Interview and Giveaway with Ella James

After a fire destroys seventeen-year-old Julia's home and kills her foster parents, she chases the half-demon responsible across the country and back, determined to avenge her family and discover why a host of celestial baddies want her dead. With Julia is enigmatic hottie Cayne, who has his own score to settle with the half-demon, and who might be just as dangerous as the creature he and Julia hunt.
Listed as one of the Top 10 Books of 2011, Cayne voted one of 2011's Top 10 Book Boyfriends. Recipient of the Flamingnet Top Choice Award.

 Milo Mitchell's life used to be charmed, but that was before her family dissolved, she went a little crazy, and her best friends started acting more like strangers. Spending Saturday morning in a treehouse with a stun gun for company and a herd of deer for friends is the only exciting thing in her life...until she shoots a fawn and finds her dart stuck in a guy.

Her gorgeous victim is dressed in a Brioni tux and armed with a hanky. He has no idea who or where he is. Afraid her dart caused his amnesia, Milo takes him in, names him Nick, and vows to help him solve his mystery. Soon the pair find Nick's face in a newspaper obituary, and Nick begins to have strange, ethereal memories of Milo--who is sure she's never met him. Suddenly Nick knows things he shouldn't know and is doing things he shouldn't do. When the Department of Defense shows up, Nick and Milo run--toward a shocking conclusion that could destroy both their worlds.

 Margo Ford just became an heiress. Not the Paris Hilton kind. Her billions came after her father died and her insanely wealthy, insanely absent mother officially claimed her. Unfortunately, some terrorists noticed, and they hatched a plot to kidnap her. After a news report goes awry, reporting that Margo *has* been kidnapped, and her mother offers the humiliating sum of $500,000 for her return, Margo doesn't want anything to do with her *#$!@ of an egg donor. Then she is sentenced to a summer of "protection" on her mother's private island. Not the Oprah Winfrey kind. This one has an astronomical observatory filled with scientists, including Logan Greer, a super hot, super infuriating planet-hunter. Hiding out from kidnappers has never been so boring... until suddenly it isn't anymore.

                                                                                                                                                             

 ***********INTERVIEW************

 

United By Books would like to thank you for being with us today and we are really looking forward to your answers.

 1~ Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

I'm in my 20s, and I live in Birmingham, Alabama with my husband and my 9-month-old son - and our dog, a German Shepherd mix. In addition to his 9-5 job, my husband is also my editor and the designer of all my covers. I do some editing for a small romance press and I take care of my son... and write. And spend time with my husband. I love to read and I really love to travel. I guess I sound like every writer out there, and any weird traits that might make me seem more interesting aren't the sorts of things you'd lead with. ;-) Ah, I should also add I'm the author of the Stained Series: Stained, Stolen, Chosen (TBR in June), and an untitled fourth book TBR later in the summer; HERE, first in a YA sci-fi romance trilogy; and Before You Go, a YA romance that is part one of a larger book TBR this summer.

2 ~ Do you have any interesting writing quirks, or things that you must have with you to begin the writing process?

Yeah, I'm fairly neurotic and in keeping with that I don't have much of a method to my madness. I just get all high-strung and check my e-mail, Amazon, and Facebook a few times in a row. I make sure I have a Diet Dr. Pepper and a good pillow to prop my laptop on... and I start. :) Starting is always the hardest part.

3~ Can you please tell us a little about book or books?

When people ask this these days, I don't think they know what they're getting into. :) I have a lot of books! The Stained Series is a story about Julia, a 17-year-old foster kid who has finally been adopted by great parents, only to witness their house burn down one night after she has sneaked out to visit a neighborhood friend. She hallucinates an angel of death in the air above the flames... and a few days later that figure she thought she hallucinated is hovering over the warehouse where she's hiding out - and he's fighting this guy... So that's the lead up to the story, which is about Julia and the guy, Cayne - who has his own secrets. HERE is about Milo, who lives on a wind farm outside Denver, and who is trying to shoot and tag deer for a wildlife project; she shoots a stun gun, looks up, and sees a boy lying on the bank of a river... rather than her deer. No, he's not a deer boy. ;) It's kind of this mystery, and the ending is the last thing you would guess. And Before You Go is about a newly minted heiress whose absentee mother has her quarantined on a private island one summer because kidnappers have threatened to snatch her. The island is home to an observatory, where a college guy is interning...

