A lot of Hope & a bit of Faith with Lily Oak and Book Giveaway

Today we welcome Lily Oak,  owner of Hedge-Witchery Books and author.  This magnificent young lady has the biggest heart I've ever seen.  Not once,  but twice she has put together books to raise money for a cause.  Her fist book,  Hope Moon was put together in just 3 days for the Haiti Appeal,  and Hope Ocean was put together in just 7 days to help with the Mexican Gulf disaster.  Please give Lily a warm welcome as we chat with her about her writing,  and be sure to check out the giveaway,  as one lucky winner will win a copy of her book,  Hope Ocean.  Thank you so much for being with us today Lily.

Please tell us a little about yourself.....
I write articles on paganism and witchcraft for e-zines and magazines. I write creatively and am currently working on my first full length fiction project. I run Hedge-Witchery.com which is the site I use to house all the pagan and witchcraft related writing I do as well as provide moon phase and seasonal information. I also do Oracle Card & Stone readings. I also run  Hedge Witchery Books which is my new publishing and writer promotion venture, and edit Incantation e-zine.

What do you see as your influences on your writing?
Wow lot's of  things! I think if I'm really honest with myself I always things I offer up the best of myself in my written work, and that's the bit I want to leave behind.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Time and focus. I'm always doing a million things at once and love living in chaos so working on the novel is very challenging.

Where do you hope to take your writing in the future?
I would like to do more novels and novellas though at the minute it seems my poetry work is getting more noticed.

How do you develop your plots and characters? Do you use any set
formula?
I start  with the characters, put them in a situation and the plot is built from how the characters I envision would respond. Apparently this is slightly backwards as a lot of writers tell me they start with plot and write characters to suit.

What drew you to write about paranormal fiction?
It's the kind of thing I like to read myself. Also it's a genre that really allows your imagination to run wild.

How do you keep your writing different from the vast variety of
 stories (in your genre) out there today?
I don't think it really takes a huge effort, like I said previously there really isn't anywhere a story can't go within this genre. There's such a massive scope that covers paranormal fiction.

How did your title come into play?
Well the books I'm promoting at the minute, I didn't actually write ha ha ha! ok I wrote contribution for them but they are both short anthology's that were put together on ridiculous deadlines for charity.

Can you tell us a little bit about the main characters and/or the plot in your book?
Hope Ocean is a mystical, magical, slightly occult anthology, themed around the ocean.This small collection, by a wide variety of writers, was put together in just 7 days. Their aim was to raise money and awareness to aid wildlife charities dealing with the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Hope Moon is a collection of short stories, poetry and articles inspired by the moon and its influence over us. This pagan-esque anthology was put together in just 3 days in order to help raise money for the Haiti earthquake appeal, and for every copy in sold a donation is made.

 
What were your feelings when you first novel was accepted for publication?
Technically it hasn't yet... but as I run a publishing company I'm not sweating it too much! ha ha ha

Who is your favorite author?
I hate this question but if I had to pick just one I'd have to go with Jean M Auel


If you could leave readers with one legacy, what would you want it to
be?
To notice the magic in the everyday, I think if my writing has any agenda other than just entertaining people, thats it, to make them notice the little details that hold the magic in life.

What advice would you give to writers just starting out in this genre?
Don't be influenced by trends!


Is there a website that readers may find you at?
www.hedge-witchery.com
www.hedge-witcherybooks.com

Facebook,  Twitter,  or Myspace?
All on the 'Keeping in touch' page on www.hedge-witchery.com


Thank you so much for stopping in Lily.  It has been a grand pleasure.  So now let's get to the giveaway.
For anyone that leaves a comment for Lily,  with your email address you will be entered to win a copy of Hope Ocean.  Please be sure to leave your email address so I have a way to contact you :).  Winner will be drawn July 5.

Extra Entries:

• Become a follower of my blog by clicking follow on Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs (+3 entries)
• Become a follower on Twitter (+2)
• Become a fan on Facebook (+2)
• Repost this giveaway - and let me know where you have posted it (+1)

Don't forget for everyone that purchases Hope Moon or Hope Ocean,  the proceeds go to help support a charity.  Both are available in paperback and as electronic download. Thanks for stopping in and good luck!