BooksChatter: ℚ♫ Flicker: Defying Death [1]

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Courtney Houston to talk about Flicker (31 August 2014, Courtney Houston, 322 pages), a Paranormal Romance, book one of the Defying Death series, as well as the second title in the series, Shatter, and her future projects.

Author Q&A | Synopsis | Teaser | The Series | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

Hello Courtney, welcome to BooksChatter!

We love music, so Courtney Houston has shared with us her music playlist for Flicker - enjoy!

What was the inspiration for Flicker?

"The Defying Death Series just sort of came to be. It was the weirdest thing, it literally just popped into my head, so I wrote it down."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"There is a little bit of my own quirks in most of the characters. Telor’s love for cereal, Lina’s job (used to be my dream job), Lina’s childhood home and her tree. They’re all things that I also love and/or places I’ve been and loved."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Flicker - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"This cover was one of the best things to happen to me. I was looking for stock photo’s to use for my cover on Pinterest and found a photo by the same photographer (Amelia Fletcher). When I clicked on it, it took me to Flickr (I saw it as fate) and then I saw the photo I ended up buying and fell in love with it. I contacted the photographer and bought the rights to photo.

With Shatter, I contacted the same photographer and she really didn’t have anything that fit with the concept I was looking for. The designer of my cover itself, created the cover for Shatter. She read that book and took the feel I was looking for and made the amazing cover to reflect that."

Why should we read Flicker and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"I am a huge reader of paranormal, I love it all. Defying Death is paranormal romance that is heavy on the romance. What makes it unique is that it’s not about vampires, werewolves, faeries (though I’m a huge fan of all those.) It’s about Soulmates, life, death and fate. It’s really about the push and the pull of what is destined for you and what you chose for yourself."

Can you tell us something quirky about Flicker, its story and characters?

"Telor is Welsh, the origin of the name Telor is Welsh and means Singer. In book one, Lina calls him her singer. He was the only character who didn’t really want to tell me his name. So I did some research and decided on Telor. It’s always been an inside joke with me."

Who would you recommend Flicker to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I would recommend this book to anyone who loves paranormal and love stories. Both books are labelled as NA, but there is no explicit sex in them. A lot of readers have been disappointed in that fact. While they do have sex, making it explicit didn’t feel right for them and their story. There was one scene where I tried it (in Shatter) but I took it out because it just wasn’t them. So if you’re looking for that kind of book, this isn’t for you. But let me know where you find it at, I wouldn’t mind some sexy supernatural on my bookshelf."

If you could / wished to turn Flicker and the Defying Death series into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"Director: Christopher Nolan
Actors: Telor- Kit Harington
Lina- Emilia Clarke
Gavin- Diego Klattenhoff
Jilsey- Dianna Agron
Location: Lexington, KY"

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I am working on a coming of age story and it terrifies me. It’s not a romance and I think it deals with some issues that a lot people experience, but no one ever really talks about because it’s not glamorous or sexy. I write paranormal because that used to be all I read. I get enough real life during that day, I wanted to read something to take me away. I read a little of everything now, because I’m older than I used to be and different things appeal to me."

What is your writing process?

"Plot, write, delete, cry, drink, repeat. I tend to get all my ‘word vomit’ out in my first draft. It’s a complete and utter mess, then I weed through what makes sense and what doesn’t."

What is in store next?

"I’m working on Conjure, book 2.5 and a coming of age novel titled Paper Dolls.

2016 will also bring Linger, book 3 of the Defying Death Series. Linger is the final book.

After that, I have a YA fantasy series I’m working on that is about Kelpies and Witches."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"This is Louis. I got him from my godparent’s when I was 2. We were living in Cuba during Desert Storm and my dad was deployed. He kept me company.

Since I got him, he has had some accidents; getting attacked by my old dog Dylan (my mom sewed his arm and nose back on), to getting attacked by an open marker (mom couldn’t get that out).

I’ve had him for 24 years and he still keeps me company when I’m sick or sad."