Quantum Earth by Julie Achterhoff

1. In my new novel, Quantum Earth, the bad guy is Beckham, an uber-rich man who is financially backing my team of metaphysical scientists. He pulls the strings. He wants them to save the Earth from destruction in the form of increased natural disasters that are becoming so much more frequent and deadly. Beckham is lead by his spirit guide, Seta, who, in his last incarnation, was a scientist doing evil deeds for Hitler. His motivation is saving the world so he can live again and do more evil.

2. I really love both, but the thing about bad guys is that you can get in touch with your bad self, which can be a lot of fun.

3. I use bad guys to contrast with the good guys. Of course nobody's all good or all bad. But I love setting them up against one another in a scene. They can really drive a plot!

4. It's a bit difficult for me not to just copy other bad guys. I think my bad guys are probably some combination of that since I have no real life experience with true bad guys.

5. I just don't have any real experience with people like murderers or rapists except what I've read or seen in movies.

6. I think Seta from Quantum Earth is my favorite. He is on "the other side" but still has power on Earth. He's a very scary persona.

7. Hannibal Lector has got to be the ultimate bad guy for me. Ho oozes evil in every pore.

8. http://www.julieachterhoff.blogspot.com

9. Quantum Earth will be available sometime at the the end of March at http://www.allthingsthatmatterpress.com

Make Believe Lover by Ashley Ladd

1. What is the name of the book where we would meet the animal? What genre is it?

Make-Believe Lover
Paranormal Erotic Romance

The animal is: Gizmo, a talking cat

2. Who wrote the book?

Ashley Ladd

3. What would the animal that of the author? You can tell us the truth.

Gizmo, of course, adores me! I'm his master and best friend and creator.

4. Tell us a little about the animal. How would you describe their appearance? That's more than just cuddly and furry. Give us enough detail to get a clear idea of how they look.

Gizmo is a gray and black tabby domestic cat. He's large (overweight) and cuddly but sassy.

5. What part does the animal play in the book? Are you the hero, the best friend, the side kick, the hero... ?

Gizmo is Becca's best friend and constant side-kick. He constantly gets her into trouble with his big, sarcastic mouth. He even brings evil dragons and evil armies down on her.

6. Is there a specific reason why the animal is in the story? Don't give us any story spoilers, but you can share some teasers if you want.

Gizmo provides comic relief and also a sounding board for Becca, the heroine.

7. What time period does the animal live in?

Gizmo and Becca start out in contemporary times but are sucked into a medieval cartoon where the majority of the story takes place.

8. Where is the animal from?

He's from Planet Earth.

9. Do they live in the same place now?

No, Gizmo and Becca have been sucked onto the world of Templar.

10. Tell us about the place where the animal lives.

Templar is a medieval world filled with an evil king, armies who fly on dragons, and is in dire need of a savior.

11. What special skills or abilities does the animal have?

Gizmo speaks and understands English since he's been transported onto Templar and poses as an ordinary house cat and so is invaluable as a spy to help the good guys.

12. How do those skills or abilities affect the animal's part in the story?

Since he can pose as an ordinary cat, he should be a wonderful spy. However, his big mouth keeps getting him in trouble.

13. Tell us about the animal's past. Can you share one really good experience and/or one really bad experience? I know that bad experience can be tough, but it would tell us more about what they have been through.

Gizmo's worst experience is when an evil dragon swoops down and almost eats him.

14. Who is the most important person in the animal's life? Tell us about them.

Becca is Gizmo's master and best friend. Together they are transported onto the mythical world of Templar where suddenly Gizmo can speak and won't keep his big mouth shut. Together with a rag tag band of locals, Gizmo and Becca are called upon to oust the evil King Heinrich, his army, and his evil dragons.

15. Is that person in the story we're talking about?

Yes, Becca is the heroine of the story.

16. How does that person impact the animal's life?

Gizmo is completely devoted to Becca and will risk his life for her, as she does for him. If not for her, he would still be an ordinary, misunderstood cat on Earth.

17. What do you see in the animal's future?

Gizmo will probably be knighted and have to deal with a very irritating talking dog.

18. Is the author going to write another story that includes this animal? Or, is this book part of a series?

Yes to both! The sequel is in the works now and Gizmo is extremely excited to be back int he spotlight.


