Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Blog Tour: Second on the Right by @SantaFlash #interview & #giveaway


Fantasy

Date Published: May 9, 2014

   
Spawned from an ancient promise, treachery and intrigue follow the protagonists through our world and one lost to the waves. Bound by an invisible bond, they are thrust into a fantastical world of pirates and demons.
James Benedict is a just man haunted by evil. Pushed to the edge, everything stripped from him, a new man arises . . . a man whose name strikes fear into the hearts of all who hear it: "Captain Hook".
Eileen Davis was a timid woman. Through a fateful cruise she finds herself in the company of the Captain of the Mistral Thief. With his guidance, and the meddling of the local barista, she eventually finds her inner strength.
Will the two of them unite through time to fulfill the promise of their ancestors or will tempers ignite leading all to failure?



Interview


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

 Don’t do drugs! Go to school!

Nah, seriously…

The message is what the reader takes from the story. If it feels like an entertaining story, then that’s all it is. However, if the reader finds hidden meaning behind the actions of the characters, then there’s their message. For me, reading can be a personal journey and discoveries that I make during time with a novel are mine alone and might not be the same as with others.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Time.

With two kids, a full time job, two large dogs, I’m busy. Now that Summer is here, it will be even more difficult to find those moments to write. I’ve had to take advantage of doctor’s office visits to write bits here and there while in the waiting room. It isn’t glamorous or ideal, but it works for me. I had been writing at night, after the kids had gone to bed, but have found it difficult lately because of my interest in Fargo and Hannibal. I don’t enjoy the gore, but rather the head games/manipulation played out in each story line. At least once Fargo is done, I can go back to writing in the evenings! 

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

I’ve just written the one, Second on the Right. And right now it is my favorite! I love Captain Hook, almost as much as my fondness for Sherlock Holmes. I’ve also written some short stories. I think of the ones out there, Under was probably the most enjoyable for me. iWitness seems to be a favorite for readers. At least, that’s what the numbers tell me and numbers never lie….right??


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

Now, I don’t want anyone groaning at my choices. We each have our favorites. :)

I’d be curious to hear from readers who they had in mind while reading Second on the Right.

For fun, I actually created a poll on Facebook for just such a question. Everyone is welcome to vote:


I tend to favor British actors. Growing up, I was a fan of Peter Cushing. For me, Captain James Hook is British. My current favorite is Benedict Cumberbatch, so…

Pan is another story. There are so many possibilities, so many great actors that have a knack for playing the villain. It’s tough to choose. 

When did you begin writing?

 I’d rather not give actual years. (ahem) But I have been writing for many years. Most of those years have been casual writing, for fun and entertainment. My friends loved reading them in school, High School or College. I loved receiving their feedback.

How long did it take to complete your first book?

More than four years. I had written it, put it out for the public to see, only to find it wasn’t quite ready yet. I removed it from Amazon and pushed to work on it further. I want to give readers a high quality product. If they are paying to read my story, I should at least do that much for them. 

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

Doyle, on first thought. Sherlock Holmes is my favorite fictional character and I’ve read those stories numerous times. Beyond that? There are so many books, so many authors, that I couldn’t begin to tell where the influence started. I’d sit for hours in the library and just read book after book after book. Even today, one of my favorite smells is when I step into the local library. Every time, I have to take in a deep breath.


What is your favorite part of the writing process?

 Character building. I love characters. I love the mix of personalities, emotions, and possibilities of how they’d react to certain events/crisis. I like to stretch them, to answer the “what ifs” of pushing a character to their breaking point.

Describe your latest book in 4 words.

Not your childhood classic.

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

 I’m currently writing and world building a paranormal mystery series.



Elizabeth uses writing as therapy, her release from everyday stress. At night, after work and once the children are finally tucked in bed, for the fifth time, she sits at her laptop and lets her imagination flow.

Elizabeth has produced short stories, one of which will be published in an anthology. She’s had fun writing a Sherlock Holmes fan fiction story, A Case of Need, based on the BBC’s Sherlock. By July 2011, her first novel, Second on the Right, had been completed. She spent several years polishing the story in order to provide a high quality product to the public. Second on the Right is her first professional novel.

1 comment:

Elizabeth said...

Thanks for posting! Do you have a piratey name you'd pick for yourself?

Post a Comment