Blood Debt Author Interview, Review

I am so pleased to welcome author 

Nancy Straight to my blog today!

Nancy was born in Sioux City Iowa, left the cold of the Midwest in 1991 and only returns to see family in the summer time. She spent ten years traveling the world as a US Marine and settled in rural SC with her husband and two children.

She enjoys reading all types of Paranormal and Young Adult literature.

Q: Tell us something unusual about you. 

A: Hmmm, unusual?  I LOVE Starbucks’ White Mocha Latte and Mountain Dew, (but not together). I have a lead foot so I set cruise control when I drive, even in 25 MPH zones. I almost never win when I play Angry Birds, but have my 7 year old close, so he can clear the hard levels for me. I grew up on a farm and am opposed to eating fresh chicken (not opposed to meat - just opposed to any meat that was alive a few hours before lunch). I am a huge fan of the show, Big Bang Theory, on CBS. I have a stray cat that I feed every night and morning but she’s never let me get closer than within 3 feet of her – I keep thinking eventually I’ll wear her down and she’ll let me pet her. I share my life with two fantastic sons, three rotten dogs and a husband that I adore.

Q: What gave you your start as a writer?

A: A lawyer that I used to work with read something work related and told me I was one of the most compelling writers he’d ever met.  It’s funny how a single sentence of praise completely changed my life.

Q: Is there one of your books you feel the most passionate about? 

A: I think there are scenes in each one that have a real passionate punch for me.  Meeting Destiny – the ending, Destiny’s Revenge – the reunion, Destiny’s Wrath – the cabin.  But from a whole book perspective, Blood Debt is by far the book that I feel most passionate about.  (I think I have a crush on Drake and maybe even a girl-crush on Camille.)

Q: What has been your biggest inspiration behind Blood Debt? 

A: I’ve always thought Centaurs were cool, but there is almost nothing written about them, at least no books devoted to a Centaur theme.  Although I LOVE to read about Vampires, Werewolves, Demons, Angels and pretty much any paranormal creature – I really wanted to create a series that was unlike any other.  This was the inspiration behind the Touched Series.

Q: Is Camille’s character based off of anyone in particular? 

A: Camille’s based off of who we all want to be.  She’s strong, level-headed, self-sacrificing and witty.  Most of my friends are very strong, confident women and I think there’s a little bit of every woman that I admire in her.

Q: What has been your most memorable moment in your writing career? 

A: When I first joined goodreads, I think I had sold maybe twenty-five books.  I was still very new to the site, a friend request came in from Charles Young, followed by a message saying he had read Meeting Destiny and loved it.  Charles was my very first fan and I still message him regularly.  If any of you have ever sent a message like the one I received from Charles to a “Rookie” author, I can guarantee you will never comprehend the lifelong impact your simple act of kindness has made (or will make) in that author’s life!

Q: What has been your greatest challenge while writing?

A: MARKETING!!  My goodness I could write about clipping toenails if I had to.  But marketing my books is a challenge.  I have finally gotten over my fear of twitter and I’m getting better at Facebook.  Luckily, I have met some amazing people along the way (like you Jill!), who have gone out of their way to help me find readers.

Q: Where is your favorite place to write; what do you snack on?

A: I have a chair in my living room that I believe is the most comfy place on the planet.  In fact, as soon as my rear hits the chair, that’s the cue for Flash, my Jack Russell Terrier, to hop up and curl up next to me.  We both like Doritos and Ice Cream and find it inspires us!

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring YA authors? 

A: Geeze, there is so much I would tell an aspiring YA author, I think that would be a whole interview in itself.  Don’t let anyone discourage you.  Write every day.  Find other YA authors whose books give you big black circles under your eyes – get to know them and ask for advice.  I have only met one YA author in three years that wasn’t over-the-top friendly.  When you find great book bloggers – show them the love!!!  Many put in several hours per day, promoting unknown authors and books, without pay, and they do it for the love of reading.  I would give each of these bloggers a set of angel wings if I could!      

 Q: If you had to pick one author or book that has been the most influential to you who/what would it be?

A: Just one?  C’mon!  That’s totally not a fair question!!  How about if I only pick five?