Ashley Ladd
http://www.ashleyladd.com
http://www.ashleyladd.blogspot.com
chinara@aol.com

An Excerpt From: MAKE-BELIEVE LOVER

© Copyright ASHLEY LADD, 2006.

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave, Inc.

Available at:

http://www.ellorascave.com

They must have trudged five miles over the arduous hills when a thunderous sound startled her. A moment later, wide-winged dragons straddled by primitive warriors roared from behind a mountain.

Her hand trembling, she pointed at the sky even as she squatted down in self-defense. “Oh my God, Giz. Do you see what I see?”

The cat gulped and he covered his eyes with his paws. “If you see big flying dinosaurs, uh huh.”

When one of the gigantic winged creatures nose-dived not far distant, Gizmo threw himself to the ground, covered his head, and hissed, “Hit the deck and don’t make a sound.”

Way ahead of him, she flung herself to the rocky terrain.

A lyrical voice announced out of nowhere, “You have walked six point two miles, seven-thousand three-hundred, twenty-one steps.”

Cripes! Her bigmouth pedometer chose this moment to go off?

Yanking the lousy thing off her elastic waistband, she dashed it to the ground. “Thanks for nothing.” The least it could do was tell her how many calories she’d burned or sing a decent song, instead of that funky aerobic workout music.

One of the flying lizards picked that instant to spin and make eye contact. Baring its filthy, razor-sharp teeth, the beast swooped down from the air, swallowed her pedometer, and then plucked her from the ground.

The no-good gadget kept chirping from inside the monster’s belly, mocking her. At least, it had gotten its just rewards, having given away her location to the fiend.

Kicking and struggling with all her might, she screamed, “Gizmo!”

She clawed at her barbaric captor’s eyes. “Put me down!”

The armor-clad creep astride the dragon guffawed and clamped meaty vice-like hands around her wrists pinning them to her side. His malevolent beady-eyed gaze bore into her. “Keep this up, wench, and I’ll drop you here—from a thousand meters. Your pretty face will get all mangled.”

The dragon turned its reptilian face to leer and dipped its right wing so that she would have tumbled off if not for the brute’s slimy hold. Then it snorted a fireball in her direction that fried the bush a mere foot to her right.

She got the message that she was their guest—or their Bar-B-Q. “What do you want with me? I have no money. This is dollar-store jewelry, but it’s all yours.”

“You will inform the King whose army you are spying for.” He fingered her tousled hair and grunted. “What kingdom has blue-haired nymphs?”

Then he tugged at her psychedelic nurse’s tunic. “And what matter of outlandish garb is this? What form of material?”

Army? Kingdom? Nymph?

She glanced down at her hot pink, cotton-blend tunic that rained cats and dogs. Should she give him her employer’s name? In the war movies the prisoners offered their name, rank, and serial number. “I’m Rebecca Weiss, I’m an office manager for a pediatric clinic, and I’m not giving you my social security number and having you steal my identity.”

“Stay cool, Becca! We’ll get out of this.” Gizmo yelled from the back of another dragon as it pulled around them.

The man’s bushy uni-brow puckered. “You speak in strange riddles. You will be truthful with King Heinrich or you will be locked in the dungeon.”

Dungeons? Dragons? King Heinrich?

Bad Guys from Tracey H Kitts

Who causes friction in the story?

Throughout the first three books in my werewolf hunter series, one of the main sources of friction is a character named Bade Garren. He’s drop dead sexy. He’s also number two on The Hunter’s most wanted list.

Do you prefer bad guys or bad gals?

Definitely bad guys. I have always been attracted to the wrong sort of man and that shows through in my stories.

How do you use your bad guys?

In all sorts of different ways. In Bade’s case, I use him to mix things up. He’s not completely evil, which makes him somewhat sympathetic. Especially once we get to know him more. The other villains throughout the series are much more what I call “hard-core” evil.

Do you enjoy writing the bad guys or do you find it difficult?

I love it. Writing the villain is the best part of the story. Well, besides writing the sex.

Whether you enjoy writing them or hate writing them, we'd like to know why you feel that way?

When you write a bad guy, you don’t have to worry about being politically correct. If what he says offends, oh well. That’s what he’s there to do. You can let your darkside show through sometimes and that’s kind of appealing, even though it’s creepy sometimes to see what you’ve created.

