Author Saturday Spotlight: SJ Himes #Interview #Giveaway

It's Author Saturday Spotlight day again! It's one of my most favorite things to post on this blog. Today I'm talking to an amazing author ans friend. SJ Himes (who also writes under the name Ravella Hawthorne) has written incredible stories such as The Wolfkin Saga and The Beacon Hill Sorcerer Series. On top of that she's active in social media and is awesome about interacting with her readers. She's an all around wonderful person and it's a pleasure to have her here today. We have an interview, a look at her work, and a wonderful giveaway so stick around!

In a world where magic is real and evil walks amongst humanity, a young sorcerer is beset upon by enemies, both old and new. Angelus Salvatore is the only necromancer in all of Boston, and his name is whispered warily by the undead and fellow sorcerers alike. He and his brother Isaac are the lone survivors of an attack by an army of the undead, in which Angel used a spell so powerful it forever marked his place in history. Now, years later, Angel struggles to balance his career as a teacher of the higher magical arts, his role as big brother, and a tenuous relationship with an Elder vampire from the local clan. When his brother’s boyfriend is used as a pawn in a mysterious plot to draw Angel out, Angel is once again pulled back into the old hostilities that fueled the Blood Wars and led to his family’s death.

Leaning on others for help is something Angel cannot do, and while he searches for clues into who may be targeting him and his brother, Angel finds his heart steadily growing occupied with Simeon, Elder and vampire. Dealing with death magic and vampires on a daily basis may leave Angel jaded when it comes to life and staying that way, but the more time he spends fending off the ancient vampire’s attention and affections, the more he realizes he wants to give in.

Can Angel find out who wants him dead, and keep his heart safe in the process? How can he fall for a vampire, when his whole family was torn apart by an army of the undead?

Death stalks the streets of Boston’s historic Beacon Hill….and there is no one more suited to battle against death than a necromancer.

An ancient civilization long hidden from humanity is on the brink of chaos and war.

Peaceful for thousands of years, the wolfkin clans are mysteriously losing packmates, kidnapped and killed by unknown foes. Among the dead is Luca, youngest grandson of the two most powerful wolves in the Northern Clans, but he is forced into a half-life, hidden in the far northern wilds of Canada and cut off from his kind. Those who raised him have no idea the creature they harbor in their midst, and name him Ghost. He begins to lose himself over the long years, and though he barely recalls his true name, the one wolf he never forgets is Kane.

Heir to the wolfkin clan Black Pine, Kane is charged with hunting down the traitors who them to the humans. Years fly by, and more wolves are dying. He refuses to give up, and he vows to never again fail another of their kind, as he failed young Luca years before. His heart tells him Luca lives, but his mind tells him that it’s foolish hope, his guilt eating him alive.

Fate and magic change the course of their lives, and the two wolves long separated by the years find their paths intertwining, though the reunion does not come without cost...

Haunted by his years at war, Boston paramedic Gael Dominic spends his time saving other people’s lives. An empty house, a single friend, and living at work, Gael is not content with his existence, but he’s close. Gael was expecting his overnight shift on Thanksgiving to be the same as always—manic crowds, heart attacks...until catastrophe strikes, and Boston’s streets run with blood.

On the run from an abusive and politically powerful father, Silas has been on the cold, mean streets of Boston for days, injured, hungry and alone. When he wakes up in the middle of a nightmare, he expects to die in the same alley he was calling home.

Brought together by tragedy, Silas and Gael can’t resist their attraction. Gael may have saved Silas, but it’s his alleyway angel who brings Gael back to life.

As Christmas approaches, Silas and Gael learn how to love, despite their pasts. And as Silas' past closes in, Gael learns the greatest gift he could ever give isn't something bought in a store, but freely given from the heart.

Interview

Well hello there Ms. Himes! It’s sort of cool having you here. We talk a lot on social media and are quite ridiculous on there. So those who simply read your books and don’t connect with you on social media probably have no idea you’re equally as awesome as your books! Today I’m going to ask you a bunch of questions. There will be no room for failure and you will be graded on it! So, get a drink now, lady!

Oh geezus. Ok. *nervous* and I love you to pieces. You have to be the kindest yet most sarcastic human being I have ever met, and that is impressive. *fidgets* OK...I think I’m ready. Begin the torture…*cough* I mean interview.

Let’s start off fun. Describe what you were like as a child in 3 words and then describe you now in 3 words.

Ha! Are you sure? Well, this will be interesting. As a child, I would have to say the three words for me would be : Smartass, Know-It-All, and Shy. Conflictory? Perhaps. But I was only ever brave when I knew I was right, so that led to me only speaking when I had an answer. That’s me as a kid--I spent my childhood inside books, and whenever questions arose, whether it was on TV during Jeopardy, in normal conversations, or at school, I had the answer. It was really bad there for a long time, as I was rarely wrong. Sure, if it was math, I was wrong ALL the time, but any other topic? I had the correct answer, and that resulted in a permanent moratorium on Kid Sheena answering ANY question. Strangely enough though, people fought over me when it came to Trivial Pursuit!
As an adult, the three words are:
Well, I asked my sister. Yes, I cheated.
And her answers are: Sarcastic, Insane and Quirky. Yes, there was an eyebrow lift to Quirky. She said I don’t behave as expected, but sometimes I do? I don’t think that word means what she thinks it means.*

I agree on the Sarcastic and Insane word choices, as to be an author, I think most of us have that level of scathing commentary…...what? My sister just walked back in and said to change the word from Quirky to Brave, but I’m not so sure about that. The bravest thing I’ve done lately was also the scariest, and that was publish my books. (I’m not crying, you’re crying.) And this is where Insane comes in.
Exposing that level of intimacy to the whole world--for others to see what I can do--or not--is still very frightening. It’s also a fear I can’t stop experiencing.

*Yes, a Princess Bride reference. I couldn’t help myself.

What is one thing about your writing that you’d say is consistent? 

This has to be the hardest question I have ever been asked. I don’t know how to answer this. Maybe I can answer it by saying that I find plot and characterization to be the most important thing about a story, and I always try to show that in my writing. I read for the characters. It’s why I write. I can’t write a stagnant character--everyone, even the villain, are shades of gray, and no one is without a flaw. I do my best to show the flaws and the virtues of every character I create.

Many authors have a WIP folder. Some WIPs see the light of day and others don’t. How many are in your folder and how many do you think will get published?

Let me open my WIP drive, and count:

1...2….16….24….1,863...Just kidding.

I have 27 WIPs. Yikes. I guess Insane was the right word!
One F/F, one F/M/F, and the rest are M/M. I plan on all these seeing the light of day eventually, I just need to live long enough to get them out there. I’m sure I’ll collect more along the way, too. I can tell you that three of them will be out in the next 6 months.

If you had one wish for this genre what would it be?

I wish for less drama. All I need to say, really.

Pick three authors in this genre that you’d love to meet and brainstorm with.

Oh!!! Ok. *nervous again* Just three? You are meeeaaannn. (To all my author friends reading this, she made me pick THREE. I want to say dozens. And if she asks me again it will change, as I want to sneak more of you in.)
First one: Luna David. We already brainstorm on tons of topics, but she and I have a bunch of the same interests and planning a book with her would be better in person. Plus, she’s funny. And sweet, and kind.
Sloan Johnson. Her work ethic is astounding. She leaves me feeling inadequate with how much she can accomplish in a single month. She is great at structuring a story, and using writing tools to get the best out her story. Her books are so damn real that I wish I could know her characters as authentic humans. Plus, she can read my mind over the internet, so it’ll probably be even better in person.
Third would be MA Church. One of the most original minds in the mm genre. Fantastic imagination and smarts. Her sci fi paranormal books are some of my absolute favorites, and she has this unique no-nonsense approach to keeping fantasy real that is amazing. Her books are so palatable because they are also plausible--even when we’re talking werecat shifters or alien mpreg.

You attended GRL in 2016 what were some of your favorite parts?

Putting faces to names. I’m not talking about just authors, either. I met so many m/m fans and readers there that I have met online that it was so cool to meet people in person. I was just there as a reader, and I got to fangirl over so many authors I look up to and admire. I left GRL 2016 with friends, real ones, that I am honored to say I still have now.
I semi-stalked Brandon Witt, ended up at a table with Jake Wallace, Alexa Land, Brina Brady, and Atom Yang for drinks and pictures, hung out with MA Church and Jordan Hawk, went to dinner with Riley Hart, Devon McCormack and Sloane Kennedy (along with Star and Dawn! Hi ladies!)--and I can keep going. Seriously, I feel bad, since I could write an entire dissertation about who I met and how great it was. Talking about regular things, too--it reminds me that even the best known authors are all people too, just like me, and they face uncertainty, self-doubt, pain and hurt--and that it’s okay for me to feel those things.  Authors are people. It was great to be reminded of that--and it makes their successes as authors even more marvelous.
 I spent so much time with friends I had made online--and I was gratified and touched that those people became friends in real life, too. Having that extra dimension of connectivity made the relationships so much stronger.

Will you be attending any conferences and/or conventions this year?

In 2017 I will be doing my best to attend GRL in Denver. I’m trying for author this time around, but if I can’t get in that way, I’m happy going as a reader again. I don’t have a firm enough answer yet on other conventions, but I’d like to attend Euro Pride Con this summer, too.

What are you currently working on?

I am finishing my final attempt at Wolf of the Northern Star, Book #2 in the Wolfkin Saga. I have tried four times to get this book out and it’s killing me. Not kidding, this book may end my life.
Once I’ve conquered Wolfkin II, it will be the FINAL Bred For Love book at #4, A Sovereign Vow. Then on to The Necromancer’s Reckoning, BHS#3.

All three books will be out in the next six months or so. I hope. *crosses fingers*

How can your readers follow your work? Website, FB, Twitter etc…

My website is www.sjhimes.com

My Official Author Pages on Facebook:
SJ Himes https://www.facebook.com/SJHimes/

Revella Hawthorne: https://www.facebook.com/revellahawthorne/

My Facebook Reader/Fan Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1261422587254973/

Twitter: @WriterSJHimes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjhimes1613/

 

Lastly, with a new and daunting four years ahead, what words of encouragements/ inspiration can you give the LGBT community?

When we stop protesting is when we let freedom die. Never stop protecting civil rights and liberties, for yourself or loved ones. Don’t let abuse and hatred become normal.

Fast Fire Questions:

Coffee or tea? (Our friendship hangs in the balance here) COFFEE first, then tea.

Day or night? Night. I hiss at daylight.

Facebook or Twitter? Facebook. Twitter feels too empty.

Dog or cat? Both, but my current pet is a dog. Micah says hi.

Wine or beer? Neither. I don’t really drink alcohol.

Favorite flower? Lilacs.

Favorite season? Autumn.

Favorite color? Vibrant dark blue.

Favorite smell? A bakery with coffee brewing next to an old book store. Trust me, it’s a smell you’ll never forget.

Okay, Miss thing! Thank you for being here today and gracing us with your amazingness! I can’t wait to see what you bring us this year.

Thank you for having me, I had tons of fun answering your questions. I have one of my own--do you moonlight for the CIA? Cuz you should. I need to lay down. This was haaaarrrdddd.

Giveaway

Enter the rafflecopter below for a 

reader's choice ebook from SJ Himes!!!

Contest will end on January 27th!

Thanks!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway