Author Interview & Book Giveaway: Dreams Unleashed by Linda Hawley

Posted on July 30, 2011 Written by Leave a Comment

Welcome to Author Linda Hawley.

Bio:

At five years old…
I fell in love with words.

If I were going to clone myself as a writer, I would concoct a cloning recipe which would contain the following ingredients:

Lots of varied life experience, to give enough flavor
World travel experience, for color
Passion, for spice
A few crazy relationships, to create perspective
One or two quirks, to add a little crunch
Deep love, to introduce spirit
Curiosity, to add a little danger
A touch of paranoia, to interject alternate realities
Lots of knowledge about current events, for texture
Pride and humility, to bring human characteristics
A touch of insanity, for interest

These characteristics have made their way into the pages that you read. My head is filled with stories, and The Prophecies trilogy is only the first that’s on paper. Writing it has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Many of the subplots and undertones of the trilogy came from my own life experiences.

I could tell you all about my higher education, my freelance writing experience, and a bunch of other professional qualifications, but do you (the reader) really care about that? My guess is that you care more that I write compelling novels that take you into a new world, if only for a while.

Thank you for reading my stories.

My website is:  http://lindahawley.com/
You can read a free sample of Dreams Unleashed at Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051VDGJK

Interview:

What is one book everyone should read?
The Passage, by Justin Cronin; I think he’s the best dystopian author of our time.  His skill in storytelling, plot/subplot development, and imagination is genius.

If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?
Emily Dickinson—I’d like to have lunch with her in her house, and suggest we co-author a book together.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?

You’ll find out in Chapter 6 of Dreams Unleashed.  : )
Night owl, or early bird?

Night owl.  I wrote some of the most intense scenes of the novel late at night.  Some of my best writing occurred between 10:00 PM – 2:00 AM. 
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.

The main plot of Dreams Unleashed is certainly dystopian, but I’ve also given you multidimensional characters, some good humor, a heartfelt love story, and international adventure; if you’ve never read a dystopian novel before, Dreams Unleashed might be the first one to try.
Any other books in the works? Goals for future projects?

Besides The Prophecy trilogy (Dreams Unleashed is book one), I am also co-writing a biological thriller with another author.  All three books of The Prophecies trilogy will be published this year.  The biological thriller will be published later this year or early 2012.  In early 2012 I also have ten volumes of poetry that will be published.  Also coming in 2012 is a brand new dystopian trilogy; all three of those books will be published in 2012. 
Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

I wrote Dreams Unleashed for an adult audience, but I wrote it without any profanity or premarital sex.  I did this because I wanted all young people to feel comfortable reading it.  The teen response to Dreams Unleashed has been very good, and I am thrilled.  I blogged about one teen reader who approached me here.
What is your dream cast for your book?

I would love to see Julianne Moore as Ann in The Prophecies trilogy.  She often came to mind as I wrote it.
What’s one piece of advice you would give aspiring authors?

Don’t stop!  Don’t loose your humility—you’ll need that so you can keep learning.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Paris—I’m in love with the city, and French people.  I’ve been there several times.  In book two of the trilogy, there is an event that happens in France.
When you were little, what did you want to be when you “grew up”?

I started writing poetry when I was five years old; I loved playing with words, and telling stories through poetry.  I’ve been a storyteller all my life (written and verbal).  I knew when I was little that I wanted to be a writer, but it took me years to finally dive into the deep end.
How do you react to a bad review?

I haven’t had one yet, but I’m sure I will.  My feeling is that everyone has his or her own opinion.  I cannot imagine anyone wanting to give Dreams Unleashed less than 3 stars (on a 5-star rating system), but that’s just my opinion!  : /
If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

I have a confession to make.  Nicholas Sparks was the first author who inspired me to read every one of his books, and I have.  He knows the heart, and I love that about his stories.  I bought the hardbound version of each book, but none are signed.  Any of his books would do for a signature, but I would be selfish and ask that it be inscribed to me!

What do you do in your free time?

Besides writing and reading, here’s a little bit about me.  I am a wife and mother, and we are a traveling family.  I am married to my soul mate, and with him, we have an extraordinary amount of fun together.  I’ve kayaked from one island to another in the Caribbean.  I’ve backpacked the Appalachian Trail in West Virginia with the Sierra Club.  I’ve jumped out of a plane and had my parachute lines tangle, forcing me solve the emergency rather quickly.  I’ve attended a Christmas party at the White House and have been on Air Force One.  I’ve been to Europe many times.  Of course, I’ve sailed the San Juan Islands, which are featured in Dreams Unleashed. 

What is your guilty pleasure?

You’ll find out in chapter two of Dreams Unleashed.

Dreams Unleashed Book Summary:

It’s the future year of 2015, where technology governs life.  No one on the globe is free from being tracked through government RFID.  The worldwide underground organization, GOG, is the one group equipped to fight against citizens’ loss of privacy.  Ann Torgeson is a technical writer working for a tidal energy company—living a seemingly normal life in the Pacific Northwest—when her vivid dreams turn real.  Is her training as a paranormal CIA agent when she was nineteen years old now altering the doorway between her subconscious and reality?  When Ann starts to dig into her past, her present begins to unravel, leading the reader through events that twist and turn everything upside down.  Question everything you know is essential in this dystopian trilogy.


Giveaway Details:
1 paperback copy open to US & Canada
1 ebook copy open Internationally
Ends 8/26/11

Bonus Giveaway:
If you follow Linda on Twitter (http://twitter.com/LindaHawley), then tweet:  ”I Am A Reader” Blog Contest, she will enter your name for one eBook drawing.

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