About Amy Mah

The author Amy Mah (Vampire) is a well known blogger, that writes and blogs as a cynical teenage vampire:

Being a vampire sounds like it should be a cool thing to be as a teenage girl, like sleeping during the day and enjoying a night life with friends, huh, no one had warned me that it also meant having to suffer Teenage Hormones for so long! I am stuck as a teenager the years may pass but I am the same age! And as to the rules, so many rules, and vampire uniforms! Guys have long fancy cloaks that they are always tripping over and as to the Girls uniform, it is a 18th C Nightdress!

The old male vampires expect a girl to walk about wearing just a see through nightdress with no underwear on!! as if that is ever going to happen!, they have seen far too many horror films! Life as a teenager is normally a living hell but even more so when you have fangs. The world is just out to get me, and not just by people trying to stake me because I have better teeth than they do!

To find out more about the author you can visit her at:

http://amymahvampire.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/#!/amymahvampire

http://www.fangsrule.com/

Review

I have loved vampires for as long as I can remember. I try to read any book I can that has even a glimpse of the “creatures of the night”. I do have to admit that Twilight was not to my liking…I know, I know, let the virtual tomatoes come my way. I just couldn’t grasp the story line and the whole concept of how they lived. Don’t get me wrong, a good vampire romance is ok but it was a little too campy for my taste.

I picked up Fangs Rule not really knowing what to expect, but I absolutely adored this book.  I have since given it to my 15 year old niece who also was unable to put it down.  This is a look at what a teenage vampire has to go through, from how to not show your fangs, to fashion tips…a real delight.  Add to this the absolutely gorgeous illustrations and I don’t think you will be disappointed.

About Fangs Rule

FANGS RULE a girls guide to being a vampire . . . . is a young Adult book for anyone between Puberty and Senility as it takes a close up look at life as a female teenage vampire in easy to follow A to Z advice for the reader, the book is also full of manga art which helps show the human world what life is like in a vampire world . . . . . . . . . .

Giving helpful advice such as how to explain to your Mom that as a teenage blood curdling denizen of the night you would like to paint your cave bedroom black without having a shouting match over why you don’t like the way she painted the stalagmites bright pink to go with the large stuffed pink bats hanging from the ceiling.

Everything is explained from how to polish your fangs to fashion tips and ways of climbing across a ceiling wearing a nightdress without showing your underwear.

Fangs Rule is a must for every teenage vampire and from these pages you will see why Amy says “Vampires Don’t Sparkle! . . . . They Bite!

About Naomi King

Drawing upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community west of the Mississippi, longtime Missourian Naomi King writes of simpler times and a faith-based lifestyle in her new Home at Cedar Creek series. Like her series heroine, Abby Lambright, Naomi considers it her personal mission to be a listener—to heal broken hearts and wounded souls—and to share her hearth and home. Faith and family, farming and frugality are hallmarks of her lifestyle: like Abby, she made her wedding dress and the one her mom wore, too! She’s a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and when she’s not writing, she loves to travel, try new recipes, crochet, and sew. Naomi now lives in Minnesota with her husband and their border collie, Ramona.

My Review

I have read many books over the years and have enjoyed (and not enjoyed) quite a few of them. I am new to the world of the Amish but their lifestyle has always fascinated me.  While reading this book I felt transported to their world, the author doing an excellent job of writing and setting a pace that makes for an easy and extremely enjoyable read.

This book is centered in Cedar Creek, Missouri amids an Amish community. Zanna is due to marry James but while hundreds of their friends and family are gathered for the wedding, Zanna is nowhere to be found.  Thankfully Zanna has someone she can rely on – her older sister Abby.  Abby is the one that everyone seems to turn to when they need advice or a shoulder to cry on.  But, she has loved James for most of her life and even though she would have been reluctant to rejoice in her sister’s wedding, she was more than willing to put her only feeling aside to celebrate her sister’s happiness.  But, she finds out why Zanna could not marry James and wonders if this is a sign of a future that is very different that the one she thought was going to happen.

Extremely well written and a pure joy to read, this book is highly recommended.  I can’t wait for the next installment to come out.

About Abby Finds Her Calling

Bad enough that Zanna abandoned James Graber and disgraced her family on her wedding day: older sister Abby Lambright is the one Zanna returns to, to reveal she’s pregnant. As speculation whirls around Cedar Creek, Zanna confesses and is shunned, yet refuses to reveal the identity of her child’s father. She spends her time at Abby’s little house making rag rugs, until finally—when Adah Ropp insists on knowing who disgraced Zanna, the Lambright family, as well as James and the Graber family–Zanna reveals that Adah’s own son, rebellious Jonny Ropp, is to blame. She can’t possibly marry Jonny because he’s left his family rather than be baptized into the Amish faith—not that he’ll ever settle down and marry anyone.

ABBY FINDS HER CALLING as she guides her sister through some tough times while convincing her family—and even the bishop—that because Zanna truly loves this baby, she should keep it rather than giving it up for adoption. Meanwhile, because Abby has always been in love with James (who is oblivious to the torch she carries) she tries to soothe his emotional wounds as he watches the young woman he was to marry swell with Jonny Ropp’s child.

When disaster strikes, however, and the Ropp home burns to the ground in December, the folks in Cedar Creek put forgiveness into action . . . and even Jonny is changed by the power of this love! This time Zanna shows up for her wedding, with baby Harley charming all who meet him—and their ceremony sets the stage for the second book of the Home at Cedar Creek series, due out in October, 2012.

About the Book

Late one night out on the Eastern Promenade Trail in Portland, Maine, the police discover an incoherent teenager sitting in a pool of blood, holding the body of his best friend and the murder weapon. The girl they both love has been missing for weeks.

The kid’s jealousy clearly drove him to murder. He says the missing girl is the love of his life. She also happens to be the girlfriend of the murder victim.

It’s an open and shut case, or so most of Portland thinks.

Dr. Lisa Boyers, forensic psychologist, receives a call from an old friend, a connection to her troubled past. Attorney Rudy Swaner wants her to interview the young killer Paul Ducharme, who is claiming he doesn’t remember the events leading up to the murder.

In her jailhouse interviews, Lisa helps Paul to recover his memories. But something about Paul’s disturbing love story shakes Lisa to the very core of her being. To understand Paul, she is forced to confront her own ugly violent secrets.

Media attention mounts. Reporters stream into Portland. All eyes turn to the psychologist who seems intent on exonerating the vicious teen killer. Soon Lisa finds herself the focus of an over-zealous reporter with a knack for digging up dirty secrets.

But the killer who has Lisa in the crosshairs already knows them all.

The Review

This book is something that is right up my alley.  I am not sure who to compare the authors writing style too – Dean Koontz maybe?  My time is limited and I don’t try to commit to too many books if I can help it.  I wasn’t sure I was going to have time to read this book but I picked it up and couldn’t put it down.  It was finished in one sitting (well almost, with laundry and dishes in between).  Truly a page turner.

Following Paul’s journey through this book was something I really enjoyed.  He was so well written and easy to relate to.  Just another case of a good kid getting involved with the wrong crowd? Maybe.That’s for Dr. Lisa to determine.  Adding fuel to the fire are Paul’s best friend Lee and Wendy, the girl he loves.  Each of them have their own issues that are discovered as the plot unfolds.  This trio is what kept me turning the pages to see if I could find out more about their dysfunctional relationship.

Sharing Lisa’s memories and thoughts outside of the main story just added to the overall enjoyment of the story.  I highly recommend it!

About the Author

Spencer Seidel’s love of reading and writing began as a child after he discovered Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. His first novel, Dead of Wynter, was published in 2011 and was well-received by critics and readers alike. When he’s not writing novels, Spencer enjoys playing loud rock guitar, something he’s been doing for over twenty-five years.

About Charlotte Hubbard

Drawing upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community west of the Mississippi, longtime Missourian Charlotte Hubbard writes of simpler times and a faith-based lifestyle in her new Seasons of the Heart series. Like her heroine, Miriam Lantz, Charlotte considers it her personal mission to feed people—to share hearth and home. Faith and family, farming and food preservation are hallmarks of her lifestyle, and the foundation of her earlier Angels of Mercy series. She’s a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and when she’s not writing, she loves to try new recipes, crochet, and sew. Charlotte now lives in Minnesota with her husband and their border collie.

My Review

I have always been fascinated with the Amish way of life, but don’t believe that I have read a book that was based around the Amish lifestyle before. I am glad that I haven’t, because I believe that they would pale in comparison to this wonderful novel.

