Saturday 29 June 2013

Angel Features: NM Scuri

This week we're talking with N.M. Scuri. She writes awesome stories and it was a pleasure to interview her. Check it out here:
 
Name: N. M. Scuri (But my mom calls me Nancy)
Location: New York, NY
Occupation/Grade: College instructor/Writer/Editor
Favourite genre: Horror/Dark Fiction
Favourite author: Other than Cyndi? Stephen King was my first, although his son, Joe Hill, is moving up fast. I wrote my dissertations on the works of James Joyce. 
Favourite book: I have a lot of ones that I love! I just finished Stephen Volk's Whitstable, which is great. I'm looking forward to the end of the summer semester, so I can tuck in to Into Even In Darkness.
First book you ever remember reading (for leisure): I can't remember when I didn't read. The first book I remember that made a big impact on me was the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. 
Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so?: I would say yes to both! I read for my job, but I still love it. I may pick up a different type of book for a change of pace, but I still love a good story that pulls me in.
Most recent read: Whitstable
Next read: Even in Darkness, Joe Hill's NOS4A2, Neil Gaiman's The Ocean at the End of the Lane, then back to work reading.
Favourite place to read: If I read in bed, I will fall asleep. I need a chair, and light, and quiet. If I'm alone, I'll read while I eat.
Dream vacation: I'm moving to New Zealand. The question is when. I'd like to go to Edinburgh someday. I have an idea for a novel set there. 
Favourite drink while reading: Depends! Coffee, usually.
If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be?: Hard to say. When I'm up to my ears in a good story, the world just falls away, so as long as I can focus, it really doesn't matter where I am. I've tried reading when I'm getting a pedicure, but I can't because I can't shake the feeling that ignoring someone in front of me is rude (which is why I can only read at meal times when I'm alone), and I'm ticklish. 
How do you choose your books: They usually choose me! People recommend things, or they send them to me for review. 
How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random): I've just finished moving, so they are in boxes at the moment. Normally, it's Library of Congress system. Don't judge me.
When was the last time you went to a bookstore? I will not count the college bookstore where I work. I am ashamed to say that it was a Borders in its last days. There aren't too many brick and mortar places left. However, I was delighted to find a second-hand shop near me in my new neighborhood. 
What drew you to Between/Aiden? It can be argued that Aiden is... attractive, but what I really like about him is his heart, and that he sticks to his ideals in a changing world, even when abandoning them would have been acceptable to those around him. He's a genuinely good guy. Who's hot. 
One cool fact about you? When I was a kid, other girls had Barbie dolls and watched Saturday cartoons. I was raised on old British horror films and reruns of Dark Shadows.  
How can Angels connect with you? On my Google+ page: gplus.to/nmscuri

Saturday 22 June 2013

Fresh Blood from Old Wounds: An Aiden and Lindsey Fan Fic

This week we're sharing a fan fiction piece that was sent to me by N.M. Scuri. I'm rating this PG13 so if sex and blood is going to disturb you then turn away but I recommend giving this a read, I absolutely adored it - in a gut-wrenching, 'holy crap' kind of way. You'll see.

Fresh Blood From Old Wounds

 
by N. M. Scuri
 

    The first time, he used my scarf. "I think I'll keep this. For the next time, aye?" And there was. While the rest of the world saw Aiden, my charming fiancĂ©e, I was discovering a whole new side to my Scotsman. The fall semester of my sophomore year, I was able to get my pick of work study jobs. I got nights in the student lounge, and soon, no one thought twice about seeing him on campus, even when I wasn't scheduled to work. Being a thoughtful guy, he'd busy himself with hanging dart boards and making small repairs ("ye canna' be too safe, lass"). His accent would make my dorm mates giggle, but I knew better. After hours, I'd find out about his little "improvements:" an eye hook here, a coat rack placed just so, and a bit of reinforced shelving gave the term "game room" a whole new meaning after hours. Not that I minded.

