THE WITCH'S CURSE COVER REVEAL!

Jami and I interrupt our regular reviews to bring an awesome first look at David James's new short story, which is the prequel to LIGHT OF THE MOON, THE WITCH'S CURSE!

But first, let us introduce Mr. James. David's first book, LIGHT OF THE MOON, came out in late October, 2012. Bryson and I took the time to ask Mr. James some questions. You can read his answers below, and at the bottom of the post, we are a part of the circle of blogs revealing the cover for his new tie-in novel, THE WITCH'S CURSE.

Interview with David James

  Tell us about your new novel Light of the Moon.
 

Light of the Moon is a story about a boy and a girl, of course, but is twisted with dark curses, dangerous magic, and impossible choices. The two main characters, Calum and Kate, go on an incredible journey to save their families and their hearts. They discover magical secrets about their true identities, and battle in a paranormal war to save the ones they love most. Light of the Moon, at its core, is a story about family. 

   
What inspired you to write Light of the Moon? 

I was inspired to write Light of the Moon after looking up at the stars so much. I would always wonder why things were the way they were, and the true vastness of the sky really peaked my curiosity and pulled at my heartstrings. I also really wanted to write a story that featured characters unlike other characters; strong where normally one wouldn’t find strength, emotionally brave, etc. I wrote Light of the Moon because I wanted to read a story like it.

Why did you decide to become an author? Did you always know this was something you wanted to do? 

Always. When I was little I wanted to be a Power Ranger or a ninja or a wizard or a dinosaur hunter. I always came up with stories. Always was lost in a book. As for my reasoning on being an author, I want to create stories that make people feel, move people. I wanted to become an author so, in time, I could use the platform for helping people. I wanted to share my thoughts with those willing to listen. Sometimes, though, I think writing choose me instead of the other way around.

 What sort of things would you like to see more of in the YA market?

Rule breaking. I think, as people, a lot of us are afraid to step out of the box sometimes. In YA I’d like to see more strong female characters that are strong just because they are who they are. I’d like to see more diversity in characters, more relationships based on equality. I’d like to see more male POVs written to be powerfully emotional instead of overtly proud. It’s odd to me that so much of the publishing world, both YA and not, is stunted sometimes by the general opinion that what sells should be safely grounded in what already exists. Also, I’d like to see less emphasis on the genre of things. There are so many categories within each genre now, they’re beginning to overlap and lose meaning. Sometimes, a book is written because it must, and sometimes it cannot be categorized.

     Do you have any ideas of what you are going to write once the Light of the Moon series is done?

Oh my! You guys go with the hard questions! In terms of the Legend of the Dreamer series, I have two novellas coming out within the series, and the sequel next fall. After that, I have a few ideas I’m playing around with. One is nearly done, and I think that will be my next project. No words on what it’s about, though. That’s still a secret. I will say that this next project is very different from Light of the Moon.

  Why did you choose self-publishing over traditional publishing?

When I started looking into the traditional publishing world I got many enthusiastic responses for Light of the Moon. None stuck the way I wanted them to, though, and that made me look into self-publishing. Honestly, depending how you go into it, there’s not much difference between self-publishing and traditional. There is the added pressure of marketing yourself, which is the one thing you get with a traditional publishing house, but in general the process is the same. Plus, with the success of authors like Keary Taylor or Shelly Crane, it’s a changing world.  My main goal was to maintain the quality of work one would get when buying a traditionally published book, and I’m so pleased with the people that made that possible.

 What do you do to beat writer’s block?

Music and movies! For whatever weird reason, I can’t write in silence. Ever. At this moment I’m watching MTV’s Teen Wolf. Also, I eat a lot of gummies and drink far too much coffee.

  How do you know when your story is the best it can be?

I don’t know if you ever can. For me, a finished story comes after about twelve drafts and countless hours of wondering what could be better. In the end, I think a story is at its best when you read it back and can still smile and the words you’ve written. 

   What book/author has had the biggest impact on your writing?

I’m a big fan of lyrical writing, and Maggie Stiefvater is one who, in my opinion, does this incredibly well. Stiefvater’s book Lament was the book that changed my view on writing. It showed me that words are just as important as story, and that presenting a reader with words that make them feel is key. Still, when I’m at a loss for words, I read her books again and marvel at her writing structure. She writes in circles, not lines. Her talent blows me away, and it has influenced me more than I can say.

  What scares you?

Time, I think. Not moving fast or slow enough. Not being able to do everything I want because of something I can’t control. The world is so vast, so completely incomplete that it scares me time may get the best of us before we can change the things that matter most. So, I try to live with my heart instead of my mind. Time is unforgiving, but we don’t have to be.

And now, without further ado, the cover reveal for David James' short story, THE WITCH'S CURSE, available December 18, 2012 on amazon.com in e-format. It is the prequel to his novel LIGHT OF THE MOON.

"Before Kate met Calum in Light of the Moon, Magda met Samuel. Magda cannot stop her heart from running rampant with the beating drum of love. Whenever her eyes find Samuel, she can feel the pull of strings so vividly alive against her heart. But for Magda, love goes against fate; her destiny as a witch forbids her to need anything but the dark binds of magic. Soon, the witch's curse begins to call to Magda. To deny her love for Samuel would be unthinkable, but to defy her destiny would be impossible. Before the curse can consume her, Magda must decide between Samuel and destiny, and her heart may beat too savagely for anyone to stop."