Author Interview: Augusta Blythe

I'm really excited to have author Augusta Blythe on the blog today promoting her second self-published novel, Ravenstoke! This book is the sequel to her debut novel, Winterborne, and second in the Universe Unbound series. Before we get to the interview, here's some more information about Ravenstoke!

Synopsis:
In Winterborne, Loie and Mia's seventeenth birthdays brought more drama and surprises than they ever expected. Now, in Ravenstoke, they are adjusting to the aftermath and struggling to keep those newfound powers in check. When Andreas is called away to England under mysterious circumstances, a new guy is sent to Salcey Ridge in his place. Cian is smarmy and cocksure and Loie wants nothing more than to unleash a hellhound on him. Unfortunately, Cian isn't the only complication in their lives as the girls must also contend with the reappearance of Mr. Winterborne himself and Loie's most dreaded fear of all - a part in the school musical. Can the girls survive the rest of junior year unscathed?

From Goodreads

Interview

Describe Ravenstoke in 5 words or less.
Banter, beasts, the school musical.

What made you want to write about an evolved race of humans?
I love mythology and the amazing world people created in order to explain the natural world. I wanted to look forward as well as back and see where the human race might be headed, albeit with a fantastical bent rather than sci-fi.

Do you have a song playlist for the book/series that you would be willing to share with readers?
I am a sucker for all the Glee albums, but partial to the one featuring the Warblers. I also listened to a lot of Keane for reasons which are obvious if you’ve read Ravenstoke.

What can you tell us about the next book in the series, The Yawning Void?
It will wrap up Loie and Mia’s story as the issues between Ancients and Universals come to a head. We’ll also get to know more about Cian and see which side he’s playing for.

This or That:
Coffee or tea? Both, although I only do fancy pants coffees like caramel lattes. And I live in England so tea is a requirement.
M&Ms or Skittles? M&Ms, hands down.
Paper books or eBooks? Both. I’m not a smelling-the-pages kind of person, but I love the way my covers look in print. Equally, I love the convenience of ebooks.
Beach retreat or camping vacation? Beach retreat! If there’s no spa shower with a view of the ocean, it’s not for me.
Harry Potter or Twilight? HP. Hermione rocks and I can’t wait

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Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, Augusta!

Here's where you can find more information about Augusta Blythe and her books:

Visit her blog
Follow her on Twitter
Like her on Facebook
Buy her books on Amazon
Add Winterborne (Universe Unbound #1) to your Goodreads shelf
Add Ravenstoke (Universe Unbound #2) to your Goodreads shelf

Review: Ravenstoke by Augusta Blythe

Title: Ravenstoke
Author: Augusta Blythe
Publisher: self published
Publish Date: December 4, 2011
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 164 (ebook)
Source: From author for review
Series: Universe Unbound #2
1. Winterborne (review)
2. Ravenstoke
3. The Yawning Void (expected pub unknown)

**WARNING: SPOILERS**

Synopsis:
In Winterborne, Loie and Mia's seventeenth birthdays brought more drama and surprises than they ever expected. Now, in Ravenstoke, they are adjusting to the aftermath and struggling to keep those newfound powers in check. When Andreas is called away to England under mysterious circumstances, a new guy is sent to Salcey Ridge in his place. Cian is smarmy and cocksure and Loie wants nothing more than to unleash a hellhound on him. Unfortunately, Cian isn't the only complication in their lives as the girls must also contend with the reappearance of Mr. Winterborne himself and Loie's most dreaded fear of all - a part in the school musical. Can the girls survive the rest of junior year unscathed?

From Goodreads

I enjoyed Ravenstoke much more than I did Winterborne. I had a big issue with Loie in the first because of her lack of confidence in herself and how she always felt that she was second best to Mia. But she is a stronger character in this second instalment of the Universe Unbound series, and it was great to see her coming into herself.

In Ravenstoke, Andreas is training Loie to control her newfound powers, and also teaching her about Universals and Ancients. When he leaves for England for an undetermined amount of time, Loie is concerned about her training. She’s not too impressed when she meets Cain (pronounced KEEN) and he takes over her training. On top of that, Mia signs them up for Drama club so they can take a trip with the group over to London to find Andreas. And the icing on the cake is that Mr. Winterborne wants to play a bigger role in Loie’s life, which only makes her more upset with him.

