When I found out that I was selected to be a part of THE GIRL WITH THE IRON TOUCH Blog Tour hosted by the lovely folks at Kismet I may have squealed just a little bit. I absolutely love this series, its enchanting characters and the incredibly imaginative world the author created in her Steampunk Chronicles.

But when I found out that I would get to interview Jack Dandy for the tour, there may have been a fist pump and a happy dance. Because Jack is one of my favorite characters in this series. Though I love all of them… the good ones anyway… and maybe Reno Dalton.

And when I read Jack Dandy’s responses to my questions… well… there was grinning involved. Perhaps some head-shaking. Yes, if the name weren’t already taken, I’d say that Jack Dandy was the Artful Dodger given just how evasive he was when answering some of my questions.

But I still love him. More than ever, actually. And I’m glad that Finley, Griffin, Sam, Emily and Jasper are back in London in THE GIRL WITH THE IRON TOUCH so that this book can include Jack.

Anyway…

While I normally introduce the book and author first, I just had to start off with Jack’s interview. Because you don’t have to have read any of the books in this series to see just what a charming rogue he is.

And if you haven’t met him yet, this interview just might convince you that he’s someone you’ll want to meet. I know if I hadn’t yet met him, I’d definitely want to!

But if you do want to learn more about the book, series and author first, just scroll a little bit further down and there are details on all the full-length books in this series, some information about the author, and places where you can find them all online.

And…

Don’t forget to check out the TWO awesome giveaways that are being offered as part of the tour and the tour schedule for more chances to win.

Now, without any further ado, let me introduce to you, Jack Dandy.

…with Jack Dandy

Q. For those readers who might not have had the pleasure of meeting you as I have, how would you describe your most charming self? And what would you say is your most endearing quality?

Just one? Ah, you’re hard on a man, ducks. I would describe my most charming self as… most charming, of course. Witty. Devilishly handsome. A force to be reckoned with. Terribly humble too, right?

Fiktshun: *Giggles.* Humble? Oh yes, absolutely.

Q. Finley Jayne is quite a complex individual. Some initially underestimate her, but it doesn’t seem that you have. While you might not be willing to share with Finley exactly what you think about her, would you care to share your thoughts about Finley with me and my blog’s readers?

You delightfully nosy baggage. Hate to disappoint, but I don’t fancy airing out me dirty washing for all to see and titter at. However, you’ve been dead charming thus far, so I’ll say that dear Treasure will always have my affection. If I were to want something more from her – and I ain’t sayin’ I do – I would be disappointed if she ever decided she wanted to be with a scoundrel like me.

Fiktshun: Yes, I am nosy. Especially when it comes to you. But, awwww. How could she not want someone as charming and… what was it… devilishly handsome as you? Seriously, though, she would be lucky to have you.

Q. While you may not have had much of a role to play in Finley’s last “adventure” in New York, you definitely made your presence known by sending flowers. Were your motivations entirely pure, did you do it to make Griffin jealous or was that just an added bonus?

I’ve no idea what you’re jabbering on about. Ain’t I the very picture of purity?

Fiktshun: *Snickers.* Oh yes. Absolutely. You are synonymous with purity.

Q. While Finley and the rest of the Duke of Greythorne’s entourage were in New York what were you up to back in London? Did you have any adventures of your own that you’d care to share?

None that be fit for your delicate ears, love.

Fiktshun: *Snorts.* Me? Delicate ears? I think I could handle whatever it was you had to reveal. My blog’s readers on the other hand… well, maybe those are the delicate ears you’re concerned about?

Q. I understand that there’s a short novella coming out told from your perspective entitled “The Dark Discovery of Jack Dandy.” Could you give us a little hint about just what will transpire?

I reckon I make a dark discovery, hijinks ensue and it all works out in the end. Can’t give away the mystery, ducks! I will say that it involves a very unique creature whom you will meet very soon.

Fiktshun: Well, I love hijinks so I’m sure I’ll just adore your marvelous adventure. And I believe I may have already met this creature, but I won’t reveal my guess just in case someone reading this hasn’t.

Q. What can we expect from you next? I’ve heard hints that Finley’s going to be forced to confront her feelings about you and Griffin, so I’m guessing that something happens between you two when she returns to London. What, if anything, can you tell us about that?

My Treasure’s a smart girl. She’ll make the right decision for her, and if she don’t, I’ll make it for her. But I didn’t get where I am today by being loose-lipped. I’ll be right happy to see her, but I’m not going to be sitting on the step when she arrives home, if that’s what you’re asking.

Fiktshun: Hmm…. well, I can be just as tight-lipped as you. And I won’t reveal just what does happen when Finley returns, either. But no, I never imagined you to be the type of gentleman – yes, I called you a gentleman – to sit around pining over a girl. Even one as awesome as Finley Jayne.

About the Book

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What’s left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends’ lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke’s sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him…and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel’s desolate alleyways to Mayfair’s elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist’s ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she’s to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn’t know she has….

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND | HARLEQUIN

Other Books in the Series

About THE GIRL IN THE STEEL CORSET

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the “thing” inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she’s special, says she’s one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin’s investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff’s little company of strays apart, and it isn’t long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she’s on—even if it seems no one believes her.

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND | HARLEQUIN

About THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR

What happens when someone you love becomes a weapon to use against you…

In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling — or dangerous.

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her “straynge band of mysfits” have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade—the dangerous device Jasper stole from him…for the life of the girl Jasper loves.

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei’s neck tightens. And tightens.

From the rough streets of lower Manhattan to elegant Fifth Avenue, the motley crew of teens with supernatural abilities is on Jasper’s elusive trail. And they’re about to discover how far they’ll go for friendship.

More than ever, Finley Jayne will rely on powerful English duke Griffin King to balance her dark magic with her good side. Yet Griffin is at war with himself over his secret attraction to Finley…and will risk his life and reputation to save her. Sam, more machine than man, finds his moody heart tested by Irish lass Emily—whose own special abilities are no match for the darkness she discovers on the streets.

Now, to help those she’s come to care for so deeply, Finley Jayne must infiltrate a criminal gang. Only problem is, she might like the dark side a little too much….

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND | HARLEQUIN

The Novellas

THE STRANGE CASE OF FINLEY JAYNE – GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

THE DARK DISCOVERY OF JACK DANDY – GOODREADS

About the Author

In her other life, Kady Cross is a USA TODAY bestselling author of more than twenty books. She is lucky enough to have a husband who shares her love for the slightly twisted and all things geek, and a houseful of cats with whom she shares her darkest secrets.

