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Stephen H. Provost is an author of paranormal adventures and historical non-fiction. “Memortality” is his debut novel on Pace Press, set for release Feb. 1, 2017.
An editor and columnist with more than 30 years of experience as a journalist, he has written on subjects as diverse as history, religion, politics and language and has served as an editor for fiction and non-fiction projects. His book “Fresno Growing Up,” a history of Fresno, California, during the postwar years, is available on Craven Street Books. His next non-fiction work, “Highway 99: The History of California’s Main Street,” is scheduled for release in June.
For the past two years, the editor has served as managing editor for an award-winning weekly, The Cambrian, and is also a columnist for The Tribune in San Luis Obispo.
He lives on the California coast with his wife, stepson and cats Tyrion Fluffybutt and Allie Twinkletail.
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Nevada author Jacci Turner is an Amazon bestselling author of middle-grade and young adult fiction author has been a therapist, school counselor, campus minister, and mom. She is the author of several novels, most of which are geared toward young adults.
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Name, age and occupation: Tim Ahrens, 54, retail supervisor.
Where and with whom do you live? I live alone.
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, whom would you choose? Edgar Allen Poe.
Why do you write? I enjoy crafting characters and worlds.
Where do you write? My study.
What do you collect? Anime and horror collectibles.
Your superhero alter-ego: Green Lantern.
Favorite board, card or video game: Neverwinter MMORPG for PC.
Title, genre and length? Dark Creatures: A Simple Game, Dark Fantasy, 310 pages.
When and where does it take place? Two worlds, one is the town of Millten, Wisconsin, the year 2020. The second is a world of Dark Creatures, Year unknown.
How did you come up with the title? One of the places I write about in the book is the world of dark creatures. The second part of the title is a secret.
What inspired you to write it? I used to play Dungeons and Dragons when I was a kid. That started my storytelling.
Is there a sequel in the works? Yes.
Where, how can you get it? At my web domain, www.thedarkcreatures.com. Also available via Amazon under Author Tim Ahrens or Dark Creatures: A Simple Game. Or at Barnes & Noble Book Sellers under the same names.
Describe your book in one word that most people don’t normally use. Exciting.
Who would you choose to write the musical score? The sound track to the movie The Ninth Gate. John Williams.
What’s your most interesting chapter title? Life is a Song Well Sung.
Who would want to ban it? Anyone who would call Stephen King’s or J.R.R. Tolkien’s works “demonic.”
To whom did you dedicate it and why? To Jean and Eric Turman as well as James Reich (who provided the illustrations), for believing in my writing.
Names, ages and occupations: Their are three. The first is William J. Donovan, 16, high school student. Second: Augury Pars, age unknown, Wraith. The third is Llica Travilan, age 20, bard or traveling entertainer.
Where and with whom do they live? Will lives with his parents. Augury and Llica live together on the road.
What real-life person would be your protagonist’s hero, mentor or role model? Will’s would be his father; Augury’s and Llica’s would be the Lord Protector.
What’s his or her celebrity crush? Will: Scarlett Johansson.
What’s her biggest fear/phobia? Will’s is failure. Augury’s is failure to complete her mission. Llica’s is being parted permanently from Augury.
On what TV show would he/she appear as a special guest? Will would be on The Orville. Augury and Llica would be on Criminal minds.
Weapon of choice (gun, knife, intellect, magic, manipulation, etc.) Will has no weapon of choice. Augury’s is La Mia Morte. Llica’s is a secret.
At the beginning of the book, our hero (Will) is … Unaware that his actions are about to turn his world into a living hell.
Worst habit (Will)? Believing that nothing he does will ever change the world.
Best feature (Will)? He’s a hero deep inside.
Stephen Mark Rainey, 61, is the author of numerous books, including West Virginia: Lair of the Mothman in Elizabeth Massie’s Ameri-Scares series. He’s also the former editor of Deathrealm magazine and the author of more than 100 published works of short fiction. By day, he does graphic production for a major educational publisher. By night (and whenever else he can squeeze in the time), he writes the scary stuff.
