Review: The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong

Kelley Armstrong
Hardcover, 359 pages
Harper Collins, New York
April 12th 2011


Sixteen-year-old Maya is just an ordinary teen in an ordinary town. Sure, she doesn't know much about her background - the only thing she really has to cling to is an odd paw-print birthmark on her hip - but she never really put much thought into who her parents were or how she ended up with her adopted parents in this tiny medical-research community on Vancouver Island.

Until now.

Strange things have been happening in this claustrophobic town - from the mountain lions that have been approaching Maya to her best friend's hidden talent for "feeling" out people and situations, to the sexy new bad boy who makes Maya feel . . . . different. Combine that with a few unexplained deaths and a mystery involving Maya's biological parents and it's easy to suspect that this town might have more than its share of skeletons in its closet.

In The Gathering, New York Times best-selling author Kelley Armstrong brings all the supernatural thrills from her wildly successful Darkest Powers series to Darkness Rising, her scorching hot new trilogy. 

*********************

Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors, so when I found out she was starting a new series I was thrilled. She is the type of author who sucks you into a book and wont let go until the very last page. 

The Gathering is the first book in the Darkness Rising trilogy. Maya, the main character is just an ordinary girl, living in a very small town. She is a very likable character, she is smart and sweet. But Maya also is a very strong girl, she doesn't let people push her around or get to close. I love the fact that she really has a sense of who she is. She is the type of main character who you can really follow.

Her best friend Daniel is the big brother type of guy that you cant help but fall in love with. He is sweet and very protective of Maya. He has a good sense of humor and will stand up for what he knows is right. I absolutely love Daniel. He is someone you wish to have as your best friend. He is always by Maya's side and is always there when she has to deal with the hard stuff.

Rafe, the bad boy from out of town is Maya's new crush. She always thought he was the school's player, but now he is showing her a new side to him. As their relationship progresses, Maya seems skeptical of the way Rafe is acting. She learns that things are not what they seem. I liked Rafe well enough, he has the bad boy thing going for him but he just seems a bit played out to me. I feel like the bad boy who has a softer side and a secret thing is a bit over played. But all in all he is an OK character.... I really like Daniel :)

Overall The Gathering was a good first in a trilogy book. I liked the fact it gave you a solid back story and gave you time to get to know the characters. I feel that things could have moved a bit faster but all in all I feel it will make the other books in the trilogy better. A good connection with the characters is important and I do like when an author takes the time to establish them. I also have to had that this book has a major cliff hanger ending. I finished the last page and flipped to the next expecting a new chapter to began. I dont hate cliff-hangers but it just makes it 10 times harder to wait for the next book.

I give The Gathering a 4+. It had very likable characters, a well written plot and an interesting story. I am very excited to read The Calling, The second book in the Darkness Rising Trilogy, coming in April 2012. I also hear that she might merge The Darkest Powers and The Darkness Rising Trilogy's together which is very exciting. If you love Kelley Armstrong as much as I do, I say, you should really pick up The Gathering. It is sure to be a very exciting story!

Author Spotlight: Aimee Carter

Please Welcome

Aimee Carter

Author of

The Goddess Test!

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself. 

 I'm Aimée, and I write too much for my own good. I love dogs, books, music, and I got a degree in screenwriting and film from the University of Michigan. I've been writing since I was eleven, and I got my start in fan fiction. The Goddess Test is my first published novel, but I wrote roughly two dozen manuscripts before it. I'm represented by the lovely Rosemary Stimola. The Goddess Test will be released on April 19th, 2011, from Harlequin Teen.

2) Could you tell us a bit about The Goddess Test? 

 The Goddess Test is a sort of a sequel to the myth of Hades and Persephone. The back of the book sums it up rather nicely:


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...

3) What was the inspiration for writing The Goddess Test? 

 I've loved Greek mythology for as long as I can remember. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths was one of my favorite books as a kid, and I used to reread the myths over and over. This story has been in the back of my mind ever since I was a kid, and over the years the pieces fell into place. Finally in 2007, I put pen to paper.

4) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing The Goddess Test? 

 Funny you should ask. In the story, Kate's had to face the reality that her mother, who is her only family, will die very, very soon - she's suffering from cancer, and she's at the end. They return to her mother's hometown, and Kate is essentially her caretaker, being thrust into this very adult role that she's trying so hard to handle. But she's eighteen, and this is a lot for an adult to go through with support, let alone a teenager who's in a strange place where she doesn't know anyone.

About four months after Harlequin Teen made an offer to publish The Goddess Test, my father had two heart attacks and wound up having to have heart surgery. Those few weeks and the months after were so much like what Kate was going through - not exactly by any means, since my father was recovering (and has since recovered). But it was setback after setback, and I think that gave me a lot keener insight into what Kate was going through. Because I was still in the editing stage of the book, I went through and added some of those aspects in, trying to make the story more authentic in that regard.

5) Was Kate's character based on anyone or was she a purely made up character? What is she like?

 Kate is purely fictional, though like I mentioned, in later edits a lot of what she was going through with her mother and some of her feelings on the matter were taken from my experience taking care of my father. She's gone through a lot, but she doesn't let it get to her - she does what she has to do when she has to do it. It's hard for her to open up to new ideas, and she's a very closed-off person based on the life she's lived so far, particularly with her mother so sick. But she really develops throughout the story, and I hope she's someone you can root for.

6) What was your inspiration for Henry's Character? Could you tell us a bit about him? 

 Henry...oh, Henry. I can't say too much without it being a big spoiler, but I spent a lot of time developing his character and deciding exactly who he is and what he's gone through. He and Kate complement each other in interesting ways, as he's experienced a great deal of tragedy and loss in his life as well. He has his own set of goals separate from Kate, which I hope makes him a more intriguing character than just Kate's love interest. Melissa Anelli, who read and was kind enough to provide a blurb for the book, once called Henry "Heathcliff with a sense of humor".

7) What was your inspiration in the cover art for The Goddess Test? 

 I have nothing to do with the cover art - most authors don't have any input. The fantastic artists at Harlequin Teen did an outstanding job, and I adore the cover to pieces. I had no idea what to expect, had no mental image of what it might look like, so that was a great day, that first glimpse of their vision for the cover.

8) Do you plan to have The Goddess Test as a stand alone novel or part of a series? 

 Originally I wrote it as a standalone, and it can stand on its own as a story. However, once it was over, I realized there was still so much story to tell, and it became a trilogy. I've written the sequel, Goddess Interrupted, which will be out in January 2012, and I'm about to start writing the third book as well.

9) Who is your favorite character in the book? And why? 

 That's kind of like asking who's my favorite child! I love them all, even the baddies. Nothing's worse, in my opinion, than being asked to follow a boring character around for four hundred pages, and I tried not to do that. I think if I had to pick...my first instinct is to say Ava, who is a classmate of Kate's and somewhat of a bully. But then I have to say Henry, and then I have to say James (another classmate of Kate's), and it's all one big mess. So let's go with my top three instead: Ava, Henry, and James. As for why, I'd say it's because all three of these characters surprised me in the writing and editing process. I love their voices and how they interact with others, and each of them has a story that I really enjoyed creating.

10) If The Goddess Test was made into a movie, Who would be your dream cast? 

 I just did a blog post on this! I almost never picture actors as characters in my head when I'm writing them, but I do have a few firm contenders:


Kate - She would be by far the hardest to cast. I think I'd prefer a newcomer. Someone brunette and not stunningly gorgeous, but other than that, her face has always been fuzzy to me.

Henry - Ben Barnes, hands down. He fits Henry perfectly, both in his looks and his acting voice (and I've always pictured Henry with a British accent). If by some miracle there was ever a movie, I would give up my first born to have him play Henry.

