Interview and Giveaway with Madeline Freeman Author of Awaking

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

I’ve been reading for as long as I can remember. I love all sorts of books, but I’ve always had an affinity for young adult titles. Maybe it’s because, as a high school teacher, I spend most of my time around teenagers. Maybe it’s because I’m just young at heart. Either way, almost all of the ideas I have for stories involve young adults. I’ve always been interested in paranormal things, so lots of my ideas are paranormal—at least in part.

* Please tell us about your latest release.

Awaking is a young adult urban fantasy book—the first installment in the Naturals trilogy. It centers around Morgan Abbey, a girl whose mother disappeared nearly a decade earlier and who does psychic readings for her high school contemporaries. When the mysterious Kellen comes into her life and claims he has information both about Morgan’s mother and her abilities, she finds herself at the center of a struggle she didn’t even know existed.

* Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?

In the world of this series, there exists a group of people with powers beyond those of normal people. This group, called the Veneret, are able to do things like influence moods, read thoughts, cause people to do things they may not want to do, even know future events. These people exist within the world, but beside it—above it. Because of their abilities, success comes easily to them. Still, their wealth and status are not enough for them.

* 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 alones?

Absolutely, readers need to be aware of what happens in the first book (Awaking) to be able to fully enjoy the second (Seeking). Of course, at the beginning of book two, I attempted to take a couple of paragraphs catching readers up (or reminding readers, if it’s been a while since they read Awaking). Still, as a reader, I think it’s important to read all the books in a series in order to understand everything that’s going on. This trilogy is definitely intended to build on itself, so I think it’s difficult to read the books as stand-alones.

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

Yes, I have suffered from writer’s block. Sometimes I wonder if it’s because I have too many ideas, too many stories started. To deal with it, I attempt to take the pressure off myself. If I make the goal of writing at least one sentence a day, I find I can deal with that. It’s not impossible, and even if I only write one sentence, I’m still moving forward. Of course, usually, I’ll write more than a single sentence, but it’s nice to know that on a busy day, there’s no “all or nothing” mentality—no thought that if I don’t write a thousand words or two pages or a page, I’ve failed. As long as I can move forward, I find the writer’s block eventually resolves itself.

* Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?

When I write, I prefer to have my cat, Fat Baby, present. He likes to lay on the desk in my office. While I’m writing, I can reach over and pet him and he’ll purr… It’s very relaxing! If he’s not there, I can still write. I just like it better when he’s there.

* When did you consider yourself a writer?

I’ve considered myself a writer since about the fifth grade, but I didn’t necessarily considered myself an author until I had the physical copy of Awaking in my hands. Perhaps others wouldn’t see it as a distinction, but I do. In my mind, a writer is merely someone who writes; whereas, an author is someone whose writing is read by others.

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

I love the English language. I like reading books on the rules of grammar and word use. I also like reading books in general, as I’m sure most writers do. I enjoy riding my bike. I like snuggling with my cat. I play the guitar—not well, mind you. I enjoy sewing. I love hanging out with my sister or my girlfriends and laughing until I cry.

* What can readers expect next from you?

I’m working on Seeking, the next book in the Naturals trilogy. After finishing that and Becoming, book three, I’m thinking of working on a vampire book. In general, I’m not a huge vampire fan—I think that’s why I want to do something with them. I want something that’s not trite, something that’s not a “vampire fairy tale.” This vampire book I’m thinking about might end up being two books. We’ll see once I’ve got more time to focus on it. After that, I’ll be reworking a book I finished back in the ninth grade—a book concerning witches. So, it looks like I’ll be working in the YA paranormal/urban fantasy vein for a while now.

* Where can readers find you on the web?

I’ve got a website—http://www.madelinefreeman.net.

I’m also on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/madelinefreemanbooks) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/laurealinde).

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

There was a large island in the middle of the kitchen, and all manner of cups and beverages were lined up on it. At the far end of the island, Morgan noticed a group of guys standing protectively around a keg. She rolled her eyes and started toward the island. She was within a few steps of it and put her hand out to grab a two liter when a girl pushed her way into the space Morgan was about to step in to. It only took a split second for Morgan to recognize the unruly blond curls of Shayna Malcolm, Lynna Rochester’s third-in-command.

Instinctively, Morgan stopped, not wanting to make bodily contact. But then she felt anger swell within her and, without pausing to think about what she was going to do, she changed direction so that she stepped next to Shayna and shoved into Shayna’s shoulder with her own. The cup Shayna was filling tipped over and cola went everywhere.

“Oh, Shayna!” Morgan said, putting her hands to her mouth in mock horror. “How incredibly rude and self-centered of me to have not noticed you there.”

Shayna Malcolm glared at Morgan. Then she looked down at the brown cola spot consuming much of the front of her short white skirt. She glared at Morgan again.

“Bitch! How dare you!” Shayna screeched.

Morgan just looked at her evenly. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

For a moment, Shayna just gaped at Morgan. Through her peripheral vision, Morgan noticed that people around them were staring.

“God, you’re such a freak!” Shayna spat the last word like a malediction, as though Morgan should run away and cry upon hearing it. When Morgan’s even expression didn’t change, Shayna tried again. “What are you even doing here? This party isn’t for losers like you. Why don’t you just go home and be freaky all by yourself?”

Morgan said nothing. Instead, she took a step closer to Shayna. In the strappy heels, she was inches taller than Shayna was, and she used this to her advantage. She leaned in close and stared unblinkingly into Shayna’s eyes.

At first, Shayna tried to hold Morgan’s stare, but she finally took a step back, looking away. “Psycho,” Shayna muttered as she turned from Morgan. Then, glancing back, she raised her voice enough so that the people around them could still hear. “But I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that you’re a psycho, considering your dad killed your mom and cut her body into tiny pieces so no one would ever find—”

A few things happened in quick succession—so fast, in fact, that later, Morgan would be unsure which happened first. Morgan felt a rage bubble inside her so hot and so fast she forgot to breathe. A fire seemed to fill her from the core of her being outward, and a rushing sound filled her ears. All she could feel was the rage and all she could see was Shayna.

And then Shayna started screaming.

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Awaking
By Madeline Freeman
Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Blurb:

Morgan Abbey’s life is about to change.

Just weeks before her senior year is set to begin, a mysterious stranger approaches Morgan with information that has far-reaching ramifications. First, the psychic ability she believes she has just been pretending to have since middle school might actually be real.

Second, her mother, who disappeared abruptly and completely almost a decade ago, might still be alive.

Morgan finds herself in the drawn into a centuries-old struggle involving a group of people who quietly coexist alongside the common people of the world. This shadowy group believes it is time for them to reclaim their former positions of power—and they believe Morgan is the key.

But when the time comes, will Morgan be able to do what it takes to reunite with her mother and fulfill her destiny?

Available at Smashwords and Amazon

Author Bio:

Madeline Freeman lives in the metro-Detroit area with her husband, her cats, her sister, and her sister’s cat. In her spare time, she reads, sews, rides her bike, and watches way too much TV on DVD.

She also loves anything to do with astronomy, outer space, plate tectonics, and dinosaurs. This is her first published novel.

Connect with Madeline online:
http://www.madelinefreeman.net
http://twitter.com/laurealinde
http://facebook.com/madelinefreemanbooks

Giveaway Time

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