Where and with whom do you live? I live in Greensboro, N.C., with a pair of precocious house cats, one of whom runs his own home (re-)decorating business (Designs by Droolie®). I’ve been in a committed relationship with my almost-wife, Kimberly, for the past eleven years, though we each live in our separate homes because… well… she’s a little weird.
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, whom would you choose? I’ve collaborated on a couple of books with Elizabeth Massie, and on stories with David Niall Wilson, Durant Haire, and John Pelan. In general, these have been agreeable experiences. However, I tend to be less-than-comfortable divvying up authorial duties, and I have a very individualistic approach to writing (not to mention life in general). At one time, three decades or so ago, I approached Fred Chappell about a possible collaboration, but he expressed feelings similar to mine. So, really, I’d be hard-pressed to think of anyone with whom I’d care to collaborate that I haven’t already. If hard-pressed, I’d probably say T.E.D. Klein, as his work — particularly Dark Gods — has resonated strongly with me since the day I first read it. I’m sure I’d be much obliged to co-create some fictional universe with him.
Why do you write? It’s the proverbial calling. In my exuberant youth, I was most interested in producing visual art — primarily pen & ink, watercolor, and acrylic. In college, I earned a Bachelor of Fine Art degree, which led me, at least indirectly, into my graphics-oriented day job. In my twenties, I was keen on producing something akin to graphic novels — writing and illustrating my own stories. Over time, that interest gravitated more and more to the writing side. Eventually, storytelling became my true creative passion.
Where do you write? Way back when, I scribbled first drafts in spiral notebooks at whatever location was handy at the time. But I always sat at my desk in my home office to type the final manuscript. This became something of a ritual. Once home computers sent the old typewriter packing, I continued to use the desktop machine in my office. It felt “right.” I never cared much for using a laptop, as the smaller keyboard annoyed my temperamental fingers. However, over the past few years, for whatever reason, they’ve taken more kindly to the laptop, and now I write wherever I feel most comfortable plopping down. A couple of years back, when Kimberly and I were visiting her parents in Michigan, I discovered her dad’s old easy chair and ottoman in their basement family room. It’s the most comfortable place in the world to write, so now our plan is to force her parents to move out so I can take over their family room.
What imaginary land would you choose as your home, and why? The world of Amber, from Roger Zelazny’s Chronicles of Amber. In that realm, our world is a reflection, or “shadow,” of Amber, the ultimate reality. The universe consists of infinite shadows, and individuals of Amber’s royal lineage have the ability to pass from shadow to shadow at will. As such, if I were displeased with one version of reality, I could essentially move a few shadows over to one that suited me better. I can think of a few shadows right now that would do the trick; for example, one free of pandemics and Donald Trump.
What animal, real or imaginary, would you choose as your constant companion? Godzilla, but we probably wouldn’t do a lot of snuggling.
What do you collect? These days, nothing — well, except maybe the occasional movie on Blu-ray or DVD. But for many years, I was an avid collector of Japanese monster movie memorabilia. I still have a pretty extensive collection of books, movie stills, lobby cards, press books, posters, and other items from the classic daikaiju films. Now and again, I break into the stuff, just to revisit the old glory days.
Favorite recreational activity: Geocaching. For those unfamiliar with it, geocaching is a kind of scavenger hunt that uses GPS technology. A person hides a container (geocache), records its geographic coordinates, and submits the cache information to the geocaching website. Then other geocachers can download the coordinates, go into the wild, and try to find the container. There are several million active caches worldwide. I got hooked on the activity back in 2008, and since then, I’ve found almost 12,000 geocaches. I love the variety of places the hunts take me. My favorite caches are those hidden in the deep woods, but they can be found almost anywhere. I particularly enjoy certain “extreme” hides, which often involve rigorous physical challenges, such as climbing huge trees; exploring labyrinthine storm drain systems; taking kayak trips; and going on night hunts, where one must follow trails of reflectors through the woods to reach the final destination. Many of the locations where caches are hidden — graveyards, places of historical interest, remote forests, and such — have inspired the settings and events in my fiction. Geocaching and writing go beautifully hand in hand. And since lots of young people enjoy geocaching, I felt compelled to include it as a major plot element in West Virginia: Lair of the Mothman.
