Heartstrings
by Kelli McCracken
Blog Tour
March 27th - April 9th
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“You’ve suffered a terrible
tragedy, Jo.” That’s what my
doctor keeps telling me. All I know is that
I’ve lost everything—my ability to
play piano, six years of my life, my will
to live…
The only thing keeping Jocelyn 'Jo' Hayes
from falling apart is her brother,
Brighton, whose past is sketchier than her
mind. Brighton’s hiding secrets. He
refuses to give Jo the answers she needs,
but after she meets the mysterious
Adam, she decides to keep secrets of her
own.
As Jo’s recovery fluctuates, Adam’s purpose
in her life grows more confusing.
Then Paxton Carr shows up at her door. His
resemblance to Adam sends Jo’s on a
quest to discover the truth and regain her
memories.
But the truth doesn’t always set someone
free. Will Jo find the missing pieces
of her memory and solve the riddle she
calls life, or will the ugly truth
destroy what’s left of her
mind?
(IF NOT REVIEWING PLEASE
DELETE)
Tell us a little about yourself
and your background?
I'm just a crazy lady who listens to the
voices in her head and writes stories about these pesky people. lol. I've been
writing since I was 13 years old (11 if you count poetry). I'm a chocolate
connoisseur, professional percolator, and master in the art of procrastination.
Some people say I have a sense of humor. Who'da thunk it? :-D
I write paranormal romance, though it's on
the lighter side. The first book in my Soulmate Series was mistaken for a
contemporary romance by a lot of readers. There's more of a paranormal element
in the subsequent books. I do plan to write a few contemporary novels soon, but
paranormal is my chosen genre.
Which writers inspire
you?
Edgar Allan Poe is part of the reason I
began writing. His work is dark but passionate. He knew how to hit a nerve with
his readers. Stephen King inspires me as well. To me, he is one of those people
who defines perseverance. The man received so many rejection letters early in
his career but he kept writing and submitting his work until it made it into
the right hands. Whenever I feel like giving up on writing, I think about what
he went through.
What are you working on at the
minute?
My newest project is actually an older
project. I released a short story in a Valentine's Day Anthology in 2012. Since
the anthology was unpublished, I decided to take my story and expand it into a
full length novel. I had a hard time writing it as a short story anyway, so I
was excited to delve back in and bring the characters to life.
Which actor/actress would you like
to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
Marlon Teixeira is a male model, so I'm not
sure about his acting skill ;-) but visually, he makes a great Dylan
McBride
Heaven Lewis is a tough one. I've always
imagined Natalie Portman or Crystal Reed (ex Alison from Teen Wolf)
Cam Gigandet would make a great Layne
Perry
When did you decide to become a
writer?
I've always loved writing and reading. I've
had an overactive imagination since I was a kid, but writing came into play
through poetry when I was 11. I started writing stories at the age of 13. I
decided to do this full time back in 2010 and published my debut novel in
November of 2011.
Do you write on a typewriter,
computer, dictate or longhand?
Believe it or not, I write quite a bit on
my iPhone when I can't get to my laptop, which is where I do most of my
writing.
Do you work to an outline or plot
or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?
I used to get an idea and just run with it,
but with my last two books, I used on an outline. I did the same for my current
work in progress. Not that characters like sticking to what I plan for them.
Layne Perry is a prime example of this. He wasn't originally supposed to have
such a huge part in this series, but when Dylan grew quiet, Layne didn't. His
story came to the forefront.
Do you read much and if so who are
your favorite authors.
I've had a love affair with books even
before I could read. I would sit with my picture books in my lap for hours,
creating my own stories to match the illustrations. I love reading, though I
don't get to do it as much as I used to. Some of my favorites are J R R
Tolkien, Johanna Lindsey, PC & Kristin Cast, Amber Scott, Elena Gray,
and Stephen King.
Do you think that giving books
away free works and why?
If you mean by doing giveaways and
contests, I'm not really sure. I think authors have a 50/50 shot in gaining a
new reader this way. When it comes to free books on Amazon, the answer is no.
When Amazon's Prime program began in late 2011, it created a buzz that drew in
customers. But as more and more authors began using it, the site became
saturated with free books. Most people who shop for free books never read them.
