I was recently given a proof copy of Red and Grey, written by Christine Brant, and I must admit that I stayed up until 6:15 in the morning to finish reading it.  It’s been a while since I enjoyed a book this much, and I highly recommend it to other lovers of fantasy romance.  I even appreciate the beautiful cover design!

Although the story has some references to Little Red Riding Hood, it is done in such a creative way that I could not help but smile as it all started coming together.  It’s filled with magic, mystery, and romance, and it kept me intrigued all through the night.  It was well worth only getting two hours of sleep before my busy day began. I finished the book with a smile–and a little guilt and worry from the light starting to come through the window and the sound of birds rising from their slumber.

I easily bonded with the main characters and enjoyed the romance in this novel.  I can’t wait to see what happens next and will be watching for the next book from Ms. Brant.  This is her debut novel, and she is such a gifted storyteller.

As for my conservative parent’s rating, I will label this one R because of one slightly graphic sex scene. There were about two curse words in the book. Other than that, the characters held an old world belief when it came to sex outside of marriage.  They did not believe in it.

Be sure to click on the link below to read a detailed description of Red and Grey.  While there, you can also read the first portion of the book.  Here’s an interview I did with Christine.  Hope you enjoy!

My son opened the door first thing this morning to let our little dog Gigi out, and guess what he found on the porch.  It’s here!  It’s finally here.  Although I’m happy, I thought I’d be ecstatic about getting to hold my novel for the first time, but all I can think about is the rest of my list of things to do.  The pile on my desk is a bit high, and I’m trying to get caught up before the children go back to school next month, and then I get to focus on the next book in the series.  That is what I’m looking forward to, going back to writing.  That is the fun part of being an author.  The rest is work.

I’m ready to immerse my mind in the life of Alissia once again and let her story flow through my fingers onto the keyboard.  Her story is already in my head, wanting desperately to get out.

I guess if I had to search for an emotion today, it would be a sense of feeling blessed.  Becoming an author was not really my plan.  In fact, I had no idea I would start writing a book until about four days before I started typing, and once I started, I was not doing it to get published.  I was doing it for myself.

Unexpected Metamorphosis has changed my life in many ways.  Where I once spent my days homeschooling my children, I now spend my days at a desk handling marketing, networking, designing, blogging, publishing, and writing.  It fits my Type A personality well.

I hope you will read my novel and leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon, and I await your comments also.  All authors want to hear how their writings affect others.  I love talking to someone after they’ve read Alissia’s story.  Each person comes away with different thoughts.

When I started writing Unexpected Metamorphosis, it started out much simpler than the end result.  I had a vision in my head.  (No, I don’t outline.  That does not go with my random and just do it personality.  Even the thought of doing an outline makes me cringe and did while in school.)  Over time that vision grew, and the story evolved into a wild adventure.  I greatly enjoyed my dedicated plot reader trying to figure out what would happen next or how the story would go.  She would call me after reading the latest typing, and I would laugh at her attempts to figure out where I was taking Alissia and the other characters.

I hate reading a book that I know the ending before I get to it.  The best reads are the ones where the ending is a great surprise, and I never saw it coming.  As a writer, it is a game I like to play with my readers, and I like to throw little surprises of intrigue and mystery along the way.

I also like to keep things real, well in a nonliteral way.  What I mean by that is this book is definitely fantasy, but my characters don’t just happen to stumble upon a quick fix or there just happens to be what they need nearby.  Instead, when there is trouble, they have to deal with it, but don’t let that scare you away from the book.  Although there is plenty of trouble, mystery, and unknowns in Unexpected Metamorphosis, there is also plenty of complicated romance and fun scenes where you will smile and laugh.  (I know this from the feedback and even watching some of my readers as they read.)

If I had to describe this novel with one word, it would be adventure.  I took an ordinary woman with a pleasant lifestyle and took her on a wild adventure with many unexpected twists along the way.

