Interview with Jessika Fleck for Beware the Night

Beware the Night

by Jessika Fleck
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Release Date: March 12th 2019

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

When her world divides, pitting light against dark, Veda must join a dangerous revolution to save her grandfather and fight against injustice...even if it costs her the boy she loves.

On the island of Bellona, life is peaceful--as long as the citizens dutifully worship the Sun, which protects them from all harm. Seventeen-year-old Veda knows that keeping the Sun happy will protect her and her grandfather from the Night, the dangerous people who snatch innocent citizens from their beds under the cover of darkness, never to be seen again. As long as Veda follows the rules, she will be safe. 

But when Veda's grandfather is offered up as the next sacrificial offering to keep the Sun's favor, she starts to see that the safety she's been promised comes at a dangerous price. Maybe there is more to fear above than there is below. 

With a mysterious young man, Dorian, at her side, Veda has to figure out if the scary bedtime stories she grew up hearing are real--or dangerous lies.

Can you briefly describe Beware the night and their main characters?

First off, I’m so happy to be on a book tour with FFBC! What a perfect way to kick off the release of Beware the Night! Thank you so much for having me. 

Here’s a brief blurb for Beware the Night: When her world divides, pitting light against dark, Veda must join a dangerous revolution to save her grandfather and fight against injustice...even if it costs her the boy she loves. 

The story centers around three teens and several significant side characters. But as for the main characters…

First is Veda Adeline: Veda is a member of the Basso working class. She can out-fish anyone on the island, adores and is protective of her grandfather, and isn’t afraid to bend the law if it means survival. Veda has a heart of gold and would keep the entire island fed with fresh fish if she was allowed. She also holds a special place in her heart for Nico, her best friend since childhood, but knows, because of their society, they can never be more. Veda will discover, deep down, that she’s a warrior like her mother was.

Nico Denali: Nico is a member of the ruling Dogio class. He also happens to be the son of a very powerful family and with that comes heavy expectation. His friendship with Veda isn’t forbidden but is definitely discouraged and frowned upon. He loves his family but would do anything for Veda. Nico is quietly stoic, honest, and fiercely loyal. 

Dorian Winters: Dorian is a bit of a mystery… Aside from seeing him around the island, Veda’s only memory of Dorian is from childhood: Dorian would pelt birds with rocks in the market square and she would shout he leave them alone. But he unexpectedly resurfaces and, somehow, despite his sarcasm and playful attitude, he and Veda become quick friends. Dorian is all sass and strength on the outside but a total sweetheart on the inside. He also happens to hold a few dark secrets. 

Who would you say is your favourite character from the story and why?

Probably Bronwyn, Dorian's sister. She originally had more screen time, but with the nature of revisions, her character got severely axed. Bronwyn loves animals, is quietly observant but also fairly cunning, and really enjoys baking and giving to others. She's loyal to her friends and family and, while she's not much of a fighter, will certainly do what she has to to protect what she loves.

How did the story occur to you? Did you find inspiration anywhere?

Usually, at least for me, ideas for stories come in waves. My inspiration for Beware the Night was no different. Originally, the concept was sparked after the horrific tsunami and earthquake that hit Japan in 2011. I began thinking about isolation and islands and was, at that point, veering more toward a post-apocalyptic story about a girl and her mother. But, as these things go, that early conception morphed and evolved and then eventually bloomed into what is now Beware the Night: a story about love, strength, loss, fear, and pushing against the status quo set on a remote island within a dystopian society.

If you could choose one song to describe your book, which one would it be?

Definitely Dirty Paws by Of Monsters and Men. The lyrics, the mood, the haunting melody… It was the backdrop of many a writing session for Beware the Night. 

If your book was about to become a movie/TV show, who would you see playing as the characters in Beware the Night? 

Caveat—I am not amazing at this, lol. That said…

Veda: A red-headed Kiernan Shipka 

Nico: Tyler Posey

Dorian: Josh Whitehouse (but with blonde hair)

Since it is still cold outside, what hot drink do you think will go with your book to have a perfect book date?

Love this questions! I’m going to have to say a nice, spicy chai latte—hot, like the sun but also earthy and layered with a mix of spices Bronwyn would absolutely love to bake with! 

Can you recommend your readers any other books in case they are left hungry for more once they finish Beware the Night?

It’s not out until next year but Ink in the Blood by Kim Smejkal is going to be absolutely fabulous! Definitely pick up A Soldier and a Liar by Caitlin Lockner, it’s wonderful. And I have to always recommend one of my all-time favorite books EVER, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. 

What’s next for you?

Actually, I’m working on several projects at the moment. Most pressing is the sequel to Beware the Night (title soon to be announced). It’s currently in edits. Writing sequels is HARD but the editing process is proving easier than with Beware the Night (yay!). I’m super excited about continuing Veda’s story! Aside from that, I’m working on edits for another YA fantasy/dystopian called DARK GENTIAN. It’s sort of an old west Count of Monte Cristo mash up. I’m also deep into my first middle grade project, A SWEATER FOR THE BURROW—a loose Robin Hood retelling but with knitting and dirigibles. It’s currently in my highly competent agent’s hands and hopefully will be going on submission soon.

