Interview with Angela V.Cook

Interview with Angela V.Cook

Catina: Hi Angela, I want to take the time to thank you for stopping by and doing this interview with me. Angela Cook is the author of Into a Million Pieces.

~Ouestions about the Author~

Catina: Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Angela Cook: I live just outside of Detroit with my husband and two children. When I’m not staring at a blinking cursor, I can usually be found at the nearby police department (where I work part time) or dragging unwilling children to orthodontist appointments and soccer fields.

Catina: Do you have any special sayings or expressions?

Angela Cook: I’m a big believer in the expression “everything happens for a reason.” If something is meant to be, the universe (or God, depending on your beliefs) will find a way to make it happen, and if it doesn’t, there’s a reason why. Believing that powers bigger than me are at work takes some of the pressure off of me and makes life a little easier sometimes ;)

Catina: What is your favorite book? Why?

Angela Cook: Oh goodness… I don’t think I can pick just one. I adore just about anything by Toni Morrison. Oh, and I love Philippa Gregory’s Tudor series. In YA, I practically worship Stephanie Perkins and Rainbow Rowell. However, one of my all-time favorite books is probably THE GREAT GATSBY. I love that whole time period of fedoras, flapper dresses, and mint juleps. And the theme of the story--unrequited and undying love--is timeless.  

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

Angela Cook: I’ve always had a vivid imagination, and I wrote off and on all throughout my childhood and teenage years, but it took an early midlife crisis to make me realize I wanted to try my hand at this whole getting-published thing.

Catina: What books/authors influenced you to write your first book?

Angela Cook: I know some people will cringe when they read this, but actually, it was Stephenie Meyer. I was one of those readers who became obsessed with her books, and when I found out she was a stay-at-home mom (just like me at the time) when she wrote Twilight, I got inspired. I figured, if she could do it, so could I.

~Questions about your book~

Catina: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Angela Cook: Hmm… I don’t know. I think it was just another way for me to express my imagination. When I was younger, I played with Barbies and dolls, but as I got older, I had to find different ways to express my imagination (apparently adults playing with dolls is frowned upon, heh). Writing was just the medium I chose to do so.

Catina: Where did you get your ideas for your book?

Angela Cook: During the summer of 2010, there was a short-lived TV show called The Gates. It was about a gated community where the residents were of the supernatural persuasion (werewolves, vampires, witches, etc.).  One of the residents was a teenage succubus. Every time this girl kissed her boyfriend, she absorbed some of his life energy, which in turn weakened him. I had never heard of a succubus, but I loved the idea of a teenage girl who was in love, but couldn’t so much as kiss her boyfriend without harming him. It was then the wheels of creativity started turning.  

Catina: Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

Angela Cook: My main character is Allison. She’s a seventeen-year-old succubus, which means she has the ability to drain life energy from men. A kiss from her will weaken them, but losing her virginity means a man loses his life. Luckily, Allison wants nothing to do with the deadly curse that has plagued the women of her family for generations and refuses to go down the same murderous path as her mother. Therefore, she does her best to avoid the attention of men by hiding her cursed good looks behind dark clothes and makeup. However, fighting her own destiny isn’t all she has to worry about. She also has to make sure her reckless sister, Jade, keeps her succubus side hidden, while dealing with an overly religious aunt.

Catina: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Angela Cook: Finding the time to do it! I work outside the home, plus I have two kids and a husband. The kids have homework and extracurricular activities, and the husband—for some strange reason—likes to spend time with his wife on occasion. So yeah… time is a very valuable commodity.

Catina: What are your current projects?

Angela Cook: I have two other manuscripts that I wrote after IaMP, but those are on hold right now, because I’m writing a sequel to IAMP that I’m really, really, REALLY excited about. A sequel wasn’t necessary, and I even debated whether or not to write one (the book could stand alone as is), but I just don’t feel like Allison’s story is over. I have questions I want answered, and to be honest, writing about a teenage succubus is exciting! I really enjoyed writing IAMP, and I feel that same excitement as I continue Allison’s story.

