RHA Presents Phantom Lives - Collier by Elizabeth Loraine

Reviewers Helping Authors is proud to present Phantom Lives - Collier by Elizabeth Loraine Book Blog Tour hosted by Mystical Events.

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Blurb:


Abigail Black, an heiress from Memphis is on the run from her abusive boyfriend, Dallas. In the process she finds out that there is a force pulling her towards something, and someone, that she thought only existed in her dreams.
Another page turning adventure from Elizabeth Loraine. Phantom Lives intertwines the modern world with the post Civil War world of Collier, a plantation Abigail had dreamt about her entire life. Now she is about to find out why. Another fantasy world of spirits and immortals is built in a way which fans of Ms Loraine’s will again thoroughly enjoy. Find out who Abigail was in the past and how it changes everything.

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About the Author: Elizabeth Loraine

*Taken from Author's Website Royal Blood Chronicles*
I've always been creative, art, music, decorating; all life long passions.  I married my high school sweetheart a talented General Building Contractor and raised a son and a daughter who are very 
  creative in their own rights. I've worked in the business world, became a decorative painter and longed for 
  an outlet for my other artistic talents.

I have been a lifelong fiction fan, and  for  years I knew I was supposed to write a book; I just didn't know about what.  I did, however, envision characters that were strong , independent young women as heroines.

Since I was very young  I have been fascinated by vampires from Dracula to the present day. Although I love all the  books where the settings are high schools and the characters are young,  I always wanted to 
  know more. What had they done in the centuries before? Where had they been? What had they seen
  and lived? I wanted to fill in their time line, their history. From that curiosity, those questions, is where
  these books come from. These long lived vampires have hundreds of years of history and I plan to
  chronicle that. So, start here with Katrina, enjoy the vampire past and look forward to the vampire future.

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My interview with the author:


RHA: Where are you from? I grew up in a small town in Northern Minnesota.

RHA: Tell us your latest news? I just launched my second series, Phantom Lives – Collier. My first series is called Royal Blood Chronicles and it has five books so far.

RHA: When and why did you begin writing? I just started to write two years ago. I just couldn’t find anything in the YA vampire genre that was what I wanted to read any more. Everything seemed to be alike with modern teenagers. I wanted to know more about the past of the vampire characters and I wanted strong female lead characters that weren’t waiting to be saved by were the one doing the saving. That’s when I started Royal Blood Chronicles.

RHA: When did you first consider yourself a writer? After the success of that first book, after people read it and liked it.

RHA: What inspired you to write this book? I wanted to give my readers something new to read. Something different than they were used to reading, but still with the magic and intrigue.

RHA: Do you have a specific writing style? I am a panser. I don’t plan things out I just have a simple idea that I do research on and then I just start to write.

RHA: How did you come up with the title? For Phantom Lives I just wanted a title that would personify what it was about; past life experiences.

RHA: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? You can be strong even when bad things happen you can get through it. Trust your instincts.

RHA: How much of the book is realistic? The area in Natchez, Mississippi. Believe it or not there really is a Cemetery Road, the history is real and the relationships. The fantasy, the spirits, immortals etc. that is the fun and the magic.

RHA: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life? The idea is from my own experience. I had the same recurring dream when I was little, not about a plantation. My dream was frightening, but I believe it to be from a past life. It may turn up in another book in the series.

RHA: What books have most influenced your life most? Interview of a vampire by Anne Rice, the bible, and I love fairy tales so that’s probably where the fantasy comes from.

RHA: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor? Anne Rice

RHA: What book are you reading now? I don’t have much time to read since I am writing all the time, I just finished the Jungle by Clive Cussler.

RHA: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest? I like Alisha Paige, Bitten Twice and if you like erotic mixed in with your vampires C.J. Ellisson I really good.

RHA: What are your current projects? I am currently working on book six of Royal Blood Chronicles it will be ready later this fall. Then I will be doing another Phantom Lives novel.

RHA: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members. All the other YA and indie authors help each other, but Bertena Varney has helped me so much with everything. She has a great book out Lure of the Vampire any fan of the vampire Genre would love it.

RHA: Do you see writing as a career? It is my career, yes. I make a living doing it and I love it. I would have to say it’s my passion.

RHA: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? I don’t second guess myself. When I am writing It it’s exactly the way I want it to be.

RHA: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? From reading. I just though one day : I think I could write something as good as this, so I tried.

RHA: Can you share a little of your current work with us? Book six is very interesting right now, it will be another twist to the chronicles. I have to say I love surprising my readers.

RHA: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Not with the writing, but once its done. The marketing is a challenge it takes a lot of time away from writing.

RHA: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work? I love Anne Rice, being a visual person she creates this world for you that you can see as you are reading, that’s such a gift.

RHA: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)? I don’t. I am happy at home writing every day.

RHA: Who designed the covers? I design them myself with the help of my sister.

RHA: What was the hardest part of writing your book? I wouldn’t say it’s hard, but at times you have to make a decision about which way things are going to go and sometimes you need a break to figure that out.

RHA: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it? That no matter how many times you hear, you can’t to remember you can.

RHA: Do you have any advice for other writers? Don’t be afraid to ask for help, read and write what you love and write every day.

RHA: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? Thank you and I love you all.

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My Review of Phantom Lives - Collier by Elizabeth Loraine:


Phantom Lives - Collier
by
Elizabeth Loraine

Abbi thought she had found true love in the charming, caring Dallas because when she lost her parents in an accident, he was there to comfort her. It never occurred to her in her wildest dreams that the only thing Dallas loved was the huge fortune she was to inherit from her parent's estate. At least that is what she thought it was all about in the beginning.  Abbi soon found herself being abused and locked in her parent's bedroom. All she had in her life, was four walls and a reoccurring dream of a mysterious world with a beautiful mansion and maze.  Abbi knew she had to escape this hell and stop Dallas from stealing her parent's life work! And that night would be perfect because a thunderstorm could be heard brewing in the distance....

Take a walk with Abbi as she makes her escape from Dallas and while making that escape she stumbles across the mansion that was in her dreams, on a road called Cemetery Rd. in a small town. Little does she know, that the world as she knows it was about to change forever. Abbi was about to take a walk back in time and discover what her true destiny was. If you like suspense, the paranormal, immortals, magic and a love story all wrapped up in one, this is the book for you!

I love the imagination and creativity Elizabeth Loraine has shown in Phantom Lives - Collier. It was a change of pace from the typical books I have read and reviewed in the past in the sense that problems that occurred in the story were solved within that chapter. I found that to be refreshing because I could sit and actually enjoy the story and plot without feeling frustrated.

Once started, I could not put this book down! I found myself being transported into the story, being able to see and feel what the characters were going through.  I cannot wait to read more of what author Elizabeth Loraine has to offer.

I give Phantom Lives - Collier five stars. *****

Reviewed by
Nora Barteau
http://norachipleybarteau.blogspot.com/