Interview with Nadia Kim, author of "Reflection"

Hello everybody! Remember the beautiful book "Reflection"? Well, on the bottom of my review I promised you an interview with the author, Nadia Kim. Here it finally is! Sorry for the delay!

For those of you who wonder who is Nadia Kim, here's a picture. When you click on it, you'll be guided towards her own page on facebook where you can find some more information about her.

Before I start, I want to thank Nadia again for doing this interview and for sending me a digital copy of her book!

The interview!

1. Is Jess a person you could be friends with in real life?

I could be friends with her, in general she is very nice but can be overly critical of herself. I would hope that I could be a positive influence in her life to help her overcome some of this unnecessary judgement she puts on herself.

2. Did you base her character on somebody you know?

I think that in more of a general sense Jessica represents an internal ideal that many woman have that may not be on a conscious level. Does she over do it? Oh yes. She is extreme in her thoughts and maybe it's a little more balanced with some people, but I think it's important to recognize the aspect of Jessica in all of us. Because I think the image of what a woman should look like and act like is not the norm. It's society driven over time and has created these unrealistic ideas, which then make a girl/woman feel bad about herself when she is being told this is what you need to look like. Even worse, the image doesn't just  affect women but boys/men as well because they are chasing after what they too are seeing as what the "Normal woman should look like". Now I think that today this is changing dramatically. In television and in the media you are seeing more women fight back against this idea and start to accept who they are but the battle is not yet over.  Okay I am getting off my soap box. 

3. How did you come up with the idea to write a love story with some paranormal elements in it? 

Well its actually funny, it wasn't my first thought or even the plan. Along the way as I was writing I started thinking that none of us change over night. Well... not saying it's not possible but we are all works in progress. To me given just how drenched Jessica was in her own negative thoughts she would need something dramatic to change her life. And so I tossed around a few ideas but then came up with the idea that since the change needed to come from within, why not go really deep. If you know what I mean. I'm trying not to give away parts of the story.

4. What do you love about writing?

Creating wonderful dramatic stories that leave you craving more and also leave you with a lesson that will help you better yourself.

5. Is there a special reason you write stories with a message like this?

Yes, I think that it's important that people realize they don't have to be unhappy with how they look. They just need to learn to accept that is they way they are and embrace it. And also know that just because you feel or think a certain way one day doesn't mean that you can't get up tomorrow and know you can change. It all starts in the mind and thoughts. If you change them then you change your life. 

6. What does a day of writing look like for you? 

Well I have a full time job not writing and I also have three small kids to take care of as well as me and my kids do Kung Fu so there is no such thing as a day of writing. It's ad hoc in spurts when I can find time to sit and really drill out my story. These days the story is busting to come out I just haven't had the energy to do it. But that is something I need to change. If I want the energy to do it then I'll have it. It's my own desire that I have to work on. 

7. Are there special elements you can't miss around you when you're writing? 

Well I always have to have a romance element. Other than that I'd say I'm game for mostly anything. But also all my stories have to have a positive message. I think that is a critical piece for me.

8. Can you tell us something more about your next books/projects?

Early this year I published my first book in a new series called Love Curse. And I have a new novel that I have been working on for almost a year that I want to put out Spring/Summer of 2014. It's an inspirational novel with romance, drama and a wonderful message. That's all I'm saying about it for now. :)

Another "thank you" for author, Nadia Kim! I wish her best of luck with her new series and hope you'll all read a book written by this wonderful author!

Take care!

xoxo

Review - Interview - Giveaway "The Grotto under the Tree"

Some information

Title: The Grotto under the Tree

Author: John A. Theo Jr.

Pages: 139

Genre: Young Adult

Published: February 2013

Publisher: Astraea Press

My Scource: author and Candace's Book Blog

My score on Goodreads: 4 stars

Covertext

Sebastian and Sara mistakenly descend into a mystical land where elves, mermaids, gnomes and other mythological creatures live. The two discover they have stumbled into an ancient battle between these fair folk and evil creatures called the Kylo. Their guide on this journey is Capri, an elf lord who is on a quest to find his lost tribe. The Kylo chase the children and Capri in his flying galleon north into the Arctic Circle where they find the most unlikely ally. During the final battle the children learn about sacrifice, love and ultimately forgiveness.