Jessika Fleck is an author, unapologetic coffee drinker, and knitter — she sincerely hopes to one day discover a way to do all three at once. Until then, she continues collecting vintage typewriters and hourglasses, dreaming of an Ireland getaway, and convincing her husband they NEED more kittens. Her YA debut, THE CASTAWAYS (Entangled TEEN), is now available. Her next YA novel, BEWARE THE NIGHT (Swoon Reads/Macmillan) releases March 12, 2019. More at www.jessikafleck.com.

Book Blitz + Giveaway: Redemption (Huntsville #1) by Alla Kar

Redemption (Huntsville #1)

by Alla Kar
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Release Date: November 27th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

His second chance may cost him his sweetest addiction …

The truth about NEVEAH’S cheating fiancée hit hard—but not as hard as her right hook to his jaw. After ridding herself of him she travels back home to Huntsville, Texas to her father and his boxing gym where she grew up. When she finds a beaten man in the woods beside her home, her entire life changes and things get—complicated.

Ex-con RAGE only wants two things—for the man that set him up to release his sister, and for him to burn in Hell where he belongs. After being released from prison, he heads straight to the man that put him there, only to be beaten and tossed in the woods for dead. When he’s found by the most beautiful girl he’s ever met, he knows he’ll have a chance to rescue his sister even though she doesn’t realize she needs saving.

Neveah and her father, nurse Rage back to heath, offer him a job at their gym and quickly find out that he’s amazing in the ring. Without them knowing who he is, he knows he’s been given a second chance to live his life. The only condition is that he has to stay away from Neveah, which is a promise he soon realizes is hard to keep. The feisty southern beauty normally gets what she wants, and Rage wants to give her everything.

With the truth lurking in the shadows, Rage must decide if his sweetest addiction is worth giving up his second chance.

Empty beer cans littered the floor of the stairs, a bra hung from the end railing. The second floor was darker than the bottom where lights hung. Couples swayed to the slow music, oblivious to anything outside of themselves. It didn’t take long to find Neveah because of the damn clothes she had on.

Just in the twenty seconds it took me to get to her, three guys had looked at her ass. My body hummed at the threat of anyone touching her except me. And she wasn’t even mine—or palpable.

The drink in her hand was almost empty, and by the way she swayed on her feet, I’d say she’d downed it.

Gripping her elbow, I twisted her toward me. Those moss green eyes were furious, her sharp brows slanted in an anger that drove through my chest. “Neveah, listen—,”

“What’s your real name?” she blurted out, her fist bunching with the front of my T-shirt. All the blood in my body raced toward my dick, her hands so tiny but aggressive on me turned something on inside of me that I feared I couldn’t turn back off.

Before I did what I wanted in front of everyone, I grasped the hand on me, pulled it free and marched her to the darkest corner I could find. I pressed her soft body into the crook of a window.

With a parted mouth, she closed her eyes and tried to free herself. “What’s your fucking name?” she whispered, the venom in her voice sent chills down my spine.

Capturing her wrist, I pulled them above her head, loving the look of lust in her eyes. There was no stopping it now. I wasn’t leaving the barn until I’d tasted that smartass mouth. “Rage,” I whispered. “My name is Rage.”

Something crossed her face but was gone before I could read it. “Who the fuck are you? You aren’t Declan Samuels. I knew you didn’t look like a Declan. Why did you lie? Let me go!”

My grip tightened and a slight moan slipped from her lips. “Don’t act like you’re scared now, Champ. We both know this is what you want.” I held both hands in one wrist, slid my index finger down her face to her bottom lip. “And this is exactly what I need.”

She stared blankly up at me, her chest rising and falling in quick jolts, her hips pressed harder against my cock. “Why did you tell me so quickly? Why not try to hide it anymore?”

That was easy. “As soon as I saw you just now,” I pressed forward, “I knew I wanted to kiss those pouty lips. And I wanted you to say my fucking name when I did it. Not his. Mine.”

I go by Alla Kar. I live in the Deep South with my husband, Chihuahua and pit-bull puppy. I love to bring southern gentlemen, alpha males and all things new adult to life. I am an Amazon Best-Selling Author!

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Book Blitz + Giveaway: Barren (Barren) by Elizabeth Miceli

Barren (Barren)
by Elizabeth Miceli
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Release date: October 6th 2015
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult


Synopsis:

I cried, praying for him to finish. I closed my eyes and tried to envision myself somewhere else… somewhere where I was happy. I thought of my family all piled around our tree on Christmas morning. I thought of singing with my band. I thought of Caitlin and me baking cookies and watching movies together. But after just a few seconds of pretending, Mike would hit me or thrust deeper and I would be back in reality. I was being raped. I was all alone. I was the damsel in distress. And there was no one there to save me.

