Earth Angel, Earth Angel, Will You Be Mine

I have a fantastic visitor with me today at the Dreamweaver’s Cottage, and she agreed to sit down and do an interview with me.  I am thrilled to introduce you to her.  You may be familiar with her name.  Please welcome Ruth Ellen Parlour.

*gentle, warm applause*

Thanks for joining me, Ruth.  Wow.  It’s been a long time.  The last time we spoke was back in the spring when I hosted my first annual week-long New Author Blog Takeover.  Sadly the spots filled up very fast but I told you if you stopped by in December, I’d see what I could do to help you promote your new book, “Earth Angel”.  Look at it folks.  Isn’t that a stunning cover?

I fell in love with it the moment I saw it.  I want to pick it up and squeeze it to my chest, that’s how much I love the cover.  It’s so earthy and magical and I’m dying to know what each of the symbols mean.

Why don’t you tell us a little about your book.  Where did the idea come from?

Earth Angel is a YA fantasy I’ve been working on for some time. The main theme is Fate Vs Free Will and the story follows two very different heroines who are both struggling against the path the Gods want their lives to take. The ideas developed over time, but the core idea of people summoning fantastical beasts I got from the final fantasy computer games when I was a teenager. I love to write about people and the things they have to go through and how they cope.

You got the idea from a video game?   That’s wonderful and it goes to show you that inspiration can come from anywhere.  I love the concept of the book, too.  Sounds like something I’d love to dig into.

How long have you been writing?

I’ve been writing since I could. When I was a kid I used to make Spot the Dog books and write about horses going on adventures. We had a little typewriter which I loved to use and I illustrated the stories too. I still have some of them!

You’re lucky.  So many of us have lost our drawings, writings, etc. from our youth.  I’m sure they are very special to you.

Tell us about your favorite scene from the book.

There’s a few scenes I love and one I can’t edit without crying (soft article that I am.) Without giving away spoilers; there’s a few tender moments where characters open up and share a secret they’ve been holding. I love these moments.

Who is your favorite character?  Least favorite?  Why?

There’s a character in the prison called Dogga who I love (and he seems pretty popular with the readers.) He’s good fun on the outside and despite his flaws he is a good man at heart. I’m not sure about a least favourite, there certainly isn’t one I don’t like although some of them are pretty dubious!

Is this a stand-alone or a series member?

Earth Angel will be the first in a series of stand-alones following the same characters. I’m currently working on a spin off following one of the minor characters.

What is your favorite genre to write?  Read?

I love fantasy but I’m open to venturing out. If a books tickles my fancy I’ll give it a go. I like being recommended books as it gives me the opportunity to read something great I probably wouldn’t have picked up otherwise. At the moment I only write fantasy (in novels) I’ve written a sci-fi short and a WWII short.

What author would you like to meet?

I’ve met Kate Mosse and Jeffery Deaver at signings. I’d love to meet fantasy author Karen Miller because I loved her God Speaker trilogy. I’d love to meet Holly Lisle as her courses have been a great help to me, and her Talyn is my favourite book ever. If Tolkien came back from the dead I’d love to know what he thinks of the LOTR films.

Hee hee.  So would I.  Something tells me though he’s appreciate them for works of art, not so much for sticking to a story line.

Which do you prefer:  paperbacks, hardbacks or e-books?

I’m not so keen on hardbacks because they are less portable and not as comfortable to hold. I love the convenience of ebooks but I just buy books where I can no matter the format as I’m sure all book lovers do. 

What are you currently reading?

I’m reading one of the Game of Thrones books and Treasure Island. I just recently finished Make Believe too.  I’m also reading a children’s history encyclopedia. I thought it would be good to expand my knowledge with a brief overview of history and if there’s any era I’m particularly interested in, I can do some more in depth research.

Are there certain genres of books you will never read?

I’m not interested in Erotica or Vampires/Werewolves (apart from I Am Legend) I’ll only read a Sci-fi if it’s been recommended or it’s by a writer I like. I don’t read pure romance either.

Name your three favorite book covers.

I have the illustrated version of Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. The book is huge and it’s really lovely to just hold and look at. Call me weird but I’m not the only person who does this! I really like graphic covers like The Night Circus (although I haven’t read it). There’s an indie author called Lindsay Buroker whose book covers are awesome.

I’ll have to take a look a these.  I love a great cover design.

Do you prefer dogs or cats?

I love both but I’m particularly fond of dogs. We used to have a cocker spaniel called Sonny. They’re just so fun and nice to have around. I love hearing heroic or cute dog stories over the internet.

Favorite food, ever?

Cake. Particularly of the chocolate variety. Or chips/fries.

Favorite television show?

There’s a few shows I love; Firefly, South Park, Big Bang Theory, New Girl, You’ve Been Framed, Total Wipeout. (Quite a variety there!)

Most anticipated film?

Either the Hunger Games or the Hobbit. Me and my friends are planning an outing when the Hobbit comes out.

Oh, I can’t wait for The Hobbit.  It will be interesting to see how Peter Jackson turns this small book into a trilogy.

Ruth Ellen, it was an absolute pleasure to speak with you again and I’m so glad you took a few extra minutes to talk to my readers.  I know I’m heading over to buy a copy of your book.  It looks fantastic.  As the internet realm is a pretty big one, where can we find you should we wish to talk again?

I love interacting with peoples and you can find me on these formats:

• Twitter:   
• Facebook:   
• My Blog:   
• Goodreads: 

Thank you for having me on your blog Jenny!

Oh, you are so very welcome.  Please come back any time.  You are always welcome at The Dreamweaver’s Cottage.  You can find Earth Angel on Amazon.com. and you can watch the book trailer here.