Saturday, March 14, 2015

Interview and Giveaway with Chantel Fourie Author of The Vengeful

The Vengeful
Chantel Fourie

In a world where vengeful creatures battle humans, knowing who to trust could be the difference between losing his brother and saving the human race.

When Zack ends up in an alternate dimension and loses his brother to the Vengeful, the last thing he expects is that one of the soul-seeking creatures would save his life. 

Vale, a Vengeful with human capabilities, needs his help to retrieve an orb from the last remaining human settlement. In return, he promises to help Zack save his brother and take them back to their own world. 

In the settlement, he learns the truth about the Vengeful and the orb’s power. But it is only when he meets Shiro, the human leader, that Zack begins to have doubts. Can he trust Vale to keep his promise, or should he believe Shiro instead? 

The fate of the human race rests on his choice.

Available at




What inspired you to write this book?

I had a strange, lucid dream about reaper-like creatures: The scene where Zack and his brother drive down the foggy road and see the Vengeful for the first time. That one scene shaped into a story after I woke up.

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?

I’m very picky when it comes to names, but for me it’s not about the meaning of the name, it’s about fitting the name with the character. It has to sound like it belongs to the character. I usually google or use a name generator tool until I find the perfect one.

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

Yes, Vale. I love the grave sound of his voice and his good/bad characteristics as a Vengeful.

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?

Hmm, well if readers jump into a series other than the first book it’s only natural that they will miss something important. Most things happen in the first book that readers should want to know about.

For example: How Zack arrives in the parallel world, the different kinds of Vengeful, what happened to Zack’s brother, who is Vale and Shiro and why they are important to the story, etc.

The second book will be a direct sequel, but I think if the reader decides to only read one book that it can be read as stand alones.

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

I’m one of those lucky people that rarely experience writer’s block. I have the opposite problem. I have so many ideas that I write multiple stories at once. When I’m stuck on one scene, I move to the next story. It works for me so far and I hope to keep it up.

When did you consider yourself a writer?

I’ve been fascinated with words ever since I learned how to write. I have a whole collection of stories that I wrote in school, but it’s in 2012 when I played the game, Alan Wake, that I decided, “I want to be a writer”. Alan Wake’s life and struggles as a writer touched me deeper than any other game or book and I found his writing so thrilling and fresh that I wanted my own stories to do the same for readers.   

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

Ah, where to start… I read books or play computer games in my free time and watch anime twice a week. I love all things paranormal and enjoy finding out more about ghosts, vampires, human abilities, etc. Science, Space, and technology intrigue me. Oh, and I would love to do Martial Arts and Snowboarding someday… Yip, I have too many interests.

What was the last amazing book you read?

Divergent. I wanted to read it before watching the movie and WOW, didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did. I love how well-written and thought-provoking the book is. A must-read for anyone who like Young Adult.

What can readers expect next from you?

I’m working on three Young Adult fantasies alongside the sequel of The Vengeful.
It depends on which one I finish first.

Where can readers find you on the web?

I’m mostly active on Twitter @darkwrld1021. Readers can visit my website for links to my other accounts:

chantelfourie.weebly.com

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

Sure. Here is an excerpt from chapter 1:

Excerpt:
As soon as the engine shut off, silence crept in. It pressed down on Zack’s chest, almost suffocating him. He needed to get out of here before he went crazy. His hand went for the door, but Jake grabbed his arm. Zack shot him a glare, brushing off his hand, wondering what the issue could be this time. But then he saw it too. His stomach dropped as he looked at the figures of three more of the strange cloaked people. He noticed these were different. They were bigger and cloaked in a darker shade of gray. The hoods shadowed each of their faces and their hands and feet were invisible. Two carried weapons. One held a sword, engulfed in a dark purple energy, and the other a giant hammer, surrounded by the same substance.
“I don’t think you should have stopped, Jake.” Zack gulped.
“I didn’t,” Jake said as he turned the key in the ignition, but the car stayed quiet. There wasn’t even a click. “It’s dead!”
The people hovered closer. The giant hammer-wielding creature stopped at the side of the car. Zack’s side. Blood drained from Zack’s face as it lifted the hammer high above its shoulder.
“Drive, Jake! Drive!”
“I can’t. It won’t start!”
“Oh crap.” Zack ducked as the hammer swung down. He waited for the pain to sink in... For the car to explode... Anything. But when nothing happened, he sat up slowly. The car was still in one piece. He checked his body for any changes and relaxed. The hammer did no visible damage at all. “What’s going on?” a bewildered Zack asked.
“Whoa, it went right through! Did you see that?”
Zack didn’t answer, because first, he didn’t see, and second, one of the other people moved forward. This one held no weapon. It stopped in front of the car, standing with its face cast downward for what felt like forever, and then let loose a terrifying screech. The frequency was so high it nearly pierced his eardrums.
“Cover your ears!” Zack yelled as he covered his own with the palm of his hands, but it didn’t drive out the noise or stop the pain pulsing through his brain.
“It’s not working!” Jake said, looking right into the screamer’s face.
Instead of looking, Zack shut his eyes, thinking it would help if he didn’t see it.
“Can’t handle this, my... brain...” Jake groaned.
Zack jerked his head at the click of the car door, catching Jake stumbling out. “What the hell are you doing? Get back inside!” Zack yelled. “Are you crazy?”
Jake ignored him. He stumbled down the road a few feet before he stopped and looked back. His face was stripped of all emotion, his eyes still fixed on the screaming person who moved closer toward him. The other people followed. What’s so interesting about that thing’s face that Jake wasn’t running! Zack got out of the car to jerk him away, but he was too late.
The people were upon Jake before he could move. Let go of my brother, you freaks! Zack wanted to scream, but his voice refused. The two carrying weapons swung them down through his body with sheer force. As Jake yelled, a wave of cold rushed through Zack’s body, chilling him to the bone.

“No!” Shaking, he stepped forward. “Jake!” He forced a yell as he gasped for air. His heart pumped wildly in his chest. This couldn’t be happening. Not to Jake. Not his brother.

About the Author:
Chantel Fourie is a YA author, specializing in Fantasy and Paranormal fiction. She lives in Despatch, a quiet town in South Africa. 
Since a young age, she has treasured books and spent many afternoons at the local library. Even after the librarians suggested the adult section, she kept loyal to the Young Adult shelves. 
Her first novella, The Vengeful, is published with Lycaon Press. She is currently working on various short stories and novellas, including the sequel of The Vengeful. When she is not writing, she is most likely absorbed in a world of fiction or playing online computer games with her friends.
You can find her on:


4 comments:

bn100 said...

nice interview

Mary Preston said...

A great post thank you.

crystalguidroz1 said...

Great interview! Looking forward to reading this!

Bri Wignall said...

Loved this post. The book looks like it would be really good. Ta!

 
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