Saturday, September 14, 2013

This week I have hosted award winning author Stacey Rourke. She has written a few different types of books from romance to self help.  Her 2nd book Embrace won a RONE award for best YA Paranormal Works.

Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Laugh-out Loud Series of 2012 & Author of the Year 2012 to Stacey Rourke! Whether she likes it or not, eighteen year old Celeste Garrett has come to terms with being the Chosen One. She knew having a “normal life” would be tricky, between intense training sessions and epic demonic battles, but she didn’t know at what cost it would come. That is, until a dear friend is harmed by the malicious forces hunting her. Now, she’d like nothing more than to retreat into a hermit lifestyle to prevent anyone else from getting hurt. But startling revelations, amazing new abilities, and mortifying moments in front of insanely hot guys won’t allow time for that. Soon, Celeste finds herself surrounded by darkness and wondering who she can trust—if anyone.

I was fortunate enough to get to know Stacey some and even ask her a few questions.  

1.) About the Author-
Stacey Rourke is the author of the YA Fantasy Gryphon Series and the nonfiction autobiographical I'm Not Crazy, I'm on Lupron; a Journey Through Infertility. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant, drooly dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head. She is currently hard at work on the continuations of the Gryphon Series as well as other literary projects. She holds a Bachelors degree in marketing but decided to forego corporate America to follow her passion to write.
Visit her at www.staceyrourke.com diaryofasemi-crazyauthor.blogspot.com Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacey-Rourke/ or on Twitter @Rourkewrites
2.) How long have you been writing? Since I could put a crayon to paper. Seriously I remember writing stories in elementary school that would star all my friends. However it wasn't until about four years ago that I finally figured out this was my calling.
3.) What was your life life before you became an author? I tried on a lot of different "hats" trying to figure out who I was and what I was supposed to do. Most of them felt like me banging my head against a wall because I just couldn't seem to get it right. Thankfully that feeling went away once I finally outed myself as an author.
4.) Who or what inspired you to write? Life inspires me to write. A bedazzled grandma in thigh-high boots at the grocery store. The sun setting over the water. Song lyrics that bring a rush of tears to my eyes, or make me want to be front line of an epic battle. Inspiration is everywhere if you put yourself in the right frame of mind.
5.) Do you have a specific writing style or genre? I enjoy fantasy because rules to life can be bent and manipulated there. As for my style? Lots of action and snarky humor. That's "my thing."
6.) Tell me about your latest book? My latest book that will be out this fall is Ascension. It's the fourth full length novel in my Gryphon Series. It was actually meant to be the last book but as the story unfolded I found a few little twists that worked their way in. Now? I'm not so sure we've seen the last of the Garrett kids.
7.) What is your favorite parts of your books to write? Dialog. I love it. I have so much fun working and reworking those witty one-liners! I just wish I was that clever when I actually talk to people!
8.) What is the hardest part to write? The first draft! To me it's the bones of the story. The "meaty goodness" comes with the second draft. But putting those bones together just the way they need to be to form the correct structure for the arc of the story is tough. But the effort is totally worthwhile in the end!
9.)What do you find most rewarding in writing? When parents or grandparents come up to me and say that their pre-teen or teenagers aren't "readers" but couldn't put my books down. That is why I do this. To spark imaginations in a world that normally hinders them.
10.) Do you have any other books in progress? I do and I am SO excited about it! I am working on The Legends Series that will debut next year. I can't go into too much detail just yet, but it is something fresh, new, and EPIC!!!!
11.) What are your future plans in regards to writing? To keep at it! To change and evolve with each new book and take readers on adventures they've never experienced before.

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