Discovering supernatural creatures are real is one thing but learning I have powers and learning to use them is quite a feat. My name is Violet Webb. I live in a small town that nearly worships Halloween but I hate it. I can’t wait until I graduate and get as far as I can from that silliness.
Everything changed when I followed the white rabbit. I ended up in a Realm full of vampires, fairies, witches and every creature possible.
Oh, Did I mention Jacques? The hot shapeshifter with the French accent that makes me see rabbits everywhere?
Now what?
Some bloody lady of Fate gave me a prophecy to get home. The only problem is that I must defeat the darkness before it swallows both of our worlds.
Can I go through without making the ultimate sacrifice?
As I recover from my last trial where I was confronted by the darkest creatures in history, I hoped things would return to my normal, peaceful life.Not a chance.With my return to Oklealia academy and the arrival of a new headmistress whose inhuman ways turn the academy into a jail, my plate is full enough, but signs of an upcoming threat awaken my fears once more.
Time is running out— for me and the world. When the final battle arrives, will I make the right choice?
Spring Break is supposed to be a time of fun and new beginnings.
After defeating the Darkness, Violet and I thought we could just spend some time together and revel in our relationship with our friends in the Blessed Realm. But just when you think the past is firmly locked away does it rear its ugly head. A figure from my past comes back with a message, putting Violet’s life at risk.
Will I be able to protect my girl, along with the realm that I call home? Or will blood prove to my undoing?
Maria Vermisoglou is an International Bestselling fantasy author and she loves throwing her heroes into impossible situations. She draws inspiration from books, travels and…the ceiling. (So, blame the ceiling!)
She started writing 4 years ago when an idea came to her. That idea started all… When she’s not writing, she loves a good riding on the fantasy dragon but a book can also be exciting along with a cup of tea. She’s currently residing in Crete as a librarian, battling monsters and supernatural creatures from overcoming the world.
In July 2018, she was nominated as the second place winner in the First Annual Indie Awards as the Favourite New Female Author.
By way of introduction, here is Charlie Holmberg’s bio:
Charlie N. Holmberg is the author of the Numina Series and the Wall Street Journal bestselling Paper Magician Series, which has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company.
She is also the author of five stand-alone novels, including Followed by Frost, a 2016 RITA award finalist for Best Young Adult Romance, and The Fifth Doll, winner of the 2018 Whitney for Speculative Fiction.
Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters who also have boy names. She is a proud BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, and owns too many pairs of glasses. She currently lives with her family in Utah.
Hello, Charlie, welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.
Thank you for having me.
Is writing your full-time profession?
It is! I consider that one of the greatest blessings of my life. That I not only have an opportunity to write stories that others will read, but that enough people read them to allow me to support my family. It really is a dream come true.
How long have you been writing?
I started writing when I was 13, though I didn’t take it super seriously until I was 18. I was nineteen when I finished my first novel. 26 when I debuted.
Have you won any literary awards?
If the Whitneys count, then yes. I did come in as a finalist for the ALA awards and the RITAs.
How many published books have you written?
Spellbreaker is my 13th published novel. After I fulfill my current contract, I’ll have 17 published novels (and a smattering of short fiction).
Which genres do you write?
I write fantasy first and foremost, and then I dive into historicals on occasion and romance always. 😉
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the sequel to Star Mother, a book I just sold to 47North. The idea behind that story is that stars, the batteries of the universe, can only be born by the Sun god and a mortal woman, and the mortal woman always perishes. Until one day, she doesn’t.
What has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
I’ve had so many amazing things happen in my career, but the one that makes me the most excited was selling my debut series to the Walt Disney Company.
What are your favorite books?
Romantic fantasy is my favorite genre overall. That said, my favorite authors are Brandon Sanderson and Amy Harmon. The latter’s The Bird and the Sword is one of my favorite novels of all time. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin is another favorite.
Who has influenced your writing the most?
Brandon Sanderson and Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli. I was able to take creative writing courses from the first; he’s a fantastic teacher and one of my favorite authors.
I’m always inspired by the creativity of the second, and feel that watching Studio Ghibli movies can get me out of any creative rut.
The orphaned Elsie Camden learned as a girl that there were two kinds of wizards in the world: those who pay for the power to cast spells and those, like her, born with the ability to break them. But as an unlicensed magic user, her gift is a crime. Commissioned by an underground group known as the Cowls, Elsie uses her spellbreaking to push back against the aristocrats and help the common man. She always did love the tale of Robin Hood.
