Blog Tour: A Touch Morbid - Leah Clifford - Eden Character Interview

Leah Clifford is here today with her main character, Eden, courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her upcoming release, A Touch Morbid. Thank you for being here today, Leah! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Hi Eden! Thank you for being here today to answer some of my questions! 

What's the hardest part about dealing with the other territory leaders?

The drama. Ugh! It's constant! I mean, I know my life and crew aren't exactly sunshine and puppy dogs but wow. Between Kristen's grave-robbing fashion sense and well...the rest of them you learn more about in A Touch Morbid, but they are seriously messed up.

If you could define yourself in one song, what would it be and why? 

Glittering Cloud by Imogen Heap. The lyrics hit too close to home sometimes.

Looking back, would you change anything if you could? 

That's such a hard question. Everything that's happened has led to something else. If I was mortal, because of my path, I wouldn't have been with Az. I've been through terrible things--we all have--but if even one thing was changed, I wouldn't be where I am today.

If you could describe Az in one word, what would it be? 

Captivating.

What do you hope will happen in the future for you? 

I hope Luke will leave us alone. I hope the Bound will just go away. But it's not going to happen. Right now I'm just hoping Az doesn't Fall and that we all survive to see another day.

Thank you again for answering my questions, Eden! 

Thank you for being here today with Eden, Leah! 

Leah Clifford can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter.

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Eden won the battle-she saved her true love from the darkest evil. But the war has only just begun. With secrets swirling around her, powerful allies unraveling, and life-and death-as she knows it eroding, Eden and those she loves tread dangerous ground. Can she trust anyone? Will her unearthly powers be her salvation or her downfall? A sweeping, dark, and sexy paranormal romance that will haunt readers with an inventive mythology and a cinematic New York City filled with shadows and longing.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Sins of the Angels - Linda Poitevin - Review

A detective with a secret lineage. An undercover Hunter with a bullet-proof soul. And a world made to pay for the sins of an angel…

Homicide detective Alexandra Jarvis answers to no one. Especially not to the new partner assigned to her in the middle of a gruesome serial killer case—a partner who is obstructive, irritatingly magnetic, and arrogant as hell.

Aramael is a Power—a hunter of the Fallen Angels. A millennium ago, he sentenced his own brother to eternal exile for crimes against humanity. Now his brother is back and wreaking murderous havoc in the mortal realm. To find him, Aramael must play second to a human police officer who wants nothing to do with him and whose very bloodline threatens both his mission and his soul.

Now, faced with a fallen angel hell-bent on triggering the apocalypse, Alex and Aramael have no choice but to join forces, because only together can they stop the end of days.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Sins of the Angels (Grigori Legacy #1)

Author: Linda Poitevin

Genre: Adult Fiction, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Ace Books

Publication Date: September 27, 2011

Format: E-ARC

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Brady from Penguin US for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository, Chapters

My rating: 4/5

Sins of the Angels is aptly named as the world is set to pay in blood for the sins of one angel in particular. Aramael is sent to hunt the Fallen Angel wreaking havoc on earth, and goes undercover as a police officer to assist in the hunt for said angel. Alexandra Jarvis is one of the lead detectives on the case, and is highly annoyed when she learns that she has acquired a new partner midway through the investigation. She does not realize that the case has a supernatural angle, and it will take more than the entire police force to stop this killer. 

Sins of the Angels ramps up the action, and keeps us guessing as to how different characters are tied into the story. Motives vary, and it is hard to decipher just which side of the playing field some of the characters are on. Alexandra Jarvis is a tough detective used to relying on no one. She is a believable character, and I enjoyed reading her story, even when she balked at various points throughout the novel. The interaction between her and her new partner, Jacob Trent, led to some interesting scenes. She doesn't want a partner and he doesn't want a partner, but they are forced to work together.

