New Release - Ember by Carol Oates

 Today, Omnific Publishing is very happy to bring you a little bit about our next release!

Author Carol Oates second novel, Ember will be available tomorrow, July 19th and we thought it would be great to get a little sneak peek at it and talk with the author.

When Candra Ember wakes up in hospital after a dangerous encounter with a red-haired woman, she is shocked to discover that seeing a winged boy wasn’t her imagination. Candra is exposed to a world of rivalry and sacrifice she never knew existed, and the aftermath of a war to save humanity thousands of years ago. Soon she finds herself relentlessly stalked by Sebastian, a beautiful and arrogant Watcher Angel and romantically pursued by his darkly seductive rival, Draven. Ultimately, dubious about her own goodness, Candra’s very existence compromises a tentative peace in the city of Acheron.

 

 We asked Carol a few questions about her experience and some fun ones that really I just wanted to know the answer to.

Omnific: Was writing your second novel a different experience from your first? Was it a little easier knowing what to expect from the process?

Carol Oates: Every book is a completely different experience. Ember wasn’t really my second manuscript although it’s my second published novel. I have other works quietly hiding away in my files. Some will never see the light of day again. I never know what to expect starting out. For example, Shades of Atlantis had a very different ending at one time. I changed it about mid-way through writing and changed it back about five minutes later. With Ember I knew exactly how I wanted the story to form, from the first word I knew how it would all pan out for everyone.

The submission process and editing were no less daunting than before. This book writing stuff is hard work. Even with the amazing Omnific Publishing team around me, I still sat with my manuscript open on my laptop channeling Wayne and Garth, We’re not worthy, we’re not worthy. There were some parts I was a little more confident with, the cover art for Ember being one. Isn’t it pretty? Onmific Publishing really hit the ball out of the park with the SoA cover. I don’t know about other authors, but I worry about the cover reflecting how I see the story as well as what the reader will take from the image. This time I didn’t worry at all that the cover and final presentation would be perfect. That is as much an important part of creating a book as writing it.

Omnific: Your books are YA, but you do a great job of making them enjoyable for older readers as well. Do you read a lot of YA yourself? What else do you enjoy reading (if and when you have time to read!)

Carol Oates: Yes, I read a lot of YA. I don’t choose books based on age range, I choose based on a plot that catches my attention or recommendation. There are so many wonderful and intelligent YA books other there. I read as much as I can, it’s hard to fit in with everything else. I always keep books by the bed and in the bathroom. A bath and a good book are a little piece of heaven. I have kindle on my phone for reading on the go.

Omnific: Where would you LOVE to go on a vacation? And if you went, would you truly be on vacation or would you have a notebook with you to write when an idea strikes?

Carol Oates: I would love to go to Camden, Maine. I know there are probably more exotic locations I could choose but there is something very special about seeing places I write about. Another place (I know I’m cheating, picking two) I have included in my work and would love to see again is Paris. Do I need to give a reason for wanting to see Paris again? I always carry a notebook. I have a five-second memory. If I don’t write it down I forget. Sitting on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower or outside a café with an iced coffee and my notebook would make me a very happy lady.

Omnific: Since Omnific is all about the romance...what is your favorite romance scene in a book?

Carol Oates: One of my favorite books, probably my favorite book, is The Princess Bride by William Goldman. It’s hard to choose a favorite scene, but I would probably go for the scene where Westley first proclaims his love for Buttercup. That morning, driven on by jealously of an older woman looking at Westley, she had told him she was in love and he closed the door in her face. When he finally comes to her, she tries to pretend she was playing a joke. He explains the depth of his love for her and how he had shown it every day in every single thing he did, but that she just couldn't see it. I think that can happen a lot in real life too.

Omnific: Now, if they made that into a movie who would you want cast opposite you?

Carol Oates: They have made that scene into a movie, sort of. That particular scene isn’t played out as it is in the book. Cary Elwes played Westley and he was perfect. When I was younger I would have swapped places with Buttercup in the blink of an eye.

Omnific: Finally, because I am lucky enough to be your acquisitions editor for  Shades of Atlantis, this is kind of a selfish question, but I'm impatient for the next book...almost done?

Carol Oates: That’s right, thanks for that. I’m working on it. It’s coming along slowly and I hope to be finished by Christmas. I want it to be just right. I’m working on two projects right now, the sequel to Ember and the sequel to SoA. This year has been sort of crazy so it’s been slow going but I’m getting there.

We also asked Carol to pick one of her favorite excerpts (which I know is VERY hard to do – like deciding which is your favorite child). She was so great to give us this little glimpse of her story…

She knew she only had a matter of a minute or two to make her escape, so she headed straight toward the exit, bursting out the exterior door to come face to face with Flame-hair.

With the sleekness of an alley cat, she slinked her way to Candra, a sneer barely concealed on her ruby lips. As usual she was clad head to toe in leather, accessorized by towering stiletto heels.

“Well, well, it’s about time,” Ananchel observed scornfully.

Candra approached her with her head held high. There wasn’t a chance in hell she would ever show Ananchel any weakness. From what Candra had learned about her so far, she thrived on it.

“I’m not here to make pleasantries, Ananchel,” Candra countered brazenly. “Just take me wherever I need to go.

Ananchel arched one perfectly manicured eyebrow and waved her hand, indicating for Candra to walk ahead. It was then that Candra saw Sebastian watching from the other side of the street, his face a hard mask of discontent. His brown eyes blazed with a terrible rage like she had never seen in him, and she wasn’t sure if it was directed at her or Ananchel. It made Candra nervous about what he was capable of if crossed.

A mist shimmered over his shoulders and rolled downward at his back before his exquisite gold tipped wings ripped through his clothes, flexing at mid-extension and stretching out to their full terrifying expanse. He looked furious; he looked like a man hanging on to his last thread of reason or an angel about to dispense a brutal, vengeful wrath.

“Hmmm,” Flame-hair purred. “He always was rather excitable.”

Candra struggled to draw her eyes away from him as she climbed into the waiting red Ferrari. The heavy carved wooden door of the school swung open again and Lofi raced out, calling to her. Candra ignored her and closed the passenger door, looking down to her lap.

“Your boyfriend needs to learn to control his emotions.”

“He is not my boyfriend,” Candra snorted, completely paralyzed by her need to not see Sebastian’s face in that moment before they drove away. She knew and fully accepted he would take this as a betrayal of all of them.

Ananchel snickered and pulled away from the curb, the screeching, spinning tires leaving a trail of smoke and burning rubber behind them.

She had to do this, Candra kept telling herself as they speeded through the streets and scolded herself internally for the guilt that settled over her like a black cloak. Right or wrong, what she was doing was the only way.


Thank you so much Carol for letting us see some of you and your story.

Carol created a BEAUTIFUL trailer for Ember. It's another great way to get a glimpse of her story. But, so you don't have to go searching for it on Youtube...guess what? I have it right here for you!

I know Carol loves to hear from her readers, so if you haven’t found her out on the web yet, here are all the places she can be contacted!

Blog: http://www.caroloates.com/
Twitter: @caroloates
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3988619.Carol_Oates
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Carol-Oates/165822436796666?ref=ts


And, if you love Carol’s writing, don’t forget to pick up the Summer Breeze Anthology to read her short story The Summer Prince. You’ll get a great read and help Save the Tatas! Don't forget to follow our new blog for the chance to win our duo of Summer Anthologies signed by all of the authors!