1.
What inspired
you to become an author?
I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t scribbling
down stories and ideas. Even when I was trying to be a grown-up, my muse would
always be whispering in my ear saying ‘isn’t that interesting, wouldn’t that
make a great story?’ My 40th birthday came around and I committed to
my writing and Hot Flashes is the
result.
2. How did you come up with the title for your latest
book?
When Hot Flashes was in its infancy,
the work in process (WIP) title was Drakkon-born.
It left my readers confused as it sounded like it should be an epic fantasy. My
title needed to reflect the contemporary nature of the project. After tossing
around various options, I sent a list out to my critique group and they
unanimously chose Hot Flashes. What
better way to celebrate a menopausal dragon.
3. Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s
complete?
I always have a WIP
title. Most of the time, I find it will serve as the final selection. Though,
as I mentioned in the previous question, not all the time.
4. Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a
true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?
I’d like to say I was a dragon. Seriously,
who wouldn’t want to fly and touch the sky?
Alas, Hot Flashes is
completely a work of fiction.
5. What book are you reading now?
Currently I’m
reading Kindred and Wing by Philippa
Ballantine and The Ministry of Peculiar
Occurances: The Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris, those
two books are on the top of a very large stack. I’m behind in my reading.
Better to have too many books to read than none at all.
6. What is your current “work in progress” or upcoming
projects?
I am working through the first draft of the next Drakkon novel, tentatively
titled Slash & Burn. I’m also
working on a couple of speculative fiction short stories that I hope to have
completed by the end of the year.
7. Can you share a little of your current work with us?
In
Slash & Burn, the Chancellor
escapes after killing an important character, leaving Ella burdened with a
leadership role she feels completely unprepared for. Couple this with betrayal;
Ella races to prevent a war that will pit Drakkon against Drakkon. And, she has
to find a way to get Ethias back to Earth and reconnect her parents. Just
another day in the Otherverse.
8. Who designed the cover of your latest book?
Tatiana at
VillaDesign.net designed my cover. She listened to what I wanted and came up
with this gorgeous design. For the next Drakkon installment, I’ll be working
with her again.
9. Do you have any advice for other writers?
Write! Granting
yourself permission to write in the midst of your crazy life will be the best
decision you’ve ever made.
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The Writerly Exploits of Mara Valderran
Hot Flashes
The Drakkon Volume 1
Leila Gaskin
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Number of pages: 300
Word Count: 85,988
ISBN: 978-0615871851
ASIN: B00ER1W88U
Smashwords: 9781301209422
Cover Artist: Tatiana Vila
Book Description:
“Dragons do not exist.” Ella Hixson shrieked as the mythical beasts dive from the sky shredding her car with their impressively long talons and sending her careening across the road in an attempt to avoid the being flambéed. Escaping her car, she grasps the car door in order to prevent herself from tumbling down the slippery embankment. Pouring rain soaks Ella’s interview suit and her dress shoes as she searches the sky for the attacking beasts to find nothing but clouds heavy with their payload of rain.
Hallucinations, relationship destroying fights with her only surviving relative-her mother, and, thanks to a bodaciously bosomed, bottle-blond, jobless, Ella needs the universe to cut her a break.
Be careful what you wish for.
Circumstances conspire and Ella’s mundane existence evaporates when she discovers she is Drakkon, the hidden heir to an ancient dynasty, and she has an enemy who would see all the Drakkon race enslaved or dead.
No more ordinary days for Ella as she learns what it is to be Drakkon, tries to save a world she knows nothing about, and still be home in time to feed her dog.
About the Author:
Born on a dark and stormy night on the other side of the world from Richmond, VA, Leila Gaskin began a life full of imaginative wanderings. Inspired by her journey, Leila takes inspiration from the places she’s lived. She is the author of several short stories ranging from horror, speculative fiction, and science fiction. HOT FLASHES is her debut novel.
With her dog as her co-pilot and the cat as the navigator, Leila explores her world and tells her stories.
Website: http://www.leila-gaskin.com
Twitter: @leilagaskin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeilaGaskin
4 comments:
Thanks Roxanne for having me on your blog. I will be happy to answer any questions your readers might have. Bright Skies!
thanks for the interview and giveaway :-)
Thanks for sharing the great interview and the giveaway. Sounds like a great book and I am looking forward to reading it. evamillien at gmail dot com
Thanks Eva! I hope you enjoy it. Bright Skies!
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