Video of the Moment
Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield

Saturday, September 11, 2010

YA Author Spotlight Presents...

Alyson Noel - latest
Alyson Noel!!!

If you haven't figured out by now, she's one of my favorite authors and I feel compelled to bring her back with every new release she has and right now is no exception.

This visit introduces her latest book, Radiance, a new series spun-off from her Immortals series focusing on Ever's sister, Riley and her adventures in Summerland. As I'd been without a real computer since the beginning of August, I've had this interview stalled since then. I finally have my laptop back and feel completely reconnected to the world - yay! - and can share this interview with you.

ME: August has few holidays and observances, but one stands out as interesting – Friendship Day. As the 1st is Friendship Day, what will you do (have you done) to celebrate the friendships in your life? Anyone special you’d like to recognize here and now?

ALYSON: My best friend just happens to be my husband, so here’s a shout out to him: Thanks for everything, babe—I couldn’t do it without you! J [That's the best way to go, marrying the man who happens to be your best friend!]

ME: Speaking of friends, not all of our friends are human. Many of us have furry friends that enrich our lives in ways we don’t always notice. These friends don’t have to have fur, either, but scales or feathers. We’re talking about our pets, and writers tend to have pets. How many pets do you have, what kinds of pets are they and what are their names?

ALYSON: No pets at this time—though maybe a dog in the future! [Perhaps it will be a golden retriever named Buttercup?]

ME: Before the Dog Whisperer, there was Geena Davis in, The Accidental Tourist, teaching a dog owner how to use positive and negative reinforcement to train his dog. How would you classify your animal handling skills? Are you the whisperer, the challenged animal handler in need of help or are you somewhere in between?

ALYSON: It’s been a while since I’ve had a pet so I’d have to say somewhere in between!

ME: They’re everywhere, on the Internet, in stores and in catalogues – costumes and pet clothing. How fanatical are you when it comes to clothing your pet? Do you dress your pet in clothing? How about kitty wigs (yes, these apparently do exist)? Any fun or interesting pet accessory or amenity you’d like to share with us?

ALYSON: Animals dressed as humans is always amusing, but I don’t see myself doing it—I like my pets the way nature intended! J [me too!]

ME: With all the different types of pet foods out there, it’s hard to know what’s really good for your pet or not. Purina has been around forever and continues to produce feed for all kinds of pets and livestock for roughly 100 years. Hill’s Science Diet came along a bit later and others have been popping up ever since. What brand do you use, and how did you come to that decision? (If you don’t have pets, what brand would you feed your pet and why?)

ALYSON: I’m not sure which brand I’d pick, but I’d probably go for whatever healthy, organic, gourmet, good-mojo food I could find—same way I try to eat! [no offense meant, but the "organic food" industry really needs to find a more accurate term because as any chemistry teacher will tell you, all food is organic. We wouldn't be able to eat it otherwise, lol!:)]

ME: What is the oddest pet you’ve ever had? Why did you choose that pet?

ALSYON: When I was little we had rabbits, birds, turtles, lizards, snakes, dogs, horses, and even tarantulas! The tarantula was the weirdest, and it belonged to my sister. [now that, I wasn't expecting!]

ME: We’ve had our fun now, so let’s put the focus on your writing. While there are many types of fiction to choose from, what specifically brought you to YA? What does YA offer that other fiction doesn’t?

ALYSON: The YA voice is the one that comes most naturally to me, so it’s the one I feel most comfortable writing. Adolescence is so ripe for storytelling—it’s a time of self-discovery and experimentation—it’s a time when you really start to define an identity for yourself outside of your family, and to carve out a place for yourself in the world. It’s also a time full of great possibility, which is what makes it so interesting to both write and read about.

ME: Even though the popularity of the romance genre continues to grow with the YA population, it’s still not always a highly respected genre or element in fiction. In fact, some posters commented that the Twilight Saga boiled down to just another romance novel and asked, “what’s the big deal?” What, in your opinion, is the reason for the continued interest in romance by our younger generation and lack of respect it receives?

ALYSON: Commercial fiction in general gets a lack of respect and romance always seems to bear the brunt of that. But honestly, I don’t have time for negativity, naysayers, or haters, I just write what I like to write, read what I like to read, and shut out all that noise.

As for our continued interest in romance, well, I think it really boils down to the universality of the love story. Love is magical, and healing, and the most powerful emotion we can share with each other. Many of us long to find that one person who truly and totally gets us—that one person who will always be there for us—and romance novels celebrate that particular journey like no other genre can!

ME: A holiday mentioned above is Women’s Equality Day. While it took some tough ladies to endure some pretty crappy situations to get us here, there is still some work to go as women still struggle with equality in the work place. Do these struggles find their ways into your stories, or is equality something that just exists and is accepted? Give us some examples, please!

ALYSON: Because I write about teens, my characters were lucky to be born into a time where the rights their grandmothers fought so hard for are now part of their birthright. They see no limitations on what they can accomplish, they see no limitations to what their gender will allow them to do, the only limits they have are the ones they place on themselves, and because of it, the vast scope of their choices can sometimes be difficult to navigate—but that just makes it all the more exciting!

Riley Bloom, the protagonist of RADIANCE, is definitely part of a generation of young girls where the sky is the limit (in her case, literally!), and sometimes she gets a bit carried away with her power—sometimes she takes issue with authority and boundaries. But she’s intent on learning how to navigate her strange new world, and in some cases, she finds that doing the opposite of what she’s been told ends up saving the day.

ME: For a writer, inspiration can be found everywhere and in almost anyone, but sometimes specific people, places and events can inspire certain characters, personality traits, events or situations that happen in our stories. In your current story that we’re promoting here today, Radiance, did any one particular person, place or event inspire you? If so who/what was it (were they), how did it/they inspire you and how is this inspiration reflected in your story?

ALYSON: It wasn’t really any one person or event that inspired me to write about the afterlife, it was more a series of events, or more accurately, losses that got me thinking intensely about the soul’s journey, what an afterlife might consist of, and Riley’s story was born from there.

The Here & Now where Riley lives is an afterlife full of love and magick and duty and growth and learning and challenges and friendship—it’s the way I’d like it to be!

ME: Without giving away anything pertinent to the story, please tell us about Riley. What does she look like? What's her personality – comical cut-up, serious or a mix of the two? Please give us a little bit of dialogue from the story that can illustrate this. (Not much, but just a few lines and from a different section than the main excerpt – Thanks!)

ALYSON: Riley Bloom is a blond haired, blue eyed, stubby nosed, flat-chested (much to her chagrin!), wisp of a twelve-year old girl, with a sassy manner, an overabundance of confidence, but also a deeply compassionate, vulnerable soul.

