We have reached week 4 of our Author of the Month. Crazy I know! How time flies when we're busy bees and having fun.
This week we have the dazzling Stacey Rourke joining us, author of the Gryphon Series, #1 The Conduit and #2 Embrace. I'm just starting Embrace now, and completely devoured The Conduit last week - review to follow tomorrow!
First up, I sent Stacey a few 'get to know you' questions, as well as some more random questions that we'll take a look at next week. After the interview, we also have an amazing giveaway with some awesome Stacey Rourke goodies up for grabs! Now let's find out a little more about the talent that is Stacey Rourke (keep reading - it's a good one!):
- Tell me a bit about yourself.
- Hahaha. Completely understandable. I had some pretty freaky dreams as a kid about said Roald Dahl characters! Willa Wonka aside, what inspired you to write your first book?
The first inklings of the idea came from me wanting to write a story for my two daughters about a strong female character that didn’t need a knight in shining armour to save her. Around that same time I had a dream one night that is actually a scene right out of The Conduit—where Celeste is creeping forward in the dark theatre and a hand shoots up out of the orchestra pit. It was such a real dream in which I could actually feel the power Celeste held. Those two elements combined and I had no choice but to follow where the story was leading.
- And I'm so glad that you pursued that. Seriously! Thinking about your series, how did you come up with the title Gryphon Series?
Actually in the scheme of things
the titles are pretty straight forward. The Conduit- a conduit is a receptacle
that other objects are syphoned through. That’s exactly what Celeste is-a
receptacle of the gryphon’s powers. Embrace-In that book is when she really
embraces what it is to be The Chosen One. She owns her calling. Why
Sacrifice—releasing this fall—has that title? You’ll just have to wait and see!
- *Jumping up and down in excitement* I can't wait until book 3. There are so many amazing characters in your series, how are you the same/different from them?
Celeste and I share our sarcasm, without a doubt. However, I sincerely hope I am as fun as Grams when I hit her age! Zebra print muumuus, fake eyelashing, salsa dancing, that lady knows how to live!
- Grams is one fine woman who truly embraces her age and her womanhood. I completely agree that she rocks! In the world of new fangled communication, what would a twitter conversation look like between you and Celeste?
I would
probably have to block her due to repeated threats against my life because of
all the awful and embarrassing stuff I put that girl through! I turned her life
upside down and have a tendency to torture her with the things she wants most
in life. I’m guessing she wouldn’t be a fan of mine!
- Probably a good idea then. Thank goodness for that facility. :) Thinking about journey, what was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
When moments of creativity happen, you have to embrace them and go with it. If you don’t drop what you’re doing and write down the wonderful idea you just came up with, it will flutter out of your head never to return again. Ideas are fickled like that.
- Sage advice! What are your plans for the series?
Like I said Sacrifice will be out this
fall. After that I’ll do one more book in the series—the
big mamajama—to wrap up everything and complete the saga and then that’ll be it and I’ll be
on to something else.
8. Dang it guys. I tried, but Stacey just won't crack! Have you ever done anything strange or
weird in the name of
research?
I often act out the fight scenes in my bathroom mirror. Mid-sidepunch I swung around and accidentally slammed my hand into the door. Come to find out I’m not nearly as tough as Celeste. I did invent some new cuss words that day though!
- I can imagine. It would be great if one time you could film said fight scenes for entertainment Stacey! How long does it take you to write a book?
My first draft I can knock out in 3-6 months (slow compared to a lot of other authors, I know.) However I do three round of story editing to make sure it’s TIGHT before I let another set of eyes see it. All in all it takes me close to a year.
- What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
Evenings are my writing time. I
give my kids a bath, get them settled down with the Disney movie of their
choice and then write until bed time.
- I've been admiring your covers for a while now. Who designed them?
K.C. Designs did the cover of Embrace, Eye Candy
did The Conduit. But between you and me K.C.
did The Conduit. But between you and me K.C.
Designs is in the process of
giving The Conduit a
facelift right now. As much as I like my Conduit
cover, I’ve realized as the series is going along that it
isn’t tying in
with the other “looks” of the rest of the
series. So, we’ll be doing a big
reveal before too long!
12. Very exciting. What
book are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading Loving the Rain by Jeff
LaFerney and More Than Magic; Semester
Aboard by Elizabeth Kirke
13. What
new author has grasped your interest?
I am surrounded by so much talent
anymore I am constantly in awe! My Anchor Group team is
so full of talent
I have to say all of them have grabbed me with their stories! Christy
Sloat,
Dawn Gray, sweet little Ethan Rice, Monika Pardon, Katherine
Polillo, Elizabeth Kirke and all
the wonderfully talented author’s whose
books are coming soon!
All of these amazing authors will be featuring on Bex 'n' Books beginning nest weekend guys, so keep a look out for them!
14. Do
you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
There are so many books out there right now of dark, emotional angst. Well I wanna give you
a light hearted break from them! If I
can make you laugh, snicker or guffaw while you’re
reading The Gryphon Series
than I’m doing something right!
Well I can certainly testify that you have made me guffaw and come close to peeing my pants whilst reading The Conduit! Thanks for that!
Well I can certainly testify that you have made me guffaw and come close to peeing my pants whilst reading The Conduit! Thanks for that!
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