Tell us three interesting facts about yourself.
My dream vacation is an RV roadtrip across the USA, my favorite food is macaroni and cheese, and I'm a boyband enthusiast.

What made you decide to sit down and write an NA novel?
It happened the other way around, actually. It was a couple years ago, when I was about mid-way through the first draft of HANDPICKED, that I first heard of New Adult as its own category. The more I researched, the more I realized how much of a fit it was. I can still remember telling my husband that I'd heard of a new genre that I just happened to be writing already. It was good timing!

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I had a baby this year, so snuggling him is pretty high on my list. I also love thrift shopping, reading, and anything involving coffee and/or wine. I'm a semi-ambitious DIY-er, I make a lot of my own jewelry. I also have a real-world career in educational outreach, so that takes up a lot of my time as well.

Who are your favorite writers?
All time favorites? Curtis Sittenfeld, Judy Blume, Rebecca Wells. I'm also getting into Jennifer Weiner lately, and I'm having a lot of fun discovering other NA authors, too. My to-read list is almost all NA, since so much has come out since I've been in my writing bubble!

Where can you see yourself in 5 years' time?
Probably still living with my family somewhere on the West Coast (where I've spent most of my life already), with more books out. Hopefully I'll have traveled a bit more by then, too -- I really want to see the southern states and the UK.

What is your favorite movie and why?
So many! I have the entertainment tastes of a teenager. My husband teaches film and just rolls his eyes at the movies I love...Mean Girls, Pitch Perfect, all the Harry Potter films, Wedding Crashers, Wet Hot American Summer. Though, if you twist my arm, I think I'd say Dirty Dancing. It's such a classic New Adult story, and I love the soundtrack.

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Keep reading and don't worry so much.J

Links for Author:

Goodreads / Twitter / Blog

Author Interview:

Book Blurb:

 Ambrosia Tisdale is the very picture of propriety and the epitome of what a respectable young lady should be. Haunted by a memory and compelled by her family, she pursues perfection to a fault.

The Earl of Bristol, Duncan Maddox, has returned to London after years of familial imposed exile. As the second son, he has led a life filled with frivolity, leisure, and a healthy dose of debauchery. Now his older brother has died, leaving the family’s flailing legacy in Duncan’s unwilling arms.

At the behest of his uncle, Duncan is advised to do the one thing that could provide instant fortune and respectability – he must marry. But there is only one prospect who meets the unique requirements to solve all the Earl’s problems – the lovely Miss Ambrosia Tisdale. But securing the prudent daughter of a Viscount’s hand proves to be more challenging than this scandal ridden second son of an Earl has bargained for.

With scandal, extortion, treachery, and even love itself threatening to keep him from his goal, will Duncan succeed in compromising Miss Tisdale?

Book Excerpt:

Book Blurb:

Author Interview:

• Do you like to dance?

I have had very little experience with dancing. The few times I have danced have been fun, though. 

•  Can you describe your dream home?

I had girlfriends in the past who would talk about what kind of house they wanted to live in, what it’d look like, what amenities it would have. I don’t care about that stuff so much. Maybe I've been in too many places.
I've lived for periods of years in hostile and foreign environments where people avoided me when I was alone and actively harassed me when I was walking with a local woman. I've been surrounded by pathetic and condescending yuppies who took ridiculous pride in having successfully sold themselves to the highest bidder. I've slowly suffocated in communities where a culture of fear has made the people bow their heads and hide, abandoning the ability to question and reason.
The building isn't important. My dream home is a community where people respect each other as individuals. 

•  If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be? Why?

I would choose to be Larry Darrell from “The Razor’s Edge,” by W. Somerset Maugham.
Most people would probably perceive little similarity between Larry and me. He comes across as almost Buddha-like, completely detached from material pursuits and perpetually calm. People seem to see me as an aggressive, restless go-getter, more like Howard Roark from “The Fountainhead.”
But to me, the two literary characters have something important in common. They both care only about what’s going on in their heads. Larry is driven by his intense desire to understand, so he is able to drift from one activity to another, studying, learning, and experiencing all he can. Roark, too, is compelled to act on what his own mind dictates, but his head functions differently. Roark is cursed with the need to create, and so he struggles through life much more actively than Larry.
A compulsion to create is a need to change the world, and the world always resists being changed. Larry had it comparatively easy.

• What is the first curse word that comes to mind?  How often and why do you use it?

