Three Things & a Cupcake: Interview with Leigh Hershkovich, Shattered Illusions

Originally Posted on the Scene 13 Blog on April 25, 2013 

Lena:

I sporadically post author interviews under the theme “Three Things & a Cupcake.” I post everything sort of sporadically, actually. (Sorry, World!  )

Three Things about Leigh and her debut novel, Shattered Illusions

Leigh’s cover reveal happens to be today, so look what I get to share!!!

1. I came up for the idea behind Shattered Illusions while I was in a car traveling with my family from the North of Israel to the South. I had a stomach flu, and between that and in the immense heat, I was a bit delusional. I was reading a fantastic book called The Angel’s Game when the idea suddenly struck me like a bolt of lightening. It took me four months to convince myself that the idea was valid and not based on the other realm I found myself in due to the pain and the heat.
   
2. I started writing Shattered Illusions when I was seventeen and completed it three weeks after my twentieth birthday.
   
3. The characters of Shattered Illusions are loosely based on people that I had met throughout my childhood.

My favorite fantasy cupcake would be a Fountainhead themed cupcake complete with mini-figures of the characters and blue prints of some of their creations.

Lena again:

Wow, the story of your inspiration for Shattered Illusions is amazing. Also, that you started it at as a teen is impressive (but then teens are amazing–a well-known fact). Finishing it proves you’re a professional writer. And finding a great publisher is icing on the…cupcake. (Sorry, it happens.  )

Okay, I rather foolishly bragged to Leigh that I had once found an Edgar-Allan-Poe-themed cupcake for an interview, so I suspect she tried to stump me. Actually, I admit, the vast photo database of the interwebs failed me, just this once. I found a tribute cake to Ayn Rand, but nary a cupcake. (I know, right??) But, not to be deterred, I bring you my own version of Fountainhead Cupcake…

Lena’s Fountainhead Cupcake–get it??
(Photo credits: Book image (Signet), Cupcake (Kristin_A, Meringue Bake Shop, Flickr Creative Commons))

Thanks for playing along, Leigh! I wish you all the best with your new release (squee!!).

Learn more about Leigh & her books at www.leighhershkovich.com or visit her Goodreads page.

Marley Gibson, Bestselling YA author - Three Things & a Cupcake

Marley Gibson, bestselling author of the GHOST HUNTRESS series for young adults is here to share three things with me. Marley has been a great friend to me over the years and is a truly outstanding person all around.

Secret: If you're planning a party or event--or maybe you just need some warm, friendly support--then you definitely want Marley on your team.

THE GHOST HUNTRESS SERIES

Ghost Huntress Book 6: The Journey
Now available!

Get them all!

Lena: Welcome, Marley! :) What can you tell me about The Ghost Huntress series?

Marley:

• The idea for The Ghost Huntress series came from going to the New England Romance Writers Conference and attending the "Ghost Hunting 101" session. The whole first GHOST HUNTRESS book came to me like a movie.
• My favorite scene in the story is when all the secrets, threads, strings, clues, hints...when everything comes together in that pinpoint of information for the reader. That "pay off pitch" and "booyah!" moment.
  
  (Lena: Yeah, I love "booyah!" moments too. :))
• When I first came up with Kendall Moorehead of the GHOST HUNTRESS series, I had Amanda Bynes in mind. Since then, Amanda has grown up -- and gotten into a LOT of post-teen trouble. Now, I think a good Kendall would be (and don't laugh) Miley Cyrus....but she'd have to ditch the southern accent. LOL! Also, Emma Watson and Victoria Justice come to mind, as well.

Lena: Hmmm, I think I'd like to see that movie... Thanks for visiting me on my blog, Marley! One more thing...what kind of cupcake would you like? (Shows Marley a mouth-watering tray of cupcakes...)

Marley:  In honor of my Alabama Crimson Tide making it to the college football championship again, I'd like that elephant cupcake--along with a huge ROLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!

	Lena: The elephant one, huh? (Personally, I'd go for the TIGER one -- Go, Clemson!! Go, Tigers!! -- but whatever. ;)) Anything for you, Marley. Here's an elephant cupcake especially for you!
	Marley: Thanks, hon! = )

Lena: You bet! My pleasure. (It's really sort of adorable, isn't it??)

Photo credit: (c) SweetRevelations

Giveaway, Guest post, and 99 cents! Also, PAPERBACK!

Breaking News!
That's sounds VERY important doesn't it? Actually, I just have a few links to share:

• On Tales of Whimsy today: "A Language of Souls Contest for Two"
  (Lena: That's right, we're giving away not one, but two ebooks! For the low, low price of FREE! Contest ends Dec. 17)
• I have a guest post on Lisa Amowitz's blog today on my cover design process. Wheee! :)
• The Language of Souls is still 99 cents on iTunes and Nook!

And stay tuned for more breaking news of The Language of Souls paperback release...

Paperback edition coming soon!

And...here's a little sweet cupcakey goodness to celebrate:

Photo credit: (c) SweetRevelations

xoxo :)
Lena

YA author Kristine Carlson Asselin - Three Things and a Cupcake

Kristine Carlson Asselin, co-author of "Stella's Hero" in Timeless: An Anthology of Young Adult Romance, is here to tell me three things about her story. (I love this cover btw! Very romantic.)





Now available on Kindle and Nook!

So here's Kris:

 

Thanks to Lena for asking me to be on her blog today! I love that she asked me to talk about "Stella’s Hero," my short story from Timeless: An Anthology of Young Adult Romance. I co-wrote the story with my friend and (sometimes) partner in crime, middle grade writer Ansha Kotyk.   

1. The idea for Stella’s Hero came from…
   
   
   We really wanted to write something for the anthology, but neither of us had time to focus on it. We were crit partners already, so we thought if we brainstormed a story together it might be faster than working on something alone. And was it ever! We both loved the Victorian Boston era—and our story about a teenage girl who falls in love with a Chinese immigrant just literally flowed out of us. We wrote the draft (about 7K words) in three days, after brainstorming together and outlining a rough plot. Then we just went back and forth polishing key scenes. We were so excited when the editors at Pugalicious Press accepted it!
   
   (Lena: Three days??? That's amazing! :))
2. My favorite scene in the story is “the dark moment.” LOL It’s when Stella thinks Jie doesn’t love her and considers walking into Boston Harbor and letting her petticoats and skirts drag her to the bottom. It’s so tragic and romantic—and then he comes for her and all is right in the world. Except you know things are about to get really hard for them as they run away together. Sigh. I think most of that scene is Ansha’s, and it’s wonderful.
3. If I could cast an actress to play Stella, I’d have to choose…. I used to be good at this game…Hmm…I’d say someone like Kiera Knightley. An actress who can be sweet and innocent, but also really strong and stand up for herself and the ones she loves. And someone you can imagine bucking tradition.

Lena: Thanks for stopping by for a visit, Kris! One more thing...what's your favorite flavor of cupcake?

Kris:  My favorite cupcake would definitely be chocolate on chocolate, filled with chocolate. J

Lena: Oh, wow, that sounds delicious.... Shall we post a drool-worthy picture? Uh, yeah, of course. ;) This one's for you, Kris!



Photo credit: (c) SweetRevelations

 

You can find Timeless on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

 

YA author Erin Cashman - Three Things and a Cupcake

Erin Cashman, author of the sensational YA supernatural fantasy, The Exceptionals, is visiting me in the blogosphere today (which sounds so very sci fi doesn't it???) She's graciously agreed to spill three things about her book. (I've read it and it's wonderful.)



Click image to see book listing on Amazon

So here's Erin:

1. The idea for The Exceptionals came from my father.  Growing up, he used to always tell me we only use ten percent of our brain. I’ve often thought about that, and wondered what if some people can use more than ten percent of their brain. What could these people do? Would they be brilliant scientists like Albert Einstein? My mother believed in ghosts, and she used to go to a medium. Maybe the medium could use a different part of her brain. I’ve always believed in things we can’t see, things that don’t always make sense.

2. My favorite scene in the book is near the end, the last scene with Claire and Dylan, but I won't talk about it since it will give away the ending! I also love The Prologue, since I think it really gives insight into Claire and her character.

3. If I could cast an actress to play Claire, it would be Emma Watson. Maura Crane Walker would be played by Jennifer Connelly, and Josephine would be played by Jennifer Aniston. That would be a great cast!



Emma Watson © Warner Bros Pictures

Lena: That would be a great cast. I can definitely see Emma Watson as Claire! Maybe something like this, but with a hawk. :)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit, Erin.

Erin: Thanks for interviewing me! 

Lena: One more thing...what's your favorite flavor of cupcake?

Erin: My favorite cupcake is definitely carrot cake cupcake!

Lena: Yum...shall we post a picture of one? Why, yes. This one's for you, Erin.

Photo credit: .imelda via Flickr Creative Commons

Three Things and a Cupcake

1. Though not technically launched yet (shhhh, so many other retailers are processing), but The Language of Souls has jumped through the hoops at Amazon & is now available on Kindle. Woot! And on Smashwords too.

2. Still waiting on Kobo, iBooks, Nook, etc... I'll post once it's available. It will also be available in print. (Oh, the joys of formatting a print book! I really do love formatting, actually, even though it drives me mad sometimes. :))

3. My Twitter account got hacked, probably, most likely, because of the Twitter app I'd added here on the blog. Boo hiss!!! So now I'm switching to just a link. Bummer. In better news, Twitter foiled the hack attempt and emailed me to change my  password. So I didn't get any spammy links or naughty pics posted in my feed. Thank goodness. Yay, Twitter!

...and, finally, a cupcake:

Photo credit: Bossacafez via Flickr Creative Commons

And now I want one. ;)