Catina: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Angela Cook: Get to know other writers. Share your work with them. Don’t be afraid of constructive criticism. It can be difficult to take at first, but if you want to grow as a writer, you have to be willing to not only take criticism, but also be willing to utilize it through the revision process.

These questions were fun and unique! Thanks so much for having me!

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Interview with Christian A.Brown

Catina: Hi Christian A. Brown, I want to take the time to thank you for stopping by and doing an interview. Christian A. Brown is the author of Feasts of Fates. 

You can read my review here

~Ouestions about the Author~

Catina:  Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Christian A. Brown: Thanks for having me today, Catina. Regarding your question, I have a background in health and fitness. I worked in that industry as a personal trainer and fitness manager for over 10 years, leaving when my mother fell ill with cancer. At that time, I became her primary caregiver. There’s nothing more rewarding (to me) than being able to support your parent when they need you the most. During my long stays in the hospital, I rekindled my love for the written word. I had a lot of time on my hands between my mother’s various treatments, so there was really no excuse, no more procrastinating I could do.

Catina: Do you have any special sayings or expressions?

Christian A. Brown: “Don’t give up!” No matter your passion or profession, persistence and discipline are key attributes to success.

Catina: What is your favorite book? Why?

Christian A. Brown: I have so many! I used to read quite a bit—not so much these days on account of time (there’s just not enough of it). I do rather like the Earthsea Trilogy. It’s YA fiction from the 60’s or thereabouts, and it’s brilliantly written. A lot has changed with popular fiction since that time.

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

Christian A. Brown: I’ve written stories for as far back as I can recall. My first kindergarten project was the horrifying tale of a monster that lived in my closet: Snakefingers. The story is as you would imagine, a man-shaped thing with hissing snake fingers. Pretty sure I terrified most of my class with the story. Still, it was an early lesson in the power of words and storytelling!

Catina: What books/authors influenced you to write your first book?

Christian A. Brown: Well, Ursula K. LeGuin, who wrote the Earthsea series that I mentioned. Add to her esteemed company any number of classic fantasy writers from Tolkien to C.S. Lewis. I’ve been heavily influenced by modern authors like Timothy Findley and Margaret Atwood, too. The former, due to his ability to write incredible, convincing dialog. The latter, because Atwood simply writes clever, politically charged stories. She’s not shy about writing the bad stuff, as well as the beautiful, sunshiny things. Neither am I.

~Questions about your book~

Catina:  Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Christian A. Brown: Again, I’d go back to my childhood and blame my wild imagination as the culprit. I’ve always wanted to believe in mysteries and magic, which helps with playing make-believe (that’s what writers do).

Catina:  What inspired you to write your first book? 

Christian A. Brown: The idea for Geadhain has been germinating in my head for over a decade. The world never had the name it does now, and it took several half-started manuscripts before any solid ideas manifested, but now I feel that Geadhain and its characters are as real in my mind as many of the places and people on Earth.

Catina: Where did you get your ideas for your book?

Christian A. Brown: We’re all influenced by the media we’ve consumed in our lifetime, so I’m sure that traces of literature I’ve read have found their way into the story. Concepts such as heroism, humanity, good/ evil, and love/ hate are all things that I like to explore in my work. That said, most readers seem to feel that the world (Geadhain) is quite unique in its mythology and history. I consider that an achievement of which I am proud.

Catina: Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

Christian A. Brown: Well, there are two main characters, depending upon how you look at the story. More than two, actually, since I like to show all the angles of a story and to do that you need to get into a lot of different heads! ☺ For simplicity’s sake, I’ll only mention the two primary leads of Feast of Fates, starting with our heroine, Morigan. She’s unique compared to a lot of current market trends, in that she’s unmarried, contentedly single, sexually aware, self-sufficient and a little older—nearly thirty. She’s strong, without being too stubborn. She makes mistakes, but she doesn’t whine too terribly when this happens and learns from each stumble. I think Morigan is a great role model, and she really seems to have resonated with female readers. Furthermore, she makes a fantastic counterbalance to our wild hero, the Wolf. I want to keep his backstory a bit of a secret, since the history of the Wolf is best learned by the reader. Still, he’s mysterious, but not in a broody secret-vampire way. To the contrary, he’s very open about his bestial nature and otherworldly traits. He hides very little from Morigan, and I think his sincerity and the honesty between the two characters is part of what makes their romance so compelling.  

