Roxanne Rhoads: Interview and GIveaway with A.J. Aalto Author of The Marnie Baranuik Files

Do you write in different genres? If yes, what is your favourite genre to write?

I’ve been collaborating on some noir SciFi with my editor, Rafe Brox. I find it difficult, as I am woefully ill-equipped off-planet. I’d make a shit SpaceChick, apparently. I am also working with Jason D. Ready on a horror anthology, and a dark fantasy steampunk series that we’re calling “Pixiegrind.” However, my favourite genre is still paranormal mystery/dark urban fantasy. I dig monsters.

How did you come up with your title for your latest book?

The main character, Marnie Baranuik, is a forensic psychic with two distinct Talents: clairempathy, with which she can sense the emotions of those around her, and psychometric, or “token-object reading”. With the latter Talent, Marnie can touch things and get images and impressions of the last person who held it. To block random influxes of these images, Marnie protects herself by wearing leather gloves indoors and out, all day. In this world, when a human has psychic abilities, they are considered to be “touched” by “the Blue Sense.” Hence, the title “Touched.”

Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?

I usually do have a title in mind before I start the book, but sometimes the title will change when the book is finished, especially if the plot took a turn that I hadn’t expected.

Is there a message in your novel that you want your readers to grasp?

I really enjoy the flaws that characters have to overcome in order to get what they want or need, and I like watching them exploit each other’s flaws as well. I suppose my message is that even a doofus can succeed, and if you’re a doofus (and who isn’t, really?), you can learn to overcome your flaws to accomplish just about anything. Even if that means killing ghouls that you accidentally raised in the first place. *smile*

What books are in your to read pile?

At the moment, I am reading “American Gods” by Neil Gaiman, “London Fields” by Martin Amis, “Chronicles of the Lensmen Volume 1” by E.E. “Doc” Smith, “Elizabeth’s Spy Master” by Robert Hutchinson. I also have a stack of Ann Rule True Crime books beside my bed, because a nice relaxing murder helps me fall asleep at night.

What is your current work in progress or upcoming projects?

My second book, “Death Rejoices,” is available for pre-order through Amazon, and is the continuation of the Marnie Baranuik Files. The notes for the third book in the series, “Last Impressions,” are on my desk right now, ready for outlining and plotting and all that fun stuff. I’m looking forward to the summer, when I can really sink my teeth into it.

Who designed the cover of your latest book?

My brilliant designer is graphic artist Greg Simanson, whom I met through my publisher, Booktrope Editions. He designed the cover for “Touched” and also for “Death Rejoices.”

Do you have a song or playlist (book soundtrack) that you think represents this book?

In the middle of writing this book, I stumbled on some rather amusing dubstep on YouTube by a dude named Mindfucker, and listened to a lot of it, especially “Zombie Panic.” In addition to that:

Fuck you, by Lily Allen

Bad Things, by Jace Everett

Internet Friends, by Knife Party

Little Drop of Poison, by Tom Waits

I Love It, by Icona Pop (featuring Charli XCX)

Big Red Dragon, by Little Green Cars

Radioactive, by Imagine Dragons

Get up, by Korn (feat. Skrillex)

Cherub Rock, by Smashing Pumpkins

Bodies, by Drowning Pool

Touched

The Marnie Baranuik Files, Book One
A. J. Aalto

Genre: paranormal fantasy

Publisher: Booktrope Editions

ISBN: 978-1935961574

ASIN: B009NIE5S8

Number of pages: 454

Word Count: 158k

Cover Artist: Greg Simanson

Amazon paperback Kindle Barnes and Noble (paperback only)

Book Description:

The media has a nickname for Marnie Baranuik, though she’d rather they didn’t; they call her the Great White Shark, a rare dual-talented forensic psychic. Twice-Touched by the Blue Sense--which gives her the ability to feel the emotions of others, and read impressions left behind on objects--Marnie also has a doctorate in preternatural biology and a working knowledge of the dark arts. She is considered without peer in the psychic community.

Then her first big FBI case ended with a bullet in one shoulder and a chip on the other, a queasy heart and a serial killer in the wind, leaving her a public flop and a private wreck. When the FBI’s preternatural crimes unit tracks her down at a remote mountain lodge for her insight on a local case, her quiet retirement is promptly besieged by a stab-happy starlet, a rampaging ghoul, and a vampire-hunting jackass in tight Wranglers. Marnie figures the only real mystery is which one will kill her first.

Too mean to die young, backed up by friends in cold places, and running with a mouth as demure as a cannon’s blast, Marnie Baranuik is about to discover that there’s no such thing as quitting time when you’re Touched.

About the Author:

AJ Aalto is the author of Touched, first in the paranormal mystery series The Marnie Baranuik Files. Aalto is an unrepentant liar and a writer of blathering nonsense offset by factual gore. When not working on her novels, you can find her singing old Monty Python songs in the shower, eavesdropping on perfect strangers, stalking her eye doctor, or failing at one of her many fruitless hobbies. Generally a fan of anyone with a passion for the ridiculous, she has a particular weak spot for smug pseudo-intellectuals and narcissistic jerks; readers will find her work littered with dark, imperfect creatures, flawed monsters and oodles of snark. AJ cannot say no to a Snickers bar, and has been known to swallow her gum.

www.ajaalto.com

@AJAalto

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aj.aalto.5