11/21/12

Musa Event interview #2 Vera Jane Cook!


Welcome Vera Jane Cook, to Julie's Book Review.

With this interview Vera Jane is giving away an ebook (in any format) copy of her novel, Annabel Horton, Lost Witch of Salem. To win check out the rafflecopter to the right of this interview.

Ok Let find out about Vera Jane Cook.

First how about you tell us here at Julies Book Review about a little about yourself? 

 I am a writer of Award Winning Women's Fiction, and the author of The Story of Sassy Sweetwater, Lies a River Deep, Dancing Backward in Paradise and Annabel Horton, Lost Witch of Salem.

I am known as Jane to family and friends, (being called by my middle name is something I share with Annabel). I was born in New York City and grew up amid the eccentricity of my southern and glamorous mother on the Upper West and Upper East Side of Manhattan. As an only child, I turned to reading novels at an early age and was deeply influenced by an eclectic group of authors. Some of my favorite authors today are Nelson DeMille, Calib Carr, Wally Lamb, Anne Rice, Sue Monk Kidd, Anita Shreve, Jodi Picoult, Alice Walker and Toni Morrison. Her favorite novels are too long to list but include The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, Cheri and The Last of Cheri, The Picture of Dorian Grey, Wuthering Heights, Look at Me, Dogs of Babel, The Bluest Eye, The Art of Racing in the Rain, Body Surfing, Lolita, The Brothers Karamazov, She's Come Undone, Tale of Two Cities, etc., etc., etc.,
Dancing Backward In Paradise, was my first published novel and it received rave reviews from Midwest book review and Armchair Interviews. It also won the Eric Hoffer Award for publishing excellence and the Indie Excellence Award for notable new fiction, 2007. Dancing Backward in Paradise will be re-released by Musa Publishing in November. The Story of Sassy Sweetwater received five stars from ForeWord Clarion Reviews. The Story of Annabel Horton, Lost Witch of Salem is my first paranormal novel and will be followed by Annabel Horton and the Black Witch of Paul and Annabel Horton and the Demon of Loudun.
I work by day for an education publishing company as an account manager and I live on the Upper West side of Manhattan with my long term partner, my Basenji/Chihuahua mix, Roxie, my Chihuahua, Peanut and two pussy cats, Sassy and Sweetie Pie.


What genres do you write?
I mostly write women's fiction, often southern fiction but I have written spec fiction as well as paranormal/fantasy with Annabel Horton, Lost Witch of Salem.

Can you tell us a little about your newest book?
From the Salem Witch trials through the nineteenth Century and beyond, Annabel Horton is pursued by the devil's disciple, Urban Grandier, the demonic priest from the incident at Loudon. She must take the bodies of those that the devil favors to protect her family. She must uncover the motive behind the illusive Ursula/Louis Bossidan, the scandalous cross-dresser who is pursuing her beautiful granddaughter, and she must learn, being one of God's most powerful witches, how to use her power. But will it be enough to save her husband from Urbain's fiery inferno? Will it be enough to save her children from demons greater than themselves?



Did you have any other authors that have helped you or have inspired your work?
 So many have inspired me beginning with whoever wrote the Epic of Gilgamesh to Nelson DeMille, Anita Shreve, Calib Carr, Oscar Wilde, Colette, Nabokov, etc. etc. etc.



Do you recall what got you into writing?
 I wrote a children's story in fourth grade and my teacher told me then I should be a writer, forty years later I listened to her.



OK how about some fun stuff


Dogs, cats, or fish?
 Love dogs and cats. Think fish are beautiful but would be hard to cuddle with.


Sci-fi, fantasy, or paranormal, Romance? 
I don't like writing romance because I tend to use the genre of spec and paranormal to question the concept of God, life after death and philosophical explanations for evil. I think I was influenced long ago by studying so much tragedy.
(writing and reading)



Favorite Book of all time? Why? 
The book I'm reading at the moment quickly becomes my favorite book of all time. But I do remember War and Peace and I do remember thinking, Wow, what a book.


Favorite Author of all time?
  I really don't have a favorite but there are some whose books I always gravitate to like Wally Lamb, Nelson DeMille, Jody Picoult, Anita Shreve, Calib Carr. I love the way Jodi researches and the stories of Anita Shreve. I adore DeMille's humor and the humanity of Wally Lamb. Calib is special because he transports me so beautifully to other times in history and was a great influence for me with Annabel when she lived in the 19th century.



Where can we find your books? What sites can we find your work on? (any social media, blogs etc.)
You can find me at:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/annabel-horton-lost-witch-of-salem-vera-jane-cook/1107077368?ean=2940014657280&itm=1&usri=annabel+horton+lost+witch+of+salem

http:www.verajanecook.com/blog


www.twiter.com/verajanecook
http://www.amazon.com/Annabel-Horton-Witch-Salem-ebook/dp/B006PIYOXA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350743140&sr=8-1&keywords=annabel+Horton%2C+lost+witch+of+salem


It has been a pleasure meeting you Vera Jane. Readers don't forget to check out the rafflecopter to the right 5 ebooks up for grabs. Thanks again!
Julie Ramsey
Juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/email_open_log_pic.php?c=480698542&mid=6eb982cG57712b07G0G0

3 comments:

  1. Great interview, Vera Jane. Now I definitely want to read your book.:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you, Sloane- I try to read all Musa books but that is going to take me fifty years!!!!

    ReplyDelete

Search This Blog

Julie's Book Review

Hello, all my followers, visitors, and guests. Welcome to Julies Book Review. This is a site dedicated to helping authors and readers alike. Readers to find new authors and stories and authors to find new readers. For authors please contact me if you are interested in low cost promotion at juliesbookreview@gmail.com. I accommodate where I can. Readers please go through and search the blog. We have been active here for a while. Hundreds on authors, stories and genres to choose from. We have everything from sci-fi, erotica, romance, contemporary, mystery and horror. And nothing gets on this site without a 3 out 5 star rating minimum. I have several reviewers that read different genres. If you are interested in reviewing for me and the site please contact me at the above email. I hope you enjoy the site. I look forward to meeting and talking with you all.

Julie Ramsey & Theresa Fehse
ADM of JBR
Along with many reviewers (which we could not do this without)