Interview With Donna Hosie

I'm delighted to welcome back my friend, author Donna Hosie, who will be releasing her self-published novel, The Spirit of Nimue, the final installment of her Return to Camelot trilogy, on May 31st.

1. What an amazing accomplishment: writing, revising, and self-publishing your young adult urban fantasy. Congratulations! What has been the best part of your writing journey so far?
The best part was receiving those first reviews. I knew/hoped this trilogy was good enough, and so to start getting four and five star reviews from people I didn't know was just thrilling.

2. What has been the hardest part of that same journey?
The release of book two. I literally vomited with nerves! Everyone hears about second book syndrome and I was terrified that people wouldn't like THE FIRE OF MERLIN as much as SEARCHING FOR ARTHUR. As it turned out, people loved it even more!

3. Who has been your biggest supporter?
I can't single one person out, but I have an army of friends who get behind me in every way imaginable when it comes to promotion time. The thank you list on THE SPIRIT OF NIMUE is huge! My husband has never once complained about the time I spend in the study, pounding away on the keyboard, and so I should mention him too!

4. You recently finished the A to Z Blogging Challenge with a Harry Potter theme. (Total LOVE, btw. I enjoyed every post!) Rowling was the subject for your letter R post. Besides J.K. Rowling, what other author(s) inspires you?
Difficult question. I would say Philip Pullman for not compromising; Kate Morton for her use of language; and Carlos Ruiz Zafon for simply being awesome.

5. What book are you reading right now and what are you looking forward to reading this year?
I am currently rereading the His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman. I've read a number of very disappointing YA novels recently and I needed to go back to a well-loved classic. I'm really looking forward to the new Dan Brown novel, as well as And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini...and Isla and the Happily Ever After.

Now for the more serious questions. (ahem)

6. What is your favorite word? Least favorite?
Favourite word is "Bob" as spoken by Rowan Atkinson! Least favourite word is "Work" especially when I have to do it!

7. What would be your preferred mode of transportation? Apparition? flying Ford Anglia? riding a horse bareback in skinny jeans? Other?
LMAO at the reference to skinny jeans and bareback riding - possibly everyone's favourite scene in SEARCHING FOR ARTHUR! I would love to be able to apparate at will. That said, I like to listen to music on the commute because I get a lot of inspiration from movie soundtracks.

8. Are any of your characters based on yourself or on real people? Of course, I'm implying that you're real, too, even though we've never actually met in person. Um, you are real, right? (of course that would explain her superhuman ability to juggle self-publishing one series, submitting the first book in her new series with her agent, writing another, working full-time...hmm)
*pinches self* Ouch, yes, I'm real! Not a single character of mine is based on a living person. I have a dark and dangerous imagination and can create voices and faces at will!

9. Describe your favorite pair of shoes.
My favourite pair right now are a pair of two-tone, four inch stilettos. They are white, with a black toe and thick black ankle strap. They are instruments of torture, but I get more compliments when I wear those than I do when I wear my Jimmy Choos. Absolutely worth the pain and blood - and yes, there is blood!

10. Is it harder to...
      a. Write and self-publish a book.
      b. Raise kids.
      c. Raise a puppy.
      d. Sleep for more than 5 hours.

Easey peasey - I can't sleep more than five hours. It probably isn't healthy, but I am up at 4am every day, with the exception of Sunday which is my lie-in day, but even then I have the iPad out and I am on social media or answering emails! I have a restless intellect and can't sit still.

Thanks for stopping by, Donna. I can't wait for Book 3!
The Spirit of Nimue will be available on May 31st is available now at Amazon. For info on Donna and her YA novels, visit her at:
Musings of a Penniless Writer
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Cover Reveal: The Spirit of Nimue

First, there was Searching for Arthur.

Followed by The Fire of Merlin.

May I introduce Book 3 in my dear friend, Donna Hosie's, young adult urban fantasy series, The Spirit of Nimue.


THE RETURN TO CAMELOT trilogy concludes in... 

Natasha Roth and her older brother, Arthur, have removed the magical darkness that had fallen over the land of Logres.

But all actions have consequences.

Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, is now a sworn enemy. Natasha realises that the only way the land of Logres will truly be at peace is if the sorceress is removed forever. So with her beloved Sir Bedivere, the feisty Guinevere, and a trusty brethren of knights, Natasha plots to free Logres from the malevolence of Nimue once and for all.

Yet Arthur also has problems. Now a father to Mila, he starts to witness a terrifying change over his girlfriend, Samantha, as she struggles to contain the awakened powers of Morgana.

With dark magic coming at them from all sides, Natasha and Arthur decide to make use of the Falls of Merlin: a mystical landscape of waterfalls that connects 21st century England with the mystical world they fell into. A place that does not exist in the future.