    "You know what to do, Lindsay." I gulped as he growled into my ear. I closed my eyes and nodded. "Good girl." I felt my heart beat harder, faster. I wanted to hurry, to get things started. "No rush, lass. Where's your hurry?" I forced down the rising heat inside me, and taking a deep breath, slowly made sure the blinds were closed and the door was shut. It had no lock on the inside and Aiden refused to install one. "No need to do anything obvious," he told me after I asked one afternoon that fall. "Besides, what are you scared of?"

    When I had finished, I turned to find him leaning up against the pool table. It was a familiar pose, but the sight of him, the lights of the game room silhouetted his oak-hard arms under his shirt, as he shifted uncomfortably at the increasing snugness of his jeans.

    I gasped. I couldn't help it. I fought the urge to run over to him, tear at him, beg him to relieve the ache inside of me. I moaned in my need. "Now lass, steady..."

    "Oh, Aiden, I just..."

    "Hush, lass. You know better than that. You know what to do." I knew I was closing the game room, and being the night before Thanksgiving break, I also knew the campus would be deserted.

    I stood before him, slowly running my hands over my nubby cardigan sweater, fingering the small, round buttons down the front. I kept my eyes locked on his, and heard Aiden grunt in approval. Carefully fingering the buttons, I slowly turned, easing the sweater past my shoulders as I went, ending with my back towards him and my top crumpled around my high-heeled shoes. He said nothing, but the sounds of him shifting against the pool table told me all I needed to know, and I grinned in spite of myself. I spun around, and brought my hands up to the front of my bra, toying with the hardness under the thin silk. I forced myself to slow down. I knew what this was doing to the both of us; I could feel his breach catch, as if it were the air in my own throat.

    "Keep going, lass." I turned my back to him again, this time working the clasp on my corduroy skirt. I smiled with satisfaction as I heard him moan as I undid the zipper, exposing the skin underneath. I let the skirt fall away and turned again to face the heat and desire raging in Aiden. "Ah, mo chirdhe, what you do to me... Come here. Now." The change in tone demanded action, and I was moving before I realized it. I wanted to feel him hard against me. Instead, I felt the familiar silk scarf across my eyes, and, something new.

    Before I could react, I was handcuffed, my hands bound in front of me. The cold of the metal was a shock to my system, clashing with the wet heat I felt. I couldn't comprehend any of it. Before I could speak or react, Aiden pushed me up against the wall, my hands pinned up behind my head. The chain between the handcuffs hooked where the dartboard was normally hung. I felt his bare chest pressed against mine, his mouth on my throat and between my breasts. I felt his teeth as he gnawed at the lace that held my bra together. I heard him pull out his work knife and shivered as I felt the cold steel between my breasts, the blade sliding as he cut the black lace off of me. This was all very new. Part of me was terrified. Part of me wanted more.

    "That's better, eh?" It was more of a statement than a question. I couldn't see, but I but I could feel his gaze upon me. I squirmed. My hands were pinned tight to the wall, behind my head, and my elbows were level with my ears.

    I felt his teeth again, this time worrying at my left nipple. The electric shocks radiated down to my now-soaked thong and my body begged for relief. "Please, Aiden.... Now...." He ignored me, but I could feel his hunger for me as he ravaged me. He hooked my heels in to the hand-rail, splaying my knees out and opening myself completely to him. I writhed and pulled against the restraints.

    "Now, why are you trying to get away? Don't you want me?" He didn't fool me at all, and it was all I could do not to cry out when I heard footstep down the hall. It was campus security. We could hear the guard approach, then head up the stairs to the next floor.

    "Please," I begged, "Aiden..." His tongue continued its attack along the arch of my breast. I squirmed as he made his way lower and lower, wanting to scream, but remembering the guard nearby. I slid down the wall, opening myself as far as I could. "Please, Aiden, I can't..." He teased me with his mouth, his arms pinning me up against the wall. I was helpless to stop it, even if I wanted to. I felt the rough lace cord rub up against me as he tugged on the front of my thong. Suddenly, he slammed in to me, my thong looped around my left thigh.