This novel focuses on Rachel, someone who I hope to be more like. She carries out the values of the Amish community and exhibits a kind and caring personality. Being married to Micah has always been what she has wanted. High school sweethearts, it seemed like the ideal life. But, things start to get stirred up when a stranger comes to town – a stranger that causes Rachel to question many things in her life. Is she meant to live the life she is, or is her future going to be defined by things she never thought possible?

The writing and character development were superb, I will certainly be reading more by this author!

About Summer of Secrets

About Peyman Pejman

Peyman Pejman is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with respected newspapers, news agencies and radio stations such as The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Cox Newspapers, The Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Pejman has extensive experience in the Middle East and the Arab world. His tenure in the Middle East has corresponded with important timelines in the region: the Iranian revolution, the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Gulf Wars and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In addition to his journalistic career, he has been a media and communications professor and a media consultant/advisor/trainer.

The Review

by Momm Gill via Goodreads

Set in 2020, Charlie Shahin, journalist turned CIA agent, must report on unrest in the Middle East. As he begins to send in reports, it seems that his adopted country is ignoring him.

HUGE SPOILER ALERT:

With the help of various friends accumulated over his years reporting in the area and of his wife Sarah, herself a Saudi princess, Charlie races to protect the possible/probable targets, USA and Israel, from nuclear attack by Iran who is being aided by his sister Sade.

I enjoyed the book because I learned more detail about the Middle East and its cultures and because I enjoy apocalyptic-type novels filled with espionage and trickery.

The book I read was likely a pre-pub copy, because it still needs heavy editing–many typos and some malapropisms. I would have liked there to be more descriptive writing to further flesh out the characters. One can definitely see the hand of a journalist/author in the way the book reads.

Still, I liked it!

4 Stars

About Age of Intolerance

Age of Intolerance is both an espionage thriller tackling a serious and newsworthy current affairs topic and heart-warming saga of a relationship between estranged brother and sister, each having pledged allegiance to a political master bent on defeating the other.

Charles Shahin is a American journalist of Iranian descent whom the Central Intelligence Agency convinces to become a spy, skirting a long-held tradition that spy agencies not recruit reporters. Pretending to be a reporter for a US-based Internet newsgathering site, Shahin settles in sleepy Cyprus, long the center of spies and money launderers dealing with or keeping an eye on the Middle East.

While in Cyprus, Shahin gets wind of an Iranian plan to destabilize the Persian Gulf and purchase Chinese military secrets to build nuclear technology capable of hitting the United States and Israel. The plot was hatched by none other than his long-lost sister, now a ranking official in Iran.

Despite repeated warning, CIA bosses fail to mount a coherent strategy. What occupies Washington’s mind more is a spate of domestic acts of terrorism. Careful examination reveals the existence of a fanatic religious group inside the United States, bred and funded by none other than Washington’s best ally in the Arab world: Saudi Arabia. The Saudi goal: to “export” its internal “troubles” and force America to pick a fight with a common enemy: Iran.

Convinced an Iranian attack is imminent, Shahin and his wife — a Saudi princess — try to stop it, knowing US government bureaucracy is fractured and reaching a consensus might take too long.

Help comes from an unlikely ally, which, no doubt, has its own political ambitions, and its card to play.

About Peyman Pejman

Peyman Pejman is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with respected newspapers, news agencies and radio stations such as The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Cox Newspapers, The Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Pejman has extensive experience in the Middle East and the Arab world. His tenure in the Middle East has corresponded with important timelines in the region: the Iranian revolution, the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Gulf Wars and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In addition to his journalistic career, he has been a media and communications professor and a media consultant/advisor/trainer.

The Review

by Tom via Goodreads

Sade Zaviesaz was born in Tehran to a middle class family. She went to public school and won scholarships to college. She had only one goal and that was to change her country. She went to Dubai for further schooling and there she met Jamal Johnny Mohammed. His father had a lot of money and he went to school in Geneva. After 1 year at Sandhurst he returned to Dubai and his father opened a
PR firm for him. His sole client was the Emir of Dubai and that is who his father worked for.

Johnny met Sade in a mall and they hit it off very well. Sade met a man named Hajj Mohsen at Johnnys home. He was a high ranking member of the hawala who were money launderers. At this point they were just friends but soon he would need Sade and she would need someone to move money around.