The action keeps the plot flowing rapidly, and the reader will inhale the book until they finish it. It is that captivating. There is a romantic sub-plot as well. Watching the two characters fight their feelings was intriguing especially knowing that said feelings should not exist. I'm curious to see what happens in the rest of the series, as the world could be irrevocably changed by said feelings. Trent or Aramael is also an engaging character. Watching him fight his emotions, and fulfill his duty to hunt down the Fallen Angels adds another dimension to the read. Knowing who the killer is and his relationship to Aramael also adds another twist to the story. 

Certain descriptions and scenes are particularly gruesome, and realistically portrayed. The killer is methodical, and his lack of caring make the scenes all the more chilling. 

Though there is a romantic sub-plot in the novel, it ramps up from barely there to all-consuming in moments without really spending time in between those stages. With the twist thrown in though, I'll be waiting to see what happens next between the characters, especially since there is the potential for a love triangle to develop in the next few books. 

All in all, a bold and brilliant new read to add to the roster of great urban fantasy reads. Those new to the genre, and those who voraciously read the genre will enjoy this new author. Sins of the Angels may have left us with more questions than answers, but I'm sure Sins of the Son will answer some of them for us. I know I'll be reading it as soon as it comes out. Poitevin is one to add to the must read list. 

Blog Tour: In the Forests of the Night - Kersten Hamilton - Author Book Picks & Giveaway

Kersten Hamilton is here today with an Author Book Picks post courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her newest release, In the Forests of the Night. Thank you for being here today, Kersten! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

Hi, Corrine! Thank you for having me on your blog today. It is hard to write about my favorite books because there are so many of them. I would say that there are more old books than new books in my library—and I have lots and lots of books. When I was a teenager, I decided to read all of Western literature starting with Beowulf. I am failing gloriously—there are just too many books and not enough hours in a life to read them all. I have worked my way forward through most of the classics, though.

I have found many, many authors to love, but my all–time favorite would be George MacDonald. He wrote mythopoeia, my favorite obscure genre. His writing, in both his novels and short stories, dealt with metaphysical questions. MacDonald was fearless in questioning his characters’ (and his readers’) assumptions about themselves and reality. I adore books that make me both feel and think. His books inspired my Goblin Wars series.

I like Charles Williams, who wrote unsettling paranormals such as All Hallow’s Eve long, long before Paranormal was a genre. I enjoy the books of Charles De Lint, who was writing in the dawn of the Urban Fantasy and is writing still. I love the mythic elements in his books.

I liked Zenna Henderson’s The People stories. I love Neil Gaiman’s writing especially his short stories and novels such as Neverwhere or The Anansi Boys.

I enjoy an occasional Regency Romance such as Grand Sophie, by Georgette Heyer, mysteries like the Amelia Peabody books by Elizabeth Peters, and the science fiction of Robert Heinlein, and Isaac Asimov, who influenced me greatly. Asimov believed that writing should be like a pane of glass—the reader should not even be aware of the writer, just of the story they are entering. I believe that, too. The less my readers are aware of me, and the more they are aware of my characters, the better! I gobble up the books of modern MG and YA writers such as Rick Riordan and Francisco X. Stork. I adore Harry Potter.

My writing/inspiration shelf has books like Save the Cat!, a book about screen writing by Blake Snyder, The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, and The War of Art by Steven Pressfield.

I also read books that are very difficult for me to even touch, such as Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler. I read it because want to understand that he was a human—and how a human could accept such evil, even convincing himself that it was good. It feels strange and sad, touching his mind through a book.

I could go on forever—I have left out centuries worth of great books. If I had three wishes, at least two of them would be for more time to read!

Kersten

Thank you for being here today, Kersten, and thank you for sharing this book list with us!

Kersten Hamilton can be found on her website.

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The battle against goblinkind continues . . . but which side will Teagan be on?

Teagan, Finn, and Aiden have made it out of Mag Mell alive, but the Dark Man’s forces are hot on their heels. Back in Chicago, Tea’s goblin cousins show up at her school, sure she will come back to Mag Mell, as goblin blood is never passive once awoken. Soon she will belong to Fear Doirich and join them. In the meantime, they are happy to entertain themselves by trying to seduce, kidnap, or kill Tea’s family and friends. Tea knows she doesn’t have much time left, and she refuses to leave Finn or her family to be tortured and killed. A wild Stormrider, born to rule and reign, is growing stronger inside her. But as long as she can hold on, she’s still Teagan Wylltson, who plans to be a veterinarian and who heals the sick and hurting. The disease that’s destroying her—that’s destroying them all—has a name: Fear Doirich. And Teagan Wylltson is not going to let him win.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Giveaway

Kersten Hamilton has graciously provided Lost For Words with a copy of In the Forests of the Night for giveaway. 

Thank you, Kersten! 

The giveaway is International.

Giveaway will end December 10, 2011.

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, will not be counted as entries.

Thank you!

Blog Tour: Of Light and Darkness - Shayne Leighton - Character This or That & Giveaway

Shayne Leighton is here today with a character this or that list courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, Of Light and Darkness. Thank you for being here today, Shayne! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy!

Thank you for being here today, Valek!

Light or Darkness? Darkness. I do not have a choice. You can say it was something I was…born…into. Plus, the light is more corrupt than you can imagine.

Comedy or Tragedy? I would like to say comedy, because I feel like I could use more of it in my existence. It’s good to find the laughter in all situations, however sometimes, it’s a tad difficult.

Music or Solitude? Everyone’s thoughts are loud enough…bring me the silence so I can be alone with myself for once…please!

Type A or B? Type A. Without a plan, you have nothing.

Love or Lust? You need to have a nice mix of both. You know…to keep things interesting.

Urban or Suburban? Urban. The more life and energy collected in one spot, the better.

Casual or Dressy? I never do anything casually…

Long hair or short? I’m inclined to loving my eternally long hair. Even if I wanted to cut it, it would only instantly replenish itself.

Witches or Elves? Why even ask such a silly question? Everyone knows Elves are the Earth’s most vile creatures. I don’t particularly care for Witches either, but I’ll go with the lesser of the two evils.

Science or Magic? They are both one in the same…

Thank you for sharing your preferences with us, Valek! 

Thank you for being here today Shayne! 

Shayne Leighton can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter. 

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When one human stands before an army of impossible obstacles, the likelihood of overcoming them in this coming-of-age modern fairytale may result in war between light and darkness.

Abandoned as an infant in Prague, naive and strong-willed Charlotte Ruzikova was raised by one of the last Vampires left alive. As a human, she knows no other home than the one nestled deep in the woods of Eastern Europe, where Witches drew spells of enchantment, Phasers threw tea parties, and Elves are the closest in kin. Charlotte has lived her life in the dark with her Guardian, content to having him to herself and reveling in his attention, until she's realizes she wants more...

Resident medical doctor and Vampire, Valek Ruzik fears the day his ward would come of age and blossom into a fine woman, and he is forced to confront his own motives as time is of the essence once his past catches up to him, and their lives become endangered...

As genocide and war threatens their secret society, the dictator in power is ready to wipe out Valek's race, but Charlotte will not allow that to happen. Fighting for the only one she's ever loved and truly believed in, she will do whatever it takes to save their love...before the sun comes up and light takes over.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Giveaway

Shayne Leighton has graciously provided Lost For Words with a signed copy of Of Light and Darkness for giveaway.

Thank you, Shayne! 

Giveaway is open to US/Canada only. (Sorry to those of you who are international!)

Giveaway will end December 1, 2011. 

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, will not be counted as entries. 

Thank you!! =D

The Space Between - Brenna Yovanoff

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Title: The Space Between

Author: Brenna Yovanoff

Genre: Young adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Razorbill

Publication Date: November 15, 2011

Format: ARC

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Vimala from Penguin Canada for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

Look for it: Amazon, Chapters, Book Depository

My rating: 4.5/5

Daphne has never left Pandemonium. She has never had a reason to, until her brother Obie disappears. Something sinister is afoot and it is up to Daphne to find Obie. She tracks down the one person she knows may have seen Obie last, and with him at her side she will try to track down her kidnapped brother. Her demonic powers manifest in the earthly realm, and she will need to learn how to defend herself from the deadly archangels who protect earth from her kind. 

