WoW - Love and Leftovers

Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we just can't wait to get our sticky fingers on.


Title: Love and Leftovers
Author: Sarah Tregay
Release Date: January 1st 2012
Synopsis from Goodreads

My wish
is to fall
cranium over Converse
in dizzy, daydream-worthy
love.

When her parents split, Marcie is dragged from Idaho to a family summerhouse in New Hampshire. She leaves behind her friends, a group of freaks and geeks called the Leftovers, including her emo-rocker boyfriend, and her father.

By the time Labor Day rolls around, Marcie suspects this "vacation" has become permanent. She starts at a new school where a cute boy brings her breakfast and a new romance heats up. But understanding love, especially when you've watched your parents' affections end, is elusive. What does it feel like, really? can you even know it until you've lost it?

Love and Leftovers is a beautifully written story of one girl’s journey navigating family, friends, and love, and a compelling and sexy read that teens will gobble up whole.

ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG!! Converse, verse, love, lust, boys, and rock-n-roll?!!!

We might freaking squee to death!!!

And what do we say when a book makes us explode like 99 Luftballoons?!!

Must have NOWS!
We needs it!!
We wants it!!
We can't lives without it!!

Now that you've heard what our CAN'T WAIT book is... What's yours? Drop us a comment so we can find out what has you on pins and needles.

Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles #3)
By Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Published Oct. 18th 2011 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Pick Up your copy at B&N, Amazon, or your local indie today!

Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?
For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.

Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

Darkfallen's tear filled review:

The only thing standing in the way of this book getting 5 stars is the length. I never really thought I would say that a book was too long but here I am. While I LOVED about 90% of this book, I think that it is a little long for YA.

Now enough of that...let's get on with the book!

The heat is rising, the insects are swarming, the lake has dried up...these are just a few of the things that are happening to the fine town of Gatlin ever since Lena claimed herself, split the moon, and threw the Order out of whack. So while Ethan finally gets his Lena back, nothing else seems to be going right. Only this time it's not just the Caster world that's being affected. If they don't find a way to restore the Order before the Eighteenth Moon then both Caster & Mortals are going to meet an untimely fate.

The question is will The One That Is Two be willing to meet his/her fate to save all others? And more importantly who is this person? With so many choices as to who it could be will Lena, Ethan, and the gang be able to figure it out in time and save the world?

First I just want to say how HAPPY I am that Lena and Ethan are finally back to the loving relationship that they should be in. Together they are both so sweet, and cute, and *swoons*. Need I say more? Because I can...I really, really could just keep going on and on about how cute these two are. It's nice to see this book isn't all about fighting for their relationship anymore. It's nice to see them a whole lot less insecure and a lot in love with each other.

But enough about them. What about Amma? OMG I both loved and hated her in this book. I never released how much I needed Amma until this book. Just the things she says, and the things she does...I love her for all her dark moments, but then to see her break down? To slowly lose it piece by piece? Lets just say that she took my heart with her mind when she lost those final pieces. In the end between her and Ethan I spent the last 20 pages crying to the point I had to keep putting the book down to wipe my eyes.

So while I thought that this book was a bit long in places, and at times wasn't sure if I was going to be able to finish it, in the end I LOVED this book and it was so worth it! With an ending that will make you ball your eyes out you'll be left screaming for more. I can't believe how they left the ending, but I so applaud them for doing it.

Lymi...



Teaser Tuesday: Saving June

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday!

This meme is sponsored by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

(wanna learn more about how you too can join in and play along? click here)

This weeks teaser is from....

This book has so many great parts that I really just want to quote the whole book and be done with it.
So I guess what I'm telling you is...if you don't read this book your crazy! lol

"I'm sorry," I say. "For everything I did. For everything I didn't. I wish you were here. I know it's not enough, but I guess this is the closest I'm going to get, to saving you. " 89% on kindle

and this is the part where Darkfallen breaks down and sobs like a 2 year old...
I'm telling you this book will change your life!

Now c'mon...Tease me!

Miss World Blog Tour Countdown

Hey guys and girls! Paranormal Wastelands is proud to present our very first blog tour!

We are looking for some super awesome blogs that want to read, review, and have fun with Randi Black's debut novel "Miss World".

Wanna know the skinny?

