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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Please Welcome My Guest

Please welcome my guest, Melissa Snark. Here are some fast facts about Melissa.

·       Melissa Snark is published with The Wild Rose Press & as an Indie author with five unique titles: A CAT'S TALE, THE MATING GAME, LEARNING TO FLY, THE CHILD THIEF, and HUNGER MOON.

·       Her Loki's Wolves series includes THE CHILD THIEF, HUNGER MOON and BATTLE CRY.

·       She lives in the San Francisco bay area with her husband, three children and a glaring of cats. She is a professional cat herder and unrepentant satirist who blogs about books and writing on The Snarkology.


Tell us something about yourself both writing and not writing related.

I'm a huge science fiction fan. My interest in Scifi started at three with the original Star Trek series. As a child I read Asimov and Clarke, and watched a wide range of movies and television series in the genre.

Do you have a writing routine?  Where do you usually do your writing?

Most of my writing is done in the late morning to early afternoon while my daughter is in school. I'm a stickler for keeping to a schedule and mornings are always my most productive time.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?

I went kayaking on the Monterrey Bay with my husband because I wanted to be able to vividly describe the experience. Ironically, the scene didn't make it into the final draft of the book, but it was a beautiful experience. (And incredibly romantic.) I cherish the memory.

Sounds like a great time. What’s the best writing advice you were ever given? 

Ready for a cliché?  Show, don't tell.

Great advice. What do you like to do in your leisure time?

When I'm not spending time with family or friends, I spend a lot of time reading. I love science fiction and fantasy stories as well as a great many non-fiction craft books.

Tell us about your current release in a couple of sentences.


Battle Cry is the sequel to Hunger Moon. In book 2, the story focus really shifts from Victoria Storm to the Barrett men, Sawyer and Jake, as they seek to save the soul of murdered member of their family.

Wow! Sounds like a great book. Can you tell us a little about your next project?

I'm working on a revised and expanded version of The Child Thief, book #0 in my Loki's Wolves series. I've more than doubled the word count to 30K and vastly improved the story line. The story is currently undergoing revision.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Hunger Moon, Book #1 in the Loki's Wolves series, is on sale for 99 cents through Dec. 26th. You can learn more on my site: http://www.melissasnark.com/lokis-wolves/hunger-moon-1-lokis-wolves/

Blurb:  
Survival demands sacrifices; healing requires forgiveness.

Men revere him; monsters fear him. Jake Barrett, the notorious Hunter King, values loyalty to family and followers above all else. When the daughter of his closest ally murders Daniel, his oldest son, it sets off a chain reaction of violence and destruction that claims the lives of both wolves and hunters. Determined to avenge his son, Jake seeks the truth at any cost.

After losing her lover and then her mate, Victoria Storm simply wants to get on with building a new life in Sierra Pines, California. A vengeful Jake Barrett and his organization aren't going to make that easy, especially with the unwelcome attraction between her and the Hunter King's second son. Perils beyond the mortal coil plague Victoria. When the Norse Fates predict Victoria will destroy the world, her duties as a priestess of Freya come into conflict with her responsibilities as a Valkyrie of Odin. When they tell her she will do it to save her unborn child, she's not so sure they are wrong.

Sawyer Barrett has been trying to kill Victoria for so long, he doesn't know whether he loves her or hates her. Desperate to end the war, he's willing to take chances with everything–except his heart. The hunter harbors a deadly secret he can't reveal without risking the ceasefire and his life. At Sawyer's urging, Victoria agrees to peace talks with Jake. All the while, an ancient vampire plots the destruction of wolves and hunters alike. If the embittered rivalry between hunters and wolves doesn't end—and fast—there is no hope for Victoria's pack... or for their world.
 
Excerpt:
Shade enshrouded Skuld, and her voice manifested upon the air, thick and oppressive, closing in from all sides. "Your daughter will not grow to adulthood in Midgard."
Victoria's heart slammed against her breastbone. Her breath expelled in a horrified gust. The bowl dropped from her hands and flew to protect her abdomen. "What do you mean?"
"Your daughter will be taken from you on the eve of her third birthday," Skuld said. "The one you trust most, a member of your own pack, will give the child over to your greatest enemy."
A growl trembled in Victoria's throat, and her entire body shook under the dual assault of fear and rage. The suggestion of betrayal from within her own pack filled her with disbelief to the core of her being. It was unthinkable. Gritting her teeth, she sought a solution, refusing to dwell on it. "How am I to prevent this?"
"We speak of what will come to pass," Verðandi said in a sympathetic tone.
"Your predictions are not carved in stone," Victoria said. Arguing with Fate was a foolish endeavor, but she refused to accept their prophecy.
The old woman, Urðr, smiled with a frightening gleam in her eyes. "Predictions, carved into the trunk of the World Tree, carved into the spiritual fabric of the world."
Stubborn determination settled over Victoria like armor. Her mother had taught her there was no absolute fate, just as there was no absolute free will. Life consisted of a wide range of possibilities between the two extremes. She refused to allow her daughter to die at three years of age. She would move worlds, alter fate, slay gods.
Whatever it took.
"Do you wish to save your child?" Skuld asked.
Victoria answered without thought. "Yes. I'll do anything. Tell me. Please."
"The final days are upon us," Verðandi said.
Skuld took over speaking. "To save your daughter, you will side with Loki against the Aesir. You will use your enchanted dagger to cut the binding of the great wolf Fenrir. You will be responsible for freeing the beast that kills Odin."
Victoria's stomach turned. Her head shook in automatic denial. "When the gods imprisoned Fenrir, my people pledged fealty to the Aesir. We have served them loyally ever since. Even when we were driven from the homeland, almost a millennium ago, we remained faithful. I will never cut Fenrir's bonds. To do so would end the world we live in and doom us all."
Skuld's gaze held steady. "You will."
Victoria snarled her denial. "No. I will never become the servant of the Trickster or willingly take part in bringing about Odin's death."
Skuld turned her head and pinned Victoria with one black eye that rolled in its socket like a liquid marble. "To save your daughter, you will."





BATTLE CRY to be released on Dec. 18th, 2014
Book #2 in the Loki's Wolves series
Melissa Snark
Genre: Norse folklore fantasy
Word Count: 96,000 approx.

ISBN-10: 1942193025
ISBN-13: 978-1-942193-02-9
ASIN: B00QSPEXZE

 

Battle Cry is available for pre-order from Amazon

   
Connect with Melissa Snark:
Email: melissasnark at gmail.com
Twitter: @MelissaSnark

8 comments:

  1. Wow, this sounds like a great read, Melissa! And congratulations on sticking to that schedule for writing! You're very organized

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    1. Thanks, Barb. My life is full of chaos creatures so the schedule is the only way I feel like I'm holding my own. :D

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  2. Hi Katherine,
    It's lovely of you to have me as your guest today. Thank you so much!

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  3. Melissa--Great excerpt. I enjoyed the interview, especially your writing advice wrapped up in seven words. Have a great holiday and good luck with your release.

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    1. Judy,
      Thank you so much! Wishing you and your loved ones a happy holiday season in return. :-)

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  4. Hi Melissa, Excellent interview! I also do most of my writing in the morning. Loved the excerpt. Joanne :)

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    1. Joanne,
      Oh, the irony of children and the changes they bring to our lives. BC (before children) I was very much a night owl.

      Thank you for dropping by!

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