After a few years in Dubai a fellow Sade went to school in Tehran, got into politics, and became president. The only problem was he wasn’t qualified and he knew it but he also knew Sade was so he called her to come work for him. Sade’s plan to help her country was now in full swing.

The next person in her plan was one Hashem Hashimoto His mother was Chinese and his father an Arab. Her brother was a Chinese General who she hadn’t seen for years. Sade arranged a vacation for them, she wanted to meet the General. He was in a position to get her all kinds of arms and plans for missiles.  She offered him 5,000,000.00 which he agreed to. They were smuggled into Iran for use against Israel and the US.

I thought that this book was worth reading to see how a girl from a country that has no womens rights was able to manipulate so many men.

4 Stars

About Age of Intolerance

Age of Intolerance is both an espionage thriller tackling a serious and newsworthy current affairs topic and heart-warming saga of a relationship between estranged brother and sister, each having pledged allegiance to a political master bent on defeating the other.

Charles Shahin is a American journalist of Iranian descent whom the Central Intelligence Agency convinces to become a spy, skirting a long-held tradition that spy agencies not recruit reporters. Pretending to be a reporter for a US-based Internet newsgathering site, Shahin settles in sleepy Cyprus, long the center of spies and money launderers dealing with or keeping an eye on the Middle East.

While in Cyprus, Shahin gets wind of an Iranian plan to destabilize the Persian Gulf and purchase Chinese military secrets to build nuclear technology capable of hitting the United States and Israel. The plot was hatched by none other than his long-lost sister, now a ranking official in Iran.

Despite repeated warning, CIA bosses fail to mount a coherent strategy. What occupies Washington’s mind more is a spate of domestic acts of terrorism. Careful examination reveals the existence of a fanatic religious group inside the United States, bred and funded by none other than Washington’s best ally in the Arab world: Saudi Arabia. The Saudi goal: to “export” its internal “troubles” and force America to pick a fight with a common enemy: Iran.

Convinced an Iranian attack is imminent, Shahin and his wife — a Saudi princess — try to stop it, knowing US government bureaucracy is fractured and reaching a consensus might take too long.

Help comes from an unlikely ally, which, no doubt, has its own political ambitions, and its card to play.

About Peyman Pejman

Peyman Pejman is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years of experience. He has worked with respected newspapers, news agencies and radio stations such as The Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Cox Newspapers, The Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters, Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Pejman has extensive experience in the Middle East and the Arab world. His tenure in the Middle East has corresponded with important timelines in the region: the Iranian revolution, the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Gulf Wars and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

In addition to his journalistic career, he has been a media and communications professor and a media consultant/advisor/trainer.

The Review

by Mischelle via Goodreads

The Age of Intolerance is a work of fiction, set in 2025, dealing with an acute problem in 2010: how to deal with overt and covert forces of religious fundamentalism and suicidal political ambitions of a handful of states. Sitting on top of snow-capped mountains of the independent Republic of Kurdistan, once a part of Iraq, Charles Shahin wondered how the Middle East had changed in the past few decades, and how much he had to do with it. Once a journalist, Shahin agrees to become an undercover agent for the Central Intelligence Agency. Soon after being deployed in Cyprus, Shahin becomes aware of a two-pronged covert Iranian plan: destabilize the Persian Gulf, and purchase Chinese technology to build submarine-based MIRV missile systems, capable of carrying nuclear warheads to attack the eastern coast of the United States. Shahin also learns that Iran plans to attack Israel. Shahin tries to warn his CIA bosses in Langley and the White House but his warnings fall on deaf ears. He and his wife, daughter of a ranking member of the Saudi royal family, decide that the US government bureaucracy and inter-agency rivalry make it impossible to stop an impending attack on the US and Israel. With the help of a friend from the Israeli intelligence service Mossad, Shahin and his wife stop the attacks, but the United States attacks the submarine from which the Iranian leaders attempted to rain missiles on America. Shahin and his wife flee the United States and take refuge in their villa in southern France.

3.5 Stars

About Age of Intolerance

Age of Intolerance is both an espionage thriller tackling a serious and newsworthy current affairs topic and heart-warming saga of a relationship between estranged brother and sister, each having pledged allegiance to a political master bent on defeating the other.

