2019, Events, Writing, & More, Oh Wow...

Happy Friday Everyone!

Well, we've made it to February 2019! January was super busy with researching some stuff and working away on a new novel. The novel is about 20,000-30,000 away from my target word count. My assistant, Roxanne, is eagerly awaiting the day I finish this novel because the snippets I've sent her aren't enough--she wants to know everything about this story. This story has been fun to write, although, like every story it's had its ups and downs and days where I just wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it.

News of imprints of publishers closing down has caused some difficulties for some friends/colleagues of mine, which makes me sad for them because that's a tough thing to go through. I wish them all the best and pray for them.

Talk of Romance Writers of America Nationals in New York City (July) is going on and I'm waiting to see if me and my narrator, the supremely talented, Christopher Hudson (who you can find on Twitter, now) will join the ranks of speakers for this year's conference. I don't know when we'll know, but I've been told it'll be before RWA opens up for registration this month.

Roxanne and I have been gearing up for BrazCon 2019. I was invited to make a return appearance for this year. I'll be another panel and I have limited copies of my all my books in paperback to sell. I also have brand-new swag and should be getting my newly-designed bookmarks soon, too.

Now that I've gotten my news out of the way, let me tell you what's really on my mind for this blog post and it's Mary Lindsey's YA novel, Haven.

It took me a while to get through this one not because of any flaws with the story, but because I was very distracted and have had a lot going on. But I finally finished it yesterday and I really enjoyed it.

Haven is a story that Mary Lindsey describes at author events as a book her editor really wanted her to write and one she wasn't sure whether or not would work. Let me tell you, it not only works, it's another example of her skill as a wordsmith.

We follow Rain (Aaron Ryland) on his journey from the streets of Houston, Texas to some itty bitty town full of secrets. Those secrets pertain to Weavers (witches/magic) and Watchers (werewolves).

Rain becomes enamored with the feisty alpha female, Freddie, and it sends him down a path of danger, suspense, conspiracies, and murder.

Mary has successfully taken the paranormal world of magic and werewolves and woven a tale that fans of Teen Wolf and YA Paranormal stories will likely enjoy.

From what I understand, there is talk of a sequel and I definitely will want to read that one!

To get your hands on Haven, check out Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I'm not sure what I'll be reading next. My TBR (To Be Read) stack currently has several 1-2 chapter preview stories, and about 18 novels and 1 non-fiction. So, yeah, it's a lot and this doesn't even include what I have on my E-reader waiting for me!

What are you reading these days? How has your 2019 been so far?

Is It Better Left UNSPOKEN?

Hi Darling Readers,

While my blogging right now is going to be a bit on the sporadic side, but to make it up to you, I have a special surprise...an official blog book review!

Author C.C. Hunter has the final installment of her Della stories on sale today.

Della is a vampire on a mission: to clear her father's name. She doesn't believe for an instant that he killed his sister. But between secrets and lies, how is she supposed to uncover the truth?

Then there's Chase. The vampire who saved her life. Is her attraction to him real or just part of the blood-bond they share? Can she even trust him after he lied to her?

Truths will be revealed and secrets discovered. Lives will change forever.

But is it a good thing or should it all have remained Unspoken?

You can get your copy of the exciting conclusion to Della's story on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Happy reading and have a tantalizing Tuesday!

Magic, Time Travel, Curses & Romance...

Happy Friday Everybody!

Well, we've done it! Made it through another work week...although, just because it's the weekend doesn't mean my work week ends. If the writing/editing/critiquing/whatever I have to do isn't done, I work on the weekends, too. In fact, I almost work every day unless I really feel bad/exhausted. Otherwise, it wouldn't get done.

Another hardworking author is Anne B. Cole, whose Souls Entwined is today's blog book review (another way overdue one!)

Sam Daggett isn't sure what to think when he meets Gretta Dobbs aka "Purple Shorts" (before he knows her name). But soon, he learns she's

strong, determined, and dealing with a serious mystery. One that has plagued her family for generations.

Gretta's family ring is cursed. But what kind of curse and how to break it, not even the spirits of her ancestors (who visit Sam and Gretta) know.

