The Girls' Guide To Dating Zombies - Lynn Messina

Title: The Girls' Guide To Dating Zombies
Author: Lynn Messina

Format: Ebook provided by CBLS Promotions for review

Hattie Cross knows what you're thinking: Zombie sex? Ewwwww. But she also knows that since a virus turned 99.9999 percent of human males into zombies, it's statistically impossible to meet--let alone date--the remaining 0.00001 percent. So she writes "The Girls' Guide to Dating Zombies" to help her fellow single women navigate the zombie-relationship waters.
Her practical how-to impresses the CEO of the largest drug company in the world, and before she knows it, Hattie, a reporter for a downmarket tabloid that specializes in conspiracy theories, is sitting down with the woman who single-handedly invented the zombie-behavioral-modification market. Granted access to the inner sanctum of zombaceuticals, she meets an actual, living, breathing M-A-N. Now Hattie, the consummate professional, is acting like a single girl at the end of the twentieth century: self-conscious, klutzy and unable to form a coherent sentence without babbling. Worst of all, the human male appears to have impaired her ability to think clearly. Because all of a sudden she's convinced a conspiracy is afoot at the drug company and it seems to go all the way to the top!

This book is crazy.  This book is hilarious.  This book is an alternate universe where the reanimated don’t tear us to shreds, but rather live with us in harmony.  This book is Carrie Bradshaw during an apocalypse outside a bar after getting sauced on black martinis smoking a menthol cigarette beneath a broken out street light.  I loved it!

So the year is 2020. The H1Z1 variant Y zombie virus has come along and wiped out nearly the entire male species.  Yep, this virus turns only those with the Y chromosome into the “reliving”.  Sure, there are some men, actual living men left.  About 300,000 of them worldwide.  So yeah, take your pick, right?

Hattie Cross is a journalist.  Well, she rights a column for the Scoopage and has turned it into a book, The Girls’ Guide To Dating Zombies. According to Hattie, women can now date zombies.  Modern medication has made it possible.  All hail pharmaceuticals!

Seriously, this book is a fun book.  There’s a bit of satire in it, which just makes it awesome.  You will learn new terms like Zombitrex, Zombreeze, Zombolay WearRepair Serum, Zombie Breezulator 2600 and many more!  What?  You’re not hooked yet?

How about this – zombies are more perhaps a better suitor to us than men!  Granted, they are still way into football; so much that there is a channel devoted to showing only football.  But now they like to dance, listen to you, and best of all – they like shoes.  Oh yeah!  Not just wearing them, or seeing them on you, but honest to goodness shopping for shoes!!!!!!!!

                “Choosing a boyzomb comes down to two factors: appearance and personality.  Ideally, you want to look for one who has retained fifty percent of his facial feature, which is to say at least one eye and half a nose.  Limb retention is also important.  Arms are optional, but legs are vital if you want to retain any semblance of an independent life.”

I really enjoyed this book.  It was light and fun,  a fresh breeze of a story with Hattie’s life interspersed with chapters from her own book, The Girls’ Guide To Dating Zombies.  She is funny and impulsive at time.  And when she meets an actual living, breathing man named Jake, hilarity ensues.

Maybe I have been regarding the zombie apocalypse all wrong.  Maybe we don’t need to train and learn how to use weapons.  Maybe we don’t need to evacuate to colder climes.  Maybe everything will be ok.  Maybe rehabilitation and medication are the answer.

Seriously, if you want an entertaining read, then this book is definitely for you.  I urge you to give it a try.  Read it with an open mind, and be ready to giggle, chortle, guffaw, laugh, and maybe even shoot your beverage of choice out your nose.  Enjoy!

Buy it at Amazon

Buy it at Barnes & Noble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lynn Messina grew up on Long Island and studied English at Washington University in St. Louis. She has worked at the Museum of Television & Radio (now the Paley Center for Media), TV Guide, In Style, Rolling Stone, Fitness, ForbesLife, Self, Bloomberg Markets and a host of wonderful magazines that have long since disappeared. She mourns the death of print journalism in New York City, where she lives with her husband and sons. She is author of six novels, including the best-selling Fashionistas, which has been translated into 15 languages.

