Character Interview with Cera / This World Bites by Loni Townsend

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In case you're interested, I am at three blogs today for my tour:

Kelly Hashway - Interview with a Ghost

Medeia Sharif - Why I Love Strong Heroines

Marlow Kelly - Ghost of Death Scene Spotlight
And yesterday I was at Christine Rains' blog with 7 Signs You're a Ghost.

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Today I am accompanied by one of my favorite heroines, Cera from This World Bites by Loni Townsend. I asked her a few questions about herself and her story. She’s witty, feisty, and fun. Let’s begin!

Hi, Cera! What is This World Bites about?

It’s my first day on a new world and I’ve already found trouble. Michael, my guardian, has been bitten by a zombie and will soon join the undead ranks.

Everyone tells me there’s no cure, but I’m not one to be deterred. I’ll face off with zombie hordes, demon slavers, and black market informants if it means I’ll find a cure for Michael. But I’m not the only one hunting for something.

Something is hunting me.

Title: This Word Bites

Author: Loni Townsend

Series: Cera Chronicles (Book 1)

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal

Length: 80 pages/eBook

Publisher: Stoneword Press

Release Date: January 19, 2015

Books Links:

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

1. First, who would play you in a movie?

Movie? I think Michael has mentioned those before. That’s the visual illusion of people appearing on a big wall thingy, right? He said something about it being filmy or something. I wasn’t paying attention. He didn’t think the movie would be able to help my dad, so I ignored it. But what’s this play part you’re talking about? Am I supposed to be an instrument?

2. Lets discuss movies another time. What is your job?

That depends on the world, really. Since I’m the one who has to earn money for my group, I’ll take any job I can get, short of prostitution. I’d really have to like the guy…or girl…in order to sleep with them. I’m an excellent cook—I was trained by the best—so kitchen work is pretty safe. My elemental strength also makes manual labor a good choice. But hey, if you just want to pay me to have the joy of my company, I would totally be fine by that.

3. Okay, so what do you do for fun?

*looks at Chrys* What are you doing tonight? *bats eyelashes*

4. *takes a step back* What is your biggest pet peeve?      

People calling me darling. Do not call me darling. I will not be held responsible if I break your jaw afterward, if you do.

5. Good thing I wasn’t going to call you darling. I met Duke, your love interest in this story a few minutes ago. For the people who don’t know...How did you meet Duke?

He was our waiter at the restaurant we stopped at. He also the only one who didn’t run away scared when we announced Michael had been bitten by a zombie.

6. What was your first impression of him?

He was sexy, I was looking for a job, and we just hit it off from there. Plus he knew someone who might be able to help Michael. How could I turn him down?

7. You couldn’t, but what kind of trouble do the two of you get into?

Oh, you know. I got drunk,  killed a few slavers, and then we went back to his place. I left him there because Michael had started eating people. I’ve got my priorities, you know. Plus I couldn’t find a pulse after I hit him with that frying pan…

9. YIKES! What moment of This World Bites was your favorite?

I loved the glowing sparks popping from the electrical cable I was holding onto. They were so pretty. Too bad I was dangling 15 stories from the ground. It didn’t give me much time to appreciate them.

10. That’s too bad. Is there anything you did in This World Bites that you would change if you could?

I’d totally get a second drink before the slavers crashed my date.

Hyper Round:

Food: Yes please!

Drink: Those foofoo drinks are pretty good.

Movie: If I watch one, I’ll tell you

Band: My mom has a wooden wedding band that my dad made. Is that what you’re talking about?

Book: Books are still hand-scribed back on my home world, but I had a history tome called the Thanmir War that my guardian gave me. I read that front to back a few times.

Color: Red, the same shade as my hair, please.

BIO:

Loni Townsend

Wife. Mother. Writer. Ninja. Squirrel.

By day, she writes code. By predawn darkness, she writes fantasies. All other times, she writes in her head.

People call her peculiar with a twisted sense of fashion, but don't let those understatements fool you. Her behavior is perfectly normal for a squirrel disguised as a human. That's part of being a ninja—blending in.

She makes her home in Idaho with her sadistically clever—yet often thwarted—husband, two frighteningly brilliant children, and three sneaky little shibas.

Find her on her blog or social media.