About the Book:

It's 1993. Kim Ho wishes she were Courtney Love, instead of the chubby 16-year-old who clashes with her traditional Chinese parents. Her very own Kurt Cobain arrives in the form of Kevin, a 26-year-old failed musician. But Kevin uses Kim's rock-star dreams to exploit her, and those dreams die along with the real Kurt Cobain.Too scared to tell anyone, Kim conjures up a cross-dressing imaginary friend and dates Walter Riordan, the cute boy from special-ed. Walter helps her recover, but after a joke snowballs into a plot to murder Kevin, Kim's forced to choose between revenge or her sanity. This is a truly daring and original coming-of-age novel about one girl's quest to reclaim her power from those who've stolen it.



About the author:
Once there was a girl who grew up in San Dimas, CA. Her mom loved telling her that she was a difficult child, even before she was born. Whatever, though. Getting A's and playing piano bored her. Randi Black preferred writing and punk rock. Then she got accepted into the MFA in Writing program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and became Randi Black. During a fit of insomnia, she started Fire Spirit Press to release "bad books for bad girls." Randi lives in Chicago with her partner and the ghost of their dead feline, Stitchie von Poo. She is currently working on two sequels to Miss World.

The Social Networking Hook-up:

Twitter: Ms_Randi_Black
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/115881815684823644649/about
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/4829541.Randi_Black
Blog: http://randiblackfuckyeah.blogspot.com
Website: www.randiblack.com

We are looking for 10-15 blogs to host reviews, author interviews, character interviews, & guests post during this tour. This tour will kick-off on February 1st, and run throughout the March 3rd. As a tour host you will recieve your choice of a eBook or paperback copy of the finish book! (books will be shipped out the 3rd week in December to give host plenty of time to review the book) During the tour one lucky grand prize winner will win a iPod loaded with a playlist from the book with a personalized gel skin cover! There will also be chances to win copies of the book throughout the tour.

Spots are limited so sign up using the form below today!

This tour is now filled!

Sign-Up Sheet!

Thanks for participating and let the fun begin!

Until Next Time...

Saving June

Title: Saving June
Author: Hannah Harrington
Published: November 22, 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads

‘If she’d waited less than two weeks, she’d be June who died in June. But I guess my sister didn’t consider that.’

Harper Scott’s older sister has always been the perfect one so when June takes her own life a week before her high school graduation, sixteen-year-old Harper is devastated. Everyone’s sorry, but no one can explain why.

When her divorcing parents decide to split her sister’s ashes into his-and-her urns, Harper takes matters into her own hands. She’ll steal the ashes and drive cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going California.

Enter Jake Tolan. He’s a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession and nothing in common with Harper’s sister. But Jake had a connection with June, and when he insists on joining them, Harper’s just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanour and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what she needs.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something. Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

A Darkfallen Review of immense squees!

Ok people...this is one of those books that no matter what...no mater the screaming 3 yr old, the hungry husband, the emails, the phone calls, the work...you just simply can't put it down! This is a book that demands to be devoured in one sitting.

Harper's voice grabs you from the very first page. The book is titled Saving June and it is about a girl named June that commits suicide. About the road to recovery in the wake of her death. But I'm here to tell you that I got so much more out of this than that. In fact I don't really think it was about June at all. It's about a girl that lives in her sisters shadow. I girl that hears one too many "Why can't you be more like June, Harper?" type statements in her life. About a girl that will never be as pretty, smart, outgoing, or anything as her older sister June. A girl that lives in the pessimistic wastelands many choose to ignore even exist.

Then the perfect sister June shows the world that she is not so perfect after all with a bottle of sleeping pills and car exhaust.

As everyone tries to make sense of why the perfect June would kill herself Harper finds herself on one hell of a journey across the US in an attempt to find answers and lay her sisters ashes to rest. But the beauty of this book is what happens to Harper over this trip. You hear the inner turmoil inside her head. You feel the way she blames herself for what happened with June. And the way she hold everything inside. The way she always has...even before the "after." Layer by layer you watch as Harper breaks. Until finally she has broken into bits of nothing. But that's the beauty of it all. You can't fix something until it's broken. And in Harper's case you can't heal a broken girl until there is nothing left to break. Lucky for Harper she has something June never had...she has strength. In the end this really is about saving Harper.

And ok so there is also I really hot guy named Jake. He smokes, has shaggy hair, wears lots of black, works in a record store, sings & plays guitar, and is basically a walking music guru....give him a few tattoos and I would be boarding the first train to irresistible. Jake is snarky and pretty much a dick in the best possible way. Really...I say it with love. The way him and Harper interact the entire book is perfect. I loved their banter. I love how both of them were quick to put the other one in their place. At the same time Jake's ability to say the right thing when it needed to be said, to be her rock when Harper needed a rock, but also understanding that Harper doesn't want to be saved...and then he saves her anyways? Perfection.

And just when you think this book couldn't possible be any better. That I couldn't possible rave about it anymore than I have...The music throughout the entire book makes it all that much more better! And in the back of the book you even get all the song lists in case you want to make your own Saving June mixed tape...ok well CD;)

Could this book been better? Let me ask you...can you improve upon perfection? Because that is what this book is...Broken Perfection.

Questions from a Greta

How would you rate the music?
Well, considering their ages, I kinda thought the music was a bit too old fogey for teens, But also considering that Jake works in a record store then I think the music was perfect.

How was the plot?
Pretty perfect. I have to admit that I kinda got a bit bored around the last 100 pages but I think that's just me. I'm sure others would find it awesome.

What age do you think would be appropriate for this book?
Well, there's some smoochy booching and a bit of tongue wrestling and some Pg-13 fade to black stuff, and a couple of F bombs... but I think a 14 year old would be ok with this book.

For boys or girls?
That's a good question. I would say GIRLS would totally dig this book because of the BFF Factor and the boy. I'm not sure about a boy. I can tell you that my son would NEVER read this book. Maybe a sensitive boy would enjoy it.

There were a ton of God question in this book. How did that make you feel?
Seriously, I thought it was awesome! I really dug how they pushed that card. Not many books will do that... at least not the ones that I've read. I wish it was pushed even further but I'm not sure how that would have been done.

Overall?
A most awesome book that is sure to stick with you!

In the book they played a game called Top 3 so we came up with our own Top 3 inspired by the book.

And the question is...

Top 3 songs to overdose too?

Darkfallen's picks

Create a MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com
Greta's picks

Create a MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com

I Luv Halloween, #2

Title: I Luv Halloween, #2
Author: Keith Giffen
Artwork: Ben Roman
Published: 2006
Synopsis from Goodreads

Play Magazine's #1 Manga All your twisted favorites return, but this time they've brought along a few friends! The ghoulish Halloween adventures continue--but what's this? The town has been overrun with zombies! Will the undead take a bite out of trick-or-treating forever?!" Read it if you have a strong stomach and are just a little disturbed." -Dave Halverson, Play Magazine

What on earth was that?!!

Sounds like something you would say to your husband when you pass through the den as he's watching tv, right?

This book is exactly the same way.

Just like the one before this volume of "I Luv Halloween" is definitely targeted to those who love kids cutting up zombies, blowing up things, and killing people just to get out of sticky situations. (there's also a great deal of poo poo in this book, too)

While I enjoyed the first book more than this one, in this volume the zombies really have taken over and have now taken Halloween away and Finch and gang just won't stand for that. There's also a couple of new characters that are quite interesting and of course Moochie, Finch's little sister is back. This time she has traded in her toothfairy outfit for a surgeon costume. (I have to admit what she does is disgusting!)

Older kids (and by that I mean AT LEAST 15) would do fine with this book... and I'm sure kids as old as 13 would too but icks.... that's up to you if you want to let them read this. I for one am still a bit leary on letting my 9th grader read this series.

THere aren't any sexual exploits in this book but e-gads... MOOCHIE!! What Moochie does is what will make or break it for you in the decission on whether or not to let junior read this book.

(Moochie is convinced that there are Chonklit Monkeys eating poo pies in the zombies bums and she needs to cut out the pootie parts because they are -Unclean - )

Like I said... kinda gross... but still a great guilty pleasure.

I BE SPIKE!

A Stolen Life: A Memoir

Title: A Stolen Life: A Memoir
Author: Jaycee Dugard
Published: July 12th 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads

In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen.
For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse.

For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation.

On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived.

A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it.


This is going to be a hard book to review.

If you have read "Room" or "Living Dead Girl" then you can get an idea what this book is like but omg.... I can't believe this happened in real life.

"A Stolen Life" is Jaycee Dugard's story in her own words. It isn't extremely detailed but she warns us to bear with her in the beginning due to her limited education. But the way she describes what her captors did to her will shock you. I honestly can not believe she is still alive having to have lived through such a tragic life.

You get a real sense of who Jaycee is through short little journal entries. Her love for animals, how she would look at the moon and think of her mom, how she never gave up hope, how at times she did, what she would like to do in the future. It amazed me how there was still hope in her life that she had the WANT to do things like write a best seller or start a homeless shelter that was also therapeutic with animals.

The book isn't graphic but it is horrific. It left me fuming that this couple treated her this way. THat this man scarred her for life and ripped her in two. That the parole officers that visited the house of a sex offender never realized there was a little girl, then a girl and two babies, living in the backyard.

The beginning of the books starts out with how the captors took her. Shocking her with a taser then stuffing her in their van.

From there it talks about all the sexual abuse she had to go through. How at eleven years old she was assaulted and how she became pregnant and gave birth at 14. I just can't fathom why on earth this couple would want to do this to a little girl.

The man, Phillip, told Jaycee that she was helping him with his sex problem. That angels were making him do bad things and she was doing a good thing.... and wouldn't it be best if SHE helped him out instead of a bunch of other little girls that could get hurt.

That's just messed up.

Parts of the book are journal entries. We get to see a journal she made for a cat and then how Phillip made her tear her name (from a corner where she wrote it) out because he didn't want people to know who she was if it was ever found.

There were times about how Phillip would go on "runs" which were binges of METH and he would force Jaycee to sexually satisfy him for days. But then how the sex finally stopped after the birth of her second child at age 17.

After that her story gets almost weirder. Phillip decides that his wife should be called "MOM" to her girls and that Jaycee should change her name and be known as the girls' sister. For 18 years Jaycee was not referred to by her name or said her name aloud. It makes me wonder what her captors called her before the 2nd child was born.

But, like I said, Jaycee has the 2nd child and goes along with being known as the girls' sister because she doesn't want to make anyone happy.

Sure there are thoughts of running away, calling for help, but she has been subjected to this family for so long that she afraid to speak out. And during the time of this it is almost like Phillip is trying to make everyone a happy family.

They also started a business card printing company after this where Jaycee was in charge of printing orders. She even had her own money and at the end of her abduction got to go out to the thrift store with Nancy. It amazed her that nobody knew who she was.... but it also scared her that people would recognize her. In my opinion she felt as though if she protected Nancy and Phillip then her girls would be safe.

Then came the day she was discovered. And seriously.... I can not believe it happened this way. I'm going to assume everyone knows this but jeeze... it was almost stupid of Phillip's part. He decided that he was going to take everyone down to see his parole officer because he got in trouble with being with the girls (which are his own children but no one knows that) and have Jaycee tell the parole officer that she realizes he's a sex offender and that it's ok for her girls to be with him.

That's when they figured out who she was.

Two police officers told her that they knew she was someone else. Then Phillip confesses to kidnapping. Jaycee is starting to get scared. They ask her HER name. She tells them she can't say it. That she hasn't said it for 18 years... but she can write it down. From there she was a headline.

Jaycee is slowly transitioning back into the real world. Her little sister taught her how to drive and her oldest daughter has started high school. She has been going to therapy and trying to learn to ask for help and at times rely on herself. It will be a slow process.

I'm very curious to see what she does with her life. I hope she gets to do everything she made on those lists in her book. Write a best seller, have a dog, See Egypt, simple things but to her they were thought to be unreachable. I hope she gets to do every last one of them. She truly deserves it!

Chibi Vampire, Volume 8 (Karin #8)

Title: Chibi Vampire, Volume 8 (Karin #8)
Author: Yuna Kagesaki
Published: 2008
Synopsis from Goodreads

After months of little romantic development, are Karin and Kenta ready to take the plunge? The young couple has finally started holding hands in public, so Maki forces the issue by setting up a zoo date. But crazy monkeys aren't their only obstacle as a romantic rival suddenly comes out of the woodwork! Will our favorite little vampire who couldn't have what it takes to keep her boyfriend from straying?

In this volume we get to go ahhhh a couple more times.

Maki does what any besty will do and asked Kenta if he liked liked Karin.

Apparently Kenta has led a kinda sheltered life or just doesn't think of girls in that way and is starting to realize "hey dummy! maybe I do like her" and when Maki gives them both tickets to the zoo on Valentine's day he *gasp* agrees and goes with Karin where they run away from poo throwing monkeys. It was most awesome.

