My chat with Calum Wade from #LightOfTheMoon

MN: Hi, Calum! Thanks so much for stopping by and hanging with me this week! I’m so excited you’re here!

CW: Thank you for having me.

MN: So, Calum some serious stuff goes down in Light of the Moon. Wow. I’ve gotta say you are pretty awesome. That being said what scares you the most?

CW: Honestly, I think the thing that scares me the most is losing the people I love. Kate, especially. Tyler. I wonder how I will be able to handle the things to come, how I’ll save the people I care most about. Because when the day is gone, all I really want is to be safe and sound with the people who make my heart beat a little faster.

MN: If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life—what would it be and why?

CW: My best friend Tyler’s mom makes the best food, so anything from her hands. In the end, I don’t know if I could pick just one thing to eat forever. As long as it’s a meal shared between friends, I wouldn’t care.

MN: What are the top three qualities (physical or not) that you look for in a significant other?

CW: In Kate, I love her courage, strength, and loyalty. I love how she makes me feel. And I know, more than anything, that Kate is a girl stronger than I am, and I love that about her.

MN: Well, since you mentioned her. It’s obvious that Kate’s a pretty tough cookie. What would be your favorite and least favorite things about her? I promise I won’t tell. *winks*

CW: My favorite thing? Her eyes.

My least favorite thing? At night when I can’t fight sleep any longer, I hate how when I close my eyes I can’t see hers anymore.

MN: So. Sweet. If you were given a “do-over” card and you could re-do any event in your life what would it be and why?

CW: I would save Tyler. It kills me not knowing what happened to him, if he’s still alive. I promise I’ll do everything I can to save him, find him. And I won’t stop until I have the truth.

MN: I have no doubts that you’ll prevail, Calum. No. Doubts. So, what’s next for you, Calum?

CW: With Morphis dead and gone, the Order needs to be rebuilt. But first, my heart will always rest with Kate. She is trapped, and I will do anything to get her back. Even now, I’m planning a way to save her. Because without Kate, it feels as though the sun is touched by shadow. I need my light back.

MN: *swoon* You’re such an amazing guy.

Alrighty! You’ve been such a great sport Calum. Before you go, I’ve got one set of questions left—the speed round! Are you ready? Respond with the first thing that comes to mind.

Fruit? Apple.

Holiday? Christmas.

Season? Fall.

Color? Purple.

Place? The sky.

Person? Kate.

Scent? Vanilla.

Major thanks to David for setting up this amazing interview with the one and only Calum Wade! I’ve never met a more noble good hearted man.

This is the last week before the super mega awesome giveaway! Yay! I cannot wait! Be sure to earn your chance to win a David James book AND answer the bonus question for an extra chance at the SUPER MEGA AWESOME GIVEAWAY! You could name a character AND get more titles by David! So. Cool. Good luck my friends and don't forget to Share The Love. 

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My So-Called Life

Dear Friends,

Typically this would be the start of a month long feature for Indie Author of the Month BUT this isn’t a typical month. I’m putting IAOTM on hiatus for a bit because I just don’t have the time to devote to it. :( This was one of many things I concluded I would have to give up in order to survive the next couple months, but believe me when I say I’m pretty bummed about it. :(

 I don’t know if you know this but at my day job I'm a CPA for a public accounting firm and well its tax season which means increased hours.  From my FB posts and twitter updates it is probably obvious that I truly despise this time of year and if it’s not obvious let me make it clear…I strongly dislike tax season. (I would say hate but it does pay my bills all year long so I will refrain from the usage of the word.)While I work for a magnificent firm with magnificent people, I loathe the hours chained to my desk buried in tax returns all the while missing my family and friends.  This year has been even more stressful because not only did I just finish my marathon of an MBA education (yay me!) I also volunteered to tutor my fellow MBA students in their required Accounting course. Why? Because I’m crazy. LOL! And because I enjoy tutoring and truth be told these are my colleagues and for most of them they have to pass this class to graduate in the spring so I feel an extra sense of dedication to them.

