Posts Tagged: cedar fort books

News and Contest Winners

08 Dec, 2010 by in Michael Knudsen, sheralyn pratt Leave a comment

Special thanks to authors Sheralyn Pratt and Michael Knudsen who featured Fire and Ice on their sites this week. Michael’s book The Rogue Shop came out today. HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY!!! I gave it five stars! See his blog post and more about the book here

Sheralyn Pratt’s book 4 in the Rhea Jensen Series: Kay’sville just recently hit the shelves and she is throwing a shindig for her fans on the 14th of December to celebrate. Catch details on her blog at http://sheralynpratt.blogspot.com/ We will be there selling book related jewelry.

Congratulations to Michelle Nell who won a copy of Pingo by Brandon Mull! This week you will have a TON of opportunities to score books as a part of the BIR2010 giveaways running until December 15th. Stay tuned to our site and the BIR site for more information. And please let us know if you have experienced any problems or questions.

Book Review- The Rogue Shop

07 Dec, 2010 by in Michael Knudsen, The Rogue Shop Leave a comment

by Michael Knudsen
Paperback, 288 pages
To be Published December 8, 2010
by Cedar Fort, Incorporated
ISBN 1599554682
5 stars

From the back cover: Trying to escape form his Texas Baptist Upbringing and a troubles past, Christ Kerry came to Salt Lake City to get an education–and nothing else. But keeping his promise to stay away from the Mormons proves difficult, especially with two cute college girls living across the hall. And when Chris finds a new job at a tuxedo shop, his promise unravels as he discovers new friendships, hidden secrets and a lost heritage he never imagined he had. The Rogue Shop illuminates how we recognize truth even in the most trying of circumstances. Michael Knudsen’s hilarious debut will remind you about the value of faith, family, and friends as Chris learns from his past to move forward into a better future.

This book was finished several days ago and it continues to resonate deeply within me. What I got from it was not at all expected: real pure lasting peace and a warm feeling of hope. The Rogue Shop stole my heart and expanded my love for fiction. The main character Chris comes full circle from being orphaned by a drunk driver living with his aunt to a young man finding his way in the world and seeking for truth. His past is not perfect, in fact he has some giant ghosts in his closet. But in his dreams he is offered a tiny glimpse of eternity and the parents he lost at such a young age. Bound and determined to make it on his own he heads to the University of Utah to stake his claim on the world…alone and penniless. When he takes a job at the local tuxedo shop and an apartment downtown he has no idea how drastically his life is about to change.

Michael Knudsen’s characters are brilliant, even down to the small seemingly insignificant landlord. I felt I knew each of them personally. His historical downtown Salt Lake was a charming, almost lost world of ZCMI stores and 50’s ball gowns. I think the back story of The Rogue Shop resonated with me because I grew up in a part member family, split between two religious beliefs. And the Washington DC temple he uses as an anchor in his plot was the closest to our little army base in Maryland. But, most of all I will remember the lasting impression Chris’s conversion left for me. What a solid, wonderful debut for Michael Knudsen. Thanks to him sending me a copy of his book. The redemptive message of The Rogue Shop has the power to change, to uplift and to comfort.

Visit Michael’s site at http://michaelknudsenauthor.com/ and read an author interview by fellow author Steve Westover here

If you are in Utah stop by for The Rogue Shop – A Book Release Celebration. Monday, December 13 th 2010 from 6-9pm Open House at 500 E. 8680 S. Sandy, Utah.

Author Interview With Maggie Fechner

24 Nov, 2010 by in maggie fechner, YA contemporary 5 comments

Our interview is with the author of Growing Up Gracie, just released by Cedar Fort books. (see our review below this post)

What made you decide to be a writer? Any authors or books that inspired you? Although I have written since I was very young, I didn’t grow up planning to be a writer. However my high school journalism teacher had a very wonderful influence on me and he really encouraged me in my writing.

I noticed you are also a photographer (YAY) What hobbies take up your “free time”? Yes, I am a portrait photographer with a small business, specializing in family photography. (I saw you are too!). Between writing and photography I spend way too much time on the computer. However, in the summer our family really enjoys boating. My husband wake boards and I spend the whole summer attempting to get up on the board. (Athleticism never was my strong suit).

There are several references to other books in Growing Up Gracie, tell us about those. Yes. Gracie loves to read. Some of her favorites were some of mine. I remember my fifth grade teacher reading us aloud Where the Red Fern Grows and I was so engrossed in it. Also, we both loved Pride and Prejudice.

What would the playlist for Growing Up Gracie Look like?
Okay, this is my favorite interview question ever (and coming from a former reporter, that’s quite a compliment!) Gracie’s playlist would definitely be heavy on the Chris LeDoux and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Probably a lot of Garth Brooks. Not so much the newer country, but the fun older stuff. She would also have a little Cotton-Eyed Joe or something fun and dancey to rock out with Liza and Chelsea to on those long lonely Wyoming highways.

Any other books in the works?
Yes! The Letters Never Sent is a mainstream (non-LDS, but still very clean :)) historical fiction novel. It’s about the journey toward finding home and a sense of self for several women in the Cameron family. I have just completed a rough draft and am beginning revisions.
Also I have hopes to create a Fremont Family series with the next book focusing on one of Gracie’s sisters, Danielle.

photo taken from Maggie’s author blog

Tell us why you chose Cody, Wyoming for the setting? How is is similar to places you have lived? I grew up in Cody. And although I’ve been away for the past 12 years, I often still refer to it as home. It was a wonderful place to grow up and I love the small town feel. I love the beautiful mountains and the proximity to Yellowstone Park. Cody has a unique country atmosphere as it has been coined the “Rodeo Capitol of the World” and is the only place in the world with a rodeo every night of the summer. Although my real life hasn’t taken me back there, my writing seems to take me back again and again.

What was your favorite chapter to write and why?
Hmmm… That’s a tough one. I think my two favorite parts are both at the end–one is with Gracie’s best friends and another is with her true love–but I wouldn’t want to spoil anything 🙂

Are there lessons from Growing Up Gracie you hope others will take away?
Absolutely. Especially teenage girls who are feeling average. I would hope they would take away that God makes each person amazing in their own unique ways and by following their hearts they can live extraordinary lives.

What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?
The funnest moment of my writing career was as a reporter when I went skydiving to write a story about a local skydiving club. The most rewarding moment of my writing career so far was when I was contacted by Cedar Fort Publishing and heard the words, we want to offer you a contract for your novel.

Thank you so much for the interview! Visit Maggie’s website at http://www.maggiefechner.blogspot.com/

Order Growing Up Gracie in Kindle or Paperback here on Amazon, Cedar Fort or from Deseret Book and we are giving away a copy of Growing Up Gracie to our readers, enter by filling out the form below.

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Growing Up Gracie by Maggie Fechner

23 Nov, 2010 by in maggie fechner 1 comment

ISBN 9781599554532
Published by Cedar Fort, Inc.
November 11, 2011
4 stars

As the fifth of six kids, it’s sometimes hard for Gracie Fremont to see what makes her special. But with the help of friends, family, and her faith, Gracie discovers that even the most ordinary girl can do extraordinary things. Told with sweetness, humor, and heart, this unique coming-of-age story will resonate with readers of all ages.

My first impression when I got this book in the mail was that this is my kind of cover! I LOVE it, as a sucker for photography of old trucks and vignetted edges. Plus the image fits perfectly with the story. I think this is one of the best covers I have ever seen from Cedar Fort’s design team. Major score for author Maggie Fechner!

There is a warm comfort that comes from reading Growing Up Gracie, the memoir of one teen and her two best friends growing up in Cody, Wyoming. Gracie feels ordinary and sometimes lost in her family dynamic. But her conviction to follow her instinct and do what feels right leads her life in many surprising directions. She, like all of us, has unique talents and an influence on others that only she can make. Discovering it for herself takes some time. The book pace is slow moving, much like life in a small town, but I stayed engaged until the very last page. Each chapter is a glimpse at Gracie as she matures from grade school to becoming a mother herself. It’s a coming of age tale of an American family and the bonds of friendship.

