Swooning over Expel by Addison Moore

It's that time again! Over at YA Bound, we created a HOT meme, and if you're new to the game, here's how to join in the fun:

From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON.

What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, post it in the comments here or over there, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog! 

We want to know! And here's mine:

This past week I read the latest Addison More book in the Celestra series, which any fan will tell you is filled with swoony moments. The amount of options in one of her books is unreal. But there was one particular scene that has stayed with me, and gets major points for managing to not only be completely steamy, swoon-like, but also freaking hilarious to imagine (Not an easy thing to do *grin*):

I climb Gage like a pole, send him stumbling back until he can't go any further & we fall flat onto the dessert table--Expel SWOON #YABound

So, what made YOU swoon this week?

Interview with Addison Moore, Author of Ethereal and Tremble

Addison Moore is an author really making waves in the non-traditional publication world. I gave a spotlight review of Ethereal two weeks ago when I announced our Indie Week, and recently inhaled the sequel Tremble.

Addison is one of the authors contributing to our Prize Pack Giveaway. You SO want to read ETHEREAL, so be sure to click the links above and "like" her amazon pages, then come back and let me know about it in the comments! Every like, every comment on any post this week, and every tweet gives you another entry. If you tweet, be sure to include me @EndingUnplanned and it wouldn't hurt to leave a link in the comments, too!

EU: Addison, how many books are planned in the series?

Right now it looks like the series will have about four or five books. It’s hard to tell because I’m trying to let the story run its natural course.


EU: The second book in a series or the sequel is often said to be the hardest. Did you struggle with this one at all?

I did think it was difficult, but once I was immersed in Skyla’s world I had so much fun that I didn’t want book 2 to end. I already have book three outlined, which is going to contain Chloe’s diary so as soon as I launch Book 2 I’m hitting the keyboard. =)

EU: Your series has my favorite kind of love triangle--two great guys who are both hot in their own right and obviously care for Skyla. Is this a challenge for you as a writer, probably having your favorite and knowing who she ends up with in the end?

I love both Logan and Gage. In book 2, it’s fun for me to see how sacrificial Logan is, keeping away from Skyla to keep her safe from the Counts. And of course, Gage, sweet, sweet, Gage, is more than willing to oblige and play along with Logan’s scheme of protecting Skyla by pretending he’s her boyfriend even though it’s apparent to everyone he has eyes only for her. (I do know exactly how this will wrap itself up. *buttons lips* ;)

EU: What was your kernel idea for this series? Have you had any surprises while writing--the plot demanding a direction you weren't expecting? Characters taking on a life of their own?

The idea came from two previously abandoned WIP’s that I merged together. And, yes, I think the most exciting part of being a writer is letting your characters off the leash once in a while. Book 2 definitely took some unexpected twists that I was pretty happy with in the end, and I hope the readers will be too!

EU: What led you to go the non-traditional route? Are there any myths you debunked about being self-published once you decided to go this way? Anything you would like readers or other writers to know?

I love self-publishing because of all the freedom it allows. It also allows new writers to showcase their work and get feedback straight from the readers. I think the landscape of publishing has changed dramatically this past year alone and I think the new model involves writers taking both traditional and self-published routes. Ethereal is my first published novel.

EU: Your covers are GORGEOUS! Tell us about them. Who did them, where did you get the ideas?

I picked out the photo’s myself and had a family member photo shop them. Yes, I am that mom and pop. And thank you for the compliment! I’m having a blast with them. I’ll be unveiling the cover for Book 3 on my blog and Goodreads soon, as well.

EU: Where can readers get their copy of Tremble?

Amazon and Nook first. Then it will take a few weeks to get it uploaded everywhere else. As far as Ethereal, after what feels like forever, I think they will finally be available at all of the major e-book retailers by next week. I published on Amazon first then much later submitted my work to Smashwords to distribute my novel elsewhere. I like to make life hard on myself whenever possible.

EU: Can you let the readers know all the places they can follow your writing journey? Blog, Twitter, Goodreads, Facebook page?

I would love for readers to find me at these places! I love comments as well. In fact, I’ll include my email address and I’ve been pretty good at returning each one of those.

Blog http://addisonmoorewrites.blogspot.com/

Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/Addison_Moore

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AddisonMoore.Author

Addisonmoorewrites (@) yahoo . com

EU: Thank you so much Addison! Can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeve :-)

Thank you so much Rachel for hosting me!

Addison Moore is a USC graduate who enjoys writing young adult paranormal romance. Ethereal is her first published novel in the Celestra series. She lives with her family and two dogs on the west coast.

  

If you have any questions for Addison, please leave them below!!

Exciting Event Coming and Spotlight Review: MEANT TO BE and ETHEREAL

I have something EXCITING in the works and I just can't keep quiet any longer! As you know, I am querying agents and seeking traditional publication at this time. But the truth is there has never been a better time to be a writer. In my attempts to understand how the industry is changing, I have made some wonderful friendships with writers who are choosing to go another path.

Indie and Self Publishing are viable options for all of us, ones I'll explore if traditional does not work out for me with my current manuscript. But doing so can feel daunting. There are so many pieces to the puzzle, right?

