Books and Other Spells: Book Tour: Determinant by A. M. Hargrove Interview & Book Trailer & Giveaway

Determinant, Book 3 The Guardians of Vesturon

By A. M. Hargrove

Series : The Guardians of Vesturon

Genre : Young Adult Paranormal Romance (with a sci-fi element)

Heat : Hot

Synopsis:

January St. Davis, on her own since the age of sixteen and struggling to stay in college, thinks she’s scored in a major way when she lands a paid summer internship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. One evening, after working an especially long shift, a chance encouter with a group of mysterious men alters the course of her life.

Rykerian Yarrister, a Guardian of Vesturon with unearthly powers and impossibly gorgeous looks, finds himself at odds over the human female he recently saved from certain death. When it seems he is on the verge of winning her over, she is ripped from his hands by a strange and powerful being, threatening to destroy her if his demands are not met.

Do Rykerian and the Guardians have the ability to meet this fierce barbarian’s ultimatums, or will January suffer a horrid demise?

Book Trailer:

Interview:

1) Where did you get the idea for the novel?

I wanted to write something other than vampires and werewolves (my daughter hates both--can you imagine?) and I grew up in a family of four with lots of cousins so that’s how I came up with the idea of six siblings. As for the sci-fi twist, I wanted to merge supernatural powers with some otherworldly things so I decided that would be a good way to do it. I’m not a fan of green monster alien things and honestly, after I saw the movie Alien, I was so scared, I didn’t think I’d ever watch another sci-fi movie again. I’ve never enjoyed reading sci-fi because I didn’t like the super technical parts of it. So when I wrote my series, I decided it would be cool to have a story with neat inventions that I wish we had now, so I put those kinds of things in the books, but I didn’t want to go overboard with it.

2) Your title. Who came up with it? Did you ever change your title?

For Determinant, I wanted the title to reflect January’s heritage and that’s how I chose it. I initially thought about Origins, but that’s such a common title that I nixed it before I ever truly considered it.

3) Which came first, the title or the novel?

Oh, the novel definitely came first. I always have the story line before I choose the title.

4) Why did you pick this genre? What do you like about it?

I like it because it’s different. It’s YA, but really new adult. I wish Amazon and Barnes and Noble would come out with that specific category. Right now, we still have to publish under children’s books, which is sort of crazy really. I picked this genre because of my daughter mainly. It’s her age group. I love it because it appeals to ages ranging from teens on up. My YA books are clean on language and descriptive sex. In fact, there isn’t sex until after marriage so they’re safe reads.

5) Since becoming a writer, what’s the most exciting thing to ever happen to you?

The entire journey has been exciting but I think I’d have to go with all the amazing people I’ve met through Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook and the blogging world. Some of these people have become truly great friends. It’s been unbelievable. Even though I’ve never met most of them face to face, I’ve Google Chatted or Face Timed with them and spoken on the phone with them and I feel so close to them.

6) What book are you currently reading or what was the last book you read?

I just started reading Lover Reborn by JR Ward.

7) What was your first book that you ever wrote (very first one you wrote, not published)?

The first book I ever wrote was Survival, book 1 of The Guardians of Vesturon. A lot of people don’t believe me when I say that, but it’s the truth. I never had time before so when I wrote that one, it was my first.

8) What is your writing process?

I like to get up in the morning, go through my email, and then start writing. I try to write as much as possible every day I can.

9) Who are your favorite authors of all time?

Oh...no fair! I can’t say I have just one. I have turned into a real Indie Author lover--how can I not be, right? But right now, my faves are Lila Felix, Misty Provencher, Michelle Leighton, Janelle Stalder and John Corwin just to name a few.

10) At a book signing, do you just sign your name or do you write a note? How do you come up with stuff to say?

Well, I can’t say because I’m just getting ready to go into print. I actually received the proof copies of Survival and Resurrection on Friday, lol! Right now, my books are only available in ebooks but when I make that jump, I’ll let you know.

11) What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I love to backpack. All the scenes in Survival that were written around trails in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and from the Appalachian Trail came from my own experiences out there.

12) How do you react to a bad review?

It totally depends on how it’s written. If it’s nasty, then I ignore it. If it’s well written with good reason as to why they didn’t like it and why they gave it a poor rating, then I look at it as a learning experience. I’m so green at all of this I want to be a sponge and learn all I can. I can’t do that if I don’t pay attention to the negatives. I also realize that everyone has different taste and my books certainly won’t appeal to all.

13) How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?

I just kept looking at the numbers. I smiled a lot. I still do that. It’s like I’m in a dream.

Thanks for inviting me for a visit today...it’s been so much fun chatting with you!

Excerpt:

I was lost in the events of the day and the amount of work I had and I was still nursing my wounded ego as I headed out of the lab. As I made my way down the corridor, I noticed six men advancing toward me.

It wasn’t their actions I noticed so much or even the way they walked. And though it was an oddity for them to even be here at all, it was their attire that captured my attention. They were dressed identically, in an extreme fashion, much like members of a gang or secret society. Large and muscular, they wore black vests and their bare arms were almost completely tattooed with tribal symbols of a sort. Metal bands criss-crossed their chests and their legs were tightly encased in leather. Knee high boots and black gloves finished off their ensembles.

As I neared them I felt my flesh tingle and the hairs on the back of my neck come to attention. Gooseflesh erupted and alarms started clanging in my head. I sucked in my breath and as I did, my eyes connected with the apparent leader. I say this because he was in the front of the formation as they plodded along.

Time stood still as our eyes connected. His were an uncanny shade, lavender with hints of indigo and specks of silver. It was a hue I was unfamiliar with but they were intriguing and fascinating. The alarms were still ringing in my ears and the air felt electrically charged around us.

“Halt!”

I turned into stone. I couldn’t move a muscle. He cocked his head as his eyes bore into mine.

“Breathe!”

I distinctly heard his command in my mind and I was helpless to disobey him. I felt myself take a deep cleansing breath. I questioned him with my eyes. He flicked his head toward his men and they stepped back several feet.

“Who are you? Why are you here?”

I was confused by the demanding questions swirling in my brain but felt compelled to answer him. I had never used mind reading to communicate, but I was sure he would hear my answer.

“I’m January St. Davis. I’m here working on an internship for college credit.”

“You are human?” he asked with incredulity.

I wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Why would he want to know if I was human? What a ridiculous question!

A little about the author :

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodgeball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what lap top out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone and hit #4 on her speed dial.

A.M.’s Boss: Hello.

A.M: Hey Boss, I'm calling to let you know you can pick up my luxury Ford Focus at Starbucks near the interstate.

A.M.’s Boss: Why ever would I want to do that?

A.M.: Because I quit!

A.M. hit the end button and speed dialed her husband.

A.M.: Hey hubs, can you pick me up at Starbucks?

A.M.’s Hubs: Sure...having some car trouble?

A.M.: Not at all. I don't have a car to have trouble with because I just quit my job.

A.M.’s Hubs: WHAT?!

A.M.: It's time for a new career and I am going to be a very famous novelist.

So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a young adult paranormal romance author of self-published ebooks. Her series, The Guardians of Vesturon, centers around a family of six siblings and is a mix of humor, mystery, suspense and of course, love. Survival and Resurrection are her first and second full length novels, and Beginnings is her prequel novella to the series. Determinant, her third in the series will be released 6/30/12.

(It didn’t really happen like that, but you get the idea!)