Success only flourishes in perseverance -- ceaseless, restless perseverance.
--Baron Manfred Von Richtofen

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

One Word Interview with C. David Belt

Today, we welcome LDS fantasy author C. David Belt to the Writing Chair. His novel, The Penitent, the second in his Children of Lilith Series was a 2012 Whitney Award Finalist. Welcome, David!

Zombie apocalypse! What fictional character do you most want by your
side?

John Carter.

An excellent choice!

Your MCs house is on fire. What's the first thing he would grab?
Daytime: cloak; Nighttime: broadsword.

Of course. He is a vampire after all!

You've been plunked down in the middle of your latest book. Weapon of choice? 
Mortal: M-16;  Vampire: basket-hilt claymore.

Yeah, I think I'd go for the sword myself.

What historical figure would you most like to have lunch with?
John Adams

That would be interesting. I wonder what he'd make of our current political climate.

You're having your favorite author over for dinner. What are you serving?
Spoo.

Wonderful! (Bonus points to everyone who gets the reference.)

 Thank you so much for joining us today!

In all the 6,000 years that the Children of Lilith have walked among us,
there has never been an unwilling vampire . . . until now.

Carl Morgan has lost everything. His wife and children were killed in a
senseless accident. Then he witnesses the murder of his sister at the hands
of a beautiful and mysterious woman named Rebecca. When the police cannot
locate the killer, Carl takes matters into his own hands. But his search for
justice costs him everything he holds dear.

Carl is unknowingly transformed into the world's first and only unwilling
vampire. He is cut off from the light, damned to an eternity of darkness,
barred from heaven and any hope of a reunion with his family.

Moira MacDonald, a repentant vampire, has roamed the earth alone for
centuries seeking redemption. The very existence of an unwilling vampire,
something she thought impossible, changes everything. Has she finally found
a path to redemption . . . and an end to her loneliness?

Carl and Moira discover that Rebecca's vampire Master, Michael, plans to
unleash a plague of vampires on the city. Can Carl and Moira stop the
slaughter of countless innocents?


In 6,000 years, no vampire has ever defied Lilith, Queen of the
vampires...until now.

Moira and Carl Morgan have saved the city from the horror of Michael and his
evil wives, but victory has come at terrible cost.

And there are consequences to every choice, every victory.

Word has spread that someone has broken Lilith's power, that someone has
defied the ancient Queen of the vampires.

And she's not happy about it.


For 6,000 years, Lilith and her Children have walked the earth, hunting,
preying, seducing, corrupting, ruling from the shadows...until now.

An ancient prophecy, spoken by Adam, Lilith's grandfather, foretells her
doom. She will do anything, corrupt any innocent, murder countless mortals
to save herself.

To survive, she knows she must destroy Carl and Moira Morgan.

The war has begun.


Wednesday, July 17, 2013

One Word Interview with Theresa Sneed

Today's One Word Interview comes to us from fantasy author Theresa Sneed. Her novels, No Angel and Earthbound were both Whitney Award Finalists! Welcome, Theresa.

Stranded on a desert island. What's your must-have item?
My must-have anything is my husband Bill ... but you said item, so I'll say my scriptures. But now my imagination is kicking in, and I'm betting I could live off fish and coconuts, make a thatched roof hut to live in, and boil water down if I can't find a fresh spring to drink from; and I'm thinking I could make paper out of wood pulp or leaves, so I guess all I need is a big box of pencils with good erasers. 

That was more than one word! But I'll let it pass. Nice logic. A box of pencils is a terrific item to have.

Your characters are coming over for dinner. What are you serving?
Angel hair spaghetti  with garlic and herbs and angel food cake for dessert.

Because they are angels! Hee hee. Sounds yummy.

You've been plunked down in the middle of your latest book. Which character do you do seek out first?
Coe - one of the leaders in the No-Choice Movement in my novel, Earthbound ~ not because he's my favorite character, but because he's so charismatic, and I'd like to find out for myself what he's up to.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, right?

What historical figure would you most like to have lunch with?
Other than religious leaders (which would be my first choice), I'd love to sit down with J.R.R. Tolkien, because his intellect fascinates me.

I would love to spend time visiting with Tolkien too. A true genius.

What fictional world would you most like to live in?
If I could live in a fictional world, I'd be a student at Hogwarts ~ too much fun and adventure!
Oh, Hogwarts. Yes. Wouldn't that be a hoot?

Thanks for joining us in the writing chair today, Theresa!

People often ask me why I write about angels ~ I write about angels, because I believe in them. I can’t imagine that God would send us to earth without their extra help. Read my novels, and see if you don’t believe in them too.

No Angel is the story of Jonathan Stewart ~ an angel with an attitude. He was not at all happy about having to return to earth as a guardian angel, but it’s required of all post-mortal spirits to fulfill at least one angel guardianship. Fortunately, on the Guardians Unlimited application, he had the good sense to request a client with early-marked-death status, so he believes that while his stay on earth will be most unpleasant, at least it will be short. What he doesn’t know is that a spirit with EMD status can choose his or her time of death! Jonathan’s client, Celeste Knight, has a mind of her own and refuses death at every turn, leaving him stuck as her guardian angel – in a place he only wanted to forget.

Heaven used to be such a perfect place …

As the time draws near for the first spirits to leave their home in heaven, a group of rebellious dissenters begins to appear at every blue-planet planning meeting, demanding that all mortals are ruled by compulsory choice, instead of having the freedom to choose for themselves. Daniel is a courageous Freedom Fighter who vehemently opposes the No Choice movement. Sophie is impressed by his strong desire to do what’s right … and by his intense blue eyes. But she also has a strange attraction to the handsome and ostentatious Coe, a leader of the No Choice movement, who has his sights on her and will stop at nothing to claim her as his own.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

One Word Interview with Michelle D. Argyle

Today we welcome Michelle D. Argyle to the writing chair, author of Monarch, The Breakaway and other novels. Welcome Michelle!

We are holding a banquet in honor of your awesomeness. What are we
serving for dessert?

Pecan pie

Oh, yum. I think that's the best dessert answer yet.

Aliens attack! Your weapon of choice?
Batliff! (I may or may not be a Trekkie ...)

Perfect! (I may be a Trekkie as well.)
 
What historical figure would you most like to have lunch with?
Kate Chopin (she's a writer)

I bet she'd be fascinating to chat with. 

You've been plunked down in a fairy tale. Which character are you?
Maleficent (maybe I could change for good ...)
 
Well, at the very least you'd get to wear that wonderful black and purple outfit. I love it!

Which one of your characters is most like you?
Naomi (from The Breakaway)

She must be pretty amazing. :)

Thanks for joining us in the writing chair today, Michelle!

Michelle lives and writes in Utah, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. She adores cheese, chocolate, sushi, and lots of ethnic food, and loves to read and write books in the time she grabs between her sword-wielding husband and energetic daughter. She believes a simple life is the best life. Michelle writes contemporary Young Adult and New Adult fiction (and other genres when she feels like it).