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Political thrillers, dystopian fiction, creepy reads, and dark humour.

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One Book Interview #11 – Elicia Hyder (Author)

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This week we have a genuine, bonafide, bestselling author whose novel The Soul Summoner has over 1000 positive reviews on Amazon US alone! Her books regularly hit the top of the paid charts, have jostled for space with the legend that is Stephen King, and her hit series sees its latest addition this week with the release of The Taken.

Good people of the Internet – Elicia Hyder

Name one book:

1 – everyone should read

Flyboys by James Bradley. It tells the true story of several fighter pilots during World War II who were shot down over Japan. It’s brilliantly written, absolutely chilling at times.

2 – you would take with you if you were going to be marooned on Mars

Is The Martian too easy an answer? Ha! Weir has some excellent survival stuff in that book, and if Matt Damon can do it, maybe I can too! If not The Martian, then I’d take something I could totally immerse myself in and read over and over. Harry Potter comes to mind or anything by Philippa Gregory.

3 – you took a chance on and were pleasantly surprised by

My husband convinced me to read Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind a few years ago. I’m not usually a fan of epic fantasy, but dang… those books are amazing. Wizard’s First Rule is the first book in The Sword of Truth series. It has it all: adventure, love, humor, and magic!

4 – you’ve written that is your favourite

The Soul Summoner – it’s an ongoing series, and I just released the 4th installment called The Taken. The Soul Summoner is about an ordinary woman with a really inconvenient superpower that she doesn’t want or understand. In the newest book, she finally steps into her destiny and takes charge of her life and all the chaos that surrounds her. It’s funny, exciting, and totally swoon-worthy.

5 – that has influenced you most as a person

I’ve always loved The Ragamuffin Gospel (and anything else) by Brennan Manning. I grew up in the deep South of the US, where religion and closed-mindedness can be more like a plague than a lifestyle. The Ragamuffin Gospel was the first spiritual book I ever read that didn’t make me feel like an absolute failure at everything. It was hopeful instead of condemning, like a salve on the frayed nerves of my soul.

6 – that has influenced you most as a professional

This one is easy. On Writing by Stephen King is hands-down the best book I’ve ever read for my career. I read it once every summer like I belong to some bizarre one-woman writing cult. One section of the book deals with writing honestly, without fear of judgment from the people in your life who may read your work. That was life-changing for me because of my aforementioned religious upbringing. It made all the difference in my career. I met King last year and was able to thank him in person for writing it. I cried like I was thirteen and he was Harry Styles. It was amazing.

7 – of yours that prospective readers should start with if they want to get to know your work and where they can get it.

I recommend everyone start by reading The Detective. It’s a short read, packed with action and hilarity, that introduces you to one of the leading men in The Soul Summoner series: Detective Nathan McNamara.The tag line is: Robbery, arson, murder…and the one-night-stand that just won’t end. It’s guaranteed to make you laugh, and best of all–it’s FREE.

You can find  Elicia at: www.eliciahyder.com

Elicia Hyder had never seriously considered publishing as a career until January 2015 when a New York agency called with interest in one of her novels. Then, on the very same day just a few hours later, she received the opportunity of a lifetime: a cancer diagnosis. Embracing the cliche and vowing to suddenly live life to the fullest and chase her wildest dreams, Elicia pursued the publishing industry full force. With the support of her family and friends, she published five novels and a novella all while enduring chemo and radiation. Now, two years and three clear PET scans later, Elicia is living her dream CANCER FREE! She is a full-time writer of paranormal suspense and lives with her superhero husband, five loud children, and two co-dependent dogs in Central Florida.

 

 

 

 

One Book Interview #9 – M. Black (Author)

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Your challenge today, dear reader, is to name three of the big-hitting young adult book series that have made the switch from page to big screen. (I’ll give you a clue, not the one with the wizard.)

Made your choices?

Remember them and read on.

One Book Interview #9 features a writer of young adult, dystopian novels, whose stories “focus on robots, androids, simulations, consciousness, animals, the wilderness, technology such as cloning, and more.”

Quite an impressive list!

One of today’s answers sees the second appearance of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (also chosen in Interview #8 by J.L. Hendricks).

Three of the book choices will give you the answer to my question at the top of the page.

Good people of the Internet, without further ado, Ami Black.

Name one book:

1 – everyone should read

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? It’s original, philosophical, and asks some interesting questions all while being entertaining. Fans of Blade Runner would love it since the movie is based on the book. If you are into robots or technology you’ll find it interesting.