Once in high school, my girlfriend and her best friend decided they were going to fix their boyfriends’ bad habit of swearing, unbeknownst to us. There came a day when for some reason or another I uttered the word “shit.” She turned on me, instantly angry. “Shit, shit, shit! Is that your favorite word?” “No,” I said, bewildered. “’Fuck’ is my favorite word.”
I don’t use it all that often now. I don’t think I did in high school either, really. It’s still my favorite word, though. 

Book Excerpt:

Hi my loves. It has been a long time, right?! I really apologize for not updating much. Sometimes real life kicks you and you have to take time to pick yourself up. 

Anyways, I'm here to feature this very talented I just met. Her book is probably one of the best books I've read so far this year. I will be posting a review of it soon, so please watch out for it. While waiting for it, I want you all to meet Ms. Wynne Channing. She's the author of What Kills Me, the book I was raving about. Check out her fascinating answers, just scroll down..

Author Interview:

Thank you Ms. Wynne Channing for sharing all these stuff with us. I'm actually pretty excited that there would be a sequel of What Kills Me. It's a really great book and I'm not really ready to let go of Lucas and Zee. 

 An ancient prophecy warns of a girl destined to cause the extinction of the vampire race. So when 17-year-old Axelia falls into a sacred well filled with blood and emerges a vampire, the immortal empire believes she is this legendary destroyer. Hunted by soldiers and mercenaries, Axelia and her reluctant ally, the vampire bladesmith Lucas, must battle to survive. 

How will she convince the empire that she is just an innocent teenager-turned bloodsucker and not a creature of destruction? And if she cannot, can a vampire who is afraid of bugs summon the courage to fight a nation of immortals?

Where to Buy:

Welcome to Journey with Books! Today is a very special day because we have Ms. Linn B. Halton, the author of The Quintessential Gemini here on my blog for an interview! This post is supposed to be posted last June 10 but I totally missed an email.. tsk..! I sincerely apologized to Ms. Linn B. Halton for the lateness of this post.


Anyways, I know you've all waited long enough so I'll stop all these ramblings! Let's all see what we could find about Ms. Linn B. Halton!

• Tell us something about yourself. Something that would make your name stay with us.

I’ve always been a firm believer in fate and astrology. However, believing in life after death is something entirely different. It wasn’t really until 2009, following the death of my mother than I had an epiphany. Literally. I’ve always had ‘experiences’, partly because I’ve lived in a lot of very different houses, some over 250 years old. For most of my life I acknowledged each incident that happened to me then looked for ways of explaining it away. If I couldn’t, then I conveniently filed it away. I never dismissed anything out of hand, because each time it was something unique. I was happy to be a sceptic because ‘coming out’ is the hard part. As a sceptic you have nothing to explain away; as a believer you have no real proof. My husband wouldn’t even talk about it, so I rarely mentioned anything that happened. Then we moved into some converted stables and as soon as I walked inside I knew the old lady was still there with us, watching what we were doing. A short time later my husband had his first experience. It was a while before he started talking about it, but by then he was regularly seeing orbs and we were both feeling the very real dip in the bed when she sat at our feet at night. Even then, it took a couple of years’ until we had moved into another house and began having separate, then joint experiences. The problem with an experience when two people witness or feel it, is that you can’t continue to ignore it or put it down to an over-active imagination. Since that time so much has happened that has been positive and reaffirming, suffice to say we now both believe in life after death. We’ve had enough proof and validation from loved ones to know when they are with us.

• What made you decide to write a book?

My psychic experiences began when I was very young and I have always had a very acute intuition when something is wrong. I gave up my full-time career because I had this building sense of anxiety that my mother wasn’t going to be with us for very long. I had nothing on which to base that feeling and it was a drastic thing for me to walk away from a job I loved. Within three months she died unexpectedly from leukaemia. I was home alone whilst sorting out her affairs and I found myself sitting down and writing that book I always knew I would. I didn’t think I would have the time until I was retired and I certainly didn’t think I would end up writing full-time instead of being in employment. Since the age of eleven I’ve maintained a journal where I write ideas for stories, although while raising my family and then building my working career there was no time to write develop them. I did however write quite a few poems. It’s hard to stop the ideas flowing, but I sensed that one day the time would be right for me to take ‘me time’ and write. I also knew it would then take over my life and it has!

• What is your first ever read? The one that made you fall in love with books?

Well, it has to be The Angelique series by Sergeanne Golon (pen name for Anne Golon). I was much too young to be reading those books and I believe the library assumed I was borrowing them for my mother. I loved the sense of period, history, danger and romance. I also fell in love with The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins and re-read it so many times as a young teen. Both of these authors made me want to create my own world of characters, it’s pure escapism isn’t it?

• What is the hardest part of being an author?

