Blog Tour: The Gifted Trilogy by Erin Manbeck - Excerpt, Interview & Giveaway

The Gifted Trilogy

by

Erin Manbeck

Gift of Sight

Gifted Trilogy #1

Amazon  

Feisty, smart mouth Regan thought that breaking up with her boyfriend Sam was going to be the start of her independence.  Instead, she is manipulated and dragged into a world where sharp, sarcastic wit isn't going to save her.  Turning to her Gram for help, the only remaining relative she has, Regan is upset to find out that her grandmother has been keeping family secrets of her own all these years.

With a vengeful goddess using people to try and bring Regan to the Underworld, Gram brings in three Guardians to protect her.  Given the short version of what is expected of her, loaded with a lot of expectations for her future, Regan knows first-hand that life is too short.  She isn't letting anyone make life-altering decisions for her despite finding out that the vengeful goddess has placed a price on her head.

This book will make you laugh, feel connected to the characters, and leave you wanting more.

Warning: Adult language and sexual situations.

Gift of Power

Gifted Trilogy #2

Amazon

Power equals responsibility.

Despite declaring to those closest to her that she will take her position as Queen, Regan’s first priority is not to rule, but to find her parents.  With Jake at her side, she is determined to learn how to use her new powers and hide from her destiny, as well as the Council, a little while longer.

Unfortunately, someone has been watching and reporting every move Regan makes.  She is disheartened to find out the Council is already eagerly awaiting her arrival in Ireland and have apparently started to plan her future…one that does not include Jake.

Regan must decide just how much she is willing to sacrifice to protect her people from a vengeful goddess, while also weeding out the traitor among them.  In the end, will she have the strength to withstand losing any of them?

Gift of Prophecy

Gifted Trilogy #3

Amazon

Regan’s arrival in Ireland may have heightened her powers, but it has also given Agrona and her minions more cause to make sure she never makes it to her coronation.  With every attack and the harsh welcome she receives from the council, Regan is more determined than ever to prove why the deities have chosen her to be the Queen.

Although, part of her has accepted that she may have to make the ultimate sacrifice, it isn't until Regan finds herself in the Otherworld being handed over to Agrona that the reality hits her.  Will Jake and her family survive without her?

YouTube Video

Excerpt from Gift of Sight

Sam’s response was to hit Regan in the face again, but this time on the opposite side.  “Isn’t it simple, Regan?  I want you and that smart mouth to come with me.”

Through the tears that had started to fall down her face, she replied, “So you plan on beating me into submission?  I don’t work that way you know that.  Besides, what real man hits a girl?”

Regan, SHUT UP!

Is what she thought, but it was too late.  Sam punched the side of her head, which caught both her temple and part of her eye.  She instantly saw stars and could feel the blood trickling down the side of her face.

Damn it!  I think he just split my eye.  He’s got gorilla hands.  How have I never noticed those huge man hands?

Then, like a light had switched on in Sam’s head, he gently started to run his hand down the side of her face.  “I can’t wait for the black eyes to appear on your lovely face.  They will have to temporarily take the place of those dark circles I’d gotten so used to seeing.  What happened to those eyes, Regan?  Your trademark circles seemed to have disappeared over night.  Is it because you slept with that dog?  I expected so much more from you, Sweetie.”

“No, nothing happened, Sam.  Please stop hitting me.  You are wasting your time.  I made my decision.  I don’t want to be with you and I won’t be going back with Gram and the rest of them.  They bound my powers so I can stay here and be normal.  Please just let me go.”

“You’re lying!”

Interview with Erin Manbeck

Tell us about your main character. Who is Regan?

Regan is part of me, except I don’t have powers or the super-hot body, but her character is mostly a version of myself.  She doesn’t let others make decisions for her, she gets out front and makes them, taking charge.  Regan is faithful to her friends and family, and once you are in her circle, you’ve earned her respect and she would do anything for you.  Regan might be young and trying to keep her life simple, but she is destined for so much more.  Despite her ability to butcher common everyday sayings and her easy way of dropping the F bomb often, she is strong, smart, quick witted, and will face the challenges straight on that are forced upon her throughout the trilogy.  She’s never been a crier or very emotional, but you get to see a softer side of her come out as the story progresses.

Are any of your characters inspired by people in your life, past or present?

Pretty much all my characters are based on people I know.  The dialogue that will have you laughing that takes place between Regan, Piper, and Maggie is on the same lines of what I have with my Best Friends Jeni and Keri.  They too wish they had the bodies of their characters, but we all swore if they ever wanted to make this into a movie…we would hire a trainer and maybe get a little work done to look younger.  Okay, I volunteered for the work to be done, but I’m sure they would be on board.

I almost had to take the books away from my mother, who finally got past the language, because she kept asking me if she was Gram in the book.  I had to tell her to keep reading and she would figure out who she was.  When she finally did…she got to keep her books because she was happy.

Do you listen to music while writing? Is so, what music inspired The Gifted Trilogy?

I listen to music all the time.  Either at work or in the car, when I hear a song that makes me think of my writing, I make a note of it.  Here is a link to YouTube where you will find my playlists for all three books.  I made a trailer for the first book and I’m in the process of doing the same for the rest.  I just need to find the time.  I don’t have a specific taste in music…I love it all.  I grew up listening to the oldies in the car with my parents and falling asleep with POP or techno on my headphones as a teen.  Moving to the south, I was introduced to country, which I’m having a bit of an issue with, but if I like a song…I just do.  Jeni and Keri introduce me to a lot of that.  Hard Rock speaks for itself.  Nothing like blasting Disturbed while you’re on a road trip.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY2R8o3qJD4GrlevuJZqyrcjRaNBP4hFA  Gift of Sight

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY2R8o3qJD4GnX1RoAgvAp9MMJb006zmP Gift of Power

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY2R8o3qJD4F5y2mUnmRD8YbPrjMNuzgY Gift of Prophecy

http://youtu.be/bb0FDq_sQ5w?list=UUK5nDmiYwU5nfp8FG8v-fLA Gift of Sight Trailer

How did it feel when you finished writing the trilogy? Was it hard to let go of your characters?