Here’s an excerpt that might explain better:

The first thing I saw when I entered that room was—
No, scratch that. First let me say what it wasn’t.
It wasn’t the Radiant Boy.
It also wasn’t the blue room.
In fact, nothing in that room came anywhere near a color that anyone would ever refer to as blue.
If anything, what I’d entered was the yellow room.
A room so incredibly bright and yellow, just looking at it made my eyes hurt.
“Back so soon?” Bohdi called, lounging on the banister in that slouchy way of his, chewing on a long, green straw, like the kind they give you at Starbucks, instead of his bottom lip which he was chewing on just a few moments earlier. Looking me over carefully and seemingly not the least bit surprised to see that I’d caved so early in the game.
Only I hadn’t caved.
Not even close.
If anything, I was totally onto him.
He was still trying to mind-game me. Going so far as to send me to the wrong room.
Some coach he was turning out to be.
But no biggie. It’s not like I actually needed Bodhi’s guidance anyway. I mean, what kind of help could he possibly provide when it was so painfully clear he was actually trying to sabotage me?
So afraid I’d succeed at where he so miserably failed, he’d stop at nothing to doom me.
That’s it, I’d decided. As soon as I got back, the first thing I would do was find Aurora, or even one of the other Council members if she wasn’t available, and I’d demand a new guide. Or, better yet, I’d become Bodhi’s guide. And the first thing on my agenda would be to give him a head-to-toe makeover. Insist he ditch the glasses, the clothes, start over with the hair—and that was just for starters. Then, once that was settled, once he wasn’t so completely embarrassing to be seen with, well, then we’d see . . .

ME: In many romance novels, there's usually a hero and heroine. In fact, the Immortals series has Damen and Ever. Which leaves us wondering, does Riley have anyone she'll be sharing her spotlight with? If so, who is he/she, what does he/she look like and how/where do they meet (or “did” if this is not the first book with these same characters)? What’s unique about this character? What is his/her connection to Riley? What is your favorite scene with these two characters (Again, please give us a small bit of dialogue to illustrate this – thanks!)

ALYSON: The main characters of RADIANCE are Riley, her dog Buttercup, and Bodhi, a mysterious fourteen-year old boy who acts as her teacher/guidance counselor/coach/boss all rolled into one, and though she initially resists everything about him, their relationship really grows in the course of their journey and they share a good bit of chemistry between them.

Here’s a snippet from the book that might better explain how she feels about him at the beginning:

“Listen, all you need to know is that I’m your guide. I’m the one you’ve been looking for. Think of me as your teacher, guidance counselor, coach, and boss, all rolled into one. Which means you cannot continue to talk to me like that, or to call me that. There will be consequences for that sort of insubordination. Serious consequences. So just stop—okay? My name is Bodhi, and I expect you to use it. You need to—” He hesitated, his eyes darting all around in the most paranoid way, his voice lowered to a whisper when he said, “You need to respect me, okay?”
I squinted, alerted to the undercurrent of begging that rang loud and clear, with just a pinch of paranoia thrown in for good measure.
So this is my guide, I thought, sucking in a mouthful of air, wondering what other punishments might be in store. I mean, he had no wings, no shimmering robe, no halo, nothing that indicated he should in any way be the boss of me, and yet, there it was. He was the boss of me. And despite my wanting to believe otherwise, somehow I just knew it was real. Somehow I just knew he wasn’t lying about this.

ME: With many of our authors, we ask about tertiary characters, but since Riley is a secondary character now in her own spotlight, we're curious about some of your tertiary characters. Will we be seeing more of the twins, Romy and Rayne? They have an interesting journey ahead of them as they try to fit in with the modern day. Will they have their own chronicles or will they continue to play an important role in Damen and Ever's saga? What's the favorite scene you've written with Romy and Rayne so far? Please share it with us!

ALYSON: Romy and Rayne are really fun to write, and while they definitely have an interesting journey ahead of them, I doubt they’ll end up with their own chronicles—still, never say never, right? Meanwhile, they are adapting amazingly well to the modern world of shopping malls and MTV, and my favorite scenes with them are the ones where Romy is being nice to Ever and Rayne is being, well, Rayne! Though they do have a scene coming up in NIGHT STAR that shows some real growth on Rayne’s part especially, but I’d prefer to keep that spoiler free, so that’s all I can say about that!

Want to read more? Then check out the blurb and excerpt below!

RadianceBLURB: Welcome to the Here & Now

Riley Bloom left her sister, Ever, in the world of the living and crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. Riley and her dog, Buttercup, have been reunited with her parents and are just settling into a nice, relaxing death when she's summoned before The Council. They let her in on a secret—the afterlife isn't just an eternity of leisure; Riley has to work. She's been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a curious boy she can't quite figure out.

Riley, Bodhi, and Buttercup return to earth for her first assignment, a Radiant Boy who's been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he met Riley...


EXCERPT: Chapter 1

Most people think that death is the end.
The end of life—of good times—the end of, well, pretty much everything.
But those people are wrong.
Dead wrong.
And I should know. I died almost a year ago.

Chapter 2
The weirdest part about dying is that nothing really changed.

I mean, you'd expect a big change, right? Because dying—well, let's face it, it's pretty dramatic stuff. They write songs about it, books and screenplays too. Heck, it's even a major theme on Saturday morning cartoons. But the thing is, it's nothing like you see on TV.

Nothing at all.

Take me for instance. I'm living, er, make that dead proof that it really isn't so different. Or at least not at first. And at least not in a bad way like you probably think.

Because the truth is, the moment I died I actually felt more alive than ever. I could jump higher—run faster—I could even walk through walls if I wanted. And that's pretty much what gave it away.

The walking-through-walls part.

Since it's not like I could do that sort of thing before, so that's how I knew something was up.

Something serious.

But up until then, it all just seemed like a really cool side trip. Like my dad just decided to take a sudden turn none of us were expecting.

One moment he was cruising down a curving highway, while I was singing along to my iPod with my dog Buttercup resting his head on my lap, doing my best to tune out my bossy older sister Ever who practically lived to torment me. And the next thing I knew, we were somewhere else entirely.

No longer on the highway, no longer in Oregon, we'd somehow landed smack dab in the middle of this beautiful shimmering field full of pulsating trees and flowers that shivered. And when my parents went one way and my sister went another, I just stood there, head swiveling like crazy, unsure who to follow.

Part of me urging, "Cross the bridge with Mom and Dad and Buttercup—they know what's best!"

While the other part insisted, "Don't be such a goody-good— if Ever sees something awesome and you miss out, you'll regret it forever!"

And by the time I finally decided to go after my sister, I'd taken so long she was already gone.

Just—disappeared.

Straight into the shimmering mist.

Right back to the earth plane.

And that's how I ended up stuck. Stuck between worlds.

Until I found my way Here.

That's what they call it, "Here."

And if you're dumb enough to ask what time it is, they'll say, "Now."

Probably because there's no time Here, which means everything happens, well, in the moment it happens, which is always just—now.

So, I guess you could say I live in the Here & Now. Which, strangely, isn't so different from where I lived before back in Eugene, Oregon.

Aside from there being no time. And of course, that bit about being able to walk through walls and stuff.

But other than that, and the fact that I can manifest anything I want—stuff like houses and cars and clothes, even animals and beaches, simply by imagining it—it's all pretty much the same.

My parents are Here. My grandparents too. Even my sweet yellow Lab Buttercup made it. And even though we can live anywhere we could ever conceivably want, in any kind of house we could ever truly desire, the funny thing is that my new neighborhood is pretty much an exact replica of my old neighborhood back in Oregon.

Everything identical, all the way down to the clothes that hang in my closet, the socks that are stuffed in my drawers, and the posters that are taped to my walls. The only thing that's different, the only thing that kind of bugs me, is all the other houses around us are empty. Mostly due to the fact that all my old neighbors and friends are alive and well and back in the earth plane (well, for now anyway!). But still, other than that, it's exactly like I remember it.

Exactly like I wished it.

I just wish I had some friends to enjoy it with.

Want to know more about Alyson and all of her books? Then check out her website!!!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

YA Author Spotlight Presents...

Alyson Noel - latest
Alyson Noel!!!

EvermoreEver and Damen are fated to be together...or are they? Their journey began with Evermore, where some pretty interesting developments happen to Ever. Even though she loses her entire family, including the family dog, Buttercup, Ever talks to her younger sister's ghost, Riley, and if that wasn't enough, she now lives with her aunt Sabine whom she hardly knows, lives in a new place and starting high school in a new city. As if that wasn't enough trauma for a teenager to deal with, she discovers a neat little flaw...that she's immortal. Everything was going fine, until she meets someone Damen forgot to mention, Drina, Damen's longtime lover and another immortal - and she's jealous and on a rampage to have Damen all to herself! During this journey, Ever learns things about herself she never knew, and makes some startling revelations that lead to events that will forever alter her and Damen's destiny.

Blue MoonBlue Moon continues the saga of Damen and Ever, introducing another person from Damen's past, a past he neglected to tell Ever and one he'd prefer remained closed. Unfortunately, Roman plows into their lives, forcing the door wide open - showing Ever the truth of what Damen has done, forcing her to make decisions she's not ready to make, and puts her into situations where she's not capable of truly understanding the depth of the consequences to her actions. But it's not all Roman's fault. The situation they find themselves in teaches Ever some lessons she's not wise enough to comprehend and Damen a truth he's not ready to face.

ShadowlandThe events of Blue Moon lead Damen and Ever on quest for answers. The arrival of Jude in Shadowland causes Damen to close off from Ever, yet again, and he begins to doubt himself, the choices he made, and if what's happened is fated or a perversion of it. As he doubts himself and drives Ever away in an attempt to balance the karma he believes to be unbalanced, Ever begins to question things too, even though she keeps insisting that she loves Damen, she cannot deny the pull Jude has on her, especially when she realizes how her fate has been connected to him throughout her past lifetimes.

Is Jude the innocent he appears to be or does his connection to Ava indicate more than he admits or knows? What role does he play in Roman's sick, twisted little game? I'm hoping that's what Dark Flame will reveal!

In my opinion, this is one terrific series! I could prattle on about these books all day, but let's get to the reason we're here - Alyson's interview!

ME: When you stop to consider trends and traditions, June marks a time of beginnings (marriages, commencements). What about you, any weddings, anniversaries or graduations to attend this month?

ALYSON: Nope, not a one—though I will be going on my very first book tour for Dark Flame beginning June 22, so that’s a beginning of sorts!

ME: While April 22nd marks Earth Day, June 5th is World Environment Day. What will you do to celebrate our environment?

ALYSON: Not to sound too hokey, but I try to celebrate the environment everyday by recycling, conserving water and energy, and by taking time to appreciate the lovely Laguna Beach views!

ME: Speaking of the environment, do you strive to be more energy efficient or more environmentally conscious? How do you accomplish this goal?

ALYSON: I try to do both, and I like to think that the small things like turning off the taps while I brush my teeth, doing only full loads of laundry, hanging clothes to dry, and recycling, can make a difference.

ME: What traits make the men in your life good father figures? Will you do anything special to celebrate these men? If so, what will it be?

ALYSON: While my husband and I don’t have kids of our own, when he lost his twin brother five years ago this past April, I was so awed by the way he jumped into the role of looking after the son and daughter his brother left behind. Even though we live in different states, he’s totally there for them in so many ways—they stay with us for 5-6 weeks every summer, they visit for a week in the winter, and the rest of the year, my husband makes frequent trips to their neck of the woods to visit them. He’s built a really wonderful relationship with them, and it’s been a pleasure to watch it blossom and grow!

ME: While the summer solstice occurs on June 21st, warmer weather usually arrives earlier than that, encouraging people to get out and enjoy the weather. What activities do you usually start in June?

ALYSON: Since I spend all day cooped up in my office writing, my favorite part of June is when the days get longer. Wrapping up my work while it’s still light out makes me feel like I didn’t really miss out all that much, and as the weather gets warmer and warmer, I try to sneak in as much pool time as possible. I may not be much for swimming laps, but I’m pretty good at floating around with a drink in my hand!

ME: While people generally clean in spring, they need to do something with all the stuff they find they do not need. If it isn’t given away or donated, many people have rummage or estate sales. What about you, do you like to hit the rummage sales on a nice warm morning? Do you go alone or with someone else? Is it a family tradition?

ALYSON: I’ve never been one for garage sales or rummage sales—mostly because it requires one to wake up early in order to get a shot at the good stuff, and I’m just not a morning person—I don’t really peak until mid-afternoon!

ME: In many areas, private community schools tend to schedule festivals and bazaars as fundraisers throughout the summer. What about your area? What kind of festivals and bazaars can be found and when will they occur? Do you make appearances at them, or do you avoid them? If so, why?

ALYSON: There’s a blues fest near my town, the next beach over, and I used to look forward to that every year as they’ve always get a great line up. And, of course, anything to do with food and/or art—I’m so there!

ME: The weather in June seems to be a great mix in almost every state, and most people tend to plan vacations in June. What about you, are you a June traveler? If so, where will you be going? If not, when do you prefer to travel and why? Where have you gone or will you be going this year?

ALYSON: Actually, I always try to avoid the crowds, so I’m really more of a May or September traveler. But, like I said earlier, I will be going on my first tour this June, so I’m looking forward to spending time at my stops in MN, IL, TX, FL, & CA!

