Monday, January 3, 2011

WINNER of the Roecker Sisters' Giveaway & Interview with author of PERILOUS

An author interview and a book GIVEAWAY, what better way to begin the NEW YEAR?!! Announcing the winner of the Lisa and Laura Roecker Contest!!

And the winner is, chosen by Random. org........ JULIE MUSIL!!

I'll send the fabulous Roecker Sisters your email for the critique. Soda and candy are on me. I'll be in touch for your addy. CONGRATS!!



The GRAFFITI WALL is happy to welcome one of the sweetest authors I've ever met. I had the pleasure of being a part of her blog tour, reviewing her debut novel PERILOUS. She's come back, today, to give us a little insight into her writing and her journey as a writer.

Tamara Hart Heiner

You just held a smashing book blog tour for PERILOUS--which I was blessed to be a part of. What do you feel you learned from that? About marketing (your work and yourself), the industry, readers, fellow writers reviewing, or any other aspect?


As far as marketing goes, I know a lot of people that have someone else set up their blog tours. Personally, I think doing it yourself is a lot more personal and effective. Most people are very willing to help, and if not willing, at least gracious about it. There were some people who didn't even respond... which is rude, but oh well! they must be famous! Getting participation for two months is also hard, but that's why I'm holding such big contests. If people are willing to go through that trouble, I'll reward them!


Now for the real good stuff. PERILOUS! Could you tell the readers a bit about the story.
Well, other than just quoting what's on my blog, it's an adventure/thriller about four teenage girls who see something they shouldn't and end up kidnapped. They get away, only to find that they are being pursued by the kidnapper. It's a story about perseverance, inner strength, and survival.

I know you had this idea some time ago. Was it a solid idea, plotted out or did you have the inkling and then just let the words and story take you where it wanted to go?


It was so long ago, I have a hard time remembering. I didn't outline, and I'm not really sure I knew where the story was going. I knew it was going to have a sequel. The first draft kind of wandered all over the place. I started outlining after that.

You're main girl, Jaci, is awesome. And then there's the twins, Ricky and Neal, along with many more. How did you as a writer develop those characters to be so diverse? What was your method? 


I simply love my characters, especially Jaci. There is a lot of backstory that got left out of the novel, and that backstory helped to define each character. Also I originally wrote the story in 3rd person omniscient (before I knew better), so I was in each person's head often enough to really get to know them. Amanda's character, in my opinion, was even more defined in previous drafts, b/c she really was a bi-otch, kind of a foil to Jaci. We toned her down a bit in the final drafts.I did have two characters that were a little too similar. As a result, I
killed one off.

The book takes the reader on a journey through physical geography located in the North Eastern region of the US and up into Canada--specific places and sites. How much research did you do about these areas and how much did you embellish? 


I did tons of research,and it was really fun. I used Google Earth a lot to get actual street names and places and the geography of the land. I wish I could've actually gone to each location! Of course I used actual facts to lay the foundation, and I created landmarks on top of that.

Favorite adverb? (I know, shiver...)


It's probably probably. :)


Style: do you prefer to write in shorter sentences or longer ones? Do you think style comes naturally or do you think it can be learned?


My style changes depending on my character. I think I prefer shorter sentences in general.

When you were younger, let's say middle grade age, do you think a story hooked you or the characters? 

Definitely. I was quite hooked by "Roll of Thunder, hear my cry." And the characters seriously changed my life.

If you could take only one book and snack with you to the beach, what would they be?


Something fun and easy. Like Percy Jackson.


Need a sneak peek. What are you currently working on?


I'm currently working on the sequel to Perilous, called Altercation (working title). I'd give you a chapter to read, but I don't think I'm allowed!


Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Tamara! Feel free to visit her on her Website , her Blog, Facebook, and Twitter

Tamara is also giving away a copy of PERILOUS!! Leave a comment below with your email addy to enter.


Feel free to blog(+5) about this, sidebar post (+3) tweet it(+2 each time), or Facebook(+2 each time), or any other media (+2 each time) for extra entries. Just leave me the links with your comment. Giveaway open until the 14th!! Good luck!