Who is your favorite bad guy in any of your books? Which bad guy and which book are they in?

My favorite bad guy (even though he’s not truly evil) is Bade Garren. He can be found in my werewolf hunter series.

Who is your favorite fictional bad guy -- that's not in your books?

Honestly, it’s a tie between Dracula and the Joker. Strange I know.

Is there anything else about your bad guys that we need to know? Feel free to share.

One thing with my stories … I enjoy a sort of anti-hero. My characters are never completely good, although some are completely bad.

Please provide your website link.

http://www.traceyhkitts.com

What is the link to buy your book?

The link for my books can be found on my website.

http://www.traceyhkitts.com/Books.htm

I also want to let people know that I always donate 10% of my royalties to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. It’s something I’ve always done and plan to continue.

Meet Jane from Willing Spirits by Phyllis Schieber

Yesterday we met Gwen from Willing Spirits by Phyllis Schieber - today we will meet her best friend Jane.

1. What is the name of the book where we would meet you? What genre is it?

Willing Spirits. The genre is Women’s Fiction.

2. Who wrote the book?

Phyllis Schieber

3. What do you think of the author? You can tell us the truth.

I think she is complicated. She writes from her heart, and I like that about her. She wants to write books that she would want to read. Sometimes she meanders and strays from the plot, but I relish those interludes. They have a dreamy quality that reflects her thought process.

4. Tell us a little about yourself. How would you describe your appearance?

That's more than just really cute or drop dead gorgeous. Give us enough

detail to get a clear idea of how you look.
I’m only five feet one. I would have liked to be taller, but I’m not. I’m not skinny. I have to watch what I eat. I have curly, brown hair that is going grey. I dyed it last year, just a rinse. Gwen didn’t like it. She kept calling me Lucy. It was so silly, but I stopped using the rinse. The grey is sort of interesting. I’m not as striking as Gwen, but I’m attractive. When we are out together, no one ever notices me. My lips are my worst feature. They’re too thin, but I know how to make them look fuller. Make-up is a blessing. I have good skin and nice eyes even if they are just brown.

5. What character are you in the book? Are you the hero, the best friend, the side kick, the hero and heroine's child or someone else?

I am the “other heroine.”

6. Is there a specific reason why you're in the story? Don't give us any story spoilers, but you can share some teasers if you want.

I am the story. Gwen and I share the spotlight in Willing Spirits.

7. What time period do you live in?

Contemporary.

8. Where are you from?

New York.

9. Do you live in the same place now?

Yes, I do. I am a born and bred New Yorker.

10. Tell us about your hometown and your current home.

What’s to tell? New York is New York. You either love it or hate it. I love it.

11. Tell us how your hometown or your current home affects you, the things you do and how you feel about life?

I’ve never lived anywhere else, so I don’t’ know anything different. I love New York, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.

12. What special skills or abilities do you have?

Well, I’m an elementary school teacher. I don’t know that I have any special skills. I’m a good friend, a good mother, and a good teacher. I thought I was a good wife, but apparently my soon-to-be-ex-husband didn’t share that feeling.

13. How do those affect your part in the story?

Throughout the story I am a betrayed wife, a mother and a friend, as well as a teacher, so I would say the entire story is affected by my roles. I bring something to each of those roles.

14. Are you happy with the story?

The story was hard on me from the beginning. In spite of that, I love how I grew. I was allowed to take risks, make mistakes and become a stronger and more independent person. I like that. So, yes, I am happy with the story.

15. Do you have some ideas that the author should consider about the story? You can share them with us. We're all friends here.

Well, sometimes I think I come across as a bit provincial. I’m not all that interested in the same sort of ideas that seem to intrigue Gwen. She loves all those esoteric religious and philosophical concepts. I resist all that. I think in some ways, Phyllis took advantage of my lack of sophistication, but I’m a good sport, so I went along with it. Until Arnold’s infidelity, my life was fairly routine. His betrayal forced me to reevaluate. I think Phyllis was often less sympathetic toward me than she was toward Gwen. Is it possible I remind her too much of herself?

16. Tell us about your past. Can you share one really good experience and/or one really bad experience? I know that bad experiences can be tough, but it would tell us more about what you've been through.

