The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger: {Interview & GIVEAWAY with Heather Beck}

GIVEAWAY is at the bottom of the post :) Be sure to enter!

Hi Heather! Thank-you so much for joining me today at The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger- it's great to have you! For all the bookworms out there who haven't heard of your latest novel Whispers In The Shadows, can you give them a brief description of the book?

Hi, Caitlin! Thanks for having me on your blog! Whispers In The Shadows is an anthology of paranormal romances that feature fantastical plots, strong female protagonists and sexy men with dark secrets. The following is a brief synopsis of each story.

Where Feelings Go To Die

While on a working vacation at Black Heart Lake, journalist Ashleigh uncovers a century-old story about a love triangle that turned deadly. Upon coming face-to-face with the vengeful ghosts, she learns the hard way that some feelings just won’t rest in peace. Adding to the danger is the return of Ashleigh’s recently deceased, cheating ex-boyfriend who wants more than just her love. Trapped in a haven for ghosts, her only defence is to find their weakness.

Hot Egyptian Nights

While on vacation, Hailey falls in love with Egypt’s awe-inspiring beauty, fascinating history and Zade, her sexy tour guide. Hailey’s new relationship is magical until Zade tries to sacrifice her in a hidden pyramid that’s filled with bubbling oil. Hailey’s intense encounter with him the next day reveals that her kidnapper is actually Said, Zade’s twin brother. Since entering an ancient tomb, Said has been cursed by a king who won’t rest until Zade, and everyone Zade loves, is dead. Hailey will do anything to destroy the curse, even if it means betraying Zade.

Rival To Survival

There’s something special about the Dark Forest, and its secret can be found in the magical mushrooms which forever sustain life. Two hundred-year-old Harv will do anything to ensure that his mushroom supply is abundant, even if it means betraying an old friend. Harv’s passion to live forever is intensified when he meets Scarlet – a woman whose passion matches her great beauty. All he has to do now is convince the skeptical Scarlet to embrace his mysterious, dangerous world and, of course, survive in it.

The Truth About Fairy Tales

Lila would do anything to find her prince charming, even if it means using a cheesy internet dating service. Matched with the handsome and courteous Phillip, Lila thinks she’s found a man who is the epitome of perfection. When Phillip is ambushed and taken away by a secret government agency, Lila fights back. What she uncovers is an advanced technological prototype that proves Phillip really is too good to be true.

Lure Of The Merman

A sudden storm strands Bree on the beach, forcing her to take shelter in an old cave. When she falls into a watery hole, she is rescued by the mysterious Sandy who appears from the ocean. Through romantic letters and unusual gifts, Sandy slowly wins Bree’s heart from afar. When she finally sees him at the beach, she boldly kisses him. That’s a big mistake because Sandy is a manipulative merman and Bree’s kiss transferred her legs for his fishtail. As a mermaid, she must navigate a new and dangerous world while preparing for the ultimate showdown with Sandy.

Here at The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger, I like to participate in a weekly meme hosted by YABound called Swoon Thursday (a meme where each week, from the book you are currently reading, you share a quote that made you swoon). If Whispers In The Shadows was being featured, which quote would have bookworms everywhere fanning themselves?

My favourite short excerpt comes from the story entitled Hot Egyptian Nights:

“You can put your arms around me.”

Hailey didn’t need to be told twice. She slid her long, thin arms around Zade’s waist and
allowed her hands to rest low. As the camel began to stride through the sand, Zade’s shirt blew in the wind. Hailey found that a few of her fingers were now inside Zade’s shirt. It felt natural as she touched his stomach. It was firm, a sure sign of his hard-working nature.

“Where are you taking me?” she murmured into his ear.

“Do you want me to tell you or show you?” Zade’s voice was low but masculine.

“How about both?” Hailey replied, feeling as if she would crumble under her desire for him.

“I want to show you paradise.”

“I might already be there.”

