Courage and Other Demons for free on Amazon from July 17 - 22
Courage and Other Demons“It occurred to me as I stared into the darkness that it was probably a good thing it had taken so long for me to see Simon for who he truly was. If I hadn’t fallen in love with that sweet and kind boy, I wouldn’t have gotten on a plane with him to fly halfway across the world; I wouldn’t have trusted him enough to do what he was asking me to do. And as angry as I was, as much as I hated what my life had become, I knew I had to do what Simon and the others were asking me to do. It all came down to one inescapable belief. I would have to kill or be killed. There were certainly other pieces of the puzzle that were more complex and harder to understand, but that one piece was very clear and unrelenting and it drove me forward, even in those moments when giving up seemed like the most sensible choice I could make.”
The end of the world will start in the suburbs of Denver with a faery transfer student from Ireland. If you think that’s totally ridiculous, then you understand how Maggie O’Neill feels. In all of her sixteen years, faeries were something you read about in children’s books. They didn’t actually show up on your doorstep. They didn’t kiss you and make your knees go weak and whisper sweet nothings in your ear. Until Simon Brady, that is. Simon changed everything. He makes her heart race and her skin burn with excitement, but he has also changed her core beliefs about the world and made her see it as a dark and dangerous place filled with monsters that belong only in the lines of faery tales. There is no doubt in Maggie’s mind that she loves Simon, but can she see past who he is and find a place for him in her heart?
Abandoned Courage“I’ll take on Balor—I’ve resigned myself to that fate—but I can’t take these girls anymore.”
“So, just to clarify: Most evil faery known to all of faery-dome—no problem. A bunch of snide and petty girls—that you’re not up to?”
“Bingo.”
“Seriously, cushla macree, we need to have a discussion about your ranking system.”
Maggie O’Neill had a rough junior year…
She fell in love with Simon.
She found out Simon was a faery.
She hung out with her dead ancestors.
She was stalked by an evil faery.…but that was nothing compared to what’s in store for senior year. She’s the new girl at faery boarding school and is subjected to something she never thought she’d have to deal with in her entire life—mean girls. To make matters worse, she’s seeing less and less of Simon, her faery guard is smothering her in their efforts to protect her, and the evil faery is still stalking her, determined to kill her before she can kill him. She starts to wonder if she’ll make it to graduation. Then the unthinkable happens and she wonders if she’ll be able to survive even one more day.
Defining Courage“I know Balor is evil and all, and I know his death would mean that so many other people would get to live, but I hate that I have to be the one to kill him. Taking his life will mean that I’m no better than he is.”
Ian stopped walking and took one of my hands in his.
“You want to know the biggest difference between what Balor is doing and what you’re planning to do? You question it. You ask yourself it it’s morally correct. You have a powerful internal struggle that I know keeps you up at night. Balor never asks those questions. Balor doesn’t struggle with what he does.”
Eighteen-year-old Maggie O’Neill is a high school dropout. If her parents knew, they’d probably kill her, but that’s the least of her worries. Balor—the evil faery from hell—is still stalking her, someone is still betraying her, and the mean girl at school is still mean. The worst part of her life, however, is figuring out how to live it without Simon. Will Maggie discover a way to defeat Balor? Will she ever be able to out-snark the mean girl? Will she find Simon? Tune in next week—uh, read the book—to find out.
About Jill, from her website:By day, I work with gifted children and their teachers. By night, I write. A lot. Then I write some more. Then I write again. When I try to stop, fictional characters start pestering me, screaming in my head until I write down their stories. Would it be really pathetic to say that my characters are my best friends? Yeah. You’re right. That’s pathetic. I was just kidding. They’re not my friends. No, really. I absolutely understand they’re not real. I promise. But every once in a while, I forget.
The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
Maggie must battle her own insecurities before she can battle the evil around her, all while juggling a romance with a super hot guy.
How did you get the idea for the story?
I read a piece of folklore in a book titled, “West Irish Folktales and Romances.” The book was published in the late 1800’s and is a compilation of stories that had been passed on for generations. One of the stories, Simon and Margaret, really stuck with me because the girl saved the boy from the evil giant. We don’t have enough stories NOW where the girl saves the boy, but certainly not a few hundred years ago. The story stuck in my head, and I developed a story line that I finally decided to write down.
Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
Simon. Absolutely Simon. He is hot, thoughtful, intelligent and he has an adorable accent.
Do you have any other works in progress?
I’m currently working on the Abbey’s Road series, a spin off of the Courage series. The series is set about five years after the end of the Courage series and Brandon (Maggie’s younger brother) is the romantic lead. In this series Abbey is forced to live with her aunt in Denver after the murder of her father in London. As a way to connect with the life she shared with her dad, she frequently watches the webcam at Abbey Road Studios. One night, she witnesses a crime on the webcam that starts her on a mission to find out what happened to her dad.
