An Interview with Octavia

Octavia is the enrichment student at the Academy who represents Cordelia at the Student Council trial. Like all my characters, she was born in my imagination, this time inspired by my awesome friend and editor, Sue Bernstein, who is also a lawyer. During the editing process, something odd happened. Sue adopted Octavia into her own imagination, and Octavia seemed to become a manifestation of Sue’s personality. It was a weird, but wonderful thing, and a total hoot. For the first time, my story had a character who seemed to have taken over a life of her own outside my own imagination. So it was only natural to ask Sue my questions for Octavia.

Where did you attend to law school?

From the time I was a kid growing up in the mid-western US, I always wanted to live in New York. So I applied to only one law school - a prestigious school in Manhattan that shall remain nameless - and got in! I spent three blissful years in Manhattan before being turned.

When were you turned into a vampire? How old were you?

That’s a day I'll never forget - I was turned on graduation day. What began as the happiest day of my life, graduation from law school, ended with fangs in my neck and me undead forever. I was… am twenty-six years old.

I am guessing you were turned by someone eminent, hence you being sent here to the Academy. Are you able to share who that was?

While I am not at liberty to divulge the name, suffice it to say that he was one of my law professors, who told me he had very big plans for me. No kidding big plans! When not teaching evening classes in New York, he teaches an introduction to paranormal jurisprudence class at Bonfire Academy.

What were the circumstances in which you were turned?

The professor who turned me was my mentor. I trusted him and worked side-by-side with him for three years. At least he waited for me to graduate before he turned me but studying for the NY Bar Exam while trying to control my brand-new powers was a bit hairy!

What will you do once your time at the Academy is over?

My mentor/professor/attacker still has big plans for me. Once my enrichment year is over, I am going to go into practice with him and will also teach part time at the Academy.

What do you think of Jagger?

For a winter, that faery is definitely H-O-T!

How close to you feel to him after letting him drink your blood? Do you feel he belongs to you in any way?

As trite as this sounds, faeries belong to no one. That said, however, Jagger and I have a very close bond. Mmmmm.

Do you like Cordelia?

Like is such an odd word for a vampire to use. Cordelia was my client, and I respect her. You didn't think you'd pin down a lawyer, did you?

What do you think is up between her and Jagger?

Oh, goodness! Something for sure. I can sense it in my blood.

Are you coming back to school next year, during Faustine’s Integration year?

Yes! But on the teaching staff.

Finally, my friend Allirea wants to know if you can make her into a faery, or does she have to be born as one?

Allirea, dear one, I can turn you into a vampire. So why would you want to be a faery? Yum!

Thanks so much, Octavia and Sue!

My YA Favorites

It's International Women's Week and I'd like to share some of my favorite female YA writers with you. Enjoy!

Kindle Fire or Hot Guy?

It’s probably not a question that gets asked a lot, the more common one being Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet, iPad etc. etc. I’ll just concentrate on the hot guy aspect, leaving those of you who want a detailed analysis about the Kindle Fire to visit my bloviating buddy BigAl’s blog. If he hasn’t covered it, well...

So on to hot guys. Today’s specimen: Jonathan Rhys Meyers. For those of you not familiar with this almost perfect example of the male species, JRM played the very sexy Henry VIII in the HBO series, The Tudors. However, I chose him to blog about today not because of his obvious awesomeness, but because he encouraged me to change the course of my life. Not personally of course (le sigh), but through a song.

Words written or sung can have such a great impact on one’s life, and this particular song gave me the push I needed to finally give up on any thoughts of my past pretty-much-chosen-for-me career in science and pursue my writing, even though I didn’t know (and still don’t) where it would take me. What I do know is that this time, I’m doing it for me.

The ability to share my work through eBook outlets like Amazon and Barnes & Noble has been a gift. Please join me and my fellow authors Sibel Hodge, Diana Estill, Maniak Dhar, Edward G Talbot and Adam Pepper in launching The Kindle Fire Department March Madness Kindle Fire Giveaway. Please click on the image to enter!

CLICK TO ENTER

BONUS Giveaway!!! To be entered in a special giveaway for a signed hardback copy of INITIATION, please leave a comment under this post and follow this blog.

Winner will be drawn by random draw on 3/31 and the results posted under the comments. Please check back then to see if you have won, and if you have, please contact me (PortalChronicles@hotmail.com) to claim your book.

An Interview with Jagger

I have to be honest. I approached this interview with some hesitation, perhaps even a little trepidation. After all, even though I feel I know him a bit through Cordelia, I’ve never experienced Jagger directly. As he sits before me, I can empathize with Cordelia. He is impossibly magnetic, his aura both powerful and dangerous, the only release, a hint of humor gleaming in his silver-gray eyes.

IR: Jagger, thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Are you excited about starting a new year at the Academy?

Jagger: My pleasure. I am, though I’m not exactly sure what my role will be this year. I guess I’ll find out when I get there.

IR: So, you’re not heading back as the Student Council President?

Jagger: I wouldn’t think so. That position is usually only awarded for a year. Plus, my time at the academy is officially over.

IR: Why are you going back, then?

Jagger: Mainly to keep an eye on my brother, Ryker.

IR: And Cordelia?

Jagger: Yes, hmm. You said that you had some questions from my fans...

IR: I do! Here is one from Sean Sweeney. He wants to know what you got Cordelia for Valentine’s Day.

Jagger: Myself. However, like any girl, she obviously needed a “token” as well. I got her a little secret something from Harry Winston.

IR: Nice! The next question is about Cordelia as well. Al Kunz, the infamous celeb book blogger, aka The Snake, wants to know what really happened on the slopes. He wants details.

Jagger: He couldn’t handle the details.

IR: LOL! There you have it, Al! Moving on... Michelle Cable wants to know what you thought when you first saw Cordelia and what you thought of that electrifying kiss.

Jagger: That she’s stunning is apparent to all who are lucky enough to behold her. I was struck by her beauty as soon as I saw her, when she first arrived at the academy. It was my policy to stay away from demons, though. Every kiss with her is electrifying, but I’m guessing you mean our very first kiss. I was shocked, but immediately realized what had happened.

IR: Too bad that doesn’t happen to humans. Synching sounds unbelievably intimate...

Jagger: It is, but the realization that one is bound forever to this one being frightening, too. That’s unnatural in the supernatural world.

IR: I can see that. Faustine seems to bridge the gap between the human and the paranormal worlds. My daughter Lauren wants to know what you think of Faustine, and Vickie Boehnlein wants to know if you’re scared of Faustine.

Jagger: I love Faustine. She’s like a little sister to me. I feel very protective of her, even though I know that she can take care of herself. And yes, I’m scared of her. I’d be stupid not to be. She’s one of the most powerful demons I’ve ever come across.

IR: Demons seem to like their food, meat in particular. Lynn O’Dell would like to know if you prefer filet mignon or T-bones?

Jagger: I’m not a demon, but I do prefer Filet Mignon.

IR: That doesn’t surprise me. I have a last question from my friend Allirea Brumley. She wants to know what’s going to happen to you next?

Jagger: I’m not a Wanderer, so a trip into the future to answer that is not possible. Say “hi” to her from me, though. I love her name... Allirea. Is she a faery?

IR: Ha, ha. No, I don’t think so. Thank you so much, Jagger!

New Cover for INITIATION

Ready for an early morning reveal? My wonderful artist, Najla Qamber, finished this when I was still asleep, and I had it waiting in my inbox as the first thing I opened when I woke up. What a great way to start the day! I am delighted with the cover and recommend Najla highly. She is wonderful to work with. More of her work can be seen on her blog and Art Gallery.

INTEGRATION: Cover Reveal

Cordelia is back at Bonfire Academy. Gone is the school uniform, and having spent a week in Paris, she has embraced a haute couture style to give her an edge as she takes on her new position at the school. However, Cordelia can’t hide behind her new look, as she comes face to face with Jagger and Quinn. There is no running – a decision must be made.

A huge thank you to Claudia at Phatpuppy Art for producing this awesome cover. Claudia is fantastic to work with and does an amazing job. Examples of her work can be found on her website.

Move over Robert Pattinson

Meet Brandon! He will be on the cover of my new book, Integration. Brandon is a New Jersey native. He loves hockey and hanging out in the sun.

I photographed Brandon last Saturday against the magnificent background of Princeton University. My friend Janet came along to help pose him. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and we managed to get just the right shot.