By sending Gretta and Sam's souls back in time into Gretta's ancestors' bodies the two are given the chance to uncover what happened and why the ring was cursed and what kind of curse it was.

Slung back to 1800's Greece, a time full of dangerous pirates, slavery, and adventure, into the bodies of Lorenzo and Anya, Sam and Gretta work to uncover the secrets behind the family, the ring, and the curse (or is it, curses?)

They're not supposed to change the past.

Survival isn't guaranteed.

Can these two young people figure out what's going on before it's too late for them...and Gretta's family?

Enter the world of Souls Entwined, the first in author Anne B. Cole's intriguing and engrossing Paranormal Romantic series.

Souls Entwined is available on Amazon Kindle for your reading pleasure.

Have A Fantastically Festive Friday!

Edits, Real Life, & What Are You Reading?

Happy Wednesday All,

I'm afraid posting on the blog will be sporadic during this month due to edits, appointments, and other real life things.

However, I did want to mention I'm now on Instagram. Yeah, I know, it took me a while, but I'm there. I don't post a lot, but I'm going to try and remedy that. You can find me as bethany(dot)averie.

There's a couple of books I've finished reading that I plan to talk about on here. One is official, because I promised the author. The other is just because I liked the book so much I decided I'd blog about it.

Currently I'm reading more than one book, but trying to finish the first as soon as possible. I'm reading:

Anne B. Cole's Souls Entwined -- so far, very imaginative. And

interesting concepts. I also like the paranormal elements.

The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet If you've watched the YouTube series, then you know what I'm talking about. And yes, so far, it's good. It's nice to see a little more than just what you see online (videos, tweets, that kind of thing).

So what are you reading these days?

Well, back to the edit cave and all the things going on in my real life.

Have A Whimsical Wonderland Wednesday!

At Long Last...COVER REVEAL!

Happy Thursday & Friday All,

Because of editing, I won't be posting again this week. However, I did promise something special, and I'm delivering.

As you all know, the Immortal Dreams Trilogy is coming to a close. (please don't cry!) Book One, Divine Love, and Book Two, Astral Love, are both available on Amazon Kindle. I'm hoping Divine Love will go to paperback hopefully soon, but I don't know when.



I've enjoyed taking this journey. Laney and Jason have become like old friends to me. And, I think they complement each other well. Jason encourages Laney's strength and bravery, and she keeps him grounded and gives him a reason to be heroic.

Which is good, because in Book Three, they're going to need each other. I mean, they seriously, really will, without-a-doubt, need each other.  I've thrown everything I could come up with at these two in this final installment and they refuse to give up. No matter what they're facing, no matter how frustrated they get, they keep going. That's one of the things I love about them.

So, drum roll and cymbals please!

Introducing the cover art for the final installment of the Immortal Dreams Trilogy! I give you Immortal Dreams, Book Three: Immortal Love:

Isn't it awesome? I love it.

Look carefully at the bottom. Doesn't that look ominous? Fiona Jayde has once again done a fantastic job. I've loved all the covers she's made for each of the novels. And, this one definitely embodies what Laney and Jason face.

So far, it looks like Immortal Love will release March of 2015. I'll let you know if anything changes. Unfortunately, due to several things, the date had to be pushed back from January. I apologize, but sometimes things happen. And well...this time, a lot of things I hadn't bargained on, happened. Not necessarily really bad, but they did get in the way of things moving as fast as I originally planned. (And yes, it was all on me--not my publisher's fault. Although, my publisher has been incredibly understanding and patient with me, for which I'm most grateful--they know I'm pregnant and the pregnancy played a huge role in putting me behind schedule).

I'm a little sad to say goodbye to Laney and Jason. But, you never know...maybe someday I'll revisit my Immortals. But I'm going to take a little break. You see, there is a particular project that I've never seemed able to finish writing in nearly 6 years (And if any of my Girls' Night Out ladies are reading this--DO NOT SAY ANYTHING! Yes, it's the one you're thinking of, but I'm not revealing the story right now). It's become clear it's time to try and finish it. I've had the illustrious Tess St. John and some of friends begging for me to finish this novel, and I think I've kept everyone waiting long enough. So I'm going to work on that one. This time, hopefully I'll actually FINISH the novel, then it can be edited, critiqued, and hopefully one day...published!