If writing was simply about sitting down and being alone in the study with the characters in your head, life would be a dream. However, I’d probably become a hermit and life would pass me by (laugh) so I realise it’s ‘be careful what you wish for, it might just come true!’ So, all of the other things that go along with the job - like editing, promoting etc are an essential part of the process. Sometimes though you simply have to write and then the other things become distractions when you really want to be at the keyboard working on a new project.

• What are the perks of being an author?

Without a doubt the amazing people you meet on your writing journey. Fellow authors, who are generous in sharing their knowledge, offering help and support. Wonderful book reviewers whose lives revolve around reading new books and spreading the word, the level of professionalism is astounding. Many have very busy lives outside of their reviewing and I applaud them. Also the thrill of receiving a new review, each one is precious. You get to see another person’s perspective of your work and whilst not everyone is going to think what you have written is wonderful, it allows you to take on board comments and continue to improve. I’ve also had some wonderful Emails from fans – and for a new author that is the highest compliment anyone can ever pay you. To touch someone with something you have written to the extent that they contact you personally, is amazing.

• Where did you get the inspiration to give life to your characters?

The Quintessential Gemini was written as a fun, romantic read. I’m a Gemini myself and I know how complicated we are, and how complicated we tend to make our lives! I’ve read my daily horoscopes for over twenty five years and nowadays mine arrives on my Blackberry every night, so I check it before I go to sleep. I like to know what the next day is likely to bring. One night the thought hit me ‘what if someone really did lead their life according to their daily horoscope and what if something went wrong ….’
From there the story evolved quite naturally. I love writing about the way people interact and I usually write from the perspective of several of the characters. I find it interesting glimpsing the different viewpoints. I try very hard to make each character believable, to show the flaws and insecurities, the baggage from the past that often weighs us down. But I also live as an eternal optimist and whilst life can be hard at times, eventually the sun will come out! For me life has one purpose and that is the pursuit of true love. If you are in love with the person you are with, then no matter what happens to you in life you know you can face it. Romance doesn’t dull as a relationship develops, it becomes a much deeper and more meaningful thing.

Fun Questions:

Kindle Edition:

• Tell us something about yourself. Something that would make your name stay with us.

When people meet me the almost always make reference to Dr. Quinn Medicine woman, Quinn the Eskimo, or The Mighty Quinn.

• What made you decide to write a book?

I have always loved to write but was discroraged by the idea of never getting an agent. Once ebooks became all the rage and something attainable I thought okay, I can do this.

• What is your first ever read? The one that made you fall in love with books?

A Wrinkle in Time

• What is the hardest part of being an author?

Self discipline. Making sure you stay on task when you don't have a boss helping keep you accountable.

• What are the perks of being an author?

Make my own hours, do something I love, meeting all the amazing fans and other authors

• Where did you get the inspiration to give life to your characters?

My high school girlfriends

Fun Questions:

• When the word 'Hunk' is uttered, who is the first person that comes into your mind?

My husband, no lie, he is mega hot.

• Who is that one "HOT" celebrity you would want to marry? (If you're not married)

Already married to a hottie.

•  If you're going to heaven, who is that ONE person you'd want to be with?

My son

• If you're going to hell, who is that ONE person that you would drag with you?

I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Not since redemption is possible.

Thank you so much Ms. Quinn Loftis for being game to answer those questions! I had a really great time knowing you more. I want to apologize one more time for posting my stop for your tour.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com

https://www.smashwords.com

About the Author:

Quinn is a 31 year old wife, mother, nurse, and writer, not necessarily in that order.  She lives in beautiful North West Arkansas with her husband, son and Nora their Doberman pinscher. She loves writing, reading, and crocheting. Her favorite holiday is Christmas, favourite book(s) is Pride and Prejudice, The Alpha and Omega Series by Patricia Briggs, and the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling. She loves to be silly and have fun, loves music and thinks there is no greater sound in the world than that of her little boy's laughter.  

www.quinnloftisbooks.com

@AuthQuinnLofti

Giveaway:

 

Author Bio:

Interview:

• Tell us something about yourself. Something that would make your name stay with us.

I’m a little cat crazy, so if you want my name to stay with you, instead of thinking “Melissa Studdard,” you could think of me as “Melissa Studdard, Nurturer of Cats, Scooper of Litter, Comber of Feline Fur, Exterminator of Fleas, Extraordinaire.” I think I would like that whole title to be my proper name. Next time you address me, could you please call me that?

• What made you decide to write a book?

    I actually wrote this book for my daughter. She and I have enjoyed reading together so much  over the years that I wanted to tell her my own story. As well, there were certain wisdom traditions that I wanted to share with children in general, and narrative seemed the perfect way to do it.                                   

