Genre: Paranormal
Suspense
ISBN: 9781476224244
Number of pages:
Approx 375
Word Count: Approx
160K
Cover Artist: Mia
Darien
Book Description:
Welcome to
Adelheid, CT. Freak central. Unofficial capital of legal preternatural
creatures in the Northeast. Focal point for anti-preternatural sentiments in
the United States.
Who would ever
guess that this otherwise sleepy New England town houses many of the most
powerful beings known to exist?
* * *
In "Cameron's
Law," meet Sadie Stanton, vampire poster girl for preternatural rights.
She's just trying to start a business to help the community, but when vampires
and werewolves start attacking each other, she gets thrust in the middle.
In "When
Forever Died," Dakota is a rare shifter and hunter who has lived a long,
hard life. But the past never sleeps and two simultaneous cases are going to
test the personal defenses she's built over the centuries.
In
"Voracious," the life D wants isn't what it seems. He certainly never
planned on the fangs, but he's going to need a lot more than the pointy teeth
to survive the first weeks of his new existence.
Interview:
- Where did you get the idea for the novel?
The ideas for Adelheid actually came to me a long time ago, when I
was sixteen, and I don't mind saying that was more than a decade ago. It
happened as a combination of reading the books of Laurell K. Hamilton and then
just having that "what if..." thought that catches so many writers.
It originally started in Salem, MA, being a place so steeped in
preternatural history, but several years ago, I wrote "Cameron's Law"
(the first book in the "Welcome to Adelheid" bundle) and had decided
to create an entirely new city elsewhere in New England, to give me full
freedom to play.
Past that, I can't say where the idea came from! I'm the type of
writer who gets random ideas all the time, writes them down, stuffs them in a folder,
and uses them years later when she's forgotten where it came from.
- Your title. Who came up with it? Did you ever change
your title?
I come up with all of my own titles. I have to have a title before I
start writing. I'm not sure why, but it helps me keep things organized and
helps me think when I'm writing. As for the title of the bundle, it's fairly
simple: "Welcome to Adelheid." It bundles together the first three
books of the series as an introduction to the world, the characters, and the
series. It's welcoming readers to join them in this strange little Connecticut
town. I came up with it, and it's always been the same.
- Which came first, the title or the novel?
The title came before the completed draft, but the ideas and
concepts came before the title. That's how it works with all of my stories,
except for that odd occasion where the title comes before almost any idea!
- Since becoming a writer, what’s the most exciting thing
to ever happen to you?
Oh, goodness... That's a good question. I've had a lot of great
moments. The first time someone downloaded "Cameron's Law" or the
first five star review for it were just...utter elation. Holding the paperback
copies of my book were also wonderful. But I think the most exciting moments are
always when I finish the draft and my beta readers tell me that it is not, in
fact, as awful as I'm always sure it is!
- What book are you currently reading or what was the
last book you read?
I now live in Alabama, but I flew up to Connecticut for a weekend
over the beginning of the month. On the plane, I read "The Ridge" by
Michael Kortya, which I thought was fantastic. It actually held my attention
and kept me from thinking of how much I hate flying. I also just read a beta
version of a novel by my fellow paranormal author BR Kingsolver, who has a fun
world created in his Telepathic Clans series.
- What was your first book that you ever wrote (very
first one you wrote, not published)?
That depends on your definition of "book," lol. I wrote a
little story that I "published" when I was seven! It was about a good
and an evil wizard, and something about a unicorn horn. I write it on yellow
legal pad paper, drew a cover on the same paper, and stapled it together. There
was a forty page epic fantasy with fated lovers, girls with silly flower names,
magical powers, and a quest to go save the world. Wrote that at fourteen.
Otherwise there was a paranormal story at about one hundred and fifty pages,
age fifteen, about a group of friends that has once gone to defeat a very powerful
vampire, lost some of their friends and family, but now had to go defeat her
again.
They were all pretty goofy, really. What do we know at that age,
really? But this was where the seeds began.
- What is your writing process?
I keep folders for each story, and spend weeks and months collecting
ideas for the story bit by bit. Then when I have enough and decide it's time, I
start working on plotting. I'm not a seat-of-pants writer. I plot my stories
out scene by scene. Now, these plots sometimes change while I'm writing because
I find something doesn't work, but I always start with an outline. Then I write
whenever I have time, which can be the tricky part!
After the first draft is done, I usually do a read-through of my own
to make sure things seem to make sense, and then I send it to my beta readers.
Family, friends, fellow writers. I always have at least three readers, but aim
for more. If suggestions make sense, I make revisions. If it's a bigger issue,
or there's conflicting opinions, I go with a combination of my gut and majority
decision, which is why I prefer at least three.
Once the beta phase is done, it's editing, and assorted other tasks
to get it ready for release.
- Who are your favorite authors of all time?
Well, I talk a lot on this topic about the Big Four--these were the
four authors I started reading in my early adolescence, beginning with Piers
Anthony and Xanth at age eleven, who created my love of the adult fantasy
genre, and made me want to write. These were Piers Anthony, Anne McCaffrey,
Terry Brooks, and Robert Jordan. Now, I don't read as much of these authors
as I did then. Some I can't reread, but
they were much beloved in my youth and put me on the path I'm on today.
When I was older, authors like Laurell K. Hamilton, Anne Rice, and
P. N. Elrod put me more firmly on the road for paranormal stories. The first
and last in that list cemented my love of the writing style I call First Person
Sarcastic, which Adelheid is written in.
Today, my favorite authors are Joe Abercrombie (from the traditional
publishing world) and Diantha Jones (from the self-publishing world).
- 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?
When I actually have a book signing, I'll let you know! I've sent
out autographed books, though, and I usually put a little signature along with
my name.
- What is something people would be surprised to know
about you?
My hair is chameleon like, having been every natural color there is,
and then teal for a while and purple for another while.
- How do you react to a bad review?
Like any author should, I think. I read it, I think about what was
said and consider if it was anything useful I can use to improve in the future.
I let it sting for a bit, because it's always going to, and then I move on.
Reading is incredibly subjective, and not everyone is going to like everything.
I try to learn if I can, and otherwise just move forward.
- How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?
I don't even remember, but I'm sure a little happy dance of some
kind was involved.
About the Author:
Mia Darien is an
indie author of speculative fiction, and a New England Yankee transplanted into
Alabama clay. No matter her geography, she continues to stubbornly and
rebelliously live the life of her choosing along with her family and pets. She
doesn't miss the snow.
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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About the Author:
Johnny Ray has a passion for life and adventure that he loves to share with his readers. As an avid traveler and professional businessman conducting business worldwide for years he has made many interesting contacts and received numerous awards for top production. He has owned and operated several real estate companies, several insurance companies, and a stock brokerage company. He loves radio and TV talk shows, as well as speaking in front of various audiences. Feel free to contact him if you need a guest speaker.
When it comes time to play, he is very active in many sports including dancing, swimming, tennis, biking, and skiing. While he loves adventures that are new, interesting and challenging, making friends that share his passions is a special gift.
Johnny lives in Clearwater, Florida where he works full time as a writer, and he can be often found in one of the hundreds of coffee shops along the beach working on his next novel. He belongs to the Florida Writer Association where he recently won the Royal Palm Literary Award for best thriller, the Romantic Writers of America, and the Mystery Writers Association. He attends various national writer conventions throughout the year, as well as several local writing groups in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.
