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Meet the Characters Surprise Post: Invisible by DelSheree Gladden

For my surprise post, I wanted to unveil the book cover to my newest project, INVISIBLE, and introduce readers to Mason and Olivia. 



Take a peek to find out more about this invisible boy and the girl who found him. 

Cover Reveal for INVISIBLE!

The basis for this design came from the lovely Hannah Jennifer, a Wattpad reader who discovered Invisible through her friend and created a fan cover. She graciously allowed me to expand on her design, and this is what we came up with! 


Now, let’s meet Mason and Olivia…

Olivia Mallory                                                                     Mason Harding











Mason and Olivia, care to introduce yourselves to the readers?

Olivia: Who first? Mason, you want to go? It’s not every day you get to talk to people like this.
Mason: (chuckles) True. Sure I’ll go first. I’m Mason, and I’m not a ghost. I’m not imaginary, although Olivia’s family was convinced of that at first. And we’ve all agreed I’m not a hallucination. I’m just invisible.
O: Yeah, he’s invisible, but that’s hardly the most important thing about him.
M: It’s pretty important.
O: Whatever. He’s also great at baseball, loves practical jokes, and is the best friend a girl could ever have.

So what about you, Olivia?

O: Me? Well, nothing so special as being invisible. I’m just the girl that can see him. The only one, in fact.
M: Except Robin.
O: (wrinkles her nose) Until Robin showed up, I was the only one who could see Mason.

And why is that?

O: (shrugs) Beats me, but I’m glad I can. I can’t imagine my life without Mason.
M: There are a lot of questions we don’t know the answers to when it comes to me.

Who is Robin?

M: She’s…a friend.
O: Friend? (shakes her head)
M: Robin knows I’m an Aerling.

An Aerling?

O: Mason’s not exactly…human. He came here from some other place. At least, that’s what Robin has said. I’m not claiming she’s trustworthy. I certainly don’t trust her.
M: We can trust her about this. I am invisible after all.

So, being invisible…what’s your typical day like?

M: Like anyone else’s, I suppose. I go to school, do chores, do homework, play catch with Olivia’s dad in the backyard.
O: (rolls her eyes) There are plenty of differences. Mason can’t really open doors in front of other people, so he has to wait for me or someone else to do it for him. He can’t carry things around either or it looks like its floating.
M: That does come in handy around Halloween, though.
O: (chuckles) True. We’ve had a lot of fun freaking people out.

What about your clothes? Do they disappear, or are you constantly walking around in your birthday suit?

M: (laughs) No, I’m not sitting here talking to you nude. My clothes disappear when I put them on, and so do things that I put in my pockets, but I can carry the cat around and turn her into Super Kitty no problem.
O: We don’t know why it works like that, but I think Mason’s doing it subconsciously.
M: No, I’m not. (shakes his head) It’s just how things work. Being invisible is the extent of my special abilities.
O: I highly doubt that.

Anything else you two would like to share before we sign off?

M: Being invisible seems like it should mean safety. Nobody can see you, right?
O: Not true.
M: Nope.
O: There are people who want Mason, and not to study him. They want him dead, and they’ll stop at nothing to make that happen.
M: It’s not going to happen. I won’t let it. And I won’t let them hurt you, either.
O: I won’t let them hurt you either, and I won’t let anyone take you away from me.

If readers want to hear the rest of your story, where can they find you?

O: Right now, readers can find our story on Wattpad, and we’ll be making our debut on Amazon in Kindle and paperback on October 14th.
M: Readers can also find out more about us here: Amazon Kindle US : Amazon Paperback US : Amazon Kindle UK : Amazon Paperback UK : B&N :  Kobo :  Goodreads : 


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Meet the Characters Hottest Guy Contest

Welcome to the Hottest Guy Contest!!! Vote now for your favorite character and enter for a chance to win their book!

Micah (Heal Me by Angela Fristoe
Micah was a typical guy all the way up until he became a teen dad. Denial or taking off never even crossed his mind. His daughter, Hannah, is his world and he’s determined to do something with his life so he can take care of her. That doesn’t mean though that he’s got everything sorted out. Being friends with Lily starts out as one of his better ideas. Changing it to friends with benefits might be his worst.


Bryan Sullivan (Arcadia’s Gift by Jesi Lea Ryan)
Name:  Bryan Thomas Sullivan
Nickname:  Just Bryan…NOT Byron! I am not some dead, Victorian poet.
Hobbies & Talents:  I love music, all kinds. I play piano and guitar.
Biggest Fear:  As a hemophiliac, the fear of bleeding has been drilled into me since birth. It was especially bad after my brother died from the same disease. Fortunately for me, my girlfriend, Cady, has discovered a way to protect me. It’s not a cure, but I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I feel, well, sort of invincible.
Favorite Food:  I’m a seventeen year old guy. If it’s edible, I’ll eat it.  
Where do you see yourself in five years?  I’ll probably be doing something with music. Maybe working as a music teacher during the day and gigging in a local band on the weekends. Heck, even if I’m playing guitar in bus stations for tips, I’ll be happy. My parents, probably not so much.