ME: We’ve had our fun now, so let’s put the focus on your writing. While there are many genres to choose from, what specifically brought you to YA? Why this genre over the others?

ALYSON: I didn’t intentionally set out to write YA. With my debut novel, Faking 19, I just really wanted to tell a particular story that happened to have a teenaged protagonist. It wasn’t until I started my second book, Art Geeks & Prom Queens, that I realized just how much I connected with this age group. Despite the number of birthdays I accumulate, I never really feel like a grown-up, so writing YA is a natural fit!

ME: YA novels have always been popular with teens, but not always so much with adults, yet recent years have shown an explosion of the YA genre marked by an increase in YA Authors and interest by adults into the YA genre. What, in your opinion, is the reason for the explosion of the YA genre and for the strong interest and appreciation for the genre by adults?

ALYSON: Well, for one, I think the variety of really well-written stories in a wide range of subjects is a huge draw, and, for another, YA books tend to get to the meat of a story right from the start. They draw you in early and take you for an amazing ride all the way to the end. There’s not much meandering, no room for page after page of idle description—they’re very story centric. And besides, were else can you go back in time and re-experience all those wonderful firsts?

ME: Earlier, we asked about what traits make the men in your life good father figures. Now, we want to know, have any of these men, or their traits, been inspiration for characters in your stories? If so, which men, what characters and/or traits and why?

ALYSON: While I’ve never had a close relationship with my father, I suppose in a sense that the absence of that has informed all of my books. Though I did get really luck in the husband department—I married a man who’s good at every single thing he sets his mind too—and he’s served as my inspiration for a few of my male characters—Jas in Art Geeks, Dane in Fly Me to the Moon, and more recently, Damen in The Immortals!

ME: For a writer, inspiration can be found everywhere and in almost anyone, but sometimes specific people, places and events can inspire certain characters, personality traits, events or situations that happen in our stories. In your current story that we’re promoting here today, Dark Flame, did any one particular person, place or event inspire you? If so who/what was it (were they), how did it/they inspire you and how is this inspiration reflected in your story?

ALYSON: I steal from my own life all the time, and the entire Immortals series was inspired by grief—something I probably talked about last time I was here, but in brief, a few years back I lost several loved ones in a short time and then almost lost my husband to leukemia (he’s in full remission now). Going through that got me thinking a lot about life & death, immortality & mortality, and the soul’s purpose and journey—all of which are subjects I explore in the books.

Also, during that time, I began to read a lot of metaphysical books, and was very much taken by the idea that our thoughts actually shape our experiences—a theme that is definitely at the core of Dark Flame.

ME: Without giving away anything pertinent to the story, tell us about the hero and heroine (s) of your story. What do they look like? How do they meet (or “did” if this is not the first book with these same characters)? What are their personalities – Are they comical cut-ups, are they serious or are they a mix of the two? Please give us a little bit of dialogue from the story that can illustrate this. (Not much, but just a few lines and from a different section than the main excerpt – Thanks!)

ALYSON: Ever & Damen first met in Paris on August 8, 1608, when Damen was, well, his charming, dreamy, immortal self and Ever was a servant named Evaline. Then they met again when Ever reincarnated as a spoiled, London society girl, and again when she came back an artist’s muse living in Amsterdam, and again when she was living as a Puritan’s daughter in New England. Each time they met and fell in love, and each time their love ended tragically soon, which is why Damen wasted no time in feeding Ever the elixir of eternal life when he found her again in this lifetime—he couldn’t bear to lose her again.

They are far more serious than comical, for two seventeen year olds they are burdened with secrets, challenges, enemies, and a huge, life changing destiny for Ever that is only beginning to reveal itself . . .

As for an excerpt, here’s a bit from Dark Flame, Chapter 19, that explains the way Ever views him:

“The air has changed, ignited by his presence, his gaze sending a delicious warm tingle over my skin. And when I open my eyes to meet his—it’s like the first time we met in the parking lot at school—mesmerizing, magical, a moment of complete and total surrender. The sun at his back, enveloping him in a blaze of bold orange, golds, and reds so brilliant, it’s as though they’re emanating from him. And I hold on to the moment, hold it for as long as I can. All too aware that it’s just a matter of time before it dulls and I become numb to him again.
He takes the swing alongside me, gliding high into the sky and instantly matching my pace. The two of us swooping to such deliriously, wonderful heights, only to plummet right back down again—an analogy of our relationship for the last four hundred years.”

ME: The main characters are usually great, but sometimes, secondary and tertiary characters are known to steal the scenes, even if the author did not intend this to happen. Who are the secondary/tertiary characters in your story and what do they look like? What’s unique about them? What is their relationship to the hero/heroine? Have any of these characters gone on to become scene-stealers? If so, who and how did they do it? Is there the possibility for them to get their own story? (Again, please give us a small bit of dialogue to illustrate this – thanks!)

ALYSON: Well, Riley, Ever’s ghostly sister, definitely turned out to be a scene stealer in Evermore as she ended up walking away with far more page time than I originally intended, so I suppose it’s only fair to her that she ended up with her own series, beginning with Radiance on 08.31.10!

I think Riley really spoke to me as a character because she’s so spunky and snarky yet also very poignant. The only thing she ever really wanted was to be thirteen, but as fate would have it, she was struck down at twelve. Yet, she’s making the most of her ghostly form, and enjoying unrestricted access to Ever’s life, as illustrated from this scene in Chapter 14 of Evermore:

“What’s your problem? Why so grumpy?” Riley asks, perched on the edge of my bed, dressed in a Zorro costume identical to the one Eric wore to the party.
“Halloween’s over,” I say, staring pointedly at the black leather whip she slaps against the floor.”
“Duh.” She makes a face and continues to punish the carpet. “So I like the costume, big deal. I’m thinking about dressing up every day.”
I lean toward the mirror, insert my tiny diamond-chip studs, and scrape my hair into a ponytail.
“I can’t believe you’re still dressing like that,” she says, her nose crinkling in disgust. “I thought you bagged yourself a boyfriend?” She drops the whip and grabs my iPod, her fingers sliding around the wheel as she scrolls through my playlist.
I turn, wondering exactly what she saw.
“Hel-lo? At the party? By the pool? Or was that just a hookup?”
I stare at her, my face flushing crimson. “What do you know about hookups? You’re only twelve! And why the heck are you spying on me?”
She rolls her eyes. “Please, like I’d waste my time spying on you when there’s way better stuff I can see. For your information, I just so happened to go outside at the exact same moment you shoved your tongue down that Damen guy’s throat. And trust me, I wish I hadn’t seen it.”

Dark FlameBLURB: Their love has burned bright for countless centuries—now their journey may be coming to a dark end . . .
In Alyson NoĂ«l’s most darkly seductive Immortals novel yet, Ever fights for control of her body, her soul—and the timeless true love she’s been chasing for centuries.

Excerpt from Dark Flame, Chapter 3 - (not formatted yet, sorry!)

“How’d it go?”
Damen opens the door before I can knock. His gaze deep and intense as he follows me into the den where I drop onto his plush velour couch and kick off my flip-flops. Careful to avoid his eyes as he lands on the cushion beside me, usually all too eager to spend the rest of eternity just gazing at him—taking in the fine planes of his face—his high sculpted cheekbones, lush inviting lips, the slant of his brow, his dark wavy hair, and thick fringe of lashes—but not today.
Today I’d prefer to look just about anywhere else.
“So, you told her?” His fingers trail along the side of my cheek, the curve of my ear, his touch filling me with tingle and heat despite the ever-present energy veil that hovers between us. “Did the cupcake provide the distraction you hoped it would?” His lips nip at my lobe before working their way down my neck.
I lean back against the cushions, closing my eyes in a feigned bout of fatigue. But the truth is, I don’t want him to see me, to observe me too closely. Don’t want him to sense my thoughts, my essence, my energy—that strange, foreign pulse that’s been stirring inside me for the last several days.
“Hardly.” I sigh. “She pretty much ignored it—guess she’s like us now—in more ways than one.” Feeling the weight of his gaze as he studies me intensely.
“Care to elaborate?”
I scrunch down even lower and toss my leg over his, my breath slowing as I settle into the warmth of his energy. “She’s just—so far advanced. I mean, she has the whole look, you know? That eerie, flawless, immortal look. She even heard my thoughts—until I blocked them.” I frown and shake my head.
“Eerie? Is that how you see it—see us?” Clearly distressed by my words.
“Well—not really—eerie,” I pause, wondering why I phrased it like that. “More like—not normal. I mean, I doubt even supermodels look that perfect all the time. Not to mention, what are we gonna do if she grows four inches practically overnight like I did? How do we possibly explain that?”
“Same way we did with you,” he says, eyes narrowed, cautious, more interested in the words I’m not saying than the ones that I am. “We’ll call it a growth spurt. They’re not that uncommon among mortals, you know.” His voice lifts in a weak attempt at levity that doesn’t quite work.
I avert my gaze, taking in the crowded bookshelves filled with leather-bound first editions, the abstract oil paintings, most of them priceless originals, knowing he’s onto me. He knows something’s up, but I’m hoping he can’t sense just how far it goes. That I’m just saying the words, going through the motions, not really invested in any of this.
“And so—does she hate you like you feared?” he asks, voice steady, deep, the slightest bit probing.
I peer at him, this wonderful glorious creature who’s loved me for the last four hundred years and continues to do so no matter how many blunders I make, no matter how many lives I mess up. Sighing as I close my eyes and manifest a single red tulip that I promptly hand over. Serving not just as the symbol of our undying love, but also the winning wager in the bet that we made.
“You were right—you win.” I shake my head, remembering how she reacted just like he said. “She’s thrilled beyond belief. Can’t thank me enough. Feels just like a rock star. No—scratch that, better than a rock star. She feels like a vampire rock star. But you know, the new and improved kind—without all that nasty bloodsucking and coffin sleeping.” I shake my head and smile in spite of myself.
“A member of the mythical undead?” Damen cringes, not liking the analogy one bit. “I’m not sure how I feel about that.”
“Oh, I’m sure it’s just a side effect of her recent goth phase. The thrill will die down eventually. You know, once the reality sinks in.”
“Is that how it is for you?” he asks, finger just under my chin, making me look at him again. “Is the thrill dying down—or perhaps even—gone?” His gaze deep, knowing, attuned to every shift of my mood. “Is that why you find it so hard to look at me now?”
“No!” I shake my head, fully aware that I’ve been caught and desperate to refute it. “I’m just—tired. I’ve been feeling a little—on edge lately, that’s all.” I nuzzle closer, burying my face in the hollow of his neck, right next to where the cord for his amulet rests. That edgy prickly feeling I’ve been carrying for days, tempering, melting, as I inhale his warm musky scent over and over again. “Why can’t every moment be like this?” I murmur, knowing what I really mean is: why can’t I always be like this—feel like this?
Why is everything changing?
“It can.” He shrugs. “There’s really no reason why it can’t.”
I pull away and meet his gaze. “Oh, I can think of at least two very good reasons.”
Nodding toward Romy and Rayne, the twin terrors we’re now responsible for as they bound down the stairs. Identical in their straight dark hair with razor-slashed bangs, pale skin, and large dark eyes—but complete opposites in their dress. Romy wearing a pink terry cloth sundress with matching flip-flops, while Rayne’s barefoot and dressed in all black, with Luna, their tiny black kitten, riding high on her shoulder. The two of them shooting Damen a happy, warm smile and glaring at me—business as usual, and pretty much the only thing that hasn’t changed around here.
“They’ll come around,” he says, wanting to believe it and wishing I would too.
“No they won’t.” I sigh, fumbling for my flip-flops. “But then, it’s not like they don’t have their reasons.” I slip on my shoes and look at him.
“Leaving so soon?”
I nod, avoiding his gaze. “Sabine’s making dinner, Munoz is coming over—it’s a whole—bonding thing. She wants us to get to know each other better. You know, less student teacher, more future nonblood relations.” I shrug, realizing the instant it’s out that I should’ve invited him. It’s incredibly rude not to include him. But Damen’s presence will only mess with my other evening plans. The ones he may suspect, but can’t possibly witness. Especially after making his feelings on my foray into magick so abundantly clear. Tacking on an awkward, “So—you know . . .” and leaving it to hang there, dangling between us, since I’ve no idea where to take it from there.
“And Roman?”
I take a deep breath as my eyes meet his. The moment I’ve been avoiding is now here.
“Did you warn Haven? Tell her what he did?”
I nod. Recalling the speech I practiced in the car all the way over, about how Haven could be our best chance to get what we need from Roman. Hoping it’ll sound better to his ears than it did mine.
“And?”
I clear my throat, allowing myself that, but nothing more.
He waits for me to continue, the patience of six hundred years stamped on his face, as I open my mouth to launch into my speech, but I can’t. He knows me too well. So Instead, I just lift my shoulders and sigh, knowing words are unnecessary, the answer’s displayed in my gaze.
“I see.” He nods, his tone smooth, even, without a trace of judgment, which kind of disappoints me. I mean, I’m judging me, so why isn’t he?
“But—it’s really not like you think,” I say. “It’s not like I didn’t try to warn her, but she wouldn’t listen. So I figured, what the heck. If she’s going to insist on hanging with Roman, then what’s the harm in her trying to snag the antidote while she’s at it? And I know you think it’s wrong, believe me, we’ve been over that, but I still don’t think it’s all that big a deal.”
He looks at me, face calm, still, betraying nothing.
“Besides, it’s not like we actually have any real proof that he would’ve let her die. I mean, he had the antidote all along, he knew what I’d choose. But even if I did prove him wrong, how do we know he wouldn’t have given her the elixir himself?” I take a deep breath, hardly believing I’m borrowing Haven’s argument, the same one I balked at just a few moments earlier. “And then—maybe he even would’ve tried to turn the whole thing around! You know, tell her we were prepared to let her die and end up turning her against us! Did you ever think of that?”
“No. I suppose I didn’t,” he says, lids narrowed, concern clouding his face.
“And it’s not like I’m not gonna monitor the situation cuz I totally am. I’ll make sure she’s safe. But she does have free will, you know, it’s not like we can choose her friends for her, so, I figured, you know, when in Rome . . .and all . . .so to speak . . .”
“And what about the romantic feelings Haven holds toward Roman? Did you consider that?”
I shrug, my words containing a conviction I don’t really feel when I say, “She used to have feelings for you too if you’ll remember. She seemed to get over that pretty quickly. And don’t forget about Josh, the guy she was convinced was her soul mate who got booted over a kitten. And now that she’s in a position to have pretty much whatever or whoever she wants—” I pause, but only for a moment, not long enough for him to interject. “I’m sure Roman will lose his allure and slide way down on her list. I mean, I know she can seem kind of fragile, but she’s actually a lot tougher than you think.”
I stand, signaling an end to this conversation. What’s done is done and I don’t want him to do or say anything that’ll make me doubt my stance on Haven and Roman’s relationship any more than I already do.
He hesitates, gaze moving over me, taking me in, then rising in one, quick, languid move as he grasps my hand and leads me to the door where he presses his lips against mine. Lingering, fusing, pushing, melding, the two of us drawing this kiss out for as long as we can, neither one willing to break away first.
I press hard against him, the contours of his body barely dimmed by that ever-present energy veil that hovers between us. The broad expanse of his chest, the valley of his torso—every inch of him conforming so tightly to me it’s nearly impossible to tell where he ends and I begin. Wishing this kiss could do the impossible—banish my mistakes—this strange way I feel—chase away the dark angry cloud that follows me everywhere these days.
“I should go,” I whisper, the first to break the spell, aware of the heat rising between us, that incendiary pull, a painful reminder that, for now anyway, this is as far as it goes.
And just as I’ve settled into my car and Damen’s gone back inside, Rayne appears, Luna still perched on her shoulder, twin sister Romy at her side.
“Tonight’s the night. Moon’s moving into a new phase,” she says, eyes narrowed, lips grim. No other words necessary, we all know what that means.
I nod and shift into reverse, ready to back down the drive, when she adds, “You know what to do, right? You remember our plan?”
I nod again, hating the fact that I’m in this position, knowing that as far as they’re concerned, I’ll never live this one down.
Backing out of the drive and onto the street, their thoughts chasing behind me, burrowing into my mind, as they think: It’s wrong to use magick for selfish, nefarious reasons. There’s karma to pay, and it’ll come back times three.

