Rebecca Russell Guest Post

Today I have with me Rebecca Russell here is some about her:

Rebecca Ryals Russell writes MG and YA Dark Fantasy and Horror while living with her family in a Victorian house on five acres of North Florida countryside. She also runs a Vacation Rental Log House on the property: Florida Black Bear Cabin. ( http://flablackbearcabin.com )

She is a fourth generation Floridian. She was born in Gainesville, grew up in Sunrise, lived in Orlando and Jacksonville before moving outside Lake City to care for ailing parents. The family now wishes to return to Jacksonville, which is why the house is for sale. (http://mcleranhouse.com )

The daughter of an Elementary-school principal and secretary, for fourteen years she taught Middle Grades, preferring English and Creative Writing. She had several students’ works published in anthologies as well as her own poetry, photography and stories. Her main interests are her four children ages 22, 19, 16, 11 and Irish hubby of 35 years. She enjoys spending her time writing, drawing, going to movies, reading, discussing philosophy with her 16-year-old son.

Over the course of the next few years she has several books being published.

Here she is:

What draws you to write fantasy?

Growing up I read one fantasy book after another and watched every episode of Lost in Space, Star Trek (every episode at least 3 times), Star Wars, anything Sci Fi. I devoured Lord of the Rings, every Anne McCaffrey book written, the Sword of Shannara series by Terry Brooks, I loved the Dark Tower series by Stephen King and read many of David Eddings series. In fact, it was while finishing a David Eddings book the concept for my first book was born. It then took me thirty years to finish writing it. I love writing Fantasy because of the room for invention. World building is so much fun I could just keep building and populating worlds. Does that give me a ‘god’ complex? Only on paper.

It is my belief that readers love Fantasy because of the escapism is provides. Fantasy as a genre has grown in popularity for that reason. Not only does Fantasy provide spectacular worlds to visit but the reader can wield a sword or crown, wings or breathe fire.
What other genre allows so many fantasies to be borne out by the reader? And for those who enjoy Romance, it lends itself perfectly to the Fantasy world in a wide variety of ways. The reader can easily be the Princess finding her Prince or Faeries and Elves. And dragons can be good or bad, helpful or not. Not only that, but in the Fantasy world any kind of magical creature, Mythological or newly created, can be born and used.

The Seraphym Wars Series, Odessa, was a trip to write. Although it took me thirty years to finally sit down and put the words to paper, the story went through so many evolutions it wasn’t really even the same story by the time I finished. I chose to go the evil dragon route and incorporated the apocalypse and Revelations from the Bible as well as pulling actual news accounts for the evil committed by the dragon-demons. I couldn’t imagine worse evil than I have found in the daily news.

Then I created a world that is Steampunk because Narciss, the head dragon and ruler of Tartarus (Mythological Hell) suppressed technology to control the planet’s population. The planet is predominantly primal forests full of dangerous creatures designed from Mythological elements. But in the farthest corner of the globe away from Narciss sits an enchanted island. After the Great Shuddering, the arrival of the dragon-demons on the peaceful planet of Solsyl, the Majikals who had been living all over the planet migrated to this island.

So now what remains of the Elves and Faeries, Dwarves, Mermaids and other creatures I designed live on the island with a Majikal shield around it. This is where my main character, 17-year-old Myrna leads the other six Vigorios. These are the teenaged demon hunters prophesied to defeat the demons in the final battle between the Seraphym and Demons. On the island they will train with the Majikals and finish assembling the army. But just because something is prophesied doesn’t mean it will come to pass. And that is what the Vigorios are finding out.

Thanks Rebecca! I love fantasy so I'm super excited to read this!!!!

Here’s some more about the book;

17-year-old Myrna is drawn into the middle of an epic battle between Seraphym and Demons. An average High School student from Florida, struggling with inner demons resulting from an attack when she was 15, she wakes one morning on the Steampunk planet of Dracwald, home of the demon-dragons responsible for her brother’s recent murder as well as many other atrocities in the news. She meets sweet and sensitive Michael, who explains that according to prophecy, Myrna must gather the remaining six Vigorios (teen warriors with special talents) then train with the Majikals on an enchanted island. He accompanies her on the quest, but harbors a secret past that ironically would destroy all the faith she has placed in him. A handsomely roguish Scientist with suspect motives haunts her dreams and makes sudden appearances in unlikely places, while a sensual dragon warrior defends her against her will.