Maggie Fechner addresses with candor and grace the growing pains of teenage pregnancy, adoption, finding a testimony, making your place in the world and receiving personal answers to prayer. She weaves in a small town romance with its roots in friendship and faith. I am looking forward to reading more from Maggie as this is book is just the beginning and a first installment in a new Fremont Family series.

Here’s a sneak peek excerpt from the book taken from the author’s website

“Burnt sienna, auburn or even ginger colored hair was what Gracie Fremont longed for as her bony fingers held waxy crayons next to her long locks one by one. But if the timid, skinny five-year-old were honest with herself, the closest match was brown. Plain old brown. And that brown crayon defined Gracie Fremont’s life: Average. Nothing difficult or unusual or even interesting ever happened to this little girl sandwiched in an LDS family of eight {six}. But growing up in rural Cody, Wyoming, Gracie learns that lasting friendships, hidden talents and developing a testimony of her own are some of life’s most precious gifts. And finding true love is a fantastic bonus.”

To learn more visit Maggie’s website at http://www.maggiefechner.blogspot.com/ (as an added bonus; you’ll love her playlist!)

News and Welcome Our Newest Affiliate

04 Nov, 2010 by in rachael renee anderson 2 comments

Welcome to our newest site affiliate “Deliriously Falling“, launched yesterday. A Lauren Oliver fan page owned by Ella Press. Head on over and check out their new site!

Congrats to MoMo http://momocsst.blogspot.com/ who won books 1-12 of the SWEEP series by CateTiernan in our Halloween Giveaway. Email us your street address 🙂

Thank you so much to author Rachael Renee Anderson who featured our site on Writing Fortress, a new site designed as a forum for Cedar Fort authors. Read her post here.

And a huge shout out to Elana Johnson, YA author. Her debut novel, POSSESSION, will be published by Simon & Schuster on June 7, 2011. She has been sending people to our site via her post about the Provo Library Teen Book fest here.

Speaking of the Teen Book Fest…Provo Library called and they are sending us swag, lots of bookmarks from the YA authors who were at the signing. Each bookmark lists the authors’ favorite books ever. So stay tuned for those in our mailbox soon. And thanks to the staff of PCL for being so up on their google alerts!

And lastly, I was spotted on Kami Garcia and Margie Stohl’s feed today in their last stop of the Beautiful Darkness tour at The King’s English bookstore. Yep, that’s me standing in line on the little stairs in a purple shirt. What a fun week!

Review and Author Interview – Kay’sville

26 Oct, 2010 by in rhea jensen series, sheralyn pratt 2 comments

Kay’sVille
By Sheralyn Pratt
Rhea Jensen Series #4
Paperback, 224 pages
To Be Published December 7th, 2010

by Bonneville Books
ISBN 1599554259


First of all thanks so much to Sheralyn for sending me a sneak peek of book #4 in her Rhea Jensen series. Kay’sVille felt like a companion novel as it takes a completely different point of view than the rest of the Rhea Jensen series. It is told by Rhea’s best friend Kay and fills in the details of how they met and why they are who they are. Readers may be scratching their heads after book three wondering why Kay ditched her high powered reporting job in L.A. to follow Rhea to Utah. Kay’sville fills in those gaps. Kay is a strong willed, in your face type of girl with fashion sense and an attitude… but she hasn’t always been that way. I’ve always liked Kay and now I like her more. In Book 4 we learn what her roots are, and I think you’ll be surprised as I was. Her flashbacks of pre-college life were some of my favorite parts of the book. Dahl is her sidekick cop who helps her in reporting a story and solving a mystery. He is my other favorite part of Kay’sville. My favorite scene: I loved and laughed at Kay’s description of dating in Utah.