2 – you would take with you if you were going to be marooned on Mars

The Hunger Games, because it is three parts and so there are a lot of words. It’s also about surviving, so it would be motivating and well as entertaining,

3 – you took a chance on and were pleasantly surprised by

Hate to say it but, Twilight. I wasn’t expecting much with the story, and while cheesy it did hit some points which is why I think it resonated with such a wide audience.

4 – you’ve written that is your favourite

 

EXOTIQA, because it is about a world where robots are part man and men are part robot. I love blurred lines and I love technology and being able to incorporate the two was real interesting for me.

5 – that has influenced you most as a person

Pride and Prejudice, because Jane Austen was a brilliant writer. A woman. She lived in a time where everything was dominated by men, yet she managed to get her stories out there and read.

6 – that has influenced you most as a professional

Divergent, because the author was very young and inexperienced when she wrote it, and a woman. I think that gives hope or inspiration to every woman trying to make it in the business. It is also very original, I thought, and entertaining.

7 – of yours that prospective readers should start with if they want to get to know your work and where they can get it.

EXOTIQA or Simulation, because they are both first book in a series and will give the reader a good idea of the type of stories I write.

You can find Ami  at: http://MBlackDystopianThrillers.blogspot.com

M.Black is passionate about the Earth, animals, robots and technology. You will find all of these concepts as parts of the themes used in her brand of books ENTER TOMORROW. M. Black loves to explore future worlds that are falling apart and she likes to keep the reader guessing.

M.Black is usually writing on her MAC, taking care of her two cats LOTUS and ASH who show up in her books Exotiqa and Simulation, cooking her favorite vegetarian dishes like veggie chili and lasagna, or watching her favorite shows. OA, Stranger Things, Mr. Robot, The Expanse, are just a few. After graduating UCF in English, she travelled Asia for eight years teaching English. She began writing novels in 2009 and publishing on Kindle in 2010.

 

 

So? How many of the young adult books did you get? If you got all three you can claim your mystery prize by emailing my PA: katniss.prior@cull.en

One Book Interview #7 – Casey Hays (Author)

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For installment seven of the One Book Interview, I’m happy to present an American author who writes (and reads!) young adult fiction, supernatural, fantasy sci-fi, and dystopian novels – all with a twist of romance.

Good people of the Internet, please give a rousing One-Book-Interview welcome* to one of New Mexico’s own: Casey Hays.

Name one book:

1 – everyone should read

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This is a moving tale told by Death. It’s a story about life and love and respect for humanity. It left me speechless, and the last line of the book is a favorite of mine. Very compelling.

2 – you would take with you if you were going to be marooned on Mars

The Angel Series by Sharon Shinn. This series would be perfect for an off planet continual read. Full of hope and a great love story, too!

3 – you took a chance on and were pleasantly surprised by

Little Bee by Chris Cleave. I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It’s a dark, quirky story about a Nigerian orphan who ends up in Britain. Her story is quite touching.

4 – you’ve written that is your favourite

Probably The Archer, the second book in my Arrow’s Flight Series. It’s the bridge book between books one and two, and it’s just full of emotion. I think I did a decent job with imagery and made my readers feel something amazing.

5 – that has influenced you most as a person

The Bible – I’m a Christian, and God’s word is the greatest influence over every decision I make.

6 – that has influenced you most as a professional

Anything by Shakespeare – I truly believe his works are the greatest literary treasure next to the Bible. You want to see humans screw up and get redeemed… or justice perhaps? Read the Bible first, then read something by Shakespeare.

7 – of yours that prospective readers should start with if they want to get to know your work and where they can get it.

Breeder: Arrow’s Flight 1. I have a full series planned and the first of four novellas in this series published so far.

You can find Casey at:  http://www.whisperingpages.com/

Casey Hays lives in New Mexico with her husband and two children. She is a former high school English teacher turned author. She loves Young Adult Fiction as well as supernatural, fantasy sci-fi, and dystopian–all with a twist of romance. She is the author of four works: “The Cadence” a YA supernatural romance, and Arrow’s Flight, a YA dystopian sci-fi series: Breeder, The Archer, and Master, which released on January 15, 2016. Her short story “Edge of a Promise” is featured in the collaborative anthology PREP FOR DOOM, published June 18, 2015. Currently, she is working on a series of novellas for Arrow’s Flight, as well as a YA supernatural romance based on the legend of the Phoenix.

 

 

 

*(Apologies for the intro - I think I need to get out more . . .)