I would like to welcome authors P.B. Azeltine and M.E. Drewry to the blog! They are letting us into their lives a little and introducing us to their new book, 'Monster Night.'
What are the top 5 songs on your playlist?
P.B.: The Star Spangled Banner by Madison Rising (if you are working out and need inspiration to get motivated, listen to this song), A Moment Like This by Kelly Clarkson (I love her), Just A Dream by Carrie Underwood (I cry every time I hear it!), Come Sail Away by Styx, Dream On by Aerosmith.
M.E: What have you done by Within Temptatio
My songs know what you did in the dark by Fall Out Boys
Bring me to life by Evanescence
Hurricane by 30 Seconds to Mars
Kick it in the Sticks by Brantley Gilbert
How much time do you spend reading each week?
P.B.: A lot and so much of it is nonfiction for research. I average 10 hours per week at least.
M.E.: On an average week I read about 3 hours. If it is during the summer I will read 3-4 hours a day.
What is the last thing you Googled?
P.B.: Forensics on how to package evidence. It’s for the middle-grade book I’m writing.
M.E.: The last thing I googled was a book for work.
Favorite places to travel?
P.B.: Hawaii. Although it’s been my dream to jump in an RV and travel our country. I’d love to see the sunsets in Austin, Texas, the fall leaves in the New England States, the Atlantic Ocean, the fields of the Midwest, Arizona and New Mexico’s amazing terrain. And believe me I’ll have my camera with me (and of course my laptop to write)! Aren’t we lucky to live in this country?
M.E.: Living in the Pacific Northwest, we are very lucky to have a variety of different places to travel to in a very short distance. Within three hours, I can go to two busy cities, the ocean, the mountains, the temperate rainforest and a desert. I love traveling all over the Pacific Northwest to the oceans, mountains and the forest. It’s great to get away for a while and relax with nature.
Apart from around my area, I have been to Europe and loved the trip. I went to Paris, London, Lucern in Switzerland, Rome, Florence, Venice and a few stops in between. I would definently go back if I had the chance.
What is your favorite way to spend a rainy day?
P.B.: Crafting, making scented candles, sprays, and soaps or any crafts to be honest.
M.E.: My favorite way to spend a rainy day is either watching tv/movies with my husband on the couch, reading a good book, playing video games, or doing some type of crafting (knitting, crocheting, sculpting, etc.)
Favorite TV Shows?
P.B.: This is a tough one. Probably Revenge, but I love Dallas too. I also watch every mystery on television, even the old classics. I really like the new Sherlock Holmes series on HBO. I have to buy the DVD’s because I can’t afford HBO!
M.E.: SUPERNATURAL!!! I love Jensen Ackles. Other shows I watch are Beauty and the Beast (on CW 11), Criminal Minds, Sweet Genius, The Tudors, Family Guy, and American Dad.
If you had a time machine, where would you go (past or future) and who would you like to visit?
P.B: I would like to meet Leonardo da Vinci. He was an artist, painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer. I’d love to tap his creative mind and talk to him for hours.
M.E.: That’s a tough question. The future would be fun to see how everything turns out for me and the world. But the past would be cool to see as well. I would probably want to see a fast forward version of the past starting with the dinosaurs and going through the 1980’s. I would like to see famous people such as President Abraham Lincoln, and Henry VIII. I have recently become more interested in history and am fascinated by how one event impacts the world.
What’s next on you TBR Pile?
P.B.: Book 8 in the Dresden Files series. It keeps staring at me on my desk!
M.E.: I have this ever growing stack of books that I plan on reading when I have free time (ha ha). The next books that I have to choose between are The Man in the Iron Mask, Halo: First Strike, and The Other Bolyn Girl.
Where is your favorite spot to read?
P.B.: In the living room on the sofa, when NO ONE is home, so it’s nice and quiet! It is rare when I’m alone.
M.E.: In my craft room I have a chaise lounge that is very comfortable. I love to sit in that and read. It is near the window so I can look out to my back yard or get a little sun.
If you were on Death Row what would your last meal be?
P.B.: Wow, I hope I’m never on Death Row, but if I were I guess my last meal would be this incredible steak meal I had at Birch & Barley in Pullman, Washington. If you ever get over that way, go to that restaurant. It’s pretty new and the steak and meal we had was amazing!
