The Conduit By Stacey Rourke Review, Interview and GIVEAWAY!!!

"Okay, little side note here. If a psychopathic killer asks if you want to see a trick, say no. That’s the smart thing to do. I, on the other hand, responded, 'Bring it'."

The Conduit By Stacy Rourke


Blurb

All 18-year-old Celeste Garrett wants is to head off to college and make those fun, yet ill-advised, choices college kids are known for. And maybe to spend some time with the hot cameraman she just met. Instead, because of a pact her ancestors made in the 17th century with a mythical creature, she has to save the world.

While normal kids are slamming energy drinks and cramming for exams, Celeste will get her adrenaline rush fighting a fire breathing dragon. She wants to meet friends in the quad to exchange lecture notes, but first she must exchange blows with a shapeshifting demon on the rooftop. Life isn’t always fair for a superhero, but at least she doesn’t have to do it alone. With her brother and sister as sidekicks, they alternate between saving lives and getting on each others’ nerves. Together the trio encounters unspeakable odds, mystical forces and comes face-to-face with an image that will haunt them forever—their grandmother in a leopard print bikini.

Interview with Stacey Rourke

What inspired you to write Conduit?

The first inklings of the idea came from me wanting to write a story for my two daughters about a strong female character that didn’t need a knight in shining armor to save her. Around that same time I had a dream one night that is actually a scene right out of The Conduit—where Celeste is creeping forward in the dark theatre and a hand shoots up out of the orchestra pit. It was such a realistic dream in which I could actually feel the power Celeste held. Those two elements combined and I had no choice but to follow where the story was leading.

Why did you choose a bird and a lion?

The Gryphon came first. I wanted to utilize a mythology creature that doesn’t get as much attention and stumbled onto (not literally because that’d be scary) the gryphon. When I learned he really is known as the protector of the divine that got my creative juices flowing and I went from there. I loved the idea of dividing these creature into his basic parts; the lion, the eagle and the strength of being a warrior for divinity itself.

Did you do a lot of planning before writing the book or did it just flow out?

My first draft I just let it flow…and flow…and flow. It ended up being over 110,000 words. It was insane. Then through feedback through others and researching I learned the fine art of storyboard to help keep the story clean and tight. After that I thinned it down to about 64,000 words. That’s trimming a whole lot of fat! Since then I storyboard every novel. (Novella’s I still just let it flow and let the story take me where it will.

Tell me something that is not mentioned in your Author Bio

I can touch my tongue to my nose.

Do the characters come from people you know?

I take pieces from people I know and mesh them together to form my characters Frankenstein style. But I will admit Celeste gets her sarcasm from me.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I never did. Writing picked me. Not the other way around. It’s always been a part of who I am, but I never really considered doing it as a profession until after I’d completed my first book and felt I owed it to the characters to try to get it published.

What advise would you give to all writers?

Read!! Any and all genres because you never know where you will find inspiration to further your voice! To have the tools to write you must READ!

Was there a character that you enjoyed writing about more than the others?

I love Celeste’s sarcasm, writing Gram’s wackiness is always a hoot, but Rowan—arrogant SOB that he is—gives me the opportunity to say all the things we aren’t “supposed” to say through him. I must have some deep-seeded resent I don’t know about because I revel in that!

If you had only one sentence to grab someone’s attention to read Conduit, what would it be?

Celeste Garrett could kick Edward Cullen’s ass, but she’d make him laugh while she was doing it.

Do you have a bucketlist? If yes what are your top three?

I want to recreate the lantern scene from the movie Tangled. The whole scene. I even want to sing right into someone’s face while I do it. Preferably someone not in the know about what it is I’m doing. I could die happy right then. I also want to go to Hawaii and Australia (although I refuse to travel on Oceanic Flight 815.) Last thing on my bucketlist? I’d like to make the New York Times Best Sellers list someday before I kick it.

What is something that you really loved as a child?

Play-doh. That stuff is delicious.

Happiest childhood memory?

Winning the fourth grade talent show by dancing to the song “Hey Mickey” with my friend Summer.

Favorite food-spaghetti

Favorite color-blue

Favorite book genre-fantasy, mix that with humor and it’s euphoric bliss

Favorite Music genre-a little bit of absolutely everything!

Random fact

Near the Carribean sea there’s a species of oysters that know how to climb trees. How creepy is that?

Review

The Conduit caught me by surprise. I am used to reading paranormal romance and this was more of a comedy and adventure. I have never laughed so much reading a book!! The character's personalities are clear. If i were to read one dialogue and had to guess who it was , i could easily get it right. Each character was awesome in their own way. I would have to say that the grandma was my favorite person. I really enjoyed reading this book. Since i was using my kindle i was able to see how far i was in the book and i tried dragging it out. The last time i glanced i was at 50% and was relieved knowing i had a lot more to go but then all of a sudden i was done! i was devastated. I have no idea where the other 50% went. That's how i hooked i was. Something that i really loved was being able to watch the siblings unite. 

I would hate to spoil the book so i am not going to try to explain what i mean, BUT you will have the chance to read it by entering the Giveaway Below! The lovely Stacey Rourke has donated 3 ebooks. How awesome is that!? I decided to end it on Halloween so you will have a chance to get more than candy(if you still go trick or treating, hey you are never too old for candy!). Good luck everybody!!

You can buy the book here =D
Amazon

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