Catina: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Christian A. Brown: Finding the time to do it. I’d say that’s the most important thing. Sit down and just type some darn words. A story will come out of it, eventually! Oh…and not logging into Facebook certainly helps with productivity!

Catina: What are your current projects? 

Christian A. Brown: I’m currently hard at work on the third and fourth manuscript. Feast of Dreams, the second novel, will be available in stores and on shelves in a few months. Lately, I’ve been quite busy with radio and media appearances, as well. You can keep up to date on that sort of thing at my official website: christianadrianbrown.com

I speak and write a lot about hot-button social issues, especially since I have a history with having experienced marginalization. I like to be active in talking about and supporting movements to break down negative social constructs (racism, sexism, classism, etc.).

Catina: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Christian A. Brown: Don’t give up. If writing is your dream, and your passion, you have a lifetime to become successful (whatever your measure of success is, and it needn’t be monetary). Find yourself a brutal editor, too, who appreciates your voice and knows how to fine-tune your language and scope. Sometimes an editor needs to eviscerate your work. That’s good, and normal—few things if any are perfect on the first try. If your editor is a genuine critic, they’ve probably identified some serious flaws in your story that you need to pay attention to and fix. Constructive criticism is one of the best gifts a writer can receive.  

Thanks again for the opportunity to connect with your readers.

All the best,

—C

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Interview with A.Star

Interview with A.Star:
I just want to take the time to thank A.Star for going out of the way to do this interview. A.Star is the author of Lover,Divine (Mythos Gods & Lovers 1) and the Djinn Order. 

You can also read my review for Lover,Divine here.

~Ouestions about the Author~

Catina: Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

A.Star: Army Brat. karaoke lover. netflix addict. I still dress up for halloween. Best costume ever? a garden gnome. georgia peach. Lover of french fries. rather be cold than hot. been a writer since my early teens, but I was twenty-four before i took it seriously. avid reader. obsessive blogger. worshipper of all things “supernatural”. #Teamdean.

Catina: Do you have any special sayings or expressions?

A.Star: “true that” is one I use often. “f*** that” is another.

Catina: What is your favorite book? Why?

A.Star: No such book exists, but I must say I am in love with the black dagger brotherhood series by jr ward.

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

A.Star: Answered above but I will say it again. I realized I had a gift when I was just a teenager, but it wasn’t until I was twenty-four that I finally took is seriously and decided to give it a real shot.

Catina: What books/authors influenced you to write your first book?

A.Star: rick riordan (Percy jackson) is what really put me on to greek myths, though I was a fan of the myths before that. Also harry potter was pretty damn awesome, wasn’t it?

~Questions about your book~

Catina: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

A.Star: It came from reading and being pulled into another world where my imagination just took over. I wanted to do that for others and share the feeling.

Catina: What inspired you to write your first book? 

A.Star: I had ideas and I knew they weren’t meant to stay ideas. So i turned them into reality.

Catina: Where did you get your ideas for your book?

A.Star: From everywhere. Tv. movies. books. life.

Catina: Give us an insight into your main character. What does he/she do that is so special?

A.Star: siobhan is mortal and other than having insight into the actions of the greek gods, she doesn’t have any real powers or anything. Apollo, on the other hand, is full of tricks and stuff like that. He’s a god. what else do you expect?

Catina: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

A.Star: Sure. I always want to write more than the book calls for. Curbing my imagination is the hardest thing most of the time.

Catina: What are your current projects? 

A.Star: wish for me (Djinn order, act one) is the next release and I have several planned for the year!

Catina: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

A.Star: write until your eyeballs fall out. Even then, don’t stop.

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Buy a copy today at Amazon here.