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.

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: :

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

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway