Straight Chatting from the Library - Deborah A. Bailey

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Deborah will be awarding a free print version of Hathor Legacy: Burn to three randomly drawn winners via rafflecopter during the tour (US ONLY), and a Grand Prize of a $45 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. A $35 Amazon GC will be awarded to a randomly drawn host.Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Do you have any bad book habits?

My worse habit is my endless TBR list. It keeps growing for some reason! I don’t think I could read fast enough to get to all the books. But when I see a book I like, I have to get it. Or at the very least, I add it to the list. One day though, I'll get to the end of that list. I'm just not sure what year that will be.

E-Reader or print? and why?

I'm sort of in between at the moment! I have tons of books. They're filling 3 bookcases right now. For a long time I couldn't understand why anyone would use an e-reader-- that is, until I got one. Then suddenly I got it. Wherever I go I can take my library with me. Buy books on the spot and organize them into folders. There are certain books that I'd rather own as books. But for others, I'm just fine with reading them as ebooks. In fact, I'm buying more books now than I did when I only bought print books.

One book at a time or multiples?

Usually multiples! I think I have about 3 books in progress now. It depends on my mood as to which one I read at which time. But if it's a novel that has my attention, I'll usually stay with it until it's done.

Dog-ear or bookmark? (don't worry—Librarian Judith won't hold it against you—much)

Bookmark only. I really hate it when I lend someone a book, and I get it back dog-eared. It drives me crazy. My favorite books may be worn, but only because I've read them so many times. Not because I folded the corners of the pages!

When do you do most of your reading?

When I used to commute by train, I'd read on the way into work and on the way home. Now that I drive or work from home, I try to set aside time in the evenings or just before bed. The only problem is that I often end up falling asleep before I've finished a chapter. That's the downside of reading in bed.

Favorite genre?

Science fiction romance, of course! But actually, I love anything in the speculative fiction world. I'm drawn to "what if?" stories, which is why I like writing them.

Do you loan your books?

Usually not. I used to, but it only took a few times to cure me of that. Either the person would lend the book to someone else--and it would disappear--or they'd never return the book to me. So, I learned to keep my books to myself. I'll recommend a book, but I don't hand it over unless it's to someone I really trust.

Re-reader or not?

I always re-read books that I really like. In fact, I remember finishing a book I enjoyed, and immediately going back and reading it over again. When you read the book again, there are always things that you pick up that you missed the first time. Or you can see how there were hints and other indications of how things would turn out. I also like to read books that I feel can help me improve my craft. So, when I find a writer I admire, I want to know how they constructed the story. That's not something you can tell with just one reading.

What would make you not finish a book?

If I get bored I won't bother to finish. Or if the story really isn't as described. But that doesn't happen as much to me now because when I get an ebook, I read the sample first. So I can usually tell early on if the story isn’t my thing. But I did read a book that started off strong, and fell apart in the middle. It was a mystery, unfortunately. So I only kept reading to find out how it would be resolved. Otherwise, I would've put it aside.

Keep books or give them away?

It's hard for me to give book away, unless it's a donation to the library. Otherwise, I keep them. Even the ones that I don’t re-read. They're very treasured possessions. In fact, I have a bookshelf full of books in my home office. I enjoy having them around.

READ THE BLURB

On the planet, Hathor, an old threat re-emerges that may destroy the fragile alliance between the Guardians and Novacorp. When Nadira is called to investigate a rash of fires throughout the city, she discovers the Deshtu, another group with PSI powers who have been purposely kept in the shadows.

Working to uncover the source of the fires, Nadira learns the brutal truth about the origin of the Guardians. The Guardian Elders have plans to make Nadira more powerful, and she may be forced to sever her psychic connection to her lover, Jonathan Keel.

When an unexpected ally gives Jonathan information about the Deshtu that connects them to the fires, he becomes a convenient scapegoat for the opposing factions. Nadira puts her life on the line to solve the crime, while the Elders make their move to remove Jonathan from her life forever.

As time runs out, the Guardians prepare for a clash with Novacorp that could plunge the planet into chaos, and a final betrayal forces Nadira to risk everything to save herself and Hathor.

READ AN EXCERPT

Up ahead at the corner, she saw lights and transport vehicles passing back and forth. They could get one and head back to the apartment. She was in no mood to return to the reception. Not after what she'd just seen and felt.

"What the hell could be the reason to set these fires?" Jon asked, picking up the pace as they neared the corner.

"The officers think the Guardians are doing this. They believe Varyn's story."

At the corner, they hurried to the transport stand and got into the first one of a long line of shiny, blue and black vehicles. Once the doors closed behind them, she pressed her palm against the clear ID plate. "Take us home."

"Affirmative, Sentry Nadira." After retrieving her data from the system, the transport pulled into the traffic lanes, heading towards the apartment building.

"When are you going to talk to Varyn again?" Jonathan asked, as he glanced behind him.

"As soon as I can. I wanted to give her a little time. But I don't think I can wait much longer," she replied. "Is something wrong?"

"Huh? No. I just felt like we were being watched." He settled down in the seat and slid his arm around her. "It's nothing."

She remembered having that same feeling when she'd come home from the Gathering.

As a Guardian she'd tracked people before. She'd used her abilities to sense their locations and read their thoughts. Was that happening now? Were she and Jon being tracked by the people who'd set the fire?

MEET THE AUTHOR

As a little girl when Deborah A Bailey was watching Star Trek and Twilight Zone, she was writing and drawing her own superheroine comics. When she grew up, she continued to write and followed her love of technology into a career as a computer programmer and developer. But writing was never far away from her heart, so over the years she wrote and published stories set on other worlds and in Earth's future. Ultimately she fulfilled a lifelong dream and completed her first novel in the Hathor Legacy universe, Hathor Legacy: Outcast.

Her short stories have won awards from the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference and her work has been published in US1 Magazine and the Sun. In 2013 she published a short story collection, Electric Dreams: Seven Futuristic Tales. In her "other" life, she's a freelance writer who's published three non-fiction books and countless articles that have appeared in print and online. Visit her blog for writing tips, interviews and updates. http://www.BrightStreetBooks.com 

Website: http://www.brightstreetbooks.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/AuthorDeborahB
http://www.amazon.com/Deborah-A-Bailey/e/B003MD0J4Y/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1
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