Interview and giveaway: AfterLife by S.P. Cloward

AfterLife by S.P. Cloward is now on sale for only $ 2.99 through March 31st, 2013.  Get your copy now!

--The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 words or less.

AfterLife is a story about the Mortuis, a race of humans who are the basis of all living dead legends but are unrecognizable to mankind. It transcends the typical zombie or vampire genre and audience to present a plausible explanation of where such stories come from in an unsettling but believable way. The story follows Wesley Lohmann, a young man who discovers that he has the genetic mutation that identifies him as one who belongs to this select group. Wes' transition plunges him into the center of a struggle between those who seek to coexist peacefully with humans and those who wish to use and rule them, a struggle that carries over into the treacherous world of dreams.

--How did you get the idea for the story?

AfterLife originated from a dream I had about being a zombie. The concept of telling a story from the zombie’s perspective appealed to me.  It evolved into the Mortui concept that is presented in the book.

--Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?

I’d most like to have dinner with Ken.  His character has great insight into the world and I think the conversation would be enjoyable and enlightening.

For obvious reasons, I’d least like to have dinner with Seth.  I’d never be able to look at him, and I doubt I’d even be able to finish what I was eating.

--Do you have any other works in progress? Any teasers or release dates?

I’m working on the second book of the AfterLife series and I hope to have it out by the end of 2013. I also have a few other books in the works but release dates are still to be determined.

--What are some of your favorite books? Do you still have much time to read?

I’ve always enjoyed the “Westmark” series by Lloyd Alexander, J. K. Rawling’s “Harry Potter” books, George Orwell’s “1984”, Dan Brown’s books, and “Anthem” by Ann Rand.  I also love information/educational books on a variety of topics.  I do try to find time to read but don’t have as much time for it as I would like.

--Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)? Are there any songs on your playlist- songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?

I need to have music playing and have a playlist on my iPod created just for writing. Some of the artists/bands on that list include Imagine Dragons, Mika, Florence and the Machine, Passion Pit, Phoenix, Mat Kearney, Jason Mraz, Fun, and Alex Clare.

--If you could have any superpower what would you choose?

The best superpower would be teleportation.  I think it would be amazing to be able to visit any place on the globe any time you wanted to.

--Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?

I like to fill my free time with friends and good experiences.  I’m a theme park enthusiast, a movie connoisseur, a music lover, and I have a passion for traveling to experience new places and meet new people.

Many of the settings in my book are from places that I love to visit. In fact anyone who has visited Chicago will recognize The Bean and the aquarium.  Those who also love theme parks will recognize Wes’s sanctuary.

--What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?

Life is an amazing thing. Keep on your current track; you’re moving in the right direction. It won’t always be easy but you’re going to enjoy the ride.

Lightning round: this or that?

Vanilla or chocolate?

Chocolate

Edward or Jacob?

If I had to choose, Jacob.

Hockey or soccer?

Soccer- I always lose track of the hockey puck.

Ebook or paper?

Paper- there’s something comforting about holding the book.

Salty or sweet?

Sweet, but both together make a great combination.

Beach or mountains?

Mountains

Phone call or email?

Phone call

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird

Dog or cat?

Dog

Messy or neat?

Organized Mess

Ninjas or pirates?

Pirates

About the Author:

S.P. Cloward received a bachelor degree in Career and Organizational Studies from Eastern Illinois University. For the past twelve years he has lived in various locations in Illinois, Florida, and Texas. A childhood passion for theme parks continued to grow as he recognized their ability to provide an environment where every human emotion can be evoked and worldly concerns can be temporarily set aside.

Cloward brings this same enthusiasm to his love of storytelling, and as you begin to read AfterLife, it won’t be long until you feel the excitement and originality of the story. This series will create an imaginary world within a story that mirrors the carefully crafted world within a theme park. Enjoy the ride.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SPCloward?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SPCloward

Website: http://www.spcloward.com

Email: contact@spcloward.com

You can find the book at:

Amazon.com (link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=AfterLife+Cloward)

- copy, open internationally
-Fill out Rafflecopter to enter
-Ends on 4/1/2013 11:59 pm EST
-If you win a review on your blog and/or amazon is appreciated but not required.
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