“Tied” author talks up quidditch and ice cream

Laney McMann has written this really cool book called Tied. Naturally I had to interview her because the book ROCKS!!!!

First, check out the cover and the blurb. Yeah, I know. I’ve posted it before, but it’s just so pretty and intense.

Normal people don’t believe their nightmares stalk them. They don’t fall in love with boys who don’t exist, either.

Seventeen-year-old Layla Labelle, though, is far from normal. Her delusions walk the earth. Her hallucinations hunt her, and her skin heats to a burn every time her anger flares.

Or is that all in her head?

Layla doesn’t know what to believe any more because if none of that’s true, Max MacLarnon must be an illusion, and her heart must still be broken.

No matter how much she wants to believe Max is real, doing so would mean everything else is, too. How, then, is that possible?

The answers lie in an age-old legend the supernatural aren’t prepared to reveal, and with a curse that could tear Layla and Max apart forever—if it doesn’t kill them both first.

In TIED, book one in the Fire Born trilogy, learning the truth will mean fighting an arsenal of demons, and being with Max will put Layla on a path toward her own destruction.

Just how far will Layla go to protect the one she loves?

The answer may never be far enough … away.

***

OOOOO, so intriguing, right? Of course I had to find out more about the author behind this incredible story. Here is the result of that chit chat:

What was your drive behind “Tied”? Where did the story originate?

Laney: Irish mythology has always intrigued me, so I think the story has always been there, it just took a while for me to finally suck up the courage and write it. Once the process started, the story simply refused to shut up. I was being dragged along behind it rather than trying to pull it forward.

I completely understand. Who was your favorite character to write and why?

Laney: Max. Because as strong and protective as he is, he has an underlying vulnerability and gentleness that I love.

I love characters like that. If you could be one of the characters from your novel, who would it be and why?

Laney: That’s kind of a tough question, really. A lot of me is in Layla already, but there are twists and turns throughout the Fire Born series that make the answer to your question known. 😉 I’d be giving too much of the story away to say more. 😉

As a fantasy author, I often think of what sort of creatures I’d like to have around me if they were real. I’d love to befriend the unicorns and the pegasus. If you could befriend a mythological creature, what would it be?

Laney: One of the Fae.

As an author, you must get your inspiration for writing from different places. Do you have a favorite book or website on writing? Would you please share.

Laney: I love Kristen Lamb. She’s funny, real, straight forward, and very inspiring.

I like Kristen Lamb, too. I’ve learned a lot from her and she makes it all so fun. Ok, so we’re going to shift the questions a bit. Tell me. If Narnia had a “backdoor”, where would it lead?

Laney: Ah … I love the winter landscape of Narnia. I’d have to say that if a backdoor did exist, it would open back onto England. I like the full circle idea that makes us wonder if it was ever real at all.

You’ve just been selected to be on the quidditch team. What position do you play?

Laney: Oh, good question for the complete HP geek. 😉 I’d play … seeker, I think. I’d like the challenge.

At the end of the game, do you go out for chocolate or vanilla ice cream? with or without sprinkles?

Laney: Neither. I don’t do much ice cream. Love sorbet though. Raspberry with sugared walnuts on top. Yum.

And when you get home and take a shower after a celebratory quidditch match, what are your favorite PJs you slip into?

Laney: I’m a comfy girl. Boxers and T-shirts for me. 😉

And last but not least…who is your favorite Hollywood crush?

Laney: Easy. Leonardo DiCaprio. Man … there are no words. I’ve had a thing for him since way back. Romeo and Juliette, way back. Beautiful and incredibly talented.

***

There you have it folks, just one of the many sides of the incredible Laney McMann. Dont’ forget to pick up a copy of “Tied”. You won’t regret it. Want to read an excerpt?

EXCERPT:

My window opened easily. The same way it had so many times before. Climbing out on the ledge, I found the ground empty and dropped from the second floor—a jump I’d made a hundred times. In another life.

My feet sunk into the sand, and I followed the well-worn pathway through the dunes. Even the strong evening winds hadn’t misshaped the deep gully. The ocean’s breeze lashed at my hair as the moonlight glinted off the water’s surface. Seagulls flew up from their nesting grounds. They should have recognized me, since I’d been wandering at night for so long. Wrapping my arms around my knees to block the slight chill, I settled in the sand, and the birds quieted in a tight huddle, the wind blowing their feathers in awkward angles.

My gaze fell on a figure standing beyond the dunes edge, a shadow hidden within the darkness. My pulse quickened, but I didn’t move. Another trick—an illusion. Weary of the games my mind continued to play, I bit back tears and the catch in my throat. I should have been immune to them—the hallucinations—the way they haunted me and followed me, but I wasn’t.

Forcing myself to blink, I turned my head away. The visions had grown worse as I’d become older. I’d tried to convince myself they were nightmares—or weird dreams. Hoped for years they were, but only people who sleep dream.

Unable, or unwilling to stop myself, I glanced back over my shoulder, thoughts flooding my brain. Memories I knew couldn’t be memories but I cherished all the same. For years I’d tried to shake them away. To make myself forget.

I couldn’t.

#**#**#

A stone raps against my bedroom window. I creep over and peer through the blinds.

“You’re late.” I lean out over the sill, grinning at the boy staring up at me.

“Come on, let’s go before she comes,” he says.

I climb onto the window ledge. “Be nice. She’s my friend.”

“Okay. Jump.” He waves at me to go faster.

“Move, and I will.”

He takes one casual step to the side.

The jump isn’t too high; I make it all the time.

He grabs my hand when I land beside him in the soft sand. “Ready?”

I nod.

“One, two …”

“I’m going to tell!” Benny runs across my yard toward me, her blonde pigtails flapping in the wind. “You’re not allowed to talk to that boy, Layla! Your mom said!”

Max tightens his grip on my hand.

“Shut up, Benny! I’m old enough.”

“You’re only nine. Don’t go! ”

“Three!” Max and I leave the ground.

“You’re going to get in so much trouble.” Benny’s yell rings in the distance.

Our feet touch down in the wet grass of the Otherworld, icy sea air whipping at my face.

“Hopefully, she won’t follow us again.” Max lets go of my hand.

“She won’t. I told her not to.” I lead the way down the cliff face to the ocean.

“She never listens to you.”

***

With a passion for the supernatural and all things magical, Laney developed a voracious appetite for reading fantasy at a young age. A vivid imagination helped set the stage for creating her own worlds and placed her onto the writing path.

By the time she reached her teens, she’d accumulated notebooks full of poems, which led to short stories and finally novels. Young adult dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and mythology are among her favorite genres.

A former classical dancer and chef, she grew up in sultry Florida where she still resides with her family.

You can find my occasional ramblings on Twitter.

Book updates on my author page at goodreads.

My Facebook Profile for inspiration and randomness.

Updates on The Fire Born Novels at my Facebook Author Page

My interests on Pinterest.

And I’m now on Tumblr ,too.