Virtual excerpt tour stop for Highland Magic by Christine Young

Reviews and Interviews is happy to be a virtual excerpt tour stop today for Highland Magic by Christine Young, a historical romance available now from Rogue Phoenix Press. This is just one of many tour stops Christine has throughout the month. And Christine was a guest here last November for her novel Highland Honor.

Christine will be awarding a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, as well as 10 MacPherson book marks to randomly drawn commenters. To be entered to win, leave an e-mail with a comment below or at any of Christine's other tour stops. The more you comment, the more chances you have to win. 

Author bio and links:

Born in Medford, Oregon, novelist Christine Young has lived in Oregon all of her life. After graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in science, she spent another year at Southern Oregon State University working on her teaching certificate, and a few years later received her Master's degree in secondary education and counseling. 

Now, the long, hot days of summer provide the perfect setting for creating romance. She sold her first book, Dakota's Bride, in the summer of 1998 and her second book, My Angel to Kensington, quickly followed. Her teaching and writing careers have intertwined with raising three children.  Christine's newest venture is the creation of Rogue Phoenix Press. Christine is the founder, editor and co-owner with her husband. They live in Salem, Oregon.

Buy link

Blurb about Highland Magic:

Throughout the Highlands she is known as Keely, the witch woman. She is a great healer --a woman whose dreams come true. Ian MacPherson is a man who puts honor, loyalty, and duty above everything. Their lives are entwined when Ian is sent by the Scottish King to bring Keely to trial for witchcraft. He is attacked and left for dead, but Keely rescues him. When he wakes, he discovers he has no memory. As he remembers his lost past, Ian finds that his need to protect the woman who has saved his life eclipses his duty to his king and country., He is a man torn between honor and duty to his country and the woman he loves.

Excerpt from Highland Magic:

"She is illegitimate but she is your daughter. Never forget that." She rose and walked to his side. Her small, fragile hand rested on his back, yet she gave comfort with her touch and she gave him courage as well.

At his sides, his fingers clenched tight, wishing for the peace that always seemed to surround his wife. When she could have hated him for his illegitimate daughter, she had not. Indeed, she had always loved Keely as if she were her own flesh and blood.

"I will always remember I love her dearly. I wish she could live with us in peace and comfort."

"The King may not allow it. I am sure Hawke's man is doing all in his power to keep her safe. Keeping her safe may well mean keeping her away from ye."

"Do ye suppose they travel to the MacPherson castle?" he wondered, suddenly more eager than ever to learn the truth.

"Nay, that would pit the MacPhersons against the King. Hawke would not allow that to happen."

"Perhaps they went to their newly acquired estate in England."

"The Whitcomb estate?" she questioned. "Do ye believe Keely would be safe there?" He nodded. "Henry would not raise a hand to help King James."

"'Tis a very real possibility." "I will send Angus. He is young but capable and wily. If anyone can discover what has happened to the pair, Angus can."

"Then send young Angus so ye have a mind left to concentrate on the harvest and your people."

Interview with romance author Ann Montclair

Today's guest is Ann Monclair. She's on a virtual book tour for her newest romance, Good Things Come in Tall Packages.

And she will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. All you have to do to be entered to win is to leave an e-mail address with a comment below. And if you'd like more chances to win, you can follow her tour and comment at other stops.

Welcome, Ann. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up sneak-reading all my mom's steamy romance novels. She kept them high on a shelf in her closet and warned, "You better not read those..." Of course, I read them. And now I write them! I strive to take readers on a fun, emotionally charged, and highly sensual ride to happily ever after. Available now: TThe Billionaire's Bauble (Soul Mate Publishing 2011), One Wet Summer (Musa Publishing 2012), and Good Things Come in Tall Packages (Musa Publishing 2012). Next up: Lady in Deed, my debut novel in historical romance set in Tudor England (Musa Publishing Winter 2012).

I am a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and a community college English professor. I live in the Finger Lakes region of New York with my sexy hero and our teenage son. Our grown daughter lives in Los Angeles, California--my hometown.

Thanks for learning a little about me. You can contact me at ann@annmontclair.com.

Web site: http://www.annmontclair.com

Blog: http://annmontclair.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnnMontclairFanPage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AnnMontclair

Buy link: http://www.musapublishing.com/

Please tell us about your current release.

