Welcome to the Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Blog Hop!

Get to know me, Sara Mack, by reading the interview below.

Then hop to the other featured authors blogs and get to know them too!

Interview with Sara Mack

How did you begin your writing career?
I stumbled into it.  It happened like this: a friend of mine was writing some fan fiction, and we were bouncing ideas off one another.  After some time as her beta reader, I though it might be fun to give writing a try myself.  One night, in the shower (the BEST thinking spot ever,) I had the basic idea for the first book in my series, Guardian.  I wanted to write a ghost story.  I had no idea where that ghost story would go, but I started writing chapters here an there, passing them on to my friends for feedback.  As the characters and the story started to expand, my hobby became an obsession.  What was supposed to be one novel morphed into three, and my friends were like, "You have to do something with this!"  So, I researched self-publishing and here I am.

Tell us about your current release.
Allegiant is the second novel in The Guardian Trilogy.  The story picks up where Guardian ended, with Emma returning to college without James, or Dane, in her life.  Emma befriends her neighbor, Garrett, who she soon discovers is hiding some serious secrets.  When James can no longer stay away from Emma, both of them are pulled into the complex world of the Intermediate - all the while trying to maintain their relationship in a human world oblivious to the supernatural.

Do characters invade your head the moment you stumble on a new writing idea?  If so, how long did you fear that you’d gone insane before realizing this is the norm for writers?

My characters completely invade my head!  They live there and talk to me until their story has been told.  I had read other author interviews before I started writing, where they would say similar things, and I was like, “Are you serious?  Are you sure you’re feeling okay?”  Now, I totally get it.  I’m not insane.  Yay!

Who reads the drafts of your novels?

My four beta readers.  I have two friends who are tough on me, and I keep them around for that reason.  One will never let me fall into a cliché storyline, while the other makes sure all the information, even the tiny background details, line up.  Another reader is my cousin, who gives me a much needed ego boost from time to time, and the other is my editor.  She’s the grammar police.

Where can we find your book?

On Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Smashwords, and Kobo.

Readers love following their favorite authors; which social networking sites can fans find you?

Interaction with readers is the best!

You can find me on Facebook on my personal author page: Sara Mack-Author or on my book page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sara-Mack/377965205649175.

I’m also on Twitter at @smackwrites.


Share a pet peeve of yours.
Chewing!  I hate the sound of other people's chewing.  It drives me nuts!

Now that you know a little about me, visit these other authors sites:

Janine Chalfant  www.jlchalfant.com/blog/

Paulette Harper Johnson  http://empowertoprosper.wordpress.com/

Hilary Grossman  http://www.feelingbeachie.com/?p=3975

T.B. Markinson  http://tbmarkinson.wordpress.com/ 

Andie Lea   http://andieleabooks.wordpress.com/

Luca Rossi http://www.lucarossi369.com/

Terry Cato   http://www.relationships-411.com

Walt Williams http://wbjwilliams.livejournal.com/

Nina Mason http://ninamasonromance.blogspot.com

Katie McKnight  http://www.writergirlkatie.wordpress.com/

Allegiant Cover and Release Date!

Allegiant, the second book in The Guardian Trilogy, will be released Sunday, October 6th!

Look at the pretty cover!  I am in love with it.  Here is the paperback version as well:

I have to send a super shout out to S.M. Koz and Breena Slayton for all their hard work and putting up with my changing mind!

Wondering what Allegiant is about?  Here is the synopsis from the back cover:

Last summer, Emma discovered that true love never dies.

It can return.

It can give you hope.

It can pull you from darkness.

Until it’s ripped from you.

Again.

As her 22nd birthday approaches, Emma Donohue finds herself back at school and utterly alone.  Hours away from family and friends, her solitary days are spent contemplating what never should have been.  James should never have died, but he did.  He should never have been assigned as her Guardian,

but he was.  And she should never have allowed Dane to get too close to her heart.

But she failed.

Desperate to fill her time, Emma is intrigued by her mysterious new neighbor, Garrett.  She’s never met anyone quite like him before, and, curious, she attempts to discover his past.  Little does she know his presence will pull her into a world she could never imagine.  A world that follows an ancient doctrine.

A world built on loyalty, yet plagued by secrets and lies.

A world that will threaten everything – and everyone – she loves.

Anxiously awaiting October 6th, when I can share this story with you all!

Meet Emma!

As this first week of Emma's Birthday Celebration ends, we get to meet Em herself.  Enjoy!

Name:  Emma Lynn Donohue

Birthday:  August 30, 1990

Parents:  Dale and Marlene

Siblings: one older brother, Mike

College:  Western Michigan University

Major:  Business Management

Hobbies:  Reading, homework, avoiding depression

Favorite teams/sports:  Are you kidding me?  None.  Well, it used to be the FSU Bulldogs hockey team.

Favorite personality trait:  Ha!  Right now I’m not too happy with myself after what happened with Dane.

Least favorite personality trait:  Feeling guilty 24/7

What do you want readers to know about you?  I never used to be like this.  I never used to doubt everything, feel guilty about everything.  I was sassy and stubborn; I was sure of myself, sure of James, and sure of us.  Everything was perfect.  Maybe that’s my problem; I took too much for granted and karma wouldn’t allow it anymore.  I’m not sure what I did to warrant what happened, but it had to be huge.  I want to scream to the universe that I’m sorry; I’ll take back whatever I did to cause this mess.  It’s going to be rough trying to sort everything out.  My soul doesn’t want to stop loving James; I can’t force it.  The more I try, the more I fight it.  And then there’s Dane, who has taken up residence in my heart as well.  It’s probably a good thing he’s no longer speaking to me; that fact should make it easier to kick him out.  All I know is that I’m lonely, and I wish those I love weren’t hurting.  I wish I wasn’t hurting.  Unfortunately, I think time is the only antidote for what I have.  I just wish it would hurry up.

It's time to meet James!

Today, James visits the blog.  (Eh, can you say yum?)  Check out his bio and interview questions below!

Name:  James Henderson Davis

Birthday:  June 11, 1990

Parents:  Eric and Carol

Siblings:  None

College:  Ferris State University (one year), Western Michigan University

Major:  Business Management

Hobbies:  Up until a few months ago it was club hockey

Favorite teams/sports:  Hockey and football.  Teams would be the Wings, the FSU Bulldogs, and mainly college ball.

Favorite personality trait:  I’m pretty protective.

Least favorite personality trait:  Is being dead a personality trait?

What do you want readers to know about you?  The night I died, I needed to blow off some steam.  I shouldn’t have gone out, and I regret it with my entire being.  Nothing good came of that night – you know what happened.  If I could change anything in my life, it would be my death.  Talk about irony.

 I love Emma.  I think I have since we were ten, long before I knew what love really was.  We’ve been inseparable, and God knows it’s going to be hell to stay away from her now.  I’ll do whatever it takes, whatever I can, to watch over her as her Guardian.  I’m not supposed to feel anything physical, but, right now, it sure feels like someone punched a hole through my chest.  I can’t let her go.  Losing her would be like losing a part of myself, and I already feel like half a man.  My only hope is that, one day, she will be able to forgive me for putting her through this.  Until then, I’ll have to settle for keeping her safe.  I guess that’s better than nothing.  I would do anything to change our past and rewrite our future.  If only I had the power.

More Birthday Celebration Fun!

The birthday celebration fun continues!  Today's bio and interview is with Dane.  If you can make it past the picture, read the answers to his interview questions below ;)

Name:  Dane Ryan Walker

Born:  October 6, 1987

Parents:  Charles and Lily (stepmom) Walker

Siblings:  None

College:  Wayne State University

Major:  Fine Arts, Graphic Design

Hobbies:  Trying to convince a certain girl that she’s in love with me.  Oh, and creating art that doesn’t involve a computer.  I also make the occasional trip to the golf course (if Matt twists my arm) and the gym.