Ava - Elisabeth Harnois. This is an example of a character whose face I did picture from day one, and Ava has always been Elisabeth Harnois to me, though she's in her thirties now.

James - I've never run across an actor who looked exactly like my mental image of James, but Mitch Hewer (from the UK version of Skins) is fairly close. As far as personality goes, however, Darren Criss (best known from playing Blaine from Glee) would be a perfect fit. I'm willing to sacrifice hair color for Darren. :)

11) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite? 

 I used to for a long time, but I found I paid more attention to the music than to the writing. Now if I listen to music while writing, it's because I'm in a public place and trying to drown others out. Right now I've been listening to Apocalyptica's version of Nothing Else Matters on repeat. No words, so it works out well.

12) What do you plan on doing in the future? 

 That depends entirely on how many people buy my books. I would love to keep writing and publishing novels for the rest of my life, but I'm only 25, so who knows what the future brings? If I had a choice though, writing novels would be it.

13) What are you reading right now? 

 I just finished Beth Revis' wonderful novel, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. I'm in the middle of rereading HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS before the movie's release this summer. I haven't read it since it was released, so it's almost like discovering an entirely new book.

14) Who are a few of your favorite authors? 

 JK Rowling, without question. The Harry Potter series is the reason I stuck with writing, and I wouldn't have gotten this far if it hadn't been for her. Orson Scott Card is one of my all-time favorites as well. Anne Bishop, Suzanne Collins, David Eddings, Kevin Brooks, Meg Cabot, Rick Riordan...too many to count! I do tend to be a rereader with books and authors. If I love something, I'll reread it once a year or so.

15) Anything you would like to add? 

 Thanks for having me, and I can't wait to hear what you think of The Goddess Test!

Where to find Aimee:

Goodreads

Facebook

Website

Twitter

Blog   

                                                           ********************

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and 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.

Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver
Hardcover 488 pages
February 1, 2011
HarperTeen

"And now I know why they invented words for love, why they had to: It's the only thing that can come close to describing what I feel in that moment, the baffling mixture of pain and pleasure and fear and joy, all running sharply through me at once."

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love

**********************

Lauren Oliver is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. With her beautifully written words and her unique stories, Oliver has captivated the young adult audience.

Delirium was by far my favorite book this year. It has all the components of a great read, Interesting and loveable characters, a one of a kind plot, and a fast pace story that had me flipping through the pages as fast as possible.

Lena is one of those characters that I easily liked. She is just your average girl and there is something very humbling about her. She has had a rough past but that doesn't get her down. She is pretty content in her life and looks forward to the day when she no longer has to worry about the disease called love. Lena just wants the procedure, she wants the normal life that comes with it and she wants to be safe. But when Lena meets Alex everything changes.

Alex is different. He has his eyes on Lena and now she knows it. As Lena and Alex grow closer, Lena begins to realize that Alex is not at all who she thought he was. Once Lena comes to terms with who Alex is she must come to terms with her own reality. Everything she has ever known is about to change and Lena must make the choice, to love or not to love.

I think what made this book so wonderful for me what the way Oliver writes her stories... Her words practically flow off the pages and make you feel like you are right in the story. She has a way of making the smallest of details a crucial part of the story.

I had a hard time letting Delirium go. I wanted to continue reading the beautiful story Oliver has written. I have to say that the ending was a big shocker to me and I felt a bit disappointed that I will have to wait so long for the story to continue. An ending such as that of Delirium is hard to digest and I will literally be counting down the days until Pandemonium hits shelves February 2012.

Delirium was an enchanting story of love and the hardships we go through to keep it. Beautiful written I give Delirium 5+ hoots. I don't often give them out, but this story will be one I will reread over again and think of often. Luren Oliver is a talented author and I urge you to pick up any of her books.