Quote:  “Kissing you was the most fun I’ve had all year.” <— Total understatement by the way. Kissing Cady rocks my world.
Gavin Murrary (My Sister’s Reaper by Dorothy Dreyer)
Name: Gavin Murray
Age: Sixteen
Hair: Chocolate Brown
Eyes: Blue
Bio: Gavin used to be the high school track star until he mysteriously disappeared for a month. When he returned, he was different, his appearance on the verge of goth/emo but not extreme. He likes classic B movies and sweet potato curly fries with sour cream dip. He’s strong, courageous, and intuitive. But he’s got a quiet side that no one is quite sure about. 
Prince Cole (Fate War: Alliance by EM Havens)
The second son of the King of Arborea, Cole is free to use his title, wealth, and charm to get whatever he wants. His carefree living ends abruptly when his brother is killed. Though his rebellious spirit remains, he doesn’t want to see his country devoured by the Fate Army. He agrees to an arranged marriage to form an Alliance with the more technologically advanced country of Perspicia. He’s always enjoyed a good challenge of seducing a woman, but his new wife proves to be the ultimate mystery. He uses every tool in his wooing belt, including his knowledge of herbs to make her fragrant baths, making sure she always has chocolate, and giving her a horse.  Though he begins to uncover Princess Samantha’s true self, the process reveals truths for him as well. Not only does he find hard earned love, but he begins to understand himself better. While Samantha transforms into the woman of his dreams, he also changes; taking responsibility for his own actions and garnering a sense of loyalty and duty
Ketchup (Wicked Hunger by DelSheree Gladden)
Name: ???
Nickname: Ketchup. I don’t think anyone remembers my real name at this point.
Hobbies: Picking locks, but I swear it’s not what you think!
Biggest fear: Losing Van.
Favorite food: French fries, meatloaf, pretty much anything I can put ketchup on.
Worst habit: Waiting instead of acting
Quote:  “Is it surprising that a guy thinks you’re beautiful and amazing? No, it’s not surprising. Everyone should be able to see that about you. Everyone should see you like I do.”
Purchase Links
Ty Madsen (Love and Other Games: Trouble with Gold by Melinda Dozier)

On the enormous television, Ty prepared himself, tightening his helmet under his chin, his longer hair curling over the edges and around his ears. He wore all white, ski pants, a long-sleeved white tunic with the Olympics logo on the front and a huge US flag on the shoulder.

Nadia smiled to herself as he placed his iPod ear buds into his ears and goggles over his eyes. Deep breaths caused his chest to rise and fall and it reminded her of when he kissed her last – his dark eyes on hers and that naughty smile. She bit her lip, excited to see him in action, but at the same time nervous for him. This could make or break a medal for him.

Sergei (Life on the Edge by Jennifer Comeaux)
Sergei Petrov is a figure skating coach from Moscow, Russia with a mysterious past. He left his past behind in Russia to start a new life in America, where he never expected to fall for one of his students, Emily.
Sergei loves to read and is a Starbucks addict, and he mixes the two by spending afternoons at the coffee shop, reading and discussing books with Emily. He also loves classical music, Italian food, and foreign films. He’s a romantic at heart and has been known to surprise Emily with a grand romantic gesture or two. Making Emily happy is more important to him than anything else.
Sergei came to America with big dreams, and his biggest dream is to coach Emily and her partner Chris to an Olympic gold medal. He works tirelessly on the ice day in and day out with them, and he also works hard away from the ice with a strict daily workout regimen. He has to keep his incredibly toned body in shape!
Get to know more about Sergei in the EDGE series books: LIFE ON THE EDGE, EDGE OF THE PAST, and coming November 5, FIGHTING FOR THE EDGE.
LIFE ON THE EDGE – AmazonBarnes & Noble
EDGE OF THE PAST – AmazonBarnes & Noble
Twitter: @LadyWave4

Dragon (Releasing the Dragon by Stacie Simpson)

Donovan “Dragon” Drake is the wildly sexy male protagonist in Releasing the Dragon, whose life was shaped by war and betrayal, an evil curse and the hope that an ancient prophecy would one day be fulfilled making him and his people whole again.    
To the human world, Dragon is the charismatic owner of the Myths and Legends Casino Resort, a supernaturally themed adult playground located on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Appearing to be in his early thirties, this six-foot-three hunk of rippling muscles with black wavy hair and chocolate brown eyes has everything a woman could ask for in a man including money, fame and roguish good looks. All of which have landed him on the cover of every gossip magazine imaginable at one time or another.

To the supernatural world he is the Dragon King, a savage warrior, a commanding ruler and a fierce protector who owns and operates safe havens like Myths and Legends where supernaturals can hide in plain sight as part of the entertainment.

To the women of both worlds he is a body with strong arms, a muscular chest, broad shoulders and rock hard abs with enough stamina to fulfill their every desire. But to the woman who claimed his soul he is a loyal friend, a caring confidant and a passionate lover who consumes her thoughts and fills her heart with everlasting love.

And to anyone who threatens those he holds near and dear, he is a 700 year old dragon shifter-vampire hybrid with a penchant for incinerating his enemies.


Tyson Dawes (Redemption Red by Delancy Stewart)
Tyson Dawes was raised among the vines in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, chasing his sister and brother down the rows under his father’s watchful eye. An idyllic past — one that was ripped from him by the time he spent as part of a forward-deployed Marine unit in Afghanistan. Tyson came home a changed man — angry, brooding and haunted by what he’d seen and done. He knows that something’s gotta give as he finds himself drinking and brawling through his days and nights. The question is whether it will be Tyson himself that breaks or whether he can find redemption in the very vineyards where he was raised. 
Redemption Red releases October 15th. It is available for pre-order on Amazon in paperback here: http://www.amazon.com/Redemption-Wine-Country-Romance-Volume/dp/1492371440/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1380543388&sr=8-3&keywords=delancey+stewart
Marcus (The Ungrateful Dead Series by Susan Stec)
From Susan’s mouth:
I didn’t want him for a mate, he insisted. And he’s hot. It’s hard to say no when a muscled, sexy guy wants to rock your world for all eternity but I tried, oh how I tried.
So what’s my problem with having a vampire stud at my disposable day and night? Well, he’s bossy. He’s always trying to tell me what to do. Don’t fang JoAnn. Don’t stake Dorius. Don’t hold Christopher’s head in the toilet until the bubbles stop. Be polite, Susan. Listen to your mother, Susan.
Sh-yeah, right?
Really, I’m not sure anyone’s super large… (ahem) fangs are worth that kind of aggravation. But I decided I don’t have to stop, uh… taunting him until I figure out if I want to keep him. That’s fair, right?
Captain Jensen (Fate War: Alliance by EM Havens)
The muscle bound leader of the Sagewood Garrison, Captain Jensen is a fighter. His skills with the sword, gun, and in hand to hand combat are rivaled by only one. He has wisdom and insight gained by his quiet observance and the courage to question his Prince’s actions. He rushes fearlessly into battle to fight for his country and protect Princess Samantha. Are his actions simply his duty or is there more to his heroics? 
Chase Black (My Sister’s Reaper by Dorothy Dreyer) 

Name: Chase Black
Age: Seventeen
Hair: Blond
Eyes: Gray
Bio: Chase is new at school, so no one knows that much about him. His face is always stoic, and he’s never seen without his infamous black trench coat. He’s very tall, towering over most of the boys at school, and he drives way too fast. His voice is low and rumbles, like thunder before a storm.