Thank you to all my loyal and enthusiastic readers for joining me thus far. Hang on, because just because the Trilogy is coming to an

Doesn't this photo look like
I'm plotting something?
Well I am!

end does NOT mean this is the end. You never know what next I'll come up with next. There are many things brewing in my head and I can't wait to see where they take me. :-)

And yes, I'll be doing more blog posts at some point, just not this week. Maybe even a giveaway or two in the (near) future. You'll just have to wait and see!

Have A Thrillingly Twinkly Thursday and A Fabulously Festive Friday! Also, enjoy your weekend.

Cover Reveal! IMMORTAL DREAMS Book Two: ASTRAL LOVE!

Hello Darling Readers,

This is actually for Monday, but because I'm writing, and doing a bunch of other things, I wanted to make sure I got it up in plenty of time.

Hope everybody had a great weekend! I was sick on Saturday, but got better on Sunday, so that was good. I'm working on Book Three of the Immortal Dreams Trilogy, but I figured everybody would want a little peek at what's to come (especially for anyone who has already read Immortal Dreams Book One, Divine Love).

So here we are, the cover art for Immortal Dreams Book Two, Astral Love! I love it, don't you?

Book Two is due to release Fall of 2014 (yes, this year!)

Here's wishing you a great work week/new school year!

Have A Marvelously Magical Monday!

Return To Shadow Falls...

Happy Thursday Everybody,

Originally I had planned to post this on Friday, but I've got several things going on in my world, so I figured I'd post it now.

Today I have an official blog book review for you...

Fans of C.C. Hunter's Shadow Falls series rejoice! A new journey has begun...

Della Tsang might be a bad ass vampire, but underneath her tough exterior you'll find a broken heart.

Having hid the fact she's a vampire from her parents and sister, Della endures her parents' suspicions. She also deals with the fact the guy she was in love with before she turned has left her and (if we're honest, was something of a jerk one of the times she came across him). All she wants is her parents' love and affection, but does she dare tell them about her and her cousin, Chan--who, in fact, is not dead, but faked it when he got turned?

This isn't all she has to deal with. Not by a long shot. There's a brand new being on the Shadow Falls campus and Della doesn't trust him as far as she can throw him--which would be pretty far if she could just get her hands on him. Never mind the fact she finds him attractive--

or the fact he inspired her friends to donate blood just so that she wouldn't have to spend anytime with him during the whole "Meet Your Camp Mates" session.

But there's more brewing than potential boyfriends and distrusting parents. Della's been feeling strange lately and having odd dreams. Not to mention something's wrong with Chan, but nobody will tell her where he is or what's up.

And when you add ghosts to the mix, it doesn't make it any easier.

Mysteries, action, Della's sass, and all your favorite characters from Shadow Falls are back in a whole new adventure.

Shadow Falls, with all its mysteries, romance, adventure, and action awaits you! 

Shadow Falls After Dark: Reborn by C.C. Hunter will be available for purchase on May 20, 2014. You can pre-order Della's book by going to Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  Also, be sure to check out C.C.'s novella and another Della story, Saved At Sunrise (which is a great way to get background on Steve, who is determined to win the prickly vampire's heart).  If you preorder (order the book BEFORE May 20th, you can enter C.C. Hunter's publisher, St. Martin's Press sweepstakes)

Have A Thrillingly Terrific Thursday!

Updates, Upcoming Releases, Etc...

Happy Monday All,

Here's hoping everybody had a great weekend! Mine was all right.

There are just HOURS left in the giveaway I donated a Kindle copy of All's Fair In Love & Lion to. For details check out author Patti Korbet's blog. 

For those of you who didn't hear:  Last week I turned Immortal Dreams Book 2: Astral Love in to my publisher.  It's exciting, nerve-wrecking, and a relief to have another novel finished. I'm working on another novel and got some ideas for others, too. 

