ANGEL FIRE BLOG TOUR: Q&A WITH L.A. WEATHERLY

So today I am the final stop on the Angel Fire blog tour and I have an exclusive interview with the amazing L.A. Weatherly so I hope you enjoy!

Would you be an AK, Angel or Half Angel?

I think I'd have to choose AK. Though it's a dangerous life, they have a great
camaraderie when they're working together as a team. Being a half-angel would be
really difficult, I think; neither Willow nor Seb have an easy time of it before they
meet each other. And I couldn't possibly choose 'angel' without revealing my evil
side. ;)

Seb or Alex... which is your guy?

Ooh, tough one! I can't actually choose. When I'm writing the Alex scenes I'm totally
in love with Alex, and then when I'm writing the Seb scenes, it's him I'm in love with.
In fact, Angel Fire has shown me how utterly fickle I can be!

What was your inspiration for Angel and why did you pick Angels over Vampires or
Werewolves?

It's funny, but I didn't really start out thinking 'I want to write paranormal romance,
so what type of creature should it be about?' Instead, I was just looking for the right
structure for the love story I wanted to tell, which as it turned out needed to have
a supernatural aspect to work. I was also trying to do something original, so was
disappointed to realise that other authors had been writing about angels around the
same time - though as it happened, this worked in Angel's favour. The idea about
angels being beautiful parasites was just one of those wonderful 'what if' things that
come to you sometimes...'What if angels are real, but they're not good and kind like
we think?'

Are any of the characters based on you or people you know?

Most of my characters are based on different aspects of myself, which is why I feel
that I know them so well. The one who's the most like me is probably Seb, with all
his complications and contradictions.

Will there be a movie of Angel?

I hope so. Very excitingly, the film rights to the series have recently been optioned,
so keep your fingers crossed!

When did you know you wanted to write?

I've written almost literally my whole life - one of my first memories is of writing a
story and being very serious about getting it published.

What is your favourite book/s or author/s?

I always find it difficult to answer this question, because it changes on such a regular
basis! (See above point re: fickle.) However, one of my all-time favourites is I Capture

the Castle by Dodie Smith.

How does it feel to see your book in a bookshop or to know you’ve created a
worldwide phenomenon?

Wow, thank you! I don't know that I've quite created a worldwide phenomenon
yet, but I've certainly been extremely touched by people's enthusiasm for the Angel
series. It's wonderful to feel that readers love something that you've written as much
as you do.

If you could meet any 3 people in the world (dead or alive) who would they be?

How about the ultimate writers' dinner-party? For me, this would be Margaret
Mitchell, Mark Twain and L. M. Montgomery.

Thanks for the great questions - and I hope your readers enjoy Angel Fire! :)

Don't forget to go the the amazing: 

ANGELFEVER.COM

INTERVIEW - AIMEE CARTER

      What inspired you to write The Goddess Test?  

I love Greek mythology, and I’ve always been fascinated with the myth of Hades and Persephone. It was very much a process rather than a moment of inspiration, and the plot came to me in a lot of different pieces over the years. It wasn’t until about a year before I sat down to write the novel that I figured out how to put them all together to create a story I was very excited to write.

      Out of the book who is your favourite character? 

This is tricky. I love them all for various reasons, and while certain ones may not get much page time, so to say, they’re fleshed out in my head, and I love seeing how they react to situations. Henry, James, and Ava are my top three, and I think they all bring something a little different to the page. Either way, they’re never dull to write, that’s for sure.

      Are any Characters based on people you know?

Nope! Though after I wrote the book, I realized that one of the characters (Nicholas) vaguely resembles a good friend of mine who also happens to be called Nick. There are enough differences between them though that I’m pretty sure this is a coincidence.

      If you could spend a day with one god who you it be?  

Hades for sure. I would love to see the Underworld and visit my departed loved ones.

      Also, any sign of a film in the works? 

Not at the moment, but if there’s ever any breaking news, I always post about it on my Twitter account (@aimee_carter). I absolutely love films – I majored in film and screenwriting at university, actually – and would love for it to be made into a movie someday. I don’t have my hopes up, but you never know!

      If you could create a new god what would they be called and what would they be the god of? 

 I think the Greek and Roman pantheon (and Celtic, and Nordic, and the countless different religions throughout the world) pretty much have it covered. Maybe a god of publishing. We could call him/her Austowlingway. (Austen/Rowling/Hemingway)

      Can you give us any spoilers on Goddess Interrupted? 

I will tell you exclusively that the book starts in the September following Kate’s holiday. And that you will meet a new character on the very first page.

      How many books will be in the full series? 

Right now I have two written, and while I could go on, though not necessarily from Kate’s perspective, there are no solid plans to do so just yet.