Any teasers or release dates?
No release dates yet. Teasers: I started writing Abbey’s Road while I was still working on the Courage series, so some of what we discover (especially in the third book), sets up the story for Abbey’s Road. The faeries are very much a part of the story, and we see a lot of our old friends, as well as some of our enemies.
What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar kind of read, setup or style)
The first book that comes to mind is Vampire Academy. While my book is not about vampires, it does have other similarities—a little adventure, a little mystery, a little humor and a little romance.
What are some of your favorite books?
I fell in love with the Harry Potter series. I hope to one day be 1/1000 of the writer that J.K. Rowling is. I also like the Vampire Academy series and the Mortal Instruments series. Janet Evanovich has a great writing style and I really enjoy the humor in her books. “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Jane Eyre” are two of my all time favorites.
Do you still have much time to read?
Absolutely! I get really grouchy if I don’t have a book (or 2 or 3 or 4) to read. Not only is it something that I love to do, it’s also a way for me to figure how I want to write, and how I don’t want to write. For example, I like to read books with cliff hangers—not just at the end of the book, but also at the end of the chapter—so I try to include those in my books.
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?
Harry Potter: Any Christmas with the Weasley’s. I think any holiday with that family would be a lot of fun. They are all about the love they have for each other, and the fun they can have with each other, and not about trying to impress anyone. Plus, Fred and George are pretty entertaining with their naughtiness, so that would make a day at the Weasley house worth it on it’s own.
Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)?
I have to write whenever I can fit it in. Sometimes I get to write at my desk at home, but sometimes it’s over my lunch hour, or waiting at the airport for a plane, or on a plane, or at a park while my dog plays. Because I have to be able to write wherever I happen to be, I have to stay pretty flexible. As long as I have my computer, I’m good. I do have a white noise app on my computer so I can plug in earphones and block out the noise around me if it becomes too distracting. Depending on the situation, that can be pretty essential.
Are there any songs on your playlist songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?
I listened to a lot of Mumford and Sons when I was writing scenes in Ireland. Their music has a slightly Celtic vibe to it and it made me think about rolling hills and sharp cliffs and churning oceans. There is a scene at the Denver Art Museum in the first book and when I started writing it, Muse’s Exognesis: Symphony Part 3 was playing. It was so perfect for the scene that I finally put it on repeat and listened to it over and over while I finished the scene. When I listened the song now, there are definite shifts in the music and I think about each part of the scene. It’s actually pretty perfect, and when they make the movie, I’m going to have to insist they use that song. :-)
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Invisibility. I thought it might be the ability to fly so you could travel all over the world whenever you wanted to, but if you’re invisible, you could sneak onto any plane you wanted. You could also ease drop on fun conversations, and sneak into meetings between world leaders, and play a killer game of hide-and-seak.
Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
I am very lucky to be the person of the world’s cutest dog, so I spend quite a bit of time walking and playing with her. If I can exhaust her, she gives me more uninterrupted time to write. I also get a lot of ideas for my books when I walk. That was true even before I got Bailey. When I walk, ideas seem to really flow, so walking Bailey has a couple of benefits.
I also like to crochet. I recently read about a study that found that crocheting and knitting had the same effect on the brain as meditation. I totally believe that! I was on a hat making frenzy this spring, and the tougher my day was, the more hats I’d kick out that night. I made about 50 hats in a couple of months. I gave them away to family, friends, and complete strangers. For a while, you couldn’t come near me without walking away with a few hats—even if you didn’t really want a hat. Now I’m tackling my first granny square afghan. Not only is it great stress relief, but you also get a great product at the end.
What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?
I would tell myself to trust my own instincts instead of letting other people determine my future. It’s important to listen to others’ advice, but it’s just as important to know when to take it, and when not. Oh, and I’d tell myself the winning lottery numbers for the first drawing after I turn 18.
Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?
Be yourself. Unless you’re a unicorn. Then be a unicorn. (I stole that from the Internet.)
The Twitter version: tell us about your book in 140 characters or less.
Maggie must battle her own insecurities before she can battle the evil around her, all while juggling a romance with a super hot guy.
How did you get the idea for the story?
I read a piece of folklore in a book titled, “West Irish Folktales and Romances.” The book was published in the late 1800’s and is a compilation of stories that had been passed on for generations. One of the stories, Simon and Margaret, really stuck with me because the girl saved the boy from the evil giant. We don’t have enough stories NOW where the girl saves the boy, but certainly not a few hundred years ago. The story stuck in my head, and I developed a story line that I finally decided to write down.
Which character would you most/least like to have dinner with?