• What is your first ever read? The one that made you fall in love with books?

When I was in kindergarten, my teacher read to our class every day from Charlotte’s Web. It was my favorite part of the day, and I couldn’t wait to get crisscross applesauce on my little mat on the floor and hear what would happen next. Now that I think about it, that book may have been responsible for more than turning me into a lifelong reader. It may also have led to my vegetarianism.

• What is the hardest part of being an author?

Writer’s block! Without question. I don’t get it often, but when I do, it feels like someone turned off the sun. When you love something as much as most writers love writing, life without it feels dark, empty, and unbearable. To me, being abandoned by the muse feels like being abandoned by a loved one.

• What are the perks of being an author?

There are so many. The biggest perk for me is getting to make stuff up and still be considered sane. I also love doing research, which can involve talking to interesting people, travelling, and reading fascinating articles and books.

• Where did you get the inspiration to give life to your characters?

They just sprang out of nowhere. It was incredible. I had an assignment from a writer’s group to write a fairy tale short story, and after I’d gotten the required length, I just kept going and going, and it was because of these crazy, delightful characters. Over time, I began to see that some of them were composites of people I know, but their cores, their vital essences, are pulled straight from the imagination. To some degree, where they came from is a mystery to me.

Fun Questions:

•  When the word 'Hunk' is uttered, who is the first person that comes into your mind?

My boyfriend. Not only is he in perfect shape, he’s also the kindest person I know, and he is brilliant and talented to boot. With him around, I don’t even notice or think about anyone else.

• If you're going to heaven, who is that ONE person you'd want to be with?

I would have to have two: my boyfriend, which would just be an extension of what it’s already like to be with him, and my daughter, because she and I are best friends, and we do everything together.

•  If you're going to hell, who is that ONE person that you would drag with you?

Hmmm. It would have to be someone who would end up there anyway. Hypothetically (because he’s already dead) I’d have to say Oscar Wilde. I’m not quite sure why he deserves to go to hell other than that he would be bored in heaven and cause trouble and end up banished to hell anyway, so he might as well start there. He’s got a wickedly clever sense of humor, so we could entertain each other and make up poems and plays and stories about how awful hell was.
 

Now, tell us something about your book.

Six Weeks to Yehidah is the tale of a spunky young girl named Annalise, who travels from one adventure to another, learning ancient wisdom traditions and gaining deeper and deeper insight into herself and her world. Eventually she must make the most important decision she's ever faced -- whether or not to return to the self she has always known. I’d also like to let the book speak for itself, so here are the first two paragraphs: The thing you would notice most was the rain, how the rain fell and fell and never seemed to stop. The sky was constantly swollen with it, then birthing it, swollen, then birthing again, and the hills, like greedy babies, suckled up all that rain. They shone and glistened green as the backs of frogs on bright green lily pads.
Annalise was ten then, old enough that she’d begun thinking about grown up things, like picking her own clothes out for school, yet young enough, still, to indulge in fanciful imaginings of enchanted trees and talking hills. Her best friends were the clouds that canopied her village and the verdant hills that hosted her most precious and outrageous dreams. 

And for the last question:

• What is next for you as an author?

I’ve just started a new novel with an incredibly complicated plot, complex characters, and layers of psychological depth. It will probably take me a while to write this one, and I’m having a great time in the process! Right now, it’s got the working title, India, which is the main character’s name. While I’m writing India, I’ll release a collection of interviews I conducted for the radio program Tiferet Talk, and I will probably also complete a collection of poems. I love working on more than one thing at a time because when I get stuck on one there is always something else to focus on. Thank you for asking!

Paperback: 170 pages
Publisher: All Things That Matter Press (August 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0984651705
ISBN-13: 978-0984651702

Book Blurb:

"The thing you would notice most was the rain, how the rain fell and fell and never seemed to stop. The sky was constantly swollen with it, then birthing it, swollen, then birthing again, and the hills, like greedy babies, suckled up all that rain. They shone and glistened green as the backs of frogs on bright green lily pads.


Annalise was ten then, old enough that she’d begun thinking about grown up things, like picking her own clothes out for school, yet young enough, still, to indulge in fanciful imaginings of enchanted trees and talking hills. Her best friends were the clouds that canopied her village and the verdant hills that hosted her most precious and outrageous dreams."


As spunky young Annalise travels from one adventure to another, she learns ancient wisdom traditions and gains deeper and deeper insight into herself and her world. Eventually she must make the most important decision she's ever faced -- whether or not to return to the self she has always known.