Blog Archives
Paranormal Anthology with a TWIST is LIVE!
“What began as an idea soon set into motion a chain of events that would lead to heart-stopping action, amazing suspense, and stories that will stick with you way after you are done.
Unique, unexpected, beyond imagining…shocking TWISTS that will have you frantically turning back the pages to see what clues you overlooked to have missed what was coming.
Paranormal stories that span across the genre and will wow you, shock you, and leave you gasping for more. 11 different authors, one main idea, and worlds that will TWIST your imagination…”
Press Release for Twist from S.L. Dearing
Amazon Buy Link: www.amzn.com/B00BVSXAE8
Featured Stories:
“Voices of the Soul” by Rene Folsom
“Number 18″ by Michael Loring
“Sweet Lenora” by Bart Hopkins
“Truth or Dare” by Jon Messenger
“Suburban Zombie” by Anthony Lance
“All I Want for Christmas” by Jason Brant
“In the Eyes of the Beholder” by Penelope Bartotto
“Little Tchotchkes” by Nicki Scalise
“I am Serna” by Magen McMinimy
“Bloodlines” by S. L. Dearing
“Metronome” by Eaton Thomas Palmer
This began as the second Anthology Contest on my Facebook page. There were so many amazing entries, though only 11 went in. I want to thank everyone for participating. I am extremely happy with the way it turned out!
I also want to thank Rene Folsom, who partnered with me on this anthology. Without her, it wouldn’t be out there! The amazing cover is all her as well as the interior design, and a million other things that needed to be done. I would have to say she had the most stressful job. This is the beginning of a very long business between us with the soon-to-be-revealed website for
Indie Style Press.
(It is a work in progress)
Please get your copy of TWIST today. If you do, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
(Feel free to REBLOG this)
VIDEO INTERVIEWS WITH JASON BRANT & ELLE CASEY
Today we have a treat for you. Two videos, one of Jason Brant and one of Elle Casey, both answering questions from me about their new book together, ACES HIGH. You will get to hear Jason making fun of the fact that I am from the South. You can go ahead and tell him in the comments what a douche is he 
You can also make fun of him for countless other things in the video. Go at him. Be My Guest! If you can stop laughing at him long enough that is.
Elle is her usual awesome self (don’t worry, Jason…you were awesome too!). She never ceases to surprise me. Her favorite quote in the book was actually mine as well. It is one that Jason wrote that had me dying laughing so hard that my husband gave me the “god, you’re crazy” look.
If you haven’t read ACES HIGH, I urge you to go get your copy and I am going to put a handy little buy link right here on the page.
Please let them know what you think about the interviews in the comments below. Ask them questions if you like. I’m sure they will eventually get over here to maybe answer a few!
Review/Giveaway of ‘ACES HIGH’ by Jason Brant & Elle Casey
STAY TUNED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS FOR AN INTERVIEW WITH JASON AND ELLE!
Aces High is a book by Jason Brant and Elle Casey—a collaboration of two of my favorite authors. If you have read their books you would wonder what they could possibly have in common genre-wise, besides humor and a flair for the paranormal. Elle is mainly YA and Jason is mainly horror. Aces High is proof that you can’t put anybody in a little box and expect them to stay there. Their writing styles meshed so well that the book flowed seamlessly, with Elle writing a chapter and then Jason the next. I was impatiently waiting for this book from the second that I heard that they were writing a book together. I love both of their styles and this book did not disappoint. The absolute funniest part of this book (to me) was that I pictured Jason and Elle as the main characters. I could absolutely see their faces while I read…which had me CRACKING UP the whole time… I could just see them getting into those situations—with Elle beating up on Jason the whole time.
The two main characters, Charlie (a girl) and Douglas, are as different as two people can be. Charlie is an independent, take-no-shit, card shark, while Doug is a self-proclaimed geek and…well…a little bit of a wuss. A peephole and an egg is what makes this unlikely pair a team. Both young, on their own, and down on their luck, they come up with the unlikely idea to become bounty hunters, going after the bad guy to make the rent money. Charlie is a lot brash, a little abusive, with a foul mouth to boot and Doug is a germ-freak with a scream like a little girl, but somehow they make their friendship work. This book follows them through old, nasty hookers, victory dances, eye drops, police chases, dumpsters, and a surprising twist that some will expect and some won’t…but that leaves the book wide open for a series I can’t wait to read. I extremely enjoyed the relationship between the two—watching it grow felt as if you were really getting to know them. Full of smart-ass comments, inventive swear words, situations that have you saying WTF, and an unlikely friendship that has you rooting for the pair to the very end, this is a book that you don’t want to miss. I can’t wait to see what Charlie and Doug get up to next.
Quotes from the Book:
“People are going to stick guns in your asshole.” (Charlie)
“Penis, penis, penis—all day long. That’s me.” (Doug) *I almost choked to death when I read this part of the book as I was laughing so hard.*
“We make good partners. Two ass-kickin’ survivors. We’re just squirrels trying to get a nut.” (Charlie)
“This was just the fart frosting on top of my shit cake of a day.” (Doug)
AMAZON BUY LINK:
Aces High by Elle Casey and Jason Brant
GIVEAWAY
Want to win a copy of Aces High? I have one to giveaway! All you have to do is TELL ME WHY YOU WANT TO READ THIS BOOK!