    I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. I was shoved in to the paneling, forcing him deeper when the wall rebounded back. I didn't care. I wanted it all. I wanted this to go on forever. I wanted release.

    Just as I was about to climax, I felt something shift on the wall over my head and thud as it hit the floor. I couldn't see him, but I felt Aiden tense, then slump to the floor. I couldn't see, couldn't move.

    "Aiden? What happened? Are you OK??  Aiden???" I tried to stay calm, the heat I'd felt a few minutes before was gone instantly, replaced by a cold pain in my gut. I knew security was still in the building.

    "Damn deer head..." he groaned from the floor beneath me. Freshmen, bored while waiting for their rides home, thought it would be a riot to put sunglasses, a hat and cigarette on the deer head mounted by where we were. I had tried to get it back on the wall. I...

    "Aiden..." He'd gone quiet, his arms falling away from me. I tried to get the scarf off, so I could at least see, but Aiden had woven the ends in to my ponytail, so it didn't budge, despite my trying to push it off. I fought to stay calm, to think. Think clearly, but my heart pounded and the heat inside me was replaced with a slimy cold.

    The straps of my shoes dug in to my ankles and was starting to rub in to the tendons above my heels. I took a deep breath and pushed myself up, trying to unhook my hands. I could move them a little, but the chain in between the cuffs was latched to the wall. Aiden could have picked me up and freed me with no problem, but he... No, I reminded myself, panic wasn't going to help. Panic was not my friend. Aiden was OK. Had to be OK, but he needed me calm. Calm. Calm down. I took another deep breath. Maybe if I jumped, I could get off the wall. The pain in my arms and back was gaining on the damage my shoes were inflicting on my feet, but I bent my legs, pushing my knees together. I counted to three and jumped as far as I could. I yelped in pain.

    My heels were stuck in the railing, and the handcuff chain was caught in the latch. I could pivot, but I couldn't get down. I also couldn't take the pressure off my arms because the angles were all wrong. I tried to adjust my footing, but a sharp pain in my right foot stopped me. Crap! I tried to hold on, but it was harder and harder to stay calm. I had to. I knew I had to get us out of there.

    I don't know how much time passes, exactly. It could have been twenty minutes or twenty hours. The pain in my arms and legs was more than I had ever thought possible. I nudged and shifted myself, trying to make it a little better, but everything hurt. My ankle was starting to swell, the straps cutting even more. All I could do was cry.

    "Aiden! Please Aiden. Please, I need you..."

    The campus had emptied by early afternoon, and Aiden and I were alone by 3pm. I didn't know what time it was, or if it was even still daylight. I finally heard the chime of the big campus clock across the quad, 6pm. Calm. Time to stay calm. Figure it out... Crap. I had to pee.

    I let the urge to pee fight it out with my panic attack. I was going to figure this out. Pain, discomfort and fear were doing bad things to me. I forced myself to slow my breathing down. I pushed my weight back on to my heels, and it took a little of the weight off of my feet. Slowly, I ducked my head under my right arm. Forcing myself to focus on balance and not the biting pain of my legs and arms, I was able to nudge the blindfold up enough to see a little from my right eye. Even though it wasn't bright in the room, the harshness of the light made me blink until I could see. Aiden was on the floor, motionless. The deer head was next to him, a dark stain on the corner of the wooden mounting plank.

    "Aiden!" I tried to lunge for him, but all I managed was to lose my balance, swinging from the latch, my feet twisted even more painfully. The thrashing caused the blindfold to slip back in to place and I frantically tried to pull myself back up to my perch. "Breathe." I turned my head towards the wall, and using my thumb, I pulled the scarf off of my face. I looked down at my feet: The fun, strappy heels that were so cute a week ago were now a blood-stained mess. It wasn't pretty, but at least I could see. "Focus. Steady. Breathe." I had to block out the pain. Had to block out the fear, Aiden, everything, if I was going to get us out. Wincing as I put all my weight on my left heel, I braced myself on the wall peg with my hands and gingerly turned my right foot. Angling it, I was able to get it out. Yes! Pride momentarily surged through me, but I wasn't finished. Not by a lot. With my right foot on the floor, it was easier to twist the other foot out. Finally, I was able to sit on the ledge I was squatting on and take the tension off my aching arms. When I looked up, I could finally see how I was anchored to the wall. It was a heavy brass clasp. My dad would call it a lobster claw. The chain was too short for me to get my hands in there to release the clasp. With my fists balled tight, I yanked, yanked on the cuffs, wanting to pull the whole stupid thing down.