Will Jameson (Steps to Karma by Jennifer Howard)
Name: Will Jameson
Nickname: Just Will, thanks.
Hobbies: Snorkeling, kayaking, wakeboarding, sailing–pretty much anything to do with water. I do live on an island, after all.
Biggest Fear: Don’t laugh, right? But I HATE clowns. They freak me out–always have. Oh, and don’t tell Karma. I’ll never hear the end of it.
Favorite Food: Ultimate Pad Thai from this little place on St. John called Rhumb Lines. That stuff is amazing!
Worst Habit: I swear a lot. And I’m a real smartass. Ugh, did I mention that I swear a lot?
Quote: “Even Castles made of sand, fall into the sea, eventually.” Jimi Hendrix
Website: Email: Facebook (author) : Facebook (Fan) Twitter: @HealingHeartJen and @WowJenWrites
Marshal Britton (Dark Night of the Soul by EM Havens) 

Marshal Britton is a Marine. All he’s ever wanted to do is save lives. His wish is fulfilled when he’s sentenced to eternity in Purgatory fighting the demons that threaten those still living. He’s content in the endless battle, until Jayden comes along. She’s irritating, juvenile, and most of all broken. Together they face the mistakes of their past and grow closer together. She falls for him and his sneaky dimple and he falls for her, but with the time paradox he’s much older in limbo. His sense of decency refuses to let him kiss her until her eighteenth birthday. While he waits, he gives her Hersey’s Kisses each day to remind her of his love. Still, he’s willing to give her and his happiness up if it means she can have a second chance at life.
Brian (The Secret of Isobel Key by Jen McConnel) 
When Brian graduated from college, he didn’t really have a career plan in mind.  He’d been a history major, and the summer after graduation, he took a job as a tour guide in the Scottish highlands on a lark.  Three years later, he’s still at it, and he’s realized this might just be the best job ever.  His smile is never forced, and everyone who takes his tours falls a little bit in love with him.

Brian loves everything about his homeland, and his bright blue eyes sparkle with excitement when he gets to share stories of magic and mystery with the tourists who pass through.  He’s tall, nearly six and a half feet, and he’s built like David Beckham; muscular, lanky, and strong.  He loves being outdoors, and he’s always up for an adventure.  Top it all off with thick red hair and ginger stubble, and he’s the hottest tour guide who ever lived. 

It’s been awhile since he’s dated anyone, but that doesn’t stop the girls on his tours from trying.  But Brian isn’t interested in the complications that come with dating a tourist…until he meets Lou in THE SECRET OF ISOBEL KEY.  




Santangelo (Sugar Man’s Daughter by Lucy Crowe)
John Santangelo has many passions but music is one of the foremost among them. His voice is smooth as Bailey’s over ice, and just as sweet – and although he has a gorgeous smile, it is not often in evidence. More to be enjoyed when it is!   
Tristan (Saksia Trilogy by Aoife Maria Sheridan) 

Name:Tristan
Age: 107 years old (Immortal)
Eye colour: Green
Hair: Black shoulder length
Height: 6foot 1 inches
Build: Broad
Job:  Guardian of King Morrick.
Associated Action:  Temper
Skills or abilities: Fire Affinity Level 3            
                              Air Affinity Level 3
The ability to freeze a person for a matter of seconds.
The ability to extract anyone’s gifts, thus leaving them powerless.
Fighting Skills:  Hand to hand combat                      mastered
                                    Sword fighting                         mastered
                                    Archery                                    mastered
Family:
None that we know of. Tristan was taken as a baby to be reared in the castle in order to become a guardian and future King of Saskia. 
Amazon.co.uk  : Amazon.com : Easons : Website : ebook : Facebook : Blog : Goodreads : Twitter
Goodreads: Aoife Marie Sheridan
Twitter: aoifesheri

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Character Bios: The Arcadia Series (Jesi Lea Ryan)

Arcadia Day
Name:  Arcadia Marie Day – but only pretentious adults, teachers on the first day of school and pissed off parents ever call me by my full name.
Nickname:  Cady – pronounced “K.D.”  Not like the people who cart golf clubs around.
Hobbies & Talents:  I like to run. It keeps me in shape without resorting to team sports. Oh, and I guess I have this “talent” now for reading people’s emotions psychically. There is also this weird thing I can do when I channel emotional energy…but I better not get into that. It’s all rather complicated.
Biggest Fear:  Losing the people I love. Unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of that this year.
Favorite Food:  I’m an herbivore mostly. Not a full vegetarian, but close. I guess pasta with marinara would be my favorite food.
Where do you see yourself in five years?  If you would have asked me a few months ago, I would have had no clue. Lately, I’ve been considering going to med school.
Quote:  “For the love of Ian Sommerhalder!” Because really, he’s as close to god as an agnostic like me gets.
 Bryan Sullivan:
Name:  Bryan Thomas Sullivan
Nickname:  Just Bryan…NOT Byron! I am not some dead, Victorian poet.
Hobbies & Talents:  I love music, all kinds. I play piano and guitar.
Biggest Fear:  As a hemophiliac, the fear of bleeding has been drilled into me since birth. It was especially bad after my brother died from the same disease. Fortunately for me, my girlfriend, Cady, has discovered a way to protect me. It’s not a cure, but I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I feel, well, sort of invincible.
Favorite Food:  I’m a seventeen year old guy. If it’s edible, I’ll eat it.  
Where do you see yourself in five years?  I’ll probably be doing something with music. Maybe working as a music teacher during the day and gigging in a local band on the weekends. Heck, even if I’m playing guitar in bus stations for tips, I’ll be happy. My parents, probably not so much.

