The Crossroads Tour: Day 8 Joy Preble

October 23, 2010 Alyson Beecher

Each day of The Crossroads Tour, a new question will be revealed on The Crossroad Blog Tour main page and each day the answer to that question will be found within one of the 16 different blog posts by Crossroads Tour authors. Your job is to get the question, read the blog posts, and collect all 16 answers by the end of the tour, on Halloween. Go HERE to get today's question and links.

Today's guest for the Crossroads Tour is author Joy Preble. Her second book in the Dreaming Anastasia Series, Haunted, will be out in January 2011.

Tell us about your most embarrassing/funny/scary Halloween experience or costume?

Well, the funniest was in college when my then boyfriend (and now husband) and I double dated to a Halloween party as hookers and their pimps. The scariest was when I was nine and a friend and I got trapped in an elevator while trick or treating. I grew up in Chicago in a mostly high rise building
neighborhood, so trick or treating was a bit different; you’d gain access (usually by ringing a bunch of bells and hoping someone would buzz you in) to the building, then ride up and down to each floor and knock on all the doors. One building on our block was a 1920’s vintage building about 11 stories high.
It had one of those old fashioned elevators – real tiny and claustrophobic feeling. Somewhere between floors five and six, the thing just creaked to a stop. Nothing. Nada. And then it zoomed up to the top floor, but the door didn’t open. Then it zoomed down (by now we were screaming!) and finally came to stop back at the fifth floor, but when the doors opened we were about half a foot above the floor and we had to jump out! That was seriously the scariest thing that’s ever happened to me on Halloween. At least that’s the scariest thing, I plan on sharing.

Thanks Joy for sharing with us your Halloween story.

For more information about Joy Preble, check out her website:
http://www.joypreble.com/index.htm

You can find Joy on twitter: @joypreble

The Crossroads Tour: Day 7 Linda Joy Singleton

October 22, 2010 Alyson Beecher

Today's guest for the Crossroads Tour is author Linda Joy Singleton. Her newest book is the final book in the Seer Series, Magician's Muse, was released this month.

Description from GoodReads:
A whisper, too soft to swirl wispy candle smoke, carried across time, beyond life and death—and was heard. "Our bargain is sealed. My secrets will be yours-when the girl dies."

In the thrilling climax to The Seer series, Sabine's psychic abilities, sleuthing skills, and courage are pushed to a dangerous edge as she deals with the mysterious disappearance of her ex-boyfriend Josh, a new threat against her boyfriend Dominic, evil magicians (both living and dead)—and a coldblooded murder.

What is your most embarrassing/funny/scary Halloween experience or costume?

When I was single and dating, my best friend had a Halloween party at her house and I decided to be creative and dress up as a cannibal. So with my face painted, a grass skirt and bones in my hair, I looked scary wicked. And then a really cute guy in a Superman suit came to the party—and I liked him a lot. But here I was dressed up like a flesh-eater and not at all attractive. I was soooo disappointed and embarrassed. He left without showing any interest in me. And next year I dressed up in something glittery and gorgeous.

Thanks Linda for stopping by and sharing a Halloween experience with us.

For more information about Linda Joy Singleton, check out her website:
http://www.lindajoysingleton.com/

You can find Linda Joy Singleton on twitter: @lindajoysinglet

The Crossroads Tour: Day 6 Kitty Keswick

October 21, 2010 Alyson Beecher

Today's guest for the Crossroads Tour is author Kitty Keswick. Her novel Freaksville, came out in earlier in 2010. She writes about a gifted teen girl and a shape-shifting hottie.

Did you have a book that you read either in Middle School or High School that scared you the most? What was it and what about it scared you?

It wasn’t a book per say, but a movie Exorcist, I still can’t watch the darn thing without having my fingers in front of my eyes. I’d take on werewolves or vamps any day but a preteen spewing pea soup gives me the heebie jeebies.

Did you have a paranormal experience that prompted you in writing the story that you did?

My family sorta draws ghosts around them. I’ve seen a few in my day, had things move in front of me, seen shadows passing through walls. My least favorite thing is having my name called out when I know nobody is there with me. I’ve had that happen a few times. So it was natural to use ghosts and Kasey’s (my heroine in FREAKSVILLE) ability to see them. I just toss in a hairy twist.

Where did you get the idea for your story? Did you use a real life situation and put a twist on it?

Yes and no. while I don’t write about real people every author draws on their experiences to create believable worlds. I wrote FREAKSVILLE like I talk and Kasey is me in many ways and many ways she’s not. Every character is the author a small snippet of their souls.

Did you have a favorite paranormal/horror story writer as a child/teen that you wanted to emulate? If so, who and why?

As a Kid: it was Steven King. Now: I like Kelley Armstrong, Charlaine Harris, but they’re not horror, more paranormal.

What kind of research did you do for your story and did you run into anything weird while you were doing research?

I research a lot fire, England, the 1940’s. I even traveled to Scotland. It wasn’t weird but cool to see the castle where my heroine’s namesake derives. You’ll learn more about the clan wars as the series progresses.

What helps you to create characters that people will feel passionate about either in liking them or disliking them?

Keeping them real, giving them faults and quirks. Like Kasey’s list making. Even their words they chose. It makes them more human.

If you could have a supernatural power or gift what would it be?

I’d like the ability to travel instantly and walk through walls. It would save a fortune on travel expenses.

Thanks Kitty for stopping by and answering some questions.

For more information about Kitty Keswick and her novel, check out her website:
http://kittykeswick.com/ or at http://wolfychicks.blogspot.com/

You can find Kitty on twitter: @kittykeswick

You can check out the book trailer for Freaksville below.

The Crossroads Tour: Day 5 Jordan Deen

October 20, 2010 Alyson Beecher

Today's guest post is by Jordan Deen author of The Crescent. I just received a personalized signed copy of Deen's book (thanks Darla for getting it signed for me) and it is sitting on my bedside table staring at me. It will be my reward once I finish up a big work project.

Description from GoodReads:

Becoming a werewolf is not an option for seventeen-year-old Lacey Quinn, but death can be a strong motivator. Lacey is so focused on her future that everyday life has passed her by. Counting down the days to her eighteenth birthday, Lacey is almost home free. But when she falls for the mysterious Alex Morris, she lands in the middle of an ancient war between two enemy wolf packs. Tempting dreams, tantalizing lies and a dangerous love triangle ensues leaving Lacey heartbroken and confused. Lacey's fate rests in the hands of Alex and Brandon, but both are pulling her strings for their own agendas. Even as she slips further into the dark world of werewolves, Lacey struggles to find the truth and save the only family she's ever know.

What was your most embarrassing/funny/scary Halloween experience or costume?

Hi Aly! Thanks for having me.

This is a great question. When I was in my twenties, I worked as a make up artist at ‘Knott’s Scary Farm’. My job was to make bruises and blood look as realistic as possible for their Halloween Nights. On my last night working there, I finished up my last seating and headed out—trying not to show everyone how sad I was to be going. I picked up my case and started out before the park was opened.

I headed up a long, dark, remote pathway on the backside of the park. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I was on my own. No one came out with me, no one was walking with me to the parking lot and the large baron trees were filled with white haze from the smoke machines and strobes were already illuminating the bottoms. To say it looked like a scene from a horror movie is a serious understatement. Anyone that knows me knows I’m terrified of zombies after my brother’s thought I should watch Night of the Living Dead when I was six. I regress—I stayed toward the middle of the path, folded my arms across my chest and hurried up the walkway trying to get back to civilization. After a few seconds, moaning started coming from what felt like everywhere. Out of the shadows of made by the strobes and the trees, large blackened figures stalked out. Limbs hanging, throats rattling, blood dripping, feet dragging—they were full on zombies. I stopped and started to turn around when I realized they were coming from behind me too. There was no escape. So, I did what every level headed twenty-something would do: I threw my case down, screamed at the top of my lungs, and ran as fast as I could towards the biggest opening between the flesh eaters. Of course, they weren’t real zombies, so the twenty-something boys caught me quickly. Their moans and blood and messed up faces had me shaking so hard I couldn’t think of anything other than I’m too young to die! Immature, I know. The group, knowing I was terrified, only kept up the act for a moment later and started laughing. I’ll never forget my last night at Knott’s Scary Farm. To John, Mark, Matt, Joseph, Louis, Jose, and Amber- you guys are *still* not right. And, for the record, I’m still terrified of zombies. Hope everyone got a good laugh out of this. J Luckily, I’ve never been this scared on Halloween again.

Thanks Jordan for stopping by and sharing your Halloween experience.

For more information about Jordan Deen and her novel, check out her website:

www.jordandeen.com

You can find her on twitter: @jordan_deen

The Crossroads Tour: Day 4 Shannon Delany

October 19, 2010 Alyson Beecher

Today's guest for the Crossroads Tour is author Shannon Delany. Her debut novel, Thirteen to Life, was released in June. Her story has drawn me in and there are some hot wolves that I have developed a pretty big fangirl crush on. To read my review of 13 to Life, click here. Secrets & Shadows (13 to Life Book #2) will be out in February 2011. I have enjoyed getting to know Shannon. If you like werewolves you should check out her book, and even if you tend towards vampires, Shannon's wolves may change your minds.

What was your favorite paranormal/horror/fantasy story as a child/teen? And why did you like it so much?

I loved Mary Stewart’s A Walk through Wolf Woods (5th grade, I think) and then I was enthralled with Mercedes Lackey’s work, Marion Zimmer Bradley and Anne McCaffrey. They all created amazing worlds with intriguing characters. Asa teen I took a hard turn into science fiction.

Where did you get the idea for your story? Did you use a real life situation and put a twist on it?

Although my characters are very much based on aspects of different people I’ve known, the story grew out of some odd paranormal and Cold War-related research and my own issues with grief. I like to think I write real-world werewolves because their issues are much bigger than having extreme amounts of hair and a willingness to bite. ;-) Underneath the fur, they’re tragically human, too.

Especially in Y.A., there seems to be a big emphasis on paranormal romance? Do you consider the romance part when you are writing your story or do you consider writing your story and see where the romance fits in?

The characters decide where and when the romance comes in. My job’s to have a clue about where things are going overall and generally follow where the characters lead as they change and grow.

What helps you to create characters that people will feel passionate about either in liking them or disliking them?

I think authors need to be empathic and just generally aware. We know what ticks most people off and what pushes buttons and excites folks. The characters help bridge the gap and connect the things we know deep down with their personal stories. But not everyone will relate to every character (and certainly not in the same way). Where some see a fine example of self-sacrifice, others read it as martyrdom. No matter how you plan your characters, people bring their own interpretations and baggage into the reading.

What characteristics were critical to you in creating your characters?

Connectivity. I wanted characters that people would connect with on some level. Whether you get misty-eyed over Jess’s loss or shout at her about her choices or worry about Pietr or laugh at Max’s flirting...Hopefully there’s enough to each character for readers to connect at some level but not so much to distance readers.

What kind of research did you do for your story and did you run into anything weird while you were doing research?

I did a bunch of research—some werewolf and wolf-related (pulling at lesser known myths and traits like the saber tattoo and red highlights in the Rusakovas’ hair). I also did paranormal research and found the most beautiful question mark in the world—on a paper that listed Cold War paranormal locations and research done in Russia. Every site except one listed precisely the research they did. But one just had a question mark. Lovely. That’s where werewolves get made, boys and girls. ;-)

If you could be a shape-shifter, what animal would you want to shift

into?

Wolf works for me! They’re quick, bright, cozy in winter and family-oriented.

Thanks Shannon for stopping by and answering some questions.

For more information about Shannon Delany and her books, check out her website: www.shannondelany.com/joomla/

To find her on Twitter: @shannon_delany

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