Rae of Hope, WJ May Interview/Giveaway - SWAG!

My Review
Synopsis:
How hard do you have to shake a family tree to find out the truth of the past?
Fifteen-year-old Rae Kerrigan has never questioned her family’s history. That is until she accepted a scholarship to pGuilder Boarding School in England. Guilder is a very unique, gifted school. Rae has no idea what she is getting herself into or that her family’s past is going to come back and taunt her. She learns she is part of an unparalleled group of individuals who become marked with a unique tattoo (tatù) on their sixteenth birthday. The tatù enables them to have supernatural powers particular to the shape of their marking. Both her parents were marked though Rae never knew, as they passed away when she was young and never told her. Learning about her family’s past, her evil father and sacrificial mother, Rae needs to decide if there is a ray of hope for her own life.

Today I am super lucky to have Wanita May here for an interview.  Even better - she is offering up some Rae of Hope Swag for a Giveaway!!!

Swag Giveaway?!!?  Heck yeah!!!!!! What's inside?  Maybe a mug, teeshirt, tote bag...  Some other little bits for you?!?!

So let's not waste time, here's the interview!!

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Welcome Wanita!!!  How the heck are you doing? 

Heyyyy Liz!  Thanks so much for having me here!  I really appreciate you letting me stop by for a cyber-visit.  And I’m doing awesome!  I had a local book signing this weekend, so I’m still on a kind of high from that (and also your fantastic review)
Thank you so much for the return compliment!

Ok, we’re going to jump right in.  Ahem, which I’m sure you know how to do (Readers, do you want to see one of Wanita’s other accomplishments?  See Wiki!)

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m human, no superpowers though (sigh). But I am the lucky kid who gets to wake up on the right side of the bed every morning and my glass is always half full.  J  I’m married, have 3 awesome little kiddies and the hubby and I run our own antique & collectables online business (betchya you weren’t expecting that!) We mainly deal in vintage jewelry and porcelain.  I write on the side to let the demons and crazies out of my head J lol

Can you tell us something about Rae of Hope that’s not in the synopsis?

It’s set in the present, but based on Tudor times.  I’m fascinated with history and love the Tudor era.  It is used throughout the entire series.  In book two you’ll learn about the Privy Council, and more!
That is so great, I can't wait!

And who would you say is the inspiration, if anyone, for Rae?

Her mother.  She’s deceased but when Rae learns more about the past and her family history, she really connects with her mom and she wants to be the daughter that would make her mother proud. 

I also think Rae connects with Molly on a different level.  Molly’s … well, Molly’s Molly and I think all of us have had a friend that’s like her and knows their friendship is tried and true. 
I know I fell in love with Molly, I can't wait to see more of her in the rest of the series!

Who would play Rae in the movie? Any thoughts on who would play Devon or Molly?

This is a great question.  I thought about this many times and I have ideas on the older characters but each time I come up with an idea for Rae, Molly or Devon … I change my mind. 

Alexandra Daddario (from Percy Jackson & the Lightening Thief) would make an awesome Rae… ask me next week, I might change my mind again  J

I know exactly what Devon would look like (Anyone remember Roswell TV show?  The mc guy there … to me, that’s Devon’s look.) 

And Molly?    I’d love for her to be someone fresh… a bit of an unknown who is stunning, bubbly and has a great smile J

I think both of those choices are fantastic!  I can clearly see Rae and Devon as each of them!

And honestly, I loved Rae’s roommate, Molly.  Can you give us any tidbits of info on what’s in store for her in the future?

She’s definitely back for book two.  Molly, Rae, Devon, Julian are all back… and again in book three.  She’s got a great tatu that is going to start reaching some of its potential in book three.  I can’t see the series without her.  I love Molls as well!  And she’s actually going to meet someone (don-don-da-donnn  - queue the music)

Ok, as I hinted at earlier, you are an accomplished athlete.  I know it’s like comparing apples to oranges, but what do you think is more difficult – writing or high jumping?

Hmm… that’s another great question.  I was actually thinking about this the other day.  There are a lot of similarities – in marketing the book (it’s like marketing the athletic event, etc…) the physical training of HJ was definitely a lot harder than setting the base of a book.  I loved the travelling and seeing so many beautiful cities while I competed.  I loved competing – against myself and against others.  I loved trying to soar higher than I’d ever done before. I loved training so hard … I loved all of it.  With writing – it’s the same.  I love thinking on an idea that sprouts into a story.  I love doing edits or being challenged to change something or make things link together.  It’s competitive in its own right own right as well.

