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Uncaged Review – Fire Born by Rayanne Haines

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Fire Born
Rayanne Haines
Paranormal/Shifters

FIRE BORN — Book One in the Guardian Series 

Independent, tough as nails, and fierce to her core, Alex Taleisin can’t quite believe it when she has to fight for her life against something not-quite-human in the YMCA parking lot.

That’s when her aunt lets her in on the family secret. They’re immortal—Elementals to be precise, and Alex is the long-lost daughter of the strongest female warrior of their time.

Her guardian (a freaking Dragon!) and the sexiest man Alex has ever seen gives her a choice. Go with him, learn how to control her fire, and find her father’s people, or try to survive on her own. It’s an easy choice considering she’s only twenty-six. And the Elders may already be on her trail thanks to the fight with the nut job in the parking lot kick-starting her dormant DNA.

Enter an insane grandfather, a shifter with a hidden agenda, and a witch with a shoe addiction, and suddenly loner Alex is wishing for a quiet house in the hills with the dragon she’s falling for. 

But a fight is coming and Alex knows the only way to find her answers is to trust her powers and become the warrior she was destined to be.

Uncaged Review: Alex has always known she was different. Fire acted different around her. It wasn’t until after a confrontation in a steam room that her life would change. Turns out her Aunt Quinn has been keeping a huge secret. A secret that puts Alex into the protection of Collum Thronus, the Dragon King. A lot of Alex’s past and future are about to come to light. Family she never knew existed and family she believed gone will come forward. What Alex truely is will be revealed. Can the immortal world handle her or will it lead to a war that has been brewing for quite a few years.

I loved this book! The characters are very well written and you can’t help but lose yourself in the storyline. The world Ms. Haines has written is magical and you can’t help but fall in love with this series!! I cannot wait to read book 2!! Reviewed by Danielle

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Feral Sentence by G.C. Julien

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Feral Sentence
G.C. Julien
YA/Dystopian/SciFi

Women convicted of murder are being sentenced to the wild.

A fast-paced, award-winning action-packed thriller.

The year is 2087 and the federal government is no longer sending murderers to prison. Instead, convicted felons are being stripped of their belongings and dropped into the waters of Kormace Island—the Island of Killers—to fend for themselves.

Lydia Brone, an eighteen-year-old girl who is convicted of murder for having accidentally killed her mother’s abusive boyfriend, finds herself being transported by helicopter to this mysterious island. She knows that her sentence will be difficult, but what awaits her is far more terrifying than anything she could have ever imagined.

Uncaged Review: Lydia Brone is sentenced to a three year exile on Kormace island. It’s a new form of punishment for those convicted of first-degree murder. Despite the fact that she only killed in self-defense, she is sent to this tropical island, which is filled entirely with other female murderers. When she arrives, she is quickly given a role and initiated into the existing society on the island. She soon learns that her community is not the only one on the island, and although some try to live in peace, others are out for blood. Can she survive among wild animals and feral women?

If you enjoyed Orange is the New Black, you will love this book. Not only are criminals placed together, but they are expected to survive without basic necessities. They have to work together to find food and water. The community that Brone finds herself in has existed for a while, but there are still challenges, and each day is a true struggle. I found this story very compelling. Lydia Brone starts out as a very weak and shallow girl but develops into a strong and capable person throughout the story. There are a lot of emotions, there is a lot of heartbreak, and there are a lot of shocking and disturbing moments. It is a wild environment, but I was very intrigued by the concept that a very structured society had been built out of necessity. The island is a huge place, and the possibilities for this universe are vast.
What’s fascinating about this story is that it is set in a contemporary universe. It’s not really a dystopian or post-apocalyptic setting, but the way they have to survive is very similar to that setting/genre. I am extremely interested to see what happens if people from the real world catch on to what’s really going on.
The story is written in parts (kind of like a TV series). I read the compilation edition, and I am glad I did. The story is quite full of cliffhangers. I am definitely going to be getting the next book. I will probably wait until the whole second book is out before I read it though, to avoid the large cliffhangers. My single complaint is that this book was slightly too tame for me. It is YA, so the language, sex, and gore is limited. However, that is pretty great for younger readers, although there are still some things that might be a little too graphic for young readers. Brone becomes a hunter, and there are some intense battle scenes where people are hurt and killed.

