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Title: How to Date Dead Guys by Ann Noser
Series: Under The Blood Moon
Genre: new-adult, urban-fantasy
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Date of Publication: July 15th, 2014
Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson (http://alexandriadior.deviantart.com/)
BLURB supplied by Curiosity Quills Press
College sophomore Emma Roberts remembers her mother’s sage advice: “don’t sleep around, don’t burp in public, and don’t tell anyone you see ghosts”. But when charming Mike Carlson drowns in the campus river under her watch, Emma’s sheltered life shatters.
Blamed for Mike’s death and haunted by nightmares, Emma turns to witchcraft and a mysterious Book of Shadows to bring him back. Under a Blood Moon, she lights candles, draws a pentacle on the campus bridge, and casts a spell. The invoked river rages up against her, but she escapes its fury. As she stumbles back to the dorm, a stranger drags himself from the water and follows her home. And he isn't the only one.
Instead of raising Mike, Emma assists the others she stole back from the dead—a pre-med student who jumped off the bridge, a desperate victim determined to solve his own murder, and a frat boy Emma can’t stand…at first. More comfortable with the dead than the living, Emma delves deeper into the seductive Book of Shadows. Her powers grow, but witchcraft may not be enough to protect her against the vengeful river and the killers that feed it their victims.
Inspired by the controversial Smiley Face Murders, HOW TO DATE DEAD GUYS will ignite the secret powers hidden deep within each of us.
BUY LINKS
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
What is your name, where were you born and where do you live
now?
Ann
M. Noser
I
was born and raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin¾the setting for my book, HOW
TO DATE DEAD GUYS. I currently live in Rochester, MN (which may or may not become
the setting of one of my current WIP).
Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to
be?
College
was an incredibly indecisive time in my life. My major changed from pre-med to
nursing to physical therapy to undecided to veterinary medicine. Before college,
I was even worse. I wanted to be a dentist until I got braces (twice). Then I
thought being an actress would be fantastic, but I got over it. I suppose one
could say I stumbled upon the writing profession, although I'd always been
scribbling something¾simple
childhood stories, the high school newspaper, and random poems or cartoons.
Do you work another job as well as your writing work?
I'm
also a small animal veterinarian and mother to two gradeschool-aged kids.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize
it in less than 20 words what would you say?
HOW
TO DATE DEAD GUYS
When
Mike drowns, Emma turns to witchcraft to raise the dead¾but he's not the only one she
brings back.
Who is your publisher?
Curiosity
Quills
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the
original idea to finishing writing it? Which of your books were
easier/harder to write than the others?
I'm
combining these questions, because it appears to get easier and faster with each
book I write. The learning curve is steep, but if you stick with it, everything¾plot, character, even just the
plain old stupid computer program you're working with¾starts to make more sense.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books
of the same genre? Books of a different genre? Do you have plans for a new
book? Is this book part of a series?
HOW
TO DATE DEAD GUYS is the first book in a New Adult Urban Fantasy Trilogy. I
have a YA Dystopian brewing, and several other ideas in my back pocket, ranging
from paranormal to horror. I also just watched the movie STARDUST (before
realizing it was based on a book) and am inspired to revise an old "fairy
tale for adults" trilogy of my own.
If you had to choose to be one of your characters in your
book/books which would you be? and why?
Bernie
the cat never gets into any trouble, and it might be nice to just eat and sleep
for a while.
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You
listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I
try to get away from my kids so I can focus. The dogs usually follow me,
perhaps planning to focus on their naptime. Unfortunately, my dogs are often
flatulent, so that is what I listen
to (and smell) while I write. Lovely.
So
far I've read them, but I heard that's a treacherous path to tread.
Would you ever ask a reviewer to change their review if it was
not all positive about your book/books?
No,
I think I would just go for a run or wallow in ice cream.
How do you come up with the Title and Cover Designs for your
book/books?Who designed the Cover of your books?
Alexandria
Thompson designed the beautiful cover, and I am forever grateful. I hope she
can design all my covers!
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the
title?
Choosing
titles drives me nutty. I swear it takes me as long to decide upon a title as
it does to write the whole dang book. I had help this time around. My lovely
critique group brainstormed with me¾probably because they got sick of my
whining that I didn't like my title.
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your
books? Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy
girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
The
characters appear in my head, pre-formed. I don't feel like I am the one
choosing their name or characteristics. This is why it's almost impossible for
me to change someone's name if I need to (f0r example, when it sounds too
similar to another character's name).
