L.C. Hi Amy. I'm so glad to have you back today as you wrap up your tour! Tell us, who is Amy Maurer Jones? Please give us a short bio.
AJ: I am a 1993 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Dance Education. I have seventeen years of experience in education and currently teach Dance and Theater Arts to high school students in southeastern North Carolina. Dancing, acting and writing are all forms of communication. Each form requires exceptional creativity and passion to inspire and impress an audience. I have enjoyed a passion for reading, writing, and the arts since she was a child. As an adult I enjoy having the opportunity to share my passion for the arts with children. It only seems appropriate that delving into the world of teen fiction would be the next logical step in my life.
LC: And so the Soul Quest books were born! :o) Where did you get the idea for the Soul Quest books?
AJ: The Soul Quest Trilogy was inspired by a really weird dream. My hubby is a night owl and loves to stay up late watching the History Channel. I had this dream about a little boy standing in the middle of mirrored room. The little boy looked just like my son when he was 3 years old. He had cute chubby cheeks, curly blond ringlets and beautiful hazel green eyes.
The little boy was watching images flicker on the mirrored walls in the room. The mysterious mirrors showed images from historical disasters such as Hitler's dictatorship, Martin Luther King Jr. and Kennedy's shootings and Nine Eleven... you get the gist. Anyway, it had a major impact on me. The next day I asked my husband what he was watching on television the night before. He said it was a special episode on the History Channel dedicated to the worst events in history. He acknowledged all of the above mentioned tragedies were a part of the episode.
I suppose as a mother the dream was symbolic of the wrath of the world posing a threat against my children. So, I decided to turn it into a positive thing. In this effort my little boy became Hala, the Great Spirit. Hala is a being as old as time, a spirit who resembles a child in physical form. Before I knew it, a quest for justice against evil began. Since I work with teenagers it was only natural that they became the heroes in the plot. The basis of the book is good verses evil but I tried to weave into the underlying tone that life is about choices, good and bad.
LC: What motivates you to write day after day?
AJ: That’s easy, I love it!
LC: That's the most important factor, isn't it? As a high-school teacher, what advice or ideas have you received from your students regarding the characters or situations in your books?
AJ: I love my students and find they are a great inspiration for my writing. Laith Lightfoot, Brayan Akin, Meena Sodden, Druesilla Sommers and Amber White strongly resemble five of my theater students. Amber’s first name is the only name I kept the same. I didn’t intentionally write about them. They all have very unique and wonderful personalities that just kind of snuck their way into my writing. They have all since graduated and are college bound. In fact, Amber intends to major in Theater Arts. I’m very proud of all of them.
Alex = Laith
Tyler = Brayan
Andrea = Meena
Shaneice = Drue
Amber = Amber
LC: We've mentioned the Soul Quest Series a couple times now. Can you share a brief synopsis of each of the Soul Quest books or of the entire series?
AJ: Synopsis for Soul Quest:
Do you remember how horrified you were about the idea of attending high school? I remember ticking off those last miserable days of my summer vacation following my eighth grade year. Maybe you don’t, maybe you were one of those people. You know who I’m talking about, people like Melissa Small, the distinguished District Attorney, Larry Small’s daughter, popular, gorgeous... and absolutely terrifying to someone like me, Liv Glyn. No, I am far from measuring up to the standards required to make Melissa’s crowd. I’m not even close. I’m just a simple man’s daughter, mostly tolerated by my peers with average looks. If this isn’t depressing enough for you, stay tuned, it gets worse.
I was commanded with spirit at birth by the Great Spirit, Hala. I know, it sounds crazy but it’s true. If you think it's difficult being a teenager, try being a teenager who was born destined to save the world from soul sucking Daevas and their mutant progeny Aengels.
There are four of us. My companions of spirit are Laith, Brayan and Meena. Melissa Small is Laith’s step sister and she is always meddling where she doesn’t belong, further complicating our lives. To make matters even worse my best friend Jedd is apparently aware of things that are typically undetectable to ordinary humans. So, I have to lie to Jedd, the boy who has been my constant standby since the third grade, to shield him from the horrible and very dangerous truth. Did I mention that I think I’m falling in love with him? The term awkward doesn’t even begin to cover it, trust me.
