Friday, November 15, 2013

It's Time For The MOONLESS Blog Tour, Y'all!




Please welcome my Write On To Build On (our facebook writing group) pal Crystal Collier who is here to share her journey into becoming a published author. *applause* Crystal is a special writing friend who also homeschools too! *applause* She loves cheese and chocolate which makes her super bodacious in my book! I’m chuffed she’s visiting today. So without further ado, heeere’s Crystal. 

Head over to Crystal's place and you can be entered to win. Now that's what I'm talkin' about!




Yay! I’m chuffed to be here, Robyn. *setting cheese platter down* Have some Muenster, eh? 

I didn't know you were bringing snacks. RAD! 

What inspired you to begin writing for teens?

I have always written. Always. And, I’ll never age a day beyond 16, in my head at least. The goal has always been to write books I wish I’d had at that age: adult worthy plotting/writing with PG content.

I know your hubby has started his own publishing company called Raybourne Publishing and is using MOONLESS as his model. Tell us about this path to publication.

I planned to be published by the age of 16. Which I was, in a few literary magazines. (Not quite what I’d expected.) While branching into theater, film and music composition, it was hard to focus. I had several of my skits performed and took awards for amateur film and acting, but in 2001 I finally realized my dream of a completed novel. And queried. And got rejected. Fast forward twelve years, writing a musical, seven novels, and three kids later… I was receiving requests like crazy. After much research, my husband formulated a unique social media-based publishing model, and forced me to sign with him. Yes, forced. He’s learning with my material. *gulp*

How did your novel change during the various drafts? What did you learn from this?

Some people write dozens of books as they learn. I rewrote MOONLESS. Again. And again. And again. It’s seriously been through about 200 drafts, so can we leave it at that?

I feel your pain, pal. *ahem*

If you gave one of your characters an opportunity to speak for themselves, what would they say?

STOP TORTURING US. *wink*

What books have influenced your writing?

…This is a very unfair question. Do you know how much I read? My Friend the Monster, Dealing with Dragons, Odd Thomas, The Silicone Mage Trilogy, Another Fine Myth, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, The Mortal Instruments, Twilight, Harry Potter, The Tiger’s Curse series, Indian in the Cupboard, Maniac Magee, The Magician’s Nephew, Unenchanted, Another Fine Myth, Castle in the Attic…and innumerable others.

Is there an Author that you would really like to meet? (Besides me, that is.) *wink* *wink*

Robyn, meeting you would be a dream come true! (What more do I need?) I would love to come face to face with Chanda Hahn, Dean Koontz, and ANY of the hosts from WriteOnCon. (I love the way you think!)

Who designed the cover of your book?

My amazing husband. He’s a tech geek of a hundred backgrounds. One of them just happens to be graphic design. And business. And marketing.

WOWOW! He’s gotta be made of coolness!

An early childhood memory.

How about my first story dream? I was 3. A giant fiery ball had been sweeping across the USA. We knew it was coming, but didn’t have much time to act. It engulfed the field across from our house as we fled out the back door, hiked up and crossed the Rocky Mountains, and found ourselves safely in China.

WOW, you dream big girlfriend! :-)

Do you ever write in your PJ’s?

Always.

Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream?

Yes. And cheese on the side. =)

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?

Anytime, anywhere, as long as I have a computer.

Your thoughts on receiving book reviews - the good and the bad.

A good book review is like Christmas morning, every time. Who wouldn’t love that? I haven’t had a bad one yet. *gulp* But I’ve had those responses from critique partners or beta readers. They’re hard to take, but I think we have to see them as motivation to grow. Better yet, we have to extrapolate the good, and leave the rest behind.

Crystal, thank you for stopping by on your whirlwind (I love saying that) tour. I hope it’s everything you want it to be and more! Have some cheese while you read my review of your book. :-)






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Title: Moonless
Author: Crystal Collier
Publisher: Raybourne Publishing
Series: Maiden of Time #1
Publication: November 13th, 2013
Category: Young Adult (YA)
Genre: Historical Paranormal

Log Line: Alexia must choose safety and an arranged marriage, or true love and being hunted by the Soulless every moonless night.


Do I have your attention with that logline? I thought so! 

 Now it’s time for my review peeps!
 


