A Line in the Ice Blog Tour & Giveaway

Today, I’m a host on the Novel Publicity Blog Tour for A Line in the Ice, a Paranormal/Sci-Fi Romance novel published by Carina Press. See my review below, along with a chat I had with the Jamie Craig writing team. After that, comment for a chance to win a copy of the book.

STORYLINE: Six soldiers are stationed in Antarctica in close proximity to a rift from which monsters are appearing. A man emerges from said rift claiming he’s from a place called Illyria.  His forefather fought in World War I and disappeared along with his squadron, after doing battle with Aquorian monsters. 

Captain Charlie Weller is attracted to the stranger, Lysander, who is determined to return to Illyria and defeat the enemy who has wiped out his countrymen. It’s hard for the soldiers to believe his story and harder still to make a decision to venture into Illyria and run the risk of leaving the world they know behind.

PLAYERS:  Lysander Davis - makes it through the rift, crawls on to the ice on the Antarctic side and collapses. Steady and determined, are words I’d use to describe this character. He’s single-minded in his quest to return to his homeland and save whoever might be left after the takeover by the Aquorians.

Capt. Charlie Weller - is a tough-as-nails soldier, no-nonsense on the job and very good at what she does. In terms of disposition, she contrasts with Lysander who is gentle by nature and likes Shakespeare.  Though she comes across as a hard-ass - and she has to be to survive harsh working conditions – her softer side shines through in the way she looks out for Lysander and how she operates within the ‘family’ structure of the team-of-six soldiers.

I LIKED: the fact that the book starts mid-action. I wanted to read this novel, having seen the excerpt from the first chapter. The pacing is good, along with the storyline, so that I finished reading this 96,000 word adventure in no time.  The novel is written in such a way that the rift doesn’t seem far-fetched. It is clear that times have changed and the rift between worlds is just another fact of life. The six soldiers represent different countries and are assembled to protect the world from marauding monsters.

I COULD HAVE LIVED WITHOUT: the gore that came with getting up close and personal with the Aquorians. Lysander loses it in one segment and really does a job on a prisoner – a pulverized alien is not a pretty picture by any means.  That said, I understand him taking out his fury on a member of the race that was in the process of destroying his world.

The attraction between the two develops quickly, which is okay, given the extreme situation and that fact that time is precious as Lysander is dead set on crossing the rift into Illyria.

The love scenes are steamy, but a tad bit jarring as they probably slip into erotica. I thought that yeah, Charlie would probably refer to her body parts in blunt language, being a both-foot-on-the-ground kinda girl, but somehow, I built an image of Lysander that didn’t allow me to see him using the same kind of earthy language. 

OVERALL COMMENTS: A Line in the Ice is an absorbing read, even for those like myself who don’t regularly read Paranormal and Sci-Fi books. The explanation of technologically advanced equipment is credible and easily understood.  There are no way-out names to confuse me, as sometimes happens with the Paranormal & Sci-Fi genre.  The world, both on this side and in Illyria, is familiar but diverse enough to still be interesting. The Aquorians and how they controlled the Leviathan is another cool angle. Clearly, this two-woman team of writers is big on imagination.

RATING: A Line in the Ice is a truly awesome read.

Looking at the book covers on your website ‘prolific’ is the first word that comes to mind. Did you anticipate producing as many books as you have and how did know you could succeed at writing jointly?

Vivien: The only thing I anticipated when Pepper and I started was the fun we were having continuing. Our collaboration started as a means to just keep writing together, rather than anything fiscal or professionally based. All we wanted was to write. The fact that it happened to come quickly for us was a bonus.

Pepper: I'm not really surprised because we're both fast writers, and when we're working together that just seems to accelerate the process. On the other hand, neither one of us ever made any plans beyond finishing the current book. 

I’ve tried writing with other people on a couple of occasions and it didn’t work. How easy has it been to collaborate since you live in different states? 

Vivien: Fairly easy, for the most part. We're only an hour apart, and I had a very flexible schedule, so we were able to coordinate being on at the same times to work back and forth while we were online. That's grown to be more difficult as my family's demands have grown and Pepper's schedule has changed, though.

Pepper: Writers are always fascinated by our collaboration. And I understand why. Writing is intensely personal and it can be maddening enough just arguing with yourself. But our books are just that--ours. They wouldn't exist without both of us contributing. You have to be willing and ready to not just give up partial ownership of a project, but all ownership. 

