Four For Friday--Christine Fonseca

This week's post is by a returning author--Christine Fonseca! I LOVE when an author requests another spot on my blog. 

Four For Friday is a weekly feature where guest authors choose one of their own characters to complete four sentences. 

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This week's post is by Christine Fonseca from her new novel, Dominus

Aydan, the UnHoly, apprentice to Azzaziel, slave to Lillith and the one true love of Nesayiel, the heroine of the Requiem Series.

"I knew the moment I met my love that my life could have no ending but tragedy. But I did not understand that I would be the cause of the tragedy - all of it. Victim to my own youth and impulsivity, I tortured and killed those I was meant to protect - all in the name of vengeance. I allowed my pride to dictate my actions and enslaved myself to the very evil I vowed to eliminate. Until Nesy returned to my life and I again felt hope.
But some sins you can not recover from, and some sacrifices should never be made. My actions - and those of my Master Azza - set a chain of events in motion that can't be undone. No matter how much I want love, no matter how much I am willing to sacrifice, no matter how much redemption may cost I have but one future - one fate that awaits me...
Death." 

 1. The one thing I love/hate about the Fall is…

One thing I LOVE about fall - the cooler weather. There is a general serenity that is reminiscent of Celestium. Of course, we have no seasons there. But somehow Fall here in the Sound makes me long a little more for home.

2. Bonfires make me feel…

Like the flames of Infernum are licking at my skin. I hate them. Everything about them. I just keep seeing Aydan consumed by flames every time I even think about a bonfire!

3. I think football is…

Um...yea....I don't get it. Seriously. I mean, I understand what it is, I just don't get it! 

4. I had a teacher once who was…

I never really had teachers - I had a Master. Mikayel. He is tough and unyielding. He forces me to face the truth about myself - something I seldom "want" to do. It is hard - very hard - being his apprentice. But I owe him my life a thousand times over. He has earned far more than my fealty and respect.

_________________

Christine is the author of Transcend and the Requiem Series in YA Fiction, and Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students, 101 Success Secrets for Gifted Kids and the upcoming Girl Guide in nonfiction.

If you'd like to learn more about Christine Fonseca, check out her Website.

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Fun Facts--International Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19th)

Ahoy! Everyone likes pirates. Not the smelly-rotten-teeth-sort-who-rob-innocent-people-and-kill-them kind of pirates.

No, no, no! I'm talking about the romantic-swashbuckling-flouncy-shirt-wearing kind of pirate. Avast!

Ahem. Aye. My pirate love began in 2003 when my daughter Amanda begged me to take her to the theater to see the new Orlando Bloom movie. I begrudgingly took her and settled in to take a nap in the dark, but when the opening credits showed an all-star cast and the music started playing, I was hooked.

In 1995, when a couple of guys began talking like pirates while playing raquetball, International Talk Like a Pirate Day was born. Read here for How it all started...


The Original Website has tons of activities like a Personality Test, Pickup lines, a map of the world, marking where the parties are, and even a free knitting pattern!

I'll leave you with a little video for your entertainment. Feel free to sing along!

Oh, and 'Hide the rum.'

Four For Friday--Melissa Foster

Four For Friday is a weekly feature where guest authors choose one of their own characters to complete four sentences. 

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This week's post is by Melissa Foster from her Love in Bloom Series.

When I first began writing Danica’s and Kaylie’s story, I felt like I’d met a group of new friends, and I knew that they were too special to let go after just one book. In book three of the Snow Sisters you will begin to meet the Bradens, a family of six hot, wealthy, and lovable siblings. The Bradens will be joining the Snow sisters in this light, fun, and sexy series—Love in Bloom—and I hope you fall in love with Danica, Blake, Kaylie, Chaz, the Braden siblings, and all of their friends, just as I have. -- Melissa

My name is Danica Snow. I'm a big sister and a Big Sister, a licensed therapist, and a little too practical at times. I always make reasonable and appropriate decisions, even if a bit boring. My go-to food after sex is red licorice, though I don't have a need for it very often. I'm the opposite of my sister, Kaylie, but I'm ready for a change. 