What is the best part that has come from being published (other than being able to share your stories with a larger audience)?

The best part of being published is the feeling I get when holding my books. Writing a book, far less getting it published, is a combination of hard work and perseverance, so to see the results of my labour is sublime. I also love receiving letters and e-mails from readers, and being asked for an autograph definitely makes me feel special. Additionally, I enjoy doing interviews for all types of media. The coolest thing was being featured for The Rarityon the front page of an Australian newspaper!

Aside from being an author, you are also a screenwriter - your latest film being The Rarity. The Rarity is described as “A half-vampire/half-human struggles to find herself in a world where power, greed, and deception are rampant.” How does The Rarity stand out among the many vampire based TV Shows/Movies?

I wrote The Rarity in the summer of 2007 and, since getting screenplays produced takes a very long time, it just premiered in September of 2011. It’s already won a film award and is nominated for two more, so I’m super excited about that! When I was writing The Rarity, vampires weren’t so predominate in television and movies. Luckily, my film is quite different from the other vampire tales out there. It’s a paranormal dystopia about the upheaval of Pamveer (the realm of vampires) after the long-ruling royals are usurped by an insurgency led by a powerful dictator named Kage. Amid the chaos is the Ford family who must flee Pamveer after breaking one of Kage’s cardinal rules. With their half-blood daughter, Jillian, they travel to Earth where they must adapt to a “normal” life. A lot of the story focuses on Jillian (played by Christie-Lee Britten) who is a multi-faceted anti-hero. Outwardly, she is confident, sexy, mysterious and a troublemaker, yet she secretly struggles with many insecurities. Jillian finds love (with neighbour Levi Hudson [played by Ben Adams]) and enemies (Levi’s sister, Hayden [played by Genevieve O’Keeffe]). However, the most important discovery she makes is the role her family and the Hudsons must play in overthrowing the insurgents and saving Pamveer. Overall, The Rarity takes the mythology of vampires to new heights by offering a unique perspective of their origins and society, and then causes conflict by throwing their world into disarray. On the surface, it’s a fast-paced, entertaining movie that’s filled with action, drama and a high stake romance. Underneath these layers, it’s an insightful view on the significance of identity and belonging.

What are the differences between being a published author and a screenwriter? Is it more satisfying to share your work through a book or a movie?

There are several differences between being an author and screenwriter. For starters, books and films are separate mediums which require specific forms of writing. Manuscripts allow for great descriptions and can delve deep into characters’ thoughts. On the other hand, scripts have a stricter structure and must always show, not tell. Merely glancing at a manuscript and a screenplay will make the differences apparent. It’s so difficult to say whether it’s more satisfying to have a book published or a movie produced. Although it can take years to write and publish a book, I’d say publishing offers more of an instant satisfaction because, from my experience, it takes more money, people and time to create a film. In favour of films though, it’s a larger collaborative process, and it’s very humbling to have potentially hundreds of people working to bring your story to life. Although books and films are very different, they are both equally satisfying to me.

Speed Round:

Favourite Author? Tennessee Williams and Jack London.

Hardcover or E-book? Trade paperback.

Bookmark or Sticky Note? Bookmark, preferably with a cute animal on it.

I've read you are a fan of the Pretty Little Liars TV show! Who do you think is A? I think A is a collaboration of people who have been bullied by Alison, and that their leader is someone we haven’t seen, maybe Alison’s secret twin...

Salty or Sweet? Salty.

Coffee or Tea? Neither. Milk and water are my liquid staples.

Twitter or Facebook? I don’t use either.

Favourite Blogger ;) ? This awesome blog called The YA Bookworm!

Thanks again Heather for taking the time to answer these questions! It was a pleasure talking to you :)

Thanks so much for interviewing me! Readers, please be sure to enter the contest and check out my website:http://heatherbeck.tripod.com for all the latest news!

{GIVEAWAY}

ONE lucky winner will win 4 PDF formats of: