Meet the Author! An Interview with Brittany Quagan, Author of Ren: Awakened

Ren: Awakened by Brittany Quagan
Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal/Romance)
Date Published:  August 2, 2016
Publisher: Balboa Press

Seventeen-year-old Ren Nagel knows that the strange things she's seen are real--even if no one else believes her. But, when she's locked up in a psychiatric hospital; she loses hope that anyone will ever truly be on her side.

Then everything changes. With the help of a new friend, Ren breaks out. It's when she's on the run that she learns who she really is.

Hunted by evil, Ren must learn to control a power she never knew she had, organize a coalition of people she never knew existed, and remind humanity why fighting the darkness is a big part of being human.

Sometimes, feeling different is much more than just a feeling. For Ren, it means the fate of the world.

Check back soon for a review of this amazing book!

How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing since I was old enough to pick up a pen and make sense of what I was seeing in my head all the time. Stories have been playing in my mind for even longer than that. I always knew writing was a huge part of my life path because I found it selfish to see such magical things and not be able to share them with others in some way.  

What inspired you to write REN: Awakened?
The entire REN series was this story that I pretty much lived and wrote along the way. It was in my head forever, but I didn’t have the logistics down. It was actually a road trip a few years ago with real-life Kiki (another main character in the series) that really launched it from an idea into an actual story. 

What was the weirdest thing you had to google while doing research?
What is actually happening to your teeth when you chew on tinfoil hahaha

Would you ever want to turn your book into a movie?
Without a doubt. 

Which of your characters do you relate to most and why?
You know, I feel like each character is very much one facet of my many personalities. I am a Gemini, after all. Gage has this anger and hostility because he just can’t let go of the past, and I feel like that’s something so many people battle in different areas of their lives – and that was a HUGE lesson for me – letting go of the past and just being present.
Ren is so me. Anyone who knows me and who has read the book always says, “YOU’RE HER. WHEN I READ, THAT’S ALL I HEAR AND SEE IS YOU!”
She’s snarky, she’s sarcastic, she’s petrified, yet she wears this mask of courage, and she’s faced with learning really hard lessons about herself and the world that forces her to find strength she never knew she had. That was my entire life growing up. 

What is a secret about you that nobody else knows?
Ooph, this is a great question. To be honest, I try really hard not to have any secrets because I hid who I really was from the world for so long and I think it’s so important to embrace all aspects of yourself – even the shadow side. So I let my freak flag fly high, no matter what. But, I guess a secret would be that I still sometimes get social anxiety and I get really weird and awkward whenever people talk to me about “successful” things I’ve achieved or congratulate me on things because I feel like I haven’t done anything great. But that’s only sometimes. Other days I’m like, “You go girl!” And I high five myself. I’m just a human still learning self-love and empowerment, and I’m not afraid to admit that. 

If your real life as a teenager was a Young Adult book, what would you, the main character, be like?
Oh boy. At first, I was going to say, “Pshh you already got it with Ren!” But then I realized you said “as a teenager.” Ren’s life is the PG version of my teenage years. Her anxiety and fears are all very real. But my coping mechanisms during my teen years were drugs and alcohol. I was depressed, battled eating disorders, anxiety up the wazoo. And I used to think I was a badass, so I would fist fight people. Sometimes I’m convinced I’m actually an Obtruder like Kiki … because the difference between where I was then and where I’m at now are light years apart, just an entirely different … no I’ll say transformed … person. 
So my main character would be a teen struggling exceptionally hard to function as a person, who has zero self love, esteem, or empowerment, but in the end, proves that change and overcoming anything is possible when you actually want and choose to.  

What book have you read too many times to count?
This is a toss up between Harry Potter (so cliché) and The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. 

What is the best piece of writing advice you ever received?
When you think you’re done, you’re not. You’re never done. Even after it’s published, you’ll still want to change a million things. Perfectionism is a bitch. 

