Dana's YA Bookpile: Bonded Against Fate

I write because…

It’s my favorite thing in the world to do. I’ve been making up stories for as long as I can remember. I love writing.

If I were your favorite cookie, what would I be?

I would be white chocolate macadamia nut cookie.

Plotter or pantster?

I’m a total pantster.

What is your favorite type of character to write about and why?

I write strong women. I am a strong woman so these characters speak the loudest to me.

Hamburgers or sushi?

Sushi, but nothing raw.

Name three things on your desk.

My desk is pretty sparse I only have my iPod, notebook, and laptop.

What books have influenced your writing style?

I read a lot less now than I used to because don’t want my voice to mimic anyone. I hope my books aren’t influenced.

Tell us a little about your book.

I am published under a different pen name with many adult romance publishers. This is my first YA series and I’m really proud of these characters and their story. This is the blurb:

Annika Valon isn’t your typical high school girl. She has an out-of-this-world destiny. Her friend Casmir and her foster parents Jayne and Victor have kept her safe, but when the shadows come for her, only Cas’s mysterious older brother can save her.

Her foster parents are aliens, and so is she. Her best friend is secretly aspiring to take a mythical vow to protect her, and there’s a planet in another dimension where forces are conspiring to kill her because she’s an honest-to-God princess. She finds herself magically bonded to her bestie’s big, hot brother. Oh, and she has a killer trigonometry test in the morning. High school just became a lot more alien.

What advice do you have for new and aspiring authors?

Just write. Don’t worry about anything but getting the story out into the computer. Find a local writers group and learn from others.

What is next on your writerly horizon?

I’m going to finish this series and keep working on my adult stuff too. My current grown up work in progress is really making my muse purr right now.

Top 5 favorite (pick one) desserts, movies, things to eat, ice cream flavors, books.

movies

Blurb and cover:

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Annika Valon groaned and her eyes ached from studying. Trigonometry was her worst nightmare. She'd lose her shot at valedictorian if she didn't study harder and ace the test. Her computer monitor told her it was past midnight so she shut down her laptop.

The small town's quiet broke as a slow moving car rumbled on the residential street outside her house. Light from the headlights darted across her pink bedroom walls. Standing up and stretching, she rubbed her shoulder absentmindedly before walking into her bathroom.

Annika stripped to put on her pajamas and while tossing her dirty shirt in the hamper she caught a glimpse of the mark on her right shoulder in the mirror's reflection. Self-consciously she hurried to put on a soft, pink pajama top. She'd had the strange half-moon tattoo on her right shoulder as long as she could remember. It was black and small. Sometimes she swore it tingled, which was ridiculous. The mark had bothered her lately. The symbol always reminded her of the amnesia that left a big void where her earliest years should be. Her gut tightened and there was an aching in her chest.

She shuddered. Only a monster would tattoo a child. She had no memories of her biological mother or father, or any memory before she was five and had come to live with Jayne and Victor Winter. When she thought about her mysterious ink, she was grateful she didn't know the people who'd branded her. They had to be evil. Does evil lurk inside of me too? Am I like them?

Annika picked up her hairbrush and looked up in the mirror. A shadow flashed behind her. She gasped. The large pink plastic hairbrush slipped from her fingers and clattered as it hit the sink. Turning around she saw nothing.

Annika squeezed her eyes shut tightly. It was happening again—she was seeing shadows—again. She'd kept her slow progression into insanity a secret, because she didn't want her parents to send her away.

She looked into the mirror again. This time the shape just stood there looking at her. Her own long black hair wasn't the culprit of the movement. The shadow was about the same height as she was. Its eyes glowed with an eerie blue light. The way it was looking at her made her feel sick. The thing radiated malice and hatred.

Annika gripped the sink for support and a shiver ran down her spine. This was the longest the image had remained. She could feel its gaze boring into her back. The only sound she heard was her thundering heart. She gazed at her reflection, but watched the shadow out of the corner of her eye. If she moved, it would go away.

Annika bit her lip and sucked a deep breath into her lungs. She'd never tried to talk to it before.

"What do you want?" she whispered.

It raised its transparent arm-like appendage and pointed at her. Cold terror rolled through her belly and made her shiver. She looked away into her own wide-with-fear green eyes. Then she gathered the courage to look at the shadow's image again. It was still there and it was still pointing at her. The nightmare stood menacingly behind her until it slowly began fading.

When it was finally gone, she relaxed her tense muscles. A breath she'd been unconsciously holding hissed out of her lungs. Deflated, she stood shaking. The encounter left her physically drained, as always. The first time she'd seen one of the shadows she'd ended up sick in bed for two days.

Over the last year she'd become accustomed to the horrible oily sensation of cold dread accompanying her spectral visitor. Her evolving reaction made her wonder if her body was building up a tolerance to seeing things. Does crazy make you physically sick too?

Forcing herself to remain calm and willing herself to be sane, she brushed her teeth and then washed her face. I am normal. This is normal. Everything is okay and normal and I'm not crazy. She looked in the mirror for confirmation she was alone and nodded at herself.

She had no idea if insanity ran in her family tree, but if she had a choice, she was going to be rational. On shaking legs, she left the bathroom.

Annika pulled back the quilt to lay down on her twin bed and stared up into the darkness. The glow-in-the-dark stars affixed to the light pink canopy over her head normally were a comfort, but not tonight. Change was coming. Darkness stalked her and she knew there was nowhere to hide.

***

Blurb

When everyone wants to use you, how do you know what’s right?

About the author:

Tamsyn Monroe is a busy working mom. She loves her kids and family. Her greatest joy is creating stories to entertain others, and she hopes they bring a little more romance into the world. She's been writing since her teens for her own enjoyment,but decided in her thirties to share her imagination with readers.Tamsyn enjoys biking, camping, reading, video games, and filling her home and life with love. If she's not working or chasing children, you can find her daydreaming up her next tale of romance.

Tamsyn's Website: www.tamsynmonroe.webs.com

Reader eMail: tamsynmonroe@outlook.com