VBT: Interview with P. J. Sharon, review of Waning Moon

Hello, and welcome to my blog. Today's post is a stop on the Waning Moon virtual book tour. I have a review of the book, and an interview with author P.J Sharon. I hope you'll leave a comment, letting us know you were here.

Hi P.J.! Welcome, and thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

Q: Tell me about yourself, and your writing.

A: By day I’m a massage therapist, personal trainer, and yoga instructor. When I’m not saving the world one body at a time, I’m writing like a mad woman creating characters who are on their own healing journeys.

Q: How long have you been writing? How many published books do you have, and what genres?

A: I’ve written in one form or another since I was a kid, but didn’t start writing toward publication until about seven years ago. I’ve published three contemporary Young Adult novels this past year, and just released the first book in a Dystopian trilogy.

Q: Do you write in multiple genres or just one? If just one, do you ever consider straying outside your genre?

A: After writing two paranormal romances and two romantic suspense manuscripts, I found my voice was more effective writing young adult stories. Three contemporary YA novels later, I’ve branched off into the Dystopian YA world. I have a few more ideas for contemporary YA books after I’ve finished the trilogy, but I’m hoping to someday go back and write some adult novels as well.

Q: Are you a plotter or do you write from the seat of your pants?

A: I mostly write by the seat of my pants, but I find my process has evolved to include some amount of planning ahead. I like to know my inciting incident, major turning points, dark moment, and climactic scene so that I have a steady direction to write toward. I also spend a bit of time getting to know my characters ahead of time. I devise a character grid outlining their goal, motivation, and conflict. It helps to understand the fatal flaw that my characters must overcome in order to find their hopeful ending.

Q: What is a typical writing day like for you?

A: I still work a few days a week at my day job, but if I have a full day to devote to my publishing business, I’m up at 7:00 a.m. I spend my first two hours going through all my e-mails, promoting blog posts, and handling social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Then I work out or take a two mile walk to clear my head of business related activities and put on my writer hat. I have breakfast and get to work by 10:00. I’ll work on whatever writing I have to do whether it’s revision, edits, or new words in a WIP until about 12:30 or 1:00. I’ll check in with social media again or respond to blog comments, take a short break to do any chores or make phone calls, then I have a quick lunch and dive back into the writing mode until my husband gets home and we have dinner together. After dinner, it’s back in front of the computer, either writing blog posts, checking e-mails again, responding to comments on blogs, or taking care of any other business related responsibilities. The publishing industry is very fluid with endless to-do’s, so each day is different. The only thing that stays the same is the length of the day. I don’t get to bed until after midnight most nights.

Q: Who do you love to read? Favorite authors, favorite books?

A: I’ll read anything by Kristan Higgins. Diana Gabaldon is my all-time favorite author, so her OUTLANDER series is one of the few that I could read over and over.

Q: What is something you'd like to accomplish in your writing career next year?

A: I’m hoping to finish the trilogy in the next year. I’m also hoping to add a few short stories to my cyber book shelf.

Q: If you could have one paranormal ability, what would it be?

A: I would like to be able to be in two places at one time. That would be incredibly useful.

Q: If you could keep a mythical/ paranormal creature as a pet, what would you have?

A: A hellhound would be awesome. I love big dogs!

Q: Tell us a little about your latest release.

A: WANING MOON is Book One in THE CHRONICLES OF LILY CARMICHAEL. The trilogy is about sixteen-year-old lily Carmichael, living in the year 2057. She is the first generation of genetically engineered children who were bred to survive the plagues that wipe out three quarters of the Earth’s population. Her genetic modification not only makes her resistant to the plague, but gives her the ability to heal quickly and an intuitive ability to heal others—everyone except her uncle and her brother. Their blood ties make them immune to each other’s abilities. Her thirteen-year-old brother, Zephron, has the opposite capability which is to take life with just a touch. Their mother died during Zeph’s birth and their father was killed by a government agency called the Industry, an organization trying to capture these EVO kids. Sam raises the Lily and Zeph as his own,determined to keep them hidden in the Northeast hills, but when a young drifter named Will is caught in a trap on their property and Lily decides to heal him, their secret is bound to get out.

Book One, WANING MOON, chronicles Lily and Will’s journey to the trading city of Albany to find medicine to cure Sam’s cancer, but Will is on his own quest, and the secrets he’s keeping put Lily in far more danger than she ever imagined.

Q: What is something that you absolutely can't live without? (Other than family members)

A: I’m not a person that gets attached to material items, so I don’t think there is anything I CAN’T live without, but now that I’m a published author, my computer has become pretty indispensable.

Q: Could you ever co-author a book with someone? If so, who would you choose, and what would you write?

A: I did try to co-author a book with my sister-in-law, but since she is more a storyteller than a writer, it didn’t work out. Her vision kept growing along with her cast of characters, so it was very hard to stay focused on the story. You really have to have a plan you both agree on and understand story structure so you have a road map to stick to. If I were to try it again, I would do it with another author who is at the same writing level as I am. I think with the right person and story, collaborating would be a very fun process.

Q: If you could spend a day with anyone from history, dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you do? What would you ask them?

A: No idea. Too many amazing people to choose from.

Q: What are some of your other hobbies outside of writing?

A: I’m always embarking on a new journey and trying new things. I used to ice skate competitively, trained in martial arts until I reached black belt level, and then took voice lessons for several years. I’m an avid outdoorswoman, so I love hiking, camping, kayaking, and gardening. I’m currently learning about weapons training and look forward to owning my first handgun. I thought it might be helpful in writing action, adventure, and suspense stories.

Q: If you were on the staff to have a book adapted to movie, what would you pick?

A: I think my first book, HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, would make a great Lifetime Television Movie.

Q: What is a talent you wish you had, but don't?