On the flipside Kay’s ville was really hard for me to read at Chapter 11 only because of a serious hazing which was committed and the details used to describe it. It was a little bit too much information and dark for me in spots. Sheralyn does a great job exploring realistically how the crime could alter the victim for life. She has reached out to readers on her blog to let them know that starting at book 4 the Rhea Jensen series is taking on heavier issues. Here’s what she had to say about the book in our interview.

Tell us how Kay’sville is different from the rest of the Rhea Jensen series? I guess the most obvious difference is Rhea’s not telling the story in this book. We’re hearing from her best friend, who is filling us in what Rhea chooses not to share. Also, this book is way more character driven. If there’s any “mystery” at all in this book, it’s solving the mystery of why Rhea and Kay are such good friends. There are other real mysteries/news stories, but we don’t see Rhea’s side of the process in this book, only what Kay deals with and why she’s so quick to crack the whip on Rhea.

What do you most want readers to learn about Rhea and Kay’s relationship? How would you describe their friendship? The term that comes to mind is “enmeshed.” If you step back an look, Rhea has exactly one female friend and only a few male friends. Rhea’s VERY slow to trust and let people into her life, and yet there Kay is, front and center. Rhea would die for Kay without blinking in hesitation. Kay would play human shield any day for Rhea, yet Rhea hasn’t really focused on their friendship as she’s told her side of the story, starting in Book 1. In “City of Angels” Rhea introduces Kay in such a casual way that it may not even seem like they’re actually friends. In book 2, you start to get that they have a history. By the time you read “City Limits” you’ve seen enough of Kay to start sensing that the history she and Rhea share isn’t all easy-breezy, which brings up to book 4, where Kay takes the metaphorical pen away from Rhea to write her own installment–thereby forcing Rhea to stop “protecting” her.

As for what I want people to learn… Hmmm, really this book is about how pivotal the right friends can be in our lives. There are times when the people around us profoundly impact our futures. Rhea would not be who she is without Kay, and vice versa–and they honor that about each other. I guess the power of that is one thing I wanted to share with readers.

What surprises do you think followers and fans are in for with Kay’sville? Surprises? Well, I think there are a few, some fun and some on the opposite end of the spectrum. I think one surprise will be how immensely human Kay is and learning where she started from, what her dreams were, and how hard she fought to get where she is. Telling Kay’s version of things was an intense process on my side. There were many times when I wanted to step in and change Kay’s story for her, but each time I was shut down. Kay’s a reporter. Getting the facts right is important to her. And the whole purpose of her stepping in to tell this part of the story is to make sure readers have the facts they need to understand what Rhea’s about to do in future books.

Describe how Kay came to you and what her character is like. Wow. That answer could go on for a while. The thing about Kay’s character that separated her from other characters I’ve “met” is how dissimilar we are. Straight out of the gate Kay did not like talking to me because we had nothing in common. It was like hanging out with a muse who had the attitude of, “I don’t see the point of talking to her. She doesn’t have a clue what I’m talking about.” And truthfully, she was right. When it came to everything Kay values, I had a zero IQ in the beginning. It was only when I started caring about what Kay cares about and putting in an effort to understand her world that Kay got a bit more chatty. I think that says a lot about her character. If you give Kay an inch, she’ll give you a mile. At least that how she’s been with both me and Rhea. When you show you care, she can’t help but bend over backwards for you. Until then, though, she might just shoot you the middle finger to see if she can scare you away.

Are there life lessons you hoped to portray in this book? Another loaded question. If there was one lesson this book illustrated deeply for me, it was the importance of not making snap judgments about others and their choices. Though it is a human tendency to be quick to judge and condemn, we really have no idea what people have been through and why they make the choices they do. We think we know better; we think we are smarter or more righteous, when really we’re all just doing the best that we can. Kay is. Rhea is. I am. You are. A lot of living is making things up as we go along, but the one consistent fact is that we’re all trying. No matter what our methods and their outcomes. We’re all giving it our best, and we only hurt each other and retard healing and growth when we judge and alienate others.

