Author Spotlight: Lucy Snyder

Today’s guest author is a local friend and fantastic author Lucy Snyder! Lucy A. Snyder is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of the novels Spellbent and Shotgun Sorceress and the collections Sparks and Shadows, Chimeric Machines, and Installing Linux on a Dead Badger. Her writing has appeared in Strange Horizons, Weird Tales, Hellbound Hearts, Masques V, Doctor Who Short Trips: Destination Prague, Chiaroscuro, GUD, and Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet. She was born in South Carolina but grew up in San Angelo, Texas. She currently lives in Worthington, Ohio with her husband and occasional co-author Gary A. Braunbeck.

We are excited to have her interview on Wicked Jungle and know all you urban fantasy readers out there are going to love her! Keep reading for your chance to win a signed copy of Spellbent!!

Author Spotlight

Name: Lucy Snyder

Porn Star Name: King Thursday Charlotte.

Which sounds like a combination butch lesbian porn star and indie rocker! I feel compelled to explain this one: my first pet (I was 2 or 3) was a king snake I named King Thursday. Thursday, for reasons that are obscure to me now, was apparently my favorite day of the week when I was little.

Website Address: www.lucysnyder.com

Writing Age:

I’d say that content-wise my Spellbent series is for adults, which essentially means well-read middle teens and up. One romance blog gave Spellbent an “R” rating, whereas I’d put it at a PG-13 … I know of several 14-year-olds who’ve read it and they don’t appear to be corrupted/traumatized by it.

My humor collection Installing Linux on a Dead Badger is probably 15 and up, not due to sex or cussing, but because of geeky references that people who aren’t familiar with computers won’t get.  A friend of mine has a computer-loving teenaged son with Asperger’s, and my friend had a hard time getting the boy to read much fiction, but he said his son loved ILDB and it’s sort of been a “gateway” book to other fiction, and that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

First Published Work:

My first novel is Spellbent, which was released by Del Rey in late December 2009.  My first book was Sparks and Shadows, a story collection that HW Press published in 2007.  And my first paid story sale was “Thirteen’s Revolution”, which came out waaaay back in a little magazine called Midnight Zoo … the managing editor, Bob Fleck, moved up in the publishing world and we encountered each other again last year when he became my literary agent.

Current Release:

My second novel, Shotgun Sorceress, will be released in October.  It’s a direct sequel to Spellbent and chronicles the adventures of Jessie, Cooper, the Warlock, and Pal as they get trapped in an isolated West Texas town that is being decimated by a soul harvester named Miko. As they battle Miko and her zombie minions, Jessie discovers a darkness within herself that she must overcome to save the town, her friends, and her own soul.

INSPIRATION AND MUSE

If you could live in any fictional universe/world what would it be?

Wow. This is a tough one, because there are so many intriguing choices! How do you choose between post-Jadis Narnia and the 23rd Century as portrayed in Star Trek? I can safely say, though, that I do not want to live in Gary Braunbeck’s Cedar Hill, Ohio.  Do. Not. Want.

If you could have lunch with any author dead or alive whom would it be and why?

I want to have lunch with author Nalo Hopkinson. She’s a super-cool person, but we haven’t seen each other in ages. And she’s been blogging her lunches lately, and every time she does, I think, “Damn, that sounds really good.”

If you were locked in a room for 48 hours and forced to watch one TV show the entire time, which television series would you choose?

Doctor Who, no question.  48 hours might let me catch up on the new series and put a slight dent in what I haven’t seen of the classic series.

What is the most outrageous or bizarre thing you have done in the name of “research”?

I was a goth for three years. No really, it was research, I’m telling you! I got stories out of it and everything.

What is your latest release?

My latest release is a short story called “Miz Ruthie Pays Her Respects” that appears in Dark Faith, an anthology from Apex Books that came out in May.

What inspired you to write said story/book?

I … can’t talk about that in public. If anyone reads it, and is curious to know the story behind the story, buy me a drink at a convention and I’ll tell you. I will tell you that I was absolutely furious when I wrote it, which you would probably never guess from reading the finished piece.

Fab Five

• Coffee or Tea? I CAN HAZ CAFFEINE YES?
• Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate.
• Vampire or Werewolf? Neither: devils rule!
• Meatie or Veggie? Mostly veggie.
• Salty or Sweet? Both!

Last but not Least–three words that describe you: sly, inscrutable, amused

Win a signed copy of Spellbent!

Once again, a big thanks to Lucy Snyder for joining us at Wicked Jungle. Ask Lucy a question and you are  automatically entered into drawing for a free signed copy of her latest novel Spellbent! And yes, international contestants are eligible.

To get you started, here is a free excerpt of Shotgun Sorceress

The Warlock pulled off the highway onto a dirt road running between two cornfields.

“This should be it,” he said, glancing down at the magic compass he’d brought along. “Karen, you got Riviera’s token?”

“Right here,” she replied, patting the small white beaded purse in her lap. She was wearing a long-sleeved sea-green silk gown and long strings of pearls; the outfit must have dated back to the 1930s, and it looked good on her.

We got out of the Land Rover. The ground was soft and damp, so I was glad I wasn’t in high heels. The weird calliope music of my familiar Pal’s flying spell was loud overhead. I slung my backpack over my shoulder and began to follow Mother Karen and The Warlock down a corn row.

Cooper nudged my backpack. “You could leave that in the car, you know.”

“If something happens, it’s not going to do me a lot of good if it’s locked in the car a mile away.”

“The Seelies are probably just going to make you check it at the door.”

I shrugged. “Checked at the door is still closer than locked in the car.”

We came to a clearing where a battered old scarecrow hung crucified on a couple of rake handles. A cloud of dust rose as Pal touched down, and Cooper spoke an ancient word to turn off his invisibility.

A tin cup had been tied to the straw fingers of the scarecrow’s left hand.  When we got within ten feet of the scarecrow, my stone ocularis started to itch in my skull. I blinked through to the gemview that had shown me the invisible door in Karen’s back yard. I saw an odd double-image of the scarecrow and a set of bronze-reinforced oak doors big enough to admit an elephant.

Read More Here

ENTER THE CONTEST

Each person who posts a comment will get one entry in the contest.

You can get an additional entries by doing the following (note these are in addition to posting a comment. You must comment first to be qualified).

• Option A: Tweet about the contest on Twitter (you must include @wickedjungle for your tweet to qualify each tweet will get you an additional entry).
• Option B: Become a follower of our blog (only new followers joining between the time of the contest will be counted).
• Option C: Promote the contest on your blog (you must include a link below to your blog post to be counted as an official entry).

Contest Ends Friday July 23 at  Midnight (Eastern) !!!

Author Spotlight: Bernita Harris

Our guest today us author, Bernita Harris, who has worked as a short-order cook, a library assistant, and a less-than- serious actress before winning a university fellowship and earning a Masters in English Literature. Subsequently, she worked in public affairs and later as a forensic consultant in occult-related material, events, practices and beliefs.

A Libra and left-handed, she is drawn naturally to the sinister side of justice. She has grown four splendid children and now lives in an old house in the Thousand Islands with a German shepherd, a “mostly” corgi and ten thousand books. A Canadian who hates the cold and thrives on spring, she spends her time writing, tending her herb and flower gardens and negotiating with the dead.

Previous to DARK AND DISORDERLY, her first novel, she has published occasional pieces of non-fiction, poetry and several short stories.  Welcome Bernita!

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

Name: Bernita Harris

Porn Star Name: ~snicker~ Rowdy Hunter

Author Spotlight & Contest with Linda Robertson

We are absolutely thrilled to have friend and author Linda Robertson on our site today. Linda Robertson not only writes, she is an artist, plays the piano and electric guitar, composes and was in a super-cool rock band four children ago. Now that her four sons are older, she’s looking for a new band. Originally from Mansfield, Ohio, she’s a graduate of Ohio State University and currently lives in Medina, Ohio. She loves sci-fi action movies, her boyfriend says she’s a geek, and she firmly believes there’s never a bad time to eat ice cream.

Us to Linda! Keep reading for your chance to win a signed copy of either Hallowed Circle or soon to be released Fatal Circle (in stores June 29th, 2010).

Name:  Linda Robertson

Porn Star Name: Brandy Stewart…or Fluffy Stewart.