Where to find Lauren:
Goodreads
Facebook
Website
Twitter
Blog

Author Spotlight: C.C. Hunter

Please Welcome 

C.C. Hunter

Author of Born at Midnight

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

CC:  I’d be happy to.  First, C.C. Hunter is a pseudonym.  My real name is Christie Craig.  In addition to writing freelance non-fiction and book-length non-fiction, I also write adult fiction, specifically humorous romantic suspense novels.  (Shameless Self-Promotion Moment Here:  My next Christie Craig novel is Don’t Mess With Texas, and it’ll be released through Grand Central Publishing in August of 2011.)  I’m married, have two children, and live with my hubby, four rescue kitties, a puppy who sometimes thinks my furniture tastes better than his kibble, a rabbit named Floppy Skivvies whom the cats think is just a funny-looking cat,  and a wild assortment of outdoor critters, like raccoons, opossums and the occasional turtle.  Now, that may sound like a lot of crazy, what with all the animals, but you know, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

2) What was the inspiration for writing Born at Midnight?

CC:  I get asked this a lot and I always say that I wish I could tell you that it was all my idea.  But it wasn’t.  What actually happened was my editor at St. Martin’s Griffin planted the seed of the idea in my mind.  She did it with two words, too:  “Paranormal Camp.”

Those two words got my imagination revving, so I asked her, “What kind of paranormals?”  She said, “That’s up to you.”  I then asked, “Who is the main character?”  She goes, “That’s up to you, too.”  So, I go, “Is the main character a paranormal?”  Now, I bet you know what she said, right?  LOL.  If you guessed she said, “That’s up to you,” you’d be right.  Anyway, we went on like that for a while but in the end, I took those two words, “paranormal camp,” and went to work on creating the world that is now Shadow Falls.


3) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing Born at Midnight?

CC:  Oh, this is a great question.  And the answer is, “Absolutely!”  When asked to write a paranormal I quickly related to my some odd things in my family tree—and things that sort of still haunt me.   I come from Alabama and one of my great grandmothers was known throughout the county as a natural healer.  When people were badly burned because of an accident, the hospital would have her come in a talk the burn out of them.  It must have worked, too, because she did this a lot.

She was also sort of known as a bit of a psychic, too.  People came to her to read their fortunes.  And in some small ways, I sort of  inherited some of that sixth sense  from her, which has freaked out my hubby and my friends over the years, believe me.  It’s never something that I can control or even predict.  We could be sitting in a restaurant, having dinner, and all of a sudden, I get this strong feeling that something has happened and that I need to call my mother.  When I do, I find out she twisted her ankle or that a family member was in an auto accident.  Something odd like that.  I’ve also had some crazy experiences when I felt I’d been visited by spirits, too, which I used for fodder  when I wrote the scenes where Kylie experiences the ghosts. .

4) Was Kylie's characters based on anyone or was she a purely made up character?

CC:   Well, that’s a hard one to answer.  You see, all of my characters have traits that either come from me or from the people I know.  They are bits and pieces of my own experiences.  I start with the kernel of an idea about the character.  For example, when the book opens, Kylie’s parents are splitting up.  That happened to me when I was a teenager, too, so I used my experiences to flesh out hers.  But then Kylie became real in my mind, and she began to fill in the blanks, so to speak.

Here’s where I have to say that I’m not crazy.  All writers feel their characters are “real” and we have conversations with them.  Lucky for me, my hubby has gotten used to it.  LOL.

5) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Born at Midnight?

CC:  I wish I could also take credit for the cover art but I can’t.  The wonderful people over at the art department at St. Martin’s Griffin created the cover.  They did an awesome job, too.  I love the cover!  And not just on the first book, but on the second.  I love the cover for Awake At Dawn.  It’s due out October 2011.


6) How many books do you plan on having in The Shadow Falls series?

CC:  Well, I’m currently working on Book 3 and, right now, my publisher and I don’t have any plans to end the series.  A lot really depends on how well Born At Midnight does when it releases.  Let’s just say I see so many possibilities for expanding the Shadow Falls world, and I’d love to stay with these characters for as long as the readers want me to do so.