    It didn't budge.

    Damn Aiden, I thought. Leave it to him to sink a bolt in to a main beam, or whatever he did.. Aiden.

    I looked over at him and my heart sank. I hung my head and the hot tears fell on my lap. "Aiden..."

    "Lindsay."

    My head snapped up at the sound of his voice. His words were slurred. He tried to move.

    "Aiden! Oh, Aiden, thank God you're alive! You have to help me out of these. You need a doctor and.."

    "Da? Where am I? Is that... Where?"

    "Aiden, honey. Please. It's me, Lindsay. Please listen to me! We'll die here. You... Please Aiden..." My voice rose. Pain clutched at me and I shook with fear. He turned to me, but couldn't see me at all. He mumbled something in Gaelic and started to twitch. He growled and lurched at me and I pushed myself up against the wall, away from him. The pain shot up my legs and down my arms at the sudden movement. Growling and snarling at me, he gasped as he twitched and shook and pulled himself closer to me. "Aiden! It's me! Nooo!" I screamed as his cold hand wrapped around my leg. I jerked it back, the pain as I slammed my head in to the wall only made my howl louder. Blood foamed around his mouth, and drool oozed out of the corners of his lips like red-flecked ropes. His eyes were open, but Aiden wasn't there anymore. His hand was still wrapped around my ankle and a bright red drop of blood ran from his left nostril.

    He groaned, and never made another sound again.

    Slowly, his fingers released from my foot and his hand dropped away. I sat there, numb from what I had felt and seen. I cried, silently, my tears dropping down my cheeks and on to my bare breasts. Before, I had felt sexy and alive. Now, everything was empty, gray and worthless. "Why, God. Why Aiden?" Even then, I felt stupid, praying to God while I was naked and chained to a wall, but I was beyond caring. I just wanted it all to be a dream.

    A loud click from across the room snapped me out of my fog. The game room had a motion sensor that turned off the light if the room was empty. The click was the sensor activating. I knew that soon, the lights would go off. The sun was setting, and the room would be pitch dark.

    "Bayyyyybaaayyy... You're my favorite flaaaayyyyyvvvaaaa!" I jumped at the sound of my phone. The ring tone, stupid as it was, told me my friend, Stephanie, was trying to call. Could I get to the phone? Where the hell was it? I listened for the phone, hopping it was close enough to get with my foot. I saw it by my purse, on the floor by Aiden's arm. I missed the call, but if I could get to the phone, maybe... Earlier, I would have been horrified if anyone knew what we did here. Now, I was past caring. I couldn't think of Aiden dead. I had to hope that there was a chance, if I just kept working. Maybe there was still a chance.

    The phone was out of reach. My reach, but not Aiden's. If I could nudge his arm with my foot, I could maybe hook the phone and get it close enough. The speaker on it was good. Maybe. I shuddered as I dug the toes of my left foot under his cold arm. "Aiden, I'm so sorry. Please just help me." I pulled myself as far as I could, my right arm on fire from my wrist to my shoulder, as I strained to move his arm to my phone. I shuffled my but along the perch, balancing his arm on my bloodied foot. Dead weight. No! Almost, almost, I got his hand to my phone. "Please..." Up, and on! Arching my food as much as I could, I pressed his hand on the phone and dragged it back towards me. Click! The motion sensor, on the other side of the room, caught none of this and was giving its final warning. Drag. The phone was getting closer, closer. "Come on." Closer. I couldn't touch it with my hand, but would a toe do? My arms, the pressure off slightly, were down from code red to just pain horrible. My feet were throbbing and turning colors I never knew existed. I was still terrified, but, I realized as I looked down, I didn't have to pee any more. Great.

