Thursday, October 21, 2010

Guest Author Interview: Ednah Walters + Giveaway













Please welcome today's guest author Ednah Walters!  Ednah is the author of Awakened.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Ednah:
  I started writing in 1998. Yeah, I know, eons ago. I had just finished my PhD in chemistry and was expecting my third child. I had also decided to be a stay-at-home mother, major undertaking, but switching from academia to baby talk was so-oo hard. I felt like I was losing myself. Anyone who tells you that being a stay-at-home is easy is lying. So I started to write to find some balance in my life. I started with children’s books…you know, picture books with no pictures, lol. I wrote them for my children and read to them. They loved them. After several years, I thought why not send them to publishers? They hated them. Rejection after rejection…the bane of a writer’s life. Then I tried my hand at romance, something I’ve read since my teen years (psss, they only had kissing at the end of the stories then, no sex, very tame). That didn’t go well either. Finally I switched to YA fantasy.

I’m still learning to be the best writer I can be. Online classes and seminars on writing helped me a lot. Despite my love for reading and an active imagination, chemists are good at writing technical papers, not elegant prose. I call myself a work-in-progress as a writer.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?
 
Ednah: 
I’ve always loved paranormal, especially romance. I’d read a lot of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s books, J.R. Ward and L.A. Banks vampire books. Of course, I loved Tolkien’s work, Harry Potter series. There’s no limit to the world you can create in the paranormal genre. It is exciting to see what your characters can get away with (mwahahaha…).

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
 

Ednah:  Psi power like the kind Awakened main character Lil has—the power to change people’s perception of things. Imagine the ability to turn negative traits around…make a criminal stop, abuser stop abusing, abused people not get traumatized by the past. Yeah, I know people have free will and I’m a do-gooder, fair-minded, justice-is-blind Libran but hey, the world would be such a better place…lol.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Ednah:
  Awakened has a strong female protagonist, romance, action and lots of danger. There’re myriad of characters different readers can identify with too. I tend to think of Awakened as a coming-of-age story. Who doesn’t remember how puberty hit us hard and the changes that came with it. Lil reaches the age the Nephilim consider puberty with a bang. She has powers to deal with, her first love who may or may not be the right person for her, responsibilities that are so overwhelming she must rise to the challenge or get burned. Readers will root for her to succeed.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

Ednah: 
Hmm, that’s a toughie. The girls must be warriors yet feminine and the guys…ooh the guys must be smoking hot. Here goes;

Lil…I’d go with someone tough, tall, slanted eyes, crazy red hair (wigs might do)…Emmy Rossum (Dragon Ball Evolution), tough chick.

Bran…yummy bod, broody, tough…who else but Jared Padalecki (Sam from Supernatural. I love the Winchester boys)

Kim….Tahyana Tozzi got our Kim down to the gorgeous hair and ice-princess persona (Mutant in X-men original Wolverine, Emma Frost aka The White Queen)

Isadora…tough, no nonsense Zoe Saldana. Izzy’s hair is always in a ponytail, she’s the mediator.

Sykes…ooh, the charming and girl-magnet Sykes…Justine Hartley (Oliver/Green Arrow, Smallville…love him)

Remy…Jesse William, gorgeous eyes, strong silent guy (Young Doctor in Grey’s Anatomy…too bad McDreamy is already taken…those eyes)






















Awakened (Guardian Legacy, #1) by Ednah Walters.

Most teens turn sixteen and get the license to drive, Lil Falcon gets the license to kill demons, but no one told her she is not supposed to fall in love with one.

Orphaned as a child and raised by an eccentric grandfather, Lil is concerned with surviving high school and is unaware she's a Guardian—a being with super powers charged with killing demons and protecting humanity. But when she meets Bran, a mysterious boy with amazing abilities, his psi energy unlocks her latent powers.  But Bran has a secret that can destroy their growing relationship. He's part demon. But in her heart, Lil knows Bran is not evil. So when her grandfather is kidnapped by a powerful nature-bender and Bran is the only one who knows where he's being kept, Lil convinces the other Guardians to trust him, not knowing her grandfather is just the bait. And the truth that she discovers in the demonic enclave may just destroy everything she believes in, unless she makes the right choice—love and sacrifice.


Thank you Ednah for joining us here today at From the Shadows!

To learn more about Ednah Walters and her books, please visit her website.






















 ** Awakened: Guardian Legacy Giveaway **

We are giving away one signed copy of Awakened by Ednah Walters, two Guardian Legacy notepads, two Guardian Legacy t-shirts (size medium), and two Guardian Legacy pens!

To enter, please leave a comment on this post including your email address (so we may contact you if you win).  You do not have to be a follower to enter (though I always appreciate a follow!).  US/Canada/Mexico mailing addresses only.  Giveaway ends November 4th midnight EST.

Extra entries:
+1 Join Ednah Walters on Facebook

46 comments:

  1. Great interview!!! I loved Awakened!
    +1 for Facebook page: Book Junky

    stephanie_xoxo27@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mary D
    zenrei57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

    Awakened sounds fascinating, as well as featuring a great cover :D
    I'd love to read this, thank you for the chance to win a copy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Loved the interview and how you started writing. The cover looks fantastic. Thanks for the chance to win!

    Much good luck, K. Bryan
    kcelestebryan@aol.com

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  4. Wow! Great interview. Would love to read this book.

    DreamyCowgirl@hotmail.com

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  5. Wonderful interview. This book just caught my eye the other day while surfing the blogesphere and now I'm really interested in reading it. Thanks for the giveaway.

    gosia727(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. Thanks for the interview. I love the question and answer to the paranormal question you asked. That would be a really interesting power to have.

    I'd like to be entered into this giveaway. My email is AmberInBlunderland@yahoo.com.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am a follower and live in the US. Thanks for the interview and info on a new book. I would love to be entered for the contest.
    thanks.
    kjovus
    kjovus(at)gmail(dot)com
    kjovus.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. WOWSA!! HOLY HOTTIE!! :)

    Please count me in and enter me for the contest! Awesome cover! Thanks for the interview Ednah and thanks for hosting, EJ. ;)

    I am a GFC follower. I also joined Ednah's FB site.
    Thanks for having this fabulous contest! You guys are the best!

    amydelrosso@gmail.com

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  9. This book looks great.

    parajunkee @ gmail.com

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  10. I'd love to win this! Great cover too!

    starmetaloak(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. This isn't an entry, but I wanted to thank you for the great interview! I especially loved Ednah's dream movie cast. :-) Awakened is a great book and good luck to all the entrants!

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  12. I would love to be entered, thank you! And I am a follower :)
    littlebearries@yahoo.com

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  13. Great interview, it makes me want to read the book.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

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  14. I do love a series! Thanks for hosting!

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

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  15. I have heard so much about this book I'd love to read it. I enjoyed the interview very much, I always enjoy learning more about authors.

    +1 Already connected to Ednah Walters on Facebook as myself.

    seriousreader at live dot com

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  16. Would love to win this book... the cover looks amazing! Got it on the wishlist now:)

    yadkny@hotmail.com

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  17. I like the book!! nice cover xD
    reisei.no.mizumi@gmail.com

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  18. I've been wanting to read this book for weeks.

    I'm a follower.

    jlynettes @ hotmail . com

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  19. Thanks for the great interview! I know how difficult that transition from one type of writing to another and it was wonderful hearing Ednah's story. This series sounds fascinating and the cover is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Awakened looks great. I always love books where the characters look within themselves to judge people rather than just going with other people tell them. Thanks for the giveaway.

    smccar1 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I really enjoyed the interview and Awakened
    looks like a great read!!

    Judy
    magnolias_1@msn.com

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  22. Looks great. Thanks for the chance.

    Already connected on facebook.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Seems that everyone is reading this book lately and I do love romance so I would love to have a copy.
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    apk1princess@live.com

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  24. I already have a signed copy of Ednah's book so please don't enter me into the competition.
    But I would like to say to all those on here who haven't read it yet, wow. You won't be able to put it down. The way Ednah writes it captures you from the start. Her character descriptions are amazing and the storyline, god, at the end I just wanted more, more, more.
    Ednah, great interview chickie. :) It's great to see all your hard work is finally coming through for you.
    Luv Angela.E

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great interview, thanks! The book sounds fantastic!

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  26. Thanks for sharing and offering this great giveaway!

    I sent a Friend Request to Ednah for facebook

    mleger0546(@)rogers(.)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. This one looks awesome! Please enter me.

    follow on gfc

    mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for the giveaway!

    I'm a follower on GFC

    tabbylewis (at) hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Awesome interview! I can't wait to read this book!

    I'm an old follower.

    spettolij AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  30. This book sounds awesome, and I love the cover!

    +1 for joining on FB

    elizabethjhoskins@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Thanks for the interview and the giveaway! The book sounds awesome, can't wait to read it.

    i-love_horse@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Joined on Facebook, thanks!
    booksake(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a great giveaway :)

    thebookishsnob@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great interview and the book sounds really good.
    Please enter me in the contest.
    +1 joined FB
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  35. great interview sounds liek an awesome book countme in


    mortalsinn@yahoo.com

    +1 joined facebook

    ReplyDelete
  36. Thanks for the contest!

    Emily ebdye1(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  37. This book sounds great. Thanks for the giveaway. Please count me in.
    peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  38. I really really really want this book :) Please enter me :)
    +1 fan on facebook
    june111@att.net

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'm a HUGE Sherrilyn Kenyon fan! I have J.R. Ward's books on my shelf and I really need to get reading them soon! I can't wait to read this book! Thank you for the giveaway!

    astewart305(at)rogers.com

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  40. Oh Ednah is such a sweet person! Ive had the honor of talking with her. Her book sounds soo great!! I would love to be able to read about Bran and Lil!!

    kristen_babygurl@hotmail.com

    Kristen
    My Bloody Fairy Tale

    ReplyDelete
  41. I would love to win a copy of this book. I have entered giveaways on Edna's page a few time, and darn I never win. Will try again here and cross my fingers.

    ke7yca(at)gmail(dot)com

    I am a fan of hers on facebook.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Awesome interview :0)
    can hardly wait to read this!!!!

    I'm a GFC follower
    +1 extra entry FB fan :0)

    beejee77(at)comcast(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  43. Nice interview and this book looks and sounds amazing!

    I'm a new GFC Follower :)

    -Wenj
    blacklagoon.wenj(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love the same authors as Ednah, and these authors have started my interest in paranormal romance as well!

    New GFC follower =)

    angeldream3(at)gmail(dot)com

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  45. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  46. I am an angel fan. This book looks great and I can share it with my teen, after I read it of course . I forgot my addy

    sstogner1@triad.rr.com

    ReplyDelete