Welcome to the mess that is my life.
Synopsis for The Guardians of Souls:
Liv, Laith, Brayan and Meena are back with a mission and a militia for justice. The four human Oracles join forces with their spirit counter parts in Arcadia to form The Guardians of Souls. Shy has fled to Los Angeles to escape the consequences of Melissa and Jesse’s deaths and Hala, the Great Spirit, has reason to believe he is not alone. Neither the spirits in Arcadia or the NYPD in New York City has turned up any trace of Shy since his disappearance after the tragic events played out on Valentine’s Day.
Liv and her companions of spirit find themselves torn between the human world and Arcadia once more. Their duty as human Oracles continuously interferes and threatens the stability and safety of their friendships and romantic lives.
Get ready for all hell to break loose as Liv and her friends set out on a quest to hunt down Shy and finish him for good. This time the Spirit World means business when they find Shy playing up to his usual tricks. The odds are against Shy this time around but this may not pan out to be such a lucky break for the human Oracles.
Could it be that Shy isn’t their worst enemy after all? Is Earth once again safe from the perils of Daevas and Aengels? Are Liv’s human friends safe or will they be baited and harmed again?
Only the spirits know…
I’ve just began writing Soul Deep, the third book in The Soul Quest Trilogy. So, you’ll have to wait a little while for that synopsis.
LC: I am so excited to read these books! The first one in on my Kindle just waiting for me to finish up the couple of books in line ahead of it...but I'm getting anxious; it may end up butting in line! Alright Amy. Here's a toughy...What's your favorite dessert?
AJ: Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked ice cream, yum!
LC: Yum, indeed! I suppose we should get back to book talk. This drooling is so unbecomming *wink*. What are your thoughts on Indie vs. traditional publishing?
AJ: I decided to e – publish after about six months of unsuccessful attempts to secure an agent. I realize this is not a long period of time in the traditional publishing world but I mostly just wanted to get my book out there in hopes that someone else might desire to read it and enjoy it. While I have found that self publishing can be challenging I have also discovered that the learning process and the sense of achievement that follows can feel quite satisfying. I will continue to consider all of my options. If the right agent/agency and circumstances came to pass I would consider the opportunity.
LC: Who is YOUR favorite author of all time and why?
AJ: Cassandra Clare. I love the complexity of the characters and intricate worlds she creates with her words.
LC: I love when a writer creates complex worlds, and great characters! If you could pick one of your characters to have as a best friend, who would it be, and why?
AJ: Liv, we have a lot in common.
LC: What would you call your greatest accomplishment?
AJ: My children, Olivia (10) and Keaton (8).
LC: Those are pretty great accomplishments! So, Amy...I'm sure every one is wondering...Where can we purchase the Soul Quest books?
AJ: Quick Link to Soul Quest on Amazon (Kindle and Perfect Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Quest-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B004OL26JY/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1298236667&sr=1-6
Quick Link to Soul Quest at Barnes and Nobles (Nook)
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Soul-Quest/Amy-Jones/e/2940012681263/?itm=1&USRI=soul+quest+by+amy+jones
Quick Link to Soul Quest at Smashwords (digital formats) https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/43952 *read on for a FABULOUS offer!
Quick Link to The Guardians of Souls on Amazon (Kindle)
http://www.amazon.com/Guardians-Souls-Quest-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B005DOP166/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1311269662&sr=1-7
Alright everyone! Here's that offer!!! Amy Jones is offering an ecopy of her first book "Soul Quest" FREE! But HURRY!!! This offer ends today! Go to https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/43952 and enter code BK39C at checkout. Go now!!! Do not pass "Go" do not collect $200! (That comes later...)
And show your support for Amy and leave her your comments!! Thanks everyone!
Thank you again for inviting me to your blog. I appreciate your support of indie writers and indie writing. I'm looking forward to reading your books as well (TBR pile!). You have a visually beautiful blog and charming atmosphere. You're a class act!
ReplyDeleteAwww, thanks Amy! It's been really fun having you, and being a part of the Soul Quest blog tour! Best of luck and BIG sales! :o)
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