Author Q and A with S.A. Larson and Review of Marked Beauty

Author Q and A

1. What inspired this book?
The simplest answer to this question is my love of reading and writing. I'm a curious person by nature, and have always had questions in my mind about life energy, where it goes after death, and how it might be harnessed during life or the afterlife. So science has always fascinated me. (I was a horrible science student, though.) Exploring this theme, which I do through the idea of Rifters, was a big attraction for me. And, of course, with my favorite story of all time being Pride and Prejudice I had to throw in some romance.💖
 
2. Some websites I have searched this book on have led me to believe that this is part of a series. Can readers hope that there will be more of Ana and Viktor?
Absolutely! My publisher has asked me to write a second book to dig deeper into The Realm and Ana and Viktor's story; it's tentatively titled Sinful Beauty, but don't hold me to that. Think a cross between the file LUCY and the subject of The Seven Deadly Sins.

3. Which character was your favorite to create?
I feel like I should say either Ana or Viktor because they are the main characters. Or even The Realm - the hidden world within the human world; it in itself is a character all its own. And, as much as I enjoyed developing these three, I really (really) enjoyed creating Justice. He's a secondary character along with his sister Mercedes, and together they have quite the backstory that didn't make it into the book. I wish I could have included a lot more about them as well as The Realm. (A few readers have told me they wanted to know more about it.) But word count matters in publishing, so I might just have to give Justice and Mercedes their own series. :) Brief hint: Justice (& Roxi) and Mercedes (& Donovan) both have full character and world backstories that readers might enjoy exploring.

4. Are there any deleted scenes that didn't make it into the book?
Yes. A few. Actually, more than a few. See, this book started out as a tomb. Remember that word count I just mentioned. Well, yeah. When I first started writing I didn't know that was even a thing. BUT . . . some of them will prove useful in book II and possibly a book III. Nothing wasted.

5. What is something unique or funny about you?
Unique - maybe that my main creative focus used to be dance, which had steered me to NYC during my junior/senior year in high school. But I never ended up pursuing that career because my mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and I chose to stay home to help out. Funny - my nose has been broken twice. Yup, two times. Not kidding. So any reader out there who's broken their nose, we are now connected. :)

About the book

Synopsis:

Uncovering hidden secrets can sometimes kill you . . . or worse, steal your soul.

Anastasia Tate has a secret. She can feel the emotions of others through their life energy auras. Not a welcome gift for a teenager. Especially when a sinister presence begins stalking her. 

Viktor Castle also has a secret. He’s tasked with protecting humanity yet cursed by an ancient evil to destroy it.

After Viktor saves Ana’s life, her abilities grow stronger. Drawn together, she senses Viktor has answers to lifelong questions. Only he shuns her at every turn, knowing he has saved her only to put her in more danger. As Ana struggles with her attraction to Viktor, he tries everything to bury his unexpected feelings for her. But they must find a middle ground. For only together can they combat the dark forces threatening both their lives . . . and their souls. 

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I received this book free for review from NetGalley

I loved the characters and the twists and turns. At first, I thought this was going to be another "teen girl gets sucked into a whole new world she never knew existed", while there is that element it is accomplished in a way that was totally unique and like nothing I have ever read before.

S.A Larson is an award-winning author and it is not hard to see why. I am really eager to read more of her books and I can't wait until the next books with these characters come out. 

Links

Visit S.A Larson's website here. Join her newsletter and get a cool gift. I received character profiles that I am going ot print and hang up in my book room. You get to choose!

Get your copy of Marked Beauty from Amazon.

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