Today we celebrate the Release Day Blitz for Shattered Circle by Linda Robertson, touring with Bewitching Book Tours. Linda will be sharing an interview, so please, without further ado...
Welcome Linda!
When
did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Very
young. My mother was an avid reader, and I tried to write books for
her. Then as I got a little older and wanted sci-fi/fantasy with
heroines I could root for--and couldn't find such stories--I wrote
them for myself.
Please
share with us a little about your current release...
SHATTERED
CIRCLE is the sixth book in the Persephone Alcmedi series, the tale
of a girl-next-door witch finding out she is the prophesied Lustrata,
and how all the threads of her life--and her waerewolf boyfriend
Johnny's life, and the ancient vampire Menessos's "life"--are
all inextricably woven together. The story is unfolding over a few
weeks of the heroine's life, with one book starting where the last
left off.
I
think of the series in threes. The first three books are like one
unit, my Star Wars, if you will. The second three books are therefore
my The Empire Strikes Back. And yes, if seeing Lando in Han's clothes
leaving on the Millennium Falcon, if knowing Han had admitted he
loved Leia as he was put into carbonite, and learning that that foul
dreadful Darth Vader was Luke's father made you hate that ending but
want the rest of the story just the same...then prepare yourself.
'SHATTERED' doesn't imply nice-and-tidy, does it? Mwahahahaha!
Do
you let your characters tell the story, or do you often fight with
them on the direction it will take?
It's
their story, so of course they have input. I tell them where they are
going. Sometimes I let them pick the route. Mostly, they just beg me
to stop for french fries.
How
do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in
this particular genre?
Most
UF has an open world or a closed world, meaning either everyone in
that fictional world knows that there are vampires, waerewolves, and
whatever, or only a very privileged few know it. I split the
difference in my world-building. I made it so the 'non-humans' came
out to everyone twenty years prior to the start of the story, so the
world at large is still dealing with this wonderful and horrifying
change.
Also,
my main character is a witch, but unlike most witch characters who
have inherent power by some inborn birthright, her power is growing
only as she is growing in her spiritual progress. The craft is her
religion, not just her light-show.
Which
character was your favorite to write ? Why?
Nana.
She's like my mom, my aunts, and all my mom's friends rolled into one
chain-smoking, sassy granny. What's not to love about a character
like that.
Tell
us about the one scene you had the most fun writing…
There
is a series of scenes that go from argument, to foot chase, to a sexy
encounter, and then leads to a car chase. Heated, conflicting
emotions are interesting anyway. Add to that the idea that I get to
research some really awesome high-dollar modern cars, and put them in
cornfields. Yeah. I loved those scenes.
If
you were stranded on an island, which character in your books would
you most want to be stranded with and why, and what is one thing that
would be a must-have?
It
would have to be Johnny. And I have only picked him over Menessos in
this case because Menessos, being a vampire, would have limited time
to interact with, being dead all day. Also, if we were to get rescued
during the day, it would be difficult to convince seafarers to bring
the corpse along.
Now
for a little fun, tell us a bit about what your office looks like. Do
you need silence to write?
My
office consists of a three-level desk beside my bed. I have a tower
computer with a 19 inch screen on the top level. A laptop, a netbook,
AND my iphone are generally cluttering up the main level. The
keyboard and mouse are housed on the roll-out lower level. I have the
standard lamp, but my pencil/pen holder is a large plastic CRUZAN
bucket from DragonCon that was once filled with a drink called VOODOO
JUICE. It said 'serves four.' I can tell you, that is a lie. :)
On
the wall is various black frames with the most important writing keys
in those frames. I can look up at any time and see a reminder of how
to improve my work. There are also many fleur-de-lis and peacock
feathers.
What
do you like to do when you're not writing?
I
like the Ancient Aliens tv show on the History channel. I play guitar
in a rock-n-roll band, bartend two nights a week, and then there's
all those boys who call me mom. They still let me hang out with them
sometimes. And they do love it when I cook them food.
What
is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?
My
IQ is two standard deviations above average, my college GPA was 3.59,
and I hate sappy chick-flicks.
What
is the craziest thing you’ve ever wanted to write, or have written,
even if it never reached public eyes?
When
I was eight, I wrote a 'Harlequin' romance for my mom. It was about a
princess who hated skirts and dresses, who was getting married to a
prince. Someone shot him at the wedding so she and all her friends
went off on a spaceship to catch the bad guy, and had some pizza at a
space station.
There
was no mention of the prince dying, nor was an ambulance called. I
think he survived, but I cannot prove it.
What
is one piece of advice you can give to aspiring writers/authors?
It's
more work than you know. If your skin isnt thick, if your ego bruises
easily, or if you are trying to get into writing for any reason other
than the passion you have for telling a good, compelling story, then
might want to look into being a gas pump attendant or cashier. (I've
done both of those as well. Neither was hard on the ego or required
extra-thick skin.) However, if hard work and critical thinking isn't
the complete starter-set for a whine-fest to you, if you can take
criticism, and if you're going to write those darn stories no matter
what anybody says or thinks, then challenge yourself and master those
skills.
What
can we expect from you in the future?
I'm
working on a completely other novel and a collaboration novel at the
moment. Then I have another novel not in this series that is on the
roster...then maybe I can find a way back to Persephone.
Where
can readers connect with you?
WEDNESDAYS
I post at: www.word-whores.blogspot.com
twitter:
@authorlinda
My books can be purchased
many, many ways! Available both as mass market paperbacks and as
ebooks, you can find them via your local bookstore both the big ones
and the indie ones, via my publisher’s website:
http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Linda-Robertson/63492742
or the various on-line booksellers.
About
the Author
Linda
Robertson is the mother of four wonderful boys, owns three electric
guitars, and is followed around by a big dog named after Bela Lugosi.
Once upon a time she was a lead guitarist in a heavy metal cover band
and has worked as a graphic artist. She still composes and creates
art, when time permits. Linda currently writes and rocks in northeast
Ohio.
Visit her at AuthorLindaRobertson.com and @authorLinda
Shattered
Circle
Persephone
Alcmedi
Linda
Robertson
Mass
Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher:
Pocket Books
ISBN-10:
1451648936
ISBN-13:
978-1451648935
JUST
YOUR AVERAGE MEGA-WITCH. . . .
It’s
tough being a modern woman, but Persephone Alcmedi has it worse than
most. Being the prophesied Lustrata has kicked her career as a witch
into high gear, and juggling a wærewolf boyfriend who is about to
become king of his kind and a seductive vampire who bears her magical
Mark isn’t easy either.
Still,
Seph’s beloved foster daughter, Beverley, is causing more trouble
than these two men put together. The young girl’s been playing with
a magical artifact that’s far more dangerous than she realizes. Now
Seph must summon help from a mystical being so potent that even
vampires fear him . . . and the cost of his aid may be more than
she’s willing to pay. Seph, Johnny, and Menessos face threats from
all sides—and a few from within. Will the forces of destiny cement
their tenuous supernatural union, or shatter it forever?
5 comments:
I just love the cover! The colors are beautiful and eye-catching. Happy Release Day! :)
Shared :)
How does it feel to have your book out there for everyone to read?
Awesome interview! I loved the advice given to aspiring writers, and its a reminder to those who have also worked in the field for a while, developing that thick skin:)
Would love to read the Harlequin for your mom, sure it was awesome:O) Wishing you the best on your tour!
Michelle
"Mostly, they just beg me to stop for french fries." I LOVED THAT! XD
Wow a writer, bartender, band member, and a mom. Your plate is full!
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