YA author, Marianna Heusler visits

 

 YA author, Marianna Heusler, is on the blog today. Welcome, Marianna! Tell us something about yourself that readers might be surprised to learn.

 I wrote my first book when I was twelve. It was patterned after a Nancy Drew mystery and some of the girls in my class wrote their book reports using it. I was thrilled. But it took me thirty years to actually publish anything.

How many books have you written?

I have published seven books with one book coming out this winter. I have written at least a dozen books which are still in my drawer!

What has been your most rewarding experience during the writing process?

I love it when I see people reading and enjoying my books.

Tell us about your latest release.

The Day The Fortune Teller Died is a YA mystery, the second in a series. The first book The Night the Penningtons Vanished was nominated for an Edgar. When a fortune teller predicts that great harm will come to a new girl in school, Isabella, Vicki and Lauren are determined to learn who is going to harm Eve. When the fortune teller turns up dead, all the girls are in danger.

Is it available in print, ebook, and Kindle formats?

The book is available in print.

 Were any of your books more challenging to write than the others?

 I find YA more challenging to write than adult books because I write them from one point of view. Everything has to happen to the main character and everything is seen and felt through her perspective. When writing from several points of view, you have more options.

How do you develop characters?

When your characters are teenagers or children, it’s important that they solve the mystery themselves with little or no parental help. Therefore, there has to be a reason why they don’t tell adults the trouble that they’re facing. In my books the adults are either busy with their own problems or the kids have done something wrong, which they’re afraid of confessing. And, of course, left on their own, things often spiral out of control.

How does your environment/upbringing color your writing?  

I went to Catholic school until I was twenty-one and for a while, I was a Catholic school teacher. I can’t resist sprinkling some of my background in my writing.

Thanks for visiting, Marianna.

Nice to be here, Susan.

Sue Midlock's Birthright

Sue Midlock is my guest today.

Welcome, Sue. I’d be fascinated to know more about you.

How many books have you written and in what genre(s)?

I have written one book.  Birthright is Paranormal Romance for young adults.

What books or authors have influenced you? 

I have many authors that have influenced my writing.  If I want something renaissance in my writing, I lean toward Shakespeare.  Dark Love is a good example of that.  When writing Birthright I have to thank Stephanie Meyer, her books were the first ones that actually made me feel as though I was Bella, I felt all the emotions her character was going through and I thought how wonderful that an author could make a reader feel that way.  I wanted Birthright to have that kind of pull.  As for Keri Arthur, she is amazing.  Her character Riley Jensen is so strong and gutsy and a very sensual person. I like strong characters, those who know what they want and are not afraid to get it.You could say that Birthright has a little bit of all of these authors,  the romance, the strong will, determination and pure evil. 

What are your writing goals?  

To write Paranormal Romance books that not only grabs the reader’s attention, but to have them on pins and needles for the next book to come out. 

Tell us more about Birthright, Sue.

 Birthright revolves around three main characters, Candra Rosewood, Kane Smith and Eldon Bennet.  Candra is an only child with a background unbeknownst to her other than the usual, father who works, but it’s not a leave and come home job, mother stays at home.  She doesn’t have a lot of friends because of the sheltered upbringing she has had.  Things start to unravel when her parents die mysteriously and bits of her heritage start to unfold in events that seem to constantly erupt.

It’s a fast read, but at the end of each chapter I have left the reader wanting to know what is to happen next and things do happen quite a lot.  I had to do some slight research as Birthright deals with the subject of “human servant”.  I wanted my storyline to be different than any other vampire book I’ve read.  There is also something very different about Candra, but the reader won’t know until the sequel, but they do get a glimpse that she is something quite more powerful than what her vampire had thought she’d be. 

My characters also have distinct personalities which seem to grow within each chapter.  You could say, “…things are not what they appear to be.”    I wanted them to be different than what I’ve read in this particular genre.  There had to be a strength that could not be denied and yet, a softness when the excitement got to be a bit much for the reader.  There are moments of release, but, only for a short time then the excitement builds again.  Birthright is like the roller-coaster ride everyone talks about, rides and then at the end exclaim how thrilling it was.

It also in two chapters goes back into time.  I know this type of writing tends to be confusing for the reader, but I only kept it to two chapters and very short, it was necessary as you’ll find out, because it doesn’t leave the reader wonder how this person came to be and why.  So it completes the storyline very well.

What is your most rewarding experience during the writing process? 

I never knew what it was like to be an author, to go through all the edits and the waiting.  I only lived through it with my dear friend Mary Deal.  So, when it came to be my turn, I found it exciting!  I didn’t mind changing my whole novel to read in first person, to me it was a learning experience and I loved every moment of it, that and all the edits, corrections and final read through. 

Mary Deal is a cyber buddy of mine as well. What a treat!
Can you tell us about current or future projects? 

 I am currently writing the sequel to Birthright and I’ve also been writing several short stories chronicling the life and times of Hadley Jones, a Dhampir.  These short stories fall under the genre of Erotic Paranormal Romance.  Also, not in the writing department, I’ve been busy creating book covers for Vamplit Publishing, which is located in the Uk,   I am the Artistic Director for them.

Where can folks learn more about your books and events?

They may find me in two places…

Suemydliak.yolasite.com
 (Author website)
http://theunbeatenheart.blogspot.com/ (blog)

Continued success, Sue. Let us know when you have another book.