Paranormal Opinion: Mojo Queen Blog Tour and giveaway!

Welcome to the Mojo Queen blog tour! Today, I have an interview with author Sonya Clark! Also, keep reading for giveaway details!

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Can you tell us about where all you have lived?
I grew up an Army brat so I lived all over the US as well as Japan and Germany as a child. I loved both Japan and Germany though they are quite different – both places were an amazing experience. I feel very lucky that I was able to see other parts of the world, and other parts of my own country as well. It made me realize that people are very similar everywhere you go, and at the same time it taught me not to be afraid of the differences. Now I live in Tennessee.

When did you begin writing?
The oldest stories I have date from the second grade. I always wrote short stories and poems growing up. About four years ago I started writing longer works, novellas and novels, and started trying to get published.

What do you do in your spare time?
I read a lot and I spend time with my husband.

What are some of your favorite movies/tv shows?
I’ve been watching Battlestar Galactica lately (I didn’t get to see all of it when it first aired). It is really fascinating. The emphasis on religion has been surprising, but really interesting.

What drew you to the paranormal genre?
With writing paranormals, just like in science fiction and fantasy, you have a lot of freedom to do things and explore ideas and situations that might otherwise be difficult to pull off. Take Battlestar, for instance. In what I’ve watched so far they are beginning to explore the question of who has a soul and who does not, and what it means to be human. It looks like they’re also going to get into some monotheism versus polytheism, what with the Cylons worshipping one god and the humans worshipping many. Think about that for a second: the monotheistic Cylons committed genocide against humanity. Can you imagine the firestorm of protest that would erupt if someone tried to tell a story like that without the cover of a genre label?

It’s not just about getting away with more under the genre umbrella – it’s fun too. I’ve always loved the paranormal and the occult. I was reading Anne Rice and Stephen King in junior high. I love the mystery of the unknown, the fear inspired by terrifying creatures and the excitement of reading about a hero/heroine defeat them. Reading and writing paranormal is both an escape and a challenge, and I love that about it.

Do you design your own book covers?
Goodness no, I have no skill for that. Both of my covers were designed by the wonderfully talented Renee Rocco, who is also the owner/publisher of Lyrical Press. She does amazing covers!

How many books have you written?
My first published work, titled Bring on the Night, was released last year. It’s about a female vampire who is a sort of enforcer in her supernatural world. Mojo Queen is my second release. It’s quite a bit different and I let a lot more of myself seep into the story. That has made sending it out into the world a bit scary!

What is your favorite thing about being an author?
A big part of being a storyteller is the desire to share the stories you create and being published lets me do that. I love to entertain people and create characters that other people love almost as much as I do!

Do you write series, or do you prefer stand-alone books?
I like both. A stand-alone is great because you have a definite ending. A series is also great because it can give you more opportunity to explore the characters and world that you’ve created. With Mojo Queen the characters really drew me back into writing about them again. I want to know more about them and the best way to do that is to write more about them.

Are you working on anything now?
Right now I’m working on the follow-up to Mojo Queen. So far I’ve got two possible titles for it and I’m sure there will be more, so I try to just call it Mojo 2 for now. I think it’s actually a bit darker than Mojo Queen. I’m really putting my main character Roxie Mathis through the ringer in this one.

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Synopsis:

Hoodoo and high magic are on a collision course.

Roxanne Mathis isn't like everyone else. Not only can she see auras and spectral entities, she can mix herbs and roots for spells to do good or ill. She can even light a candle without the benefit of a match. But when she’s hired to exorcise a demon from a young girl, she discovers the limits of her powers.

With her vampire cousin at her side and a sexy sorcerer chasing her on the rebound, Roxie sets out to send that evil entity back to where she came from.

Nothing is as it seems and Roxie’s in over her head. It’s not going to be enough for her to just be a paranormal investigator and old school root worker – to defeat this demon, she’s going to have to be the Mojo Queen.

Buy Links:

Lyrical Press

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Fictionwise

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Excerpt:

I sat in the chair opposite the loveseat, placing the candles on the coffee table. Glanced at him to make sure I still had his attention, which of course I did. One side of his mouth still curled up in a smirk, eyebrow quirked. I sat back, let myself sink into the comfy chair and relax as much as possible. First the candle on the left. Focusing on the wick, I visualized a tiny flame erupting from it--concentrating my will, pouring energy into my intention. I could feel myself sliding further into exhaustion as energy curled inside me, but after a long, agonizing moment the candle came to life. I let out a breath before I could stop myself, avoiding his gaze. I didn’t want him to know how much this was taking out of me, but I had a bad feeling it was obvious. I turned my attention to the other candle and though it took even longer this time, it too lit. I felt almost as bad as I had this afternoon.

Blake reached for a backpack on the floor I had not seen in the darkness. He opened it, fished something out, and tossed it to me. I didn’t so much catch it as let it fall in my lap. A chocolate candy bar.

It was my turn to quirk an eyebrow. Waving the bar at him I said, “What, is this to ward off dementors?”

The smirk became a genuine smile again briefly. “Something like that. You need to eat.”

I gave him a skeptical look.

“You know you’re using energy with that.” He gestured at the candles. “The energy needs to be replenished.”

I rolled my eyes but tore open the wrapper. The chocolate tasted, well, damn, like mainlining something illegal. Maybe he had a point. I was halfway through the bar when he spoke again, as if there had been no pause.

“Especially since you don’t really know what you’re doing yet.” Even in the low candlelight I had no trouble seeing the wicked amusement in his dark eyes.

I managed to finish chewing without choking, tossed the remainder of the candy bar on the coffee table and sat up straighter. “Why don’t you tell me why you’re here? Or better yet, tell me where I can find your demon lover? So I can send her back to Hell.”

“Well, actually, that’s exactly why I’m here, Roxanne.” Like we were discussing insurance or something. “I want you to find my demon lover.”

Gob-smacked, all I could manage was, “Huh?”

“And I want you to send her back to Hell.”

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Author Bio:

Sonya Clark grew up an Army brat, living all across the United States as well as Japan and Germany by the time she graduated high school. Books were one of the few constants in her life. An eclectic reader, she always had a special love for the paranormal and is a lifelong fangirl of all things that go bump in the night.

A deep love of music is another constant thread in all of her fiction. She writes at a desk equipped with High John the Conqueror root and a mojo hand. She has worshipped at the mother church of country music, traveled the back roads of the blues highway, been to the crossroads at midnight, and though she’s never cooked up a mess of polk salad, she has been to Graceland four times.

She lives with her husband and Yorkie in Tennessee.

Author Links:

Blog/website: http://www.sonyaclark.net/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/sonyabclark
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorsonyaclark
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3510861.Sonya_Clark

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