And make sure to follow Jason and Elle on Facebook if you don’t already. You get an extra entry by letting me know that you do! Want another extra entry? Add it to your Goodread’s shelf or like it on Amazon. Goodreads Link
Make sure you tell me what you do or it won’t count!
That’s it. Easy-Peasy. Random.org will pick winners on 3/5.
Review of ‘Sheol: West of Hell 3′ (Plus 1st book FREE!)
Sheol by Jason Brant
(This for the third book in the series. If you have not read the first book, scroll down to the bottom for a FREE copy!)
Sheol is the third and last book in the West of Hell series. It was the perfect conclusion to a completely different and wild ride. Zombies, prostitutes, and the Wild West ended up being the perfect combination.
I do not even know how to start because I do not want to post any spoilers. The second book left off with McCall sending Karen and Stephen to safety, at the detriment to his own. The third book begins with a shock that makes you glad that the hero is still in the story.
Karen is in jail, with someone in a position of authority that she never would have imagined. Stephen has been taken from her and she is accused of heinous crimes. The town of Sheol has no idea what is coming and Karen is determined to tell them. The “moaners” are coming and this is going to be the fight of the town’s life. No one is safe and nothing is what it seems.
I really do not want to get into any more detail besides saying that this book blew my mind. McCall and Karen reach new depths in this book. It makes them come even more alive and it makes you connect with them in new ways. Jason Brant even brought a few awwww moments into the story. The biblical undertones leave you nervous and second-guessing everything you have thought about the previous books. There are so many clues and hints if you just open yourself up to them. The ending wowed me and I feel privileged to have gotten to read this series.
Quotes from the Book:
“Don’t you know? I’m nothin’ but a hooker. Keeping my mouth open is how I make money.”
“All your anger, all your hate, all your shame at the things you’ve ignored in this town… turn it into wrath and unleash it at the army knocking on your door. This is your chance at redemption – take it.”
“I walked across that fucking desert for you. I’m here, fighting for these people because of you. If you give up on me now, then you’re telling me that everything I’ve done has been for nothing. You were worth it, no matter what happens.”
THE FIRST BOOK IN THE WEST OF HELL SERIES IS FREE
Amazon: Gehenna (West of Hell #1)
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/209687
Link for the second book, TARTARUS.
Amazon:
Tartarus (West of Hell #2)
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/237359
Link for the third book, SHEOL
Amazon:
Sheol (West of Hell #3)
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/258290
GET ALL THREE BOOKS IN THE WEST OF HELL SERIES FOR ONE LOW PRICE
West of Hell Omnibus Edition (West of Hell 1-3)
* Books also available on Kobo, Barnes & Noble, ITunes
Connect with Jason on Faceboook and his blog:
http://www.facebook.com/jmbrant
http://jasonbrant.blogspot.com
APOCALYPSE IS LIVE ON AMAZON!
APOCALYPSE: AN ANTHOLOGY BY AUTHORS AND READERS
As most of you probably know I put together an anthology called “Apocalypse: An Anthology by Authors and Readers”. It was created from a short story contest on my facebook page and it just snowballed from there. It is chock full of established authors such as Jason Brant, Jayce Grayson, R.M. Gilmore, Kate Charles, S.L. Dearing, Brittany Heister, and Jon Messenger. It also introduces a bunch of never before published authors such as Nicki Scalise (co-owner of the awesome Thousand Lives Book Blog and Page Turners Facebook page), Kimberly Hennessy (owner of Moutful of Words Blog), Heather Kirchoff, and Jocelyn Sanchez. This is a book worth reading and I’m not just saying that because I edited and published it! You also can’t miss out on the fabulous artwork by Rene Folsom of Physel Designs, who won the Cover Contest. I would love it if you would buy a copy, or even just like it on Amazon and agree with the tags! If you would rather have a paperback, those should be available from Amazon soon. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member, you can BORROW it for free!
SYNOPSIS:
APOCALYPSE: An Anthology by Authors and Readers
MY FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/cynthiashepp
APOCALYPSE WEBSITE:
*The next Anthology Contest will start in January. So if you are a writer looking to get published or a cover artist looking to get your work out there, keep a check on my facebook page for more details*
Tartarus: (West of Hell Book 2) Review and SERIES Giveaway
(Giveaway details below: Please read review first)
Journeying back to the wild west…cowboys, prostitutes, and zombies (oh my). Tartarus starts off exactly where Gehenna left off. McCall and Karen boarded a train to escape the hell of Gehenna, which was full of “moaners”. Moaners are the living dead, infected people that are eating other people…zombies. Once aboard the train they learn that some of the moaners have made it on and are infecting the other passengers. Throw in a couple of outlaws trying to get to the Tartarus River and a trainload of passengers, and you have the makings of a huge ‘fustercluck’. They exit the train (not that it was really that easy but I am not going to give you all the details!) after finding out that the moaners are everywhere outside, that nowhere is safe. McCall, Karen, and surprisingly, a little boy take off on foot with no food or water. Their continued journey takes them through hell and back…with an ending that will have your mouth falling open in shock.