To help ease the confusion, I am hosting CARVING OUR OWN DESTINY WEEK here at The Ending Unplanned June 6th-10th. This packed week will include FIFTEEN different indie and self-pub authors who are making their own way, and doing so successfully.

Topics include:

• The Difference Between Indie and Self-Pub
• Ebook Publishing Platforms
• Editing--Things to Look For and How to Hire an Independent Editor
• Building Community
• Marketing for the Indie Author
• Setting Up a Blog Tour
• Let's Talk Money
• Personal Testimonies
• Author Interviews
• and MORE!

There will also be a TON of giveaways! You do NOT want to miss this week!! 

CARVING OUR OWN DESTINY will have its own dedicated page for all the posts to follow along, and I will also set up a A Mr. Linky for anyone who has posts on their own blog they'd like to share. Interviews, Reviews, How-to Posts, ANYTHING that involves Indie or Self-Publishing, we'd love to have you join the fun!

To kick things off, for this week's Spotlight Review, I decided to highlight two books by authors who will be joining us: Ms. Tiffany King and Ms. Addison Moore. These two powerhouses are certainly making names for themselves, and I'm proud to call them friends and YA Sisters.

ETHEREAL by Addison Moore is one of those books where the cover drew me in and the story kept me riveted. Having fallen in love with the hauntingly beautiful cover art, I decided to download a sample chapter with the expectation of checking out a new author's work and adding it to my growing TBR Pile—and was hooked immediately. I quickly purchased the full and pretty much devoured it in one big gulp.

First, the Goodreads description:
Skyla Messenger is a dead girl walking.

When her newly remarried mother moves the family to Paragon Island, to a house that is rumored to be haunted, Skyla finds refuge in Logan Oliver, a boy who shares her unique ability to read minds.

Skyla discovers Logan holds the answers to the questions she’s been looking for, but Logan’s reluctance to give her the knowledge she desires leaves her believing Logan has a few secrets of his own.

Skyla’s bloodlines may just be connected to the most powerful angelic beings that roam the earth, and the more she knows, the more danger she seems to be in.

Suddenly an entire faction of earthbound angels wants her dead, at least she still has Logan, or does she?

ETHEREAL is a fun, action packed read. It has everything: mystery, romance, love triangles, angels, and plentiful twists and turns. A few grammatical typos aside--all things I was more than willing to look past to focus on the hot boys--this is a well-written story.

Ms. Moore tweaked the angel concept to make it her own, and threw in surprises I didn't expect. The fast pace and plot twists kept me reading just 'one more chapter.' The mystery surrounding the death of Logan's ex—the girl who is now haunting Skyla—is intriguing, and the romance is perfect.

Readers of my blog know I’m a sucker for love triangles. My favorites involve two equally wonderful, swoon-worthy guys, constantly pulling me back and forth between my favorite. In ETHEREAL Ms. Moore sets up a hot triangle that is sure to keep readers begging for more throughout the series. For the record, while I adore Logan, I am currently completely Team Gage. I look forward to seeing how TREMBLE will test my loyalty.

Fun secondary characters, lush setting details, and sneaky author twists meant to keep you guessing make this a five star recommendation. Great Job, Addison!

Now hurry up and release TREMBLE!!

(TREMBLE should be available this week or next, so keep checking!)

Since its release in March, I’ve heard nothing but glowing praise for Tiffany King’s debut MEANT TO BE. Unfortunately, it took me two months before life slowed down enough to read it, but I must say I completely get all the hype!

First, the Goodreads description:

Krista Miller feels like she has lived her entire life in a glass box with her every emotion on display. She can’t help feeling like a defect as her sensitivities have made her socially inept and without any real friends; the one exception being the boy that visits her each night in her dreams.

Krista’s emotions are put to the test when a move to California triggers a devastating change to her fantasy world. The nightly comfort that the boy provides has now become a recurring nightmare as he is taken from her by an unseen force.

Struggling to appear normal, Krista enrolls in a new school and finds it to be nothing like she thought. Her new life is sent spiraling out of control from a strange connection with a boy, Mark, who claims to know all her secrets.

As Krista begins to explore the emotions that Mark evokes in her, secrets from their past about their shared connection threatens to separate them just when they have found each other

I couldn’t put this book down, curious to discover the connection between Krista and hottie Mark. I love playing guessing games while I’m reading, trying to figure out where the author is taking me, but Ms. King’s twist surprised me. And then shocked me. The last third of the novel went into overdrive and my fingers locked on the forward button, furiously clicking to turn the pages.

As the protagonist, Krista was relatable, smart, funny, and gosh darn cute as a button. I loved her. I got her. I could be friends with this girl.

The friendship between Krista and Sam was fun and adorable. Sam was playful and had me smiling whenever she was on the page. The romance between Krista and Mark, and Sam and Shawn, was swoon-worthy. What I loved about this book was the unique take on the romantic relationship. In most paranormal romances, you have the push/pull, the tension and misunderstandings and fights used to create plot twists. This relationship wasn’t like that. Once they found each other, their connection was deep, powerful, and romantic, and that very attachment is what kept the plot moving.

MEANT TO BE summed up many things, but left a lot to explore in the series. I cannot wait for the sequel, which should be coming out this summer.

Kudos Ms. King, I look forward to more!