The Wind Whisperer by Krista Holle

At fifteen, Anaii is the most important member of her tribe—and the most mysterious.  Ever since Anaii can remember, the spirits of the wind have whispered of fertile hunting grounds and imminent enemy attacks.  But when her people are ambushed by a brother clan without any apparent cause, the spirits remain eerily silent.

As the village prepares to retaliate, Anaii is pressured by her best friend, Elan, to marry him.  It’s an old plea—Elan has spent a lifetime loving her, but Anaii only sees a childhood playmate out of an imposing warrior.  Stifled by Elan’s insistence, Anaii escapes into the forest where she meets Jayttin, the beautiful son of the enemy chief. 

Enamored by Jayttin’s carefree spirit and hope for peace, she repeatedly sneaks away to be with him, but when her deception is discovered, Elan is devastated.  Pledging his lifelong affection, Elan gives her a passionate kiss, and Anaii begins to see her friend in a new light. 

While Anaii is tormented over which man she must choose, the wind whispers of a new threat that could destroy both tribes.  Only a union will afford a chance at survival, but the reality of that union is based on one thing—which man Anaii chooses to die.

Goodreads book link:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18144303-the-wind-whisperer

Krista has stopped by for an interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always enjoyed writing but I knew I wanted to seek it as a profession when I sent The Wind Whisperer to a fifteen-year-old girl I’d never met.  Her father told me she stayed up all night to read it.  That was the best feeling in the world.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

 I’d have to say one. 

I’m a registered nurse by day and a writer by night.

 

? How long does it take you to write a book?

About six months.  I think I’m slower than the average author.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I write wearing sound silencing head phones.  I figure this is pretty neurotic.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

My main character Anaii was inspired by Pocahontas.  I was living on land once owned by her when I wrote The Wind Whisperer.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

I’m interested in all sorts of love stories, but the theme has to be unchartered territory.  I have no desire to write about vampires.

? What books have most influenced your life? 

The huge success of Twilight  made me realize that there is a huge audience of women and girls who crave good old-fashioned love stories just like me. After reading the series, I started writing again after a decade of busy motherhood.

? What are you reading right now?

 I just finished Dead Beautiful.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I collect sea shells, watch movies, and sometimes paint pretty pictures.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.

? What do you think makes a good story?

I heard somewhere that every great book has three important elements: a great plot, interesting characters, and factor X.  If you figure out what factor X is, please let me know.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

I have lots of favorites but I’m going to go with Shannon Hale.  Shannon has a beautiful way of writing stories from other lands.  They feel like modern fairy tales and usually have a touch of sweet romance in them.

Fun random questions: 

• dogs or cats? Cats
• Coffee or tea? Water with lemon, please.
• Dark or milk chocolate? Milk
• Rocks or flowers? Rocks
• Night or day? Day
• Favorite color? Pink
• Crayons or markers? Markers
• Pens or pencils? Pens

Good reads author link:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5316541.Krista_Holle

Author website:  http://www.kristaholle.com/

Author blog:  http://kristaholle.blogspot.com/

More about the author:

Krista has been writing since she was nine-years-old when she scribbled out her first adolescent work entitled Merish, the completely illogical but heartfelt story of a girl who was part mermaid, part fish. As a young mother, Krista added to her repertoire some middle grade readers and picture books she’s wary of mentioning.

In 2004, Krista began an intensive four year period working part-time as a critical care nurse while homeschooling her four children. During this hectic time, courses of writing were taught and learned, and rules of syntax were scolded to memory. Ironically this period of study equipped Krista with the tools she needed to enter the next phase of her writing experience. Now equipped with the mysteries of the comma, Krista was ready to tackle a much bigger project—a full fledged novel.

After the kids were enrolled in public school in 2009, it occurred to Krista that there is an insatiable audience of women and girls who want to read books filled with stories about true love. Convinced that there was an unfulfilled audience waiting for what Krista loves to write—romance, she sat down in the family’s dungeon, a.k.a. the basement, and began to furiously type. In no time, her first novel was drying on crisp white paper.