Next month I'll have an official blog book review for another author (not going to say who the author is or what the book is, but it's coming!) I enjoyed this one very much that I'll be reviewing.

I'm looking forward to the upcoming release of Kerrelyn Sparks' How To Seduce A Vampire (Without Really Trying).  I pre-ordered a paperback copy of that one. It releases tomorrow (April 29, 2014).

If you all didn't hear the marvelous news from author Katie McGarry about another Echo & Noah story, check it out here. Very exciting news.

I'm also looking forward to author Kiera Cass's The One, which I think is coming out in May.

What books are you looking forward to being released this week and in May?

Have A Marvelously Magical Monday!

Updates & 2014 Upcoming Releases...

Happy Friday All,

I've been thinking about what kind of post to write, and well several ideas have been floating in my mind. I couldn't nail down one, so I waited until I could. And I still haven't, but I thought I'd give it a go to see what happens. (Bear with me LOL).

I'm awaiting 1st round edits for Immortal Dreams Book 1: Divine Love.

I'm still waiting on the paperback version of All's Fair In Love & Lion (I'm sorry that's been taking so long).

I'm waiting on the cover art for Immortal Dreams Book 1: Divine Love.  The form has been turned in to the artist, so I guess just waiting on them.

I am so looking forward to this cover you have NO idea. I love this Trilogy. I do, I really do. There's just something about Erich and Laney that has me going bonkers. My beta reader is awaiting Book 3. She's loved the first 2 and is ready for the third one. 

If you're a member of Goodreads, all 3 Immortal Dreams Trilogy books are up on Goodreads for you to press that "Want To Read" button. I haven't put in much of a blurb, yet, because I wanted to wait closer to Divine Love's release date to do that. However, don't let that stop you from pressing the "want to read" button. The more "buzz" that is created, the better. 

Here's a very general overview of the Immortal Dreams Trilogy: 

18 year-old, senior high school student, Laney Alberts mourns the death of her beloved father. Even though it happened a year earlier,

it might as well have been yesterday.  Enter Erich Magnus. There's

something about this guy, and it's not just his god-like good looks, cocky attitude, leather jacket, and silver Corvette. There's something more, something deeper. What Laney hadn't bargained on was her place in the whole crazy situation. Secrets will be uncovered, lies revealed, and to put it into Laney's words "major suckage" ensues. Can they figure it out before the world is taken over by chaos? Find out starting June 18, 2014 when Immortal Dreams Book 1: Divine Love is released!

I realize that's not the most awesome blurb in the world, and I promise I have another one that should be better yet to come, but that's what I can offer at the moment.

Meanwhile here's a list of books (besides my own, of course) that I'm really excited about (in no particular order) and some of these you can pre-order, too:

Kiera Cass's The One (Book 3 in The Selection series)--May 2014

C.C. Hunter's Shadow Falls After Dark:  Reborn (spin-off series to her Shadow Falls series)  -- May 2014

Kerrelyn Sparks' How To Seduce A Vampire (Without Really Trying)  (next installment in her Love At Stake series)  -- April 2014

Jennifer L. Armentrout's Opposition (book 5 in her Lux series)--August 2014

Katie McGarry's Take Me On --releasing May 2014   also looking forward to Breaking The Rules (a new Noah & Echo story!)--December 2014

Lesley Livingston's Transcendent (book 3 of Starling series)--December 2014

There's other books I'm looking forward to reading that I already have but haven't gotten to, but these are the ones that are releasing this year.


What books are you looking forward to seeing released THIS year?

Have A Fabulously Fun Friday!

Classics Week Guest Post: Tina Bausinger "Love, Death, And Madness"

Happy Thursday Everybody,

I can't tell you how excited I am that you all have been enjoying Classics Week. When I got this idea I wasn't sure what would happen, but it's turned into a lot of fun. Yesterday's posts by Mina Khan got many comments (thank you for supporting Mina!) Which is great. It's always nice when readers support an author.

Today I welcome an author who is on one of the email loops I'm on. Like Mina, when I sent out the call for certain authors, (mostly Paranormal and Fantasy, but I welcomed a couple of other genres, too) author Tina Bausinger answered the call and I was delighted to have her come aboard for this blog series.

