Author Interview & Giveaway: Keri Arthur

I do not think that you can read in the Urban Fantasy/paranormal genre and not have heard of Keri Arthur. She has been one of the first authors out there that was writing in this genre way before it became popular. While her Riley Jenson series was not for me, however, her newest series, Outcast and the first book City of Light were fantastic and super creative.

Please Welcome to Blood Rose Books Today

Keri Arthur

 

If there was one author you could co-write a novel with (they can be alive or dead) who would you choose and why?

There’s actually two I’d nominate and both are, unfortunately, now dead. They are James Herbert, who wrote some of the creepiest horror novels I’ve ever read, and Dick Francis, who wrote edge-of-your-seat first person mysteries that I could never put down.  Either one of them would have been brilliant, as they’re both masters of their craft. (And I still want to be able to write like Dick Francis when I grow up)

You were one of the authors who I would say was ahead of the craze of the Urban Fantasy and Paranormal genres becoming extremely popular, with well-known authors from other genres now deciding to write in this genre. How do you think the genre has changed since you started writing in it? What do you think you do differently to try and stay ahead of the ever growing crowd?

Yeah, I was well ahead of the trend--I was getting urban fantasy and paranormal romances rejected in the 90s because they were ‘unsellable’. For what it’s worth, the publishers are starting to say that again, even though urban fantasy has seen a huge upswing in the self-published market.

I’ve actually started stepping away from urban fantasy. While I still have the ongoing Souls of Fire series, The Outcast series is more dystopian fantasy with some common urban fantasy elements thrown in, and the new series I’m writing is straight fantasy. I’m also considering a step sideways into thriller novels, although I wouldn’t even start that novel until next year--I have the 5^th Souls of Fire and the last Outcast to write before then.

You have written quite a few series now (Riley Jenson Guardians, Soul of Fire, The Spook Squad ect) and have ended some of them as well (probably most notably is your Riley Jenson series), why did you choose to end them? Was it hard to do so? (I know as a reader I become really attached to characters)

I tend to end series when I can’t think of where else to logically take the characters. I’d rather end on a high, and have people constantly asking for more than write for the sake of writing, and let the series fade into obscurity. As to it being hard--it is, but it’s also something of a relief. I love creating new worlds, and being able to torture brand new characters.

What do you think would be the hardest or most challenging genre to write a novel in and why?

All genres are hard. I get so annoyed when I hear people foul mouth romances as being easy to write. They’re not--I’ve tried it, and failed miserably!  All genres have their conventions and expectations, and that’s what makes it hard to create something fresh and new, no matter what you’re writing.

Your newest series, Outcast, was released earlier this year, can you tell us a bit about the series and how many books are planned for it?

City of Light (Outcast 1) was a book of the heart, just like Full Moon Rising, the 1^st Riley Jenson, was. I started that book in either 2010 or 2011 (can’t remember now) but it absolutely died on page 80. I had no idea where to take it, despite loving the characters and the world. It wasn’t until the World Fantasy Con in Brighton UK in 2013 that (after a discussion over a couple of drinks with my agent and a friend) it came to life. I finished it 6 weeks after that.  :)   

The series is set just over a 100 years after a race war has torn the fabric of the world apart. Shifters and humans live in vast cities lit 24 hours a day to protect them from the vampires and the “Others”. Our heroine is the last of her kind, a genetically designed super-soldier, who saves a child and unwillingly gets involved in stopping a plot to destroy the world. There’ll be 3 books in total--a short series for me  :)

Your novel City of Light has some darker theme elements in it (racism and caste system ect) what appeals to you about the darker aspects of human nature and culture?

Everyone has light and shade in them. Everyone has the possibility to do good or bad. I think the characters who most appeal in fiction are the characters that reflect these shades--the ones who acknowledge both sides of their nature and attempt to do something about it. Or not, as in the case of bad guys.  And fiction is also a very safe way of exploring some of the darker aspects of everyday life.

Tig has become one of my favourite new female characters, how would you say she differs from the other heroines in your other series?

I wouldn’t say she’s all that different from many of my other heroines--they’re all reasonably kick ass, take no nonsense type women. It’s the situation that’s very different for Tiger--if her presence becomes common knowledge, she dead, and that makes her involvement in the search for the missing children all the more dangerous.