Have you ever suffered from a "writer's block"? What
did you do to get past the "block"?
If
I'm stuck on how to work a scene I take the (flatulent) dogs for a walk. The
repetition of my feet hitting the ground seems to jostle my brain into action
every time.
What do you do to unwind and relax?Do you have a hobby?
Trail
running is awesome. Hiking is lovely. Walking the dogs helps me unwind and
think more clearly. Reading is an escape. Movie night with the kids is fun.
Currently, we're cruising through the Star Wars series.
Which format of book do you prefer, ebook,hardback, or
paperback?
I've
never read an ebook, which is perhaps evidence of my stubbornness regarding
change.
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you
favourite/worst book to movie transfer?
BBC
Masterpiece Theater does a wonderful job transferring movies to mini-series.
There's always time for all the details and the costumes and music are
entrancing.
Do you think ebooks will ever totally replace printed books?
I
hope not. (See stubbornness comment above. Plus, I love the feel of a book in
my hands and the sound of pages turning.)
Do you have a favourite genre of book?
I
find myself straying from genre to genre, which is good, I think.
What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
Join
a critique group. Now.
Do you or would you ever use a pen name?
Awesome
Ann or Super Ann both have a nice ring to them.
If you could invite three favourite writers to dinner, who would
you invite and enjoy chatting with?
I
shudder at the thought of inviting authors I adore to dinner. Not unless they
enjoy a main course of chocolate chip cookies and a dessert of stuffed baked
apples. I appear to only be capable of baking desserts. Someone else would have
to cook the main course, or else I'd just embarrass myself. Let's just say that
one way to my heart must be through my stomach, because my husband is a
marvelous cook (rhubarb cake, cinnamon rolls, spaghetti sauce¾all from scratch, and the best
I've ever tasted. Yes, I'm bragging. And, yes, you should be jealous¾it's that good.)
Where can readers follow you?
Your Blog Details?
http://annandersonnoser.blogspot.com
Your Website?
http://curiosityquills.com
Your Facebook Page?
https://www.facebook.com/AnnMNoser
Your Goodreads Author Page?
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8124757.Ann_M_Noser
Your Twitter Details?
@AnnMNoser
MY REVIEW
Title: How to Date Dead Guys by Ann Noser
Series: Under The Blood Moon
Genre: new-adult, urban-fantasy
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Date of Publication: July 15th, 2014
Cover Artist: Alexandria Thompson (http://alexandriadior.deviantart.com/)
BLURB supplied by Curiosity Quills Press
College sophomore Emma Roberts remembers her mother’s sage advice: “don’t sleep around, don’t burp in public, and don’t tell anyone you see ghosts”. But when charming Mike Carlson drowns in the campus river under her watch, Emma’s sheltered life shatters.
Blamed for Mike’s death and haunted by nightmares, Emma turns to witchcraft and a mysterious Book of Shadows to bring him back. Under a Blood Moon, she lights candles, draws a pentacle on the campus bridge, and casts a spell. The invoked river rages up against her, but she escapes its fury. As she stumbles back to the dorm, a stranger drags himself from the water and follows her home. And he isn't the only one.
Instead of raising Mike, Emma assists the others she stole back from the dead—a pre-med student who jumped off the bridge, a desperate victim determined to solve his own murder, and a frat boy Emma can’t stand…at first. More comfortable with the dead than the living, Emma delves deeper into the seductive Book of Shadows. Her powers grow, but witchcraft may not be enough to protect her against the vengeful river and the killers that feed it their victims.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
My first thoughts approaching this book are that it will be a light, "chick lit" read. I'm looking forward to the "magical" elements of the book too.
MY REVIEW
I received this e-copy from the publisher's Curiosity Quills Press in return for my honest review and participation in the Blog Tour.
The main character is called Emma Roberts, she has led a quite sheltered life until going away to live on a college campus. She gets put with one of the "popular girls" as her roommate. She has been dragged out to a party with that very room-mate when she first sets eyes on Mike Carlson, Her roommate immediately falls in love with Kevin Carlson. So when Emma is being pulled around social events with her room mate she tends to bump into the brothers a lot. Her roommate soon starts dating Kevin, with a little help from her sister and the Book Of Shadows that was handed down to her by their grandmother. So when Mike is celebrating his 21st birthday Emma goes along with her popular roommate to the "party". Whilst partying Mike becomes quite drunk and on the walk home with Emma decides he want to swim the notorious river that's near the campus. Emma cannot stop Mike from getting in the river and attempting to swim across so she decides to join him. Emma makes the swim to the other side, tragically Mike doesn't.