(This would be the name of your childhood pet along with the name of the street where you grew up.)

Website Address: www.wolfsbaneandabsinthe.com (it’s getting re-vamped for the release of FATAL CIRCLE so go check it out!!!)

Writing Age:

I’m not certain how to answer this so, guessing, if we start with “infant writing” being what I wrote in elementary school, then “toddler writing” was in middle school, and “child writing” was in high school. “Tween writing” would be everything up until I got published, and “teen writing” would be what I’ve done since. I’m equating being published with getting a driver’s license here—instead of the state permitting me to drive on the roads, the publishing industry has allowed me to put my books on the shelves. That’s where I am now. I’ve learned SOOO much from my editor in this process. Paula Guran ROCKS! I don’t think I could claim that “appropriately mature” stage until I’ve done this professionally for ten years or so, like being tenured in.

First Published Work: VICIOUS CIRCLE

Current Release: FATAL CIRCLE

INSPIRATION AND MUSE

If you could live in any fictional universe/world what would it be?

The Star Trek world!!!! I’d have to be in Starfleet…I LOVE Klingons.

If you could have lunch with any author dead or alive whom would it be and why?

I had to think about this, but the Bronte sisters would surely lead an interesting conversation.

If you were locked in a room for 48 hours and forced to watch one TV show the entire time, which television series would you choose?

True Blood because I’ve only seen the first season!

What is the most outrageous or bizarre thing you have done in the name of “research”?

Tromped around Cleveland late at night taking pictures…some through the chain-locked doors that opened just enough to snap a picture of the service tunnels under the rail system. Mwahahahahaha.

What is your latest release?

FATAL CIRCLE

What inspired you to write said story/book?

It’s the third in the series, so it’s the natural outgrowth of what the characters have dealt with in the first two. I wanted to raise the stakes—for all of these destined people. So I looked at them all individually and asked: What would push them? What would hurt them? And how can I weave those answers together? The weaving is the fun part.

Fab Five

• Coffee or Tea? Definitely JAVA! With chocolate and peppermint, of course.
• Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate.
• Vampire or Werewolf? BOTH!!!
• Meatie or Veggie? Meat.
• Salty or Sweet? Sweet.

Last but not Least

Three words that describe you:  goofy, creative, semi-introverted.

Win a signed copy of Hallowed Circle or Fatal Circle!

Once again, a big thanks to Linda Robertson for joining us at Wicked Jungle. Ask Linda a question and you are  automatically entered into drawing for a free signed copy of either Hallowed Circle or Fatal Circle! And yes, international contestants are eligible.

To get you started, here is a sneak peak of Fatal Circle.

My living room clock read two-forty-six a.m. It was no longer Hallowe’en night, but All Hallows Day. Or, as some called it, All Saints’ Day. But it was no saint who held me in his arms—it was a wærewolf.

“I think you’d like my apartment, Red.” Red. That’s me. Persephone Alcmedi to the rest of the world. Seph to some. Red only to Johnny, my not-exactly-Big-Bad-wærewolf. “It has that open-living concept.”

I wasn’t fooled. “It’s a glorified dorm room, isn’t it?”

“If, by ‘glorified,’ you mean it has a private bathroom, then yes.” Johnny sniffed, affecting annoyance. “Something I sacrificed when I moved in here.”

I’d had to forfeit my home’s vampire defenses three weeks ago to save a friend’s life, Johnny had temporarily moved into the third-floor attic room—for protection purposes only. In the three weeks since, those defenses had since been reinstated, but he’d remained. Being the epitome of “tall, dark, and handsome,” I hadn’t complained.

“C’mon.” Johnny’s deep blue eyes glittered seductively. His voice dropped low. “Nothing’s more romantic than a bachelor pad.”

We’d both had a hell of an evening. Words like “hectic” or “demanding” didn’t begin to cover it. I must have been the only one suffering from fatigue.

Read More Here

ENETER THE CONTEST

Each person who posts a comment will get one entry in the contest.

You can get an additional entries by doing the following (note these are in addition to posting a comment. You must comment first to be qualified).