So please join me in welcoming Tina Bausinger as she talks about Emily Brontë:

The windy heights—a horrifying thunderstorm and a choice between a love-crazed, revenge-seeking rogue or a beautiful aristocratic pretty boy. Who can resist the world of Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë? I know I can’t.

 

Love that transcends all boundaries, even those set by sanity--Cathy Earnshaw is the original Bella Swan. She’s indecisive, whiny, spoiled—and yet, brooding, handsome, mentally unstable Heathcliff and gorgeous, wealthy and wussy Linton are ready to fight to the death for her. Well, sort of—Linton is ready to pay someone to fight in his place, but still.

 

When Cathy thinks about Heathcliff, she says, “If all else perished, and he remained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger.” When Heathcliff speaks to Cathy, he says, “Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad! Only do not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! It is unutterable! I cannot live without my life!”

 

Wuthering Heights is so much more than just a love story—it’s a revenge story as well, and we see Heathcliff as the antihero. We can’t help rooting for him to win Cathy, but he’s sort of a weird obsessive bad boy whose mental instability keeps us guessing till the end. Gotta love a good, dark Gothic tale.

        

If you like dark and twisty tales like Wuthering Heights, you’re gonna love my book, War Eagle Women. It’s considered a Southern Gothic romance. Like Cathy, Eden is torn between

beautiful, moody, talented artist Craig and Mike, a handsome, dedicated trauma surgeon. Elizabeth, Eden’s grandmother, tells her own story about her choice between dark Italian hottie Antonio, who hides a questionable past and rough and handsome boy-next-door Henry. In the tiny town of War Eagle where secrets lie as deep as the river, four women whose lives are inextricably linked by blood and destiny must share their long buried stories to help their youngest, Samantha, to disclose her own secret that, left untold, threatens to steal her very life. Dark and gritty, War Eagle Women is part romance, part mystery, part ghost story, and part Indian legend. I promise that Eden is a more likable heroine than either Cathy or Bella. Give War Eagle Women a try!

Note From Bethany:  You can find War Eagle Women on Amazon Kindle. 

Classics Week, Guest: Mina Khan Talks About Mary Shelley

Happy Wednesday All,

I hope you enjoyed Marie Hall's post yesterday on Regency Romance and how they influenced her. I know I did.

Today I welcome author Mina Khan to Write By Bethany. When I

Author Mina Khan

was scheduling authors for this week, I got on the two email loops I'm a member of and asked who would be interested (out of Fantasy and Paranormal authors).  Mina sent me an email asking if I had room for her and whether or not Mary Shelley was taken. I replied that there was room, and no, nobody had claimed Mary Shelley as their topic. So what follows is an interesting take on a novel that is definitely categorized as a Classic. My thanks to Mina for being a part of Classics Week! 

So, now I invite you to sit back and relax as Mina takes the floor...

Thanks Bethany for having me over! My geeky heart is thrilled to be sharing & discussing one of my favorite classic reads – Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus by British author Mary Shelley.

Frankenstein is considered to be one of the earliest examples of science fiction, if not the first real science fiction story. Science and its possibilities and consequences are an intrinsic part of the plot. But Frankenstein is also timeless because it is about the human condition.

  

As a reader and writer of paranormal romance and urban fantasy, what appeals to me the most is Shelley’s handling of Frankenstein’s creature.

  

When people hear “Frankenstein,” they usually imagine an eight-foot tall green creature with bolts coming out of his neck, who communicates in grunts, growls and moans. But Shelley’s creature was very different.

For me, Shelley was the first person to humanize the monster. If you watch old vampire or werewolf movies (Nosferatu, anyone?), they were pure horror. The Monsters were stereotypes with no depth beyond mindless marauding beasts.

Shelley’s novel made me wonder who was the real monster? The creature who is abandoned and rejected and needs community or the man who created him and doesn’t take the time or care to love and be responsible for the consequences – his child.

