Q&A with Author Lavinia Urban of the Erin The Fire Goddess Series

1). Who/what inspires your writing?

My daughters are the first thing that inspires. It is great that I am showing them to follow your dreams and that everything is possible if you put your mind to it.

2). Do you use your own experiences in your work?

To a certain point I do. Of course there are things I right that have never happened to me but I sit there and think ‘What would I do?’ or ‘What would my children do?’

3). How do you develop your characters?

I make notes on my characters personalities and focus on that and what I feel they would like and go from there.

4). What genres do you write and what draws you to them?

Right now it is mainly YA Paranormal, but I am currently working on a dystopia book (I haven’t decided the age yet.)

5). What, do you find, is the hardest part of writing?

Life gets in the way, lol. This week I have been building flat packed furniture then I have been hit with the flu and I want to scream because I want to write.

6). Best part of writing?

I love the response from the readers. I also love when I get the paperbacks delivered and I sit there with it in my hands saying ‘wow I did that.’

7). What brought out the storyline for Erin The Fire Goddess?

My family and I moved from Edinburgh to the village we live in now and my eldest daughter, Erin, went from being the popular girl to being bullied and one day she was upset and asked me to write her another story – I had written a short story a couple of years before. So What went from a story to overcome bullying grew into a series that is now read worldwide.

8). How do you deal with writer's block?

I rarely get writers block. My problem is I get side tracked easily by Facebook games.

9). Who was your favourite character to write about, in Erin The Fire Goddess and why?

Jo. I love, love, love Jo. She  has her own novella, which is book 3.5 in the series, and before now people thought of her as a small character but she came into a life of her own. There is so much to her life that is so different to Erins.

10). What is your favourite book?

Right now I love the Divergent series

*COVER REVEAL*---> Unleashed by Sophie Jordan

What if the worst thing you ever did was unforgivable?

Davy’s world fell apart after she tested positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome. She was expelled from her school, dumped by her boyfriend, abandoned by friends, and shipped off to a camp that turns HTS carriers into soldiers. Davy may have escaped, but the damage has already been done. The unthinkable has happened. Now, even worse than having everyone else see her as a monster is the knowledge that they may have been right about her all along. Because Davy has killed.

On the run from government agents, Davy is rescued by Caden, the charismatic leader of an underground group of rebels. Despite Caden’s assurances that the Resistance is made up of carriers like her, Davy isn’t sure she can trust them. Then again, she doesn’t even know if she can trust herself . . . or her growing feelings for Caden. But if she doesn’t belong with Caden and his followers, is there anywhere she can call home?

*Mini Teaser*

I thought being labeled a killer and losing everything—my future, family, boyfriend, friends—was the worst thing that could ever happen to me. It’s not. Finding out they were right. Finding out that’s exactly what I am?

That’s worse.

Erin The Fire Goddess: The Beginning

Title- Erin The Fire Goddess: The Beginning

Author- Lavinia Urban

Rating-4.2 STARS

OVERVIEW- Erin is an extraordinary girl. But she isn't aware of that. The only people who love her are her parents, and sister, Kasey-ray. But she's used to being lonely. That's why when her family move to Galladale, she doesn't expect the attention she receives. The bullying from Jessica, gets out of hand. Why is Jessica trying to stop Erin from meeting Sean? Secrets start unfolding, but will Erin be able to control the fire within?

Review- Urban has told a story so good, it was interesting and compelling throughout. Every time I put the book down, I kept looking back at it. The story was quite fast paced and didn't drag on. I think this was the best thing about the book as the fast pace is what allowed me to keep my interest. Also, I loved how, scene to scene, the story is written quite smoothly, each part of the story is told nicely, with nothing left hanging. My favourite character would have to be Kelly, Sean's sister. I love how....okay I don't want to give anything away! Urban has portrayed all her characters distinctly, be it Erin's tendency to put herself down, or Kasey-ray's bubbly attitude. She has shown how all the characters are connected, even though they're so different. However, as all stories have villains, so does this one. Dr.Hammersmith's character, I feel, wasn't one of the well versed characters. He wasn't quite clear on his intentions. Whereas, all the other characters were so carefully planned. They were clear, and wonderfully written about. The storyline, is one of the best I have come across. As I said before, this is one of those books that can be read in one reading. An inviting read!

The Memory Child

Title- The Memory Child

Author- Steena Holmes
Rating- 4.9 STARS
OVERVIEW- This is a story of love and loss. Brian and Diane are happily married. When Diane is expecting, she is promoted at work, and Brian has to go to London for a business venture. The timing is definitely wrong, add to that Diane's dark past, and the idea of a child is very complicated.
A year later, Diane can't imagine life without her baby daughter, Grace. But life gets in the way. With her struggling to get back to work and Brian being held up indefinitely in London, Diane realises that things aren't normal. Her dark past has caught up to her.
Review- When I picked up this book, the first thing I noticed was the name, obviously. The Memory Child. But after reading this book, I can confidently say that no other name would've portrayed this book better. Holmes has kept this book at a neutral pace. I think the one thing I loved the most about her writing was how, chapter to chapter, the story is told from both Diane and Brian's point of view. The time changes, as Diane's point of view is told after the baby's birth, while Brian's is from before the baby's birth. This gave me a lot of perspective on the views of all the people surrounding the main characters. My favourite character was Brian; his calm and supportive personality, as well as his protectiveness towards his family. Steena has portrayed this character as a strong personality, but knows when to prioritise his family above all. Also, the way in which Grace is described is just flawless. It depicts every mother's view of their child, how no one can be more perfect for them. The characters in this book are EPIC. Diane's strong and composed identity as well as her delicate, fragile heart. Holmes has done it!
This story was nothing like I thought it would've been. The story line was constantly surprising. I was reading it with a hopeful heart. But once I reached three quarters of the book, my heart was wrenched out. I don't want to give anything away, but this is a must read! I would recommend it to everyone and anyone, except younger readers.
Make sure you get a copy. You don't want to miss out! :D <3

Welcome!

WELCOME

Hey guys! So some of you might know me from my group- Hush Hush Revealings- while others might not. So I just want to introduce myself. My name is Shaila, and I am currently still a student. I have a will to write poetry, as well as short stories. I am currently working on a short story in the fantasy genre. Add to that, being a dedicated reader, i review books, from all genres. I post my reviews on this blog, as well as on Amazon and Goodreads. I am currently fully booked till end of August, and, well my reviews are ALWAYS honest. I do, however, hold the right to decline a review request if I feel it is something I won't enjoy. I would rather not read a book, than give it a low rating. Being that as it may, I do not wish to offend anyone. Thank you!