This was a great book, and I am very much looking forward to the next in the series!
Reviewed by Emily

4 1/2 Stars

Uncaged Review – The Coin by Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra with Excerpt!

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

The Coin
Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra
Suspense/Romantic

France, 1993.

WHO EVER THOUGHT A COIN COULD GET YOU KILLED?
A cunning killer trusted his secret was safe, an innocent woman holds the key to his destruction, and an intelligence officer must keep her alive before the madman can strike the fatal blow.

A DANGEROUS FIND For artist Gabriela Martinez, life has become complicated: she suspects her mentor and friend wants her as his mistress, her husband is neglecting her, and her latest illustration is ruined. Seeking peace, she visits her favorite thinking spot in La Marbriére, the mountain overlooking her home in the Côte d’Azur. Distracted, she winds up in an unfamiliar clearing, where she discovers a 1945 French coin half-buried in the ground. Delighted with its beauty, she has it set on her favorite bracelet.

TREACHEROUS KNOWLEDGE
Richard Harrison, an American intelligence officer, is livid. A simple favor for his boss has turned his vacation in the French Riviera into a hellish assignment. Now, not only does he learn the truth about the coin, but he must also protect Gabriela from a cunning killer who will stop at nothing.

TIME IS RUNNING OUT
Together with Maurice Nôret, from French intelligence, Richard attempts to discover the madman’s identity, except his budding love for this beautiful artist is turning into a dangerous handicap. Every one of his moves is thwarted with brutal countermoves. Soon, the psychological games to terrorize Gabriela escalate beyond his control. If Richard doesn’t find a solution, it may be too late for them both.
Set in the exotic French Riviera, The Coin is a story of hatred, betrayal, love and duty—of terrible and painful choices that, nonetheless, bring about personal triumph.

Excerpt

The car suddenly gathered speed. The landscape of trees and houses became a blur; the wind hissed at them through the tightly shut windows. Richard zigzagged around cars, heedless of the onrushing traffic, angry motorists flicking their car’s high beams as he brushed past. Gabriela shut her eyes for a fraction of a second. They couldn’t have been discovered so soon, could they?

His warning came like an explosion. “Shit. Hang on.”

Gabriela’s strangling grip of the seat was instinctive and came not a moment too soon. Richard rounded the corner into the small street at an alarming speed, the car’s rear skidding and tires screaming against the loose gravel. Gabriela’s body thumped against the door and she felt, rather than saw, Richard slam his foot on the accelerator.

So this was fear.

Richard didn’t transmit his, but Gabriela felt hers, tasted it, and it was horrible. She became hot and cold, her extremities shook, and her heart pounded inside her chest, wanting to flee her body. Everything took on bizarre proportions—the reckless speed of the car, the concentrated grimace of the man beside her, the heavy forest bordering the road, the black monstrosity behind them that seemed to get closer and closer each time she glanced furtively in the mirror.

“He’s catching up to us,” he stated coldly and hit the wheel so hard, Gabriela winced. “Son-of-a-bitch has a turbo, too, and I don’t have my gun.”

Gabriela’s muscles froze, her palms sweating so profusely she couldn’t keep a proper grip on the seat. The car increased its momentum, the curving road, landmarks, and trees rushing by like an old slapstick movie. Frantically, she prayed they wouldn’t find any traffic on this street. It was too narrow, had too many sheer drops on the sides, and too many trees. There were just too many things that could get them killed. Her stomach lurched, threatening to retch its contents any minute. She grabbed her mouth tightly with one hand while she strangled the door handle with the other.

“Keep your wits about you,” Richard said harshly. “Concentrate on the road. I need you to guide me.” He glanced at her briefly. “Take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, and exhale. You’re hyperventilating.”

She tried to do what he suggested. Concentrate on the road, she kept repeating to herself like a broken record. Don’t panic. Everything will work out. Oh, God! Oh, God! Breathe. Breathe.

The force of metal hitting metal caught her by surprise. Her entire body jerked forward, her head bouncing back and forth in opposing motion with the car. The second hit came as quickly, but more viciously. Her body jerked like a rag doll, the strap of her seat belt biting hard against her chest and shoulders. This wasn’t real, she thought. This could not be happening to her.

“Brace yourself,” Richard shouted.