    Phone. Focus. The phone was turned front side down. For me to do anything, I'd have to flip it over. I latched the toe of my shoe under the phone, and gently tried to nudge it over. I had my toe hooked under, just pushing slowly, slowly just getting it, and the phone buzzed. Startled, I squeaked and watched the phone sail out of reach, the charge indicator light blinking. "Damn you! Stupid stupid!!! What now?!" I smacked my arms in to the wall in frustration. My anger turned to horror as the lights in the game room turned off, one by one.

    "Damn you! Damn you God, for doing this to me! Why!?!" All thoughts of control were gone. All reminders to stay calm were forgotten. I sat and sobbed. That was all I could do. No one. Nothing could help me now. The last light went out, and I was alone in the dark.

    A wave of nausea trailed up from my stomach as I smelled a stench of rotting meat and low tide rose up in front of me. "Ohh.. Verryyy nicceeeee." A voice of something female grated in my ear. A cold breeze raked my arm. "Heeeee's minee nowwww. Yesssssss." I could tell she was talking quieter, but I could hear her like thunder in my head. "Mineee nowww. Sooooo gooood."

    "Go! Go away! You're not real!" I thrashed as I shouted. Blood from the shoe straps made my feet even stickier, but I didn't care. "You're not real! You're dead. Go away!!" I screamed and screamed. Finally, the stench was gone, and the nausea cleared. I was still shaken. "God, I am sorry. Please help us. Please..." From outside the door, I could hear footsteps. They were coming closer. They stopped in front of the game room door. The guard was back.

    This time, I couldn't care how they found me. They could call my parents. They could kick me out of school. So long as they could save Aiden and get me out, I didn't care. I thanked God, and tried to scream. But nothing came out, only a rasping squeak. I tried swallowing, clearing my throat to try again. The guard's walkie-talkie chirped to life. I could hear it. I could hear him with the keys jangling on his belt.

    "Help me," I croaked, louder this time. Please, please God, let him hear me. I could hear the tower chime and I knew it was midnight. "Help me," I sobbed, even louder. I heard a hand on the door and my heart soared. Then, the guard's radio crackled.

    "Yea," he answered, "I know what time it is."

    "No! Please..." I tried to shout. I tried to bang in to the wall, make any noise I could, but it all came out as a whimper.

    "OK. I'll be right there. This building's good." A key slid in to a lock, and as the footsteps faded into the night, all I could do was hang my head and cry.

Saturday 15 June 2013

Angel Features: Jessica Baker

This week we're featuring the lovely Jessica Baker (the vice president of the Aiden's Angels). You guys probably know her as @makesmeworse on Twitter or from the article she posted last year about Aiden Macrae
Our resident fan girl kindly answered some questions about her love of books. If YOU want to be featured or have an article you'd like to share. Email me: vicki.trask@gmail.com

Name: Jessica Baker

Location: Super close to Austin, Texas

Age: 17

Occupation/Grade: I…go to school. And I run my blog (which I don’t get paid for, but takes up loads of time). And I sleep. :) I’m starting my senior year of high school at the end of August.

Favourite genre: As long as there’s romance, I’m happy!

Favourite author: Jennifer L. Armentrout. (Though Victoria Scott totally deserves a shout-out here, too, because she freaking rocks!)

Favourite book: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

First book you ever remember reading (for leisure): EVER? Probably a Magic Tree House book. But the one that got me INTO reading was Twilight.

Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so? Definitely avid, because there is literally NO down time in between books. Ever. The most I take between books will be a few hours to sleep, because I was up until some ungodly hour finishing the last book. But, honestly, I don’t even give myself that sometimes. I just pick up the next book and GO.

Most recent read: I just finished Brilliant Nightmare by Edita Birschbach.

Next read: I am SOOOOOOOOOOO excited about this—Butterfly Weeds by Laura Miller (which I plan to immediately follow up with My Butterfly, of course! Eeep!)

