Q&A, reviews, and Giveaway with author Airicka Phoenix

Touching Smoke

(book one in the Touch series)

and

Touching Eternity

(book 1.5 in the Touch series)

by

Airicka Phoenix

 Secrets...

Fallon has one. She doesn’t know it, but it will kill her... if she’s caught.

Love...

Isaiah. Her soul mate. Made especially for her. Created especially for her. Designed to be everything she would ever need. But loving him will destroy her.

Betrayal...

Willing to die for her, kill for her, Isaiah must first save her from the monster chasing them — the man that had created them to annihilate the world.

What would you risk for love?





What would you choose?

She had everything but freedom.
He had nothing but his loyalty, his wits and his training.

She was a prisoner, a disease, not fit for the world, and she didn't know why. But she did know she wasn't allowed to die, she wasn't allowed to live and she wasn’t sane.

He was a soldier, a protector, but his foundation will be tested when he must destroy the only light in his dark world.

Thrown together, prisoner and keeper, their rebellion will splinter through time, changing the course of history and the fate of the world. Their love  will challenge their greatest enemy and immortalize them forever.

Loyalty. Freedom. Love.

What would you risk?

"Let me die."
Pain darkened his eyes. "Never."

 

About the author

Airicka Phoenix is the author of TOUCHING SMOKE (Touch Book #1), TOUCHING ETERNITY (Touch 1.5), TORRID, a short story as part of the Whispered Beginnings: A Clever Fiction Anthology and WANTING & INTENTIONS, two stories as part of the Midnight Surrender Anthology. When she's not hammering away at the keyboard, she can be found banishing pirates or crawling through the attic looking for lost treasure with her kids. She loves baking, gardening and reading. She also likes to travel and take pictures of everything she comes across. When asked, Airicka describes herself as a sarcastic basket case that has an unhealthy addiction to chocolate, old movies and really bad jokes. She loves to laugh, make friends and write. If she could have one wish granted, it would be to spend one day as a fly-on-the-wall inside Stephen King's mind. If she could have two wishes granted, she would ask for a castle dedicated entirely to her overwhelming collection of books.

10 question Q&A

I'd like to take a second just to say thank you Ms. Phoenix for take the time to sit down and answer my questions.

1. What made you want to become a write?
I have always loved reading! The library was my hangout place. I spent so much time there, I knew all the staff and all the people that came and went. The written word has always held a fire in my heart. It’s my escape when the real world is just too much to bear. Writing was a natural progression. When I was younger, it was harder to find Young Adult books for my age. It was either middle grade or adult and I wasn’t interested in either, so I started writing my own, just for me. Publishing was never something I even considered. I was just a kid at the back of the library, writing books I wanted to read.

 2. I have spoken to you and know that you have small children when do you find the time to write?
Whenever I can. That’s the trick. I mostly do my writing as soon as they go to school or when they go to bed, but I have a pen and pad that I carry around and scribble things down while I’m cooking, washing dishes, etc. About 90% of my writing is done at night. It’s when the ideas and characters really come to life.

3. Do you get alot of support from your family and friends when it comes to your writing?
I have an amazing support system, both online and off. My kids are my biggest fans—so they tell me. They tell everyone we come across that my mommy wrote Touching Smoke. I love them for it. And I have friends who I call up and rant to when my characters refuse to listen. They tell me I complain more about my characters behaving badly then my kids.

4. Where did the idea for Touching Smoke from?
I was working on my Hunter Series (release date spring 2013). I was at a part where Clara was fighting a demon when something flickers from the corner of her eyes, a vapor or mist and that’s where Amalie stepped into my mind. Originally, Touching Smoke was about Amalie, but somehow Fallon worked her way in and refused to leave.

5. I love your characters did you have any inspiration for them before hand?
  Before the Hunter Series, I hadn’t. Amalie and crew were cooked into creation at that moment.

6. Fallon and Isaiahs' story so far is the start of an epic love story where do you see it going in the future?
I think a lot of people would argue with me, but Isaiah and Fallon’s story was never about the kind of love most people talk about. I think when people think love, they automatically think romance and Romeo and Juliet. The Touch Series is about the darker side of love, the obsession behind it. It’s about questioning yourself and everything you were ever told. If, instead of making you strong and complete, love could destroy you, leave you powerless and broken this would be that brand of love. I can’t make many promises, but I will say that by Touching Ash, you will either love me or hate me.