If you have not read the first two chapters by now, please click the link on the menu at the top of this page.  Once you have finished reading, you can click here to add it to your read list on Goodreads.  You can also follow my author page by clicking here.

I knew I would get asked that question about Alissia. Except for her green eyes, we look almost identical, but there’s a reason for that. Every detail about Alissia has a purpose, even her petite size and dark hair. I can’t tell you what that purpose is, but once you read the book, you will understand why I made her small like me and gave her dark hair.

As for why I chose Jesup, Georgia, as her hometown, I also had a reason for that. Jesup is a small town in South Georgia, and hunting is a big part of that town. I wanted Alissia to have that outdoorsy background instead of being raised in the city.

As you read Unexpected Metamorphosis, you will get to know Alissia very well, and I’m sure you will understand her and grow to love her. She is a very strong-willed character, and I pretty much threw her into a blender and turned it on high speed. Her personality, childhood, and even looks all play a big role in who she is and how she relates to all I put her through.

Does she look like me? Yes. Does she have a strong personality like me? Yes, that makes life and this story more interesting. Do we share the same background? No, I have never seen my father drink, and he is nothing like Alissia’s father. Although I’ve killed my share of deer in my days before moving to the suburbs, I have never seen my father with a gun, and he did not teach me how to hunt. Alissia and I do not share the same past, and although we resemble each other in many ways, we are not the same.

I love each and every character in this novel and dread the day Alissia’s story ends. Although I already have other books planned once this series is over, I don’t think I could ever love another character as much as I love her. Maybe it’s because she’s my first, and that is how it is with your first novel. She has been in my head for over a year now, and since her story has a long way to go, she will continue to be in my thoughts for more years to come.

As a writer creating an advanced plot, my mind is continuously consumed with Alissia’s life. I think of her all throughout the day and even into the night. Although I love being an author, it means I now share my life with Alissia. It really is as if I’m in another world each and every day when I write. I’m taking a break this summer and focusing on the release coming next month, but once the children start school again, I plan to focus on the next book. Once again, I will be consumed with Alissia, and it can be hard to balance reality and fantasy. I will spend an entire day typing a thick plot and once I walk away from my computer, it’s sometimes hard to turn my “work” off. Although I may be talking to a doctor or friend about various things in reality, I could actually be thinking about an advanced murder or love scene. (I do love thinking about the love scenes.)

If you have not read the first two chapters, please do so. You can then meet Alissia, and I can’t wait for you to get to know her.

Here’s another young adult book my friend lent to me, so I’ll give a conservative parent’s review on it.  The first book is called Eon, and the second and last is called Eona.  They were written by Alison Goodman, and although they tell the story of one person, the books are completely different in their stories.  I will keep this review limited to Eon and will type a separate review for Eona.

Although this book is considered to be fantasy, there did not seem to be much fantasy until the end.  In fact, the first half of the book mostly describes the rules and procedures of the fictional empire that has an Asian resemblance.  I was tempted to put the book down for good about halfway through, but it was the only one I had brought to the pool with me.  I continued to read it, and it eventually got better.  I even enjoyed the ending. Once you get past the first half of the book, the action begins, and there is a lot of bloodshed and death by sword. There is war and fighting and images of a baby being slaughtered. Most of the characters in this book have had a hard life due to slavery, and this is not a book filled with much happiness.

As for sexual content, Eon is a teenage girl posing as a young boy, and romance is not a consideration for her. However, she does pose as a eunuch (a male with his manly removed), and there is a hint at a romance between a eunuch man and a trans woman named Lady Dela. Lady Dela and the eunuch are both main characters in the story and are strong friends with Eon. Gender crossing is an important part of this book.

As for religious matter, they prayed to their ancestors, considered the imperial family as gods, and relied on the dragons to save the world from natural disasters.

Overall, I thought the first half of the book as drudgery to get through, but I enjoyed the second half filled with action and battles. I won’t say it was a great read, but I will say I enjoyed Eona much more than Eon. I’ve also done a review on Eona.