Hi – I’m Tory and I’m celebrating the release of my new book, LOCKED IN
STONE, the first in the Hearts of Stone series. Today, I want to
talk about books and why you read.
All my life, I’ve loved paranormal stories, be they romance or not, from silly
shows on the Disney Afternoon (anyone else remember that show), which included
Gargoyles: The Series, to Dracula: the Series (I think I’m the
only one to watch that), and movies like Nightlife and Love at First
Bite. So it’s only natural that my reading tendencies (and writing) always
trended that way. The only contemporary/non-supernatural-based book I ever wrote
was the very first one, titled Obsession, which
thankfully has long-since been destroyed.
Given you’re here, you’re probably a voracious reader and I’m curious what
drives you to read what you read. I read (duh) lots of paranormal
romance. But I also really really enjoy historical romances and, sigh,
Harlequin Presents. HP are truly my guilty pleasure. But, then again, I’ve
fallen in love with the magnificent Maisey Yates, thanks to HP, so it’s not all bad.
So, other than the “what drives you” to read, I have other questions for you.
Does your mood influence what you select, or are you always going to pick one
particular genre over another? For me personally, my mood doesn’t really play
much into it. If I want to read, I just want to read and provided it’s romance
or suspense, I’m good to go. If I’m cranky, I’ll go kill things in video games
(yet more paranormal/fantasy stuff, right?). What makes you put a book down and
not return? Is it just you get bored, or can an author do something in
particular to get you to throw the book. I remember once, reading a Nora Roberts
book (yes, the Nora Roberts) that I wanted to throw across the room. It
was a silly reason, one only someone living in Oregon would pick up on – a
character in the book got out of her car to pump her gas. See, in Oregon (at
least at that time, not sure any more), only gas station attendants could pump
gas. Drivers weren’t allowed to. It was a tiny detail, buuuut it annoyed the
heck out of me that such a big author screwed up on it.
Hope to hear from lots of you about your reading habits!
Tory
About LOCKED IN STONE
Her enemy is her only hope...
Rose Johnson's adoptive mother was murdered, and Rose is next. She may be the
last gargoyle in the world—the last being who stands between this world and the
evils of Otherworld. In order to keep her existence a continued secret, Rose
needs to find the stone that holds her adoptive mother's soul. Which means
enlisting the help of her enemies the Sentinels...
Sentinel Cal Levesque never forgave himself for failing Rose's family years ago.
Seeing Rose alive is shock enough, until the stunningly beautiful gargoyle
attacks him upon sight. As they strike an uneasy peace—and unexpected and
escalating attraction—Cal knows he'll have to tell Rose who really betrayed her
family. And with Rose's life in greater danger than ever, Cal has a chance to
make up for the past...as long he doesn't fall in love.
In answer to your question, my main motivator as to what book I'm going to read next depends on my mood. Sometimes I'm in the mood for something a little on the light side, because I just got done reading a lot of books with heavier story lines, so I'll reach for a book that's on the comedic side. At other times, I'll reach for an Historical-themed book, because I'd either be in the mood to really learn something, or want to read a book that has bits of History woven in the story line. Other times I'll be in what I call a "weird" mood, and pick a book completely out of character for me, which doesn't happen often, just to find out what that genre is about. That has only happened a couple of times, and so far, I've been disappointed. In fact, the latest one I read was supposed to be a Horror book, and it made me shake my head and wonder how it ever made it to print to begin with!! I have never thrown a book, because I own all the books I read, and have respect for the Authors nonetheless, so they all look like they've just been bought, pretty much. Paranormal is one bridge that I haven't crossed yet, but your book has me intrigued. I'm going to put it on my TBR list, and give it a shot for my "weird" mood day, and see what becomes of it. I love the story line that you chose, and it's really not that far-fetched as others I've looked at. I apologize for the long answer, and wish you the best of luck with your book!! Congratulations!! (Peggy Roberson 12:00pm February 26, 2015)
Hey there, Peggy! Thanks for your thoughts about reading (my favorite hobby). I'm flattered that you'll use my book for your "weird" mood day. *I* of course think it's a great book, and for a paranormal-romance, it's *really* light on the romance side of things (no explicit/lurid sex). II also hear you on the not throwing them out of respect. However, it's now partially because 95% of my reading is done on my phone and I treasure my phone a weeeeee bit more than I should, and if I throw it, I break it. Hehe. (Tory Michaels 12:13pm February 26, 2015)
What drives me to read is a craving... a craving for an amazing story, characters and world building. What I read next is mostly based on my mood. Sometimes I like to read light stuff so I go pure romance from Harlequin or may be a chic lit, contemporary etc. Sometimes I am in a dark mood so I go for Urban Fantasy or Paranormal. Sometimes just to see the good old elegant times of Regency period including Scottish Lairds. Sometimes I want to read something which never fails to evoke an emotion in me, I go for favourites re-read section. And sometimes I am sick of romance and sex so I go for pure mysteries, thrillers, YA or Fantasy. LoL. Am not really sure half the time when my mood changes. OTher times, I read a blurb, see a cover or a title and I feel I have to read it. When choosing books for review, I leave it to chance picking a genre I am in the mood of and going by the Title which appeals to me. (Mahvish Saeed 2:21pm February 26, 2015)