Happy Monday, everyone! I thought we’d start this week off
with a bang.
I’ve been lucky enough to interview a fabulous author and friend,
Aubrie Dionne. We'll chat about her writing, and her new release which I've been lucky enough to review. And without further ado, let’s get to the good stuff.
1. What
has surprised you the most about being a published author?
Oh boy, that’s a good question! I didn’t realize how many
friends I would make along the way, (like you!), and how supportive they would
be. I love my critique partners and my beta readers, and I never feel alone in
the process.
I
really enjoy reading other people’s works (Like Christmas Holly- an awesome
ebook!), and it’s so neat I get to talk to the authors behind them. J
2. Do you need to be in a specific place or atmosphere
before you can write?
I
used to, but now that I have to write to meet deadlines, not so much anymore!
Was it Stephen King that said something like, “amateurs wait for inspiration,
while the rest of us get up and go to work!” ?
3. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
A little of both. I know the beginning and
the end, and certain key elements in the middle, and then I “pants it” the rest
of the way!
4. Since your day job involves music, do you prefer music or
quiet when you write?
I prefer quiet, relaxing music (like
new age) without words. I listen to Itunes radio. My favorite station is radio
Gaia. J They speak in some other language, so
I have no idea what the announcer is saying!
5. When not working or writing, what do you like to do in
your spare time?
I love to watch movies! Fantasy and sci
fi are my favorites (no surprise there, right?). I also spend a lot of time
with my family because all of my three siblings and both my parents live about
ten to twenty minutes away. I have a new nephew, Evan, about to turn one this
month!
6. Most authors are avid readers. Which author is at the top
of your auto-buy list?
I love Patricia McKillip. My favorite
book of hers in Winter Rose. It reads like a fairytale, which each sentence
flowing like music to my ears.
7. Would you tell us about your latest release?
Paradise 21 is inspired by the global
population food shortage crisis going on today. I wondered what would happen
when the Earth becomes uninhabitable, and came up with a series based on colony
ships seeking alternate worlds.
8. What inspired this particular book?
Ummmm….I have to say Star Wars, and the
planet of Tatooine. I grew up watching the old Star Wars movies over and over
again, so I think it’s been reconstituted into my DNA. J (Not a totally bad thing, heh?)
9. What’s next in Author Aubrie’s world?
I just finished the sequel to Paradise
21 titled Tundra 37. It’s about another colony ship that is forced to land on
an ice planet to survive. I’m working on a tie in novella to the series called
A Hero Rising. This novella will chronicle the fall of Earth as the colony
ships leave and the start of the space pirates! (And there’s even zombies!!!)
10. Where can we find you?
My website:
www.authoraubrie.com
My Blog:
http://authoraubrie.blogspot.com
Twitter:
@authoraubrie
Thank you for this awesome interview, Sutton! Everyone needs
to go out and by Christmas Holly by Sutton Fox. You’ll see my review for it on
Amazon. It is amazing!
*Grin* I didn't expect the plugs, but thanks, Aubrie! I've enjoyed having you today. Now let's take a look at Paradise 21. Don't you just love that name? It's like after twenty tries, they finally got it right. And the cover is stunning, it just grabs you and insists you come along for the ride.
Here's the blurb:
Aries has lived her entire life
aboard mankind’s last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet
where humanity can begin anew—a planet that won’t be reached in Aries’
lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe, she
must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for
this centuries-long voyage.
But Aries has other plans.
When her desperate escape from the
New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers the rumors about
pirates—humans who escaped Earth before its demise—are true. Handsome,
genetically imperfect Striker possesses the freedom Aries envies, and the two
connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from
above and hunted by the planet’s native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns her
freedom will come at a hefty price.
The life of the man she loves.
Here's the review:
Aries is a spunky,
strong-minded young woman who had me cheering for her from the first page. She’s
determined to carve out her own destiny, no matter the odds. And the challenges
she faces are steep. Escaping from the New Dawn is one thing, surviving that
escape is another thing entirely.
Although
labeled a pirate, Striker is pure hero material through and through. He’ll do
what’s necessary, and he’s not afraid to make difficult choices when needed. A
soft spot for the underdogs and a hard edge for those who’d take advantage kept
me reading to the end just to see if he’d attain his heart’s desire.
Three
cheers for Ms. Dionne. She’s created an engaging cast of characters, each desperately
struggling to live their lives and find happiness in a universe where living
things have all but become extinct. Her skillfully drawn characterizations are
captivating. The world building is believable from the first page and enables
you to sit back and enjoy the thrill ride that is Paradise 21. A tightly
woven plot and a masterfully developed sub-plot will keep you turning pages.
If you are
sci-fi romance fan, I highly recommend this book. It’s a fast paced adventure
that’s hard to put down. So hard in fact, that I read it in one sitting! I’m glad
this is a series. I can’t wait for the next book.
