Friday 13 January 2012

Author Interview With J.J. Bonds and Giveaway


On my stop of the blog tour you get an Interview with  J.J. Bonds, author of Crossroads, a chance to win a digital copy of the book and a clue for your chance to win a Kindle Fire. So read on lovelies and Good Luck ;)



Summary
As if high school isn’t miserable enough, try being uprooted and dropped fangs first into an uptight prep school where everyone knows your name and they’ll stop at nothing to uncover the secrets of your past.

When Katia enrolled at Crossroads Academy she knew things weren’t exactly going to be easy. The sole heir to the worlds’ most powerful vampire, her presence was bound to cause a stir. But nothing could have prepared her for this. Whispers follow everywhere she goes. So does trouble.

But Katia will do her time at Crossroads. After all, she’s only enrolled at the prestigious school for pure blood vampires to fulfill a promise to her Great Uncle Aldo. Tucked away in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Katia hopes to shed the demons of her past and focus on her education. Raised blissfully unaware of the entire vamp world, she’s got a lot of catching up to do.

As Katia learns more about this dark society and her own legacy, protecting her past becomes increasingly difficult. Bodies start turning up in nearby Rutland and Katia is sucked into a twisted web of danger and deceit. Haunted by nightmares she can’t explain and a thirst for blood that is never sated, Katia will do whatever it takes to keep her past buried. What choice does she have? Exposure will shake the Elder’s Council to its core and likely result in a death sentence at the hands of the Linkuri.

Nothing at Crossroads is what it seems and Katia’s secrets may be the darkest of them all.

Crossroads



J.J. Bonds is an independent author who writes young adult speculative fiction. Her debut novel, Crossroads, was released in fall of 2011. It is the first in the Crossroads Academy series. J.J. lives in Carlisle, Pennsylvania where her love of all things paranormal keeps life interesting. She lives with her husband and two rambunctious dogs and is expecting a new addition to the family in March.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads| Shelfari


J.J.:  Hi Tristan! Thanks for featuring Crossroads on Reads with Reckless Abandon! I’m really excited about the blog tour and appreciate all of the support from bloggers like yourself who are hosting the tour stops.

Moi: Hey J.J. welcome to the blog, and my first author interview (YAY me!)

 First I want to say Congrats on your debut novel, and ask what inspired you to write Crossroads?

Thanks! To be honest, it was a long time coming. I actually started writing Crossroads a while ago and had tucked it away to focus on more practical things (like paying the bills) until my father was diagnosed with cancer last year. It was a heartbreaking, but much needed wakeup call for me. I had pushed aside my dream of being a published author in favor of more practical pursuits, but ultimately I realized that I wanted to be doing something I was truly passionate about. I didn’t want to look back and have any regrets and I wanted to make each day count. Throughout it all, my father has been one of my biggest supporters and without him I don’t know if I would have found the courage to chase my dream.


Are any of your characters based on people you know?

I wish! I have some pretty amazing friends, but they aren’t quite as intense or dramatic as the Crossroads cast. That’s not to say they can’t be as mysterious, quirky, or sexy (thankfully they’re not as angsty!) but it’s definitely in smaller, less exhausting doses.


 What books/authors have influenced you most?

I read a lot of Christopher Pike and R.L. Stine growing up which definitely helped feed my love of all things paranormal and also got me thinking about writing as a career. In high school I used to draft my own crazy mysteries although in retrospect I realize those manuscripts left a lot to be desired. I’d also credit Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series for bringing me back to the YA genre after years of reading more adult fare.


 Do you listen to music when you write, if so any specific songs or bands that were important to the writing of Crossroads?

I listen to music about half of the time when I write. It just depends on the day and my mood. My playlist runs the gamut from classical, to alternative, to rock. Here’s a sampling of my playlist which is totally random!

*‘Possum Kingdom’ by the Toadies
*‘Doll Parts’ by Hole
*‘False Pretense’ by Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
*‘Hell’s Bells’ by AC/DC


 If you were to cast Katia and Nikolai in a movie, who do you think could portray them best?

Hmm… I don’t want to sound like a movie snob (because let’s be honest, if there was a movie I’d go all fan girl and die happy!), but I’m not sure I’d want an established actor or actress to take the lead. Hear me out! I’ve always loved underdogs so I think I’d rather take a chance on some fresh new faces (sans typecasting) for Crossroads. But if I had to choose... Katia would be played by Lilly Collins. I know she’s moving up in the world, but I’m sure she’d happily cast off The Mortal Instruments for Crossroads. Besides, it would be fun to see her play a tougher, less vulnerable character. For Nikolai I’d cast Oliver Jackson-Cohen. Obviously because he is gorgeous and completely embodies Nikolai.