When she’s not listening to the characters in her head, she’s either trying to formulate the perfect lip gloss or teaching herself to solder. She has a weakness for all things girlie, sugar skulls and boots. Her love of books and makeup borders on addiction—of which she never, ever wants to be cured.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | HARLEQUINTEEN

 The Giveaways

There are two really awesome giveaways on this tour. Both are US Only. (Click here for contest rules.)

Giveaway #1

A daily giveaway for a chance to win a choice of either THE GIRL IN THE STEEL CORSET, THE GIRL IN THE CLOCKWORK COLLAR or THE GIRL WITH THE IRON TOUCH.

So be sure to visit ALL the stops on the tour for additional chances to win.

Giveaway #2

A Grand Prize giveaway for a beautiful Clockwork Necklace, the matching Ring and a set of The Steampunk Chronicles books!

Enter in the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win both giveaways.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tour Schedule

Monday, May 6th

Harlequin Paranormal Blog – Spotlight Post

Reading Teen – Character Interview: Griffin King

Wednesday, May 8th

Candace’s Book Blog – Character Interview: Emily O’Brien

Friday, May 10th

Rainy Day Ramblings – Character Interview: Sam Morgan

Monday, May 13th

Two Chicks on Books – Character Interview: Jasper Renn

Wednesday, May 15th

YA Bibliophile – Character Interview: Finley Jayne

Friday, May 17th

Fiktshun – Character Interview: Jack Dandy

Be sure to visit Kismet Book Touring for all the details about this awesome tour!

I am so excited to be a part of the tour for MOONSET by Scott Tracey who happens to be one of my very favorite authors. I had the chance to read MOONSET early and may have read it more than once… more than twice… more than that, even… and I can only say that it was amazing and where’s the sequel?

While I won’t be posting my review as part of the tour – apparently I have several posts scheduled for today – it will be up on the blog on Wednesday. So if you’d like to see what I thought about the Moonset coven, its legacy and its characters, feel free to stop back then.

For today, though, I have an awesome interview with children of MOONSET and with the author. And while I’d love to ramble on for awhile, because this post is long and because the interviewees are much more interesting than I could ever be, I’ll stop now.

Of course I have to share the book’s description – just in case you haven’t seen it – some places where you can find it online, a short bio of this incredibly talented author (with photo) and places where you can find him online.

If you’re already a fan and know all about this book and author, then just skip ahead to the interview and be sure to check out the giveaway below for a chance to win one of five copies of the book!

Now, without any further ado, may I present to you….

About the Book…

Moonset, a coven of such promise . . . Until they turned to the darkness.

After the terrorist witch coven known as Moonset was destroyed fifteen years ago—during a secret war against the witch Congress—five children were left behind, saddled with a legacy of darkness. Sixteen-year-old Justin Daggett, son of a powerful Moonset warlock, has been raised alongside the other orphans by the witch Congress, who fear the children will one day continue the destruction their parents started.

A deadly assault by a wraith, claiming to work for Moonset’s most dangerous disciple, Cullen Bridger, forces the five teens to be evacuated to Carrow Mill. But when dark magic wreaks havoc in their new hometown, Justin and his siblings are immediately suspected. Justin sets out to discover if someone is trying to frame the Moonset orphans . . . or if Bridger has finally come out of hiding to reclaim the legacy of Moonset. He learns there are secrets in Carrow Mill connected to Moonset’s origins, and keeping the orphans safe isn’t the only reason the Congress relocated them .. .

GOODREADS | AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | FLUX

About the Author…

Scott Tracey is a YA author who lived on a Greyhound for a month, wrote his illustrated autobiography at the age of six, and barely survived Catholic school (and definitely not for the reasons you might think).

He is the author of WITCH EYES, chosen as one of Amazon’s Best LGBT Books of 2011, as well as an ALA Popular Paperback in the Forbidden Romance category. The final book in the WITCH EYES trilogy, PHANTOM EYES, will be released in the fall of 2013.

He is also the author of MOONSET, a new series which will be released April 8, 2013, as well as a contributor to the SHADOWHUNTERS & DOWNWORLDERS anthology, edited by Cassandra Clare.

His career highlights include: accidentally tripping a panic alarm which led to nearly being shot by the police; attacked in a drive-thru window by a woman wielding a baked potato, and once moving cross country for a job only to quit on the second day.

His gifts can be used for good or evil, but rather than picking a side, he strives for BOTH (in alternating capacity) for his own amusement.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS | TUMBLR

 The Interviews

Justin…

Even though you’re not the oldest you seem to be the one in charge, the one trying to keep the peace. How do you feel about shouldering this burden? Are you angry that Mal hasn’t taken the lead?

It has to be someone’s job. I don’t mind that it’s me. I mean, it’s not easy all the time: trying to keep everyone from killing each other is a full time job on even a good day. Mal gets too angry sometimes, he wouldn’t make a good mediator. So I think it’s a good thing that it’s me. At least I can try to make everyone happy.

Would you rather be normal – no magic, not related to the Moonset coven – or is having magic worth all the negatives?

Ouch. Give up my family just to be free from who I am? Never. I mean, sure magic might have its downsides, but I wouldn’t be who I am if I didn’t have all of them. They’re my family. I like who I am. I like who they are. And how would I ever make up for what my parents did if I didn’t have the gifts that I have?

Jena…

What do you think about Carrow Mill? If you knew your last expulsion would land you in this town would you have done it anyway?

We moved from the middle of No-One-Cares to a town filled with Witches and Covens? I call this a win-win. Sure, things in town are a little…off. But we’re always being taught by sideshow talents with only a few tricks up their sleeves. I want to know the things the Covens know. Where better to start learning?

No one wants to talk about how stifling our last town was. There are a lot of places we’ve gone where the town is small and in the middle of nowhere, but you can tell the witches know what’s up. This wasn’t one of them. We didn’t even get any real training. Kids my age should be able to cast a decent glamour on themselves. I can barely eavesdrop on someone in the next room. Tell me how that’s fair?

What is your favorite way to piss Justin off?

Some days all it takes is a smile, did you know that? It drives him crazy, wondering what’s going on in my head. That’s the thing about Justin – I always know what he’s thinking, and he can never really figure me out. So sometimes I walk around with a smug little smile and wait for him to implode.