The Déchet are a mix of multiple species of DNA, if you could create a DNA sequencing for yourself, what would you mix together and why? 

I’d love to be taller, thinner, and be able to eat as much chocolate and cake as I wanted, without putting on damn weight!

Do you have any information on upcoming works or events that you are able to share?

Winter Halo, the 2^nd Outcast book comes out in December, and Ashes Reborn, the 4^th Souls of Fire novel, comes out in July 2017.

What is one book (other than one of your own) that you think should be a must read for everyone?

Only one? Damn, that’s mean!! I guess I’d have to nominate the granddaddy of all fantasy--or at least he is in my eyes, given it was his books that drew me into the fantasy sphere--and that’s J R R Tolkien. I know his writing is somewhat old fashioned these days, but I still absolutely adore Lord of the Rings.

I want to thank Keri once again for taking the time to do an interview with me. Keri truly was an author that was well ahead of the curve on the urban fantasy train and I think that is why she is sought after by readers now. Though I am really interested to see how she would do a thriller novel or series. Keri has very nicely offered to do a giveaway to go along with her interview. Fill out the rafflecopter app below in order to win some awesome books.

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Author Interview & Giveaway: Aimee Hyndman

I Cannot believe that it is that time of the year again and that I am Celebrating my 6 year Blogoversary. Total Craziness. I have had a tradition for the past few Blogovesaries now with kicking them off with a debut author.

This year I am really please to start is off with an author who is extremely imaginative and willing to go away from the norm and expected in her novel Hour of Mischief. Please Welcome to Blood Rose Books:

Aimee Hyndman

If there was one author you could co-write a novel with (they can be alive or dead) who would you choose and why?

Brandon Sanderson. I’m just so in awe of his world building and magic systems. He’s so great at weaving in these complex worlds into his stories. I’m always jealous of his writing when I read it. Collaborating him would be amazing.

Steampunk seems to be the new up and coming genre, what about the genre appeals to you? How do you think Hour of Mischief stands out from the rest of the crowd?

When it comes to fantasy, medieval settings are kind of overplayed. They can still work but we’ve seen them a million times before. I’m intrigued by fantasy worlds that play with different levels of technology. In steampunk’s case I was attracted to the aesthetic, especially the gear work and clocks. Hour of Mischief isn’t steampunk though, mostly because I just picked and chose the bits I wanted. It’s not really influenced by Victorian times because I found that period more limiting. I basically sculpted a world around what I needed so I wouldn’t say it fits into “typical steampunk”.

I was shocked to learn that you are a sophomore in College and doing a triple major (nicely done, but holy you must be busy). Was hour of Mischief published before or after you started college? Have you found that attending college has helped you hone your craft as a writer?

I started my senior year a few weeks ago (I need to remember to update my blog info more), but I did get my book deal when I was a sophomore. Hour of Mischief was drafted my senior year of high school, but most of the publishing process happened once I entered college. I’m definitely busy but I write more that way. It forces me to be more intentional about my writing time. It’s also been nice to be surrounded by other people my age who love writing. I didn’t have that outlet in high school.

What do you think would be the hardest or most challenging genre to write a novel in and why?
For me, probably historical fiction. With fantasy I can make up the world and choose my history but historical fiction requires a ton of research to make it believable and accurate. You have to pick from what’s already there and you can’t just change things to suit your needs. I find that amount of research very stressful. There is some great historical fiction out there, and I don’t think I’m the one to write it.

What I really enjoyed about Hour of Mischief was not only the use of Gods, but the fact that you mixed Gods from different cultures and did not stick the stereotype for each one. What type of research did you do in order to choose which Gods to feature in your book? Are we going to see even more in the books to follow in this series?

Its funny, because I don’t think I did much research with the gods and their cultures. I knew I wanted a very diverse cast and because it was a fantasy world it was easy enough for me to make it happen and detach them from any stereotypes. When I chose the gods, I mostly wanted to subvert gender roles. For instance, you usually see Gods of War, not Goddesses. You usually see a Goddess of Love and not a God. I wanted to flip a lot of those to see what would happen. And yes, you will be seeing many more gods in the future.

Janet is loyal to fault to her friends, this is a strength and also a weakness in her, is she based on someone you know? Was this the main aspect of her character that you wanted to get across to your readers?

Janet’s loyalty is definitely her defining characteristic. She will die for her friends, and sometimes she almost does. When the people she cares about are in danger, she doesn’t think and she acts on instinct, which puts her in a lot of bad situations. I love traits that can be considered both a virtue and flaw as it allows for a lot of fun, character development and plots. Janet isn’t really based off a person so much as a character archetype. We all know the tough, wisecracking hero who never lets anything get to them. I idealized heroes like that a lot when I was younger, not realizing the flaws that came with that. I used to write a lot of those characters too. So I thought, hey, why not take this archetype and imbue her with insecurities and anxieties? Why not have her crash and burn because she doesn’t think things through? I like making flawed characters rather than role models. They’re always more relatable. 

Your novel Hour of Mischief has some darker theme elements in it (racism, caste system, prostitution ect) what appeals to you about the darker aspects of human nature and culture? Will all the books in this series have a similar dark feel to them? 
My books have always been a little darker. Hour of Mischief is probably one of my more light hearted titles, at least in tone, but it does have a natural dark undercurrent to it (and it gets darker as it goes on). I think the underside of humanity is most interesting because it allows for some very significant character arcs. Characters coming from the bottom have so far to go and they can either take villainous or heroic routes. There are a lot of possibilities. And I think it’s also important not to shy away from darker aspects of life. Though I always include hope, optimism and humor to lighten it up.

Throughout the book we see what an asset and a saviour Janet’s arm is to her. If you had a mechanical arm, either required or for fashion, what would be one element that you would make sure the arm was able to do? Did you use some inspiration of the technology and designs today to help create her arm and what it could be capable of?

Oh, I would love to have a blade attachment to my arm. I’ve been collecting knives and swords since I was in middle school so I have an affinity for them. I actually took a lot of inspiration from other fiction when it came to Janet’s arm. In my favorite anime, Fullmetal Alchemist, there is technology called automail that’s quite similar. I gave Janet’s arm a slightly more retro feel and it has a few more limitations, but it’s easy to see where I got the blade arm idea. 

Do you have any information on upcoming works or events that you are able to share? 
Well I should have word on the other three books in the series up on my blog soon! I can say that Janet’s journey takes her further than her home city so there’s a lot more exploration of the world of Memoria (particularly the other realms). There’s also a lot more gods and Janet’s crew also take more of a spotlight. It should be fun! 

What is one book (other than one of your own) that you think should be a must read for everyone? 
For fantasy lovers, I would say Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson and A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E Schwab, which are my current obsessions (and have been for a while). Sorry, that’s more than one, isn’t it? I just can’t choose!

Thank you once again to Aimee for taking the time to be part of my Blogoversary and I know I am excited for the new book in her series. Aimee has very nicely provided a giveaway to go along with her interview. Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

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Angela Marsons: Play Dead

This is the fourth book in Angel Marsons' DI Kim Stone series. I personally think that you should start at the beginning of the series (Silent Scream, Evil Games and Lost Girls) and the books are amazing (especially the first two), but I think you could read this book as Marsons does a good job in defining who the characters are.

Angela Marsons is back with the next DI Stone book and there are going to be even more bodies on the body farm:

All dead bodies hold a mystery especially those of people that have been murdered. It is the job of a Body Farm to help understand how elements of nature can affect a body and help solve cases. Westerley is a new Bod Farm research facility in DI Kim Stone's backyard and she it voluntold by her boss to go there, take a tour and try to use the expertise of the Doctors there to help solve some unsolved and historical homicides. Things never seem to be so simple for Kim as she discovers a body that does not belong on the body farm. The murder victim is killed in such a way that Kim knows that there will be more than one as it seems too personal. Kim is proved right when another victim is found at the farm barely clinging to life. Kim now has a serial killer on her hands and knows that the victims won't stop till she discovers who the killer is.

Ah how I have missed DI Kim Stone, really truly missed her. Right from the very beginning of the book, where Kim is willing to put her job and at times the case on the line in order to protect the innocent, you fall right back in love with her character. Kim is what makes this series so addictive as well as Marsons writing style which grabs hold of you and never lets go (I really wanted to and could have read this book in one sitting, as there never seemed to be a good place to stop, but alas it was not to be).

