Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Leigh Savage Interview - Book Giveaway



** Book Giveaway ** Details at the end of this interview!

Author Pen Name:
Leigh Savage

CA: How did you choose your pen name?

Leigh: I took Leigh from Vivien Leigh who I’ve always admired. Then Savage came from my Fathers pen name Kain Savage. The combination of the name I thought fit me very well with Leigh showing my romantic side of my writing and Savage being for the dark side that my writing sometimes leads me.

CA: What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write?

Leigh: I write mostly vampire paranormal romance. I’ve had several poems published online and in print. In November I released my first children book The Smile Box (written under my married name Carrie Lea Williams).

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Leigh: In high school I became a huge Romance junkie and I loved to read any romance that had anything paranormal however at the time those type of books where had to find. So I started writing my own paranormal romance short stories to help get my fix. I remember sitting in my science class and a couple of the boy and girls would want to see what I had written so they’d be sitting in class reading my stories instead of their science books. Our science teacher never said anything to them since they where A students. Those very stories that I wrote while in class are featured in the Bound by Blood novel. I’m trying to keep the stories true to the original so that readers can see how I’ve grown as a writer since those first short stories too my full length vampire novels that I now write..

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

Leigh: I would have to say my Father even though he mostly wrote horror but he took the time to write stories just for me and he would read them to me at bedtime. My Father installed the love and reading and writing into me at an early age. In 2005 I lost my Father and my mentor. I still find it hard sometime when I come up with new ideals I want to pick up the phone and call him and I have to remind myself that he’s no longer there. That’s why the release of Bound by Blood is so important to me it gives me a chance to honor his memory and share his work with the world as he always wanted.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Leigh: For the most part since I’m working with a on demand publishing company I have no deadlines so I have lots of freedom with my schedule. Once I start writing down ideals I’m very in the zone don’t bother me. Recently our laptops motherboard went out so I’ve found that I’ve gotten spoiled to being able to write using one and find it hard to make myself sit in front of the desk to write. I’m currently saving to get a new one so I can get back to work on the third vampire novel Embrace of the Immortal.

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

Leigh: Now that this isn’t my first time it’s more of the aftermath of the release that seems to be never ending. Getting your book in print is really only a very small part of the job. Now that’s it’s out there you have to make your book noticeable among a sea of books.

CA: What was your biggest challenge in writing your book(s)?

Leigh: It have’s to be my spelling and punctuation. I got my Father’s love of writing J but my Mother’s horrible spelling abilities L

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Leigh: I spend time with my husband of 12 years and my daughter who’s 6 and my son who’s 4. I’ve been a stay at home mom since the birth of my daughter. Hang out with my other Mom friends. When I get time to myself *sighs* I love to curl up and read a book, watch TV (mostly anime), and of course surfing the clearance racks for great bargains. I enjoy drawing and painting. This came very handy when designing the book cover for Angel of Death, Shadows of my Past and the illustrations in my children book.

CA: How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?

Leigh: Shadows of my Past which is my newest release that was hinted at in the end of the first novel Angel of Death. Angel of Death has also been released with a new sexier book cover and both books are available in Print and EBook formats.
I’ve also released my children book The Smile Box and had a great response from it so far. The book is currently being used in the South County YMCA Preschool program as part of the teaching Curriculum.

I’m currently working on getting a collection of short stories that I wrote with my Father called Bound by Blood getting it ready for print and hope to have it out later this year.
It’s really hard to choose a favorite…hummm…well if I have to choose Mika from Angel of Death and Desi from Shadows of my Past because both of them are strong female charters that can kick a** but at the same time be soft and loving.

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

Leigh: For the most part my characters tend to create themselves taking on a life of their own while I’m writing. So as I’m writing I get to see my charters develop and grow the same as a reader would the first time they read the book.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

Leigh: Know that getting published is only a small part of the battle. Be prepared to put many hours of work into getting your book noticed by social networking, interviews, reviews, book trailers, signing and so much more that it can make your head spin.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

Leigh: They can Email: leighsavage@sbcglobal.net

Become one of MySpace friends: www.myspace.com/leighsavage
http://www.freewebs.com/thebookhouse/operationbook.htm
http://paranormalbookbreak.ning.com/profile/LeighSavage
http://www.jacketflap.com/profile.asp?member=d33dlit\

Shadows of my Past is currently available at:
Paperback:
https://www.createspace.com/3378917
http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-my-Past-Leigh-Savage/dp/1442131535/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2
EBook: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4074161

Angel of Death at:
Paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/Angel-Death-Leigh-Savage/dp/1434843017/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251131989&sr=1-5
https://www.createspace.com/3337961
EBook: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4074161
The Smile Box A Story About Feelings:
Paperback:
http://www.amazon.com/Smile-Box-Carrie-Lea-Williams/dp/1438204167/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1251132607&sr=1-1
https://www.createspace.com/3340332

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

I would like to take the time to thank you Crystal for taking the time to have me on your blog and interview me. I’d also like to thank the readers for taking the time to stop in and read the interview.
If you’d like to read reviews for my first novel Angel of Death visit:
http://themonstersnextdoor.com/angelofdeath.html
http://kaseysview.blogspot.com/2008/06/angel-of-death-by-leigh-savage.html
http://joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/Dec08/angelofdeath.LS.html
Watch the book trailer for Angel of Death at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iy_v5oZAQek
If you’ve read the interview and leave a comment I’ll choose one lucky winner to receive a Signed Copy of Angel of Death and Shadows of my Past.
I will post a list of name of all winner on MySpace Blog at the end of the contest.


CA: Thanks Leigh for a wonderful interview! Now, like she said, if you leave a comment, you'll be entered to win a signed copy of Angel of Death and Shadows of my Past!! Make sure to leave your email addy so we can contact you if you have won!