Want to learn more about Alyson and her books?

Check out:
her previous interviews with us - October 10th, 2009 and December 12th, 2009

Her Website - www.alysonnoel.com

Saturday, June 5, 2010

YA Author Spotlight Presents...

Rachel Vincent
Rachel Vincent!!!

Rachel returns to the spotlight with the release of her newest addition to the Soul Screamers series, My Soul to Keep. This book continues to follow Kaylee Cavanaugh and her attempt at balancing her desired life as a normal teenager and her unavoidable life as a banshee (bean sidhe).

ME: June is another month loaded with special holidays. Here are a few: 1st – Atlantic Hurricane Season; 5th – World Environment Day; 14th – Flag Day; 19th – Juneteenth Day (Freedom/Emancipation Day); 20th – Father’s Day, 21st – Summer Solstice; 24th – St. Baptiste Day; 27th – Helen Keller Day. When you stop to consider trends and traditions, June marks a time of beginnings (marriages, commencements). What about you, any weddings, anniversaries or graduations to attend this month?

RACHEL: No, actually, I don’t have any of those this month.

ME: While April 22nd marks Earth Day, June 5th is World Environment Day. What will you do to celebrate our environment?

RACHEL: I don’t have any specific plans on either of those dates. These days, I mostly celebrate our world by staring out at it from behind my office window. ;-)

ME: Speaking of the environment, do you strive to be more energy efficient or more environmentally conscious? How do you accomplish this goal?

RACHEL: Yes, I turn off lights in empty rooms, keep the air conditioner set for a reasonable temperature, and I use reusable water bottles, rather than burning through disposable ones. And, of course, I recycle.

ME: What traits make the men in your life good father figures? Will you do anything special to celebrate these men? If so, what will it be?

RACHEL: A willingness to listen, even when there’s no advice to be given. My father is proud of me and of my accomplishments, even if he doesn’t really understand my fondness for dark fantasy. ;-) And yes, of course, I’ll call him on Father’s Day. ;-)

ME: While the summer solstice occurs on June 21st, warmer weather usually arrives earlier than that, encouraging people to get out and enjoy the weather. What activities do you usually start in June?

RACHEL: I don’t start anything specific in June. I’m not much of an outdoorsy kind of person, because I’m very pale, and I sunburn (complete with blisters) very, very easily. Also, I live in San Antonio, so it’s been hot here for quite a while now.

ME: While people generally clean in spring, they need to do something with all the stuff they find they do not need. If it isn’t given away or donated, many people have rummage or estate sales. What about you, do you like to hit the rummage sales on a nice warm morning? Do you go alone or with someone else? Is it a family tradition?

RACHEL: No. I don’t do the garage sale circuit. I’ve never enjoyed that. But I do donate my unneeded things to Goodwill.

ME: In many areas, private community schools tend to schedule festivals and bazaars as fundraisers throughout the summer. What about your area? What kind of festivals and bazaars can be found and when will they occur? Do you make appearances at them, or do you avoid them? If so, why?

RACHEL: I don’t know. This will be my first summer in the area. But I’d be open to something held at night, when it’s not quite as hot.

ME: The weather in June seems to be a great mix in almost every state, and most people tend to plan vacations in June. What about you, are you a June traveler? If so, where will you be going? If not, when do you prefer to travel and why? Where have you gone or will you be going this year?

RACHEL: I’m doing a group bus tour with four other authors for several days during late June, and that’ll be the extent of my travels this month.

ME: We’ve had our fun now, so let’s put the focus on your writing. While there are many genres to choose from, what specifically brought you to YA? Why this genre over the others?