So as you can imagine working 55 plus hours a week, dedicating most evenings and weekends to tutoring, on top of my normal chores and life commitments (I do have a husband that needs acknowledgement from time to time along with three furry children) has left me minimal time for blogging and zero time for writing (even though I have a gazillion ideas rolling around in my brain.) All of this pressure lead to a serious nervous breakdown a few weeks ago which included lots of crying followed by some serious thinking. And here’s the thing, right now I don’t feel like I’m able to fully devote myself to IAOTM--not that I don’t WANT to (believe me I LOVE it) but I HAVE to work (I do have bills to pay) so even if I don’t want to, work  must come first. And if I can’t give a 100% to something then I truly feel I shouldn’t be doing it all which is how I’ve come to this decision on the blog.

So, long story short Indie Author of the Month is going on hiatus BUT only for March and April! Come May the amazing David James is going to stop by and kick things into high gear! :) I’m hoping that during this hiatus I can attempt to carve out a little time to read a few books and finish the final revisions of Soul Survivor. *sigh* Soul Survivor…that is a whole other saga entirely which I will share with you at a later date. (For the record I think about this story ALL of the time and it kills me to not have the available time to devote to wrapping it up in a pretty bow for you.)

All that being said, I won’t be completely MIA keep your eyes peeled for possible upcoming Partays and if things go REALLY well I might even drop by to give you a full update and “real deal this is seriously going to happen” release date of Soul Survivor along with the bumps I’ve encountered along the way as noted above.

So, until we blog/tweet/FB again, make some time to Share the Love with everyone and anyone but especially for all those bookies and authors out there that make this world a better place. ;)

With Love,

Michelle

P.S. I miss you already.

Why I Love Paulina Ulrich! (Grand Prize Giveaway Week)

Well folks, February is well…over which means two things…

1. I'm late with this post.

2. And it’s our final week honoring the amazing Paulina Ulrich.

Sad I know BUT we are giving her a proper send off with the SUPER MEGA AWESOME GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY! In case you may have forgotten, this week you can win a $15 Amazon/B&N gift card, fun swag, AND a signed paperback!

Just a side note, did you know that this past Sunday was Paulina’s bday?! Well it was so be sure to wish her a happy belated birthday!

Now, it's time for my favorite segment, Why I Love! So, why do I love Paulina Ulrich? Well, I could write you a novel on how sweet, amazing, talented, and inspiring the amazing Paulina is but I’ll try to be concise. So, here we go…

I met Paulina last year on twitter, you know that amazing place where I meet all my wonderful bookie friends. We started chatting about books and such and well the next thing I know we are penpals. Yep, that's right, penpals…new age electronic mail type of penpals. We started emailing and talking about books, our lives, and such and I realized one very important thing…this girl gets me. I mean truly gets me. I swear we were sisters in a past life because how else could a west coast chick who is ten years younger than me that I've never even met in person get me on sooo many levels?! Clearly a past life connection is the only viable explanation, right?  ;) Then after a few emails of book chatter and discussing our upcoming projects and such Paulina accepted my request to be crit partners and well the rest is history. (I must interject here…we are both history dorks as well as book dorks.)

I became deeply inspired by P when I read Flightless Bird…not only was this gal sweet but an amazing writer as well and all at a ripe young age I might add. I am serious when I say this girl is going places so collect her autograph now before she hits the big time! I digress…so in Flightless Bird I fell in love with Gregory I even found myself pining away for him every moment he was absent…a feeling I haven’t had since Edward's absence in New Moon.  Then just when I thought I couldn't fall in love with her characters anymore she drops Damon in my lap in Broken Wings…what can I say I will always choose the bad boy over the sweetheart good boy…EVERYTIME. Not only did she drop Damon in lap but a whole bucket of tears accompanied him, if you've read BW you will most likely understand my tears, if you haven't READ IT RIGHT AWAY…then you will understand. :)

And now, I'm halfway through Fair Feathered…I'd be the full way through but I've been a bit constricted on my reading time, which I shall explain further in next week's post which will also explain my tardiness with February's blog posts.