Favourite place to read: My bed. I get distracted when I’m other places. I mean, I CAN read in other places, and I DO, but my room on my bed is my #1 spot. OH! And there’s this rocking chair at my brother’s house that I heart. It’s where I read those Twilight books that got me into this big reading mess ;)

Dream vacation: Honestly? I’d like to be somewhere it snows for Christmas. That would be my vacation. Preferably somewhere there were some bookish friends (be them author or blogger) to meet up with.

Favourite drink while reading: Urm…water. I know that’s boring, but I honestly drink something close to my weight in water every day. And when we have cans, I drink Pepsi, too. But only because it’s convenient. We don’t have cans often.

If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be? The ideal situation I would be in for reading a book? Hmmm. Probably to read either a Lux novel or a Dante Walker novel, and have the author (Jen or V, depending on which it was) RIGHT THERE to comment to as I read it. I just feel like that would be hilarious…I say funny things when I read.

How do you choose your books: I read what I feel like reading. I look at my books, maybe look them up to learn a bit more about them, and then I start the one I feel like reading the most. Unless I am under some obligation to read something else, like for a blog tour or something. Then I read that. THEN I read what I want.

How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random): It’s kind of not. I tried to organize it loosely by genre, like all contemporary books on this shelf, and all angel books here, and all that, but…it doesn’t really stay that way. Plus, I keep taking books off my shelves to re-read parts, and then I’m always too lazy to put them back, so there’s a huge stack in front of the table next to my bed. Seriously.

When was the last time you went to a bookstore? Umm…that would be…for the Sarah Dessen signing at Book People, which was in April. The 21st? Or the 23rd? Something like that.

What drew you to Between/Aiden? Aiden drew me to Between, and his Scottish hotness is what drew me to HIM. I heart him to death.

One cool fact about you? I am Victoria Scott’s Super Fan. Legit. Ask her. She wrote it all over my copy of The Collector, and if you ever go to a signing for her and I’m there, too, I’ll probably be sitting on the floor near her or lurking behind her table or something.
How can Angels connect with you? I am a huuuuge Twitter addict, so you can totally follow me there! @makesmeworse12.
I have a blog, too, called Just a Booklover, which you can find here: http://justabooklover.blogspot.com
And you can email me if you’d like: makesmeworse12@gmail.com. No worries, I like people. And I don’t bite or anything.

Saturday 8 June 2013

Angel Features: Cyndi Tefft

If this won't get you to send in your answers, I don't know what will. Cyndi filled out the answers and is our featured Angel (all the time) this week. If you're interested or I've already sent you questions, get in touch with me: vicki.trask@gmail.com

Cyndi Tefft Author Photo
Name: Cyndi Tefft

Location: Seattle, WA

Age: 40 *gasp*

Occupation/Grade: Day job is Human Resources, but I like to write love stories on the side. ;)

Favourite genre: Romance (all forms- YA, NA, adult, erotic)

Favourite author: Diana Gabaldon

Favourite book: Outlander

First book you ever remember reading (for leisure): Was probably a Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew, or Ramona book

Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so?: Is there a category for "ridiculously addicted" because that's where I would consider myself. I fell in love with books in 2009 and haven't taken a breath since.

Most recent read: Just finished Close Enough to Touch by Victoria Dahl and am currently reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

Next read: I never know what I'm going to read next. It depends on my mood at the time when I'm picking out a book.

Favourite place to read: Where no one will bug me! This usually takes the place of my couch after the kiddos are in bed or at my desk during my lunch break.

Dream vacation: A long one! I love to travel and don't get to do as much as I'd like. I've been fortunate enough to see England, Scotland, and France. I'd love to add Italy, Spain, and Greece to that list next.

Favourite drink while reading: I'm not picky. Coffee, Diet Pepsi, wine, champagne... it's all good.

If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be?: I fantasize about opening a theme park north of Seattle that is based on books. It would have a conveyor belt that moved through the bookstore with couches where you could just camp out and read while slowly tracking through the whole ginormous place. Now if I could get a billion dollars, I'd start building!