Title, genre and length? West Virginia: Lair of the Mothman (part of Elizabeth Massie’s Ameri-Scares series for young readers, published by Crossroad Press). The Ameri-Scares franchise is currently in development for television by Warner Brothers/Margo Robbie’s Lucky Chap & Assemble Media.
When and where does it take place? The present day, in the fictional community of Broad Run, West Virginia, which I situated near Point Pleasant, the location of the original Mothman sightings.
How did you come up with the title? Each entry in the Ameri-Scares series is set in a different state — in this case, West Virginia. Since the Mothman is the focus of the story, I wanted the title to sound mysterious and alluring. I hope it is.
What inspired you to write it? Ever since I saw The Mothman Prophecies in 2002, the legend has intrigued me. And for a book set in West Virginia, the Mothman struck me as the most compelling subject. I paid a visit to Point Pleasant prior to writing the novel, and it really gave me a good feel for the location and the pervasiveness of Mothman lore in the area.
Is there a sequel in the works? Not as such, since each book in the Ameri-Scares series is a standalone entry. I have since written Michigan: The Dragon of Lake Superior (published) and Ohio: Fear the Grassman (coming soon). I’m now writing the New Hampshire book, which takes place in Exeter, the scene of numerous UFO sightings in the mid-1960s. It will be titled New Hampshire: Ghosts from the Skies.
Where and how can you get it? Amazon.com is the easiest way (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MFX7M5H)
What would you select as your book’s theme song? Who would you choose to write the musical score? “The Hills of West Virginia” by Phil Ochs would be a neat option. For the score, Ingram Marshall. Minimalist, eerie. Something like his piece “Hidden Voices” would probably scare the shit out of the kids. The song and score might seem incongruous, yet sometimes such a mix can be highly effective.
To whom did you dedicate it and why? A number of local geocachers. Since geocaching plays a major role in the story, it seemed most apt.
Name, age and occupation: Vance Archer, 13. He’s a 7th-grade student at Broad Run Middle School.
Where and with whom does he/she live? With his parents and older brother just outside of the community of Broad Run — near the “TNT Area,” which is the real-life location of the original Mothman sightings.
Who would play your protagonist in a movie? I know very few current youthful actors, but I can envision a young Kurt Russell, from his days in the Walt Disney movies of the 1960s, being perfect for the part.
What real-life person would be your protagonist’s hero, mentor or role model? Vance is a bicycle-riding enthusiast, particularly off-road, and really wants to graduate to motorcycles. Rather than any specific individual, he is most enamored of motocross racers and hopes to become one when he gets a little older.
What’s his or her celebrity crush? As a thirteen-year-old, Vance’s hormones have begun to rage, and he is attracted to older women. He’s currently taken with Selena Gomez, but that will probably change tomorrow.
What’s her biggest fear/phobia? Spiders. This comes into play during Vance’s geocaching adventures in the novel.
What’s his/her favorite quote or motto? “No bloodshed, no fun,” referring to his knack for lacerating himself during his more extreme and most exciting geocaching outings.
At the beginning of the book, our hero is… Geocaching on a bike trail.
C.W Tickner is a UK author and Terry Pratchett fan who's here to talk about his Humanarium trilogy, which is available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
Where and with whom do you live? Cambridge, UK. Fiance and the spirits of past pets.
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, whom would you choose? Terry Pratchett. The things he could inject into my story would have me in stitches.
Why do you write? Because no one had written the book I wanted to read. (I did look.)
Where do you write? Sitting on a bed. Comfy, and with the ability to switch positions as aches dictate.
What imaginary land would you choose as your home, and why? Any form of interplanetary vessel. Endless possibilities on where to go, where to eat and who or what to meet and discover. Space gypsy.
What animal, real or imaginary, would you choose as your constant companion? A pocket-sized dragon, preferably orange in colour. But i’m not fussy.
Your superhero alter-ego: T-Man: Able to produce excellent cups of tea that wow strangers and colleagues but burn the skin of any who oppose me.
Historical period you’d like to visit: Feudal Japan.
Favorite board, card or video game: Dungeons & Dragons, in any form.
“This is one of the best books I’ve read in years. I highly recommend this to any Sci-fi fans! The characters are believable and the story is well written. The world is unique and amazing!”
Title, genre and length? The Humanarium, science fiction, 177,000 words.
When and where does it take place? In the future and on another planet, inhabited by giant aliens.
How did you come up with the title? It’s a play on words; Humans and Terrarium. A place to keep humans.
What inspired you to write it? I was cleaning out my fish tank one day and the thought occurred to me that I was in some way a god to the fish inside. (no god complex, honest). I realised that if I did not feed them or provide them with a landscape and companions, they would suffer as a consequence. I wondered how it would be if the roles were reversed and humans were on the inside. I figured I could swap “Fish” for “Aliens” and hey presto, a bizarre world was born in which humanity lives inside a fish tank.
Is there a sequel in the works? The trilogy is out already and a fourth on its way.
Where, how can you get it? Amazon store and in Kindle Unlimited.
Describe your book in one word that most people don’t normally use. Fantastical.
Who would want to ban it? Anyone with a phobia of giants or the premise that the “god” one might worship is in fact another creature with a greater intellect.
To whom did you dedicate it and why? To my editor. He puts up with a lot.
“I very much enjoyed this book!! I’ve been reading Science Fiction since I was about 10 yrs old (56 now), have read all the Masters and hundreds of other authors. I have to say this book is completely different than anything I have ever read before. It was so nice to be able to read a story that makes you think on it for quite a while afterward.”
Name, age and occupation: Harl Eriksson, early twenties, blacksmith.
Where and with whom does he live? Alone, on the outskirts of town, beside the “Wall” at the edge of the world.
Who would play your protagonist in a movie? Adam Driver (Kylo Ren).
What’s his celebrity crush? Anyone with blonde or red hair. He has never seen such a thing, having grown up in a tank with black-haired people only.
What’s his biggest fear/phobia? Fear of being “Lifted” by the titanic hand that enters the tank and steals people from the world.
Weapon of choice: The people around him.
At the beginning of the book ... our hero is a simple blacksmith, by the end he must free humanity and fight for “Human Rights”
Worst habit? Demanding instant vengeance.
Best feature? A quick learner and being able to accept the world for more than what it “appears.”
“Tickner’s ‘The Huminarium’ is a gripping tale. It not only makes us question what it would be like to be stuck in a Terrarium style world but whether we already are in such a place. The themes of disobedience, curiosity and escape from the gods’ wrath make for a compelling read from start to finish. ... For fans of Sci-fi, ‘The Huminarium’ is thought-provoking, exciting and a damn good read. I loved it!”
Cindy Rankin sat down to answer questions about her historical novel "Under the Ashes," which focuses on an 11-year-old girl caught in the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. "Under the Ashes," released in November 2016 by Albert Whitman & Company, has received overwhelmingly positive reviews, both from review publications and on Amazon, where it has received a 95 percent 5-star rating as of this writing.
Name, age and occupation: Cindy Rankin, 67 years old, author. Formerly worked as a freelance newspaper/magazine writer and a substitute teacher.
Where and with whom do you live? Paso Robles, California (for the past 30 years) with my husband of 43 years, Curt Rankin.
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, whom would you choose? Ernest Hemingway and Harper Lee leap to mind because their work had a profound impact on me, but co-writing with either of them would be daunting, so I choose Dodie Smith. She became famous for The Hundred and One Dalmatians, but it was her first novel, I Capture the Castle, that continues to fascinate and delight me. I’ve reread it each decade since I was a teen. Working with a multi-talented, entertaining author would be enlightening and fun.
Why do you write? Because I’m curious and have a big imagination. Mostly I can’t stop wondering about things I’m interested in, and asking why and what if questions. I began writing stories in fourth grade. And I was a middle school newspaper reporter who loved to interview people. I worked as a freelance journalist for many years, but fiction has my heart now. I like to begin a story with a character facing a dilemma, then I can’t wait to write and figure out what happens next.
Where do you write? I used to hide in the spare bedroom/office when our children were young. Now they’re grown and I use a laptop so I can write anywhere I want. That’s empowering.
What imaginary land would you choose as your home, and why? The Hobbit’s Shire in Middle-earth. J.R.R. Tolkien created a beautiful, happy, fruitful place. Who wouldn’t want to live there? The neat thing, is we fortunate residents of the Central Coast live in a beautiful, fruitful place. I’m grateful every day to live here.
What do you collect? Postcards. I have a large tin full of postcards from faraway places sent by family and friends. Sometimes I even send them to myself to record a memory of a special place.
Your superhero alter-ego: Wonder Woman.
Historical period you’d like to visit: 1938 to 1948, USA, because I’d like to experience the decade my parents came of age.
Favorite board, card or video game: Clue.
“Littlebeth’s resilience and strong, memorable voice make this a vivid account of grace under fire. ”
Title, genre and length? Under the Ashes is historical fiction, 232 pages. It’s classified as a middle-grade novel for ages nine to twelve. Yet, I’ve heard from adults as well as children how this story of a youngster overcoming adversity connects with them so now I say it’s for readers from 9 to 90.
When and where does it take place? The book begins April 8, 1906, in Paso Robles. The feisty eleven-year-old-narrator is being punished for cowgirl antics and derring-do. Eight days later, her family puts her on a train to San Francisco to be refined into a "proper young lady" by her maiden aunt just two days before the Great Quake strikes the city.
How did you come up with the title? After San Francisco’s massive 1906 earthquake, fires immediately sparked and raged for three days. The elite and poor alike were covered with ashes from the inferno. Everyone, regardless of wealth, religion, or nationality, struggled to survive the catastrophe. The young heroine realizes societal differences aren’t important. It’s what’s inside people’s hearts that matter most. She also discovers even under the ashes hope exits for a new beginning.
What inspired you to write it? This book began as a short story over twenty years ago for an anthology from this area. My spirited young heroine, rooted in local history, struck a chord with writer-friends who encouraged me to expand the story into a novel. The narrator and her family remained the same, however the story changed completely. It evolved over years of research and revision. Our own tragic earthquake in Paso Robles on December 22, 2003, when lives were lost and property damaged, gave me a visceral understanding of the fearful impact San Francisco’s 1906 temblor must have had on people there. That deadliest earthquake in U.S. history left more than half the city’s population homeless. I couldn’t help but wonder what if a bold girl from my small hometown found herself in the middle of that calamity.
Is there a sequel in the works? No, because I’m currently working on a contemporary middle-grade novel about the unusual way a boy copes with his father’s deployment to war. Yet, I’m thinking there may be more to explore in the life of my heroine in Under the Ashes. A sequel isn’t out of the question.
Where, how can you get it? Under the Ashes is available at bookstores, and online booksellers such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.com.
Describe your book in one word that most people don’t normally use. Boldacious. (Merriam-Webster definition: dialectal, British: brazen, impudent.)
To whom did you dedicate it and why? I dedicated Under the Ashes to my daughter Kate because her self-confidence, intelligence, and strong will as a child amazed me. She definitely inspired the creation of my protagonist. Kate taught me it’s okay to be proud of yourself, a lesson I needed to learn.
“An intriguing cast of secondary characters ― including her Presbyterian aunt’s Jewish beau, the opera star Enrico Caruso, and a newly immigrated young Chinese girl ― add diversity to the cast.”
Name, age and occupation: Elizabeth “Littlebeth” Morgan, eleven-years-old, adventurous spirit.
Where and with whom does he/she live? Paso Robles, California, circa 1906, with her Papa, Mama, and little brother Joey. Grandma, a tough old bird, lives around the corner.
Who would play your protagonist in a movie? I envision a combination of a young Jodie Foster and Drew Barrymore.
What real-life person would be your protagonist’s hero, mentor or role model? Martha Jane Canary (Calamity Jane).
What’s his or her celebrity crush? President Teddy Roosevelt .
What’s her biggest fear/phobia? Losing the people she cares about.
What’s his/her favorite quote or motto? “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” —Theodore Roosevelt.
Weapon of choice: intellect.
At the beginning of the book, our hero is … frustrated that saving her little brother from a rattlesnake did not restore her to the good graces of her family.
Worst habit? Braggadocios.
Best feature? Ingenious.
“Incorporates historical cultural references and vivid accounts of the devastating quake and its aftermath…fans of historical fiction will find plenty to like.”
Mandy Dawson is the author of Elemental Awakening, the first in her series, Elementals, just released in December. Its intriguing premise: An ancient being, imprisoned in statue form for thousands of years, is reawakened in the present. Mandy graciously agreed to sit down and answer some questions for The Open Book.
Author's website: www.mandydawsonauthor.com
Amazon: http://a.co/1dBiyMf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inmandyland/
Twitter: @in_mandyland
Name, age and occupation: Mandy Dawson, 41, executive assistant/author
Where and with whom do you live? I live in Atascadero with my two children – Joseph and Elizabeth, their two hamsters, a survivalist fish, three chickens, and a stray cat who likes to be fed, but not pet.
If you could co-write a book with any author, living or dead, whom would you choose? I’d want to write a book with Julia Quinn. While my list of favorite authors, both living and dead, is almost as long as my list of favorite books, co-writing would require someone with a sense of humor and a similar writing style. Our subgenres differ, but I think we’d both approach the project with tongues firmly in cheek and a healthy dose of fun.
Why do you write? I’m not quite certain I’d know what to do if I didn’t write. I’ve always told stories in an effort to give life to the people in my head. Some of my earliest memories are of lying in the dark and whispering the tales of two foolish little girls and their accidental adventures to my sisters when my parents thought we were asleep. As I got older, I began to write them down and never stopped.
Where do you write? Because I work full time, I try to fit in writing wherever and whenever I can. I write at my desk or kitchen table after I put the kids to bed. I take my laptop with me on my lunch break and lock myself into a conference room to tap away at my keyboard for an hour. I even take my laptop or notebook with me while camping and zip myself in my tent or plant myself at the picnic table for an hour or so. I’ve found getting away from the house prevents me from being distracted by the never-ending pile of laundry, so the bulk of my drafting is done at Bru (Coffeehouse) in Atascadero, sitting at a little table in front of the window with my headphones on and a pot of Earl Grey steaming nearby.
What animal, real or imaginary, would you choose as your constant companion? If I were to have a constant animal companion, it would be a dog. One that knew how to use and flush a toilet, didn’t chew on the corner of the wooden coffee table, and was able to refill my glass of wine. A dog may seem like an ordinary animal when the options are as varied as reality and imagination allows, but while a dragon would be amazing, a nice, slightly overweight, midsized dog prone to napping between long rambling walks would be a kindred spirit.
What do you collect? I collect sea glass. My kids and I spend hours roaming the beaches looking for shards of trash turned to treasure. We have piles of it all over our house filling jars and bowls and frames. Sometimes we craft something from it, but we mostly enjoy studying it, looking for the bubbles and imperfections, the clues as to what it originally was, where it might have come from. We make up stories about the people who owned it before it was shattered and pounded against the surf to wash up at our feet.
Favorite board, card or video game: I’m a game fanatic with almost as many favorite board games as I have moods. Right now, I’m addicted to Settlers of Catan, though last year it was Sequence and before that I couldn’t get enough of Five Crowns. My sister just bought me Pandemic, and I have a feeling it might boot Catan from the top ranking.
“This is the first book in a series, and although it doesn’t leave you with a cliffhanger, it makes you want to find out what’s going to happen next. An overall win for Ms. Dawson’s debut novel.”
Genre and length? Elemental Awakening is a romance novel with a strong thread of paranormal running through it. It’s a bit over 65,000 words long.
When and where does it take place? It’s a contemporary novel with locations moving from L.A. to the Central Coast to the Andes and the Bay Area.
How did you come up with the title? My editor wasn’t thrilled with my working title, Someday I’ll Figure Out a Witty Title for This Book, and I wasn’t thrilled with the only other option I’d come up with, Let Sleeping Gods Lie. She suggested Elemental Awakening after reviewing my three-story arc, and I loved the way it fit.