Quote:  “Kissing you was the most fun I’ve had all year.” <— Total understatement by the way. Kissing Cady rocks my world.
Author Bio: 
Jesi Lea Ryan grew up in the Mississippi River town of Dubuque, Iowa. She holds bachelor degrees in creative writing and literature and a masters degree in business. She considers herself a well-rounded nerd who can spend hours on the internet researching things like British history, anthropology of ancient people, geography of random parts of the world, bad tattoos and the paranormal. She currently lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her husband and two exceptionally naughty kitties.
Contact & Social Media Links:
Email:  jesilea@charter.net
Twitter:  @Jesilea  https://twitter.com/Jesilea
Published Works:
Four Thousand Miles (2010)
Arcadia’s Gift (2012)
Arcadia’s Curse (2013)
  
About Arcadia’s Gift:
Most people who experience death don’t live to tell about it.
When sixteen year old Arcadia “Cady” Day wakes in a hospital after experiencing what can only be called a psychic episode, she finds her family in tatters. With her twin sister gone, her dad moved out, her mom’s spiraling depression and her sister’s boyfriend, Cane, barely able to look at her, the only bright spot in her life is Bryan Sullivan, the new guy in school. When Bryan’s around, Cady can almost pretend she’s a regular girl, living a regular life; when he’s not, she’s wracked with wild, inexplicable mood swings. As her home life crumbles and her emotional control slips away, Cady begins to suspect that her first psychic episode was just the beginning…
Purchase Links:
Audible:  Coming soon!

Character Interview: Zander Roth (Wicked Hunger by DelSheree Gladden)

On the outside, Zander Roth is the model of self-control and polite existence. No one else can see the daily struggle to control his hunger, the devastating secrets he hides, or the desires he fights to deny.
1. How did you first meet your writer?
After all the news coverage my family received last year, it wasn’t surprising when DelSheree showed up at one of my football practices wanting to talk. The story of my parents deaths was what drew her to my family, but she ended up with a different story entirely.  
2. Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book?
I never wanted it to be, but no, it’s not surprising. It seems like no matter how hard I try to pretend everything is fine and normal, it’s impossible to hide all the cracks in that fantasy.
3. Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
My sister, Van, would kill me for admitting this, but my favorite scene is the first night I sneak into Ivy’s room. Being near her without wanting to kill her every second was intoxicating. It was a moment that changed me. Whether for good or bad depends on who you talk to.
4. Did you have a hard time convincing your author to write any particular scenes for you?
There were times DelSheree wanted me to make different choices, smarter choices. It wasn’t that I wanted to argue with her. I knew what I should do. Ivy was too strong of a pull, though. Denying her anything was simply beyond me.
5. What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?
Get away from the world. There are fewer chances for me to hurt people if I just stay away from everyone and keep to myself. That’s not always possible, but I’ve learned to keep my distance…from everyone.
6. If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?
That’s a hard question. The right answer would be to have walked away from Ivy that first day and never looked back. The real answer, though, would be to have seen through the lies earlier and seen the truth before people got hurt.
7. Tell the truth. What do you think of your fellow characters?
My sister Van is the most important person in my life. I underestimate her all too often, but she is one of the strongest and smartest people I know. I have a lot of respect for my grandma, but she doesn’t understand as much as she thinks she does. Explaining what I think and feel about Ivy is impossible. There is so much conflict inside of me when I think of her that I don’t even know where to begin.
8. Do have any secret aspirations that your author doesn’t know about?

For all the times I have criticized Van for trying to live a normal life, that is what I really want more than anything. I know being happy, really happy, isn’t something I will ever truly experience, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still want it.
9. If you had a free day with no responsibilities and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?
I really don’t know. I’ve been living this life of careful restraint for so long, I’m not sure I would even know what to do if I was actually free.

10. What impression do you make on people when they first meet you? How about after they’ve known you for a while?

Everyone who meets me thinks I am polite, calm, restrained, boring even. It’s a mask I’ve tried very hard to create. No one really gets to know me. I won’t let them. Ivy was the only one who got close enough to see through my mask and I never should have let that happen.

11. What’s the worst thing that’s happened in your life? What did you learn from it?

Losing my parents left scars that will never heal. They weren’t the only people I lost, and each new loss only makes the wounds go deeper, harder to recover from. I’ve learned to stop opening myself to the possibility of being hurt.

12. Tell us about your best friend.

I’ll have to apply that term a bit loosely. Friends aren’t really my thing, but the closest I have to a real friend is Sam, one of my teammates on the football team. It wasn’t really my choice to become friends with Sam, he just always seemed to be at my side. He keeps my mind off darker thoughts, though, so I don’t mind him hanging around. Maybe one day he’ll actually become a real friend, but he’d probably be better off walking away.

13. What are you most afraid of?

Hurting someone. Van thinks I have so much control, but keeping my hunger in check is more of a struggle than she will ever understand.

14. What’s the best trait your author has given you? What’s the worst?

DelSheree and I would probably disagree on whether this would be the best or worst trait, but I see my determination as a good thing. It has kept me out of trouble, kept me focused. She would argue it kept me from backing off from Ivy and call it my biggest fault.

15. What do you like best about Ketchup? Least?

Ketchup is persistent. I’m not sure if that’s what I like most or least about him, but I can appreciate his refusal to never give up. I know he loves my sister, and despite the fact that I find him rather annoying 90% of the time, I’m glad he hasn’t walked away from Van yet.
16. How do you feel about your life right now? What, if anything, would you like to change?
My life has never been more uncertain. I thought I had the basics figured out. I can’t even begin to explain how wrong I was. If I could, I would have tried harder to find out what I suspected my grandma was hiding.
17. What aspect of your author’s writing style do you like best?
It’s honest. She doesn’t let me skate by when I make mistakes. She forces me to face them and deal with the consequences, no matter how unpleasant.
18. If your story were a movie, who would play you?
I’d have to go with either Channing Tatum or Kellan Lutz, although I’m not sure how either of them would look as a blonde.
19. Describe an average day in your life.
An average day in my life is hardly average. Controlling my hunger all day in place that is teeming with physical and emotional pain that teases my hunger relentlessly is not an easy thing. Football and other sports help me get through the days, but sometimes I have to turn to something less…socially acceptable.
20. Will you encourage your author to write a sequel?