The car gave another sickening lurch, but this time the rear was slammed sideways. Gabriela’s head smashed against the window, her eyesight blurred, and she tasted the rising bile in her mouth. To compound her horror, the car was now out of control, heading straight for a fifteen-foot drop. There, a front-line of grotesquely shaped trees seemed to be eagerly extending their gnarled branches in hopes of grabbing them. Gabriela closed her eyes and thought, we’re dead. We’re going to die.

Her body suddenly slammed against Richard’s as he desperately tried to keep the car under control. A small cry escaped her lips as her body again smacked against the door. She heard the roar of the turbo engine as it got ready for another onslaught, and braced her body for the impact. Her panicky brain struggled to keep control of her body and she forced herself to look out the window.

With a wrench, Richard maneuvered the car away from the other. “Where do I go, Gabriela?” he asked, his voice as tight as his hands on the steering wheel. When his question solicited no response, his voice hardened, “Gabriela. Stay with me. Guide me. Where?”

Uncaged Review

Set in the early 1990’s in France, this is a story that creeps up on you. Although it didn’t catch me right away, before I even realized it, I was completely involved. I sat down to read figuring I could get a few minutes in reading and the next thing I knew an hour has gone by. This is a book that will have you on the edge of your seat, as Richard tries to get to the bottom of the case and trying to protect Gabriela at the same time.

Wonderful character development – this is one of those books that could easily translate to the big screen, and I’d be first in line to get a ticket.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Author Interview – Jayne Frost

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

As seen in the February issue of Uncaged Book Reviews.

Uncaged: You just released your fourth book in the Sixth Street Band Series, Lost for You. Can you give the readers more information about this series? How many books are planned for this series, or is it open-ended?

The series is open ended at the moment. The idea for Sixth Street Bands came to me in 2005-ish while I was driving on this backroad by Lake Travis in Austin. I always picture it as three bands. Right now, though, I just want to get book five finished. Logan’s book.

Uncaged: What does an average day of writing look like for you?

A writing day… Hm…what’s that? Lol. Ever since I released Missing From Me, I’ve been doing a lot of promotion, so my days aren’t just writing anymore. My ideal writing day consists of three to four hours of writing in the morning, interacting with readers for a little while in the early afternoon, then three more hours in the evening.

Uncaged: I read the post on your blog about reviews – and as a matter of fact, you have some great blog posts. Do you still have need for that drawer with the Hershey bar stash?

I’ll always have that drawer. Bad reviews sting. It’s hard putting your work out there for people to critique. I love all my characters and when someone doesn’t connect with them it makes me feel like I’ve let the character down. And the reader.

Uncaged: Can you tell us what you have coming up next? (Please tell me Logan is involved soon):)

LOGAN!

Uncaged: What is one of the nicest things someone has said to you about your books?

That they identified with the characters. That they forgot they were rockstars.

Uncaged: What is your favorite parts about being an author? What have you found to be the least favorite?

My favorite part is the readers. I love the readers. My least favorite part would have to be trying to make sure I don’t let down the readers. 🙂 Double edged sword.

Uncaged: What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

Spend time with my husband and daughter. Doing anything with them

Uncaged: What is the hardest part of a book to write? What is the easiest?

OMG. The first 3-5 chapters KILL me. I never know where to start. The end of the book is the easiest. I always know how it’s going to end.

Uncaged: What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

Thank you so much for reading my stories. I try to put a piece of myself in every book.

[symple_box color=”black” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]Jayne Frost, author of the Sixth Street Bands Romance Series, grew up in California with a dream of moving to Seattle to become a rock star. When the grunge thing didn’t work out (she never even made it to the Washington border) Jayne set her sights on Austin, Texas. After quickly becoming immersed in the Sixth Street Music scene…and discovering she couldn’t actually sing, Jayne decided to do the next best thing—write kick ass romances about hot rockstars and the women who steal their hearts. Want to join the tour and become a Jayne Frost VIP? Sign up for the Sixth Street Heat Newsletter http://eepurl.com/7XX-n to receive exclusive members only content, swag, giveaway opportunities, and all the latest news. [/symple_box]

JayneFrost.com

Uncaged Review – Edging by Michael Schutz

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Edging
Michael Schutz
Horror/Gay

Intenze is the newest designer drug. Take it, and nightmares come alive. “Edging” is a better rush than the Tower of Terror. It’s a fraction of the price of a Six Flags admission. And it’s the most addictive high the tiny suburb of New London has ever known. For Rick Carlson, the junkies roaming the streets don’t even scratch the surface of what worries him. He’s trying to win back his cheating wife. He’s trying to protect his residents at Belmont Assisted Living from their own drug-addled grandchildren. And he’s trying to save his twin boy and girl from their mother’s murderous paranoia. But he can’t save them all. The fears of all those who edge summon the Thirst—a living miasma that thrives on terror. It is bringing a storm. And Rick is running out of time.