Website:  http://www.lynnmessina.com

Blog:  http://zombiedating.wordpress.com

CBLS: Illusions - Kacey Hammell - Feature/Giveaway

This tour is brought to you by CBLS Promotions, click HERE to go to their site for this tour

Title:  Illusions (In the Arms of the Law, Book 1)

Author:  Kacey Hammell

Publisher:  Decadent Publishing

Length:  45,000 Words

Sub-Genres:  Contemporary, Erotic, Paranormal, Suspense

*********

 Protection. Adventure. Love.

It's all found within The Arms of the Law...

Detective Isabella Knowles, a tough-as-nails cop, lives by the law, and knows what she wants out of life. And it doesn't include marriage or all that comes with it. Everything Isabella has ever known seems like an illusion when a new relationship makes her feel more alive than ever before.  She isn’t happy about it and fights it every step of the way.

Burned by his fiancé years ago, seer and P.I., Brady Jacobs never wants another commitment in his life.  But his bachelorhood and heart are threatened when he has one of his visions and see a killer striking too close to the woman he has recently come to love.

Danger lurks close to home and neither Brady nor Isabella like that they can’t control every situation…especially matters of the heart.

*********

EXCERPT

*********

“What’s this? A party and no one told me?”

At the newest addition to the conversation, Isabella’s pulse accelerated double-time. She looked toward the door

Man, I don’t need this today.

Brady Jacobs walked—no, sauntered—into the office and heading toward Ethan, spared her not a glance.

Black denim jeans encased his firm, shapely ass like a second skin and a black T-shirt with sleeves rolled over his beautiful biceps. He looked good enough to eat. A flood of heat coursed through her body. Brady was a man who was confident in himself and when he entered the room, there was a ripple effect. Everyone sat up to take notice of him and women practically swooned, eager to catch his eye. But Brady rarely gave any one woman the time of day. He was adamant about keeping his personal life private, and his no-commitment rule was always in full force. Something he was always upfront about with the ladies.

“Hey, pal. Great game this morning.” Brady slapped Ethan on the back.

“Shit, Jacobs. You kicked my ass and then some.” Ethan chuckled. “My head just wasn’t in it today.” Isabella could see Ethan’s gaze move again toward the newspaper on Alicia’s desk.

If it wouldn’t be obvious, I’d snatch it and run to burn it.

“Morning, Ms. Alicia. How’s my sugar-girl today?” Brady headed over to Alicia’s desk, ruffling her hair as he stepped behind her, as if she were his little sister.

Leave it to Brady. Always make the ladies feel special.

“Get lost, Jacobs. I’m sick of seeing you around here,” Alicia said flippantly.

She must really be pissed about the photo. Isabella let out a frustrated sigh, causing three sets of eyes to look her way.

“Morning, Brady.” Isabella smiled, hoping she looked like a woman with not a care in the world. “What brings you to the precinct this early in the morning?”

Brady’s gaze held hers for seconds longer than she would have liked.

“Actually, I came to see Alicia. I need to go over the Vaughn case with her. I had another vision last night.” He spoke without hesitation.

Trenton’s finest P.I. had become the city’s favorite after his first vision had saved the Walker twins eight years ago. The twins, then seven years old, had wandered off into the woods behind their family home one afternoon. When they didn’t return to the house for dinner that night, their frantic mother had called the police, begging someone to help her find her missing boys.

Within hours, an Amber Alert had been called and hundreds of citizens and every cop available had combed the Walkers’ woods, looking for the boys. After six hours without success, exhaustion had set in with many of the volunteers. Everyone had worked tirelessly, but when there seemed to be no hope in sight, Brady showed up, at a frantic near-run, and charged into the woods. Within thirty minutes, he came back out with a boy tucked under each arm.

Only after the Walkers had been calmed, the boys tucked into bed, did Isabella and Connor question Brady. With much resistance, Brady confessed to his ESP, the visions that had begun during his stint in the Marines.

Most times, out of nowhere—Brady could be sleeping, driving, taking a shower—and a vision would claim him. In the eight years since the Walker incident, Brady had probably saved more lives than most cops.

While he didn’t have visions for every beating, murder, kidnapping, or mugging in New Jersey, high-profile incidents seemed to find a channel in Brady.

With each high-profile case solved successfully, Trenton’s citizens claimed him as a favorite son. If a child ran away, parents would hire Brady to assist in bringing them home. If there were a murder, police at a dead end would call Brady in.

No one thought anything unkind about him or his visions.

It made his P.I. business a huge success and he took it all in stride. Isabella admired him for it.

“Damn, Brady. Why didn’t you call me immediately?” Alicia growled in a disgruntled voice.

“I am telling you, Alicia. I had to get the whole thing in order before contacting you.” Brady shook his head and headed for the window overlooking West Street, the one she had just moments ago been staring out of.

“Well? What have you got for me?” Alicia demanded.

With a chuckle, Brady turned back to Alicia. “Impatient damn woman, aren’t you? Just like your cousin. Always impatient for more.”

Isabella felt her cheeks burn and prayed Brady wasn’t being an ass on purpose to start further questions running through Alicia’s mind. She didn’t need them from her.

“If people would deliver, Brady, I wouldn’t need more,” Isabella declared with some satisfaction. His eyes turned a darker grey than their normal silver color.

Don’t mess me with me and think you’ll win, big guy.

*******

VBT Schedule:

Mar 5: From the TBR Pile

Mar 6: Author In The House 

Mar 7: Coffee Beans & Love Scenes 

Mar 8: An Open Book 

Mar 9: Books Are Magic 

Mar 10: Tessa's Blurb 

Mar 11: Books Read 'N' Makeup Done 

Mar 12: Paranormal Romantic Suspense 

Mar 13: Author In The House 

Mar 14: Full Moon Bites 

Mar 15: Natalie-Nicole Bates 

Mar 16: Cocktails and Books 

Mar 17: Close Encounters with the Night Kind 

Mar 18: Fictional Candy 

Mar 19: House Millar 

Mar 20: The Romance Writer's Reads 

Mar 21: Love to Read Romance 

Mar 22: Carly Fall - Where Fantasy Meets Romance 

Mar 23: Guilty Indulgence 

Mar 24: Harlie's Books

BUY LINKS:

Amazon (Kindle Edition) - 

Decadent Publishing 

Smashwords 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Canadian-born author, Kacey Hammell is a self-proclaimed book-a-holic, who began reading romances at a young age and became easily addicted.  As a Mom of three, Kacey has made certain that each of her children know the value of the written word and the adventures they could escape on by becoming book-a-holics in their own right.

A decade ago, while working for multiple review sites, Kacey quickly discovered that she was developing the writing bug. Thanks to the encouragement of her own beloved hero husband, she decided to try her hand at writing. 

With a love of contemporary settings, modern day romances and the happily ever after, as well as the excitement of suspense, Kacey creates stories in genres she’s familiar with and that she loves most. She also loves vampires who nibble the necks of the heroines, ghosts who can't leave a loved one, shape-shifters who are sexier than hell and the thought of her very own werewolf or were-cat to tame makes her tremble!

Readers can learn more about Kacey’s books and contact her via …

Website/Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon

Email

**********

GIVEAWAY

**********

"Author Goodie Pack" that includes a pen, magnets, and winner's choice of one Decadent Publishing eBook. 

CBLS Promotions: Freestyle Love - Marcus Lopes - Guest Post

Today I have the great pleasure of welcoming author Marcus Lopes to Fictional Candy to speak to us about how his life doesn't necessarily follow the conventional rules.  Thank you, Marcus, for posting with Fictional Candy today.  I wish you the best of luck on your tour with CBLS!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The “Rules”

I don’t play by the rules. I never have.

In my life and in my work, I have never simply gone from Point A to Point B in a straight line. There are curves, major detours, regressions, and a few pretty good surprises before I reach the end point. I’m stubborn that way … I’m stubborn, period. But in a world where there is so much pressure to conform — to follow the straight and narrow — I had to find my own way, follow my own path. Maybe that’s why I decided, intentionally or not, to break the rules.

It’s not that I “broke” the rules, exactly, but that I chose not to follow the crowd. I want to believe that my life as an artist — writer, painter, composer — is just like that of an investment broker, or a hair stylist, or a police officer. I don’t see a difference but some of the people around me do because I don’t get up daily to go into an office. My life isn’t regimented by some conglomerate’s employment contract.

My work isn’t perceived as “real work” because I don’t have funds deposited into my chequing account every two weeks. I don’t have to ask permission to take a day off. I have it “easy” because I can get up when I want, do what I want when I want. I guess, to some, I’m not playing by the “rules”.