What inspired you to write it? Four years ago, I was part of an online writing group. One of the picture prompts was of a stone statue half buried in the ground. It sparked an idea of what would happen if that statue was a cursed man frozen for all time and then, what would happen if someone happened to wake him up. Once I started writing, I couldn’t stop.
Is there a sequel in the works? The sequel, Elemental Escape, is drafted, and I’m starting my first round of revisions.
Where, how can you get it? You can currently purchase Elemental Awakening in paperback or ebook versions on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
What would you select as your book’s theme song? Who would you choose to write the musical score? A Thousand Years by Christina Perri. Since I spent most of my writing time plugged into Ingrid Michaelson, I’d select her to write the musical score.
Who would want to ban it? People who don’t believe in magic. I’d forgive them, though, for wanting to ban it. Not believing in magic must make life rather sad.
To whom did you dedicate it and why? I dedicated my book to my parents who taught me a love of reading. Family legend has it that my dad used to travel the rodeo circuit with two hard-backed suitcases. One was filled with clothes, the other with books. My mom was never without a book nearby. Even with four children, she still found time to read. Usually while standing up because she rarely had time to sit. I also dedicated it to my three younger sisters who have always listened to my stories. And finally, to my children, because without them I wouldn’t have dared to embark on this adventure. When my son told me that he knew he could do anything he set his mind to because I had taught him that by finishing my book, it made all the late nights and long hours of editing worth it.
“Most novels tend to be plot based or character based, but I felt that this one was a seamless merger of the two. Immediately engaged by the first page, the story continues to delight. It was one of those books that caused me to let the kids make their own dinner so I could finish.”
Name, age and occupation: Helen Browning, early 30s, midwife and secret key to unleashing an elemental battle for power. Lukos, early 3000s, Light.
Where and with whom does he/she live? She lives alone in a small cottage in a place roughly based on Cambria. He lived in an area known today as the Andes until he was turned to stone, during which time he lived deep in a cave until discovery and then on display in museums around the world.
Who would play your protagonist in a movie? Jaimie Alexander for Helen and Chris Hemsworth for Luke.
What real-life person would be your protagonist’s hero, mentor or role model? Helen would be fascinated by the work of Jennifer Worth and the idea of caring for a population in the East End of London post WWII. I have no doubt, she’d devour her memoir and likely binge watch the show on PBS while eating Cherry Garcia ice cream. Luke has a lot of catching up to do. (Being a statue for thousands of years puts a dent in one’s knowledge of world events.) As someone who is facing a battle of epic size, bringing about a civil war, he’d study the great generals in history, especially those who brought peace to their people.
What’s his or her celebrity crush? Helen has a soft spot for hunky nerds. She probably has a huge crush on David Tennant. Luke isn’t certain what celebrities are and is slightly taken aback by Helen’s over-the-top swooning when David is on screen.
What’s her biggest fear/phobia? Helen is afraid of losing the people she loves. Luke is afraid of becoming stone once again.
At the beginning of the book, our hero is … At the beginning of the book, Helen has spent her life trying to rediscover the stability she lost. She’s strong and capable, confident in her skills as a midwife and secure in her life path, but she also knows something is missing. There’s been a hole in her life nothing has been able to fill. Luke was literally turned to stone, his fate sealed. When he first awakes, the emotions and sensations threaten to overwhelm him so he clings to the one thing he knows and is certain of: his love for the woman who woke him.
Worst habit? Helen is stubborn. When presented with a situation in which she feels horribly out of her depth, she clings to what she knows with a tenacity that becomes not just dangerous, but deadly. Luke is impatient. He’s spent thousands of years frozen in stillness with nothing but time to plot and plan his revenge, yet when he’s finally able to put some of those plans in action, he discovers the world has changed drastically and the answers he seeks are not easily found.
Best feature? Helen is a quiet warrior who has always championed the most innocent. Luke has somehow retained his sense of humor, no matter how dark his life became.
“This imaginative romance takes the reader out of her own element into a completely different world that exists layered on top of our own. ”
