Today I’m excited to host Cameo Renae for her Hidden Wings tour with Juniper Grove Book Solutions. The book sounds exciting and right up my alley, and Cameo has graciously made some time to subject herself to my interviewing whims!
SJ: Thanks for agreeing to guest on my blog! Mwahaha…little did you know what you were getting into!
CR: THANK YOU SO MUCH for having me!!! I’m so thrilled to be here!!!
SJ: Every writer has some sort of process. Give us a glimpse into yours. Do you meticulously outline? Do you write depending on what calls are out there?
CB: I do have a process, but I am definitely not meticulous about it in any way. The only real things I write down are a few plot points – beginning and end – and I do have descriptions of the characters. I have run into problems trying to figure out what color hair or eyes I gave someone! LOL But seriously, most the story comes while I’m writing. I don’t plot because plotting doesn’t work for me. My characters have changed the direction of the story too many times, so I’ve decided to just let them go. I am equally surprised at how the story progresses.
SJ: Bonus question – Do you put on a cape and do a chant before hunkering down to work? Sacrifice anything? Along with your process, what’s your quirkiest writing habit?
CR: I want a cape! And, if I ever got one, I’d want it to sparkle! haha My quirkiest habit would have to be drinking coffee at 10pm to keep me up for my writing session, and the only thing that gets sacrificed during that time is that chocolate bar stashed on the side of my bed.
SJ: Are you a meticulous planner or do you believe in the muse? Where do your ideas come from? Do they filter in through your dreams? Do they show up at inopportune times and whap you upside the head? Do they result in a shady deal with a dark power?
CR: I am NOT a meticulous planner, but I DO believe in the muse. I actually have several of them. Sometimes they come to me in dreams, sometimes in the shower, sometimes in the car…they don’t care who I’m with, or what I’m doing. Once I came up with an idea at a stop light, and didn’t have anything to write on except a gum wrapper. Yep. I took a short note on the back of a gum wrapper, and I’m not ashamed. But since then I carry a notepad everywhere.
SJ: What’s the book/story that’s closest to your heart? Is there a piece that you clearly feel is a piece of you? Do you play favorites?
CR: Both of my books have pieces of me all through them, and I can’t say that I can choose one over the other. I love them both for completely different reasons, but if I had to choose I’d have to say that In My Dreams is closest to my heart. It’s a story of hope, and knowing that our loved, who have passed, are still around us, watching over us. I’ve had readers tell me that it did offer them hope, and to me…that is the greatest gift ever.
SJ: If you could only write one genre ever again upon pain of being sacrificed to Cthulhu, what would it be and why?
CR: LOL Well, with the pain of sacrifice hanging over me, I would have to choose YA Paranormal. That is where I’m at, and what I’m most comfortable with. I think my mind could stay here forever.
SJ: What’s your biggest frustration as a writer? What do you consider the downside, or is there one? Is there any cliché that makes you want to wring people’s necks?
CR: My biggest frustration is promoting. I wish there was a magical button that I could push that would promote my book to the world…but sadly there isn’t, and if I don’t do it, no one will know about it. That is very frustrating to me, because I spend a few hours a day promoting, when I could be writing. Right now, I am at a good place and haven’t wanted to wring anyone’s neck.
SJ: If you had to be stuck in one of your own books/stories for the rest of your life, what would it be and why? If you had to stick a loved one in one of your own books, what would it be and why? An enemy?
CR: WOW! Hard question because I don’t think I would want to be stuck in my stories. If I had to choose I would say Hidden Wings, only because of the hot Guardians. They would make the horror around me worth it. As for the loved one…I would have to say my daughter, and Hidden Wings as well, because she loved the story and would like to meet Kade and Dominic.
SJ: Do you think it’s possible to develop a sure-fire recipe/formula for success as a writer? Would you want to, or does that compromise the art or the fun of it?
CR: I don’t think there is, or will ever be a specific recipe. At least not for me. I am what you call a “seat-of-the-pants” writer. I write whatever comes to me and deal with the editing later.
SJ: Everyone has words of wisdom for young writers, so I’m not going to ask you about that. With a few unknown writers becoming success stories, a lot of people seem to think it’s an easy career choice. What would your words of wisdom be to these people?
CR: My words of wisdom…if your goal is only to be that one in a million success story, then you should be prepared for disappointment. Writing is definitely not easy, especially if it’s not something you are passionate about. If you love to write, and are merely seeking to share your love and stories with others, then to me…that’s what it’s all about. You can always have “hope” for great success, but I think the greatest success is that readers enjoy what you write, and spread the word.
