A Note:

6/2/13

I once told myself: IF I am accepted into grad school, this blog would no longer be updated. As it turns out, in April, I received news of my acceptance for the Fall 2013 semester, where I will attain a Master's degree of Science in Nutrition.

Running a blog, as many of you may already know, is a demanding side job once the excitement wears off. And once I fell out of the blogging community's loop (have you SEEN how many blogs there are now? Wow!), it was like the kiss of death. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get into a blogging routine once this happened due to the disconnect I felt from the community.

So I took a break. I struggled with the loss and with missing my blog. And then I realized I didn't have to run Book Faery to still be a book reviewer; I could read my books and post reviews online. I'm still a book review blogger, just not in the traditional sense.

I'll still be online. You can chat with me on Twitter, where I'll be posting links to my reviews and talking books. I'll also be posting links to nutrition articles. And if you'd like to connect with me where I guarantee I will post reviews, just add me as a friend on Goodreads.

So that's all, folks! It's been a fun and amazing journey, and I thank you all for listening to my thoughts about books. I hope we all can keep in touch elsewhere :)

Tori

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Author Interview: Lisa Shearin (plus giveaway!)

Please give a warm welcome to Lisa Shearin, who is stopping by Book Faery today to discuss the final book in her series, ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE!

Connect with Lisa:
{Website} {Facebook} {Twitter} {Goodreads}


Can you please describe your Raine Benares series for those unfamiliar with your work?

Raine Benares is a seeker, which is basically a detective who uses magic to find missing people and stolen objects. At the beginning of the series (MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND) she inadvertently gets herself psychically bonded to the Saghred—a stone that gives the one bonded to it unlimited power, with a side order of insanity. Not crazy like an eccentric aunt, but take-over-the-world-and-kill-millions kind of crazy.

The entire series (all six books) takes place in an approximate three-month timeframe. That’s a lot of action in very little time, but thanks to the Saghred (and the evil megalomaniacs who want the stone for their own), Raine is in a lot of trouble with very little ways out of it.

Thanks to friends and allies (both old and new), and ill-timed romantic entanglements (it ain’t easy to fight for your life and have a relationship at the same time), Raine manages to stay one step ahead of the power-hungry elves and goblin aristocrats who want the stone and its power for their own. Unfortunately Raine can’t just give it to them. Once bonded to the Saghred, you’re bonded for life. Only death can break that bond. Yours. Understandably, Raine has a problem with that last part.

ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE is the finale of the Saghred storyline. In it, Raine and a small band of good friends, not-so-good friends, and one outright enemy (don’t ask), travel to the goblin capital of Regor in order to destroy the Saghred and kill the goblin archmage who has found a way to use the stone’s power to enslave the world. While there, Raine & Company must also renegade goblin prince on the throne. Piece of cake. Not.


Was there something specific that inspired you while writing ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE? 

I love reading thrillers. The more breakneck-speed the action is, the better. Since ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE is the culmination of the previous five books, there’s plenty of action and believe me, it moves fast. In fact, all of the books in the Raine Benares series hit the ground running, and barely slow down enough to let the characters catch their breath. Yep, I’m an evil author. ; )


Who is your favorite character from this series, and why?

Hmm, that’s like trying to pick a favorite child; you love them all, but for different reasons. I have to say that my favorite characters are the ones who weren’t expected or who were supposed to have only a minor role, and who once they had arrived, grew into so much more than I could have ever expected. Tam, Phaelan, Talon, and Piaras are the best examples of this.


Is there one particular scene in ASBL that you are dying for readers to finally read?

All of them. No, really. For those who have read the entire series, each scene in ALL SPELL BREAKS LOOSE will have something to love, and I hope they think the ending is as satisfying as it felt to me when I wrote it.


Please describe your heroine in one to two sentences.

Raine Benares is the kind of friend you’d want to have. She’s unwaveringly loyal to her friends, unpretentious, tough yet vulnerable, sassy and irreverent, and as long as you’re anywhere near her you’ll never have a dull moment.



Giveaway

Want to win a copy of this awesome novel? Well it's your lucky day! The wonderful folks at Penguin is offering an e-book copy to one blog reader. You know what that means, right? It's open internationally!

Details:
1) Leave a comment asking Lisa a question;
2) Include your email in the comment;
3) Wait for an email from me if you've won.


Series Order:
Magic Lost, Trouble Found
Armed & Magical
The Trouble With Demons
Bewitched & Betrayed
Con & Conjure
All Spell Breaks Loose (May 29, 2012)






My name is Raine Benares—and it sucks to be me. The Saghred, a soul-stealing stone that has given me unlimited power, has been stolen by a goblin prince, and with it went my magic. The Saghred is in the goblin capital of Regor, in the hands of Sarad Nukpana, who’s on the verge of becoming the most powerful mage ever...just as soon as I’m dead.

Because Sarad can’t use the stone while I’m alive. Incentive enough to plan a little trip to Regor with a small band of good friends, not-so-good friends, and outright enemies. All we need to do is destroy the Saghred, kill Sarad, and put a renegade prince on the throne. Did I mention I’ll be doing this without magic?

19 comments:

  1. G'morning, Toni! Thank you so much for inviting me to the Book Faery!

    Lisa

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  2. Oh boy oh boy oh boy! Finally an international give away! *bounces with excitement*
    Um, a question for Lisa. Right, er, my mind has blanked. I guess since you've said you're going to write some spin off stories in this same world I'm wondering what sort of time frame you're looking for them? (Demanding reader is demanding! :p)
    My email is evil_catgirl (at) hotmail (dot) com (sssh, I made it when I was 11, don't judge me).

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Lisa

    I would love to read your books. Please enter me in contest. What inspired you to be a writer? Tore923@aol.com

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  4. Hey Evil Catgirl! (I love the name) I hope to write a proposal for the spin-off series this fall (if everything goes according to plan).

    As to what inspired me to be a writer, I don't think I was inspired, I just started writing as soon as I could string words together into sentences.

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  5. I like the premise of the series and I really like that the heroine is so strong and loyal to her friends. I'm really excited to read this series and my question is can the finale be read as a standalone or do you have to have read the others to know what is going on? Thanks for the giveaway!
    juliecookies(at)gmail.com

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  8. Hi Lisa,

    Picked up your books after Felicia Day recommended them, and I must say, one of the best decisions I've made :) My question to you is this: Why fantasy - what is it about the genre that makes you want to write about it?

    x Esther :)
    (sorry for the deletes - I kept typing my email wrongly!)
    estherypw@hotmail.com

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  9. Hi Julie! The books should be read in order to get the plot's "big picture." But not to worrry, they're fast reads. ; )

    Hi Esther! Back when I started working on the series, fantasy was hands-down my favorite genre. Now it shares my reading time with thrillers and mysteries.

    Lisa

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  10. Thanks, Tori, for the contest!

    Lisa, what is your all-time favorite book, and what is your favorite book right this second? :) I'm looking forward to ASBL!

    My email is jessie|{DOT}|mihalik|at|gmail|{DOT}|com. Take that, spam bots!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Jessie!

    My all-time favorite book is DEAD BEAT by Jim Butcher. But I love so many books, it's hard to pick just one. At the moment, I'm reading NOCTURNAL by Scott Siegler.

    Lisa

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  12. Thanks for the interview, that was fun to read. This series is on my wishlist, but I think I will wait until I have all the books before I start reading. I love the covers of those books. And a goblin prince is a nice change from a Fey prince :).
    Lisa, are you working on /thinking about a new series already?

    auriansbooks at gmail dot com

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  13. Hi Aurian!

    Right now, I'm finishing a proposal for a new series -- a urban fantasy/supernatural thriller/comedy. How's that for mixing genres? ; ) I hope to be able to tell everyone about it soon.

    Lisa

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  14. Hi Lisa,
    I haven't had a chance to start this series yet, but I plan to soon. Wow, the whole series takes place in a three month time frame. Do you have a plan to continue the action is small increments of time or will Raine ever catch a break and get to relax for a little bit? :D

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

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  15. Hi Lisa!
    I can't wait to read ASBL!
    I was wondering how you met Linnea Sinclair, since you mentioned several times that she was your mentor.

    my email address is jennifersmith[at]unc.edu

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  16. I'm sad that Raine's story is ending, but excited to see what else you have up your sleeve. I think I've asked you this before, but any hope of Phaelan getting a spin-off?

    b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  17. Hi Jennifer! Linnea and I are "agency sisters" meaning we have the same literary agent -- the supremely amazing Kristin Nelson. Kristin asked her if she would read MAGIC LOST, TROUBLE FOUND for a blurb. Linnea read it, loved it, and I started going to Linnea for all of my newbie author questions & advice. She's pure gold!

    Hi Bethany!
    There is definitely hope of Phaelan getting a spin-off. ; )

    Lisa

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  18. Hi Lisa you're a new to me author I cant waitto read your books they all sound amzing and I love the covers .Thank you for this chance to win Have a great weekend .
    flanagan@Mebtel.net

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  19. Hi Lisa

    Really happy to get the chance to win one of your great books! :) Read all the others and can't wait to read this one!

    My question: Which book are you reading right now? (If you happen to have time for that...)

    Greets
    Naemi
    (email: naemi@benigna.de)

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