I found that this book was not as inventive as her previous books in this series, but still entertaining and she was able to surprise me in the end as Marsons has become a master at red herrings and having some questionable characters throughout. I was able to figure out part but not all of the mystery/serial killer aspect. I think part of what I missed in this book is the separate case that Kim or one of the members on her team takes on. I wonder what case Marsons will come up with next. I actually wish there was more of a story behind the human/child trafficking story that the book leads off with. I think that would be an interesting story for Kim and her team to tackle against as the cross border aspect that could occur.

I liked that we got to have some additional points of view from Tracy (Kim's nemesis reporter) as her and Kim play really nicely off each other. As Tracy has been a fixture in this series so far and her obsession of trying to find out what makes Kim tick as well as the next big story, it was nice to get to know more of her as a character. We also get a glimpse into Tracy's past as to what shaped her into the woman she is today. Marsons does a good job of this in each of her books, taking at least one secondary character and fleshing them out so you feel that you do not just know Kim but the people around her (both good and bad) as well.

Although I do not think that this book is as good as the first two novel in this series As long a Marsons keeps writing with Kim as her main character I will continue to read her books. I cannot wait for the fifth book in this series.

Enjoy!!!

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Tosca Lee: The Progeny

Tosca Lee begins a new series with showing how far a woman will go to hide the information she knows:

Emily wakes up and does not know who she is. She cannot remember anything about her life or her preferences. However, Emily is told that this was her choice, her choice to have all of her memories erased and to start a new life. She leave a note for herself to not go looking into her past. However, some things are easier said than done. Emily Jacobs is a descendant of Lady Elizabeth Bathory, who was one of the most prolific serial killers of all time. Emily is now on the run for her life for the information that she knows but decided to erase so it would not fall into the wrong hands. There are those that want to help her and say they know her but she cannot trust anyone as she cannot remember, all she knows is that she needs to find what she has lost before she is killed.

Looking at other reivews of this book I am in the minority for this book in my DNF status. I hate it when I do not finish a book, but after trying to read this book for 3 weeks I had to call it quits when you find yourself dreading picking up your ereader to read. I made it through a good chunk of this book over 50% and I kept wanting it to get better and more interesting but it just never got there for me, which is disappointing as the premise was really promising.

I think the beginning of this book is really strong with Emily waking up from having her memory erased and obviously she cannot remember why, but with a note to herself to try and live a normal life and to not go looking into the past. I mean there has to be a really good reason why anyone would go to that types of measures. I found this interesting and even when things do not go as planned I still was wanting to pick up this book. Everything changed for me when it was revealed as to Why Emily was being hunted and made me want to stop reading as the reasoning for me went out of the book. I mean Lady Elizabeth Bathory is touted as one of the most prolific serial killers of all time. She killed a lot of people, supposedly, depending on whose side you are on in this book. These murders created the Hunters group whose goal is revenge for all the murders she committed; they want to terminate her line. I guess for me all these years later and I'm pretty sure we could all trace some for of ancestry back to her and really lots of people were murdered on mass throughout history by bad people, there would be none of us left if everyone wanted revenge for what happened in the 1500s.

Lee tries to have a paranormal aspect in the book with having the Progeny have the ability of persuasion, in which they can make people do things just by thinking it. Interesting aspect but I could see that as more of a reason to hunt them then the whole Lady Bathory aspect.

This book was just not for me and that is why it has become my DNF of this year (thought pretty good that I have only had one so far). If you are interested in picking up this book, please do not just read my review. As I said above there are people that loved this book, I just wasn't one of them.

Cheers!!!

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Anna Snoekstra: Only Daughter

In Anna Snoekstra's debut novel an imposter learns that the most dangerous place can be your home:

Rebecca Winter was just a regular 16 year old teen until in 2003 she disappeared, the only clue was her cell phone found in a ditch. It is now 2014 and The Imposter who has just been arrested needs a way out. She knows she looks like Rebecca Winters but is it enough to fool her family and everyone involved in the case. The Imposter just tells herself it is just for a short amount of time till she can figure out her next move. Before long the Imposter is living Bec's life with her family but The Imposter soon learns that home can be more dangerous than you think as everyone in Bec's life seems to have secrets.