Encourage might not be the right word. Do I want to have any more of my failures displayed for everyone to see? Not particularly. But do I want people to know the truth? Absolutely. 
·         DelSheree’s Blog
·         DelSheree’s Website
·         Facebook
·         Twitter
·         Goodreads
·         Wattpad
·         Amazon
      ·         Amazon Kindle US
·         Amazon Paperback US
·         Amazon Kindle UK
·         Amazon Paperback UK
·         B&N
·         Kobo
·         Goodreads

Character Interview: Dan and Mattie (The Ghost Files by Apryl Baker)

Hi, my name is Thelma and I will be your host.  We have an exciting show for you all today with lots of wonderful character interviews from so many different books. 

Let’s welcome Mattie Hathaway and Dan Richards to the show to start things off.  They are the stars of the Amazon best-selling novel, The Ghost Files written by Apryl Baker.  They are going to tell us a little about the book and the roles they play.

Mattie Hathaway

Officer Dan Richards:  Isn’t he just adorable?

Thelma:  Let’s start with Mattie.  Can you tell us a little about yourself Mattie?
Mattie:  Um, what if I don’t want to?
Dan:  Squirt, just the answer the questions and stop being a brat.
Mattie:  Make me. Thelma:  Easy question first.  What describes you in a nutshell,

Mattie:  Mutant penguin butterfly.  

Dan:  Oh, God, not that again.  

Mattie:  Shut up! There is nothing wrong with Pengy!  

Dan:  (shakes his head) Five minutes of my life I’ll never get back Googling that thing.

Mattie: It’s cute.  Here let me show you!

Thelma:  That is just adorable!
Thelma:  (chuckles) Let’s get back to the interview.  I understand your hesitancy to talk, Mattie.  It’s not everyday we meet a real live ghost whisperer.

Mattie: (glares at Thelma) Did we really have to go there first?
Dan:  Mattie is sensitive about her…er…gift.

Mattie:  (laughs outright) Dan has issues accepting the fact I can see ghosts.  He doesn’t really believe in things that go bump in the night.

Thelma:  Have you always been able to see ghosts?

Mattie: No it started when I was five.

Thelma:  Can you tell us a little bit about it?

Mattie:  (sighs loudly) Well, as you know I grew up in the foster care system.  When I was five, my mom went nuts and tried to kill me.  She stabbed me and when I woke up, I could see the little buggers.  

Thelma: Wow, that had to be scary.

Mattie:  (shrugs) No big deal.
Dan:  It is a big, deal.  That event shaped her into the person she is today. She’s tough as nails, more street savvy than the average sixteen year old girl, and she hides behind all the walls she put up.

Thelma:  It sounds like you know her pretty well, Dan.  I bet that wasn’t an easy task.

Dan:  You just don’t know the half of it.  Mattie is…well, she’s a handful.
(Mattie kicks Dan, causing him to glare at her.)
Mattie:  I am not a handful, I just don’t take crap from anyone.  When you grow up in the system, you learn to defend yourself.  It’s not my fault I’ve had to fight on more than one occasion over the years.  

Thelma:  So how did you two meet?

Dan:  I was one of the police officers who interviewed her when her foster sister, Sally, went missing.  No one else believed her when she said the girl didn’t run away, but I did.  There was just something about her frustration that rang true.  Then when she started spouting off about Sally being killed and needing to find her killer, I knew there was something going on she wasn’t telling me.  I just never expected it to be the bombshell she dropped on me.  Do you believe in ghosts, Officer Dan she asked me.  (Shakes his head) I still can’t believe it sometimes.

Thelma:  Was it hard to open up to him about your gift, Mattie?
Mattie:  I still blame my blabbing about it on the drugs. He met me in the hospital after I’d had a run in with Mirror Boy.  Up until then I didn’t know ghosts could hurt you physically, but boy was I ever wrong!  They can do some serious damage.  Anyway, I found myself just blurting things out that night and then he wouldn’t leave it alone.  He left me no choice but to tell him.
Dan:  (chuckles with amusement) I thought you said it was my eyes?
Mattie:  What?
Dan:  You talk in your sleep, Squirt.

Thelma:  Are you two…you know together?

Mattie:  No, we’re just good friends.  Dan has stayed with me a few nights in the hospital to keep me company is all.  He shouldn’t be repeating things he hears people mutter in their sleep, though.  It’s rude!

Thelma:  So back to Sally.  Dan believed you about her not running away?
Mattie:  Yeah. I knew she didn’t run away because I saw her ghost.  She had her hands bound behind her back and her mouth was taped over, but it was the bullet hole in her head that made realize something bad had happened to her.  I had to find out what happened to her.
Thelma:  It sounds like it was very important to you.

Mattie:  Yeah, foster kids take care of each other.  We depend on each other and she needed someone to find her, to let people know she wasn’t just another statistic.  I had to help her even if that meant talking to the ghosts for the first time in my life.  Usually, I just ignored them and they went away, but now they know I see them and I can’t get rid of them. They pop up all the time and the most unexpected moments.

Thelma:  Did you find out what happened to her?

Mattie:  (grimaces)  Yeah, a serial killer had murdered her and then I got taken captive by the killer.  It’s not a pleasant memory.
Dan: It isn’t for me either.  Worst three days of my life.  I went nuts trying to find her.
Mattie:  You?  You weren’t the one who was being tortured!

Thelma:  You were actually kidnapped and tortured by the killer?

Mattie: Yes, but I’d rather not talk about that.  It brings up too many painful memories.

Thelma: I understand completely.  It must be very hard.

(Mattie nods and looks off into space.  Dan takes her hand and squeezes it causing her to smile at him.)
Mattie:  Yeah, it is most days, but I finally have people who care about me and that helps a ton.