 Any hints as to where the next book in the series is headed, and when it's schedules to release? (I need more Nikolai, not gonna lie)

Oh, that makes two of us! I could us a little more Nikolai in my life too! And I promise you will see much more of him in book two which I plan to release this summer. Hints, huh? I guess I could give you a little something. Let’s just say that Katia will be branching out from Crossroads Academy and that you can expect more action and some interesting new characters in book two!

 What was your favourite scene to write in Crossroads? 

Oh, I don’t want to give anything away so let’s just say that writing New Year’s Eve was a highlight for me.


 If you could have any superpower what would you choose and why?

If I could have a super power? Who says I don’t have one? My husband would tell you that my uncanny ability to talk for extended periods of time without stopping for breath qualifies. But really? I’d love to have psychokinetic powers. How awesome would it be to have the ability to move things with my mind, teleport, and create force fields? Need I say more?

 Guilty pleasure?

Just one? Between you and me, I’ve got quite a few not the least of which are wine, chocolate, and scary movies (yes, even the really bad ones). My absolute favorites are Riesling (I love sweet wines), Hershey’s chocolate bars (I live 40 minutes from the factory), and Resident Evil (which I realize isn’t exactly scary, but it’s got zombies - more or less - so I figure it counts because who doesn’t love zombies?). Truthfully, the movies that actually scare me are the ones that have the potential to be real, but the ones I watch the most are the ones with zombies! I also enjoy foreign horror films and don’t let those pesky subtitles stand in the way of a good scare!


Name the first 5 things you see on your computer desk?

I guess I’m an oddball, but I don’t actually write at a desk. I’m trapped behind a desk at my day job (think cubicle maze!) so I try to avoid the same when I’m home and do most of my writing at the dining room table or from the couch. So the truth is, I only have a handful of items within reach at any givne time and while they’re not that exciting, it does minimize the distractions and make clean up easy!



Here are the deets for the giveaway:

1. Comment to win!
2. One random comment will be selected to win a digital copy of JJ Bonds Crossroads
3. All comments will be counted to win a KINDLE FIRE with a Crossroads Gel Cover
4. Collect Clues along the tour for a chance to win
5. Comment at each tour stop for extra chances to win
6. Tweet and use #crossroadsbooktour for extra chances to win along with random drawings to win digital copies of the book
6. Collect clues to find the final entry to win the Kindle Fire
7. Winners will be selected January 31st


HERE IS YOUR CLUE

16 comments:

  1. I love blog hops. I always find so many blogs that introduce me to so many new books!

    Kali Skittles
    dontkillkittens8@netscape.net

    ReplyDelete
  2. JJ...Lilly Collins would be great as Katia! I must admit that I don't know any of the songs on your playlist...but I also like my wine a little sweet, and sometimes bubbly. A slightly sweet prosecco always fits the bill!

    catherinelee100[at]gmail[dot]com

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  3. I was such a fan of R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike's books and thinking back on it, I want to go back and re-read all the books. I'm happy you were able to find strength from your dad and the motivation to do osmething you are passionate about.

    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  4. For a first interview this was awesome, for a 100th interview this was awesome. Thank you for sharing with us today and hosting this fun tour Tristan :) J.J. Thank you for taking the time to share with us readers a little bit of your journey and for the opportunity to win a copy of this very fun book. I really look forward to reading Crossroads.
    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

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  5. This book sounds great! Thanks for the interview and giveaway.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. J.J. How long did you have the idea/characters/story for Crossroads imagined out before you put them on paper? Are you are plotter or a pantser? Thanks for the blog tour, its been one thrill after another! greeneyesredhair@gmail.com

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  7. Oh JJ I am so jealous you live near Hershey! I visited the factory and it's been a love affair ever since..lol
    Loved the interview and love your choices to play your characters if they made a movie. Oliver Jackson-Cohen is YUMMY!

    junegirl63 at gmail dot com

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  8. Great interview! Very informative! I'll take one of Oliver, please? ;)

    thewildtwo @ sbcglobal (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm with you on chocolate as a guilty pleasure!

    acm05atjuno.com

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  10. I hopped over for the fun tour and have to say I love the design of your blog, it is lovely. I have been enjoying the interviews and excerpts and I am so glad that I have chocolate in common with J.J. LOL I really want to read The Crossroads :)
    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great interview!

    Candace @ Lovey Dovey Books
    Twitter: @candyco01

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  12. Great interview. Can't wait to read this book!

    vadeluna07@yahoo.com

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  13. this has been the best interview so far and I love the Hells Bells by AC/DC, thats the one to go with
    teressaoliver at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Awesome interview and bonus great chance to win a amazing book to read and kindle fire as well. :)

    anya dot sandoval at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love this blog hop...awesome interview! Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great interview! Awesome tour! Having a blast! ;) Thank you!
    tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/LuvToRead09/status/161367297464860672
    shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate everyone's comments, I read them all. So keep 'em comin ;)