Thursday, March 24, 2016

HERO Interview with Alec Morretti, the hero from COLLIDE by Melissa J. Crispin @MelissaJCrispin @evernight teen @bloggerbees




These answers are written from Alec Morretti’s POV, the hero from Collide by Melissa J. Crispin.

Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book?
Never. There are a lot of skeptics out there. I don’t know if anyone will believe that tipping the balances between the worlds could remove mankind from Earth. People tend to frown on negative news like that.

What are your favorite scenes in your book: the action, the dialog or the romance?
That’s easy. Hands down the romance. Nothing beats quality time with Kayla.

Do you infiltrate your writer’s dreams?
No, but I can walk into Kayla’s and take her to Afterlife, and that’s pretty cool. I can’t enter other people’s dreams, not even my writer’s. Maybe someday I’ll figure out why.

What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?

When I’m not busy worrying about the fate of the universe or the safety of my girl, I like to cook. I know that’s not common for guys my age, but I like to think I’m not your average guy. Experimenting with food has always been something I enjoy.

Are you happy with the genre your writer has placed you in?

It seems fitting. I have no complaints. But, if she wanted to put me in a new adult spinoff with Kayla and make Luke disappear from existence? I’m game.

If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?

I would have made Kayla remember who I was sooner. If she had known what we had was real, that it wasn’t just a dream, Luke never would have had a chance. I think about that a lot. I can’t count how many times I wished I could go back and change that.

Would you be interested in a sequel, if your writer was so inclined?

I’m at a point in my life where I’d prefer to lay low, so I wouldn’t want one right now. I don’t need the rest of the world in my business. The aftermath of the first book is still pretty raw. Maybe someday.

What is your greatest fear?

I fear that no matter how hard I work, the evil forces will prevail, and Earth and Afterlife will be destroyed. I can’t afford to fail. There’s too much at stake.

What is your most prized possession?

My parents bought me a set of high end cutlery for Christmas last year. All of the knives cut through everything like butter. 

What do you think is your strongest attribute?

I have a solid work ethic. When I give my word that I’m going to follow through on something, I mean it.

What embarrasses you?

Maybe not what, but who…My mother lives to make me uncomfortable. She tells embarrassing stories about me to any guests that come to the house. When Kayla came over, my mom did a spectacular job of holding nothing back.
If I was smart, I’d stop telling her so much, so she’d have less ammunition to work with. But, even though she embarrasses me, I’m a mama’s boy at heart, so I know that’ll never happen.

What do you like most about where you live?

It’s quiet and peaceful in New Hampshire. Also, it’s where Kayla is, so there’s nowhere else better.

What word makes you the happiest?

Kayla. That word makes me the happiest because she’s everything to me.

What is your least favorite word?

The word “extinguish” leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. To many it probably conjures up images of putting out a fire. To me, it means that someone’s soul is removed from existence, never to return again. I hate that word.

Do you believe in ghosts/evil spirits/mysticism? Would you spend the night in a remote haunted house?

Since I’m a Spirit Guide, you probably won’t be surprised to hear that I believe in all of the above. I know that evil exists, and that souls not from this world can make their way to Earth.
If given a choice, I wouldn’t spend the night in a remote haunted house. I feel like I’m in enough danger already. No need to go out and ask for it.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I’m a night owl, but not in the traditional sense of the word. When I’m asleep, I go to Afterlife, where I train for an impending battle. 

Would you ever use a voodoo doll to hurt anyone?

No. If I have a problem with someone and need to bring a world of hurt on them, they’ll know. Trust me.

What is your most favorite memory?

My first kiss with Kayla was initiated by her. That memory is at the top of the list.

Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo, what would it be and where? If not, what if you had to? 

I have thought about this, and I know exactly what I want to get and where. The Circle of Fate is talked about in my book a lot. A soul enters the circle to see what challenges they may face in the next life, which is ultimately supposed to bring them closer to inner peace.
The tattoo will be on my chest. It’s going to be a yellow circle, which represents the Circle of Fate. The inside of it will have a “K” in script. In case you’re not sure what the “K” stands for, see the previous question about what makes me happiest.

