Friday, April 13, 2012

Author Spotlight: H.M. Ward




H.M. Ward is the author of the bestselling DEMON KISSED series. This YA Paranormal Romance series has been on bestseller lists since it's release in March 2011. Ward enjoys writing novels and novellas with twisting plot lines and unexpected turns.  Her ability to shock the reader has grown a following of over 45,000 fans, and a social reach of over 17 million people in January 2012, alone.  Ward has strong marketing skills and became a full time writer less than a year after her first novel appeared on the market.   

Ward started her second series TWISTED TALES, which is a series of Gothic novellas in March 2012.  The first book in this series is Stone Prison.  This novella is a macabre tale told in the spirit of Grimm, with the haunting nature of an Edgar Allan Poe story. Stone Prison description: "An evil enchantress, a stone tower, and a girl whose fate hangs in the balance as the clock approaches midnight make for a bone-chilling fairy tale."  This dark tale has the twisting and shocking plot that Ward is known for.  Her next major series is VAMPIRE APOCALYPSE.  The Vampire Apocalypse and Twisted Tales series can be read in any order.  Each book is independent, and a stand-alone novel.  Ward was in the Washington Post about her debut novel Demon Kissed.  Ward’s series are: Demon Kissed, Twisted Tales, and Vampire Apocalypse.

Thank you for inviting me to your blog!  I really appreciate all the work and time it took!  You’re blog is amazing!  Have a happy weekend!



Is There a Message in Your Novel That You Want Readers to Grasp?

Yup!  The message is that most of life falls into the “gray” and things aren’t 100% black and white.  It’s concept that blindsides lots of people as they hit the end of their teen years and enter adulthood.  That’s the underlying theme of the DEMON KISSED series.  All of the main characters struggle with it--Ivy, Collin, and Eric.  The reader follows along as a guy that is dubbed evil is showing more mercy than someone how is supposed to purely good.



Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?


Finding enough time to write.  Once I get an idea the words come out like a tidal wave.  Finding a block of time where I can write nonstop for several hours is something I crave, and something that’s difficult with a newborn in the house!  My family is super supportive and encourages me to write on a daily basis.



How many books have you written and which is your favorite?


I’ve written 10 books total.  I’m not sure if I can choose a favorite--it’s kind of like picking a favorite kid.  All the books have different things going on and different themes.  In STONE PRISON, I love the shocking dark ending, as well as the moral that blindsides the reader while giving them the creeps.  In ZOMBIE: A CHOOSE YOUR OWN SURVIVAL STORY (April 10, 2012) it has a totally different tone and the humor makes me giggle.  The DEMON KISSED series is dark with a heroine/ hero that do what’s right, no matter the consequences.  It showcases the human spirit.  And BANE: VAMPIRE APOCALYPSE (June 15, 2012) is a survival story with a lighter tone, and that preconceived conceptions can blind someone so badly that they can’t see what’s right in front of them.  Each book has a carefully crafted world where I can infuse each one with messages and encouragement for my readers.  It’s awesome! 



If You had the chance to cast your main character from Hollywood today, who would you pick and why?


That’s a tricky question.  There are so many great actors.  If I had to pick someone it would be Miley Cyrus.  The heroine Ivy Talyor has been through so much, and I think Miley could bring her to life in a jaw-dropping way that does the character justice.  



When did you begin writing? 


I wrote my first novel when I was 14-years-old.


How long did it take to complete your first book?


About 6 months.  I write fast, usually 5,000 words a day.  Best day was 12,000.



Did you have an author who inspired you to become a writer?


J.M. Barrie is my favorite authors.  I love the world he crafted in PETER & WENDY (Peter Pan).  And unlike the Disney version, Barrie’s world is dark and treacherous with killer mermaids.  It’s awesome!


What is your favorite part of the writing process? 


The first draft.  It’s awesome to start with a sheet of white paper, and end with a 300 page book!



Describe your latest book in 4 words.


I’m gonna cheat, because there are multiple titles coming out in the next few months.  So, these four words are for ZOMBIE;

You are the hero.



Can you share a little bit about your current work or what is in the future for your writing?


The DEMON KISSED series continues with FALL OF THE GOLDEN VALEFAR, telling Eric’s story after Ivy meets her destiny.  The DEMON KISSED series is told in three parts - VALEFAR VOLUMES tell things from Collin’s point of view and take place a year before Ivy’s story.  DEMON KISSED (#1-5) are told from Ivy’s point of view and follow her to the throne of the Underworld.  FALL OF THE GOLDEN VALEFAR (Demon Kissed #6-10) completes the storyline.  All these books are part of the series and deepen the the twisting plot lines.  Breaking them up like this also allows the reader to enter the story at different points.

VAMPIRE APOCALYPSE is the next major series, and BANE (Book #1) will be released on June 15, 2012.  (Cover attached).  Here’s the description:


The VAMPIRE APOCALYPSE books are a stand-alone series.  That means you can read them out of order.  There isn’t a book #1, #2, #3 that you have to read in order.  This will make it possible to enter the series at any point.



BANE is a tense dark paranormal romance.  The world as we know it is gone.  The ice caps have melted and shifted south, devastating the northern territories and eradicating major cities such as New York and London, which are now under water and frozen.  Humans died off during an epidemic prior to the ice disaster, and many more died during the floods at the start of this new ice age.



These events have forced vampires out of hiding.  In order to ensure that their food source wouldn’t completely die off, the vampires have sequestered the remaining humans into farms and taken control of all that remains of civilization.  Over time, the humans breeding on these farms became anemic. Their blood no longer sustains the master race.  But not all of the humans were captured and sent to the farms.  Some of the humans evaded the hunters, hiding in safe houses across the frozen tundra.  As decades passed, the free humans disappeared, died, or were captured, until all that remains is one.  Kahli is the last wild human.  BANE is her story.






Twitter: @hmward

Links to Purchase, plus descriptions of all of Ward’s titles:


GIVEAWAY!





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2 comments:

The Avid Reader said...

I love reading about vampires. Stone Prison sounds like it would be a great read. Hope I win. Thanks for the giveaway.

Sverige said...

As I finished reading the book and passed on to my wild friends, They couldn't stop asking for more about the book, actually they wanna meet the author. they are so pathetic.

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