After the Summerland by Patricia Proctor: Interview and Excerpt

 
INTERVIEW
Thank you so much for interviewing me and giving me the opportunity to talk about my first book, After the Summerland, the first book in the Witches of Spring Hill Series.
After the Summerland is a young adult, coming of age story with a paranormal twist. It introduces Chloe, Rowan, and Kaiden Alexander, who discover that they are the reincarnation of three powerful witches, have been unknowingly living on sacred land, and have newly manifesting abilities that they must keep hidden from everyone in town.  But when Cian, Xavier, and Brianna Silvan move to Spring Hill, Chloe, Rowan, and Kaiden recognize that something is different about the Silvans, and they immediately suspect that they too are witches. The Alexanders have to learn how to manage their strange new abilities while navigating their relationships with the Silvans, who have plenty of secrets of their own. They’ll all have to learn to trust each other and come together in order to stop a witch who intends to destroy them all.
And here’s a little about me:
How did you start your writing career?
After talking about it for several years, I actually sat down and did it as soon as I finished graduate school. I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up, so I didn’t start college until I was 30. I spent six long years writing research papers until I obtained my Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science. If I wasn’t going to write a book, then I’d at least want to be surrounded by them. But then right before my graduation, my husband said to me, “Why don’t you take some time to write what you want to write as soon as you finish school?” So that’s what I did. I sat down in front of my computer on January 1^st, 2012 and started the story After the Summerland, that is based off a dream I had six years earlier... and the rest, as they say, is history.
Where do you dream of traveling to and why?
There are many, many places I dream of seeing, but Ireland is near the top of the list because of my ancestry. The Irish are great storytellers and being that I’m part Irish, I believe there must be some of that Irish folklore/storytelling running through my own blood, coaxing me to be a writer. I would be honored to visit a place that I am connected to not only through family history, but also by spirit.
Does your significant other read your stuff?
No! Can you believe it? He doesn’t really read fiction books, but other than that I can’t blame him. I mean, he lived and breathed the characters and the story as I wrote it. It was almost as if we had six roommates, who all happened to be witches!

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
Yes, I have both a critique partner and beta readers. Handing over my manuscript for the first time was both scary and thrilling, but it was also one of the best things I did when I first started out.
What do you think makes a good story?
I think a good story connects to readers on an emotional level. It may make readers think differently, see the world differently, or simply touch them in a way that only words can.
Morning Person? Or Night Person? How do you know?
Both really, but I prefer to write at night and sleep in the morning/day. I’m much more creative at night, I’m generally the most thoughtful and introspective in the evening, and I’m more analytical during the day.

What one word best describes you?
Open
Do your friends think you are an introvert or an extravert? Why?
My closest friends know I’m an introvert with extravert tendencies, but most people think I’m an extravert when they meet me. I am quite outgoing and friendly, but I actually prefer to be myself or with one or two other people.
Entice us, what future projects are you considering?
I have two projects in the works right now. The first one is the fourth book in the Witches of Spring Hill series, Distracted by Fate. It continues the story of the Alexanders and Silvans, but it also adds details about the Sllvans that have never been expressed before. The second project is an adult fiction, dystopian-esque, psychological thriller, which will also be a part of a series. So whichever story pulls me the most will be the one that I write first.

