Interview and Giveaway with Laura DeLuca

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?  

I am a mom of four who lives at the Jersey Shore.  I have always wanted to be a writer, but it was favorite author from my high schools years, Christopher Pike, who inspired me to write thrillers and paranormal novels for young adults.

What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires or witches, that fascinates you so much? 

I am a practicing Wiccan, so the paranormal is part of my everyday life. When I was writing Destiny and Destiny Unveiled, I used the knowledge born from personal experience to add a little realism to the supernatural aspects of the novel.

What inspired you to write this book? 

The original Destiny was inspired by a dream. But it was my best friend and coven sister, Donna Brown, who inspired me to write the sequel.  There is actually a new character named after her, and the book is dedicated to her.

Please tell us about your latest release. 

Destiny Unveiled is the second book is what I hope will be a series of five novels. Gabriella meets her Aunt Donna for the first time since her mother was killed. She begs Gabriella to help save her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven before they can unleash her powers. But Donna isn’t telling Gabriella everything, and there is way more at stake than just the life of her cousin.

Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?  

Sometimes, a name just comes to me, and I know it’s the right one. It’s like the characters are naming themselves. But more often, my characters are named after the people around me whose personalities match the characteristics I want to portray.

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another? 

The Destiny series alternates view points between Gabriella and her boyfriend Darron. This was necessary to be able to tell the story the way I wanted to, but I definitely found it difficult to write from the perspective of a guy.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others? 

I love writing about Gabriella’s best friend, Flora, because she is exactly like me. She says all the wrong things at all the wrong times. But she adds an element of comic relief to an otherwise serious story, which makes her fun to write about.

Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?  

They usually develop on their own. I have very little control over them. LOL

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course? 

My favorite scene is the roof top ritual where Gabriella and her friends face the Dark Coven.

What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes? 

Once when I was writing a murder mystery in high school (before the internet), I called a local electrician, and asked him if a certain electrocution scene I was writing would really work. He told me, yes, but, “Remember your number is on my caller ID if I hear of this happening at the prom.”

With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? 

Can these books be read as stand alone? 

They can be read stand alone, but it would definitely be more exciting to read them in order. If you read Destiny Unveiled first, it will contain major spoilers for the first book in the series which will ruin some of the suspense.

Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?  

Definitely Flora. She looks like me and acts like me. She always puts her foot in her mouth, and she never knows when to shut up.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?  

The only time I had writers block was when I was pregnant, but I spent most of that time sleeping anyway. Luckily, I won’t have to worry about that any more since I’m done having kids. J

Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals? 

I always write my first draft like I’m still in the 90’s (which is when I was a teen). I have to force myself to add in things like computers and cell phones when I go back and edit.

Do you write in different genres?  

In in addition to paranormal, I also enjoy writing thrillers. I recently had another novel published entitled, Phantom, which is a modern day telling of the Phantom of the Opera.  I also hope to branch out to adult novels sometime in the future.

Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres? 

Not at all. I go with whatever inspiration comes to me, and it’s more fun to mix things up a little.

When did you consider yourself a writer? 

I started calling myself a writer in first grade when I wrote a picture book about two bunnies who got married.

What are your guilty pleasures in life? 

Right now, writing is my only guilty pleasure. With four kids and a business, every free second I have is spent at my keyboard. But there is nothing I love more, so I’m not complaining.

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life? 

I love to read and spend time with my children, especially at the beach. I also practice Reiki and my spiritual journey with Wicca and paganism is definitely my main passion in life.

What was the last amazing book you read?  

Taking 1960 by Rosa Sophia. It’s an awesome paranormal mystery, written by my editor.

Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot? 

I love reading at the beach, especially in the off season when I’m the only person there. It’s also my favorite place to write.

What can readers expect next from you? 

I am currently working on a fantasy novel called Morrigan. Morrigan is a teenage witch who has been shuffled from one foster home to another all her life.  Now she is about to discover she is a princess from the mystical land of Tír Na NÓg. The handsome werewolf Filtiarn guides her through countless perils to find her mother, Ceridwyn, and grandmother, Hecate. Only together can they complete the magical triad and save their world. 

Where can readers find you on the web? 

You can find me on my blog: http://authorlauradeluca.blogspot.com or on face book www.facebook.com/authorlauradeluca

Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book? 