My Review

What a great experience to travel back in time and read the kind of book I used to read when I was younger. As a child/young adult I adored heroes of my own age who discovered the most special places on earth and got to know the most wonderful creatures in that world! 

With "The Grotto under the Tree" John A. Theo Jr. provides us a good read for young and old. A book you can appreciate at every age and no matter what kind of books you normally like to read.

In this book we meet Sara and Sebastian, two young children who are neighbours and go to school together. Outside their school stands a beautiful oak tree who survived many storms and is known by young and old in the neighborhood. Sara and Sebastian too have played under it many times. When the tree is severely damaged in a storm, the two friends discover some strange things around it. Their curiosity leads them towards a very special world with very special creatures in it. Too bad for them their encounter isn't so peaceful because of some bad forces trying to attack the beautiful creatures Sara and Sebastion just met. Both necessity and friendship take the children along in this big battle between good and bad, a battle that must be fought for every living being on earth (and beyond).

What I loved about this book is the fact it can learn the young readers lots of lessons. You have to take care of your friends and you have to keep on believing in the good things even though that's not always easy. Also the fact there were some totally unexpected turns in the book was appreciated here. The author is able to keep the story going and to keep it exciting without making the story long or boring. 

Interview with the author

First we want to get our author a little better. Here's some information!

John Theo Jr. has numerous published articles on arts, culture and sports figures. He holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, MA. During the day John serves as Vice President of Operations for Blue Sky Holdings, which owns many commercial fitness clubs. John is also an adjunct professor at Endicott College in Beverly, MA, where he teaches screenwriting. John's Book, The Grotto Under The Tree, has been released by Astraea Press.

Talk about some things in the book that are more personal to you, or some places in the book you've visited, or want to visit.

I wrote a scene where Sebastian finds his mother in the living room during a thunderstorm. He knows she never liked thunderstorms. He tries to comfort her by crawling into her lap like he did as a little boy, but instead she rocks him back to sleep. This was a subconscious homage to my mom who passed away in 1996. My way of sending her a hug.

How you came up with some of the more unique elements?

For Father Christmas' character it was a knee jerk reaction to the charicature of the fat red-suited santa claus our society has portrayed him as. I researched the historical Saint Nicholas and what I found amazed me. Ironically I made him more like the historical person which no one in movies or books has done before. He ends up being more like Gandalf in The Lord of The Rings than a chubby man in a red suit who delivers toys. I think people will really like this version of him.

Can you give some facts about the city or place the book takes place in?

It takes place in a town similar to the one I grew up in. The school and oak tree are based on Great Oak Elementary School where I went in Danvers, MA. I did alter the town to make it a seaside town though.

Can we meet the characters?

(Tell us about your main characters! Looks, personality, some background story, and/or maybe a few quotes from the story?)

Sebastian is the intellectual 5th grader who aces all his tests yet cannot throw a baseball. Sara is the popular athlete who struggles in school.

How do you come up with those special names for the characters? It seems like a difficult part of writing the book.

I keep a journal of names that jump out at me from time to time. When I go to sit down at with a story I can pull from them. It makes it an easy, and fun, part of the writing process for me. With that said, names are a tool that should not be overlooked. I teach my students that names offer another layer and opportunity to "show" rather than "tell". For example, Tolkien is a master of this in his Lord of The Rings trilogy. You have characters like "Wormtongue" and "Treebeard", but he (being a philologist) had almost every name mean something. Names of swords, names of rocks and mountains, etc. It's another layer to the story that, if the reader peels back, offers a reward of discovery. With that said, sometimes you just want to name a character Stu and leave it at that. 

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Interview with Savannah Grace - Sihpromatum

First of all I want to thank Savannah Grace for her wonderful book, her time to 

take this interview, the pictures and the great video! 

Enjoy!

Who is Savannah Grace?

Savannah Grace was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. By the age of 21, she'd already traveled to nearly 100 countries and completed her first book. Currently living with her Dutch partner in The Netherlands, Savannah is writing her memoir series titled, "Sihpromatum."

Visit the website too! 