Being a writer — an artist — takes courage. As artists, we open up ourselves, and our artwork, to criticism. It’s courageous because we have dared to dream, and then set to work to make the dream pass into reality. It was courage as much as stubbornness that made me push and push until I found a publisher willing to take a chance on Freestyle Love.

Goethe told us to “Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men.” I dare to dream no small dreams, and if that means breaking the rules, then I’m all for it. For too long I stood where two roads diverged. But unlike Robert Frost, I’m not sorry that I cannot travel both. For when I “looked down as far as I could,” one road, flooded, waters as high as the knee, the sun still shone bright with possibility and hope. The other road was steep in snow through which a path had already been trod. I’m taking “the road less traveled by,” for I do believe that it will make all the difference.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

When it comes to one-night stands, Malachi Bishop has “rules”. No pillow talk. No sleeping over. No planning a future hook-up. First names only. It’s just sex, not a prelude to love. But when Cole Malcolm, a smooth-talking management consultant, woos Malachi into bed, the rulebook is tossed out the window.

The one-time fling leaves Cole reeling: Malachi is his first real shot at happiness, his “forever” man, and he’s determined to show Malachi just how good they could be together. But Malachi doesn’t believe in happily-ever-after, and dodges Cole’s play for his heart. After all, Malachi is still mourning the loss of Taylor Blanchard, whom he hoped to love forever. Then there’s Zach Brennan, a handsome twenty-five-year-old and student at the college where Malachi teaches. Falling for Zach could destroy everything he’s worked for, but Malachi can’t help himself.

Caught by love and in its betrayal, it’s a later affair with a beautiful stranger that changes Malachi’s life most dramatically. Now Malachi must confront his present and his past that bring into question the larger fantasies of home and his place in the world.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Title:  Freestyle Love

Author:  Marcus Lopes

Publisher:  Lazy Day Publishing

Length:  66,500 Words

Sub-Genres:  Contemporary, Erotic, Interracial/African-American, M/M/M

AVAILABLE AT:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Freestyle-Love-ebook/dp/B006G3CB52/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1322645484&sr=8-1

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/freestyle-love-marcus-lopes/1104119697?ean=2940013548930&itm=2&usri=freestyle+love

Allromance.com: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-freestylelove-648175-145.html

Marcus Lopés is originally from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. His writing has appeared in Canadian and international literary magazines. Freestyle Love is his first novel. A novelist, essayist, poet, painter and singer-songwriter, Lopés lives in Sherbrooke, Québec.

Website: http://www.marcuslopes.ca

Email: marcus@marcuslopes.ca

Coffee Beans & Love Scenes - Painted Jezebel by Jolie Pethtel

Painted Jezebel (A Jezebel Jinx Mystery, Book 1)

 Jolie Pethtel

Publisher:  Museitup Publishing

Length:  65,000 Words

Sub-Genres:  Comedy, Contemporary, Mystery/Thriller

AVAILABLE AT:

Museitup Buylink

Amazon Buy link

Publicist Finn Mackenzie has always been lucky, until an ill-fated affair with a vindictive writer leaves him one chance for redemption: a spectacular public appearance by the elusive best-selling romance author, Jezebel Jinx.
Unfortunately, the cute but kooky writer refuses to cooperate. Jezebel believes she’s cursed with bad luck. Riddled with anxieties, she never leaves her home--until the gorgeous, albeit desperate Finn whisks her away to a writer’s conference, against her will.
After the initial shock wears off, Jezebel’s dormant hormones kick into high gear around the hunky Finn.
When his ex turns up murdered and Jezebel is the prime suspect, ill-planned sexcapades are the least of their worries.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Jolie Pethtel was born in Ohio, but raised in Arizona, where she met her husband Jim. Jolie has since moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where she lives with her husband and their six rambunctious children. Jolie is a Domestic Goddess by day and Writer by night. 

Author Website: http://www.jezebeljinx.com

Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/joliepethtel

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002016243117

Twitter 

CBLS

Fate's Second Chance Book Tour - AJ Jarrett - Giveaway

Today at Fictional Candy, I have the pleasure of welcoming author AJ Jarrett to post!  Thank you very much, AJ, for joining us, and I wish you the best of luck on your book tour!