Thelma:  I take it Dan is one of those people?
(Mattie nods.)
Thelma:  So do you two think you’ll ever hook up in the future?  You’re so cute together.

Mattie:  I’m not sure.  He’s very important to me and I love him, I just don’t know if I love him like that or not.  I don’t do feelings usually.  I know everyone expects me to be this mature person with all this depth because I grew up in the system and I survived being taken captive and tortured, but I’m still just a sixteen year old girl.  I still have the same insecurities and doubts every other sixteen year old has and I get scared sometimes. I usually do stupid stuff when I get scared and lash out at people, but Dan stuck around.  He’s family no matter what else might happen in the future.

Thelma:  And you Dan, what do you think?  Will you and Mattie have a relationship in the future?

Dan:  I’m in for the long haul whether that means we are life-long friends or if it develops into something else.  Right now we’re friends.  I mean, I’m twenty and she’s only sixteen. She’s still jailbait.  But I plan on…

Thelma:  Shh, Dan, don’t give it away!  I have a feeling that we’ll be hearing more from you in the future, but for right now, let’s end it there and leave everyone hanging.

Mattie:  (laughs) I knew I liked you!

Thelma:  Thank you both so much for joining us today and sharing a few things!  And thanks to DelSheree Gladden for hosting our show on her blog!

Mattie:  (jumps up and waves her hand before the camera pans away) Wait, you didn’t let me tell you about the giveaway Apryl is hosting!

Thelma:  Oh, my I forgot!

Mattie:  I did promise I’d tell everyone about it, even though I’m mad at her for all the nonsense she put us through when she wrote the book.  She is trying to get 1000 likes on her Facebook author page so she’s hosting a giveaway.  Like her page for a chance to win a signed edition of my story, The Ghost Files.
(Flashes card with the website at the camera)

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dan:  Uh, we forgot something else!  

Thelma:  (frowns at them and glances at her watch)  Go ahead, Dan.

 Dan:  First here’s a little bit about Apryl Baker, our creator who we usually love, but sometimes want to strangle for putting us in certain situations…  

Mattie:  Like Ollie the snake.

 Dan: (shudders) Yeah, Ollie.  Anyway here’s a bit about Apryl:

About the Author:  
  
So who am I? Well, I’m the crazy girl with an imagination that never shuts up. I LOVE scary movies. My friends laugh at me when I scare myself watching them and tell me to stop watching them, but who doesn’t love to get scared? I grew up in a small town nestled in the southern mountains of West Virginia where I spent days roaming around in the woods, climbing trees, and causing general mayhem. Nights I would stay up reading Nancy Drew by flashlight under the covers until my parents yelled at me to go to sleep.
Growing up in a small town, I learned a lot of values and morals, I also learned parents have spies everywhere and there’s always someone to tell your mama on you. So when you get grounded, what is there left to do? Read! My Aunt Jo gave me my first real romance novel. It was a romance titled “Lord Margrave’s Deception.” I remember it fondly. But I also learned I had a deep and abiding love of mysteries and anything paranormal. As I grew up, I started to write just that and would entertain my friends with stories featuring them as main characters. 
Now, I live Huntersville, NC where I entertain my family and watch the cats get teased by the birds and laugh myself silly when they swoop down and then dive back up just out of reach. The cats start yelling something fierce…lol. 
I love books, I love writing books, and I love entertaining people with my silly stories. 
PS: DO NOT GET IN MY WAY IF THERE IS A SALE ON AT TARGET – my home away from home!
Well you can catch up with Apryl at any of these places:
 
Pinterest 

And don’t forget to check out her other books!

 

Thelma: Okay, thanks so much for reminding us of that, Mattie!  Thank you both and lets hear it from our sponsor, Writer’s Anonymous, for those who just have a problem with writing way too many stories at one time!

 (Dan and Mattie leave the studio arguing about who is going to drive home) 

(Fades to Writer’s Anonymous commercial)  

Character Interview: Tizzy McCalister, Donovan, Cooper (Laid Out and Candle Lit by Ann Everett)

CHARACTER INTERVIEW WITH MARJORIE LOUISE “TIZZY” MCALISTER, DONOVAN, COOPER
FROM THE BOOKS
LAID OUT AND CANDLE LIT & YOU’RE BUSTING MY NUPTIALS
BY: ANN EVERETT
Can you tell my readers who you are? Do you have a nick name you’d prefer I call you?
My birth name is Marjorie Louise but everyone calls me Tizzy. My daddy gave me the name because he claims I could throw a pretty good “tizzy” from the day I was born.
Can you tell us a little about your family?
My mom, Pattiecake, along with my Aunt Sugarpie, co-own Sweet Thangs Bakery. Until recently, my daddy, Saint McAlister, owned the local bar. I have an older brother, Dan, who happens to be the county sheriff. Dan and I don’t always get a long, but lately, things have been going fairly well between us. My Nana McAlister is my only living grandparent. A few months ago, when Nana returned from a vacation in Hawaii, she brought Om, an old hippie with her. He grows “herbs” and she runs Peaceful Pooch, a pet grooming business.
I’m married to Ridge Cooper, a Texas Ranger and my second husband. Boone Donovan was my first, but he up and joined the service, then got killed. The best thing to come from that short marriage was Grace Ann, “Gracie”, my four-year-old daughter.
Where do you call home, and has that always been the same place?
Except for the time in spent in college, at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, I’ve always lived in Brownsboro, Texas. It’s just a spot in the road with one red light and one caution light. “Browntown”, as we like to call it, barely has a thousand people. Everybody knows everybody…and their business.
What is one strong memory that has stuck with you from childhood? Why is it so powerful and lasting?
When I was about seven, I discovered I could communicate with dead people. The reason it was so powerful and lasting is….I can communicate with dead people!
Tell us about your favorite scene in the book.
So far, there are two books about me and my gang. In the first one, LAID OUT AND CANDLE LIT, the cat fight is my favorite. An old classmate returns home for a visit and confronts me in my dad’s bar, and takes pleasure in telling me she slept with my first husband, Boone…before I did. Now, that’s just not right. What would you have done? Yeah. Exactly.
In the second book, YOU’RE BUSTING MY NUPTIALS, it’s the sex scene I have with Ridge during a stake-out.
 