AND DON'T FORGET TO LOOK OUT FOR 

GODDESS INTERRUPTED

SEQUEL TO THE GODDESS TEST

COMING SPRING 2012

ANGEL FIRE - L.A. WEATHERLY - REVIEW

Book: Angel Fire

Author: L.A. Weatherly

Publisher. Usborne

ISBN: 9781409522010

Rating: A+

Only Willow has the power to defeat the malevolent Church of Angels - and they will stop at nothing to destroy her. However, Willow is not alone. She is with Alex, a trained Angel Killer - and her one true love. Together, they must train a new generation of Angel Killers. But as a half-angel, Willow can't help feeling like an outcast, even with Alex by her side. So when a handsome stranger with a tortured past arrives at the AK camp, Willow finds herself inextricably drawn to him.

Amazing. Beautiful. Fantastic. Thrilling. Gorgeous. Brilliant. Honestly, I could go on and on with more words to describe this book but you get the idea right. This book passed the standards; it was miles better than Angel and gave us everything we wanted. A story filled with fiery passion, shocking twists, a love made in heaven and Angels.

The first book was so frikkin amazing, entertaining, refreshing and unique, so I looked at this book and said, how on earth can you beat Angel, but clearly the answer is: ‘With FIRE’ because this book heated me up. It was definitely a Roller Coaster ride of a Thriller with a riddle-ingly unique plot and fantabulous sequel to its previous book.

The plot actually follows both Willow and Alex and Seb (a new shocker for you to discover) switching between 1^st person for willow and 3^rd for Alex and Seb. There is another chance to destroy the angels and they seize it firmly but throughout their journey there is deceit, love feuds, battles and certain type of Rapture.

The writing, as usual was firmly and most definitely stunning, with vivid description, so crisp and sharp in my mind, and emotions so strong and rich I felt them myself. L.A. Weatherly’s writing is most definitely unique and mixed with perfectly paced movement and the right amount of description entwined with a whimsical musical prose sprinkled with magic. It was most certainly wonderful to read and I could not, put it down, not once. It kept me up to all hours, engrossed, and now I think I may have Angel Burn. I just can’t get the book out of my head.

The plot was bloody brilliant. I fused everything you could want. A burning desire, a triangle of love, a supernatural twist and a happy ending. You will not be able to put this book down. The plot was truly magical, though, so unique and special. Beautiful and sparkling yet it will keep your pulse pounding and you heart racing. Obviously a lot of thought has gone into the plot, and it has been constructed carefully and precisely so one chapter will leave you clueless and a few chapters later it will all slide together and you’ll be like ‘Ohhh! That’s clever’. I’m most definitely certain that the wonderful, amazing, fandabidosi plot/story accounts for the 709 pages of pure bliss, that burned their way into my mind.

The characters in this are all so unique and special, and I don’t get the vibe that L.A. Weatherly is trying to make the characters to much of this or too much of that. The characters aren’t forced. They just are, and that’s what makes them so special. There is no perfect brooding boy with a secret or some incredibly ugly or clumsy girl. Everyone is the same, on one side or another, each side with the same goal. All of the characters extremely well built up. Those who are new, well you find out pretty much everything, and those you already know, you find out more, some things that you never even expected. They are all so different in their own unique way and I have come to care for them as my own friends in my mind, whilst reading the novel, feeling sad with them or feeling happy with them, or feeling petrified with them as they jump of a building hoping for something that sort of isn’t there to land them to safety.

My favourite character is in fact a couple that didn’t really happen but I would love to see it happen in Angel Fever, but that couple is Willow and Seb. In book 1 Alex was the guy for Willow but then Seb came along and it just seems so right for the two of them. Like Alex is no longer meant to be. Also they seem better for each other as the book has taken on a new tone, which is more understanding and more mature. Almost as if the characters have grown up and moved on from the stages of first love, and are now in a serious relationship.

Overall the book cannot be summed up into any phrase, word or even amount of words because the novel is too fantastic to fully understand until you have read it but I will end this review with two words: Truly Wonderful. 

SWEETLY - JACKSON PEARCE - REVIEW

Book: Sweetly

Author: Jackson Pearce

Publisher: Hodder Chhildrens

ISBN: 9781444900590

Rating: A+

As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch-like monster in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too. When their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out as teens, they stumble upon a sleepy Southern town and are invited to stay with Sophia Kelly at her sweet shop. Sophia moulds candied magic: coveted treats that inspire confidence, bravery, and passion. Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel finally start to forget their haunted past - until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel, who gives Gretchen a reason to fear Sophia: girls have been vanishing at Sophia's annual chocolate festival, taken by the insatiable 'witch' of Gretchen's nightmares. Can Gretchen save herself, the girls of Live Oak, and Sophia? Of one thing, Gretchen is certain: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

I read sisters red by Jackson Pearce last summer and instantly fell in love with the magical world that she had created. It was so brilliantly fantastic that when I heard about Sweetly I got it as quick as I could.