 I thoroughly enjoyed Moonless. It was at times gut wrenching and at other times mysterious. That's the makings of a great story. I fell in love with Crystals characters. All of them! She made me believe I knew them. She made me believe I was right beside them as the story unfolded. That's what it's all about folks! As I was pulled into the story world, I felt myself wanting to learn more and more about Alexia's life. In other words, YOU CANNOT PUT IT DOWN. I tried. But I just kept coming back for more. Until the family had to make do without me for a time. :-)

Crystal does a great job of characterization (deep people, deep) and she also is an expert at subplots. The story wouldn't be the same without her descriptions either. They were powerful and vibrant. She understands the art of painting pictures with her words. You'll worry about Alexia (trying not to be a spoiler here) and you'll smile too. You will feel as though you're watching the story unfold from a window. It's that real, y'all. You want action? It's here. You want a little romance? It's here! I'm so proud of Crystal and the writer she's become. (I sound like her mommy) I'll be there to read the next one for sure. I'm a card carrying member of the Crystal Collier fan club. Go buy the book. You will not be disappointed. You know you can trust me. :-) Oh, and watch out for the soulless on those moonless nights!


 Here's the rest of the tour y'all.



November 18
            Laurel Garver: How Crystal develops Characters
Gwen Gardner: Truth or Lie
Carrie Butler: Truth or Lie
Natalie Aguirre: Author Interview & Giveaway
November 19
            Christine Rains: Excerpt #4
Mary Waibel: Character Interview with Kiren
Bethany Kaczmarek: Character Interview with Miles
November 20
Scribbleweed: Showing VS Telling 
            Ellie Garratt: Character Interview with Kiren
            Aldrea Alien: Top Ten Reasons to Eat Cheese
November 21
            Meradeth Houston: Character Interview with Kiren
Mary Pax: Guest Post
Ashley Nixon: Excerpt #6
November 22
Elizabeth Seckman: Truth or Lie
Melanie Crouse: Review
Medeia Sharif: Excerpt #5
Nicole Zoltack: Truth or Lie
November 23
            Jessie Harrell: Excerpt #6
Hart Johnson: The Naked Cheese
November 24
TC Mckee: Review
E.J. Wesley: Five Things to Be Grateful For—Debut Author Edition
November 25
Michelle Wallace: Excerpt #2
Clare Dugmore: Excerpt #7 & Truth or Lie
November 26
Elise Fallson: Excerpt #7
Larissa Hardesty: Top Ten—You Know You Live in Florida When
November 27
            Julie Musil: Author Interview
November 28
            Suzanne Furness: Excerpt #8
Sharon Johnston: Review
Katharina Gerlach: Author Interview
November 29
            Julie Flanders: Excerpt #5
Misha Gericke: Where Moonless Came From
November 30
            Sherry Auger: Review
            Chrys Fey: Excerpt #8






20 comments:

  1. Hi, Robyn! Great interview. Best wishes to Crystal with her blog tour.

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  2. Great interview. That's so awesome that Crystal's husband is starting a publishing company that of course she signed with.

    The only thing I'm not sure of is the cheese with ice cream. I'd take another scoop of ice cream. Ha!

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  3. Natalie, Natalie, Natalie... Eat your cheese, then your ice cream. I didn't say you had to eat both at the same time. ;)

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  4. Another fantastic interview! Great job, Robyn! And great answers, Cyrstal- I especially loved your dream!

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  5. So cool to have a hubby in the publishing business AND who can do cover design!

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  6. Wonderful interview! You had me chuckling with all the cheesy remarks :-) The book sounds amazing!

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  7. Bev, the creativity of a young mind, eh? ;)

    Sherry, it is pretty cool, and terrifying.

    iza, the cheese is only getting warmed up--and it gets messy after it melts. ;)

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  8. LOL, my own characters would say "STOP TORTURING US!" too, if they had the chance!

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  9. You've got me wanting to read this. I'm off to buy it and check out the rest of the tour. Great review and I loved the interview. :)

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  10. So happy to see Crystal here. She has more energy than almost any other blogger I know. What an extensive tour!

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  11. Congratulations Crystal! Wishing you all the best! :)

    Robyn, thanks for the spotlight and review. As always, it was great!

    Hugs to both of you,
    Karen :)

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  12. Loved the interview! Wishing Crystal the best of luck. I love the cover and it was so fun to learn more about your publishing process. Your husband did a fantastic job on the cover and it sounds great that you two are on this adventure together. :)
    ~Jess

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  13. Love your interviews as always, dear Robyn! You still haven't answered me as to how you find time to read, post a terrific blog, write, homeschool, take care if a farm, etc etc. ;)

    Congratulations to Crystal on her book launch! What a terrific partnership she has with her equally talented husband. Such an incredible book cover and exciting sounding story!

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  14. Robyn, great interview!
    Crystal, I had no idea your husband did that awesome cover - too cool!

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  15. Karen Lange--Thank you!

    Jess--I really did luck out with him, eh? Thanks!

    Teresa--the well wishes are much appreciated.

    Michelle--he said it: he's awesome. ;)

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  16. I look forward to reading Crystal's book.

    Yay for Crystal's husband's publishing venture.

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  17. AWESOME interview!!! you all rock!

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  18. Thanks Nata. We all rock, you included.

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