Author Interview with Martine Lewis, writer of "Crossing the Barrier"

Hey peeps!
Today I got something special for you: an author interview! 
The author Martine Lewis was so kind to answer a bunch of questions about herself and her new released book "Crossing the Barrier". Enjoy!


Please tell us a little about yourself and your background?
This is always the hardest thing to do. It took me days to come up with a decent bio.
About me? Well, I’m in my forties and I currently live in Houston Texas. I absolutely love this city. There are so much going on all the time.
I began writing when I was eleven years old and I’ve written ever since. I never thought I would write to publish even if my sister asked multiple times. I always told her I was too lazy to create my own universe, I preferred writing in universes that already existed. 
Then one day, the inspiration hit me and I’ve been writing originals ever since.
When I’m not writing, I read and I roller skate (the old kind, not the rollerblades).



What have you written?
Books: Crossing the Barrier – Gray Eyes Series One
Breaking the Mold – Gray Eyes Series Two (will come out on September 20, 2016)
Gray Eyes Series book 3, half of book 4 and book 5 are also written. I’m editing right now.
I also have multiple short stories and deleted scenes from the Gray Eyes Series that will be made available through my website in the near future.

Fanfiction: multiple Harry Potter fanfiction that can be found on fanfiction.net.
I also co-wrote a Buffy the Vampire Slayer fanfiction but it’s under my friend’s profile.



How did the idea of the story come to you?
For my books, the premise of the entire series was inspired by the first 20 minutes of the pilot episode of Roswell. The entire idea of the empaths came to me when Max shows Liz how he sees her. Of course, my empaths are not aliens! But there is something going on there…

I get the details from things that happen around me, from people I meet, from TV shows I watch. I also get a lot of plotting done when I’m driving. 

For book one, I got my ideas from attending high school football, which I do regularly and I enjoy immensely.

For book two and three, those two were inspired by Roswell.

The others, you will see 



How did you come up with the title of your book?
I don’t have any merits on this one. My editor found if for me. It comes from a phrase in the book.
For book two, Breaking the Mold, that was all me. We (my editor and I) wanted to keep the same title pattern, which is a verb finishing by “ing” with a “the” then a noun. And Elizabeth’s story is really about coming into her own, so Breaking the Mold was the perfect title for it.



Please give us an insight into your main characters. What do they do that is so special?
Malakai is the popular guy, handsome, broody a little, loyal. He also has an anger inside of him, something he doesn’t realize he has, something he has to deal with in order to grow.

As for Lily, she is an empath. She has the power of feeling everything people around her feel. That makes her very unique. In her personal life, in a more “normal” side of her, she has to deal with the loss of her father, and a mother who doesn’t like her. She doesn’t like to be home and she needs to get out in order to grow. But growing up is also scary. At school, she is popular in her own circle but nothing compared to Malakai. 




What draws you to this genre?
I write Upper Young Adult/ Lower New Adult Contemporary Coming of Age Romance with a touch of Paranormal.
That’s a mouthful, right?
Why do I write this genre? Because I loved that period in my life. I also love to look at teens grow and come into their own. I also like things that are contemporary, set in the present, but at the same time, I like the mysterious and find it interesting (Buffy here! She was interesting for me as she had this special power no-one else had), therefore my touch of Paranormal with my empaths. I am not as much into werewolf and vampires, however, so I don’t write them… Okay, I know, that sounds funny since I was in Buffy, but what I liked of Buffy was her character, no so much the demons she was fighting.



Do the names in your book have special meanings? 
Well, there is a special meaning behind Lily’s name, but my saying it right now would really sell something in the entire series I would like readers not to know just yet.



Do you read much and if so who are your favourite authors and books?
I don’t read as much as I would want but I do lllloooovvvveeee Cambria Hebert, her #hashtag series. It’s a New Adult Series but I absolutely love it. I have also red CM DePorto University Park Series and I like that one too. It’s another New Adult.
I read a lot of Young Adult too but not so many in the indie worlds. I have a hard time finding any that are straight contemporary romance. Lots of them have magic or vampires or are dystopian. I love Kathy McGarry. She does YA Contemporary Romance at its best. I usually start crying in the middle of the book and don’t stop until the end!
I would love to find indie YA authors like Cambria and CM are for New Adults so I am opened to suggestions. 



Which authors inspire you?
Definitely Cambria Hebert. When I get stuck, I re-read the #hashtag series which I’ve read three times already.



What is your favourite quote?
I love the quotes LL Cool J puts on Twitter. That’s the reason why I follow him. I think my favorite so far is “Dreams don’t have deadlines”. 



What is your favourite movie?
I’ve got too many…
Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix
Star Wars Empire Strikes Back
Matrix
Pride and Prejudice
Etc.



What literary character is most like you? 
I honestly don’t know. 
I think I have the independence of Elizabeth Bennett.



What book do you wish you could have written?
#nerd from Cambria Hebert



Please list seven books your hero (*of your book) loves best!
Lily reads romance but after she found Malakai, she doesn’t feel the need to. So she will turn to Fantasy and Science Fiction.
Malakai likes Harry Potter.



In five words, please describe your 'Romance Writing Style'.
Hard, broody, sad, challenging, happy ending.



Quick writing test! Use the following words in a sentence: twin, alley, luxury, wasp
The twins were driving in an alley in a luxury car when they came upon a nest of wasps.



What writing advice do you have for aspiring writers?
Keep at it, seek help, and when you’re ready to publish, do it right.



And finally, where can people find your book online?
Any Amazon affiliated website: http://goo.gl/UWC9zJ



Contact info:
Website: www.martinelewisauthor.com
Blog: www.martinelewisauthor.com/blog
Facebook: www.facebook.com/martinelewisauthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorMartine
Pinterest: In the process of setting it up.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/martinelewisauthor
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/martinelewisauthor


Thank you so much Martine, to take the time and answer my questions!

So, that's it for now!
You can check out my review on Martine's book here: http://bookstain3.blogspot.de/2016/03/crossing-barrier-by-martine-lewis.html

Love,

"Crossing the Barrier" by Martine Lewis

"Lily knew from this moment on, she would always have a home."

Hey guys!
I just finished this book, like literally 10 seconds ago and my emotions are a mess. but let's start at the beginning. So this is my first free book I've ever received by asking the author and I'm thrilled and so thankful. 
Thank you so much Martine, for giving me this opportunity!

High school student Malakai Thomas, star wide receiver of the varsity team, collides with band member Lily Morgan on his way to football practice. As days go by, Malakai cannot get the petite clarinetist out of his head.

Lily Morgan can feel everyone's emotions. She loses her ability to shield herself against them the day Malakai runs into her. Now she must try to maintain her sanity in the emotional jungle that is high school, as well as deal with her growing feelings for Malakai.

Can Malakai get over the social stigma and his own internal struggle to be with Lily? Is Lily's secret too big to accept, even for him?  (source: goodreads)

Well, first of all the characters are beautiful. The moment I f.e. met David, I liked him. The fact that this book is about an empath (someone who can read each others feelings) really helped understand Malakai's and Lily's intentions and reasons for their reactions in certain situations. This book is written in two POV's, Lily's and Malakai's . It helps you identify with them and you can't really be mad at anyone bc of their thoughts and family backgrounds. 
First I didn't really get what this book is really about. Romance? Fantasy? Friendship?
I can tell you, it's all of it. It's the perfect mix of ordinary teenage life (let's forget their horrific backgrounds) and the paranormal ability of Lily.
The only thing I thought was a bit weird was how fast the relationship of Malakai and Lily grows. Not that I didn't enjoy any of it, but looking back at it now it was a bit fast forward.

Anyhow I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the second one. I need it like right now because that cliffhanger was just not okay.
So, I really enjoyed "Crossing the Barrier" and I can only tell you to get a copy and dig into this fantastic story!

You can buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Barrier-Gray-Eyes-1/dp/1944940006/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=


Love,

Saturday Movie Night

Hey guys!
This movie is a movie I can watch over and over again and it doesn't get boring. It's not my fave movie but for sure somewhere in the top 10. I recommend you watch and enjoy it this evening!

"Stuck in Love" (2012)

The story: An acclaimed writer, his ex-wife, and their teenaged children come to terms with the complexities of love in all its forms over the course of one tumultuous year. (source: imdb.com)

The cast:                                        Greg Kinnear as Bill Borgens

Jennifer Connelly as Erica

Kristen Bell as Tricia

Lily Collins as Samantha Borgens

Logan Lerman as Louis

Nat Wolff as Rusty Borgens

Liana Liberato as Kate

Why you should watch this movie: Well, Lily Collins and Logan Lerman are kind of a couple and Nat Wolff is in it, so... that should be enough already!

No? Okay... otherwise the story is really touching and emotional (I cry everytime at the car scene) and the cast was chosen beautifully. I think everyone can relate to this movie in one way or another. it's my go-to movie when I'm ill or have love sickness. The story is not too hard on you and I just really enjoy seeing Logan's face! :)

Why I love the movie so much: Like I said, the cast is chosen beautifully and I really like the storyline. It has enough of everything, some love, some drama, some tears, music and a happy ending. It never gets boring bc you change perspectives and get an insight to everyone's life. Another reason why I watched this movie was that Lily is one of my role models and she again has done such a good job in this movie and Logan and Nat are two of my fave actors.