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
How much I’ve actually dealt with in my life in such a short amount of time. So much of the series is really an autobiography with just added fiction. And how much I can actually achieve if I want to. I didn’t think I could do it. But then I did. And that was freaking awesome. 

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I have an amazing business in CT for my big kid job. I own an intuitive development and healing center where I do Intuitive Life Coaching & Counseling, help people develop their intuitive abilities, and heal from wherever they’re struggling in their life. It’s so fulfilling and gratifying, I wouldn’t change it for anything. Plus I’ll admit, it’s super cool being psychic. Childhood dreams DO come true!
And I also love to go on adventures, travel, hang out with my friends and family – all that normal stuff since my life is pretty abnormal.

Are any of the things in your books based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
The majority is based on real life. I call it my autobiography on fiction steroids. 

Brittany Quagan, known by family and friends as "Brittles," was born in Connecticut, twenty-something years ago and spent most of her life day dreaming like the stereo-typical Gemini she is.

Growing up, she wanted nothing more than to live a life of magic, mayhem, and writing, never knowing her dreams were being manifested into a reality with every wish and intention.

As a teen, her anxiety-riddled existence became nothing less than a burden, but she was determined to escape it and convinced there had to be more going on than just "being anxious." It wasn't until she met a new group of friends who guided her down a path of understanding energy and intuition that her life changed and she was able to overcome this.
Today, Brittany owns Journeys: School for the Soul, LLC in Windsor, CT.; an anxiety relief, intuitive development & healing center to help others who suffer from anxiety/panic disorder, those who believe in the unseen to tap into their intuitive selves, and to help people grow, find empowerment, manifest like a boss, and heal from wherever it is they feel stuck.

Ren's story isn't one that just came to Brittany; it's a story she lived. Most of what you read about in the adventure-filled series are experiences that are very real, that actually happened as it is entirely based on Brittany's life, and people she has met along the way. The series is one that's dwelled inside Brittany since she was a child, but couldn't be told until she finished living it for herself.

When Brittany isn't teaching, counseling, or writing, you'll find her traveling with friends  & family on a quest for adventure wherever she can, dying her hair every color of the rainbow, playing with her three nephews, trying craft beers, ruthlessly rating buffalo wings from all over the country, and talking to the moon. Most recently, she traveled to Alaska to dance on a glacier and bike down a mountain crying from hysterical laughter and extreme fear of plummeting to her death.

REN: Awakened is her first published book.

To learn more about Brittany Quagan and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Spooktakular Giveaway Hop!

I'm so glad you hopped by my stop along the Spooktakular Giveaway Hop! Halloween is probably my favorite holiday. I'm not a fan of the cold weather that follows soon after, but I love the costumes, scary movies, and all around fun that is to be had. 

On my stop, we'll be giving away This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti along with some Jewelry. I love jewelry that looks old fashioned, and that's just what you can find at Laurna's New Vintage Jewelry. I'm excited that she decided to join me on this hop, because what would Halloween be without some fun jewelry?!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the other wonderful blogs on this blog hop for more chances to win fabulous prizes!! 

Release Day Blitz! Heat by Alyssa Rose Ivy!

Hunt (The Grizzly Brothers Chronicles Book 1) by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre: New Adult (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Self

There's a new Alpha in town and he just found his mate, she just doesn't know it yet.

Welcome to Crestview, Montana. Population ~1000 and not all of those are human.

After his brother is murdered, Ian must step up to become Alpha of his bear shifter pack. At the same time law student Mara shows up in town, and Ian knows she’s destined to be his mate.

When a rival pack lays claim to Mara, Ian and his brothers will stop at nothing to protect her.

Heat (The Grizzly Brothers Chronicles Book 2) by Alyssa Rose Ivy
Genre: New Adult (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Self

Mara has power—power she isn't sure she wants, but after awakening a demon she has no choice but to embrace her abilities.

Ian will do anything to have Mara as his mate, but even he is unsure how to protect her from a danger like none he could have ever imagined.

When the heat is on, Mara and Ian will risk everything to find their way back to each other.

If you haven't done so already, you need to read Alyssa Rose Ivy's books!! While you're at it take a peek at my reviews too!

Alyssa Rose Ivy is a New Adult and Young Adult author who loves to weave stories with romance and a southern setting. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children, and she can usually be found with a cup of coffee in her hand.

To read more about this author, visit Alyssa Rose Ivy's Blog and Website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter.

    

You'll want to read ALL of the Chronicles!

Playing Catch Up! Of Neptune by Anna Banks

Playing Catch Up has really been helping me through my ever growing TBR list. I'd like to welcome all other blogs to participate too! If you do, be sure to post your links in the comments section. I'd love to see your Playing Catch U

p Reviews, and I'm sure others would too!! *wink*

Want to know more about Playing Catch Up? I'll tell you all about it here!

Of Neptune (The Syrena Legacy #3) by Anna Banks

Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal/Mythological Romance)
Date Published: May 13, 2014
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Emma, who is half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together. Alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean-living Syrena and the land-dwelling, freshwater counterparts. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love, but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever. 

Of Neptune is the third book in The Syrena Legacy by Anna Banks. Galen and Emma regressed a little as far as their character growth is concerned. Emma seemed a lot younger and unsure of herself in this book. Galen.. well.. he acted like a jealous jerk and it backfired. Their fight seemed unnatural. I don't understand why it got so serious so fast.

I enjoyed meeting the new characters and traveling to a new community. Their world just got a little bigger. I liked Reed. I didn't like how quickly Emma got close to him and seemed to start considering him as a replacement to Galen, but Reed was a likable guy. Maybe we'll get a story on him in the future.