Some things we wanted to know (curious as we are) ;) 

1. How did you get the idea to share this beautiful journey with others and to write a book about it?

Mauritania local host family

The idea of writing this book was put in the air early on in our adventure, as evidenced in journal entries I’d written in Mongolia.  Once our adventure started developing into something bigger than any of us had ever anticipated, we were constantly being told by fellow travellers that we needed to write a book. The giant task of picking up the pen and creating a masterpiece about our travels was almost immediately handed over to me. We felt that telling the story from my perspective as the youngest member of the group and the fact that I was forced to go was the most unique. Also, when comparing our journals I was quickly dubbed the writer in the family.

2. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned on this journey?  

I am an entirely different person as a result of this trip. I learned first hand about the world, people, cultures, history and most importantly myself and my family. I discovered my strengths, pushed myself to achieve goals I considered impossible and learned that dreams are worth following! This is a world full of possibilities. 

I learned to appreciate and be grateful for the things I have, which is something I try not to lose. I realized that I don’t NEED all those things I thought I needed when I was living with millionaires’ kids in Vancouver.

The biggest lesson would probably be realizing that people are nice everywhere in the world. We all have the same basic wants and needs. A world considered to be wrought with hunger, despair, corruption and danger turned out to be one full of love, family values and respect. Ironically, it seems that the less people have the more willing they are to share.  

3. Which country has inspired you the most?

After visiting so many countries, all beautiful and unique in their own ways, it’s so hard to pick out just one.  How can I choose amongst trekking the Himalayan mountain range in Nepal and seeing the sun rise over Mt. Everest, snorkeling with the colorful fish in the Maldives and sun tanning on the soft white sands, canoeing through the tangled jungles of Suriname with parrots flying overhead, riding atop camels through endless mountains of sugary sand dunes across the Sahara desert in Mauritania and experiencing the historical genius of Pyramids in Sudan or the beautiful architecture of any European village, town or city. 

Almost any form of scenery gives me inspiration in my writing. 

My top countries are: Nepal, for its gorgeous mountains trekking and people; Mongolia, especially its countryside with its horses and extremely friendly people; Surinam for its jungles and multicultural atmosphere; Switzerland and its villages and great skiing; Canada’s amazing nature with waterfalls, mountains and lakes; China’s beautiful authenticity and villages; Italy’s amazing history and artwork; Maldives priceless islands, blue waters and white beaches, plus many, many more! 

4. Which ones are still on your bucket list and why?

Japan is definitely high up on my bucket list. It was one of the only countries I actually had an interest in before the trip. I grew up with lots of Japanese ESL students living in our house so I would love to go visit them. They are such incredible people!! Though I have not yet been, I think I love everything about Japan and Japanese culture. Also, my dad lived there when he was younger and speaks the language. 

I have yet to discover South East Asia. I have heard amazing things from family members about the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, etc. with their amazing sights, people and beaches. 

I just love how Asia is so friendly, lively and beautiful. You can be comfortable and wear any kind of clothing, eat fresh, flavourful food, interact with the locals and have an adventure at the same time. 

Still need to go to Australia, New Zealand and a South America trip has been in the air for years now. 

Luckily, I have my whole life ahead of me to tick off the bucket list.

5. Are you writing a sequel and can you share with us what’s the next stage in the journey you’ll describe for your readers?

There will be a few more books in the series to come. It would be impossible for me to wrap up the entire 4 years and 80 countries in one book. The next installment covers our overland journey through Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Western China, Tibet, Nepal, Maldives, Sri Lanka and India. The characters will continue to grow and develop, with the group dynamic ever evolving and fluctuating. New characters and their reactions are introduced when our friends from home flew out to join us for a few weeks, each at different times. You will experience parts of the Silk Road, Tibetan monasteries, the strength of Nepali sherpas in the incredible Himalayas, the colors and chaos of India and then contrast this with the relaxing beauty of the Maldives. And of course it’ll all be tied in with the same kind of adventure, humour and excitement that was found in my first book, “Sihpromatum – I Grew My Boobs in China”. 

6. How do you feel about Europe?

I really like Europe. It’s modern but all the old architecture and history gives it a real special atmosphere. From my experience in Holland, it’s a nice place to live. It’s an ideal, central base for travelling and you can experience loads of different cultures, languages, and landscapes within a short distance. I sometimes find the people can be a bit busy and not as excited or happy but that comes from the superficial pressures of a materialistic lifestyle. 

