Shadow Slayer Shadow Series Book Two by Laura A.H. Elliott - YA Paranormal Romance - Shadows Will Do Anything To Become Human
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/Xx830AT-g2s
An Interview with Laura A.H. Elliott
Welcome to JB’s Bookworms with Brandy Mulder
Actually Shadow Slayer is one of my oldest books. 😂 My process of writing the series got
interrupted (more on that later).
When we meet Roxie O’Grady in book 1, 13 on Halloween, she’s
twelve and about to turn thirteen. She loves to dance. She’s in eighth grade,
but she isn’t the kind of eighth grader who rules middle school, though. Far
from it. She’s trying desperately to get on the social map somehow. So, she
throws her first ever birthday party and invites all the popular kids. They all
come and give her a birthday gift that’s literally out of this world. I love
this book because it takes a humorous, sometimes scary look at one girl’s quest
for popularity, no matter what the cost. In book 2, Shadow Slayer, Roxie is
fourteen and finds the agony of fitting in at high school nothing compared to
falling for the hottest guy at school (who isn’t what he seems), and saving the
world from the shadow onslaught. Shadows are kinda like vampires without the
fangs.
Roxie hosts some pretty crazy parties! If you want to join
in Roxie’s annual Halloween party (and get lots of reader bonuses) sign up here, we can’t wait to see your dance
moves!
Writing isn’t easy.
What was the most difficult thing you dealt with when writing Shadow Slayer?
As it turns out, what I wrote about in Shadow Slayer,
actually came true for me in real life. I wasn’t able to write ya fiction for a
long time. It’s only now that I’m back to writing in this genre again and I’m
rededicating myself to completing the series. Book 3 and 4 will be released
over the next few Halloweens. After writing this book a decade ago, the shadows
actually came for me. Shadows in the series are a metaphor for the dark side of
people. People who are otherwise good, but have problems that have made them
cruel or just plain nasty. Basically what happened to Roxie in Shadow Slayer
happened to me. She and I were both betrayed by someone very close to us.
Writing a story that actually came true for me felt pretty spooky. So spooky
that I couldn’t write fiction, particularly ya fiction, for years. But as I
overcame my fears, I discovered exactly what Roxie finds out in this
series––our worst experiences don’t have to define us.
Tell us a little bit
about your writing career.
I’m a ghost! Boo! Ha! That means that I make my living
writing for other people and help give them a voice when they wouldn’t
otherwise be able to get their story out in the world. I’ve enjoyed helping
writers and entrepreneurs write bestsellers and screenplays and go on to
influence millions of people all over the world through the articles they’ve
written in major outlets, speaking engagements and appearances on television,
radio and podcasts.
They say Hind-sight
is 20/20. If you could give advice to the writer you were the first time you
sat down to write, what would it be?
Never give up! Sometimes the story has a timeline of its own
and it’s important to honor it.
What was your most
difficult scene to write?
Usually I have a hard time writing scenes that lead to
heartache because I have to access those experiences.
Are themes a big part
of your stories, or not so much?
Yes, but I never write about a theme. I write for the
characters and the theme reveals itself in the writing.
What are you working
on now?
I’m working on books 3 and 4 in the Shadow Series.
Is there a release
date planned?
Yes! Over the next few Halloweens 🎃
Who is your favorite
character from your own stories, and why?
I love Roxie mostly because she’s just trying to figure life
out and stumbles like we all do. She’s funny and selfish at times, but she’s
also fierce and a great friend. I like the way she grows over the series into
someone we would hardly recognize when we first meet her in Book 1, 13 on
Halloween. There’s a tremendous transformation and I love reading about
characters who have interesting character arcs.
Most writers were
readers as children. What was your favorite book in grade school?
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. I also loved the Sneetches by
Dr. Seuss.
What are your plans
for future projects?
I am interested in finishing this series and also publishing
a book I’ve been working on for even longer! A narrative nonfiction novel about
how my family got caught up in WWII.
Is there anything you
would like to add before we finish?
Thanks for hanging out with me bookworms:) Would love to see
you on Insta or TikTok
(I’m a total newbie, but love it!)
Good luck with the Shadow Slayer release, and thank you for being with us today.
There's More!!! Guest Post
I stroke one cheek and then the other with blush and remember standing with Drew at the bonfire. The last night we went out as boyfriend and girlfriend. The last night he was human.
On your 13th birthday, you get the call. By your 14th birthday you find out what the call is.
Everyone I know is in the audience tonight––Ally, Mom, Dad, Brian, even my brother, Mitch, because he came home for my birthday. We’re having our family dinner tomorrow night since tonight the cast party’s at Drew's house, unless I decapitate him first.
“Roxie five minutes,” Hayden yells into the girl’s locker room. As usual I’m the last one out. I sweep my hair up to the side and try to remember my first line. For some reason it’s the one I always forget.
I open locker 316, grab my sword and just as I step outside of the locker room, Wanda runs up to me and starts talking non-stop about her nerves and how they’re getting worse and worse.
“What’s that?” she asks. I stop cold in my tracks at the backstage door.
“There are lots of words for things that don’t exist––the unseen. Like monsters and aliens and dragons and vampires and ghosts,” I say sort of in a trance.
“Yeah, so?” Wanda says, wringing her hands.
“If they don’t exist, why are there words for them? All the stuff I thought was crazy really isn’t crazy at all,” I say, finally getting what Drew was trying to tell me at the bonfire at the estate at homecoming. What the human Drew said before I danced with his shadow. My role in the unseen, the shadow world. Still, I don’t know so many things. Like, what happens to a shadow once I slay it? And where do humans go when their shadows invade? How can I save my human friends?
“Roxie, I caught you! I was so late because Brian’s car got a flat. He fixed it so great, I couldn’t believe it. It’s like he went to badass school or something,” Ally says, laughing.
“Ally. Finally!” We hug. I swallow hard. Brian. Fixed. A. Flat. I mean it’s not brain surgery. But believe me, if it doesn’t have an LCD screen, my brother Brian doesn't think it exists. He doesn’t know how to fix a flat. O.M.G. Brian is probably a shadow too.
About the Author:
As a teenager, Laura’s love for story began in the Amazon where she waterskied with piranha while learning of head hunters and curses. In addition to being a ghost, she’s the author of five books and is a contributor to lifestyle and travel magazines. She has a passion for travel, particularly life at sea, and makes her home in Santa Cruz, CA with her husband, daughters, and their families. No matter the language barrier, perceived danger, altitude, squalls, fashion faux pas, or ingested gluten, she writes to inspire with a focus on journeys of the heart—always on the lookout for great champagne and a pair of red shoes.
You can find her at Laurasmagicday.com,
@Laurawriting on Twitter, @book_laurasmagicday on TikTok, and on Goodreads too.
https://twitter.com/Laurawriting
https://www.instagram.com/laurasmagicday/
https://www.tiktok.com/@book_laurasmagicday
https://www.laurasmagicday.com/shadow-series/reader-bonuses/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5043385.Laura_A_H_Elliott
Comments
Post a Comment