Author Interview with Brigid Kemmerer
Brigid Kemmerer finds the time to write somewhere between caring for her family and working at her day job, but sometimes she ends up mothering her coworkers and managing her family. Storm: The Elemental Series is her first novel. Find out more about Brigid and the Elemental series on her website.
Author Interview:
Can you tell us about your newest book, SPIRIT?
Spirit follows the story of Hunter Garrity, who was trained by his father to kill full Elementals. Then his father died, and Hunter was left a bit directionless. When he met the Merricks, he learned that they weren’t the evil beings he’d been raised to kill. In Spirit, Hunter needs to make a choice about which side he stands on. This book isn’t really about Hunter finding love. It’s about Hunter finding himself.
I have to say I am SO excited to read about Hunter. What side of him will we get to see in this book?
Oh, you’ll see a whole lot of Hunter. Spirit is full of action and sexytimes. It was the riskiest book I can imagine writing, and I’m still a little nervous to see what people think.
I’m almost afraid to ask…will this be the last book in The Elemental series?
Nope! Nick’s book will be out in January 2014, with Michael’s book to follow in August 2014.
I know you have little ones at home. Does that make your writing process difficult?
No, because I leave the house and go to Starbucks. Really. Writing at home is almost impossible. Revising, however, I can do while feeding the baby with one hand.
In the first two books, there was a heavy topic on bullying. Is that going to be a main theme in SPIRIT or do you have something different planned?
All of my stories will have some element (ha!) of characters needing to figure out who they are and what they stand for. For Hunter and Becca in particular, their Element is the Spirit, and it draws people to them. Sometimes that means good attention, like when Hunter and Becca were attracted to each other. Sometimes it means bad attention, like what Becca experienced on the soccer field. And like Hunter experiences in Spirit.
I’m not expecting an answer, but I still have to ask. Who is your favorite brother?
I love them all! But I think I most closely relate to Michael.
I know that this is Hunter’s book, but will we get to watch Gabriel and Layne’s relationship progress more?
Hmm. Not too much. They do make an appearance, however. Simon, too.
And what about Becca’s dad? Will we see more of him?
Yes, for sure! He’s got a secret. You won’t learn the answer to it in Spirit, however…
What’s next after The Elemental series?
I’m contracted to launch a new series with Kensington, but right now everything is under wraps. Stay tuned!
When you finally have a chance to read, what’s next for you?
I read all the time! If I stop reading, I’ll lose my inspiration for writing. When people say they don’t have time to read, I think it’s a load of crap. I have a full time job, two kids, and two books to write this year. And I still find the time to read at least a book a week. I have a Kindle app on my iPhone, and anytime I find a spare minute, I’m reading. I was reading while stirring food at the stove tonight. Right now I’m reading I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga.
Breathless (Elemental #2.5) – Brigid Kemmerer
Too many secrets. Not enough time.
Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it’s just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that’s a survival tactic.
But now he’s got problems even his brothers can’t help him survive.
His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn’s dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.
He can feel it—-the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.
You guys…if you haven’t read the Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer, then that’s your next reading assignment. I fell in love with her work last year in both Storm and Spark, and I was not disappointed with her novella, Breathless. This is a very short story, 65 pages in length, focused on Nick Merrick. Nick’s been in all of the books, so far, but we’ve never really got to get up close and personal with him. And this….this was just…. WOW. I did not see this coming from a mile away. We get to learn about Nick’s deepest, darkest secret. Let me tell you…it’s a good one!
I didn’t realize just quite how much I liked Nick’s character before reading Breathless. But he’s a keeper! I’m really excited to learn more about him in his own book, Secret, which comes out January 28th, 2014 from Kensington Teen. I’m making my prediction right now that Nick’s book will be my favorite out of the whole series…and that’s simply based on this novella.
I don’t read very many novella’s, and I’m assuming that that’s pretty standard for most of you who are reading this. Actually….I can’t think of another novella that I’ve read. I’m sure that there has to at least be one out there. Anyways, this has convinced me to read more novella’s in the future. LOVED IT! If you’re new to the series, I would read them in the correct order. However, you could read Breathless without reading any other books/novellas by Brigid Kemmerer. Wonderful read!
Pages: 65
Publisher: Kensington Teen
Publication Date: April 30th, 2013
Rating: : 
Drowning in You – Rebecca Berto
Crushed by a tragedy
Charlee May’s been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason’s Ski Lift Resort leaves her millionaire dad critically injured and her mom dead at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts. Charlee is suddenly the sole caretaker for her little brother while their world falls apart.
Dexter couldn’t be more different from Charlee. He’s tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships and his Dad has a fair share of illegal dealings. With Dexter’s reputation, almost everyone believes he planned the Mason’s skiing disaster.
And after all these years he’s still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who’s too good for him.
When this cruel twist of fate ties Charlee’s family and Dexter’s reputation together, Charlee and Dexter wonder if their feelings are reciprocated, while Dexter discovers his dad is trying to steal the May’s millionaire fortune.
