Month of Guests 2013: Tera Lynn Childs

The lovely Tera Lynn Childs has brought over the Medusa Girls, Gretchen, Grace and Greer, for me to interview today!!  Yay!! :D

Hi Gretchen, Grace and Greer!  It's great to have you all here today!

Greer: Thank you for having us. 

Ok so girls, you're descendants of Medusa.  That sounds pretty damn awesome.  But what exactly does that mean?

Gretchen: That means it's our responsibility to protect ordinary, unsuspecting humans from the monsters that lurk in plain sight.

Grace: And we get to kick a lot of serious monster butt! 

Now for those who haven't met you, can you each describe yourself in one sentence?

Greer: I'm like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way.

Gretchen: *eyeroll*

Grace: I'm just a normal girl who's good with computers and not so good with boys.

Gretchen: I've been doing this job for four years, so I pretty much am the job. 

So what was it like, finding out that you were triplets?  Was it more exciting or scary or...

All at once: Both!

Grace: I was probably the most excited. I'd always wanted sisters. 

Gretchen: How does it feel, knowing that you're not on your own any more?  And were you surprised by how Grace and Greer took the news?

Gretchen: I was surprised by how well Grace took it. Like she said, she was excited. Greer's no-thank-you, slam-the-door-in-my-face response was as expected.

Greer: I apologized for that.

Gretchen: *eyeroll* 

Taken from Tera Lynn Child's Pinterest

Grace: I think you were probably the most excited to find your sisters.  Why was this - you yourself say that your adopted family are amazing, and your new life is pretty dangerous... so what makes you so excited - and what do you want most with your new sisters?

Grace: I do, I love my adopted family so much. But I always felt like there was something more, something missing. And as much as my new life is scary on a daily basis, I think that's a good thing. Life should be scary, you should do things that challenge you. That's how you grow and become a better person. 

Taken from Tera Lynn Child's Pinterest

Greer: You've always been an only child.  It's gotta be weird, suddenly having these three sisters who look exactly like you and say you're the offspring of a mythical being.  What was your initial, most innermost reaction to the discovery - and has that first impression changed now that you've gotten to know, gotten to fight with your sisters?

Greer: At first I was absolutely, unequivocally, ridiculously terrified. Not to find out I had sisters or that I had this mythological heritage, but because everything I thought I knew about my life turned out to be a lie. Now I recognize how the truth, however scary, is always preferable to the lie. 

Taken from Tera Lynn Child's Pinterest

Gretchen, you've known about the beasties for a while.  But Grace and Greer, this is all new to you.  How did it make you feel, discovering that the world is so much more - so much scarier - than you thought it was?

Gretchen: I've always seen monsters. Even before Ursula found me and told me they were real and why I was destined to fight them. It was harder for me to tell my sisters the truth, to show them this world they had been protected from.

Greer: After seeing that monster in my bedroom when I was very young, I'd spent the rest of my life convincing myself that I'd just imagined the whole thing. It was scary to learn it was real, but it was also a relief.

Grace: I was really scared at first. But once I realized I would never be facing this alone, that I would always have my sisters at my side, I knew everything would be okay.

All of you now have a destiny - a purpose.  But if you had just one day where there was no beasties, no danger, no responsibilities and no fear, what would you do?

All at once: Sleep!

Grace: Monsters don't exactly keep to a time clock. I can't remember the last time I got to sleep through the night.

Greer: Me neither.

Gretchen: It's a 24/7 job and it's definitely exhausting. 

Each of you: what is your favourite thing about your sisters?

Grace: They both strong and confident, and I admire that so much. I aspire to that.

Gretchen: They are courageous. Even when they are in way over their heads.

Greer: They value people (me included) for who they are, not what they can do for them.

Who would be your ideal boyfriend - and is there anyone special in your lives...?

Greer: I like a mysterious boy. And I have one particular mystery in mind...

Grace: Milo and I are taking it one step at a time. He's pretty much my idea of a perfect boy.

Gretchen: I'm not a fan of the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing. But I guess Nick and I are together.

What's next for you three - the Medusa Girls?  Or, more precisely, what would you like to happen next?

Gretchen: I'd like to take a vacation.

Greer: Me too. Somewhere tropical.

Grace: *blushes* I'm happy just hanging out with my sisters, my brother, and Milo.

Gretchen: *grumbles* Yeah, me too.

*group hug*

Quick Fire!

Fave colour:

Grace: Green

Gretchen: Black

Greer: Gold

Fave book:

Grace: The Hunger Games

Gretchen: I only read non-fiction, monster research.