Tartarus was an excellent addition to the West of Hell series. It was a quick but anticipation filled read that had you dying for more when you finished. Gehenna (Book 1) broadened my horizons since I have never been a big fan of zombie books, but Tartarus opened my eyes. I am a huge fan of character interaction and getting to know the people I am reading about. In Tartarus you finally get the chance to get to know Karen and McCall. Gehenna was action packed from the start to the finish and Tartarus slowed it down a bit. I went through a myriad of emotions while reading. I laughed, cussed, and even teared up a time or two. McCall ended up being just the sort of hero that women love and Karen is one of those kick ass chicks that you root for till the very end. You see a much softer side of the outlaw McCall and even a spark of romance. Of course the ending will kick you in the teeth and leave you wondering what the hell is going on in Jason Brant’s mind! He’s a bit twisted but that twisted part is what makes his books so addicting…you never know what to expect. I give Tartarus 5 stars and I CAN’T wait to see how the West of Hell trilogy ends. I bet I couldn’t imagine the ending even if I tried.
If I have talked you into reading this book, please leave the author a review where you bought it. Every review helps the author.
Quotes from the Book:
“Didn’t you hear what the kid said? I’m Mad Dog McCall. I do what I want, when I want.”
(McCall) “Remind me not to piss you off. (Karen) “Yeah, well, I don’t like being called a bitch.”
“Judging by the redwood you have there, I doubt it.”
Amazon Buy Link: Tartarus (West of Hell #2)
B&N Buy Link:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tartarus-jason-brant/1112951571?ean=2940015681116
Smashwords Buy Link:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/237359
***THE GIVEAWAY!***
Up for giveaway today is the first two books in Jason Brant’s West of Hell series: Gehenna and Tartarus. These will go to one lucky person. To enter this contest all you have to do is tell me why you want to read these books and/or ask Jason a question. This is MANDATORY.
For EXTRA entries you can Like, Follow, Fan/Friend, and add books to your TBR list on Goodreads. Make sure you let me know what you do so I can count it. If you have already done something, let me know as well. It still counts 
Contest ends 10/5 at 8 am CST.
Click HERE to like Jason on Facebook.
Click HERE to follow Jason on Twitter.
Click HERE to friend/fan Jason on Goodreads and add his books to your TBR list.
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Also, Check Out Jason’s Other Books
Gehenna (West of Hell #1): Kindle Edition
Gehenna (West of Hell #1): Paperback
Echoes: Kindle Edition
Echoes: Paperback
The Gate: Kindle Edition
The Gate: Paperback
BEST VALUE: 3 books in 1 (Gehenna, Echoes, and The Gate)
Guest Post from Author Jason Brant
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to author Jason Brant. Check out his awesomeness with his guest post and enjoy Oh, please feel free to question him and laugh your ass off. Suscribe to comments for this post if you want to keep up with the conversation. I, for one, can’t wait till author Elle Casey reads this. You will know why soon. I will put lots of links below so you can follow Jason’s crazy…I mean awesome…train.
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The Power of the Mullet
Like Samson, people who have the balls to rock a sweet mullet have powers that we mere mortals can’t fully comprehend. I wish I could understand what it is about this hairstyle that gives those it adorns almost supernatural abilities, but I don’t have the courage or manliness to pull off that look. It’s a character flaw that I’m working hard to fix. As of late it seems that people have felt the need to scoff at the mullet, but I’m here to tell you why they’re wrong. There have been many incredibly influential people throughout the years who have been given special skills thanks to their bitchin’ mullets, but they become vain and disheartened, eventually cutting their hair. Little did they know that this would lead to their downfall.
Who are some of these fallen heroes? Here are three examples.
Mario Lemiux and Jaromir Jagr: This dynamic duo crushed the hockey world in the ‘90’s, leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to several Stanley Cup victories. Jagr cut his rad mullet in 1999 and immediately began suffering from an affliction I like to refer to as ‘sucking ass’. Lemieux, beloved by the city of Pittsburgh fell upon a string of injuries that resulted directly from defiling his perfectly quaffed mane.
Richard Dean Anderson aka MacGyver. He cut his mullet and then aged instantly. The timeframe between these two pictures is a matter of hours.
Billy Ray Cyrus. He changed his hair and then sired a demon.
Now, there are also plenty of instances where someone’s career has skyrocketed because they’ve cultivated the mullet. Here are two current examples of those:
Kenny Powers. OK, so the actors real name is Danny McBride, but I’m fairly convinced that this role wasn’t much of a stretch as far as acting goes. He has a hit TV show and burgeoning movie career. And it’s all because of his righteous mullet.
Elle Casey. Though I don’t have an up-to-date photograph, I do have one from her childhood. Her hairstyle has remained unchanged throughout the years though, so this is a good representation of what she is currently rocking. Obviously, her writing success is directly attributable to the mullet. Don’t be fooled by the boyish looks in this picture – I’m fairly certain she is indeed female.
