Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Day 25 of 31 books in 31 days- Lizzy Ford book giveaway & qualify to win a kindle.

Welcome to the 25th day of 31 books in 31 days, where you win prizes for reading.

Recap of Rules

Everyday that you participate in the giveaway of the day, you are eligible to win a brand new kindle.

How to participate
  a) Subscribe via email, so you can get the author & prize of the day sent directly to your email.
  b) Like the author of the day on facebook
  c) Follow the author on Twitter
  d) Read any of the author's books
  e) Answer the occasional quiz on author's interview
  f) Scroll to the bottom of each interview and enter the raffle (you'll have to unlock the raffle with your email first)

That's it- then enter the kindle giveaway!

All giveaways will be sent out by the 7th day in April. Good Luck.

Today's featured author is Lizzy Ford. She is the author of our featured book, Alessandra. Alessandra is the first book in the Omega series. The series is about a young girl with the power to animate her toys a power that puts her in danger. Below is the synopsis.

Featured book (currently free on amazon)
Five-year-old Alessandra is obsessed with Disney movies, tea parties and just wants a real birthday party for once in her life. But normal kids don’t bring their toys to life for afternoon tea or see the colorful threads of magic and energy clinging to everything around them. Normal kids don’t know that gargoyles feel pain, either, or invite one to live in their closet. On her sixth birthday, Alessandra begins to learn the truth. She’s special, and the men in the black van are coming for her.
                                             
                                                       Interview with Lizzy Ford

                                                 



 Hello Lizzy,

 What was your favorite book as a child? Why did it leave such a lasting impression?

One of my favorites was “The Black Stallion” by Walter Farley. Actually, I loved the entire series! I’ve always been an animal lover, so I think the depth of the relationship between the hero and his horse was what drew me in initially. I also loved “The Dark Is Rising” by Susan Cooper probably because it kind of scared me at first. It was the first fantasy book I ever read. It was dark, gritty – and absolutely fascinating. I love any kind of book that lets me use my imagination. Fantasy is my favorite genre to read and has been since around that time. 

 What does reading mean to you? Do you read any YA books as an adult? Why or why not?

 Reading is an escape and also a way to exercise my imagination. When I’m not making up stories, I love to get lost in the worlds created by others. I love the interaction between characters, even though I’m sort of an introvert in real life. I love leaving my world and life behind for a short time and experiencing the world someone else created. I don’t have a chance to read much of anything anymore. The only YA books I’ve read in recent times are those by Julia Crane (“Freak of Nature,” “Keegan’s Chronicles,” etc.) mainly because she’s my best friend and we read each other’s books! I haven’t read any of the super popular YA books from the past several years. Part of the reason is that I like to keep my ideas fresh and original, so I rely more on my imagination than taking tropes from existing novels to build my worlds. Basically, I like to keep my story palate as pure and original as possible!

 If you could be a hero or heroine from a YA series or stand-alone who would you be?Why is this character so dynamic to you?

Hmmm … I’m actually not sure! I love deeply flawed characters who have a chance of redemption and rich worlds. I’m not at all interested in contemporary fiction unless there’s a supernatural spin of some sort.

 Who is your favorite author, now that you’re an adult? Why?

 Jane Austen. I fell in love with Pride and Prejudice in my early twenties. I absolutely love how she mixes gentle humor into her works, and how she gives her characters a chance to change – or not. Her stories are entertaining, even without any fantastical element. I think her storytelling ability is amazing, and such an ability is an art form that’s been largely lost. 

What has been your greatest accomplishment as an author?

 It’s hard to say for sure. Every time I receive an email or message from a fan saying something I wrote inspired them or impacted their life, I feel like the luckiest person alive for having the gift to speak to people about real issues in fictional settings. I’m also extremely grateful for the ability to write like I do and for every book I finish. Writing is an amazing and extremely personal journey, and I learn something new about myself with each book.

 I read an article about your desire to be a full time writer, has your dream been realized? If not, how close are you to realizing your dream?

Yes! I am a full time writer and have been for about three and a half years! I can’t tell you how happy this makes me whenever I realize I can make my living while following my dreams! I was put on this earth to write, and the fact I can do that now full time is nothing sort of incredible. 

Tell us a little about your Witchling series. What makes the series different than other series in its genre?

 The Witchling Series features a boarding school in Northern Idaho where students born with elemental magick (earth, air, fire, water, spirit) go to learn to use their magick and also to face a trial. When they turn seventeen, they must choose to be Light or Dark. The Light and Dark are managed by twin teenage boys who must find their counterbalances in order to fulfill their duties and help stave off the growth of the Dark and feed the Light. Their counterbalances, in turn, face their own challenges, and make their own choices that impact them and all the other Witchlings for the rest of their lives. What makes the series unique is both the level of responsibility each main character has in the story as well as the ongoing discussion throughout all four books about what it means to be good and evil, what it means to have a soul and what happens when love isn’t enough. These are pretty heavy, deep topics at any age! The Master of Dark, for example, is charged with killing other witchlings who stray while his counterbalance must find a way to come between him and the Dark inherent in him. If either of them fails, they not only condemn their own souls but those of everyone they love as well. How does an eighteen year old boy face murder in the name of doing what’s right? These books are quick but intense, and I didn’t shy away from giving normal teenage kids horrifically difficult decisions and obstacles to overcome.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

No comments:

Post a Comment