Malcolm…

How does it feel to be stuck with your siblings? You’re the one most likely to be able to live a normal life, do you think that’ll ever happen?

A normal life? You’re kidding, right?

Look, we are what we are. There’s nothing that I can do about it. I leave schools when they have to leave, I move when they move. Wherever they go, I have to follow. Normal has a restraining order out on me. I can’t get within five hundred feet of it.

Do I think it’ll ever happen? No. I’ll be with the rest of them until we die.

Cole…

If you could pull a prank on one of your siblings, who would you prank and why?

Mal, of course. Bailey cries too easily, and no one in their right mind pisses Jenna off. And Justin’s boring. Besides, Jenna gets dibs on that. But Mal freaks out and it’s always hilarious. This one time, I took pictures of him sleeping and posted them up around the school, and girls wouldn’t leave him alone! They had to have a sexual harassment assembly just for him. I mean, not like for him, like he was the only one there. I mean there was one for the whole school, because of the way people treated Mal.

What do you think about the Witchers? Cool or creepy?

Dude, have you seen them? They’re so badass. One of them saved my life, y’know. Quinn’s cool. He has this knife thing and he can use all kinds of wicked magic with it! He used it to stop this gash on my face from bleeding and then turned around and blew up a building like it was nothing!

I tried asking him to show it to me, but he said not until I was older. Which is lame, because Justin and Jenna and Mal are older, and they don’t do anything fun with knives. They don’t do anything fun anyway, but especially not with knives.

Bailey…

What are the best and worst parts of having Jenna as your sister?

Oh…I don’t…is she going to read this? I don’t know.

Jenna’s sweet, she really is. She shows me how to do stuff, she makes sure I’m taken care of, she protects me when she thinks I need it. It’s just…she’s under a lot of pressure. I think it’s harder for her than the rest of us, and she doesn’t want us to know that. I don’t think she wants us to get in trouble, but she just doesn’t know of any other way to make her point.

I just wish people would stop treating her like she’s the worst of us. She’s really not. Evil people don’t take their little sisters shopping and stay up half the night talking about boys. Or do makeovers together. I just wish people could see the Jenna I see, sometimes. I wish Jenna could see. Because I think she’s starting to believe what they tell her. And that scares me.

My Thoughts…

Justin – Your answers just prove why you’re the perfect one to “lead” your family. You rock!

Jenna – Ha! A “little off”???? Really, Jenna? Though it is totally unfair that you can’t glamour yourself. That would be an awesome skill to have. Oh, and I didn’t know that about Justin, though I should have guessed.

Mal – You sound a little resigned, a little depressed. Time for a coffee run? Maybe Justin could make one for you.

Cole – Hehehe! Poor Mal. But you totally chose the right sibling to prank. Love it! As far as the Witchers, I have not had the chance to see them first-hand. And as much as I’d love to, if they were around, that would mean something really bad was going to happen.

Oh, and Cole, you’re scaring me just a little bit with your fascination with knives….

Bailey – Somehow I don’t think Jenna wants everyone to see just how great a person she can be. And I agree, she’s not evil. But magic can be a dangerous thing….

Scott Tracey…

If the Moonset coven were pitted against the Lansings and the Thorpes who do you think would win? Whose magic would you say is strongest?

Well, the Moonset kids have the curse that protects them from being separated/killed, so in a full out assault I’d say they’d win out. But if the Lansings/Thorpes did their research, they might find alternative ways to deal with them.

Magic wise, definitely the Moonset kids. At least the potential is there. In Witch Eyes, everyone has a certain level of strength and/or skill. Jason and Catherine are leagues above most witches, and Braden is leagues above them. But in the Moonset world, you’re only as strong as what spells you’ve learned, but anyone can be a powerful badass. At that point, it becomes a numbers game, and there’s 5 Moonset kids, and only two adults. Moonset all the way.

Who would you say is the strongest character in MOONSET? The most magically inclined? The most clever? The most secretive? The most complicated?

It’s funny, because I’m working on the second book now, and my answers would change significantly between the two books. But since we’re talking MOONSET, here’s what I would say.

Strongest: If we’re talking straight up ‘witch fu’ it’s a tie between Illana Bryer and Quinn, the kids’ guardian. Quinn doesn’t really get a chance to flex his muscles too much in Moonset, but his reputation is well earned.

Magically inclined/clever: These go hand in hand. Jenna is the MacGyver of the group – she has a knack for taking a dozen harmless spells, and finding a way to combine them towards explosive results. Justin is clever, but in different ways, and his gifts would suit him well in rivaling Jenna for most magically inclined. The two of them have the potential to be the most dangerous (in a much different way than Bailey) out of all the Moonset kids. Which is to be expected, because their parents were the most magically gifted members of the original Moonset coven.

Secretive: Justin. The adults keep a lot of secrets, but Justin has an inherent distrust of anyone outside of his family unit, even when keeping secrets is to his detriment. Maybe it’s because he knows that sometimes, a good leader has to hold back, but he has trust issues on a monumental scale.

Complicated: Jenna for sure. Yes, she can come across a thoughtless, spiteful person, but I think there’s a whole interior of mushy emotions and fear that she’s trying to conceal. Jenna to me is the most layered character of the five, because I think that there’s always something deeper at play with her. That’s part of the reason she dislikes Ash so much, because in a way they’re too much alike.

Quinn was another character who played a fairly significant role in the story. How would you describe him and his role? Do you think Justin and his siblings see Quinn the same way you do?

To me, I see Quinn as the older brother that the kids always needed. Even if they don’t understand it like that. He’s someone in a unique position – he’s one of the heir apparents to the witch Congress (as the grandson of the two most politically powerful witches around), he’s one of the most highly regarded Witchers to come out of training, and he’s one of the few people who doesn’t look at Justin and the others and think “Moonset.” It affords him a position where he’s able to look out for the kids, and try to guide them, in the way that an older sibling should.

Quinn’s one of my favorite characters, because I see him as being something different to each of the Moonset kids. He models himself after what he thinks each of them need, so as a result the relationships he forms with each of them is just a little bit different. It’s not just that he’s looking out for the kids, but he knows them. He knows how they behave, what they want out of life. And he genuinely wants to be a part of their lives.

If you could pick one line of dialogue that made you grin while writing it, what would it be?

“You look like Betty White’s grandmother, and you smell like a Kardashian!”

Basically, any time Cole is in a good mood and feeling mouthy, it’s my favorite.

Each of your chapters offers up a little bit of Moonset’s history. What made you decide to reveal pieces of the dark coven’s past in that way? And is this something we’ll see more of in the sequel?

I’m not sure where the idea first came from, but I remember latching onto it as soon as I wrote the first one. I needed something in terms of Moonset’s history, and it became an extension of the worldbuilding, because of course in a world where magic was regulated there would be books written, interviews done, investigations, etc.

Each book will probably continue this trend, but not in the same way. Book one was the ‘setting the stage’ book, so it was mostly about Moonset and the war they started. The second book’s epigraphs will be tailored to the mysteries of that book. But so far, I only have one written for sure. (I don’t write the epigraphs until after the book is done).

You’re working on the sequel to Moonset right now. How is the research for the second book different than what you had to do for the first?

Well, with the first book, most of my actual research was just in putting together the theories about how this world worked. How the government operated, who was in control, how Moonset had happened, etc. So I spent a lot of time figuring out the structure of the world. My goal was to create a world of witches that was bogged down in bureaucracy and ineffective because of its size. Shades of our real world government, in a way.

With the second book, I’ve had to do a lot more actual research. The first book was all about setting the stage, and the second has become more about advancing the story. I’ve had to do a lot of research into psychopathy in teenagers, what causes psychotic breaks, other types of disorders that stem from a loss of control.

And then of course there’s the fun stuff: there’s a wealth of websites that deal with abandoned structures, and the people who investigate them. Second to actually going to these places to investigate for yourself, a website full of stories and high-res pictures of it’s current state are incredibly inspiring. I like to think of Carrow Mill as a quintessential New England kind of town, but it’s a town with a big history. So I think that probably around the time Moonset came to it’s end, the town reincorporated itself, shedding layers and buildings that no longer fit it’s “new” image. The idea that there are parts to the town that were just cast aside or swept under the rug fascinates me.

My Thoughts…

Yay for the children of Moonset! Though I’d still love to see a full out Lansing/Thorpe assault. That would be awesome!

Woot, I love Quinn! And not just because he’s older, has mad skills and is a great guardian. But what he does… oh, I probably shouldn’t say, should I?

LOL re: the MacGyver reference. Explosive, I totally agree. But I think her results are more of the “happy little accidents” variety. And I love that you dropped the reference to Bailey in there. And oh Justin and his trust issues. Though I think Jenna probably has some major ones, too.

Love Jenna! And I love layered characters. Makes them much more interesting. I’d love to see a story from her POV at some point.

I’m so glad to hear from you that Quinn is in fact genuine. As much as I do love him, I always have trust issues with characters in his particular position. The fact that you tell me he’s genuine makes me smile. Of course, I am a little worried you’ll change your mind down the road…. Yes, I have trust issues as regards authors and their characters, too.

Cole is awesome! That line, LOLOLOL!

I love those peeks into Moonset’s history. I don’t usually pay attention to things at the beginning of a book’s chapters as I find they pull me out of the story, but in MOONSET they were tidbits of info that I was excited to discover.

Ahh research…. I would say it doesn’t sound like fun, but “psychotic breaks”? “Psychopathy”? Yeah, that could be very interesting. But… OH MY GOSH what is going to happen in book two!?!

Those neglected buildings from a bygone age fascinate me, too. I can’t wait to see what you do with all of that… and your other… research. So… how long again until the sequel?

Forget about these tours, KEEP WRITING!

And I just have to say a huge THANK YOU to the author and his characters for sharing all sorts of insights with me and my blog’s readers. You totally made this final stop on the tour ROCK!

The Giveaway

The very awesome publisher is offering up for giveaway FIVE copies of MOONSET. It is US ONLY and you must be 13 and older to enter.

There are no requirements to like or follow, just answer the question from the Rafflecopter in the comments section about which witches sound more like your kind of witches – those from the author’s Moonset coven or those from his Witch Eyes series. (The description for WITCH EYES can be found HERE.)

There are also a few extra entry opportunities (not required).

Just enter in the Rafflecopter below…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tour Schedule

As this post is super long, I’ve only included the tour schedule for this last week of the tour. But if you’d like to check out the full schedule you can find it on Rockstar Book Tours HERE.

I am so honored and excited to be kicking off the tour for T.J. Brown’s new book SUMMERSET ABBEY which will be releasing on January 15, 2013. It’s a gorgeous book – yes I’ve read it – and I am already anticipating the release of book two. Because after that ending… well, I’ll just say that the wait is going to be torturous.

The tour will be running for two weeks – January 7th through the 11th and January 21st through the 25th – with stops consisting of reviews, interviews and super fun guest posts at some awesome blogs. Each stop on the tour will be offering up a signed copy of the book for giveaway so be sure to check out all the stops for more chances to win. The tour schedule with links to the participating blogs is below.

There is also a special pre-order giveaway which starts today and runs through the 14th – the day before SUMMERSET ABBEY releases – that the author is hosting. Each of the blogs during the first week of the tour will have details. And the prize is awesome.

For my stop today I got to the chance to ask the author a few questions about her book, about her characters, about her adventurous activities… and about head-banging. If you want to know more about that you’ll have to read on.

And while the next stop on tour won’t be until Monday, the author will be visiting Edwardian Promenade tomorrow, January 4th. So if you’d like to take a peek, be sure to check it out on the 4th. And if you’re a fan of all things Edwardian, you’ll definitely want to stop by.

Anyway…

It was so much fun coming up with interview questions for author T.J. Brown and reading and responding to her answers. But, as always, before all that, here’s just a little bit…

***

1913: In a sprawling manor on the outskirts of London, three young women seek to fulfill their destinies and desires amidst the unspoken rules of society and the distant rumblings of war. . . .

Rowena Buxton

Sir Philip Buxton raised three girls into beautiful and capable young women in a bohemian household that defied Edwardian tradition. Eldest sister Rowena was taught to value people, not wealth or status. But everything she believes will be tested when Sir Philip dies, and the girls must live under their uncle’s guardianship at the vast family estate, Summerset Abbey. Standing up for a beloved family member sequestered to the “under class” in this privileged new world, and drawn into the Cunning Coterie, an exclusive social circle of aristocratic “rebels,” Rowena must decide where her true passions—and loyalties—lie.

