Monica Millard Blog Tour stop

Storm Goddess Book Reviews welcomes Monica Millard today!
Today we have a interview with Monica, an excerpt and a review! Whew, busy day.  Let's go ahead and get started with the interview first. These are always fun.

1. Tell me a bit about yourself, and your writing. How long have you been writing? Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

 I've been writing my whole life but I always had the mindset that writing or dancing or art was something normal people like me could do professionally.  It wasn't until a few years ago that I realized how silly that was. 

2. What are your favorite genres to read?

 I love anything that is outside the realm of normalcy.  I fell in love with Science fiction as a teen, then fantasy and paranormal.  If it makes you stop and think, to question things is going earn a place in my favorites.  

3. How many books do you have published? What genre?  

Currently I have one book published and a short story. Sci-fi.  It's my third novel but the first I've published. 

4. Do you write in multiple genres, or do you just stay with one? If you do not write in more than one genre, do you ever consider it?

 Fantasy is probably the genre I write most, but I do write Sci-fi and Paranormal.

5. What are some of your passions and hobbies outside of writing?

 I did my first triathlon last summer and plan on doing my second in June.  I also like hula hooping and making hula hoops.  Of course I love reading. I live in Alaska where we have some of the most beautiful hiking trails and in the summer I take advantage of that fact.  Also, I've been known to get addicted to a video game or two.

6. What's the strangest question or thing you've had to ask/do for research purposes?  

 Sometimes, to help describe facial expressions or actions.  I'll imitate or act out the motions which makes me feel pretty silly but it does help. 

7. Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants?

 I'm a seat of my pants.  I usually know the overall arc and how things end which for me is important, otherwise it's hard for the details to fill themselves in.  But other than that, it's as much of a journey of discovery for me as it is for the reader.

8. Name four books that stay on your keeper shelf.

 Skin Hunger and its sequel Sacred Scars by Kathleen Duey (can't wait for book three) / The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare (read the whole series a couple of times) / Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clark / The Parables Series and The Patternist Series by Octavia Butler 

9. Ebooks or print, which do you prefer?  

I love a Hardback book, but I've been reading a lot on my touchpad and the ease and convenience of it is winning me over.  I think I'll always buy hardback copies of the books I love.

10. What is a talent you wish you had, but don't?

 Welding or fixing cars, but my brother got those talents.

11. What are you working on now?

 A Young Adult Shifter romance.  I'm about 2/3rds through it.

12. What is a typical writing day/schedule like for you?

 Weekdays.  I used to write an hour and a half every day before work.  I was so productive then.  My schedule has changed and now I'm lucky if I get an hour in after work.  Weekends I try to get a couple of hours each day.

13. Does your mood influence what you write, or read?

 Absolutely.  The good thing about writing though, is that I make playlists for each project and they help me get into the right place for that story.  Reading, I just have to go with what moves me at the time.

14. What genre of writing style would you like to see make a comeback?

 I used to love horror, but it doesn't seem like there is a whole lot of it out there.  At least not in YA.  Peirs Anthony scared the pants off of me.  I'd like to see writing like that make a comeback.

15. If you could travel anywhere and do anything, no limits or money holding you back, where would you go?  

I was going to say Europe because I'd love to see all the history there.  But then I realized you said no limits, and if there were truly no limits I'd love to go into outer space or deep into the ocean to see all bioluminescent lifeforms.

So, tell me, are you ready for an excerpt?

I can't hear you!

Oh, okay. Well why didn't you say so. Here it is!

First, here's the Blurb for Children Of The Gods:

For as long as seventeen-year-old Reka Cushing can remember, she has watched her friends and her neighbors be stolen, their bodies used as hosts for the Halorans; an alien race that has come to earth posing as gods. For just as long, Reka has lived in fear of drawing the eye of a Haloran, keeping her head down, hoping not to be caught in their sights.

The only time she has ever been bold, tried to get what she wanted, a god, one more powerful, more dangerous than all others is watching.

And here is the excerpt: 

He cinched the last straps across my feet and stepped back, but remained close enough for me to see his eyes.

“I am going to enjoy this one,” the Sari said as he stroked my bare shoulder.

“Enough theatrics! I would like the chance to enjoy her. Let us get started before you make her do something we will all regret.”

“Yes, my love. You are right, as always.” His tone was docile, placating.

She closed her eyes and laid her head back as if she were relaxing. She was not relaxed though. Every muscle in her body was tensed which frightened me more than anything I had seen yet. She sucked in a shallow tight breath, then another. Her eyes flew open, staring straight up, but it did not look like she was actually seeing the world around her.

She remained like that for a moment then her body began to twitch. The scream that followed was so frightening, I felt it in my bones. Each scream that followed was worse. They were the type of screams that no matter how long you lived, you would never forget. The kind that would wake you in the night, wishing you could scrub your mind just to free the images they brought.

Her body arched and writhed in spite of her restraints.

“Hold her!” a voice issued from below. Griff responded immediately, pressing her flat to the table and looking in her unseeing eyes. His charms did not work on her. Even under his weight, she continued to thrash.

Suddenly she was still. Griff lifted off of her and watched tentatively. She turned her head toward me and looked into my eyes. A small, sad smile graced her tortured face making her beautiful in a way I had never seen her as before. Her body relaxed and she went limp.

Griff leaned down and brushed his fingers over her eyes, closing them. It was such an intimate, tender act I had to look away. As I did, I could swear I heard him whisper, “You are free now.” I glanced back to see if I had imagined it, but he was already turning from her. He returned to my table and stood close to me. He did not cry, but his entire body seemed to mourn.

I also had a chance to read Children of the Gods for a review to add to this post. Below are my thoughts.

My Thoughts:  While I love the concept/premise of the book, the storyline had me scratching my head in confusion at times. Not everything was explained fully, which left me wondering, the relationship between Reka and Jackson seemed a little rushed and didn't really develop normally.   I love the writing style of the story, I was pulled in from the beginning, there were just times that I struggled, needing to grasp what was going on without confusion.  This is considered a young adult book, but I think teens and adults alike can read this book and enjoy it. I like Monica Millard's voice and would check out more books in the future.  Check out this story if you enjoy sci/fi fantasy type romances. It's full of surprises and things that I never would have expected. Though my emotions are a little mixed on the story, overall, I did like it and was glad I had a chance to read it.

Author Bio:

Monica was born and raised in Alaska. She doesn’t own a dog sled team, but has worked in a place where there are buildings with caged exterior doors to keep employees from being eaten by polar bears.

She lives in Wasilla, Alaska with all her critters, some four legged and others that stand on two. She writes Science fiction, fantasy, and Paranormal for young adults.

Connect with Monica! 

My blog: http://www.analaskangirl.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/MonicaEmme

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/emmeandemme

Buy the Book!

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Children-Gods-Chosen-Novel-ebook/dp/B006PZFWQ6/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_t_1

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/117347

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/children-of-the-gods-a-chosen-novel-monica-millard/1108191398?ean=2940032960911&itm=2&usri=children+of+the+gods+monica+millard

Thanks for stopping by for all the fun. I hope you'll leave a comment and let us know you were here.  Have a fun Friday and even better weekend!

Until next time,

Storm Goddess