Daphne is a half-demon, the spawn of Lucifer and Lilith. Pandemonium is a brilliantly realized world, brought to life with a metallic sheen. Yovanoff has this beautifully descriptive writing style that just grabs hold of you and thrusts you in with her creations. 

Daphne is completely alone in Pandemonium. She is certainly not like her sisters, and does not want to have anything to do with the lifestyle that they have chosen for themselves. She believes she is above that and does not care if she ever steps foot outside of Pandemonium. Everything changes for her though when she realizes that the one person that means the most to her has gone missing. She will have to step out of her comfort zone and befriend the boy who visited and left Pandemonium with her brother, Obie. I enjoyed her character, especially as she made realizations about herself that had never crossed her mind before. 

Her male counterpart and link to Obie is Truman. He is a richly drawn character as well, and he shows so many different sides. He complements Daphne. Daphne is steel, strength, and determination, and she doesn't have any qualms about defending herself. Truman on the other hand is aware of his faults, and the darkness around him. He knows that his thoughts may not be based on reality, but once he meets Daphne, he realizes that there might be more to life than drinking himself to death. 

They carry the story so completely, and I loved reading about them. The secondary characters round out the story more, and they add humour when needed, as well as the right amount of tension.

This read is so atmospheric, I felt like I was at the party with Truman as he was drinking himself to oblivion, and I was right there with Daphne as she questioned the people and things around her. I can't decide which novel I liked more. The Replacement, or The Space Between. They are both so atmospheric and so fleshed out. The attention given to detail and to the respective worlds from both books is easy to see. They are both so richly realized and they both completely hooked me.

Yovanoff is an author to watch out for. If The Replacement showed us her talent, then The Space Between solidified it. Her world-building, heartwarming characters, and lyrical writing will have me coming back for more. I cannot wait to read the next book she writes, or any of the subsequent titles she releases thereafter. She's a must-read author for me now and I hope you enjoy her writing style and world-building as much as I do.

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB from Should Be Reading, and anyone can play along!

• grab your current read
• flip to a random page
• select two teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
• try not to include spoilers!
• please let us know the author and book so we can add them to our TBR pile!

I've been ridiculously lax of late in posting the memes that I used to post each week. I'm hoping to rectify that and get back into posting them routinely. As such, here is today's teaser for you. It comes from an adult urban fantasy novel called Eyes to See by Joseph Nassise. If you are a fan of ghost stories, or the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, you will want to pick this book up. It is an excellent read. You can find out more about the book here. Now here is a teaser for your reading pleasure. =) 

"From that first glance you understand that we regularly interact with creatures far stranger and deadlier than you ever previously imagined. It's not that they weren't there before, it's just that humans rarely recognize them for what they are. Ghosts don't have that problem." pg. 50

Doesn't that make you want to dive right in? 

Feel free to post the links to your teasers in the comments and I will follow up and check them out! 

Thank you for stopping by today! =)

Unwelcome - Michael Griffo - Blog Tour Review

Archangel Academy is more than a school to Michael Howard. Within its majestic buildings and serene English grounds, he's found friends, new love, and a place that feels more like home than Nebraska ever did. But the most important gift of Archangel Academy is immortality. . .

Life as a just-made vampire is challenging for Michael, even with Ronan, an experienced vamp, to guide him. Michael's abilities are still raw and unpredictable. To add to the turmoil, the ancient feud between rival vampire species is sending ripples of discord through the school. And beneath the new headmaster's charismatic front lies a powerful and very personal agenda.

Yet the mysteries lurking around the Academy pale in comparison to the secrets emerging from Michael's past. And choosing the wrong person to trust—or to love—could lead to an eternity of regret. . .

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Unwelcome (Archangel Academy)

Author: Michael Griffo

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Vampires

Publisher: Kensington

Publication Date: August 30, 2011

Format: Softcover

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Kensington Books, and Teen Book Scene for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Blog Tour: Teen Book Scene blog tour. You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner located below the review. 