A new character is in the story who I'm assuming is going to make the love triangle... cuz every story needs one of those to make it believable ;) HAHAHS! I don't think the author is too keen on it. She made fun of it in her author comic .... which was most awesome. The new girl's name is Yuriya and I kinda think she has a secret but they didn't go into much detail... just gave us enough to leave us guessing... Like maybe she's a werewolf or something.

OH! And this comic brought the funny back!! Squee!! Jokes are scattered all throughout this book and I really really enjoyed that.

Black Friday Book Bonnanza Hop!

Hotsed by Book Savvy Babe, The Bawdy Book Blog, &

So it's that time of year again...

Time to make room on the bookshelves for the load os books the new year will bring!

So today we are giving away the whole Clockword Dark Series by John Claude Bemis.

The first two books are hardcovers, and the newsest one is an ARC copy. This series is rated Middle Grade and will make a great gift for the young reader in your life!

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. This contest is open Internationally!

And now check out the other stops on the hops and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

The Scorpio Races - A difference of Opinion

Title: The Scorpio Races
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Published: October 2011
Synopsis from Goodreads

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.



Ok I know that I said this review was going to have to wait mostly because I just didn't know what to say, or how to right it...but that would be a lie.

I terrible lie, to disguise a terrible truth...A truth that in the end my loyalty to provide a honest review has to outweigh my love for all things Maggie right?

So here it is...the truth is...well I just didn't LOVE this the way I loved Shiver, Linger, and Forever Please don't get me wrong there is great OMG-MAGGIE-YOU-DIDN'T?-AND-THIS-IS-WHY-I-LOVE-YOU moments.

There is without a doubt no way for you to not love the characters here. I mean Maggie knows her *bleeep* when it comes to building a character in a way that leaves you lost inside their world. Even at time inside them. Kate Connoly was perfection for me. She was selfish with just the right amount of selfishness thrown in to remind us that she is in fact the age she is supposed to be. Which is no easy feet considering it is just her, her older brother Gabe, and her younger brother Finn made orphans by the capall uisce. (blood lusting water horses that plague the island, although I wouldn't really say "plague" is the right word.)With no money or time to spare Kate does the only thing she thinks she can do...she enters the Scorpio Races. But the races are no place for a normal horse. No place for a girl. These races are for men with death wishes and the deadly capall uisce they have managed to pull from the sea. A sea that sings louder and louder as the winter months approach. Calling the blood-lusting water horses back to the sea. Driving them crazy, and mad with longing with each approaching day.

It is the first day of November and so, someone will die...

And don't even get me on Sean Kennrick. He is just as broken as Kate, and together they make quite a pair. Yes I wish they would have made a pair a little sooner. I would have loved to see some more in there. The relationship is a rocky cliff over a ragged sea...it builds and builds until it finally crashes together, making it difficult to sea where the sea ends and the rocks begin. At first it is no mystery that Kate is the rock, and Sean is the sea...but now I'm not so sure anymore. Which I love!

In the end this is a story about working to get what brings you happiness, thinking you know exactly what that is, losing it, and finding out that you got your happiness...you just didn't know that it could come a different way, or that maybe what you thought would equal happiness and what actually does, is two different things. For me this book was good. But would I call it great? Because it pains me to answer that question...I'm going to have to plead the fifth.








I love the Shiver Lady. I mean, I absolutely adore her.

But kids... I'm not going to call her the Horse Lady or the Scorpio Race Chick or anything like that because this book was a major FAIL in my opinion.

I mean.. WHAT THE HECK, SHIVER LADY!?! I want to read a book about romance and young love and you know... something cool!! Not a book about lochness non monstery horse things that have seaweed mains and eat people but can be tamed and a donkey horse. What the heck was this about?!! Oh, and it's told in Hobbit Lingo and when Americans do that it just uber ticks me off. I mean, I understand why Hobbits would write in Hobbit Lingo but us Americans can't wing it and when we try it just sounds uber pushed cuz it winds up sound like PIP and "PEASE SIR, MAY I HAVE SOME MORE." Not cool.

I couldn't even get into this story. Some girly who's orphaned cuz her parents got eaten by a water horse or something, and she lives with her brothers and a most awesome cat.... but the cat didn't get enough air time so I got bored.

