SB: Why, thank you! Hitting the punch bowl early, I see. *grins*
EM: Always ; ) *Hands a glass*
What have you come as today? And why?
I am disguised as a pile of dirty laundry. Why? Because it is one thing my kids are sure to ignore, and I'm all about some peace and quiet!
Before we begin, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
How's this for a scary story? I am a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom of six, yes-I-said-SIX, ghastly little creatures I call children. (Sometimes I call them other things, but I digress.) I am here today to hawk the virtues of my ghostly Southern Gothic HAWTHORNE, and I'm not above begging you to buy it because **100% of proceeds go to charity!** That's right, folks. I'll see neither hide nor hair of your money for this one … it's all going to benefit Japan disaster victims, thousands of whom still live a reality far more horrifying than anything we can scare up this Halloween season. And for the love of all things ghoulish, IT'S ONLY A BUCK!
EM: And I have to say folks, I have read Hawthorne, and it is a beautiful story, with a surprising twist. Totally worth the money, and well, the fact the proceeds go straight to a good cause is even more reason to buy it.
1. What's your favourite scary movie?
Oh, this is a tough one. I seldom watch movies—not even the ones I really want to watch—so my list is probably way outdated, but the last two movies that actually freaked me out were The Ring and The Grudge. I made my mom watch The Grudge, and for weeks after my husband would periodically call her with "the noise." Hilarious, even w/ caller ID. And the night I watched The Ring for the second time, I made the mistake of informing my husband of this. I guess he remembered how this movie freaked me out, and he was on his way home and it was dark out. So when he got home he cut the truck engine and rolled into the driveway in silence, then got out and BEAT on the front window. Scared the holy sugar out of me. (We live around lots of trees and utter darkness. Shudder.)
EM: I was watching The Fog with my mother one evening. It was up to one of the points where the fog was hanging outside someones house, and the next minute... my grandmother bangs at our door. We shot off the sofa.
2. Was there a particular horror movie, or character that scared you when you were younger?
Freddy Krueger. I had so many dreams about Freddy, and I was so afraid of them because as Nightmare on Elm Street fans know, if you die in your dreams you die in real life. So you can imagine how it felt to have Freddy there at night—sometimes constantly, and sometimes months would go by. But the twist of it is we were sort of … friends? He didn't try to kill me. I think that was more terrifying, wondering when he'd turn on me.
EM: The Freddy films are my fave! Well, I liked 1-4. And I like the new one, but the rest I wasn't very impressed with. They started getting silly.
3. Which horror would you be afraid to be stuck in?
Er…see above. LOL.
4. Who do you feel is the best horror villian? And why?
Okay, in spite of what you see above, LOL, I'd say the more realistic ones are the best. I can't even think of an example at the moment, but the ones you know really could happen on your street? Nuh-uh. Hannibal Lecter is a good one. No one would ever notice that guy next door, you know?
EM: I totally agree. The calm ones are the scariest, because you really don't know what to expect. Plus, Anthony Hopkins is just amazing!
5. Why do you feel that ghosts are so popular in both literature & film/tv?
I totally believe in them, and I think a lot of folks have had experiences that are unexplained unless attributed to ghosts or spirits. People just want to get closer, and when it comes to having the bejeezus scared out of you, what better way to do it than with something that's . . . (pauses for effect) . . . real. I mean, let's face it. Even if you're not afraid of ghosts, there's something about watching a glass move across a table by itself to get the ol' adrenaline pumping. (True story).
6. Why did you decide to write a story about/featuring ghosts?
Ah, I didn't mean to. My good friend and fellow author Elaina Lee told me about a charity novella program with Astraea Press, then proceeded to stare at me until I agreed to write one. Then I flailed over what exactly to write until my husband suggested I write a ghost story. And now I love him.
EM: *Giggles* Aww. It is a lovely ghost story though. So, thumbs up to your husband for the suggestion. : P
7. Do you believe these beings actually existed once upon a time?
I do very much believe in ghosts. Not the Hollywood version, necessarily, but I've witnessed enough to either make me believe or send me to the loony bin. (I'll take that room padded, please.)
8. What attracted you to the paranormal genre? Why do you write this particular genre?
I've always been a ghost junkie, and I like being afraid (you know, the cop-out kind of afraid where you know there's not actually any danger). Horror movies—yes, even the B-rated "campers run in the woods to have sex while they wait to be mutilated by the killer" flicks—are such a departure from my everyday Beaver Cleaver (cleaver, hehe) picturesque life that, I don't know, I dig 'em.
And, uh, on the topic of digging, won't you please consider digging into your pocket for a buck (a DOLLAR, people!) so you may obtain a copy of HAWTHORNE for your very own? There's no sex and no gore . . . just a sweet romance you could actually share with your teen or your granny without having them look at you funny over your taste in reading material. (Just sayin').
Are you working on anything at the moment?
I'm finishing up TIDE OF LIES, the sequel to my Oct 17 release FAMILIAR LIGHT. Then it's back to work on my new PACKING HEAT series. The first book, UNFORGIVEN, has already been unleashed on the public, and the second title LAST CALL will hopefully arrive in early 2012.
In the meantime, do feast your eyes on HAWTHORNE, won't you?
After a terrifying encounter with the unexplained, it took ten years and the news of her grandmother’s passing for Emma Grace Hawthorne to return to her childhood home. She sought peace in saying a proper goodbye, but what she found was an old love, a sordid family history, and a wrong only she could right.
Living in the shadow of Hawthorne Manor, Noah Garrett never forgot about Emma Grace. In a house full of secrets, his search for missing documents revealed a truth that could cost him everything. What he found gave Emma the freedom to walk away from the mansion, her heart free and clear, but at what price to Noah?
Purchase link: Astraea Press
http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=1011841&mode=product&product=4810595
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hawthorne-ebook/dp/B005D9TLCG/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hawthorne-sarah-ballance/1104518732?ean=2940013106260&itm=1&usri=hawthorne%2bsarah%2bballance
Now, before I bestow upon you my author links, here's a little something for your goodie bag: I am not above bribery. Yes, folks, it's true. Every week I give away a $5 gift certificate to Amazon or a $10 gift certificate to Noble Romance—winner's choice—and to qualify for the drawing the only thing in this world you need to do is subscribe to my blog **by e-mail** . . . yup, no trick, ALLLLL treat! Hope to see you all there! (Bring candy.)
Author Links:
Website: http://www.sarahballance.com/
Blog: http://sarahballance.wordpress.com/
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4103362.Sarah_Ballance
Noble Romance: https://www.nobleromance.com/Authors/97/Sarah-Ballance
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003WKYEJI
EM: Thank you so much for joining me, Sarah! : ) I hope you and your family have an amazing Halloween!
This looks WONDERFUL! Thanks so much for hosting me today. What a great party!
ReplyDeleteIt was my pleasure ^_^ Thank you so much for dropping by! : D
ReplyDeleteHmm disguise yourself as dirty laundry, brilliant idea! Would work in this house too, lol!
ReplyDelete