Elite magic user Bacchus Kelsey is one elusive spell away from his mastership when he catches Elsie breaking an enchantment. To protect her secret, Elsie strikes a bargain. She’ll help Bacchus fix unruly spells around his estate if he doesn’t turn her in. Working together, Elsie’s trust in—and fondness for—the handsome stranger grows. So does her trepidation about the rise in the murders of wizards and the theft of the spellbooks their bodies leave behind. For a rogue spellbreaker like Elsie, there’s so much to learn about her powers, her family, the intriguing Bacchus, and the untold dangers shadowing every step of a journey she’s destined to complete. But will she uncover the mystery before it’s too late to save everything she loves?
Excerpt:
She’d stashed the paint behind the woodpile of a bakery.
A few stars gleamed overhead as Elsie approached the duke’s estate. It seemed so much larger and more ominous in the dark. It had a heavy stone wall that faced the road, but the back of it opened up onto woodland. Land only the duke and his guests could hunt on, though that was a gripe for another evening.
Elsie did not much like ambling through the woods in the dark, yet her choices were limited. She could only pray no one mistook her for a poacher.
She stepped quietly, holding her skirts in her hands. Modern fashion did not take into account a woman’s need to be stealthy amidst brambles. There was decent moonlight, but the trees and clouds played peekaboo with it, forcing Elsie to move very slowly or risk falling. Wouldn’t that be something, stranded in the Duke of Kent’s wood with a twisted ankle?
Would her tale of secret love wriggle her out of that predicament?
Fortunately, the excursion through the wood proved uneventful. The trees thinned, the ground evened, and a manicured lawn sprawled ahead. She stepped onto the hunting path leading from the back of the estate with a sigh of relief.
She made it only a few steps before her foot was sucked into the path. Not mud—it hadn’t rained the last few days. No roots or holes, either. The glimmer of a rune revealed the truth, its feeble gleam highlighting the earth that popped up around her shoe, grabbing it in an iron-like grasp. It was not unlike the one she’d disenchanted on the doorknob, but it was more complex, with several tight, interlocking loops.
More spells to keep your servants in their place? she wondered, making a half-hearted attempt to tug her leg free. Crouching, watching her surroundings, Elsie touched the spell. She didn’t recognize this one—a physical spell, but not one she’d disenchanted previously. She tugged at the knot one way, then another, before finding a loose end and unraveling the rune bit by bit. The spell flashed—she almost thought it pouted—before vanishing, and the earth holding her in place crumbled back to dust.
Elsie shook off her shoe and proceeded carefully. Runes weren’t bold things; she couldn’t merely glance down the path ahead of her to see where any copycats lay. They would reveal themselves only as she got closer. Sometimes close enough to touch, for more masterful spells. Stepping just off the path, Elsie tiptoed carefully, catching sight of another foot trap several yards ahead. She searched the shadows, waiting for movement. Listening for sound. She smelled the stables but didn’t hear horses. Seemed all was well and proper. Good.
The servants’ door loomed ahead. Elsie might have missed it had she not made the Madeira delivery two days ago; the shadows hid it well. Heart pounding in her ears, she snuck closer, closer, and pressed her back against the cool wall of the mansion. She wasn’t terribly far from the woods. Perhaps she could run back to safety without being caught. She’d been quite a climber in her youth. If anything gave chase, she could ball her skirts between her knees and hide up a tree.
Her palms sweated, and her mouth grew dry. Get it done and get out. The Cowls will know you did it this time.
The door seemed so far away. Elsie sidestepped, cursing the moonlight when it peeked between its misty curtains. She reached for the doorknob, the spell of heat licking at her fingers. It was activated; Elsie snatched her hand away as the metal singed her fingertips. How many servants in this household had blister scars from this damnable thing?
She attacked it with her nails. The unwinding came easier this time. She knew the pattern, knew which thread to loop through. It took only seconds—
A hand seized her upper arm. Elsie barely had enough sense to bite down on a scream as someone yanked her away from the door.
“So you’re the conrad breaking my spells!” a gruff baritone snapped, the speaker making no effort to be quiet.
On Thursday, October 22nd at 10:30am PT/1:30pm ET I’m returning to Caren Glasser’s show. I will be reading my book, Teddy Bear Tea.
