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Fiction Author Virtual Book Tours

Redemption by @JessicaTherrien #Giveaway & Interview by #thetoiboxofwords #myth

Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors and welcome to The ToiBox of Words. I’m your host Toi Thomas, author of Eternal Curse, and today I have a treat to share. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Jessica Therrien. A good time was truly had by all, and here’s how it went down… Oh, and there’s a giveaway at the end. 😀

Toi Thomas: Hi there Jessica! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m excited to learn more about you and your work.

Jessica: Hello Toi. It’s nice to be here and I can’t wait to share.

Toi Thomas: So tell me, who is Jessica Therrien?

Jessica: Hi! I’m the author of the YA paranormal series, CHILDREN OF THE GODS. I’m a mommy to a super cute 2-year-old and chubby wubby baby boy. My days are spent taking care of my munchkins and writing, most likely in my pajamas.

Toi Thomas: Well, I can say that I’m already impressed. I can’t imagine being able to find the time to write with two little ones, whether in my pjs or not. I have a feeling this is going to be fun.

Toi Thomas: Well before we dive into your special message today, let’s get to know you, the person inside the author.

Toi Thomas: Who is so you and why?

Jessica: Many people ask me if the girl on my book covers is me. No, she’s not, although we do look alike. She’s meant to resemble my main character, Elyse, who is actually based on me. So there’s a reason the cover girl and I are doppelgangers.

Elyse IS me in the fictional book world.

Toi Thomas: I think as writers, all of our characters are us, to some degree, but it’s kinda cool that you actually look like the character you created.

Goodreads

Toi Thomas: What makes you geek out?

Jessica: Right now, I’m REALLY into superheroes…mostly because my two-year-old makes me put on Hulk gloves and chase him around the house. In the book world, I’m going nuts over SOME FINE DAY. Love that book!

Toi Thomas: I’m a total comic book geek, but I’ve been pumping up my novel muscles- reading lots of fantasy and paranormal. I may have to check out Some Fine day.

Toi Thomas: What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

Jessica: Harry Potter…but that’s everyone’s answer, right?

Toi Thomas: I actually have gotten all kinds of answers to this question, with LOTR being the number one, so far. Harry Potter is, of course, second.

Toi Thomas: In terms of interviews, whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Jessica: Jesus. I’m sure he could answer a lot of my questions. Plus he’s Jesus, so…

Toi Thomas: That’s a tough answer to beat. I’ve gotten it before and it’s always a good one. For those who are believers and those who aren’t, a sit down with him would be enlightening, no matter the outcome.

Toi Thomas: Now that we know a little more about you, the person, let’s learn about you, the author, and dive into your special message.

Book 3 now available

Toi Thomas: So whacha got for me today?

Jessica: Children of the Gods. Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She’s been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, she ages five times slower than average people, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she’s well over eighty. Second, her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don’t make her special. They make life dangerous. Only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability.

Or so she thinks.

Toi Thomas: I already like the sound of this. Not sure what it is about modern generation and our ties to tales of blood, whether good, bad, redemptive, or otherwise, but there’s something mystically appealing about a character with an anomaly in their blood.

Toi Thomas: So who’s starring in this 2 dimensional script read of Children of the Gods?

Jessica: Elyse is stronger than she realizes. Like most people, when the ones she loves are threatened, she’ll do pretty much anything to save them. She has little confidence in herself, but necessity is the mother of invention. Elyse’s people NEED her to be the leader they’ve been hoping for. With her friends and family by her side, she finds it in herself to take charge and make real change.

Toi Thomas: I’m sure with the release of the third book in this series, Elyse must surely be a force to reckon with. The title, however, makes you wonder if it’s her redemption or that of her people, to which this installment will explore. The whole series sounds fascinating.

Toi Thomas: What’s so special about this story that’s going to reel in the readers?

Jessica: Most Greek Mythology related books are retellings or their characters are actual gods in today’s world. My story is based on the premise that the Greek gods were never actually gods at all, they were a supernatural race that had unique abilities and lived long lives. They were only mistaken for gods in ancient Greece. This supernatural race, called Descendants, have been living in secret amongst us, forced into hiding by an oppressive council. Elyse, the last healer among her kind, changes all of that.

Toi Thomas: I agree, this take on mythology confused me at first, which is of course why I wanted to interview you and why I’m currently reading the series. It is typical to see retellings of the same characters or have new stories about demigods, half-human children of the gods, but I like this spin. It’s refreshing and exciting… though it kinda makes me think of that movie Hancock. Did I mention I’m also a movie geek?

Toi Thomas: Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

Jessica: I WANT to write in order, but usually my brain doesn’t let me. I get stuck and have to move to a new scene somewhere else in the book. Usually I’m typing in the midst of toddler chaos with a baby climbing up my leg. I just finished my series, so I’m kind of enjoying the feeling of being done, but I am working on a more adult book at the moment.

Toi Thomas: Yes, every writer has to find time to write when and how they can. There are so many methods to try out, but in the end, you just have to write. I like the idea of you working on something more adult. I think it’s good to evolve as a writer and try new things.

Goodreads

Toi Thomas: What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?

Jessica: Usually I am influenced by whatever book I am currently reading. While I was writing my series I was highly influenced by Moira Young, author of the Dust Lands trilogy.

Toi Thomas: I’m finding that I’m more influence by what I’m currently reading than all that I’ve read in the past. Don’t get me wrong, it all plays a part, but as a writer, it’s important to be reading and vital to learn from what we read.

Toi Thomas: Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

Jessica: Heck Yeah!

Toi Thomas: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Jessica: Harry Potter or Lord or the Rings…any in the series. So hard to choose!

Toi Thomas: Yes, there are some series that just stick with you. I’m a Star Wars girl myself, but these superhero movies are pulling at my heartstrings. This is a tough question.

Toi Thomas: When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

Jessica: I’m going to say Up Town Funk because hearing my 2-year-old sing it makes me cry with laughter.

I don’t generally get too rage-y. Maybe death metal, lol.

Toi Thomas: I’m so thrilled that you actually answered this question. So many authors are afraid of this question. There is no right or wrong answer. Love it.

Toi Thomas: Let’s play zombie urban survivor. What 3 things do you need to survive a black-out in Central Park the day zombies attack?

Jessica: My husband. Done. That’s all I need. *bahaha*…he just told me to say that.

Toi Thomas: Good answer; wish I could say the same. My husband has argued that a house boat is what we need to survive the zombie apocalypse, but he still doesn’t know how to clean a fish. Oh well.

Toi Thomas: What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

Jessica: My wedding. Best. Night. Ever.

Toi Thomas: Awww! How sweet. I bet you two are a really cute couple.

Toi Thomas: Last question of the day; here we go.

Toi Thomas: Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

Jessica: Well if the YA crowd had their way, it would be a dystopian vampire pit with a lot of badass 16-year-olds. In reality…hopefully I’ll be adding 2 more kids to the mix and my family of 6 will be taking lots of fun vacations.

Toi Thomas: Whoa, a family of six. Well, that’s definitely adventurous. I wish you all the best with your writing and your lovely family.

Toi Thomas: Thank you so much Jessica for spending time with me today.

Jessica: You are so welcome and thanks for having me.

Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Jessica Therrien, check out these great links:

Website: Jessica Therrien

GoodReads: Twitter: Jessica Therrien

Facebook: Jessica Therrien Author

Twitter: @JessicaTherrien

BUT WAIT… THERE’S MORE!

Redemption (Children of the Gods #3)

Lead Council member, Christoph, is dead by Elyse’s hand, and Descendants have begun to emerge, exposing their secret to the world. Some see this as the prophecy come to fruition, but the prophecy caries a heavy consequence. It was never meant to be as peaceful as most had hoped.
Humans and Descendants struggle to live together in a world that isn’t ready for such a change. America is divided. Those who glorify the supernatural race believe Descendants truly are the gods they claim relation to. Others see them as a threat.

When Elyse gives birth to the next generation oracle, she sees one final vision—war. The destruction of the country’s major cities, and the end of America as we know it.