Krista currently resides in Midlothian, Virginia with her husband, four daughters, and an eccentric cat with an attachment to the family’s socks. She continues to write obsessively every chance she can get.

(review to follow)

Phase by Adam Hamdy

“Remember this.”

Thomas Schaefer is haunted by a memory.

He has devoted a large part of his adult life to finding his kidnapped daughter. Since Amber’s disappearance ten years ago, Schaefer has become an expert in the recovery of missing people – his particular specialty is rescuing young adults from cults.

Schaefer inhabits a dark world populated by sinister characters. His obsession with finding Amber draws him down a desperate path. His only seeming sources of succor are Doctor Harry Gilmore, a renowned cult deprogrammer, and Ellen Ovitz, a psychic Schaefer once consulted in his desperation to find his daughter. Gilmore and Ellen represent different approaches to life – the rational and the spiritual – and Schaefer finds himself torn between the two. 

Against his better judgment, Schaefer takes on a case that Gilmore brings him – the disappearance of a young girl, Katie Blake. The case shares many similarities with Amber’s kidnapping – the two girls even look the same. Schaefer meets Katie’s mother, Sally Blake, and says he will find her missing daughter. Schaefer starts by shaking down known pedophiles, but has little success. He also asks a police contact to investigate an occult symbol found at the scenes of Amber’s and Katie’s kidnappings.

As he encounters events he cannot explain, Schaefer turns to Ellen Ovitz, who tells Schaefer that there is a dark cloud around him – that he must give up the search for his daughter if he is to have any hope of salvation.

Alistair Mathers, a distinguished occultist, discovers that Schaefer is at the heart of a dark conspiracy.  Schaefer cannot give up the search for his daughter, and finds himself struggling with the challenge of an increasingly macabre world. When he is used to kill an innocent man and implicated in the murder of his police contact, Schaefer goes on the offensive and tracks down the people who are manipulating him. Schaefer discovers that he and his daughter are part of an occult ceremony that goes back hundreds of years, and that there is much more at stake than their lives: their souls face the prospect of eternal damnation.

Adam has stopped by for an interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Sitting in my commercial law tutorial realising that a career in law wouldn’t let me exercise an overactive imagination.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

I tried turning pro when I was 22, but lacked the discipline to do anything but kill time.  So I embarked on a corporate career and had four jobs before I had another crack at writing.  This time it seems to have worked out.

? How long does it take you to write a book?

So far the average has been about four months.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

Phase is only my second novel, so I’m not sure I’ve been writing long enough to develop quirks.  I do like listening to drum and bass music as I write, however, so if things seem like they’re happening at 150 beats per minute there’s a reason.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

From life.  Live life, talk to people, expose yourself to the most colourful people you possible can, listen to their stories, peel back the layers and understand the psychology behind them. 

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

There’s a buzz of excitement that always comes with a new idea.  If the buzz remains after you’ve chewed it over for a couple of months, it’s probably worth pursuing.

? What books have most influenced your life?

The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, Cloud Atlas, the works of Stephen King, the works of Peter Biskind, and Jeeves & Wooster.

? What are you reading right now?

A draft manuscript of Welcome Home by my friend Adam Sydney.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Spend time with my family, make films and go to the gym.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Lamb shawarma from Ranoush Juice on Edgware Road.

? What do you think makes a good story?

An emotional reaction.  If I can write something that thrills, saddens, angers or otherwise emotionally engages people, I feel I’ve done something right.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

Alexandre Dumas.  He wrote entertaining tales of adventure that were considered a little trashy and populist by contemporaries, but have stood the test of time.

Fun random questions: 

·        dogs or cats? Dogs

·        Coffee or tea? Tea

·        Dark or milk chocolate? Dark

·        Rocks or flowers? Rocks

·        Night or day? Night

·        Favorite color? Blue

·        Crayons or markers? Markers

·        Pens or pencils? Pencils

Thanks for having me.

More about the author: 

Adam Hamdy is a British writer and filmmaker.  Hamdy’s self-published debut novel, Battalion, has been described by critics as a ‘blistering political, techno-thriller’ (The Lottery Party) and a ‘must read’ (Bookreview.com). Hamdy executed innovative deals with The Huffington Post and Qustodian to promote the book, which currently rates 4.3 stars on Amazon.com, and 4.6 stars on Amazon.co.uk.

Hamdy produced and co-directed the critically acclaimed, award-nominated cult feature, Pulp, which was sold to Microsoft and became the first fi lm to ever premiere on the Xbox platform. After Pulp’s successful UK launch, Microsoft released the fi lm in Australia and New Zealand, where it quickly shot to number one in the overall fi lm sales chart in both territories.

Hamdy has also written for the comic and video game industries, and created The Hunter, one of the most successful series of independent graphic novels in recent years.

Hamdy holds a BA in Philosophy from the University of London and an MA in Law from Oxford University. He had a successful international business career before changing direction to pursue his long-held ambition to become a writer and filmmaker.

Codename Chimera by J.K. Persy

Click HERE for more information.

Guest Post

About us. Our names are Jake and Kate Persy and we’re young, self-publishing writers. We’re a happy couple, we have a healthy, active lifestyle and our motto is, ‘The best moment to be happy is right now’.

About our book. Codename: Chimera is a fast-paced whodunit mystery. Because of its easy, laid-back style, the pace of the action and the absorbing puzzles, the book soon took off. In Codename: Chimera, the detective and his friends investigate a chain of bloody events with links to an ancient curse. The terrible secret they are trying to get to the bottom of is shrouded in the legend of a mythical creature, Chimera.   

Social impact. We wanted to do more than just write an interesting story; we wanted to share our philosophy with you, and our motto, ‘The best moment to be happy is right now’, sums it up perfectly. Using the example of the characters in Codename: Chimera, we wanted to show you how important it is to savour every single second, and not put off until tomorrow what life holds for you today.

Book Spotlight: Blood and Fire (Talbot Trilogy #2) by Tori L. Ridgewood

Blood and Fire: Book Two of the Talbot Trilogy is a paranormal romance by Tori L. Ridgewood that was released February 2014.

Book Synopsis:

What chance does one witch have against five vampires? Alone, not much. But Rayvin’s allies are gathering…

The battle between good and evil supernatural forces heats up in the long, cold November nights of the former mining town. But how will Rayvin’s motley crew of spellcasters and shapeshifters cope when they discover the threat they face is even greater than they imagined?

Blood and Fire is available for sale on:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Blood-Fire-Talbot-Trilogy-Ridgewood-ebook/dp/B00IDNJ7U0/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/404643

Lulu: http://www.lulu.com/shop/tori-l-ridgewood/blood-and-fire/paperback/product-21444423.html

The Talbot Trilogy books:


0. Mist and Midnight (prequel)


1. Wind and Shadow


2. Blood and Fire


3. Crystal and Wand

Excerpt:

Crouching to prod the fire, Grant thought over the options now open to him. It wasn't safe to go back to Talbot, at least not until he had gained a better understanding of what had happened to him. He needed more than a measure of control over this thing. Once he had that, he could go home and set things right. Destroy de Sade once and for all. After all, was that not the purpose of werewolves? To be an equal adversary for the undead?

The next question was not as simple. Just how did a werewolf train himself? Was it even possible for him to remain cognizant and in control when his body was no longer human?

A knot of sap crackled and snapped. He amused himself with the thought that the fire was speaking to him.

The thought that he was merely delusional, that being able to magically transform into a vicious four-footed animal was a hallucination, the product of slow starvation and exposure, nearly made him laugh aloud.

If a fire could speak, its language would be visual, he decided. He relaxed his eyes and let the glowing embers form shapes and letters.

The wind blew in from the open cabin door, swirling around him and carrying the clean scents of snow, damp wood and earth, mixed with the rank odour of animal carcass from his footprints in the snow…and something else. 

Grant held very still.

The something else was faint, but recognizable. Vaguely comforting. It made him think of an old wet dog. Or an old man who had not washed in a long time. Some combination of the two. 

A cluster of coals fell in a rush of sparks. The noise drew Grant’s attention, even as the strange smell made his nose twitch and his nostrils flare.