What do you have planned for the rest of the series? Well, the next 2 books are very much about how Rhea gets out of the “contract” she never knew she signed with The Fours. It’s not going to be an easy ride for Rhea, which is one of the reasons Kay stepped in on Book 4 to drop a few secrets. Also, Kay kind of does double-duty is raising the intensity bar for future books. There’s a lot of action and hard decisions coming up. If you like Book 4, you’ll love 5 & 6. If you find 4 a bit heavy for your taste, it might be a good cue that Rhea’s upcoming gauntlet may be a bit intense or your tastes as well.

How will the future books differ from the beginning of the series? Readers may notice that with each book, Rhea starts trusting readers with more and more information. She starts hiding less, the more time you spend with her. In the future of the series, readers can expect Rhea to take the metaphorical gloves off and be a straight shooter. After Kay spills the beans in Book 4 on a couple of things, there’s less for Rhea to dance around as far as keeping secrets. She’ll be able to reference things she tip-toed around before. That’s the number one way the books will differ in the future. At first Rhea wanted to keep things really light. She still wants to keep them as light as possible, but there will be times when it will be impossible. The pressure cooker around Rhea is about to develop a vice grip that will force Rhea to choose who she will be. She’ll have to make choices no one wants to make and live with the consequences. The days of simple little cases for rich clients are gone. From now on it’s not about money. It’s about who Rhea will become once she takes her life into her own hands and takes on her deepest fears… I just hope I’m up for the challenge telling the story right.

Thanks so much Sheralyn for the interview! To learn more about Sheralyn Pratt and her Rhea Jensen series, visit her website at http://www.sheralynpratt.com/

See our past related posts here:
City Of Angels review
Author Interview
Welcome To Stalk Lake City Review
Teaser From Idle Playgrounds

Review: The Road Show By Braden Bell

25 Oct, 2010 by in road show, utah authors 20 comments

Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc
Released : June 8, 2010
ISBN-10: 1599553562
5 stars

Scott Jenson hates everything he knows about road shows: cheap costumes, silly songs, and bad acting. Being asked to create a road show is his worst nightmare come true. Can flawed but talented artist create a piece of art that testifies of Jesus Christ? And is there any way that something so trivial can have a healing effect on the lives of five troubled souls? A pornography addict, a depressed young mother, a sick older woman, a lonely outcast, and a spiritually numb elder s quorum president are about to find out. Braden Bell gives a five-star performance with Road Show: Beauty for Ashes. With true-to-life characters, humorous situations, and tender realizations, this book is guaranteed to make you smile and applaud for more. The Road Show is the powerful story of five broken souls, contemporary Mormons struggling with familiar challenges–and their unlikely journey to ultimate healing and hope through the Savior’s Atonement.

This is one of those books I never would have picked up off of the shelves based on the title alone because I have to admit I’m not a big fan of roadshows. However, it is a far cry from corny or poorly written. The Roadshow introduces us to the lives of five contemporary LDS people and the trials they are dealing with: physical, emotional, and spiritual crosses that feel too heavy to bear.

I was impressed to see how Braden Bells tackles issues that many modern day Mormon people face but won’t publicly admit. Each character reveals their honest feelings through thoughts written in differing fonts through the book’s dialogue. Readers feel they are getting to know the true individuals behind the outer masks they wear.

As the plot progresses each character starts to change and more hopeful loving thoughts are whispered into their hearts. They experience a modern day miracle through their own works, after acting in a simple play portraying scenes from the Savior’s life.

I found myself in tears by the end of the book as a glimmer of absolute hope and peace was offered to those who sought answers. The Road Show teaches that miracles exist today and the atonement is accessible to any who reaches out and prays for help. It is beautifully written, short and concise with universal truths and artistic creativity. Thank you so much to Braden Bell and Cedar Fort Books for sending me a copy for review. To learn more about the author and view a trailer for the Road Show visit his website at http://www.bradenbell.com/

Comment below for your chance to win The Roadshow. Giveaway ends November 25, 2010.