• Option A: Tweet about the contest on Twitter (you must include @wickedjungle for your tweet to qualify each tweet will get you an additional entry).
• Option B: Become a follower of our blog (only new followers joining between the time of the contest will be counted).
• Option C: Promote the contest on your blog (you must include a link below to your blog post to be counted as an official entry).

Contest Ends Sunday July 4th at  Midnight (Eastern) !!!

Author Spotlight: S. A. Swann

Name:

S A Swann/ S Andrew Swann

Porn Star Name:

Critter Hampshire

Website Address:

www.sandrewswann.com

Writing Age:

Given the amount of sex and violence, probably Mature.

First Published Work:

Forests of the Night (as S Andrew Swann)

Current Release:

Wolf’s Cross (as S A Swann, Spectra, July 2010)

INSPIRATION & MUSE

If you could live in any fictional universe/world what would it be?

Maybe Zelazny’s Amber universe(s), if I could be a royal uninvolved with all the backstabbing.

If you could have lunch with any author dead or alive whom would it be and why?

Stephen King— so I could pitch a collaboration that would make me rich, and if he doesn’t take me up on the offer, he still gets to pick up the tab for dinner J

If you were locked in a room for 48 hours and forced to watch one TV show the entire time, which television series would you choose?

I’m a great fan of Lost, but I actually did this one time with the entire run of Twin Peaks.

What is the most outrageous or bizarre thing you have done in the name of “research”?

Probably have to take the fifth on this as the statute of limitations hasn’t run out.

What is your latest release?

As I mentioned above, the medieval werewolf novel Wolf’s Cross is due out this July.  The last book was the middle third of my Apotheosis Trilogy space opera, Heretics, which came out last Feburary from DAW books.

What inspired you to write said story/book?

Wolf’s Cross was inspired by a combination of things; an interest in medieval Polish history, the mythos established in the prior novel, Wolfbreed, and Little Red Riding Hood. Heretics and Apotheosis Trilogy is a development of my thoughts about the spiritual implications of the technological singularity (the “rapture for nerds” taken literally.)

Fab Five

• Coffee or Tea? Diet Coke.
• Chocolate or Vanilla? White Chocolate.
• Vampire or Werewolf? See latest book J
• Meatie or Veggie? Kill it and eat it.
• Salty or Sweet? Large grains of salt.

Last but not least…three words that describe you: Things go boom.

Contest: Win it before you can buy it!

S.A. Swann was kind enough to offer us a sneak peak at his next release: Wolf’s Cross. Read below for an excerpt and comment to win your very own advance copy.

Interlude : Anno Domini 1333

Her name was Lucina, and she didn’t remember who had named her.  She lived in the deepest woods east of Gród Narew, and lived mostly ignorant of the humans dwelling there.  The people who lived on the fringes of these woods, especially those whose families had spent generations in its shadow, knew of her and her kind.  Lucina’s ancestors haunted the tales that had been spoken of in hushed tones ever since the land had become Christian.

However, it had been a long time since Lucina had family.  And a long time since her kind haunted these woods in any numbers.  She was alone, and the tales of the old folks about wolves clothed in human skin had become less urgent, less of a deterrent for hungry men who needed to hunt for their family’s larder.

Lucina would watch these men as they made their weak attempts to hunt.  Sometimes she would watch with the eyes of a wolf, sometimes with the eyes of a raven-haired maiden.  She would watch them come into her wood, and more often than not, return empty-handed.

She watched, not out of any malice, but out of curiosity and a deep loneliness.  She was the last of her kind in these woods, and she thought perhaps the last of her kind anywhere.  These men who came to find game, they all had a home to go to.

Home was as alien a concept to Lucina as having to trap her prey or shoot it with an arrow.

Each winter, her despair grew deeper.  She would always be alone, and she envied these human women who sent their men out to parade in front of her.  Why?  What could these frail human women give that she could not?  She was stronger then they were, faster, and a better hunter than these poor men. . .

It was not long before she decided that there was no reason she couldn’t have what they had.  When she decided this, Lucina studied these men with a new eye, looking for someone she could love, and could love her back.  She watched how they moved, how they hunted, how they carried their kill.

And only days into the winter, when the snow barely dusted the needle floor of her woods, she saw the man who would become her mate.  This man had broad shoulders and a stature above all the others who braved her forest.  He carried a masculine scent that made Lucina lick her lips in anticipation.