I DIG my bare feet into the sand, getting just close enough to the water for the mid-morning waves to tickle my toes. Each lazy wave licks my feet, then retreats as if beckoning me into the Atlantic Ocean, whispering of adventure. Of mischief.
Of peace-and-freaking quiet.
Which is all I want after this past summer. What with Jagen's attempt to take over the kingdoms, our near discovery by humans, me leading a wall of fish to an underwater tribunal—we barely had room to breathe. And then our breath was all but stolen away from us when Rachel drowned.
We deserve a break from it all, Galen and I. But it doesn't look like we're getting one.
Behind me, the wind hauls with it the occasional shout erupting from my house. The bellows of Galen and his older brother Grom taint the air with a rancor that repels me farther from the house and deeper into the water. I roll up my pajama pants and, letting the saltwater have its way with my calves, try to ignore the words I can make out between the squawks of seagulls overhead.
Words like "loyalty" and "privacy" and "law." I cringe when I hear the word "grief." That word comes from Grom, and after it, no words come from Galen. It's a kind of silence I've come to recognize from him. One filled with anguish, torment, guilt, and the overwhelming need to say or do something to hide it.
But there is no hiding that Rachel's death mauled the deepest parts of him. She was more than just his assistant. She was his closest human friend. Maybe the others don't see the depths of it. If they did, they wouldn't throw it in his face or use it against him. But I do see it. I know what it's like to have so much heartache you come to despise the air that keeps you alive.
Galen doesn't cry. He doesn't talk about her. There seems to be a part of Galen that belonged to Rachel, and she took that part with her. What's left of him is trying hard to function without the missing piece, but it can't quite coordinate. Like a car running on empty.
I want to help him, to tell him I know how he feels. But comforting someone is different than being comforted. In a way, it's harder. I went through this after Dad died of cancer. After my best friend Chloe was attacked by a shark. But I still don't know what to do or say to make it better for Galen. Because only many, many sunrises can soften the pain. And it hasn't been long enough for that yet.
I feel bad that I left my mom in the kitchen to deal with this mess by herself. Poseidon princess that she is, this is a difficult problem to navigate alone. But I can't go back in yet. Not until I think of a fantastic excuse for why I thought it was okay to abandon a very serious and very-important-to-Galen conversation. I should be there with them in the kitchen, standing beside him, arms crossed, giving Grom the stank eye to reiterate that I am not his Royal subject and that I'm on Galen's side no matter what that might involve.
But it's hard to face Grom like that when I'm kinda sorta in agreement with him. Especially since the Triton king is one of the most intimidating people I've ever had the misfortune to meet. He would hone in on my reluctance. He would see through me if I put up pretenses about the trip.
This stupid trip.
Last year at prom—well, our own version of prom, which involved dancing underwater in Armani—we promised each other we would take a trip to the mountains. To get away from it all, or whatever. And at first, this whole summer jaunt inland with Galen seemed like a good idea to me. Actually, it seemed like unfiltered heaven. He's adamant that he wants to be alone with me. To make up for all the time we lost mutually denying our feelings for each other. Then the time we spent fending off Jagen's advance on both the kingdoms. And what could be better than that? Spending private time with Galen is about a ten on my Ecstasy-O-Meter. Of course I want to steal back all of the lost time—I'd steal the time before we actually met if I could somehow bribe the universe to grant wishes.
But the bigger reason—the real reason—I think Galen wants to get away is Rachel. I know he wants a change in scenery. He wants to get away from the house they shared together. Especially from the now maddeningly quiet kitchen where she used to click around in stilettos while preparing him delectable seafood dishes. The house used to smell of cooking food and swirling Italian perfume and possibly gunpowder if you came on the right day.
And don't I know how that feels? Waking up every day in my bedroom full of all things Chloe was like getting a daily, fast-acting injection of painful memories. Staring at my dad's empty place setting at the table felt like watching vultures of the past circling around his empty chair. But Galen hasn't allowed himself to start the grieving process. And this trip seems to be an attempt to keep it at bay even longer. Which can't be healthy. And since it's not healthy, I feel more like an enabler than a supporter.
Either way, I should go back now. I should go back and be there for Galen and tell Grom that no matter his reasons Galen needs this trip. Then express my own concerns with Galen privately. I should be there for him now and support him in front of the others, just as he would for me—just as he's already done for me.
I'll need to explain myself—why I left during the conversation in the first place—say something so that I don't look like the jerk that I am. Tact hasn't been my specialty lately. I'm thinking Galen's sister Rayna is contagious, and she's somehow infected me with her rudeness. But maybe tact isn't what I need. Maybe I should try her truth. The truth would only embarrass Galen, I decide. And make him feel even more alone.
Or maybe I'm just being a quivering chicken about the whole thing.
I guess I have to take an honest-to-God stab at tact. Lovely.
As soon as I turn to go back, I sense my grandfather in the water. The pulse of the Poseidon King Antonis coils around my legs like a tightening string. Fan-freaking-tastic. Just what we need. Another Royal opinion on the matter of our road trip.
I wait for him to surface, trying to think of a great excuse as to why he shouldn't go to the house. I've got nothing. Anything I say will come off as unwelcoming, when really, I'd like to see him more often. He's high up on the list of people—well, people who have a fin—I'd like to spend time with. But now is not a good time for spending.
It's not long before my excuse to shoo him away presents itself in the form of Naked Grandfather. I cover my eyes, irritation bubbling up against my will. "Really? You really forget every single time you change into human form to put shorts on? You cannot go in the house like that."
Grandfather sighs. "My apologies, young Emma. But you must admit, all these human traditions are a bit overwhelming. Where might I find a short?"
That clothes seem like a mountainous burden to him reminds me that our worlds are spectacularly different. And that I could learn a lot from him. Without unshielding my eyes, I point toward the water, in the exact opposite direction I know Galen has a pair hidden. When in doubt, stall. "Try over there. Under the slab of rock. And they're called shorts, not ‘a short.'"
"I'm afraid you'll have to bore someone else with your human expressions, young one. I couldn't possibly care less." I hear him disappear under the water, surfacing several seconds later. "The short is not here."
I shrug. "Guess you can't go in then." This is going better than I thought it would.
I can practically feel him crossing his arms at me. Here we go.
"You think I'm here to object to your going inland with Galen."
My mouth drops open. And I stutter excessively when I say, "Well. Um. Aren't you?" Because so far, he's done nothing but play hall monitor between me and Galen. A few months ago, he walked in on us while we were making out, and Galen nearly passed out because of it. Ever since then Galen has been terrified of disappointing the Poseidon king, so Grandfather's negative opinion on this trip might actually be a game changer.
Which is why he cannot go in the house.
I hear Grandfather melt into the water, and he confirms it with, "You can turn around now." Only his shoulders and chest are above the waves. He smiles. It's the kind of adoring smile I've always imagined a grandfather gives his grandchildren when they bring him their most hideous Crayola creation. "I'm certainly not happy about you going inland, of course. I had wanted to spend a bit more time together, too. But I know from past experience that Poseidon princesses are not inclined to care about my opinion."
It's kind of cool to be referred to as a princess, even though my mother is the princess of Poseidon territory. Still, I raise a get-to-the-point brow. Grandfather responds best to frank and direct.
"I'm here to speak to you, Emma. Only you."
Mortified, I wonder if there exists a Syrena expression for "the birds and the bees talk." Probably there is, and it's probably some god-awful analogy having to do with plankton or worse.
In the distance, we hear a shout of outrage. He cocks his head at me. "Why aren't you in there helping your prince?"
If I thought I felt guilty before … But then I remember that this business is not for Grandfather's nose. I'm actually doing Galen a favor by stalling now. "Because if I stay there any longer, I'll grow a beard from all the testosterone hovering in the air." Of course, my answer is over his head; he indicates this with a bored-silly eye roll. Syrena do not know—nor apparently care—what testosterone is.
"If you don't wish to tell me, that is fine," he says. "I have trust in your judgment." More shouting from behind me. Maybe my judgment sucks after all. I'm about to excuse myself, when he says, "It's better this way, that they're distracted. What I have to say is for your ears only, young Emma." A seagull overhead drops a bomb then, and it lands cleanly on Grandfather's shoulder. He mutters some fishy expletive and swishes saltwater over the offending white glob, setting it off to sea. "Why don't you come into the water, so we can close some of the distance between us? I'd rather someone didn't overhear. Here, I'll change back to Syrena form if that will make you more comfortable."
I wade into the Atlantic, not caring to roll up my pajamas this time. I pass a large crab who looks like he's tempted to nip at me. I squat in the water, submerging my entire head, and come face-to-face with the crab. "If you pinch me," I tell it, "I'll pick you up and throw you on the beach for the gulls." The Gift of Poseidon—the ability to talk to fish—does have its advantages. Bossing around marine life is just one of them.
I've come to realize crabs in particular throw mini temper tantrums. I wonder if that's where the term "crabby" came from in the first place. He scuttles away, as if I've ruined his whole day. When I resurface and reach Grandfather, I can no longer touch the ground. Gliding up to him, I say, "So? We're as private as we can be."
Then he smiles at me like I am the reason he is floating instead of the waves or his powerful fin. "Before you leave on your adventure, young Emma, I need to tell you about a town called Neptune."

Check out my reviews of other books from this author!

Anna Banks, NYT Bestselling YA author of The Syrena Legacy series: OF POSEIDON (2012) OF TRITON (2013) OF NEPTUNE (2014). Repped by rockstar Lucy Carson of the Friedrich Agency. I live with my husband and daughter in the Florida Panhandle. I have a southern accent compared to New Yorkers, and I enjoy food cooked with real fat. I can't walk in high heels, but I'm very good at holding still in them. If you put chocolate in front of me, you must not have wanted it in the first place.

That is all.

To learn more about Anna Banks and her books, visit her website & blog.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter.

Book Review of Dark Diary by P. Anastasia

Dark Diary (Dark Diary, #1) by P. Anastasia
Genre: New Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: September 26, 2016
Publisher: Self

Worlds collide when a young woman with a dark past encounters a young man with an even darker one. More human than vampire, Dark Diary is a quaint, sophisticated romance detailing the accounts of two lovers who have paid the ultimate price...

Forbidden romance in the vein of classics like Wuthering Heights, frosted with the seductive allure of the original Dark Shadows, Dark Diary documents a pair torn apart by time. The story is told by a 400-year-old immortal and a 21-year-old modern-day artist.

He's haunted by guilt over the passing of a friend and lover--the daughter of an English Baron in 17th century Ireland.

She's tormented nightly by visions of her own untimely death.

Together, they find solace by sharing secrets beneath the light of the moon.

From the author of the Fluorescence Series, this timeless, genre-crossing love story with supernatural undertones, will capture your heart and never let go.

Dark Diary is the first book in the Dark Diary series by P. Anastasia. Within this story we're in the present then travel to the past and back again. I enjoyed Matthaya's story in the past quite a bit. Him and Katherine were full of emotions and passion, and their story was easy to get lost in. Once in the present, the emotion is gone. And it's supposed to be in a sense, as the vampires of this world lack many of the emotions they had as a human, such as love. They live primarily on instinct. I'm not quite so convinced that they've lost these emotions, so much as shut them off. Maybe they've even done it unconsciously. I'm not sure yet. Just a theory, but from early on, I thought Matthaya showed some behaviors that a cold feeling-less vampire wouldn't show. There were other things that made me wonder as well, but you won't get any spoilers here. I'm very curious as to how these emotions change, if they do, in the upcoming books.

Dark Diary by P. Anastasia was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.

 “I will belong to no other.” Muffled by the effects of recently ingested poison, my voice was nearly inaudible.
I clasped my hands together near my lips and closed my eyes to absolve myself. It is often said that you will find God when you are near death, but God was not who I sought.
     Lingering on the thought, I glanced down at the icy water sweeping over my bare feet. The rocks were slippery and the darkness made it difficult to see anything besides the reflection of the vigilant moon.
     With each step, my legs grew heavier—weaker—until I could stand no longer. I slipped and hit the water with a splash.
The current pushed and pulled at my limbs. Coils of seaweed and dead branches weaved themselves into the curls of my hair as my body swayed against the tide. My fingers glided across waterworn stone, indentations in the rocks catching my fingernails.
     Then I felt nothingness.
     Life and death battled for my soul, their claws tugging me violently from side to side. The outcome was easily decided once a wave crashed into my face, filling my mouth and lungs with seawater.
     Numb, my limbs no longer responded to my will. As I was dragged deeper through the blackness, my consciousness drifted in and out—my sacrifice to the watery beast, voluntary.
     Heavy. Weightless. Then suddenly falling forever. Death triumphantly possessed me, a ghostly hand wriggling down my throat to claim my soul. My heart surrendered to the trauma and control over my body faded from my grasp.
     One last thought fluttered by and I opened my eyes. Through my blurry, distorted vision, I almost thought I could see him gazing down at me through the ripples of moonlight.
     I almost thought I could see him reaching out to me.

With character origins tracing back to the late nineties, Dark Diary was the creative leap that sent P. Anastasia plummeting into the literary rabbit hole for good. One of her prized accomplishments, the novel resonates with darkness and passion—the embodiment of her unique storytelling style.

Author of the science fiction tetralogy, Fluorescence, she is no stranger to writing. Drawn to the craft in childhood, she began attempting to produce her first book at age 11.

While working toward her college degree, she wrote news and editorial columns for two campus newspapers. After graduating with a degree in Communications and spending a year studying abroad in Kofu, Japan, she followed her heart to her publishing aspirations. On the side, she enjoys serving as a professional voice talent for radio, television, and audio books.

To learn more about P. Anastasia and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.