Release Day for Scorpius over at The Popculturedivas!

Join me at The Popculturedivas for the launch of my second novel, Book 1 of the Dragonsfyre trilogy.

Thursday Thirteen - 201 - 13 Questions For Daisy Piper, Author of Princess Callie and the Totally Amazing Talking Tiara

Today is a very special day here at A Piece of My Mind.

Today is the official launch of my sister's debut Tween release, Princess Callie and the Totally Amazing Talking Tiara.

For the Tween market, she's writing as Daisy Piper - you can check out her website HERE.

1 - Daisy, what attracted you to the Tween market?

I just naturally gravitated towards it. My favorite TV shows are iCarly, Wizards of Waverly Place, and SpongeBob, so I guess I'm really still a kid at heart!

2 - You've published directly to Kindle and Smashwords. Do you find that your target readership prefers the electronic device format?

It's been suggested in several news stories lately that by the year 2020, 95% of all reading will be done on a screen. Right now, there are 15 million Kindle devices out there, and some companies are developing e-readers specficially for children, to be released by Christmas 2011. So, right now, e-reading is in its infancy. But I definitely think it's the way of the future. I myself have a Kindle and Kobo, and I love them.

3 - Do you think it's easier or more difficult to capture a young reader's attention for a full-length story in this age of the 140-character tweet?

I think it's definitely more of a challenge. Most young readers use multiple forms of social media on a daily basis, communicating at the click of a button. You have to catch and hold their attention quickly, and keep your story moving in order to compete with the myriad choices of entertainment out there.

4 - What role is social media playing in the way a Tween writer reaches her audience?

It's playing a huge role. Twitter, Facebook, blogs--these are powerful tools for any writer to use in reaching their readers, especially a tween audience. Tweens are texting each other about what interests them: hot new movies, music, and books. Things can go viral very quickly.

5 - Who were your most influential Children's/YA authors when you were a young reader?

C.S.Lewis
Madeline L'Engle
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Joan Aiken
Judy Blume
Richard Peck

6 - Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I'm a little of both! I do plot the book before I start writing, but as the story develops, it always takes a few twists and turns I hadn't planned.

Do you stick to a schedule when you write? And do you have daily or weekly word or page goals?

I am very good at setting page count goals and sticking to them when I have a deadline. But I've also been known to just "wing it" sometimes, too.

7 - Tell us about Callie.

Callie Richards is the main character of the series. Two years prior to the beginning of the story, her mother was killed in a car accident. Since then, Callie has had to deal with the emotional toll of losing a parent, as well as navigating tweendom without her Mom's guidance.

On the morning of her twelfth birthday, a mysterious message appears in her cereal. She thinks it's a practical joke, until more discoveries lead her to a magical land which desperately needs her help.

But Callie finds out that things aren't always what they seem, and being a magical princess is a lot tougher than she bargained for. Callie is a wonderful, spunky character that I hope my readers love as much as I do.

8 - And Lewis?

Lewis Farnsworth is Callie's best friend. He's always there for Callie when she needs him.

He's incredibly intelligent, and reads books like Physiology of Amoebae, and A Short History of Rocks. He has a quirky sense of humour, and provides a lot of comic relief in the story. One reader mentioned to me that Callie and Lewis reminded her of an old married couple, even though they're twelve!

9 - What about Wanda?

Wanda Morris is the class bully, who gets swept up in Callie and Lewis's adventure in the magical world of Albion. This character actually "bullied" her way into the story, as I was writing it. I had not planned her at all, but during one scene she just appeared.

I knew she had an interesting story of her own, and would make a great addition to the plot. Even though I've cast Wanda as a villain, she's actually one of my favorite characters, because she is so complex.

10 - What was the inspiration for the Talking Tiara?












The Talking Tiara is based on the Russian Fringe Tiara, also known as the George III Tiara, from the personal collection of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. I was attracted to the spiked fringe of this tiara because to me, it resembled teeth. I pictured these teeth and jaws growling and snapping, with magical powers of their own.












I just LOVE that tiara. And I love that it was Queen Elizabeth's 'something borrowed' on her wedding day.

