Monday, December 12, 2016

Author Interview and Giveaway - Hero High: Figure in the Flames by @authorminachara

Book info:
TitleHero High:  Figure in the Flames  
Author:  Mina Chara
Genre:  YA Mystery/Romance, Superheroes
Release Date:  October 1st, 2016

Summary from Goodreads:

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Reality TV meets Superhero High School in this intriguing story about friendship, fame, and what it means to be a hero.

In Icon City superheroes save the day every day on the quarter hour. Led by Captain Fantastic, scores of superhero celebrities do their best to train the next generation. Seventeen year old Friday Fitzsimmons and Jake her childhood friend are their latest starstruck recruits. When Doctor Dangerous returns from the dead and the Figure in Flames decimates the city, Captain Fantastic is betrayed by one of his own.

Torn between Jake, Ashley and her feelings for Doctor Dangerous, Friday must decide if her childhood friend is worth fighting for, and if the worlds most famous super-villain is worth saving, all while learning how to be a hero.


Add to Goodreads  


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On sale this week only (12/12-12/16)!
Buy Links: Amazon | Amazon UK  

Advance Praise:

--> - I think this book will appeal greatly to fans of the Selection. - the dressmaker D'fwan reminded me of America's maids … The whole TV reality show aspect also reminded me of Hunger Game as well as The Selection.

- I Really Loved The Book
I am so looking forward to book two. I love the world you’ve created and I want to explore it more. I thoroughly enjoyed Friday and her story.

- I Really, Really Enjoyed This Book!
The way that Ashley and Friday’s relationship progressed was amazing. Too often, in books the two main love interests relationships progress way too quickly and it was refreshing to see Ashley and Friday’s relationship develop gradually instead of it being super rushed.

- I Would Give This Book a Full 5/5 Stars!
Like there was just so much to this book and none of the characters are like what you originally predicted. Every chapter keeps adding to the story and making it more and more complex, and it leaves you on the edge of your seat in suspense.
 
Author Interview:

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1.   What does your writing process look like?  Do you know the whole story when you start?  Or do you just start writing and go with it (seat of the pants writing)?  If you plan it out, how do you do that?  Outline, note cards, post-it notes, etc.?

I never do seat of the pants writing. It’s always tempting, especially when ideas are flowing and you think you’ve got everything figured out, but personally I’d advise against it. As for my writing process, I spend maybe a month or two outlining the book, knowing the ups and downs, the ending as well as the beginning. I try to have everything laid out as best I can to make the story work. I’m laying out the second Hero High book right now, so I have a storyboard and pages file detailing scenes before I write them. Then, I use Scrivener and I let things flow. It can seem slow but it’s worth it, laying out a plan and holding yourself back allows for a lot less time editing after the first draft.
2.  How do you come up with your ideas for your stories?
I think about the stories that are important to me. Or rather the lessons I wish someone had taught me when I was little. Thinking about what I’ve learned makes the stories unique to me, so then I build a world around what I want to say. Hero High is a world designed to help people act and feel like adults while behaving like children, so expect a lot of themes about emotional maturity.
3.  How long have you been writing?
Not that long, sadly. Since I’m dyslexic I never got into books or writing, they always scared me, especially when teachers thought I was faking, or exaggerating. I’ve always been more of a painter to be honest. Things changed when I discovered YA books and I didn’t have to read stories about stuffy old men or boring siblings anymore. Now that I have been writing for a few years, it’s an utterly wonderful thing.
4.  What tips do you have for aspiring writers?
Don’t hold back your work because it may not be perfect. We all have to take a leap every now and again. Just remember, you’ll get better if you work at it, and accept that some people won’t like your work. Take their criticism, get better, and move on.
5.  Favorites: 
Books/authors/genres
My favorite books are currently, The School for Good and Evil, I love them so much, I’m collecting as many editions as I can. I have an account on their website because I want all the merch they have, and frequently debate tweeting the phrase, “Notice me Soman sempai.”.
Isaac Asimov is probably my favorite author because as far as I know he didn't have any formal training in writing, and yet, I love his books. I haven’t read all of them, I still need to read The End of Eternity.
It’s strange, since I read so much fantasy, but I’d have to say sci-fi is my favorite genre. I can’t stand dystopian, or stories about “the resistance”. I like things like Star Trek, where people live in a world to be aspired to. It makes me hopeful about the future, willing to fight for it. I want to be part of a world like that.
Movies/TV Shows
The Force Awakens is a big favorite of mine, but If I had to say what was my absolute favorite, it has to be Red Cliff, a super long Chinese movie about The Romance of The Three Kingdoms. Watch it.
My Favorite TV show is 30 Rock. It always cheers me up. Sometimes I watch it after I’ve been forced to sit through a horror movie and it helps me sleep. (I don’t do horror, and I don’t get people who do.)
Music
Ah! I basically only listen to synthpop,  either Chvrches or Perfume. I love them so much, you don’t even understand! Oh, and I’d kick myself if I didn’t name drop Allie X.
Food/writing snack
This is too difficult, can I not do this one? I like food too much. You’ll notice I’ve given multiple answers for a lot of things, hopefully no one will mind… Chinese take-away holds a special place in my heart, I can’t explain it. I also really like gyro’s, they just make me feel at home and safe. But for sentimental reasons, I’ll give the prize for favorite snack to tuna and mayonnaise sandwiches, they remind me of being a kid and coming home from school.
As for a writing snack, I don’t really snack while I write, I’d be too fat if I did, and avoiding that is depressing enough. No snacks. Just diet Coke.
Social Media Site 
Instagram Mina_chara
twitter @authorminachara
Tumblr mina chara
Facebook: MinaCharaHeroHigh
I’m pretty easy to find everywhere.  


About the Author:

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Hi! I’m Mina Chara, I’m a student, an artist, a daughter, sister and companion to my two furry friends, Gimli and Gwynne. This blog is here because I’ve just written a book called Hero High: Figure In The Flames.


This is My Story:
Being dyslexic isn’t so much of a problem, the hard part is not letting it dictate what I like, and what I can do. For years I was scared of reading, but then I discovered YA fiction, real books with main characters I could relate to because most of them were girls.

When someone criticizes my writing, I feel like crying, because I feel like that I’m back in English class getting yelled at again, just wanting to go home, but I’m not a kid anymore, I’m an adult, and as an adult, I wrote a book, and you can too.

Author Links:
WebsiteGoodreadsTwitterFacebookTumblrAuthor's Amazon Page  


Giveaway:

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