After her daughter is born, Elyse finds herself without the ability she needs to predict the future. Desperate to save the world from such conflict, she puts her faith in the hope that Descendants are the key to survival. After all, they have the power to supply a broken society with the means to survive.

Only from the ashes can a new world be born.

Elyse’s Story…

OPPRESSION (Book #1) – ON SALE $0.99

UPRISING (Book #2) – ON SALE $0.99

REDEMPTION (Book #3) – AVAILABLE NOW $2.99

Enter the $20 Amazon gift card giveaway here.

This has been a
interviewpic-toibox

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Excerpts Virtual Book Tours

Big DATA by @BHart_man Book Blitz by @RABTBookTours via #thetoiboxofwords #dystopia

 

Fiction / Dystopian / Humor
Date Published: November 2015

 

 

It’s way past 1984.  Your toothbrush, your coffee maker and your Rice Krispies are running your life.  But don’t worry… BIG DATA IS WATCHING YOU!
Welcome to Goozle Earth®, a dystopia where the all-knowing and all-powerful force of Big Data rules humanity through the Internet of Things and the corporate power of Goozle Inc.  Where English® and every possible combination of words has been copyrighted and the only law is the Terms of Service, which has been replaced by the Terms of Servitude.  Where the proudly psychopathic Higgs, Caesar and Emperor Omnipotent (CEO) of Goozle Inc., is determined to launch the Next Big Thing.
Smith, a happy native of this paradise, wanders off the grid and discovers sex®, the knowledge of good and evil, and the pursuit of Happiness. Can he save the human race from the Next Big Thing?


EXCERPT
Smith stared back in confusion when Julia said he was living in a dystopia.
“A dystopia?” he repeated. The word was new to him. “What do you mean?”
They were somewhere in the Green Mountains, walking on a dirt road through a strangely silent woods. That was all Smith knew. He’d lost his way in the hills, his car stopping short where a huge fallen tree blocked the road. The woman who introduced herself as Julia climbed over the fallen tree before he could tell his car to turn around. Surprisingly, she offered to walk him into the nearby village to find something to eat. The eerie silence followed them into the village, swallowing his thoughts. Julia looked different from anyone he’d ever seen, though she had (he soon realized) the same blond hair and blue eyes and the same awkward gait as everyone else in the village. The others—he noticed half a dozen villagers cutting weeds or stacking firewood around a row of decaying frame houses—weren’t nearly so friendly as she was. Most of them turned away or receded into the shadows rather than to look at him. Some of them, he realized with a start, had beards.
“It’s a society where, basically, life sucks,” she explained. “You have no freedom or privacy. You can’t do anything, you can’t say anything, you can’t even think without somebody spying on you or listening in.”
Smith didn’t want to seem condescending, but he couldn’t help feeling superior to the crouching lowlifes he’d noticed slinking away as Julia led him into the village. These were apparently her neighbors. Who was she to cast aspersions on his life in Goozle Earth?
“My life doesn’t suck,” he said, smiling as always. “In fact, I can’t imagine being happier than I am. I have a good job at Celebrity Solutions, a nice condo, hundreds of friends, and two wonderful pets. Everything I want is delivered to my door within thirty minutes by an Amazzond drone.”
Julia laughed. “Guess who drank the Kool Aid!”
“Kool Aid?” Kool Aid® was Smith’s favorite beverage.
“Try thinking an original thought and see what happens.”
He stared back uncomprehendingly.
“You know,” she teased. “Say something more than 140 characters long.”
What was she talking about? Did she seriously expect him to violate the Terms of Service? She spoke fluent English® but used words he’d never heard before, like “freedom” and “privacy.” He’d heard that connectivity could be poor in rural areas, where the inhabitants—known as “Yahoos”—often expressed eccentric, paranoid ideas. Obviously, for whatever reason, he and Julia weren’t connecting. Still, there was something about her that affected him in a surprising, unfamiliar way. He later learned that it was called “sex®.”
Author Contact Links
Twitter: @BHart_man
 
Purchase Links 
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords
Categories
About Toi

All About Me Monday No. 02 #thetoiboxofwords #geek

I’d like to start the day off by counting my blessings. Here’s number 25.

blessings

Currency (printed or coin money)

While working on a story, set in a time of little technical and social-economic advancements, I begin to realize what a blessing currency is. I’m not talking about a love of money and the pursuit of it; this isn’t about greed. I’m talking about economic exchanges. While the barter system will never go out of existence, it’s nice to not have to depend on it daily.