If you are looking for an easy, romantic movie for f.e. a sleepover with your besties, this movie won't disappoint you.

The trailer:

Love,

"Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas

“Still, the image haunted his dreams throughout the night: a lovely girl gazing at the stars, and the stars who gazed back.” 

Hey peeps!
I FINALLY read this book and I'm so happy I did. Every good review about this book I read and saw was earned by Sarah.
I won't write a long intro so let's get to my review!

When magic has gone from the world, and a vicious king rules from his throne of glass, an assassin comes to the castle. She does not come to kill, but to win her freedom. If she can defeat twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition to find the greatest assassin in the land, she will become the King's Champion and be released from prison.

Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her.

And a princess from a foreign land will become the one thing Celaena never thought she'd have again: a friend.

But something evil dwells in the castle—and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying, horribly, one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival—and a desperate quest to root out the source of the evil before it destroys her world. (source: goodreads)

I had really high expectations for this book after reading all those reviews and it fulfilled all of them. 

You would think no one could ever relate to Celaena bc she's an assassin and stuff but Sarah J. Maas made her character like a teenager. She loves books, she enjoys the outside, she likes wearing beautiful dresses, she likes attending parties, she doesn't listen to rules and, and, and. The only thing that sets her apart from most teens is that she's a trained assassin and she went trough so much already at such a young age. No teen could get that, still Celeane never looses her happiness, sass and humour.
You just have to love the male characters, Prince Dorian Havilliard and the Captain of the Guard, Chaol Westfall. They have good humour and both are a bit rebellious. Chaol is my fave tbh because he helps and cares for Celaena. He hides his true feelings behind a mask of neutrality but sometimes he shows a glimpse of him and those moments are so precious. He's like a big brother to me and I ship him with Celaena not Celaena with Dorian which I guess more people do bc in "Throne of Glass" we got some romantic stuff with those two. 
The storyline is somewhat inspiring. Celaena always had this mantra: "I will not be afraid."
I think it shows how important it is to always keep fighting although it scares you. She could be a bit of a role model to some girls (not the assassin part!) bc she fights her fears, never looses her happiness and shows us that men and women are equally strong, sometimes girls can be even stronger.
I don't have one thing I didn't like about this book and that's rare but I recommend this book to everyone out there.






Love,

"Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell

“To really be a nerd, she'd decided, you had to prefer fictional worlds to the real one.” 

Hello internet! 
Today I present you the review to "Fangirl" by Rainbow Rowell. I started this book once already as an eBook but I am just no good at reading eBooks. It just feels wrong, you know?
So finally, about a year later I bought the paperback at an AMAZING bookstore in Maastricht. The bookstore was in a church. Like the church was the books store. Wait, here's a pic of the inside: 

Yes, yes this is real.

Anyway let's just start with the review, shall we?

Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?  (source: goodreads)

This book was as lovely as "Eleanor and Park", with relatable and sweet characters. The story was not too hard on me and it really was an easy read. It was like a drug: when I had to stop I craved to keep on reading the story. 
I sometimes found the main character Cath a bit annoying, but her concerns were reasonable (for the the most part). And Levi. My god how can someone be so hot AND cute in Starbucks clothing?!

Anyhow. Umm, where was I? Right, Levi. He's like the cute neighbor who happens to be quite hot too. Win-win  situation!
Reagan is the creepy/ cool girl. I like her bc she's sarcastic. I like sarcastic people.
Cath's twin sister Wren is more of a party girl. First I didn't really like her bc of her behaviour toward Cath and life in general but after you get to know her better, you get why she does what she does and in the end she learns her lesson and everything is rainbows and unicorns again (see what I did there?).

The storyline was entertaining and emotional, although I didn't cry. That's good I guess. You can really, as I said before, relate to the scenarios bc Cath's a fangirl, we are fangirls. We just get her and her obsession with fan shirts, fan stuff oh and we of course can't forget about fanfiction!
Fanfiction is a big part of the story and at the beginning of a new chapter is always a little snippet of a Simon Snow story. Tbh I really wanna read the book and I can!
Rainbow Rowell released the book Cath's fan fiction is based on called "Carry On".
I haven't read it yet so I'm still not sure if it's the actual Simon Snow book or the fanfiction but either way I gotta have that book.
You can read the summary of "Carry On" here:
 http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28356624-carry-on

That's it for now, I hope you enjoyed this post and I'll see you soon!

Love,

Saturday Movie Night

Hello!
I'm going to start a meme where I'll try to post every second Saturday a movie you should watch!
Let's start!

" Ten Inch Hero" (2007)

This picture makes me happy already :)

The story: Piper moves to Santa Cruz, California to go to the Institute of Art. When she was 15 she gave birth to a daughter, but had to put her up for adoption because she was too young to raise her. Years later she sees an article about a girl she thinks is her daughter, who lives in Santa Cruz, and applies for a job in a sandwich shop. As she works there she gets to know the staff. Tish is a babe, she tries to seduce every guy who comes into the shop, and she goes home with those who flirt back. Jen, a computer nerd who has a love affair online with a guy who calls himself fuzzy22. She's not as pretty as Tish and she struggles with self-confidence. And there's a crazy haired guy called Priestly; he's not like other guys and dresses different then everyone because he refuses to be "another clone". Piper's boss is a really nice guy named Trucker, who's in love with a woman who owns the store across the street. The audience goes through the sandwich shop crew's personal struggles as they help each other through it all. (source: imdb.com)

The cast:

 Elisabeth Harnois as Piper

Clea DuVall as Jen

Danneel Ackles as Tish

 Jensen Ackles as Priestly

No, I'm not obsessed with Jensen, why are you asking?

                

John Doe as Trucker

Alice Krige as Zo

Sean Patrick Flanery as Noah

Jordan Belfi as Fuzzy22

Adair Tishler as Julia

Why you should watch this movie: "Ten Inch Hero" isn't a really well-known movie and I don't understand why. The story is beautiful, about life and problems and how to solve those. It's full of emotions: fun, anger, hurt, sadness, happiness. The characters aren't the 0815 american actors, but in this movie everyone has a special and abstract personality. The story doesn't just focus on one person, but you get a look at everyone's life. And the ending is probably the cutest thing on this planet, like cuter than kittens with little ducks.

Why I love the movie so much: First of all Jensen Ackles, my bae, has like the best role ever. I like his character in this movie most, more than Dean Winchester in "Supernatural" ( I still love you Dean). And he and his (now) wife (then friend) play in it together and omg in the end. I just...I can't, it's too cute!

I love the whole story line and Priestly's shirts. He wears one who says : " Save a tree. Eat a beaver." It's probably my favourite shirt ever. So when you watch this movie, take your time and read what's on his shirt!

Also, I think the writers did an awesome job with the script, they included some scenes (like the tampon scene) about things I for example always rant about, like why do teenager boys laugh at men buying tampons? They have a girlfriend or wife and you don't, so stop laughing!!! 

Sorry, got a bit carried away. So, where was I?

Right, well I always tell people to watch this movie, bc I love it so much (It's my second favourite movie, right below "Dirty Dancing") so you should go and watch it RN!

The trailer:

Love,

               

Let's talk about... the Shadowhunter tv series!

Hello everyone!
I'm so sorry I haven't posted something in like two months but I do have some good reasons for that.
First I had to create a portfolio for my dream school in a week (so much stress!), then I had a week of an internship. After that two friends came over for four days and in those days we celebrated carnival everyday (I'm from Germany, it's a big thing here). That same week was my birthday and then my birthday-party. This week on monday my sister from England will stay here till next week, so as you can see it were some busy weeks for me. Still, I got some free time now, so enjoy!

My friend doesn't like the show. I'm the opposite. I love it! Of course there are some cons and I'm about to tell you about them.

First of all I love the cast (look at these posts about more information: http://bookstain3.blogspot.de/2015/05/shadowhunter-tv-series-cast.html
 http://bookstain3.blogspot.de/2015/05/shadowhunter-tv-series-cast-2.html ). They work so well together and if you have watched every "funny moments" video there is about the cast, you know that they are good friends even behind the camera. And to see some Malec action is always a good thing, am I right? And I can't get over the fact how sexy Izzy is! Those dresses man, just wow.

The Institute isn't at all like the books describe it, it looks a bit like a sci-fi FBI quarter. Anyhow, that doesn't really matter to me. The rooms of the characters are still authentic and represent them perfectly.  And Clary's room was my dream room until it burned down to ashes. It broke my heart.

The only thing that really bothers me is that Hodge is so young. He looks like freaking 25 or something! That's just not right. The Hodge in the movie was a better choice.

All in all I really like the show so far and the first time Malec happened was my death!
And there's a rule: don't be like my friend and only watch one episode and come to the conclusion that the series is bad because the institute isn't an old church or something. Thanks!

Here's one of the teasers:

Love,