The Road to Hell series welcomes author Avery Olive

Please welcome Author Avery Olive onto the Road to Hell. Avery is the author of A Stiff Kiss. Other books written by Avery are Won't Let Go, TBR Oct 2013

Now, it’s time to create a little hell and get to the good stuff by revealing all of Avery’s wicked secrets while on the Road to Hell. LOL  Yeah, you wish! ;-D 

Grab your favorite drink, sink your teeth into something decadent, sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know Avery…

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GRACEN:  Tell me three things about yourself that we cannot find on the internet or in your bio?

Avery: This is tough. I usually try to be fairly open. Um. I hate peas, with a passion. When I was like 5, the ice cream truck came down my street... I ran after it, only wearing my underwear. I have the weakest stomach in the world, just talking about something gross makes me want to throw up... and usually, I do.

GRACEN: What hobbies and interests do you participate in when you’re not writing?

Avery: I read. A lot. Like, almost an unhealthy amount. I like to bake and cook, and I think I'm pretty good at it. No one complains and I've never made anyone sick. That's probably a good thing. I camp in the summer with Mr. Olive and my son. I don't have the heart to tell them that most of the time, I hate it, though. Shh... don't tell anyone.  

GRACEN: Do you have any writing quirks or certain things you MUST have or do before beginning the writing process?

Avery: Sitting down to write usually involves cracking open a can of Cherry Dr. Pepper. I'm addicted to that stuff. I drink it like I should probably drink water. I chew a ton of gum, any flavour, and most of the time, I like to have music in the background. Not really quirks, but things I need in order to get the creative juices flowing.

GRACEN: If you were plotting to take over the world, how would you do it?

Avery: OMG... How did you know? I thought I was being all secretive about my plans for world domination. I mean... Um. So, hypothetically speaking, of course, it probably would involve some secret identities, weapons, maybe, and some crafty political espionage. I really don't want to go into detail, I mean, you just never know who's out there, reading this stuff, right?

GRACEN: If you could make one statement that the entire planet would hear and remember, what would it be?

Avery: You're all about the tough questions, aren't you? Probably something about me being awesome? Oh, and recycle. It's good for the environment.

GRACEN:  What genre do you write and why that genre?

Avery: I write Young Adult, ranging from romance, to paranormal to fantasy... And why? Because I never want to grow up, and feel I have this sick fascination with re-living my younger years. And because I make stuff up, I get to write about all the things I wish would have happened.  

GRACEN: For those who are not yet familiar with A Stiff Kiss, can you please give us some details about the book and/or series?

Avery: A Stiff Kiss is a twist, of sorts, on an old classic, Sleeping Beauty, with a slightly morbid take and in reverse. There's a bit of everything in there from romance, to some taboo subjects to a certain level of coming of age. I tried to really write something that would appeal to the masses.

GRACEN:  Do you have any new stories in the works and can you tell us a bit about it/them?

Avery: Well, Won't Let Go, is a form of a ghost story, also with a few twists. Since the cover and blurb hasn't been officially revealed yet, I don't want to say much...

My agent, Kris, lovely gal, is trying to sell a novel that's got some hottie aliens, tattoo parlors and romance, but who knows what will happen with that.

And hmm.. everything else is still under lock and key as they say. I tend to not want to spill the beans about WIP's. I'm always afraid I'll jinx something and it'll never get finished.

GRACEN: If you could describe your writing with one word or brief phrase, what would it be? Please delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they’ve finished reading your story.

Avery: Um. Again with the hard questions. Satisfaction. Maybe. I really want all readers to be satisfied with my novels and I want them to be able to take something away from it.

GRACEN: What, in your opinion, makes your story unique and what makes it stand out from other stories in your genre? Think of this as a pitch to convince readers to pick up your books.

Avery: Well, I think it's taken an age old story that I've breathed new life into (for the characters, literally) Hmm.... I didn't know I was going to have to write a pitch! lol

GRACEN: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done in the name of research?

Avery: Sadly, I haven't done much. I did spend an unhealthy amount of time researching way people can die, and ways that they can come back to life. I picked the realistic form, called Lazarus Syndrome which seems to bring people back from the dead, occasionally.

GRACEN: Of all your books, which character did you have the most fun creating and why?

Avery: I think picking a favourite character is like trying to pick a favourite child, or relative. It's virtually impossible. Each character has their own special place in my heart!

GRACEN: If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why?

Avery: Okay, wow, um... I'd say Quill Colburn, he from the novel my agent is trying to sell, and I choose him because he's an alien. He's got the most interesting life and abilities. All my other characters are human, and well, I can meet a human whenever I want :)

GRACEN: Which of your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

Avery: I don't want to give any spoilers but perhaps the antagonists from A Stiff Kiss, they have the ability to decide who lives and who dies, they are vindictive, scary and well, they don't have much of a heart. They'd use my love against me, I'm sure.

GRACEN:  If you were interviewing yourself, what is the one question you would ask yourself and please give us the answer to that question?

Avery: Question: Why does it seem like you're fascinated with sticking to fantasy/paranormal genres? When are going to write something contemporary?

Answer: I get asked these questions a lot, since a few of my readers know that most everything I've written is part of the same genre type. The answer is simple, because I can create the world how I want. There are tons of "rules" that can bend because I've added supernatural, paranormal or fantasy elements. I like to break the mold and stretch the truth a little further.

And will I ever right a straight up contemporary romance? *winks* I may just be working on something like that now. I find it hard though because you've got to play by the rules and everything has to be accurate and very realistic.

GRACEN:  Thanks so much for joining us, Avery!  It’s been a treat getting to know you better! 

Avery Olive’s Blog : Facebook: A Stiff Kiss Facebook Fan Page: Twitter: Instagram: Goodreads: Tumblr

A Stiff Kiss Buy Links:

Amazon    Barnes & Noble   The Book Depository 

BLURB:

Who knew kissing a corpse would change everything?

Death always hits Xylia Morana too close to home, but she likes it that way. She hangs out with the terminally ill, attends random funerals, and every so often, when the weather is right, she sleeps in open graves.

But after Landon Phoenix, the high school hottie, dies in Xylia's arms, she sneaks into the morgue to say goodbye. How could she know stealing a kiss from his corpse would wake him up?

With Landon returned to the living and suddenly interested in Xylia, life has new meaning. But what Xylia doesn't realize is that by kissing Landon back to life, she's thrown Life and Death off balance. The underworld demands a body, and it might just have to be Xylia's this time.

EXCERPT:

No way should I be in the morgue. If I'm caught, I'll lose my job. My dad will probably get fired, too. He's been warned to keep me out of here.
The walls are lined with thick, square doors, clearly marked with numbers. I stop in front of the one I want. In the middle of that wall, at waist height, is number twelve. Beyond the door, lying on a sliding metal table, is the body of Landon Phoenix.
I've always had a crush on Landon, ever since freshman year when his family moved to Silver Springs. I've watched him grow into his looks, no longer a gangly boy with braces. And I've longed to hear my name roll off his tongue in that deep voice of his. To press my lips against his as he holds me in a tight embrace. To share the same air as him.
Though now, all those things are impossible. Except one. I can pull open the door, slide the table out, and at least for a moment I can share the same air, even though his lungs can no longer pull in that air.
I hesitate, my hand on the handle. Besides my mother, this will be the only other person who's died that I've really known. The others have just been people, random ones at that. The guy from the grocery store who jumped off Whibley Bridge into the icy waters below, the occasional patient of mine who'd succumbed to old age, and many, many others. But this is personal. This is someone I'd known. Or at least, someone I'd held secretly in my heart.
But I need to say goodbye.