Good Things Come in Tall Packages is about two people who are complete opposites, but despite those differences find common ground. I wanted to write a story where the ideal isn’t perfect harmony but dissonance. We’ve all seen those couples where you’re scratching your head, thinking, “How did that happen?” But it works. They’re perfect. Perfectly imperfect.

Blurb:

Dr. Joe Connors and socialite lawyer Lucy Alcott come from two different worlds, two very different cultures. But will those differences keep them apart when their attraction is too strong to be denied?

When socialite Savannah attorney Lucy Alcott entered the Hyatt looking for fun, martinis, and hot sex, the last thing she expected to find was Dr. Joe Connors. Joe is Lucy's opposite in every way: he’s dark, she’s pale; he’s tall and reserved, she's tiny and vivacious; he wears his compassion and deep spirituality on his sleeve, she wears designer bags and clothes. That night at the Hyatt Lucy found herself not in the arms of a casual encounter but reaching out to a man who challenged the walls she had built around her heart—and when he gave her his number, Lucy knew Joe deserved a woman as warm and tender as he was. So she threw his number away. When an unexpected meeting six months later brings them together again, will Joe overcome Lucy’s fear of losing her heart, or are their two very different worlds destined to keep them apart forever? 

What inspired you to write this book?

I was born at a time when my Puerto Rican mother and Irish father were considered an interracial couple. My father’s parents refused to meet me for two years. They hoped my mom and me would disappear. But we didn’t. My parents will be married fifty years next year—just a few months before I turn fifty! I’m a love child from a forbidden union. That’s what inspired Joe and Lucy.

Excerpt:

The doors whooshed open, and Joe swept his arm out in front of him, indicating Lucy should precede him into the elevator. She inclined her head to acknowledge his chivalry. Inside the elevator, the quiet assaulted her senses. She leaned against the shiny walnut wall, and a sigh of relief escaped her lungs.

“And the world is still,” Joe murmured. “Let me remove your shoes.”

Lucy lifted her left foot, and Joe knelt before her and took off the pump. She shrunk five inches before raising her other foot, so Joe could squeeze it from the rich, red leather.

“Ah,” she whispered in relief, “that feels a lot better.”

He stayed bent on his knee as if he were about to propose and rubbed the ball of first one tired foot and then the other. Lucy wasn’t wearing stockings, and the firm massaging motion he applied to her foot felt like a little bit of heaven. If she believed in such a place.

Struck by the juxtaposition of her white foot in his black hands, enamored by the lightness of his palms as they stroked the pink soles of her feet, she noted together they created a rainbow—a cascade of color, vibrant and beautiful to her eye.

“Thank you, Joe. You’re hired.”

He laughed in his low, bass voice, and the combination of his masterful administrations on her feet and the melody of his jazzy chuckle, proved to be a potent formula. A quiver ran through her body.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m in edits for my Tudor romance, A Lady in Deed. It will be released December 7, 2012. 

Here’s my blurb-in-progress:

Lady Mary Rutherford planned to be a nun until the reformist movement closed her cloister, forcing her to live with her mysterious benefactor and his rakish son. Lord Trenton Stanley returned home from a decade of service to King Henry VIII to find his estate in ruins, his family depleted, and a provocative novitiate under his roof. Can duty and honor be enough to sustain them, or will their ideals be compromised for love?

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I received an MFA in Creative Writing and published lots of poems before I attempted romance novels. I think publishing helps solidify the idea, “I’m a writer,” but the intention and the emotion is born long before anyone ever publishes. Writers write. I always wrote. Most days, my whole life. Publication just made it “official.”

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I am a full-time professor of English for the State University system of New York. SUNY pays my bills and writing sustains my heart. I write in the evenings and on weekends. Right now, my son and husband are watching the original Rocky movie, and I’m writing on my laptop on the couch. That’s my life. It works.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I can’t stop writing if my characters are in crisis. I have to write to a happy or settled scene, so I can sleep without anxiety or nightmares. My characters are real to me, and I worry about them if I leave them in a bad place. I don’t know how thriller and horror writers do it! I’d be a wreck.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a writer who lived in a little cabin in the woods. Guess what? That’s what I am. It took 45 years, but when it happened, I believed all that Oprah stuff about putting your intentions out to the Universe then seeing them come true.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I write for you, to help you believe in true love, to believe love will come when you least expect it, and when it arrives, hold on tight and work for it every day. Love is the ultimate reward. I believe we all deserve it.