SJ: It seems like everyone likes to gang up on certain genres as being inferior, less meaningful, or cheap entertainment (especially if it’s speculative in nature). Make a case for the genre you write.
CR: I think that people have been saying that the YA Genre is burning out, but I say…hey, there are hundreds of thousands of “young adults” out there who love to read and love adventures. As long as there are young adults, young adult books will be around. And, who doesn’t like to get lost in a fantasy world, in an adventure, with danger and hot guys lurking around them? Just sayin’…
SJ: What do you want people to instantly think of when they hear your name or your work mentioned?
CR: I’d love for them to think…there is a great storyteller. That’s the ultimate dream come true for me.
SJ: Please tell us about your latest/favorite work or a little bit about what you’re working on right now. It’s plug time, so go for it!
CR: My latest work is Broken Wings (# 2 in the Hidden Wings Series). This story is a continuation, and let me tell you…it is quite the adventure! I had to take breaks in between writing it. It’s filled with dark creatures, more romance, more mystery, more horror, and more gripping suspense. It made me laugh, and cry, and at the end…eeeeek!!! It’s a twister!!! I can’t wait to share!!!
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Let me just say what a treat it was reading Cameo’s replies. It’s always fun to host a writer who’s that excited about their writing and their books!
Title: Hidden Wings
Author: Cameo Renae
Published: January 18th, 2013
Publisher: Crushing Hearts & Black Butterfly Publishing
Word Count: 65,500
Cover Art: Regina Wamba http://www.maeidesign.com
Synopsis:
Seventeen is a life changing age for Emma Wise.
As her family’s sole survivor in a car crash, she is left with a broken arm and a few scrapes and bruises. But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered.
Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she’s never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now…she doesn’t even know who or what she is.
A centuries old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her eighteenth birthday… things will change.
Excerpt:
“Thanks guys. I’m gonna miss you SO much,” I said, as tears stung my eyes again.
“We’re going to miss you too! What are we going to do without you our last, crucial year? We’re finally going to be seniors,” Lia said, her eyes tearing as soon as she saw mine.
Jeremy looked at me, and a single tear grazed his cheek. He quickly turned away and lifted his glasses, quickly wiping his face with his shirt. That was the first time I’d ever seen Jeremy get emotional.
“You guys will be fine. And it won’t be forever. I promise to email and send pictures.”
“You better,” Lia said, wagging her finger at me.
And then… something happened. A sudden euphoric feeling; an unexplainable heat shot through every cell in my body. My pulse quickened, along with my breath, and tingles pricked my skin. A
rush of adrenaline flooded my veins and my surroundings began to haze. I grasped onto the edge of the bed, taking in long, deep breaths.
“Hey, are you okay?” Jeremy asked, scooting over to me, grabbing hold of my shoulders.
“Emma, what’s wrong?” Lia called, jumping behind me, pounding my back.
Hello! I’m not choking! I wanted to speak those words, but I couldn’t answer them. It was like all the breath had been sucked out of my lungs.
Then…there was a knock at the door, and we all turned to look.
Cameo Renae was born in San Francisco, CA, was raised in Maui, Hawaii, and recently moved with her husband and two teenage children to Alaska.
She loved reading from as long as she can remember. C.S. Lewis’ – Chronicles of Narnia – sparked a fire in her soul which made her want to create her own wondrous, magical worlds, and awesome characters to go on adventures with.
Writing is her passion, and right now, her head is stuck in the YA genre. Her debut novel, In My Dreams, was picked up by Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing and was re-published December 14, 2012.
Her newest novel, Hidden Wings (Book 1 in the Hidden Wings Series) was also published with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly on January 18, 2013.
One day she hopes to find her own magic wardrobe, and ride away on her magical unicorn… Until then… she’ll keep writing!
Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads | Blog | Website
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Now hang onto yourselves, because there’s also a tour-wide giveaway going on! Prizes Include:
- One (1) Signed print copy of Hidden Wings
- One (1) Hidden Wings themed bracelet
- Two (2) eBook copies of Hidden Wings
- Five (5) Signed Hidden Wings Bookmarks
- One (1) Handmade Hidden Wings Bookmark
Giveaway is International.
To access the tour Raffelcopter, PLEASE GO HERE!
Come Selahway With Me... 
Thanks so much for having me on your blog and for being a part of the tour!!! I really enjoyed answering your questions!!! ❤