The collapsed, blackened piece of wood strongly resembled the face of a man with strong, mature features. It was broad in the forehead, with a long nose and wide, round eyes. A scattering of red embers looked like a bushy beard covering the mouth and jaw.

It couldn’t be possible during the day, but it seemed to Grant that he could hear the borealis sing.

Solomon. The name that belonged to this face. It was spelled out clearly for him, just for a moment, in the leaping flames.

A few more sticks collapsed, changing the image. An a-frame cabin on a lake. A short, blunt mountain nearby, and a small lake in the shape of a teardrop. The mountain had sheer sides.  Grant thought he recognized it, had even been rock climbing on it in his youth. Mount Cheminis, near Dark Lake.

Yes. Grant understood. He blinked, and the images were gone. Exhaling, he got to his feet and went to the door. The scent of wolf and man now seemed to clearly mark a trail through the trees, to the south-east.

Someone had sent him a message. His gut wanted to tell him that it was Rayvin, though logically that couldn’t be right. How the hell could she contact him from so far away? She’d done it before, sent him a mental plea for help, but she’d only been a few blocks away. And was it at all possible that she knew this character?

About the Author:

After her first heartbreak, Tori found solace in two things: reading romance novels and listening to an after-dark radio program called Lovers and Other Strangers. Throughout the summer and fall of 1990, the new kid in town found reading fiction and writing her own short stories gave her a much needed creative outlet. Determined to become a published author, Tori amassed stacks of notebooks and boxes of filed-away stories, most only half-finished before another idea would overtake her and demand to be written down. Then, while on parental leave with her second baby, one story formed and refused to be packed away. Between teaching full-time, parenting, and life in general, it would take almost seven years before the first novel in her first trilogy would be completed. In the process, Tori finally found her stride as a writer.

At present, on her off-time, Tori not only enjoys reading, but also listening to an eclectic mix of music as she walks the family dog (Skittles), attempts to turn her thumb green, or makes needlework gifts for her friends and family members. She loves to travel, collect and make miniature furniture, and a good cup of tea during a thunderstorm or a blizzard. Under it all, she is always intrigued by history, the supernatural, vampire and shapeshifter mythology, romance, and other dangers.

Tori is currently working on Crystal and Wand: Book Three of The Talbot Trilogy. She lives in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada with her husband and two children. She is a full-time teacher at a local high school.

Author Links:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToriLRidgewood

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ToriLRidgewood

Website: http://torilridgewood.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5760106.Tori_L_Ridgewood

Promo Blitz: Fathoms of Forgiveness by Nadia Scrieva

Fathoms of Forgiveness - PROMO Blitz

By Nadia Scrieva

Paranormal Romance - Epic Fantasy

Date Published: March 2012

Meet the brave and fearless Visola; a woman unlike any you've ever encountered. Her wit and humor take her through the darkest of dangers with a smile always on her face--and her smile only grows larger as the odds become more impossible. With no concern for her own safety, Visola dives headfirst into the throes of battle to protect the people and country she loves, even if it means facing her worst enemy--the one man who can get inside her head and break her down like no other: her own husband...       

There is no divorce in the undersea kingdom of Adlivun. Marriage is a bond that lasts until death--even if death comes in several centuries, and in that time your spouse happens to become your sworn enemy. This is the conflict that General Visola Ramaris faces when she learns that the mighty Vachlan is behind the attacks on her kingdom. She has sworn to protect Adlivun with her life, but long ago, she also swore to love and honor her husband...

Visola must choose whether she will destroy Vachlan once and for all, or attempt the hardest thing conceivable: communication. After two hundred years of desertion, she knows she can never forgive him. When he threatens the person dearest to her, she must take action. Confronting Vachlan on enemy territory would be nothing short of suicide. She knows that if she falls into his custody, the deranged mercenary would relish torturing her and making her lose her own sanity.

Princess Aazuria forbids Visola from taking matters into her own hands. She will do anything it takes to protect her friend from the man who wants to crush her. Alas, Visola is a crazy, uncontrollable warrior with the blood of Vikings in her veins. Why would she ever consider doing the safe and predictable thing?

EXCERPT

When Aazuria entered the room, her eyes were immediately drawn to Visola’s wild red hair, which had recently been a lustrous mass of audacious curls. Now, her hair was limp. It hung against her head flat, frizzy and defeated. Aazuria’s eyes darted to the warrior’s sunken cheekbones and gaunt face. She saw the bruises on Visola’s neck before her eyes traveled further to the withered, wasted limbs. Every visible part of her friend’s body was covered in fresh scars. She saw the bandaged hands. Visola had been starved and tortured.

Perhaps in these modern times, even under the surface of the sea, kings, queens, and the aristocracy had close to zero significance. Perhaps the words and decrees which left Aazuria’s mouth would have minimal consequences. No one in the throne room felt this way as they awaited Aazuria’s judgment with bated breath. Sionna was standing aside, with her arms crossed. The newly-crowned queen gripped her husband’s sword tightly in her fist as Trevain and Elandria entered the room behind her.

Aazuria shifted her eyes to the man standing beside her friend. Her face was expressionless.

“Approach me, Vachlan,” she whispered.

The man began walking toward her. Although his stride was dignified, there was hesitation on his face. Visola began speaking, pleading words which Aazuria could not hear over the sound of her heart pounding in her ears.

When Vachlan was close enough to strike, Aazuria gazed at him with death in her eyes.

“Kneel,” she commanded him. Her chest was rising and falling perceptibly.

Vachlan knew that this would be a very unwise thing to do, but he owed it to Aazuria. He owed it to Visola, and to Adlivun—the nation he had once called home.  He lowered his head and dropped to one knee before the queen, saluting her across his chest. His eyes were level with the sword she held, and he could see the veins bulging through her translucent pale skin from how tightly she clutched it.

“It would be futile to order you punished,” she said slowly. “No one can even attempt to hurt you as much as you have hurt her.”

“I know,” he answered quietly.

“But it is my duty to try.”

She struck out with her sword, slicing the air until the blade collided with his face, knocking Vachlan off his knees and onto the floor. Aazuria could vaguely hear Visola screaming for her to stop, but she was already standing over Vachlan and forcing the tip of her sword between his teeth. Her previous strike had resulted in a huge bleeding gash along the side of his handsome face, but it had not been enough to kill him. She was poised to finish the job.

Vachlan moved his tongue against the steel, tasting the freshly-sharpened metal edge garnished with the metallic taste of his own blood. It is rare that the wine so perfectly accompanies the main dish, he thought as he swallowed the coppery fluid accumulating in his mouth. Kind of like a German Pinot Noir. He looked into the azure eyes of Adlivun’s queen and realized that this was no longer the innocent, charitable philanthropist he had known hundreds of years ago. She was hard. He wondered what percentage of the tempered rage behind her eyes he was responsible for generating.

“One reason.” Aazuria was demanding. “Give me one convincing reason that I should not thrust my blade directly through your skull.”

Nadia Scrieva

Nadia Scrieva lives in Toronto, Canada with no husband, no kids, and no pets. She does own a very attractive houseplant which she occasionally remembers to water between her all-consuming writing marathons.

Author Links

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Smashwords | Google Play

This Blitz is brought to you by Reading Addiction Book Tours

The Wind Whisperer by Krista Holle

Amazon Product Description:

At fifteen, Anaii is the most important member of her tribe—and the most mysterious. Ever since Anaii can remember, the spirits of the wind have whispered of fertile hunting grounds and imminent enemy attacks. But when her people are ambushed by a brother clan without any apparent cause, the spirits remain eerily silent. 

As the village prepares to retaliate, Anaii is pressured by her best friend, Elan, to marry him. It’s an old plea—Elan has spent a lifetime loving her, but Anaii only sees a childhood playmate out of an imposing warrior. Stifled by Elan’s insistence, Anaii escapes into the forest where she meets Jayttin, the beautiful son of the enemy chief. 

Enamored by Jayttin’s carefree spirit and hope for peace, she repeatedly sneaks away to be with him, but when her deception is discovered, Elan is devastated. Pledging his lifelong affection, Elan gives her a passionate kiss, and Anaii begins to see her friend in a new light. 
While Anaii is tormented over which man she must choose, the wind whispers of a new threat that could destroy both tribes. Only a union will afford a chance at survival, but the reality of that union is based on one thing—which man Anaii chooses to die.