4~ What's in store next for your readers?

Julia and Cayne's adventure continues in Chosen, which I have finished and which will be released in June. The dramatic conclusion to that series will be in July or August. (And it really is dramatic). The second book in the HERE series should be coming out in August. That one's really crazy... But I'm not at liberty to say how. ;) And the larger, adult romance that contains Before You Go as part one (Over The Moon) is coming out in June as well. I hope to put out the third and final HERE book in late August and put out a futuristic YA romance in August or September.

5~ How do you describe your writing style?

Umm... compulsively readable? I hope. Haha. I think writing should be easy to read, so that's what I shoot for. Smooth but without a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles. Good dialogue. Strong characters with strong voices.

6~ What is the hardest part of writing? What is the best part if it? 

The hardest part right now is finding the hours to put into it. I have a grueling schedule for myself and a 9-month-old who is teething and trying to yank the dog's tail off. ;) And, of course, a husband I like to see. There are a lot of best parts. Coming up with new characters and their stories is totally awesome... Writing a really good scene. Looking at the finished product. I guess another worst part would be release days. I get really nervous when I release a new book, even though I love actually finishing the book. See? Neurotic! :) 

7~ Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing? 

Lately it's just about time. It's challenging to stay awake at night and do it. I've been writing daily with the intent to publish since 2005, so the writing and plotting are not that difficult anymore, although of course there are always new things to learn.

8~ What are 3 things that never fail to make you smile?

 My son's smile. One of my husband's jokes. And I guess writing a really good scene.

9~ What do you like to do when you're not writing?

 Other than hang out with my family and travel, I like to read about dorky robotics, space, and medical stuff. I have a lot of nerdy interests that I pursue purely for fun. I love running and hiking, and I like to eat.

10~ Do you have any favorite shows that you make time to watch? 

Yep. Right now I watch all my TV online when I get the chance. My husband and I are watching How I Met Your Mother (which we just started), New Girl, Community, 30 Rock, the occasional episode of Grimm... I guess that's about all. Walking Dead when it was in season. Shows I like tend to get canceled! I had a total obsession with Rubicon, on AMC, and I was really upset when it was canceled a year or two ago.

11~ What inspired you to start writing? And how do you come up with your stories? 

From a young age I felt like something magical happened when I wrote - even a note to a friend in like, third grade. I always considered myself a writer and planned to make my living that way. I knew if I wanted it enough I would make it happen. I use my stories as outlets for my interests and my emotions... and I love plotting a good love story. It usually begins with the characters and I go from there.

12~ How would you describe yourself in three words? 

Three words that follow each other - like Smart Sexy Lady (lol!) or just three words - like Compassionate, Complicated, and Driven?

13~ Is there anything special you would to say to your readers while we have you here today?

To people who have already read my books, thank you. Each book sale means so much to me. Sometimes I sit and think about people out there reading my books in the mist of their lives, the way I read other writers' books as a break from my own, and it makes me so happy. And to people who haven't tried them yet... obviously I think you should. ;) In all seriousness, I think writing should be fast and fun, and my books are often described that way. The writing is easily readable and I think typos are kept to a minimum. The characters are strong and the books are page turners. Plus they're cheap! Gotta love a bargain. xx

You can find Ella James here:

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Ella James on Goodreads  

                                *****GIVEAWAY****** 

Ella has graciously offered up a e-copy of HERE to one lucky commenter ....just fill out the rafflecopter below to be entered.  

 

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