Title: DEAD RADIANCE
Series: The Valkyrie Series
Volume: 1
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication Date: 25th
February 2012
Format: Paperback
Publisher E-Book: Evolved Publishing
ISBN-10: 1469998165
Publisher: Infinite Ink
Pages: 382
Add
on Goodreads: Dead Radiance on GoodReads
EXCERPT:
"That
day I knew for sure. I'd lost control of my tears then. They fell in huge,
mocking drops. I stared at Joshua through those bitter tears, my heart missing
beats as I tried to remember to breathe. I finally knew what the glow meant. I
was a freak and Joshua was going to die."
DESCRIPTION:
Bryn
Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is only when her best friend dies
that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras - Death. Alone,
lost in the foster system, she struggles to understand who she is and why she
was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead.
The
new foster kid, Aidan, isn't helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter
what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her,
Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible actually. A mystery himself, Aidan
disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests
Bryn might not be entirely human. Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of
discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place
in a world in which she'd never belonged?
_____
Title: DEAD EMBERS
Series: The Valkyrie Series
Volume: 2
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication Date: 15th
August 2012
Format: E-Book
Format: Paperback
ISBN-10: 1481250272
Publisher E-Book: Evolved Publishing
Publisher: Infinite Ink
Pages: 394
Add on Goodreads: Dead Embers on GoodReads
EXCERPT:
“For
a shadow of a second, I stared into his eyes, shocked, horrified he'd do such a
thing to me. A thousand fears filtered through my frigid brain. Was he in
cahoots with Loki? Or was he Freya's dog all along?
It
took an eternity for him to blink. Even longer for me to blink.
Then
Fenrir pushed me and I fell off the cliff, into pure white oblivion.”
DESCRIPTION:
Valkyrie-in-training
Bryn Halbrook just can't catch a break. With her boyfriend stuck in Hell and the
taunting laughter of Loki still ringing in her ears, she struggles to
concentrate on her training and duties in Odin's realm. The last thing she
expects or wants is more adventure—but then treachery, a shocking abduction and
a chilling discovery send her forth on another perilous, globe-hopping mission.
As
the ultimate battle, Ragnarok, draws closer, it's a race against time for Bryn,
Fenrir and their team to discover who kidnapped her foster brother from the
halls of Asgard and what's causing the mysterious deaths of so many of Odin's
chosen warriors.
In
the exciting sequel to DEAD RADIANCE, Bryn encounters dwarfs and dragons, new
friends and old foes—but the worst enemy of all may be the person she trusts
most!
_____
Title: DEAD CHAOS
Series: The Valkyrie Series
Volume: 3
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication 30 Oct 2013
Format: E-Book
Format: Paperback
ISBN-10: TBA
Publisher: Infinite Ink
Pages: 360
Add on Goodreads: Dead Chaos on GoodReads
EXCERPT:
"My
wings.
They’d
taken my wings.
A
sob caught in my throat. I desperately wanted to cry out but no sound escaped
my lips. I struggled to take the next breath and for one hysterical moment I
feared I'd be unable to perform the simple action."
DESCRIPTION:
Valkyrie
Bryn Halbrook is broken and damaged...
Struggling
to accept the loss of her wings, Bryn's not sure if she can be a real Valkyrie
anymore. But when a mysterious prophecy claims she will be the reason the
All-Father dies, she is determined to ensure the prediction will not come to
pass.
A
visit to the three fates who live beneath the great Tree of life, sends Bryn
racing against time to find the missing Heimdall and his horn. As Odin's life
hangs in the balance and Ragnarok draws ever closer, Bryn has to find a way to
save Heimdall and Odin before she can discover the truth about who she really
is.
In
the thrilling conclusion of the Valkyrie series Bryn must battle not only the
formidable frost giants and the hated God Loki, but she must also find a
balance between what she will lose and what she will gain.
------
INTERVIEW:
What books did you love
growing up?
Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden
and the Hardy Boys of course; Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, The Lord of
the Rings Series.
Who is your favorite
author?
It’s a tie- Stephen
King, Dean Koontz and Marion Zimmer Bradley
What book genre of books
do you adore?
Paranormal, fantasy and
horror but I read everything – as long as the book holds my attention for the
first ten pages I’ll read it.