Luck of The Draw by Rachael Renee Anderson

05 Oct, 2010 by in book review, rachael renee anderson, utah authors 4 comments

Paperback, 214 pages
Published August 8th 2010
by Bonneville
ISBN1599554437
5 stars

Four weeks. Three roommates. Two dates each. Brighton Andrews has never had a problem getting a girl to go out with him. So when his friends dare him to ask out three roommates at the same time, he figures this will be the easiest bet he’ll ever win–even with the added clause that the girls can’t find out they’re all dating the same guy. And with a whole month free from laundry at stake, who could resist? Of course, that’s before he meets the girls. Rachael Renee Anderson’s charming Luck of the Draw puts a hilarious twist on a modern-day love story. Fast-paced, witty, and full of fun, the odds are stacked that this is one book you won’t be able to put down.

The first thing I love about Luck of the Draw is the cover. It reminds me of modern day, modest Charlie’s Angels. The second thing I love is the author. I stopped by her table at authorpalooza two weeks ago but didn’t have much time to chat. So, I was thrilled when she and her publicist sent me a copy of her book for review. Since finishing the book I have found out what an amazing person Rachael is. She’s down to earth, humble, and kind.

I turned the last page on Luck of The Draw three days ago and still have not been able to enjoy anything else I’ve picked up quite as much. It has an underlying message and good feeling that will slowly seep in and wrap around you as you read. The plot starts out light and funny as a bet is made that involves laundry and girls. Brighton Andrews has his hands full trying to ask three girls out at the same time without them finding out they are dating the same person. His life gets even more complicated (and hilarious) when he accidentally plows Dani, one of the roommates, into the snow and finds out how feisty and stubborn a woman can be. The bet may not be as easy to win as everything else for Brighton…but he is bound and determined to win.

The plot to Luck of The Draw has lots of surprises, fun dialogue and lessons of life. What impacted me the most was seeing how Dani sticks to her guns and lives as she believes best in spite of her superficial parents. I also enjoyed how Brighton matures and changes after his laundry bet goes awry. Both main characters most learn to trust in something outside of themselves and follow their dreams wherever they may lead.

Rachael Renee Anderson has created a parable for our time and a fun read that will take you back to your college days. The characters will melt your heart and the message will bring you to tears. Five stars and a thank you for a squeaky clean read. This is one I will pass on to my daughters. I ordered her other book Divinely Designed and am excited to read more from Rachael.

Enter to win a copy of Luck of The Draw on Goodreads here read an excerpt from the book here and visit Rachael Renee Anderson’s site here.

Book Review- Welcome To Stalk Lake City

30 Jul, 2010 by in book review, sheralyn pratt, welcome to stalk lake city 4 comments

Welcome to Stalk Lake City

The Rhea Jensen Series #2

by Sheralyn Pratt

published
August 15th 2004 by Spectrum (first published 2004)

details Paperback, 285 pages

isbn 0974333182

4.5 stars

Synopsis from Back Cover “Deciding to go “off grid” for a while, Rhea Jensen can think of no better place to disappear than Utah. She settles into a quiet Mormon lifestyle-unless you count skydiving, race car driving, mountain climbing, and overly obsessive workouts. But when her best friends, Kay, tips her odd to a stalking case, Rhea takes the job out of shear boredom. Only then does she realize two things–first being good is hard; and second, she know way too much to get out of the PI game.

So, I have to admit that when I finished book one on the Rhea Jensen series I really couldn’t wait for the mailman to come with my sequel. I was out thrift shopping and lo and behold, stumbled across the old 2004 released book (which was well used by it’s previous owner.) This started the debate in my mind…”Should I? Should I not…?”

Give in to temptation, I did… I took it home and started reading, knowing full well the new book would be different. Luckily, I only got a few hours into it when ta da…just like magic, the fresh new package showed up. Have to say, it was worth reading both versions of the book, repeated plot and all. One just can’t get enough to Sheralyn Pratt’s characters!

In this installment, Rhea Jensen has relocated from her home of Los Angeles to Utah and has found a boyfriend Chad to keep her on the straight and narrow. She is convinced it’s time for a fresh start without her shady private investigator antics. Too bad her old friend Kay has a different idea. She’s bound and determined to show her the spicy side of life over the ordinary “tomato soup.” Rhea takes on a new case and the plot revs up a notch with her hot new next door neighbor Ty in the passenger seat. Buckle up for a fast paced ride, because book two does not disappoint! Sherlaynn Pratt pushes readers to think outside the box while remaining inspiring and fun at the same time. I have a new found love and am hoping book #3 is hot off the press and in my fingers soon. Here’s what other readers had to say about the books…

“Clever, witty, sassy… This fast-paced book will keep you reading into the night and leaving you craving for –Rachael Renee Anderson, author of Luck of the Draw

“Meaningful, fun and addictive! Once I pick up one of Pratt’s books, I can’t set it down. The Rhea Jensen novels have mystery, suspense and brilliant plots, with characters that are complicated and real.” –Cherie Call, singer/songwriter

To Enter To Win a Rhea Jensen Series postcard/bookmark: leave your name and email address in the comments below

+1 for each retweet @FireIcePhotos

+1 for commenting on our Sheralyn Pratt posts http://fireandicereads.com/2010/07/city-of-angels-by-sheralyn-pratt.html

+1 for adding her books on your to be read on Goodreads

+1 for becoming a fan of Sherlyn on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1182413.Sheralyn_Pratt

Contest ends August 13, 2010 and is open internationally

If you are interested in joining our book/ARC tour, email us at fireandice.heather@gmail.com to be added to our list of reviewers.

Author Interview With Sheralyn Pratt

30 Jul, 2010 by in rhea jensen series, sheralyn pratt, stalk lake scavenger hunt 6 comments

photo by Heather Zahn Gardner
What are your favorite setting and hang out spots?
Ha. At first I wasn’t sure if you were talking about me or Rhea. My favorite hangouts are outdoors on sunny days in an area where my dog can be off leash and the ground isn’t pokey. I can’t wait until they make a writer’s laptop that isn’t backlit (like e-readers) so I can write outside. That will be a beautiful, beautiful day.

When did you start writing and what was your first book? I’ve always written, I think, sort of in the way most people doodle. I was 18 when I finished my first book from beginning to end. It’s called “the Jade Prophecy.” One day I’ll revisit it, I’m sure.

What are your all time favorite books?
Is that question even possible to answer? I just never know what to say when asked that question, but I did read an ARC of a first-time author named Rebecca Maizel called “Infinite Days” that I really liked recently. I think she’s an upcoming author to watch out for.

How did you get the idea for the Rhea Jensen series and which character do you most relate to? Interesting question. Rhea came to me pretty fully formed. I’m not a writer who brainstorms and maps things out. I just see scenes in my head and write them. Sometimes I don’t even know that some of scenes go together in the same story until later. It’s hard to describe, but suffice it to say that Rhea is a pretty immutable character. She shows me a bit, waits until I do the research to write it right, then she shows me more. It’s a fun growing pattern for me. As for which character I relate to the most… if I am yin, then Rhea’s best friend, Kay, is yang. She and I are so polarized that we barely communicate. I don’t how it’s possible that I could relate to her the most, but she is the character who has the strongest grip on my heart. You may see why in Book 4.
Do any of your characters have real life people they remind you of? Stars who would play them…If so, who and attach a photo That’s a fun game! Physically, Rhea is based on Nelly Fertado, but I would love to audition Jill Wagner, Evangeline Lilly, and Missy Peregrym for the role. For Kay, I wish Kristen Bell was like a foot taller, because I would beg her to play the part. Still probably would. There’s just that perfect balance of sass, anger and vulnerability an actor would have to portray to steal all focus the second she walks into a scene. Kristen could do that. She could be “bad” while still making it very clear that she is good to her core. It would be fun to audition Maggie Lawson for the part as well, though, but she just seems waaay too sweet for Kay.

Good options for the men are: Hugh Dancy for Ben—>
Ryan Kwanten for Ty, and Michael Westen for Dahl. They’re good for a mental image, if nothing else.