1. The one thing I love/hate about the Fall is…

I love the freshness of the fall. The changing of the leaves and the dip in temperature is a sweet reminder that when things begin to feel dull, something new and exciting is just around the corner. 

 2. Bonfires make me feel…

Young and alive. 

3. I think football is…

A silly game, but I do love to see those muscle-bound men in football pants!

4. I once had a teacher who was…

Always interested in what I didn't write in my essays. She used to ask me to tell her "more" about my subjects and characters.

________________________________

Would you like to learn more about Melissa? Visit her website

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Getting Intimate With Your Characters

If your characters are anything like mine, they will wake you up in the middle of night just to tell you what they think you should know. They'll tap you on the shoulder while you're having a conversation with someone else and whisper in your ear that they love the song that's on the radio. My characters have even been so bold as to walk into the bathroom and step into the shower with me just to let me know they hate the color pink!

We really can't blame them, you know. They want to be heard, and they have to go through us. If we get the details wrong, we're doing our characters a disservice. 

While I was working on my new work-in-progress, I realized there were too many things I didn't know about my main character. 

Through my years of online procrastination research, I had come across a few different 'Questions to ask your character' and had saved them on my computer's hard drive. So one night, I printed out the questions and sat down with my character. From four different lists, I chose the best 100 questions. The interview turned into a three-night session, but that's only because my character likes to ramble on and my hand kept cramping as I tried to keep up with her. 

I learned so much about my character, things I never would have known if I hadn't asked. Some of the questions are irrelevant to the story, but I think that knowing these things helped me see her in a new light, thereby anticipating what she would do in certain situations and why. 

Sure, I may have forgotten to ask a question or two, but I'm sure I'll learn more along the way. Hopefully, our little interview will cut down on the interruptions to my morning showers. 

Feel free to use my list for your characters. I'm sure you could use a little more sleep at night.

100 Questions for your Character

1. What is your full name?
2. What is your birthday?
3. How old are you today?
4. Where do you live?
5. How many siblings do you have?
6. Are you athletic?
7. What is the most embarrassing moment of your life?
8. What is your favorite food?
9. What is your favorite drink?
10. What is your favorite color?
11. What is your favorite book?
12. Do you like to read?
13. What is your favorite TV show?
14. Favorite song?
15. Favorite movie?
16. Favorite car?
17. Favorite actor?
18. Who do you love most in the world?
19. Are you in a relationship?
20. Do you have a crush on someone?
21. What is your best friend's name?
22. Do you have pets?
23. Who do you look like?
24. What color is your hair?
25. Color eyes?
26. What is your religion?
27. If you could change one thing about you, what would that be?
28. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
29. How many languages do you speak?
30. Do you prefer showers or baths?
31. Do you prefer the city or the country?
32. What is/was your favorite subject in school?
33. How would your friends describe you?
34. What type of person are you?
35. What do you do for fun?
36. Have you ever broken a bone?
37. What would be the house of your dreams?
38. What does your name mean? Is it appropriate for you?
39. What do you value most in a person?
40. Where would you like to live?
41. Do you want to get married?
42. Do you want to have kids?
43. What do you hate most in a person?
44. Where would your dream vacation be?
45. What is your favorite animal?
46. Do you have any phobias?
47. Do you believe in God?
48. Do you believe in heaven?
49. Do you believe in hell?
50. Are you an early riser?
51. What was the most exciting moment of your life?
52. What was the most frightening moment of your life?
53. What book would you recommend for others to read?
54. Do you have allergies?
55. What is your best physical feature?
56. Have you ever had your heart broken?
57. Are you superstitious?
58. Where do you see yourself in ten years?
59. When was the last time you cried?
60. If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
61. Are you sarcastic?
62. Have you ever had surgery?
63. What is your favorite cereal?
64. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
65. Do you think you are strong?
66. What is the first thing you notice about people?
67. Red or pink?
68. Who do you miss the most?
69. What kind of music do you like?
70. Favorite smell?
71. Summer or winter?
72. Hugs or kisses?
73. Favorite sound?
74. Farthest from home?
75. Special talent?
76. Do you like to cook?
77. Favorite sport?
78. House or an apartment?
79. Have you ever met a famous person?
80. Hobbies?
81. What is your idea of the perfect Sunday?
82. What are you best at?
83. Who do you respect the most?
84. Who has had the most influence in your life?
85. Would you like to be famous?
86. Where do you spend most of your money?
87. Worst habit?
88. What are you wearing?
89. Is there something you always carry? Why?
90. What do you fear the most?
91. Do you wish? What for?
92. Where would you like to visit?
93. Would you hurt a friend to impress someone else?
94. Do you have a secret?
95. Do you have a weakness?
96. Do you love your parents?
97. Which parent is your favorite?
98. Have you ever been bullied?
99. If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and what would you do with it?
100. What do you want most in life?

