Julie Starr - "Magic to Memphis: What If Your Life IS Working From The Inside Out?"

Julie Starr

Hey there! It's been a long time since I last posted an author interview. But here we are once again! I shall start off with an interview with Julie Starr, who wrote the amazing book "Magic to Memphis: What If Your Life IS Working From The Inside Out?" Here are her answers:

1) What inspired you to write "Magic to Memphis"?

I’d say that all sorts of feelings, ideas, itches and urges sort of cumulated until I couldn’t do anything but sit and write it. For example, I wanted to remind us all of the magical way life seems when we are children. When Santa Claus, the tooth fairy and the Easter Bunny all co-exist in our reality. The way Christmas Eve feels, as if fairy dust has been sprinkled all over the world for one special night. Then I wanted to explore this idea of manifestation, of the possibility that life works from the inside out. Also, what would happen if an everyday Angel dressed as a biker came down and whispered universal truths to someone who really (really) needed them? As those questions collide, their intersection creates the writing.

2) How did you come up with the character names? Are their personalities based from your life?

Some characters named themselves, like Jessie; literally I asked her what she was called and she told me. She’s sort of a cowboy and so I think that really suits her. Other names I had to search long and hard for, on the internet, asking other writers, etc. The name Finch was suggested by an artist friend who didn’t know that it was my husband’s last name! Kabos’ name has a hidden meaning to it, and so you’ll have to do your own research to find out his secret!

3) Do you personally believe in everyday magic?

I don’t just believe in it; I know it; when you see the world this way the truth of everyday magic reveals itself.

4) Since when have you wanted to be an author and why?

That’s difficult because as I look back I don’t recall a time when I didn’t feel like a writer and so as soon as I knew authors exist I guess that’s what I was always going to be. My other books are in business though, so becoming a novelist still feels pretty special.

 

5)What are you working on now? What is your next project?

It’s almost a secret so I can’t say much; just that it’s about a young girl, Alex, who has been raised in a children’s home. Alex thinks she’s an orphan but she’s not; she is being kept safe. What Alex is being kept safe from is going to reveal her whole world as an illusion. It's very different from M2M and actually anything I’ve read, so I’m really keen to get back to that – like right now!

Don't forget to check out my review for "Magic to Memphis" here

FIVE: Out of the Ashes (Five, #3) by Holli Anderson

FIVE: Out of the Ashes by Holli Anderson
(Five, #3)
Published by: Curiosity Quills Press
Publication date: November 30th 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Synopsis:

Their last battle ended with death and despair, but they have no time to mourn. One of their own has been taken and the Quinae Praesidia set out to find and rescue her. In this third and last installment of the FIVE series, the FIVE discover new powers, make a desperate run through the Netherworld, land on an island paradise . . . and find that Brone, always a step ahead of them, is becoming more powerful than ever.

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Author Bio:

Holli Anderson has a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing--which has nothing to do with writing, except maybe by adding some pretty descriptive injury and vomit scenes to her books. She discovered her joy of writing during a very trying period in her life when escaping into make-believe saved her. She enjoys reading any book she gets her hands on, but has a particular love for anything fantasy.

Along with her husband, Steve, and their four sons, she lives in Grantsville, Utah--the same small town in which she grew up.

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I am Number Four (I am Number Four #1) by Pittacus Lore

Book Blurb (from Goodreads):
Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books--but we are real.

Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.

But they know.

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next. 


My Review 
This book was pure awesomeness. Why didn't I read it any sooner?!
I have no idea why I put off reading this book for so long, it is so good! At first I was skeptical, wondering if I would like this book, because I was unsure about the sci-fi aspect of this boo with all the aliens and their superpowers.
This book is about a war waging between the Loric and the Mogadorians. Some of the Loriens fled from their destroyed planet to Earth. These Loriens are in the process of developing Legacies (superpowers) and could only be killed in order of numbers. The first three have been killed and now the Fourth one is in the most danger. However, the small town of Paradise proves to be a big distraction to him.
I absolutely loved this book from the very first page. It was so captivating and exciting to read and the plot was awesome. There were new things to look forward to at every bend, corner and plot twist and new problems arise all the time. The world-building was also excellently done and not confusing at all.
The characters were also really different. However, I thought that Sarah was a bit too nice at first. She is really charismatic and friendly to everyone. She immediately talked to John Smith (Four) and is humourous. John was a great character and very exciting to read about. His adventures and narration are very intriguing and a bit funny as well.
Overall, I absolutely loved this book. It was action-packed and exciting to read from the very first page on. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars!