Blogoversary: Interview with Janine Caldwell

Book Addicts!

We have today another of my favorite authors. I found her books through a blog tour for her YA book called Visited and I am dying to read her Vortex series!

We would love to know more about the Vortex series, so what better way than with an interview with the author? We have a wonderful interview with Janine to share with you and an amazing giveaway!

Rematch (Vortex #1)

by Janine Caldwell

Release Date: March 11th 2012

Synopsis:

Trent Astor is many things—orphan, runaway, musician. But what’s most extraordinary about Trent is that he’s a time traveler. His supernatural gift sends him on missions to the past to save unsuspecting victims from harm. However, when he fails to save the life of a young girl, his life changes in ways he could never have dreamed.

At eleven-years-old, Cassie Moore suffered through a horrific shooting. Tragically scarred from the ordeal, the once promising tennis prodigy was forced to throw away all hope of a future in tennis. Now, as she begins her senior year of high school, the past continues to haunt her. She struggles to find herself, her self-esteem at an all time low. If only she could resolve the past, she might be able to move on with her life. She never imagined that could be possible until she meets the gorgeous new student in her PE class.

Double Fault (Vortex #2)

by Janine Caldwell

Release Date: March 11th 2012

Synopsis:

DOUBLE FAULT is the 2nd book in The Vortex Series where Cassie and Trent’s problems have only just begun. As they fight through the repercussions of creating a parallel world, other dangers are lurking. After years of running, Trent and his orphaned sister, Lorelai, sense the dangerous and power-hungry Dr. Fox is close to discovering their whereabouts.

While Cassie fears for Trent’s life, her tennis career hangs in the balance. Caught between her old and new life, she watches her world slowly crumble until it’s a tragic portrayal of all that she used to know. But worse yet, if her secret is revealed, she might lose what’s most dear to her heart.

Deuce (Vortex #3)

by Janine Caldwell

Release Date: January 29th 2014

Synopsis:

In an instant everything changes for seventeen-year-old Cassie Moore. Together she and her time-traveling boyfriend, Trent Astor, battle to survive their next impossible challenge. As they navigate through a third parallel world in which Cassie begged Trent to create for her, the two soon discover that no world can be made perfect.

And while they fight through their new circumstances, the universe may just have its own agenda for them both.

Meanwhile, it seems Trent and his sister, Lorelai, will never be safe from the greedy world and its hunger for Trent's power. A new force threatens to destroy the anonymity Trent has fought for his entire life unless he can stop this new opposition first. But every choice has a consequence, and Trent is faced with the most difficult choice of his life.

Set in contemporary Northern California, The Vortex Series is a teen romance for those who also enjoy a bit of science fiction and fantasy. Told in two perspectives, we get an intimate view of both Cassie and Trent’s worlds. Family relationships, how they interconnect and drive our personalities, is the heart and soul of this YA time traveling novel.

Visited

Janine Caldwell

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: May 25th, 2013

Read my review for Visited

Read an interview with Janine for this book

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Joanna Murphy has lost faith in her life. Vying for her mom’s attention, she’s resentful of her stepdad’s intrusion to their family. Her best friend, Tommy, has no clue she’s in love with him as he dates girl after girl without noticing how it tortures her. The final kicker, though, is God’s sick joke to make her freakishly tall when everyone knows boys prefer petite girls.

Then in a bizarre accident Joanna meets James, a breathtaking teen who appears to her after an unusual falling star sighting. Suddenly, her dream for an alien encounter becomes all too real. But when she finds her life has been made unrecognizable, she’s forced into an explosive study of the original design for her life that just may have her regretting every wish she ever made.

Hi Janine! Thank you so much for being in our blogoversary event.

It all started after my first visit to Sedona. I live about an hour away from the captivating and stunning natural wonder. I kept seeing these signs for vortex tours, wondering what the heck a vortex was. Once I learned about these spiraling, spiritual energy spots, I was hooked. Combine the supernatural elements of a vortex with the majestic, fascinating surroundings of the Red Rock monuments, and the whole thing screams to be written about. At the time, the YA market was flooded with vampire, werewolf, and zombie stories, so I focused on a classic―time travel. However, I wanted to spin it so the main premise would be a unique time-traveling concept and, hopefully, the reader will agree with me that it is.