For awhile I was thinking that hard work and perseverance were the keys to success and happiness, but I’ve now learned the error of my ways. There is a fast track to all that is good in life, and it drapes over your neck. I hope that I’ve been able to illustrate the importance of keeping things ‘business in the front and party in the back’. It is in your utmost interest to work on growing a wicked mullet of your own. Your career, sex life, and overall awesomeness depend on it.
Jason Brant Links:
Blog:
http://jasonbrant.blogspot.com/
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/jmbrant
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5785462.Jason_Brant
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/jason_brant
Books By Jason: (available Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, Kobo, and maybe more places: I only put the Amazon links below)
Gehenna: Gehenna
Echoes: Echoes
The Gate: The Gate
Jason Brant’s ‘The Gate’ Review/Giveaway (Giveaway Closed!)
Jason Brant outdid himself this time! The Gate is twice the length of his other books, and though I liked them all, this one is my favorite.
The Gate starts off with two college boys, Bryan and Kyle, being accepted as interns on a television show called The Specter Slayers. Bryan is the studious one and his fiancé just broke off their engagement, leaving him depressed. Kyle is the hot football player that scores all the chicks. The Specter Slayers is a show about paranormal investigators that go into supposedly haunted churches and prove that there is paranormal activity in them.
Bryan is not thrilled about this opportunity, but Kyle talks him into it with the enticement of what airtime will do to his resume. This starts their journey to the Danver church, a church that an eccentric old man bought, and then supposedly killed a whole group of his friends in.
They get to the church after a long drive, and not being able to find it, through woods that seem to get mysteriously darker and creepier the farther they drive into them. Once there, they meet the Specter Slayers, two creeps that do not believe in the paranormal, they just like to cash in, plus their nerdy tech guy. Bryan and Kyle are told that famous horror author, Katie Upshaw, will be joining them for their night in the Danver church.
But Katie has secrets that she is hesitant to share. Secrets about the church…secrets that might get them all killed…
I really cannot tell you more because if I do, it will ruin the surprise. And believe me, I never knew what was coming! It is not at all what you will expect, I will tell you that. It is about as far from normal as you could ever imagine.
This book is full of humor, at least in the first half. I laughed my way through it, never knowing what was waiting for me right around the corner. When I did get passed the humor, I spent the rest of the book with my jaw hanging open, not knowing what to expect next. I will admit to my heart jumping up in my throat a time or two as well. Delving into Satanic rituals and biblical theories (NOT in a boring way!), The Gate will have you holding your breath, and pulling the covers up to your eyes at night, fearfully hoping you are not the next to get sucked in.
Quotes from the book:
“First, I never want to see you swivel your hips like that again. Second, you stepped in my mashed potatoes.”
“Jesus jumped up Christ, look at the size of that crack!”
“We saw something that she couldn’t handle…”
“We don’t need it coming back because it heard you.”
Once again, if I have talked you into reading this book, please leave the author a review where you bought it. I will put links to everywhere it is available underneath the cover picture. I hope you give it a chance. You will not be disappointed.
Amazon: The Gate
Barnes and Noble: The Gate
Smashwords: The Gate
Kobo: The Gate
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The Giveaway:
This will be an easy entry as always, with the chance to get extra entries. 1 ebook of The Gate is up for grabs. To enter simply comment on this post and tell me Why you want to read this book. The comment is MANDATORY if you want to win. For extra entries, show some author love
Like Jason on Facebook: Click HERE
Friend or Follow on Goodreads: Click HERE
Add The Gate to TBR List on Goodreads: Click HERE
Like The Gate on Amazon: Click The Gate
Like Jason’s Author Page on Amazon: Click HERE
Make sure you tell me what you do and BE HONEST! Contest ends 8/14 at 8am CST. Good Luck!
INTERVIEW WITH ELLE CASEY: INDIE AUTHOR
Here it is Ladies and Gentlemen, the much anticipated interview with Elle Casey. She is the author of so many great books and has many more coming out this year. She is responsible for the awesomeness (I think Jason is rubbing off on me lol) of the ‘War of the Fae’ series, ‘Vampire Seasons’, ‘Desperate Measures’, ‘Apocalypsis’, and ’Wrecked’. She is also cranking out books left and right for the rest of the year. I am so looking forward to the spin-off series of ‘The War of the Fae’, which is called ’Clash of the Otherworlds’. I will quit being a fan girl though, and let Elle Casey speak for herself. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did. Please share it everywhere it can be shared, you can reblog it, facebook it, tweet it…whatever floats your boat. Also, please like this page at the bottom if you liked this interview. I am also sure Elle would LOVE reader comments. Lets show some support for the Indie authors we ♥
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Elle, I love your books. What made you decide you wanted to write? Why YA novels?