So, in all my ramblings why do I love Paulina Ulrich? She's sweet, personable, inspiring, and amazing both personally and professionally. She made me pine for Gregory and then fall head over heels in love with Damon. Her books send me on a happy adventure, a place that just feels like home. And that is the best way I can describe my penpal and February's Indie Author of the Month Paulina Ulrich she is my home away from home, a new friend that I didn't know I needed but can't live without, and an author whose books will always have a special place on my bookshelf.

Alrighty, folks! I've spilled my guts and told you why I love Paulina. Now, it's your turn! And don't forget this is your last chance to get your name in the pot for the SUPER MEGA AWESOME GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY!!! Good luck, my friends! Now, let's Share the Love for Paulina and enter to win the Grand Prize! Ready….set…go!

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Why I Love Courtney Cole! (And Grand Prize Giveaway Week)

I cannot believe that February is almost here! Holy crap! I've got a few awesome things in store for February so make sure you are dialed in for that! ;)

Sadly, with the end of January approaching it means this is our last week celebrating Courtney Cole. *sigh* All good things must come to an end though. On the bright side, it's my favorite Indie Author of the Month segment...Why I Love! Yay!

So, why do I love Courtney? Well, duh! Because she is fan flipping tastic! Courtney was actually the third Indie I'd ever read. (Yes, I remember weird things like that.) I can actually remember exactly where I was when I read each of the Bloodstone Saga books (Every Last Kiss, Fated, With My Last Breath, & My Tattered Bonds.) All I could think while racing through this series was Really, how has this girl has not been picked up by a fancy pants publisher?

Her voice is so dynamic, the way she can write with such intricacies and historical references (Bloodstone Saga) then switch gears into such a sweet fun flirty book (Dante's Girl) and then turn up the heat in her new adult books (Confessions of an Alli Cat, Of Blood & Bone, and If You Stay) more than demonstrates her immense talent. Her characters are always so genuine and they quickly nestle their way into my heart and roam around in my mind for months.

Her books always provide me a means of escape and help me get back to happy! For instance, this past summer I was taking a ridiculous amount of classes on top of working full time (this seems to be a recurring trend for me) and I was feeling down in the dumps, irritated, and just plain cranky.This just so happened to be when Dante's Girl released...lucky for me. :) I devoured that book in no time flat while completely ignoring the growing mound of household chores and homework. I know this sounds corny but once I finished DG it was like I was me again, the happy ambitious driven Michelle had returned, the cranky, depressed girl was long gone. Why? How? I credit Courtney's relentless ability to deliver an amazing story. Courtney (and her work) is like a glass of ice cold sweet tea on a sweltering hot humid summer day. Refreshing! Every book no matter what the details, leaves me refreshed, renewed, and ready to take on the day (and read another book!)

And not only is she talented, Courtney is so amazingly sweet, fun, and just a real deal chick. She is a joy to chat with! She's appreciative, gracious, and lovely! The world could use a few Courtney clones. :)

So, to recap why do I love Courtney? She writes refreshing stories and knows just how to make a fangirl reader feel like the most special gal in the world! I heart you, Courtney!

Now, it's your turn! See the rafflecopter below on details how/where you can Share the Love for Courtney Cole WHILE earning a fourth and final entry for the Indie Author of the Month Grand Prize Giveaway! :)

We've got a $15 Amazon/B&N gift card, Courtney Cole books, & Share the Love swag for this week's GRAND PRIZE WINNER! Hooray! Good luck! And even though, it's our last week honoring Courtney Cole it is highly recommended that you to continue to Share the Love for her all year long!  
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Pax Tate from If You Stay Drops By :D

Oh my word! You, my friends are in for a treat today! Pax Tate (from Courtney's upcoming release If You Stay) has so graciously stopped by the blog. I'm so excited right now! Eeep! If you are a fan of the self proclaimed a-hole bad boy type that have the biggest heart of gold hidden behind a really thick wall of sexy, then you will be a fan of Pax. ;)

While I have had the great pleasure (and I do mean pleasure) of reading an ARC of If You Stay, I realize that most of you have not. So, this interview will be as spoiler free as possible. BUT I hope it will give you a taste of what you have to look forward to because Pax is amazing. He is my favorite Courtney Cole character to date! Ahhh! *fans self* Okay, well we better get this interview going before I turn into a giggling, sighing, blushing mess.  