Simon. Absolutely Simon. He is hot, thoughtful, intelligent and he has an adorable accent.
Do you have any other works in progress?
I’m currently working on the Abbey’s Road series, a spin off of the Courage series. The series is set about five years after the end of the Courage series and Brandon (Maggie’s younger brother) is the romantic lead. In this series Abbey is forced to live with her aunt in Denver after the murder of her father in London. As a way to connect with the life she shared with her dad, she frequently watches the webcam at Abbey Road Studios. One night, she witnesses a crime on the webcam that starts her on a mission to find out what happened to her dad.
Any teasers or release dates?
No release dates yet. Teasers: I started writing Abbey’s Road while I was still working on the Courage series, so some of what we discover (especially in the third book), sets up the story for Abbey’s Road. The faeries are very much a part of the story, and we see a lot of our old friends, as well as some of our enemies.
What book(s) is your book’s “cousin”? (Similar kind of read, setup or style)
The first book that comes to mind is Vampire Academy. While my book is not about vampires, it does have other similarities—a little adventure, a little mystery, a little humor and a little romance.
What are some of your favorite books?
I fell in love with the Harry Potter series. I hope to one day be 1/1000 of the writer that J.K. Rowling is. I also like the Vampire Academy series and the Mortal Instruments series. Janet Evanovich has a great writing style and I really enjoy the humor in her books. “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “Jane Eyre” are two of my all time favorites.
Do you still have much time to read?
Absolutely! I get really grouchy if I don’t have a book (or 2 or 3 or 4) to read. Not only is it something that I love to do, it’s also a way for me to figure how I want to write, and how I don’t want to write. For example, I like to read books with cliff hangers—not just at the end of the book, but also at the end of the chapter—so I try to include those in my books.
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?
Harry Potter: Any Christmas with the Weasley’s. I think any holiday with that family would be a lot of fun. They are all about the love they have for each other, and the fun they can have with each other, and not about trying to impress anyone. Plus, Fred and George are pretty entertaining with their naughtiness, so that would make a day at the Weasley house worth it on it’s own.
Do you need anything to write (music, coffee, etc)?
I have to write whenever I can fit it in. Sometimes I get to write at my desk at home, but sometimes it’s over my lunch hour, or waiting at the airport for a plane, or on a plane, or at a park while my dog plays. Because I have to be able to write wherever I happen to be, I have to stay pretty flexible. As long as I have my computer, I’m good. I do have a white noise app on my computer so I can plug in earphones and block out the noise around me if it becomes too distracting. Depending on the situation, that can be pretty essential.
Are there any songs on your playlist songs that inspired you or that were playing while you wrote?
I listened to a lot of Mumford and Sons when I was writing scenes in Ireland. Their music has a slightly Celtic vibe to it and it made me think about rolling hills and sharp cliffs and churning oceans. There is a scene at the Denver Art Museum in the first book and when I started writing it, Muse’s Exognesis: Symphony Part 3 was playing. It was so perfect for the scene that I finally put it on repeat and listened to it over and over while I finished the scene. When I listened the song now, there are definite shifts in the music and I think about each part of the scene. It’s actually pretty perfect, and when they make the movie, I’m going to have to insist they use that song. :-)
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?
Invisibility. I thought it might be the ability to fly so you could travel all over the world whenever you wanted to, but if you’re invisible, you could sneak onto any plane you wanted. You could also ease drop on fun conversations, and sneak into meetings between world leaders, and play a killer game of hide-and-seak.
Besides writing, what do you like to do in your free time?
I am very lucky to be the person of the world’s cutest dog, so I spend quite a bit of time walking and playing with her. If I can exhaust her, she gives me more uninterrupted time to write. I also get a lot of ideas for my books when I walk. That was true even before I got Bailey. When I walk, ideas seem to really flow, so walking Bailey has a couple of benefits.
I also like to crochet. I recently read about a study that found that crocheting and knitting had the same effect on the brain as meditation. I totally believe that! I was on a hat making frenzy this spring, and the tougher my day was, the more hats I’d kick out that night. I made about 50 hats in a couple of months. I gave them away to family, friends, and complete strangers. For a while, you couldn’t come near me without walking away with a few hats—even if you didn’t really want a hat. Now I’m tackling my first granny square afghan. Not only is it great stress relief, but you also get a great product at the end.
What is one thing you would tell your 15 year old self?
I would tell myself to trust my own instincts instead of letting other people determine my future. It’s important to listen to others’ advice, but it’s just as important to know when to take it, and when not. Oh, and I’d tell myself the winning lottery numbers for the first drawing after I turn 18.
Is there anything else you want to add or say to your readers?
Be yourself. Unless you’re a unicorn. Then be a unicorn. (I stole that from the Internet.)
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