Four For Friday--Kristi Dake

It has been awhile since I've had a Four For Friday post, but now that the summer is over, I'm filling in the rest of the year with exciting guests. 

Are you an author? Would you like to do a post with me? E-mail me at deestan62 @ gmail.com. I'll be sure to schedule you in.

Four For Friday is a weekly feature where guests choose one of their own characters to complete four sentences. 

Don't forget: you need to click on the Rafflecopter tabs or else your entries won't count! 

This week's guest is up-and-coming filmmaker, Kristi Dake. The Rafflecopter prize is a DVD copy of THICK HEART--as soon as it's released!

Kristi Dake is an aspiring storyteller, using film as her main platform. She enjoys writing comedy films with strong lead female characters. Kristi went to Montclair State University, receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Filmmaking. She was also presented one of the Filmmaker of the Year Awards at her graduation. 'Thick Heart' is her first film that she will be presenting in festivals. 

Kristi recently finished filming "Thick Heart"--a short romantic comedy about a plus size woman's ongoing journey toward self acceptance which was successfully funded through Kickstarter. Please take a minute and watch the trailer:

Thick Heart Trailer from Kristi Dake on Vimeo.

Hey there, my name is Courtney Daniels. I'm not really the type of person who likes to talk about myself, but I will give it a try. I really like cats, but I'm allergic, so unfortunately I can't really own any. I work at a telemarketing office and I hate it. Having this job makes me wonder why people are so rude to someone they don't even know. Plus, the girls that I work with are the worst. You know those types of people that think they're the best people on earth even though they're really not? Well that's what I have to deal with every day. When it comes to boys, none of them even look in my direction. It's probably because I'm a big girl, not the kind of girl you would see on the cover of a magazine. That's why I tried online dating. There's a bigger selection of guys who could potentially like my shape.. I just don't really post pictures that show the neck and down. All I really want in life is to be loved and treated like a decent human being that can look past my exterior. 

1. The one thing I love about the fall is...

What I love the most is the fact that I can wear layers. It's officially hoodie weather! I get to feel more comfortable with long sleeves and pants. I'm not really a fan of showing too much because I know people are probably judging.

2. Bonfires make me feel...

Warm. Obvious answer, huh? I mean in the welcoming sort of way. It reminds me of when I was a kid, being a Girl Scout on our annual camping trips. That was probably the only part of my life where I felt included. I was just like everyone else: young, scared of the dark, happy, innocent and naive. The second thing bonfires remind me of is my best gay friend from when I lived in Pennsylvania: Rob. He would always put on these bonfire parties where you would bring something you want to burn. I remember this one girl burned the wig she wore while she had cancer. She was so glad to be cancer free.

3. I think football is...

Pretty boring. I think you need an abnormal level of testosterone as a girl in order for you to enjoy it. The best part of it would probably be how attractive some of those men are, their bodies are perfection. 

4. I had a teacher once who was...

An asshole. Pardon my French! He was just all sorts of rude. He was my 8th grade teacher. It was gross because he always looked down the girl's shirts, and asked some girls to stay late after class. It was obvious what he was doing. One day, I accidentally wore something a little provoking. My mom was doing the laundry and it was the only shirt I had. I couldn't help it that my boobs were the biggest in the class at the time! He asked me to stay late after class that one time. I refused, and then told me that I will never succeed in life and called me fat. He was the first real bully I ever dealt with. 

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