What do you do for a day job and in your free time? I’m a publicist by day, and at the moment I don’t have any free time, but I always make time for walks/hiking with my dog. There’s no way getting around exercising a border collie. That’s the reason I got her—to get me out of the house. The poor thing is bored the other 22 hours of the day, though.

Advice for young writers? Let it flow. Don’t judge your writing as it comes out. Unless you are a freak of nature, it’s going to suck at first. That’s okay. The key is to create until your tapped dry. Then you put your creation to the side and go and read a bunch of authors you love and admire for a couple of weeks before returning to your work. Looking at it with fresh eyes, your goal is to then make your story as fun to read as the books you love. That’s my advice. Repeat this process until you forget you are reading your own work and just want to keep reading your own story for fun.

Do you have a playlist for your books and do you listen to music while you write? Yes, yes, and yes. Music keeps the theme of my book on track and keeps me from going off point of onto tangents. It can take a while to find the right songs for a character or story. Sometimes I only find one song and just listen to it over and over until it’s white noise. I’ve listened to the same song over 1,000 times in a row over a week while writing before. It achieves its purpose, though.

Any upcoming books or events? Oh, my. Yes. Many. And they’ll all be fun. Book 2, Welcome to Stalk Lake City (read first 5 chapters here) technically releases on August 6, which is why we’re having the Stalk Lake Scavenger Hunt on August 7th where one non-profit will win $1,000 in an Amazing Race type of event in downtown Salt Lake. It will be fun, and everyone is welcome to participate by joining a team. See a list of competing teams here. There will be more to come, though, so feel free to keep in touch at http://www.sheralynpratt.com/.

What is the overall message you hope to get across to your readers? Hmm, in a nutshell? I might have to channel Mufasa for that one and say, “Simba, you are more than what you have become.” If I don’t write a story that inspires the reader to contemplate stepping out of his/her comfort zone, grow in some way personally, or become more self aware, tolerant, confident, or empathic, then there’s really no reason for me to be writing at all.

Describe the process of re-writing the books and why?
Well, to start off with, they were dated from their original incarnation. Things (technology, especially) have changed a lot in the past eight years. That, added to the fact that the publisher wanted to change the titles made me feel morally obligated to change and update the books, since someone might end up buying City of Angels who already had Spies, Lies and a Pair of Ties. It’s disingenuous—and should be illegal—to take the same book and package it with a different title and cover without changing it. In some ways I just wanted to start all the way over and change everything, but that would have been even more confusing to people: (“Wait, is this book 5? No? It’s book 1, but everything’s different? So this book pretends that your 3 previous books never happened? What about the ebook? So I should just forget them?…”) It would have been a disaster, so I simply updated them and added new scenes, twists, and endings. Book 1 is fairly similar, but I changed the rest of the series significantly. They’re new rides, and I hope readers of the original versions like these new ones too. *crosses fingers*

Favorite writing snacks? Writing and eating? Hmmm. I think I mostly just drink while writing. Water. How absolutely boring is that? I’m too reactive to food to introduce it into my system while I’m writing. Sugar, caffeine, and carbs put me to sleep and protein makes me want to go run around. It’s best if I don’t eat within a few hours of sitting down to write, so water it is!

Do you have a writing group or peers who beta your work?
“Beta.” I just learned that lingo last week, so I’m all in the know now. I just joined a writing group (last week). Yay! We don’t work on Rhea books, though, but the other stuff I write (YA Fantasy). With the Rhea books, it’s actually just been me and my editor because of the tight deadlines.

Favorite scene to write and why? Specifically, or in general? Generally speaking, I like to write action and chemistry. I always say that I don’t write romance, I write chemistry. If it happens to be romantic, then fine, but that push-pull in all relationships can take many shapes, and all of them are equally fun for me to write. Rhea taking down a guy in an alley, two people meeting for the first time, or two colleagues who hate each other can be just as fun to write as a first kiss.

Thank you so much to Sheralyn for taking time to do an interview. To learn more about her amazing books visit her website at http://www.sheralynpratt.com/