And by the end, they will know why.

As Natasha finally discovers the truth about her past link to Logres a tragedy will strike at her very heart. Can Arthur get his young family back to the 21st century and still continue to be the king that Logres demands he be? What is the secret that Sir Gareth has been hiding all this time? 

And who is the true owner of Excalibur?



THE SPIRIT OF NIMUE will be released on Amazon on May 31, 2013. It is the final book in THE RETURN TO CAMELOT trilogy. 

*happy dancing*

You can find more info about Donna and her fabulous trilogy at her blog, Musings of A Penniless Writer.

Boston Strong

Happiness is...

- Reading a book that starts off somewhat slow, drawing me into the lives and friendship of two courageous young women, unexpectably takes my breath away causing me to hide in the bathroom as I gasp and sob, ugly tears, and then delivers a satisying ending and lingers in my brain for days. The book: CODE NAME VERITY by Elizabeth Wein. I highly recommend this one.

- Waking up to learn that BBC America is developing a mini-series of JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL by Susanna Clarke, one of my favorite books!
BBC America
The New York Times

- Reaching 20,000+ words yesterday on my WiP.

*happy Snoopy dancing*

What makes you happy today?

Cover Reveal: A Change of Plans

Today, I have the honor of revealing the book cover of a dear friend's debut novel. Without further ado, may I introduce A Change of Plans, an adventure romance by author, Donna  K. Weaver, published by Rhemalda Publishing.

When Lyn sets off on her supposedly uncomplicated and unromantic cruise, she never dreams it will include pirates. All the 25-year-old, Colorado high school teacher wants to do is forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. Lyn plans a vacation diversion; fate provides Braedon, an intriguing surgeon. She finds herself drawn to him: his gentle humor, his love of music, and even his willingness to let her take him down during morning karate practices. Against the backdrop of the ship’s make-believe world and temporary friendships, her emotions come alive. 

However, fear is an emotion, too. Unaware of the sensitive waters he's navigating, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship--on the very anniversary Lyn is on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs from Braedon and what he has to offer.

Their confusing relationship is bad enough, but when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions in American Samoa things get worse. Paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped and Lyn's fear of a fairytale turns grim. Now she must fight alongside the man she rejected, first for their freedom and then against storms, sharks, and shipwreck.

Author Bio:

Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe. Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband.

At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.

After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.

Donna and her husband reside in Utah, they have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.

________________________

Your cover is gorgeous, Donna! I can't wait to read it!

A Change of Plans is due to be released on June 1, 2013.
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Going Camping!

                                                                                                                       

While a lot of my fellow bloggers will be cranking out daily posts during April in the A to Z blogging challenge, I will be at camp.

Ah, camping...A whole month of bunking with other campers, making friendship bracelets and gimp keychains, applying calomine lotion to a multitude of bug bites, and sharing ghost stories around the campfire while downing a few smores.

Truth is, I've never really gone camping. The closest I came was spending the night in my friend's grandparents' trailer on a mattress after having a few beers and laughs. We were warm, dry, and  managed to fend off most of the mosquitoes on the way to the showers.

But I'm not talking about that kind of camping. During April I'll be participating in Camp NaNoWriMo for the first time. I'll be trading a sleeping bag for my rolly chair, bug juice for coffee, and archery for tapping out words on a keyboard. If you're not familiar with CNNWM, it's similar to November's NaNoWriMo without the crazy pressure to write a 50,000 word novel in one month, which for me is one of the most difficult ones to write in every year. Camp NaNoWriMo occurs twice a year: in April and July - and you can set your own goal.

Want to add 30K to finish a current project? Go to Camp.
Need to revise your novel? Go to Camp.
Want to start a new ms? You guessed it...go to Camp.
Want to go on a scavenger hunt, play Capture the Flag, and short sheet your cabin mate's cot? Well, this camp won't satisfy those needs, I'm afraid.

Me? I've been working on a Young Adult Ghost Story for a while. I'm about 17,000 words in and hope to add between 20-30K to my word count during the month of April. While the blogosphere is busying A to Z-ing, I'll be concentrating on reaching the 3/4 mark of my WiP.

What about you? Will you be "Camping," participating in the A to Z blogfest, or doing your own thing during April? Have you ever participated in Camp NaNoWriMo?

Spring, Where Art Thou?

You wouldn't know it by the view out my back sliding glass door, but tomorrow is the first day of spring.

Another day of accumulating snow and sleet. (8 inches)

Another day off from school/work (we're up to 6 now).

Another day of cold cheeks and runny noses while shoveling.

Another day of sore muscles from shoveling heavy, wet snow.

Another day of warming up with hot chocolate.

Another day dreaming of cozy sunshine and green grass.

Another day of unplanned writing!

How's the weather in your part of the world?