Thanks, Ann. 

Readers, don't forget: Ann will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. All you have to do to be entered to win is to leave an e-mail address with a comment below. And if you'd like more chances to win, you can follow her tour and comment at other stops.

Live chat/interview with writer Renee Mallett - 11/18/12

The Writer's Chatroom presents freelance writer, travel essayist, celebrity interviewer, fashion reporter, and ghost tale writer Renee Mallett.

WHEN?

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Eastern USA Time.....7-9 PM

Not sure what time that is wherever in the world you are? http://www.worldtimeserver.com

WHERE?

The Writers Chatroom at: http://www.writerschatroom.com/Enter.htm

Scroll down to the Java box. It may take a moment to load. Type in the name you wish to be known by, and click Sign In. No password needed.

Please note: The chatroom is only open for regularly scheduled chats.

Interview with historical and fantasy novelist Adrianna Morgan

I'm happy to introduce historical romance and fantasy author Adrianna Morgan today. She's doing a virtual book tour for her novel Once Upon A Fairytale Princess.

Bio:

Adrianna Morgan was born in the Bahamas. Of both West Indian and African ancestry, she was exposed to the shadowy world of the supernatural at a young age. She was blessed with a mother that knew the importance of a good ghost story making her fascinated by anything that goes bump in the night. Adrianna is obsessed with werewolves, vampires and demons, oh my! A Marine Biology teacher by day, she is still intrigued by the weird and the unusual.

Currently, she has 10 books on Amazon and has challenged herself to write one full novel per month this year, although she admits she is ready to throw in the towel. Almost.

Adrianna writes urban fantasy, erotica, and romance. Visit her at http://adriannamorgan.com for more of her books.

Welcome, Adrianna. Please tell us about your current release.

Once Upon A Fairytale Princess is based upon the premise that all the fairytales we know are snippets of one woman’s life. The Princess, in this case, is a noblewoman by the name of Ella Fitzpatrick, whose family has lost everything. To make ends meet, she quietly works as a seamstress until her father boasts that she is so good, she could probably spin straw into gold. Cue the royal family hearing of the claim and putting her to the test. The book also contains elements of Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Rapunzel, and Snow White, with a bit of magic thrown in.

Blurb:

In a matter of moments, Ella Fitzpatrick’s life went from bad to worse. Her father’s boast pits her against every seamstress in the village all vying for the ultimate prize—guest of honor at the Prince’s ball. Once there, Ella catches the eye of the charming prince and manages to make a powerful enemy; one who is not above using magic to aid her quest. Now Ella is on the run, chasing the very villain who killed her mother ten years ago and who may be trying to kill her now. The only thing stopping Ella is her lack of knowledge about her own magical background—and Hunter, the Prince’s brooding bodyguard. Hunter Kirk has been in love with Ella since she promised to marry him when they were children. Now she is pledged to his Prince and someone might be trying to kill her. He has to get to her before the last Fitzpatrick sorceress is killed—and he loses his chance to tell her how much he loves her.

What inspired you to write this book?

I love fairytales. I always have. Fairytales gave me the ability, as a kid, to traverse foreign lands and play with magic. It had always been something which fascinated me. As I grew older, my love of fairytales did not diminish, instead I moved on to encompass world mythology, finally adding it as a concentration to my Biology degree in college. I wanted to write a book in which all the fairytale characters knew each other and were perhaps friends and the book evolved into this one.

What exciting story are you working on next?

Right now, I am working on a new series titled, “The House of Valnak.” I am going back to my fantasy roots and reinventing (I hope) the vampire genre, just a bit. The first book is called Reyna: The Assassin and is a bit like “Underworld” meets “Van Helsing” with a bit more romance and treachery.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I still don’t. I still get a bit uncomfortable when someone introduces me as a writer. Writers write because it is a job. I do it because I love it. I guess I could say I became a writer the minute I finished my first book and make a concerted effort to get it published. But even now, I still get flustered hearing my name and “writer” in the same sentence.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I do not write full time. I am a high school teacher by day and a full-time doctoral graduate student. I would like to add that I am a mother, but since my only child has four legs, that may be stretching it a bit. I have a very intense schedule and as such, everything has to be written down and penciled in. I try to write (on average) about 5 pages per day, even if it is pure drivel, I can always sort through it later. On weekends, I try to double-up and in between doctoral papers and grading papers for my own students, I try to write at least one chapter. Needless to say, I spend a lot of time at the computer!