I'm not saying everyone does this. I have a good friend who shops for free
books to find new authors. It's a great way to discover a new author without
having to pay for a book you may not like. But most people who get free books
don't read them. It also opens up more piracy opportunities.
How do you
relax?
Relax? What is this relax thing you speak
of? lol. When I can find the time, I like taking walks or soaking in a long hot
bath with a glass of wine. Whenever I release a book, I like to veg out with a
movie marathon.
What is your favorite book and
why?
I can't pick a favorite. I love PC
& Kristin Cast's House of Night series and Johanna Lindsey's The Devil
Who Tamed Her. Stephen King's Carrie is one of my all time favorites.
What is your favorite
quote?
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the
rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… The ones who see
things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree
with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore
them because they change things… They push the human race forward, and while
some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are
crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
—Steve Jobs
What is your favorite movie and
why?
Again, this is another hard decision. There
a couple movies I could watch over and over.
1) Pretty Woman
2) He's Just Not That Into You
3) Dazed and Confused
Which famous person, living or
dead would you like to meet and why?
J. R. R. Tolkien. I love his work. His
imagination was so vast. I'm envious.
What advice would you give to
aspiring writers?
Don't go into this industry expecting to be
a best seller. Go in with the idea of creating something that makes you happy
then share it with the world. As long as you're happy with what you've created,
no one else's opinions matter, and you will be faced with many
opinions.
Where can you see yourself in 5
years’ time?
I don't see much changing, other
than having more published books. I'm in this for the long
haul.
If you had a superpower, what
would it be?
Funny you should ask that considering my
characters have some superpowers of their own. ;-) I would have to say I'd want teleportation
abilities. Imagine how much money you'd save in gas and car
expenses.
What secret talents do you
have?
I'm ambidextrous. Oh, I read tarot cards
too.
Where is one place you want to
visit that you haven't been before?
Greece and Ireland. Greece, because of the
amount of history. Ireland, because of family heritage.
What is something you want to
accomplish before you die?
Learn to play guitar
What does your writing process
look like?
A hot mess. :) As scenes come to me, I take
notes on my phone and usually transfer them to my computer when I have time. I
use Scrivener to organize my notes and create my outlines. Once my outline is
complete, or pretty close, I start writing. Sometimes I write before I do an
outline. Either way, it gets me where I'm going. After I start writing, I'm a
slave to the story from 7am to 4pm each day. I used to write around the clock,
but having a family makes that impossible. I want time with my kids and husband
too.
What do you consider to be your
best accomplishment?
Aside from my kids? :) To me, it was taking
control of my career. Being an indie author isn't easy by any means, but I like
the fact that I have control of every aspect of my
career.
Is there a certain type of scene
that's harder for you to write than others? Love? Action?
Racy?
I don't think so. When I first started, I
had a little trouble with action scenes, but I think I've gotten better. I just
write the story the way the characters tell it.
Did you learn anything from
writing your books and what was it?
Yes. I learned that love is about more than
being with someone. It's about the sacrifices you're willing to make for that
person, not because you have to or it's expected, but because you want
to.
Name one entity that you feel
supported you outside of family members.
I'm fortunate that I have a lot of
supportive people. Naming one seems a bit unfair because I consider them a part
of my team and without them, none of this would be possible. My two editors, my
PA, and a few good friends are to me, on entity. My team.
Can you share a little of your
current work with us?
Sure. I'd love to share it. Thank you for
asking. This if from my newest release, Heartstrings:
It was gloomy, and cold, and the rain
misting upon me was so light, it was as if I’d stumbled into a spider web,
dragging it along with every step. The fog, like my confusion, thickened the
further I walked. The constant whirling in the distance ignited my curiosity. I
wasn’t sure what lie ahead, just out of view, but I knew it was something
important, something that resulted from dire consequences.
The surrounding trees with their aggressive
limbs slowed my progression. If not for them or the snow-covered ground, I
would have sworn I was walking through sand. The snow wasn’t much better, and
the trees… Each low hanging branch grabbed at my clothing like skeleton
fingers, just as slim, and harsh, and terrifying.
I picked up my pace as best I could. My
heart raced to the point I thought it would break free of the cage in which it
was captured—my ribs. I wasn’t sure how I’d gotten here, or where here was, but
I knew if I didn’t find my way out, I’d be lost in darkness
forever.
Lights flickered in the distance. I hurried
toward them though my head spun fiercely. The faster I moved, the more they
grew out of reach. It was like being in a bad dream and seeing a door at the
end of a tunnel. Despite how many steps I took, I never reached the
end.
Screeching pieced my ears. The sky above
was dark and dreary, but showed no signs of the owl I swore had made the noise.
Yet the noise reoccurred, only louder—closer. Its sharp, crisp vibrations
didn’t resemble an animal, but something mechanical. Perhaps it was a piece of
heavy machinery. My father operated them all his life. I’d been to his job
sites and knew the sound well. Still, something in me said I was wrong about
the sound again.
The air grew tainted with smoke. It coupled
with the putrid scent of something resembling burnt rubber. There was another
scent I didn’t recognize, and it was worse than the former. I stumbled through
the fog, desperate to find the source of the commotion, as well as the stench.
Dread pumped through my veins. I had no clue what lie ahead. The fog wouldn’t
dissipate, which left me fumbling my way through the snow.
What appeared to be the edge of my woodland
purgatory loomed ahead. I would soon have answers. Just a little further to
edge and—
The sound of metal twisting split the air.
I fell to the ground, taking cover just as crunching echoed through the woods.
Each heartbeat vibrated my chest. The amount of fear was
insurmountable.
Though part of me wanted to stand up and
drive forward into the unknown, I couldn’t. My joints froze, keeping my body
still. The feeling that something terrible was happening wouldn’t fade. No
matter how afraid I was of what was occurring just out of view, I needed
answers.
Pushing myself back to a stand, I clung to
a tree, gawking at the edge of the woods. More lights flickered. Each flash
beckoned me forward until I couldn’t resist the urge to move. I crept closer,
hoping my heart wouldn’t explode before I received the answers to my questions.
And just as I stepped from the slumbering, snow filled woodlands, blackness
entrapped me. And I fell.
My body twirled through a bottomless pit
that pulled me further into its desperate nothingness. I grabbed and kicked
about frantically. My last hope of finding something to stop me slipped
away.
Then my body crashed into something hard. I
lurched forward as my eyes flew open and the spinning stopped. My hands fisted
the soft fabric beneath them. Once they came into view, a breath of relief
filled my lungs.
I was home, safe and sound and tucked into
my bed. The fabric was nothing more than my sheets, and the nothingness from
which I’d came, a bad dream. Knowing as much provided me with a small sense of
peace. But it didn’t last long. Despite the fact that I’d escaped the darkness
of my subconscious, I was faced with one reality I didn’t want.
The answers I sought were still questions
waiting to be unraveled. And the memories I longed to regain were still locked
away in the part of my brain that refused to cooperate.
Tears warmed my cheeks before I buried my
face into my pillow. And I wept. Uncontrollably. Profusely.
Hopelessly…
Is there anything you find
particularly challenging in your writing?
Time. There isn't enough hours in a day and
I'm always struggling to find time to write some days because there is so much
going on, both professionally and personally. This is why I take a lot of notes
on my phone. ;-)
What book are you reading
now?
I haven’t started a new book yet. I’m
hoping to dig into the last two books of the House of Night Series by PC and
Kristin Casts. I love those books.
What is your favorite theme/genre
to write about?
Paranormal romance is my favorite, but I do
have a few contemporary romances planned. I write, for the most part, on the
lighter side of paranormal. No vampires or shifters (though I do enjoy reading
these types of books). My first book was mistaken for contemporary romance by a
lot of readers. They got a big shock with book two.
While you were writing, did you
ever feel as if you were one of the characters?
Always. They're so vivid to me anyway,
especially Layne Perry.
Kelli McCracken spends most
of her days in front of her
computer, crafting her next novel. She
loves to read and occasionally curls up
with a good book. When she's not
chauffeuring kids, cleaning house, or
hog-tying unruly characters, she enjoys
taking hikes, drinking coffee, or
listening to
music.
"I've learned that in life, you can
never take anything too serious.
Murphy's Law never fails, and if you spend
your life trying to be perfect, you
miss out on mishaps that can turn into
miracles. Take time to appreciate life.
It's gone before you know it."
Kelli lives with her husband and children
in Eastern Kentucky. To learn more
about the author, you can find her on
Facebook or visit her website.
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