Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop Giveaway: Shadowflesh and interview with Shawn Martin

Shadowflesh by Shawn Martin

Torn from her home and fighting bouts of suicidal depression, seventeen-year-old Aileen McCormick lands in the small coastal town of Redcliff, North Carolina. Her first day of school promises to be the worst day of her life when a menacing group of boys targets the new girl. A stiff arm shoves Aileen into the arms of Addison Wake. When he catches her, Aileen knows she will never be the same. Addison’s otherworldly charm and drop-dead gorgeous face leave her breathless, but only for a moment. Grim and painful secrets lurk in his dark soul.
Addison Wake isn’t exactly like other boys. Far from it. He’s dead and has been for 300 years, locked in an ethereal prison by a lethal enchantress named Donelle. When she hungers, she blesses Addison’s tortured spirit with moments of freedom, allowing him to roam the mortal world as Shadowflesh. But that dark blessing comes at a price. He must deliver the souls of five unsuspecting humans to Donelle.
Knowing he’s here only for a short amount of time, Addison refuses to let himself fall in love and break Aileen’s already fractured heart. He pushes her into the arms of another, but destiny throws the two shadowy lovers back together. In the darkness of her room, Addison confesses his love and his deadly secret to Aileen.
When four dead bodies pop up in Redcliff, Aileen asks herself is her love for the mysterious boy unconditional? Is the love worth the risk? And will she be the next victim?

http://www.shadowflesh.com/

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

Ever fall for a guy you couldn't have? Aileen can't have Addison, because he's dead. What's even worse, she believes he wants her dead too.

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

Shadowflesh swirled into existence from a palette of awkward and painful emotions I experienced in my teenage years.  Alienation, intimidation, forbidden love, anger, loneliness, and wishing and hoping there was something more to the world than just the mundane life a small town could offer.

But the real birth of Shadowflesh goes back to several cold and dark months when I was seventeen.  I had a crush on a very lovely girl, Tammi.  She and I would hang out and do the small talk thing.  It took every ounce of courage I had, but I decided to ask her out.  And she accepted.  The next day a drunk driver clipped her car and she lost her life.  Needless to say, I was devastated.  In my grief I saw little flickers of hope out of the corners of my eyes in the shadows, and when I ran to them I found nothing.  I imagined and wished for her ghost emerging from the shadows so that we could have one last dance.  But Tammi was gone, and hope was a cruel thing.  I wanted someone who I could never have.  That painful seed grew into Shadowflesh, which is a very different story but with all the same emotions.

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

I would love to have dinner with Ida "Grams" Flowers, Aileen's beloved grandmother.  Not only is she an excellent cook with an amazing cookbook given to her by Orson Welles, she is filled with endless stories about the Golden Age of Hollywood and tells them with such vitality.

The one I'd least like to dine with - Kerrick.  He has a face like a lizard and eyes like a rat.  Kerrick isn't much of a conversationalist, but once he sets those beady eyes on you, you don't much feel like talking to him anyway. 

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

Forget-Me-Not picks up where Shadowflesh leaves off.  The creatures from the Netherworld just couldn't leave well enough alone and place a curse on Aileen.  The curse causes her to forget one very important person in her life:  Addison Wake.  He becomes a complete stranger to her.  But the curse teases her with hints of their forgotten love.  In order to get back what she once had, Aileen will have to betray Addison.

Vinspire Publishing is polishing the novel, and I'm hoping for a release date in late 2013 or early 2014.  Invisible Ink, the third installment in the Shadowflesh series, is underway.  Not sure how it'll end yet.

--What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar kind of read, set-up or style)

Kendare Blake's Anna Dressed In Blood would be the long lost cousin of Shadowflesh.  Cas is in love with the dark and deadly ghost of Anna, similar to how Aileen has given her heart to Addison who has been dead for three hundred years.  But the two stories take very different paths.  Cousins aren't supposed to marry.

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

As you might have guessed I enjoyed Anna Dressed In Blood.  I lost myself in Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall trilogy, finding myself thoroughly amused by Sophie's wit.  And then there is my unhealthy addiction to Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.  I am amazed by his casual narrative.

I always make time to read.  Not only do I love the pastime, reading other novels makes mine a little better.  While I'm immersed in writing, my reading slows down to about a book every week.

--If a fairy godmother told you could be put into the world of your favorite book for 24 hours, which book would you pick and why?

I would love to venture beneath the streets of London into the fantasy world of Neverwhere created by Neil Gaiman.  London Below is one of those places filled with danger and adventure, all overshadowed with a romantic element.  During my twenty-four hours, I'd do everything I could to help Richard find Door, his lost love.

--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?

Music.  There's got to be music.  I wrote Shadowflesh wearing ear-buds, listening to the eerie echoes of Ian Curtis.  Neko Case and Okkervil River helped me set the midnight moods to many of the scenes.  And when I needed a bolt of energy, alternative rock came to the rescue.  The two songs which gave me the most inspiration were "Atmosphere" by Joy Division and "Night Train" by the Bouncing Souls.  Both songs are about saying goodbye.

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

I think I'd like to have Wolverine's strength and adamantium skeleton, as long as it came with the ability to have steel blades sprout from my knuckles.  I'd just have to be careful when I comb my hair. 

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

Work and writing keep me occupied most of the time, but I always find an hour a day to get in a good workout.  Whether its biking, smacking around the punching bag, or just going for a little hike, I enjoy the mentally and physically cleansing feeling of exercise.

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

I'd offer myself three little pearls of wisdom.  First, every other fifteen year old is just as scared and insecure as you.  You aren't alone.  Second, take a few more chances and open yourself up to the world.  One yes will make the thousands of no's you're afraid of melt away.  And third, invest in Microsoft.

--Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?

I want to offer a big thanks to Blkosiner's Book Blog for inviting me to share a little about myself and Shadowflesh.  To my readers, when you find the world twirling so fast that it's trying to throw you off, hold on.  Midnight is often the darkest time at night, but it's also the witching hour, when magic happens.

Lightning round: this or that?  From Aileen's perspective:

Vanilla or chocolate?  Vanilla.  Goes better with strawberries.

Edward or Jacob?  Edward.  The whole shirtless thing insists upon itself.

Hockey or soccer?  Soccer.  The ice hurts my butt.

Ebook or paper?  Paper.  The feel, the smell of musty pages.

Salty or sweet?  Salty.  Lips taste better that way.

Beach or mountains?  Beach.  It's more relaxing.

Phone call or email?  Phone call.  Emoticons don't always relay the emotions.

Early bird or night owl?  Night owl.  A find my muse hiding there.

Dog or cat?  Cat.  They look and act smarter, even when sometimes they aren't.

Messy or neat?  Messy.  I can't find anything when things are neat.

Ninjas or pirates?  Pirates.  It's not as creepy when they sweep you off your feet.

-print copy Shadowflesh by Shawn Martin (US, Can, UK)
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Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop

May 13th – 19th

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& I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

What is Children’s Book Week?

Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!

For more information please visit: http://www.bookweekonline.com/

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