Saturday 23 February 2013

Ashes & Ice Blog Tour: Author Interview with Rochelle Maya Callen


 
Hello Therians!!
 
Welcome to my first stop on the Ashes & Ice Blog Tour!!
 
If you haven't  already grabbed a copy of this amazing book, I suggest you do so right NOW!!!
 
Click on the Blog Tour sale button below!




Title: Ashes & Ice
Author: Rochelle Maya Callen          
Release Day: February 4th, 2013
Genre: Young Adult
Blitz Host: Lady Amber's Tours






SYNOPSIS


She is desperate to remember.
He is aching to forget.
Together, they are not broken.
But together, one may not survive.

​Jade wakes up with no memory of her past and blood on her hands.

Plagued by wicked thoughts, she searches for answers. Instead, she finds a boy who doesn't offer her answers, but hope. But sometimes, when nightmares turn into reality and death follows you everywhere, hope is not enough.

LUST. LOVE. LOSS. Sometimes, all that is left are Ashes and Ice.

 

Check out the Book Trailer:


AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT
 
 
Hello Rochelle,
 
 
Thank you so much for joining us today.
 
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself.
 
I am 26, mother to one adorable 3 year old princess, and wife to one sweet/sexy Mexican man. I was born in D.C. and am half Ecuadorian. I like mountains and quiet places, but love to go out dancing bachata with my hubby. I graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Communication and Political Science in 2007. I love cuddle time, movies, and reading. I also <3 meeting new people on Facebook so please friend me!


2. Describe yourself in three words.

Bookalicious. Cuddly. Loyal.
 

3. What five things do you never leave home without?

Phone, keys, purse, laptop, ID. :)
 

4. What do you do when you’re not writing?

Working as a behavioral therapist, playing with my daughter, cuddling with my husband, reading YA/NA, watching re-runs of Friends, NCIS, Law and Order or Monk, watching movies, singing in the shower, dancing when no one is watching :). 
 

5. Who/What inspired you to start writing?

My mother’s family always valued creativity so I started writing poetry when I was 9 and started planning out novels when I was 11. Ashes and Ice is based on a Character Sketch/outline that I wrote when I was 12 or 13. I stopped writing and reading fiction when I entered High School at 13 and didn’t read any fiction until a couple years after I graduated college. I found the character sketch at that time and started writing again and that rekindled my dream to be a writer.


6. What has been the most rewarding experience on the road to being published?

Positive reviews! They are better than Christmas presents! Also, the community is beyond amazing. I have new and wonderful friends who are fabulously supportive and so much fun.


7. What is the best advice you’ve been given as an author?

Hmm, I have gotten so much advice. My favorite line though is from my editor. I was in a writing rut and she told me to “Grab inspiration by the balls.” Love that!
Hahaha!! Brilliant :)


8. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

WRITE! But in that chair and type! I took years to put together a few chapters and months to write the other 200 pages. Turn off your inner critique and just get your story on paper. Seek out feedback and welcome constructive criticism. This is your craft and you want to become the best you can be! If you are going traditional, look at the acknowledgments page of your favorite books (or books like yours) and compile a list of agents to query.  If you are going indie, you MUST get an editor! Beta readers, critique partners, and editors are invaluable. Get sample pages done before hiring anyone. Get a great cover artist. Finally, pick your favorite social media and use that as your outreach platform. I adore facebook and I am trying to get into twitter.
 

9. Who are your favorite authors to read?

O-M-G! I loooooove reading. I have too many favorites! Here are some: Annette Curtis Klause, Tiffany Carmouche, Cassandra Clare, AG Howard, Rachel Hartman, Tahereh Mafi, Maggie Steifvater, John Greene…. Oh man, the list never ends.
 

 
10. How was the idea for Ashes and Ice born?

When I was 12 or 13 I had an image come to mind of a girl with jet black hair and green eyes with blood on her hands standing over a dead girl and she didn’t know if she was the one who hurt the girl because she had no memory—of anything! I tend to get images in my head for a scene and then I have to go and figure out what the hell happened for the MC to get there
 

 
11. Describe Ashes and Ice in one sentence.

A dark story that explores the lives of two very different and broken people who are trying to find their place in a supernatural world that they never even knew existed.
 

 
12. If Ashes and Ice was to become a movie, who would be your dream cast?
 
EEEEK! **Bounces around giddy** Well, looks wise, I think Mila Kunis and Drew Van Acker would be perfect leads. I would adore Mathew Bomer or Ian Somerhalder as Giovanni. Charlize Theron as Desi. Hmm, don’t know about Dominic or the other characters… The Oracle from the first Matrix movie would have been a PERFECT Nanan, but she sadly passed away a few years ago. Have any ideas readers?? Post them to my page!!
AMAZING cast choices :) I think Odette Yustman would also make a great Jade!!


13. Are any of your characters based on people you know?

Nope. Not at all :)

 

14. Who is your favorite character, and why?

Connor… because if I was 17 again I would have fallen in love with him.



15. Are you working on any special projects at the moment?

Yep! Ashes and Ice 2!!!! I will be doing a stand-alone fantasy after that :) Then I have plans for a couple of novella series after that.  Can’t wait!!!!

Neither can I!! Please don't make us wait too long :) *begging*

Thanks again for stopping by!!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Rochelle grew up dreaming up stories. When she entered high school, she tucked away her creative side and jumped head-first into academics, work, and service projects. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Political Science and Communication when she was twenty years old. After years away from her writing, Rochelle picked up a pen and started fleshing out a character sketch that she outlined when she was twelve. That sketch was the start of the Ashes and Ice story. Rochelle lives in the DC metro area with her husband and daughter. By day she works as a behavioral therapist. By night, she is a dreamer and is busy tapping out new stories on her keyboard.




Connect with Rochelle

 




HAPPY READING!!

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