Seventeen-year-old Stacey Lorenzo’s poor self-esteem has always consumed her. When her significant weight loss leaves her still feeling powerless- and with an eating disorder- she turns to partying to cope. This only makes matters worse because at a party she is raped, which leaves her psyche at an all-time low. Stacey drugs, cuts, and hooks up with countless guys in an attempt to find herself. But if Stacey doesn’t find a way to face her demons and overcome her fears, she might find herself in a hole so dark, even love won’t be able to pull her out.

            “What about those?” he asked, walking toward me. He had on all his clothes now, and he pointed to the thin, red scars running over the surface of my stomach.

            “I … ” I started, trying to find a good excuse. I was still fucked up. The words wouldn’t come to me. “I don’t know,” was all I could come up with. His face seemed pained at first, truly upset, but then his emotion changed to anger and his frown hardened into a thin line.

 “That’s such a fucking lie.”

            “I’m not lying,” I whispered. I didn’t like when he got angry with me in general, but now that Mike had happened, guys getting angry made me fear for my safety. Guys could hurt me.

            “Yes, you are,” he said, his face red.

            “Stop, Devan,” I said, hoping to God he’d drop the subject. For Christ’s sake, if I wanted to talk to him, I would have already.

            “Why are you cutting yourself?” he asked, coming closer to me. He was holding me now. His protective arms were around my shoulders. He was the man. I was the little girl.

            “Back off, Devan.” I spoke into his chest.

            “It’s about that guy, isn’t it?” he asked, looking down at me. “You’re cutting because that guy raped you.”

Elizabeth hails from the smallest state with the biggest heart. She started off at The University of Akron and then transferred to the University of Rhode Island. She is a double major in both Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies. Although she loves writing- she also has a passion for helping others which is why she is studying to become a sex therapist/couples counselor. Elizabeth loves spending time with her family and friends, singing, eating everything Italian, and baking cookies. She is “in love with love” which is probably why the driving force in almost everything she writes is romance. When she’s not getting lost in her characters she can be found waiting for her prince charming in her North Kingstown, Rhode Island home.

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Book Blitz + Giveaway: Rachel Schieffelbein Books

Welcome to this week’s Swoon Romance YA Wednesdays! This week features Rachel Schieffelbein's titles Run for the Roses, Secondary Characters, Don't Fall! Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post!

Run for the Roses

by Rachel Schieffelbein

Release Date: November 2013

Publisher: Swoon Romance

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis:

Abigail Conrad has spent her whole life training for one goal: to win the roses at the Arabian Youth Nationals. She’s given up friends, a social life, and doesn’t have time to even think about guys -- much less date!

Now that she’s headed off to college in the fall, it’s her last chance to be a Youth National Champion, and she won’t let anything distract her from that dream.

Except maybe Chase, the older brother of Abigail's biggest rival. He’s charming, funny, and possibly Abigail's biggest problem. How can she focus on riding when her mind keeps wandering to Chase’s green eyes and confident smile?

With her dream on the line, Abigail had better learn to fight her growing attraction to Chase, or she might end up losing the roses and the guy.

Secondary Characters

by Rachel Schieffelbein

Release Date: May 2013

Publisher: Swoon Romance

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis:

When Mabel's best friend, Amber, drags her along on a double date she finds herself falling for Lance, the obnoxious class clown whom she swore she'd have no interest in. The only problem is, she's not sure if she's really the girl Lance is into, or if, like every other guy she knows, it's really Amber he's after. One thing is clear, if Mabel wants to be the lead in her own love story, she needs to start acting like it.

Don't Fall

by Rachel Schieffelbein

Release Date: May 2014

Publisher: Swoon Romance

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis

In which a teenage girl endures the over-protective love of her adoptive mother until she falls for a boy who has her wanting to spread her wings, pitched as a contemporary retelling of Rapunzel.

Seventeen-year-old Anya leads a very secluded life in a house on the edge of town with her adopted mother. She doesn't go to school, but instead has a private tutor. Her over-protective mom keeps her so sheltered that she doesn't even have a best friend. 

But Anya doesn't seem to mind. She has her books, her photography, and her daydreams, and would do anything to please her mom. Until one day at the library, the only place she's allowed to go, she takes a picture of a beautiful boy.

Before long she's lying to her mom, and sneaking out late at night to meet Zander. But Zander wants more than a secret romance. If Anya wants to be with the boy of her dreams, she will have to risk her relationship with the only other person she's ever cared about.

Rachel Schieffelbein grew up in a tiny town in Southeast Minnesota reading books, riding horses, and participating in speech and theater. She is now married with four kids and enjoys reading books, riding horses, and coaching speech and theater. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! She enjoys writing characters she can relate to, ones she would want to hangout with, or fall in love with. She hopes her readers will love them, too.

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