Interview and Giveaway with E.J. Stevens

"Yuki has a secret....She smells the dead." She Smells the Dead & Spirit Storm are at the very tippy top of my TBR pile but in the meantime the Spirit Guide series author E.J. Stevens has agreed to stop by for an interview and is giving away a trading card swag pack to one lucky commenter.

Welcome author E. J. Stevens!

You're the author of two poetry collections (From the Shadows, Shadows of Myth and Legend) and the YA paranormal Spirit Guide series, all with dark themes. What draws you to this particular style of writing? I blame my parents, LOL! I had an unusual childhood steeped in my mother's dark tales from the myth and folklore of the British Isles and the chilling ghost stories that my dad would read from our library. My favorite childhood diversion was to scare friends and family by creating and telling my own spooky stories filled with the magical, and often monstrous, paranormal creatures these tales inspired. In elementary school I began to put pen to paper and discovered an aptitude for writing. I have been composing verse and weaving prose ever since.

Is there a genre other than your own that you would like to give a try writing one day? I plan to write a middle-grade paranormal novel, Yes Annabelle: There Are Such Things as Vampires, and have an idea for a suspense thriller very unlike my dark poetry and young adult paranormal writings. I am so busy at the moment with the Spirit Guide series. We release Legend of Witchtrot Road, Spirit Guide book 3, October 4th and while on tour I will also be working on Brush with Death, Spirit Guide book 4, and a Spirit Guide supplemental, The Calvin and Yuki diaries. It may be late 2012 before I have an opportunity to revisit these other writing projects.

The covers to the Spirit Guide series are gorgeous! Who is the artist? The Spirit Guide book covers are a collaborative effort between myself and B. Sanborn. Sanborn has amazing skill with photo manipulation and a great understanding of the characters.

Do you have a ritual or superstition that you follow when it comes to your writing? I am actually much more superstitious when working on poetry collections, but I have one eccentricity that perpetuates my writing ritual. While writing productively, I fear that I will feel well and be unable to write. Yes, you read that correctly. I worry about feeling well, not unwell.

This quirky superstition stems from the first book of poetry I composed in 2009. I became sick and while in bed with a terrible flu virus, I began writing From the Shadows. Until then, I had written numerous poems and short stories, but never set my mind to completing a writing project. My flu turned to pneumonia and I could barely lift arm or leg. I was too weak to leave my bed. What began as a distraction evolved into a frenzy of writing. When I was no longer ill and could return to my normal, healthy self, I stopped writing.

My fear of wellness began.

Ever since that fateful day in 2009, I dread feeling healthy. I long for gloomy days and a lingering malaise to stimulate the stories I long to tell.

I know. It isn't normal, but then, no one would ever accuse me of normalcy. ;P

Is there a must have snack you need to have nearby while writing? I almost always have a strong mug of coffee or tea and a fresh supply of raw veggies to nibble on.

How about music? Many authors have playlists for their books. I don't usually listen to music while writing, but I do have a playlist of songs that have helped to inspire the Spirit Guide series.

Spirit Guide Playlist:

Not In Love by Crystal Castles feat. Robert Smith

Walking With A Ghost by Tegan and Sara

Howl by Florence + The Machine

Pearl's Dream by Bat For Lashes

To Die For by The Birthday Massacre

Loretta Young Silks by Sneaker Pimps

Duvet by Boa

Twilight Galaxy by Metric (Che Andre remix)

Hysteric by Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

Bloodbuzz Ohio by The National

Breathe Me by Sia

Wind in the Wires by Patrick Wolf

Butterflies and Hurricanes by Muse

Bring Me To Life by Evanescence

Final Destination by Within Temptation

Teignmouth by Patrick Wolf

We Are Pilots by Shiny Toy Guns

Enjoy the Unknown by And One

The Dream by The Birthday Massacre

Loretta Young Silks by Sneaker Pimps

Headlock by Imogen Heap

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

The Perfect Girl by The Cure

Ghost Town by Shiny Toy Guns

The Howling by Within Temptation

Skeleton by The Good Natured

Haunted (when the minutes drag) by Collide (Love and Rockets cover)

Walking in My Shoes by Depeche Mode

Blind by Wolfsheim

Static by Echostream

Numb by Portishead

Thanatos by Soap & Skin

Moon and Moon by Bat For Lashes

All I Need by Within Temptation

Glass by Bat For Lashes

Werewolf by Cat Power

Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground by Antony and the Johnsons

A Thousand Hours by The Cure

What is the last book you’ve read that you adored and want to tell people to go buy it NOW? Just one? I am a HUGE fan of Maggie Stiefvater, Kim Harrison, and Julie Kagawa, to name a few, but one of my favorite novels of 2011 is Demonglass, the second book in the Hex Hall series, by Rachel Hawkins. Demonglass has a wonderful combination of paranormal mystery, edge-of-your-seat excitement, YA romance, and hilarious dialogue. But the reason Demonglass makes my list of favorites is Sophie. She is such a fabulously fun character. I love strong, quirky, teen characters.

How do you think book review bloggers have changed the landscape of promoting books & authors? I heart book bloggers. Seriously, book bloggers are passionate about reading and sharing their love of books and their opinions are heard worldwide 24-7. I can visit a blog site at any time of day or night, in any time zone, and learn about which books bloggers are enthusiastic about reading. Book blogs are the pulse of the industry.

These reviews are also completely raw and unfiltered. As an author I find that kind of reader feedback invaluable.

Book bloggers have become an amazing resource for authors. Where else can a new author receive an honest review and interact with passionate readers? Book Bloggers even go a step further and host giveaways, blog tours, and other special events.

Book bloggers rock!

Karen: Thanks E.J. I'm off to investigate all that great music. I know quite a few of those bands but there are several I've never heard off. A great time to test out Spotify!
I think I can speak for most book bloggers and say that we think Author's rock!

E.J. Stevens writes poetry and young adult paranormal novels.  E.J. is author of the haunting collection of dark poetry From the Shadows, the chilling collection of paranormal poetry Shadows of Myth and Legend, and the young adult paranormal Spirit Guide Series, including She Smells the Dead, Spirit Storm, and Legend of Witchtrot Road.

When E.J. isn't at her writing desk she can be found blogging at From the Shadows, a paranormal book blog, or hanging out on Goodreads or Twitter.

Buy the Books! Amazon

NOW! Look what E.J. is giving one of you lucky commenters!!

Five She Smells the Dead cards, Five Spirit Storm cards, Two Spirit Guide bookmarks (not pictured) and a signed Legend of Witchtrot Road postcard.

Here's a link to view some of the cards better. My background dulls it a bit and I'm just not doing these cards justice! GORGEOUS! and *ahem* Simon??? Yummy! (click each pic to enlarge and you'll see what I mean!)

**Leave a comment and your entered - that's it! Please leave an email to contact you. (use DOT and AT to avoid spammers.) US/Canada Only.

Winner announce Monday August 15th.