RACHEL: Well, YA isn’t really a genre. It’s a targeted age range. But even that is very flexible. Young adult books are available in many, many genres, including fantasy, romance, literary, science fiction, dystopian, urban fantasy, etc… But what drew me to young adult fiction was the passion and immediacy with which things are felt in adolescence. I remember that feeling, and I love recapturing it.

ME: YA novels have always been popular with teens, but not always so much with adults, yet recent years have shown an explosion of the YA genre marked by an increase in YA Authors and interest by adults into the YA genre. What, in your opinion, is the reason for the explosion of the YA genre and for the strong interest and appreciation for the genre by adults?

RACHEL: I think people are just now starting to realize how much good young adult literature is really out there. It’s a renaissance, of sorts. And I hope it lasts a long, long time.

As for why adults are so interested in YA fiction, I think that’s because we can all remember what it felt like to be discovering so many things in life for the first time. Some of us want to recapture that feeling. Some of us what to read about people who had a better/more interesting/more fantastic adolescence than we did.

ME: Earlier, we asked about what traits make the men in your life good father figures. Now, we want to know, have any of these men, or their traits, been inspiration for characters in your stories? If so, which men, what characters and/or traits and why?

RACHEL: No, not really. None of my characters are based on real people. They’re all fictional. Some are obviously idealized versions of what some of the people I know look for in a father/lover/brother relationship. But none of them are real.

ME: For a writer, inspiration can be found everywhere and in almost anyone, but sometimes specific people, places and events can inspire certain characters, personality traits, events or situations that happen in our stories. In your current story that we’re promoting here today, My Soul To Keep, did any one particular person, place or event inspire you? If so who/what was it (were they), how did it/they inspire you and how is this inspiration reflected in your story?

RACHEL: Nothing specific in this story was inspired from any real events or people. I would never do that to someone I know. But the range of emotions Kaylee goes through—those feelings of frustration, and anger, and betrayal—are things that I know well, because I know someone in real life who’s going through something similar to what Kaylee is suffering.

ME: Without giving away anything pertinent to the story, tell us about the hero and heroine (s) of your story. What do they look like? How do they meet (or “did” if this is not the first book with these same characters)? What are their personalities – Are they comical cut-ups, are they serious or are they a mix of the two? Please give us a little bit of dialogue from the story that can illustrate this. (Not much, but just a few lines and from a different section than the main excerpt – Thanks!)

RACHEL: Kaylee and Nash have been dating for about four months at the start of MY SOUL TO KEEP, and while there are some light moments, theirs is not a cut-up kind of relationship. Not in this book, anyway. They’re dealing with some serious issues. Here’re a few lines from the book:

-----

“Kaylee…” he began, and I could already hear the protest forming. He sat up and I let one leg hang off the bed. “Whatever Fuller’s into is none of our business.”
“He’s taking Demon’s Breath,” I whispered with a nervous glance at the closed door, hoping his mother was still in the kitchen. “How is that none of our business?”
“It has nothing to do with us.” He stood and snatched a shirt from the back of his desk chair.
“Don’t you want to know where he got it? He could have killed someone last night. And if he takes any more of it, he’ll probably kill himself.”
Nash sank into his desk chair. “You’re overreacting, Kaylee.”
“No, you’re underreacting.” I scooted to the edge of his bed. “What happened to looking out for your friends?”
“What am I supposed to do?” He shrugged, frustration clear in the tense line of his shoulders. “Go up to Fuller and say, ‘Hey, man, I’m not sure where you’re getting secondhand air from a demon you don’t even know exists, but you need to lay off it before you kill yourself’? That’s not gonna sound weird.” He kicked a shoe across the room to punctuate his sarcasm.
I crossed my arms over my chest, struggling to keep my voice low. “You’re worried about sounding weird in front of a guy who’s getting high off someone else’s breath?”
-----

ME: The main characters are usually great, but sometimes, secondary and tertiary characters are known to steal the scenes, even if the author did not intend this to happen. Who are the secondary/tertiary characters in your story and what do they look like? What’s unique about them? What is their relationship to the hero/heroine? Have any of these characters gone on to become scene-stealers? If so, who and how did they do it? Is there the possibility for them to get their own story? (Again, please give us a small bit of dialogue to illustrate this – thanks!)

RACHEL: Emma, Kaylee’s human best friend, and Tod, Nash’s grim reaper brother, are the most dynamic secondary characters in the series so far. And yes, they’re both scene stealers, from time to time. Here’s a little snipped with Tod, as he and Kaylee leave the hospital where he works, reaping the souls of the dead:

----

Tod’s footsteps went silent as he circled the car toward the passenger’s side, and I knew that no one else could see him. Still, I was grateful that he hadn’t simply blinked into Emma’s bedroom, leaving me to drive back alone.
“So, you’re not going to get in trouble for leaving now?” I asked as I settled into the driver’s seat.
He shrugged, unconcerned. “It’s a slow night. No one’s scheduled to tumble into the abyss for another hour and a half, and if I’m not back by then, I’ll get someone else to cover for me.”

-----

Interested in reading more My Soul to Keep? Then read on! 

My Soul to KeepBLURB: WHEN KAYLEE CAVANAUGH SCREAMS, SOMEONE DIES
AND KAYLEE IS ABOUT TO SCREAM HER HEAD OFF...

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.

Until something does.

Demon’s breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow, the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.

And when the epidemic hits too close to home, Kaylee will have to risk everything to save those she loves.

