Cecilia's Random Writings: Secret Worlds blog tour stop

Today I'm excited to be a stop on the Secret Worlds blog tour. Two of my author colleagues from the Georgia Romance Writers, Debbie Herbert and Linsey Hall are included in this set. My review of Debbie's book is below, as is a Character on the Couch interview of her hero Keelan. I'm super excited about this set, and I'm also happy to bring you the opportunity to find out more about it and enter to win a Kindle!

Review of Debbie Herbert's Changeling:

Whenever I get one of Debbie's books, I always make the mistake of saying I'll just take a little peek and then getting sucked in for much longer than I intended. Changeling was no different. Herbert does a great job of tackling the new adult genre with her two characters Skye and Keelan, both of whom are struggling to find their place in the world and are seeking to assume their true identity, whatever that may be.

Skye is a witch who isn't very good at it. Keelan is a changeling who is trapped working for the fairies, which seems like it would make a good reality show if it wasn't so awful for him. Although I figured out one major twist pretty quickly, I did find the story to be well-paced and extremely entertaining, and I loved the characters. I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but let's just say that all those dreams I have about flying? I'd be extra nervous about them now if I wasn't as old as I am. Plus, my feelings about absinthe indicate I have no fairy blood in me whatsoever, so I'm probably safe.

Overall, this is a really fun book, and I enthusiastically give it five stars.

And now, meet Keelan, who is a Changeling and my character on the couch this week:

1. If your character were to go to a psychologist – willingly or unwillingly – what would bring them in?

It would take a court order for sure! Kheelan knows himself and is very clear on his life's goal: escape from the Fae realm at all costs. He's also clear on what prevents him from achieving this goal: the Fae want to keep him enslaved to assist them in their petty wars with one another and to do menial errands for them. If you asked Kheelan about seeing a psychologist his response would be: "You want to analyze someone? Try talking to one of the sociopath fairies I have to deal with everyday."

2. Is the presenting problem one of the main internal or external conflicts in your book? If so, how does it present itself?

It's a combination of both. Kheelan meets the heroine Skye and quickly realizes he can use her to gain his coveted escape. The only problem? He's falling in love with the quirky witch.

3. It's always interesting to see how people act when they first enter my office. Do they immediately go for my chair, hesitate before sitting anywhere, flop on the couch, etc.? What would your character do?

Kheelan would walk around the room and take a peek out the window to assess if any nosy fairies were about.

4. Does your character talk to the therapist? How open/revealing will your character be?

He wouldn't be open a bit unless he thought you could help him in his quest for freedom. If he told you the truth, you would think he was crazy anyway!

5. Your character walks into the bar down the street after his/her first therapy session. What does he/she order? What happens next?

He wouldn't have more than one Irish whiskey. Irish whiskey because most of his guardian fairies are of Celtic descent and this is their drink of choice when they shape-shift to human form. Kheelan would only drink one because he needs to keep his wits about him or the Fae could trick or punish him for a trangression.

6. When you're building characters, do you have any tricks you use to really get into their psyches, like a character interview or personality system (e.g., Myers-Briggs types)?

I probably do less than most writers. I figure out what their life goal is, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and what's the conflict that keeps them from preventing their goal? How will they have to grow or change to reach their goal. And since I write romance, I'll choose a mate that is the exact opposite, one that will challenge him and force him to change and grow.

Thank you so much for bringing Keelan by, Debbie!

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+ Giveaway Announcement!

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Giveaway Announcement!

We have 70 Prizes up for grabs at our Facebook Party, including multiple gift cards ranging from $5-$100 or a Kindle Fire! And the prizes just keep coming! Be sure to Join the Party for your chance to win and learn more about the additional prizes we have coming down the pipeline!

Join the scavenger hunt in our Facebook Party for a chance to win free ebooks!

Find the link to the entry form for today's scavenger hunt secrets in our Facebook Party and enter the following author secrets. Each day two people will be selected to win a free ebook! Follow our blog tour in the party and enter each day's secrets for more chances to win. At the end of the blog tour, three grand prize winners will receive a collection of 6 ebooks!

Today's author secrets:

— Susan Stec’s Author Secret —

I made G-strings and fancy outfits for strippers at a bar called the Booby Trap in Winter Park, Florida. Going inside, stepping into the bowels of the dressing rooms was exhilarating and I secretly wished I had the guts to claim a pole, join the girls, tease and titillate. I loved the seedy environment, and smoky atmosphere, laced with seduction and desire.

– Catherine Stine's Author Secret –

One thing I don’t tell a lot of people is that I’m a bit of a music groupie. It’s embarrassing somehow. I mean, I’m no stalker... I just truly admire musicians, and feel, as a writer, a keen artistic kinship with them. Okay, the confession: I’ve gone backstage and partied with Buddy Guy (the great blues man), John McLaughlin (fusion rock), John Mellencamp, The Hooters, Jamar Rogers (on the Voice), and most recently, the entire troupe from American Idol 2014. Don’t believe me? I have photos!