What’s the worst thing that’s happened in your life? What did you learn from it?
Having a baby without the benefit of a father. I only found out I was pregnant after Boone died, so losing him, then going through the pregnancy was the most difficult time in my life. It taught me a lot of things…life is fleeting…family is the most important thing…real friends show up when you need them, and I’m stronger than I thought I could be.
What are you most afraid of?
Since I’m a mother, most of my fears concern my child. Keeping her safe and happy is my number one priority. That…and the fear of missing a shoe sale at Neiman’s!
What aspect of your author’s writing style do you like best?
The humor. She even writes funny sex scenes and I love that.
If your story were a movie, who would play you?
Since I’m a dark eyed, dark haired Texan, Nina Dobrev, would play me. Of course, she’d have to learn to speak Texas Twang!!
Describe an average day in your life.
I generally have some cuddle time with Ridge, then I get Gracie up. We have breakfast, then he’s off to catch bad guys and I’m off to work at my mother’s bakery…but not until Annie Mae, (Gracie’s babysitter) arrives. I really shouldn’t call Annie Mae a babysitter because she’s so much more. She kept me when I was a child. She’s like a member of our family and I love her dearly.
Once we’re done for the day, we generally just spend quiet time at home. Occasionally, we go out with friends or have them over. Sometimes we skinny dip in my parent’s pool…well, just Ridge and I…after Mom, Dad, and Gracie have gone to bed!!
Tell me about your best friend.
My very best friend in the whole world is Rayann Tatum, with Synola Harper coming in a close second. Rayann and I have known each other our entire lives. We went all through school together. We went to college together. We work together. Rayann’s married to a local policeman and also former classmate. She’s afraid of everything from flying to clowns. Dealing with her fears can sometimes be a challenge.
Synola and I have also known each other forever, but after high school, she moved away. Just recently, she returned to Brownsboro and now works part-time with Rayann and me. Totally opposite from Rayann, Synola isn’t afraid of anything. She’s not married, but has a love/hate relationship with my first cousin, Jinx Monroe.
What are you most ashamed of in your life?
Because my first husband Boone chose to join the service without much discussion with me, I’d already started to fall out of love with him by the time he left. For a long time, I had a lot of shame over that. It’s not that I didn’t want him to serve his country. I just wanted him to want to be with me more. I’m ashamed for being so selfish.
What’s the most important thing in your life? What do you value most?
My family and friends.  ‘Nuf said.
What’s the best trait your author has given you? What’s the worst?
Best and worst concerns my husbands. I love that she made me sassy when it comes to Ridge. Although we’re married, she lets me flirt with him. I love that part…and so does he!! What I don’t like, is having to deal with my dead husband. Lately, he’s not only been talking to Gracie, he’s appeared to her. I hate the mixed emotions my author gives me concerning that…or Boone in general.
What do you like best about Ridge? Least?
I love the way he sweet talks me…oh, and the way he kisses. The man has a dynamite kiss. It spins my brain around, sets it on fire, and sends all that heat straight to lady town!! Oh, I should probably mention how I love the way he is with Gracie. He loves her as if she belongs to him. The big tough Texas Ranger lets her polish his toenails…now, that’s a real man.
What I don’t like is him not wanting me to help with his cases when I have some really good ideas! He can be a stubborn man.
Will you encourage your author to write a sequel?
She already has, with a third book in the works. She swears it will be her last about me, but I’m trying to convince her to keep going! I have got her to consider writing a book where Synola and Jinx take center stage. I’ll keep at it and maybe get my way!
 LAID OUT AND CANDLE LIT        http://amzn.to/RnxiDS  
 YOU’RE BUSTING MY NUPTIALS   http://amzn.to/V4RNdP  
Ann Everett page on Amazon   http://amzn.to/11D7bQ7 
 My Website           http://www.anneverett.com/
 Smashwords         http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/83142
 Book trailer     http://youtu.be/fn71sk5nDKQ

Facebook           http://on.fb.me/H0jCvv

Character Interview: Zadie Stonebrook (My Sister’s Reaper by Dorothy Dreyer)

Today we’re chatting with Zadie Stonebrook from MY SISTER’S REAPER (written by Dorothy Dreyer). Let’s get to know her.
Hello, Zadie! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Are you sure you want to know? I’d hate to scare you off. Well, I’ll start with the not-so-scary stuff: I’m sixteen. I have an older sister named Mara. My mom’s never around, but I don’t want to say why. My dad’s a workaholic. And, well, yeah, the rest is a little hard to believe. Like the strange things I can make happen. And the dark shadows following me around.

And do you have a boyfriend?
Well, there’s this guy at school. His name is Gavin. He’s not exactly my boyfriend, but I do like him a lot.
I heard you told him you could do something magical.

That was a total accident! I didn’t mean to let it slip. But I got so lost in Gavin’s gorgeous blue eyes and the slight upward curve of his lips. And maybe a part of me thought he might understand. I should really learn to be more careful.

What’s this I hear about a Reaper’s Rite. What is it?

I don’t really know, exactly. It has something to do with a pact made between a Reaper and a witch. I have no idea how I got involved … except it might have something to do with bringing my sister back to life.
What!? How did you do that?
Honestly, I didn’t even know what I was doing. At first I was just winging it, going along with something my best friend Naomi started. But then—I don’t know—something came over me. Something I couldn’t control. Something that shook in the core of my body and took over my actions. I hope I didn’t do something I wasn’t supposed to.

It must have been weird seeing your sister, Mara, after you brought her back to life. Were the two of you close? Before she died, I mean.

We were close when we were little, but then she became popular and got a boyfriend and stuff. We kind of drifted apart after that. Then she had her accident and I thought I’d lost her forever. But now that she’s back … well, I can’t even say that it’s her. She’s so strange now. It’s like it’s someone else in there behind those vacant eyes.

