Today I'm turning my blog over to Debbie Dee, who I interviewed about her latest novel "The Last Witch," which is the 1st book in her Incenaga Trilogy!! [Blog Tour will run from October 26 - November 16, 2012]My Q&A with Debbie Dee :
Jess : Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Debbie : I’m a 30-something mom of three and married to my high school sweetheart. We recently moved to southern Idaho with our three kids. In addition to writing, I play the piano, harp, and violin, and get in frequent fights with my cello. I love to read and play board games – when I’m winning.Jess : What do you like most about being a writer and being a musician?
Debbie : As a writer, I love that I can write at two in the morning or ten at night. My imagination doesn’t have to clock in and out, so to speak, which is wonderful.
As a musician I love the thrill of making something beautiful, something that will touch someone’s soul in a way that words never will. It is a universal language that both the old and young can enjoy and I love being a part of that.
Jess : Please describe your heroine, from "The Last Witch," in one to two sentences.Debbie : Other than her father, Emmeline has never met another human being, which has made her very curious about the outside world. It has also made her afraid of change – she puts decision making off, and tends to avoid her problems.
Jess : Which of your characters would you most & least like to invite to dinner, from which book and why?
Debbie : Prince Weldon would be a character I would both love and hate to invite to dinner. I think it would interesting, and maybe a little funny, to watch someone flip from mood to mood so quickly, but at the same time, I’d worry about him getting grumpy and picking at his food.
Jess : Is there one particular scene in "The Last Witch" that you’re dying for readers to read? Can you tell us anything about it?
Debbie : There is a scene in which Erick and Emmeline are spying on a meeting for the rebels. It’s late at night, and dark, and when they are discovered, they get separated. This scene kept me up well past my bedtime because there was no way I was going to sleep before I figured out how to get them out of the mess I’d put them in! It was a ton of fun to write.
Jess : If "The Last Witch" were to be made into a film, who do you see playing the main characters and why?
Debbie : Victoria Justice looks a lot like Emmeline, in my mind. And Justin Clynes reminds me of Erick.
Jess : In regards to "The Last Witch," if you could write it all over again, would you change anything about it?Debbie : I would be less obvious about a couple of things, I think.
Jess : Out of all of the secondary characters within "The Last Witch," do you have one or two favorites so far? If so, who are they and can you tell us why?
Debbie : The King is one of my favorite characters. He’s an old blind man with a zeal for life and a sense of humor he isn’t afraid to share.
Jess : How many books have you written? Which is your favorite and why?
Debbie : I’ve written two more books that will be released in 2013. One is "THE UNDERGROUND WITCH," the 2nd book in the Incenaga Trilogy, and the other is a stand-alone novel about a young (very young) Pharaoh and his blond-hair, blue-eyed best friend – who is a girl. It was a challenge to write, but is my favorite story.
Jess : Do you have any other projects in the works? If so, can you share a little of your current work with us?
Debbie : I’m in the final editing stages for "THE UNDERGROUND WITCH" and "DESERT GUARDIAN," and am outlining the third and final book in the Incenaga Trilogy – "THE FIRST WITCH." I’m also working on a YA contemporary set in Greece, which I’m excited about.
Jess : Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover? Any specific reason why?
Debbie : I love the ease of ebooks and the ability to pack thousands of books into my purse, all ready for my every whim. But I love the look of hardcover on my shelves or stacked on my night stand, and the feel of them as I work my way through.
Jess : If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be?
Debbie : Wow! This is a tough question. I’d have to go with "Listed for Life: How a Bucket List Changed Everything"
Jess : Have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on backwards, or your slippers on, and when realizing it, just said screw it?
Debbie : All the time! I’ve left with my clothes on backwards, inside out, both, you name it! But I don’t have the guts to say “screw it.” I always run to the nearest restroom to save myself.
Jess : List 3 books you just recently read and would recommend?
