Sunday, September 13, 2009

Guest Blogger: Viola Estrella

Viola's winner is: Cari Quinn! Congrats, Cari. Send me your contact info and I'll pass it along to Viola. Thanks to everyone for participating.

Can a person be both practical-minded and open-minded?

I’ve always thought I had a practical mind. When life’s happenings haven’t made sense to me, usually I could think it through rationally and come to a logical conclusion. I’m big about getting to the bottom of things . . . which isn’t very fun for people who want certain aspects of life to remain a mystery. Where I dissect and analyze, other people might wonder and, after time, disregard without further questioning.

You might then ask how or why I’ve decided to write about angels and demons in one book, and ghosts and psychic events in another. These paranormal elements can’t be proven with science (yet). The worlds I create are far from what most would consider realistic. BUT to get lost in the paranormal as a writer and as a reader is so thrilling.

Isn’t paranormal fiction a wonderful thing? To toss everything you’ve ever known about anything out the window and just trust that the story will entertain you is the ultimate adventure. A paranormal writer must believe in his/her characters, whether that character is an angel or a werewolf or a vampire. They put rational thought aside and create a world that only existed in their minds up until that moment when fingers hit keyboard. And the reader turns those pages and gulps every word down and trusts that the author will show them this new world.

We all want to believe, if only for that moment in time.

In my eBook, Angel Vindicated, I write about an organization called Angels, Inc. It consists of three departments: Demon Control, Guardian Angels, and Angels of Death. My heroine, Abby, is a Demon Control agent. It’s her duty to police the demons and send them packing back to hell if they get out of control. Although she’s an angel, she’s easily tempted by half demon/half human, Simeon Keller. When Angels, Inc. is threatened by malevolent demons, she must trust Simeon to help her find the bad guys.

I’ve always believed angels exist. Watching over us. Protecting us. Perhaps shaking their heads at us. And I thought it would be fun to bring them to life. I know I probably didn’t do them justice since the angels in Angel Vindicated are a little less than perfect, especially my heroine, Abby, who is as flawed as most humans, or more so. But I’m hoping my readers will have a sense of humor and fall in love with the characters, just like I did when I wrote the story. I’m hoping they’ll open their minds, pitch all practical thoughts aside and indulge in the world I created.

Have you ever read a story that made you believe in something completely improbable? As you turned the pages did you ask yourself what if? Could you imagine yourself as the heroine, kicking demon butt or possibly falling in love with a vampire, werewolf, or insert-imagination-here?

Let’s analyze this together. Share your thoughts with me and be entered to win a free PDF copy of Angel Vindicated.

Thanks for sharing your blog with me, Lynda!!

Viola
www.violaestrella.com
Bewitching You – Available 10/30/2009

Angel Vindicated – Buy now!
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-7216-angel-vindicated.aspxm

~5 out of 5 Cups from Coffee Time Romance –
http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/angelvindicated.html
“The world building is extraordinary and totally unlike anything I have read in this genre.”
~4.5 Hearts from The Romance Studio –
http://www.theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/angelvindicatedestrella.htm
“I loved Abby Angel.”
~4.5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies –
http://romancejunkiesreviews.com/artman/publish/paranormal/Angel_Vindicated.shtml
“Abby’s spunky attitude and Simeon’s sexiness were too fun for words and their sizzling chemistry had me fanning.”

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Viola's winner will be selected and posted here on Tuesday evening. Check back to see if you've won.

26 Comments:

Blogger Lynda Hilburn said...

Welcome to Paranormality, Viola! It's great to have you here. Your book sounds delicious.
Hugs, Lynda

4:15 PM  
Blogger Chelle Cordero said...

Escapist fantasy has always been a huge draw for me, to get lost in a book and not think aobut "reality" for a while.

4:58 PM  
Blogger Pamk said...

I think if I can't get lost in a book and believe then the book is not working for me. That is why I read to suspend belief and live another world for a while.

5:16 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Lynda,
Thanks so much for having me on your blog! As you already know, I'm a huge fan. Talk about getting lost in a book. :-)

Also, if anyone has any questions for me regarding Angel Vindicated, I'd be happy to answer.

Viola

5:34 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Chelle,
I know what you mean. It's a HUGE draw for me as well. Who needs reality when you can curl up with a good book instead? :-)

5:36 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Pam,
You're right. I've read a few books where I just couldn't get into it. But it's amazing when a good one is able to pull you away for a while.

5:39 PM  
Blogger Cari Quinn said...

As a writer and reader of paranormal fiction, I definitely think of myself as both practical- and open-minded. IMO, healthy skepticism doesn't diminish your enjoyment of "what if?" It actually enhances it, because you're questioning everything, which sometimes leads you down paths you least expect.

Fun blog, Viola! :) AV looks great!

5:41 PM  
Blogger Helen Hardt said...

Hi Lynda and Vi. AV is a great read! No need to enter me in the drawing. I got my copy on release day!

Helen

5:54 PM  
Blogger Donnell Ann Bell said...

Fantastic reviews, Viola! Well done!

6:22 PM  
Blogger Clare Austin said...

I love this "Paranormality" what a great title for a blog...for anything! Loved your blog, Viola. You're a smart woman! Angel Vindicated is on my list to read.

Can someone tell me how to add a picture to my signature...
Clare Austin

6:25 PM  
Blogger Vickie said...

Viola: I loved ANGELS VINDICATED when I read it this summer. I could easily be friends with Abby. She cracked me up and she kicked ass.
I primarily read mysteries of all kinds so long as they are well written, suspense, thrillers, cozies, paranormal, all kinds. I love the escape I get in the pages of a well written book. For the time I am reading, I believe in the world within the pages.

7:33 PM  
Blogger Karen Graffenberger said...

Hi, Vi and Linda. I love paranormal novels, and Angel Vindicated was a fun read. Vi, you don't have to enter me in the drawing since I already have your book. I sure hope you're going to expand AV into a series. Best of luck to you. -- Karen G./Karalee

7:36 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Cari!
I never thought of it that way but you're absolutely right. Brilliant!

9:19 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Helen!
Thanks so much!!

9:19 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Donnell!
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by!!

9:20 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Clare!
Aw, thanks so much!

You can upload a pic onto your Blogger account. Email me if you can't figure it out.

9:24 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Vickie!
I'm so glad you liked Abby! She was so much fun to write. Thanks for stopping by and thanks again for the review on your site! Much appreciated. :)

9:26 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Karen!
Are you kidding? You think Abby would let me stop where I left off? :-) Oh no. I'll definitely continue. Thanks (again) for your support!

9:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

11:47 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great post, Viola!

12:05 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Thank you, Bethany!

1:48 PM  
Blogger Asylumgirl said...

Karen Maraie Moning's Fever series is one of those stories that makes you wonder, especially with all those fae hiding in plain sight. Maybe it is possible.

Deidre

6:32 AM  
Blogger booklover0226 said...

Great post; I enjoyed reading it.

I look forward in reading your works.

Thanks,
Tracey

2:19 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Deidre,
Great example! Moning is a wonderful story-teller.

2:32 PM  
Blogger Viola Estrella said...

Hi Tracey,
Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. Nice to meet you!

2:33 PM  
Blogger Lynda Hilburn said...

Hey Helen, Karen G! and everyone. Thanks so much for commenting. Winner posted at the top of the post. Check back next Monday for another guest.
Lynda

4:58 PM  

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