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository

My rating: 3.5/5 

Unwelcome picks up right where Unnatural left off. Michael is at Archangel Academy, and he is at the start of a new semester. After the events of the previous semester, he is hoping to just relax and enjoy the company of his new boyfriend. However, evil still lurks and is not done with Michael and Archangel Academy yet. The vampire factions are at the precipice of a war, and immortality may be cut short at any time. Danger and intrigue abound at Archangel Academy. Will Michael and Ronan survive, and will they still be united together? 
Unwelcome was an engrossing read. Many new characters were thrown at the reader, however they were a welcome addition to the Archangel Academy crew. New villains rose to the challenge, and previously reliable friends are unwittingly crossing into enemy territory. There is still a lot of head jumping in the book as the point of view switches between several characters per page. Once you are used to the narrative style, and know the characters, it is easy to follow along with the different perspectives. I did find that in Unwelcome the head jumping was more refined and fluid as it would follow a set train of thought with a few characters. Michael would be going to confront his father, and Brania would be going to confront hers and it would switch back and forth between both of their conversations, much like a tv show of sorts. 
Several new characters were added to the already large cast, and they brought both humour and suspense with them. We glean more insight into some of the new characters, and more tidbits are revealed about the different vampire factions, however there are still some aspects that are cloaked in secrecy yet. Hopefully they will be revealed within the next book as they will let us know more about the different factions and how they came to be. 
Many intriguing twists are revealed in Unwelcome and it kept the story moving. Griffo is not afraid of killing characters once he is done with them, so be warned, some of your favourites could end up on the chopping block. 
All in all, a solid follow-up to Unnatural. Relationships evolve to give us a new perspective on situations that we hadn't previously seen before. New family members entering the picture add another dimension as well as we get to see more of the vampire world and the inner workings of set family dynamics. I'm intrigued to know what will happen next for Michael, Ronan and their friends.

Always a Witch - Carolyn MacCullough - Blog Tour Review

The adventures of Tam and Gabriel continue with more time travel, Talents, spy work, and of course, the evil Knights.

Since the gripping conclusion of Once A Witch, Tamsin Greene has been haunted by her grandmother's prophecy that she will soon be forced to make a crucial decision—one so terrible that it could harm her family forever. When she discovers that her enemy, Alistair Knight, went back in time to Victorian-era New York in order to destroy her family, Tamsin is forced to follow him into the past. Stranded all alone in the nineteenth century, Tamsin soon finds herself disguised as a lady's maid in the terrifying mansion of the evil Knight family, avoiding the watchful eye of the vicious matron, La Spider, and fending off the advances of Liam Knight. As time runs out, both families square off in a thrilling display of magic. And to her horror, Tamsin finally understands the nature of her fateful choice.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Always a Witch (Sequel to Once a Witch)

Author: Carolyn MacCullough

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Witches, Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Clarion Books

Publication Date: August 1, 2011

Format: Hardcover

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Thomas Allen & Son for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

Blog Tour: Teen Book Scene blog tour. You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner located below the review.

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository

My rating: 5/5

Tamsin Greene once believed she was an ordinary girl in an extraordinary family. Now, she alone has the power to change the future for her family as they are plagued by the evil and illustrious Knight family. With Tamsin's talent, she can do almost everything. Well, except for time travelling to the past and getting back to the present time; but she won't let a little thing like time travel stop her from fulfilling her destiny. 

I fell in love with Once A Witch when I read it last year, and Always a Witch lived up to my expectations completely. The loving familial bond between Tamsin and her family is still there, and a certain scene involving the fridge, poisoned sugary confections, and a well-known song all make an appearance which will have the reader laughing along at the crazy antics that happen in the Greene family. This of course, is before Tamsin realizes just what she has to do to save her family from certain destruction. But, as with the first novel, Tamsin doesn't let her fear stop her. She jumps at the chance to fix things, as she wants to take care of her family. Sure, she's impetuous. Especially when there's that pesky thing called time travel involved. Not knowing what will happen is part of the charm, and she will make it home somehow. At least she hopes she will. You have to commend her for her bravery there. She willingly puts her life on the line for her family, and she might not have thought through every aspect, but she is smart and decides that she will figure things out as they play out. 