Charles Shahin is a American journalist of Iranian descent whom the Central Intelligence Agency convinces to become a spy, skirting a long-held tradition that spy agencies not recruit reporters. Pretending to be a reporter for a US-based Internet newsgathering site, Shahin settles in sleepy Cyprus, long the center of spies and money launderers dealing with or keeping an eye on the Middle East.

While in Cyprus, Shahin gets wind of an Iranian plan to destabilize the Persian Gulf and purchase Chinese military secrets to build nuclear technology capable of hitting the United States and Israel. The plot was hatched by none other than his long-lost sister, now a ranking official in Iran.

Despite repeated warning, CIA bosses fail to mount a coherent strategy. What occupies Washington’s mind more is a spate of domestic acts of terrorism. Careful examination reveals the existence of a fanatic religious group inside the United States, bred and funded by none other than Washington’s best ally in the Arab world: Saudi Arabia. The Saudi goal: to “export” its internal “troubles” and force America to pick a fight with a common enemy: Iran.

Convinced an Iranian attack is imminent, Shahin and his wife — a Saudi princess — try to stop it, knowing US government bureaucracy is fractured and reaching a consensus might take too long.

Help comes from an unlikely ally, which, no doubt, has its own political ambitions, and its card to play.

About the Book

Sterling is an ordinary New Hampshire town where nothing ever happens–until the day its complacency is shattered by an act of violence. Josie Cormier, the daughter of the judge sitting on the case, should be the state’s best witness, but she can’t remember what happened before her very own eyes–or can she? As the trial progresses, fault lines between the high school and the adult community begin to show–destroying the closest of friendships and families. Nineteen Minutes asks what it means to be different in our society, who has the right to judge someone else, and whether anyone is ever really who they seem to be.

My Review

I think we all have been mortified after hearing stories such as the Columbine shootings…I know being the mother of two school age children makes it hard to even think about. This book shows you the story from the eyes of the victim – the shooter. That’s right, I called the shooter the victim. After reading this book you will see what might have happened to some of the children who have acted out in such a violent way. Do I condone what Peter Houghton (the shooter) does in retaliation to the years of abuse and bullying that he was subjected to? Of course not. But it breaks my heart that on his first day of school some older student throw his lunchbox out the school bus window because it has Superman on it, telling him they wanted to see if it could fly and laughing. How terribly cruel, he was only 5! This type of cruelty to an innocent child continues and literally breaks Peter as the years go by.

I volunteer at my girls school and could totally relate to this book. I think it should be mandatory reading to all teachers and school personnel as I feel it truly sheds a light on what has happened and could happen again. Fabulous and highly recommended!

About the Book

In this emotionally charged and riveting novel from the author of One September Morning and In a Heartbeat, one woman is torn between loyalty to her family’s ways and to her most profound convictions. . .

The daughter of a career cop, Bernadette Sullivan grew up with blue uniforms hanging in the laundry room and cops laughing around the dinner table. Her brother joined New York’s finest, her sisters married cops, and Bernie is an assistant District Attorney. Collaring criminals, putting them away—it’s what they do. And though lately Bernie feels a growing desire for a family of her own, she’s never questioned her choices. Then a shooter targets a local coffee shop, and tragedy strikes the Sullivan family.

Anger follows grief—and Bernie realizes that her father’s idea of retribution is very different from her own. All her life, she’s inhabited a clear-cut world of right and wrong, of morality and corruption. As Bernie struggles to protect the people she loves, she must also decide what it means to see justice served. And in her darkest hour, she will find out just what it means to be her father’s daughter.

The Review

This book totally caught me by surprise! I had read the synopsis and thought I knew what I was going to be reading but the author has done such a wonderful job of incorporating so many different sides to portray a story that anyone can relate to.

This book follows the Sullivan family but focuses on Bernadette (Bernie) Sullivan. Growing up in a world surrounded by law enforcers (her dad was a cop and she felt like she was surrounded by the law her entire life) she decided to branch out and become a District Attorney. They believe in right and wrong and the lines certainly aren’t blurred. That is until tragedy strikes and they are forced to look at how they handle the aftermath and what they each think is the right way to solve the problem.

This is where I think the author shines. You really get a feel for how the different characters react and you start to question how you would handle yourself in the same way. This book will hit you in the heart and grab hold, I actually gasped aloud at one point because I was so shocked. Please do yourself a favor and immerse yourself into the world that Ms. Noonan has created. You will not be disappointed!