***** ***** *****

Let me start off by saying hello and season greetings to everyone. It’s that busy time of year for me, as for most people, and trying to get all my ducks in a row is hard to do. Time has just flown by this past year and I find myself looking around thinking where has the time gone?

A year ago January I decided I wanted to become a writer. I wanted to try my hand at creating stories to entertain others. I love to read and most of my waking hours was spent with my head in a book or my laptop reading and finally I decided to take the plunge. My imagination would run wild with possible story ideas and instead of waiting for another author to write about what I thought was interesting I decided to put my own thoughts to paper or keyboard as it was. Lucky for me I found a publisher who thought my book was good enough to publish and here I am today promoting my first release Fate’s Second Chance.


Never in a million years would I have thought I would be fortunate enough to be a published author but I proved myself wrong. I tell my kids to set goals and work hard for what they want and my own advice paid off for me. I love to write and bring the crazy dialogues I hear in my head to life and it puts a huge smile on my face when others enjoy my work.


My contacts have been provided by my excellent host. Feel free to contact me. I enjoy hearing from fellow readers. Without out you my dream wouldn’t be possible. Thank you for stopping by and listening to me ramble on. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!


                                                    ***** ***** *****

Synopsis:

Marie thought dying was the worst thing to happen to her, until informed she's always been a man's soul trapped in a woman's body. As Marc, he's got one shot to set things right--by finding love with his best friend and soul mate--with only a month to do it. 

Marie Carter has never felt comfortable in her own body, and it took dying to find out why. Ross, her unlikely guardian angel, informs her that mistakes were made and he needs her help to save her fate, Ross's wings, and her best friend's heart.

Six month's after Marie's death, Marc arrives with one month to heal Sabrina's—his sister's—suffering, and win his soulmate, Shawn. If he fails, Sabrina will never know peace, Ross will be kicked out of heaven, and the love of his life will die from a broken heart. Will that be enough time to heal the wounds a lifetime in the wrong body has caused?

BUY LINKS:

Silver Publishing - https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/new-release-c-1/fate-s-second-chance-ebook-p-653

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Fates-Second-Chance-Twists-ebook/dp/B0063CNE9S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321756359&sr=8-1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

AJ Jarrett currently lives in the Midwest with her husband and four children. A lover of M/M romances she has started writing her own stories for others to enjoy. She is currently published through Silver Publishing and her first release Fate’s Second Chance is the first in the Twist of Fates series. When she is not chasing around her kids she can be found sitting on the couch with her trusted laptop giving life to the voices in her head. 

http://ajjarrett29.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/AJJarrett29    

http://www.facebook.com/ajjarrett29

***** ***** *****

GIVEAWAY

***** ***** *****

CONTEST IS OVER AND WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED

Giveaway is open internationally from December 26, 2011 through January 1, 2012.  Prize is one ebook copy of Fate's Second Chance, by AJ Jarrett.  Prize will be awarded shortly after tour completes (January 3, 2012).  Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification, or a new winner will be picked.  Winner must be 13 years of age or older.  Following Fictional Candy is not required, but appreciated!  Please fill out contact information below AND leave a comment on this post. 

And be sure to visit the rest of the stops on the tour!

12/21: An Open Book 

12/22: Sash Secret's 

12/24: Words of Wisdom from the Scarf Princess 

12/26: Fictional Candy 

12/27: Reviews by Molly 

12/28: Close Encounters with the Night Kind 

12/29: From the TBR Pile

12/30: Dawn's Reading Nook 

12/31: Practical Frugality 

1/1: Release Notes 

1/2: TO BE FILLED

1/3: Mommies Point of View 

1/4: TO BE FILLED



12/23: House Millar 

Blog Barrage: Her One Night Prince - Rebecca J. Clark

Welcome to the Blog Barrage for Her One Night Prince by Rebecca J Clark!!  This is a two day event, hosted by CBLS Promotions.  Two days, fourteen blogs, 3 giveaways - your chance to win!  So check out the book, read the excerpt - and check the schedule at the end of this post for your chance (and location!) to win a copy of Her One Night Prince!!  

Good luck!!  

Synopsis:

Her One-Night Prince is a Cinderella story about a woman’s dream to be something she’s not for just one night at her class reunion.

As all fairy tales go, however, happy endings don’t come easily.

Shy and sheltered Lydia St. Clair is uncomfortable around men, so she advertises for a gay man to be her date and revamp her style. Mitch Gannon answers Lydia’s ad and he’s perfect for the job--he’s handsome and, even more important, he’s charming.

Unbeknownst to Lydia, Mitch is straight and answered the ad as the unwitting victim of a practical joke. Before he can reveal the truth, Lydia is convinced he’s her fairy godmother, ready to transform her into the belle of the ball. And Mitch, prince that he is, doesn’t have the heart to set her straight.

EXCERPT:

With a firm hand against her upper back, Mitch propelled Lydia out of the bar and out the door. She peered back through the windows and could just make out that waitress standing behind the bar and staring out at them.

“She’s beautiful,” she said, turning back to Mitch. Something about that woman signaled a déjà vu of sorts in her mind, but she couldn’t quite put a finger on it.

“Who? Edwina?” He glanced into the pub. “Yeah, she is.”

Edwina’s showstopping figure and stunning looks caused Lydia to self-consciously smooth back her boring, pulled-tight-into-a-bun-as-usual hair. She couldn’t imagine a woman like Edwina ever advertising in the gay personals. She couldn’t imagine Edwina making a boob of herself by assuming Mitch worked at a gay bar.

With the heel of her palm, she bonked herself in the side of the head a few times. “Just shoot me, will you?”

Mitch pulled her hand away from her head. “You’re too hard on yourself, Lydia.”

For a moment she zeroed in on the feeling of his large, warm hand holding hers. It felt good, like it belonged there, which was a crazy thought. Reality returned, and she pulled her hand from his grasp.

“What in the world was I thinking?” she asked. Her skin burned from embarrassment, or the heat of summer, or his touch…or all the above.

“It’s understandable you’d assume I worked at a gay bar. I mean, you think I…er…”

She waved her hand back and forth. “No, no. That was just plain stupidity. What I meant was, I had this grand notion of you helping me out and transforming me into the belle of the ball. You know, Queer Eye my style or something.” She wrapped her arms around herself despite the warm air and strode down the alley. If a sinkhole opened up in front of her, she’d gladly fall into it.

He jogged up beside her as they reached the sidewalk. “I don’t know about the clothing and hair stuff,” he said, “but I could certainly give you advice on men.” He cleared his throat and coughed. “I mean, since I’m a, ah, man.”

“That’s okay. It was a dumb idea. Besides, I don’t want advice on men. It would be pointless.” She pulled black-framed sunglasses from her purse and exchanged them for her regular glasses to block the blinding glare off the sidewalk.

Mitch didn’t respond right away, so she knew he silently agreed with her. Finally, he asked, “Why would it be pointless?”

She had about a million reasons. “It just would be.”

BUY LINKS:

Bookstrand - http://www.bookstrand.com/her-one-night-prince

Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/6u2sec4

Barnes & Noble - http://tinyurl.com/7m8y8wz

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rebecca Clark has wanted to write romance novels since she read her first Harlequin Romance at age 11. When she’s not writing, she works as a personal fitness trainer and group exercise instructor, where she teaches Pilates, Turbokick®, Zumba®, and yoga. She makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of 24 years, two kids, a German Shepherd beast who thinks he’s a lap dog, two cats, two rats and a gecko. In her not-so-abundant free time, Rebecca enjoys reading, watching Criminal Minds reruns on TV, and doing absolutely nothing.

http://rebeccajclark.com

http://rebeccajclark.blogspot.com

http://shywriters.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/#!/rebeccajclark.author

Twitter @rebeccajclark

December 14
Book Flame (Giveaway)
Fictional Candy
Harlie's Books
More from Mom
She Who Blogs Behind the Rows
Simple Clockwork

December 15
A Writer's World
An Open Book
House Millar (Giveaway)
I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read!
Natalie-Nicole Bates, Author of Contemporary and Paranormal Romance (Giveaway)
Sandra's Blog
Sharon Hamilton, Author 
What's Beyond Forks?

Interview: Emlyn Chand - Farsighted

Synopsis: 

Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still "see" things others can't. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider.

Alex Kosmitoras's life has never been easy. The only other student who will talk to him is the school bully, his parents are dead-broke and insanely overprotective, and to complicate matters even more, he's blind. Just when he thinks he'll never have a shot at a normal life, a new girl from India moves into town. Simmi is smart, nice, and actually wants to be friends with Alex. Plus she smells like an Almond Joy bar. Yes, sophomore year might not be so bad after all.

Unfortunately, Alex is in store for another new arrival--an unexpected and often embarrassing ability to "see" the future. Try as he may, Alex is unable to ignore his visions, especially when they begin to suggest that Simmi is in danger. With the help of the mysterious psychic next door and new friends who come bearing gifts of their own, Alex must embark on a journey to change his future.

* * * * * * * * 

Today we have with us Emlyn Chand, the author of Farsighted.  I've been seeing accolades of this book left and right, and I'm sure it is on everyone's wish list this year! But let's not waste time, and get to the good stuff!  And be sure to check after the interview for an excerpt from Farsighted and a giveaway!

Hello Emlyn!  It’s very nice to meet you and thank you so much for this interview!  First let me just give very heartfelt congratulations on all of your Farsighted success!  

Awards, rave reviews, public adoration...  Were you prepared for how much the public loves you and your work?

Haha, I think that’s a bit of a stretch :-P I was hoping people would enjoy Farsighted. That was my primary goal in writing it—to tell a good story. I’ve been very pleased with how the public has embraced it. These enthusiastic readers have truly made my dreams come true. I know that sounds very corny, but it’s how I feel!

Let’s jump back in time a little bit.  When you started writing Farsighted, did you have a clear vision of where it was going to go, what path Alex and Simmi would have?

Yes and no. I had the final showdown scene in my head before I even started writing the book. I also knew very early on that I was going to follow the path of the Nordic runes. I studied the runes for quite a while, learning what each of them mean. Together they tell the story of the hero’s journey. I didn’t write a chapter and then pick which rune I would assign to it; I molded each chapter to fit the next sequential rune in the aett. That gave me direction—sometimes too much direction, since some of the runes were really hard to work into the story. But, it kept me going.

And if Alex were here with us, how do you think he would react to the great positive reaction from the public?

Oh, he would bask in it like a cat in the sun. Alex wants nothing more than to be accepted (okay, and admired). Having such a positive response from readers, and female readers in particular, would ice his cake, baby.

Your husband is from India, and you are American.  How did this impact your story? 

Well, if you’ll notice, American Alex falls for Indian Simmi :-P Alex is also from a town that is molded after my hometown of Oxford, Michigan. Simmi is from my husband’s hometown of New Delhi. India has been such an inspiration to my writing; it just seems to bring a truth out of me that nothing else can. Even if I wanted to, I don’t think I could ever write a book with zero Indian characters in it. I love cultural diversity, and India in particular.

I’m sure the readers are dying to know, do you have any writing habits?  Things you do, listen to, munch on?

Oh, I have all kinds of weird writing habits. I’m addicted to everything at Panera. Everything. I find I can’t write in small blocks of time, because something will come and break my attention. So I write in 6 to 10 hour chunks by holing up at Panera (thus the addiction to caffeine and baked goods). Oddly enough, it seems that each main character has a different food craving. Yeah, it’s kind of like growing a baby (I’d guess). The protagonist from my first unpublished novel loved vanilla bean scones. Alex likes Taco Bell. I sincerely hope the next viewpoint character likes organic carrots or something else that will help me lose my Alex weight!

Now, for some easy stuff J

I see you and I are actually pretty close neighbors in MI (I live a couple counties east of you).  Winter is right on top of us.  Are you a winter girl, or summer girl?

Oh, yay, for Michigan girls! Me personally? I love the winter (I have to).

What is your favorite music? 

I like old time crooners—Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, those who sing what I call “happy music.”

Favorite dessert?

ICE CREAM!!!

Heels or sneakers?

Ballet flats because they’re easy. I’m not athletic, but I am 5’10, which effectively eliminates both heels and sneakers :-D

Favorite travel destination?

Oooo. Most frequent travel destination is India. I’ve spent a total of 9 weeks there. I think I’d really love London too but haven’t had the chance to go yet.

Ok, I think that about sums it up.  Thank you for taking the time to chat with me, I really appreciate it!  Best of luck for continued success!

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