I really need to address the matter of Cain. I seriously love him. Even when I hated him or wasn’t sure about him, I still really loved him. And I think he and Loie are great for one another, mostly because she doesn’t take his bull and he puts up with her stubbornness. He was a great trainer, too, because he didn’t hold Loie back like Andreas seemed to. Regardless of what we learn about him, I still think his part in this story was so important for the growth of Loie as a character.

We got to visit more than just Salcey Ridge in this book. Loie and Mia jet off to London and then we also see some of the Welsh countryside, and we also get a glimpse at where Mr. Winterborne’s been hiding, in Sanctuary. I think it gave the story depth to see more than just their small town.

I wasn’t sure about reading Ravenstoke because I wasn’t crazy about Winterborne, but I’m really glad I read it. It really was better than the first. And I will definitely be looking forward to the next book, and getting more information about it!

Thanks to Augusta for the ebook review copy!

Teaser Tuesday (45)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

I devoured the second book in Augusta Blythe's self-published Universe Unbound series, Ravenstoke. I seriously couldn't put it down. And so I have to share a teaser with you! Here it is:

Then I remember that I'm not wearing any pants. Oh crikey, what underpants am I wearing? Please don't be Hello Kitty. They were a gift; I didn't choose them.

"Do you need mouth to mouth," a male voice says, "because I'd be happy to oblige?"

"Not necessary," I finally say after emptying the water from my lungs.

"Well, hello Kitty. Thanks for the show. I sure enjoyed your riverdance with the kelpie," he says.

Definitely longer than 2 lines, but HA! I loved this part. It's our first introduction to Cian and he's a fun character... for the most part. He's got a special place in my heart.

I highly recommend this series, even though it's self-pubbed, and I know some people have issues with that. But there are no spelling or grammar mistakes and I never notice any problems with flow. Winterborne is the first book. And they're only $2.99 each on Amazon!

Feel free to share your teasers with me! I'd love to see what you're reading.

Character Interview: Winterborne by Augusta Blythe

Today, I'm very excited to have the main characters of Augusta Blythe's debut novel, WINTERBORNE, with me on the blog answering a few questions. I really enjoyed her story and writing, and posted my review here in September. Before we meet Loie, Mia, and Andreas, here's some more information about WINTERBORNE:

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year old Mia Winterborne is destined to be special. Details are sketchy, though, as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. Mia only knows that she'll inherit her kickass superpowers on her seventeenth birthday. Helping Mia prepare for her anticipated ascendancy is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls' intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia's powers finally hits home. The nearer Mia's birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.

From Goodreads

Interview

If there was a soundtrack to your life right now, what would it be?
Mia:  I'm going to go with Born This Way.
Loie:  Lady Gaga?
Mia:  Um, yes.  What's wrong with that?
Loie:  Don't you think that's more of an underdog song?
Mia:  (blankly)  It's about being beautiful and perfect and being a queen, not the drag kind.  What's more Mia than that?
Loie:  Okey doke then.  No Air sums it up nicely for me.  I'm hoping for something a little more up tempo next term.  How about you, Andreas?
Andreas: I think Teenage Dream is a good choice, the Glee version.  I'm fairly certain Darren Criss is one of us.  He has way too much charisma for a basic human.

What’s your biggest fear?
Mia: Getting mauled by a pack of hellhounds stands out for me at the moment.
Loie: That's a good one.  I'm going to go with losing everyone I love.  It seems more of a reality for me than most people.
Andreas: Ancients returning to the human world.  Some of them are big and bad and not so keen on sharing.

What was it like growing up together, almost like sisters?
Mia: Almost like twins, really.  It's like having another half of me walking the earth.  And we can read each other's thoughts, another twin thing.  I wish we had a magic ring and I could turn into an animal and she could turn into a body of water.
Loie: Okay, reality check.  We're not the Wonder Twins no matter how badly you want it.  (pauses)  It's having someone who's been in your life every step of the way, who knows all your secrets and flaws, and still loves you.
Mia:  Aw, you're so sweet.

Talk to me about Andreas...
Mia: I'm not talking him up too much.  Why sound the alarm that there's a hot, available British guy wandering the streets of Salcey Ridge?
Loie: (rolls eyes) Puh-leeze.
Mia:  Oh c'mon.  Like you don't think he's hot?
Loie:  Like he's available.
Andreas:  May I ask why I'm 'wandering the streets'?  You make me sound like a homeless madman.
Loie:  You are kinda homeless.
Mia:  And you could be a madman, too soon to tell.
Andreas:  (shrugs)  Point taken.