This was the man who would free her from her solitude.

Read More Here

Win a signed copy of Wolf’s Cross!

Once again, a big thanks to S.A. Swann for joining us at Wicked Jungle. Share your thoughts or ask a question and you are automatically entered into drawing for a free advanced copy of his current book Wolf’s Cross.

Each person who posts a comment will get one entry in the contest.

You can get an additional entries by doing the following (note these are in addition to posting a comment. You must comment first to be qualified).

• Option A: Tweet about the contest on Twitter (you must include @wickedjungle for your tweet to qualify each tweet will get you an additional entry).
• Option B: Become a follower of our blog (only new followers joining between the time of the contest will be counted).
• Option C: Promote the contest on your blog (you must include a link below to your blog post to be counted as an official entry).

Contest Ends TUESDAY June 29th, 2010 at  Midnight (Eastern) !!!

Author Spotlight: Linda Wisdom

Today’s guest is author Linda Wisdom. Linda sold her first two novels to Silhouette Romance on her wedding anniversary in 1979. Since then she has sold more than eighty novels and one novella to six publishers. Her books have appeared on various romance and mass market bestseller lists and she has been nominated for and won a number of Romantic Times awards and a Romance Writers of America Rita Award.

Thanks Linda for taking part in our author spotlight at Wicked Jungle!!

Name: Linda Wisdom

Porn Star Name: Princess Constitution

Website Address: www.lindawisdom.com

Writing Age: From the moment I could pick up a crayon.

First Published Work: Dancer in the Shadows, Silhouette Romance, 1980

Current Release: Hex in High Heels, Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend coming spring 2011

INSPIRATION AND MUSE

If you could live in any fictional universe/world what would it be?

I guess my own since I’d love to hang out with the witches.

If you were locked in a room for 48 hours and forced to watch one TV show the entire time, which television series would you choose?

Supernatural – Dean is so hot!

What is the most outrageous or bizarre thing you have done in the name of “research”?

I must be very boring because I don’t think there is anything.

What is your latest release?

Hex in High Heels

What inspired you to write said story/book?

Blair wanted her story told and the grungy elves I came up with just made it more fun!

Fab Five

• Coffee or Tea? Coffee
• Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
• Vampire or Werewolf? I have to choose? Werewolf
• Meatie or Veggie? Total carnivore
• Salty or Sweet? Sweet

Last but not least–three words that describe you:

Snarky, funny, loyal (I always have a shovel and alibi ready)

Contest: Linda’s Prizes and Freebies!

Linda was kind enough to offer us a sneak peak at her next release: DEMONS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Chapter 1

“Oh yeah, just another Saturday night hitting the clubs, watching the dancers, feeling blood stream out of my ears.” Maggie O’Malley winced as Static-X’s Destroyer screamed from the state-of-the-art speakers embedded in the club’s walls. Still, she couldn’t stop her hips from moving to the throbbing music. If she wasn’t there on business she would have been out there dancing. “Why don’t you just shoot me now?”

“Any females get naked yet?” the voice of Frebus, one of her team members, rumbled from the mic in her ear. “It’s only a matter of time ’til somebody gets caught up in the moment and starts tearing off their clothes. You gotta love shapeshifters cuz they’re always the first to get down and dirty.”

Maggie played idly with the crystal earring that dangled almost to her bare shoulders. She considered her jewelry a much better look for a mic and earpiece than the usual spy gear. If only she could mute the music for an hour. Or ten.

“Sorry sweetie, I’m only seeing half-naked, but think positive. The evening’s still young.” She grinned as she heard the low groan in her ear. Frebus and her other backup, Meech and Tita, were strategically placed around the interior, on the lookout for one particular degenerate in the sea of questionable characters.

Read More Here

Win a signed copy of Hex In High Heels!

Once again, a big thanks to Linda for joining us at Wicked Jungle. Share your thoughts or ask a question and you are automatically entered into drawing for a free signed copy of Linda’s current book Hex in High Heels.

Each person who posts a comment will get one entry in the contest.

You can get an additional entries by doing the following (note these are in addition to posting a comment. You must comment first to be qualified).

