Sunday, March 16, 2014

"Arcanum" by M. C. Moulton

INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY
Arcanum
by M. C. Moulton



 Arcanum is the first in M. C. Moulton's YA series. Also available: Arcanum II.


Arcanum is currently on tour with GMTA Publishing. The tour stops here today for my interview with the author and a giveaway. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.


Description
Between fighting a race of magic-wielding winged monsters, scaling Krakens, blinding Cyclops, running from Sirens, and being abducted by pirates it’s all Arc Arcanum can do to keep his head on straight; literally. 
After losing the only home he’s ever known, and with nowhere else to turn, Arc enlists with the Human Liberation Front to fight against a ruthless species known as the Winged Ones and prevent them from unleashing a world-wide human holocaust. He’s tasked (completely by accident) with escorting humanity’s last hope, a red-eyed android named Celeste, across the sea to one of the few remaining human safe havens. To make matters worse he’s accompanied by two fellow cadets: the feisty vixen Rose and the polyamorous playboy Prince, both of whom seem entirely set on making sure nothing goes as planned. 
It’s a magical journey that proves blood isn’t the only bond that makes a family.

Review
Arcanum is an awesome book that breaks the fourth wall like no other! I found this book to be rather refreshing and quite entertaining. As far as the construction of the book goes it has a very nice glossy finish. Very easy to read text as well. Now onto the story. The first thing that caught my attention were the characters. The humorous chat amongst them is one of the highlights in the book for me. There is always something witty just around the corner. The plot is fast moving and does not bore. The winged ones are also interesting. I can't wait to learn more about them. If you need a good book to brighten your mood this one is a good choice. The only downside is the second one isn't out yet!

Interview With the Author
Hi Cody, thanks for joining me today to discuss your book, Arcanum.
Glad to be here!
For what age group do you recommend your book?
Well I generally consider it a YA novel, so whatever age group that actually consists of now. Teens?
Sure. What sparked the idea for this book?
I’m not sure what exactly sparked the initial idea as it was brewing for a long time in my head. I can say that many of the ideas for Arcanum are based on things I loved growing up like video games, anime/cartoons, comic books, etc.
So, which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?
Hmm, well to me those two are kind of the same thing. If you mean which came first, the characters or the plot, then it was most likely characters. However, they were only the slightest ideas of characters until they actually became entwined in the story itself.
What was the hardest part to write in this book?
I don’t really think any part was necessarily any harder than the rest. If I had to choose I guess I would say the beginning, because at that point you have the job of introducing absolutely everything to a reader that literally knows nothing of your world. Once that’s done though it’s sort of all the same, or at least to me it is.
How do you hope this book affects its readers?
I’m not a fan of “messages” in books. I’m not here to preach or push a hidden agenda on anyone. My only hope is that the book entertains people. If it inspires, helps, or makes someone happy all the better, but at the end of the day I just want to entertain.
How long did it take you to write this book?
About a year and a half of actual writing. That being said, the ideas had been brewing for about ten years or so, and I have a tendency to procrastinate when I should be writing, so it probably took me a lot longer than it should have.
What is your writing routine?
I have no routine. I used to have one that consisted of writing every night from roughly 12-6am, but that has long since changed. Now it’s whenever the mood strikes.
How did you get your book published?
I was self-published at first before being picked up by GMTA Publishing.
What advice do you have for someone who would like to become a published writer?
I don’t think any advice can really prepare anyone. It’s a giant crapshoot. The best advice I can think of is get lucky. No, really, that’s it.
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Play far too many video games. I’m also rather fond of movies, television, and the theatre.
What does your family think of your writing?
They love it of course; they have to. You can’t ever trust your friends or family because they’ll lie straight to your face. They are the absolute worst people to go to for honest criticism and advice because they’re obligated to tell you it’s good no matter how terrible it actually is. They’ll even tell you they’re being honest, and say things like, “No, I’m not just saying that,” but trust me, they are, and inside they’re dying a little.
Please tell us a bit about your childhood.
It was a large blur of video games, TMNT, Transformers, Ghostbusters, Power Rangers, and wearing girl’s clothes. (Okay, that was a lie, I was never really into Transformers.)
Very funny! Did you like reading when you were a child?
Only on subjects I cared about. I abhorred reading in school. I’m actually under the impression that schools turn more children off of reading than onto it.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve still yet to realize it. I think it’s more that storytelling and writing came more naturally to me than others, rather than some deep-seated desire to be an author.
Did your childhood experiences influence your writing?
Oh yeah, big time. Arcanum is an amalgamation of everything I loved growing up.
Which writers have influenced you the most?
Eoin Colfer. I love the Artemis Fowl series. Aside from that I try to not be influenced by other authors and writers as I want my voice to be my own.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Everyone tells me how much they love my covers. They never really comment about the inside of the book. Maybe that’s a bad sign. Hmm…
The covers are cool ... What can we look forward to from you in the future?
Much more Arcanum. It’s going to be five books and a prequel. After that who knows.
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today, Cody. It's been a pleasure.

About the Author
M. C. Moulton is currently living in Kansas and trying desperately not to be swept away by a tornado to a magical land of munchkins. In his off time he's lazily at work on the Arcanum sequels or playing way too many video games. Oh yeah and he's awesome.

Giveaway
Enter the giveaway for a chance to win one of 20 ebook copies of Arcanum by M. C. Moulton. Don't be scared of this giveaway tool - it's only asking for your email address so that I can send you your prize!


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