It’s teatime in the forest! Come along with Teddy and his Woodland Friends for a lively tea party filled with enchantment and fun. Don’t be late. They’re serving tea promptly at three!
Click HERE to get a reminder to join the fun live! Click HERE to to pick up a copy of the book.
Have you ever heard a child say something negative about themselves, such as “I can’t do it!” “I’m not good at this!” or “I’m a mess!”?
Confidence is like a muscle that needs exercise throughout our lives. Helping children develop a supportive, resilient, and compassionate inner voice is a great place to start.
FOLLOW ALONG on a frustrating week that emphasizes how children can view mistakes as a part of learning and see themselves as a work in progress — a perfectly imperfect MESSterpiece!
GRAB a copy of this book for all the kids in your life that could use an extra BOOST of self-love.
About The Author
Lauren Eresman is one of those crazy over-committed moms that rarely says “NO.”
Following a journey to find herself and build boundaries, she recently fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a children’s book author.
Her desire to encourage young girls to feel empowered in their own skin has ignited a fire.
Lauren is passionate about telling stories that encourage girls to shatter the glass slippers, choose their own footwear, AND pick the path their feet will take. Making mistakes, being imperfect, or stumbling while they chase their dream is perfectly fine too.
Giving up is the only thing that’s not allowed.
You can find Lauren online at www.laureneresman.com.
Lauren’s Books: The Cherry on Top (2019) The Treehouse Trio (2020)
By way of introduction, here is Anca Antoci’s bio:
Anca Antoci started out as a fanfiction writer and then moved on to write her own story. Thus her debut novel, Forget Me Not, got published in January 2020.
Her fanfiction stories are still available on her blog. Living in Romania, Anca speaks English as a second language.
Because she’s a passionate reader, Anca started a blog where she reviews fantasy books called Summon Fantasy.
When she’s not reading or writing, Anca loves cooking and watching movies with her daughter while eating nachos.
Hello, Anca, welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.
Thank you for having me.
When did the writing bug ensnare you?
It’s hard to tell. I think I’ve always made up stories in my mind but didn’t put them on paper. My earliest attempt at writing fiction was in fifth grade when I wrote a story titled Nina’s Cat.
I don’t remember much about it, but at that time I was watching Lassie (for those too young to have seen the show, it was about a boy and his dog). My story was about a girl and her cat. Was it a spin-off, a fanfiction, who knows? It was a lifetime ago!
Is writing your full-time profession?
No, it’s more of a hobby. I love making stories up, but that doesn’t pay the bills. My husband and I have a small IT consulting business.
Some days are busier than others. I schedule my writing whenever I have free time.
How long have you been writing?
On and off for eleven years. I started writing fanfiction in 2009 when Blood Ties (a Canadian tv-show) got canceled in the second season and the fans were left high and dry.
I needed closure, so I wrote Until We Meet Again, a fanfiction to offer a better-suited closure to the story. I started working on my debut novel (I didn’t know it was going to be a novel, it was just something I was writing for fun) in 2012.
How many published books have you written?
So far, only one. Forget Me Not is the first part of the Chimera Trilogy. The second part is almost ready and will come out in December 2020.
Which genre do you write?
For the moment I’ll stick with Fantasy, which is the same genre I read most days.
What do you find most challenging writing for this genre?
It’s pretty challenging coming up with a magic system that works and remaining consistent throughout the story.
What are you working on now?
The sequel to Forget Me Not. I haven’t decided on a title yet, but I’ve been toying with the words Web of Lies because there’s a lot of deception going on.
Nothing is what you think it is. I still have a couple more chapters to write before I finish my first draft.
Where do you find inspiration for your characters?
To be honest, I don’t think much about it. An idea just pops into my mind and then I just go with the flow. The same with the character names. There’s no hidden meaning behind them.
What has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
Seeing that people are enjoying my book. So far, I’ve got pretty good feedback (way better than I expected) and mostly positive reviews.
I’m still waiting for that dreaded one-star review that every author gets at one point, but I’m relieved that it hasn’t come yet.
I know I still have room to grow, and that’s a good thing but nothing boosts your morale like being appreciated.
What advice would you give to authors just starting out?
Don’t overthink it. You won’t start your career with a masterpiece, nobody does. Do your best, have your friends read it and give you feedback, get a couple of beta readers if you can, and polish it the best you can.
