A GIVEAWAY with Bonus Author Interview [Ashley Stoyanoff]

Hey everyone, I am so excited for this post! This is my first author interview and giveaway! I want to thank Ashley Stoyanoff for giving me the chance to do this for you guys. Not only did she agree to a mini interview, she also wanted to giveaway a copy of her debut novel The Soul's Mark: FOUND to one of you! I absolutely loved this book, I gave it 5 out 5 stars. If you’re interested in reading my review you can find it here.

Since my review the book has received a new cover... isn't it gorgeous?



Goodreads Summary:

Anxious to leave her destructive past behind, Amelia Caldwell moves to Willowberg, excited for a fresh start. Once there, she discovers that her birthmark is more than it seems. She has been marked by a vampire’s soul. Not only does she hold his soul, but Amelia is also his soulmate.

After almost a century of searching for his soulmate, Mitchell Lang fears the worst—he is going to lose Amelia to another man. His heart takes over, and his impulsive decision to take away her free will and to intensify their bond quickly turns her growing love into hate.

When they become trapped in the emotional rollercoaster of their souls' bond, open conflict erupts. Amelia has no intentions of belonging to anyone, not even her soulmate, and Mitchell refuses to let her go.

While she frantically searches for a way to escape his grasp, Amelia unlocks the painful memories of her past and uncovers a powerful secret. But before she has a chance to explore her newfound edge, she finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly game of revenge and is forced to realize that YOU CANNOT RUN FROM DESTINY.

 

For An Excerpt from The Soul's Mark: FOUND: click here

*Note: This giveaway is open to everyone, including international followers*

a Rafflecopter giveaway




INTERVIEW TIME:

Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
Well, I live in Whitby, Ontario with my husband Jordan and two cats, Tanzy and Trinity. When I’m not writing, I’m usually reading. I will read just about anything but my favorite would be romance with a supernatural twist.

Quick choose 3 words that describe you.

Innovative, assertive, well-organized

When did you first start writing?

For as long as I can remember I loved to write. I’ve always found it therapeutic, whether it’s a diary entry, a story or just jotting down random thoughts.

Tell me about your book; what inspired you to write The Soul's Mark: FOUND?
The Soul’s Mark: FOUND takes a fresh look at soulmates. Eighteen year old Amelia Caldwell has just moved to college when she realizes that her birthmark is more than what it seems. She has been marked by a vampire’s soul. She is forced to unlock the painful memories of her past, and make life changing decisions. Just when she thinks that life couldn’t possibly get any worse, Amelia’s reluctant meeting with a psychic reveals a prophecy that could ultimately change her entire life.

"There is danger in your future. Many wish you harm and will seek to destroy you. The one you love most will be the cause of your death. But be warned he is also the only one who can save you. Revenge is for the weak. When the time comes you will need to forget the past and forgive those who have harmed you. Only then will you be able to forgive yourself. If you choose to be weak you will sacrifice those you love.”

My biggest inspiration and influence would have to be my Mom. If it wasn’t for her, I probably would have never finished The Soul’s Mark: FOUND. When I got stuck on a plot twist or a character name or really anything I needed to talk through she was there. She encouraged me along the way, and her belief that I could write pushed me through all the bumps in the road.

Other than writing, what other hobbies do you have?

I also enjoy reading. When I’m not writing or working, you can find me curled up with a good book. Give me romance and a supernatural twist and I’m sucked in until the last page.

I know from your blog that you also enjoy reading, so tell me what is your favorite book up-to -date? This is a tough one. There are so many on my favorite list that it’s hard to pick just one. But if I could read one book for the rest of my life, it would be Glass House by Rachel Caine. The cast of characters in this first book of the Morganville Vampire Series sucked me in. It’s been a few months since the last time I read it, and I can still visualize every single one so clearly that it seems like it was only yesterday that I had the book in my hands.

Who is your favorite character in your books so far and why?

This is a tuff one because I love all the characters, but I guess aside from Amelia and Mitchell, Eric would have to be my favorite. He has a wicked sense of humor and a heart of gold.

What was the hardest part of writing your book? What was the easiest?

For me, one of the hardest things about writing would have to be my crazy obsessive planning. I create outline after outline after outline until the story is sound. And then, once I’m happy with it, I’ll create another outline with new twists and turns.

But all these outlines pay off because once I get to the actual writing the words come easily. I know where the story is going and I can just let myself go and get lost in the characters and the plot.

Do you ever experience writer’s block? If so, what helped you get over it?
Every once in a while I do experience that pesky thing called writers block. My favorite thing to do to get over it is a random word sprint.

For this exercise, I’ve found the best place to start is with a dictionary. Randomly pick a page and write down the first word you see. Repeat this until you have a list of 50 words. Next, take it one step further and hit thesaurus.com. Look up each word and pick your favorite synonym. When you’re finished, not only have you grown your vocabulary, but I’m betting you’ll be able to find that idea you were struggling to grasp at in the first place.

For more ideas and getting past writers block check out my recent blog post: 5 awesome ways to beat that pesky thing called Writers Block

http://www.ashleystoyanoff.com/2012/09/5-awesome-ways-to-beat-that-pesky-thing.html

Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?

The world of fiction can be a magical. Dive in, throw caution to the wind, and let your imagination be found. Happy reading everyone!