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Most of my stories have a fairytale at the core. If you look closely you’ll see it there, nestled cozily. I’ve also been told I speak like a teenager. I guess I am around them so often, it rubs off. *sigh*

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Apart from the classics (doctor, lawyer, astronaut and teacher) I wanted to be a Marine Biologist. Even studied Marine Biology in college. Got out into the real world and realized that most Marine Biologists are glorified lab assistants and technicians. If I wanted to work with Shamu, I should’ve studied Psychology in college (according to SeaWorld)?

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Books two and three of my “Blue Moon” trilogy will be released December 2012 and January 2013, respectively.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing a little bit about yourself and your writing. Happy touring!

Interview with writer J.Q. Rose about "Girls Succeed"

Thank you, Lisa, for hosting me today. I love talking about my interactive e-book for girls, Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women, and the remarkable women who are interviewed in it.

Hello, Readers, I’m J.Q. Rose. Thank you for stopping by. I’m excited to visit with you today. Please leave comments to enter a random drawing for prizes after the tour is completed. More information about that later.

Amazon | Smashwords 

Connect with me online at:

Girls Succeed blog 

J.Q. Rose blog 

Author website 

Bio:

After writing feature articles in magazines, newspapers, and online magazines for over fifteen years, J.Q. Rose entered the world of fiction writing with her first published novella, Sunshine Boulevard, released by Muse It Up Publishing in 2011. With Girls Succeed she returns to her first love, writing about real people. Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. Spending winters in Florida with her husband allows Janet the opportunity to enjoy the life of a snowbird. Summer finds her camping and hunting toads, frogs, and salamanders with her four grandsons and granddaughter.

Welcome, J.Q. Please tell us about your current release.

Girls Succeed: Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women profiles fifteen remarkable women who tell us about their chosen careers and the paths they followed to achieve their dream profession.

What inspired you to write this book?

I was stirred to write a book for girls after working four summers at Camp Newaygo, a girls’ residence camp in Michigan. I met the most amazing young women who were counselors and energetic campers who kept life interesting! I marveled at the potential for the futures of these smart, enthusiastic girls. Faced with so many possibilities for careers, I wondered what choices they would make. This e-book is a good reference for them to learn about a career, and the women’s stories inspire and empower girls to follow their dreams.

EXCERPT:

Introduction to Brenda Marshall’s story…not the entire chapter

“I personally measure success in terms of the contributions an individual makes to her or his fellow human beings.”--Margaret Mead

CHAPTER 15

BRENDA “FLOWER” MARSHALL

PROFESSIONAL CLOWN

A Big Red Nose

“If I had known where my red nose would take me, I would have been scared,” said Brenda Marshall. When she first put on a borrowed costume and a big red nose for her church’s Vacation Bible School twenty-five years ago, this young mom had no idea she would eventually be clowning in the United States, Poland, Russia, Hungary, China, Africa, Honduras, and Singapore.

Brenda was a quiet, shy girl in elementary school. She was a straight A student with outstanding penmanship. She was not interested in speaking in front of a group, let alone be funny or silly. In junior high school, Brenda thought acting could be fun so she signed up for the theater class. She loved the art of acting, bringing the written word to life, and hearing the applause from the audience. The thespian or actress continued performing throughout her high school years leading her to major in Theater in college.

Brenda met and married her husband after her first year in college. He convinced her to discontinue theater and enroll in business classes so she could have some skills to get a job. But several years later, she dropped the accounting classes and enrolled in a clown class at the same college.

Her first clowning “gig” or job was for the summer Vacation Bible School at her home church. She borrowed a homemade clown suit that had been a Halloween costume and found some large-sized shoes at the Goodwill store. She stuck a flower in her four-year-old daughter’s Easter hat and secured it to her head to complete her first costume. Brenda didn’t have much experience in clown make up, so she just applied the white face paint and drew on her face. She was a hit. The children loved her. She was thrilled with the experience. She was bitten by the “clown bug.”

“I didn’t have a clue as to what I was doing, but I knew it felt right,” Brenda said with a twinkle in her eyes.

@@@

HIGHLIGHTS OF HER CAREER

Citizen Ambassador to Poland, Russia, and Hungary

First woman president of Clowns of America International

Teaches Clown Camp at the University of Wisconsin, University of LaCrosse, Medicine Hat College in Alberta, Canada.