Emma's roommate and Kevin (Mike's brother) blame Emma for not preventing Mike from going into the river. In fact everyone on campus seems to blame Emma. It's around that time that Emma stumbles upon the Book Of Shadows. She decides to go to the river and try to exchange her life for that of Mike. Only things go awry and she ends up bringing other males that have perished in the river. The story in about all the scrapes she gets into trying to get Mike back and how she has to help the other "spirits" with their unfinished business too.
There are some really funny situations in the book. Emma even ends up being attracted to one of the spirits and she takes him home for Christmas with her. The book isn't just humour though as we the reader get to see the spirits families and how they are or are not coping with the loss of their loved one.
I did like the main character of Emma, kind of shy and introverted, then through helping the spirits she ends up being more confident and outspoken.
I also liked the older male cop character too, who always seems to turn up and catch Emma just after all the drama. He definitely realises that there's something "otherworldly" happening around Emma. At first Emma feels the cop is irritating and suspicious but he soon ends up being a valuable asset when Emma stumbles on a murder case. . . .
Though the book wasn't exactly what I had expected, I did find it an enjoyable, and quite interesting read.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, it was funny, poignant, sad and actually uplifting at times too. Would I recommend the book? I guess so to those who like a lighter read. Would I read a Book Two? Mmm I'd definitely want to read the blurb for the next book with a view to possibly reading and reviewing it. Would I read other titles by Ann Noser? I think I would, I'd certainly check out the blurbs etc.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
My first thoughts approaching this book are that it will be a light, "chick lit" read. I'm looking forward to the "magical" elements of the book too.
MY REVIEW
I received this e-copy from the publisher's Curiosity Quills Press in return for my honest review and participation in the Blog Tour.
The main character is called Emma Roberts, she has led a quite sheltered life until going away to live on a college campus. She gets put with one of the "popular girls" as her roommate. She has been dragged out to a party with that very room-mate when she first sets eyes on Mike Carlson, Her roommate immediately falls in love with Kevin Carlson. So when Emma is being pulled around social events with her room mate she tends to bump into the brothers a lot. Her roommate soon starts dating Kevin, with a little help from her sister and the Book Of Shadows that was handed down to her by their grandmother. So when Mike is celebrating his 21st birthday Emma goes along with her popular roommate to the "party". Whilst partying Mike becomes quite drunk and on the walk home with Emma decides he want to swim the notorious river that's near the campus. Emma cannot stop Mike from getting in the river and attempting to swim across so she decides to join him. Emma makes the swim to the other side, tragically Mike doesn't.
Emma's roommate and Kevin (Mike's brother) blame Emma for not preventing Mike from going into the river. In fact everyone on campus seems to blame Emma. It's around that time that Emma stumbles upon the Book Of Shadows. She decides to go to the river and try to exchange her life for that of Mike. Only things go awry and she ends up bringing other males that have perished in the river. The story in about all the scrapes she gets into trying to get Mike back and how she has to help the other "spirits" with their unfinished business too.
There are some really funny situations in the book. Emma even ends up being attracted to one of the spirits and she takes him home for Christmas with her. The book isn't just humour though as we the reader get to see the spirits families and how they are or are not coping with the loss of their loved one.
I did like the main character of Emma, kind of shy and introverted, then through helping the spirits she ends up being more confident and outspoken.
I also liked the older male cop character too, who always seems to turn up and catch Emma just after all the drama. He definitely realises that there's something "otherworldly" happening around Emma. At first Emma feels the cop is irritating and suspicious but he soon ends up being a valuable asset when Emma stumbles on a murder case. . . .
Though the book wasn't exactly what I had expected, I did find it an enjoyable, and quite interesting read.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, it was funny, poignant, sad and actually uplifting at times too. Would I recommend the book? I guess so to those who like a lighter read. Would I read a Book Two? Mmm I'd definitely want to read the blurb for the next book with a view to possibly reading and reviewing it. Would I read other titles by Ann Noser? I think I would, I'd certainly check out the blurbs etc.
Thanks for the review and the interview.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, every time I used a dash it turned into "3/4" sign in your blog.
I found at least at least 6 of them, if you wish to seek and modify. :)
Cheers!
I think that may be your keyboard on your computer Ann. ;)
ReplyDeleteComputers have been known to drive me crazy! :)
ReplyDelete