I’m not sure I’m making any sense here ;)  I do see a lot of similarities but have never thought about which is harder.  Both are challenging.  Now, if you asked me to go out and start training like I used to – that would be next to impossible.  My poor body would spit me out on the side of the road and tell me get lost J  But, if you are curious, I help at my 6year olds grade school and last spring I saw the HJ mats in the gymnasium floor.  No one around – I jumped 1.65m (about 5’6”) just to see if my legs still held their spring J  and yes, I made it! Lol

Do you have any writing habits, like food you munch on or music you listen to?

I love just hitting shuffle on the IPod when I’m writing.   I have 3 kids so most of my writing and editing gets down in the evening.  Sometimes late into the night … though morning seems to come earlier and earlier these days!  So, I would love to be able to have a few days a week to just simply write.  That would be a dream!

I can imagine! My one kid will run me ragged, I can't imagine 3!

You are going to Ultimate Super Power War (that’s the official name, you know).  What power do you want your enemy to have??

Can we settle on something like Solomon’s wisdom? I know it’s Biblical, but if my enemy had Wisdom, they’d be able to see that the need for war is unnecessary.  That we could make peace and work together would be better than fighting. 

HOWEVER, if you are looking for something more on the fun side:

Enemy has to be the best bubble gum blower in the entire world.  They have to be able to blow the biggest bubbles (then my side can shoot arrows to pop the bubbles and cover them in sticky, gooey, mess!

From my online stalking of you, I saw you did a radio interview recently!!  How was it?  (And is there a place we can listen to it online??)

Hee hee – here’s the link:

http://www.610cktb.com/multimedia/audio.aspx

The radio announcer’s name is Tim Denis and I believe it is episode 44

I also have a TV interview link if you want that:

http://ikfadtv.com/index.php/video/v/295
I've watched/listened to both - and you did great!  You seemed totally at ease with the media :)

What is your favorite day of the year?
My kids’ birthdays J 

Personally, I feel Rae is a fabulous role model for young girls.  How do you feel about her?

I wanted her to be a role model J  I wanted to show that she’s not perfect but is striving to make good with what she’s got.  I like the idea of a sixteen year with a tattoo on their lower back be labeled as a “tramp stamp” because we, as humans, are so quick to judge others on appearance without knowing the entire story.  I wanted to show that despite judgment, Rae continued to make something of her choices.  She’s a good kid, bit of a lousy past, doesn’t always believe in the following the rules, gets tempted like everyone else, but all in all, she’s good to the core J

Are you working on any new writing projects?

I’m waiting for the edits on the second book in the series to come back from the publisher.  I’m editing another series with my agent right now (which reminds me, I have another book to edit as well). And I’m also working on another series…  if my fingers could only keep up with my brain!  tee hee hee

And do you have any advice for other aspiring authors out there?

Write – write what you love to read and what you love in life.  Join a critique group and hone in on your skills.  Learn more, write more, edit more and enjoy the challenges.

 

You have three children.  How did that factor into writing this story? 

In life, you want what is best for your kids and wish they won’t have to go through pain or loss.  I lost my Dad three months prior to writing Rae of Hope and the scene with Rae reading a letter from her mom – it wasn’t hard to be in that spot. To feel the loss and then to turn it around.  Rae’s a result my loss and it is a good – it’s a great thing. 

I’m not sure if this answers your question in particular but my kiddies definitely helped mold some of the characters in the story.

Ok, and possibly the hardest question of the interview.  Luckily it’s multiple choice. … Are you…

A)     Walking on Sunshine

B)      Walk(ing) Like an Egyptian

C)      Walk(ing) This way

D)     Walk(ing) On The Wild Side

How about E)  I Walk the Line J  Gotta love me some Johnny Cash!!!

Otherwise – it’s a bit of all of the above

Ok, that’s all the questions I have for now.  Thank you so much for being with us today, and offering up this fantastic giveaway! 

Thanks again for having me!!

Giveaway is open in US & Canada to anyone age 13 and older.  

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning notification or a new winner will be chosen. 

Also, here is a picture from Wanita's recent book signing at Chapters.  Maybe some of this stuff will make it into your swag pack!

a Rafflecopter giveaway