Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway: Interview with Lisa Amowitz, author of Vision

Welcome to the Vision by Lisa Amowitz Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours.  Today's stop features an interview with author of Vision, Lisa Amowitz, details about Vision itself  as well as a chance to win one of two signed copies of Vision + swag (US only).

Without further ado, let me present to you Lisa Amowitz, author of Vision: 

1.    Firstly, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.  I have just finished Vision  and really enjoyed it.  You have indicated that Vision is the first in a new series called The Finder Series.  How far ahead have you planned the series and will it continue to feature the characters from Vision or will each story feature new characters?

Thank you for having me! Yes—there is already a second book scheduled for release in early 2016. I don’t want to giveaway the ending of Vision, but I see this series as not necessarily a trilogy, and rather as ongoing episodes—kind of like Sherlock Holmes’s cases (I am a BBC Sherlock fanatic—Please note: this book was written and conceived long before I ever knew the BBC version or my true love Benedict Cumberbatch even existed. I’ve always loved mysteries!). Bobby will certainly be at the center of each book. And I can’t promise anything, but Jeremy from Breaking Glass (which is a stand alone) might show up. Beyond that, I can’t really say—because, honestly—I don’t know myself!

 

2.    In your Goodreads profile, you mention you were drawn back to paranormal and fantasy, YA middle grade  by the first three Harry Potter books, is there anything in particular that draws you to them and what elements in particular lead you to pick up your next read?

 

I used to be obsessed with Anne Rice’s vampire books. That was really my first taste of true urban fantasy. I also loved Stephen King (particularly The Stand and Stand by Me), Kurt Vonnegut, Piers Anthony and fairytales. I suppose that for a time, after I’d started a family, I wandered off into the “grownup world” of reality-based fiction.

 But after 9-11, I was severely freaked out.Actual reality scared me more than horror or fantasy, where the protagonist actually vanquishes the forces of evil. It terrified me that I now had young children to raise in such a dangerous world and that was walking around with a target on my back—that people out there actively want to kill me and my kids (I live and work in New York City).

Harry Potter became a sort of therapy for me—a way to grasp how a young person could confront fear and somehow thrive and overcome, since, unlike the rest of the world, in the USA we thought we were in some kind of protective bubble. I think that showing that darkness exists to children became very mainstream in this country with the help of Harry Potter, and quickly realized that fiction, as always, is the best way to exorcise one’s own demons—while helping readers do the same.

These days, it’s voice, character and great world building that draw me in. Lately I’m drawnto magical reality and fantasy and things with a historical twist. It’s originality and genuineness I crave. If something feels derivative, I am not interested.

My absolute current favorite authors are Maggie Stiefvater (the Raven Boys Cycle), Suzanne Collins (anything she writes after The Hunger Games I will read), Neil Gaiman (LOVED the OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE) and Marcus Zusak (if I should ever live to see his next book after the BOOK THIEF come out). The amazingly descriptive world building is one of the reasons I adore Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha series so much.

 

3.    What are you reading right now?

I just finished the last Mortal Instruments book, City of Heavenly Fire. I thought it was a terrific conclusion to a series I love. I have started to read the Outlander series, which is quite a departure for me, but despite it’s ridiculous length, I’ve gotten into it (mainly because of hottie-hot man in a kilt—Jamie Frazier). I just bought the last book in the Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo, Ruin and Rising, and hope to dive into that soon.

4.    When it comes to your writing process, are you a planner or do you let the characters lead you where they need to go?

I tend to be a bit of both. I usually do a lot of research and thinking about my characters before I write a single word. I love Scrivner for that. I upload web pages, character profiles, etc. I find that knowing my characters and their histories, often helps the plot develop. After that I usually make a very rough outline. Often my characters have very different ideas, so I do tend to listen to them and take the plot in the direction they wish. Yeah—I still think Jeremy Glass is a real person. Bobby, too. But Jeremy is a lot pushier, so he jumps into my head more. Bobby is far too polite.

5.    Your are also an artist and graphic designer, is there any particular cover design you are particularly proud of?

If an author is happy with the result and feels I have given their “baby” a face, like any good midwife, I am happy. That’s how I see myself—a midwife to a birth. I help the author put a face on their child. I know at bigger publishing presses it’s all about marketing, and certainly I am very concerned about that—but I also take capturing the author’s vision very seriously. I particularly fond of my more fanciful covers such as the ones for EXTRACTED by Sherry D. Ficklin and Tyler Jolley, OBSIDIAN PEBBLE and THE BEAST OF SEABOURNE, by Rhys A. Jones, and THE BOOK OF KINDLY DEATHS, by Eldritch Black. You can look at all my cover designs right here…http://www.lisaamowitz.com/cover-designs/

6.    If you could meet a character from any book, who would you choose and why?

Oh—that’s tough. And most of them I don’t think I’d really want to know---too angry, fragile, odd or difficult—and that includes my own!