Gabriel is her male counter-part and love interest. He is a lot fun, and he complements Tamsin perfectly. He is level-headed, has a good sense of humour, and cares for Tamsin deeply. He is perfect for her, especially since he has grown up with her family and has a talent or two of his own. He also has a penchant for looking out for Tamsin, which helps when she realizes she might not have thought through every aspect of her plans. 

With a plot full of twists and turns, and evil villains around every corner, you will be holding your breath, hoping that Tamsin will survive long enough to save her family. The added background from her last foray into time travel helps as well as she meets certain members from the Knight family for the second time, but really it's the first time for them. This leads to a few moments of panic on her part, until she realizes that their future selves know her, not their present selves. 

All in all, a worthy follow-up to Once A Witch. Always a Witch will keep you spell-bound while Tamsin tries to find her family, and the evil Knight family in the past. Will she succeed where her family has failed in the past? One won't know until the conclusion, and even then certain events come full circle from the first book to this one, leaving the reader with an "aha!" moment. I would definitely recommend Always a Witch. Love, laughter, and family will always be a drawing card for me. Mix in a notoriously evil, rival family and hi-jinks will ensue. 

Blog Tour: Unwelcome - Michael Griffo - Multi-character Interview

Michael Griffo is here today with a multi-character interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for his new releast, Unwelcome. Thank you for being here today, Michael! You can follow along with the tour here. Enjoy!

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If you could live in any time period in history, which would you prefer and why?

BRANIA: The future. I’ve lived for over three hundred years, I have absolutely no desire to relive the hell I’ve already been through. And when I say ‘the future’ I mean a future where women rule and men are our subjects.

RONAN: I’d love to go back to Victorian England and live during Oscar Wilde’s time. I’m just fascinated with that time period and would love to experience it firsthand. I know it would be difficult being a gay man during that time, but hell, I’m a vampire so I can take care of myself.

EDWIGE: I’d want to go back to the 1960s in England. I’d be a mad success and all those Carnaby Street clothes would look absolutely gorgeous on me!

MICHAEL: That’s a tough one. Without sounding like a broken record, you know that wherever I go, Ronan would have to go with me. Part of me would love to live during medieval times. I know it was barbaric and bloody and there was no indoor plumbing, so I might hate it after a while, but it was also majestic and bold and as a vampire I think I could hold my own in a battle. Plus, living in a castle with Ronan would be amazing!

SOAIRSE: I would love to go back to the 1970s and live in New York. I’ve always wanted to go to the old Studio 54 disco and dance the night away. That would be gobs of fun!

CIARAN: I’d like to live in late 1800s and be part of the scientific revolution. I’d love to know if I could match wits with Einstein and Edison and all the other great inventors. It would be an exciting challenge.

PHAEDRA: If I could live right now as a teenage girl that would be perfect. But it’s just not in the cards for me.

What one song defines the world as you see it?

MICHAEL and RONAN: “Here Comes The Sun”

MICHAEL: Or maybe “Born This Way!”

FRITZ: “I’m The Greatest Star” - Some old bird who my mum loves sings it. I don’t like the song that much, but the title speaks for itself!

SOAIRSE: ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!”

NAKANO: Can I pick the same one as Saoirse?

BRANIA: “Misunderstood” by Pink

CIARAN: “She Blinded Me With Science”

EDWIGE: “Leave me Alone” by some human named Helen Reddy

PHAEDRA: “Misty”

What is your favourite memory at the Academy?

MICHAEL: The day I arrived and walked through the front gate. It changed my life forever. That and seeing Ronan in the rain, thinking about it still takes my breath away.

RONAN: Right you are love, that was the most perfect moment in my life.

FRITZ: Will you two stuff it! The best day ever was the relaunch of Tales of the Double A! People are still talking about it.

PHAEDRA: The first time Fritz and I kissed.

MICHAEL GRIFFO: The Archangel Festival was one of my favorite memories and one of my favorite scenes to write. All the characters were involved so it was a challenge to incorporate them all and make it move seamlessly from one group to the next.

