Shadow Man Virtual Book Tour Give-A-Way!

I'd like to introduce you to Tara Fox Hall, author of the Lash Series. As you can see, this is no ordinary blog hop, but a Virtual Book Tour. Tara and her novel will visit numerous blogs this month, so review the links below to find out which ones are participating.

I asked Tara for an interview and she was kind enough to give me one during this busy holiday season. For that, I thank her.

Of course, after you read the interview you can enter into the fun by tweeting and posting. Lucky tweeters and posters will win books, a beautiful cat bed, handmade bracelets, and other trinkets to enjoy.

Thanks for dropping by today. Enjoy the interview, buy the book *grin*, and enter into the fun. 

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Shadow Man (Lash Series Book #2)

Blurb: When a renegade vampire begins amassing followers, threatening America’s vampire hierarchy, weresnake Lash partners with old enemies and new allies to annihilate them. Betrayed and left for dead, Lash reemerges the victor, catching the eye of the sultry nightclub singer Cassandra Nile, even as enemies close in from every side.

Buy links:

Amazon UK
Amazon USA
Bradley Publishing
Barnes And Noble

And now the interview:

A huge thank you to Louann Carroll for having me here today!

I’m here to promote Shadow Man, the second book in the paranormal action adventure Lash Series.


1.)    What inspired you to write Shadow Man?

Lash is a character from the latter books in my Promise Me series. He is old when he appears in the Promise Me series, and not much is known about his earlier years, other than the few details he provides. He was terrific fun to write in that series, and he became my mother’s favorite character, though she hated him at first. As he was also a character I wanted to know the back story on, I began telling his story, beginning with the little info I knew about his past. Unlike the Promise Me series, Lash’s story is not a romance, but filled with action, adventure, horrific events, suspense, sex, and yes, a little bit of passion.

This is the second book in the Lash series. Initially I thought to end the first book with the events at the close of Shadow Man, but realized halfway through that the work was going to be more than one book by the time I was done. I also realized that I was hooked on writing Lash’s life, and there was a much longer story I wanted to tell. I can’t wait to delve into research for more sequels.

2.)    Don’t give away any secrets, but what’s your book about?

The central themes of the book are banding together to rise up against corruption, deception, betrayal, the evils of addiction, the strength of friendship, old grudges, and the consequences of choices, whether hastily made or well-contemplated.

But there are many other themes that run through my Lash Series: being an outsider, discrimination, the benefits and drawbacks of family loyalty, evil begetting evil, and the lengths a person will go to in order to protect someone they love. The protagonist, Trystan, initially becomes Lash because he sees no other way to save his loved ones or himself. His actions to protect his loved ones and himself drive the book series, and change the course of his life, putting him on the path to infamy. When you have everything in your life reinforcing the worst in you, it’s hard not to succumb.

3.)    How did you come up with the title?

The title of Shadow Man has a two-fold meaning. The first to make reference to Lash’s line of work as an assassin and bodyguard. He is someone that shadows both those he is trying to protect, and those he is hired to kill. The second reference is to Lash’s own wide shadow he casts of murder, death, and tragedy to all who know him. Relatives, business associates, and friends of Lash come to grief in Shadow Man because they associate with and/or care about Lash, or he cares about them. Even those who are innocent when they meet Lash—such as street boy he nicknames Spiderboy—fall under his shadow and are affected by his lack of morals, his brutal code of life, and his aptitude for violence

4.)    Do you have plans for a new book and/or is your book part of a series?

The next book in the series is War. I hope to release it in 2013, if all goes well.

5.)    How long does it take you to write a novel?

Straight fiction takes about 6 months or so—less if I’m inspired and can devote my free time to writing. Fiction with historical elements or events—like Lash series books—takes longer. How much longer is in direct relation to how much history I include. War easily took the better part of two years, and I was researching it at least a year previous to that.

6.)    What do you think makes a good story?

A believable protagonist, a well thought out conflict, and a logical setting that the reader can relate to and imagine happening, at bare minimum. A story that transcends its trappings, and has a meaning that stays with the reader is a good work. A novel that encompasses the reader and swallows their reality, then substitutes its own, compelling the reader to stay engrossed to the final page when they should doing something else on the SECOND reading is the best of the best.

7.)    Do you have a day job?

Yes. My job is promoting and managing the safety programs at a metal fabrication shop. I have to make sure that my company is following all applicable regulations, so that no one gets injured in a bad accident. I’m certified by OSHA, in that I took several courses to train me on the different regulations that would apply to my company, so I could better do my job.

