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It’s always special when a peer thinks of me – especially during award time 
Thanks so much, Karen…
Drawing Room Days is marvelous site, and Karen has seen fit to fill it with bright, refreshing, colorful posts – a very nice change from the doldrums of daily living – you should stop by and say hello. Here’s the link:
Click to go to Karen’s site!
So. The questions and answers:
- What is my favourite colour: Any green except lime
- What is my favourite animal: Make believe, the werewolf, of course. Real, the Silverback Gorilla ranks high
- What is my favourite number: I have no idea why, but 17
- What is my favourite non-alcoholic beverage: coffee first thing, iced tea in the evenings
- What is my favourite alcoholic beverage: I actually make some pretty rippin’ home-made Kahlua…it’s cheap, and if done properly, it puts store-bought to shame
- Do I prefer Facebook or Twitter: Facebook, hands down…so much more personal and flexible
- What are my passions: My wife, fishing, a good movie, a good cigar, a good drink, and I don’t have to mention writing
- Do I prefer giving or receiving gifts: Giving, anytime. The appreciation and joy that results is the best gift, anyway
- What is my favorite city: I’m not much for cities, actually, but my hometown of Pittsburgh. It’s a melting pot of so many cultures – mix that in with the working-man mindset and you’ve got a heady brew of society
- What are my favorite TV shows: “Justified”, “Deadliest Catch”, and “Ghost Adventures”
Okay, so now I get to pass the torch, and it goes to:
Bob Atkinson
M.S. Fowle
Catherine Wolffe
Ruth Watson-Morris
Diane Major
Judith Atwood
Simon Okill
Maer Wilson
Lorraine Jean Bush
Victoria Dougherty
They get to answer the same questions – get to it, folks!
So, comment on this post and tell Kirstin what you think…
Click on the cover to get it on Amazon!
Book Description:
In the next Installment of The Judas Curse, Detective Ben Stanford is ready to put the past at rest. Without warning, he’s pulled down once again into the chaos of gods, theology, and mystery. Told that his sister is alive and the two immortals, Mark and Judas, have been kidnapped by the treacherous goddess, Nike, Ben must find a way to rescue the pair before she can harness their powers.
While Mark waits alone, forced to write out the story of how their powers came to be, and Judas lay tortured by the angry Goddess, a reluctant Ben must enlist the help of a hesitant being from the ancient Norse Pantheon.
Time is ticking, and the hard-headed detective must use everything he learned in the past to prevent another disaster, which could potentially wipe-out the human race.
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TR: Angella, good morning. Let me first say I’m thrilled to be hosting you for one of your stops on “The Judas Kiss” tour. Welcome!
AG: Thank you, Thomas….I’m very pleased to be here
TR: So, let’s not keep your future fans waiting. How old were you when you wrote your first piece?
AG: The first time I wrote anything of substance, I was about fifteen and co-wrote a seven-hundred page epic about a world of dragons. Ha. My first published piece I wrote last year, so that would make me thirty—it had been a goal of mine to be published before thirty. I was a few months late.
TR: Ah well, not by much. What was it, and in what genre?
AG: It was contemporary literature/literary fiction, and it was just a basic story about a man in a troubled relationship and how he grew out of it and learned how to look for what he really wanted in life.
TR: That sounds pretty interesting to me. What made you write it?
AG: Honestly, it started out as a short story, and it sort of expanded. I drew on my experiences being married to a person who was not so nice. I sort of gender-switched the roles to see if I could write a believable male character, and got pretty decent response from it. By the end it was a test to see if I could actually compose a novel with a beginning, middle, and end.
TR: Sounds like you had success with that. Seeing things from the other gender’s point of view isn’t the easiest thing – very good! What have you written since then?
AG: Since then I have started a Contemporary Fantasy/Mythology series, “The Judas Curse”, and the first two books- “The Awakening” and “The Judas Kiss” have already been published. “Cry, Nike!”, which is book three, is set to release sometime in May.
I’m also about half-way finished with the first book in a paranormal YA series called “Alexandra Fry, Private Eye”, about a young girl who solves crimes for the ghosts of history’s most famous icons. The ghost in the first book is a teenaged version of Queen Elizabeth I.
TR: Wow, you’re staying busy. Your new series sounds wonderful! “Cry, Nike” – the title makes me curious enough to look at it. So, What was the inspiration for “The Judas Curse” series?
AG: The “Judas Kiss” is a continuation of the series. I’m delving further into mythology, and twisting the ideas of mythos and religion to give a different experience to the reader instead of the old traditions. I’m really enjoying drawing on my studies of Theology and Mythology from when I was a university student.
TR: Ah. That is a different twist – fascinating. Tell us a little more about it, and where it’s available.
AG: The book starts off where book one left off. Ben is dealing with a death, Mark and Judas are trying to escape the Greek gods that kidnapped Judas, and things just sort of get out of hand, as usual. Mark and Judas are taken by the villain again, and Mark is forced to write out his history.
Right now the book is available at amazon/amazon UK
And on Createspace:
https://www.createspace.com/4182634
And I also ship paperback books from my website athttp://angellagraffbooks.wordpress.com through paypal.
TR: Very good – thank you. Now, is there a particular place or setting where you get your writing ideas?
