Author Interview and Giveaway: Jus Accardo

  ~ JUS ACCARDO ~   

READ MY REVIEW OF TOUCH (Denazen #1)

:: There was SO many hilarious and sweet moments between Kale and Dez and I just love them both so much. Can you describe for us their perfect date, what would they do, where would they go?

Well, Kale is happy doing anything, anywhere, as long as he’s with Dez, so he’d probably let her pick. Knowing Dez, the perfect date would include her two favorite things. Kale + adrenalin. I can see them bungee jumping or something along those lines! Oh, and there would have to be cheese sticks. We all know how Kale feels about cheese sticks…

:: Can I just mention how much I LOVE Kale? He's so sweet and innocent and I just want to give him a big hug (and kiss him *wink*) So, did the character of Kale came easy to you, like you knew exactly what kind of a person he would be, or was he quite hard to figure out?

Kale was pretty clear to me from the start. He’ got two very different sides. There’s the boy Denazen kept locked away from the world—innocent and unspoiled. Everything is amazing to him. Fast food, the sunshine, it’s all an adventure. Despite all that he’s been through, and mainly because of Sue’s influence in his life, he’s kind.

But then he’s got this other side. This dark, tortured side. He was good at what he did. The best. Denazen’s most powerful weapon. That’s always going to haunt him. He’s always going to wonder if he deserves what he’s found with Dez…

Kale’s in for a bumpy ride in the books ahead. I can’t wait to share it with everyone!

:: What's your personal favourite scene in TOUCH? It can be the funniest, the most moving, or one of the romantic scenes?

Well, I’m in love with the bear scene. It’s short, but I absolutely love it. Can’t think about it without smiling. Then of course there’s the scene where Kale is in Dez’s room for the first time. Originally it was going to be a much shorter scene, but while writing it I was listening to BLACK LAB’s THIS NIGHT (pure perfection for that scene IMO) and the whole thing just kind of took off.

:: As a reader, what is the MOST important to you, the characters or the plot? And is it different if you're a writer?

I really think you can’t have one without the other. As a reader, if I love a plot but hate the characters, it kills the story for me. Same thing in reverse. If the characters kick ass, but the plot is flat and pointless, I can’t stay hooked.

As a writer, I feel exactly the same. I want readers to love the whole package.

:: When you are getting ready to start a new book, what’s the first thing you do?

Besides make sure there’s plenty of coffee in the house? ;) The very first thing I do is make my playlists. I add to them as the story and characters progress, but I always have a general idea when I start out. I wouldn’t get past chapter one without them.

:: What is one YA novel you wish you had written? 

God… there are SO many. I’m going to go with the original Vampire Diaries books (I know, a series and not a single book, but I can’t pick between them!). I’ve always loved books in general, but it was that series by L.J Smith that sparked my—and I think so many others—love of all things vampire, paranormal, and urban fantasy.

:: How long does it take for you to write a first full draft? Let's say for Touch?

Touch was…weird. I had the first draft of touch done in under a month. Toxic on the other hand took two and a half months. It depends on what I’ve got going on at the time. Edits, life stuffs, ect. I’ve never had a first draft take me longer than three months—mainly because I get obsessed. When I’m working on something new, I’m so engrossed that everything else takes a back seat.

:: Apart from the Denazen series, what's next for you in the future? (Please say MORE BOOKS!)

I have another series already contracted through Entangled tentatively titled THE GATEKEEPERS. I can’t say a lot about it yet, but I can tell you there’s a kick ass chick, a hot guy with awesome ink, and a really special dog… ;)

There’s some other stuff cooking too, but that’s all I can say… :D *ducks*

:: And finally, can you tell us something that we don't already know about TOXIC and the third book?

Hmm… Well, I’m writing the third book (tentatively titled Tremble) now. What I can say is that we’ll see a lot of the gang in a whole new (and in some cases, much darker) light.

As for Toxic, we’re going to meet a handful of new characters, and lemme tell you—they’re going to shake things up like crazy. No one’s life is going to be the same by the end…

Can I just mention how much I'm in love with Kale? He's unlike every other boy there - he's very sweet, innocent and of course, sexy! If you haven't read TOUCH yet, you should close this, and order it from Amazon or somewhere! It's one of my favourites I've read this year!

 AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY:::  

::: WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO :::

1. Since Rafflecopter is doing my head in and not doing what I asked it to, please:
2. Comment on this blog post with your choice (Untouched (#1.5), or Touch (#1) if you haven't read it) along with your email address for me to contact you if you won and I'll just use a random number generator to pick the winner. Sigh.

That's it. Easy peasy, right?! I'll email the publisher with your contact info and they'll send you the e-book!

::: RULES  ::: 
 

: This is international (since this giveaway is for an e-book)

: When you have finish the e-book, please review it on your blog or Goodreads, and email me the link - thebookgoddess(at)yahoo(dot)com

:This starts 17th April and ends on 24th April = 1 week only.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. THE WINNER HAS BEEN CONTACTED VIA EMAIL. 

UNTOUCHED

Until he met Dez, Kale’s days were filled with violence and death. He was used as a weapon of destruction by the power hungry men of Denazen. He’s a Six. A person with an abnormal ability. Some people call them gifts, but not Kale. Kale’s touch means instant death.

But now there’s Dez, the girl he can touch, and they’re hunting down Sixes and warning them about Denazen. Kale is learning about the world outside captivity and trying to put his dark past behind him. But they underestimated how badly Denazen wanted him back.

When Dez sacrifices herself to save the new Six they’d rescued from falling into the corp’s hands, Kale is lost. Denazen has brought out its best to get the job done. Samsen, a nightmare from Kale’s past—the only person he’s ever truly feared—has come for them, and it soon becomes obvious he has his own twisted agenda.

Kale will need all his training to get Dez back and ensure they make it out, free—and alive. But will it be enough?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  

JUS ACCARDO

Jus Accardo is the author of YA paranormal romance and urban fantasy fiction.

A native New Yorker, she lives in the middle of nowhere with her husband, three dogs, and sometimes guard bear, Oswald.

Her first book, Touch, came out in November 2011 from Entangled Publishing. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.