Welcome to the second day of the Back to School Blog Tour. Before we get to the featured author interviews, I wanted to repost the giveaways and the book discounts to give everyone plenty of time to take advantage of these great deals. Enter the giveaways daily. The free deals are available through the blog tour and will go until the end of the week. Pick them up now and enjoy filling up your reading list for Back to School.
Plus, I want to take a moment to acknowledge our heroes and heroines that were lost during Sept. 11, 2001. It’s a day that must be remembered in American History. All were Patriots whether they were on one of the fated planes or trapped in the Two Towers or Pentagon Building. May their memories be always honored today!

And now, our first author for the day. May I introduce you to Melody J. Bremen. She has written several novels for middle grade readers and a YA Fantasy novel. She lives in New Jersey with her family and her faithful computer named Oswald.
I was able to chat with Melody about her school memories, writing routines, and her successes at being an author.
1) Who was your favorite children’s author and how did they influence you?
Melody Bremen: One of my favorite middle grade authors until this day who still continues to influence my writing is Sharon Creech, the author of Walk Two Moons and Moo. She has a way of crafting sentences that are so pleasing to read and she makes it look deceptively easy. I’ve read many of her books more than once in the hope that some of her talent will rub off on my by osmosis. Reading her books in verse inspired me to feel that I can write a book in verse as well.
2) Do you have a writing routine? Share what works for you.
Melody Bremen: I work during the day, so I write at night and on the weekends. I always start my novels with an outline and I’ve found that the more detailed my outline, the smoother the writing process is. The amount I write each day varies widely, from 50 to 1500 words. I’ve learned not to think too much about the word count. The main thing is to keep moving forward.
3) What is writing to you in one sentence?
Melody Bremen: Writing is something that I need, and will always need, to do.
4) What projects are you working on right now?
Melody Bremen: Currently, I am working on a middle grade novel, in which two boys find themselves on a meandering, unplanned road trip.
5) What advice would you give young writers?
Melody Bremen: Read, read, read. For a writer, reading is doing research. Isn’t that the best research ever? Also, practice a lot. Don’t worry about writing well, just do it often. That’s the best way to gain experience, find your voice as a writer, and take your skills to the next level.
Melody Bremen’s featured book is Flying In A Cage. It is a story about a girl that has an inner song in her head. It manifests into songs and poetic dreams that a music teacher seeks to pull from her. A magical story about not your so average ten year old girl. Flying In A Cage can be purchased at Amazon.com.
***You can also enter to win your very own copy in a giveaway by the author.
GIVEAWAY FOR FLYING IN A CAGE!
For more information about Melody Bremen, please visit her website at:
http://melodyjbremen.com/
Our second featured author for today is Sherry Soule. She is the author of the YA Starlight Saga with its first book, Lost in Starlight, featured today. Sherry writes exciting tales of passionate romance, epic drama, and thrilling suspense with strong heroines and swoon-worthy heroes. She lives in Northern California with her family and two spoiled rescue cats.
I had the pleasure to chat with Sherry about children’s authors that influenced her, advice for young writers, and what she is working on now.
Who was your favorite children’s author and how did they influence you?
Sherry Soule: I’ve been obsessed by the written word since I held my first book in my hands at age seven. I seriously can’t imagine not being a writer…
And it was the late author, V.C. Andrews, who was my favorite author as a young adult. Her books inspired me to be a writer and from her I developed a love of gothic horror. I have reread her books many times, and although the ghostwriter who took over after her death is talented, the newer books never quite captured my attention as the original author’s work did.
What is writing to you in one sentence?
Sherry Soule: Perfecting the art of storytelling.
What projects are you working on right now?
Sherry Soule: I’m currently rewriting, and then republishing the books in the Charmed Chronicles, a young adult urban fantasy, with a Buffy-like heroine. It is the heart-pounding, genre-defying tale of Shiloh, the snarky, teenage witch. Her epic origin story is full of creepy stuff like rogue demon slayers, über-cool magical powers, swoony love triangles, page-turning action, supernatural monsters, and loads of heart-melting kisses.
This series is a humble slice of awesomeness packed with more plot twists than a demon’s intestines and more family drama than the Kardashians!
What advice would you give young writers?
Sherry Soule: Read a lot. Study your genre and the tropes. Find a mentor. And I have blog devoted to writers, “Fiction Writing Tools” that has tons of advice for writers at any stage in their career, author interviews, and insider publishing secrets.
Please visit my blog for writing/publishing tips: http://fictionwritingtools.blogspot.com/
What is your typical day as a writer?
Sherry Soule: I drink coffee, take a shower, and then put on clean pajamas. When I’m in the “writing zone” I can write for about 10 hours straight (only breaking to use the bathroom or grab a snack), unless I’m stuck on a scene. Then I’ll surf the web, read online poetry, and check emails until my creative juices start flowing again.
Sherry Soule’s book, Lost in Starlight, features a strong reporter, Sloane Masterson, keen to find the secret of hottie Hayden Lancaster. When she discovers his supernatural powers, she discovers the darkness he has been hiding. That’s when things get to be really fun. It is available on Amazon.com.
For more information on Sherry Soule, please visit her website/blog at: http://sherrysoule.blogspot.com/
Thank you for stopping by the Back to School Blog Tour Day 2. Please be sure to continue your tour by visiting the author’s websites and checking out their fabulous books!
Check back for more author interviews and their featured books tomorrow. And for more information about my new release, The Lost Secret of Time: Bk 4 in the Crystal Keeper Chronicles, please check out its listing on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
-Tiffany Turner