Anyone that knows me at all knows that I idolize Shelly Crane.  We published our books within a few months of each other.  I noticed people that bought my books had also purchased hers.  So I purchased Shelly’s Significance, I was totally hooked.  I love the story, the characters, the pace – the book was an instant favorite.  I’d never heard of Shelly so I googled her.  I found her website, her facebook page, and several blogs where she had done guest posts.  I reached out to asking for advice.  I was hoping for (not expecting) maybe a sentence or two on how to promote my books, and what was working for her.  Shelly wrote me a short novel’s worth of advice.  I was so blown away I cannot tell you how many times I read her note.  The months that followed, I continued to ask for her opinion and each time she responded and was a real gem.  She is a World-Class, Genuinely-Sweet, Independent Author.  I hope every one of you that reads this buys all of her books and falls in love with them the way I have.

Rachel Higginson series was recommended to me by one of my friends on Goodreads.  OMG I read her series every spare second I had: in my car waiting for my son’s school bus to pick him up, in the kitchen while I was waiting for the oven to preheat, riding in the car on the way to the movie theater with my husband, at night, hours after I should have gone to bed.

Charlotte Abel is an Independent Author that first reached out to me about cross-promotion.  Before I agreed, I read her book Enchantment – again, I fell in love!  I’d never heard of cross-promoting before but was eager to do anything I could to work with such a talented author.

Shannon Dermott is cool.  She’s a mom, a writer, she has a job and she’s a college student.  Where she finds five minutes in her busy life to write, I don’t know.  Her books, Beg for Mercy  and Waiting for Mercy were so awesome that I read them twice!

Amy Bartol is one of the most gifted writers I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.  Her Premonition Series kept me reading until 4am.  If books were drugs, hers would be crack!

Q: What can you tell us about your works in progress? 

A: Blood Ties, Book 2 of the Touched Series, first draft was complete before I pushed “publish” on Blood Debt.  It is on its third round of edits right now and should be routing to my Beta readers in September.  Blood Bound, Book 3 of the Touched Series, is still in its infancy.  I like to have the next book written before I hit publish on the book before it.  That way if I need to insert any details into the earlier book I can.  Blood Ties is scheduled to release in December.

Thanks so much for letting me stop by for a chat today!  I’d love to hear from anyone that would like to connect with me.  You can find me:

Facebook / Blog / Goodreads / Twitter 

Her whole life, it had just been the two of them. Before her mother’s last breath, she gave Camille the information she had craved her entire life: the identity of her father. Daring to contact him, Camille was welcomed by an entire family she never knew existed. But nothing comes without a price, as she discovers when her family claims a legendary heritage tracing back to a centaur touched by Zeus.

As she learns the secrets of her Centaur bloodline, she is drawn into a forbidden love with Drake. Her life may be the blood debt required to pay for her mother’s transgressions. The same person who once held her mother captive, and forced her into decades of hiding, now controls Camille. Her only chance is to seek a piece of her mother’s past that will win her freedom and the life she desperately wants.

~ MY REVIEW ~

Blood Debt is an amazingly original book! I really enjoyed reading it! Nancy Straight has out done herself again! This is a great first book for her new series; Touched. 

I think I have found my new favorite paranormal subject! I have never read any book that revolves around Centaurs or even deals with their myths. Nancy stepped into uncharted territory with this book and built a fascinating and compelling world. This book is a refreshing change from all of the vampires and werewolves that are running amok in the literary world.  Blood Debt will easily find a place among favorites in the paranormal romance and fantasy genres.

Nancy did a wonderful job creating a believable and mythologically accurate history of the centaurian  race. Not to mention intriguing--these blood lines are full of secrets. I enjoyed the chivalrous manner of all the men and the fact that the female centaurs are actually the most revered. 

I was hooked by Camille's story and instantly drawn to her character. I liked her more and more as the story progressed. All though, at times I was frustrated with her for not trying as hard as she could have. She seems to give up too soon--like when trying to learn how to contact her mother. However, she is a strong character and acclimates quickly to her new life. And OH! the romance! So sweet and perfect. Instead of a cliche love triangle, the love in this book is more like a square. I am a huge fan of Drake. I am always a sucker for 'destined love' and Nancy does such an amazing job at writing the romance between her characters.

Blood Debt also holds an air of mystery about it and readers are in store for some shocking events. I was on the edge of seat towards the end of this book. I can not wait for the sequel!

I HIGHLY recommend reading this book to any paranormal romance fans, teen or adult. 

Nancy Straight is an AMAZING author and you do not want to miss out on Blood Debt!