Victoria Buxton

Frail in body but filled with an audacious spirit, Victoria secretly dreams of attending university to become a botanist like her father. But this most unladylike wish is not her only secret. Now, Victoria has stumbled upon a family scandal that, if revealed, has the potential to change lives forever…

Prudence Tate

Prudence was lovingly brought up alongside Victoria and Rowena, and their bond is as strong as blood. But by birth she is a governess’s daughter, and to the lord of Summerset Abbey, that makes her a commoner who must take her true place in society—as ladies maid to her beloved “sisters.” But Pru doesn’t belong in the downstairs world of the household staff any more than she belongs upstairs with the Buxton girls.  And when a young lord catches her eye, she begins to wonder if she’ll ever truly carve out a place for herself at Summerset Abbey…

Other books in the series:

A BLOOM IN WINTER (Summerset Abbey #2) March 5, 2013

SPRING AWAKENING (Summerset Abbey #3) August 6, 2013

***

Q. SUMMERSET ABBEY is set in 1913 just outside of London. What drew you to this era and setting for your story? What were the challenges, if any, in creating the world? And what was your favorite aspect of creating it?

The thing that draws me to this era, especially in England, is that it was basically the end of a way of life. Reforms and changes were sweeping the world and this was very apparent in prewar Britain. From the emancipation of women to the rise of the lower classes, the times, they were a-changing. And technology was right on the cusp of changing our world forever. I am really in love with that sense of breathless waiting, the clash of the old and the new. Fascinating.

I think the biggest challenge to creating this world was my deadlines. That’s why I hired expert and fact checker, Evangeline Holland. (www.edwardianpromenade.com)

– Fiktshun: Just the way you describe that time makes it sound so exciting – “breathless waiting,” and “the clash of the old and the new.” I think I’m falling in love with that period in history now, too! And I can imagine it’s a huge help to have a fact checker for those details. Especially when under the gun.

Q. SUMMERSET ABBEY follows three characters’ – Rowena, Prudence and Victoria – stories. What made you decide to write the series from the different POVs versus having a book for each character to tell their story? And do you feel you were able to get Rowena, Victoria and Prudence’s stories told in the way you wanted with each book?

You know, I don’t really know. That is just sort of the way it came out! I think part of the reason was instinctive – I wanted everyone’s motivations to be completely clear. In book one, if you didn’t have Rowena’s POV it would be easy to dislike her because her actions have a seriously negative affect on Prudence’s life. I wanted to be able to show the contrasting thoughts and emotions of each character at the same time. There ended up being both positives and negatives to this…While the reader definitely gets to see what is going on with each character, I get to spend much less time with each one. I think that in giving a bird’s eye view of the story, the development of each character didn’t feel as deep as I would have liked. Also there were time/length constraints, as well. But I really do love hearing from each character as the story unfolds so it’s kind of a catch 22.

– Fiktshun: It does sound like a catch 22. But for the sake of Rowena’s character I think it was important to see things from her perspective. Because, otherwise, she definitely would have been not-so-likeable.

Q. The description mentions that the girls were raised in a home that “defied Edwardian tradition.” Would you say that their “bohemian” upbringing made their lives more exciting or more challenging? In what ways do you think it helped or hurt for them to not value wealth and status above all else?

Some people, such as the girl’s father, Sir Phillip, accepted and adapted to change much more easily. He raised his daughters for a life that hadn’t quite happened yet. This both helped and hindered them—in the long term they were far more prepared for post war life than were their contemporaries, but they did struggle fitting into life as it was right then… does that make sense? So at the family estate they were at a real disadvantage because while they were familiar with that life, they were often impatient with the restraints.

– Fiktshun: It makes total sense. Being ahead of the curve absolutely has its positives and negatives. And I can only imagine how impatient it must have made them to follow societal norms while at the estate.

Q. Was there one particular moment in each of the characters’ stories that, as the writer, made you smile? If so, what were those moments?

Every time I wrote a scene with Victoria and Kit in it, I smiled. I also giggled when I wrote the scene where Lord Billingsly offers Prudence a ride to town. Rowena’s character arc was more difficult to write because she is slipping into a depression. Much less humor there.

– Fiktshun: Poor Rowena. No. There was definitely not as much humor there. But I love that writing that scene made you giggle. And no, I won’t spoil it here.

Q. Your website and bio reveal that you have a bit of an adventurous streak – parachuting, cliff diving, free climbing and parasailing. Yet you seem to love the more traditional fonts – Calibri, Cambria and Times New Roman – and romantic comedies/chick flicks. How do you reconcile the two different sides of your personality? Is there something you like to do that incorporates both?

First off, I have to clarify that I have not been parasailing and my cliff diving experience is actually jumping, as opposed to going in head first! Also Free Climbing was limited to my teen years and is NOT the same as the crazy things they do today. So while I am adventurous, I am also cautious. I’m not an adrenaline junkie! And actually, I think being someone who appreciates tradition can still be adventurous! I feel writing can be both traditional and adventurist. I love reading books written in the early 1900’s and comparing the style to how we write now.

– Fiktshun: Cliff jumping is still terrifying. Well, depending on just how high the cliff! And some of those books in the early 1900s were quite scandalous for their time. But it is fun to see just how different writing styles are today.

Q. You’ve written a standalone novel and now you have two new series in the works. Is continuing a story over the course of multiple books something you enjoy or do you prefer to wrap things up at the end of just one book… or does it depend?

The Summerset series was the first one I’ve written, so I am just learning the joy of writing about the same characters, as well as the limitations of basically having each character’s history already written out. So far I am really enjoying the experience, though I do have a few ideas that are stand alone.

– Fiktshun: I can only imagine that there are both positives and negatives to writing a series. I suppose once something has been decided in book one you’re stuck with that decision throughout the series. But it’s nice to hear that it is enjoyable even with the limitations!

Q. As both a “word scribbler” and a “head banger” do you feel that the head-banging helps the writing process? And what is your favorite music to head bang to? Or are your head-banging activities strictly limited to acts of frustration?

I’m an alternative music freak. My husband still loves eighties head banging music, but honestly that music doesn’t speak to my heart as does bands like Muse, Imagine Dragons, Young the Giant, etc. I found the music of my youth… in my forties! I love going to concerts in small venues… I love the energy and excitement of the youth attending. It keeps me young! And I think that head banging does help me write, especially with my young adult writing!

– Fiktshun: That is so awesome and I totally agree that head-banging can help with writing! And I love that your husband still rocks out to his ’80s tunes. Rock on!

***

Thank you so much for stopping by the blog to kick off the SUMMERSET ABBEY Blog Tour. I absolutely LOVED the answers to your interview questions and I totally adore your characters and this first book in your new series.

And I am super excited to continue the story in A BLOOM IN WINTER when it releases in March.

Also, for the record, I’m so glad you’re not an adrenaline junkie. That tends to be a risky lifestyle and cliffhanger endings are only good if there is a book forthcoming.

***

Giveaway #1

Book Lovers Contest

The Prize

Giveaway #2

There are no requirements to like or follow, but there are extra entry opportunities.

Enter in the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

It has taken me forever, but I finally got the courage to interview Mindy of Magical Urban Fantasy Reads for the blog.

Instead of asking her the typical questions I might normally have asked, I thought I’d mix things up a bit. And no… it wasn’t just to make this a bit more of a complicated interview for her. I really wanted to know those answers.

Mindy is an awesome blogger, incredibly generous with the books she receives, extremely supportive of the authors she loves, and just so unbelievably nice. I could go on and on about how amazing Mindy is, but as this post is an interview that is supposed to reveal just a little bit more about the blogger behind the blog, I’ll stop my rambling and let Mindy speak for herself.

5 Quickie Q’s

Okay first off, thank you so much for agreeing to answer all those questions! I love your answers.

Secondly, yes, by being a part of this community you are totally amongst friends who WANT to obsess over books. In fact, most of us can’t not obsess. And I totally agree that blogging helps introduce bloggers to books and authors they might never have otherwise discovered. I know that happens to me all the time!

I totally hate, hate, hate drama and plagiarism. But while I don’t love pressure, I think I kind of thrive on it. If that makes any sense at all…. But so sorry it takes you down!

Oh, and I love the four – Ha! You couldn’t narrow it to three! – blogs you chose. While I haven’t yet “met” Nancy and one of the other bloggers you listed, I definitely will have to remedy that at some point in 2013.

You were not the only person to have never read UNDER THE NEVER SKY. I still haven’t read it. But it’s very close to the top of the pile. Although as I don’t have the sequel just yet, I am not in quite the same rush.

And oh, Kenji and Wes (I haven’t yet met Marcus) but I’m so sad for those boys. Not enough for me to want to change the outcome of their fates, but it still makes me sad that they haven’t captured the main character’s eye.

Seriously, though, thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed for the blog. While all my questions weren’t traditional ones, I hope you don’t mind that I changed things up a bit. I really did want to see how you’d answer.

And for those readers who stopped by to check out Mindy’s interview, if you have questions for her, be sure to check out her blog and say “hi” on Twitter!

Today is my second stop on the audiobook release tour for Brenda Pandos’ THE EMERALD TALISMAN hosted by Confessions of a Bookaholic. For my first stop I had a chapter written from the perspective of Nicholas and today I have an awesome interview conducted by the author with Julia.

Which has made me even more curious to meet Julia, to find out more about her abilities, her connection with Nicholas and just why it would be so good for there to be no such thing as vampires.

So, without any further ado, let me turn the blog over to Brenda and Julia.

Brenda Pandos’ Interview with Julia

Thanks so much for having me, Rachel. I’m super nervous …

[Fiktshun: I'd be nervous too having my creator interview me. Good luck! And I hope she's not too hard on you....]

1. With your ability to read people’s emotions, what’s it like to be inside your head? Do you ever have trouble discerning your own feelings from someone else’s?

It was absolutely horrible! For the longest time, I had no control. But someone helped me figure out things, and after I got the hang of it, I could turn it off. I don’t want to tell too much because I don’t want to ruin the story, but it’s so much easier being a teen when you can just feel your own stuff, you know?

[Fiktshun: I can only imagine it would be. Being a teen is definitely hard enough as it is. I would totally not want to feel someone else's emotions! Ugh!]

***

2. If you were to leave this earth right now, would you have any regrets? Anything you wish you could have done differently?

Of course I do. I constantly second guess myself, my decisions, what I should have said, or shouldn’t. There’s not one big regret that I have that I’d change, but if I could do it again, I would have been more honest—with myself and the people I care about.

[Fiktshun: Oh now I'm curious how your honesty factors into this story!]

***

3. You and Nicholas had a sort of instant connection. Why do you think that is?

Well, because of what happened when I was a kid, how he was there. I knew him, though I didn’t remember that I did. How could I? And that he knew me pretty much inside and out … and since I could feel his confidence, it was … different, freeing. There’s nothing like a being around a guy that’s sure of himself, but not cocky. I like who I am and how I feel when I’m with him … he brings out the best in me and gives me that extra self assurance.

[Fiktshun: Wow, Nicholas sounds amazing. I wasn't too sure about him after seeing things from his perspective. But now, from what you say about him, he kinda rocks!]

***

4. How has your life changed since Nicholas became a part of it?

It’s so awesome. He’s incredible. I never knew life and love could be like this, I mean we do have to watch our backs all the time, but he’s the best. He completes me.

[Fiktshun: You're a total romantic aren't you Julia? But that is awesome. Except for the "watching your backs" part. Hopefully things will get less complicated in the future for you both.]

***

5. What is your favorite trait about yourself?

Um… I don’t know. I guess maybe because of my empathy I get people. They can act a all tough, but I know what they feel, so everything is transparent. And those people who are hurting the most put up the biggest front. It’s so sad. I wish I could help them with their self-esteem issues and tell him that everyone feels just like they do, but I can’t. High school is rough and everyone is trying so hard, too hard even, to fit in, and they compromise themselves and take risks. They need to be themselves and find people who value them for who they are and ignore the rest. Like the saying goes “hurting people, hurt people.” Just remember that.

[Fiktshun: I hadn't heard that saying before, but it is so true. It must be extra tough to have to experience all their doubts and suffering. I can't even imagine how you cope!]

***

6. Your least favorite?

That I’m so emotional. I wish I didn’t cry over everything… it’s so embarrassing.

[Fiktshun: I think that's probably because you're an empath. You have heightened sensitivity. But would you trade your abilities for not being so emotional?]

***

7.  Lastly, imagine for a moment that everything is completely, 100% right with the world, and you’re in a moment of utter bliss. Where are you, who is there with you, and what’s it like?

I’m with Nicholas and we are together forever, there are no such thing as vampires but he gets to keep his cool super powers, and my mom’s alive. One can dream, right? That would be bliss for me.