Uncaged Review: A must read for any dark horror fan. Edging is the new drug all the cool people are trying. Especially those who like living life to the edge. I really liked this author’s style of writing and you can tell. He’s a big horror fan quite early on in the book. A book to read with the lights on. I would highly recommend this to people who like dark reads. Reviewed by Jennifer

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Gather the Stars by Kimberly Cates

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Gather the Stars
Kimberly Cates
Historical Highlands

An English Patriot… 
British general’s daughter, Rachel de Lacy, is betrothed to Sir Dunstan Wells, the hero of Culloden Moor, a man determined to crush the highlanders forever. When she is kidnapped at an officer’s ball by her fiancé’s nemesis—a fierce raider known as the Glen Lyon—she discovers the outlaw is none other than the branded coward Gavin Carstares, Earl of Glenlyon. 

A Rebel Lord… 
Haunted by the savagery of war, Gavin intends to use Rachel de Lacy as a bargaining chip to gain freedom and passage to France for the widows and orphans he’s rescued from Sir Dunstan’s vengeful sword. 

A Price too High…
As passion flames between captor and hostage, Rachel discovers a new meaning for the word courage, and Gavin is faced with an impossible choice. Can he return the woman he loves to his brutal enemy, even if that is the ransom he must pay to win his orphans their freedom? 

Uncaged Review: A first book in a series, and it starts out with a bang. The first couple chapters didn’t draw me in as quickly as some do, but that didn’t make all that much difference in the great scheme of things, because when it hooked me, it got me hook, line and sinker. To be honest, I didn’t like our heroine Rachel in the beginning. She was a spoiled and arrogant, and used a contest on who would be the best warrior to win her hand in marriage. The British are fighting the Scottish, and the one enemy that keeps eluding them is the mythical Glen Lyon. A Robin Hood of the Scots, trying to free the women and children from the war ravaged lands. Kidnapping Rachel, the general’s daughter is a bargaining tool that the Glen Lyon needs to get a boat of his people free.

The romance simmers slowly and the characters are well developed. The author does a great job of building this world so you can imagine the setting as you read along. As the characters develop, you see a huge turnabout in Rachel, when she finally discovers the truth and who she really is and what she really wants – not just as the general’s daughter. By the time I moved into the middle of this book, Rachel had moved into my good graces.

Gavin makes his own self-discoveries along the way, and maybe he wasn’t the coward everyone pegged him as. The devastation of the war is not glossed over and the secondary characters are as interesting as the main characters in this book, and I’ll be looking forward to reading their stories also.
Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Review – Lost for You by Jayne Frost with Excerpt

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Lost for You
Jayne Frost
Contemporary Rockstar Romance

I’ve been clean for years. But now my addiction has a face. Her face…

At eighteen, I stood at the precipice of stardom. I had the record deal. And the tour to back it up. But I succumbed to the pressure of that life. The dark side.

Now, I skate on the fringe. My brother is the genius guitarist for the band Caged, and I’m the one who helped make that happen. I’m happy to run my bars and my land development company.

Sure I am.

And then I meet her—Taryn Ayers—the music manager behind the three biggest bands in the country. She doesn’t know I’m Cam’s older brother. Or that I’ve got a secret that makes her world and mine fundamentally incompatible.
Problem is, I want to know Taryn. I crave her as much as any drug.

But can I risk letting her know me?

Lost For You is a STAND ALONE New Adult Romance with recurring characters. Pick up books 1-3 to get the full experience!
Intended for mature audiences due to hot as sin rockstars and the world they live in.