The is a really good and interesting debut novel and I will say that this book Had me hooked from the prologue, when Bec feels like someone is watching her as we have all felt that feeling before, the eyes that never seem to go away. I really enjoyed the style that Snoekstra decided to use in which she goes back and forth between the 2003 and 2014. I think this highlighted the story that Snoekstra was going for and like in other books of this design you want to read faster and faster to find out what happened the days leading up to Bec's disappearance.

Really enjoyed the manipulation that The Imposter used in order to make those around her believe that she was Bec. She is truly a master of manipulation and playing off the cues of others as well as using the little bit of information that each of the people in the family and Bec's friends give her. I liked that The Imposter never really broke from character, you never learn her real name, only get some tidbits of information from her past and she refers to Bec's parents as The Mom and The Dad.

Bec is a typical teenage girl with a teenage crush and hating on her parents. I think one of my problems with how Snoekstra had Bec's chapters is that we were in her mind but not in her mind at other times when it would have been pertinent to know some of what she was thinking. I think that Snoekstra waited a bit too long in the book to reveal some of this information.

I love when a book can surprise me and Snoekstra was able to do that. There were so many weird experiences that happened to Bec in 2003 and The imposter in 2014 that there are multiple people who may or may not know what happened to Bec. Even the investigator on the case seems like he has a shady side, though Snoekstra does not go in to the investigation too much in this book, which I would have liked more information about what was done and who was interviewed in 2003 and the suspects that they had.

A very interesting debut and I loved how Snoekstra portrayed The Imposter. I look forward to seeing what Snoekstra comes up with next.

Enjoy!!!!

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Kim Falconer:The Blood in the Beginning

In the start of a new series Kim Falconer shows that finding out where you came from may be the very thing that saves your life:

Ava has always known that she was different, but she has always attributed it to her autoimmune disease that is in her blood. She has studied hard as an undergraduate student with the hopes of working for the CDC to better understand her disease. In order to make ends meet she works as a bouncer at night time at a dive bar, where she no longer has to prove that she can handle herself, she's had a tough life up until now and has had to do some questionable things in order to survive. When Ava is attacked by a possible serial killer on the way home from shift one night she is able to fight back but ends up in the hospital  where she meets the mysterious Dr. Miguel Rossi who only seems to speak in riddles to her. He claims to know more about her origins than she does. Ava needs to figure out quick where she came from as she is attracting all the wrong attention and her life hangs in the balance

I really liked this book and I think it is a great start to a new series (also bonus points for that book cover). It was a refreshing change for me from other urban fantasies that I have read lately as Falconer chose to focus on a different "creature". You will not find vampires or werewolves or zombies in this book which is very refreshing these days. This book is also quite a bit darker than I thought it would be. The level of violence against Ava when she is attacked as well as some other scenes in the book. I think that Falconer was able to have a balance between Ava trying to live her normal life, figure out who she is as well as trying to figure out her stalker/murderer is. 

The world building is well done and I personally envisioned it in a blue/grey scale with a noir feel to it. I think this has to do with the reference to the Big one in which parts of California broke off and slipped into the Pacific Ocean as well as the idea of the pollution that has caused so many changes to the world. There is often reference to the need to buy organic food or non-GMO due to the pollution and contamination of the planet. It was also interesting the contrast between what on land appears to look like and that of the Ocean.

I really liked Ava as a character she was confident in herself and her abilities but not cocky at the same time. Her belief in what she can do is further supported by her friends in her life, in particular Rourke who uses Ava as bait to try to catch the copy cat killer. Ava is also very intelligent and I'm glad that Falconer was able to show that you can be book as well as street smart. Often in this genre the female protagonists are rarely portrayed this way. I think that Falconer did a good job in portraying Ava's confusion in what she is and where she came from. My one complaint about Ava is her over need to state how hansom/sexy/good looking the men who are in her life or come in to her life during this book. However, I will applaud Falconer that while there is some sexual tension in this book on more than one front, I'm happy that Ava does not feel the need to have sex with every guy that she meets.

This is the first book that I have read by Falconer and it will not be the last. I look forward to seeing what is going to come next in this series, it really is a great start to a new world.

Enjoy!!!!

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