As I sit down with Pax, it's hard not be distracted by his attractiveness. He is tall, handsome (of course) and is toting a black tee that shows off his muscles and jeans that hug him in all the right places. I better start talking before I get lost in an inappropriate daydream.

M: Pax, thank you so much for sitting down with me. I don't want to keep you too long so if you don't mind let's jump right into this. What is your favorite childhood memory?

P: I don’t remember much of my childhood.  Although, I do have flashes of memories.  I used to spend a lot of time in my mom’s gardens with her.  She’d weed and I’d hunt for bugs.  Those were good memories. 

M: You hunted for bugs. Ick. But I guess that's normal boy behavior. *smiles* Okay next question, if Fate handed you a do-over card, what event from your past would you "do-over" and why?

P: My first instinct is to say that I’d do-over the events of my mother’s death.  They impacted me in a way that shaped my whole life.  But then I think that things happen the way they are meant to happen.  I don’t understand it, but everything happens for a reason.  And those events made me into the man I am right now.  I have to believe that it is for a bigger reason than I am able to understand.

M: *sigh* I whole heartedly agree with that sentiment. *checks notes* What do you like to do in your spare time?

P:  Well, this has changed a lot over the course of the past year.  Haha.  Now, I like to box.  It’s a great stress-reliever.

M: Boxing, huh? *smiles at mental picture of Pax boxing* Boxing, wow. *shakes head* Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

P: My grandfather won’t live forever, unfortunately.  So, I’m sure I will be running Alexander Holdings.  And to do that, I’ll have to move back to Connecticut.  That’s a thought I don’t like to think of now, since I love living on Lake Michigan.

M: Maybe you can run the business remotely. Technology is a great thing. You might not have to move. Okay, here is the million dollar question, what does Pax like in a woman? Do you have a type? If so, please elaborate. *smiles*

P: Ha!  The old Pax would say… I like a heartbeat.  But the new Pax is a bit more discerning.  I like a great smile and a good sense of humor.  Those are what turn me on.  Oh, and a good rack too.  Lucky for me, Mila has all of those things.  *laughs and looks around, checking to make sure Mila didn’t hear the comment about her rack*

M: *giggles* Okay, we've talked women how about cars? What is your dream vehicle?

P: I own my dream vehicle.  A jet black 1968 Dodge Charger in mint condition.

M: Yes, that's right. Danger. How could I forget that car! All right, Pax what would be your dream getaway?

P:  Anywhere with Mila.

M: *sighs* So, sweet. Mila is a lucky girl. I always ask this question a lot but it gives so much insight into a person…what is the one thing you cannot live without?

P:  See above.

M: *smiles* Like I said Mila is a lucky girl. Well, we are almost done, Pax. It's time for the speed round…answer with the first thing that comes to mind…

Color?  Green.

Song?  I’ll Be Gone (Linkin Park)

Drink?  Whiskey

Book?  Mine.  (IF YOU STAY)

Movie?  I can’t remember the name of the chick flick I just watched with Mila…although I thought at the time it would be burned into my head forever.  Ack.

Season?  Winter.

Food?  Steak

Pax, thank you so much for suffering through my interrogation! You were such a marvelous guest.

Don't forget If You Stay drops February 12th! Make sure it's at the top of your TBR list! You will thoroughly enjoy your time spent with Pax Tate! Oh and I can't forget Mila, she's a lot of fun as well!   

Now, onto this week's giveaway! Respond to the following question in the Rafflecopter below.

What is Pax's dream vehicle?

 

   

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Also, a big thank you to Courtney for arranging my interview with THE Pax Tate! Another major milestone in my blogging career! ;) I'll see you guys next week for the SUPER MEGA AWESOME GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY & my favorite Indie Author of the Month segment...Why I Love! So, until next time be sure to Share the Love!