**Please note: This book contains instances of drug use.**

Excerpt
Taryn
5 years ago

A faint ringtone roused me, echoing off the walls in the loft. Indistinct. Generic. I pulled the blanket to my chin.
Go away …
“Phone, babe,” Beckett grumbled, his voice muffled by the pillow.
Groaning, I patted the nightstand, searching for the source of my annoyance. When I came up empty, I cracked one eye open and spotted my jeans next to the bed, my phone hanging out of the back pocket.
Teetering on the edge of the mattress, I snatched up the device and issued a groggy “Hello.”
“May I speak to Taryn Ayers?”
The woman’s voice, all business, filtered through the hum of conversation in the background.
As I settled against the pillows, the room spun from too much wine at dinner and too much Beckett for dessert. “This is she.”
Beckett draped an arm around my waist, his thumb skimming my ribs. Smiling, I rolled over and brushed a thick lock of hair from his face. His lips quirked but he didn’t move.
“Miss Ayers, this is the Travis County Sheriff’s department dispatch calling.”
The thick fog of sleep receded, leaving me fully awake. “Who?”
“Miss Ayers … I’m a dispatcher with the Travis County Sheriff’s Department.”
Slowly, I rose to my elbow. “Yeah … okay. What is it?”
Beckett’s lids fluttered open and his cobalt eyes found mine.
“Miss Ayers, we got your name from Preferred Motor Coach. There’s been an accident outside Fredericksburg involving a tour bus. Your name was listed as the point of contact.”
Disentangling myself from the sheet, I sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed, my legs dangling over the side. “I’m sorry … an accident? What kind of accident?”
“A semi-truck crossed the median and hit the bus at a high rate of speed. The survi … the injured parties are being transported to Brackenridge Hospital via Care Flight.”
Beckett’s fingers brushed the base of my spine. “What is it, babe?”
When I didn’t answer, his footfalls sounded on the hardwood. And then he was in front of me, moonlight from the floor to ceiling window framing his broad shoulders and illuminating the tips of his dark locks.
He needs a haircut.
Shifting my attention back to the faceless woman on the other end of the line, I cleared my throat. “But everyone’s all right, though?”
After an eternity, she started to speak, but I couldn’t process what she said. Everything after “I’m sorry” faded to white noise. And then, like a crash of thunder, her last words exploded in my head.
“… officers’ on the scene reported two survivors and three fatalities at the crash site.”
In front of me, Beckett crouched, his lips moving soundlessly as a tiny fissure formed in my chest. And then something shattered deep inside and the phone slipped from my numb fingers.
Beckett scooped up the device and began to speak, but I couldn’t hear anything but the four-word refrain echoing in my head.
Two survivors … three fatalities.
Beckett cupped my cheek. “Taryn …baby …”
“Hmmm?”
When I didn’t look up, he slid his fingers into my hair and gently tipped my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “Baby … you’ve got to get dressed now.”
Tears rolled down his cheeks, and I tracked a tiny rivulet with my finger. “Why?”
Catching my hand, the crease in his brow deepened. “Why … I don’t …” Clumsy fingers circled my biceps. “Here … let me help you.”
Wobbling to my feet, I yanked free from his hold. “Why?”
Beckett scrubbed a hand over his face. “Babe, I don’t know why.” He snagged my jeans from the floor and shoved them at me. “Please, just get dressed. We have to go to the hospital.”
Two survivors and three fatalities.
A calm washed over me. Sweet relief. “It’s a mistake.”
“Taryn—”
“Listen to me!” Clutching his arm, my nails sank deep into his skin. “Don’t you see? Rhenn, Tori, Paige, and Miles.” Holding up a finger for every name I ticked off, I wiggled my digits. “That’s four. It’s a mistake.”
Beckett crushed me to his chest. “Babe, it’s not a mistake. We have to go now. Please.”
Confused, I peered up at him, the placid smile wobbling on my lips. “But I just told you …”
Taking my face between his palms, he rested his forehead against mine, anchoring us together. “Taryn, listen to me. There were five people on the bus. You didn’t count the driver.”

Uncaged Review

Jayne Frost is a new author to me, and Lost for You is a fantastic introduction. I was all-in. Take two broken people, one a recovering drug addict and a successful business man that doesn’t do relationships, at all. One night, and a lot of “one nights” is all Chase Noble can handle. Then we have Taryn, a dynamic music manager at the top of her game, who lost two friends and nearly a third in a bus crash. Both broken people. When Chase meets Taryn and recognizes her in a Starbuck’s, he can’t fight the attraction. And Taryn seems up for a good one-nighter herself, or is she?

Secrets and pasts that can either ultimately tear two people apart or bring them together, and it’s all brought together expertly by Ms. Frost. The seriousness of drug addiction is handled with believability, and a rawness that provokes your empathy with his struggle, and anger when he fell off the wagon. This book is not all sunshine and roses – there is a lot of angst and depressing moments for the characters, and at times I wanted to shake the hell out of Taryn for some of her actions, but I was engaged and committed to the characters and the story. To diffuse the seriousness of the book, there were bits of humor and genuine smiling moments infused throughout to lighten the tension. Don’t go into this story thinking it’s just a fun rockstar romp – but instead prepare yourself to be completely immersed in a sometimes serious, sometimes tense, sometimes witty, sarcastic, fun and sexy and an always an engaging story with nicely developed characters. I stayed up way too late reading this one. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

Uncaged Book Reviews – February 2018 Now Available

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Uncaged Book Reviews
February 2018 – Issue 19

Feature Authors: Jayne Frost, Tina Susedik, Lynda J. Cox, Teresa Keefer, C.J. Bower, Maria Elena Alonso-Sierra and Emily Wesley Stringer!

Catch Up with Ginger Ring and Linda Rae Sande

Special Feature – Renaissance to Regency Historical Couture by Victoria Vane

 

Coming Soon…Win a 8G Flashdrive from Uncaged – Compliments of USBMemoryDirect.com

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

Coming soon…

Recently I was contacted by a representative from USBMemoryDirect.com about a partnership. I had been considering what I could give out as prizes from Uncaged in the coming months, so I decided to give this a try.

Honestly, I have had a wonderful experience with this company, and I couldn’t be happier with the drives! Who couldn’t use more storage space that you can take with you? Going on vacation? Load your books on the flash drive – with 8G storage, that’s a LOT of books. Backing up work, homework or just taking files with you – couldn’t be easier.

Any authors that may be looking for some cool swag, be sure to check these out, very reasonable and fast shipping, with the convention season coming up – these might work for you. Mine is the wooden drive shaped like a book and you can find out more at the link below:

https://www.usbmemorydirect.com/products/book.htm

I have mine in stock, and in the near future, I’ll be gifting these out. So keep on the lookout!

 

Author Interview – S.J. Francis

By
Cyrene Olson
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0

As seen in the January issue of Uncaged Book Reviews.

Uncaged: First of all, I want to thank you for your service. You are a veteran, but you also have quite a varied background and you wear many hats. Where did the inspiration for Scattered Lies come from?

SJ: Thank you so much! That is much appreciated. Those who serve in the military make a huge sacrifice that is often overlooked. Military veterans are all around us and I wanted to show that, which is why one of the characters in Shattered Lies is an Army Veteran.
Your question is the most often posed to me. My mind is always at work. It all came from a one line thought of “What if”. What if a young woman from a good family found out everything she knew was a lie. The idea evolved from the “what if” occurred in July 1999. It then went into hibernation. It didn’t come to life until I moved from up North down to Mississippi.

Uncaged: You are donating 10% of the proceeds of sales from this book to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation, is there a specific reason you chose that charity?

SJ: Polycystic Kidney disease is an insidious disease that affects both children and adults yet, very few people have heard about it. It takes too many lives. Babies are born and doomed with it. Others are born with it and don’t find out until mid-life that they have it. I found out that Polycystic Kidney Disease runs in my family, many families, in fact, which makes it a cause close to home.

Uncaged: Can you give readers more information about the book?

SJ: Shattered Lies is about life, a reflection of it and the world around us. The families in it spoke to me. I had no choice but to write it. No more so than when I moved down south to Mississippi. That is when the story really evolved. After considering several states where to set Shattered Lies over the years, Mississippi was the place to set it. There was no other place. Down here, I saw the book come alive. There was no other place. Shattered Lies could happen in any family. The story is purely fictional, but what happens to the family could happen to anyone.
Best part about this story is that it could appeal to anyone. Some have called it a suspense novel while others counter that. I actually had one reader say it could work as a Young Adult novel. Whatever you call it, I just hope the readers enjoy it.

Uncaged: As a reviewer, I’m always curious as to what authors can take away from the reviews, do you read them and what do you take away from the reviews?

SJ: Yes, I do read reviews for Shattered Lies. Some are enlightening while others are flattering; some don’t say anything at all, but everyone is valuable in one way or another. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and fact is, not every book is for everyone. No matter how bad or good a book is, someone is going to hate or love it and I can accept that, as long as someone takes the time to read it. I’m always humbled by those that not only read my book, but take the time out of their lives to actually leave a review says a great deal. Authors are nothing without readers.

Uncaged: Can you tell us what you have coming up next?

SJ: I’m working on a sequel to Shattered Lies. I already have a draft written up waiting to be brought to life. I also am editing a new novel entitled Body and Soul, which examines the dynamic relationships of those behind the scenes in Hollywood.

Uncaged: How long on average does it take you to write a full book? What is your writing process?

SJ: Shattered Lies took me three months to write and edit. My work in progress, Body and Soul is taking considerably longer. My process is to write a draft. Set it aside for a week and work on something else, an article or a short story or a break. I then go back to it as many times as necessary until it feels right to me. If it doesn’t feel right, the book isn’t done yet. That is why Body and Soul is taking so long because it just doesn’t feel right, yet. If a project doesn’t feel right to me, it most likely won’t feel right for readers.

Uncaged: What is your favorite parts about being an author? What have you found to be the least favorite?

SJ: My favorite parts are writing, creating a story and bringing it to life. I love hearing from readers who take the time to write me and tell me how much they like my stories. That makes it all worthwhile.
My least favorite part about being an author is promotion and marketing. All I I want to do is write.

Uncaged: What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

SJ: After finishing a project, I like to take some time to just kick back and relax. I’ll read, watch TV, and listen to music. I love the outdoors and do many related things: Hiking, kayaking, swimming, and spending time with my rescue cats and dogs take up most of my time. I always try to walk my dogs every day. They demand it and its good exercise for all. Aside from that, I’m always advocating for animals. One way is through my blog for animals: http://onefortheanimals.blogspot.com where I share all and any kinds of stories about animals, rescue stories, advice and more.

Uncaged: What is the hardest part of a book to write? What is the easiest?

SJ: For me, it’s the endless editing that is the hardest part.
The easiest part is the book itself. Once I get an idea, I just write it and let it flow to where it ends.

Uncaged: What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?

SJ: Thank you so much for visiting here today. You’re wonderful. Thanks for your emails about how much you enjoyed Shattered Lies. Thanks for reading and reviewing Shattered Lies. You’re all awesome! If you haven’t read it yet, I hope you take the time to do so, whether you buy a copy on-line, or at a book store near you, (If they don’t have it, ask them to order it for you.) or borrow a copy from someone you know, or from your local library, please, please, good or bad please do take the time to leave a review. Authors are nothing without readers and sometimes the only way we hear from you is through your reviews. Thank you so much!!

For those in Mississippi, you may locate a copy of Shattered Lies at one of the several branches of the Jackson-Hinds library, or the Ricks Memorial library in Yazoo City.
Feel free to visit me at my website where you can contact me or sign up for my short seasonal newsletter: www.sjfranciswriter.com

[symple_box color=”black” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]S. J. Francis was born to be a writer, but not until high school did writing take over. Always ready to take on any writing project when assigned one as a child, Francis wasn’t aware, yet that it was a love for writing burning within the soul that welcomed the projects. It all started with the publication of one short story that had been rejected so many times, that Francis lost count that the writing bug awakened. S. J. Francis is a long time freelance writer, a University Professor, bibliophile, and most recently, a novelist. Writing keeps Francis sane even when life around isn’t. An active voice for causes that involve animals, and military veterans, Francis is never at a loss to help others, especially the underdog, cat, and other writers. With over three hundred publication credits, Francis writes for many publications, as well as regularly contributing to local newspapers. Francis’ background also encompasses working as an executive producer for network and public TV. When not writing Francis can be found reading a good book, or spending time in the outdoors with the pets. As in all the stories Francis writes, in the end, good and bad, it’s all about family. NOTE: 10% of this book’s sales will be donated to the Polycystic Kidney Foundation to help fight this insidious disease that strikes both adults and children. For more info about this disease see: www.pkdcure.org/[/symple_box]

 

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