Click HERE to buy a copy of The Wind Whisperer.

Click HERE to check out The Lure of Shapinsay.

Krista Holle has stopped by for an interview:

? When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always enjoyed writing but I knew I wanted to seek it as a profession when I sent The Wind Whisperer to a fifteen-year-old girl I’d never met.  Her father told me she stayed up all night to read it.  That was the best feeling in the world.

? How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

I’d have to say one.  I’m a registered nurse by day and a writer by night.

 

? How long does it take you to write a book?

About six months.  I think I’m slower than the average author.

? What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I write wearing sound silencing head phones.  I figure this is pretty neurotic.

? Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

My main character Anaii was inspired by Pocahontas.  I was living on land once owned by her when I wrote The Wind Whisperer.

? How do you decide what you want to write about?

I’m interested in all sorts of love stories, but the theme has to be unchartered territory.  I have no desire to write about vampires.

? What books have most influenced your life? 

The huge success of Twilight  made me realize that there is a huge audience of women and girls who crave good old-fashioned love stories just like me. After reading the series, I started writing again after a decade of busy motherhood.

? What are you reading right now?

I just finished Dead Beautiful.

? What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I collect sea shells, watch movies, and sometimes paint pretty pictures.

? What is your favorite comfort food?

Tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich.

? What do you think makes a good story?

I heard somewhere that every great book has three important elements: a great plot, interesting characters, and factor X.  If you figure out what factor X is, please let me know.

? Who would you consider your favorite author and why?

I have lots of favorites but I’m going to go with Shannon Hale.  Shannon has a beautiful way of writing stories from other lands.  They feel like modern fairy tales and usually have a touch of sweet romance in them.

Fun random questions: 

• dogs or cats? Cats
• Coffee or tea? Water with lemon, please.
• Dark or milk chocolate? Milk
• Rocks or flowers? Rocks
• Night or day? Day
• Favorite color? Pink
• Crayons or markers? Markers
• Pens or pencils? Pens

Book Promo/Author Interview/Giveaway: Tori L. Ridgewood (Wind and Shadow: Book One of the Talbot Trilogy)

Tori L. Ridgewood’s new book Wind and Shadow: Book One of the Talbot Trilogy, published by Melange Books, was released on June 20, 2013.

After a series of misadventures including being accused of attempted murder in high school, Rayvin Woods, a photographer and natural witch, left her hometown of Talbot in Northeastern Ontario, hoping to start her life over and never return. Ten years later, circumstances force her back to face her past and her former crush Grant Michaels.

Malcolm de Sade, a cunning vampire, escapes from an underground prison looking for vengeance. His accidental release unleashes his hunger and ambition on a small, sleepy town. Rayvin’s power is all that stands between de Sade and his domination of Talbot, and beyond.

Grant Michaels, a police officer, thought Rayvin was a murderer. He will do whatever it takes to protect the community he loves from danger... but will he learn to trust his heart, and the word of a witch, before it's too late?

Rayvin didn't count on rekindling a lost love or battling a malevolent vampire and his coven for her life when she came home to Talbot. Facing the past can be a nightmare… It’s worse when a vampire is stalking you.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Shadow-Talbot-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00DYCH64Y

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToriLRidgewood

Website: http://torilridgewood.wordpress.com/

Tori has joined us for an interview:
Welcome Tori:

 When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

It’s always just been there. I have journals from my childhood in which I was writing stories, and I remember being determined, at age twelve, to get my first book published. It just took longer than I realized . . . Twenty-four years longer!

 How many jobs did you have before you became a writer?

I’ve been a teacher for twelve years, and it’s still my primary occupation. Prior to getting my teaching certification, while I was in university, I worked at a variety of part-time jobs: I was a server with a catering company, demonstrated perfume at a department store, dressed in full-body animal costumes and delivered singing telegrams, stocked shelves at another department store, attempted a brief stint as a barista, and (my favourites), divided my time between coordinating volunteers and a summer day camp at a community museum, and logging their artifacts on their new computer system. The last job I had before becoming a teacher was coordinating children’s summer programming at a series of satellite libraries in rural southeastern Ontario.

