Hey Guys! Today I have an interview with the extremely talented Mia Hoddell as part of her book tour. She has just released a box set of her Seasons of Change series. I urge you to go check it out because it is truly wonderful.
- What book are you reading now? Do you like to read the same genre of books that you write or do you like to mix it up?
Right now I’m reading Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, which I was lucky enough to get an ARC of (it’s not out until March!). However, I’ll have probably finished that by the end of the day and then I’ll be on to my huge pile of Christmas reads.
My favourite genres are the ones I write: romance, paranormal, urban fantasy, and dystopian in the YA or NA market. However, I will try anything once and do mix it up quite often. All a book needs is for the blurb to hook me and I’ll give it a go. I’m usually good at judging whether a book is right for me so most of the time I end up liking it as well.
- Are there any new or up and coming authors that you thing deserve a lot of attention?
That’s hard for me to answer because I read so much. I’m a blogger as well as an author so I get through at least one book a day, if not more when they’re novellas. Like I said before, I only pick up books I know I will enjoy, so I’d recommend most of the books I’ve read recently. There are some great indies releasing books, so I think everyone should check out at least one indie author.
- Do you listen to music when you write? What songs are on your writing playlist if so?
Most of the time I listen to music as it helps put me inside this bubble where I don’t get distracted. It also helps when the music fits the scene I’m writing as it’s like a movie playing out in my head. Generally I listen to film scores, and have hundreds of tracks. Some of my favourites are by Hans Zimmer (Inception, Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean), Steve Jablonsky (Transformers), and Alexandre Desplat (Deathly Hallows 1 & 2). I also listen to chart music and a lot of newer artists who are less well-known. Basically, I change my playlist once a week, so there’s always something different, but film scores are a must.
- Use three words to describe your latest release.(Am I right in saying that it is Spring Knight?)
Feel-good, light-hearted, and playful.
- Do you have a weird party trick? What is it?
Is it bad to say that I avoid most parties, and when I’m dragged to one I hide in the corner near an exit, so I don’t know? I guess you could say I’m very good at the disappearing act and seeking warm dark places where I can read and not be disturbed.
- Are there any parts of your books that you wish you wrote differently?
All of the time, especially as I move on to the next book in the series. I always feel my writing progresses throughout a series and by the time I reach the end I always want to go back and redo the first book. However, I think that’s part of the process. I’m continually learning what works and what doesn’t, developing my style, and hopefully improving my writing. Although there are parts I’d probably add to rather than change, I doubt I ever will because there comes a point where I have to move on. I’m happy with what I’ve released and if I constantly focus on what I could have done differently I’d never have a new book out.
- What do you do to find inspiration?
I think most of my inspiration comes from observing situations and asking questions. I like to sit back when in a group and just listen or watch how people interact; you really see and hear some odd things at times. I also ask a lot of ‘what if’ questions—most of which are very strange and I worry about my sanity at times—and generally they snowball into a very brief idea that I can then develop. As well as that, I have an overactive imagination that’s always coming up with crazy scenarios. I’ve never found gaining inspiration hard, what I struggle with is choosing which idea to run with.
Seasons of Change Box Set
Books 1-4 + Exclusive Bonus Stories
by Mia Hoddell
Genre: YA Romance
Release date: November 27th 2014
Blurb:
You can now get all four Amazon best-selling novellas in the Seasons of Change series, plus two exclusive short stories, in one box set.
These feel-good contemporary romances follow the seasons as characters change for the better, find themselves, and overcome fears.
All of the novellas are standalone reads, but can be enjoyed as a series because characters overlap. This box set includes:
Summer Demons: Jenna Shaw jumped on a plane and flew to Portugal to try and forget her past. However, forced to deal with her memories due to an ill-timed joke, Jenna’s holiday is derailed by the charismatic Ethan Brooks. She sees him as an annoyance; he sees her as a challenge. And when all of his usual tricks only serve to push her away, Ethan has to work harder than ever if he wants to win over and help his mysterious girl.
Winter Angel: When Amy’s suggestion of a beach holiday is overruled in favour of skiing she couldn’t have predicted it might make her break the one, and only, rule she has: not to commit to a serious relationship again. The minute she sees Luke, she knows something’s wrong, and her desire to fix people means she wants to be the one to help him. However, she didn’t go on holiday to fall for someone, and whether or not she can move past her insecurities will depend on whether Luke can face his biggest fear.
Autumn Ghosts: Only one person knows what truly lies in Ellie Jeffords’ heart, and that’s herself. Hating the course she is studying, Ellie is failing and when a friend’s cousin, Justin, offers to tutor her, she jumps at the chance. However, as the pressure of exams starts to break Ellie, Justin wants her to confide in him. The only problem is that he can’t persuade her to talk without revealing his own dark secret, and forcing Ellie to choose between her parents’ dreams and her own will cost her something she loves.
Spring Knight: Kayleigh Barrow is most comfortable on stage where she can pretend she’s someone else, but when auditions for the latest production are opened up to the entire university, the lines between fantasy and reality start to blur. Thrown together with renowned player, Aiden Hanson, she can’t longer hide her feelings for him. However, he’s never had a serious relationship and Kayleigh refuses to be another conquest. When her acting starts to become real and she can no longer hide behind her character, Kayleigh must decide whether Aiden’s worth the risk, or if he will end up breaking her heart.
Plus 2 exclusive short stories:
Summer Revenge: Jenna promised she’d get Ethan back for his prank, and it’s time to cash in. Read about what happened after the couple left Portugal.
Season of Love: There’s beach fun, flirting, and mischief as all of the Seasons of Change couples take part in a beach competition.
stood on top of the platform. Her vision had tunnelled with the waves of
vertigo that hit her body, allowing only the dark colour into her eye line.
With the strength of a gale force wind, it pounded on her chest, causing her to
stumble back as its icy hold sent a shiver along her spine. The break from
seeing the ground wasn’t enough, though. She couldn’t go far enough to feel
safe. If she moved more than one step in any direction she would fall.
dizzy … lightheaded.
worst possible time to find out she was scared of heights, but maybe it was the
thought of jumping rather than the actual distance. Not only did she feel
faint, but also sick. Kayleigh didn’t even know how those two actions could
combine, but she let out a nervous giggle and hoped another type of blackness
would capture her mind before she made a complete fool of herself. It probably
made her sound insane, but she couldn’t stop the sound.
could she find the answer to why she was on a platform, willing herself to
fall. It had seemed logical and easy on the climb up, but now she suddenly felt
as if she was standing on top of a building, rather than a few metres in the
air. Her heart was pounding in her chest; the rhythm frantic as she urged
herself to peer over the edge once more. Palms slick with sweat, her fingers
slipping over each other, she twitched nervously as she strained her neck to
catch a glimpse of the floor.
this. Just lean back and it will all be over,” she muttered to herself, only
adding to the crazy image she had going on.
shuffling anxiously on the ground, unsettled by her actions. “Block them out,
Kayleigh. You can do this,” she chanted ritually under her breath before she
inhaled sharply. Slowly counting, she exhaled with a deep sigh when she reached
twenty. Her whole body relaxed with the action and Kayleigh closed her eyes,
trying to find a sense of peace and stillness. Unfortunately, all it did was
make her knees weaker. Reopening her eyes, Kayleigh kept her head up and her
chin parallel with the floor. If she didn’t look down, what she was about to do
couldn’t scare her … at least that’s what she told herself.
It’ll be over in seconds.
last deep breath, her gaze hardened and she picked a spot across the room to
focus on. She shuffled to the edge, her bare toes skimming the lip of the
platform.
about to turn around when something interrupted her focus. A door slammed hard,
and into the room walked the last person she expected to see. His cool, blue
eyes found hers instantly, holding multiple questions as to why she was doing
what she was. Yet Kayleigh didn’t stop to think any further. The last thing she
needed was to appear weak in front of him, and she’d only just calmed herself
down.
Kayleigh edged back so that only her toes were balanced on the edge, her heels
hanging off. She felt like a diver, but with worse balance since her legs had
started to shake.
hold the position long.
shouted, loud enough to silence the room. Normally she hated being the centre
of attention, and wanted to shrink into the darkest corner possible. However,
today she would kill anyone who wasn’t focused on her. Today she needed all
eyes to be on her or everything was going to end badly.
counting below. “Three … Two … One …” As they reached the final number
Kayleigh pushed all thoughts from her mind and leaned back, her arms crossed
over her chest tightly.
her weight, her body fell.
cats. She spends most of her time writing or reading, loves anything paranormal
and has an overactive imagination that keeps her up until the early hours of
the morning.
sixteen, Mia moved on to short stories but finding she had too much to tell
with too little space, Mia progressed to novels. She started her first series (The Wanderer Trilogy) at the age of
fourteen and since then hasn’t stopped writing. Seasons of Change is her third series and with an ever growing
list of ideas, Mia is trying to keep up with the speed at which her imagination
generates them.
ARCs, giveaways and new releases
**Giveaway**
3x copies of Summer Demons and Winter Angel (ebooks)
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