Character Interview: Callie Taylor from Waking Up Dead (repost)

Hi, everyone! Today, I’m reposting the guest blog from Merissa McCain’s Paranormal Month Spot yesterday (you can see the original here: http://tinyurl.com/jwq8tzx). It’s a character interview of Callie Taylor, the ghostly protagonist of Waking Up Dead. Check it out:

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3D Waking up Dead

I do have a few questions for Callie, and she’s agreed to be interviewed, so let’s jump right on in. Oh–we have to transcribe the interview–but bear with us. This is going to be great.

Interviewer: Today we welcome Callie Taylor, the heroine of Waking Up Dead. Callie, welcome to the blog! I’m sorry to say that most of our readers won’t actually be able to hear what you have to say, since you’re a ghost. So I’m afraid that you’ll have to let me simply transcribe your words. Yes, that’s right; I’m one of the few sensitives who can see and hear you. No, I didn’t know that you were working so hard to find someone who could help you. Wait. You were there when Molly was killed? That’s terrible! Still, I don’t see that knowing me then would have helped stop it, even though I can see and hear you.

[Aside:] Pardon me, everyone. Ms. Taylor’s getting a bit agitated; I might need to calm her down.

[They speak quietly in a corner for a moment, then come back to their seats.]

Interviewer: Okay. Let’s try this again. Callie, could you tell us a little bit about yourself? Mm-hm. Okay. Sure, sure. Callie says that this is the most screwed-up afterlife she could never have imagined for herself. She was supposed to get heaven or hell. She got Alabama. That was not in her afterlife plan. She would have settled for that squeaky voice psychic from the Poltergeist movie telling her to go to the light. But no. She can’t go anywhere, unless it’s in Abramsville, Alabama.

Interviewer: So what do you do all day? Television? That’s all? No, no. I understand. There’s not a lot you could do in your disembodied state. But wasn’t there something about trying to save a man from prison? What did you do to help him? Yes, I can see that having your partner Ashara could be helpful. Right, and Ashara’s boyfriend Stephen. And . . . wait. Her elderly grandmother Maw-Maw? Um . . .

So let me get this straight. You’re a ghost. She’s a bank teller. He’s a musical-instrument repairman. She’s an elderly, cane-wielding grandmother. Together, you fight crime. Seriously?!

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To see what happens when a displaced ghost teams up with an unlikely trio in small-town Alabama to solve a local murder, check out Waking Up Dead, by Margo Bond Collins, available from Amazon.com.

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Waking Up Dead

Book Blurb
When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, when she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex, she went to Alabama. Now she’s witnessed another murder, and she’s not about to let this one go. She’s determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up dead in Alabama?

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About the Author

Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. Waking Up Dead is her first published novel. Her second novel, Legally Undead, is an urban fantasy, forthcoming in 2014 from World Weaver Press.

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Buy Waking Up Dead on Amazon

Connect with Margo
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/margobondcollins
Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com
Website: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin @MargoBondCollin
Google+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins
Facebook Novel Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waking-Up-Dead/502076076537575
Tumblr: http://vampirarchybooks.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/
Be sure to add Waking Up Dead to your Goodreads bookshelves: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18428064-waking-up-dead
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Book Trailers:


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Waking Up Dead! Release Party, Reviews, and General SQUEE

The closer I get to the October 8 release date of Waking Up Dead, the more excited I get! I am just all a-SQUEE over it!

In the last few days, I’ve started getting responses from reviewers, and I’m loving their comments! My two favorites so far? Here ya go:

“GHOSTS!!! Fuck yeah!!”

. . . and, about the character Maw-Maw:

“[she] effing rocks. Most EPIC grandmother EVER.”

I have inspired cursing, random capitalization, and lots of exclamation marks from my readers. My work here is done.

If you want such inspiration, don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for free copies; I’ve set it to run until 12:15 a.m. October 9!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

3D Waking up Dead

If you can make it to the Facebook release party, I’d love to have you there. It’s on 10/8 from 6-9 p.m. CST–we’ll have over 50 prizes, including tons of e-books and swag from other authors who have been incredibly generous! I have piles of cool stuff to give away. You’re invited, and so are all your friends! 🙂 https://www.facebook.com/events/347803788688779/

After the party, Enchanted Book Tours will be running a blog tour for me from October 10 – November 10. Watch for announcements about it!

enchantedwakingupdeadbanner

And check out this nifty new graphic, courtesy of The Book Trollop:

Waking up Dead Promo

If you missed any of the multitude of Facebook or Twitter announcements I’ve been making (seems unlikely, but still . . .), check out the two book trailers:

I’m looking forward to seeing y’all at the release party!

Waking Up Dead Sneak Peek and Giveaway

Be sure to enter the giveaway for a free copy of the eBook and a $10 Amazon gift card:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waking Up Dead

When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she’s witnessed another murder, and she’s not about to let this one go. She’s determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?