I loved how Jackson Pearce used the basis of Red Riding Hood to create a beautiful tale and when I heard that Sweetly was a Mix of Hansel and Gretel with her unique magical world I was both thrilled that she was following her theme of fairy tales and to see what she had in store.

I adore Jackson Pearce’s writing. It’s so descriptive and rich and what better way to put that to full use than with a chocolate shop. The writing was so full and luxurious, and most definitely a pleasure to read. The prose is truly full of sparkle.

The plot was so totally unique just as Sisters Red. It was obviously thought out in detail and was not easy to plan as it was a nice complex plot, though extremely easy to follow throughout the whole of the amazing novel.

The characters are all special to themselves in various ways and all built up well so you feel for them very closely and understand them as your friends. I know I felt very close to the characters, and you automatically felt certain feeling for certain characters. My favourite would have to be Sophia. She was so sweet and innocent and she just wanted to save her sister and she would do anything for that.

I think if you break the story away there is a core moral, and it is: Love your family because if they go you’ll regret every bad thing you did. The book had many significant and great moments but my favourite was incredibly sad and made me ache inside. It was when Sophia was shot because she sacrificed herself to join her sister.

Overall the book was a wonderful beautiful tale filled with magic that will warm your heart. It may have sad bits but it is truly a wonderful novel and I honestly loved every letter down to the last word. It is really beautiful.

HADES - ALEXANDRA ADORNETTO - REVIEW

Book: Hades

Author: Alexandra Adornetto

Publisher: ATOM

ISBN: 9781907410772

Rating: B

Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier’s love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well. 

Now, for the record I absolutely adored the first book in this series so I was ultra quick to grab this one and I felt it was good but not as good as the first one. The book is jam packed with action, adventure and beauty i just felt no enough happened for the amount of pages I read, but that aside it was fantastic. It love books with excess description, because it really makes you feel closer to where you are and what’s going on and this book nailed on the head.

The plot to this book was actually very surprising. There were a lot of things I wasn’t expecting, but it was nice because it kept on my feet the whole time, waiting to see what happened. The chapter always had something new, or something different to keep you fully engaged in the book and waiting for the next move.

The writing was beautiful as the first book if not more whimsical and musical. It has like a magical flow to it and it’s is just such a pleasure to read. Always wonderful and positive, destroying any negativity and it just makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. This is one of those books that is lovely to curl up with in the evening.

The character are all so perfect and I  loved that. So many authors try so hard to get the characters imperfect and have some sort of flaw, that to read a book with an all perfect cast is like a breath of fresh air in the YA genre. We learnt a lot about the characters from the first book but they jut keep growing, as we learn more about them. I think that

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book and some very interesting surprises such as {spoiler} Molly becomes a part of the angel crew along with Xavier. In fact there are tones of fantastic shocks but i don’t want to let on too much.

I would have to say my favourite moment was when Beth managed to create life in the underworld. It was pretty amazing and i could picture it so vividly. Of course, because she did it she ended up getting herself a death sentance, but you know.

I have to say, this was not as good as the first book but it had a lot to live up to. I can say that it was a beautiful novel, sent from the heavens above, and I can not wait for the third book in the series.

THE GODDESS TEST - AIMEE CARTER - REVIEW

Book: The Goddess Test

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Mira Ink

ISBN: 9781848450400

Rating: A+

"It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall. Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests. Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess. If she fails..."

The Goddess Test was one of these books that I had heard so much about from blogs around the world, but when I went to buy it I found that at the time it was only available in the USA so when I got an email regarding a blog tour for the UK release I was absolutely thrilled. So I read through the book in little less than a day and it didn’t disappoint me! Not once, the fantastic book sucked me to its depths of the pages and when the end came I was and still am desperate for Goddess Interrupted.

Now one of the striking things about this book is the story line. It’s just so brilliant. The only word to use I suppose is Unique... and a load of other complimentary words. It just has such a simple, yet so different story line, and I suppose it what I needed for my Greek fix. The plot follows, Kate Winters who has moved back to Eden in the wake of her mother’s last days, only to find that she can save her by making a deal with a mysterious boy. And then... she is sucked into a magical Greek world. The plot is based on the original myth of Hades and Persephone but it has a unique, modern, and magical twist I suppose that gives it all the sparkle.

The writing was brilliant as well. The first person worked well, and was good because Carter managed to work other people’s feeling into the prose as well. That’s other thing. It had a magical prose. There was no forced reading of the type because one I had started it flowed smoothly through the full way.