Do you have a favorite quote, quip, or saying? What is it?
My favorite saying is “Everything happens for a reason.” I tend to live by that motto, and trust it even when things are at their most challenging.
Do you have a Website or Blog?
Yes, both my website and blog can be found at patriciaproctorbooks.com
After the SummerlandThe Witches of Spring Hill , Book 1Patricia ProctorGenre: YA Paranormal FictionISBN: 1484041291 ASIN: B00C6TP9Z4Number of pages: 252Word Count: 79,116
Amazon Book Description: Teen triplets are shocked to discover they are the reincarnation of three witches living on sacred land. The land magnifies their abilities, making them more powerful witches – and targets. They aren’t the only ones aware of the power the land gives . . .Chloe, Kaiden, and Rowan Alexander can’t wait to meet the new triplets that have just arrived in town. They are determined to find out if they are anything alike. The attraction is instant, though they soon discover they share more than just being fraternal triplets – in fact, Brianna, Cian, and Xavier Silvan are also witches with a secret of their own. They must overcome their distrust of each other and join together to fight a much stronger witch, who wants the sacred land for more than the power it gives. It’s a paranormal coming of age story where the teens discover the purpose of their existence, explore their new powers, new relationships, and overcome family secrets, all while becoming stronger witches. They must learn quickly so they can protect themselves and the people they love from the force of dark magic bearing down on them.Excerpt:
 Rowan sees the looks on the faces of her friends as she approaches, and laughs inside at their neediness. Everyone thinks she cares so much about what other people think, but actually she couldn’t care less. Her favorite part of her day is the morning when she gets to see how her ‘friends’ fawn all over her. Such a game, she thinks, as she decides who she will sit next to at lunch, who she will text after school, and who she will share her ‘secrets’ with. It’s not like she does it to be mean, she just likes to see how far she can go. She likes to push limits and unfortunately for her ‘friends,’ they are her pawns.Today she really did want to get to school early because she wants to be one of the first people to see the new kids who are starting today - two boys and a girl. Triplets just like her, Chloe, and Kaiden. It’s not everyday they meet others like them and she can’t help but wonder if they are as different from each other as she, Kaiden, and Chloe are.“Ro? What are you thinking about?” Kristen asks. Rowan hates when anyone other than her family calls her “Ro” so she snubs Kristen and turns to Jessica and asks, “Did the new kids get here yet?” Jessica, pleased with the attention, shakes her head and looks at her phone for the fifth time. “It’s only 7:15 though, so they’ve got 10 minutes before the first bell rings.”    Rowan looks out to the parking lot and watches a shiny, black SUV with tinted windows pull in. She rolls her eyes knowing that it’s Tyler White, who will no doubt start bugging her about going out on Friday night. She turns her head away so he doesn’t get the impression that she cares. Tyler is a senior and really shouldn’t be pursuing her as doggedly as he is. If her dad only knew how hard he was trying to get her to go out with him, he would arrest him for disorderly conduct or something.Kristen, trying to get back on Rowan’s good side says, “Rowan, Tyler is heading this way. Do you want me to deflect him for you? I really don’t mind – I mean, the guy is fine.”Rowan glares at Kristen and says in her sweetest voice, “Kristen, he is only looking for a piece of ass, so if you want to, um what was the word you used? Oh yes, deflect him – by all means go ahead.” Kristen, realizing once again that she has failed Rowan, walks away from the group without turning back.As Tyler approaches, Rowan notices a sleek white Mercedes pull up to the curb, completely out of place in this town. Before Tyler can say anything, Rowan turns her back on him and looks for both her brother and sister. Kaiden makes eye contact with Rowan immediately and breaks away from his group just a little bit. Chloe, in the middle of a conversation, stops abruptly, stands up and moves away from her friends to make eye contact with both Rowan and Kaiden. When the three occupants slide out of the car, the hairs on Rowan’s, Kaiden’s, and Chloe’s arms raise. Instinctively, they break completely away from their friends and come together. The energy is electric and all three Alexanders are shocked that other people don’t seem to notice it.The first person to get out of the car is a tall blonde girl with green eyes. She is wearing all black except for her jewelry, all expensive looking, in various shades of green. She takes in her surroundings and then makes eye contact with Kaiden. Kaiden can’t help but smile at the girl, who smiles sweetly back at him. The second person to step out of the vehicle is a tall boy with jet-black hair and eyes to match. He is wearing dark blue jeans and a tight black shirt that shows how much time he spends working out. He doesn’t bother taking in the surroundings and zeroes in on Rowan. She gasps and the usually perfect Rowan staggers a little under his scrutiny. For the first time in a long time, Rowan wonders how she looks to someone else. Finally, the third person steps out of the car. Looking slightly disheveled with brown hair and piercing blue eyes hidden behind glasses, wearing khaki shorts and a plaid shirt, he looks around and settles his gaze on Chloe. Chloe feels her heart pound harder in her chest and an unusual fluttering in her stomach that reminds her of the butterflies that flit around the flowers in the garden. It feels as though time has stood still until the door of the Mercedes slams shut, bringing everyone back to their senses.Although it seems like time stood still, in reality, only a few moments has passed. As everyone else gets back to whatever it was they were doing, it seems as if only the six of them have connected. Rowan is the first to acknowledge what happened, “Did anyone else feel that?” she whispers to her brother and sister. They both acknowledge her question with a nod. “What the hell is goin’ on?” Kaiden asks.Brianna, Xavier, and Cian Silvan know all about the Alexander triplets. They have spent the last three months learning the ins and outs of the town and more specifically, learning about Peter, Marcus, Liam, and the triplets. They were not, however, prepared for the intensity of the three’s gaze when they first laid eyes on them. How appropriate that they would be together, front and center, in front of the school upon their arrival on the first day of school. Most surprising is that they were standing together. Their Aunt Selene told them that the Alexander triplets never spend much time together, each being so very different from one another, especially at school where they stick with their own groups of friends, their own cliques. It’s not that they expected it to be easy to come between them, but they did not expect the trio to put up such a strong front on the first day. Brianna nudges Cian and says, “How come no one told me how cute Kaiden Alexander is in person?” Xavier throws an unexpected grin at his sister and replies “Probably for the same reason nobody told me that Rowan looked like that – Aunt Selene doesn’t want us to be distracted by how they look.” Cian doesn’t say anything because he already decided that he would be a voice of reason in all matters related to the Alexanders. He would not, absolutely would not, do anything to harm them, especially after seeing Chloe in person. He read the bio that his aunt made up about her this morning at breakfast and can now sense that Chloe is a gentle soul and he does not want to cause her any pain. No, he will protect her and all the Alexanders – even if it means going against his own family, especially his aunt and brother. He knows he can convince his sister to stop this madness, but his brother will need persuading.
 
 
About the Author: 
Patricia Proctor lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and cats. She has a Master's degree in Library and Information Science and has had a love of books and reading her whole life. Visit author website: www.patriciaproctorbooks.com  https://www.facebook.com/patriciaproctorbooks https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7034090.Patricia_A_Proctor
Tour wide giveaway:2- signed copies of After the Summerland
2- Full Sets of The Witches of Spring Hill series, which includes:
1 Signed copy of After the Summerland, Book 1
1 Signed copy of Breaking the Bond, Book 2
1 Signed copy of Crafted Truths, Book 3
4- $5 Gift Cards to Amazon
a Rafflecopter giveaway 
 

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