But like an addiction, one look, one touch, one taste—they’re hooked no matter the consequences.
She writes stories that are a bit sexy, and straddle the line between Literary and Tear Your Heart Out. She gets a thrill when her readers are emotional reading her stories, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She’s strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably crazy when she works on her fiction.
Rebecca Berto lives in Melbourne, Australia with her boyfriend and their doggy.
Italian or Chinese?
CHINESE! My background is Italian and I’m much more likely to get excited with Chinese food laid out in front of me.
The Great Gatsby or Oz the Great and Powerful?
I’ve only read The Great Gatsby, but that fact aside, it’s also one of my top fav books ever. ♥
Fall or Summer?
Summer. I’m quite thin, and tough as I try to be, I feel I complain 150% more in fall.
Can you tell us about your book, Drowning in You?
Drowning in You is an emotional journey between two people secretly crushing on each other for years, suddenly connected by a tragedy. It’s a story of loss and love from the heart.
New adult has been a popular and much talked about genre lately. In your opinion, how much do new adult and regular YA books differ?
Considering there’s a crossover where 17- to 18-year-old characters can be both YA or NA depending on the type of book, the difference is surprisingly massive.
YA is about growing up from a child to a young adult. These books are about significant events at that time: first kisses, perhaps even first time making out; realizing parents aren’t embarrassing, evil creatures (if they’re alive—most authors make the parents both dead for some reason); and feeling accepted in a group or part of society.
NA goes all out and touches many taboo subjects including assault, although it’s an extension of YA characters. These NA characters can discover true love; sex; deal with the truthfulness and full force of death; responsibility; discovering who they really are as people.
Will readers get to see a sequel to Drowning in You?
Ummmmm, yes! I only announced this weeks after Drowning in You was published because I had planned for it to be a standalone. But readers wanted more and mentioned such similar pleas for a sequel that I caved in and announced I’d write book #2.
What was your favorite scene to write about?
It’s a spoiler because it happens midway, but yeah…the scene that changes the book midway was my favorite to write. So vivid and exciting.
What was the most difficult scene to write?
I’m so gonna get killed by you…but it’s another spoiler.
OMG, it ripped my heart out to write. My writing method involves picturing myself as the characters and guessing what I’d do as them so my heart was ripped out and crushed and I was teary writing that bit. I’m sure readers know which bit that was!
What was your inspiration behind Drowning in You?
It was from brainstorming, actually. I love writing, so I am always thinking of an idea that can turn into a story, and this one made me fall in love with it instantly.
When you finally get a chance to do some luxury reading, what will be next?
I have gaps in my writing and publishing schedule and that’s when I jump on my TBR list. One anticipated book I’m yet to get to is The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson.
What is currently on your To-Be-Read pile?
Um, almost 100 books? LOL. Many are romances, although recently I’ve been trying to broaden my range with some other genres. Some books I’m excited to get to include The Last Hour by Charles Sheehan-Miles, Second Chance Boyfriend by Monica Murphy, This Girl by Colleen Hoover, and Epilogue by C.J.Roberts.
Cover of the Week #119
You should never judge a book by its cover.
Sure…but they never said we couldn’t admire them. Cover of the Week pays homage to the beautiful and eye catching graphics that grace the covers of our young adult titles.
This week’s cover of the week goes to Rogue by Gina Damico
Release Date: September 10th, 2013
Indie Book of the Month Giveaway: Barbie Girl by Heidi Acosta
Hey Everyone! Welcome back!
Our Indie Book of the month for May is Barbie Girl by Heidi Acosta. Heidi Acosta was born on Long Island, New York. Moving around a lot when she was younger, she has lived in New York, Arizona, New York (again), Washington, Georgia, and Florida, in that order. Each place offered her something special, but she will always consider New York her home.
Heidi started writing as soon as she could spell. When she was three, Heidi’s mother gave her a copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods; thus beginning her lifelong love affair with literature.
Writing soon also became a form of therapy for Heidi, when she realized that no matter what was happening in her life, she could find emotional escape while writing. Some of her earliest stories featured her as a princess who explored new worlds with her horse Buttercup. If it sounds romantic, it wasn’t, there was no prince charming in those fairy lands (boys where yucky).
Heidi now resides in Florida with her husband, very active daughter, one hyper Chihuahua, two sweet cats, and one very fat moody cat.
Barbie Girl is the first Novel of Heidi’s new, four-book, Baby Doll Series: Barbie Girl, Barbie World, Doll Face, and Southern Sugar.
You can find out more about Heidi on her website.
The Giveaway:
I’m so excited to share this giveaway with you guys…pretty much because I think it’s awesome. Here’s what one winner will receive.
Barbie Girl Swag
Signed paperbacks of Barbie Girl and Barbie World
$25 Amazon Gift Card
That’s right….one winner will receive all of that.
Simply fill out the rafflecopter below.
The Nitty Gritty:
Contest is open to U.S. and Canada residents only
Contest will run from May 16, 2013 to May 31st, 2013
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