How do you choose your books: I buy most of my paperbacks at Half Price Books (I love a bargain!), but I buy ebooks equally from Amazon and B&N. I have a Nook, but I usually read on my phone, so either app works.

How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random): By type then alphabetically by author. I have an adult romance section, a YA section, a chick-lit section, an erotica section, and a general fiction (catch-all) section. And then I have a separate bookshelf for keepers that are alphabetical regardless of genre.

When was the last time you went to a bookstore?: Last week. I should have one of those counting signs like you see at Costco that says "X days since I bought a book". I probably wouldn't need double digits for my sign!

What drew you to Between/Aiden?: Aiden is the epitome of the perfect gentleman to me. He is faithful, kind, sexy, and strong. He puts Lindsey's needs above his own and always tries to do the right thing. The Scottish accent seals the deal!

One cool fact about you?: I can honk like a duck. If you ever meet me in person, I'll do it for you. Yeah, I'm a badass. LOL

How can Angels connect with you?: I absolutely love connecting with readers. Nothing gives me greater pleasure as an author than to hear that a reader enjoyed my book. That's what keeps me writing on Saturday mornings, what keeps me going through the tough parts, and what I look forward to most in releasing a new book. Readers are so precious to me, so I connect however I can: Facebook, Twitter, tumblr, and Goodreads. (Vicki Note: you can find Cyndi up in the top bar)

Saturday 1 June 2013

Angel Features: Vicki Trask

Because your president was naughty and didn't send out the questions for the Angels until last night, I get to go first (sorry). If you would like to be featured on the Aiden's Angels blog, email me at vicki.trask@gmail.com

Taken for my production of "Hairspray" that closed last week
Name: Vicki Trask

Location: Alberta, Canada

Age: 19

Occupation/Grade: Going into my third year of University studying Greek History

Favourite genre: Contemporary Fantasy with a strong Romantic element

Favourite author: I'd be lying if I said Cyndi wasn't very high on my list but right now it Mike Robinson

Favourite book: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

First book you ever remember reading (for leisure): Stranger With My Face by Lois Duncan

Are you a “casual” reader or an “avid” reader? What makes you so?: I would call myself a casual reader because I read more at my own pace (though I do occasionally get Beta Copies).

Most recent read: Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield

Next read: Finishing Prince of Earth by Mike Robinson and then on to Even In Darkness (that's how busy I've been)

Favourite place to read: On the bus. I have long bus rides and I like the natural lighting.

Dream vacation: Santorini. It's this gorgeous Greek Island with ridiculously blue waters and perfect sunsets

Favourite drink while reading: Water. Or sweet tea

If you could think of the most ideal, fantasy, crazy perfect situation for reading a book, what would it be?: So my ideal - in a perfect world - place to read would be in an old castle in Ireland, sitting in a giant window seat while rain comes softly down

How do you choose your books: Lately it all comes from twitter, either as a recommendation or as something I've been specifically asked to read. I read the back cover (blurb) and if it appeals to my sense of intrigue then I'll read it. For me it's all about the blurb.

How is your bookshelf organized? (Alphabetically by title, author, by colour, random): Well it started out alphabetically by Author's Last Name but I have officially run out of room so I've taken to piling books wherever they'll fit. One day I'll go through them all.

When was the last time you went to a bookstore?: Sadly it's been...months. I love the adventure of walking between bookshelves and discovering new books but I just haven't had the time

What drew you to Between/Aiden?: I just picked up Between on a whim; I heard someone talking about it on twitter and thought 'why not?'. Aiden was written to be a dreamy, fantasy character who happened to be one of the main characters...how can you not fall for him?

One cool fact about you?: I am left handed but I do all sports with my right hand.

How can Angels connect with you?: Well there's my twitter, and my facebook group but the best way to check in with me is to follow my personal blog that gets updated WAY more than this one (again, sorry).

And there you have it. All about Vicki. Check in soon to learn about more Angels.