I cried at one point and as I mentioned earlier, I’m not a crier.  My hands were actually shaking when I hit the submit button on Amazon.  It was thrilling, scary, and I felt accomplished.  I was determined to write this book, not realizing it would turn into a trilogy, and couldn’t help the sense of relief when it ended.  The feeling was short lived because I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters and what I could do with them next.  Instead, I decided to start something new and see where that would bring

me.  August 18^th a released a YA paranormal suspense called Dreamless.  It is a stand-alone book, but I have already written the prologue for the next book because I’m going to try and turn it into a series.

Who is your favorite character in the trilogy?

My favorite would be Regan because it’s me.  Pretty much all my characters represent real people in my life, so I will choose myself.  I’m not looking to hurt my mother’s feelings when I don’t choose her.  I mean if I didn’t choose her.  I mean her character, Veronica, is my favorite.  Love you, Mom!

Describe your writing routine? What do you have to have nearby in order to get into the zone?

I pretty much have to wait until my son and husband are asleep, and then I grab a Diet Pepsi and my laptop.  My dog Jackpot usually lays at my feet as I sit in my husband’s Philly chair and type away.  All I need to get into my zone is piece and quite.  I tried so many times to write a little while my husband and son were awake, but every time I found myself in a groove, I was interrupted.  I would stop what I was doing to help my five year old and normally tell my husband to Google what he was looking for, but by time I got back to writing, it was like starting all over.  I’m nocturnal, so when I start writing a book I try my best to knock out a chapter a night and get in bed before 1am.  I don’t write every night but the nights I do, that’s how I do it.  I have the worst sleeping habits, but luckily, I work with people who continue to keep the coffee pot filled.

What’s the hardest challenge you face as an author?

Getting the word out about my book is the first.  Then it’s keeping up with my blog, website, Facebook, twitter, and every other social media outlet.  Finally, it’s getting people to write reviews.  So many bloggers are already bogged down with requests, that it’s almost impossible to find someone who has the time to do it.  I did make the mistake of answering a request on a social site from someone who said they would be willing to do a review for me.  I should have done my research first, which I will in the future.  If the person doesn’t read your genre and prefers books on history and such, of course you should expect a bad review.  I felt sort of used, but it’s one of many lessons I’ve learned since I started.  If the review is bad and it is coming from someone who actually prefers the genre I write, I can respect that.  Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, but don’t use me.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

If I’m not working, I’m trying to spend as much time with my family as possible.  I absolutely love to read, so when I finished “Dreamless” it was time to play catch up on the books I missed.  Again, as the rest of the house is asleep, I’m reading.  I’m only a couple books shy from hitting my goal of 50 books read this year and I already have the books selected, so bring it on.

What were your favorite books as a child?

You’re probably going to hate me, but I did not like to read much as a child.  I only read when school book reports were due and it was usually what the teacher chose.  I spent most of my childhood outside, playing soccer usually.  I didn’t start reading for myself until a few years ago and I couldn’t stop.  I love escaping into new worlds and reading about my new book boyfriends.

Is there anything you’d like your readers to know about you or your writing?

Here is something no one else knows.  When I started the second book, Gift of Power, it started out very angry and hateful.  My beta readers were a little surprised by the turn I took.  When I reread what I had, I found myself laughing hysterically.  You see, I had quit smoking at the time I started writing the book and apparently took my frustrations out on my writing.  Not a very smart move at all, double the work in the end because I had to find my happy place once again.

Do you have any advice for new writers just entering the shark infested waters?

Do your research and always have your book edited by someone who is legit.  You want reviewers who enjoy your genre and you want editors who will take the time to do it right.  You can’t take it all on yourself.  Unless you are a grammar Nazi and are perfect, you will never find the mistakes in your own book that are blatantly obvious to others.  I have read my books probably a hundred times and each time I found something new that I forgot, and that was before I handed it over to the editor who then found the other million things I didn’t see.  I suggest you analyze your tolerance of patience before you submit your work, because if you are expecting to be an overnight success and don’t get it, you will want to quit and that’s not the answer.  Keep pushing and find those bloggers who read your genre and offer promotional ads.  They help and it’s a start.  Self-promotion is hard, but there are professionals out there that will help you and they don’t cost as much as you think they do.  It will cost you some money out of your pocket if you’re an independent author, but if you do it right, you will make it up in sales, hopefully.

 About the Author

I’m an author in hiding…I still work full time, but don’t ever look over my shoulder to see what’s on my computer screen.  Chances are you will find me secretly writing.

Besides family and friends, I love to laugh.  It may be at the expense of those I love, but they get me, so I usually don’t offend too much.

Honesty…I can’t help it.  I usually say way I feel, but with a little guidance, I’ve learned to be more tactful.

I’ve worked in plenty of environments (trucking company, correction officer and I was in the military to mention a few) so I guess you can say that’s where my mouth and attitude come from.  Either way, as long as I get my morning cup of coffee people are safe.

The Trilogy is complete and I also have a new stand-alone book called “Dreamless”.  It’s a Paranormal Suspense that’s a bit lighter on the language, but will keep you guessing who the Nightmare really is.

AUTHOR CONTACT LINK:

Website: www.erinmanbeck.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Erin-Manbeck-Author/656345041090235

Twitter: http://twitter.com/erinmanbeck

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7910131.Erin_Manbeck

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