The characters were so incredibly formed, and so definitely not what they seemed, as you find out at the end of the book and I have to admit the ending was incredibly surprising and was most definitely my favourite part of the book, filled with shock, suspense and surprise. The character were all described into so much detail that you became friends with them. Even the ones who turn out to be enemies. My favourite character would have to be Henry though, mainly because he was so incredibly awesome but when you studied him in detail he was really nice. He cared about everyone but himself, doing all he could to make others happy unless of course the deserved to go and spend time with all the people they brutally murdered.

Overall though I really did Love the Goddess Test. It’s is a beautifully written book, a tale of love, and an anciently old myth sparkling with a magical twist.

SEQUENCE BLOG TOUR: Q&A WITH ADRIAN DAWSON

What was your inspiration?

The original inspiration for ‘Sequence’ became the phrase which best describes the

follow-up: ‘[Sequoia]’ – If you could travel back in time, knowing that you could not

change one single event, just how far would you go? I wanted to write a time travel

novel in which the science was accurate, the ramifications were believable and the

end result seemingly pointless but ultimately shocking. I also wanted to create a

scenario where people could travel back in time, could never return and could not

change one single event in history. Why somebody might even bother intrigued me

and I think that readers will find the reasons very surprising indeed.

How long did it take to write?

The planning of ‘Sequence’ took a couple of years, in amongst other writing.

Because nothing about history – actual history or the fictional history of my

characters – could be altered in any way, the novel became an extremely complex

puzzle with diverse threads which needed to work together. I also wanted two of the

stories to cross paths not only at the end, but also at a very specific point in time

mid-way through the novel. Getting two sets of events timed to perfection took a lot

of planning. I also had to take all existing theories of places like “Rennes-le-Chateau”

and completely rewrite my version of them, which meant creating puzzles even more

complex than those already in existence. I used paintings I found on the internet,

composed my own Latin texts and created a series of complex clues.

Approximately how many words is it?

It’s 158,997 words long. Exactly. Though I must point out that not all words are

unique and I have chosen to repeat certain words – words such as ‘the’ – at various

points throughout the novel.

Who is your favourite character?

I needed a background character, whom I called ‘Tina’. She was autistic and

mute and started life simply as a means to an end. By the time the novel was fully

plotted Tina was the lynchpin to everything that was, is and will ever be. She has a

devastating event thrust upon her toward the end of the novel and we discover that

her inability to communicate with others is a result of her being so far ahead of the

average person that the rest of us are, in effect, ants. We make no attempt to talk

to ants, so why should Tina make any effort to talk to us? She is so phenomenally

astute, whilst oozing the quiet confidence of somebody like Andy Dufresne, and that

makes for an amazing character.

Are any of the characters based on people you know?

Not at all. Some are named after people I know, but not based on them in any

way. I think more about who would play the role in the film version when I’m trying

to find a character’s voice, mannerisms and modus operandi. For example, the

two main characters in the present timeline are LAPD Detective Nick Lambert and

archaeologist Sarah Fiddes... when I wrote them, their characters, their nuances,

I "saw" Robin Williams and Natalie Portman.

When did you realize you wanted to write?

I really don’t know. I’ve always written and, as a creative by day and musician in

my spare time I’ve always been a ‘blank piece of paper’ kind of guy. Give me a

blank sheet of paper and I will fill it with something – a story, a song, a design or an

illustration. I’ve done that for as long as I can remember.

How do you feel about the amazing response to your book?

Vindicated. I had so many publishers rejecting ‘Codex’ because they felt it was

like Dan Brown - despite it being accepted by the UK’s largest literary agent in

1999 (four years before ‘The Da Vinci Code’ appeared) - that I worried that I might

be seen as little more than a Dan Brown clone. The fact that people can find

similarities on a very basic level but accept that in many ways my work is completely

different, is what I’ve been saying for years. If you like ‘The Da Vinci Code’, you will

enjoy ‘Codex’ but it’s not ‘The Da Vinci Code’. To quote one very well respected

reviewer: “…the market targeted here is clearly the straightforward one colonised by

Dan Brown, but in actual fact, Adrian Dawson is a better writer (if anything, closer in

style to Michael Crichton).” I can live with that.

What is/are your favourite book/s?

‘Hannibal’ by Thomas Harris for its poetic prose, ‘Rita Hayworth and Shawshank

Redemption’ (from the ‘Different Seasons’ collection) by Stephen King and pretty

much anything by Philip K. Dick. So, all similar genres then…?

And finally, the book is a phenomenon, so will there be a film?

The last report I received from my publisher indicated that a couple of film

companies are currently looking into ‘Sequence’, but we’ll have to see what

happens. There are no firm offers yet but if they come, and Robin Williams is

available to play Nick Lambert (with Robin in ‘Insomnia’ mode) then… yes, please.

SEQUENCE REVIEW