Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Giveaway and Interview with Laura DeLuca and her book Phantom


Welcome to this stop on Laura's virtual tour of Phantom.  I love all things having to do with The Phantom of the Opera, so I jumped at the chance of reviewing this book.  I must say it was an absolutely delightful read!!  You can take a look at my review here: http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/2012/06/review-phantom-by-laura-deluca.html I was also fortunate enough to catch Laura in an interview.  Let's take a look at what she had to say:

How old were you when you first realized you wanted to write? I was writing poetry in kindergarten and wrote my first play in second grade, so writing has definitely always been in my blood.

Most authors have an unusual story or way that they come up with their ideas for books…Do you have one? Certain scenes and characters might be influenced by the places and people around me, but I think my muse visits me at night. Most of my main ideas and plots come from dreams. I’ll have the strangest dreams, and usually I’m not even in them. 

What was your biggest influence that steered you towards writing?  A psychic once told me that my gift for writing clung to me from my previous life. It seems reasonable since I wanted to write for as long as I can remember. 

I have to ask, what are the hardest scenes for you to write? Death scenes can be tricky. In YA literature, you can’t be too gruesome, but you still want to shock people and scare them a little. It really has to be worded just right to achieve this with the limitations you encounter in young adult novels.

Are sex scenes difficult for you to word? Sex can only be implied in young adult novels so I haven’t really tried to write a detailed sex scene yet.

Do you see yourself writing in another genre?  I am considering branching out and writing adult novels in the future.

Has your family been supportive? My family is amazing. They  read my books back when they were just unpublished manuscripts, and helped check for mistakes. Even my eleven year old daughter is becoming an editor. My husband gets the most credit though. We have so little time without kids, and I spend most of it in front of my computer, but he never complains. 

Are any of your characters reflective of you? There usually at least one character that has some similarities to me. In Phantom, the heroine, Rebecca, has some of my qualities, like her nervous energy, and her love of the Phantom of the Opera.  But in the end, she morphed into her own person, and surprised even me with her metamorphosis.

What do you like to do when you're not writing? I love to read, go the beach, go on nature trails, meditate…And now I want to get off the computer and go do all those things! (Comes back two hours later to complete this interview)

Who is your favorite book heroine? I love Morgana from the Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. She is a strong, independent woman. I especially loved reading about her life as a priestess in Avalon. It was reading this book which helped me to discover my own spiritual calling in this life.

Do you have any unusual habits that revolve around writing? I always handwrite my first draft. Other writers’ think that’s insane in today’s modern world, but it just flows better for me that way. Plus, I can do it anywhere at any time, and I don’t need electricity.

What is your favorite mystical creature? I have a thing for werewolves, probably because my husband looks like one. Or maybe he looks more like Chewbacca…..

What were some of your biggest challenges at the beginning of your career?  Just getting your foot in the door is a challenge. Most agents and publishers judge your work based on a five paragraph query letter, and it’s hard to get them to want to see more when you’re unpublished. But if you keep trying, eventually your work will find its home.

How do you feel about reader comments? I love to hear what my readers think of my work! Both the positive and the negative comments are read and appreciated because I can’t grow and become better without criticism.

Do you have any advice for new authors? Learn to take criticism and use it to improve your work. This is a harsh business at times, and I have gotten some rejections that made me want to cry. But when I really listened to what they were saying, I could see where my work needed improvement, and it’s made me a better writer, which has subsequently led to me getting published.

Where are your books available? Amazon, Barne & Noble, Smashwords, and Pagan Writers Press

What can we expect from you in the future? I am currently working on a fantasy novel called Morrigan. Morrigan is a teenage witch who has been shuffled from one foster home to another all her life.  Now she is about to discover she is a princess from the mystical land of Tír Na NÓg. The handsome werewolf Filtiarn guides her through countless perils to find her mother, Ceridwyn, and grandmother, Hecate. Only together can they complete the magical triad and save their world. 

Where can we reach you and become informed of updates?
Book Trailer on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_p6Qtq7Ivs    (Trailer for the sequel is not ready yet, but should be before 6/11)

Let's take a look at the book details:


When her high school drama club decides to produce the musical phenomenon, “Phantom”,, Rebecca finds herself in the middle of an unlikely love triangle and the target of a sadistic stalker.

Rebecca lands the lead role of Christine, the opera diva. She finds herself torn between her two co-stars—Tom the surfer, who plays the lovable hero, and Justyn, the strangely appealing Goth who is more than realistic in the role of the tortured artist.

Almost immediately after casting, strange things happen both on and off the stage as people are hurt in true phantom style. Is Justyn bringing to life the twisted character of the phantom? Or are the roles of the hero and the villain reversed? Rebecca doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she’s running out of time as opening night draws closer. To reveal the identity of the real-life Phantom, Rebecca must strip away his mask—and in doing so, risk her own life

This was a really great book!!  And now you get a chance to win it!!  Just fill out the rafflecopter!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


8 comments:

andieleah said...

I have seen Phantom of The Opera live...there is nothing like it. Everyone should see it.

andieleah78@gmail.com

bookaholicsxoxo said...

I own the movie and love it!! My favorite part is when she meets the phantom and hes takes her to his lair :) and I love musicals

Shadow said...

I have the movie and ive watched it a hundred times or more. I love it! I really love the plot, the music, the romance... *sigh* I always feel bad for the Phantom. :/ Poor guy. Love this movie! This book sounds awesome! Definitely gonna have to grab a copy. Thanks for sharing!

wanda f said...

I havent read the book or seen the movie .My favorite classical story is Great Expectations

angie lilly said...

I saw the most recent movie and just thought the dude who played the phantom was super hot...his voice was SO sexy!!!!!
Angie aka Tofu Fairy
14earth at gmail dot com

lilyk said...

My favorite thing about Phantom of the Opera is the beautiful songs.

angie lilly said...

who won?

angie lilly said...

Is there a place where you post winners' names? I could not find this info anywhere. Thanks!

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