I was afraid to take on reviewing this book as I hadn’t read the rest of the series and knew that I would have to really buckle down to get 4 books read in the time I had.  I am happy to say it was a breeze!  This is one of the best series that I have read and I will try and get reviews posted for the other 3 books in the near future.  But for now, let me focus on “The Iron Knight”

This is truly the last book of the series.  While this may not always make me sad (i.e. Twilight which I read and regret wasting my time on – sorry for those who love it) this one breaks my heart.  I fell in love with each character and it is sad to see it all come to an end.

Even though he wasn’t supposed to be the star of the book, Puck was hands down my favorite character.  He is so vibrant and a little more light hearted than some of the other characters.  But, please don’t feel that the other characters don’t shine in their own right – they certainly do.

This book is Ash’s story.  He is the former prince of the Winter Court and promised Meghan he would find a way to join her in the Iron Kingdom.  This, unfortunately, is not the only promise he has made and both are starting to break down his strengths, and causes his darker Unseelie to slowly creep in and try and overtake him.  We learn more about what makes Ash Ash, and we also see some of the things that he has tried so hard to keep hidden.  He is not always an easier character to love but I am so thankful that the characters are written with so much depth, and deal with so much in these stories.  Not too much fluff here, that’s for sure.

This series (and book) are so well written, I can’t really say enough about any of them.  I think that Iron Knight may be my favorite but on any given day this answer could differ.  It could easily be my least favorite, but only because it brings an end  to a series I wish went on an on!

Head on over to Read In A Single Sitting and see what they have to say.

Thanks!

Excerpt:

“You will not use me as a weapon, nor will I work evil against those I consider allies or friends. This contract will involve no one else. Just me.”

“As you wish,” Grimalkin purred.

“Then you have a deal.” I felt a tingle in the air as the bargain was sealed, and clenched my fists. There was no backing out of it now, not that I had any intention to do so, but it seemed that I’d made more deals, accepted more contracts, in a single year then I had in my entire life as a prince of Winter.

I had the feeling I’d sacrifice more before the trip was over, but there was nothing for it now. I’d made my promise, and I would see it through.

“Then it is done.” Grimalkin nodded and leaped off the bucket, landing in a patch of weeds surrounded by mud. “Let us go. We waste time dallying here.”

Puck blinked. “What, just like that? You’re not going to tell the old chicken plucker you’re leaving?”

“She already knows,” Grimalkin said, picking his way across the yard.

Want to know more about Julie Kagawa? Read below:

Loved reading the story from Ash’s point of view. Was it difficult to switch from writing from Meghan’s perspective to Ash’s? Did you find yourself having to edit feelings writing as a female lead to a male lead?

I was much more cognizant of the fact that this was a male POV, not a female’s, as I was writing the book. Ash isn’t very touchy-feely and tends to be very pragmatic, looking at things with logic, not emotion. Someone mentioned that this was more of a “boy’s book,” and that Ash and Puck never sat down and had a heart-to-heart talk. But that wouldn’t fit with either of their characters; they’re more the type to punch each other in the shoulder and say “get over it.”

How much research do you do on legends of fairies before you write a book? Did you research Puck and the Big Bad Wolf before using them in the series?

The Big Bad Wolf needed no research; he was already a legend in his own right, and everyone knows the story of Little Red Riding Hood. I did watch A Midsummer Night’s Dream to get a feel for Puck, Oberon, and Titania. And some of the older folk tales I researched online, like the witch’s hut in the beginning of The Iron Knight. It comes from old Russian folklore, and props to you if you recognize it. =)

Which character gives you the hardest time? Which is the worst to write?

I wouldn’t say he was the worst to write, but Ash was definitely one of the hardest to write. He isn’t very chatty, and getting him to talk was a challenge sometimes. There was also another character in The Iron Knight that was hard to write about, just in the way he/she related to Ash, but I can’t say the name for fear of spoilers.

Does the Nevernever change as you write about it? Does it grow or is it already set in your mind?

Much like in the novel, it’s constantly changing and growing. The Nevernever is an entity in itself, and I don’t think anyone has truly seen it all. Which is a good thing, because it means there will always be something to explore, to discover, in future books.