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Excerpt

As Molly straightened up, the man slipped the wire over her head and twisted it around her neck. She struggled, but he pulled the garrote tighter and tighter.

I was screaming at the top of my ghostly voice, for all the good it did me. I moved up behind the man and beat at his back with closed fists–fists that slipped in and out of his back without ever making real contact. He shuddered a little–clearly he was one of the very slightly sensitive ones–but he didn’t loosen his hands.

I reached up and tried to grab the wire, tried to pull against the pressure he was exerting on the wire and it did loosen for an instant. But only for an instant. The living have more control over solid objects than the dead do. I never resented that fact more than at that moment.

But I kept trying. I kept trying as Molly’s face turned purple, then blue, then black, kept trying even as she drooped in the man’s grip.

Then he loosened the wire and it was too late. I watched that wispy, light-on-fog life force slip out of Molly and move on to wherever it is that other people go when they die. I was glad she didn’t show up next to me as a full-blown ghost. At that moment, I wouldn’t have wished my impotent half-existence on anyone.

I couldn’t help thinking that if I’d been alive, I might have been able to save her.

If I could have cried real tears, I would have. As it was, I was sobbing hoarsely and calling the man every dirty name I could think of.

I was still cursing as I followed him around the kitchen. First he opened the pantry and pulled out a box of Hefty garbage bags. Then he grabbed a knife out of the block on the counter. And finally, he picked up Molly’s body and carried it to the bathroom.

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About the Author

Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. Waking Up Dead is her first published novel. Her second novel, Legally Undead, is an urban fantasy, forthcoming in 2014 from World Weaver Press.

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Connect with Margo

Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com
Website: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin @MargoBondCollin
Google+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins
Facebook Novel Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waking-Up-Dead/502076076537575
Tumblr: http://vampirarchybooks.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/

Be sure to add Waking Up Dead to your Goodreads bookshelves: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18428064-waking-up-dead

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Book Trailers:

Waking Up Dead: A New Book Trailer!

Check out the new book trailer for Waking Up Dead, due out from Solstice Publishing on October 8!

Also, be sure to follow the blog tour for more chances to win a copy of Waking Up Dead or a $10 Amazon gift card!

Blog Tour
Waking Up Dead by Margo Bond Collins

Follow the tour and enter to win one of four copies of Waking Up Dead or a $10 Amazon gift card!

If you’re interested in hosting a stop on the tour, email me at MargoBondCollins@gmail.com.

September 22
Words, Words, Words: Tour Kickoff! https://margobondcollins.com/2013/09/22/waking-up-dead-kickoff

September 23
Rapid Reviewer: http://rcharlesworth1990.wordpress.com/2013/09/23/%e2%98%86waking-up-dead-promo-and-book-amazon-voucher-giveaway%e2%98%86/

Books on Silver Wings: http://onsilverwingz.blogspot.com/2013/09/guest-post-blog-tour-and-giveaway.html

Fabulosity Reads: http://fabulosityreads.blogspot.com/2013/09/waking-up-dead-by-margo-bond-collins.html

September 24
Book Reviews by Dee: http://bookreviewsbydee.com/margo-bond-collins/

Escape Into a Book: http://eatsleepread88.blogspot.com/2013/09/waking-up-dead.html

September 25
Words, Words, Words: https://margobondcollins.com/2013/09/26/waking-up-dead-book-trailer2/

Renee Novelle: http://reneenovelle.com/ReneeNovelle/Blog/Blog.html

Reading in Twilight: http://readingintwilight.blogspot.com/

September 26
Write Away Bliss: http://writeawaybliss.com/

September 27
Words, Words, Words: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com

September 28
Dawn’s Reading Nook: http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2013/09/talking-with-author-margo-bond-collins.html

Reviews by Crystal: http://reviewsbycacb.blogspot.com/2013/09/waking-up-dead-by-margo-bond-collins.html

September 29
Michelle’s Paranormal Vault of Books: http://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com/

September 30
Lost to Books: http://losttobooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/teaser-tour-waking-up-dead-by-margo.html

Out of the Lockbox: http://outofthelockbox.blogspot.com/

October 1
Paulette’s Papers: http://paulettespapers.com/

October 2
A. L. Davroe: http://www.aldavroe.com/

Mary H. Collins: http://www.authormaryhcollins.com/blog.html

October 3
KC Sprayberry: http://www.kcsprayberry.com

October 4
KateMarie Collins: http://katemariecollins.wordpress.com/

October 5
Deborah Melanie: http://deborahmelanie.blogspot.co.uk/

Touch the Night: http://touchthenight.blogspot.com/

Words, Words, Words: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com

October 6
Reading Until I Fall Asleep: http://www.readinguntilifallasleep.com/

October 7
Book Bliss: http://www.book-bliss.com/

October 8: Release Day!
Facebook Release Party, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.: Waking Up Dead FB Release Party! Everyone is invited for (virtual) food and drink and (real) prizes! (https://www.facebook.com/events/347803788688779/)

October 9
KH LeMoyne: http://khlemoyne.com/

Tashara Talks: http://tasharatalks.com/

October 15
Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews: http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com

Waking Up Dead – Pre-Release Blog Tour Kickoff and Giveaway!