Thanks again for visiting with us today !!!!
Thank you for having me. -Alec

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COLLIDE
Melissa J. Crispin
Release Date: March 18th
Approx. 88K, Evernight Teen
Romance/Love Triangle/Fantasy Elements

Kayla has a plan. She’s moving to the city after graduation and Luke’s coming with her. He’ll eventually become a doctor, she’ll be a ballerina—and they’ll live happily ever after. That is, until dark forces, led by a sister she never knew existed, start hunting her down for a power she never knew she had.
When Kayla starts working with a boy named Alec to learn how to defend herself and to stop the evil from eliminating the worlds, she finds herself falling for him. Hard. Torn between two loves and struggling to do what’s right for Earth and Afterlife, Kayla must decide if she’s fighting to keep her life together, or letting it go to save everyone else’s.


Buy Links:    ARe    Evernight Teen     Amazon
14+ due to sexuality, language, teen pregnancy, and adult situations


Excerpt:
Luke nodded. “Let me get this straight. So, this guy, he can heal your leg, protect you from something that isn’t yet clear to me, and bring you to some otherworldly place, where you’re reunited with your father?”
“Yeah.” There was that word again.
He pulled his hand out of mine and ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, that’s pretty damn hard to compete with.”
“Luke, this isn’t a competition. This is my life. He’s already saved me once.”
“And I’ll do it again,” Alec said.
Luke pointed a finger at Alec. “I don’t care what you can do. I don’t like you. You stole my girl, who’s pregnant with my baby.” Luke stepped around me and got in Alec’s face. “She will always have a part of me in her life.”
Alec slowly shook his head. “Not new news, and for the record, you stole her from me. So, you don’t get to play that card.”
The tension thickened in the air until the hairs stood on the back of my neck.
“She never said a word to you before all this weird shit started to go down.” Luke poked Alec in the chest. “You’re a liar.”
“It’s true,” I whispered.
Luke whirled around. “What?”
“Before us. It was him.”
Luke opened his mouth, as if to say something, but snapped it shut. He finally spoke after a long moment. “You said I was your first boyfriend. Your first kiss. Your first everything with a guy. You lied to me?”
“At the time, I thought that was true. He finds me in my dreams and takes me to Afterlife. That’s how we met. I never even knew he was real. I thought he was a boy in some recurring dream. I never even remembered until I barreled him over in the hallway one day by accident. His touch jarred my memory.”
Luke’s eyes were wild. “Do me a favor. Do not talk about touching him, ever, in my presence.”
“I’m sorry, Luke. That’s why this is so difficult. I’m only now remembering things that happened before us. It’s … confusing.”
“You were with him? Actually with him, before me?”
I swallowed. “We were sort of dating.”
“That’s not what I meant.” A muscle ticked in Luke’s jaw, and realization dawned on me.
“Oh, no. We didn’t.” I cleared my throat. “Not that…”
“I don’t know what you’re so pissed about. You’re the one who got to have a real relationship with her,” Alec said.
“Shut up. Just shut the hell up.” Luke gently brushed me to the side, leaving him and Alec staring each other down. “You’re an asshole.”
“Hate me, if you want. Call me whatever you want. But that girl right there?” He pointed to me. “She needs me. I swore to protect her, and I don’t give a shit about what you think. I’m her best shot at survival. Your baby’s, too. So, next time you get in my face, remember their lives are at stake and that your guns can’t fight off the shit that’s coming.”
“Asshole,” Luke muttered.
“Douche,” Alec said under his breath.
“Stop fighting,” I said from behind Luke’s back.
“You’re a loser. A loser, with no friends and no life, who came in and stole my girlfriend. Even if she chooses you, you’ll have to help her with my baby. Every time you look at our kid, you’ll be reminded of who was there first.”
I took a step outward to try to get between them, but Alec swung before I could, and as his fist connected with Luke’s face, Luke charged him, sending them both tumbling toward the ground.
Fists flew and grunts sounded in the scuffle as they rolled, each trying to get the upper hand.
“Stop!” I yelled.


About the author:
Melissa J. Crispin lives in Connecticut with her husband, two kids, and an adorable Siberian Husky. She spends her days in the corporate world, and pursues her passion for writing in the late nights and early mornings.

From micro-fiction to novels, Melissa loves to write stories in varying lengths. But, no matter the story, it's almost always about the romance.


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Wednesday, March 16, 2016

#characterinterview with Gray Price from A Freedom to Fight For by KD Van Brunt @evernightteen @bloggerbees #giveaway


Please welcome a Character Interview from
A FREEDOM TO FIGHT FOR

Interview w/Gray Price



How have you changed since your story began?

