Author Interview and giveaway

Today I am very excited to be interviewing the author J.C. Mead and introducing her new book  The Silver Cord.

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I’m a married mother of two children and one dog. I keep busy with grad school and am lucky enough to work surrounded by books and fun people all day. When I have the time, I love crafts, gardening, reading, and riding our Harley. My favorite place is at home, hanging outside by our fire pit with my family and friends. I love all music, mint gum, and dancing. I don’t eat red meat and was vegetarian and vegan for a few years. I can’t sing, but insist on doing it anyway. I enjoy going to Renaissance Fairs and Dragon Con. I’m originally from the north and have lived in Georgia for eleven years now.

Which writers inspire you?

Sarah Addison Allen is one of my favorite writers. I also like Erica Bauermeister, Susan McBride, and Alice Hoffman. Obviously, I love the magical realism genre. In other fiction genres, I like Gillian Flynn, Janet Evanovich, Chuck Palahniuk, Kim Harrison, and I really love reading YA fiction, too.

So what have you written?

My first book in the Cord Trilogy is “The Silver Cord”.

Where can we buy your book?

The release date for the e-book is June 1^st and it can be bought on the Champagne Books website, Amazon, and any online book retailer. I am having a giveaway from May 18^th to the 25^th for a free copy before it gets released. Enter on my website on the events page,

I also plan on having book signings in the Fall with raffle baskets!

Give us some insight into your main character. What does she do that is so special?

Kat Cambridge is a single mom. After her husband’s death, she decides to pack everything up and move to a new town with her best friend. She is strong in some ways and weak in others. I think like most women, she wants what is best for her children but after the loss she suffers, she needs to remember that she isn’t just a mom, but a woman. She wants to raise her children in a small town and homestead, live off the land, and not be so busy with clients like she was in Boston. But some of her plans change …

You mention Kat wants to homestead and live off the land. Do you have any experience with this?

Yes. When my oldest was born, I quit my job and stayed at home. Because we weren’t bringing in two incomes anymore, we needed to figure out how to have the things we wanted without paying a fortune for them, so I grew herbs and veggies and made as much as I could. I love gardening and canning, making bread, and making honey butter. I even used to make my own wine, mead, and candles.

What genre is your book?

It is a paranormal romance that leans toward women’s fiction.

What draws you to this genre?

I like the idea that there is something more than meets the eye. That “normal” really isn’t. Not to mention that creating characters that are otherworldly allow a writer to be very imaginative. I also wanted a book that included women around my age that were moms, a lot of funny things happen when you have kids and I wanted to include those moments in the book as well.

How much research did you do?

A ton. Since I was writing about some things I knew and a lot of things that I didn’t, I researched everything. I didn’t want to talk about something and have a reader call me out on it because it wasn’t accurate. I know about interior design, making mead, and title searching. I know how to make a candle and how to use herbs. What I didn’t know was how beeswax was taken from hives. Yes, some things are made up, of course, but most of what is written was well researched. I also didn’t want to offend anyone.

Why do you write?

I never knew I liked to write until about five years ago. I just felt the need to write the story down and fell in love with the process of it all. I also had a vegan blog for a year that I enjoyed writing on – it’s still available for recipes. Of course now I am blogging on my author website about writing and the process of getting published on my blog.

What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

When I first had the idea for the story, it was before grad school and my current full time job. I was working part time and had the time to sit and write when I wanted, so I did. It never started as a paranormal book, but the more I wrote, the more it changed.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Write anything and everything. Read about writing. Read the types of books you want to write. Anyone can write a story, but you can write a better story if you know the genre. If you want to publish your work, do your homework and learn about the industry. Publishing has changed so much over the last five years alone. Enter contests, Twitter and Facebook and Publishing companies everywhere have them. Look them up and enter tham. If nothing else, you will get valuable feedback that will move the process forward. Twitter has hashtags for writers that are helpful #amwriting, #pitmad, #pitchwars, #mswl.

Where did you come up with the title to your book?

In astral travel, astral projection, or out of body experience, the Silver Cord tethers your soul to your body. This was a big part of the story so I only thought it fitting to be the title. The other two books in the trilogy are also Cord books, but the significances are different based on the colors.

Okay Carrie, I have a question for you:

You read the book, what character in the book do you think you would be friends with?

I really enjoyed all the characters in the book but if I had to pick one, it would be Jess. I really liked her energy and spunk!

I really enjoyed reading The Silver Cord. It has a lot to offer, romance, mystery, gardening and humor. I think all of you will love it too, so head over to J.C Mead's website to enter for a chance at a free copy!

Here is a sneak peek please be sure to check it out!