I read an article about Amanda Hocking last December and the success she had being an indie (self-published author). It inspired me to finish the novel Wrecked, which I’d been working on for years, on and off. I never finished it before because I’m a very impatient person by nature, and the idea of hounding agents to represent me and waiting for an agent to find a publisher just seemed like it could never happen – like winning the lottery. I had a life, a family, work … better things to do with my time, essentially. But when I found out I could publish the book myself, that changed the whole deal for me. I finished the book in about 6 weeks or so, had it edited, and published it. (And the rest, as they say, is history. lol) — I write YA simply because it’s my favorite genre to read. I’ve written one adult novel so far and enjoyed the process, and I will write more of it, but my heart is still with YA.
What made you move to France? How is life different living in a foreign country?
I needed more adventure in my life, and France was perfect for that. I crave what I call “controlled adventure”. Safe but awesome stuff. You won’t find me in the Amazonian jungle, but a country with wine that flows like water and over 4,000 cheeses? Sign me up. I also wanted my kids to experience another culture and become bi-lingual. I feared that as Americans who had never lived anywhere else, they were getting a somewhat skewed view of the world. France’s language, culture, and people have been near to my heart since I was young. My mom majored in French in college and was always throwing French phrases around at our house. Then I took French in high school. As an adult I visited a few times. I guess I could never get it out of my system. We were originally only going to stay here for a year – but we’ve decided to stay indefinitely because we love it so much. And now that I write for a living, it’s possible for me to live anywhere in the world that I have an internet connection.
The first book I read of yours was ‘Wrecked’. I loved the characters. It reminded me of the dynamics of high school. Do you have a hard time writing from a teenagers point of view?
No, I think I find it easy for two reasons: First, I have two of them at home; and second, because I’m very immature – practically still a teenager myself sometimes.
What do you think of sex in YA novels?
I think if an author is writing for older YA audiences (teens 15+) it’s perfectly okay. Why? Because that’s when most teens become sexually active (or their friends do), so it’s real; it’s a realistic world the author creates when it reflects the realities of a teen’s life. I wouldn’t use it in Middle-Grade YA, though. And I do have a middle-grade YA series coming out next year, so my 8-year-old can have something of mine to read. I have one chapter done, just because I had to get it out of my head, and it has the word poop in it a lot (I did mention earlier that I’m immature, right?) — I know some readers don’t agree that YA should ever have sex, violence, drugs, or any of the things some find “inappropriate” for teens who aren’t yet married adults. But those people, in my opinion, want authors to create unrealistic fantasy worlds; and even in fantasy worlds, I like to keep it real, if you know what I mean. I manage reader expectations by warning them there is foul language or sex or whatever in the books – then they can make an informed decision about whether to read it or not. And if I forget to warn about it in the blurb, my readers mention it in reviews, so it’s not a secret what’s in my books.
Most of your books have bad language in them. I, for one, think it makes them hilarious and more realistic. Teenagers have bad mouths lol, and that is just a fact. What do you say to people that do not approve of bad language in YA books? Where do you come up with some of the stuff your characters say?
I tell anyone who doesn’t like the swearing in my books to go to H.E. double hockey sticks. JUST KIDDING!! Seriously. I never say that to reader. I adore my readers, even the ones like my Uncle Doug who think cussing is the devil’s work. When a reader complains (which has happened twice in an email to me, and has been negatively mentioned in a handful of reviews) I tell them that I write in what I consider to be a realistic style and suggest they seek out middle-grade YA for more tame language or even traditionally published YA, because publishers tend to eliminate most cuss words from their books — Everything my characters say comes from the voices in my head, so I guess that tells you a lot about me, doesn’t it?
I absolutely loved Jayne in the ‘War of the Fae’ series. Is her character based on anyone you know?
Hell yes. Me.
Which do you like better: writing fantasy books like the ‘War of the Fae’ series or more realistic books such as ‘Wrecked’? I also know that you have written a chick lit book. I still need to read it! How was that different from writing YA?
I prefer fantasy and science fiction because believe it or not, it’s easier for me to write. I don’t have the same boundaries – if I can dream it and find a way to make is seem ‘possible’, it works in the story. Readers of realistic work (like Action/Adventure) have a problem when you portray things unrealistically; and of course, if you portray it too realistically, you get accused of writing things that are too cliché. Makes me crazy. I like the freedom of writing fantasy where readers are mentally prepared to play in my world, and I can build it how I want. — Chick lit is different in that I have to move out of the teen realm and move into grown-up realm. Everything’s different from clothes, to language, to habits, to behaviors … I have to make a big shift mentally to go into chick lit, but since I enjoy reading in that genre too, it’s not too big a stretch for me. Plus sometimes I actually have to act like an adult, so I know how to write it realistically, I think.
Why did you write your chick/lit book under the Kat Lee pen name, but immediately out yourself as Elle Casey?
The reason for using the different pen name was twofold: First, I am doing that project and any chick lit books I write with my mom. We’re business partners, I guess you could say. She’s handling the promotion for me and giving me lots of beta reading along the way as I write. Second, it’s not young adult, and the sex is a lot more grown-up and explicit, so I didn’t want to risk a young adult reader who actually is a young adult (I have mostly adult readers, even for the YA books) to pick it up thinking it’s young adult and have their parents get all up in my grill over it (I already get enough grief over the very vanilla sex scene in Wrecked). So a different name made it easier to say, “Hey! This is a sexy book! Maybe not for your fourteen-year-old!” But, on the other hand, I wanted readers who enjoy my writing style – many of whom ask me on a regular basis when I’m going to have new stuff to read – to have access to it without having to hunt for it too hard. The majority of my readers are adults, so I figured if they read chick lit and liked my YA stuff, maybe they’d enjoy that too.
