Hooked on books: Indie Author Tour ~ L.U. Ann ~ Destructive Silence

Amazon buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Destructive-Silence-Novel-L-U-Ann-ebook/dp/B00EM20E4E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384540576&sr=8-1&keywords=destructive+silence

NOOK buy link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/destructive-silence-l-u-ann/1116498380?ean=2940148541219

Kobo buy link: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=destructive+silence

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7119347.L_U_Ann

Destructive Silence Book Trailer Link: http://youtu.be/a3eLiEUT5Sg

Spotify playlist html code: <iframe src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify:user:authorluann:playlist:6kPjUpAJPgbVyP8iWbGkZU" width="300" height="380" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe>

Author Interview:

Hi Lu Ann,

Welcome and thank you for taking time out of your schedule to talk with us.

No, THANK YOU for allowing me to do this!!!!

For those who don’t know much about you can you tell us a little about yourself?

I moved to Colorado a year ago from Maryland. I am also an artist, painting murals, pencil drawings, graphics, oh and building paper mache life-size objects.

I have a soft heart for animals and have a habit of trying to save everything. That’s kind of how I wound up with my four cats, three dogs, a bird, two guinea pigs (their really my daughters, but guess who takes care of them) and a rabbit. It’s also how I wound up in the emergency room on more than one occasion from injuries saving animals. My husband has learned I am a lost cause and just shakes his head. The stories make great conversational pieces around the holiday dinner table. ***Smiles***

Oh, I am a vegetarian. I won’t eat anything that had eyeballs at one time. I’m an animal lover and can’t eat anything that has suffered for me. It’s not for everyone, but it’s my conscious I must live with at the end of the day.. <3

What inspired you to write your first book?

Okay this is where I get to sigh, right? The reason being, I’m really telling my story through a fictitious character. At first, it was all a secretive. No one, except a select few, knew most of the events happened to me. After I received my first author interview questions, I had the meltdown of the century. Why? Because my book deals with some really heavy material and I never thought someone would ask such personal questions as the one you are now asking. I am by no means saying the question was wrong, in fact, I think it was a blessing in disguise.

So, my inspiration was and is myself. I have a lot to tell and believe if I can help one person, it will ALL be worth it.

With that being said, I added a lot of fiction to the story to make it more interesting. I didn’t think my life or the events were enough to draw readers in. :)

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

The hardest part… uh… um…. writing the book.

It bought up so many unwanted feelings of my past. I knew writing would be a sense of therapy per se, but I didn’t realize I would be going through all of the emotions again.

How many books will there be in the Destructive series?

There are three novels in the series. The reading order is Destructive Silence, Destructive Choices and Destructive Release. Caine will get his own novella, Self-Destructive. I’m still working out the story line so I’m not sure where it will fit into the reading order.

I think Caine’s story will be very telling and readers might be surprised by what is revealed. ***Raises eyebrows up and down in anticipation.***

When is the next book in the series expected to be out?

Destructive Choices is due to come out next month. There is no set date at this time. ***Frowns***

Is there a hidden message in this series?

There isn’t really a hidden message. I think the issues are bright as day. New life issues/events will be uncovered in each book. I offer resources to help in the back of each.

Do you have plans for other series or projects?

I do have a number of other projects in mind. Becca, one of the main characters in DS, will be getting a stand alone book. I have a few children’s stories outlined as well as another fun project that I just can’t share at this moment. ***Yes, I giggled.***

Are the names of the characters in Destructive Silence special to you?

Those who have read Destructive Silence will understand this, okay?

Caine… does Cain and Abel ring a bell?

Becca…. Lacey’s true life bestie. Close enough to her real name.

Lacey… Lacey and Lane (her sister) must have the first letter or their names the same. You’ll find out why in Destructive Release.

Everyone else just got renamed. :)

Can you tell us one of your favorite quotes from your book?

Yes, because it is what I have been doing ALL my life.

“If you don’t speak of the past, can it be erased?” I had to use it as the tagline, it says everything about my personality. My husband has a tendency to call me Scarlet, because ‘I’ll worry about that tomorrow’.

Can you tell us any challenges in releasing your first book?

Oh my gosh, the entire process was eye awakening. I had challenges left and right, but I hit the jackpot finding my mentor who has helped direct me in the right direction on more than a billion occasions. Yeah, Kathryn Crane rocks my socks!!

How do you market your work, and what avenues have you found most successful?

Lots of work. I try not to push my book on people. *Ahem* I sincerely apologize to anyone who I’ve shoved it in their face demanding their eyes to read, in exchange for food and water. Oh, you can just excuse those sounds coming from my basement. ;)

No, I try to suggest my book at any appropriate opportunity. I have paid for ads and tours. Maybe dropped a few thousand bookmarks, postcards here and there. Yeah, it’s a lot of work. I also have to remind myself that Destructive Silence is also not for everyone and put it in God’s hands. Yes, I am Catholic. :)

Who designed your book cover?

I designed my own cover. I am graphic artist.

If you could write with another author who would it be?

Hands down… my mentor, Kathryn Crane. LOVE HER!

Do you ever write naked?

Oh, hell no! ***Eyes grow big while I shake my head no!***

I think my computer would immediately shut down and erase all files if I did that to it. :)

What are your pet peeves?

Well, since you asked. ***Smiles*** Since I am an artist and all, I have two MAJOR pet peeves (in the author world) when it comes to covers.

One, please stop reusing stock images. Nothing puts a sour taste in my mouth quicker than seeing an image used over and over and over again. Hey, I pay good money for my cover images. It’s the first thing people see so it HAS to make an impression!

Two, who on earth never taught someone to hold down the shift key when resizing images?

In the none author world, my pet peeves are:

Not hanging up the car keys on the rack and when I go to use the vehicle… THE. KEYS. ARE. NOT. THERE. ←- Drives me bonkers!

Light switches. Okay, maybe I have a little OCD going on, but seriously, when the house was built, light switches were down when the lights were off. Keeping that in mind, if you have a three-way switch, they should STILL be down when the light is off. I mean really, how can you go to sleep with a light switch up? Not this one.

What is your ideal vacation?

Waiting in long lines at Disney World to ride a 30 second ride. Just kidding. The beach. I love the water. Until now, I had never lived more than an hour from the water. So, I’m happy anywhere there is water. However, growing up along Florida’s gulf coast, I became spoiled. Please do NOT tell me Ocean City Maryland is a Beach. I want white sand.

Quick Fire

Favorite Author?

So NOT fair to only list one. Fine, Colleen Hoover. But then there is… and…. we must not forget… yeah, I love just way too many.

Favorite color?

Black. It can be elegant, grunge, empty, fulfilling.

Favorite place to read/write?

Read - I have a reading chair in the family room. Mom comes in and anyone sitting in it, moves. Writing - my office with multiple screens.

Favorite Book?

The Boy Who Sneaks in My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Moseley

Favorite Movie?

Pitch Perfect… no if’s, and’s, or but’s about it. Love, love, love!!!!

Favorite Song?