You would think I would immediately say that finding my husband in bed with a girl practically the same ages as his daughter, would be my bad experience, but it was really my good experience. That single event really compelled me to question the authenticity of my marriage, as well as to face my own unhappiness and do something about it.

I think the hardest experience I had was learning that my daughter Caroline was pregnant. She’s so young and so not ready to be a mother, and I had so hoped for her to have a different life than the one I had. I think I really rallied after I found out, so while it was a bad experience, I think I rose to the occasion and surprised everyone, including myself.

17. Who is the most important person in your life? Tell us about them.

Caroline is the most important person in my life. She is my daughter, and I adore her. Gwen is right behind Caroline. I don’t know what I would do without Gwen.

18. Is that person in the story we're talking about?

Yes.

19. How does that person impact you and your life?

Motherhood is the single most defining experience of my life. Everything I do and don’t do affects Caroline, so I am mindful of that. Still, I had to evolve. It was important for both of us.

20. Do you have any children?

My Caroline.

21. If you do, tell us about them. If you don't have any children, you can tell us why not - but, only if you want to tell us.

Caroline is a college student. She is a gifted artist. I think she is willful, impulsive, and quick to judge, but I also know her to be loving, kind and supportive. She is the love of my life.

22. What do you see in your future?

I see change, and I believe that is good.

23. Do you think your author is going to write another story about you? Or, are you part of a series?

Oh, definitely not!

24. Do you like being a character in a book?

I didn’t realize I was until just now.

25. If someone ever decides to make a movie based on your story, who should play you in the movie and why?

I love Marcia Gay Harding. She could play me. We have the same coloring, and we must be about the same age. She is emotional, but she is also strong.

It’s been great to talk with you. If you want to tell us anything else, feel free. Also, tell us about a website where we can learn more about you and where we can buy the book. If you have a picture of yourself, feel free to send it.

For more information, visit - www.phyllisschieber.blogspot.com

Order from the publisher - http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780425225851,00.html?Willing_Spirits_Phyllis_Schieber

Order from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Willing-Spirits-Phyllis-Schieber/dp/0425225852

Meet Gwen From Willing Spirits by Phyllis Schieber

Let's start off Phyllis Schieber's virtual book tour to promote her new book Willing Spirits. Today we will meet Gwen - one of the main characters. Tomorrow we will meet Jane -- come back for more info. I could tell you about Gwen, but we'll let her speak for herself...

1. What is the name of the book where we would meet you? What genre is it?

You would meet me in Willing Spirits, a Women’s Literature novel.
2. Who wrote the book?

Phyllis Schieber
3. What do you think of the author? You can tell us the truth.

I always tell the truth! I’m very much like the author in that way. She’s fairly irreverent, often cynical, but also very nurturing and loving. She demands solitude. I admire her outspokenness and her sense of humor.
4. Tell us a little about yourself. How would you describe your appearance? That's more than just really cute or drop dead gorgeous. Give us enough detail to get a clear idea of how you look.

I’m tall and quite thin, though not as thin as I was before I had my two boys. I have very long legs, a feature most people notice about me first. My eyes are blue and my hair is dark, blue black really, and very straight. I’m quite fair skinned for someone with such dark hair.
5. What character are you in the book? Are you the hero, the best friend, the side kick, the hero and heroine's child or someone else?

I am definitely one of the heroines. I think I share the heroine position with my best friend Jane.
6. Is there a specific reason why you're in the story? Don't give us any story spoilers, but you can share some teasers if you want.

Well, there wouldn’t be a story without me. It’s my story, and it’s Jane’s story. We have our children, and our parents, and we have and then don’t have husbands. And we have lovers and some happiness and lots of disappointment. But we always, always have each other. That never changes for us.
7. What time period do you live in?

Contemporary.
8. Where are you from?

Fayetville, North Carolina

9. Do you live in the same place now?

No, I live in the North now. I live in an apartment in New York City.
10. Tell us about your hometown and your current home.

Everyone knew everyone else’s business in the town where I grew up. There were no secrets. The people were good people, and we had our share of eccentrics for sure, but it wasn’t a place where someone like me—tall, outspoken, independent—could blend in easily. I think my folks were relieved when I let. I’m more comfortable in New York. There is a certain relief in the anonymity. I have neighbors, but we have our boundaries. Still, I would be able to knock on someone’s door if I needed something.
11. Tell us how your hometown or your current home affects you, the things you do and how you feel about life?
I feel happy to be living in a city where there are so many choices. I can be alone, or I can be with others. I feel less judged and less pressured to follow a certain lifestyle.

12. What special skills or abilities do you have?

I’m an elementary schoolteacher. I also love to cook and bake. I tend to bake breads when I’m feeling troubled. My children are always suspicious when I start baking. They see it as a portent. I find baking immensely relaxing. I love working the dough and waiting for it to rise. It soothes me. `

13. How do those affect your part in the story?

The baking I do becomes sort of symbolic. I like the way my baking bread is worked into the story.
14. Are you happy with the story?

The story is truthful. I like that about it. I am not perfect, and I am not in a perfect relationship. However, I love Daniel even if I don’t always know what I want. In a perfect world, the story might not have had the impediment and delays that it does, but then the story would have been insincere. So, yes, I am happy with the story.
15. Do you have some ideas that the author should consider about the story? You can share them with us. We're all friends here.

I never liked thinking about myself as the “other woman.” It’s a very uncomfortable role. I do think that Phyllis deals with the complexities of that situation without judgment, but I think there could have been more discussion with Jane about my relationship with Daniel.

16. Tell us about your past. Can you share one really good experience and/or one really bad experience? I know that bad experience can be tough, but it would tell us more about what you've been through.

Some people might suspect that the worst thing to ever happen to me was the dissolution of my marriage. It was devastating. I was very young, alone in a city where I had no friends, and totally isolated from other women my age. However, in retrospect, I think my brother Warren’s untimely death was the worst experience of my life. Everyone blamed me even though it wasn’t my fault. My parents never seemed to recover, especially my mother. It changed our relationship and catapulted me into a different future, which is both good and bad. Nevertheless, combined with the actual loss of a brother I adored, Warren’s death was pivotal in my own life.

My friendship with Jane helped me redefine my belief in relationships. I can spend a day with Jane and speak to her on the phone later again. Daniel always teases me about that, but I think he understands. Actually, I can pretty much do the same thing with him, but not quite. Jane hears me differently than he does. There is less need for explanation with Jane. She just knows what I mean, and even if we don’t always agree, we always understand each other. That’s a very good thing in my life.

17. Who is the most important person in your life? Tell us about them.

My sons are more important to me than anyone else. They have kept me sane. I have to be intact because I have to take care of them. I was a single mother at a very young age. And certainly Jane matters greatly. She’s my touchstone.

18. Is that person in the story we're talking about?

Yes, they are all present in Willing Spirits.
19. How does that person impact you and your life?

I would say that my sons define my place in the world, and Jane helps me make sense of that world.
20. Do you have any children?

I do. I have two grown sons, Matt and Ethan.
21. If you do, tell us about them. If you don't have any children, you can tell us why not - but, only if you want to tell us.

My sons were very young when their father left. It was very hard on Matt and Ethan because I came undone for a time. Children can get through most anything as long as they see their parent intact. Theodore, their father, just left, so I had to do everything. I was paralyzed with fear, and they sensed that. Fear is terrible. Matt is my older boy. He’s quite solid. He likes to tease me. His brother Ethan is the worrier. He’s my protector. He always wanted to take care of me. They’re both good boys. It was very difficult for me once they were both away at college. I was lonely for them, but I did everything not to let them know that. They don’t necessarily approve of my relationship with Daniel, but they like him.
22. What do you see in your future?

I don’t want to go into too much detail—it would be somewhat of a spoiler—but I am hopeful that I will be happy.
23. Do you think your author is going to write another story about you? Or, are you part of a series?

No, I don’t anticipate a series.
24. Do you like being a character in a book?

I’m a character in a book? Me?
25. If someone ever decides to make a movie based on your story, who should play you in the movie and why?

I think Geena Davis could play me. She’s tall and about my age. I think she could capture my restraint and my playfulness with equal candor.

For more information, visit - www.phyllisschieber.blogspot.com

Order from the publisher - http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780425225851,00.html?Willing_Spirits_Phyllis_Schieber

Order from Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Willing-Spirits-Phyllis-Schieber/dp/0425225852