Director and Instructor of the International Clown Cruises aboard Carnival Cruise Line Ships

Taught clown ministry classes in the Summer School of Arts in Penticton, Canada

Adjunct professor at Arlington Baptist College, Arlington, TX

Taught at the clown ministry conference, Joey to the World, and at the Missouri Baptist clown conference

Awards in state and international clown competition in the make-up, parade ability, and skit categories.

Ceslee Conkling Award given by the Cowtown clowns, Alley # 135.

Ambassador of Clowning Award by the Texas Clown Association

Performed in Ghana, West Africa

Leader of the first People to People International Clown Delegation to China

Clown Ministry Impact Award

Performed in public schools in Roatan, Honduras

Taught clowning at a conference of children’s ministry workers in Singapore

Instructor for One Way Street Puppet Festivals, TNT Clown Seminars, and Bring Them in Children’s Ministry Conferences.

Co-creator of “Funnyatrics” at Children’s Medical Center, Dallas, TX

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Clown Organization of America International http://www.coai.org

Mooseburger Camp http://mooseburger.com/camp/index.html

Clowning for Christ http://clowning4christ.com/tnt_clown_retreat.htm

New York Goofs Clown School http://www.nygoofs.com/clown-school#!__clown-school

Sharing God’s Love Through Laughter—A Guide to Christian Clowning, by Brenda Marshall

What exciting story are you working on next?

As soon as I finish up this book tour for Girls Succeed, I will be working with a reading specialist to develop a study guide to accompany the book. My editor at Muse It Up Publishing just contacted me for edits on a new mystery/ romance, Coda to Murder, scheduled for release in February 2013. I plan to research several famous and not-so-famous women in the past who broke barriers such as the first woman to drive across the United States from New York to California in 1909 and Major Stephanie Rader, a World War II WAC who was a spy during the war in 1942. I enjoy research and will continue adding stories to the Girls Succeed blog. And always, there’s a mystery/romance story bouncing around in my brain that I will eventually have to get down on paper, or should I say, typed into a file in the laptop.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think I felt that first thrill when I saw my byline on my first newspaper article in 1995.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I have no full-time job, so I guess I write full-time. I never thought of it that way until my Internet went out and I had to fill my time in other ways. I couldn’t write blogs online, research online, hob-nob with my cyberspace author friends, or promote my writing. I didn’t realize how many hours I had free because I couldn’t promote online. When Muse It Up Publishing released my first e-book, I had no idea before and after marketing was so time consuming. So yes, I can say I write AND promote full-time.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I don’t know how interesting it is, but I write better (I think) when I don my old blue flannel shirt. Maybe because it’s comfortable and I feel cozy when wearing it. It’s also a reminder that I am serious about writing, so I stay more focused on the task I set for myself that day.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer. In fact I began writing in second grade. I think it is interesting I wrote the Girls Succeed book about working hard to make your dreams come true. It took me awhile, but now I am finally able to have the job I dreamed about when I was a child.

Thanks for stopping by, J.Q. It’s been a lot of fun.

Readers, here is the contest information J.Q. mentioned earlier: J.Q. will be drawing winners from visitors who leave comments during the tour. The prizes for you or a girl in your life are a $10 Amazon gift certificate, a copy of the Girls Succeed e-book in your choice of format, a “Succeed” beaded bracelet kit, and inspirational note pads. (See the Girls Succeed and J Q Rose blogs for photos and blog tour information.) Winners announced on her blogs on Sunday, November 18 at 9 pm EST. Good luck!

Interview with historical novelist Vickey Kall

Welcome to almost mid-November. I'd like to introduce you to historical novelist Vickey Kall. She's here to tell us a bit about her novel, Death Speaker.

You can read the first 5 chapters of Death Speaker for free. Here's the purchase link for a print copy from CreateSpace, and any format of e-book from Smashwords.

Bio:

Vickey Kall is a freelance writer with a passion for history. In fact, a few years ago she went back to college to get a masters degree in history from Arizona State University. From ancient Gaul to Vaudeville or even Baby Boomers and Pet Rocks, she finds it all fascinating.

Welcome, Vickey. Please tell us about your current release.