[Fiktshun: That is so romantic and heartbreaking! And I'm guessing, though, that the vampires in your world aren't the dark, dangerous but ultimately likable kind! And yes, one can most definitely dream!]

***

Thank you so much Julia and Brenda for sharing this awesome interview with me and my blog’s readers! I really hope that you (Julia) and Nicholas have a happy future, without too many threats from the vamps.

About the Book

About the Author

If you haven’t yet taken a listen, here’s a short excerpt from the audiobook…

Be sure to check out all the stops on the tour for some awesome guest posts and reviews. Also, be sure to check out author Brenda Pandos’ blog for an amazing giveaway AND to follow the scavenger hunt….

As mentioned last week, the interview I conducted with the very awesome Scott Tracey was just too long for one post. And so I had to break it up into two posts. Well, here’s part two, along with an interview with the always awesome Jade Lansing. Also, for those who didn’t win or who didn’t get a chance to enter last week, there’s another giveaway with one more chance.

If you haven’t yet taken a peek at the first part of the interview, in which Mr. Tracey summarizes his series, talks of Braden’s abilities, talks of the feud between the Lansings and the Thorpes and laughs evilly at happy endings, be sure to check it out HERE.

So as not to ramble quite as much as I did last time, I’ll stop now and get right to the interviews. But if you want to know more about this author who seriously rocks and his amazing books, either check out last week’s post, or scroll down to the bottom of this one.

Oh and before I forget…. Happy Book Birthday to DEMON EYES! Today is its official release and I’m so totally stoked!.

Anyway…

Q. You’re writing another series entitled Legacy of Moonset, which, according to the description is also about witches. Can you tell us a little more about that series?

Sure.  I think that when it comes down to it, the Witch Eyes series is about identity.  With Moonset, I wanted to do something that had a bigger world view, and was also more about family.  So while it’s another series with magic, I basically reconstructed the world from the ground up.

Witches in Moonset are split between those in Covens (bound together by magics that no one really understands) and those who work alone (Solitary).  Magic is steeped in bureacracy – witches govern themselves and have their own political structure (secret to the rest of the world of course).  Twenty years ago, a coven named Moonset rebelled against the rest of the world, and started a magical war.  They basically wrote the book on using magic for terrorist activities, killed thousands, destroyed priceless magical texts, etc.  But after they were stopped, the other side found a nursery full of babies – the children of Moonset.

Fast forward seventeen years.  The Moonset kids are all bound together into a Coven, and tied together with magics that even the best witches in the world can’t seem to understand.  They can’t be separated, and they’ve been raised as their own little family unit.  And just like every other family, they’ve got lots of clashing personalities.  After they’re expelled from their latest school, the five Moonset kids are relocated to the town where their parents’ crimes began, and where a new rogue warlock is resurrecting the black magicks that Moonset had perfected.  They quickly realize they’ve been brought to this town as bait and they can either catch the warlock themselves, or become his next victims.

[Fiktshun: I absolutely love that this has a larger world, larger cast of main characters and has the bond of a Coven. The idea that they're bound together because of something their family did in the past is such an amazing idea. And, of course, the thought that they serve as bait and will have to choose whether to just lie down and let things happen to them or fight back is the kind of storyline that I very much love. I can't wait until this book releases next April!]

Q. How do you balance writing, work and being social on the blogosphere and in real life?

The honest answer is that I don’t.  It’s very hard to do all of these things, and to do them successfully.  It’s hard to do any one of them on their own successfully.  I struggle almost every day with trying to maintain some sort of balance, and usually I still end up dropping a ball or two along the way.  When I’m drafting, my social life drops to almost zero – I refuse to go out and do anything.  I basically didn’t see any of the summer movies I wanted to go out to see because I was desperately trying to finish PHANTOM EYES, for example.

Twitter and stuff is easier, because that’s just fragments of your day.  I can tweet a few times and feel like I’ve accomplished at least a little something.  But it’s all about priorities, and my priorities shift all the time.

[Fiktshun: And here I thought you'd have a magical answer. You are Scott Tracey after all and it seems you can do just about anything. But it's nice to hear that it's just as complicated trying to find balance between work and being social for you too. But I am glad to know that your priority was PHANTOM EYES and that you did get that finished in time so that the release date won't get pushed back. It won't, will it?]

Q. You have a roommate that is a writer. Do you find it helpful to always have another writer around to bounce ideas off of, or is it more of a challenge?

It can be helpful, because you have someone who goes through the same things that you do.  It can also be counterproductive, because you have someone going through the same things you do. Sometimes you need that counterpoint, someone to say ‘maybe it’s not so bad.’  But when you’re both in the same boat, you end up commiserating instead.

But it’s nice to have another set of eyes when something isn’t working, and someone to bounce ideas off of.  And even someone who willingly tries to choke you so that you can better describe what it’s like in your book.

[Fiktshun: Haha! Love this answer. Though it is sometimes nice to have someone to commiserate, I agree that it can be counterproductive. And based upon what I've heard from a certain roommate on a BlogTV show I am so not surprised about the choking. ]

Q. What (so far) has been your favorite moment as a writer? Was it the day you completed your first novel? The day you queried it and were signed by a lit agent? The day your lit agent first sold it? The day you first saw it in stores? Or was it something else?

I think my favorite moment as a writer is actually the one I wasn’t expecting.  I was lucky enough to do a signing of WITCH EYES at BEA in 2011, about four months before the book actually came out.  I’d spent a lot of time dreaming about finishing the novel, finding an agent, selling the book.  But what I’d never thought to expect was a huge line of people who were waiting to get a copy – a line so long that we ran out of books early on in the signing! It was terrifying and humbling and so completely unexpected.

[Fiktshun: Oh that does sound awesome! Though, as one of the people who would have killed to be in that line, and sobbing when you ran out of books, I am not surprised at all that the line was so long and that so many people were looking forward to reading your first published novel. I still envy those who have a personally signed copy of your first book.]

Well, thank you so, so much, Scott, for answering every single one of my many, many questions. I know you have to be super busy with PHANTOM EYES and perhaps one or two other projects, so I’m eternally grateful you stopped by the blog for an interview.

And thank you so much for allowing me to ask Jade a few questions, too. She is, after all, one of my favorite characters in your series. Hmm, maybe she deserves her own spin-off book or short novella. She is that awesome. I bet she has quite a few stories to tell….