7. Is it true that you originally thought of Amalie as your main character?
It is very true. Originally, The Touch Series was written through Amalie.

8. If so what changed your mind?
Fallon convinced me the only way to do Amalie’s story justice was by writing it through her, because Fallon is everything Amalie is not. Fallon is strong. She’s brave and stubborn, and with what will be coming up in the following three books, those are the only things that will save the world.

9. What made you decide to go back and tell Amalies' story?
It was never a matter of going back. I always had every intention of writing her story. Amalie’s life is essential to the entire series. She is the key to everything that will unfold throughout the series. Without her, there would be no Fallon, no Touch Series. She is the foundation. Touching Eternity is strictly her in her most vulnerable existence.

10. Do you see the Touch novels as a trilogy or something longer?
The Touch Series is five books,
Touching Smoke, (Book #1)
Touching Fire (Book #2)
Touching Embers (Book #3)
Touching Ash (Book #4)
Touching Eternity (Book #1.5)

(Touching Eternity is a standalone, the only adult book in the series while the others will remain 16+.)



For more about Airicka,

also on how to win giveaways, read author interviews and reviews, visit her website at: http://airickaphoenix.com/Author/?cat=10

You can add Airicka on any/all of her social networks. Making new friends is the highlight of her day!

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5823058.Airicka_Phoenix

https://twitter.com/#!/AirickaPhoenix (@AirickaPhoenix)

Author page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Airicka-Phoenix/252135634831614?ref=hl

The Touch Series Page - http://www.facebook.com/TouchSeriesByAirickaPhoenix?ref=hl

Design Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Airickas-Mystical-Creations/462373910480084?ref=hl

 

My reviews
I'm going to start by saying Ms. Phoenix is an amazing author and woman. I have had the privilege of getting to know a little about her in the past couple of weeks. She is so sweet and very humble about her unbelievable talent as an author that I felt so honored and excited to read and review her books for her.
 

Touching Smoke

Touching Smoke is a great start to what I am sure will be epic and ever evolving love story. It starts off action packed, grabs you from chapter one, never lets you go and never slows down.

Fallon and Isaiah are wonderfully written characters. I love the way they compliment each other. Their relationship nice flow to it and it was such a joy to read as it grew and progressed.

However I found certain things they learn about themselves and their soul mate like bond to be very saddening. How heartbreaking would it be to find out that the love you feel may not be true under different circumstances.

All they have is each other. All they live for is to love and protect one another.
It is truly the start to a beautiful love story.

Touching Eternity
This book is a stand alone novel but I highly recommend starting with Touching Smoke. It lets you get a feel of the characters on a deeper level.

I really like that this book comes from several P.O.V.s I like to read a story from different perspectives. This book actually takes place in the past so I had to keep reminding myself that this Isaiah is Amalie's Isaiah and not Fallon's. (Touching Smoke)

Amalie and Isaiah both reflect on their childhood and growing up together as their relationship turns from child hood friends to young love.Their flashbacks are very sweet, heartwarming, and tender. They are also filled with sadness and sorrow.

When the story shifts back to their present day it is filled with just the opposite. filled with Sadness, cruelty, sorrow and heartbreak. But also has very touching moments of kindness and love.

My heart broke to read of the misery that is Amalie's life, as well as the guilt and regret that is Isaiah's.

Amalie's story is the saddest story I have read in such a long time. i just wanted to reach into the book, wrap my arms around her and tell her everything would be fine. I definitely read this book with a heavy heart.

Touching Eternity is a very tragic love story but one that I would recommend very highly. The characters and story as a whole are so in depth wonderfully written. Beautiful work Ms. Phoenix!
GIVEAWAY!!!
There will be two winners
one will recieve ecopies of both Touching Smoke and Touching Eternity from me
and one will recieve ecopies of both Touching Smoke and Touching Eternity
from Ms. Phoenix.
GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!!!!
This giveaway will run from now until Dec. 31st.

 



 

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