Wow, where to begin.  When this ride started, I was nothing more than a petty thief.  I had no goals, no real purpose, and gave zero thought for the future.  I mostly lived for the moment.  So, just your typical sixteen-year-old guy, yeah?  But I came to understand that life is bigger than me and my desires.  There were causes worth fighting for, causes worth dying for.  Jace taught me that.  She also taught me that sometimes the good of the many may require the sacrifice of the few.  I’d follow her into the jaws of hell and whistle ‘happy days are here again.’  The boy in the Boston bus station at the start of this story could never have done that or even conceived of doing it.  Funny how transformative one year can be.

What would your life be like if you and Jace had never met?

I was a runner.  I thought my life ended when Jace caught me.  I was wrong, of course.  So, what if I had somehow escaped Jace in Grand Coulee and, through some miracle, fled with Nia and Rachel, what would I be?  I’d still be a runner.  Rachel would have tried to recruit me into Sanctuary, but I never would have agreed.  No, I think Nia and I would have become like Rick and Margaux, only we would never have kidnapped shifters like they did. But we would still have lived a nomadic life, roaming from the city to city, planning our next heist.  That kind of life was a dead end.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but without Jace, I probably would have died young and lived an essentially meaningless life.  Getting caught by her was the best thing that ever happened to me.

What do regret most?

The list is too long, but I can tell you about the first item on the list. I regret Chicago. If I had done my job, Jace never gets shot.  We go back to Cracked and all is well. But I got careless.
           
            But if Jace doesn’t get shot, there is no mesme. In hindsight, that seems bad.

No. Mesme would still have happened, but it would have been consensual. We lost so much time dealing with the mess I made.  It could have been wonderful, but the way it happened almost destroyed us.

            But might it have been too late? Could you have taken on Xerxes without it?

Good point.  No, probably we couldn’t have.  She hated me for what I did, but the alternative was to lose everything. 


You’re a hero.  How does that feel?

I’m not a hero. I’m a soldier.  And all I ever did was follow orders.  That’s what we do.  Sometimes the mission is a success; sometimes it’s a failure. Either way, I do my job, and I’m neither hero nor goat. 
           
            Yet, you were awarded the Army Distinguished Service Cross?

            Hey, that’s just bling. Again, I did my job.  I got nothing more to say.

Jace is a famous celebrity now, but people have barely heard of you.  How do you feel about that?

Really great actually. I like doing field work—chasing bad people and shutting them down. I couldn’t do that if people recognized my face on the street. That’s why Jace’s days in the field are probably over. 

If you could change one thing in your past, what would it be?

I would make a lot of changes, but if I could have only one do-over it would probably be kindergarten.  I would have gone to school that first day and Nia would have lived a mostly normal life. Yes, they would have caught and shipped me off to Cracked, but that’s where I ended up anyway.  At least Nia would have been spared all the stuff she had to endure for me.

One last question.  Walk us through a typical day for you.

A typical day.  That’s almost an oxymoron for me.  When I’m not on a job, Jace and I are usually up and dressed by 0600.  We have breakfast and then head over to Cracked together. Believe it or not, I’m still taking classes.  In the afternoon, I hit the gym and work out.  The highlight of the day is dinner back at the house.  Usually Mrs. Siller or my mom cooks and we all talk about anything and everything.  There are seven of us in the house, so trying to get a word in can be tough. We’re as close to being a family as you can get without actually being related. The key thing is Jace is happy.  We’re both happy. So maybe it’s true—all’s well that ends well.
 

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A Freedom to Fight For
K.D. VanBrunt

YA Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Suspense
Evernight Teen Publishing, 95k, Editor’s Pick
Conclusion of best-selling The Cracked Chronicles Trilogy

All Jace has ever wanted was to escape the control of Cracked and run.  Now, Gray is on the escape-from list too.  She can’t bring herself to ever face him again, not after his betrayal. Angry, disillusioned, and broken, Jace accepts a permanent assignment to the President’s security detail, intending to never see Gray or Cracked ever again.  

But something changes inside her.  With the United States facing an unprecedented threat that only she and Gray may be able to stop, Jace confronts a choice.  She can cut and run, or stand and fight alongside the boy she swore she would never let inside her heart again.