• Option A: Tweet about the contest on Twitter (you must include @wickedjungle for your tweet to qualify each tweet will get you an additional entry).
• Option B: Become a follower of our blog (only new followers joining between the time of the contest will be counted).
• Option C: Promote the contest on your blog (you must include a link below to your blog post to be counted as an official entry).

Contest Ends SUNDAY June 27th, 2010 at  Midnight (Eastern) !!!

Author Spotlight: Alayna Williams

Our guest today is Author Alayna Williams. She has an MA in sociology-criminology (research interests: fear of crime and victimology) and a BA in criminology. She has worked in and around criminal justice since 1997. Although she does read Tarot cards, she’s never used them in criminal profiling or to locate lost scientists. She recently took up astronomy, but for the most part her primary role in studying constellations and dark matter is to follow her amateur astronomer-husband around central Ohio toting the telescope tripod and various lenses. More info is at www.alaynawilliams.com.

“Alayna” is also known as Laura Bickle, the author of Embers from Pocket Juno.

Author Profile

Name: Alayna Williams

Porn Star Name:

Rusty Moore

Website Address: www.alaynawilliams.com

Writing Age:

My books are aimed toward the “appropriately mature” – there is smut! But my inner child is well and happy. I have an ass-kicking Wonder Woman action figure collection! Read more

Author Profile: Janni Nell

Our guest today is author Janni Nell. After growing up in a beachside suburb of Sydney, Australia, Janni Nell traveled overseas, working in the UK before returning to Sydney, where she now lives. Janni began writing in her late teens. She has won prizes for short story but her dream was to publish a novel. Carina Press fulfilled that dream when Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator was published 14th June 2010. Janni’s goal is to write more books featuring Allegra and her drop-dead gorgeous guardian angel, Casper. When Janni isn’t writing, you can find her line dancing.

Author Profile

Name: Janni Nell

Porn Star Name: Lassie Paloma.  Doesn’t sound too bad. Maybe I’ve missed my true calling!

Website Address: www.janninell.com

Writing Age: Teen. I began writing poetry and moved on to novels.

First Published Work: Circles –  a short story.

Current Release: Allegra Fairweather: Paranormal Investigator Read more

Author Spotlight: Marcia Colette

Today’s guest blogger is Marcia Colette. Marcia was born in upstate New York and holds a bachelors degree in biomedical engineering and a masters degree in information technology. She is now living in the south again, in the lovely state of North Carolina, with her mom and beautiful daughter. Marcia is a member of the Horror Writers Association, Paranormal Mystery Writers, and Romance Writers of America. The best place to find her is on her blog (marciacolette.wordpress.com) where she loves connecting with readers and other writers. Conferences/conventions where sci-fi, fantasy, and horror reign supreme are a good bet, too, along with the occasional romance conference. Welcome Marcia!!

Author Profile

Name: Marcia Colette

Porn Star Name: Whiskers Schuyler  (Wow.  That’s so not sexy.)

Website Address: www.marciacolette.com

Writing Age: Appropriately Mature and very naive.

First Published Work: HALF BREED

Current Release: STRIPPED Read more

Wicked Jungle Goes to RT

If you don’t know what RT is or why we are so excited over here at Wicked Jungle, RT is short for the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention and this is our first year, well my first year, attending. We can’t wait to spend five whole days mingling with authors, chatting with fellow fans, and generally just geeking out about books.

For those of you attending be sure to look for us. We have some spots in Promotional Row, with a giveaway sign up and free chocolate (first come first serve). I will be attending some of the parties and socials, including the RWA FFP chapter cocktail on Tuesday evening.

For those of you not attending, please don’t fret. We will be blogging live from the conference. We will be tweeting live from the conference. We will be interviewing and attending signings, and basically getting tons of information, all of which we hope to post on the site for our readers.