Here's her book trailer, for those of you who didn't see it during her book tour.

30 comments:

  1. Hi :)
    Thank you for the interesting interview and bringing Tamara to my attention.
    All the best,
    RKCharron

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  2. Thanks for sharing about the book. And Tamara's advice to set up your own book tour (I wasn't even aware someone else would do it for you) is enlightening. Thanks and Happy New Year!

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  3. Tamara is the best and loved her book. Congrats to the winner.
    Happy New Year!

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  4. Happy New Year!!

    Thanks for the interview. I'd never heard of Perilous before. Sounds like a book I need to go check out. :o)

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  5. First, I LOVE the new blog layout!!

    I was supposed to read Perilous for the book blog tour, but I didn't have the time. It sounds fantastic, though and I would still LOVE to read it!

    Thanks for the interview. ;-)

    ~JD

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  6. I've seen Perilous everywhere. I've even seen WiDo do staus updates with little excerpts from it. Will have to check it out! :o)

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  7. This book's on my TBR pile.

    I didn't know someone else sets up blog tours. I thought it was the responsibility of the author.

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  8. Ooh, like the new blog digs! I think it's great that Tamara is out there with the blog tour. I don't know why, it would scare me to do mine, but when the time comes, I guess I will!

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  9. Happy New Year, Sheri!
    Great interview! Loved the book trailer! Another book on the TBR list!

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  10. Tamara is amazing!!! Her book is captivating, I couldn't tear myself away from it!

    Yay to Julie who pulled a win!

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  11. I, too have Perilous on my short list. Can't wait to read it, Tamara! (And hi, Sheri - Happy New Year!)

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  12. Congrats Julie!

    Great interview Sheri! The book is already on my tbr pile. I can't wait to sink into it! =D

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  13. Hooray for Julie! Yay!!! I'm so interested in reading this book. Thanks, Sher~ :o) <3

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  14. Tamara is totally awesome and so was her book tour! Thanks for this follow-up interview, Sheri. I love the adverb question! LOL.

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  15. Wow, sounds like a great read! Thanks for having Tamara and Perilous on here today Sher! Great interview and jeez Julie! She's won some awesome contests! Someone give me what she eats for breakfast!

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  16. hi miss sheri! happy new year! hooray for miss julie for being a prize winner. i like you interview with miss tamara. i could learn so much form interviews. im thinking that book is maybe to old for me but for sure im gonna tell my brothers and my sister bout it.
    ...hugs from lenny

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  17. Excellent interview! Perilous sounds really good! And congrats to Julie!

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  18. Congrats to Julie! Awesome interview and Happy New Year!

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  19. Yeah, Julie!!! She's so awesome. :D Loved the interview. Sounds like a great book.

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  20. That sounds like an awesome read. I love suspensful novels. Thanks for the interview.

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  21. PERILOUS sounds amazing! And I loved that book trailer. I probably use probably too much also, so it's nice to know I'm not alone!

    Thank you soooo much for the contest win!

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  22. Great interview! This is one of the books I want to read this year.

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  23. Looks like a goodie. Great interview!

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  24. Thanks, Justine.

    AND way to go, Julie!

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  25. Great post, Sherrie. And Julie M. is a super winner this year already. She just won a great book from the Write Game. She's off to a great start on 2011.

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  26. Wonderful interview. The book sounds great. I tweeted and put it on Facebook.
    www.twitter.com/beverlymcclure
    www.facebook.com/beverlysmcclure
    beverlysmcclure(at)aol.com

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  27. Great interview and congrats to the winner! Hope your new year was wonderful.
    Lisa ~ YA Literature Lover

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  28. can't wait to read it!
    jtauber20@gmail.com

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  29. I've been dying to read this book!
    I'm a GFC follower (Lexie@BookBug). I tweeted the giveway at http://twitter.com/#!/LexieBookBug/status/26056892824424449 and I put it on my blog at http://thebookbug-hogan.blogspot.com/p/giveaways.html
    Thanks for the giveaway
    lexie.bookbug(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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