Currency gives us options and opportunities. If everything we acquired in our lives was based on trading, I don’t believe many of the riches people in the world would still be so rich (this could be a good thing or a bad thing). Currency eliminates the need to always have something that someone else wants in order to get what you want or need. If I had to carry chickens with me everywhere I went in order to pay for clothes, fuel, entertainment, etc. I don’t think I’d be going out very much, not that I do anyway. I’m blessed to live in a world with currency, even if it isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.

Now it’s time for some inspiration with My Geekdom 25: Hellboy


Pins from Pinterest that inspire me and indulge my geekness.
Click image to visit my boards

Pinterest board
My Geekdom

You may or may not have noticed that I have a thing for angels, demons, and other similar creatures. For me, Hellboy is the ultimate misunderstood hero. As much trouble as the Hulk has to face, Hellboy may actually have it worse- I mean “Hell” is in his name.

So let’s break this down into the most basic quandary. He’s red (that’s not normal). He has horns and a tail all the time, not a shapeshifter (that’s really odd and scary). He has a hand that looks like a brick wall (that’s really intimidating). Oh and he’s the spawn of hell, an actual demon, but still a good guy (see why adoption and proper care is so important).

I like heroes that break the norm and challenge people to look at themselves and face their own demons, so to speak. Even with the current popularity of superheroes, in general, there are still many people who won’t even consider reading about or watching anything related to Hellboy. I think that’s part of the reason some people won’t pick up my Eternal Curse Series, but there’s more to it.

In any case, people who do give Hellboy a chance soon find that the wise-cracking, cat-loving, monster to be a true blue hero who just happens to be more than a little rough around the edges.

Now it’s time to get a little personal with my Top 5 – Animated Comic Book Movies (24).

sample This is a list of my top five something. Most of the time my lists are pretty static, but sometimes I do change my mind. While I do try to apply some logic to my choices, sometimes I pick things that make no sense and for no good reason other than “I like it.”

Wikipedia

Animated Comic Book Movies

1. New Frontier, DC

2. Batman – Red Hood, DC

3. JLA Paradox, DC

4. Planet Hulk, Marvel

5. Next Avengers, Marvel

If DC could consistently do with their live action films what they’ve done with their animated features, and some of their TV shows, maybe they could have a movie monopoly like Marvel. As of right now all they currently have is one good Superman movie that they are trying to use as a bridge to bring in a new Batman and all new Justice League down the road. Until recently, you’d think Batman was the only hero in the DC universe because of the success of past movie franchises, but hopefully that will all change soon.
BTW- I <3 Batman!

So now, it’s time to end things on a more biographical note with my Listography of: My Guilty Pleasures (24).

listography

These are the lists that tell my life story. They are in no particular order and some of them are very personal. Please be nice, and if you want to share, I’d be glad to take a look at what you have.

My Guilty Pleasures & Vices

– White Cheddar popcorn and chocolate together

– Violent Foreign Films (not sure why they have to be foreign, but violent US films don’t appeal as much)

– Saying I’m “pissed off”. (I rarely am, usually only annoyed, but I need to find a better way to express myself.)

– Shifter love stories (though finding non-erotica or non-YA ones is becoming harder, I might lose this GP)

– Dog and puppy videos any time of the day.

– Cursing when I’m angry (I’ve actually gotten better at this, and all my anger issues in general, but until I get complete control of my tongue, it’ll always be on my list).

– Robot/Android/Cyborg, etc… movies, books, shows, whether A-list or D-list. Can’t get enough of em.

While I’m no monster, I’m definitely not a saint, but this is all I can think of right now.

Listography are books and a website dedicated to helping you write or consider your autobiography through the process of making lists.

Go ahead, add your two cents. I’d love to know about you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords