How did writing this book affect you?

 I’m drawn to intensity; the kind of emotions that unravel the characters so completely that you can’t tell where one ends, and the other begins. When I wrote Starcrush, I was going through a series of personal crises, compounded by an epic hurricane that decimated the Jersey Shore and left us without power for weeks. Many writers feel that whatever is going on in their personal life finds its way into the book. During that time, I found my writer’s voice and began to explore the genre.

In the book, every scene, every moment is sourced from an actual experience — something I felt or endured that left an impression on me. Writing this book gave me the presence to explore past encounters, past hurts and the ability to examine how they affected me from a safe distance.

Is there anything you haven’t written about that you would like to in the future?

Of course. There’s always something to write about. I would like to write a different kind of vampire book series, one that doesn’t make use of the usual behaviors and props. I want to write stories where romance is the driving force instead of  violence. I also want to write more poetic, lyrical prose that sways the modern reader like a music video.

Which of your characters would you want to be and why?

That’s easy. I would have to be Genna, because Genna is who I used to be before I was old enough to vote, not necessarily who I am now. She’s essentially a flawed creature, given to narcissistic impulse, easily disillusioned and ready to jump to all the wrong conclusions. Through Genna’s perspective, the reader experiences her growth. In the first part of the book, Genna is forever resisting her emotions. Later we see a gradual acceptance, a readiness to allow love to transform at the deepest, core levels. In the sequel, this transformation comes full circle and is truly … beyond perfect.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

Write under any set of circumstances — where conditions are uncomfortable and distracting. I seem to write best when I’m in this perfect mind set, when my body is fed and warm and music is lulling me into this creative trance-like state. I would like the ability to write with urgency, like a war correspondent in the middle of battle.

What are you currently reading?

by David Meredith 2014

Faerie tales always end with the phrase “And they lived happily ever after”, but what does that really mean? What happens after “happily ever after” has come and gone? This is the question I attempt to answer in The Reflections of Queen Snow White. 

The Reflections of Queen Snow White moves you 30+ years into the future after the conclusion of the original Brothers Grimm tale. Charming has died and Snow White just doesn't know how to cope. It’s a story about dealing with grief and finding purpose and direction after the most important person in your life is no longer a part of it.

Back in 2006 when I originally wrote the source short story, in the space of about three or four months, both of my grandfathers died unexpectedly. During the same period, my wife also lost a grandmother and a grandfather, so there where a lot of funerals going on over a very short amount of time. Now funerals, by their very nature lead to a certain introspection about one’s own mortality, but particularly with the sudden passing of both grandfathers and, as a consequence, how hard my grandmothers took their deaths, it led me to wonder on their behalf – “So… What now?”

They both had wonderful, loving relationships – many long, happy years together (over 60). In the case of my maternal grandmother and grandfather, they had never loved anyone else, having married straight out of high school. There was no question in my mind, nor indeed anyone who knew them, that theirs had most certainly been a real-life “happily ever after”. Now it was over. It made me wonder, “When your life has been so closely tied up with and centered upon one other person for so long, how do you pick up the pieces and move on?” That was the original kernel of the idea for The Reflections of Queen Snow White.

Now, the question was posed to me: “Why did you choose Snow White – why not Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rose Red or any of a host of other faerie tale princesses you might have chosen to write about? Why kill the prince? Well, First, let me note that I understand upon initial examination, she might seem a little bit vanilla as a choice. After all, she is probably the first faerie tale princess that comes to our minds when we think of the faerie tale genre. She’s been nearly exploited and merchandised to death by the Disney Company. There have already been almost innumerable retellings and riffs on her story in modern media – TV, movies, other novels, short stories, and even an old Rammstein music video. Who doesn't know Snow White?

However, I felt like this intimate familiarity we all have with her actually works perfectly in helping the reader connect with Snow White’s older self in The Reflections of Queen Snow White. To me, it felt rather like catching up with an old friend whom I hadn't seen in years and years. Just like those friends from grade school or university, I still care about her.

All of us must deal with death and grief to varying degrees throughout our lives. Half of us at least will have to cope with the passing of a partner. Who better to demonstrate the idea that loss and the redefining of a life that necessarily must occur as a result happens to everyone – Even faerie tale princesses?

In addition to that, I also felt like Snow White had a particularly and mostly untapped potential (at least by Disney) for some really interesting darkness. After all, she had a pretty horrible upbringing – the tragic death of both parents, left in the care of an abusive woman who despised her, disassociation from her peers, isolation, loneliness, depression… I think these are all elements that really work to elevate the level of drama and move the story forward in a way that is especially gripping and impactful.

So far, The Reflections of Queen Snow White has gotten really positive reviews. In fact, it received a 5-STAR review from The Seattle PI! I think you’ll enjoy it. I hope you’ll all check it out! It’s available here:

AMAZON. Thanks so much Tina for having me!

David Meredith is a writer and educator originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. He received both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from East Tennessee State University, in Johnson City, Tennessee as well and a Tennessee State Teaching license. On and off, he spent nearly a decade, from 1999-2010 teaching English in Northern Japan, but currently lives with his wife and three children in the Nashville Area where he continues to write and teach English.

LAUNCH TOUR STOP #4

by Lisa T. Bergren- April 2014

While I believe any futuristic book has dystopian elements—since we seem to slide ever farther from any sense of utopia, with each generation—the very first dystopian I ever read was 1984, by George Orwell. It was especially cool since I was in high school, the year was 1983, and we were on the verge of the title year. But it was really how the author forced me to consider things we routinely witness in current society, and how they can get warped into something monstrous down the line, that captured my imagination.

The next true dystopian novel I read was The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, a professor who taught at my college. The novel was an excellent exploration of the subjugation of women and made me think about how faith is the best foundation, but always becomes skewed when it becomes more law than grace-covered, godly direction.

It wasn't until The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, that I returned to the genre. As anyone who has read it (or seen the movie) knows, the core vehicle for the action of the novel made you think about our current cultural fascination with reality game shows, and how that could go horribly awry. My whole family read the trilogy and debated choices the characters made, what we loved and what we hated. This led to a spate of dystopian reads for me, among them these favorites:

Wool by Hugh Howey: Originally written as a series of novellas, and now an omnibus of five, it’s the tale of people trapped in an underground world, and a few who long to know just what might be outside…and if it could possibly be as terrible as they've been told. It’s about breaking seemingly impossible barriers.

Divergent by Veronica Roth: A great blend of action, romance and standing up for who you were truly created to be and choosing your own path.

Legend by Marie Lu: The action and the love story between two desperately divided characters make this a standout.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver: I loved the theme of choosing love, regardless of the cost. This novel and the next two in the trilogy became solid favorites.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner: It was awesome to read it with my son and husband—it kept us guessing with all of its twists (Scorch Trials too). We’re looking forward to the movie!

Andriana is a Remnant, one of the gifted teens born on the seventh day during the seventy-seventh Harvest after the Great War, and destined to act as humanity’s last shield against the horrors that now plague those who remain.

After years of training in stealth and warfare, Andriana and her Knight protector, Ronan, are finally ready to answer the Call and begin the life they were designed for. But as they embark with the other Remnants on the first of their assignments, they quickly discover that the world beyond their protected Valley home is more dangerous than they imagined.

The Sons of Sheol will stop at nothing to prevent Dri and Ronan from rescuing anyone sympathetic to the Remnants’ cause. And as the Remnants attempt to battle the demonic forces, other enemies close in. Dangers intensify, but so do Dri's feelings for Ronan--the one emotion she is not meant to feel. In the midst of their mission, Andriana must find a way to master her feelings, or risk compromising everything.