Author Interview; Amy Joy Lutchen (+ Giveaway!)

Hey Guys!
So today I am introducing you to the charming Amy Joy Lutchen, author of Renhala. I will be asking her some questions for you all to read over and enjoy!
Hope it helps you get a better insight into her and her novel!
And she is also giving away some Renhala inspired jewellery as well, all will be announced at the bottom of the post.

Hello Amy Joy and welcome to A Daydreamer’s Thoughts! Let’s start with the basics, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, anything you would like your readers to know.
I am a gemini, and true to the description! I’m nice and generous, but make me mad and you best go run and hide under a bed. And I also love sweets, and I enjoy sharing them, but take too big of a bite and you best go hide under the table!

I will make sure never to make you mad! Haha. And how long have you wanted to be a writer?
Well, in college I REALLY enjoyed my English classes, and my teachers often tried coercing me to continue on with it because they liked my ideas, but my major at that time was accounting. “Creative” accounting is a bad, bad, thing, apparently . . .

Yes, I can imagine it is! So when you’re not typing away at the keyboard coming up with new ideas, what do you do?
All sorts of stuff. I have this problem where I have to be productive ALL the time. So when my friends and colleagues sit around and talk about this television show, or that actor/actress, I am TOTALLY lost. I do however, like Fringe, and American Horror Story, but needless to say, I am behind like five episodes on each! I also enjoy metalsmithing and lampworking (the art of making my own glass beads), and am often designing custom pieces for people. Oh, and I like to knit, and cook, and . . .

Renhala is a story that involves some interesting creatures and monsters, can you tell us anything about them?
I can tell you that I am most definitely not under the influence of any hallucinogenic drugs, yet these odd, but entirely engulfing characters/species pop into my head all the time: Renhalan creatures like meeples (soft white bunnies with deadly talons), grebles (six-hundred pound torturing machines) and mooncats (large felines with human-like characteristics).

They all sound fascinating! Is there anything specific that inspired you to write an urban fantasy-type book?
Yes, some really crappy, bad stuff that was happening in my life, and past tragic events that were forcing me into a very dark place. Once I gathered the courage to face all these things and began writing them down, these horrible events morphed into something magical and inspiring: the land of Renhala! It has transformed my life and I am in such a better place right now. I can’t stop!

Writing is extremely therapeutic and I say to anyone needing an outlet for angst, try WRITING! I say prove me wrong that any literary jam session is not going to help . . . Seriously, write it down! See what happens.

Brilliant advice there, I agree! If you had to describe your book in a tweet (in 140 characters), how would it go?
I am not a good tweeter, for some reason. I do my best, but I tend to use lots of adjectives and always end up with those negative numbers. Then, when I shorten it and I read what I have I get tweeter envy and usually cancel it, while making a scrunched-up face.

Often subconsciously, writers sometimes take inspiration from the people they know for their characters, are any of your characters based on friends or family?
I often have people ask me, “Who am I in the book?” or “Can I have a place in your next book?” and I often say, “You don’t want to know who you are.” This often results in a good laugh (from me). I have to say yes, though, that maybe, some of the characters resemble people I know, possibly.

Renhala has had a lot of four star and five star reviews on Goodreads and Amazon, how did it feel when you got your first five star review?
OMG! I cry a lot. But in a good way. Don’t get me wrong, I have always loved my story, but because it had special meaning to me and healing power. Turns out people like it because they like the story! I am so thankful for my readers and their praise, for it brings lots of sunshine into my days.

What is your writing structure like? Do you plan out every scene meticulously, or do you simply let the story take it where it wants to go, or is it somewhere in the middle?
Usually, it takes off running without me. So many nights I wake up to things I have scribbled on tissues in the middle of the night—things that have absolutely no current relevance to my story, but they magically become instrumental, at a later time, in my stories.

Without giving us any spoilers, would you be willing to give us a small teaser of Renhala?
I can tell you about the life pools! Every woman needs a Meadow’s Edge female-designated life pool, for once you exit it, your hair will be fuller and softer (and smelling of lilacs), your breasteses will be perfect, and your skin will be supple and flawless. Want one?

And finally, do you have any advice for any aspiring writers out there?
Start with what you know.

and a quick fire round;

ebooks or hard copies?
ebook
day or night?
Night
reading or writing?
Writing
paper or computer?
Paper-specifically post-it notes
tea or coffee?
TEA!! It’s unnatural how much I love it, but not my bladder.
favourite book of the moment?
Actually, right now: I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll and Howard McWilliam (illustrator). So cute!
most memorable book?
Flatland, a Romance of Many Dimenstions by Edwin A. Abbott. Strange, but that’s what makes it memorable :)

Thank you so much for chatting with me today Amy Joy! It’s been lovely getting to know you better – and you certainly made me laugh!

If you would like to get to know more about Amy Joy, check out her blog, follow her on twitter, or like her facebook page!

Kailey Rooke, timid accountant, dedicated to philanthropic work, finds herself spiraling into a deep depression after she suffers a horrifyingly odd and humiliating assault, to only discover more of these freakish assaults occurring across the globe.

A chance discovery leads Kailey to a meeting with elderly Gunthreon, actual master of persuasion. Gunthreon, who seems to know too much of Kailey’s history for her liking, opens Kailey’s eyes to a coexisting realm she never knew existed: Renhala, while entrusting her with the knowledge of her newfound power as karmelean, serving as a beacon for karma from the Higher Ones. Kailey slowly starts revealing new talents, and Gunthreon is fascinated with what she starts achieving.

She soon discovers that Renhala is in danger, and this danger has been leaking into her own realm. As she uncovers secrets within herself, and toughens up, she fuses with an unlikely band of fellow travelers (including a dragon, woodsprite, six-hundred-pound greble, her faithful female canine companion, and a “giver”), balances the egos of two very strong males, deals with her sexy and flirtatious best friend’s “issues,” and finds the courage to master a new deadly weapon.

On her mission to save Renhala, Kailey will find herself running from life-threatening disasters, such as greble Tartarin, who likes to remind Kailey that when he catches her, he plans on eating her brains with ice cream; she’ll run from the deadly meeples: small cute bunnies with talons and an undeniable thirst for imposing self-destruction on others. Kailey will also run into the possibility that a centuries-old Renhalan rumor is true, that advanced technology existing in Kailey’s realm shortens all life spans.

As blood is shed and puzzles near completion, Kailey pulls from deep within herself, conjuring up mystical qualities that enable her to astonish as once predicted at her birth, but despite the newfound strength, Kailey will discover that monsters not only come in ugly packages, but can be easily disguised as those she has come to love and trust.

Giveaway!
Now for the exciting part! Amy Joy has been working hard – we already know she needs to keep busy – making some lovely Renhala-inspired jewellery just for YOU!
ONE lucky winner will win a piece of jewellery that will look similar to the two pictures below!

Being a follower of this blog is the only mandatory entry for this giveaway!
– Open INTERNATIONALLY
– Closes 13th Dec
– Winner will be e-mailed and will have 72 hours to respond
– Please read my Giveaway Policy

a Rafflecopter giveaway