#TheVortexSeries A YA fantasy with adventure, romance, and family values. #YAromance #YAparanormal

The Vortex Series is not considered historical fiction. Yes, the hero of the series does jump back in time, but for one purpose only―to save lives. Trent Astor, the hero, has been given this supernatural power after his parents crash into an ultimate vortex in Sedona. While mourning the loss of his parents, he discovers his new abilities and must find a way to hide it from the world. His burden and privilege is to be sent on missions to the past to save unsuspecting victims from harm. However, he has little to no control about when and where a mission will strike and steal him out of thin air, which makes trying to have a normal life impossible.

Cassie Moore is a sweet girl who cherishes her friends, but has lost her way. She dreams of dominating on the tennis court, but tragedy in her past alters her personality. Her journey is to find her inner strength and purpose in life without sacrificing her integrity or her beloved family. I think the best thing about Cassie is how relatable her insecurities are.

Trent Astor is a confident, brilliant guitar player with swagger. His problem, though, is that he needs to blend in and not attract attention to himself because of his supernatural lifestyle. Pretty hard to do, however, when you’re gifted with Abercrombie-model looks. The most enduring thing about Trent is his love for his younger sister and how achingly lonely he is.

For me, the villain needs to be complicated. I don’t like caricatures of bad. Under the surface of evil, I want to see that maybe it’s not all black and white in their minds, but gray points where evil eventually rules out. I want to know their history and what caused them to be so dark.

It used to be Rematch, but now I have to say it’s Deuce. It was thrilling to tie up the story in this final book just as I saw it from the beginning. Deuce is also the fourth book I’ve written in my career, and I’d like to think my writing has improved with each book I’ve completed.

Well, I don’t want to spoil the story, so I would have to point you to Deuce, chapter 21 entitled “More Surprises.” If you’re a romantic like me, then you’ll dig it, too. But, you must read the first two books to fully appreciate the moment.

For Rematch: “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters.

For Double Fault: “Parallel Worlds” by Elliot Minor.

For Deuce: “Times Like These” (live, acoustic version) by the Foo Fighters.

You know, I do have a playlist for Visited, my stand alone coming-of-age fantasy, but I never did one for The Vortex Series. It’s definitely on my list to complete. I will say that the following songs would start off the series: “MIA” by the Foo Fighters and “Warning” by Incubus.

For Trent it’s easy. I’ve got the perfect guy . . . English hottie, Douglas Booth. He’s got the American accent down and can even play guitar. For Cassie, though, I’ve struggled to find the perfect girl. I just can’t find her and am wondering if she exists. She’s tall, athletic, has caramel colored long, wavy hair, and has heart-stopping aqua eyes. Maybe your Book Addicts could help me find her?

Mmm... What about Barbara Palvin? What do you think, Book Addicts? Can you find a "perfect" girl to play Cassie?

That’s a great question. Honestly, I’m kind of wondering the same thing myself. I’ve been diligently working on The Vortex Series as well as a stand alone book called Visited for the last six years. I only just published Deuce in January. For now, I’m resting and waiting for the next story to speak to me.

was born in Concord, CA and raised in the small San Francisco Bay Area town of Clayton. Four days after her high school graduation, Janine attended California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo and graduated with a degree in English. 

Janine now lives in Anthem, AZ with her husband and two sons. As a lifelong literature fanatic, she knew it was only a matter of time before she would become obsessed with writing her own work. With relatives like the Brothers Grimm and Anita Loos (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), she figured fantasy writing had to be in her DNA.

Books published by Janine include Visited, a YA coming-of-age fantasy, and Rematch and Double Fault, the first two books of The Vortex Series. The final book in this YA fantasy romance, Deuce, will be released this fall.

Win (1) signed paperback of Visited by Janine Caldwell (INT)

Win (1) ebook copy of Rematch (INT)

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