If you could live anywhere on earth, where would it be?
Mia: Bora Bora looks pretty good to me.  A hut on stilts over the ocean.
Loie: You in a hut?  Doubtful.
Mia:  Okay, a very large hut with multiple rooms and levels.
Loie: Anywhere, as long as it's as far from Salcey Ridge as possible.
Mia:  Bora Bora would fit the bill.  You can live with me!
Loie:  You and I squeezed into a hut over the ocean far from humanity?  
Andreas:  I smell a sitcom.
Loie: And will you be joining us in Bora Bora, Andreas?  British boy makes three.
Andreas:  It's my beloved English countryside, I'm afraid.  Its beauty is unsurpassed by anything I've seen in America.
Mia:  I beg your pardon.
Andreas:  We're discussing places, not people.
Mia:  Discussion over.

Thanks for being with us today and answering all of my questions! It was a blast learning about you!

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To learn more about Augusta Blythe and WINTERBORNE, make sure you visit Augusta's blog here. You can buy your own ebook copy of WINTERBORNE at Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, iBookstore, or OmniLit. Did I mention it's only $0.99 USD?

Review: Winterborne by Augusta Blythe

Title: Winterborne
Author: Augusta Blythe
Publisher: Self published
Publish Date: April 24, 2011
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 188 (ebook)
Source: From author for review

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year old Mia Winterborne is destined to be special. Details are sketchy, though, as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. Mia only knows that she'll inherit her kickass superpowers on her seventeenth birthday. Helping Mia prepare for her anticipated ascendancy is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls' intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia's powers finally hits home. The nearer Mia's birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.

From Goodreads

I was a little surprised when I first picked this up and started to read. The synopsis gave me the impression that the story was told from Mia’s point of view, if not a third person point of view. It’s actually told from Loie’s (rhymes with Joey) point of view. Although the focus is technically on Mia and her impending powers, we get Loie’s feel for things, her thoughts and concerns.

I liked Loie’s story. That’s probably because I spent most of the time feeling sorry for her. Although that sounds bad, it’s really a good thing because I like to be emotionally invested with the characters I read about. Loie’s home life is really not ideal and clearly difficult to deal with. It was hard to see her in such a difficult position, especially because her biggest problem was her relationship with her grandmother. There was also the tension between the girls and Andreas, the British hottie. (Side note: I kept forgetting that he was British. I think the name probably threw me off because it seems so not-British to me.) It hurt me to see how poorly Loie thought of herself. She was always giving up because she “knew” Mia was better than her in every way. She was always the follower, Mia the leader. It might be the teacher in me, but I absolutely hate to see young girls selling themselves short. You’re all wonderful and beautiful no matter what anyone tells you!

The story was interesting overall. I liked that a few things caught me by surprise, and the storyline kept me interested. I did predict a few things, but that’s also part of the fun: reading to see if you’re right. There was always a lot of weird stuff going on around Loie and Mia, and so many unanswered questions. Andreas seemed like a nice distraction from the upcoming, unknown powers, until... Let’s just say he’s not all that he appears to be.

The book definitely had a good balance of action, romance, and mystery. I think it’s enough to keep any YA reader interested through to the very last page. I’d definitely recommend this to fellow YA lovers.

Make sure you visit Augusta Blythe's website so you can get yourself a copy of WINTERBORNE.

Thanks so much to Augusta herself for the ebook review copy!

Teaser Tuesday (30)

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Just do the following:

Grab your current read

Open to a random page

Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

DO NOT INCLUDE SPOILERS (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away, so that you don't ruin the book for others)

Share the title and author so that other participants can add the book to their TBR list is they like your teasers!

This week I'm reading Winterborne by Augusta Blythe. It's another self-published novel. I'm liking it so far, and here's my teaser:

I don't know why I let myself get so freaked out at the mere hint of Mia's impending powers. After all, I'm just season one Willow to her Buffy. I listen, I help. I occasionally goof up. Not much else is expected of me.

I chose this to give you an idea of what the characters are like, how they complement one another. And, of course, the pop culture reference. Not that I've ever watched Buffy, but I'm sure some of you can appreciate it :).

Feel free to share your teasers with me. I'd love to see what you're reading!