Not-So-Guilty Pleasures: The Laura Salters Edition

Good morning, friends!

I'm very happy to welcome Laura Salters - Writers For Hope donor, upcoming Pitch Wars mentor, fantastic beta buddy, and an all-together swell lady - back to the blog. She's here today to offer us a
little insight into those things she'll always love no matter what.

And I'm here to tell you about something you'll love...Laura's debut novel is out! RUN AWAY is a basketful of awesome. But before you run off to read that (as you should), get to know Laura a little better...

Not-So-Guilty Pleasures

1) Sleep. I am a prolific sleeper. I need 10-12 hours a night to function as an actual human being. And I won’t wake up unless I set an alarm—I’m not kidding. If I want to get up at midday, I have to set an alarm for midday. I have issues, okay?

2) Nutella. ON ALL THE THINGS. Pancakes, fruit, a spoon. Give me a jar of Nutella and I’m happy.

3) Cheesy 90s music. Hitting “shuffle” on my iPod is a treacherous experience. You could get cutting edge, super cool indie music, awesome rock…or 5ive’s Keep On Movin’. 

4) Pokemon. I am 24 years old and still play Pokemon on my Gameboy. I think I took the catchphrase “gotta catch ‘em all” too literally and I’m still at it twenty years later. 

5) Gin. Specifically a Hendrick’s with tonic and cucumber. It’s so refreshing and so delicious. And I’m a really giggly, happy drunk, so it always puts me in a great mood. Not so much the next morning, but still…

Drenched in blood and sitting in the sweltering interview room of a Thai police station, Kayla Finch knows that Sam, the love of her life, is dead. It doesn't matter that there's no body. All that blood can only mean one thing.

It isn't the first time Kayla's had blood on her hands. After finding her brother dead by his own hand, she tried to outrun her grief by escaping to Thailand. Heart-broken, the last thing she expected was to find love on the smoggy streets of Bangkok. But everyone Kayla loves seems to wind up dead. 

Returning home to England, Kayla is left with a barely-functioning family, a string of gruesome nightmares and the niggling feeling that nothing is as it seems. And as she confronts her brother's suicide, she starts to suspect that something is very wrong.

Three months. Two tragedies. One connection: there's more to both cases than anyone is willing to admit. And Kayla’s determined to uncover the truth…no matter what the cost.

Social Media Links

Website

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RUN AWAY Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Barnes & Noble

HarperCollins

Now get out there and do some reading!

20 Questions with AJ Fallon

Hello, all!

Sorry for the radio silence last week. I was in deep mind meld with my current WIP's characters as I finished up my latest revision. But, we all made it through, so...celebration!

For me, part of keeping in touch with the characters, is doing occasional interviews outside the narrative. This way I know I'm paying attention to how they're approaching their lives and issues.

Today, I'm sharing one of my rounds of 20 Questions with my MC, sixteen-year-old AJ Fallon:

1. What is your real, birth name?

Ahnah Jane Fallon, after both my grandmothers. But nobody but my sister calls me Ahnah. It’s AJ.

2. What’s your family like?

Mom, dad, brother, sister. I don’t really remember the first three that well. They disappeared when I was eight. It’s mostly just little images and feelings and crap. And those might actually be more from what my sister tells me than actual memories. Now, my sister – Ri – she’s the best and most annoying person I know. And a hell of a lot chattier than your average person in a coma. My aunt Gael’s pretty kick ass. The Bisharas are family now too. And the Delgados. And…You know what? Let’s just say my family’s suprisingly extensive.

3. Who was your best friend when you were growing up?

Other than Ri? Deepti. We’re not friends now.

4. Who’s your best friend now? What’s she like?

Ri and Muna. They’re both crazy smart. Ri would help everyone in the world if she could, only taking the ocassional break to watch really bad dance movie sequels. She keeps me on the right track. Muna’s the most genuinely nice person ever and is totally going to run a museum some day or be on Broadway or rule the world. Something along those lines. 

5. What one word best describes you?

I’m guessing you haven’t been talking with my old classmates, because otherwise you’d know the go-to is “crazy.” But, they’re a bunch of idiots. I’d go with “determined.”

6. What’s on your dresser right now?

Chapstick, head bands, picture of my family at my parents ice cream shop from the year they disappeared, pictures of me and Muna stuck on the dresser mirror, couple boxes of granola bars, three nickles, eleven pennies.

7. Are you ticklish?

If you’re cool with getting punched in the face, you’re welcome to try and find out.

8. What’s your favorite song?

Favorites are stupid. I like a bunch of music. I run to “Fire” by Delta Rae a lot.

9. What one act in your past are you most ashamed of?

I've cut my own bangs a few times. Oh, and none of your business.

10. What would you like it to say on your tombstone?

I have a t-shirt that says “World’s Okayest Sister.” I could rock that to the grave. Really anything from my t-shirts would be cool with me.

11. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Bus driver. I liked to people watch.

12. Do you have a job now?

Yeah, I work weekends and some nights over at Haven – the only Otherworlder bar in the city. Waiting tables. Playing music. Polishing the never ending freaking bannisters. That sort of stuff. I also do maintenance for the apartments on the Walk. Otherworlders feel the same way about technology that humans feel about magic – 100% suspicious. One of their toasters break and it’s like a national disaster.

13. What impression do you make on people when they first meet you?

Poor.

14. How about after they’ve known you for a while?

Poor adjacent. I’m told my sixth impression is just great, though.

15. What embarrasses you?

After you totally lose it in front of your 2^nd grade class, screaming things at your invisible sister, and scaring all your friends away, your embarassment tolerance kind of changes. So, not much.

16. What do you like to do when you’re alone?

I’m never alone.

17. Are you lying to yourself about something?

If I won’t tell me the truth, why would I tell you?

18. What are you most afraid of?

The answer to that question. Oooh, and mascots. If I can’t see your face, I don’t trust you.

19. Do you think the future is hopeful?

I think I’m going to make it hopeful, whether it is or isn’t.

20. Do you have a secret?

Only boring people say no to that. I try not to be boring.

How do the rest of you writers out there check in with your characters?