** I absolutely love this cover... just sayin' 
OK back to your regularly scheduled interview :)

7) What do you plan on doing in the future?

CC:   Oh, that one is easy.  In the future, I plan to be writing more books.  Both as C.C. Hunter and as Christie Craig.  Sure, juggling two contracts for two different publishers can be hard but, you know what, I love every minute of it!

8) Do you listen to music when you write? What kind?

CC:  Normally, I don’t listen to music when I write.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy music – I do.  I like all kinds of music, too, from country to classic rock, to some pop and alternative rock.  It just depends on my mood.  But when I’m writing, I can’t listen to music with lyrics.  Songs with lyrics tell stories and it’s just too distracting for me when I’m trying to write one myself.

9) What are you reading right now?

CC:  Actually, right now, I’m reading a new book by a debut author.  It’s called Shattered Dreams by Ellie James .  It’ll be released in 2012 and I highly recommend it!

 10) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

CC:  Oh, wow.  I really enjoy reading so many YA authors.  There is Stephenie Meyer – I love her Twilight series.  Plus Alyson Noel, Sophie Jordan, Tera Lynn Childs, Jenna Black, P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast, Rachel Caine.  Trust me when I say, I have a huge TBR stack!

11) If you could jump into any book and live in that world, which would you choose and why?

CC:  Well, there are a lot of great dark paranormal books out there but I don’t know if I’d really like to live in that world, so I’d probably go with something like The Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot.  I mean, what’s not to love about Mia and her life?  Sure, she’s got all the problems a typical teenager has but she’s also a princess.  How totally cool is that?  Now, I’ll be honest.  I’d love to be a princess for a day . . . if only I could convince my family to go along with the plan.  LOL.

 12) Anything you would like to add?

CC:  First, I’d like to thank you and your readers for having me visit you at your Blog.  I’ve really had a great time.  I’d also like to add that if anyone wants to learn more about my book and the Shadow Falls series, they should swing by my website, www.CCHunterBooks.com. They can watch my book trailer, read some of my blogs and even sign up for my newsletter.

Where to find C.C. Hunter
Goodreads
Facebook
Website
Twitter
Blog

Guest Review: Spells

Guest Review!!!

Today Alexa stopped by for a guest review!!

You can find her at: Pages of Forbidden Love

Title: Spells

Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: May 2010 

"I can't just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I can't ‘steal' you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you'll ask," Tamani said.

"And if I don't?" Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Then I guess I'll be waiting forever."

Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life—and especially her boyfriend, David—to return to the faerie world.
But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice—a choice that could break her heart.

My Thoughts:
When we last left Laurel, Tam and David everything was mostly on the right track. Laurel had saved her dad's life and managed to keep their cabin with the help of the faeries. Upon returning to this exciting world we are informed that Laurel is invited to come spend most of her summer in Avalon so she can get back to her studies as a Fall faerie. Avalon is beautiful and a place meant for peace and order where Winter faeries are rare and lead the place while Fall faeries are considered an important second. Summer and Spring faeries fall into the social order after the upper faeries and there are several society rules on how one must behave when addressing an upper faerie. It all sounds complex which it can become with all the things Laurel must now figure out. She is of course entirely use to the way the human world functions but now she must learn a new place with new customs. When her stay in Avalon is over she must go back to her human life to help protect the people she loves most.

I loved getting to see Avalon and see how the faerie world works. It was great to see Laurel in a different element and watch her grow and change in subtle ways. It was also great to see her friendship (cough relationship cough) with Tam grow more than ever before. He is key in the beginning of the story because he can show Laurel just how much she has missed when she is in the human world. He is however a Spring faerie so he is lower in class than Laurel and their friendship is a little strained sometimes because of the strict Avalon customs. The Avalon world kind of reminded me of Harry Potter sometimes, how there is this whole other world to escape to in order to learn stuff that humans have no clue about.