11 - You know that I'm also more than a little partial to dragons. Is there a dragon featured in the story?

Every princess needs a dragon, and Callie is no different. In the magical world of Albion, Callie is given a royal dragon to act as her life-long protector. She names him Earle, and though he's big, has purple scales and can breathe fire, he's a lot like an uncoordinated puppy with wings. Earle will definitely steal your heart!


12 - This is the first book in a series. When will the next Princess Callie e-book hit e-reader screens?

Princess Callie and the Fantastic Fire-Breathing Dragon, Book II of the Callie Chronicles, will be available shortly - late Spring 2011. Check my website for updates.

13 - Will Princess Callie and the Totally Amazing Talking Tiara be available as a print book?

Yes, it will be available very soon, through CreateSpace, Amazon's print-on-demand platform.

Well, thank you for launching your book here at A Piece of My Mind - this has been a whole ton of fun!

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Here's an exclusive excerpt from Princess Callie and the Totally Amazing Talking Tiara - enjoy!


They used Callie’s flashlight to guide their way down the bumpy road. Soon they came upon a big double wooden gate. It stood in the middle of the wall, flanked by two torches that burned orange in the black night. Above the gate, two hideous looking gargoyles stood guard. A weathered iron plaque proclaimed Grimstead Gate to passersby.

Callie’s breath caught in her throat and her heart pounded painfully in her chest. “Lewis, this place was in my dream. It’s exactly the same--the gate, the torches, everything! But I’ve never been here before. How do I remember a place I’ve never been?”

“Beats me, Cal. Maybe we’ve discovered another dimension. You know, this would make a great science project. Something like this would garner a lot of attention in the scientific community. We’d have our pick of universities lining up to give us scholarships.”

“Scholarships? Lewis, we’re only in the sixth grade,” Callie pointed out.

“It’s never too early to start planning for your higher education.” He grinned.

Then something happened that made Callie’s breath catch in her throat. A voice came out of the night. Then another one. They weren’t just any voices. They were gruff and scary, and seemed to be talking about her.

“I tell ye, it’s her.”

“Her, who?”

“Princess Calandria—of the Royal House of Arraband.”

“’Ow d’ye know?”

“I’ve seen pictures, so I ‘ave.”

“Where? Where ‘ave ye seen pictures?”

“In the Albion Times, if ye must know. I’m a regular subscriber--the Arraband Chronicle and Gargoyles Weekly, too. I like ta keep up on current events, which is more than I can say about you.”

Callie shone her flashlight around. Even with the glow from the two torches it was still quite dark. “Uh… Hello?”

“Uh-oh. I think she heard us.”

Callie looked at Lewis. He seemed as uncertain as she did, but he said, “We did hear you. Where are you?”

Callie shone the flashlight around the gate, but they still couldn’t see anyone who might be attached to those strange voices.

“Up here.”

Callie slowly shone her flashlight up the wall above the gate. A hideous face looked down at her and grinned brightly. “Hi.”

Callie screamed in fright and fell back onto the dirt road. Lewis shouted in fright too, but managed to stay on his feet. The gargoyles were talking!

© Daisy Piper, 2011

5 on Friday - Set 37 by Guest Blogger Susan Helene Gottfried

Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies for his 5 on Friday meme.

Today I'm handing the microphone over to my good friend Susan Helene Gottfried here at A Piece of My Mind. Susan is one of those people I can't wait to meet in real life - we've been blog friends for several years now, and the idea of kicking back and swapping stories at a pub while we shout over the music appeals like nothing else.

Until then, gather round kids - let's find out what kind of music inspired Susan's fictional rock band ShapeShifter.

*passing mic to Susan*

~~~

Even though Julia claims the whole world knows who my fictional band, ShapeShifter, is and what they're like, I am not so sure. That's because I was having a conversation with a good friend the other night and she was surprised when I drew a comparison between lead singer/rhythm guitarist Mitchell Voss and someone very real.

So let me start this 5 on Friday post by giving you an idea of what ShapeShifter sounds like - to me. I do encourage everyone to create their own image of ShapeShifter, and to let it change and evolve as you read my books and blog and get to know the guys.

1 - Harvester of Sorrow - Metallica

First off is one of my all-time favorite songs, hands-down. It's Metallica. The song is from the ...And Justice For All album.

Harvester of Sorrow. Moscow show; the language is friendlier, the sound is rawer. Plus the charming scenes of the Moscow security not getting it.

What do I love about this song? The guitar sound. It's vintage, it's powerful. Yep, if ShapeShifter were real, they'd head in this musical direction.


Drink up, shoot in
Let the beatings begin
Distributor of pain
Your loss becomes my gain

Anger, misery
You'll suffer unto me

Harvester of sorrow
Language of the mad
Harvester of sorrow

- Hetfield / Ulrich



2 - Keep Away - Godsmack

Song #2 is easier. Sort of. It's Godsmack, and the song is Keep Away From Me. I'm not sure the song matters so much as the essence of Sully, the lead singer. He's sex personified - much as many of Mitchell's fans will tell you HE is.

This is how I often describe the band. Harvester of Sorrow meets Godsmack. In real life, I'm not sure it would work, but this is fiction.


Twisting everything around that you say, yeah
Smack me in my mouth
Two hundred times every other day
Oh, rag me, I don't hear you anymore, not yet
Find out what it means to me
I don't know who you are

Do like I told you
Stay away from me
Never misunderstand me
Keep away from me

- Salvatore Erna



3 - November Rain - Guns N' Roses

One of Trevor's most devoted fans - she convinces her friends to buy my books on a regular basis, in between nudging me for more from the man - says Guns n' Roses' November Rain makes her think of Trevor. It's a ballad, sung by tough-guy Axl Rose. Like Trevor himself, it's epic. And like Trevor himself, it's not what you'd expect from the guy.


Cause nothing lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain

Do you need some time on your own?
Do you need some time all alone?
Everybody needs some time on their own
Don't you know you need some time all alone

So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
Cause nothing lasts forever
Even cold November rain

Don't you think that you need somebody?
Don't you think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one

- Hudson / McKagan / Reed / Rose / Sorum / Stradlin



4 - Turn the Page - Metallica


Song #4 is an oldie but one of my all-time favorite songs. It has less to do with ShapeShifter directly and more with Trevor's Song. It's Bob Seger's Turn the Page, one of THE ultimate road dog songs of all time. This is a pretty recent version done by Metallica, who took an amazing song and elevated it to a level I'd never imagined.

This song fits because I'd originally wanted Trevor's Song to be a road dog book. Then, of course, Trevor took control and made it into what it is now - a better book.




Out there in the spotlight
You're a million miles away
Every ounce of energy
You try and give away
As the sweat pours out your body
Like the music that you play

Later in the evening
As you lie awake in bed
With the echoes of the amplifiers
Ringing in your head
You smoke the day's last cigarette
Remembering what she said

What she said

Yeah, and here I am
On the road again
There I am, up on that stage
Here I go playing star again
There I go, turn the page

- Bob Seger



5 - Prayer - Disturbed

It wasn't easy to think of a song that best describes Mitchell. He's very complex and some of his moodiness is entirely an act. I had to think of music that's deceptive. Powerful yet contained. Promising to blow free, yet at the same time, smooth and likable.

Who else but Disturbed fits that bill? David Draiman's voice is like honey, but his staccato delivery suggests there's something more going on underneath it all.

This song is called Prayer, and it's one of my all-time favorites from Disturbed. On the surface, it seems one thing but underneath, you'll feel the power and the contradictions and all the goodness, waiting to explode. It reminds me of Mitchell, complete with his moody passion.


Let me enlighten you
This is the way I pray
Living just isn't hard enough
Burn me alive inside
Living my life's not hard enough
Take everything away

Return to me
Turn to me
Leave me no one
Cast aside
You've made me turn away

- Donegan / Draiman / Kmak / Wengren

CLICK HERE to watch the video












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Check out ShapeShifter's Musical Hanukkah Celebration over at Susan's contest page. During November and December, Susan will be donating 50% of her book sales to the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. This program ensures music students at schools and community centres, as well as individual students, have actual instruments with which to practice.