Free reading and a chance to meet Emerald Barnes

Today (Monday 10/8) I have the privelege of interviewing author Emerald Barnes as part of a book promotion for her novel, Piercing through the Darkness. The ebook's offered free through a World Literary Cafe promotion (click on the picture to see more), so be sure to go over to

http://bit.ly/3FreeEbooks

and join in the party after reading this interview.

Hi Emerald. Welcome to my blog. I know you write action, adventure, romance, mystery and more, all rolled into one. Did you deliberately choose to cross genres, and do you think crossing genres gives a writer more freedom?

I think it gives us more freedom.  I don’t like being confined to one specific genre for my entire writing career.  I like the idea that my writing will appeal to many different people!  It opens up a new audience for us!  I write Christian fiction.  Most of my novels are in the suspense genre but also thriller, romantic, etc.  I have a new novel coming next year that is something completely different!  It’s YA fantasy romance!  (Although, it might be published under a different name because of the genre jump, people will still know I wrote it.) 

What about your characters? Do you see their stories as journeys towards freedom?

Yes.  I do.  I think that’s what my character strive for, especially in Piercing Through the Darkness.  Kandi has found her freedom by repressing her memories, but once those memories resurface, she wants that freedom again.  Jonathan wants to be free of the pain that the accident has caused.  And Jimmy, he wants everyone to be free.  But that freedom comes at a price. 

You're offering a free novel today over at WLC. I am!  And I hope you guys will pick up a copy!  Which character would you say starts off with least freedom in this novel?

Jonathan Chandler has the least freedom in my novel when it starts.  He’s dealing with the pain of the accident, and it doesn’t seem like he’ll ever recuperate from it. 

Which character seems to have most freedom? Is their freedom real or just perceived?

Kandi.  It’s just perceived.  She doesn’t have real freedom at the beginning.  She’s only repressed the memory that will cause her such agony and confine her to a life of pain.

What is the goal of your main character, and how does this relate to the quest for or meaning of freedom?

The goal of my main character, Kandi, is to figure out why her Biology teacher hates her.  This relates to her figuring out what she has done, which inevitably will be her trying to break free of the agony of knowing the truth.

How do you relate to your characters? Are they based on real people?

I relate to them in a way that I sympathize with what they are going through.  I didn’t want a “bad guy” or “good guy” because they’re both perceived in a different way if you read the book.  No one is bad or good.  They’re just tortured souls.  And no, there is no real life basis on my characters.  They are purely fictional.

In what sense would you say that writing sets you free, and in what sense does it tie you down?

I’m free from the constant thoughts that buzz around my head that I’ve either dreamed, day-dreamed or simply just had the idea to write down.  But it confines me because I don’t want to stop writing.  I don’t think one will ever feel “free” if you’re a writer because you’re constantly writing, editing, marketing and repeating.  It’s like shampoo.  Rinse and repeat.  It’s constant, and if you’re doing your own thing, it’s easy not to stop

and focus on other things.  But it’s freeing because it’s the one thing that I absolutely love doing. 

Thank you Emerald, and I hope you go on doing what you love.

Here's some more information about Emerald Barnes and her novel, Piercing the Darkness. Don't forgot to head on over to World Literary Cafe and learn about today's promotion!
 
Bio: Emerald Barnes graduated with a B.A. in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing at Mississippi University for Women.  She resides in a small town in Mississippi and has the accent to prove it. 

She's the author of two books.  She mainly writes suspense/thrillers in the YA genre, but she dabbles in other genres and her books are enjoyed by all ages! 

She's constantly working on new novels and has more ideas than she knows what to do with.  She blogs at yaindie.com, emeraldbarnes.blogspot.com and ebarnes23.wordpress.com which takes up more of her time than she anticipates but loves it so very much!  She's also a volunteer at the World Literary Cafe which is so amazing!

She's an auntie to two beautiful nieces and two handsome nephews who take up the other half of her time, but she couldn't imagine spending her time in any other way! 

She's a Whovian, a little bit of a nerd, a reader, a writer, and a family-oriented person.  God is number one in her life, and she thanks Him continuously for His love and favor. 

Links:

Website

Blog

Inspiration Blog

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Google +

Amazon Author Page

Piercing Through the Darkness Amazon Link: Amazon

Book Blurb:

It’s on the edge of her memory like a word on the tip of her tongue, but Kandi can’t remember what it is to save her life.

Despite being a cop, Jimmy can’t protect Kandi from the one thing that haunts her. She’s in danger and doesn’t even know it. After it happened, her brain repressed her memories of the accident, and now, she’s taking a Biology class under a man who wants to see her dead. The memories have started coming back, and it feels like she’s miles away from him. How can he protect her when she doesn’t even know she needs protecting?

Can these characters pierce their way through the darkness?

I guess you'll have to read the book and find out. I certainly plan to.