7. What’s your favorite place to write a book?

My favorite place to write is driving in the car next to my boyfriend.  I love this because, first of all I love my boyfriend, but second the passion and inspiration lacks a bit in the stale air of an isolated room staring blankly behind your computer screen. I love being on the road in a car. I love the feeling that I’m going somewhere, that I’m on the move, even if it’s somewhat a fake sensation. Watching the beautiful Dutch scenery go by was where and how I got most of my writing done for the first book. I have a brand new computer and beautiful desk now where I can     write the second but I think a lot of it will still be done on the road. :)

8. Do you need special items around you while you’re writing?

Would coffee be considered special? Nah, I’m kidding, there were times where I’d have some small stones.. I forget the specific names for them, but I had a black one which I wore on a bracelet and another clear one which I’d wear around my neck. My boyfriend always makes fun and thinks I’m ridiculous, but whether or not the stones actually work is not important. What’s important is provoking your belief in something because we have the power to do so much. If you fully trigger that little “faith button” in your brain, unimaginable things become possible. It’s so important to believe, even if you have to put the responsibility on a lucky item. 

9. What’s your writing day like?

Oh goodness, it varies so much. Though I do have a sense of self-discipline, I cannot say I do it one way or the other. It’s all just a matter of feel for me. Sometimes I feel inspired, sometimes I don’t. At times my brain will go wild while I lay in bed at night, words and sentences forming like magic and I am forced to get out to write them down. Nights like those can easily turn into a 4am bedtime. Other times I have to sit at the desk and force myself to write. Luckily I have amazing support and with the first book my Mom was always taking care of me, bringing warm food and refilling my coffee. This time she is not with me, so I’ll be a lot more lonely and it will make things harder. I’m all over the place really, which is why I’m so impressed that I actually completed and published a book. 

10. What would you like to have achieved in ten years?

Ten years, wow! By age 32 I hope to be married and have started a family of my own.…. If everything could go exactly how I plan in the meantime I want to have completed my Sihpromatum series, become a bestselling author and make a living from my writing. This way I will be able to have the freedom to travel and live wherever I want. I’d love to learn a couple of languages (Japanese, Spanish), though that might be adding a bit too much on my plate. A 6 month-1 year South America road trip from Alaska – Antarctica is in the works.

Later on I’d like to buy a big fancy camper van and see the USA and Canada when I’m old and lazy with back problems. Though I think the trans Canada will likely come before then.

There are so many things and yet I don’t dare predict the future, because my life has been so full of twists and turns like a roller-coaster ride I never signed up for. 

I want to thank Savannah again for her GREAT answers on these questions!

Yet again she proves to be a special person with a warm look on the world 

and the people in that world!

I hope she'll become a bestselling author and I'll definitely help by reading her books and promoting them! 

My favorite quote from this article: The biggest lesson would probably be realizing that people are nice everywhere in the world. We all have the same basic wants and needs.

Castle on hill - Slovenia

We also need to thank Savannah's boyfriend for making this really cool video about the book. Enjoy this trailer and don't forget to buy 

"Sihpromatum - I grew my boobs in China"

Interview with Anne Allen and GIVEAWAY

First of all I want to thank Anne Allen for taking some time to do this interview and for giving us the opportunity to give two e-book versions of "Dangerous Waters" away. Enjoy!

Who is Anne Allen?

Anne Allen lives in Devon, by her beloved sea. She has three children and her daughter and two grandchildren live nearby. She was born in Rugby, to an English mother and Welsh father. As a result she spent many summers with her Welsh grandparents in Anglesey and learnt to love the sea. Her restless spirit has meant a number of moves which included Spain for a couple of years. The longest stay was in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years after falling in love with the island and the people. She contrived to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns.

By profession Anne is a psychotherapist but has long had creative ‘itches’, learning to mosaic, paint furniture, interior design and sculpt. At the back of her mind the itch to write was always present but seemed too time-consuming for a single mum with a need to earn a living. Now the nest is empty there’s more time to write and a second novel is gestating, but novels take a lot longer than children to be born!

Some things we'd liked to know...  

What's so special about Guernsey that you wrote an entire book about it?

