Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Q+A with Suzanne Johnson + Royal Street Giveaway

Please welcome today's paranormal guest author Suzanne Johnson.  Suzanne is author of Royal Street.

Keep reading for a chance to win a signed copy of Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Suzanne:
  I've been writing for years as a journalist, but only began writing fiction in 2008, at first as a way to exorcise my demons of being in New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina. Then I got the writing "bug"!

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Suzanne: 
I grew up reading Stephen King and Anne Rice, so it was a natural. I've always thought paranormal was the perfect blend of the speculative and the emotional aspects of fiction.

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

Suzanne:
  Hmm...teleporting would be awesome. No planes, no long drives, no airport security. All good!

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

Suzanne: 
I hope they enjoy it on a couple of levels. It's a story of wizards and voodoo and undead pirates set in New Orleans, which is one of the world's most interesting cities. It has a lot of humor in it, but the humor's tempered with sadness because it's also about Hurricane Katrina and what life was like in the city afterward. So I hope readers will have fun with it, but also will have an emotional connection to it.

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

Suzanne:
  My lead character, DJ, is a wizard, and I've always envisioned her as looking sort of like actress Emilie de Ravin. I thought artist Cliff Nielsen, who did the book cover, captured DJ really well. She's pretty but she doesn't look artificial. Very real and down to earth. No leather or bustiers for this girl. As for her partner, Alex...I'm still doing auditions for that role! For the pirate Jean Lafitte, I think Giles Marini would do very, very nicely. Mais oui!























Royal Street (Sentinels of New Orleans #1) by Suzanne Johnson.

As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco's job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.
Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans' fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.


While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover.
To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards' Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ's new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.



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

To learn more about Suzanne Johnson and her books, please visit her website.






















**Royal Street Book Giveaway**

We are giving away two *signed* copies of Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson.

To enter, leave a comment on this post (please include your email address so we may contact you if you win).  This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.  Giveaway ends April 12, 2012 midnight EST.

66 comments:

  1. I like the setting of N.O. and the idea of the story happening around Hurricane Katrina. It must have been devastating and life-changing to have experienced that first-hand. It sounds like this will be a very interesting book. Thanks!

    carlscott(at)prodigy(dot)net(dot)mx

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  2. Wow! New book for me. Thanks for the Q&A and blurb, excuse me while I dash off to add to my wishlist.
    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

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  3. Never heard of the book before but it seems so good!! Thanks a lot for featuring it!

    giota22@msn.com

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  4. Thanks so much for the giveaway! I love Suzanne's blog and I love the sound of the character and plot! The setting is awesome!!

    ccfioriole at gmail dot com

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  5. I love the cover!!It's so damn good!!

    zipysmadness@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Suzanne recently revealed the cover to the second book in the series on her blog. It too is amazing. :)

      http://www.suzanne-johnson.com/2012/03/river-road-cover-is-out.html

      xx,
      E.J.
      Author of the Spirit Guide and Ivy Granger series

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    2. I saw it...oh, it's lovely...I love it too!!

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  6. Great interview. I was living in FL at the time of Hurricane Katrina and remember what it's like fearing the next hurricane. Sounds like a great book! :)

    fantasybookchick@gmail.com

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  7. I'm a chef, so mixing up potions and things would probably come naturally. I love anything to do with New Orleans also. I'd love to win a copy of this book.

    NoraAdrienne(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Sounds amazing! I can't wait to start reading it!
    dreamingwithindreams@yahoo.com

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  9. Thank you for the awesome chance to win! edysicecreamlover18@gmailDOTcom

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  10. Thank u for an awesome giveaway!

    thenorms_12@yahoo.com


    Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/thenorms/status/184999853762412544



    International

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  11. I've been waiting for Royal Street to come out.

    sgiden at verizon.net

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  12. You had me at "Wizards, Voodoo and Undead Pirates"- sounds awesome!
    sallycrofts@hotmail.com

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  13. I have had Royal Street pre-ordered since July 19th. Soon now. Although my source ships on release day - will take two or three more days to get to me. Too bad they don't ship two days early. Hear that Amazon??? Have read the first two chapters at Tor.com. roger_simmons@hotmail.com

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  14. Royal Street sounds really good. I have been flooded out during Hurricane Isabel in NC. While not the destructive level of Katrina, we had 18" of water in the house we rented. I understand about exorcising your demons and I am so glad you found a way to channel that into writing. I look forward to reading Royal Street.

    crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

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  15. Great Q&A. I loved learning more about the author and here novel. Thank you for this awesome giveaway.

    - Beckie @ Bittersweet Enchantment
    ChiKittie(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. That is one great book summary. I was really drawn in by the cover. I would have definitely picked it up to read the back cover at the bookstore. But the summary, just great! Another addition to my wish list. Thanks for the giveaway. jepebATverizonDOTnet

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  17. Yes please - thank you for the giveaway!
    layersofthought(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. thank you so mich for the interview it was really interesting! and thank you as well for the giveaway!

    ellana_(at)hotmail(dot)fr

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  19. Thanks for the giveaway and the interview :)

    vinsarama[at]gmail[dot]com

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  20. I really like that there are elements of emotion and humor in the story. When you apply that to undead pirates and voodoos it's very intriguing.

    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  21. I haven't read much of Suzanne Johnson's books, this ones sounds really good and I really like the cover. Thanks for the chance to win a copy :)
    bluesun1218@yahoo.com

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  22. Great giveaway - thanks! katy(dot)sozaeva (at) gmail(dot)com

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  23. Royal Street is among my most awaited new UF titles for this year. Thank you so much for the giveaway :)

    anniech85(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. I'm so excited to read this novel!! I'm lucky enough to be going on Suzanne's tour at AADCON in New Orleans in August where she'll be taking a group of us around to show us the areas she talks about in the novel. So i'll be reading the novel regardless. Thanks for the giveaway!!

    smittenwithbadboyheroes@gmail.com

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  25. I can't wait for this book! :) Great interview, only problem, now I want the book even more...like now....or riiiggghht now. :)

    I can't log into blogger (at evil day job) but my name is Marie and my addy is marieandreas (at) rocketmail.com

    thanks for the change and the great blurb and interview!

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  26. I was so lucky to read a digital ARC of Royal Street and it's an amazing book. I will certainly buy it in print soon.

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  27. I also like pretty but real heroines... looking forward to reading Royal Street :)

    Cherry Mischievous
    cherrymischif-blackward [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  28. I would kill for a signed copy of Royal Street it seems amazing. :)

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    veronicam46 at hotmail dot com

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  29. I want to read this book for so long so thanks you a lot for this international opportunity to win it

    all the best

    isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

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  30. Thanks for the interview and the giveaway!

    NewBorrowedUsed(at)gmail(dot)com

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  31. I love the sound of this book.I can't wait to read it.The cover is pretty awesome too :)
    Great interview and thanks for the chance to win a copy.
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

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  32. I've seen this all over the place! it looks great! enter me please! haleymathiot at yahoo.com

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  33. Oh this one is on my wishlist. I love the setting in NOLA and I can't wait to read it!
    books (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  34. Thanks for all the great comments and good wishes, guys--and good luck to everyone entered in the giveaway!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing with our readers and for stopping by!

      xx,
      E.J.

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  35. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  36. Sorry about that...Love the cover Suzanne. The book looks like a great read.
    Good luck!
    tlynnetolles@me.com

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  37. Hi Suzanne! I've been a follower of your blog for some time & it's so exciting that Royal Street will be released soon. Congrats!

    Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy (pick me pls!!!)

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

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  38. Please enter me in contest. This book sounds really good. Tore923@aol.com

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  39. Great interview! I totally love the cover! Thanks for the giveaway!

    jacqueline.s.chapman@gmail.com

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  40. I'd love to play please!

    lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  41. Great interview. I have really been looking forward to this release!!

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  42. I've been looking forward to this release. Finally, a contest! Yay!

    molly(dot)frenzel(at)gmail(dot)com

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  43. Yay! This seems like such an amazing book :D And I adore Suzanne. <3 I would love to win this book :)
    Love, Carina ~ carina-olsen@hotmail.com

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  44. I enjoyed the interview. The book sounds very good. Thanks for the giveaway.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  45. Thanks for the interview ladies, I enjoyed reading it, and learning something more about Suzanne. Looking forward to reading the book, but would love to win a signed copy of it.

    auriansbooks at gmail dot com

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  46. Nice interview! Good luck with the new book. =D

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  47. hi suzanne!! can't wait for the book's release day. good luck :)

    smile_1773@yahoo.com

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  48. Thanks again, guys--good luck with the contest!

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  49. I am really looking forward to reading Royal Street. So far I've loved every Paranormal book I've read that has been set in New Orleans so I'm hoping to add this one to my collection. Congrats Suzanne on Royal Streets upcoming release!

    Gabbie-ethela(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  50. I too like NOLA as a book setting sounds like a good read Stormvikki@aol.com

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  51. Hi! This book sounds really interesting, I didn't read a lot about wizards but I'm pretty sure it's really good, I would love to read it! Drusilla really makes me think about Buffy and the Vampire Slayer!

    Proserpine

    proserpinecravedfor(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  52. Thank you for the awesome contest!!!
    I love the cover.....Good luck to you all!!!
    Kisses from Athens,Greece!!!

    niki_kats@yahoo.gr

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  53. Very beauitiful interview! The story of Royal Street is amazing, wizards-voodoo-undead pirates-New Orleans, it has everything. The cover is so beaytiful too,
    Thank you for the giveaway!

    artgiote at gmail dot com

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  54. Good interview. Sounds like a great book and wonderful start to a new series. Thanks for the contest/giveaway!

    Lea Ellen {night owl in IL}
    borg_66@hotmail.com

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  55. Thank you E.J. & Suzanne for the excellent interview.
    Royal Street is on my TBR list.

    All the best,
    RKCharron @gmail.com

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  56. I confess I was being shallow because the first thing that grabbed my eye about ROYAL STREET was its gorgeous and ethereal cover. I couldn't tear my eyes away, and that grabbed my attention. I read the blurb and I was hooked. So it went straight to my wishlist. And now the release day is here, so CONGRATULATIONS Suzanne, hope you celebrated in style! ;-)

    Thank you for the fun interview, I enjoyed getting to know a bit more about Suzanne and the novel, and thank you for the generous giveaway and especially for making it international!!

    Thank you!

    stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

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  57. Looks like a good read, I am fascinated with New Orleans as a locale. stormvikki aol

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  58. I've been a follower of Suzanne's blog for some time now. I'd love to win her book!

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

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  59. Can't wait to read this one. Been on my TBR list forever!

    tinamosswrites(at)gmail(dot)com

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  60. I can't wait to get my hands on this book!

    ostipow at gmail dot com

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  61. Intrigued by the location and by the premise of the book. Would love to win a signed copy. Thanks for the giveaway
    catalogermom (at)gmail (dot)com

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  62. Loved the layout of this site. Kept me on the edge of my seat. I shall return!

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