EVERNEATH Pre-Release Interview With Nikki Beckett

I am pleased and honored to interview Nikki Beckett today on my blog. Nikki is the main character in Brodi Ashton's Debut novel entitled Everneath. I'm especially excited about this book as it retells a popular Greek Myth in a fresh way. Everneath is based on the Persephone myth, which is one of my favorites. Before we get to the interview, I'd like to get some housekeeping out of the way.

First of all, do please visit Brodi Ashton's Website
Everneath Releases January 24th. Go Pre-order now IndieBound or Amazon or Barnes & Noble
Here is a blurb about the book:

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

Here is the video trailer:

And, now onto the interview...

Me: First of all, thank you Nikki for agreeing to talk with us. We're excited to have you on the blog today. I have twenty questions for you so that your readers can gain just a little more insight into you as a person. It's going to be somewhat rapid fire. You ready?

Nikki: Fire away

Me: 1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?

Nikki: Um, nope! I wish I had a better answer for that, but no. 

Me: 2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?

Nikki: If you talk to me at the beginning of the book, it was over a hundred years ago. I don't know if I'll ever be able to cry again.

Me: Awwwh, kind of sorry to hear that.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?

Nikki: No. It's messy and very boyish.

Me: *laughs* 

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?

Nikki: Turkey. The non-processed kind.

Me: Oh, healthy. Good for you.

5. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?

Nikki: I have six months left. I could do anything!

Me: True. You could do a lot in 6 months.

6. WHAT DO YOU NOTICE FIRST WHEN YOU MEET SOMEONE?

Nikki: That person's eyes. I wonder what's behind them.

Me: Me too! *high-fives* Nikki. I'm a total eye person.

7. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?

Nikki: My rash decision-making skills.

Me: Yeah, rash has gotten the best of many people.

8. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?

Nikki: It's a tie. My family and Jack.

Me: *Whispers* yeah...

9. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?

Nikki: An apple.

Me: Again, healthy. Nice.

10. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?

Nikki: Blue

Me: Blue is my favorite color. In fact, I was just discussing this  the other day with someone.

11. FAVORITE SMELLS?

Nikki: Bacon. Mmmmmm.

Me: OMG... Bacon...? We could totally be best friends!! 

12. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?

Nikki: Jules.

Me: 13. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?

Nikki: Happy Endings! 

Me: Ha! Me too!

14. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?

Nikki: Black.

Me: Classic!

15. HUGS OR KISSES? 

Nikki: If I'm with Jack, kisses. But kisses also get me in trouble. In fact, you could say all of my problems started with a kiss. 

Me: Ha! Kisses are sneaky like that.

16. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?

Nikki: D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths

Me: I'm partial to Bulfinch's. But you can see, I LOVE Greek Myths. And any book on myths is great!

17. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?

Nikki: *smiles* I don't have a mousepad. 

Me: Moving right along then...

18. FAVORITE SOUND?

Nikki: The little gasp someone makes when they are surprised in a good way.

Me: Nice!

19. JAY-Z OR KINGS OF LEON?

Nikki: Crap. I don't know either of those. 

Me: *Laughs out loud* All right final question...

20. WHAT POSITION DO YOU SLEEP IN?

Nikki: Curled up on my side. 

Me: Allrighty then... that concludes the interview. Thank you, Nikki, so much for stopping by. It was a pleasure talking with you. 

Hook, Line, and Sinker Blogfest Courtesy of @jwparente

ATTENTION Blogfesters!! Justin Parente is hosting his second annual Hook, Line, and Sinker Blogfest!!

Date: February 13, 2012

Where: In My Write Mind blog, and your own

Objective: Post your 500-1000 word hook and critique other hooks posted by participants

Suggestive topics to consider when critiquing:

• Does the character have a personality I can fall into easily? This includes any dialogue exchanged.
• Is the world around them set up to compliment the character as they're introduced?
• Are there secondary characters to assist with the hook?
• Lastly, would I read more?

Click the link above to go sign up for this Blogfest. I participated last year and will be again with a brand new gem.

RETURN  for my entry on the 13th!!

Can You Hit A Perfect Pitch? Blogfest Entry

Eucharisto, or Thank you to the illustrious Brenda Drake over at Brenda Drake Writes... for hosting this awesomesauce Can You Hit The Perfect Pitch? Blogfest. Agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette will be judging our entries which consist of:
-a two sentence (35 word mx) pitch
-First 150 words of the manuscript


Do click the link above to view the other entries.


So... here is my entry:


Title: The Sky Throne
Genre: YA Fantasy
Word Count: 82,500


Pitch: When Zeus is uprooted from his home to attend a school for gods-in-training, he's drawn into a dangerous world where he'll have to battle Gods and negotiate with Goddesses to save the school.

The distance between darkness and light was a nano-moment, my mother once told me. A sliver of space. The breadth of a strand of hair. I hadn’t known what she’d meant until that day. And still wished I hadn’t.

I trudged up the darkened beach, digging my toes in the sand with each step. Visions of pearl-skinned sea nymphs still danced in my head. Their iridescent eyes and seductive charms made me smile.

"C’mon, Zeus" Anytos called, throwing a stick at my feet.

I held a finger in the air.

"Zeus, seriously!" He clapped his hands once loudly. 

"Wait. Hold on." I closed my eyes to enjoy the images of those sea nymphs. Just a splinter of time more.

"Zeus!" His words sliced sideways through my memories of them. "Sun’s nearly up. We don’t have much time!" Tos stood at the top of a dune calling down.

     I sighed. “I’m coming.”