Oh my, look at the time. Well, I gotta go. Good luck with all you … problems. Hope to see you around. *speedily exits*

Author Bio
Dorothy Dreyer has always believed in magic. She loves reading, writing, movies, takeout, chocolate, and spending time with her family and friends. Half-American and half-Filipino, Dorothy lives in Germany with her husband and two teens.
Links
Author Website: http://dorothydreyer.com

Meet the Characters Kickoff!

Welcome to the Meet the Characters Blogfest!

Readers, get ready for a whole month of some of the most interesting, hottest, attention grabbing characters in today’s YA, NA, Romance, Horror, and Paranormal fiction! 

All month long I’ll be introducing readers to amazing characters through character bios, artwork, interviews, and contests. Check out the schedule below from what you’ll find each day this month. 

That’s Not All…

We’ll be having some fabulous contests, each of which has it’s own giveaway. Readers will get to vote on the characters, and one lucky voter in each contest will win a copy of the book the Winning Character comes from. The character giveaways will include: 

Hottest Guy Contest (10/4)
Feistiest Girl Contest (10/11)
Cutest Couple Contest (10/18)
Steamiest Couple Contest (10/25)

There will also be one MAIN GIVEAWAY starting today where 1 LUCKY WINNER will win a prize pack of 40 books from some of today’s hottest new authors. Additional winners will be chosen to receive runner-up prize packs as well. Scroll down and enter below! 

SO, WHAT CAN YOU FIND EACH DAY?

10/2 — Character interviews with Zadie Stonebrook (My Sister’s Reaper – Dorothy                      Dreyer), Tizzy Donovan (Laid out and Candle Lit – Ann Everett), Kristi Becker (A              Plain Wish – Cyndi Lord), Zander Roth (Wicked Hunger – DelSheree Gladden), 
10/3 — Character Bios from Kristi Becker (A Plain Wish – Cyndi Lord), Bryan Sullivan                    (Arcadia’s Gift – Jesi Lea Ryan), Brandon James (Love and Other Games – Aria                  Kane
10/4Hottest Guy Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/7 — Character Surprise Posts from authors RH Ramsey and DelSheree Gladden
10/8 — Character Artwork from The Other F Word (Susan Stec) and Wicked Hunger                    (DelSheree Gladden), The Grateful Undead (Susan Stec)
10/9 — Character interviews with Kate Everett (A Slight Change of Plan – Dee Ernst),                  Jean (In Polester Pajamas – Catherine Dougherty), Ben (Twenty-Five – Rachel                    Hamm), Vanessa Roth (Wicked Hunger – DelSheree Gladden)
10/10 — Character Bios from Kassia (Ice Magic), Maze (The Ballerina and the Fighter –                    Ursula Sinclair), Lucien (Smoke, Wings, and Stone – Marijon Bradley)
10/11Feistiest Girl Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/14 — Character Surprise Posts from authors Kara Leigh Miller, Sharon Kleve, Linda                  Budzinski 
10/15 — Character Artwork from On a Wing and a Dare (Linda Ulleseit), Invisible                            (DelSheree Gladden)
10/16 — Character interviews with David Corbin and Jon Reyes (Sign of the Throne –                    Melissa Eskue Ousley), Rosie (In Polyester Pajamas – Catherine Dougherty),                        Ketchup (Wicked Hunger – DelSheree Gladden)
10/17 — Character Bios from Nadia (love and Other Games – Melinda Dozier), (Karin Rita                      Gastreich), (HL Carpenter)
10/18Cutest Couple Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/21 — Character Surprise Posts from authors Stephanie Wardrop, Lucy Crowe, Ana                    Blaze
10/22 — Character Artwork from Haunting Joy (Lena Goldfinch) and The Destroyer                        Trilogy (DelSheree Gladden)
10/23 — Character interviews with Rachel Blackstone (The Reluctant Medium – GG                        Collins), Nell (The King Series – Tawdra Kandle), Arcadia ( Arcadia’s Gift – Jesi                  Lea Ryan), Olivia & Mason (Invisible – DelSheree Gladden)
10/24 — Character Bios from (Karin Rita Gastreich), Sam and Cole (Fate War: Alliance – EM                    Havens)
10/25Steamiest Couple Contest (Stop by and vote for your favorite!)

10/28 — Character Surprise Posts from authors Susan Stec, Shauna Roberts, Lisa                          Cresswell
10/29 — Character Artwork from My Sister’s Reaper (Dorothy Dreyer), Twin Souls                            (DelSheree Gladden)
10/30 — Character interviews with Nathan Shaw (Reflection – Kim Cresswell), Nia (In the              Winds of Danger – Linda Ulleseit), Jayden or Marsh (dark Night of the Soul – EM                Havens)
10/31 — Winner’s Announcements!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

FAN MAIL!!

INVISIBLE is having a great time on Wattpad right now!

It’s up to just over 300,000 reads, which is awesome!

I’ve had so much fun getting to interact with the Wattpad readers and hearing what they think of Mason and Olivia’s story. What a great group of readers!

One of those fabulous readers, Jayne (Wattpad tag @TheLonelyDarkness) created this fan cover for INVISIBLE and I wanted to share it with every one!

If you want to check out INVISIBLE for yourself, stop by Wattpad today!

Invisible


Olivia’s best friend is not imaginary. He’s not a ghost, either. And she’s pretty sure he’s not a hallucination. He’s just Mason. He is, however, invisible. When Olivia spotted the crying little boy on her front porch at five years old, she had no idea she was the only one who could see him. Twelve years later when new-girl Robin bumps into the both of them and introduces herself to Mason, they are both stunned. Mason couldn’t be more pleased that someone else can see him. Olivia, on the other hand, isn’t jumping at the chance to welcome Robin into their circle. Jealousy may have something to do with that, but honest fear that Robin’s presence will put Mason in danger is soon validated when a strange black car begins showing up everywhere. The race to find out what Robin knows in time to protect Mason from whatever threats are coming becomes Olivia’s only focus.