Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Tour Kick Off - Chronicles: The Library of Illumination by @JohannaCharette - #giveaway




Young Adult Fantasy

Date Published: April 29, 2014
   
Within the walls of a centuries-old building lies the magical Library of Illumination, a place where books literally come to life. 17-year-old Johanna Charette is the youngest curator ever chosen to oversee the day-to-day operation of the library and she knows, in case of trouble, having an assistant can be invaluable, so she hires 16-year-old Jackson Roth to give her a hand. Jackson gets off to a rocky start, but manages to prove his mettle. Besides, he’s kind of cute and a lot of fun.


Johanna is charming and brilliant—and a natural born leader. She keeps the library operating on an even keel. Jackson is clever and intrepid. He relies on his wits to keep them out of danger when trouble arises. Unfortunately, his derring-do is one of the reasons why they sometimes find themselves in awkward situations. So it shouldn’t be any surprise when his wanton curiosity sparks a journey to a distant realm, where they end up with front row seats in a battle against an ancient foe. 





#1 – Do You See Writing as a Career?

Writing is most definitely my career. I work on writing, publishing and promoting my books every single day. It all started innocently enough when I was working full time in a newsroom and thought it might be fun to write a spy novel during my off time. That first book took years to write, and although I love it like a first-born child, in retrospect it was awful. My female protagonist was too passive—much like my writing—but I had to start somewhere. My second novel was more fun to write, but it wasn’t until I started writing the individual escapades that make up Chronicles: The Library of Illumination (CLOI) that I began writing full-time. I really enjoy the extra time to allow my creativity to perk, however, it slows me down when I go off on a tangent—like when I thought I would write a companion comic book based on a character in Doubloons, the second CLOI adventure. It was fun, but it’s not easy boiling a story down to a few essential balloon quotes and it’s a project best saved for someone who is talented at creating graphic content.

#2 – What was the Hardest Part of Your Writing Process?

I like to write in a totally quiet environment where I can talk to myself, read aloud, and even act out scenes if I think that will help. However, I don’t have a private office and writing in the real world means there are always interruptions. Plus, I have a terrible memory, so once I’m interrupted, my muse goes home and I forget where we were heading with the storyline. Not to mention, it’s harder to laugh and cry and act like a loon, when there are people about.


#3 – Did you have any One Person Who Helped You Out with Your Writing Outside of Your Family?

I met Karen Dionne, the author of thriller novels Boiling Point and Freezing Point, at a writers conference she was holding in New York. When I was looking for a publisher for my second novel, Evangeline’s Ghost, I asked her if she would read it and give me her opinion. She opened my eyes to a writing flaw I had. My manuscript was strewn with passive sentences, and when she gave me an example of how to correct it, I saw the light (because she took the time to shine it directly in my eyes).

#4 – What is next for your writing?

Chronicles: The Library of Illumination is the first book in a trilogy, and I’m already at work on the Second Chronicles of Illumination. I’ve completed The Overseer, and I’m currently writing Myrddin’s Memoirs. While each of these segments follows its own thread, the escalating war among the realms will link them (and the adventures that follow) together. Like any series, each segment builds on the one before it and further develops the characters’ personalities. There are many challenges awaiting Johanna and Jackson in future segments, and I’m hoping they’ll be up to the task.


#5 – Do you have an addiction to reading as well as writing? If so, what are you currently reading?

I think every writer is addicted to reading and I love getting lost in a book. But I usually read when I’m not actively writing. I read in spurts. I recently finished Dorchester Terrace by Anne Perry and before that I spent a weekend reading Divergent, Insurgent and Allegiant one after the other. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is resting comfortably inside my iPad waiting to be read, but I need to finish writing Myrddin’s Memoir before I’ll allow myself to read it. I’d also like to read Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, and I’m looking forward to The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith due out in June, and Power Play by Catherine Coulter in July.


DESCRIBE Your Book in 1 Tweet:

Two teens develop a mutual attraction while facing danger and excitement in an enchanted library where the books come to life.


This or That?

#1 - iPd

#2 – Chocolate

#3 –French Fries

#4 – Comedy

#5 –Nicholas Sparks

#6 – Fantasy

#7 –Text

#8 – Public School

#9 –Hot Chocolate


#10 – eBook AND Paperback. Why limit ourselves?


Carol Pack

C. A. PACK, author of Code Name: Evangeline, Evangeline’s Ghost, and the Library of Illumination novelettes, is an award-winning journalist and former television news anchor/writer from Long Island, New York. 





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May 1 - Pulp Den - Review/Guest Post
May 2 - Stephanie's Book Reviews - Review
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