It was a little heartbreaking to see Laurel leave Avalon and Tam behind yet again to rejoin the human world with her boyfriend David. The heart breaking lasted only a little while though as the reader starts to remember all of the things that make David such a great guy. I personally felt so connected with the story, I was feeling some of the same emotions as Laurel with her extreme like and troubles over both of our leading male characters. Just as Laurel starts to get comfy in the human world again the trolls start to show up, out to get revenge. Laurel is left having to try to find a way to stay alive during this slowly forming war between good and evil, faerie and troll!

Overall I really did fall in love with this story I read it in about a day and a half because I was that engrossed in what was happening. I loved the characters even more than I did in the first book and I felt like everyone grew up in a natural way. I liked how we got to see more mature characters and that the relationships forming between Laurel and David/Tam were growing as well. Who doesn't love the all out battle of a girl's heart as she tries so hard to figure out who to love, who is right for her. The ending left me screaming out that I want the next book in the series because Aprilynne left us at a cliffhanger, one that I can't wait to read more about in the next installment. Overall I would give this book 5 stars, I enjoyed it even more than I did the first book Wings.

Quick Update!!!

Hi guys,
So I was suppose to leave from PA today but a few family things came up... so It looks like I will be moving up here!!! I am really going to try to keep my blog going while I move but for now, a few weekly memes will ahve to be put on hold. I am hoping this will not take too long but you never know!

Thanks to all of you for hanging in there with me and if there is anyone who would like to do a guest post or review just email me @ stephanie_xoxo27@yahoo.com!!

XOXO

Author Spotlight: Scott Tracey

Please Welcome

Scott Tracey

Author of 

Witch Eyes

1) Could you tell us a bit about yourself.

Scott: I'm from Ohio, born and raised, and when I was about eight or nine, I was convinced that there was a book at the library that was going to have a magic spell that would create a Gameboy for me.  Unfortunately, that book was always checked out.  So instead of becoming a Gameboy-toting wizard, I decided to become a writer instead.

2) Could you tell us a bit about Witch Eyes?

Scott: When I usually have to describe the book, I call it my "gay Romeo and Juliet with witches" book.  Braden, whose been raised by his uncle, suffers from a curse known as the witch eyes - a powerful ability to see the world as it truly is - an encyclopedia of memories, pain, and darkness.  But this power is costly - it's killing him a little more every time he uses it.

When one such vision suggests that his uncle is in danger, Braden runs away to the town of Belle Dam, hoping to stop the threat before his uncle is hurt.  Instead, he finds himself in the midst of a supernatural feud that divides the town, and trapped between the rival witch dynasties in charge.   Each of whom has plans for Braden, and hopes to use him to ignite the feud into a final, vicious victory.

3) What was the inspiration for writing Witch Eyes?

Scott: Mostly, it stemmed from wanting to write something that I would want to read.  There aren't a lot of genre books with a gay main character.  But being gay is probably the least interesting thing about Braden, and that was something that was important to me.  My focus was more on the story I was telling, and the trouble that Braden gets into.  The fact that he's gay was just like saying he has brown hair or wears sunglasses.

Braden's ability actually came to me while thinking about people who were allergic or sensitive to sunlight and wondering, if there were a supernatural cause to it, how would that work?

4) Were there any personal experiences that went in to writing Witch Eyes?

Scott: Well, there was that one time where I fought off demons in a cemetery...  ;)There are little details in Witch Eyes that were drawn from personal experiences.  Like the fact that Braden arrives in town on a bus - I did a cross-country bus trip a few years ago, and it was a fascinating experience.  The diner he eats at is based off a place my parents and I went to, once.  Little things like that - nothing mind-blowing, though.  Given what happens to Braden over the course of the book, I think that's a good thing.

5) Was Braden's character based on anyone or was he a purely made up character? What is he like?