Buy Links:    Evernight Teen     ARe      Amazon
14+ due to language, violence, and adult situations



Excerpt:
JACE
Lauren and I head down Pennsylvania Avenue making for a nearby gym with a boxing ring, trailed by a considerable crowd of onlookers, most of whom are Secret Service agents. Once inside and changed, I make my way into the ring, dressed in blue boxing shorts and a white sports bra. Roz helps me slip on the red, Everlast boxing gloves. These are my competition gloves I had sent over from Cracked. James has agreed to let Lauren and I fight without headgear. Otis helps Lauren with her gloves.
Roz appointed himself my cornerman and cutman, as if I need either, and he insists I call him Mick. Whatever. I allow myself a quick glance around the gym. A nice crowd has assembled. I recognize many of the agents who are betting against me. Otis said he’d been approached by other agents about getting a piece of the action. I told him I was willing to put up to $15,000 on the line. Otis hit that ceiling in an hour. Apart from the agents, I see a number of staff I haven’t met. In the few days we’ve been here, I’m amazed how many people have heard about the two bad girls who are constantly at each other’s throats. James holds the ropes apart to allow me to squeeze through into the ring. He’s going to ref the fight, which will go on for three two-minute rounds.
Lauren and I square off in the center of the ring, and James gives the signal for the first round to begin. She starts off fast, trying to bombard me with combinations, sending me on the defensive for most of the round. I dance back from her, blocking her punches and dodging away. She doesn’t manage to land much of anything on me, but I can’t land anything solid either. I think I see what her strategy is, but then I realize she fooled me, and Lauren slams her left glove into my mid-section, almost knocking the wind out of me. This is not Lauren. This is Clubber Lane. Her fist feels like a granite boulder. The round ends. I know she won round one with that punch. But I also hear a silent ka-ching, as I mentally pocket $500 from Agent Saunders.
Roz hands me a bottle of water, which I greedily drink from, while trying to control my heavy, labored breathing. When round two starts, Lauren tries to go on the offensive again. She immediately attempts the same combination that worked before, when she just about emulsified my insides with her punch to my gut. But I’ve already seen this move and when she tries to land the body punch again, I lash out with a right uppercut that tags her on the chin, sending her reeling backwards into the ropes. I hear gasps from the crowd. Before she can recover, I begin to rain blows on her, causing her to cover up and then clutch at me. She’s rescued from me by the bell clang signaling the end of the round. I watch her retreat to her corner, a glazed look on her face. Score this round to me. The match will come down to round three.
The final round starts out slow, with both of us dancing away from each other’s blows, our punches tentative. I don’t know what Lauren thinks she’s doing, but I want to land the knockout blow, so I’m waiting for Lauren to make the one big mistake that will enable my quicker hands to take her down. The problem is she has the best boxing form of anyone I’ve ever faced and there’s no room for error; one mistake and she’ll clean my clock—and vice versa. But the mistake never comes, so, frustrated, I stop dancing and move in on her. Lauren steps toward me and we both start swinging as fast and as hard we can. I manage to land a vicious right hook to her jaw followed by a wicked left jab to her forehead. This staggers her, but she steps closer to me and we stand toe-to-toe, hurling punches at each other non-stop. I drop any pretense of style and finesse. Lauren manages to get in a stinging blow to my mouth and I can taste my blood. Then she lands another crushing punch to my stomach, causing me to back up until I’m up against the ropes, but I’m not covering up. Lauren gets in another punch to the side of my head, but I tag her with a good right cross to the nose that staggers her and then I follow with a left to her jaw. Her knees are wobbly and I think that if I can land just one more shot, she’ll go down, but the round ends before I can deliver that one last blow. I let my gloves drop. I’m exhausted. I know my lip has been split open, and I feel my blood freely flowing down my chin. Lauren has her own river of blood to contend with, as her nose is oozing a steady stream of snot and gore.

About the author:
K.D. Van Brunt
During the eight hours of the day when I’m not writing, reading or sleeping, I’m a lawyer in Washington, DC.  I grew up in Southern California, moved to Seattle before coming east to Boston to go to school.  Now, I live in the great state of Maryland with my wife, my dog—a standard poodle named Buffy (and who do you think named her?), and my hot Camaro.  One of the few things I like better than pizza is driving fast.  So, if you happen be in the DC area and a black Camaro with a red stripe and a rear spoiler roars by and blows your doors off…thaaat could be me. 
@kdvanbrunt

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