Future Imperfect

Title: Future Imperfect
Author: K. Ryer Breese
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: April 26, 2011
Received From: Publisher via Teen {Book} Scene

Summary:
Ade Patience can see the future and it's destroying his life. When the seventeen-year-old Mantlo High School student knocks himself unconscious, he can see days and decades into his own future. Ade's the best of Denver's "divination" underground and eager to join the heralded Mantlo Diviners, a group of similarly enabled teens. Yet, unlike the Diviners, Ade Patience doesn't see the future out of curiosity or good will; Ade gives himself concussions because he's addicted to the high, the Buzz, he gets when he breaks the laws of physics. And while there have been visions he's wanted to change, Ade knows the Rule: You can't change the future, no matter how hard you try.

His memory is failing, his grades are in a death spiral, and both Ade's best friend and his shrink are begging him to stop before he kills himself. Ade knows he needs to straighten-out. Luckily, the stunning Vauxhall Rodolfo has just transferred to Mantlo and, as Ade has seen her in a vision two years previously, they're going to fall in love. It's just the motivation Ade needs to kick his habit. Only things are a bit more complicated. Vauxhall has an addiction of her own, and, after a a vision in which he sees Vauxhall's close friend, Jimmy, drown while he looks on seemingly too wasted to move, Ade realizes that he must break the one rule he's been told he can't.

Review:

This book was very odd. The main character felt the need to give himself a concussion so he could see the future. I personally would NEVER harm myself so drastically just for that high. But I guess people do that sort of thing all the time so who am I to judge. That little aspect made parts of this book uncomfortable for me. The other part that was odd to me was his mother. She basically encouraged him to damage himself so she could see the future through him. I found this very disturbing and strange.

But beyond that it really was a brilliant idea. So different and fast paced. Vauxhall was a good addition to the story because without her the story really would have fallen apart completely. While I found her very annoying she was very, very important to the story’s development. I appreciated that because characters who don’t contribute to the main storyline drive me nuts.

While this book had its flaws in storytelling and in execution. It was overall a good book.

 

 

Jennifer Laurens This or That

 

Today I have with me Jennifer Laurens author of the new book Overprotected sharing with us some of the things she prefers! Be sure to check out my review of Overprotected coming soon. And don’t forget to check out Overprotected!

1.) Blue or Red? Blue.
2.) Penguin or Puffin? Puffin.
3.) Pill or Liquid? Pill.
4.) Shrek or Donkey? Donkey.
5.) Snail Mail or Email? EMAIL!!
6.) Movie Theater or drive in? Movie theater.
7.) Pencil or pen? Pen.
8.) Snow or Sun? SUN!
9.) Coffee or Tea? Coffee.
10.) Flowers or Candy? Chocolate.
11.) Cat or dog?Both.
12.) Paper or Ebook? Both.
13.) Socks or Slippers? Slippers.
14.) Heels or flats?Heels.
15.) Croatia or Bora Bora? Bora Bora.

 

Thanks Jennifer! Be sure to check out her new book Overprotected!

Ten’s List

Today I have with me K. Ryer Breese the author of Future Imperfect, coming out April 26, 2011

The top ten places I'd love to visit (in no particular order):

1) Nine Hells of Beppu, Japan;

2) Great Barrier Reef;

3) Sanquingshan, China;

4) Huivulai Island, Mexico;

5) Koh Phi Phi Lei, Thailand;

6) Valle de la Luna, Brazil;

7) Socotra Island, Indian Ocean;

8) Antelope Canyon, Arizona;

9) White Desert, Egypt;

10) Pamukkle, Turkey.

 

Great choices! I have never even heard of some of those places. Make sure to check out my review of Future Imperfect, coming soon. And pick it up when it debuts on April 26th!