Dalene's Book Reviews: Interview with Abby Niles

The Awakening: Liam
The Awakening Book Two
Abby Niles

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Covet, Entangled Publishing
Date of Publication: 8/26/13
ISBN: 9781622662821
Number of pages: 206

Book Description:

Shifter, Liam Doyle knows Hell. At least he believed he did. The night he feels his mate die, he learns how very wrong he was. Nothing he’d struggled with since Ava’s rejection compares to the emptiness that fills his soul by her death. Lost in his grief, he’s taken by surprise and drugged. When he wakes, everything changes. Nothing is what it seems, and someone is dead set on making him pay.

When Ava Michaels is taken captive, she’s thrust into a dark and terrifying world along with the man she was forced to leave behind. While being near Liam again is heartbreaking, the motive behind her kidnapping is gradually revealed. The more she learns, the more she worries Liam isn’t the man she believed him to be. He has enemies willing to do anything to extract their revenge. Can their love survive a crazy man’s vengeance?

Amazon / B&N

About the Author:

Ever since Abby Niles picked up her first Sweet Valley High book in sixth grade and fell in love with Elizabeth and Todd, she’s been hooked on romance. By the time she reached high school, she was devouring meatier romances with pirates, cowboys and knights. She never imagined that those years of reading would one day lead to her becoming a published author.

In her late twenties, after having twins and becoming a stay-at-home mom, she started doodling stories to keep her sanity. Next thing she knew, she was actually submitting to publishing houses. And was immediately rejected. That didn’t stop her though. She found herself some kickass critique partners, honed her craft, and continued submitting.

And eventually sold a short story, then a novella, then a novel, and now a series.

Today, she juggles work, home life, and writing. It’s not always easy, but hey, who said life was easy?

In her downtime, which isn’t often, you can find her playing ‘Just Dance’ with her kids or trying to catch up on her never-ending to-be-read list. She also loves Zumba, and refuses to admit she looks more like Animal doing his Muppet flail than a sensual Latin dancer.

Giveaway:

$50 Amazon or BN Gift Card (Winner’s Choice)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with Abby Niles:

1) First, tell us about yourself – where you live, your family, and those sorts of details.

I live in a suburban town right outside of Charlotte, NC. I’m a single momma to nine-year-old boy/girl twins. For the last two years, I’ve worked at a gym in the childwatch department. It’s a pretty sweet job that allows me to take my kids with me to work when I need to, which has been perfect for the summers.

2) How long have you been writing?

A little over nine years. When I became a stay-at-home mom, I had a hard time adjusting. I’d worked since I was sixteen, and I didn’t realize how much I socialized with adults until I was at home with two infants all day. I couldn’t even read to “escape.” When I tried, I couldn’t even get into the story and found myself picking the book apart. Looking back, I blame it on mommy fatigue. I have never been so bone-weary exhausted as I was during the twin’s first year. But I needed something to do for me. One day, I just started writing my own book during naps. Nine years later, I can’t believe I haven’t written my whole life. I love it that much.

3) Do you have a favorite place to write?

On the couch in the living room. I write in my bedroom from time to time when the house is chaotic, but after a few hours it feels like the walls are closing in on me. I have a large, open living room and I can write in there all day without feeling claustrophobic.

4) Why did you decide to write The Awakening: Liam?

I love the bonding instinct you find in a lot of shifter romance. There is something especially romantic about it. But I started questioning what would happen if the bonding could have serious consequences. What if that instinct wasn’t accurate 100% of the time? What if a shifter bonded himself to his mate and his mate then rejected him without bonding back? And Liam started to form in my mind. After that, the whole world seemed to blossom. I did have a false start with this series. I tried to start with Liam’s story and saw very quickly through my CP’s that I started with the wrong character.

5) Who is your favorite character in your book and why?

Liam. His story has been with me from the very beginning, way before Aidan and Britton were even a thought. It was his story I ached to tell. Aidan and Britton became happy bonuses that sprouted from Liam. So Liam is special to me.

6) How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

The villain. Without giving too much away, he does some horrendous things to Ava that are unforgivable.

7) Do you proofread/edit your own books or do you get someone to do that for you?

My editors at Entangled edit my books and they do a superb job at making me dig deeper and challenging the hell out of me. With each edit I do with Entangled, I come out on the other end a better writer. Huge shout-out to Guillian, Nina and Candy.

8) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Between the day job, deadlines and being a single mom, I don’t have much time to do anything. I do like to work-out and fit it in whenever I can. It helps clear my head. On occasion, I like play poker with my friends and have a relaxing night without worrying about my never-ending to-do list.

9) Do you read much and if so who are your favorite authors?

I read when I can, which isn’t as much as I would like. I’m a huge Karen Marie Moning fan. I was introduced to her years ago through, To Tame a Highland Warrior. I’ve devoured every books she’s put out since, including the Fever series. Jericho Barrons, need I say more? I’m also a huge Jennifer Armentrout fan. By the time this interview posts, her new book, Origin, from the Lux series will be out and sitting on my Kindle. I’m dying to read it. The chances I’ll be able to as soon as it downloads is nil. BUT it will be a nice reward after finishing edits on Britton’s story Daemon will burn the world to save Kat, and I can’t wait to read him doing it!

10) What question do you wish that someone would ask about your book, but nobody has? Write it out here, then answer it.

What is your favorite scene in the book?

That would be the one where Ava finds something that Liam had made for her. Everything in that scene and the one that follows is so bittersweet and so achingly honest that it continues to stay with me. It is definitely up there in my top three favorite scenes in all the books I’ve written.

Thank you Abby for being my guest today.