 How long does it take you to write a book?

I have discovered that I can write a novel in eight weeks, but up to the present, that time has been divided up over a series of months, or even years. Wind and Shadow took me seven years to develop, from the time that my daughter was an infant until she was well into school, but its sequel, Blood and Fire, only took two months: November 2011 and November 2012. I have to give partial credit to National Novel Writing Month for giving me the impetus to finish the second book quickly, as well as my writer friends for their encouragement. My goal this winter is to write the third book in the trilogy, Crystal and Wand, within six to eight weeks.

 What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I am a night owl! It’s a curse, really. I do my best writing in the dark of night, when the house is still and the family is abed, when there is nothing to distract me on TV, the phone doesn’t ring, and not even cars passing to attract my attention. Unfortunately, writing until two or three in the morning does not leave me rested for the classroom the next day, let alone getting my children out the door, so I have to work in short bursts and then catch up on my sleep when the weeks of writing are done.

 Where do you get your ideas or inspiration for your characters?

I start with someone I admire, either in real life or from fiction (film or written text), and I think about different ways to look at them. What if I changed her background? How would he act if he were in a different job? Or, I look at decisions an individual has made, and consider whether they’d made a different choice, and why. I love playing “what-if”, and writing responses on characters others have created.

 How do you decide what you want to write about?

I usually start by looking at the purpose of the piece, and the target audience. I also look at settings with which I’m familiar, so I can write about them knowledgeably. For example, when a call went out for a Hallowe’en-themed anthology of short romances, I was able to come up with a plot fairly easily by drawing on local legends about our town’s museum, and my own love for the romance genre and its elements. The end result, “Telltale Signs”, was a satisfyingly chilling ghost story with a very romantic theme.

I also like to pay homage to my favourite fiction, and write alternative stories to those I’ve enjoyed and/or critiqued. Some of the Talbot Trilogy is a response to The Twilight Saga, and parts are love letters to vampire creators like Stephen King, Anne Rice, and John Carpenter.

 What books have most influenced your life?

It’s a long list. The first chapter novel I read by myself was The Blue Sword, the fantasy by Robin McKinley. I still love the strong female lead, Harry, and I recently had to retire my paperback as it was so worn out the cover fell off and I lost several pages. Both Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables series were favourites when I was growing up, as well -- I learned a lot from the way that Wilder and Montgomery write descriptions, dialogue, and plot. After discovering Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot, I devoured Firestarter, Christine, the Tommyknockers, and The Shining. I loved how he broke the rules, it absolutely captivated me.

So many books have made an impression on me in some way, whether by presenting questions about human nature, demonstrating literary technique, alternative philosophies about life . . . That Scatterbrained Booky, Ramona, Calico Captive, Gone with the Wind, the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Jules Verne, Outlander, Dracula, The Phantom of the Opera, Cloud Atlas, Harry Potter, The Road, the works of Robert Heinlein, Tolkien, The Dark is Rising, The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, and my collections of fairy / wonder tales. And I have found that re-reading books from my childhood, like Green Gables, opens me to whole new worlds of meaning.

 What are you reading right now?

I’m currently enjoying a graphic novel, I am GooGol, by Bobby Nash and Rodrigo de Castro. My list of TBR has more than fifty books on it! Up next is going to be Hearts in Exile, by Mysti Parker, and then The Sovereign Order of Monte Cristo: And the Newly Discovered Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Holy Ghost Writer.

 What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I am a movie buff, and I like doing handicrafts like cross-stitch, small quilting projects, embroidery, and appliqué. In summer, I like trying to garden (sadly, the flowers and veggies are often better off without my well-intended interference), and mowing my lawn while listening to an eclectic mix of rock, alternative, and pop music. I don’t mind shoveling snow in the winter, at least until February, again with my tunes turned up. I enjoy walking my dog, making rolled beeswax candles, and talking to far-away friends and family online. I enjoy board games and puzzles (both real and virtual), and occasionally, picking out songs on the piano.

 What is your favorite comfort food?