One does pop into my mind—and I do think he may be my all time favorite book boyfriend---is Jem Carstairs from Cassandra Clare’s Infernal Devices series. He is brilliant, beautiful, sensitive, bu also a kind of fearsome guy—just the right mix of vulnerability and swagger (oh –look I just described Benedict Cumberbatch—is it any wonder I am so crushing on him?—if he were a bit younger he’d have made a perfect Jem—though Jem is mixed race—Chinese and English—Benedict does have those lovely almond-shaped eyes!). Anyway—back to Jem(sorry—at the mention of the name Benedict I fall into a dazed swoon). Jem’s quite heartbreaking in that series—but, not to give away any spoilers—he makes a nice return appearance in the Mortal Instruments.

Thanks again for answering my questions and best of luck with the book release.

 Once again—thanks for having me. Really great questions I enjoyed answering!

The Book

Title: VISION

Author: Lisa Amowitz

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Pub. Date: September 9, 2014

The light is darker than you think…

High school student Bobby Pendell already has his hands full—he works almost every night to support his disabled-vet father and gifted little brother. Then he meets the beautiful new girl in town, who just happens to be his boss’s daughter. Bobby has rules about that kind of thing. Nothing matters more than keeping his job.

When Bobby starts to get blinding migraines that come with scary, violent hallucinations, his livelihood is on the line. Soon, he must face the stunning possibility that the visions of murder are actually real. With his world going dark, Bobby is set on the trail of the serial killer terrorizing his small town. With everyone else convinced he’s the prime suspect, Bobby realizes that he, or the girl he loves, might be killer's next victim.

Find it: Amazon|Barnes& Noble

About Lisa Amowitz

Lisa Amowitz was born in Queens and raised in the wilds of Long Island, New York where she climbed trees, thought small creatures lived under rocks and studied ant hills. And drew. A lot.

Lisa has been a professor of graphic design at Bronx Community College where she has been tormenting and cajoling students for nearly eighteen years. She started writing eight years ago because she wanted something to illustrate, but somehow, instead ended up writing YA. Probably because her mind is too dark and twisted for small children.
BREAKING GLASS which was released July 9, 2013 from Spencer Hill Press, is her first published work. VISION, the first of the Finder series will be released in 2014 along with an unnamed sequel in the following year. LIFE AND BETH will also be released in the near future. So stay tuned because Lisa is very hyper and has to create stuff to stay alive.

Author Links:
 Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | Pinterest | Goodreads

The Giveaway

2 Signed copies of Vision and swag for 2 winners US ONLY.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tour

There are a whole lot of other stops, interviews, guests posts and reviews involved in this tour so don't forget to check out the other stops below:

Week One:

9/1/2014- Word to Dreams- Interview

9/1/2014- Books Complete Me- Review

9/2/2014- Suzy Turner, YA Author- Guest Post

9/2/2014- Her Book Thoughts!- Review

9/3/2014- Mom With A Kindle- Interview

9/3/2014- The Bookie Monster- Review

9/4/2014- One Guy's Guide to Good Reads- Guest Post

9/4/2014- Reader Girls- Review

9/5/2014- Realm of the Sapphired Dragon- Interview

9/5/2014- Amaterasu Reads- Review

Week Two:

9/8/2014- The YA Lit Chick- Guest Post

9/8/2014- Buried Under Books- Review

9/9/2014- Anonymous Interests - Interview

9/9/2014- In Between The Lines - Review

9/10/2014- Curling Up With A Good Book- Guest Post

9/10/2014- Dalene's Book Reviews- Review

9/11/2014- Avid Reader Musings- Interview

9/11/2014- Operation Awesome- Review

9/12/2014- kellyvision- Guest Post

9/12/2014- Reese's Reviews- Review

Blog Tour Stop & Giveaway: Review of Forest of Whispers by Jennifer Murgia

Welcome to today's stop on the Forest of Whispers by Jennifer Murgia Blog Tour   hosted by Rockstar Book Tours . Today's stop is a review as well as a chance to enter the great giveaway that is being run throughout this tour.

The Review

What a captivating story! From the moment I started on page one of this tale, I was hooked and couldn't wait to find out who Rune was and what was going to happen to her.

Set in 17th century Germany,we are immediately painted a picture of village about to be thrust into the grips of Witch hysteria. Ms Murgia really captures the atmosphere of dark menace, fear, anger that turn a village to a powder keg and copel it to turn on itself and its inhabitants and how one small seemingly insignificant act can set off a tragic chain of events.

In the midst of this we have Rune, apprentice to a fortune teller/healer and Laurentz, an Electorate's son, and we see how their stories intersect with each other and the events around them.

Ms Murgia also weaves a tale so complete that you cannot help but be in it until the end, filled with mystery, love, horror and engaging the reader in so many different emotions as tale moves to completion.

The characters are drawn vividly so the reader is able to form strong emotions for or against certain character and this adds to the tension in the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have no hesitation in giving this story 4 stars!

SapphiredDragon xx

The Book

Title: FOREST OF WHISPERS

Author: Jennifer Murgia

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Pub. Date: September 9, 2014

Raised by an old fortune-teller within the dark veil of the Bavarian Black Forest, Rune has learned two valuable lessons: only take from the forest that which you can use, and never, never look anyone in the eye in the village. For something terrible happened in the forest long ago... and now, the whispers of a long-dead mother with a vengeful secret have come haunting.

Forced to flee all she has ever known, Rune soon learns of a legacy she is bound to--one that is drenched in fear, witchcraft and murder--a birthright that stretches beyond the grave to the trees where Rune is no longer safe.

Find it: Amazon|Barnes& Noble

About Jennifer Murgia

Jennifer Murgia writes Young Adult paranormal and contemporary fiction.

Her latest novel, FOREST OF WHISPERS, will release September 9, 2014 from Spencer Hill Press.

She is the author of ANGEL STAR, LEMNISCATE & THE BLISS (Lands Atlantic Publishing) and BETWEEN THESE LINES (Playlist Fiction).

In 2012, Jennifer Co-Founded YA FEST with fellow YA author/friend, CynBalog. She coordinates this unique annual festival, bringing teens and fellow Young Adult authors together at her hometown library in Easton PA.

Author Links:  
 Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | Pinterest | Goodreads

The Giveaway

1 $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card and a witchy swag item. US ONLY.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Tour

There are a whole lot of other stops, interviews, guests posts and reviews involved in this tour so don't forget to check out the other stops below:

Week One:

9/1/2014- A Dream Within A Dream- Interview

9/1/2014- Her Book Thoughts!- Review

9/2/2014- Pieces of Whimsy- Guest Post

9/2/2014- Nerdophiles- Review

9/3/2014- Addicted Readers- Interview

9/3/2014- Realm of the Sapphired Dragon- Review

9/4/2014- Literary Meanderings                - Guest Post

9/4/2014- Heather Hearts Books- Review

9/5/2014- YaReads- Interview

9/5/2014- Word to Dreams- Review

Week Two:

9/8/2014- Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, and Romance- Guest Post

9/8/2014- Everything Marie- Review

9/9/2014- Pen and Muse- Interview

9/9/2014- Arkham Reviews- Review

9/10/2014- Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf- Guest Post

9/10/2014- Amaterasu Reads- Review

9/11/2014- Fire and Ice- Guest Post

9/11/2014- As the page turns- Review

9/12/2014- Mom With A Kindle- Interview

9/12/2014- Curling Up With A Good Book- Review

Release Day Party & Giveaway: The Winter People by Rebekah L Purdy

Today is release day for THE WINTER PEOPLE by Rebekah Purdy we’re here to celebrate
with a giveaway and an excerpt! Help us celebrate the release of this amazing
book and enter to win a Winter Emergency Kit!

THE WINTER PEOPLE

Author: Rebekah Purdy

Release Date: September 2, 2014

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pages: 320

ISBN: 978-1622663682

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes
& Noble

An engrossing, complex, romantic fantasy perfect for
fans of Kristin Cashore or Maggie Stiefvater, set in a wholly unique world.

Salome Montgomery fears winter—the cold, the snow,
the ice, but most of all, the frozen pond she fell through as a child. Haunted
by the voices and images of the strange beings that pulled her to safety, she
hasn’t forgotten their warning to "stay away." For eleven years, she
has avoided the winter woods, the pond, and the darkness that lurks nearby. But
when failing health takes her grandparents to Arizona, she is left in charge of
maintaining their estate. This includes the "special gifts" that must
be left at the back of the property.
 