How long does it take you on average (if any such thing exists) to produce a book – from brainstorming to final edit? 

Vivien: I think it depends on the book. When we're in the zone - meaning one of us has mentioned an idea, the other has loved it, and our schedules have been on our side - we've managed to get a novel done in less than two months. When the words come, they come fast, lol. Shorter works take less time.

Pepper: Don't forget deadlines. It's amazing how hard we can work with a deadline looming! 

How did you deal with the characters in A Line in the Ice?  Did you each focus on one main character or was it a combined effort?  

Vivien: For the vast majority of our stories, we've divvied up characters. Each of us takes a principal and controls him/her. In the case of A Line in the Ice, I had Charlie and Pepper had Lysander, then we shared the minor characters (though after a while, one of us often develops an affinity for specific characters so the other will concede control).

Pepper: Vivien selected the names and photos of each of the team members (I was responsible for Lysander). Their names helped us select their origins and backstory, and from there we just let them grow from scene to scene. We also do spend a lot of time chatting about their backstories and imagining who they were before these scenes and who they might be some day. 

The cast in the book are a specialized group of army experts. Did either of you provide any background knowledge or did the storyline require hours of research?

Vivien: For me, it's research, research, research, lol.

Pepper: Vivien researched lol. I looked up a few things here and there, but I'll let her carry the water. 

Do most of your books feature paranormal and/or sci-fi aspects?

Vivien: We've written a wide variety, but yes, there's a lot of paranormal in our work. I grew up loving fantasy, sci-fi, horror and the like, and it's been only natural that a lot of that has found a place in what I write.

Pepper: I'm a big fan of horror as well, though I didn't read too much fantasy or sci-fi before now. Actually, I have very few solo paranormals, I tend to prefer contemporaries. But Vivien's enthusiasm always makes me forget that fact and I get swept up in the new, exciting world. 

What strengths do you each bring to your writing partnership?

Vivien: I tend to be the organizer of things. Probably because I'm a mom, lol. Writing-wise, my strengths rest in action sequences and dialogue.

Pepper: I write romances because I'm secretly a huge sentimental softy--so I'm always waiting for the action sequences to end so we can get to the romance. That's why I need Vivien to remind me of little things like structuring a plot. 

Tour Notes:

Please vote for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll for this tour. The blogger with the most votes wins a free promotional twitterview and a special winner’s badge. I want that to be me! You can vote in the poll by visiting the official Line in the Ice blog tour page and scrolling all the way to the bottom.

Learn more about this author duo by visiting their website, blog, Facebook or GoodReads pages or by connecting with them on Twitter.

For a chance to win a copy of A Line in the Ice, please leave a comment and/or question for the authors. For extra entries you may tweet to help spread the word. Just leave me the link. The draw will be done this Friday, August 19, 2011. I'd really appreciate it if you take a moment to also vote in the poll above. Thanks!

Book Release / Anniversary Giveaways

My second novel, Dissolution, will be released on May 20, 2011. My publisher is giving two e-copies of Dissolution for the contest, as well as one e-copy of Contraband (my debut novel). The first place winner gets their preferred book. 

Drawing on May 20, 2011.

Stick around while I tell you how you can win a book for yourself. Note that Dissolution is set in Jamaica and Contraband is set on the fictional island of Xantrope.

So here's how you enter. 

• Add yourself as a follower, if you aren't already.
• Leave me a comment on this post, so I know you're in.
• Tweet this link for another entry (I appreciate every bit of help to get the news out)
• Like the FB page for yet another entry (not a requirement, just a goodwill gesture to help me promote the book) Link to page is here.

Book blurbs:- 

Sherryn Albright has all the trappings of success; a devoted husband, loving children and a thriving business. Until a secret explodes on her doorstep. Reece has fathered a child outside of their marriage.

Confronted by the physical proof of Reece's infidelity, Sherryn travels through a wasteland of blame and unforgiveness. Long denied issues also conspire to spin her well-managed life off its axis. Her marriage is shattered, her trust in Reece destroyed, and yet she cannot deny her growing concern for his son.

When a murder makes it clear Reece has not escaped the mean streets of Kingston, Sherryn battles her conscience and public opinion to save her family and herself from destruction.

As master of his destiny, Paul Weekes does what is necessary to survive. He makes his own fortune, but his luck nosedives when hijackers target his illicit shipments. He has no proof, but suspects the police officer who facilitates his exports off the island of Xantrope has turned on him. To make things worse, Paul’s ne’er-do-well cousin is accidentally involved in a gang murder, and a hit is put on him.

A budding liaison with the cop's niece adds more complication. Janine refuses to accept Paul’s way of life, but inadvertently becomes a victim of his lifestyle. Thrust into kidnapping, double cross and murder, Paul must choose between a relationship with Janine and staying alive long enough to change the course of his future. See reviews on Amazon.

Anniversary Giveaway!

I apologise for being late with this giveaway, but the Easter Season took its toll.  Angela Smith over at Whimsy, Writing & Reading has won a copy of David Baboulene's The Story Book.  See David's excellent article on Character & Plot here.

Congratulations, Angela!




May 11 will be a year since I've been writing on the Readers' Suite blog. I've done a lot more reading than the reviews reflected here, but anyway, I thought I'd do something special to mark my upcoming anniversary.

I'm giving away some books I've read during the past year or so. I have a couple in there that I haven't read in that time and I keep adding to the unread pile each time there's a past-their-use-before-date (aka slightly shopworn) sale at the bookshop. Rather than letting them gather dust, I'm throwing them in too.

What do you need to do to win one of these books?

• Add yourself as a follower of The Readers' Suite.
• Ensure you comment on the giveaway post so I know you're in the competition. Please let me know if you're interested in any particular book.
• Help me spread the word by tweeting this post for an additional entry. (Not a requirement) 
• Or you can grab the badge in the sidebar for your blog, which gives you another entry.  Just let me know if you do. (Again, not a requirement, simply a goodwill gesture.)

Without further ado, here are the prizes.

If you need help making up your mind as to which book you'd like, I've added a little information on each.

Undercover is about a drag queen who turns his life around and leaves his past behind. Enter financial troubles and he's forced to return to his former life with devastating consequences for himself and his family.

In The Bookwoman's Last Fling, Cliff Janeway, is hired to conduct an inventory on a rare collection of children's books.  The books were owned by deceased horse trainer H.R. Geiger who inhereted them from his wife, now dead for twenty years.  Janeway finds that some of the books are cheap imitiations. His investigation take him into the world of horseracing where he finds out that Mrs. Geiger had less than impeccable morals and that her death, seemingly an allergic reaction, might have been planned.

Marrying Up was adapted as a musical stage play and is the story of Paris Montague, whose family believes in marrying the right kind of man, that is upwardly mobile. But Paris has other ideas.  She has a delightful 'relationship' with her secret lover and is not gung-ho about JaBari Nolan, the kind of man her family approves. To complicate things, Paris senses there's something bad lurking behind the perface facade JaBari presents and must choose between him and the other man in her life.
If you enjoy tales of Colonial Africa, then Cloth Girl
is for you. Matilda's childhood ends when a lawyer decides that he will make her his second wife, even though she is a teenager.  She suffers much at the hand of Robert Bannerman's first wife as a result of her jealously. However, Matilda has no choice but to make the best of a horrible situation.  See my review of this book here.
     
In Bare Bones (written by Kathy Reichs, from whom CSI: Crime Scene Investigation takes its inspiration) Dr. Tempe Brennan goes on vacation. However, her job as a forensic anthropologist follows her.  She investigates two crimes, which may be connected and also prove dangerous to Brennan and her child.

Suspense fanatics, this one's for you. Nate Rodriguez is a NYPD sketch artist who is drawn into an investigation where the killer draws pictures of his crime and  victims before killing them.  Rodiguez uses his skills to produce an image of an unidentified murderer.  The killer is highly intelligent and pits himself against Rodriquez in a terrifying game with dire consequences. One unique aspect of Anatomy of Fear is the fact that there are pictures and sketches within its pages.

  High Profile is a book I enjoyed thoroughly.   Someone murders a talk show host and hangs him in a park for all to see. His female assistant is also killed and left in a dumpster. Jesse Stone, the police chief of Paradise, has to sieve through the almost non-existent clues to find the murderer. In the middle of all that, he works through his own unresolved relationship issues. My review of this novel is posted here.       

Stay tuned for my next giveaway, which will run concurrently with this one as at May 1, 2011.  My second book Dissolution will be released on May 20, 2011. I'll be giving away copies on this blog. 

Good luck to all!