Death Speaker tells the story of Emyn, a Celtic peasant who hears ghosts. Emyn lives at a dangerous time: Julius Caesar has begun an invasion of her homeland, present-day France. Emyn’s spirits whisper that Caesar will destroy everything she loves.

But ghosts do not always tell the truth. As Emyn travels to warn druids and kings about the Roman threat, she savors love and endures betrayal, relying on her gods and her own stubborn strength to see her through the dark days ahead.

What inspired you to write this book?

I intended to write something quite different, but could not get the dramatic coastline of Brittany and the stories I’d heard out of my head. I finally plunged in, and the character took over. Once I delved into the ancient history of the area, everything I read gave me ideas.

Excerpt:

Emyn cried out, but could not hear her own voice—only the long scream of other-worldly beasts. She had never seen war horns before; they rose from the bushes, their slender trunks like saplings, taller than men.

The horns screamed for battle, and from all sides, men responded.

Horses reared, throwing centurions off their backs. The few Romans who managed to hold onto their mounts crouched and raced away like scared dogs, their red cloaks flailing behind them.  

Shrieking to match the horns, tribal warriors burst from the bushes to give chase. The gentle slope in front of the bushes changed from green to speckled brown, alive with men leaping down as if it were a disrupted anthill. Emyn tucked in her arms and turned away, overwhelmed.

The war horns blared again. She stood in a river that seemed shallow and still as death for a moment. Then the warriors ran past her, holding their swords and axes high. One man tripped over tree roots and fell. Before she could jump out of his way, others ran straight at her, screaming in triumph. Emyn threw her hands over her face as river water splashed up and soaked her.

The screams and horns stopped; a crowded murmur filled the silence. She shuddered and felt dry ground beneath her feet.

“Tell me what you saw,” the druid said.

Emyn shook. “A battle begins.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

The next one is exciting in a different way—I’ve been collecting trivia and stories for a book on Baby Boomers’ Christmas memories—aluminum trees, Slinkies and Frisbees, food, songs, TV specials—everything. This is will be non-fiction, of course.

I’m also working on a novel of the Gold Rush era in California, built around the craziness and greed that overtook men and a few women back then. In fact, the working title is Greed.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Does second grade count? That’s when I tried writing my own version of Peter Pan. . . I guess today that would be called fan fiction.

But once I got my history degree, nine years ago, and went looking for writing gigs rather than a real job—THAT’s when I realized I truly was a full-time writer.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I do write full time, and it’s hard to pick a typical day. When I was writing Death Speaker I often worked on that for 14, 15 hours a day, every day, then I’d take a break for a week and do some paying work for magazines.

Now I’m working on two books, two blogs, odd jobs and a technical writing gig, as well as promoting Death Speaker, so my days are very different. Most successful writers I’ve met—meaning financially successful—have a dozen different projects going at once, so I feel like I’m moving in the right direction.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Hmmm…gotta be that I love the research as well as the writing. Most folks hate the research part, but for me it’s fun, like doing puzzles all day.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

A writer was in there—but also a ballerina, ice skater, astronomer, and actress. And a nun, a fashion designer, and princess.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I’d like to invite your readers to enjoy the first five chapters for free at DeathSpeaker.com. My guess is that you’ll want the rest of the book, and there are links right there to allow you to buy it.

Thanks for stopping by, Vickey and sharing a bit about your writing and this novel with us!

Interview with YA author Naomi Rabinowitz

Today's guest is young adult author Naomi Rabinowitz. She's doing a virtual book tour for her novel Revenge of a Band Geek Gone Bad.

As part of the tour, Naomi is raffling off a prize pack that contains and e-book, CD, and earrings. You can enter at the bottom of the interview. Also, if you'd like more chances to win, you can visit her other tour stops. 

Bio:
Naomi Rabinowitz has always loved being creative. Raised in Nesconset, NY -- a suburb on Long Island -- she was introduced to the arts at an early age. Her mother, Joyce, is a pianist; her father, Melvin, plays piano and guitar; her grandmother, Esther, was a talented knitter; her late grandfather, Morris, was a violinist; her late great uncle, Sid Robin, was a well-known jazz musician, who penned the lyrics to the popular big band hit, "Undecided."

Naomi's parents, who were both teachers, frequently took her to museums and concerts. During their summers off, her family traveled. By the time she was 15, Naomi had been to several European countries, as well as China, Japan, Israel, Egypt, Russia and Mexico.

Naomi's love for writing emerged when she was in the second grade and her poem, "The Four Seasons," won first prize in a local literary competition. She became interested in journalism in junior high when her English class was selected to write for Newsday's "Kidsday" column.

She had as much passion for music. Though she began playing piano when she was three, she switched to her "true" instrument, the flute, when she was nine and eventually added tenor sax and clarinet to her list so that she could play in jazz band. She performed in almost every musical group from wind ensemble to orchestra (but never marching band!). In 2008, she released her jazz album FLUTE PATH.

Naomi received a B.A. in English from Binghamton University and an M.A. in magazine journalism from Syracuse University. From 1998-2012, she worked as a reporter/editor for national TV magazine Soap Opera Digest.

These days, Naomi writes, plays jazz flute and designs jewelry for her businesses Naomi's Designs and MayaGirl Creations. She lives in Queens, NY with her husband, Jonathan, and their cat, Maya.

Welcome, Naomi. Please tell us about your current release:
Revenge of a Band Geek Gone Bad follows the story of the 15-year-old narrator, Melinda, a self-proclaimed "loser," who believes that the only thing that she has going for her is that she's first chair flute in band. Unfortunately, she botches an audition and loses her seat to her longtime rival, Kathy, who's one of the popular kids.

After, Mel is approached by troublemaking trumpet prodigy Josh, who's had his own problems with Kathy. He persuades Melinda to team up with him so that they can take down Kathy. Mel reluctantly agrees, but is drawn to Josh because he's good-looking and charismatic. They become friends and fall in love, but eventually Josh's schemes get to be too much for Mel. She has to decide how far she's willing to go to win her fight and if staying with Josh is worth it.

Though teen romance is a big part of Band Geek  the story is so much more than that. It's really Melinda's coming-of-age tale as she deals with family problems, issues with her friends and yes, her first love. Josh and Mel are the main characters, but theirs isn't the only tale that I tell: we also get to know Mel's parents, her band conductor, her best friend, Lana, and her nemesis, Kathy. It's a story about Melinda's WORLD in addition to it being just about her life.

What inspired you to write this book?
Well, I was a band geek myself. I've play flute for 30 years and was in my high school band -- and I had my own flute rival to contend with. She wasn't a bully like Kathy is to Melinda, but the competition was still pretty intense! There are many YA stories that focus on the pressures that athletes face, but I wanted to write one that reflected what I'd experienced as a musician. 

As for the love story aspect of my novel, I initially based Josh on my husband, Jon, who was a bad boy in high school. I wondered if we would've gotten along as teens and that "What if?" became the basis for creating Josh and Mel's relationship. However, once I began actually writing Mel and Josh, they took on lives of their own.

Excerpt:

Josh followed me into the hallway and fell into step beside me.  "How'd you like to get your seat back?" he asked.  Only he said it really quickly so it sounded more like "Howdylikegetaseatack?"

    "Huh?" 

    "How'd you like to get your seat back?" he said more slowly.  "How'd you like to knock Kathy back down to second chair —- or even lower than that?"

    I sighed and kept walking.  "I'm not really sure I'm the person you want."

    "The Hindemith Sonata," he blurted, snapping his fingers.  "That's what you played last year at the band recital.  It was very good."

    I stopped walking, surprised by the compliment.  "Thanks."

    "Kathy played a Mozart piece and wasn't nearly as good as you," he went on.  "I remember that, too.  That's how I know she shouldn't have beaten you today."

    I was beginning to understand why Josh was so popular; he had this way of making you feel at ease and like everything you say is important.  My initial nervousness at being around him washed away.  Yet I wasn't entirely convinced that this guy was on my side.  How could I trust someone who tormented Mr. Francis on almost a daily basis?

    He bit his lip and was quiet for a moment.  "Look, I have some issues with Kathy, too," he admitted.  "I asked her out this summer at a party we were both at.  And you know what she did?  She didn't just say no.  She spilled a large Coke on my head in front of everyone and then posted photos of me online.  Can you believe that?"

    I’d missed seeing these photos, but couldn't help laughing at the thought of him dripping with Coke, his ego shattered.  I covered my mouth so he couldn't see me, but he did.  "Yeah, yeah, it was hilarious," he said, rolling his eyes.  "She apparently had some boyfriend there with her who I didn't know about so she was mad at me for daring to approach her.  But she didn't have to be such a beyotch.”  He shook his head, obviously still pained by the memory.  "My point is, she messed with me and now she messed with you.  If we don’t stop her, she’ll do it to someone else."

