Friday, July 8, 2016

~ This Summer You Need To Be READING BETWEEN THE LIVES! ~











So happy to have friend author Ashantay Peters on today with her latest release, BETWEEN THE LIVES! Love the title, and isn't this cover stunning? Let's find out a little about Ashantay...




When did your love for writing start?



My love of story telling started when I was playing with my paper dolls. Those poor dolls had all manner of tragedies besetting them. A bit later, I began writing down some of the stories, but didn’t finish anything until high school. Many, many years (decades) later, I got a bit more serious.



I loved paper dolls, too. I thought they were so cool! Wish we had more of them these days. What is the best thing you’ve learned about writing and/or the publishing business?

The generosity of successful writers towards unpublished authors is amazing and encouraging. I’ll never forget Jennifer Crusie telling me I had done something awesome just by finishing a book. Kinda put my efforts into perspective.


That is awesome! And it's funny, that would be my answer to that question, too. Authors are extraordinarily generous people! What is something you struggle with when you write?

I struggle with allowing the story to unfold organically – to let the characters tell me how the story will go rather than controlling every scene. So, yes, I’m a recovering control freak.



Ahh. That's more me in real life. My author self needs to crack down on my characters a little instead of having them run nilly-willy all over the page. Do you have hobbies that you’d like to share?

When I’m stuck on a plot point, or just taking a break from writing, I enjoy beading and adult coloring books. Color is important to my creativity, along with music, but I have no musical talent, so there you go.


Gotta get me one of those coloring books! Where do you live?

I live in Western North Carolina, just south of Asheville. A beautiful area with mountains, lakes, and rivers. If I weren’t living here, I think I’d enjoy the mountains of Costa Rica or Portofino, Italy. Unfortunately, I have no facility for languages, so if Engligh isn’t spoken, I’m stuck.


Okay, now a few just for fun. If you could be any animal, what animal would you choose, and why?

A hummingbird. I’d go on long trips and sample lots of different flowers. Hard to fall into a rut that way!


See, silly question, but I love it! People choose so many different things! When trick-or-treating as a kid, was there any kind of candy that you didn’t like to get?

Those softish candy chunks wrapped in orange or black wrappers that tasted kind of like make-believe maple, or maybe they were meant to be peanut butter. I’m still not sure, but cringe when I see them in the store at Halloween.


Exactly! Bleck! What CD is in your CD player right now? 


Probably Eric Clapton. I’m too lazy to look, but that’s a safe bet.



Name your favorite children's story.

I have two favorites. Mr. Popper’s Penguins and Miss Pickerel Goes to Mars. I’m not sure how often I read those books, but have a feeling the librarian hid them behind her desk when she saw me coming, just to give others kids a chance at the titles. 



Loved Mr. Popper's Penguins! Never saw the movie, though. What are your three favorite smells?

Lilacs, peonies, roses. Although onions and garlic sauteed in olive oil are up there!


I love onions and garlic sauteing in olive oil! That exact thing is on my list, too.

Thanks so much for hosting me today!

Oh, my pleasure! Now, let's find out a little more about READING BETWEEN THE LIVES...


Blurb ~

Supernatural skeptic Gabriella Jung sees a psychic for answers to romance questions. Can't hurt, right? She scoffs at the prediction that she faces parallel lives and alternate dimensions. Hours later, she's having visions, and not from too much wine.



Adrian Comstock can't explain his instant attraction to Gabby. Although she's off limits, she haunts his dreams. But when the dreams change from seductive to realistic depictions of tense showdowns in the 1860s, Adrian is baffled, yet still unable to stay away.



Gabby's reality unravels as the flood of visions increases. Can computer geek Adrian help her navigate time, space, and the 1860s? Or will they remain forever trapped in a time loop?




Excerpt ~






“You know, if I had a beautiful, sexy woman like yours, I’d treat her the way she deserved rather than embarrassing her by coming on to the server in front of her. Or even behind her back.”

His brown gaze entangled mine. “No offense, sweets, but you look too intelligent to stick yourself with low-rent goods.”

I don’t know if I’d have responded even if the royal blue light emanating from around his hands and head hadn’t caught my eye. My elbow rested on the table with my chin in my hand for a better look in a fluid motion I hadn’t known I could execute.

In what seemed a totally natural move, my gaze traveled from the light phenomenon to Mr. Calendar’s eyes. If I thought I’d been hypnotized by the blue marvel, I wasn’t prepared for what I saw in his caramel-colored orbs.

Maybe brown eyes appear more sincere in the way a puppy can get you to share treats without conscious decision. I’m not sure, but I thought I saw a warm regard in his gaze. Interest, and not solely in who would pick up the tab. His scanning look told me this guy might really think me sexy. My brain synapses stuttered.

His slow smile suggested he’d surmised my calculation of his hotness factor. To the tenth decimal. And he didn’t mind my interest.


Nicely worded!


Links ~

The Wild Rose Press – http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4332-reading-between-the-lives.html

Amazon –

https://www.amazon.com/Reading-Between-Lives-Ashantay-Peters-ebook/dp/B01G45PLXK/


Author Bio ~


Ashantay Peters lives in the North Carolina mountains, the perfect location to escape by reading. She likes to flex her writing muscles with a variety of genres, which is why she’s penned paranormal books along with romantic suspense and contemporary romance. All her books contain humor because what’s life without laughter?

She loves to hear from readers and promises not to stalk anyone who contacts her.

Contact Links

Website -www.ashantay.com

Email - ashantay.peters@gmail.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com.ashantay.peters

https://www.amazon.com/author/ashantaypeters



16 comments:

MJ Schiller said...

So nice having you, Ashantay! This book looks awesome!

Pamela S Thibodeaux said...

Love your cover!
Great interview and excerpt.
Good luck and God's blessings
PamT

Ashantay said...

Thank you! I enjoyed answering your questions. And I never saw the Mr. Popper movie, either. Didn't want to ruin my memories...

Ashantay said...

Thank you so much, Pamela. Blessings back to you and yours.

MJ Schiller said...

I know! It's such a pretty cover! Thanks for joining us, Pam! Have a happy day!

Diane Garner said...

Great interview! Intriguing excerpt. Best of luck with your book.

Ashantay said...

Thank you, Diane! I appreciate your comments.

MJ Schiller said...

Hi, Diane! Thanks for visiting with us today. Hope you have a great weekend!

MJ Schiller said...

Hi, Diane! Thanks for visiting with us today. Hope you have a great weekend!

Alicia Dean said...

Great interview!!! I enjoyed getting to know more about Ashantay. She is kind of special to me, since I'm her editor and since I LOVE her and her writing. So excited this fabulous book is out.

MJ Schiller said...

Thanks, Alicia! And thank you for taking the time to visit with us!

Ashantay said...

Thanks, Ally! You are special to me, too! And soon, your life will be easier and you'll have more time to write those great romantic suspense stories!

Susan Coryell said...

We writers have been creating cool characters since the beginning of time, eh? Love the excerpt and admire your ability to convey romance realistically (a problem for me as a writer). Nice post!

Elizabeth Alsobrooks said...

Very nice interview! I enjoyed hearing about your hummngbird adventures, Ashantay! Thanks for hosting, Mary!

MJ Schiller said...

Yes. I love reading about writers' childhoods because so many of them were me. Lost in books and pretending to be all kinds of creatures or people...and then as that imagination matures it is capable of creating the most wonderful books! Thank you for coming by, Susan, and adding your thoughts!

MJ Schiller said...

I hadn't thought of being a hummingbird before. I wonder if our choice of animals would tell a psychologist something about our personalities... Thanks for joining us, Elizabeth, and have a lovely day!