Hello, and welcome to the first stop on my pre-release teaser tour for the paranormal mystery Waking Up Dead, due out from Solstice Publishing and available via Amazon on October 8! Be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of four copies of Waking Up Dead or a $10 Amazon card–and follow the tour or come back here once a day for even more chances to win!

Enter to Win

Waking Up Dead

When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she’s witnessed another murder, and she’s not about to let this one go. She’s determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?

Be sure to add Waking Up Dead to your Goodreads bookshelves!
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Excerpt

When I died, I expected to go to heaven.

Okay. Maybe hell. It’s not like I was perfect or anything. But I was sort of hoping for heaven.

Instead, I went to Alabama.

Yeah. I know. It’s weird.

I died in Dallas, my hometown. I was killed, actually. Murdered. I’ll spare you the gruesome details. I don’t like to remember them myself. Some jerk with a knife–and probably a Bad-Mommy complex. Believe me, if I knew where he was, I’d go haunt his ass.

At any rate, by the time death came, I was ready for it–ready to stop hurting, ready to let go. I didn’t even fight it.

And then I woke up dead in Alabama. Talk about pissed off.

You know, even reincarnation would have been fine with me–I could have started over, clean slate and all that. Human, cow, bug. Whatever. But no. I ended up haunting someplace I’d never even been.

That’s not the way it’s supposed to work, right? Ghosts are supposed to be the tortured spirits of those who cannot let go of their earthly existence. If they could be convinced to follow the light, they’d leave behind said earthly existence and quit scaring the bejesus out of the poor folks who run across them. That’s what all those “ghost hunter” shows on television tell us.

Let me tell you something. The living don’t know jack about the dead.

Not this dead chick, anyway.

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About the Author

MargoBondCollins

Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. Waking Up Dead is her first published novel. Her second novel, Legally Undead, is an urban fantasy, forthcoming in 2014 from World Weaver Press.

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Connect with Margo

Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com
Website
Twitter: @MargoBondCollin
Google+
Goodreads Author Page
Facebook Author Page
Facebook Novel Page
Tumblr
Pinterest

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Book Trailer

Cover Reveal~ Waking Up Dead, by Margo Bond Collins

Thanks to everyone for your overwhelmingly positive response to my cover reveal contest–you helped me meet a week’s worth of social media goals in under 24 hours; you’re the best! So as promised, the cover is below. Don’t forget, though, that there’s still a drawing for a free copy of the book for one of the first five hundred people to “like” my Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins

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Waking Up Dead

When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she’s witnessed another murder, and she’s not about to let this one go. She’s determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?

A new paranormal mystery, coming soon from Solstice Publishing

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There’s more exciting news about Waking Up Dead coming soon–watch this spot!

In the meantime, don’t forget to come check out my Facebook Author page and hit “like” while you’re there: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins

You can also find me on these other social media sites:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MargoBondCollin
Tumblr: http://vampirarchybooks.tumblr.com/

Cheers~
Margo Bond Collins

(And in case you missed it earlier, check out the trailer, below!)

Waking Up Dead by Margo Bond Collins

Book Trailer #1

Guest Post: Stephanie Fleshman, Author of Render

Please enjoy this guest post by Stephanie Fleshman, author of the enticing Paranormal YA, Render. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $550 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

 

The 5 Guys You’ll Meet in YA Fiction:

A Guest Post by Stephanie Fleshman

 

According to GalleyCat, YA eBook revenues increased 120.9% last year. The great news is whatever YA male character types keep you reading, it’s unlikely you’ll run out of books anytime soon. After a while contemplating my favorite YA reads, I noticed a pattern when it came to the male heroes in these stories. Without further ado, here’s a run-down of the 5 guys you’re likely to meet when reading a Young Adult novel…

Guy #1: The Broken and Vulnerable

When I think of broken, I think of Josh from Barry Lyga’s Boy Toy. The sad thing about Josh is that he knows he’s broken but blames himself instead of the person at fault.

When I think of vulnerable, two characters come to mind: Sam from Maggie Stiefvater’s Wolves of Mercy Falls series and Cabel from Lisa McMann’s Wake series. Cabel is doused with gasoline, then set on fire by his alcoholic father. He wants to be loved, yet is scared. What makes him strong in a not-in-your-face kind of way is that he wants to love. His lack of resentment and hate is what makes him attractive.