Scott: Braden's like a lot of teenagers.  The witch eyes make him feel like a freak, and all he wants is to be treated just like everyone else.  He's stubborn and sarcastic, and generally on the defensive a lot.  He's like a couple of people I know, and a little like myself (although much cooler, obviously).  Little things that he does are drawn from people I worked with, or went to school with.

6) What was your inspiration in the cover art for Witch Eyes?

Scott: Well, Flux gets all the credit for coming up with such a fantastic cover.  I absolutely adore it.  I knew I wanted something darker - to fit more with the tone of the book.   The eyes are a little creepy and fantastic, and the way everything is a little hazy and bleeds across the cover is perfect.

7) Do you plan to have Witch Eyes as a stand alone novel or part of a series?

Scott: As of right now, it's part of a two book series.  There may be another book after that, but we'll have to wait and see.

8) Who is your favorite character in the book? And why?

Scott: It really depends on the day.  Most of the time I'd have to say Braden, but it depends on the kinds of scenes that I'm writing.   Braden gets to say things that I wish I could say, sometimes.   Lucien, one of the adults in town, is also a lot of fun to write.  And it's interesting, because in writing the sequel, my favorites have completely changed.

9) If Witch Eyes was made into a movie, Who would be your dream cast?

Scott: Braden - Max Thieriot (My Soul to Take)
Trey - Drew Van Acker (Tower Prep).  He'd just have to be a little more blonde.
Riley - Magda Apanowicz (Kyle XY, Caprica)
Jade - Aly Michalka (Hellcats).

For the adults:

Catherine Lansing - Heather Locklear (Melrose Place)
 Jason Thorpe - Adrian Pasdar (Heroes)
Lucien Fallon - David Anders (Vampire Diaries)

 

10) Do you write to music? If so, what is your favorite?

Scott:I have to have music to write.  I usually listen to a lot of rock when I'm writing: 30 Seconds to Mars, The Pretty Reckless, Red.  But my absolute favorite band to listen to has to be The Birthday Massacre.    The occasional Glee cover sneaks in there, too.

11) What do you plan on doing in the future?

Scott: Well, I'm finishing up the sequel to Witch Eyes right now, and I have a couple of other projects in the works, but nothing for certain yet.  I have another take on witches that I want to do, and then a couple of things that are completely different.

12) What are you reading right now?

Scott: As I type this, I'm literally eyeing my ARC of Demonglass.  I can't wait to get back to it.  My TBR pile is out of control right now, but I've got The Iron Witch, Wither, Hourglass, and Beauty Queens staring at me.

13) Who are a few of your favorite authors?

Scott: Jim Butcher, Holly Black, Cassie Clare, Kiersten White, and Rachel Hawkins.  I like them all for different reasons.  I think Jim Butcher's Dresden Files are required reading for anyone who wants to see how to build up a supernatural back story along with plot.  Holly Black and Cassie Clare tell the most amazing stories in the most fascinating ways, which I always appreciate.  Kiersten White is my nemesis because she has some lines that make me tremble with jealousy.  And Rachel Hawkins totally rocks at the sarcasm. 

Braden Michaels wears his sunglasses at night. And at the movies. And in the shower. Raised by his warlock uncle and taught to use magic, he suffers from a deadly curse: the witch eyes. He sees everything that normal eyes filter out: history and memory; love and pain; magic and darkness. The mind was not meant to process so much information, though, and the power is killing him slowly. The only thing saving his sanity are the sunglasses he always wears. 
Then the visions reveal a dark threat on the horizon. Braden runs away to Belle Dam, the city where the threat originated, and is immediately swept up into the town’s mysterious feud. Two rival magical families have divided the town into a personal chessboard of scheming and machinations, and Braden is their latest pawn. As he tries to avoid their manipulations, and see the truth behind his return to Belle Dam, he has a choice to make. One side, or the other. Ignite the feud, or end it. Sacrifice himself, or someone else. Live, or die.

Witch Eyes comes out September 2011 from Flux Books! 


Where To Find Scott:
Goodreads
Website
Facebook
Twitter