Happy Friday, Everyone! Today, I'm delighted to introduce you to Amy Lignor, the author of the Angel Chronicles series. The first book in the series is Until Next Time is now available. Paranormal and supernatural romances are virtually everywhere from our library and bookstore shelves. Some may have almost an identical cover or even book description where the only change seems to be the character's names. I can only imagine the obstacles authors who want to pursue this genre face. I asked Amy about these high expectations and how she works past them. Be sure to check out the giveaway information at the bottom of this post for your chance to win a copy of Amy's book!
What expectations and/or pressures do you face with writing in a highly popular genre and how do you deal with them?
Before this ‘jump’ into YA, I concentrated mainly on historical fiction. I love doing research about famous characters throughout history, as well as events - real and legendary - of fantastical treasures, and the good and ‘evil’ that happened in our past. Tallent & Lowery is my largest project. This is a seven-book series that’s basically along the lines of Indiana Jones meets The DaVinci Code, and it’s a great deal of fun. My mother is a research librarian, so I think I got that ‘gene’ from her, being able to take completely different facts from the past and finding a way to combine them into a mystery for a reader to really sink their teeth into.
More information about Amy and her Angel Chronicle Series:
Find Amy on her website, blog, Facebook , Twitter, and Goodreads.
The Angel Chronicles website & The Angel Chronicles Facebook page
To purchase Until Next Time: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, PDF buy link
What expectations and/or pressures do you face with writing in a highly popular genre and how do you deal with them?
Before this ‘jump’ into YA, I concentrated mainly on historical fiction. I love doing research about famous characters throughout history, as well as events - real and legendary - of fantastical treasures, and the good and ‘evil’ that happened in our past. Tallent & Lowery is my largest project. This is a seven-book series that’s basically along the lines of Indiana Jones meets The DaVinci Code, and it’s a great deal of fun. My mother is a research librarian, so I think I got that ‘gene’ from her, being able to take completely different facts from the past and finding a way to combine them into a mystery for a reader to really sink their teeth into.
YA, as far as the pressure you face, is astronomical. Let’s face it, YA is now the largest and most popular genre in the world. When J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter she didn’t end up with a series of books, she wrote herself into history. Then, with the huge outpouring of love for the ‘fanged ones’ that seemed to begin full-force when Twilight turned into a phenomenon, even attempting to write a unique YA seems almost impossible. There are so many titles out there right now that young adults have actually formed fan clubs for, and the characters have become household names.
I am having fun watching the ‘winged ones’ appear more forcefully and try to unseat the vamps. I took a chance with my series because I truly wanted to do something that went down a different path. It still has adventure, romance, characters that are trying to keep their faith in each other while buried in a world that’s intent on tearing them apart, but I wanted to move away from the ‘fallen’ angel category and begin with some truly innocent souls.
I wanted to know, if there was an angel/warrior team that’d trained and worked for the express purpose of coming here and saving humans, would they even stay? Human emotions are the hardest things in the world to learn and be able to live with. I mean, romance, anger, hate, fear, evil, heartache, true love - these are subjects that are hard enough for a human to deal with on a daily basis, let alone a being that’s never experienced any of them before. I certainly wanted to make Emily and Matt a team that readers would love and want to see more of, and get them involved with a romance that was completely unexpected, but I also wanted to make characters that were new to YA fiction. Hence…the fear.
All passionate readers are extremely loyal to the characters they love, so all I can do is hope and have faith that people will see the mystique of this team when they see themselves in Emily and Matt. We’ve all faced these emotions, so it’s interesting to see how Emily and Matt deal with them.
Expectations I have? I’m hoping not to get too much hate mail because I have a daughter who’s very proud of me…and Book II is completed. :) But I’ll just have to wait and see.
Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy
Thank you for stopping by, Amy. I think readers will be curious to see angels as innocent souls. I'm always intrigued on how much we focus on humanity when we're discussing the supernatural. I wish you the best of luck with your series!
How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?
Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.
When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.
From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.
Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.
When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.
From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.
More information about Amy and her Angel Chronicle Series:
Find Amy on her website, blog, Facebook , Twitter, and Goodreads.
The Angel Chronicles website & The Angel Chronicles Facebook page
To purchase Until Next Time: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, PDF buy link
GIVEAWAY is now CLOSED.
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I agree, there is huge pressure on YA authors to come up with something new and different-- especially in the paranormal world-- which I think is extremely difficult because the YA market is constantly inundated with the "next big thing". For me it all comes down to the characters, if they're amazing and interesting and I connect to them, it doesn't matter to me if there are other familiar elements I've experienced in other books. The characters always make or break a book for me! Can't wait to read about Emily and Matt:)
Ok this is going to sound hysterical but I had Amy on a couple weeks ago and her guest post made me want to read the book!!!!!! So heres hoping I win....:D
Thank you SO much for including the angel/warrior team on your fantastic site! YA does have alot of pressure - the fanged ones took over for a long time :) But I really wanted Matt and Emily to be 'out of the box,' so to speak, and everyone has been extremely welcoming to both of them. I can't wait for Book II. Have a great weekend!
Rummanah, thank you very much for hosting Amy today. We appreciate your support of the angels.
Jenny, I wholeheartedly agree with you and Amy - it's all about being able to connect with the characters. I hope you get a chance to check out "Until Next Time."
Good luck to all who enter the giveaway.
Please count me in. Alden Ash
Alden [dot] Ash [at-symbol-thingy] gmail [dot] com
This books seems really interesting, the blurb really makes me want to read it. The summary reminds me a little about the Host, that I loved, so I would like to read it.
Thank you for this opportunity!
Email sara_rihanna@hotmail.it
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There really are a lot of Angel books out there with all kinds of lore, so it is hard to make your book stand out against the others. I don't really understand the book synopsis, but it does sound different. I hope the book sells well!
Heather
I can see how hard it is to come up with something new and write in the YA paranormal genre. I applaud you! Sounds like you love to develop characters. I love a good character book!
I love angel books so I'm really interested that this one doesn't involve another fallen angel story. It sounds a bit different from what's out there so I'm wondering if you've read this one, Rummanah, and what you thought about it. Thanks for the giveaway :)
ayareader@hotmail.com
I've been trying to open myself up to other supernatural beings besides vampires. I think I get too caught up in my comfy zone and it really limits me. But it is fun to see how other author create and develop their own mythologies. And it's also neat to see how new spins are received by readers.
I have seen this book on a couple of other giveaway and I just love that cover. I am also a sucker for Angel books so this looks like it is right up my alley. I would love to read and review!
Emily @ Falling for YA
Emisbookblog(at)AOL(dot)com
Thank you for the fascinating post. I have often wondered about the difficulty a writer must have switching genres and / or target markets. I just recently heard about Until Next Time and am looking forward to the read and appreciate the lovely giveaway opportunity :) Good thoughts of luck and much success on the tour being sent your way!
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
This sounds like a great read!
denise13727(at)yahoo(dot)com
I've seen this book all over too and I honestly had no idea what it was about, but then I read the summary and it sounds good.
dcastro309(at)gmail(dot)com