Q. When Braden first arrived in town you and he made an almost instant connection. Even if he wasn’t looking for a friend, you were it. Is that how you are with everyone or was it just something about Braden that made you decide that he was to be your new friend?

Sometimes, you meet somebody, and everything just clicks into place.  That’s how it was with Braden.  I mean, the fact that he was new to Belle Dam and didn’t have a stake in being my friend certainly helped, but there was just something about him that I liked from the start.

[Fiktshun: Braden's like that, isn't he? I liked him right from the start, too. Even with his less  than stellar fashion sense. But I'm glad to hear you connected with him not just because he was new and interesting.]

Q. You clearly have a better fashion sense than Braden. What do you think he should be wearing? And how likely do you think It will be that he’ll agree to wear what you choose?

The problem with Braden is that he wears these generic clothes, and he’d be happy with a tee shirt underneath a plaid shirt, and some jeans.  He should wear more bold colors, less layers.  I think he might be allergic to clothes that actually fit.  And clearly some product in his hair.  It’s all about enhancing what you’ve already got, and he doesn’t do that.

How likely?  Not very.  I’d probably have to blackmail him.  Which, given his relationship with my brother, might not be as difficult as it seems…

[Fiktshun: I like the idea of blackmailing him. I think you should totally try it. You never know.... I was just hoping Braden's easy, casual style was only because of the sunglasses - bright colors probably wouldn't look the same through tinted lenses - but having gotten to know him just a bit better in DEMON EYES that hope was crushed.]

Q. Being Trey’s sister, you get the inside scoop, is what he feels for Braden the real deal? And just how many relationships has he had in the past? Or were they just flings?

It’s not really my place to say what my brother feels, or to talk about their relationship.  It’s no one’s business but theirs.  Gentry doesn’t date a lot, and things are already difficult enough with Braden that I’m certainly not going to stick my nose where it doesn’t belong.

[Fiktshun: You're really too good a sister. Maybe I'll have to corner Trey and ask him sometime. Though maybe when things settle down a bit. After what... oops, I almost slipped. My lips are now officially sealed.]

Q. You seem to be a little prickly toward Riley, especially when it comes to her friendship with Braden. Why is that exactly? And do you feel like you’re the better friend to Braden than she is?

I’ve said it before.  I think Riley tries for things outside of her reach.  She and I have our differences, and she’s made it clear whose side she’s on, and that it isn’t mine.  I don’t want Braden to be caught in the middle, but I don’t want her putting him in the middle, either.  I think it’s safer if he knows who his friends really are.

[Fiktshun: Well, I have no doubt in my mind that you're one of Braden's real friends. And it's good to know that even with your differences with Riley, you aren't forcing Braden to choose between you. But, I agree, Braden's safety is important.]

Q. What’s it like to have a mother like Catherine Lansing? Do you think she’d be any different if there wasn’t this feud between her and Jason?

That’s like asking if my mother was a scorpion, would she have raised me any differently?  She lets the feud define her – she spends almost as much time anticipating what Jason will do on a daily basis than she does planning her own day.  Growing up was a crash course in how to be the perfect Lansing.  Catherine indoctrinated us young.  Family loyalty above all else.  I managed to rebel, at least.  But Gentry never did.

[Fiktshun: Ahh, but that's exactly it, she lets the feud define her. If she hadn't, I'm guessing things would be quite different. I'm glad you rebelled, but am very sorry that Gentry doesn't have quite that same rebellious streak. I'm still hopeful for him, though.]

Q. If you had to choose sides between your mother and brother who would you choose? What about between friends and family?

I’d choose my brother every time.  My mother’s made it clear that the feud is the child she cares most about.  Gentry still thinks she’s doing what she thinks is best for us, and while I agree on that point, at least I acknowledge that it’s only what she thinks, not what is actually best.  I try to make him see how she is sometimes, but he doesn’t always get it.  He thinks I rebel just for the sake of rebelling.

If I had to choose between my family and my friends?  It depends on which family, and which friends.  I’ve got my brother’s back, regardless.  So if it came down to him and anyone else, I’d take his side.

[Fiktshun: You and Trey really do have a great bond. I can only imagine that he feels the same toward you. Even though he's loyal to your mother, also. And shoot! I guess I should have asked you a quickie five question scenario involving choosing sides. Maybe next time?]

Q. What was the weirdest thing you ever saw happen in Belle Dam?

I saw my brother fall for someone he can’t have, hard enough that its made him start to question his loyalty.  If you had asked me a month ago what would have happened when we found out who Braden was, I would have expected Gentry to walk away and never look back, the way he did when Drew–

Anyway, it was something I couldn’t have seen coming.  Gentry’s always been the golden child. Until now.

[Fiktshun: When Drew...? When Drew...what? Oh Jade! You're just as evil as Scott. Hmm, maybe I'll have to invite you back and pepper you with questions all about Drew. Yes, yes, that's what I'll do! And as far as Trey and Braden, I'm glad that he chose his heart over loyalty. I hope he never regrets his choice....]

Q. Final question and don’t shoot me, but I have to ask, just what’s the deal between you and Drew?

*blank stare* I don’t know what you mean.  There IS no deal.

[Fiktshun: Hrmph... Grrr... I was so hoping for an answer that didn't involve DENIAL!]

Well, Jade, thank you so much for answering all but one of my questions. I’m almost sorry I tried to sneak in a totally spoiler-y question, but not quite. I just had to try. I hope you aren’t too upset with me and will consider stopping by again. Perhaps around the PHANTOM EYES release? As I’m sure I’ll have about a billion and one questions for you then.

I wish you all the best in this next book of Scottt Tracey’s. He tends to be vicious to his characters, so I am hoping anything he does to you or the ones you love won’t be too devastating to recover from!

Anyway….

It was awesome to have you and Scott on the blog this week. You both are always welcome back. Anytime. And if you’d like to bring Drew along, I will not complain.

And just like last week, I’m offering up a set of WITCH EYES and DEMON EYES to one winner and a copy of DEMON EYES to two winners. All the details are below.

There is no requirement to like or follow. But if you’d like to spread the word that would be awesome!

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And just in case you missed it the first time, here’s just a little bit…

About the Author

About Witch Eyes

***Spoiler-y for WITCH EYES***

About Demon Eyes

About Homecoming

Coming soon…

Phantom Eyes – expected publication 2013

Moonset – expected publication April 8, 2013

About Moonset