Guy #2: The Abusive

In Jennifer Brown’s Bitter End, Cole is the product of “like father, like son.” In Swati Avasthi’s YA novel Split, however, Jace is the product of being victimized by his own abuser. Unlike Cole, Jace is capable of remorse and guilt. He not only owns up to his actions, but he wants to pay for them. By comparison, Jace makes Cole look like a sociopath.

 

Guy #3: The Obsessive

It’s no secret that Edward from Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight Saga is borderline stalker when it comes to Bella. She is his world entirely. In his mind, though, he is only being protective. So, is Edward protective, overprotective, or obsessive? You decide:

  • Protective: Capable of or intended to protect someone or something.
  • Overprotective: Having a tendency to protect someone, esp. a child, excessively.
  • Obsessive: Of, relating to, characteristic of, or causing an obsession; Excessive in degree or nature.

 

Guy #4: The Dominant

A good example of this type of YA male lead character is Patch from Becca Fitzpatrick’s Hush, Hush series. Patch is 100% boy. He’s self-confident, strong, and stands his ground against Nora. Though he is dominating, I don’t believe it’s in a harmful or abusive manner.

In the second book, you get to see more into his heart as he begins to really care for Nora’s well-being.

By the third book, he’s thinking of Nora’s safety and how he can stay with her. He sacrifices what he wants in order to protect her and their relationship, which seems non-existent to Nora by this stage. Not everything is what it seems, though.

Other good examples are Alex from Simone Elkeles’s Perfect Chemistry and Avi from the same author’s How to Ruin series.

 

Guy #5: The Lovable

I’m going to start with Koldan from my own YA novel, Render. Koldan is firm but not so dominating that he feels the need to control. He’s confident and strong, but recognizes his weaknesses. He’s romantic in the sense that he will do whatever it takes to keep Raya safe, even if it means risking his own life. And he’s not afraid to show his feelings for Raya.

Now, I cannot move forward without mentioning Holder from Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. Thirteen years! Thirteen!!! That’s all I’m going to say. Those of you who have read Hopeless know exactly what I’m talking about. For those of you who haven’t, there’s nothing about this guy not to love.

 

Now I’ve got a question for you: What’s your favorite YA male character type?

 

 

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Render Tour BadgeAs part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, Render, the debut YA Paranormal novel by Stephanie Fleshman, is on sale for just 99 cents! What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes.

The prizes include a Kindle Fire, $550 in Amazon gift cards, and 5 autographed copies of the book.

All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes is RIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!

To win the prizes:

  1. Get Render at its discounted price of 99 cents
  2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest below
  3. Visit the featured social media events
  4. Leave a comment on my blog for a chance at a $100 prize.

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About Render: A betrayal born of blood. A curse for a gift. A love worth saving… Seventeen-year-old Raya Whitney thought she knew Koldan–until a sudden turn of events threatens both their lives. Get it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or iTunes.

Render Cover

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About the Author
Stephanie Fleshman

Stephanie Fleshman graduated with a degree in psychology and has family throughout the United States as well as in Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece. Visit Stephanie on her website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

Cover and Book Trailer Reveal: The Holdout, by Laurel Osterkamp

the holdout cover

Contemporary-New Adult-Romantic Comedy

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18372181-the-holdout

ABOUT THE HOLDOUT
Release date: September 12th 2013
Publisher: PMI Books

Robin wanted to win The Holdout, a cutthroat reality TV show, so she gave it her all, challenge after challenge. Then she fell for Grant, with his irresistible eyes and heartbreaking life story.

But Grant was only using Robin as they competed for a million dollars. Once home, Robin wants to hide from the humiliation as episodes of The Holdout are aired, and she worries her family was right all along; she’s not a survivor.

Yet she could surprise everyone, and have the last laugh.

Besides, Robin now has jury duty. And as she forges ahead, confronting her demons about bravery, justice, and romance, Robin will come to decide which is more important: the courage to stand alone, or the strength to love again.

Laurel Osterkamp’s award winning novels have been hailed as funny, intelligent, snarky and poignant. She is the author of four novels and two novellas, including the November Surprise series, which, like The Holdout, features the Bricker family. Laurel was recently on a federal jury, and she loves watching Survivor.

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Book Trailer

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Rafflecopter Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LaurelAuthorShot

Laurel Osterkamp is the Award Winning Author of several novels including Following My Toes, November Surprise, and Starring in the Movie of My Life. Along with writing, she teaches, and maintains relationships. Laurel also loves boots, chocolate, her family, and her liberal opinions.

http://www.laurelosterkamp.com

twitter.com/LaurelOsterkamp

laurelosterkamp.blogspot.com