Here is an excerpt:

Darron was on the roof of a large building, elevated dizzyingly high over the road below. Other skyscrapers bordered it, but it was by far the largest building in the general area, standing several stories higher than it's neighbors. The few cars that dotted the street below looked like insects. Above him, the moon shone full, round, and red in the night sky. It was an autumn moon, a blood moon. By the light of that moon, Darron was able to see the practiced movements of six black-cloaked figures, who swayed to the steady beat of an invisible drum. Their shapes were obscure in the pale light, and it was impossible to determine if they were men or women because the dark, hooded robes they wore hid their features from view.

There was an altar erected in the center of a circle that was outlined in black charcoal. On that altar sat the normal tools of ritual: a black tipped dagger, a silver chalice, an incense burner, and multiple black candles. Darron owned similar items. They weren't frightening in themselves. But the altar, like the people who lingered around it, was outlined by a shimmering black aura. The vibrations they relayed were no less than evil. Their presence made Darron shudder. He watched in horror, as a silent and unwelcome spectator to the forbidden rights.

Four of the cloaked figures took up the elemental corners, preparing to call the Guardians. The Guardians answered their call, unable to ignore the summons because magick can't be divided into good and evil. It's both because nature is both, harsh and devastating yet beautiful and gentle as the need arises. It was just as easy for the dark witches to harness the destructive forces of nature as it was for Darron and his coven to call upon its life giving magick. Good or evil was in the heart of its master, not in the magick that was wielded.

A fifth cloaked figure, the apparent leader of the group, stood in the center of the circle with the dagger raised high above his head. The sixth and final coven member groveled at the feet of the leader, his head lowered in acquiescence. The hood of his cloak hid his face though he was no more than a few feet away from Darron.

"Brother and sisters," the leader proclaimed, his accented voice heavy with his foreboding presence. "Tonight in the wake of the blood moon, we come together to bring a new brother into our fold. He has completed the required tasks and proven himself worthy to join us in our work."

"So mote it be!"

The four other cloaked figures cried out in perfect unison. Their hands were raised to the sky in honor of the blood moon.

The leader picked up the chalice from the altar. He followed the path of the circle to all of the elemental corners, stopping at each of the robed coven members in turn. Each offered their willing hands to their leader, palm outward. Each welcomed the point of the black edged dagger as it dug into their open palms without so much as a gasp of pain. The high priest cut a clean line down the centers of the palms of his disciples, and they all squeezed their fingers against the open wound to allow the blood to drip into the waiting chalice.

After collecting the offering from his followers, the leader returned to the center of the circle and the waiting initiate. With one quick motion, he sliced open his own palm. He held his hand over the cup, letting his blood drip slowly into the chalice, until the wound miraculously healed before Darron's startled eyes. When the chalice was full, he carried it to the eager initiate who took the cup firmly into his hands and tilted it towards his lips.

"As this blood makes you one with our flesh, so your soul follows to become one with the darkness," the English voice intoned.

As the initiate drained the last of the liquid in the chalice, his hood fell away, revealing a blonde ponytail pulled back over a pale white face, made even paler by the outline of bright red blood around his lips. Darron watched in stunned, horrified silence as his own face turned to meet his gaze. Eyes turned as black as coals stared back at Darron with a grim smile of satisfaction.

"Rise Darron," the leader commanded. And as he spoke, he lifted the hood from his head. Rise brother of the Dark Coven."

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Destiny Unveiled 

Book Two 

Blurb 

Gabriella and Darron thought their magickal battle was over when they defeated the evil warlock, Richard. When her Aunt Donna seeks Gabriella’s help in rescuing her catatonic daughter from the Dark Coven, Gabriella discovers that her cousin holds a power within her that would be catastrophic in the hands of the evil witches. 

Gabriella’s coven sets out on a journey that may be their last. Along the way, they meet new allies, face devastating treachery, and battle not only the Dark Coven, but the darkness within themselves. 

When Gabriella finally comes face to face with the cousin she never knew existed, her true destiny is unveiled, and the fate of the mortal world is in her hands. 

Excerpt of Destiny Unveiled 

http://authorlauradeluca.blogspot.com/2011/08/excerpt-from-search-for-destiny-sequel.html

Get it at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/160138


Destiny Unveiled Amazon Link http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Unveiled-Laura-DeLuca/dp/0982674759/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1337716273&sr=8-4   

Amazon Buy Link Destiny  http://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Laura-DeLuca/dp/0982674724/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337716273&sr=8-2   

About the Author 

Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. 

In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to eight years. 

Blog : http://authorlauradeluca.blogspot.com 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorldeluca 

Face book: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraDeLuca

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authorldeluca/

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