AG: It depends on what I’m writing. Often times my ideas sort of develop organically as I start to write. I’ll have one small idea and suddenly it will explode and evolve into something I had never intended to write, but it’s fascinating to see what comes from that process.
TR: That’s thrilling isn’t it? Following your mind down a path to somewhere you never knew existed. Okay, so you’re an indie writer. What made you choose independent publishing?
AG: I chose indie publishing for several reasons. I get to publish on my own schedule, and I like having control over everything. I’m a total control freak, God bless my husband for putting up with it – haha. From what I’ve seen, traditional publishing requires you to do most of your own marketing anyway, so I’d rather not be contractually obligated to another company for my own writing if they don’t offer added perks. Of course, I’m speaking from assumption as I’ve never gone through a traditional publishing house—but I will say I am very proud to be an indie author.
TR: As you should be. Handling all the attached duties for putting a quality book out isn’t easy. So, tell us – if you had to choose the most important element in an author’s platform, what would it be?
AG: I would say networking. The writing community is very tight knit, and while I thought it was going to be overly competitive, it’s not. I was pleasantly surprised by that fact, and even more pleasantly surprised by how helpful and wonderful the friends I’ve made have been. We market each other, we support and promote each other, and the advice I’ve been offered in how to make my books available and noticed by the right audience has been invaluable.
TR: I agree with you. The folks I’ve met online have shown me nothing but grace and compassion. What a wonderful lot, aren’t they? So, what mistakes have you made in regards to publishing and marketing your work, and what will you do differently in the future?
AG: The first mistake I made is not creating a network before I published. I’d never done anything like that before, so I had no idea what to do. I published my book, got a few downloads from family and friends, and then… crickets. Then I started networking with authors on twitter. That was chaotic, but when I discovered the author communities on facebook and goodreads, and places for me to be able to market, things took off.
The second big mistake was being impatient, and putting out a manuscript that I wasn’t 100% satisfied with. There were some things that could have easily been prevented had I just had a little more patience, and I’m learning that the hard way.
I’m trying to take my time now, to be less eager, despite that fear (the one my husband insists is typical) that the moment I take too long to publish my next book, I’m going to be completely forgotten.
TR: Crickets – HAH – I like that. Wonderful advice, on both counts! Do you have an idea for your next book?
AG: I have several haha! I’m never short of ideas, and right now I have some literary fiction ideas simmering while I get my second series started. I’m thinking about making a themed series, not cohesive plot or characters, just a general theme about relationships—but portrayed in a more realistic, less fantasy type of way, to remind people that actual, real life love can be just as beautiful and fantastic, and heartbreaking, as any romance novel out there.
TR: Angella thanks so much for stopping by today. I had a ball – and best of luck with the rest of your tour, and “The Judas Kiss”.
AG: Thanks Thomas…I had fun too
Folks, if you want your own copy of “The Judas Kiss”, the link to rafflecopter and a chance to win a copy is below. Click it to win it!
Click on the cover to get it on Amazon!
Book Description:
L.J and her younger Sister Jo,had a harsh and traumatic childhood; they never felt they belonged. They were different.
As L.J grew into a young woman she felt hopeless and unfulfilled; she hated life. Little did she know she was being watched, and her desperate need to belong as a child would lead her to a life changing reunion with Jo, a dark looming stranger and a surprise transformation.
This would lead them both on a treacherous journey into the dark world of Vampires, Murderers. Bloodlust, Justice and Revenge.
Click on the cover to get it on Amazon!
Book Description:
L.J and her younger Sister Jo,had a harsh and traumatic childhood; they never felt they belonged. They were different.
As L.J grew into a young woman she felt hopeless and unfulfilled; she hated life. Little did she know she was being watched, and her desperate need to belong as a child would lead her to a life changing reunion with Jo, a dark looming stranger and a surprise transformation.
This would lead them both on a treacherous journey into the dark world of Vampires, Murderers. Bloodlust, Justice and Revenge.
Now that “The Clearing” is up and running, I’ve turned my attention to my next work – an anthology of three ghosts stories. It’s two short stories and a novella, with lengths of 7,000, 11,5000 and 25,000 words, respectively.
You can read any one of them, or all three. I want to get at least 10 sets of eyes on each – and I want criticism, not flattery.
In acknowledgement of your efforts, you’ll receive a published-grade copy of my book, and the entire team will have their names listed in the front of the book
So…can anyone help me out?
Please leave a comment if you’re interested
Click on the cover to get it on Amazon!
Book Description:
Daniel lived in the town of Boone, North Carolina, high in the Appalachian Mountains. He lived a simple life as a lumber mill worker by day, but hid a deadly secret from those around him. At night Daniel prowled the woods and hunted the animals and residents of the small mountain town.
Over 150 years earlier he betrayed his former master, Makareus, when he had an affair with his wife. Makareus began the chase for Daniel after the affair and chases him to this very day.
Daniel has fallen in love with a young woman named Sara and tries to maintain his human side as he struggles to control the primal urges of his true self. His love for Sara leads him to the hardest decision he has ever had to make.
Join Daniel now as he avoids death at the hands of the lycan pack and experiences love, hate, lust, and bloodshed under the moonlit sky of the Appalachian Mountains.