Author Links:

Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Google + / Goodreads

Thank you, Loni, for letting me talk to your character. And thank you Cera for giving an entertaining interview. I hope to chat with both of you again soon. J

Please leave a comment for Cera and Loni!

Author Interview with Kenneth E. Hautala (Pulp Fantasy)

Attention pulp/epic fantasy fans! Today I am bringing you an interview with Kenneth E. Hautala, so he can tell you about his debut novel, Haruffa Tales. Kenneth is a Canadian author and is being hailed for bringing pulp back.

Check out the promo video for Haruffa Tales:

Please tell us about your current release, Kenneth.

Haruffa Tales is a Retro Pulp Fantasy novel written as a tribute to works like Robert E. Howard’s, Conan-Hour of the Dragon which first appeared in Weird Tales, 1935. 

Title: Haruffa Tales (Book One)

Author: Kenneth E. Hautala

Genre: Pulp Fiction

Length: 352 Pages

Publisher: FriesenPress

Release Date: November 5, 2014

BOOK LINKS:

FriesenPress / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

iTunes / KOBO / Indigo / Google Play
Goodreads

1. What books would you compare to Haruffa Tales?

Edgar Rice Burroughs (Tarzan, John Carter of Mars), Robert E. Howard (Conan), One Thousand and One Nights aka Arabian Nights, John Norman (The Gor series). Classic pulp fantasy.

2. Since I read Haruffa Tales, I can definitely see that. Is this book part of a series?

This is the first book in the series. At this point I have 3 additional books in the hopper.

3. How did you pick the title for your book?

The main character Haruffa got his name from The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad (1958) by Ray Harryhausen.  Harufa (as it was originally spelled) was Sinbad’s first mate and like so many supporting characters died prematurely.

4. I didn't know that! Why did you choose the setting for Haruffa Tales?

In keeping with the Arabian Nights/Sinbad theme I wanted a Middle Eastern/ East Indian setting.

5. Did you do special research for Haruffa Tales?

Hours and hours. Thank god for dogpile.com. Since I was tapping into so many different cultures the research needed was immense. On the plus side, I certainly learned a lot…Like I really want to go to Ireland and India!

6. I've never used dogpile.com. I'll have to check it out. What movies inspired your book?

The works of Ray Harryhausen to be sure.  Sinbad, Jason and the Argonaughts etc. but I have to include the collected works of Ralph Bakshi.  If you’re not familiar, I would encourage you to watch his version of The Lord of the Rings, Fire & Ice and Wizards.  It was mind blowing stuff when it came out decades ago and still holds its own to this day.

7. What would we find in your heroine’s purse if we went snooping?

A shortened life expectancy…

8. Interesting. if you could give your book to anyone in the world to read (dead or alive) who would it be and why?

My grandfather. No person living or dead have I ever had more respect for than my grandfather. He published a few articles but always wanted to write a book about his experiences growing up as an orphan in Finland during the Finnish/Russian conflict.

9. Your advice to new writers.

Never give up.  If it is a passion that burns inside you and you just don’t can’t let go.  Don’t.  Even if you only write for fun, don’t stifle yourself.  It’s not healthy.

10. Tell us about your writing process.

My writing process is pretty fractured.  I figure out where I want to begin and end and then how to get there. I run seemingly endless scenarios in my mind, fine tune them over and over and eventually piece the best of them together like a jigsaw puzzle, all the while immersed in some form of music.  Strange I know but it works for me.

AUTHOR BIO:

From the time he was a young teenager, Kenneth E. Hautala fanned the spark of creative inspiration into flame through his innate love of storytelling. As a carpenter and construction health and safety professional, he has a deep respect for the value of hard work and skill—a characteristic he applies to his life as a writer. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman, he lives in Newmarket, Ontario with his beautiful wife, Linda, his beloved mother-in-law, Vivian, and their St. Bernard, Xuber.

Author Links:

Haruffa Tales / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Thank you for chatting with me, Kenneth! Best of luck to you with Haruffa Tales!

Please leave Kenneth pulp love.

Author Interview with M.J. Fifield

Today M.J. Fifield, the author of Effigy, is visiting and sharing a few interesting stories with us...one includes a sword. Keep reading to be entertained!

