Portals to New Worlds: Series Blast & Interview: After the Silence

After the Silence – Bree

Part 1

Jacqueline Paige

Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy / Survivalist

Tagline: One woman’s journey through the chaotic new world.

Those left standing make the paths for the future generations.

Book Description:

When the Mother Nature decides she’s had enough and begins to fight back, survival takes on a whole new meaning. If the earth is the enemy – there are no rules and all you can do is try to survive the odds.

Those the planet allowed to live still have to survive the trials of the virus. If you manage to come out of it alive you are left with some form of mutation that could give you an ability that could be harmless or lethal.

Bree Taylor is the last survivor of her family. With no other choice she sets off on her own to escape the clutches of the new government’s army—that does not place safety and security in their code of behavior only the highest bidder get their protection and loyalty.

Living in a world of unstable climate changes becomes a journey she won’t soon forget. She has to be prepared for anything at all times out in the new country and has to be wary of every person she meets. All while staying out of the path of the new army.

This is a 4 part serial story releasing from June - September.

Release Date for part 1 is June 18, part 2 releases July 18th

The entire volume will be released in January 2015 as one book.

http://www.firstrealmpublishing.com/

The snapping and crunching of branches told me something was moving through the trees. Turning the flash light off, I hunched down to be as small and invisible as possible. I listened in the darkness for anything that would let me know where the noise had come from and what had made it. Voices were carried to me in the dark, a man and a woman. I moved slowly back towards my things and sat with my back against the tree straining to see in the dark.

Time stopped as I waited to see if the voices kept moving or came closer. I wasn’t sure what I’d do if they did come closer. I touched the handle of the knife inside my coat, hoping this wasn’t when I find out if I could use it. Leaves rustled from behind me. I held my breath and pushed back against the tree, waiting. When I heard a low growl coming from around the tree I think even my heart even paused.

I had strangers coming closer on one side of me and an animal voicing a warning behind me. Tremor shook his head and pranced a few times and the growling got louder. I sat there trying to gauge what was the most important and decided there was no way I was going to let something happen to my horse. Sliding up the tree as quietly as I could, while focusing on the voices, I tried to recall every skill instilled in me, drawing more blanks than anything useful.

Pulling the knife from the pocket, I prayed it was sharp enough to cut the rope I’d tied Tremor to. I guessed I had about fifteen seconds to cut it and get to the horse before whatever was growling took a bite off one of my legs or other body parts. Chewing my lip, I hoped I could still get on his back without the saddle. The plan was to ride like hell and come back later for my stuff—if we could find it again.

After the Silence – Bree

Part 2

Jacqueline Paige

Genre: Paranormal Urban Fantasy / Survivalist

One woman’s journey through the chaotic new world.

Claws dug into me as it climbed to my neck at the same moment ice cold water swallowed me. My breath left my body so quickly it felt like my lungs were going to burst. The intense pain from the incisions the animal was making across my chest brought me the strength to kick as hard as I could towards the surface. I wasn’t the strongest swimmer by far, but I had more than enough will to live to try for both of us.

In the brief glimpses I managed to keep my head above the water, I didn’t spot the shore once. We were being sucked into the middle. Through the white choppy water that blurred my vision I was only able to catch a quick look each time before we were dragged under again. I could feel the rocks rake over my back and hoped there would be enough flesh left to survive it.

The cat was practically wrapped around my neck and holding several layers of skin and flesh captive in its young claws as we swirled around again in a deep pit of rushing water. Each time we surfaced, I gulped as much air into my lungs as I could before water filled my mouth again. The undercurrent calmed just long enough for me to find the direction of shore and with every ounce of strength I could find I kicked and paddled with my arms trying to shove us in that direction. I could make out a tree that was floating near the bank just seconds before I was inhaling water again.

Hitting the bottom I shoved as hard as I could and tried to aim to the calmer water near the shore, not even knowing if I was going in the right direction until air hit my face once more. The tree was still in sight and I somehow knew if we didn’t reach it we wouldn’t be on land after that. Releasing my hold on the animal that was anchored to me so deeply that no way was it going to jump off and float away I swam towards the tree and prayed I’d reach the limbs lying in the water before we were dragged beyond them.

How long did it take to get your first book published?

I think I waited to submit it longer than anything. I wrote it in 2006 and then didn’t do anything with it until 2009. My family and friends finally talked me into submitting it and the first publisher signed it.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?

My latest release is After the Silence – Bree.

One woman’s journey through the chaotic new world. If the earth is the enemy – there are no rules.

Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?

ATS has been published by a new publisher, First Realm Publishing. I also have books with Class Act Books and Eternal Press.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

That varies from book to book. Sometimes the plot and characters are flying and I can write an entire book in a month. If the idea and pieces come slow I’ll jot down notes about it until it stews in my mind and will work on it between other stories over six months or so.

What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?

I have more of After the Silence coming out, I’m actually writing Volume 2 right now – Kane’s story. I also have a new series that is NA paranormal fantasy romance coming out with First Realm Publishing. Sometime in this year I also have the second to my Animal shifter trilogy coming out and the first in a new witch trilogy being released by Eternal Press.

What genre would you place your books into?

Everything I write is a flavor of paranormal. It may be paranormal romance, or romantic suspense, but it’s always has paranormal elements.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

I like writing paranormal because there are no rules stamped in stone. I can create whole worlds or beings and get to make the rules myself.

Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?

Wow, that’s a lot of books and a lot of characters…I think I’ll just stick with the ATS characters or this could be a twenty minute long answer. Obviously I like Bree, I gave her a whole volume of her own but with the rest of the book I’d have to say Tremor and Kismet — yes they’re animals. They have as much personality and opinions as the humans in the story.

Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?

I do. I look at it this way, the reviewer took the time to read my book, so I can at least see what they have to say about it. Good or bad, I appreciate it and try not to take any of them personally (if it’s bad). Everyone has their own opinion.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

I always have a title when I start. For whatever strange reason, I can’t write a nameless book. A few times I’ve changed it half way through, but the title comes first.

Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?

Like with the title of the book, I generally have the character names before I begin. I start with a general idea of how a character is and by the time I know their name all the blanks are filled in. This isn’t to say that they don’t surprise me and I don’t have to change the name from time to time. When I was writing Inner Reflections, last book in the Hidden Senses Trilogy, the main male character was named Liam… by chapter three I knew that wasn’t the right name and had to sit down and figure out what his name really was.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

I have a general idea before I begin but ninety percent of the time I don’t know everything about the character until I’m writing. More often than not my characters surprise me with something they do or say.

Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?

I will read in any format but with some authors it has to be paperback. There’s just something about lounging with a good book and it doesn’t seem the same with an ereader in my hands.

Your favorite food is?

Mashed potatoes and gravy … and cheesecake. Not at the same time mind you.

Your favorite color is?

Dark purple.

Jacqueline Paige lives in Ontario in a small town that’s part of the popular Georgian Triangle area. No one has ever heard of Stayner, so she usually tells people she lives “near Collingwood” and no, she doesn’t ski at Blue Mountain or at all, in fact she’s not even fond of snow.

She began her writing career in 2006 and since her first published works in 2009 she hasn’t stopped. Jacqueline describes her writing as “all things paranormal”, which she has proven is her niche with stories of witches, ghosts, physics and shifters now on the shelves.

When Jacqueline isn’t working at her ‘reality job’ or lost in her writing she spends time with her five children, most of whom are finally able to look after her instead of the other way around. Together they do random road trips, that usually end up with them lost, shopping trips where they push every button in the toy aisle, hiking when there’s enough time to escape and bizarre things like creating new daring recipes in the kitchen. She’s a grandmother to four (so far) and looks forward to corrupting many more in the years to come.

Jacqueline loves to hear from her readers, you can find her at www.jacqpaige.webs.com , www.jacqpaige.blogspot.ca or http://magicseasonsbooks.blogspot.ca