Then there was this boy who raised water horses for this dude and his cruddy son and like his Dad was eaten by a Water Horse (apparently parents taste delicious to water horses... there's a reason to be abstinent!! Don't have sex kids or Water Horses will find you tasty!!) but he loves water horses and can't live without them and is a super stud when it comes to horse races and yadda yadda (and by horse I mean Water Horses)

Ugs.... But it was just sooo super boring and Hobbity!! Nothing against Hobbits... they're great.... but seriously... I was waiting for people to start sweeping chimneys and talking about their yellowy teeth and handing out shillings to people in fingerless gloves. AHHH!!! The horror!!

I'm more of a modern girl... unless it's a highlander story and then I'll be whatever you want.... But I did NOT dig this book AT ALL!! I got through about a quarter of it and just wanted to shout "ENOUGH!!" I couldn't get through it. I told DARKFALLEN to tell me the entire story and she did and quite frankly I wouldn't even go see a movie about what she told me.

This was just NOT NOT NOT for me! ANd I'm sorry Shiver Lady... But I gotta flop this one.

Lisa Darling stops by the Wastelands

Paranormal Wastelands is proud to present a famous author amongst us.

Please help us in welcoming Lisa Darling author of "Heart of War".

Can you tell us a little about how you started writing; was it something you have always wanted to do?
Lisa: It's something I've always done, ever since early on in elementary school, I showed an aptitude for writing and knew it was what I was going to do.

Greta: I had an aptitude for Valentine’s Day cards.
Darkfallen: Really?
Greta: Oh yeah! I was a freaking prodigy at them.
Darkfallen: How so?
Greta: They always came off pretty stalkery.
Darkfallen: Stalkery? Is that even a word?
Greta: You know it!
Darkfallen: What does this have to do with anything?
Greta: Not much. Just showing off my mad writing skills.
Darkfallen: Damn it! Today is NOT about you. It’s about Lisa.
Greta: Who?
Darkfallen: The author we are interviewing.
Greta: There’s another person here with us?
Darkfallen: Are you blind?
Greta: Ummm…… If I say ‘yes’, will you give me some cool Ray Charles sun glasses?
Darkfallen: ZOMG! Excuse me Lisa… Let me take care of her.

*Awesome Batman kapow noises

Darkfallen: Ok…Let’s continue



What do you consider to be the key elements of a great story?
Lisa: Conflict creates Drama, for me those two are always first. The Romance isn't 'second', I wouldn't like to say that, but the romance doesn't bubble and come to fruition if it's never tested. It just sort of lays flat on the page.

Greta: I personally like to kill my main characters off. That’s most fun.
Darkfallen: AHH!! I thought I just beat you up.
Greta: No… you were making cool Batman noises that were most awesome but you actually have to hit me to knock me out.

*Darkfallen stalks over to Greta as she goes EEP and rethinks her views about conflict.


Could you tell us a little about how you develop your characters? Who has been your favorite character to write? The most challenging?
Lisa: I'm one of those lucky writers who lives her life with a Muse (day in and day out). We have a mutually beneficial partnership. He throws out orders, I tear them apart, we bounce ideas off each other, constantly try to one-up each other, and in the middle of all of that chaos the 'magick' happens.

Ares is the character I have lived and worked with the longest—16 years now—so he's my favorite and the most challenging because of his nature. I tend to be the peace lover and he's the butt-kicker. Together we balance each other out although it's quite maddening at times.

Greta: In my life Darkfallen is my butt-kicker. I mean, look at the size of her feet!! They’re freaking huge!
Darkfallen: What the hell? Now you’ve gone too far.
Greta: Really? That’s too far? I can be a lot worse muhahahahahhas.

*EEP!


Have you ever found that you didn’t like your Hero or your Heroine? If so, what did you do to change that?
Lisa: When we first meet Ares he's a pretty unlikeable guy, he's very grumpy, he's arrogant, he's a bit spoiled. Then again, he's a god so…what do you expect? LOL
He grows and evolves throughout the story, he learns about himself as he learns about his love-interest, Alena and realizes that being a god is awesome but it's good to have a heart too.



If you were to start again, with the knowledge you have now, what would be the first thing you do?
Lisa: Again, I'm one of those lucky people, I wouldn't change a thing or do anything differently.



Can you tell me a bit about your most recent/upcoming release?
Lisa: This series will continue with the second novel "Child of War" on December 31, 2011. Ares and Alena will bring their son, Raven, into the world and he's going to upset the status quo on Olympus.

Darkfallen: That sounds like one ornery newborn.
Greta: I don’t think that’s what she meant.
Darkfallen: I don’t know man, think of it… when newborns attack!! This time it’s for real.
Greta: Wait… that does sound pretty terrifying. We should protect the house.
Darkfallen: How do you want to do that?
Greta: Throw some of those lead paint toys out in the yard. That should keep the infestation to a minimum.
Darkfallen: Good thinking!



Is there a genre you haven’t done that you would like to explore in the future?
Lisa: I've always wanted to write a vampire story but I think I'll stick with the Olympians for now.

Greta: OH OH OH!! Olympic vampire gods who win the Olympics!! That would rock!
Darkfallen: What? And what event do they win?
Greta: Duh… The even where they show off their abs and sparkle.
Darkfallen: That’s an event?
Greta: Yeah! I saw it a couple years ago. They were all glistening and abdominally sculpted in these tiny under-roos.
Darkfallen: Dude… that’s swimming. That’s not a ab competition.
Greta: They were swimming? No, I'm pretty sure they were glistening vampires.



If you could throw a party with any five people (living or dead) who would you pick and why?
Lisa: Stephen King, John Lennon, Kevin T. Smith, Janis Joplin, and Jacqueline Susann. I want to talk writing with Stephen and Jacqueline, philosophy with John and Janis, and Kevin…well, he gets to stay until long after the party's over. ;-)

Greta: Kevin Smith? Isn’t that Silent Bob!?!! Hahahs! You want to make out with Silent Bob?!!
Darkfallen: Dude! That's not who it is.
Greta: HAHAHAS!! Lisa like the strong silent type.
Darkfallen: Oh shush up! YOu have a weird crush on Michael Moore!
Greta: AHHH!! Don’t tell everyone!!



Do you listen to music when writing? Do you feel like some stories write themselves a soundtrack with specific music? If so, what book and what kind of music influenced it?
Lisa: Music is a huge influence on my life, I'm always listening to my iTunes…or Pandora, I really like Pandora. I also have the strange habit of listening to my local radio station while I write. I think the songs help on many levels, and yes, often they provide much needed inspiration. I just chalk those times up to the Muse making his opinion known.

Darkfallen: This has been a plug for Pandora! Please give Lisa free stuff now ;)
Greta: And us too!



What are your thoughts on love scenes in romance novels, do you find them difficult to write?
Lisa: They're the best! I often find myself chomping at the bit to get one when I know it's coming up. Love scenes are the scenes where the Muse and I are freest to do anything and everything we want. We often get quite lost in them.

Darkfallen: Don’t you dare say ANYTHING!
Greta: Come on!
Darkfallen: NO!
Greta: NEIGH!!
Darkfallen: GRETA!



What are some of your favorite things or hobbies to do?
Lisa: I like to cook, nothing fancy, just good old American Yankee cooking. I try to garden, I love to grow things, we have a lot of deer and other critters which makes it difficult. I also take photographs of the sea and old abandoned buildings.



Who are some of your favorite authors, and if we were to visit your home, what books would we find on your bookshelf, end table, floor or e-reader?
Lisa: I have a 5 shelf glass and wood book case that holds nothing but Stephen King, just about every single hard cover he's ever written and some rare paperbacks. A few of them are even signed.



If you could be any character of any book or movie, who would you be?
Lisa: This is going to sound so horribly cliché and romantic but….'Vivian' in "Pretty Woman".


Greta: Thank you Lisa for dropping by the Wastelands! We look forward to your Olympic Vampire book while you strive to become a fictional hooker.
Darkfallen: GRETA!
Greta: What?
Darkfallen: Is not writing a Olymic Vampire book nor does she want to be a hooker.
Greta: Oh, I appoligize... the more politically correct word is Call Girl
Darkfallen: Oh my gawd... I can't take you anywhere.
Greta: What are you talking about? This is our house.
Darkfallen: Moving on... Kids! Check out Lisa Darling and her most awesome books. Here's where you can find out more about her --


FaceBook: http://facebook.com/lisabeth1
Blog: http://lbdarling.wordpress.com/
Website: http://www.moonsmusings.com/lbdarling