Who is your favorite character, besides Jayne, in the ‘War of the Fae’ and why?
Tim the pixie. He’s hilarious and has lots of secrets I’m dying to know. Plus, I’m a sucker for a misunderstood guy.
Which book is your favorite out of all the books you wrote?
I honestly like them all. Wrecked was my first, and I think as I continued to write, each book got better. So if you want to know which one I think is the best from a technical standpoint, I’d say whatever the most recent one is. I become more skilled with each attempt. But my favorite world so far is the War of the Fae world. And that series is my most popular with readers, too.
If you could be any type of paranormal creature/person, what would you be?
And elemental of course. Mother Fucking Nature, baby. [Quote from War of the Fae, people. Don’t email me that you’re offended by my language. It wasn’t me! I swear!]
I just finished your new book, Apocalypsis. Where did the idea from that book come from?
I have been intrigued by the idea of kids living without parents since I was very young. I was always dreaming up scenarios like that and read books with those themes whenever I could find them. I even left home when I was 17, frustrated with the adults in my life. All of my books in the YA world have an element of teens surviving without adults or living more independently. I guess I just love the concept. As a teen I was depressed a lot and felt very lost and misunderstood, which caused me to want to live away from the adult influences in my life. The memories of those times have never left me and I want to write for people who also might have felt that way before. In my stories, you can escape for a little while and live that “what if” fantasy.
Do you really think that teenagers could survive without adults in a post-apocalyptic world?
Of course. Kids can be very resourceful when left to their own devices. Plus we’re hard-wired to survive.
What is one piece of advice you would give your kids if they were in the situation the characters of Apocalypsis are in?
Stick together, don’t give up, kick ass when you need to, and don’t forget to be kind to each other.
I also have to know because it was just a few days ago that you posted that the first draft of Apocalypsis was finished, and yet the second book comes out in a month…how do you write books so fast? What is your secret?
I’m a cyborg. Shhh. Don’t tell.
What is coming up for you after the Apocalypsis books?
Here’s my schedule for the rest of 2012: Apocalypsis 2 (July), Apocalypsis 3 (August), Clash of the Otherworlds [COTOW] 1 (September), COTOW 2 (October), COTOW 3 (November), Vampire Seasons 2 (November), Reckless, [sequel to Wrecked] (December), Desperate Measures 2 (December). And in 2013: Desperate Measures 3 (January), joint project with Jason “Dead Muskrat on His Head” Brant (February), and then, who knows? More YA series, including a middle-grade one starring an 8-year-old girl named Goo and her 2-year-old brother Looshie. I might also take a vacation for a couple weeks at some point.
Jason Brant told me to ask you why you were such a douche and how do you deal with his awesomeness lol, but you don’t have to answer that, if you don’t want to ♥
Well. You can tell Jason from me that … no. Wait. Let me start over. A-hem. The reason why Jason calls me a douche is because the word douche means ‘shower’ in French (and I live in France, so he’s always being cute and using French words with me), so it’s his sneaky way of ‘showering’ me with affection. It’s a cute little thing he does while guzzling cheap beer and huffing glue over his keyboard. I deal with Jason’s awesomeness by writing ten times as many books as he does in a year. BOOYAH, JASON! Why don’t you spread that on your toast and eat it, Muskrat Head! … wait … did I actually just write that?
Thank you so much for answering my questions! I cannot wait to read whatever is coming next from you. I am also so excited by the prospect of a Elle/Jason book. It is going to be one wild ride!
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I hope you enjoyed that interview. Please do not forget to share this anyway you like, facebook, twitter, blog…anywhere you can. I am also sure Elle would enjoy reader comments/questions. Elle is also on facebook and Twitter, as well as has her own website. I am sure that she would love to connect with you on these. Please also ‘like’ my facebook page and/or follow my blog for more great reviews and interviews that will be coming soon.
(Elle’s website)
http://ellecasey.com/
(Elle’s Facebook)
http://www.facebook.com/ellecaseytheauthor
(My Facebook)
http://www.facebook.com/cynthiashepp
Links to some of Elle’s Books! I hope you give them all a chance.
Apocalypsis: Book 1 (Kahayatle)
The Changelings (War of the Fae: Book 1)
Call to Arms (War of the Fae: Book 2)
Darkness & Light (War of the Fae: Book 3)
New World Order (War of the Fae: Book 4)
Interview with Jason Brant, author of Echoes and Gehenna
For the last week I have been talking about this great interview with Jason Brant that I am going to post today. Today is finally here and it was worth the wait! Jason Brant is the self-published author of two wonderful books, Echoes and Gehenna. I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing them both, and I cannot wait for the next book of his to come out. I have gotten to know Jason a little bit in this interview process and I hope that you enjoy his wit and sense of humor as much as I do. I will post links to his books after the interview and I hope that you all will take a chance on at least one of his books today. You cannot go wrong with either one! Please leave your comments below for Jason, or the interview, or my bad questions lol. Show some support for Indie authors and make him feel welcomed on this page. I will stop my blathering now and let Jason take the stage. This was Jason’s first EVER interview and I am so excited that I am the one that got to do it. =)
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Jason, I love your books but I know you just recently started writing. What did you do before you decided to become an author?
