
I read any genre, really, if the book blurb catches my interest. I’m not a fan of labels, actually.

Can you tell us a little about your latest book?

Love to! Goddess, Awakened is the first in The Goddess Connection series, in which every heroine learns she’s related to a goddess. For this book, the goddess is Iris, a somewhat obscure goddess but she seemed perfect when I learned she was the Goddess of the Rainbow, the bridge between mortals and the realm beyond.
The heroine’s a little different too – she’s in her forties, widowed, and in starting her life over, she purchases a rundown bed and breakfast, in hopes customers will love the dishes she makes with the lavender she grows. Little does she know it sits atop a ley line, and those in The Underworld want to gain control of its power.
Here’s the blurb:
With a little help from a goddess, battling evil is a piece of cake for Jocelyn Gibson.
A descendant of the goddess Iris, Jocelyn Gibson may have forgotten about the realm of magic, but it hasn’t forgotten her. When Eric Hendricks is targeted by a demon, Joss must step in to battle the evil and save the town’s awkward, but endearing, vet…who also happens to be the man she loves.
Joss’s new inn, a culinary career specializing in cooking with lavender and a new love all make for a fine recipe of disaster. She needs to embrace her inner goddess and harness the powers she never knew she had before it’s too late.
Available from:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Kensington

What inspired you to write it?
The Goddess Connection series tag line is: Every woman should embrace her inner goddess. I’m very passionate about this idea! Too many women are so busy taking care of everyone else in their lives, they don’t nurture themselves enough.
Although every book in this series will be a stand-alone, another common thread is that each heroine’s lifelong quirks will become her strengths. Another idea I love – that being different is wonderful, and everyone should develop their talents and follow their bliss.
Lastly, I’m a huge fan of mythology, so had great fun researching and writing these stories. I have the draft of another finished, and am more than halfway done with the third.

Have you ever spotted anyone reading your books anywhere?
Not yet. Someday I hope to! :)

Who designs your covers?
The publishers assign cover artists, but do ask for suggestions so writers can have some input. For the ones I self-pubbed, I designed those covers. I love working with graphics – designing ads and book videos are a good creative outlet for me too.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
I’d always imagined Diane Lane as Joss. Judi Dench would be fabulous as Gram, and Susan Sullivan would be perfect as Joss’s aunt. Oo, Jamie Foxx as Lord Plouton (aka Satan) would be amazing! For Sheree, the waitress-turned-demon, I’d love Helena Bonham-Carter, please. :)
I had an entire cast already assembled, lol.

What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
Hm, the one that springs to mind is Bridget Jones, though I’m sure I’ve seen others!

What were the last two books you read?
Dirty Magic by Jaye Wells, an action-packed paranormal set in a unique world, and Alice Hoffman’s The Museum of Extraordinary Things – love, love love her magical realism.

Name one female author who you think deserves to be better known.
Gosh, there are so many! Honestly, so many wonderful writers are published by electronic presses who deserve widespread recognition. Maria Zannini, for example – a fantastic author. Everyone should check her out.

Where do you write?
Mostly in my office, though I sometimes cart my laptop outside. I’ve also been known to scribble in notebooks in the car.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I am the seventh child of two parents who each had seven in their families. Probably not such a random fact for my mom and dad! (I opted for less than seven children, btw)

Who would play you in the movie about your life?

photo credit: nick step via photopin cc

According to the Buzzfeed quiz I took awhile back, Tina Fey. I agree, I think she’d be great!

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
My town doesn’t appear on most maps. It’s rather remote, and our house is set among the apple orchards. Absolutely gorgeous during any season.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
To keep writing! And hopefully pleasing readers, enough so my books make it onto the bestseller lists!

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
I’ve long wanted to travel around the world, and there are several writing workshops that would combine those two loves! One is Francis Ford Coppolla’s workshop in Belize, and another is in Italy.

Favourite myth / fairytale?
Oh, tough question. I’ve always been a huge Grimm fan (and now love the TV series), and mythology’s fraught with drama and treachery and romance. Hard to pick just one, seriously. The next subject for The Goddess Connection will be Persephone, though – she intrigues me. I also loved the idea of constellations portraying mythological figures, and wove that into a literary family saga called Orion Rising, under my other pen name: http://paintingfirewithwords.blogspot.com/p/orion-rising.html

Who (or what) did you want to be when you were a kid?
Originally, I wanted to be a journalist, or possibly a photojournalist. That changed when I fell in love with fiction.

Thanks again for having me today, Suzy! It was a real pleasure.

You're welcome here any time Cate! :)

Cate Masters has made beautiful central Pennsylvania her home, but she’ll always be a Jersey girl at heart. When not spending time with her dear hubby, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
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Book video

The Howling Heart Book Tour

I love being a part of book tours, to help other authors get their latest releases known in the world. But how do I choose which books to feature among all the hundreds, if not thousands of new releases? Well, a great cover usually helps. Add that to a fab description and I'm putty in your hands. This happened with April Bostic's The Howling Heart... I mean, what's not to love? Check out my review, below.

 

Title: The Howling Heart
Author: April Bostic
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 244 approx
Publisher: Eternal Press (August 1, 2013)
Buy Links:
Amazon US
Barnes & Noble
Booksamillion

Synopsis

Paige Donovan is an ambitious college graduate who aspires to reach the top of the corporate ladder. She’s climbing fast when given the promotion of a lifetime at a prestigious fashion magazine in New York City. Her bright future comes to an unexpected halt after news of her father’s death. She inherits his old cabin in the Colorado Rockies, and just when she thinks her luck couldn’t get any worse, she has a car accident in the mountains and awakens in the small, remote community of Black River.
Soon, she’s engulfed in the mystical world of Varulv---wolves descended from 13th century Scandinavia and blessed by Norse gods with the ability to appear human. Paige is desperate to return home, but never expects to fall for her rescuer, Riley Gray, a charming young werewolf from England who offers her an alternate future with his pack.
Now, she must choose between the career she’s always wanted and the love she’s always dreamed.

My Review
I particularly loved the beginning of this book. It totally drew me in, reminding me of Devil Wears Prada (a proper chick lit story) that is sucked in to deep urban fantasy when Paige visits the Colorado Rockies. The way the author did this was brilliant. The imagery was vivid and colourful, making me feel like I was right there in the middle of the remote mountain community of Black River (and I do love the mountains so I felt right at home).
I quickly grew fond of Riley and his sister but I did have a few issues with the main character. Her reaction to the death of a loved one, in particular. There seemed little emotion there, but perhaps the author did that on purpose to demonstrate her personality? Hard to tell really, but having lost too many loved ones of my own, it just felt a little off. I wanted Paige to scream, cry until she had no tears left - just do something to really echo the pain she would have been feeling inside.
The last time I read a book about werewolves (Blood and Chocolate), I just couldn't connect with the main character (actually, she drove me insane). With The Howling Heart I did feel a little disconnected to Paige at times. I was irritated by the fact that she would just suddenly change her mind at the drop of a hat - and I'm talking life changing decisions here. She seemed to go from one decision to another in a flash (her dancing with Riley's enemy, for example). But April Bostoc's story-telling skills are wonderful and these were the only bits that I wasn't keen on.
What I really loved was the relationship between twins Riley and Quinn. Their quirky 'Englishness' was totally cute (and being English myself, I probably loved this even more!) and always managed to make me smile.
I should also mention that the author totally made me cry - I mean I was bawling my eyes out at one stage so that I was almost breathless. Seriously, April Bostoc can write and I'm looking forward to reading more from this US author.

Author Bio:
April Bostic is a New Jersey-based, Adult Romance author who enjoys unleashing her creativity and letting her imagination run wild. Her love of romance books inspired her to become not just a reader, but also a writer. In December 2008, she self-published her first novel, a contemporary romance with a supernatural twist entitled "A Rose to the Fallen".
Her first short story, "Right Here, Right Now", released in January 2012, is an erotic romance with a dash of S&M. The following year, she released two more short stories: a romantic urban fantasy inspired by the Greek myth of Eros and Psyche entitled "Eros, My Love", and a sexy romantic comedy entitled "Love Addiction".
After five years, she released her second novel, "The Howling Heart" in August 2013, a paranormal romance that delves into the mystical world of werewolves and Norse gods. To end her busiest year in publishing, April will release her fourth short story in December 2013, an 18th century paranormal romance entitled "A Dark Scandal".
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Tour Schedule:
10/14 – http://stressedrach.co.uk
10/15 – http://BookCrazyReviews.com
10/16 – http://authorkristijones.blogspot.com/
10/17 – http://withlovetiffx.wordpress.com/
10/19 – http://adayinthetangledskeinsofmylife.blogspot.com
10/20 – http://ashabutterflys.com
10/21 – http://www.singlemommywarrior.blogspot.com
10/22 – http://fictiondreams.com
10/23 – http://pinkmamasplace.com
10/24 – http://meanwhoyouare.blogspot.com
10/25 – http://jandcswallow.blogspot.com
10/26 - http://busybumblebeecloset.blogspot.com
10/27 – http://dogearz.blogspot.co.uk