  

Frankenstein is about the basic human need for love and belonging, it’s about acceptance and rejection, and it’s about Science vs Nature, Patriarchal Society vs one where women are a valued and important part of life, and it’s about the complex relationship between parent and child.

Frankenstein and its themes have influenced one of my own stories, Wildfire. The Japanese American heroine, Lynn, inherited the dragon shifter gene. She doesn’t want anything to do with her inner dragon or its primal instincts, power and refusal to be completely tamed and controlled.

  

Worse, the gene sometimes skips generations and this makes for a prickly relationship with her non-shifter, practical and efficient mother (who is a doctor and devoted to science and medicine).

  

Lynn is hunting a rogue dragon – the one thing she fears the most especially because he threatens her control.

  

To me, the story arc of Wildfire is the Serenity Prayer. It's about Lynn accepting herself, accepting what she can and cannot do, with grace and wisdom.

  

BLURB: Dragon Shifter Lynn Alexander is hunting an arsonist

burning up acres of West Texas. She has to figure out if her primary suspect a malicious rogue dragon or the love of her life? A paranormal mystery with romantic elements. 

Note From Bethany:  Wildfire is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for your reading pleasure.

If You Say His Name...

Happy Thursday  Everybody,

Recently, I struck a deal with author Marie Hall (which it’s kind of funny for me to say

“struck a deal” given the character of this novel). She was kind and generous enough to allow me the opportunity to read and review her upcoming release, Rumpel’s Prize. 

This novel is filled with suspense, adventure, sizzling romance, and mystery…just like Rumpelstiltskin himself.

Rumpel is a cursed man of darkness. His life is made up of deals, contracts, dancing-around-the-truth, secrets, and loneliness.  He knows nothing else, and in many ways, he revels in his life. After all, he's powerful and he's feared. He gets what he wants and nobody can do a darned thing about it.

But he's a man on a mission. A very important mission, so he travels the land of Kingdom, seeking the answer to his problem. To aid him in his quest is his list of names who have contracts with him.

His travels takes him to the home of Gerard and Betty Caron (you can read their story in Gerard’s Beauty) where their nineteen year old daughter, Shareya lives.

Tucked away from all human contact, Shareya harbors a frustrating and horrible secret. And while she loves her family dearly, the secret has made her life very difficult.

When Rumpel visits, and calls in on the contract her father, Gerard, made with him, Shareya is horrified by the terms with which Rumpel decides to fulfill the bargain. To save her beloved father from Rumpel’s terms, Shareya agrees to take her father’s place and travel with Rumpel to his castle. For three months Shareya will remain at Rumpel’s castle. One day out of each month will be the day of the test—the day she plays Rumpel's game.

Three tests/games, three months. Shareya is determined to fulfill her promise, and return home. Rumpel is equally determined to figure out the answer to his troubles. What neither of them bargained on was love.

The question is, will love be strong enough and real enough to withstand Rumpel’s secrets?  Or will the whole thing tear them apart?

Find out in Marie Hall’s newest release, Rumpel’s Prize on April 1, 2014 (Marie assured me it wasn't a joke) in the Alpha’s After Dark Anthology.

Have A Tremendously Thrilling Day!

Spotlight On Author: Marie Hall

Happy Tuesday All,

Please forgive me. This post is several days late, and I'm embarrassed about that. Unfortunately, the day that I was planning to post it, I was too busy PR-ing this author's release (and a couple of other authors' releases) that it slipped my mind. Then Offspring got sick, then the weekend came (and I usually don't post on the weekends). However, I'm posting it NOW.

I met author Marie Hall through Facebook and Twitter after having enjoyed 1-2 of her titles. I've been reading her Kingdom novels, which are fairy-tale based. They deal with characters that are either seen as villains or not quite heroes. The first novel of hers

I read was Her Mad Hatter (which you can get on Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook--I think you can still get it for free, I haven't looked at the links in a while), and have since moved on to several of her other titles.

Marie is a fun, vivacious person and I was thrilled to pieces (figuratively speaking, I didn't actually break into pieces) when she agreed to this interview.

So without any further delays, I give you...Marie Hall:

Me:  You write a lot of stories dealing with fantasy, fairy-tales, and myths, what is it about those topics that made you want to write in the genres?

Marie:  I love Disney well, more than Disney I love fairy tales. Grimm, old legends, Disney, doesn't matter. I just love them, I love the darkness of them. And have always felt, even when I was little, that there had to be two sides to every story. So when I grew up I realized I wanted to explore that more, little did I know there were other readers just like me who had a soft spot for the bad boys of the tales.

Me:  You've got your heroes--Danika's "Bad Boys" novels (KINGDOM series) with Hatter, Gerard (note:  Gerard is from Marie's version of Beauty & The Beast), Captain Hook, The Big Bad Wolf, and a genie. I've noticed you mention Rumpelstiltskin being worked on and The Huntsman's book is out (available now) any others on the horizon? (And do you have a release date for Rumpelstiltskin's novel?)

Marie:  Rumpelstiltskin's novel will release in April as a matter of fact. :) As to who else will be in my books, I can tell you that I plan to return to the Sea of Seren, I love mermen and don't think they get nearly enough love. ;) I'm also very keen to explore other darker characters, but I won't be giving away their identities just yet as I've noticed that because my writing style is very organic, who I choose to write about switches from book to book. I leave myself open to the possibility of anyone and that way the monsters tend to surprise even me. :)

Me:  Do you have a favorite out of all your novels or is it too hard to choose? And if you do have a favorite, which one is it and why?

Marie:  If I had to choose based on what I've written in KINGDOM thus far I'd say Hook. I've always been in love with Captain Hook, mainly because I've felt he's gotten a seriously bum wrap thanks to that impish Peter Pan. But future characters, I'm seriously excited to explore Rumpel, he's just really a million shades of grey and that's exciting to me.

Me: What is your advice to aspiring authors?

Marie:  Keep writing. You only get better with each book, write what you want to read, and most importantly keep it fun!

Me:   Fun Question:  What special treat keeps you going?

Marie:  Fan email. I seriously thrive on that stuff. Writing is a really solitary profession. Interacting with readers, seeing how my books have affected them, man there is nothing better. Knowing that my books aren't just read in the States, or Canada, or Australia, but as far as the UAE, Poland, Lithuania, South Africa, Denmark, France, Brazil, Japan...wow, just wow, that's not even the half of the places I've gotten fan letters from. I can't believe how far my little books have gotten, makes me rather proud to know so many amazing men and women in so many different parts of the world!

Me:   What other stories are percolating in that incredible imagination of yours?

Marie:  This is the year I'll be focusing on my existing series. I plan to release a lot more KINGDOM and NIGHT novels, I also hope to wrap up my CHAOS TIME books.

Me:  What's your favorite thing about writing?

Marie:  That while it's a lot of work, it's so much fun I wake up each morning excited to get back to it. I'm living the dream and I'm so thankful for that.

Me:   Fun question:  If you could enter any fairy-tale, which one would it be and why?

Marie:  Ooh, toss up between Hatter and Hook. I love Wonderland and Neverland, so it really is a toughie.

Me:   Did you always want to be a writer?

Marie:  No, LOL. I actually did horrible in English in school. But when I realized that unless I started to write I'd never get to read fairy tale books like I wanted I decided it was time to learn. My first book ever written (Back in '99) was a very loose adaptation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. The book is awful..LOL, as most first books are and it will never see the light of day, but it's also near and dear to my heart because that is the book that lit the fire and made me realize my calling in life. 

Me:  Anything else you'd like to add?

Marie:  If you'd like to know about me, my works, or if you'd like to sign up for my Newsletter make sure to visit my blog. WWW.MARIEHALLWRITES.BLOGSPOT.COM!

Happy reading!

Thank you so much, Marie, for taking time out of your very busy writing schedule (I've seen her Facebook posts, folks, and this woman is incredible!) 

I'm going to be reading (soon) Moon's Flower in preparation of reading her brand-new release (released on Feb. 10, 2014), Huntsman's Prey, available on Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook. (Marie actually recommended I read Moon's Flower before Huntsman's Prey, so that's why I'm going in that order).

Hope everyone has a totally terrific Tuesday!