Favorite teams/sports:  Detroit Lions (yeah, I know), and the Tigers.  I ran cross country in high school.

Favorite personality trait:  I’m passionate.

Least favorite personality trait:  Sometimes I have a one-track mind and it’s hard to concentrate on anything else.

What do you want readers to know about you?  My family may have status in our community, but that’s not what defines me.  Around the age of fourteen I decided to do whatever it takes to become my own person.  I have a taste for nice cars, a good steak, and draft beer.  I’ve known Matt since we were young; when his dad and mine served together on the city council (we’d spend our summers defending our tree house from the zombie apocalypse).  We attended different schools, so it was nice to get away from all the kids who pretended to be friendly because they thought I was rich.  When Matt asked for help this past summer with Emma, I didn’t think twice.  He’s like a brother to me; of course I’d lend a hand – even if it meant working for my dad.  Okay, I absolutely hated the idea of working for my father, but, after meeting Emma, I don’t think anything could have stopped me.  I can’t explain it; I’m drawn to her.  I know she feels the same.  The two of us together make sense.  I just need to make her realize it.

Emma's Month Long Birthday Celebration Continues! Meet Shel!

Today's character bio and interview is with Em's best friend, Shel.  Take a peek into Shel's life below!

Name:  Shelby Elizabeth Moore

Born:  April 4, 1990

Parents:  Linda and Darryl (divorced)

Siblings:  an older half-sister, Tabitha, from dad’s first marriage

College:  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Major:  Biology, concentration Neuroscience

Hobbies:  Lately, Matt ;)

Man!  You two are just alike.  Hobbies other that Matt:  Ha!  My best friend and prepping for med school take up most of my time.  I volunteer a lot.  At first I saw it as a way to get ahead and gain experience, but now I truly enjoy it.

Favorite teams:  Um, yeah.  Not into sports.

Okay…favorite color?  Ooo!  Dark purple.

Favorite personality trait:  I’m persistent.

Least favorite personality trait:  I’m persistent.

What do you want readers to know about you?  Please don’t call me Shelby!  I hate it.  My full name is only used when I’m in trouble (and Emma knows it).  I love Em and her family to death, as if they were my own (my mom and I don’t get along that great.  Long story.)  Oh – and don’t tell Matt this – but in the fifth grade, when Emma and I decided we were best friends, she had to talk me into letting James and Matt into our circle.  I mean really talk me into it.  Who wants boys as best friends?  Especially those two!  They would chase us around on recess and pull our hair.  Come to think about it, I’m pretty sure I knew back then that James and Em would end up together one day.  It’s just so sad, you know, what happened.  All I want is for her to be happy…and I’ll do what I can to help her get there :)

Emma's Month-Long Birthday Celebration is Upon Us!

Emma's birthday is August 30th!  To mark the occasion, during the month I'll be introducing characters from Guardian, as well as posting polls, and hosting a giveaway.  All this goodness leads up to the cover reveal, synopsis, and release date of Allegiant at the end of the month.

Today's character bio and interview is with Em's good friend, Matt Randall.  Take a peek into Matt's life below!

Name:Matthew Landon Randall

Born:  March 2, 1990

Parents:  Robert and Marie

Siblings:  None

College: Oakland University, Rochester, MI

Major:  Communication

Hobbies:  Shel ;)

Hobbies Other than Shel:  club soccer at OU, golf, Crossfit

Favorite teams:  U of M football, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers

Favorite personality trait:  I’m loyal.

Least favorite trait:  I have a hard time knowing when to speak and when to shut up!

What do you want readers to know about you?  I don’t normally run around punching drunks, and my fireworks displays don’t usually suck.  I make a mean grilled chicken and a pretty tasty daiquiri.  If you’re a close friend, I’ll always have your back.