Greer: A Tale of Two Cities

  

Fave film:

Grace: The Matrix.

Gretchen: I don't watch movies.

Greer: Anything starring Grace Kelly. She is my idol.

   

Fave activity:

Gretchen: Punching things

Greer: Shoe shopping

Grace: Reading

   

Describe yourself in one word:

Grace: Happy

Gretchen: Strong

Greer: Perfect

Well, there you go.  Three sisters who just want to sleep! ;) 

Thank you so much for stopping by! :D

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Thank you Tera!!  This was so much fun!! :D

Hope you all enjoyed the interview! And don't forget to follow Tera's Site, follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, and check out her books on Goodreads! :D

And keep up to date with MonthOfGuests on Twitter using #MonthOfGuests2013! And stop by tomorrow for a brilliant post by the amazing Sarah Alderson!!

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Tera Lynn Childs is the award-winning author of the mythology-based Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp, the mermaid tales Forgive My Fins, Fins Are Forever and Just For Fins, and a new trilogy about monster-hunting descendants of Medusa that includes Sweet Venom, Sweet Shadows, and Sweet Legacy (September 3, 2013). She has two new e-novellas coming soon, Goddess In Time (November 2013) and Pretty In Pearls (January 2014). She has also e-published two fun chick lit romances, Eye Candy and Straight Stalk. Tera lives nowhere in particular and spends her time writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages.

Month of Guests 2013: Jana Oliver

The lovely Jana Oliver is here today, doing an awesome character interview!!  I hope you enjoy it - and check out her new book Briar Rose!! :D

Briar Rose Character Interview!

We’ve managed to talk two of the lead characters from Briar Rose (Jana Oliver’s new twisty and dark young adult retelling of Sleeping Beauty) into joining us today.

Welcome, ladies!

Briar Rose: Okay. Hi! ::waves shyly::

Reena: Okay, I’m here. What do you want to know?

Moderator: Tell us a little about yourself.

Briar: Well, I’m almost sixteen and I live in this tiny town in Georgia. It’s called Bliss, but trust me, it’s nothing like that. Pretty boring, actually. Did I mention it’s tiny?

Reena: What she said, except I’m seventeen and I’m her best friend who got conned into doing this thing. ::glares at Briar:: You sooo owe me.

Moderator: That’s a good start. So I have to ask -- any cute guys in Bliss?

Briar: ::smiles:: There’s a few cuties in our school, but the real hottie is Patterson Daniels. He’s a transplant from Ohio and he’s a complete hunk.

Reena: And a total butthead. His ego is as big as his pecs.

Briar: Ouch. How can you not think he’s hot?

Reena: Easy. He opens his mouth and you see the real guy behind the pretty face. Now if you said you thought Josh was cute, I could go with that.

Moderator: So who is this Josh guy?

Briar: Well, he’s…Joshua Quinn, and we used to be best buds, but that all changed. There’s this thing between our families and now I’m not supposed to be anywhere near him.

Moderator: Why?

Briar: It’s…messy. The bottom line is that his crazy mom goes totally nuclear if we’re even sharing the same airspace. It’s just weird.

Moderator: So no problem with this Patterson guy though?

::Briar smiles:: No, not at all. Pat’s…. ::sighs::

Reena: Like I’ve said before: there will be trouble. Trust me on this.

Briar: You’re just jealous cuz he’s been checking me out. I know a good guy when I see one, and he’s absolutely prince material.

Reena: Here we go. I wondered how long it would take for her to bring up the whole fairytale prince and castle bit. ::waggles a finger:: Do not make me do an intervention on you, girlfriend.

Briar: What’s wrong with having a handsome prince sweep me off my feet, put me up on his pretty white horse and take me to his gorgeous castle? You know, happily ever after? Like Sleeping Beauty.

Reena: Bad example. Some nosey dude hacks through a bunch of thorn bushes just to see what’s inside the castle. That’s actually breaking and entering, but we’re supposed to think this guy is noble just because he has Prince in front of his name?

Briar: Come on, it’s romantic! How cool is it that this guy would brave those nasty thorns just to wake the princess?

Reena: It’s not cool, it’s creepy. Like hey, I’ve got nothing else to do today but order my peasants around so I’m going to find some sleeping babe and wake her up. Then she’ll fall in love with me. If that’s what it takes for this guy to get a date, he seriously lacks social skills.

Briar: Sorry, my friend really is a bummer about this stuff. Me? I love all the fairytales, even the really scary ones. Like Snow White with the evil step-mom queen person and the really hunky huntsman. What’s not to love?

Reena: Maybe the part when the queen asks for Snow’s liver for supper?

::Briar frowns :: How about Cinderella? You have to love that one.

Reena: Not a chance. That prince? He’s so stupid he couldn’t remember the chick’s name the next morning, or even what she looked like. How’s that for a total flatline IQ?

Briar: See what I have to put up with?

Moderator: Obviously we have some… disagreement here. So tell me, if you could meet your perfect prince/boyfriend, what would he look like?

Briar: Like Pat Daniels.

Reena: Nope, not going there.

Moderator: Ah, come on. Humor us.

::Reena mutters under her breath:: Okay, he’d be smart and sexy and…own a Formula One race car that he’d let me borrow every now and then.

Moderator: And so there we have it – two teens in search of a prince who has a white horse--

Reena: Or a race car--

Moderator: And who are growing up in Bliss, Georgia where fairytales may or may not come true. Thanks for joining us, ladies.

Briar: It’s been fun. Thanks.

Reena: Yeah. What she said. Can we go now?

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Yay, thank you so so much Jana - and Briar and Reena too!!  

Hope you all enjoyed Jana's awesome post! And don't forget to follow Jana's Site, follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest, and check out her books on Goodreads!  If you're interested in the brilliant Briar Rose - and yes: it really is brilliant - it came out September 12th, is published by Macmillan and you can check it out on Goodreads and Amazon!! :D

And keep up to date with MonthOfGuests on Twitter using #MonthOfGuests2013! And stop by tomorrow for another awesome character interview with the amazing characters of Tera Lynn Childs!!

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Jana Oliver is an American author. Her books cross many genres, including romance/fantasy and historical mystery. An Iowa native, she currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Her Time Rovers Series is published by Dragon Moon Press, a Canadian speculative fiction publisher, and in e-book form by Nevermore Press. The series has been nominated for fifteen awards and has won twelve, including ForeWord Magazine's Editor's Choice Book of the Year, the first time a science fiction novel has received that honor.

Her latest young adult series (The Demon Trappers) is published in the US by St. Martin's Press (THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER, SOUL THIEF and FORGIVEN).The series is also published in the UK, Germany, France, Poland, Russia, Turkey and Brazil.

Month of Guests 2013: Jennifer L. Armentrout

I love Jennifer L. Armentrout - like seriously.  She's amazing.  I am in love with her Lux and Covenant series, as well as all her NA books (written under J. Lynn).  And she has dragged the drop-dead gorgeous Daemon Black here for me to interview!

Bloggers.  Here are some things you should know about Daemon Black:

• He’s unbelievably hot (but don’t tell him that.  His ego’s big enough already).
• He’s kind of a jerk (okay, a massive jerk) but we love him anyway.  (Don’t tell him that either.  His ego really doesn’t need to be any bigger.)
• He has a big ego (if you hadn’t picked up on that already).
• He’s an alien – a Luxen, to be precise (weirdly enough, this really is only 4^th on the priority list…  Weird, huh?)
• He’s dating Katy Swartz, a human (more or less) and a book blogger (which means we love her.  Book bloggers together!). 
• He is the star of the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout.
• And he is here today…

Me: Anyway, hi Daemon.  It’s great having you here!  Now first off, you’re dating a book blogger.  Well done: you obviously have exceptional taste.  But for those bloggers who don’t know who you are, would you be able to describe yourself in one sentence?   

Daemon: Oh, I only need two words.  Ridiculously sexy.

My Inner Babble: Told you he had a freakishly big ego.

                                      Dammit, though, he’s right.                                                             

Me: Ok, you’re an alien – a Luxen.  Do you remember much of your journey to Earth – and of how you felt when you got here?  

Daemon: Since we can bend time and space, the actual journey to Earth was incredibly fast.  We came here because our planet was destroyed, so I felt displaced when we first arrived.  I didn’t want to be here, but I knew I needed to take care of Dee and Dawson so I was focused on them.

 My Inner Babble: Yeah, he does have his moments though…  Sigh…  You can almost forget about the ego when he talks like this…

Me: Careful not to give any spoilers, can you tell us anything about what happens in the latest book that is obviously all about you: Origin?  

Daemon: I can’t give any specific details but I can say that something really big happens in Origin that’s a game changer.

My Inner Babble: I’ll say!  I think that just calling it ‘game changer’ might be a bit of a understatement!!  World-ender, maybe.  Brain-exploder…
The cover though...  Yum...

Me: How did you… get through the events of Origin?  I know you’re strong, but under those circumstances…  Well, I wouldn’t be able to keep it together even for an instant.   

Daemon: I wasn’t keeping it together.  I completely lost it at first.  But that wasn’t going to help Kat so I needed to get a grip and channel my energy.

My Inner Babble: And there’s that sweet, protective side again…  This guy has more layers than I can wrap my head around!

Me: Speaking of Origin: you get loads of your own chapters!   I know all us bloggers are ridiculously pleased about that.  Does it feel good to finally get to tell your side of the story?  

Daemon: As much as I trust Kat, I’m sure that her accounts of me don’t accurately reflect my awesomeness.  So, yeah, it’s good to tell my side of everything.

My Inner Babble: The Ego, honestly...  But yeah.  He wasn’t always shown in the most favourable light – especially in Obsidian and Opal.  Still managed to make me love him, though, even when he was being a colossal jerk.

Me: Now don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re kind of a jerk – especially to Kat at the beginning of your…relationship.  But lately we've got to see your sweet side – and it is super sweet.  You like to snuggle, are the sweetest boyfriend and you even said the 'l' word, albeit under rather dismal circumstances...  But still: loads of growth.  I've gone slightly off topic – if I had a topic to begin with...  The question is: do you feel like Kat's made you a better person and do you have any more sweetness beneath the prickles?  

Daemon: I am absolutely certain that Kat’s made me a better person.   I’ve always been loyal and protective of my family, but she’s brought out something in me that I didn’t ever care to know could be a part of who I am.  I knew that I couldn’t get any hotter, but I didn’t realize that I could have the depth of the feelings that I have for Kat.

My Inner Babble: Melts inside…

Me: I love something you once said to Katy: "I'm perfect in all the ways that count".  In private when your ego isn't around, I might say that I totally agree.  But now I'm going to ask what exactly makes you think you so perfect?  And how the hell did your ego get so big?  

Daemon: Is that a serious question?  I mean, have you seen me?

My Inner Babble: Hmm… Looking… looking… looking… Yeah, I get it now.  Well, maybe not.  I might need to look a little longer…

Me: As mentioned earlier, Kat is a blogger.  This means she’s got to have one or two book boyfriends, like the rest of us.  (Though unlike us, she has you – lucky kitty.)  Does that make you jealous?  

Daemon: Me? Jealous of some tool in a book?  I don’t think this can be a serious question either.

My Inner Babble: Just FYI, my understanding of the ego often vanishes whenever he opens his mouth.

Me: After everything you and Katy have been through, how much do you think you’ve changed?  And would you change anything you did to her at the beginning of your relationship if you could?  

Daemon: I think mostly my priorities have changed because Kat’s become the most important person in my life.  Would I change anything about the beginning of our relationship?  Yes.  I would protect her better because I know that she has gotten hurt because of me.  I’ve let her down, and I won’t do it again.  I’m getting her back.  Period.

 My Inner Babble: Ok, I take what I just thought back.  He’s perfect…  And so sweet.  He’s just prickly to hide it.  And by prickly I do mean egotistical, a total jerk and totally stab-worthy.  But it’s all worth it when you get those glimpses of the Real Daemon…  Sigh…

Me: What's next for you and Katy do you think?  

Daemon: I can’t think beyond getting her back right now.  That’s the only reason for anything that I do at this point.

My Inner Babble: Awwwwww….

Quick-Fire Questions:

Books or movies?  Movies

Puppies or kittens?  One Kitten in particular

Favourite food?  Ice cream

Favourite place?  The lake where I take Kat

Favourite TV show (like I don’t already know the answer…)?  Ghost Investigators

Favourite song?  Hungry Like the Wolf

Tell us one thing we don’t know about you.  I’m not going to divulge any of my secrets.

Me: Oh, and a quick question to Jennifer, who was kind enough to bring Daemon along today (and by ‘bring’, I’m pretty sure I mean ‘drag’…): Why do you insist on leaving all your books on the worst cliff-hangers possible?  Do you want us to go mad?  And what is next for Daemon and Katy and everyone?!?!?!  

Jennifer: I don’t think that all of my books have the worst cliffhangers possible, but, if it makes you feel better, I will tell you that Origin doesn’t have a big cliffhanger ending.  There is something big that happens at the end of Origin, but it definitely doesn’t leave you hanging like Opal.  As for what’s next…you will just have to wait and see!

My Inner Babble: Wait a second, Origin didn’t end on a cliffhanger?!?!  I’d call that a cliffhanger!!  I was curling up in a ball and then rocking in a corner for days!!!  I can’t wait for Book Five – I need it!!! ;)

Thank you so much for stopping by!! :D

My Inner Babble: Now what do I need to do to make you both stay and for Jennifer to tell me what happens next and for Daemon to stay forever…?


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Oh, thank you so much Jennifer!!  This has been sooo much fun!!  

And congratulations on Lux being optioned as a film!!  I am so freaking excited - I cannot wait!!  And then Covenant has been optioned as a TV series too!!  I literally died when I found out - which was, unfortunately, after this interview!  :D

Hope you all enjoyed the interview - and that you will check Lux out after this interview with the hotness that is Daemon!!  I can't believe I was such a fangirl (actually, I totally can...)  And don't forget to follow Jennifer's Site, follow her on Twitter and Facebook, and check out her books on Goodreads!   Oh, and check out all the Lux jewellery on Hebel Designs too!! :D

And keep up to date with MonthOfGuests on Twitter using #MonthOfGuests2013! And stop by tomorrow for a brilliant post by the amazing Katie Dale!!

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# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia.

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen.

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Defiance Blog Tour: Character Interview

Before I hand over to Gena, I'd like to say how lovely it is to have her here today!  I'm hoping to start Defiance real soon, and my review should be up some time in November.  Now, here's G.C. Naffin, talking a little about her first book as well as an interview of the characters...

 

Defiance is my first success in the self-publishing world, though it came from a background of failures.  It evolved from a struggling story to the lengthy manuscript that's been self-published and has found fans all over the world.

There is love in Defiance, and although it does not take center stage, it does play a significant role in the decisions made by the three main characters. There is Vivian, princess to the kingdom of Iledora , her loyal and steadfast guard Revin, and Declan, a haunted mercenary of questionable motives. They are as different as three people could be stuck together while traveling the country and it’s their unique traits that bring out the best – and worst – of one another.

I was able to get Vivian, Revin, and Declan talking about their recent exploits, past, and future together.

What was it like traveling together?

Revin: It was interesting.

Declan: It was more than interesting, my friend.

Vivian (smiles): It was just like this.

Vivian, you had never met Declan before visiting the town of Hyrut . Did that make you feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any way to have him as your guard?

Vivian: Declan was Revin’s suggestion. I trust Revin implacably, and so when he said he knew of someone who could take Nathanial’s place in our troop, I didn’t question his selection.

As a group so diverse, was it difficult to work together in the beginning?

Vivian: It certainly was. Declan and I didn’t get along very well to start off, and had it not been for Revin, we probably would have turned around very quickly.

Declan: Could have been worse.

Revin: I don’t think so.

Declan: We were that bad?

Revin (looks at me): Needless to say, there were many arguments.

Revin, you seem like the mediator.

Revin: Sometimes, yes. We all tried to keep the peace.

You traveled for several months. Was there any point when you felt desperate – like you should turn around?

Vivian: There were several moments when I felt the need to be home to fix some political things myself. However, I discovered I needed to trust in the people who took over things than worrying about what might happen if they weren’t straightened out. It was good to suffer through the moments of indecision – as much as it was crippling.

Declan (taps his chest): When she gets all panicked, it’s like having a heart attack – traveling with her is a nightmare.

Is being a royal guard in your line of work, Declan?

Vivian (interrupting): Line of work?

Declan: Trade, business.

Vivian (confused): You have one?

(Declan sneers)

Did you find it difficult?

Declan: Keeping her alive? Yeah. She’s royalty, but Vivian has a knack for seeking tight spots.

Revin: I can attest to that.

Describe how you felt after reaching the Bulvan emperor after months of traveling under your belt.

Declan: Relieved.

Vivian: Empowered.

Revin (shrugs): Exhausted.

Was there anything you would change?

Vivian: I would have traveled with much more haste. It would have made all the difference.

Look for Righteous, the second book of the Successor Series, out next year!

Find Gena:

Twitter - http://twitter.com/gcnaffin
Blog - http://gcnaffin.blogspot.com
Website - http://www.gcnaffin.webs.com
Goodreads -http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5031423.G_C_Naffin
Amazon - Defiance on Amazon
Barnes & Noble - Defiance at Barnes & Nobles

Previous Stop on Defiance Blog Tour: Earth's Book Nook

Next Stop on Defiance Blog Tour: Book Addict

For a full rundown of the Defiance Blog Tour