Wednesday 9 September 2015

BLOG TOUR - DREAMTHIEF BY TAMARA GRANTHAM

Title: Dreamthief
Author: Tamara Grantham
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Crimson Tree Publishing
Release Date: 1st September 2015

BLURB from Goodreads
Visiting Faythander is a nasty business. Forget the fairies and unicorns, most people come back with lost memories and mental problems. Olive Kennedy knows. She's the therapist who treats patients suffering from Faythander's side effects. Despite her empty bank account, she takes pride in her job as Houston’s only Fairy World medical doctor. She's never failed to cure a client—until now.

Traveling back to Faythander wasn't on Olive's to-do list. But she has no choice. The fate of both Earth and Fairy depends on her ability to stop an ancient being called the Dreamthief. To complicate matters, she may be losing her heart to someone who can’t love her in return. Saving the world, she can handle. Falling in love—not so much.

As if battling the forces of evil wasn't difficult enough…


PURCHASE LINKS


EXCERPT

“Want inside?” someone asked. I looked up to see a man leaning against the doors. Where did he come from? His facial hair, broad shoulders, and bare feet told me he wasn’t an elf. His hands looked strong enough to split someone’s skull. Blond hair, blue eyes, tanned skin; he looked like he’d come straight from Asgard.
“You’re Wult?” I asked him.
“What gave it away?”
“Do you know how to get in there?” I asked.
“Can’t,” he said. “They’re locked in. Been in there for two weeks now. Can’t even come out for a piss.”
Lovely. “If they’re locked up, then why aren’t they all crying and screaming and begging for help?”
“Wults never cry. And they won’t beg for help.”
A roar of laughter rattled the doors. “Sounds like they’re miserable,” I said.
“Trust me, they are.”
“How did you get out?”
He winked. “I have my ways.”
He pried his massive frame off the wall to stand at his full height, and I made a mental note. Never get in a fight with this guy.
“I could help you get inside if you wish.”
“Could you?” I stood and crossed to the doors. He moved in front to block them.
“It will cost you.”
Here we go—the old Wult bargaining game. I wasn’t in the mood to play.
“I have no money.”
He eyed my bag. “Surely you have something of value.”
“No,” I snapped. “I have nothing you’d be interested in. Either let me inside, or this conversation is over.”
“Show me what’s inside the bag, and then we’ll decide if the conversation is over.”
I tightened my grip around the strap. “What happens if I refuse?”
He leaned forward. “Do you really want to find out?”
Magic throbbed under my fingertips. Would I have to use it?
“Very well,” he said with a wink. “I have decided that asking nicely shall be your price.”
I exhaled. My magic receded for now. “What makes you think I won’t ask nicely? You just met me.”
“I’m very good at reading faces.”
“Unless you’re genuinely interested in helping me, I suggest you move aside.”
He ducked his head in a courteous bow. “If that is your wish.” He stepped aside. “You see—you didn’t ask nicely.” He tapped his nose. “Told you.”
I exhaled a frustrated sigh and stood to face the doors. I gave the handle a good jerk.
“Try knocking,” he suggested.
I glared at him, then I knocked. I’m not completely stubborn. After a minute and a half of banging on the doors, I decided to try a new approach. I turned to Thor the Skullsplitter. Obviously, he’d known knocking wouldn’t work.
“Could you help me?” I asked. After a pause, I added, “Please?”
His smile broadened, revealing clean white teeth that dentists everywhere would have praised. “You can ask nicely.”
I crossed my arms. “Are you going to help me or not?”
He mimicked me and crossed his arms. Muscles bulged under his shirt. I tried not to notice. “It will still cost you.”
Oh, good grief. “But I asked nicely! Does it look like I have anything to trade?”
“I didn’t ask for a trade.”
“Look,” I said, attempting to stay even-tempered. “You want something? Fine. But I’ve got nothing right now. How about I pay you later?”
“Later is no good.”
“Then I’ll find my own way in.” I turned my attention to the locked doors. I could always use magic… I’d hoped I wouldn’t have to resort to that, but I didn’t have time to bargain, I didn’t have time to beg, and my patience was growing very thin.
Picking locks wasn’t my expertise, but blowing stuff up? That I could handle.
Focusing my energy, I held my hands an inch away from the wood, closed my eyes, and concentrated. I needed the symbol for door. Or better yet, the symbol for wood. In my mind, I created a picture of an oak tree and held it there. My magic surfaced. With controlled force, I let the magical energy burst through my fingertips and slam into the doors.
A loud crack erupted through the hall. The doors split apart and clattered to the ground with a thud. Dust rose from the rubble. A room full of Wult warriors stared at me with wide, red-rimmed eyes.
Hey Skullsplitter, guess I didn’t need your help after all.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it? 
It took me one month to write my first book’s first draft, which was a little unusual. Now it takes me about 4-5 months from start to finished draft.
 
Do you have a favourite character from your books? and why are they your favourite? 
My favorite character is Kull. He’s sarcastic, over-confident, and never fears to say what’s on his mind—which are all traits that I don’t possess, so perhaps that’s why I like writing about him.

If you had to choose to be one of your characters in your book/books which would you be? and why?
I would want to be Olive. She gets to take fantastic adventures in faraway worlds, and I think it would be an incredible experience.

Where do you get your book plot ideas from?What/Who is your inspiration?
Dreamthief started out as a question asked by my brother-in-law. He worked as a military policeman at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma. Apparently, he’d pulled over quite a few people who were a little off. They also happened to display fairies and unicorns on their car’s bumpers. “Are people who read fantasy books and collect fairy stuff a little weird?” he had asked.
Hmm… Were they? And if they were, then why? These questions evolved into my book’s premise. What if they’ve really been to fairy world and can’t remember it? And what if their lost memories are causing their societal abnormalities and mental disorders? And if so, who would treat them? A half-elf who can remember both earth and fairy world? After that, I had a fresh new book to write.

How do you come up with the Title and Cover Designs for your book/books?Who designed the Cover of your books?
I’m very lucky to have a fabulous cover designer. Her name is Marya Heiman, and she does all the covers for Clean Teen and Crimson Tree. She worked with me to help me come up with a cover that I loved—and I hope other people will love to!

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
I had written several chapters when Dreamthief finally stuck.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books? 
I use Google translate and find Latin roots of words, or I find names that I think are cool, and then change them up a little. I also research Viking names for my Wult characters.

Are character names and place names decided after there creation? or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them? 
Usually I start out with a word, but then change it as the story is fleshed out more.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
I try to have it all planned out beforehand. It really annoys readers when your character acts a different way than they’re supposed to—and I attribute this to a lack of planning, or a lack of consistent editing.

Do you basic plot/plan for your book, before you actually begin writing it out? Or do you let the writing flow and see where it takes the story?
I have to plot, otherwise, the story never goes where I want it to.


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