EXCERPT: “You know I’m not interested in Sophie,” he whispered. “I wouldn’t do that to you or Scott.” He leaned down and kissed me again. “There’s only you, Kaylee.”
My entire body tingled in wave after wave of warm, exhilarating shivers, and I let my lips trail over the rough stubble on his chin, delighting in the coarse texture.
“Oh, blah, blah, blah,” a jaded voice said, drenching our privacy with a cold dose of sarcasm. “You love him, he loves you, and we’re all one big, happy, sloppy, dorky family.”
“Damn it, Tod!” Nash stiffened. I closed my eyes and sighed. The couch creaked beneath us as we sat up to see Nash’s undead brother—fully corporeal for once—sitting backward in Mr. Carter’s desk chair, arms crossed over the top as he watched us in boredom barely softened by the slight upturn of his cherubic lips. “If you don’t quit it with the Peeping Tom routine, I’m going to tell your boss you get off watching other people make out.”
“He knows,” Tod and I said in unison. I straightened my shirt, scowling at the intruder, though my irritation was already fading.
Unlike Nash, I had trouble staying mad at Tod lately because I considered his recent reappearance a good sign. We hadn’t seen him for nearly a month after his ex-girlfriend died in October—without her soul. And when I say we’d not seen him, I mean that literally. As a grim reaper, Tod could choose when and where he wanted to be seen, and by whom.
But now he was back, and up to his old tricks. Which seemed to consist entirely of preventing me and Nash from having any quality alone time. He was almost as bad as my dad.
“Shouldn’t you be at work?” I ran one hand through my long brown hair to smooth it.
Tod shrugged. “I’m on my lunch break.”
I lifted both brows. “You don’t eat.”
He only shrugged again and smiled.
“Get out,” Nash growled, tossing his head toward the door. Like Tod would actually have to use it. One of the other perks of being dead, technically speaking, was the ability to walk through things. Or simply disappear, then reappear somewhere else. That’s right. I got swirling eyes and the capacity to shatter windows with my bare voice. Tod got teleportation and invisibility.
The supernatural world is so far from fair.
Tod stood and kicked the chair aside, running one hand through short blond curls that not even the afterlife could tame. “I’m not here to watch you two, anyway.”
Great. I scowled at the reaper, my eyes narrowed in true irritation now. “I told you to stay away from her.” Emma had met him once, briefly, and we’d made the mistake of telling her what he really was. He’d been watching her covertly before, but after Addison’s death and his obvious heartbreak, I’d assumed that had stopped.
Tod mirrored his brother with his arms crossed over his chest. “So you won’t let me go near her, but you’ll let her get in the car with some drunk jock? That doesn’t even kinda make sense.”
“Damn it.” Nash was off the couch in an instant and I followed, whispering a thank-you to Tod as I passed him. But he’d already blinked out of the office.
I trailed Nash down the hall and through the packed living room, accidentally bumping a beer from a cheerleader’s hand on the way. We ran out the front door and I wished I’d stopped to find my jacket when the frigid air raised goose bumps all over my skin.
We paused at the end of the walkway, and I spotted Emma near the mouth of the cul-de-sac, a brief glimpse of long blond hair. “There.” I pointed and we took off again. We got there just as Doug pulled his passenger’s side door open. He had Em pressed against the side of the car, his tongue in her mouth, his free hand up her shirt.
Emma was totally into it, and though I didn’t think she’d have gone so far in public if not for the beer, that was her business. But getting in the car with a drunk crossed the line from stupid into dangerous.
Em,” I said as Nash slapped one hand on Doug’s shoulder and pulled him backward.
“What the hell, man!” Doug slurred as his hand pulled free from Emma’s bra hard enough that the elastic slapped her skin.
“Kaylee!” Emma smiled and fell against me, and I glared at Doug. She didn’t know what she was doing, and he was being a complete asshole.
“Em, you know how it goes.” I wrapped one arm around her waist when she stumbled. “Come together, stay together…”
“…leave together,” she finished with a wide-eyed, pseudo-serious expression. “But we didn’t come together, Kay…”
“I know, but the last part still applies.”
“Fuller, she’s drunk.” Nash angled him so that Doug fell into his own passenger’s seat. “And so are you.”
“Noooo…” Emma giggled, blowing beer breath at me. “He’s not drinking, so he gets to drive.”
“Em, he’s wasted,” Nash insisted, then glanced at me and tossed his head toward the house. “Take her back in.”
I started walking Emma up the sidewalk, trying to keep her quiet as she told me how nice Doug was. She wasn’t just drunk, she was gone. I should have watched her more closely.
A minute later, Nash caught up to us as I was lowering Emma onto the porch. “Did you get his keys?” I asked, and Nash frowned. Then, as he turned to head back toward Doug’s car, an engine growled to life and a sick feeling settled into the pit of my stomach. Nash took off running and I leaned Emma against the top step. “Tod?” I called, glancing around the dark yard, grateful there was no one around to see me talking to myself.
“What?” the reaper said at my back, and I whirled around, wondering why he always appeared behind me.
“Can you sit with her for a minute?”
He scowled and glanced at Emma, who stared up at us, blinking her big blue eyes in intoxicated innocence. “You told me to stay away from her.”
“Hey, I remember you,” Emma slurred, loud enough to make me wince. “You’re dead.”
We both ignored Em. “I know. Just watch her for a minute, and don’t let her get into any cars. Please.” Then I raced after Nash past the entrance to the cul-de-sac, confident Tod would watch Emma. That he’d probably been doing it all night, though he’d catch hell for missing work.
Ahead, streetlights shined on the glossy surface of Doug’s car, gliding past like a slice of the night itself. Then, as I caught up to Nash, Doug leaned suddenly to one side, and his car lurched forward and to the right.
There was a loud pop, followed by the crunch of metal. Then the crash of something more substantial.
“Shit!” Nash took off running again and I followed as that sick feeling in my stomach enveloped the rest of me. “Oh, no, Kaylee…”
I knew before I even saw it. The street was lined with expensive, highly insured cars belonging to people who could easily afford to replace them. But the drunk jock had hit mine. When I got closer, I saw that he’d not only hit it, he’d rammed it up onto the sidewalk and through a neighbor’s brick mailbox.
My car was crunched. The driver’s side door was buckled. Bricks and chunks of mortar lay everywhere.
Behind us, Scott’s front door squealed opened and voices erupted into the dark behind me. I glanced back to find Tod—now fully corporeal—ushering Emma away from the crowd pouring into the yard. When I was sure she was okay, I turned to my poor, dead car.
Until I noticed that Doug Fuller had yet to emerge from his.
Crap.
“Help me with him,” Nash called, and I rounded the car as he pulled open the completely unscathed driver’s side door of the Mustang. Doug’s head lolled on his shoulders, and he was mumbling drunk nonsense under his breath. “…with me. Somebody else in my car, dude…”
Nash leaned inside to unlatch the seat belt—what kind of drunk remembers to buckle up?—but he couldn’t fit between his friend and the steering wheel, which had been shoved way too close to Doug’s chest. “Kay, could you get the belt?”
I sighed and crawled across his lap, wedging my torso between the wheel and his chest as I felt around for the button. “Scared the shit out of me…” he mumbled into the hair that had fallen over my ear. “He was just there, outta nowhere!”
“Shut up, Doug,” I snapped, seriously considering leaving him in the car until the cops arrived. “You’re drunk.” When I had the belt unlatched, I backed out of the linebacker’s lap and he exhaled right into my face.
I froze, one hand braced against his thigh, and that sick feeling in my stomach became a full-body cramp. Ice-cold fingers of horror clenched my heart and shot through my veins. Emma was right. Doug hadn’t been drinking.
Somehow, Eastlake High School’s completely human first-string linebacker had gotten his big, dumb hands on the most dangerous controlled substance in the Netherworld.
Doug Fuller absolutely reeked of Demon’s Breath.

Want to learn more about Rachel and her other books? Then check out her: