Ignite Blast Hop & Tour

Brickstone Publishing is celebrating the launch of Ignite a book of tastefully erotic short stories, and I have one of the contributing authors here today. By the way, my treasure hunt word is "flibbertigibbet." Scroll down to find out what the heck I'm talking about! Hint: there's a treasure hunt and prizes involved!

CLICK THE COVER TO SEE IT LARGER!
         

Ignite Blast: You will not believe all the fun & prizes that are going on! Keep reading!

About the book:

Whether you’re a woman who has put passion on the back burner, or you’re a hot mama who has been keeping things aflame, these stories are sure to light your fire!

About Shenoa Carroll-Bradd's short story:

“Beheld” is the story of a woman who is encouraged into embracing her sexuality, despite perceiving herself as physically “damaged.”

Interview with Shenoa Carroll-Bradd

How long have you been writing, and how did you start?
I grew up surrounded by avid readers and writers, so my love of the written word started early. I wrote little fairy tales and ghost stories in elementary school, and attempted my first novel in 4th grade.
Most of my early stuff was terrible, but whose isn’t? 
I don’t have any set schedule or routine for my writing, but I try to write a little every day, just to keep my motivation and spirits up. If I don’t write, I end up feeling low energy and pessimistic and like I’ve wasted the day. 

What’s your favorite line from a book?
Off the top of my head, I’d say: “She’s a woman, Your Highness, and that’s riddle enough,” from The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. The whole book is a beautiful dream, with some of the freshest language I’ve ever read in a fantasy tale, even though it was written in the seventies.
That line in particular speaks to me, because no one is simple. Every human being is complex and contradictory and unique, something I try to keep in mind when developing characters. No one is just a geek or a dumb blonde, and to write characters that way robs them of their vitality and truth. 

Tell us a book by an indie author for which you’re an evangelist.
I would love to! My mother, Linda Carroll-Bradd, writes really sweet and charming romance books. Her most recent release is Rekindled Dreams, about a woman who returns to her little hometown in search of inspiration and reconnects with a childhood crush. Her work can be found on Amazon.com, and her homepage.

What would your main character say about you?
The main character of “Beheld” would probably say I sounded nice and that I should smile more.

If you could be one of your characters, which one would you choose?
I would want to be Z’el, the protagonist of my fantasy novelette “The Minstrel Angel”. I would love the freedom of his wings and his primal fierceness.

Who are your favorite authors?
My favorite authors are Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill, Stephen King, Tamora Pierce, and George R.R. Martin. 


You get to decide who would read your audiobook. Who would you choose?
I would absolutely choose Benedict Cumberbatch. His voice can turn anything into reverent poetry.

Benedict Cumberbatch: Best. name. ever. Okay, I don’t claim to be an expert on writing, but there are some writing techniques (or mistakes) that stand out to me when I read (e.g. when an author switches POV mid-scene). What’s one pet peeve you have when you read?
I’ll admit I get annoyed when characters don’t act or speak genuinely, when they behave more like cartoons than real people. It pulls me right out of the scene and forcefully reminds me I’m reading fiction. It breaks the spell.

Where and when do you prefer to do your writing?
I’m actually pretty lucky, in that I can write practically anywhere: planes, cars, bars...I learned early in life how to tune out noise and distractions.

You’re given the day off, and you can do anything but write. What would you do?
I would probably invite friends over to have a movie marathon, like watching all the Star Wars films, or the extended Lord of the Rings trilogy.

What would your dream office look like?
I love the romantic idea of a little writing room in the garret of a house, with low, slanted ceilings and a window overlooking trees or a river. Facing east, preferably, so I could catch the light as the world woke. And, since I’m dreaming, I’d like a little bar, rows of bookshelves, and a dog bed right at my feet.  

Are you happy with your decision to publish with Brickstone Publishing?
I’m thrilled to be working with Brickstone Publishing on “Ignite.” They’ve been so friendly and professional, and have done a great job of making me feel like part of a team. Plus, I love all the work they’ve put into marketing efforts, since that’s often the hardest aspect of platform building for me.

What’s one of your favorite quotes?
“Tomorrow may be hell, but today was a good writing day, and on the good writing days nothing else matters.” – Neil Gaiman
Most of my favorite quotes come from Mr. Gaiman, actually. Whenever I feel discouraged or frustrated, I listen to his “Make Good Art” speech, and it always spurs me on.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
When not writing or reading, I love to bake and draw and paint and occasionally crochet.

What are you working on now?
I challenged myself last December to write and submit at least one story a month. I ended up writing closer to one a week, and am wrapping up the year of shorts so I can focus on a series of fantasy novels I have in the works.

About the author:

Shenoa Carroll-Bradd lives in Southern California with her brother and dancing dog. She writes whatever catches her fancy, from erotica, to horror, to fantasy.
Regarding her short story, “Beheld” in the Ignite anthology, she says, “I wrote this in the spirit of celebrating inner beauty and appreciating the added character and value accrued over a life well-lived.”

Shenoa has been in love with stories all her life, and is happiest with a pen in hand. She was raised in California, spent a decade in Texas, and has now returned to live on a street where she can see both palm trees and mountains.
Connect with Shenoa:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Buy the book:
Amazon | Brickstone Publishing |

Connect with Brickstone Publishing:
Facebook | Twitter

Professional reviews, author interviews, guest articles, and TREASURE HUNT!

   
1. Grab a pen & paper
   
2. Visit each of the blogs in the linky below to see their reviews, interviews, & articles
   
3. While you're there, WRITE DOWN THEIR TREASURE HUNT WORD!
   
4. Scroll down to the prize entry form below and get tons of extra entries for inputting the treasure hunt words!

The BIG giveaway! Over 40 prizes! Yes, seriously!

Use the entry form below to enter to win any of the 40+ prizes! Don't forget to collect the treasure hunt words from the blogs above to get TONS of extra entries! PLEASE CLICK HERE TO OPEN A NEW WINDOW THAT SHOWS THE PRIZES/PHOTOS IN GREATER DETAIL. You may need to wait a minute for the entry form to load. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Don't forget to visit the rest of the celebration!

There's a Kindle Fire Giveaway and a Trip to Vegas Giveaway! Click here to go to them!