Praefatio by Georgia McBride Blog Tour, Author Interview and Giveaway :)

ABOUT PRAEFATIO

Title: Praefatio (Praefatio #1)

Publication date: May 21, 2013

Publisher: Month9Books, LLC.

Author: Georgia McBride

Seventeen-year-old Grace Ann Miller is no ordinary runaway...

After having been missing for weeks, Grace is found on the estate of international rock star Gavin Vault, half-dressed and yelling for help. Over the course of twenty-four hours Grace holds an entire police force captive with incredulous tales of angels, demons, and war; intent on saving Gavin from lockup and her family from worry over her safety.

Authorities believe that Grace is ill, suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, the victim of assault and a severely fractured mind. Undeterred, Grace reveals the secret existence of dark angels on earth, an ancient prophecy and a wretched curse steeped in Biblical myth. Grace’s claims set into motion an ages-old war, resulting in blood, death and the loss of everything that matters. But are these the delusions of an immensely sick girl, or could Grace’s story actually be true?

Praefatio is Grace’s account of weeks on the run, falling in love and losing everything but her faith. When it’s sister against brother, light versus darkness, corrupt police officers, eager doctors and accusing journalists, against one girl with nothing but her word as proof: who do you believe?

GOODREADS

Purchase Links:

Chapters Indigo | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | TBD | IndieBound | iBooks

ABOUT GEORGIA MCBRIDE:

Georgia loves a good story. Whether it’s writing her own, or publishing someone else’s, story is at the heart of everything Georgia does. Founder of Month9Books, YALITCHAT.ORG and the weekly #yalitchat on Twitter, Georgia spends most of her days writing, editing, or talking about books. That is, of course, when she is not blasting really loud music or reading. She lives in North Carolina with four dogs, a frog, a parrot, 2 kids, parents and a husband. PRAEFATIO is her first novel.

Author Links:  Website | Twitter | Facebook

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***Author Interview***

What inspired you to write your first book? GM – voices in my head and a desire to put an end to it all. When I finished the book, the voices went away! How’s that for therapy?

Do you have a specific writing style? GM – I don’t think so. My readers might disagree.

How did you come up with the title? GM – I honestly don’t know. It came to me in Latin and I had to actually look it up.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? GM – There are a few messages. Mainly though, teens often think we have to have everything figured out. It’s OK if you don’t yet know what school you want to go to, or what your major will be. It’s OK if you are still trying to figure out what the heck is happening with your crush. It’s OK if you don’t look or dress or act like the other kids. Even if someone has decided your path, you are YOU. And you are awesome as YOU. You will suck as someone else. Trust me.

How much of the book is realistic? GM – Maybe about 75% if you by “realist” you mean “contemporary” as opposed to “fantasy.” Grace is a normal girl who goes to high school and hates to study. She’s not perfect by any stretch and she doesn’t always make the best decisions. 

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life? GM – None of this remotely resembles my life in any way. My life is way boring compared to the events in PRAEFATIO. WAIT – well, I had several rock star crushes when I was Grace’s age. So maybe there’s that. 

What books have most influenced your life most? GM – I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS by Maya Angelou was a HUGE influence on me.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? GM – I would say James Patterson. He has shown a tremendous versatility in his ability to produce well-read, well-regarded and best-selling content for readers of almost all ages.

What book are you reading now? I am about to read RED QUEEN and AN EMBER IN THE ASHES. 

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? GM – I’m pretty old school and am looking forward to LIES I TOLD coming from Michelle Zink, love Claudia Gray’s A THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU, and looking forward to Kiera Cass’s THE HEIR in May.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members. GM – readers are the best. If it were not for reader feedback and support, I would not have done made it through. I am working on the sequel called REVELATIONS. I REALLY hope I can release it this fall. 

Do you see writing as a career? GM – I think my career is firmly rooted in content development, whether that is as a writer, publisher, producer, etc. 

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? GM – I would probably have given it a title people can pronounce.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? GM – I have always written stories, fan fiction, poems, doodles, journals. This is a natural extension of that interest.

Can you share a little of your current work with us? GM – OOOH. My latest WIP is called CONFESSIONS OF THE DARK QUEEN. No one has read it with the exception of my agent. I have included chapter 1.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? GM – Finishing books!

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work? GM – Maya Angelou. Her work is so honest and raw and yet poetic and beautiful. Her work is completely unpretentious

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)? GM – PRAEFATIO takes place in Missouri. I took my inspiration from my time there.

Who designed the covers? GM – This cover for PRAETIO was actually NOT designed for the book, but another book by whom I have idea. But, I asked the designer if I could use it for PRAEFATIO and she agreed.

What was the hardest part of writing your book? GM – All the second-guessing.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? GM – I learned a ton. Mostly I learned to trust readers and to trust my own writerly instincts.

Do you have any advice for other writers? GM – Read as much as you can on craft. Don’t be afraid to learn more about the craft of writing every day. 

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? GM – Thank you so much or giving PRAEFATIO a chance. 

What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, and logistical) in bringing it to life? GM- Mostly the challenges revolved around creating the mythology and the rules of the world. Was totally the hardest part. I wanted the book to stand out among the current angel books. I also wanted to make it realistic enough that even readers who say they don’t like angel books would still enjoy it.

What genre do you consider your book(s)? GM - Urban Fantasy and Supernatural. 

Do you ever experience writer's block? GM – All the time. 

Do you write an outline before every book you write? GM – I write the outline when I finish the book. It helps me figure out if I’ve missed anything. 

Have you ever hated something you wrote? GM – Yes. Sometimes I go back and look at old pieces and think the author must be an idiot. 

What is your favourite theme/genre to write about? GM – I am a scifi/fantasy/paranormal/supernatural type girl. I have also written contemporary. I don’t know that I am any good at it. 

While you were writing, did you ever feel as if you were one of the characters? GM – No. My characters always feel distinctly different than me. 

What are your expectations for the book? GM – I would love for it to reach as many readers as possible.

CONFESSIONS OF THE DARK QUEEN PARTIAL/UNEDITED SAMPLE

Chapter One

Mirabella

 I am guilty of many things, most of which I readily admit. Other things, some more disturbing things of which I have been accused, are nothing more than rumor set to ground by jealous chambermaids.

Yes, I sent the Duchess of Cromwell a letter alerting her as to the change in the day’s fashion, a change of which she was obviously unaware. Arriving at the palace in a corseted gown had put the entire dinner off-balance, with all eyes on her.

I also placed raspberry jam in the bed of the young Duke of Castro during a particularly rousing party thrown by his sister, who happens to be one of my best girlfriends. The last time that insufferable, little snake visited the palace, he freed the roosters for the evening’s cock fight before bets had even been cast. Father forgave him, but I planned to get even. Watching the red-headed menace run amuck with raspberry jam smeared into his bloomers forced everyone’s mouths agape. No one will ever forget the screams, “Blood, blood! I’m dying!”

Father suggested I think about my actions and how terrified the young Duke had probably been. I thought about it, alright and then had a hearty laugh at his ruby-cheeked expense.

“You mustn’t be so crass, Mirabella. A sense of humor is wonderful, but knowing when to use it is key,” Father’s admonishment fell on partially deaf ears.

In an effort to clear my head, I snuck out of the palace just before dawn and noticed several large crows atop tree limbs nearby. Those same birds often sat outside my window and “cawed,” waking me quite before I am ready. I poured liquid paste across the east lawn so that once the crows landed, they’d be unable to fly away. I didn’t see the harm in it, at the time and if I could take back that small and seemingly inconsequential act; I would.

But there is one thing of which I have been accused I will never confess to. Of the most despicable thing—the murder of my beloved sister, Beatrice —I am in no shape or form, guilty.

 I want to thank Georgia for answering some questions for us!  Good luck with the future books :)

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Giveaway Information:  Winner will be drawn April 27, 2015

· Five (5) winners will receive a digital copy of Praefatio by Georgia McBride (INT)

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