It’s a beautiful island only a few miles from the French coast though it’s actually British. I think all islands have a certain mystique and a feeling of separateness and Guernsey is a great example of this, with a fascinating history going back to Neolithic times. There’s a strong French influence, reflected in the personal and place names and there’s a local Guernsey-French dialect. I lived there for many happy years after arriving for a holiday and falling in love with both the island and its people. Guernsey has beautiful sandy beaches, cliff walks, windy lanes and a pretty ‘capital’ in St Peter Port. The Channel Islands were occupied by the Germans in WWII, creating an impact to the present day. There’s definitely scope for stories to be based on Guernsey!

What places on the island do we need to visit when we go there and why?

Well, St Peter Port is a must – it has something for everyone. There are narrow cobbled streets full of great shops, cafes and restaurants and gorgeous views over the harbour and neighbouring islands. I’m sure you’ve all heard of Les Miserables and Victor Hugo finished writing the book while living in St Peter Port and his house is still exactly as it was back in the nineteenth century. The beaches are all worth visiting but I particularly like L’Ancresse and Lady’s Bay in the north of the island. And don’t miss Herm! It’s an even smaller island 15 mins away by boat which has an atmosphere all of its own. There are no cars or bikes so everyone walks around at their own pace. A place to really unwind and which always seems to enjoy even better weather than Guernsey. 

What got you into writing and when did you start it?

About 6 years ago I entered a writing competition after being pushed by my mother. Bless her! She thought it would be a useful experience as I’d always talked about writing one day. It wasn’t fiction, though, instead the national magazine wanted a true-life story in 500 words based on a significant life event. I still entered (my life had been anything but boring) and won. It was quite a boost and spurred me on to write Dangerous Waters shortly after.

Will there be other books written by you? Are you currently working on a project? 

Yes, I’m writing my second book, Finding Mother, now. It’s the story of a young woman’s search for her natural mother after her marriage crumbles. The setting is predominantly Guernsey but there are excursions to England, Jersey and Spain.

Which writers have influenced you the most?

It’s hard to be specific as I’ve read voraciously since a child. The romance writers whose books I’ve most enjoyed have been Maeve Binchy, Erica James and Katie Fforde. Mystery and suspense writers include Mary Higgins Clark and Robert Goddard.

What's your favourite place to write a book?

In my own space – either at my desk or a table , or, weather permitting, in the garden. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate if I was out and about in a café, for example.

Do you have certain habits when it comes to writing? Some things you need around you during the process?

I like to know I’ll be uninterrupted! If the muse arrives, you have to keep her close. So it’s better to have all other ‘jobs’ out of the way before sitting down to write. I start by writing in longhand so need paper and pen and space to spread out. Plenty of water and hot drinks are also needed to keep me going.

What's your writing day like?

It varies. If my time is unlimited I’ll just sit down to write until either I’m hungry or I hit a ‘block’. I can write for hours at a time on a good day, otherwise it tends to be a bit patchy.

Did you base your main character Jeanne on someone you know? She looks so real (and she writes ;) )...

Well, in some ways she does remind me of my younger self! Although we naturally don’t share the same history, I can relate to some of her experiences. But I didn’t consciously base her on anyone I’ve known.

What would you like to have achieved in 10 years?

To have written a few more books and be a ‘successful’ author.

Thank you Anne Allen for this great interview and I don't think it'll be a problem to be a 'successful' author in 10 years. We'll help you by reading your books and loving them!

How to win "Dangerous Waters" by Anne Allen?

The only thing you have to do to win an e-book (we'll pick 2 random winners - worldwide) is leave a comment on this post with your e-mail address in it. The giveaway ends sunday 07/10 at 11 a.m. (Belgian time).

Bonus entries

If you'd like to have more chances to win this book, you can add these things in your comment (all entries can be in one post):

1. What's the place you'd like to live most of all? Why?

2. Follow this blog and say you're a follower.

3. Follow Anne Allen on Twitter https://twitter.com/AnneAllen21 and say you're a follower.

4. Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ElineTack and say you're a follower.

5. Share this giveaway on your Blog or Twitter and give us a link.

 Like to learn something more about Anne Allen and her book? Please visit these sites:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Anne's site