    "I guess.  But to be fair, Kathy didn't really do anything today," I said.  "It was Mr. Francis who flipped out and I should probably be thankful that he didn't make me last chair."

    Josh's blue eyes narrowed.  "So you think Kathy's innocent in this?  Oh, please.  Who do you think snapped your spring out of place?

    "What?"  This hadn't even crossed my mind.  Could Kathy have done that to me?  No, there was no way.  The spring was really small and she would've had to have gotten really close to my instrument in order to do that.  "She didn't," I said.  "If she did, I would've felt it."

    Josh held up the wallet which I kept in my purse.  "You didn't feel me taking this.”

    I angrily snatched it out of his hand and stuffed it back into my bag.  I then realized I'd been so busy listening to Josh  that I'd missed my bus.  "Damn it!"  I muttered.

    "What?"  He held up his hands.  "I swear, I didn't take anything from your wallet!"

    "No, it's not that," I explained.  "I missed my bus."

    Josh smiled.  "Hey, no problem.  I can give you a ride."

    "Really?  It's no big deal.  I can just walk..."

    "Well, I don't think you can really walk in those jeans."

    He was right.  I didn't need everyone else to see my granny panties and I could be doing worse things than riding home with a hot guy.  "Okay, thanks."

    "But there's just one condition," he said, as we made our way to the parking lot.  "In exchange for this ride, you give me just one chance to help you get your seat back.  If it doesn't work or you don't like what I'm doing, I'll leave you alone."

    "I don't know..."

    "Oh, come on.  I gave you my jacket.  I'm giving you a ride home... it's the least you can do.  Do it for the guy who got a bucket of soda dumped over him?"

    I laughed despite myself.  "Okay, one chance."

    "Oh, good!"  he said, clapping his hands.  "Let's get ready to bring Kathy down." 

What exciting story are you working on next?
I've just begun work on my next novel, which is also going to be a YA book. This one is going to take place in college and is going to focus on the friendship between a straight girl and a gay guy. It's going to be another love story, only in this case, that love will be platonic. 

I'd also like to write a sequel to Band Geek from Josh's point of view, but am still working out the details on that one. Writing from the guy's perspective will be an interesting challenge!

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I was 8 years old and in the second grade. My teacher entered my poem into a local competition and I won first prize for my age group. Until that point, I'd loved making up poems and stories, but I now realized that people were actually interested in what I had to say.

I wrote my first full-scale novel when I was 12. It was about the goings-on in my elementary school's band. While it didn't directly inspire Band Geek  I've always been determined to do something that combined my love of writing and music. Writing ABOUT music is the best way to do that!

Do you write full time? If not, what do you do other than write, and how do you find time to write?
I work for myself full-time, but actually have several different businesses. For 14 years, I wrote for Soap Opera Digest magazine, but was laid off in March. After that, I decided to become my own boss and am involved in a bunch of different projects. I make and sell my own jewelry online and at craft fairs; my main jewelry business is called Naomi's Designs and my children's line is MayaGirl Creations. I also take jewelry classes and write articles for HubPages. Plus, I have a jewelry blog and my author blog.

Finding time to actually sit down and write my novels can be tough, but I try to put in at least an hour a day. I wrote Band Geek while I was still working at SOD and would wake up early so that I could finish a chapter before work. Now I'm fortunate in that I have some more freedom in my schedule, but I still need to schedule a block of time specifically for writing. Between writing novels and designing jewelry, I sometimes feel like I have a split personality, but I love what I'm doing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Hmmm... I tend to get my best ideas when I'm doing something mindless. If I'm having some writers' block, I like to take a few minutes to play a simple video games like Tetris, where I can let my mind go and daydream. For some reason, this helps me refocus.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As I said earlier, I've always wanted to be a writer. Once I got older, I focused on journalism instead of creative writing because that seemed as if it would be a more lucrative path to follow, but I've dreamed of writing novels for as long as I can remember. 

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I'm very project-minded and am constantly trying new things. Writing will always be my first love, but there are so many other things that I want to try my hand at. Keep an eye out for me because you never know what I'll be doing next! 

Ways to connect with me: Facebook | Blog | Amazon

Thanks, Naomi!

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