There are two doors before you. One opens to Narnia, the other to Hogwarts. Which do you go through?

FRITZ: Narnia! Why would I want to go to another bloody school? I don’t care if Hogwarts is magical, Double A is brill!

MICHAEL: I have to agree with Fritz and go with Narnia too. From what I’ve read it sounds like not only a magical place, but beautiful too.

SAOIRSE: I’m going with Hogwarts people! That Ron Weasley is a cutie! And he’s straight so I’d actually stand a chance with him.

MICHAEL: But isn’t he in love with Hermoine?

SAOIRSE: He hasn’t met me yet boyo!

If Murphy's Law applied to you, what law would you most likely encounter?

MICHAEL GRIFFO: I wouldn’t be able to meet any of my writing deadlines! Luckily, I’m super organized and love what I do so that will never happen ;-)

RONAN: There would be a fire in our dorm room and nothing would be harmed except my entire book collection!

MICHAEL: My UK birth certificate would be lost and I would be kicked out of the country and have to go back to Weeping Water! Oh my God I can’t even think about that, that would be beyond horrible.

CIARAN: Some jealous bloke would trash my lab and destroy all my research.

SOAIRSE: My hair would fall out. Face it people I have beautiful hair!

BRANIA: There would be a cave-in and Imogene and I would be forced to live with my father. On second thought, I’d rather live in the bowels of The Forest before doing that.

FRITZ: I would meet the love of my life and then she would up and disappear. Oh wait, that bloody happened already!

If you could do one thing without repercussions, what would it be, and why?

MICHAEL GRIFFO: After writing this series I would love to be a vampire for a few days and see if I captured all the feelings and changes that you go through once you find out that you are immortal and have to drink blood to survive. When you think about it, when you think about actually doing what Michael, Ronan, and all the other vampires have to do and how their lives are changed for all eternity, it plays with your mind. I’d love to spend a day in their shoes so to speak to see if my writing came close to the actual experiences.

NAKANO: I’d like to go far away from Double A and walk in the sun. Having the freedom to open my eyes in America or Egypt or anywhere except here and feel the sun on my face would be amazing!

FRITZ: Without repercussions? That’s easy, I’d turn into a zombie and kill the entire student body! Or better yet, become a vampire and start feeding on all my professors. But you know, vampires aren’t bloody real, so that’s never going to happen.

PHAEDRA: Stay on earth forever!

MICHAEL HOWARD: I’d like to go back to Two W and show everybody at that school that I’m stronger than I’ve ever been in my entire life. After all those years of being bullied and ridiculed, I’d like to show them that they didn’t win! And just like the slogan says, my life’s gotten MUCH better!

RONAN: There’s nothing I can’t already do.

Thank you for being here today, everyone! I loved all of your answers! =)

Michael Griffo can be found on his website and on twitter.

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Archangel Academy is more than a school to Michael Howard. Within its majestic buildings and serene English grounds, he's found friends, new love, and a place that feels more like home than Nebraska ever did. But the most important gift of Archangel Academy is immortality. . .

Life as a just-made vampire is challenging for Michael, even with Ronan, an experienced vamp, to guide him. Michael's abilities are still raw and unpredictable. To add to the turmoil, the ancient feud between rival vampire species is sending ripples of discord through the school. And beneath the new headmaster's charismatic front lies a powerful and very personal agenda.

Yet the mysteries lurking around the Academy pale in comparison to the secrets emerging from Michael's past. And choosing the wrong person to trust—or to love—could lead to an eternity of regret. . .

Michael Griffo is an award-winning writer and one of six playwrights whose career will be tracked by WritersInsight.com until 2010. He is a graduate of New York University, has studied at Playwrights Horizons and Gotham Writers Workshop, and has written several screenplays.

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Blog Tour: The Mephisto Covenant - Trinity Faegen - Author Interview

Trinity Faegen is here today with an author interview courtesy of the Teen Book Scene blog tour for her new release, The Mephisto Covenant. Thank you for being here today, Trinity! You can follow along with the tour here, or by clicking through the banner. Enjoy! 

Can you give us a description of THE MEPHISTO COVENANT in haiku?

A son of Hell needs

A daughter of Eve to love

Will she love him back?

If you lived within the pages of THE MEPHISTO COVENANT, what would be the first thing you would do? What wouldn't you want to do?

I’d be in Telluride, Colorado, which is one of my favorite places in the world, so the very first thing I’d do is walk down Colorado Avenue and breathe in the cool, crisp mountain air, ogle the majestic mountains, then pop into Telluride Outside to see John, the proprietor, and sign up for some fly fishing. The next thing I’d do is hang out at the Moose and eat pizza, and wait all day, all week, to see if one of the Mephisto brothers came in for some pizza. I’d love to see one of them in person. What I wouldn’t want to do is visit the school. Although it’s a beautiful school, and ranked very highly in U.S. News, in the world of Mephisto, it’s one of Eryx’s experiments in gathering young followers. I think seeing lost souls in person would be traumatic.

If you could describe yourself in one song, what would it be and why?

I love this question! The Long and Winding Road by the Beatles. The lyrics are so beautiful and haunting. Not that I’m beautiful or haunting, but it talks about finding your way back, about the connections we make and not leaving them. I’ve come to realize that nothing in life is as important as people – family and friends. This song encapsulates my feelings, and it always makes me choke up just a little.

Before you are two doors. One opens into Narnia, and the other to Hogwarts. Which door do you go through, and why?

Hogwarts! Narnia is a bit staid for me. Hogwarts would be a magical place to visit – literally. And I kind of like the good vs. evil depicted in HP more than in the wardrobe stories.

If you were given $200 to use in a book store, what books would you bring home, and why?

I’d pick up some new YA releases I’ve had my eye on for a while, like Kody Keplinger’s Shut Out and Kiki Hamilton’s The Faerie Ring, and I’d buy half a dozen romances, because I need a romance fix. Then I’d shop for research books about things that interest me. I have a very nice library of research books, and I’m always adding to it.

What are your favourite memories from being a Campus Cop, and a camp counselor?

This question makes me laugh! When I was a Campus Cop, I usually pulled guard gate duty. At that time, traffic wasn’t allowed on campus without a special pass. I was a very bad Campus Cop because if a car full of cute guys drove up to my gate, with or without a pass, I let them through. I suspect these days I’d be far more diligent, what with all the nutjobs with guns on campuses, but back then *mumble-mumble* years ago, it wasn’t a big deal. And some of those boys were very cute. Ha!

As a camp counselor, I remember some of the other counselors and I would meet at the pool at midnight and swim – without clothes. It was an all girls camp, so not a huge deal. But it was dark, with only the moon to see by, and we’d swim and talk late into the night. We solved all the world’s problems. Then we’d have to be up with our campers at 6:30 in the morning. Good times!

Have some of your experiences become part of history in THE MEPHISTO COVENANT?

I had my first kiss at 13 at church camp. (I know, right?) There were some girls there who went to my church and when we got back home, they spread it all over that I was cheap trash and accused me of doing things way beyond a kiss. I was so on a cloud, feeling so grown up and smooshy about this guy, and after that, I felt an inch tall. I was mortified. Being falsely accused is such a bummer, and I channeled that never-forgotten anger and bitterness into what happens to Sasha.

I love your answers, Trinity! Thank you so much for being here today! 

Trinity Faegan can be found on her website, her blog, and on twitter. 

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Sasha is desperate to find out who murdered her father. When getting the answer means pledging her soul to Eryx, she unlocks a secret that puts her in grave danger—Sasha is Anabo, a daughter of Eve, and Eryx’s biggest threat.

A son of Hell, immortal, and bound to Earth forever, Jax looks for redemption in the Mephisto Covenant—God’s promise he will find peace in the love of an Anabo. After a thousand years, he’s finally found the girl he’s been searching for: Sasha.

With the threat of Eryx looming, Jax has to keep Sasha safe and win her over. But can he? Will Sasha love him and give up her mortal life?

Synopsis taken from goodreads.