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Interview with Kelly Blanchard, Author of the Chronicles of Lorrek

What can you tell us about your new release, Chronicles of Lorrek?

Lorrek focuses on Sorcerer Prince Lorrek who is very powerful but always get blamed when bad things happen, no matter how hard he tries for the best outcome in any given circumstances. He's always trying to protect those closest to him, but as more goes wrong and the more he gets blamed for everything, the more he begins to wonder if being good is worth it when everyone believes him to be so full of darkness.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I've always wanted to be an author, always been drawn to stories. I know it wasn't until I had a horse accident when I was twelve that I decided that I should probably focus on a safe outlet like writing rather than horse riding!

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

Oh, that's a good question! This is very difficult for me to answer because I don't do favorites or have a list of 'bests'! I do know. I know that Sharpe's Eagle by Bernard Cornwell made a strong impact on me because of how he wrote his battle scenes and maneuvered full armies. Writing battle scenes and moving armies is really hard, but reading that book gave me a good idea of how to do it and do it well, so that really helped.

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Hmm, interesting question for sure. Let's see. Does the person have to be living? Because I would love to sit down with Tolkien or C.S. Lewis and ask them how it was to work on their amazing works alongside each other. That would be such a fun conversation!

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I would have to say, it's the ability to explore new worlds and characters and introduce them to readers. Every writer is gifted with a unique world(s) and special characters, and the world wouldn't know of them without us writing and publishing the books. It's a privilege and so much fun!

What is a typical day like for you?

I get up and feed the cats! They will howl and demand food until they are satisfied. After that, I get breakfast then sit down and write 2k words. Then I see about tending to things throughout the day, could be things around the house, but then I focus on really connecting with my readers on my Facebook group, interacting with them and so forth. So much fun for sure! If I have time, I'll write more because that is what I love!

What scene in Chronicles of Lorrek was your favorite to write?

I can't say without spoilers! All I can say is that it is pretty epic. Very neat visuals!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

"We'll figure it out," that's my husband's and my life motto. Whenever we encounter a situation in life that's difficult and we have no idea what we're doing, we always look at each other and say, "We'll figure it out!" And it tends to always work!

Kelly Blanchard is the author of the new book Chronicles of Lorrek Omnibus.

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Interview with Cat Gilbert, Author of False Reality

What can you tell us about your new release, False Reality?

False Reality is the first book in my new mystery series — The Molly McMurray Mysteries. The main character is none other than Molly McMurray, a feisty little redhead intent on getting on at the local police force so she can pursue her life-long dream of becoming a detective. Unfortunately her dream begins to unravel as she starts seeing things no one else can. What she sees and why, I’ll leave for the reader to discover, but it’s a twist I think they’ll enjoy.

False Reality has a different feel than my other series, The Taylor Morrison Thrillers. That series also has a psychic twist to it, but Taylor is more of a loner, fighting to protect the people she cares about, whereas Molly is very family-oriented, fun-loving and dedicated to her mission. Unfortunately, the appearance of Kaegan threatens to derail her plans. Molly's fight to hang on to her goals while trying to solve a murder and avoid her stalker makes for a wild adventure because, in False Reality — nothing is quite what it seems.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I don’t know that I was so much inspired as pushed into it. That’s sounds odd, I know, but I’ve always been a story teller. I think I got it from my Grandfather, a wee Irishman that could spin a story that would keep you on the edge of seat. I loved it. So when I grew up, I made up wild tales for my daughter at bedtime and wrote short stories that I sent out as letters to family. I don’t know how many times I got told that I needed to write them down, but I didn’t. Being an author seemed like a pipe dream back then, so I just kept telling stories, keeping them filed away in my head. Then we moved to China and I finally had some time so I decided to give it a try. I had no idea what I was doing. It was a steep learning curve, but eventually I figured it out and the words just flowed onto the page. Before I knew it, I had four or five books out and I love it. I kick myself for not doing it sooner, but then again, maybe it wasn’t the right time. It is now.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

I can’t pick a top 5 books. There are just too many to choose from. I can give you the five books/authors that affected me most.

1. Ice Station Zebra (Alastair MacLean) I read it in the back seat of our car on a trip to visit my grandparents and ‘froze’ the whole way there, even though it was summer. That was a long time ago and I still remember it.
2. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) I devoured it, curled up in one of the ‘good’ chairs in my parents formal living room. It was quiet there and no one EVER came in, so no one looked for you there. You could lose yourself in a book for hours.
3. Gone with the Wind (Margaret Mitchell) What can you say that hasn’t been said. The movie was good, but the book…
4. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon) The first ‘series’ I can remember reading. The first time I saved up to pay full price for a hardback of the next book the minute it was released…
5. Grave Sight (Charlaine Harris) She’s known for True Blood, but it was her Harper Connelly series that hit the mark for me. You see, Harper is psychic. The story got me thinking and…writing.

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Charlaine Harris. I’d ask when the next Harper Connelly book is coming out - LOL!

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Seeing where the story goes. I write my characters. The characters write the story. It’s always a surprise.

What is a typical day like for you?

I wish I could say it was writing, but it isn’t. I’ve got a house on the market, a farm that needs tending, a dog that wants to play all the time, family to take care of. Then there’s shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundry. I’m lucky that my husband helps out with those things so I have time for writing and ‘book’ business. In short, my typical day is busy, just like yours. I just spend part of it in front of the computer, writing books.

What scene in False Reality was your favorite to write?

I think my favorite scene is when Molly discovers who or what Kaegan really is. It’s the big reveal in the book and the basis for the rest of the series.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Just do it…

Time is short so seize the day. Carpe Diem.

Cat Gilbert is the author of the new book False Reality.

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Interview with Dara Kent, Author of The Eclipsed

What can you tell us about your new release, The Eclipsed?

Let’s see … The Eclipsed is the 25th full-length novel I’ve written and released, but the first under my new pen name Dara Kent. I decided to write under the new name for genre distinction, since my other novels are romance. When I had the idea for The Eclipsed I realized there was no place for a romance within the story, but I still wanted to write it. Stepping out of my comfort zone was definitely both exhilarating and terrifying. The tale itself is dark and has a lot of twists. Aside from that there’s not much else I want to say because … spoilers.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

My mind doesn’t go to a definitive answer to this question, but when I really think about it … libraries are what truly inspired me. (My mom used to take me to The Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh once a week when I was little.) You see, libraries, especially The Carnegie Library, seemed like magical places to me when I was a child. (Okay, fine, they still seem magical.) Imagining my books sitting in libraries across the country waiting to be checked out makes me feel like I’ve added a bit of magic to the world. It might seem silly, but it makes me happy.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

Top five list for the best books I’ve ever read? Ever? EVER??! This is an extremely difficult, near impossible question to answer. But I’m going to try. (Why do I always hear Yoda’s voice in my head when I say I’m going to try to do something? “Do or do not. There is no try.” Ugh. Shut up Yoda.) Okay. Here I go:
1) Bram Stoker’s Dracula (This book sparked my love of 1st person POV through Jonathan Harker’s journal entries.)
2) Anne of Green Gables (I simply loved—and still love Ann with an e. ‘nuff said.)
3) Romeo and Juliet (I developed an obsession with the Bard fairly early in my reading life, and this was the gateway drug.)
4) Interview with a Vampire (I enjoy tortured characters, and one of my favs is Louis.)
5) Nope, I just can’t do it. By picking the fifth book I put a cap on my list. I can’t put a cap on my list. I just … can’t. I feel like it would be a betrayal of my booky soul. There are simply too many amazing books out there for me to pick from. Which is why classics are the ones that made the list. They stand out as OGs to me. 😉

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

What are the rules for this? It’s obviously a hypothetical question, so my first guest of choice doesn’t have to be alive, right? We’re doing this with some wibbly wobbly timey wimey rules? Well, it is my show, so I’m going to go with … yes. Time travel, and the bending of time and space for the win! Okay, I got a bit distracted there. Sadly, it happens often. Okay, my first guest will be …

Hunter S. Thompson. Yes, my choice might be a tad cliché, but my reason probably isn’t. You see, I imagine Hunter (Yep, we’re on a first name basis already.) would be enough of a distraction to hide all of the nerves I would most definitely have. While I’m trembling and shaking, he’d be regaling us with tales from his adventures, or sharing his surprisingly insightful takes on life. I’d be temporarily forgotten while all eyes are on him. Maybe I could make a break for it and no one would notice? Who gave me a talk show anyways? Did they not get the memo that I’m a shy introvert??? I’m … yeah … I think this question went wrong with me. I’m over here in my office getting anxious about something that doesn’t exist. Please send help in the form of chocolate ice cream. Thank you.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I love digging into content edits after I finish the first draft. To me the first draft is the skeleton of my story, and I need to get it out as soon as possible before I lose inspiration. (I’m a pantser and I also don’t take notes so the first draft is a whirlwind.) But then I get to go back in and really enjoy crafting the story. It’s just me, my laptop, and my imagination. It’s the part that allows me to feel creatively fulfilled.

What is a typical day like for you?

Are we talking pre or post plague times? Yeah, yeah, yeah, as a night owl, and a bit of a hermit, not much has changed for me. I mean I don’t have any appointments or anything right now, but my days were never that exciting to begin with. This is what my current plague times day looks like (be prepared for a whole lot of nothing): I wake up, take care of my dog, eat, do any writing or writing-related work, eat lunch, work a bit more, exercise, shower, eat dinner, spend some time with my hubby and dog, and after my hubs goes to bed I work some more if I have any to do. Then I wind down with a bit of TV followed by some reading. I usually don’t go to bed until sometime between 3-4 am. That’s Monday through Friday. I don’t work at all on the weekends and spend all of my time with my little family. Yep, like a said, snoozefest.

What scene in The Eclipsed was your favorite to write?

The last scene. I swear the last scene in all of my books was my favorite to write, but with The Eclipsed in particular because I got to reveal all of the secrets and tie everything together. It was extremely satisfying to finally be writing what I’d been working towards since the first sentence of the book. Plus, I was almost done. Heh.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Ummm … well, I used to live by the whole “Live fast, die young, leave a good-looking corpse” thing, but that time has passed. (I honestly never thought I’d live this long though.) Now … I’m not sure. I have a lot of favorite quotes, but I don’t think I live by any of them. A sampling of a few: “There are no happy endings because nothing ever ends.” ”Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.” “Wibbly wobbly timey wimey.” “Not all who wander are lost.” “If someone tries to kill you, you try to kill them right back.” (Some of those are probably not exact, but that’s how I remember them.) So … yeah … that’s all I got for you on this one. Of course, I’m sure I’ll think of something obvious and brilliant as soon as I click send. *sigh*

Dara Kent is the author of the new book The Eclipsed.

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Interview with Rhett C. Bruno, author of the Children of Titan Series

What can you tell us about your new release, Children of Titan Series?

After some years of being on the market, I'm excited to bring the entire Titan Conflict in one combined bundle. This story of rebellion on Titan is close to my heart, and has been down a crazy road, but I really hope people enjoy. I think it's my best work, drawing inspiration from the European arrival to North America in a far-future setting. But more than that, it is a story that tells an honest perspective from two opposing forces, where neither is the hero or the villain. Just people trying to survive.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Nobody really. I have always written. I guess I'd have to say, it's my parents for not discouraging me from writing and pushing me to do it. But it's always been something I felt I "need" to do. If that makes ense.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

Wow. That is tough. Honestly, sometimes it's hard to for me to remember. But I'd say my top list is as below, no particular order.
The Thrawn Trilogy, by Tim Zahn
The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, by Phillip K Dick
Life Engineered, by J.F. Dubeau
Damage, by David D. Levine

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Probably Phillip K Dick. I've always loved all of his stuff, but I'm pretty young, so I've never actually really heard him speak. I think it'd be an interesting perspective to talk with an old school author like that.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Finishing a story. I'm always of that mindset. Writing is an excruciating process. But finishing a book? There is nothing like it!

What is a typical day like for you?

Trying to get some words down while also dealing with business for my publishing company, Aethon Books. Talking with other authors, publishers, audio producers, editors, etc.

What scene in Children of Titan Series was your favorite to write?

There is a scene about 1/2 through Titanborn, book 1 in the collection. One of the Ringers is sitting by a cabin, looking out an a sunset when Malcolm Graves arrives. I can't say more without spoiling but, that scene is perhaps my favorite that I've EVER written.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Ha, it changes, depending on where I'm at in my career. But mostly, I advise authors that luck plays a part of it. There's always a chance a hit can happen. The only way that you can ensure that there's no chance of your book taking off, is by not writing it.

Rhett C. Bruno is the author of the new book Children of Titan Series.

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New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | May 19

Hold on to the edge of your seat as we hunt for clues and solve the case with these exciting new mystery and thriller books for the week! There are so many bestselling authors with new novels for you to dive into this week including Cat Gilbert, Susan Allott, David Ricciardi, Ivy Pochoda, and many more. Enjoy your new mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Happy reading!

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New Romance Books to Read | May 19

Looking to fall in love with some new romance reads? You’ll adore these exciting new novels! This week you can get your hands on books by bestselling authors Willow Winters, J. Saman, J.L. Beck, C. Hallman, Charlotte Byrd, and more. Enjoy your new romance books and happy reading!

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New Books to Read in Literary Fiction | May 19

Literary fiction readers are in for a treat. This week’s latest releases list is full of intriguing reads you won’t want to miss! The new releases list includes so many bestselling authors like Catherine Ryan Hyde, Lionel Shriver, Curtis, and many more. Enjoy your new literary fiction books. Happy reading!

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New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books | May 19

Set off on an adventure to new worlds this week! This selection of new science fiction and fantasy books will surely please! Science Fiction fans should be excited about the latest from bestselling authors Rhett C. Bruno, Marc Stiegler, Jessie Mihalik, and more. If Fantasy is what your library needs, you’ll be able to pick up the latest from Dara Kent, Kelly Blanchard, Jesse Nolan Bailey, and more. Enjoy your new science fiction and fantasy books. Happy reading!

Science Fiction

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Fantasy

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New Young Adult Books to Read | May 19

Are you an avid reader of Young Adult books? This week you are in luck! With all of these new novels, you’re bound to find a new favorite book to add to your reading list. This week includes new novels from bestselling authors Suzanne Collins, Isabel Sterling, Jenny Torres Sanchez, and many more. Enjoy your new young adult books. Happy reading!

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New Biography and Memoir Books to Read | May 19

Looking for some new biography and memoir books for your library? There are so many new releases this week that you’re bound to find a new favorite. You can pick up new books from Zachary D. Carter, Stephanie Danler, Bakari Sellers, and more. Enjoy your new biography and memoir books. Happy reading!