Welcome to Rainy Day Reviews!: #Giveaway Star-Seer by April Marcom

Sleigh lives in a city at the very tops of the age-old valor trees, where babies born defective are taken and delivered to the other defects living on the Surface. When Sleigh’s sister is born one of these 3re-breathing, earthquake-inducing monsters, she follows the transporters to the Surface in secret, desperate to learn what will become of her. There, she discovers a new world of incredible people she’s instantly drawn to, one man in particular. Everything she’s been taught is a lie. She also 3nds out the Avarice will have her killed if her disappearance is detected, so she’s forced to return to her city after only a brief escape, feeling more like their captive than someone living under their safeguard.

Four years later, the stars foretell her sister’s capture and enslavement by centaurs, along with the murder of her beloved, Gabriel. No matter the cost, she’s determined to return to the Surface and do whatever it takes, even offering herself in their place, to prevent both such disasters. If only she’d known what sort of trouble this reckless act would really get her into: putting her at the heart of a prophecy to end human slavery to centaurs, being forced to seek out and wear the lost wings of Hendraya, which makes her the leader in a massive Surface war against a most deadly race of centaurs thought to have gone extinct over a century ago.

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During the day, April Marcom works as a substitute teacher for grades K-12. But in the evening, the alluring world of romance takes over as she pours it out on paper. Her favorite thing to do, though, is to spend time with her sports-car-loving husband and three incredibly energetic children. She also loves chocolate, her five very rowdy dogs, and livin’ the simple life out in the country. April grew up a southern bell in Mississippi, but is now a proud Oklahoman.

Author Interview:

When did you start writing, and was there a specific event or person who influenced you to become an author?

I started writing when I was a young teenager, but didn’t really pursue a writing career until my early twenties. I would say my writing’s mostly influenced by my own heart, rather than a specific event or person. I love romance! I also tend to get super attached to my characters and feel some influence by them as far as what I think they want or need.

How many books do you have out, and do you have a favorite?

STAR SEER will be my seventh book that’s been released to the public. I also have three short stories published as part of anthologies, and a couple I’ve self-published as free reads on Smashwords. My favorite story I’ve written will always be GOOD VS. EVIL HIGH, I think. Years after it was released, I’m just now beginning to write a sequel story.

How do you come up with character names?

I keep a running list of names I love inside my desk. I refer to these whenever I need new character names, and cross them out as I use them. They could be names I hear on TV or read on the internet, anywhere I can find a great name.

Do you have a favorite author?

Debbie Macomber and her Blossom Street books are some of my favorites.

What are some of your favorite or memorable books that you’ve read?

J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is my all-time favorite book series. I doubt that will ever change. Recently, I’ve also enjoyed reading Scholastic’s Poison Apple Books to my kids.

What is one piece of advice you could give to a new author that you wish someone had passed to you?

My answer to this question is always to make your stories as unique as possible. Anything that will make them stand out against the enormous number of submissions put out every single day is probably a good idea.

Do you have any pets?

I love love love dogs! I’ve rarely had less than four at any given time since I married my equally dog-loving husband. We’ve had pugs, Boston terriers, a dash hound, an Australian shepherd/wolf, a pit bull (she was by far the sweetest dog we’ve ever had), a miniature pinscher, and lots of mixed breed strays that have been dumped near our country home. Most recently, we got two black Newfoundlands. At only a year old, they’re already bigger than me.

What do you do in your spare time when you’re not writing?

Hmmm. Spare time. I haven’t had much of that since my first child was born. Between working as a Pre-K assistant, writing stories, and being a mommy to three, I do love scrapbooking, baking, and shopping.

What is the best vacation you ever went on?

I’ve been on two cruises in my life, and they were definitely the greatest vacations ever! It doesn’t matter where I’m going, as long as it’s on a cruise ship. The never-ending food is always amazing, and they have so many fun events going all day long!

If you could live anywhere else besides your current location, where would it be?

I think I would really love to live in England. I’ve never been there, but I love the idea of splitting my years between England and my current home.

Are you currently working on a project, and if so, can you tell us anything about it?

I just finished writing a YA romance titled Clash of the Cheerleaders:

Hadley is a varsity cheerleader who asks out the new kid in school on a dare and ends up falling head over heels for him. Unfortunately, the cheer captain and queen bee of Silver Wing High isn’t having it. She absolutely cannot have one of her girls dating the wrong kind of guy. Hadley will have to go head to head with her if she wants to continue seeing him.

It will probably be a couple of months until this one’s ready for the publisher, but keep an eye out for it in the future.

If you weren’t an author, what other profession would you be in?

I love working with kids, and I’ve always been fascinated by psychology. So maybe I would have gone into a profession involving child psychology.

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Excerpt:

My mind was racing, though my body had suddenly become immobile.

I had to see my sister. Nothing could make me want to face the transporters, though. They were, perhaps, my greatest fear.

Secretly, I had always wanted to visit the Surface, if only to see what the world below was like. At fourteen years old, I was young but not afraid. There had simply never been a reason good enough to risk trying to sneak down the only passageway connecting the two worlds.

Until now.

Top Ten List:

My Top 10 Favorite Things:

· Family