Authorsday: Jennifer Wylie

Happy to welcome a fellow Echelon Press author Jennifer Wylie.

1. How long have you been writing?

I started writing when I was in public school. I have always had a very vivid imagination. Writing was something fun, and helped get the stories out of my head. I wrote more in highschool and afterward, though took a break when my kids were born. I've been at it again the last few, actually jumping into it more than when I was younger.

2. How did you pick the genre you write in?

Writing fantasy is the only thing I've wanted to do, so there wasn't really any picking. :) I love how this genre can incorporate a little bit of anything. Everything and anything can happen, you're only limited to your own imagination. Of course, it didn't hurt I grew up reading mostly fantasy too and have a deep love for the genre!

3. Do you plot or do you write by the seat of your pants?

(Googles 'plot') ~grin~ I don't plot anything. I may sort things out in my head first, but there are no pages of notes, or storyboards or anything else. The most I may do is jot down a few notes as I near the end of the book- just to make sure I tie up all the lose ends. This works well for me, especially as I'll often change my mind or characters will go off and do things I don't expect. That is part of the fun!

4. What’s your writing schedule?

Being a stay at home mom and my fingers in many other pots, I write when I can. Usually this is in the evenings after the kids have gone to bed. I have trouble writing when there are things around to distract me. During the day I usually work on edits, marketing, blogging and of course the never ending housework.

5. Describe your book.

My newest releases are for a new short story series geared toward young readers (though adults are loving it too!) Tales of Ever is part of a new short story program being put out by Echelon Press. The series contains six short stories presented once per month as electronic downloads (eBooks), much the same as a television series. Tales of Ever is a fantasy series written for young adults (13-17 year olds). The first instalment, Banished, debuted March 1st, a new instalment will be available the first tuesday of the month ending in August. At only $.99 each, the short stories are affordable for all walks of life. #2, Fire Girl will be out April 5th. I'm half way through writing the 3rd, Shadow Boy and am having so much fun. I love the crazy and dangerous world of Ever!

Tales of Ever is full of action and written to captivate even the most reluctant readers. I'm hoping to share the joy of reading with many young adults.

6. Tell me one thing about yourself that very few people know?

I have an extreme intolerance to milk. Apparently I've had it since a teenager, though just figured this out recently and have gone off anything with milk in it. Though I feel a lot better, I'm still very grumbly. I miss cheese. And Ice-cream!

7. If you have a day job, what is it?

I have the best job in the world. I get to take care of my two boys. The house cleaning part rather sucks though. And I never get vacation. People wonder why I'm also so happy Monday comes—that's when kids are off to school and I get a little break! LOL

8. What three things would you want with you on a desert island?

Toilet paper. Chocolate. Matches/lighter to start a fire.

9. What’s your favorite food?

Chocolate. Meats I love chicken, or shrimp and crab. I love anything sweet!

10. What do you do when you are not writing?

Well if I'm not trying to be a domestic superwoman, I'm at my computer editing, or blogging, or tweeting or marketing or editing. Occasionally I'll actually have a moment to READ, which is always a super treat these days! :)

Author Bio:

Jennifer Wylie was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. In a cosmic twist of fate she dislikes the snow and cold.

Before settling down to raise a family, she attained a BA from Queens University and worked in retail and sales.

Thanks to her mother she acquired a love of books at an early age and began writing in public school. She constantly has stories floating around in her head, and finds it amazing most people don’t. Jennifer writes various forms of fantasy, both novels and short stories. Sweet light is her debut novel to be published in 2011.

Jennifer resides in rural Ontario, Canada with her husband, two boys, Australian shepherd a flock of birds and a disagreeable amount of wildlife. Find out more about Jen and her work at www.jenniferwylie.ca





Banished Blurb:

My life was normal. It sucked, but it was normal. At least until I got this new power. I can control fire. It would be cool if it wasn’t so dangerous and if I knew how to use it. Pretty much my sucky life took a nose dive once I got it. Yup, everything gone. I suppose I should be thankful some uncle I never heard of took me in. Turns out the whole family isn’t normal and my power is a lot more dangerous than I thought. I thought things couldn’t get any worse. I was wrong. They banished me to Ever.

If I’m lucky, I might survive my first day.

Buy Links:

Omnilit: http://www.omnilit.com/product-banished-519511-234.html

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44865

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Banished-Tales-of-Ever-ebook/dp/B004Q9TX4A

B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Banished/Jen-Wylie/e/2940012206961/?itm=1

Recipe Wednesday - Bonnie Hearn Hill -Prize!

Brownies are the word of the day. I have this thing, that I can't make brownies. My kids will say the same thing. Can't do it. I can make many things more complicated, but not brownies. But here's a recipe from author of Aries Rising, Bonnie Hearn Hill. And she's giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commenter.

STAR CROSSED BROWNIES


1 8-oz. package cream cheese
½ cup sugar
1 egg
1/8 tsp. salt
1 6 oz pkg. of the best chocolate chips you can find

1 ½ cup unsifted flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa
½ tsp. salt
½ cup oil
1 cup sugar
1 tsp.vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup water
1 Tbs. vinegar

Blend cream cheese, sugar, egg and salt. Beat until well blended. Then add chocolate chips. Set aside.

Blend together flour, cocoa, salt, oil, sugar, vanilla, baking soda, water and vinegar. Batter will be thin, but don’t panic. It’s supposed to be. Pour into greased 8-inch square pan.

Add first mixture in spoonfuls and swirl through batter with knife. Bake 50-60 min at 350. Cool for two hours, then cut into squares. These babies are dense, and they need time to settle.

In ARIES RISING, these are the brownies Logan gives her cranky, food-loving Taurus English teacher, Mr. Franklin (Frankenstein).

First of the Star Crossed Series from Running Press/Perseus Books

When Terra Bella Beach student Logan McRae discovers Fearless Astrology, all she wants is to win a writing fellowship for the summer to Monterey, and maybe catch the interest of Nathan, the senior she’s kissed only once. He seems more interested in Geneva, the tall, blond Libra editor of the school newspaper—until Logan uses some Leo-pleasing flattery on him. Nathan seems to be coming around, but Logan still has to convince Mr. Franklin, her gruff Taurus English teacher, that she deserves the fellowship.

Frankenstein says she doesn’t put enough of herself in her writing. She tries to appeal to him with homemade brownies. That falls flat, but her opportunity presents itself when the Gears, a group of boys causing mischief at school, streaks her friend Chili’s backyard while Logan, Chili, and Paige, are in the spa.

The Gears also paint nasty things about the Capricorn journalism teacher, Ms. Snider, on the wall at school. Logan decides to identify them using astrology. Frankenstein is intrigued.

Logan is Aquarius with a Pisces Moon. Pretty mellow, but her Aires Rising gives her some Fire. She decides to put it to work to get what she wants. With the fellowship—and Nathan—hanging in the balance, she resolves to trap the Gears on the night she is certain that they will strike again. It is a risky scheme that involves Calypso, a dress mannequin that the girls have dressed up to resemble Logan.

What Logan has failed to see in the stars is someone with a more deadly motive. Then suddenly, the stakes increase, and there’s more at risk than any of the threats by the Gears.