Debbie : "Peter and the Star Catchers" by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson
"Austenland" by Shannon Hale
"Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
About the Author :
Debbie Dee recently moved to southern Idaho with her husband and three children where she is learning how to be a country girl in her favorite pair of blue heels. She adores fairy tales and happy endings, but secretly crushes on the bad guy now and then. As a dedicated musician who practices way too much, she never expected writing would sweep her off her feet until she jotted down a scene from a daydream, which turned into two scenes, which turned into a messy house and her first novel. Since then she hasn’t been able to let a day go by without writing. Her website is www.debbiedee.com.- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 246; Kindle Edition - File Size: 676 KB | Expected Release Date: September 12, 2012 | Publisher: Dolce Books | Obtained: Sage’s Blog Tours"The Last Witch" [Incenaga Trilogy, Book 1] by Debbie Dee
My Book Summary : Emmeline has grown up in seclusion with her father on their small farm. She has always had dreams of meeting new people, what they'd be like, and making friends. That is until the day a group of guards show up on her doorstep, demand to have her per some agreement her father made years ago, and start beating him when they realize that she has run away. Too bad, they find her not long afterwards and her whole world changes again...
After Emmeline is captured, she finds out that she's an Incenaga witch (the last known one in fact and something her father never warned her about) and is intend to marry the Crown Prince of Dolmerti for "her safety." However, people she feels she can trust are far and few in between; it is only when she meets Erick (the Palace's gamekeeper) that she feels she can truly be herself. Nevertheless, as the months go by Emmeline finds that not everyone is who they seem and she will have to risk it all to save herself, her people, her father, and the Crown Prince before it's too late.
My Book Review : 3 out of 5 stars!! Follow Emmeline as she finds out what it truly means to be the "last witch standing" while trying to be true to herself and protecting everyone else. This novel is one that if you like reading a fast-paced, full of twists, adventure--with a little bit of romance--novels then this would be the book for you! I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and this unexpected take on what it means to be a witch. Plus, as Emmeline grows throughout this novel, you can see that this series should be intense from beginning to end!
Nevertheless, from about Chapter 8 on it was a struggle for me to get into and stick to completing it. Not because of the plot but mostly because of how naive Emmeline is and how her follow-through when it comes to her intentions always seemed to fall a bit short for me.
With that being said, I am happy that I finished this novel, as I liked how everything ended up even though you are left hanging. It will be very interesting to see where Ms. Dee will take this series!
I recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys YA paranormal/fantasy romances, especially ones about witches!
Book Teaser(s) :
Horses roamed the pasture, each unique and stunning in its own right. One in particular caught Emmeline's eye. With an ebony coat that glistened in the sunlight, it could have been the sister to her horse at home. Its thick mane and long tail were also black and a small diamond of white graced its forehead.
"What is its name?" she asked as she pointed to the black mare. They turned away from the stables and leaned against the fence.
"She doesn't have a name yet. She is a gift from the Crown Prince to his bride. He traveled all the way to Volarcus to select the animal himself. Do you like her?"
"She is breathtaking," Emmeline said. She knew already what she would name her. ~ within Chapter 7 - titled 'Stables'
"Was anyone at the stables when you found your way there?"For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Debbie, then please check out her website.
"Yes. Well someone helped me find the stables, that is." Emmeline held her breath, afraid he'd ask her who it was. She didn't want Erick to get into any kind of trouble.
"Who is it?"
Her shoulders fell. "Erick, the gamekeeper."
"Erick? A gamekeeper, you say?"
"Yes, he is one of your gamekeepers, or the only one, I don't know. He's the only one I've met. He doesn't know I am an Incenaga. He thinks I am just a guest."
The King let out a laugh. "Just a guest. That is funny." His boisterous laugh filled the room. ~ within Chapter 17 - titled 'Compromise'
Praise for The Last Witch :
"The characters kept popping into my head during the day, and I couldn't wait for my nighttime reading. This book will result in late nights and lack of sleep!" - Brenda on Amazon.com
"I was totally sucked into this story and can't wait for more to come out." - Michelle on Amazon.com
"The book is a good read, especially for young adults. The characters are wholesome, but intriguing." - Kimmie from She Really Said It
"A great love story with exciting adventures and unexpected twists and turns." - Marsha on Amazon.com
"I rushed home from work to finish reading The last Witch and was actually sad when I turned the last page. But it was the kind of book where you sigh and say, 'Ah. That was a good book.'" - Rae on Amazon.com
"I love fantasy books and this is one fantasy/fairy tale that anyone would love to read." - Amy on Goodreads.com
Find Debbie Dee :
- Debbie Dee - Website
- Goodreads
- The Last Witch : Amazon.com