Then release it into the world and start working on your next project. Learn from the mistakes you made on your first book and do better on your next one. And so on. Practice makes perfect. Don’t stop writing!
Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
That I cherish every feedback I get and that I try to make more time for writing whenever that is possible.
What message are you sharing in your books?
The message is that whenever you’re going through tough times, you need to find the power to move forward within yourself. Sometimes it takes an extreme situation to find your inner strength.
What are your favorite books?
Ah, there are too many to count. It’s like asking a mother to name her favorite child.
If you could create an author’s group with writers from any time period, who would you invite?
I read mostly contemporary fiction, so I would probably invite Anna Mocikat, Elle Lewis, Jen Pretty, Gretchen Galway…that’s just off the top of my head.
Who has influenced your writing the most?
I don’t know if there’s an author in particular that has influenced my writing. Perhaps Anne Bishop, a little bit. Her books are widely appreciated, yet when I read I often notice the lack of story structure or character arc.
But at the same time, I can’t stop reading. It’s not the story, but the storytelling that draws me in. In a similar manner, I’ve had people tell me “I couldn’t put it down!” even though I wasn’t happy with the structure I created for the story. But I’m trying to learn from that and plot better.
When you’re not writing where can we find you?
Well, my day job keeps me behind a computer, so…I’ll be in my office, working.
A movie producer wants to turn your book into a movie and you get to make a cameo. What would you do in the movie?
Oh, I’d be Gloria, the cashier at the grocery store.
An elf named 12-25 approaches you. He’s sneezing, wheezing, coughing and there’s a strange tattoo of a snoring dog on his cheek. What do you do?
I chant a protection spell against Covid-19.
What are your most effective marketing strategies?
I’ll let you know as soon as I find out. I spent most of my free time writing.
I’ll have to study that more after I release my second book. I assumed no one would want to take a chance on a first-time author.
So I needed to prove that my first book wasn’t an accident of a whim, that I’m consistent.
Do you have a website/Facebook page, etc?
Yes. Actually, I have two pages: one is my author page and the other is for my blog.
Thank you, Anca, for spending time with us and sharing your story. We wish you continued success and lots of luck!
Anca’s Featured Book
Summary: Deceiving the vampire that saved her could get her killed, but it’s a risk she’s willing to take. When tragedy strikes, Rae makes a terrible choice and struggles with the aftermath.
In the wilderness of the Tongass rainforest, she finds herself hunted by creatures of hell, monsters she never dreamed could be real.
A hidden world, an ancient race, and a secret she discovers by accident give a new meaning to her life, but only if she can escape and return to civilization.
If she is to survive, Rae must comply with Ari, her reluctant hero, and allow him to wipe away any memory of this realm. Knowledge is power, but is it worth dying for?
When push comes to shove, that’s when real strength emerges. What would it take to discover what you’re made of.
Book links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083G3SBSK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_l1CDFbH33XCSX Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50283836-forget-me-not?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=VvcRjyCE8Z&rank=1
By way of introduction, here is Donna McDine’s bio:
Award-winning children’s author, Donna McDine’s creative side laid dormant for many years until her desire to write sparked in 2007.
With six children’s picture books to her credit, McDine’s adventures continue as she ignites the curiosity of children through reading.
She writes and moms from her home in the historical hamlet Tappan, NY. McDine is a member of the SCBWI.
Hello, Donna, welcome to Angel Kiss Publications. Thank you for agreeing to do this interview.
Thank you for having me.
When did the writing bug ensnare you?
When I was a young child, I would watch the show Lou Grant with my dad and enjoyed the whole reporter concept.
However, I never pursued writing as my career. Many moons later, I had children and as we would curl up with books and read together, I envisioned myself writing my own books.
I then enrolled in the Institute of Children’s Literature writing course, and I’m pleased to be an award-winning published children’s author.
Is writing your full-time profession?
No, unfortunately not.
As much as I would enjoy writing full time the consistency of a steady paycheck with health benefits keeps me working at my “day job” as an administrative assistant, and I also work as a Reiki Master Teacher.
How long have you been writing?
I have been actively writing since 2007.
Have you won any literary awards?