M.E.: I would probably get Salmon, potatoes, soda, apple pie and a large chocolate mousse.
M&M’s or Skittles?
P.B.: Definitely M&M’s. I can’t live without chocolate.
M.E.: Both.
Can we get a hint on what you are working on? What are your future plans?
P.B.: I just finished my second book in my Jesse Skylock Holmes middle-grade mysteries series and am sending in the process of sending it to the editor. I am writing the third book for the Monster series, Monster Luck. I have so much fun with David. I have plans for a YA historical series with female protagonists and I’m writing adult contemporary and historical romances and will put those under PK Burian. Some will be rewrites of previous published romances I recently received my reversions rights back on and others will be new stories. I also plan to never stop working hard to become a better writer, through studying, taking classes, practicing, reading, and always being open to learning from others.
M.E.: PB Azeltine and I are working on the next book in the Monster series (PB is doing 95% of the work because she is awesome). I’m working on some other young adult fantasy stories that PB helps edit for me.
Michelle,
I’d like to thank you for selecting us and our book to interview.We really appreciate you taking the time to ask us these questions. We had fun. We hope you enjoy the book. And if you’re a mom who is driving your kid(s) to football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, fast pitch, Girl’s Scouts, Boy’s Scouts, band, orchestra, or any of the number of activities they are in now, a Kindle is the way to go. I wish they had been around when I was Mom bus driver!
Warm Regards, PB Azeltine.
You are WELCOME!! Thanks for taking time to answer my questions today! And for visiting Mom With A Kindle!!!! :)
Michelle
Monster Night
by P.B. Azeltine, M.E. Drewry, Judy Bullard (Illustrations)
Young Adult Fantasy
Date Published: November 2012
When a drug surfaces in town that turns teens into the mythological creature of the chupacabra, David
Copperfield Finkleman is called in to help. Why? Because David possesses a rare gift. He is a true blue,
magic out of the fingertips, potions and spells, wizard. Well, that and because his grandfather is the
lead investigator on the case and the drug is circulating in David's own high school. David is thrust into a
world of danger and monsters he never knew existed, all the while living his normal daily life. He learns
that he will have to save the very bullies who torment him in school and the chemistry teacher who
wants nothing more than to flunk him. Adding to his problems, he deals with girl troubles, a boss who
doesn't appreciate his sarcasm, and saving an agent's life before it's too late...no pressure!
Excerpt
"That crazy creature they had in the book?" I asked. I'd never heard of anything like this before. “Wow!” I ran my hand through my hair and stared wide-eyed at my grandfather. “I don’t think I’m in Kansas anymore, Toto.”
"And this isn’t the Land of Oz,” Gramps said. “This is my world and now yours, where magic comes to life and threatens people and their lives. As wizards it’s our duty to protect the average person from bad magic. That’s why I need your help. I can’t do this in the condition I’m in.” He patted his heart. “My ticker’s left me weak, which weakens my powers. You’ve got to take my place, David. You’re the only who can. I don’t know anyone else who has the power you do and could take on someone like this.”
“Gramps, I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll help you. Keep reporting to me. Now, Tom had a lead on the man who brought the drug into the country. He'd come to the Northwest, because he thought the area would keep him hidden."
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE AUTHORS
P.B. Azeltine has been writing for many years. She is a Land Surveyor
Instrument woman by day and a writer at lunch time, traveling in the car time, any
spare moment time, days off time, and evenings. She loves writing young adult,
middle-grade, historical romance, and contemporary romance. She tries to put
humor in all her writing. She has learned that as she goes through life, humor can
make it much easier to get through. She lives in Olympia, Washington (U.S.A.) with
her husband, two daughters, son in-law, future son in-law, two dogs, one cat, and
one lovebird.
M.E. Drewry
M.E. Drewry is a teacher and writer. An avid fan and reader of fantasy, she
decided to co-write her own fantasy story for young adult. She lives in Rochester,
Washington (U.S.A.) with her husband, Jacob and her overly pampered black lab
Shadow.
P.B. Azeltine has been writing for many years. She is a Land Surveyor
