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Showing posts with label Fire on the Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fire on the Island. Show all posts
Friday, August 24, 2012
Blog Tour: "Fire on the Island" by J.K. Hogan (Interview/Excerpt/Giveaway)
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a country girl and I provide my husband with endless
amusement with what I'll call my “dialectal idiosyncrasies.” I'm an avid reader
and an artist in addition to being an author, and I also enjoy dog sports such
as agility and dock diving. My husband and I are also expecting our first
child.
How long have you been writing?
I've been making up stories probably since the time I
learned to talk, but I only started writing them down in the last 10 years or
so. (That makes me sound old, doesn't it? I'm only 30, I promise!) It was only
in the last year that I actually completed something that I thought was worth
publishing.
Tell us about FIRE ON THE ISLAND. What’s the story about?
It's about a young Scottish woman
who finds herself mixed up in a battle with demons trying to take over the
human world. Along the way she meets a parapsychologist who comes to Scotland
to investigate rumors of her being a witch. Much to both of their surprise, the
rumors turn out to be true! Together they must find a way to defeat Alastore,
the demon king, and close the gate between the worlds before Samhain, when he
is the strongest. You'll have to read to find out how they do it!
How did the idea of the story come to you?
Would you believe it just popped into my head? Memories from
a recent trip to Scotland—specifically the Isle of Arran where the story takes
place—gave me Isla, my heroine, and the setting. Blues concerts with my friend,
especially New Orleans' own Tab Benoit, gave me Jeremiah and his love of blues
guitar. The rest just happened. My husband took me out to dinner one night and
I told him I planned to write a book. I then spent the next two hours blurting
out the entire story. He was so sweet about it—even as his eyes glazed over.
Are you a planner or a pantser?
Definitely a panster. I'll have a concept or a general idea
of a plot (see above) but I'm definitely the 'sit down and write' type.
Occasionally I'll have to storyboard a bit if I write myself into a corner, but
that doesn't happen often.
What’s the hardest part of writing for you?
Contrary to what many may believe, a lot of it is hard, but
rewarding as well. Right now, I'm finding the hardest part to be actually being
able to sit down and focus when I have the opportunity to write. Scenes tend to
come to me at the most inopportune times, but when I have a block of time with
no interruptions, I struggle to get it out. When that happens, I generally just
let it stew until it has to come out, no matter what I'm doing!
What do you absolutely have to have nearby when writing?
Definitely my iPod. And coffee. Lots of coffee.
If you could have any super power, what would it be?
I'd be able to fly. Kind of cliché I know, but I used to
have these wonderful dreams as a kid where if I just ran fast enough and jumped
high enough, I could take off!
What's the weirdest thing you've googled?
Oh boy, I have a disturbingly curious nature so I've
probably googled just about everything under the sun—some not fit for polite
company. To make it easier, I'll keep it in the context of my book. The
funniest thing I googled while researching for FIRE ON THE ISLAND was a variety
of Cajun and French Cajun slang, curses and insults. It was pretty
entertaining.
Quick writing test! Use the following words in a
sentence: rigorous, satin, and vacuum.
“She rigorously vacuumed the satin sheets after her lover
shed all over them.” Shapeshifters, anyone?
Finish this sentence: If I'm not writing, I'm probably...
Reading! I know, *snore*. But it's true! I'm so addicted to
reading, I sometimes have to force myself to put down my Kindle so I can write
my own books. If not reading, than I can be found practicing or competing in
dog agility. Google it, it's really fun!
Here’s the part where you thank the people who are supporting
you. Let's hear your shout outs.
My husband James, and my family have been super supportive.
Also my group of friends from the place we train for agility, Dog Haven, has
been amazing. They were always encouraging me in the process of writing and
publishing this book. Lastly, I have to give a shout out to my favorite
musicians, Jonny Lang and Tab Benoit for providing the soundtrack to the story
in my head.
And finally, where can people find you and your book
online?
I love talking to readers. You can find me here:
And my book:
Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Island-Vigilati-ebook/dp/B008RO8BZM/ref=la_B008UXO15E_1_1_title_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1345334929&sr=1-1
Excerpt:
"It's a whole hive of the
things," Jeremiah whispered. The auchrim merely stared at them,
unmoving. Through the enveloping mist, they were strangely androgynous.
Multiple copies of the original, a perfect similacra of Alastore.
The creatures parted, making way for
a lone figure to step forward. Well, if it wasn't the original himself.
Alastore was dressed impeccably in
steel gray trousers and a black dress shirt. His black hair was swept away from
his face and slicked back. He looked every bit the gentleman, from the sharp,
patrician features, all the way to the tips of his black Gucci loafers.
He was the proverbial wolf in
sheep's clothing.
Squeezing between Callum and Amy,
Isla moved to stand in front of her friends. Jeremiah and Marduk flanked her on
either side, bracing for the worst.
While the three of them knew exactly
what they were dealing with, the rest of the searchers had been left in the
dark. Callum's gruff voice echoed in the cavern.
"Just who in the hell is
this joker?"
Fiddling with his diamond
cufflink, Alastore raised an eyebrow and his lips quirked in a half smile.
Rich, disembodied laughter bounced around the recesses of the cave.
"Legio nomen mihi
est, quia multi sumus," came the quiet answer.
"What? What did he
say?"
Jere cleared his throat
and flicked a nervous glance behind him at Callum. "He said 'My name is
Legion, for we are many'."
"Demon that quotes
the Bible. Cute," Amy said.
Alastore glided closer to
where Isla stood, causing Jeremiah to surge forward. He was stayed by a calm
hand on his arm.
"It was generous of
you, witch, to bring us all of these extra souls. I can assure you, they will
be put to good use." The demon smiled his gruesome, serrated smile, and
actually winked at her. Winked. This time Jeremiah was the one who had
to restrain her from going for his throat.
After a brief moment of
stillness, Alastore executed a crisp about face and walked back to his minions
who, again, made way for him. Just as he passed the front ranks, he paused and
turned his head toward the auchrim closest to him.
His voice was as gentle as
it was deadly when he spoke.
"Take them."
J.K.
Hogan has been telling stories for as long as she can remember, beginning with
writing cast lists and storylines for her toys growing up. When she finally
decided to put pen to paper, magic happened. She is greatly inspired by all
kinds of music and often creates a “soundtrack” for her stories as she writes
them.
J.K. resides in North
Carolina, where she was born and raised. A true southern girl at heart, she
lives on a farm with her husband and their three horses, one miniature donkey,
one cat, and two champion agility dogs.
In addition to writing, she
enjoys training and competing in dog sports, spending time with her large
southern family, camping, boating and, of course, reading! Please feel free to
visit J.K.’s contact page—she’d love to hear from you!
Review: "Fire on the Island" by J.K. Hogan
Fire on the Island
(Vigilati #1)
by: J.K. Hogan
Publishing Date: 8/2/12
Publisher: Sapphire Publishing
Source: Provided for Blog Tour
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Description:
“She who wields the mark is the barrier between man and monster. She is the daughter of gods, the mother of man, protector of all. Vigilati Usque Ad Mortem”
All Isla Macallen wanted was a simple existence on her little Scottish island, free from her mother’s insanity and the prying eyes of neighbors. What she got was embroiled in a war for the souls of mankind. A war of good versus evil, of witches versus demons, and Isla learns that she alone can end it.
Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau was a self-proclaimed nomad, traveling the world researching paranormal phenomena. He doesn’t expect his research to lead him to Scotland, and to the woman who will turn his world upside down.
Together with a facetious shapeshifting animal spirit guide, Jeremiah and Isla discover that she is part of an ancient bloodline bred to protect the gateways between the human world and the spirit world, to keep evil demons from destroying them. They must find the key to defeating Alastore, the demon king, and closing the gate before Samhain, when the veil between the worlds is lifted. As the war for their souls wages around them, Isla and Jeremiah will risk it all for love—a love neither had ever thought possible.
All Isla Macallen wanted was a simple existence on her little Scottish island, free from her mother’s insanity and the prying eyes of neighbors. What she got was embroiled in a war for the souls of mankind. A war of good versus evil, of witches versus demons, and Isla learns that she alone can end it.
Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau was a self-proclaimed nomad, traveling the world researching paranormal phenomena. He doesn’t expect his research to lead him to Scotland, and to the woman who will turn his world upside down.
Together with a facetious shapeshifting animal spirit guide, Jeremiah and Isla discover that she is part of an ancient bloodline bred to protect the gateways between the human world and the spirit world, to keep evil demons from destroying them. They must find the key to defeating Alastore, the demon king, and closing the gate before Samhain, when the veil between the worlds is lifted. As the war for their souls wages around them, Isla and Jeremiah will risk it all for love—a love neither had ever thought possible.
My Review:
I always love a good witch story and of course this book definitely had me intrigued when it was set in Scotland. I absolutely adore Scotland! Cannot wait to make a trip out there myself. =)
Isla Macallen has come to the little Scottish island to get away from what happened to her when she was 8 years old. The people on the little island are not so intrigued by her. They actually fear her because they're not sure about her. Something is different about her and they are not sure what it is.
Isla is trying to keep a low profile and she is working as a tour/hiking guide on the island....but when people in her tour come up missing, she is the prime suspect.
Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau studies the paranormal and he knows there is something about witches that he has been fascinated with for awhile. He goes to Scotland to find the witch that he has heard stories about. In the mean time, he comes across Isla and falls for her the minute he sees her. What he does not realize, is that the witch he wants to find, he actually is looking at.
Isla is attracted to the doctor as well, but she's not too sure at first about him.
It is up to the doctor to tell Isla what and who she is...but can Isla really believe it.
Fire on the Island brings you the paranormal...which includes witches, shape shifters, and demons.
My thoughts on the Fire on the Island is that it definitely is a great starter to a series. J.K. Hogan definitely builds up the story very well. She even leaves you hanging on what may be the next adventure for the characters. The ending with the bad guy though, happened to quickly though in my opinion. Maybe because the bad guy annoyed me and wanted more to happen to him. He was nothing, but a pain in the booty.
Other than that, I really enjoyed reading about the witches and how everything came together.
The love between Jeremiah and Isla is a love that is instantaneous, and J.K. Hogan explains why that it is in the book. =)
I loved the shape shifter in the book (won't go into details about him...because I don't want to give away what role he plays).
I recommend this book to paranormal romance readers out there who enjoy reading about witches and other paranormal creatures. =)
Looking forward to seeing what J.K. Hogan does in Book #2. =)
Isla Macallen has come to the little Scottish island to get away from what happened to her when she was 8 years old. The people on the little island are not so intrigued by her. They actually fear her because they're not sure about her. Something is different about her and they are not sure what it is.
Isla is trying to keep a low profile and she is working as a tour/hiking guide on the island....but when people in her tour come up missing, she is the prime suspect.
Dr. Jeremiah Rousseau studies the paranormal and he knows there is something about witches that he has been fascinated with for awhile. He goes to Scotland to find the witch that he has heard stories about. In the mean time, he comes across Isla and falls for her the minute he sees her. What he does not realize, is that the witch he wants to find, he actually is looking at.
Isla is attracted to the doctor as well, but she's not too sure at first about him.
It is up to the doctor to tell Isla what and who she is...but can Isla really believe it.
Fire on the Island brings you the paranormal...which includes witches, shape shifters, and demons.
My thoughts on the Fire on the Island is that it definitely is a great starter to a series. J.K. Hogan definitely builds up the story very well. She even leaves you hanging on what may be the next adventure for the characters. The ending with the bad guy though, happened to quickly though in my opinion. Maybe because the bad guy annoyed me and wanted more to happen to him. He was nothing, but a pain in the booty.
Other than that, I really enjoyed reading about the witches and how everything came together.
The love between Jeremiah and Isla is a love that is instantaneous, and J.K. Hogan explains why that it is in the book. =)
I loved the shape shifter in the book (won't go into details about him...because I don't want to give away what role he plays).
I recommend this book to paranormal romance readers out there who enjoy reading about witches and other paranormal creatures. =)
Looking forward to seeing what J.K. Hogan does in Book #2. =)
*Disclosure
of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a
copy of this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have
been received by Reading Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in
exchange for this review. There was no obligation to write a positive review.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with
those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This
disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part
255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorcements and Testimonials in Advertising*
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