How do you write – lap
top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
It depends on where I am
and what I have available. If I’m caught out its pen and notebook that I always
have in my handbag. Mostly its my PC during the day, and my iPad at night if
I’m writing in bed. If I do get away for the weekend or am away from the house
for a few days it’s the laptop.
How often do you write?
And when do you write?
I try to write every
day. I think creativity in writing is like a muscle and if you stop using it it
tends to get lazy. I try to do 3k a day and sometimes when I do want to push I
do 5k a day. It’s a rush and can sometimes get crazy if I have edits happening
at the same time but I love it more so because I hate the feeling when I can
barely write 500 words in a day. Then I feel a little useless because I know I
can do more.
I usually write first thing
in the morning until lunchtime and sometimes I may come back to write a little
more late at night when the household is asleep.
Do you find the time to
read?
As a writer you must
find time to read. I think reading is inspiration and most writers need the
creative input of reading to boost their own creativity. At least it works that
way for me. I find I’m most prolific in terms of plotting and writing when I
make the time to read.
What inspires you to
write and why?
Everything inspires me, especially
people and culture. I’ve always been fascinated with the way the mind works so
that’s something that I question a lot when I’m working on a project.
What genre are you most
comfortable writing?
Definitely
paranormal/fantasy. I love mythology and fables. I love the mystery of the possibility
of the impossible J
Who designed the cover?
My cover artist Eduardo
Priego
Will you write others in
this same genre?
Yes, definitely. I love
writing YA and I especially love mythology. I already have a few stories to look
at in terms of what’s next on my project list
Where do you see
yourself in five years?
Hopefully still writing
and still loving it as much as I do now.
What contributes to
making a writer successful?
If you apply yourself,
set your goals, write those books and don’t be afraid of hard work success is
waiting for you. And working at you craft is so very important. Writers are
learning all the time, be open to learning new ways, new styles, new tricks. If
you are happy to continue learning and being a better writer then you are on
your way. It’s just a matter of working hard and writing well.
What do you do to unwind
and relax?
A glass of wine and a
good book at the end of the day, or dinner and a movie with DH to make it more
special
Do
you have any special ways of handling/creating your world building?
I don't really. It depends on the book. For some I've done mind-maps like for the DarkWorld I sketched a map out of the different parts or levels of the world and where the creatures and characters, what their powers were etc. But it's mostly just how I feel the flow. For the Valkyrie and the Kali series, the world building was very dependent on the mythology I drew from which was good and bad in its own way- easier but slightly restrictive
What is the best thing about being a YA writer?
I'd have to say I don't see myself as only a YA author. I've written NA (Skin Deep, and Seals of Hades – still to be published), contemporary, horror, epic fantasy and psychological horror (all still to be published) and YA (Valkyrie and Kali series) so I will delve where the Muse takes me. That's probably the funnest thing for me- the ability to mess around in fantasy fiction and nobody can say you can or can't do that!
I don't really. It depends on the book. For some I've done mind-maps like for the DarkWorld I sketched a map out of the different parts or levels of the world and where the creatures and characters, what their powers were etc. But it's mostly just how I feel the flow. For the Valkyrie and the Kali series, the world building was very dependent on the mythology I drew from which was good and bad in its own way- easier but slightly restrictive
What is the best thing about being a YA writer?
I'd have to say I don't see myself as only a YA author. I've written NA (Skin Deep, and Seals of Hades – still to be published), contemporary, horror, epic fantasy and psychological horror (all still to be published) and YA (Valkyrie and Kali series) so I will delve where the Muse takes me. That's probably the funnest thing for me- the ability to mess around in fantasy fiction and nobody can say you can or can't do that!
What
is the worst thing about being a YA writer?
The worst thing I can see is there's so much to write, so many ideas and characters to get into manuscripts that it's sometimes hard to choose which one to get on to next!
The worst thing I can see is there's so much to write, so many ideas and characters to get into manuscripts that it's sometimes hard to choose which one to get on to next!
------
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I
have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was
a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the
written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially
a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I
have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my
confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair
trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each
other's loves – it works wonderfully…
My
heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old
roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the
smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never
fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White
Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of
green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these
two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.
GIVEAWAY
I love Anne of Green Gables! In middle school I loved the Sweet Valley Twins.
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