Title: Effigy

Author: M.J. Fifield

Series: The Coileáin Chronicles Book 1

Genre: Fantasy

Page Count: 579 pages

Publisher: Favorite Spoon Publishing

Release Date: July 26^th 2014

BOOL LINKS:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

● Please tell us about your current release, M.J.

My current release also happens to be my debut release—EFFIGY, the story of a young queen named Haleine Coileáin, who finds herself battling evil forces in an attempt to save her people.

1. Is this book part of a series?

Effigy is the first book in a series, The Coileáin Chronicles. The entire series (six titles in all, should things go according to plan) will tell the story of three sisters and the roles each will play in an epic battle between good and evil. Haleine is the eldest sister.

2. If your book had a soundtrack, give us a list of a few songs that would be on it.

All of my WIPs have a soundtrack. It’s actually how I know I’m getting serious about a particular project. Some of Effigy’s key tracks include:

My Skin by Natalie Merchant (If Haleine Coileáin had a theme song, this would be it.)

Overcome by Live

Indifference by Pearl Jam

Do What You Have To Do by Sarah McLachlan

Have I mentioned that I’m a huge fan of 90’s music?

3. I LOVE 90's music! How did you come up with the names for your hero and heroine?

When I went to name my main character, I knew I wanted her name to start with an H. It’s weird, I know, and I don’t know why I was so determined to have that be the case, but that’s what happened. I went through several variation until I finally settled upon Haleine. (rhymes with Elaine)

4. My mom's name is Elaine. ;) What are a few things we would find in or on your desk?

On my desk you would find the following items: Slinky, a super-poseable Aragorn action figure (that’s what the package boasted), three pen holders chock full of various writing instruments, and a little pewter Pegasus who served as the inspiration for one of Effigy’s characters.

5. How old were you when you read your first romance book? What was it?

I believe I was 18 when I read my first real romance novel. It was Jude Deveraux’s Remembrance. My mother had checked it out of the library and left it out on the coffee table. I was looking for something to read and picked it up. I recall enjoying the story...but hating the ending.

6. I started reading Jude Deveraux at a young age also. What is the silliest thing you ever did while writing a story?

I consider myself to be a method writer, so that means I often end up physically acting out scenes. Once, while writing a sword fight, I accidentally killed a lamp and took a chunk out of my desk and the wall with my broadsword. This led my significant other to create the very strict “NO SWORDS AROUND ANY LIVING CREATURES” rule in the house.

7. I do that too! But not with swords. Have you ever experienced something unusual that influenced a story?

I fainted for the first time a couple of summers ago. That made me go back and rewrite a couple of scenes. The following summer, I cracked a rib at my day job. It made me realize just how badly rib injuries hurt. Rewrote some things, then, too.

8. Ouch! First-hand experience certainly helps us though. How long have you been writing?

Since I was very young. I was always writing little stories or poems. In middle school, there was a girl who lived over the river and through the woods from me, and we were each other’s first critique partners. Every morning on the school bus, we would exchange whatever we had written the night before. I started my first novel then, but never did anything with it. I didn’t get serious about writing until halfway through my college career.

9. Do you listen to music while you write?

Yes. I’ll listen to the aforementioned story-specific playlist, as well as a special playlist I call “Mood Music.” It’s mostly comprised of movie soundtracks and other instrumental music—nothing with lyrics. It always puts me in the mood to write.

10. Tell us about your writing process.

Just about everything starts off handwritten in a spiral notebook—or maybe a paper towel if I’m stuck at work. Scenes will generally start off with a few lines of dialogue off of which I build the rest of the scene, going back to layer in everything else. I’m also rather addicted to building storyboards on which I chart where the story’s been and where it’s going. Or might go. The characters very seldom follow my plans, but I’ve learned to go with it.

BIO:

Armed with a deep and lasting love of chocolate, purple pens, and medieval weaponry, M.J. Fifield is nothing if not a uniquely supplied insomniac. When she isn’t writing, she’s on the hunt for oversized baked goods or shiny new daggers. M.J. lives with a variety of furry creatures—mostly pets—in New Hampshire. Effigy is her first novel.

AUTHOR LINKS: 

Website / Blog

Thank you for entertaining us, M.J.! I enjoyed your interview.

Please leave a comment for M.J.!