Salome discovers she’s a key player in a world she’s
tried for years to avoid. At the center of this world is the strange and
beautiful Nevin, who she finds trespassing on her family’s property. Cursed
with dark secrets and knowledge of the creatures in the woods, his interactions
with Salome take her life in a new direction. A direction where she’ll have to
decide between her longtime crush Colton, who could cure her fear of winter. Or
Nevin who, along with an appointed bodyguard, Gareth, protects her from the
darkness that swirls in the snowy backdrop. An evil that, given the chance,
will kill her.

Exclusive
Excerpt!

The
pond water rippled while the trees bent beneath the strong gusts. Soon,
everything became so white I couldn’t see the house. In the distance a strange
tinkling sounded, like dozens of wind chimes. Not the chimes. Not the chimes.
Not the chimes, I repeated over and over in my mind.

What
had the shrink told me to do?

Ten,
nine, eight. Breathe. Seven, six, five. Shit! I held my head in my hands for a
long moment. Get it together.

Panic
stole my thoughts and I raised my head, backing away from the pond as the
flurries swirled toward me. Chasing me.

I
bumped into something—something that felt quite human. A firm chest, arms,
hands. Not something, someone. A shriek tumbled from my lips and I spun around
to face my captor.

“It’s
okay. I won’t hurt you,” a soft masculine voice said, pale hands clinging to my
arms as he kept me from falling.

My
gaze followed those long fingers, then up black leather sleeves, to the most
gorgeous face I’d ever seen. My breath caught in my throat. I was gawking. But
I couldn’t help it. His raven hair was shot with strands of blue, his face was
pale and perfect, like an ice sculptor had chiseled it into existence. His
eyes—oh God, his eyes. They were the palest blue I’d ever seen. Glacial. He had
to be over six feet tall, muscles evident through the tight shirt he wore
beneath his unzipped leather jacket.

His
mouth turned up at the corners as if enjoying my scrutiny. A cocky grin that
made my cheeks warm and my whole body buzz. “You’re trespassing.” I tried to
keep the tremble from my voice. “This is private property, or can’t you read
the signs?” Bravo. I’d scare him off with my bitchiness. 

He chuckled. And it
sounded like the low song of chimes. “Doris doesn’t mind me coming around. In
fact, I’ve met you before, Salome.”

My
name on his lips made my knees go buttery. I groaned inwardly.

 About
Rebekah: 

Rebekah was born and raised in Michigan (just look for the mitten-shaped state
on the map). She’s lived there most of her life other than the few years she
spent in the U.S. Army.  At which time she got a chance to experience MO,
KS, SC, and CA.

She
works full time for the court system and in her free time she writes YA
stories. Pretty much any genre within the YA realm is game for her, but her favorites
are fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, thrillers, light sci-fi, and
some time travel.

She
also has a big family–she like to considers them the modern day Brady Bunch.
When her hubby and her met and got married, he had 3 children from a previous
marriage, she had 2 and  have 1
together. It’s a lot of fun though.

And
she can’t forget her other family members–yep, they’ve got some pets: 4
dogs, 3 cats,  and 1 turtle. Everyone in the family has one…she won’t
bore you all with their names (unless you really want to know). Okay, you
talked her into it! Jack, Pearl, Grr…(yes that’s her dog’s name), Callie,
Shadow, Mooshoo, Grouchy, and Sorbert. Other than writing some of her other
hobbies include: reading (mostly YA of course), singing, swimming, football,
soccer, running, camping, sledding, church, hanging with her kids, and
traveling.

She
belong to a fabulous writing group called YA Fiction Fantatics (YAFF) and you
guessed it they all write YA!

REPPED by Jennifer Mishler and
Frances Black of Literary Counsel.

And
that’s her in a big ‘ol nutshell.

Website /Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Teaser Tuesday #75: Forest of Whispers by Jennifer Murgia

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read

2. Open to a random page

3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too muchaway! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


My current read is Forest of Whispers by Jennifer Murgia and my three lines are from location 1782 of 3666:

You must lie to them...

"Say you are, and this trial will be easy for you."

Lie, my daughter. You must lie!

Raised by an old fortune-teller within the dark veil of the Bavarian Black Forest, Rune has learned two valuable lessons: only take from the forest that which you can use, and never, never look anyone in the eye in the village. For something terrible happened in the forest long ago... and now, the whispers of a long-dead mother with a vengeful secret have come haunting.

Forced to flee all she has ever known, Rune soon learns of a legacy she is bound to--one that is drenched in fear, witchcraft and murder--a birthright that stretches beyond the grave to the trees where Rune is no longer safe

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!