"I am ready to meet my maker. Whether my maker is prepared to meet me is another matter."
-Winston Churchill

Friday, February 10, 2012

VBTC Pit Stop - Giveaway & At the Round Table with C.G. Powell - Spell Checked




Welcome to Immortality and Beyond. May I offer you a beverage?   
 A zombie sounds fantastic...I’ll have two!

LOL. Here you go, enjoy!



Now that we're all settled in my lair, I'm de-bite-fully glad you stopped in.

As a teen C.G. Powell was selected as a member of her school's newspaper staff. After her first article the editor decided the darkroom was a more suitable place for her skills…or lack of. Since then, she has traveled everywhere—thanks to her innate curiosity about the world and the Navy. In her life time, she has learned: aviation electronics, CCNA networking, Gemology and how to get bloodstains out of the carpet (you never know when you might need that). But her latest, all-consuming, endeavor is storytelling. When asked why, her response was "I live to challenge myself; I like to be pushed outside of my comfort zone and writing is one of those things that pushes my boundaries. Besides it was the only way to share all of the crap bouncing around in my head!" C.G. Powell lives in Virginia with her husband and children. When she is not writing, you might find her watching hot guys jog past her front window, ordering the cabana boy to fix her another drink or abusing the local authorities…but that’s just hearsay. 


BK: Please tell us a little bit about your current release...

CG: Spell Checked is set in Ireland, at the beginning you get a little bit of a tour weaved into the story. My main character lives in the US and gets a bit of a surprise while on vacation. This book deals mainly with witches and vampires, but I plan to bring in other races in the next book.

BK: What inspired this particular novel/book?

CG: I always felt witches and vampires were not written the way I would have written them. So, I asked myself “Why not write a story the way you see it?”

BK: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

CG: I haven’t...I consider myself a storyteller and not a writer. One day when I have the literary skills of word ninja, I might call myself a writer.

BK: How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?

CG: I don’t really read much in the genre to begin with. I pretty much write whatever comes to mind and during the time periods that I’m writing, I stay away from books and TV. I don’t want them to influence my story.

BK: What was the hardest thing about writing this story?

CG: For me the hardest part was articulating the story into words. I always know what my characters are doing and what comes next, but penning it, particularly the descriptive, is a bit of a challenge for me... But, I’ve gotten a lot better about it.

BK: What character was your favorite to write for in this story? Why?

CG: I love writing Beck, he is such a geek and very antiquated. I always know what to expect from him.

BK: Which was your favorite scene to write?

CG: I would have to say the tango scene. I was the moment Mae and Beck connected, even if there was a little help from Aidan...LOL

BK: Will this become a series? If so, what inspired it to be a series?

CG: This book is meant to be part of a trilogy. There was just too much story to write into one book. Book 2 is called Exile Bytes and Book 3 will be called Firewall. They are part of the Terra Stellar world and most likely the only trilogy. I have other books that will be written in this world as standalone books.

BK: Now for a little fun, and into your everyday life, What is a day in your life like?

CG: Crazy, loud, and random. I like to keep everyone around me on their toes. You never know what I might do or say...LOL

BK: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

CG: I like spending time with my family. When the kids are at school I like to make jewelry or knit. But, lately I haven’t had much time to do either of those.

BK: What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?

CG: I spent 16 years in the Navy doing aviation electronics.

BK: What do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?

CG: I read Sci-fi/Fantasy and romance. My all-time favorite author is Marion Zimmer Bradley, I love her Darkover series. My favorite all time book is Master of Desire by Kinley MacGregor.

BK: Please tell us one piece of advice you were given as an author that you carry with you when you write?

CG: Write every day. Once your mind gets accustom to writing frequently, you no longer have to think so much when you have a story bouncing around in your head.

BK: What is one piece of advice you can give to aspiring writers/authors?

CG: Just sit yourself down and write...Don’t waste time on how everyone else does it, because honestly, until you have your words on paper, it’s nothing more than a dream. Make it a reality!!!

BK: What are you currently working on?

CG: I just finished “immortal Voyage” and it’s with the editor right now. This story is in the Terra Stellar world and is about Atlantis during the Neolithic time period. I hope to have this published by the end of next month. I’m currently writing a short story about a siren named Sarina which is part of an anthology called Cupid Painted Blind and should be out by the end of this month. I’m also writing book 2 of the No Uncertain Logic series, called Exile Bytes and will have the gang traveling to Tenerife and the Mongolian desert.

BK: Where can readers connect with you?