Angel’s Forever Home
2019 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Picture Books Six and Older
Dee and Deb Off They Go, Kindergarten First Day Jitters
2016 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention 5 & Younger
2016 Story Monster Approval
Powder Monkey
2015 Purple Dragonfly Book 1st Place Historical Fiction
2014 Story Monster Approval
A Sandy Grave 2014 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards 1st Place Picture Books 6 and Older
2014 The Beach Book Festival Awards Honorable Mention
2014 Story Monster Approval
Hockey Agony
2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention
2014 New England Book Festival Children’s Books Honorable Mention
2014 Story Monster Approval
“Hockey Agony” & “Images of the Past”
78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition – Honorable Mention – Children’s/Young Adult Fiction category ~ “The Hockey Agony”
78th Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition – Honorable Mention – Children’s/Young Adult Fiction category ~ “Images of the Past”
The Golden Pathway
2012 Readers Favorite International Book Awards Honorable Mention Children K-3rd General
2011 Literary Classics Silver Award Recipient Picture Book Early Reader
2011 Literary Classics Finalist Picture Book Early Reader
2011 Literary Classics Seal of Approval Picture Book Early Reader
2010 Preditors & Editors Readers Poll – Top Ten – Children’s Books category
What do you find most challenging writing for these genres?
To keep the preaching aspect out of the story.
What are you working on now?
I’m collaborating on a picture book, but I’m not at the liberty to discuss the content just yet.
Where do you find inspiration for your characters?
Inspiration comes from many different avenues. When my children were younger and their friends would come to play, I would often listen into their conversations and jot down different dialogue that I found funny.
What has been your most rewarding experience since publishing your work?
Attending book festivals and conducting school visits. Unfortunately, COVID has put a stop to in-person visits and I’m looking forward to being a profiled children’s author at the 18th Collingswood Book Festival on October 3, 2020.
What advice would you give to authors just starting out?
Join a critique group and write, write, write, and read, read, read in the genre you are drawn to write in.
Can you tell us a little about your Saturday Story Time on Facebook and your blog Write What Inspires You?
As COVID placed much of the world under quarantine I was compelled to give back to families and created Story Time Facebook Live for Saturday mornings at 9 am EST.
I first started out reading my own books and put the word out there to children’s authors to submit their books for me to read. I am now booked out through November 2020.
And what’s wonderful about the live readings, Facebook automatically saves the video that can be shared to other social media platforms, providing repurposing marketing across different channels.
How can a children’s author have their book read on your Story Time?
Authors or parents can email me at donna@donnamcdine.com with their suggestion and I will be happy to review and schedule.
When my social media guru creates the promo image, I also share it to the author for their marketing toolbox.
Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?
My world is diverse. I’m an administrative assistant by day and award-winning children’s author and Reiki Master Teacher by night.
I am an advocate for thinking outside the box and creating one’s true authentic life to their standards and not that of society.
What message are you sharing in your books?
Overcoming adversity and doing the right thing even if no one is watching.
What are your favorite books?
Fat Kid Rules the World, K. L. Going
Caves, Cannons, Crinolines by Beverly Stowe McClure
The Art of Psychic Reiki by Lisa Campion
If you could create an author’s group with writers from any time period, who would you invite?
The 1800’s. I find that time to be absolutely fascinating. Oftentimes women were portrayed like wilting flowers, but that was oh so not the case.
Who has influenced your writing the most?
Stephen King, K.L. Going, Beverly Stowe McClure, Margot Finke, Lisa Campion
When you’re not writing where can we find you?
I frequent the Piermont Pier that juts out onto the Hudson River or curled up with a book in my backyard sanctuary with the fire pit going now that it’s fall.
A movie producer wants to turn your book into a movie, and you get to make a cameo. What would you do in the movie?
I’d like to be the dog rescuer in Chile that saved dogs after the earthquake.
An elf named 12-25 approaches you. He’s sneezing, wheezing, coughing and there’s a strange tattoo of a snoring dog on his cheek. What do you do?
I lean in closer to check out the snoring tattoo and begin asking a ton of questions as to the significance of the snoring dog tattoo and why the cheek.
What are your most effective marketing strategies?
My live story times and interviewing fellow authors
The anxiety of finding one’s own place and friends in kindergarten without the comfort of having her fraternal twin sister nearby at first overwhelms Dee. Until she realizes even without her twin, Dee and her classmates for the most part are in the same boat. Suggested age range for readers: 3-8
Awards:
Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention 5 & Younger