8.)    What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I’m assuming you mean a typical day in my life? If I am working at the metal shop, I am there anywhere from the minimum eight hours to close to twelve, if it’s a day we have an inspection or some kind of safety monitoring done. If it’s a day I don’t work, I am usually online a few hours, checking and responding to email or doing book promotion. Then I am onto whatever is on top of my to-do list, from working on firewood to doing edits to sewing/kitting for charities to chores like laundry. I fit in writing whenever I can, but some days I can’t fit it in. On a good day when I can write about 8 hours, I can write about 5000 words, the quality of which is a rough draft. That might not seem like a lot, but everything I write gets used eventually, and usually needs fleshing out rather than editing.

9.)    Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Getting some time to myself where no one is bothering me is and remains the hardest part of writing. I love to write, but right now, there is little money in it, which means my day job comes first. I also have to take care of my family, and meet various charity commitments, which leaves little time for writing. I will be taking a hiatus from promotion in the first half of 2013 to work more on my Lash Series.

10.)  Do you work from an outline or just write?

I just write.

11.)  How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

Ads, online promotions like contests/giveaways, and guest blogging has been the best avenue so far. I am working on book signings now to gain local attention, now that I have a backlist of print books to sign.

12.) What do you like best about writing?

I love to write, and it’s easiest to do what you love. The flip side is that it makes writing my “reward” for getting everything else I need done…and as such, has recently taken a backseat to promotion. But there is nothing else I’d rather do that write. This is the first January in a long time that I am actually looking forward to!

Fun Questions:

 
If you were a car, what kind would you be? Chevy Avalanche truck, black.

White wine or red? Red, always!

Coffee or tea? Neither…water, please.

Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate and vanilla twist, like the ice cream soft serve cone…YUM.

Dogs or cats?  Dogs and cats and snake +husband unit = my family

Sleep in or get up early? Sleep in…and think about why I should’ve gotten up early and vow to do it tomorrow….

BIOGRAPHY:

Tara Fox Hall’s writing credits include nonfiction, horror, suspense, action-adventure, erotica, and contemporary and historical paranormal romance. She is the author of the paranormal action-adventure Lash series and the vampire romantic suspense Promise Me series. Tara divides her free time unequally between writing novels and short stories, chainsawing firewood, caring for stray animals, sewing cat and dog beds for donation to animal shelters, and target practice.

Links:

You can contact Tara at the following places:

Website
Facebook
Blog
Twitter

Tara also runs a monthly contest on her website where one lucky winner will win any of her latest release in eBook form. To take part email her to join her mailing list.

For additional info on my recently published series books Lash: Shadow Man click here: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Man-Lash-ebook/dp/B009UHDZHY 

And now for the Give-A-Way! Just follow the instructions below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One lucky winner  will receive a Kitty Pad, created and designed by Tara Fox Hall.

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TOUR DATES


1st Dec - Penny's Tales - Interview
2nd Dec - Close Enounters With The Night Kind - Review
3rd Dec - Imaginary Friends - Guest Post
4th Dec - My World - Review
5th Dec - Tink's Place - Guest Post
6th Dec - Kaidans Seduction - Review
7th Dec - Lisa's World Of Books - Guest Post
8th Dec - Pandragon Dan - Spotlight
9th Dec - M.M. Shelley - Guest Post
10th Dec - Unwritten - Guest Post
11th Dec - Pat McDermott - Interview
12th Dec - Bitsy Bling Books - Review
13th Dec - Sheenah Freitas - Guest Post
14th Dec - Read 2 Review - Review
15th Dec - Paranormal Book Club - Review
16th Dec - Fang-Tastic Books - Guest Post
17th Dec - Reading, Writing and More - Guest Post
18th Dec - Marian L - Review
19th Dec - J.S. Council - Review
20th Dec - Page Turner Book Tours - Closing To Tour

About Page Turner Book Tours:

Page Turner Book Tours is fronted by the face behind Read2Review Kate. Page Turner Book Tours has been put together to help promote authors and give something back to the writing world. Kate has put together a team of incredibly talented people to help with the project by incorporating their individual skills into making new, fresh and exciting promotional plans that we hope you agree are amazing. If you would like to book a tour with Page Turner Book Tours please check out their tour packages. If you would like to become a tour host with Page Turner Book Tours please check out their Tour Host page. You wont be disappointed!

I'd like to thank Page Turner Book Tours for asking me to be a part of their tour group. Another thank you goes to Tara Fox Hall. This is one enormously talented woman, so take a break from the holiday shopping for a great read. Or buy one to give to friends and family.

Thank you for stopping by today!

(((hugs)))

Louann