Broken relationships were a constant in Mae’s life, causing her to swear off men forever. Unwittingly lured to Ireland, Mae finds herself knee-deep in a hidden world she never knew existed and head over heels for the very man that tricked her to coming there. His deception is complicated by his own feelings for the one person that holds the key to merging the ancient races that once ruled the ancient word.

Mae finds herself in an underground world of witches, and vampires, which are half-breeds of aliens long gone. She learns about her own unique parentage and powers, which she must study in order to control, before they consume her.

Beck and Helen’s love for one another spans across a millennium, her human soul reincarnated to match Beck’s own immortality. This time however the body she occupies is of a being that cannot be eclipsed by her return. After waiting two hundred years, Beck finds himself tormented by Helen’s inability to return and his growing love for her new host.

Some of the underworld creatures welcome her with open arms as a savior, while others seek to destroy the abomination they believe her to be. Will the knowledge of her existence cause a race war when the true power of her blood is discovered? Or will love become her ultimate downfall? 
 
 



Excerpt:

A tango started to play. Beck stood up and put his hand out to Mae. “Dance with me, Mae.”
I can’t dance to this. I don’t know how to tango,” she said nervously.
But I do. Just follow my lead and feel the music.” Beck pulled her chair out and she gave him her hand.
I don’t want to look like a fool in front of all these people, Beck.” Mae said as they walked on to the dance floor. For some reason, she was finding it hard to tell him no.
He put his hand around her waist. “All you have to do is keep eye contact with me and feel the rhythm,” Beck reassured her.
The music surrounded them as they danced, flowing through them. Unaware of her own movements, each touch from Beck felt like a lover’s embrace. All she could sense was their closeness. Lost in his beautiful, ice-blue eyes, his fingers burned like a fire against her skin. Moving, spinning, touching, over and over again. Mae could not get enough of him. Pressing so close, she wanted to melt into him and become one, then being pulled away and yearning to be close again. In the pulsating rhythm, Beck’s hands traced down her body’s curves as her legs wrapped around him. She felt like she was looking into his soul; naked, touching, feeling. When the music died down, all Mae could feel was Beck’s warm breath on her neck and his heart beating wildly against her. “You are beautiful,” he whispered as clapping and cheering erupted from the crowd when they walked off the dance floor together.
As they headed back to the table, Aidan pulled Beck aside. He looked at Mae and said, “Could you give us a moment please?” in a concerned voice.
Sure, see you back at the table.” She made her way to where Gemma was sitting and sat next to her, wondering what was going on between Aidan and Beck.
Aidan waited for Mae to be out of earshot when he finally shook his head at Beck. "Well my friend, that little sexual number was practically pornographic. You two were undressing each other with your eyes and Mae was projecting her emotions for everyone to feel. It was like raw animal lust took over the room. By the end of the dance, we all thought you two would be naked on the dance floor. Half-way through the dance, Gemma slipped her hand in my front pocket and well...Need I say more?"
Beck, stunned by his friend’s words, felt the dance had left him in an emotional turmoil. He was feeling completely vulnerable and did not like it at all. "I should not have let you charm her, now I cannot tell if any of this is real or just the charm."


GIVEAWAY:

For every person that leaves a comment here today, with your email address, you will receive a Smashwords coupon code in your inbox. So be sure to leave a comment to get your copy and just so you know, it's for TODAY ONLY!

For more chances to win, you can follow C.G.'s tour HERE.

Thank you so much for coming to the round table today CG. It was a blast and I wish you so much success in the future!





6 comments:

C.G. Powell said...

Thank you for having me here today...and the zombies were very yummy!!!!

AO said...

hi C.G.! your stories piqued my curiosity particularly Immortal Village. a Neolithic Atlantis sounds very intriguing. i love the concept. c",)

aobibliophile(at)gmail(dot)com

Nightly Cafe said...

I'm glad you enjoyed the drinks CG. Thanks for stopping in Ao Bibliophile :).

In Julie's Opinion said...

This book has everything I like in a book: a great setting, vampires and witches!! Thanks so much for the very nice interview and awesome giveaway:)

jwitt33 at live dot com

jkrowyn said...

That def sounds like a unique story, one I'd love to read. I checked it out on amazon and saw really good reviews, too. Thanks for turning me on to a new to me writer!

Artesia at comcast dot net

chrissynyc73 said...

This virtual book tour is such a great thing!! I look forward to reading them all. I really like your book, and appreciate your generosity!!
chrissynycbbw@aol.com

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