I did contract work as a Digital Forensic Analyst for the Department of Defense. It sounds more important than it actually is. Basically I broke into computers and looked for naughty things. I’ve also done IT work, and home theater installations. I tried to become a porn star after I quit, but for whatever reason my wife didn’t like that idea.
I asked around to a few different authors for interview advice and Elle Casey suggested asking “Why do you write?” So Jason, why do you write?
After the porn career idea was shot down I had to come up with something else. Writing seemed like a natural transition from pornography, so here I am. Actually, I have a degree in film and television production and was all set to move to L.A. (not for porn, really!), but I met my wife a few months before graduation. I decided to forgo that career to stay back East with her. Though I didn’t go into the business, I have a serious passion for movies and books that never went away. Writing novels isn’t too far from writing screenplays, and with the digital book revolution ongoing, I decided to throw my hat on the pile.
I read on an advice for interviews blog that most authors hate to be asked how they get their ideas…why do you think that is?
If I had to guess, it’s probably because most authors are turds, e.g. Elle Casey. Writers are like anyone else, and most people happen to be turds. Look at me – I’m an author, and I’m a turd. That question might bother some people, because they don’t know how to answer it. Sometimes ideas just pop in there, which is usually the case with me.
Lol…where do you get your ideas?
I have no clue. I wish I could say it was from all the cocaine I do, but I typically just blackout after a few lines. Honestly, I’m not sure. I’ve had ideas hit me while sitting in traffic, from dreams, people watching, and pretty much any other random thing you can think of.
The first book I read of yours was Echoes. My favorite character in that book was Nami. Is her character based on anyone you know? How about Ash and Sammy?
Yup. Nami is based on a friend and former co-worker of mine. If you can imagine hanging out with Nami for a day, then you know what my life was like for several years. My friend isn’t a secret agent, and doesn’t shoot Desert Eagle’s, but everything else is very close. She’s a blast to have around, and was gracious enough to allow me to use her likeness in Echoes. The back and forth relationship that Ash and Nami have is very similar to our friendship. And yes, she swears that goddamn much.
Ash is an amalgamation (I’m smrt!) of the experiences of several people. My brother has a purple heart from one of his tours in Iraq, and I used quite a bit of the shit he went through to form Ash’s personality, angst, and opinions. My own experiences working with the government were also thrown in there. Because you read my blog, you’ve probably figured out that his smart ass attitude is from me.
Sammy isn’t really based on anyone in particular. A few of the ridiculous things she said are based on conversations I had with people, but that’s about it.
I have to know because I just died laughing during Echoes: Where did you come up with some of the sayings in the book, such as ‘Holy F*** Balls’ and ‘Kicked in the fart box’?
I say ludicrous crap all the time. Taking two unrelated vulgarities and combing them into one is something I do quite a bit. And balls works with just about anything. Add that to a character like Nami, and hilarity ensues. I’m sure that I picked up on some of the crazy things that the real life “Nami” says too.
The paranormal twist in Echoes was unique in a sea of all the paranormal out there, especially as this book is listed as an action/thriller. Do you consider Echoes in the paranormal genre? What made you want to write a book (Gehenna) in the paranormal genre? Are your following books going to stay in that genre or are you planning to branch out?
I struggled with how to categorize Echoes when I released it. Ultimately, I decided not to list it in any paranormal genres because it just didn’t seem to fit. Ash does have a special ability, but that doesn’t really define the book. I was also concerned that people tend to link the paranormal with ghosts and vampires more than something like telepathy. Most of the story is Ash being confused, and getting his ass kicked, so I went with the Action and Thriller categories.
Having said that, most of my books will have a paranormal angle to them, because that’s what I enjoy to read. I’ve said many times that Stephen King could wipe his ass with some paper, and I’d read it. The Twilight Zone, Tales From the Crypt, and MonsterVision with Joe Bob Briggs are all shows I grew up with, and I still love to watch them.
Do you relate more with the hero of a book or the villain?
In general I probably relate to the hero more. However, if the villain isn’t stronger, or more interesting, than the hero, then what’s the point? I love watching people overcome adversity.
Let’s move on to a question I am dying to ask. In Echoes, the lead female character, Sammy, was portrayed as dumb with big boobs and yet the lead female in Gehenna, Karen, is strong-willed and kicks ass. Which one are you fonder of? (and yes, this is a trick question lol)
I’m a huge fan of tough women. All too often they’re underplayed in books and movies, or they’re taken too far over the top and it almost becomes self-mockery. I’ll take Sigourney Weaver in Aliens any day of the week over Angelina Jolie in, well, anything. Having said that, who doesn’t like big boobs? Come on, what’s more American than giant boobs?
Let’s talk about Gehenna. This book is about cowboys, prostitutes and zombies, or as you call them, Moaners, in the old west. This is certainly a unique storyline. I know I have never read a book anything like it. Where did you come up with an old west setting for a zombie book?
I was talking to a friend of mine on the phone a couple of months ago, right after I finished Echoes, and he asked me what I planned on writing next. Somewhere in that conversation, the initial idea for Gehenna popped in. Originally it was going to be called Zomboys, and it would be strictly a comedy. After about five pages, the tone shifted and it ended up being much more serious than I had planned. Of course a lot of the humor remained, because that’s my style, but it definitely morphed into a wild zombie ride.
The old west setting added a different layer of danger to the survivors. Their crude weapons and lifestyles made it much more difficult for them to prevail. Placing the story in the 1800’s also explained why they had no idea what a zombie was, and I’m not sure if you noticed this, but the word ‘zombie’ is never used throughout the entire book. If the dead were to rise today, we would all know what they were, but the zombie mythology hadn’t been created yet for the characters in Gehenna.
I tried to eat while reading Gehenna and found I could not do it. You write insanely (in a good way!) descriptive scenes about munching on flesh. Some places in the book, my skin actually crawled. Does writing scenes like that bother you or are you just sitting back, grinning and waiting for audience reaction?
After the first zombie scene I actually sat back and asked myself what the hell I was doing. Then I figured, it’s a zombie/western, if that doesn’t necessitate going full bore, nothing does. So I let it rip, and when I finished I felt that it fit the story. Outside of another book about zombies, nothing else I write will have this level of violence.
Did you do any research on Zombies before writing Gehenna, maybe watch a few zombie movies? If so, which ones would you call inspirations?
I didn’t, but being a massive zombie fan I already have all of the greats memorized by heart. It was a very conscious decision to make the zombies of Gehenna the old school, meandering variety as opposed to the Olympic sprinters used today. If I had to pick the two movies that most influenced my book, I would probably pick Night of the Living Dead, and Return of the Living Dead. Night because of the claustrophobic atmosphere of being trapped in a house while surrounded by the dead, and Return for the quirky characters.
I just realized I’ve been entirely too serious over my last few answers. Balls.
I noticed that there was a lot of God talk in Gehenna. The main character, McCall, says he relies more on guns than God. What is your stance on God and however did you find that bible verse you included in Gehenna, Leviticus 26:28, that makes it sound like God is going to make zombies of us all?
And now we’re talking about religion. Shit just got real. Despite the biblical overtones of Gehenna, I’m not a religious man. I was raised a Christian, but no longer follow any kind of belief system.
I’d heard about the various Bible verses discussing the dead rising for a couple of years now. When I started writing Gehenna I hit up Google and was shocked at what I found. There are even more in there than the ones I used. And the zombie Jesus jokes go without saying.
As an avid reader of your blog, I am curious. Why do you call your wife ‘The Tall One’?
She’s six feet tall, which constitutes being huge in my book. When she wears heels she’s actually taller than I am, which just isn’t cool. I never called her The Tall One before a couple of weeks when I blogged about her. It kind of stuck after that, so I use it when referring to her on the blog now.
(Reader Questions) What about your writing environment? Any must have items on hand while you write? What are your top favorite books?
I just bought a laptop, so right now I’m writing on my couch and deck. We have an office upstairs, which is where I spent the winter and spring, but it gets too hot there in the summer. I don’t really have any staples with me when I write, like coffee or energy drinks, I just go with the flow.
My favorite books: IT, The Stand, Hell House, The Shining, The Hellbound Heart, At the Mountains of Madness, Dracula, The Mist, Lord of the Flies, Harry Potter (yeah, that doesn’t fit with the rest, but whatever, it’s my list!), Ender’s Game, Fahrenheit 451, A Wrinkle In Time, and so on.
What do you do after you finish a book? Any ritual or celebration?
There is a microbrewery about a mile from us that I always go to when I finish a book. Granted, I’d go there anyway, but it does give me a convenient excuse to start drinking at 3 in the afternoon.
I am not going to take anymore of your time, but I have to know, what are you working on now? Maybe a sequel to Echoes?
My current work in progress is about two college students who win a contest to be interns on a “Ghost Hunters” type of TV show. When they arrive at a church in Appalachia to shoot a new episode, they end up finding more than they ever thought possible.
After that I’m hoping to start sequels to both Echoes and Gehenna. I’m kicking around ideas for both, and should settle on them soon. After that, I have some interesting stuff coming on the horizon, particularly next year.
Thank you, Jason, for taking the time to answer my interview questions. I cannot wait to read your next book! I hope you enjoyed yourself as much as I did through this whole process.
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I hope you enjoyed the interview. Please leave comments or questions below for Jason or for me. I am sure Jason will be checking this throughout the day. Everyone knows authors are a little vain lol, but of course they have great reason to be =) I am also placing links for his books below.
Kindle Version Links:
Echoes
Gehenna