A: I wish I could play an instrument to accompany my vocal abilities, but alas, I have a serious lack of rhythm.

Q: Favorite color?

A: It changes all the time! I lean toward greens, blues, and purples.

Q: Weather: Hot or cold?

A: I’m not picky. I live in new England because I like variety. My favorite times of year are spring and fall.

Q: Favorite place to read?

A: On my front porch or up on the hill behind my house overlooking my garden.

Q: Favorite meal

A: I’m a total foodie! I like it all. Pasta, potatoes, pizza. I’ve learned to live by the 80/20 rule. I eat healthy 80% of the time so I can eat what I want the other 20% of the time.

Q: Favorite non-alcoholic drink.

A: I know it’s bad, but I do like Red Bull now and then. I’m also a huge water drinker. I try to get at least 40-50 ounces a day in me. Hydration is so important!

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

A: New Zealand, Australia, Africa, and then all over Europe. Although I think I’d be just as happy to ride around the US in an RV for a year.

BLURB:

In the year 2057, in a post-apocalyptic world where a global shift threatens the remainder of the population with extinction, sixteen-year-old genetically enhanced Lily Charmichael has more immediate problems. Her uncle is dying of cancer and her healing abilities are ineffective against the blood ties that bind them. In order to find a cure, Lily must leave the protection of her quiet town and journey into the trading city of Albany, all while avoiding the Industry, an agency that would like nothing better than to study and exploit her abilities.

 Seventeen-year-old Will Callahan has been searching for his father since severe storms blasted through the Midwest, killing his mother and sister. When he learns that his father may be in the city, he catches a ride with Lily, a girl who has come to his rescue more than once. As the two embark on a dangerous journey, the attraction between them grows. But the secrets Will’s keeping could put her in far more danger than traveling to the city with him, and if he was any kind of man, he would have told her to run the minute she found him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt 

“Wait,” I said before he got far, “I bet I could find you something to eat.” I tried to appeal to what I knew would work for any hungry male. “Would you like some of this?” I asked. My bag of premium jarred honey lay across my back, and I figured it wasn’t really a meal, but I was willing to bet he’d eat whatever he could get his hands on. Or maybe he could trade Mrs. Higgins for some soup or a place to bathe. She would likely offer him something herself once she saw him. He was clearly in need of both. 

The boy eyed the honey as I pulled a glass jar out of my pack, but he put his hands up and backed away. “No, I...thanks anyway…I’ll be fine…I gotta go…” He spun away and strode across the street toward an alleyway. It wasn’t like I could invite him back to the farm. Sam would kill me if I brought home a stranger. His warnings rang clear in my head even as I caught up to the boy and grabbed his arm. 

“C’mon. Let me…”

The stranger whirled around, his grey eyes cold and hard. “I don’t need some girl to rescue me!” 

Stunned, I took a step back. Not only did his words come as a complete surprise, but the color of his eyes rendered me speechless. I hadn’t noticed beneath his shaggy bangs before, but his eyes were a crystalline blue-grey that reminded me of an icy lake or a stormy sky. Brilliant, backlit with sunshine, and rimmed by dark, thick lashes. I sucked in a breath, confused by somehow feeling happy while being horribly offended at the same time. My brain kicked in and my heart felt the sting.

Review Rating: 4 Lightning Bolts

Review: Waning Moon is fresh and exciting. set in a futuristic world where everything has changed, Lily fights to get what she needs to save her uncle. She's a teenager living in a different life, one we could never imagine. 

The world building is impressive. There was a few things that could have been explained better, but all around, I was impressed.   From the start, I was intrigued with the plot, the characters, and the writing is well done.  Lily and Will have a long road ahead of them. There's a lot of action, suspense, and some romance mixed in.  I found myself caring about the characters and their situations. This is about young adults as leading characters, but honestly, it's a book for adult ages too. Well done. I can't wait to see what else the author has in store. 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I knew I would be a writer someday when I was a little girl sitting on my grandpa’s knee and telling him stories that he would help me put on paper. By the time I entered kindergarten I could already read and write, and I couldn’t wait to look up new words every morning in the ginormous Webster’s Dictionary that sat in the book case at the bottom of our stairs. I would get on the bus and ask my friends, “Do you know what pulchritudinous means?” Between that and challenging the boys to push-up contests at the bus stop, I mostly sat alone on those bus rides to school. But that just meant I had more time to make up stories.

I went on to many other endeavors in life, including the world of figure skating, and later, earning a black belt in martial arts. Though I was a mom at seventeen, I did manage to finish school and somehow made it through college, earning a degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant. After nineteen years, two sons, a divorce, and some fairly lean years, I found that it’s true what they say about life beginning at forty. It was about that time when I reunited with the love of my life and worked my way to owning my own business as a Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer, and Yoga Instructor—all of my favorite things. To make my bliss complete, I moved out to the Berkshires and found my muse waiting for me there amongst the lilacs and humming birds.

I now write Extraordinary Stories of an Average Teenage Life in order to share hope with others, especially teens, that no matter how tough life gets, there is always a bright spot waiting just around the corner. My published books include the award winning YA Novels, HEAVEN IS FOR HEROES, ON THIN ICE, and SAVAGE CINDERELLA, available through Amazon and B&N Booksellers.

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pjsharonbooks

Twitter http://www.twitter.com/pjsharon

Amazon Author Central https://www.amazon.com/author/pjsharon

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/pjsharon64

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/pjsharon/

Good reads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5238865.P_J_Sharon

Secretsof7scribes http://www.secretsof7scribes.com/

YABeyond http://www.yabeyond.com/

GIVEAWAYS!:  

PJ will be awarding an eBook copy of "Thin Ice" to one commenter at each stop and a $25 Amazon or BN GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Check out the other tour stops Here

      Barnes & Noble