Here is a listing of all the authors we will be hunting down, staking out, and basically drooling over:

1.     LA Banks	16. Mark Henry	31. Jeri Smith-Ready
2.     Michele Bardsley	17. Leanna Renee Hieber	32. Jeanne C. Stein
3.     Jennifer Lynn Barnes	18. Jackie Kessler	33. Rachel Vincent
4.     Anya Bast	19. Caitlin Kittredge	34. J.R. Ward
5.     Laura Bickle	20. Melissa Marr	35. Jaye Wells
6.     Holly Black	21. Liz Maverick	36. Rebecca York
7.     Jenna Black	22. Richelle Mead
8.     Jim Butcher	23. Patrice Michelle
9.      Cat Adams	24. Devon Monk
10. Carolyn Crane	25. Nicole Peeler
11. Alyssa Day	26. Kat Richardson
12. S.J. Day	27. Linda Robertson
13. Jennifer Estep	28. Michelle Rowen
14. Jeaniene Frost	29. Carrie Ryan
15. Charlaine Harris	30. Jessa Slade

So yeah, it will be a very busy week! Out of this list, who is your absolute, top favorite, must snag an interview with author? Tell me in the comments and I’ll see what I can do! Add your question, and if I get them to answer it, you may win a special prize!!

Behind-the-Scenes with Megan Crewe

This week’s guest blogger is Megan Crewe, author of YA novel, Give Up the Ghost. Megan lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and two cats. Her short stories have appeared in anthologies and magazines such as Brutarian Quarterly and On Spec.  GIVE UP THE GHOST is her first novel.  You can learn more about Megan by visiting her website at www.megancrewe.com.

Guest Blogger: Megan Crewe

As an author, I think the question I get asked most is “Where did you get the idea for your book?” This is often difficult to answer, and not just because inspiration can be mysterious.  The truth is that one book idea comes not from one specific place, but from many different sources, all blended together into something new and exciting.

To give you an example, here are some of the pieces that came together to form what is now my first novel, GIVE UP THE GHOST:

Life

When I was in high school, I overheard some younger girls talking about how they were avoiding another girl they used to be friends with, whom they’d now decided was too weird.  They made fun of her and laughed about how no one wanted to hang out with her any more.  That stuck with me, and made me wonder what it’s like being on the receiving end of that sort of “friendship.”  And eventually it produced Cass, GHOST’s main character, who had her own friends turn on her in junior high.

Fiction

Because I write YA, I’m always reading YA fiction.  One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that most real-world protagonists who are saddled with a supernatural ability (like talking to ghosts) resist their talent and wish they were normal.  I started thinking it’d be interesting to write about a character who embraced her ability, and incorporated it into her everyday life.  In GHOST, I explored what might happen if someone relied too much on her supernatural talent, at the expense of the good parts of “normal” life.

Mythology

While writing GHOST, naturally I drew on my knowledge of standard ghost lore.  I played around with the idea that ghosts may be waiting for some sort of trigger to move on, and that they might be stuck in the time period when they died.  The existing mythology gave me something to build on, and also inspired some of the plot’s twists and turns.

Research

After I determined that my main character had been bullied and ostracized, I wanted to make sure I portrayed what had happened to her authentically.  The book that helped me the most was ODD GIRL OUT by Rachel Simmons.  It allowed me to create a believable backstory for Cass and to understand how her experiences would have shaped who she was.

Good Old Random Inspiration

Before the research and the writing, the book first came into being one night when I was drifting off to sleep.  The image of a teenage girl talking to her dead sister like it was an everyday thing popped into my head–out of nowhere, or some unknowable part of my unconscious.  That’s where the mystery of creativity comes in.  I may be able to see where the pieces of the idea came from, but there is a spark I can’t control, that made it all more than just the sum of those parts.

Contest: Win a signed copy of Give Up the Ghost!

Once again, a big thanks to Megan for joining us today on Wicked Jungle. We want to keep the conversation going so this contest is going to be all about comments! Given the gossip girl nature of the book, we want to know what your experience was (or is) like in high school. Did you loose a childhood friend as you entered teenage life? Did you ever participate in gossip? What was the craziest gossip rumor to hit your high school?

Each person who posts a comment (in response to the above questions) will get one entry in the contest.

You can get an additional entries by doing the following (note these are in addition to posting a comment. You must comment first to be qualified).

Option A: Tweet about the contest on Twitter (you must include @wickedjungle for your tweet to qualify each tweet will get you an additional entry).

Option B: Become a follower of our blog (only new followers joining between the time of the contest will be counted).

Contest Ends Saturday at 12PM Eastern!!!

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