Chocolate. With pastry, definitely. Pastry drizzled with chocolate, stuffed with whipped cream.

 What do you think makes a good story?

Characters that are well-rounded and identifiable -- when you can tell that there is a back story just itching to be told from the little clues dropped here and there. That’s a must. I also like a plot with at least one twist. While a predictable plot can be comforting, it’s attractive and impressive when the author presents something I didn’t see coming. Accuracy of detail in setting and other descriptions is also important. Unless the story is set in an alternate universe, anachronisms drive me nuts because I just want to correct them.

 Fun random questions: 

·      dogs or cats? 

I am allergic to cats, though I think they’re wonderful. I can’t seem to bring myself to get regular shots to allow me to have one, though. I also seem to be allergic to many dogs, but my body is happy around my mixed breed Skittles.

·      Coffee or tea?

Tea, preferably Tetley Tea’s orange pekoe or a tasty loose-leaf blend. Technically I’m not supposed to have coffee, as the caffeine content makes me anxious, but I occasionally enjoy a small French Vanilla from Tim Horton’s.

·      Dark or milk chocolate?

Milk chocolate, always. Unless the dark has almonds or mint in it.

·      Rocks or flowers?

I think I actually like rocks better. I like flowers, and admire lush gardens, but I’m not very good at planting, weeding, or caring for vegetation. But rocks look beautiful in sun or snow, glistening under rain or meltwater and outlined in lichens and moss. Of course, I live on the Canadian Shield, and spent three of my formative years hiking along rock faces, driving along highways cut through limestone, granite, and others that I can’t remember the names of right now, surrounded by their ancient, immovable grandeur. I guess that settles it -- I like rocks!

·      Night or day?

Night. Ah, the stars, the moon, the shadows . . . “Music of the Night” from Phantom is one of my favourite lullabies.

·      Favorite color?

Right now, it’s purple, but I also enjoy red. They’re the colours of energy, life, passion, and inspiration.

·      Crayons or markers?

I like crayons better, in spite of their tendency to break. Markers run dry, leak, lose their caps, cause stains, and are generally untrustworthy even though their shades are initially bright and solid. Crayons can be melted between sheets of wax for beautiful artwork, or fused with other broken bits to make new colouring sticks. You can rub them sideways to get impressions from raised surfaces, like grave markers or fashion plates. They smell good. And, in a pinch, you can eat them!

·      Pens or pencils?

Pens, definitely. No worries about sharpening, finding an eraser, or dealing with a broken lead. I’d love to get a really nice feather pen, with a real quill and an ink well. A few years ago, I taught my grade 9 Academic English classes how to carve quill nibs using small knives, so they could produce their original sonnets as calligraphy. Pens are wonderful things.

Thank you so much for having me on the Wormhole!

More about Tori:

After her first heartbreak, Tori found solace in two things: reading romance novels and listening to an after-dark radio program called Lovers and Other Strangers. Throughout the summer and fall of 1990, the new kid in town found reading fiction and writing her own short stories gave her a much needed creative outlet. Determined to become a published author, Tori amassed stacks of notebooks and boxes of filed-away stories, most only half-finished before another idea would overtake her and demand to be written down. Then, while on parental leave with her second baby, one story formed and refused to be packed away. Between teaching full-time, parenting, and life in general, it would take almost seven years before the first novel in her first trilogy would be completed. In the process, Tori finally found her stride as a writer.

At present, on her off-time, Tori not only enjoys reading, but also listening to an eclectic mix of music as she walks the family dog (Skittles), attempts to turn her thumb green, or makes needlework gifts for her friends and family members. She loves to travel, collect and make miniature furniture, and a good cup of tea during a thunderstorm or a blizzard. Under it all, she is always intrigued by history, the supernatural, vampire and shapeshifter mythology, romance, and other dangers.

Tori L. Ridgewood’s new book Wind and Shadow: Book One of the Talbot Trilogy, published by Melange Books, was released on June 20, 2013. For more information, visit http://torilridgewood.wordpress.com/.

Giveaway:  1 ebook - kindle version of Wind and Shadow Book 1 - - - randomly chosen commenter (please include email).