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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Interview & Giveaway with Cyn Balog

Today, I have the pleasure to introduce you to the fantastic Cyn Balog! You might know her from her debut novel Fairy Tale, released in June 2009 and she is now getting back to us with her second book, Sleepless.

More about the book (description from Cyn’s website):

sleepless

Eron De Marchelle isn’t supposed to feel a connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce human charges to sleep. While he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn’t encouraged to–after all, getting too involved in one human’s life would prevent him helping his other charges get their needed rest.

But he can’t deny that he feels something for Julia. Julia, with her fiery red hair and her sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. Eron has always felt protective of Julia . . . but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can’t seem to reach her . . .

Sandmen are forbidden from communicating with humans outside their dreams. But will Eron be willing to risk everything for a chance to be with the person he loves?

Would you like to talk to us about your upcoming release, Sleepless.

Sure!  Sleepless comes out July 13.  It's about a Sandman who falls in love with a mortal girl whose sleep he controls.

A story about a sandman is quite original, how did you come with that idea *eyebrow raised inquisitively* ?

I was driving home and it suddenly popped into my head that I should write about a Sandman. Maybe because I was sleepy, which, while driving, is probably not a good thing to be thinking about.  I had this image in my head of a guy sitting outside a sleeping girl's window, invisible, longing to be a part of her life. Luckily I made it home in one piece and was able to actually write the thing.

What would the favorite song of each of your main characters?

Eron's favorite song is In the Good Old Summertime, Griffin's is You Belong to Me, and Julia has a thing for anything by Boys Like Girls.

Fairy Tale was release in '09, Sleepless will be out next month and there's another title on the way for 2011, they are all stand alone (unless I'm mistaken?), do you have plans to write a series at some point?

I would write a series if that ever came up!  I do enjoy writing single titles because I start to feel bored with my characters after awhile and want to kill them off. I am like a character serial killer (if you are fictional, you should be very afraid of me). I think I would feel very claustrophobic being stuck with the same characters over a few books.  Though now that FAIRY TALE has been out awhile I find myself missing the characters in there. And not a week goes by that I don't get asked if there will be a sequel, so maybe I will go back and revisit it one day!

Your favorite writing subject when your were only a "young-writer" ?

I didn't write about hurting poor, defenseless fictional animals, but for some reason I loved to write about death and destruction. I wrote a choose your own adventure book when I was 10 called "YOUR BUILDING IS ON FIRE."  Most of the endings led the reader to a crispy demise.

Is Cyn your birth name or a pen name?

I was born Cynthia but haven't gone by that... ever. I bet if you said that out loud I wouldn't even turn my head.

Is there anything about you our readers would be surprised to learn? *winks*

I actually don't think anything about me is surprising.  If I mention anything weird, since I am weird, people will be like, "I totally expected that from you, weirdo."  So I am trying to think of a very normal thing that I do.  I wear socks. And they usually match.

Since your book is about dream, what was the silliest dream/nightmare you've ever had?

I had a dream when I was nine or ten that I was in league with the evil Batman and Robin and we were stirring a big witch's cauldron of body parts and saying Goobledy Goobledy Goo, which obviously makes a lot of sense. 

(Batman illustration artist: Wildlifehoodoo)

Is there anything else you would like to mention?

Goobledy goobledy goo?

 

Thank you very much Cyn for this colorful interview! I had a great time and really appreciate you taking the time to stop by!

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Giveaway time!

Cyn generously offered a Signed Copy of Sleepless!

How awesome is that? Make you you leave a comment to show her some love!

Open to US only

Ends July 4th, 2010.

Please FILL THE FORM to be entered!

Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

Follow Tynga on: Facebook | Twitter

31 People left their mark' :

  1. I love this book. It is different and sounds wonderful.
    Thanks for the great interview and stopping by to chat Cyn.

    Thanks for the opportunity to enter. Pls count me in.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

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  2. Hi Cyn, I enjoyed the interview and the chance to learn more about you and your books.

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  3. Hahahaha! The whole story sounds really really good, so I'll have to remember to check it out!!!

    Also, I love how the comment about wearing socks that usually match! LOL

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  4. I haven't read Fairy Tale, but Sleepless sounds fantastic! It's such an original concept, and I love retellings and fairytale-like books so friggin' much. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  5. Great giveaway. I've wanted to read this book since I first saw the cover. :)

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  6. I'm SO interested in this book! : ) Love the idea of having a sandman as the protag.
    Thanks for the giveaway(s) this summer! : D

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  7. I'm excited on your book release Cyn =) Congrats btw!

    P.S. I know I've heard "Goobledy goobledy goo" somewhere before...or was it "Gobbledy gobbledy gook" lol something along those lines.

    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

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  8. Great interview and thanks so much for the giveaway! I'm looking forward to reading Sleepless. I'm glad for standalone books, there's too many series out there and sometimes it gets boring. =D

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  9. I'm actually currently reading Sleepless! I am almost finished with it, and it is SO good!

    What a great interview, and I am glad she writes standalone, because I was kind of wondering about that while reading, like if I was going to have to obtain the next book in the series. So THANK GOD there's not a series :-)

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  10. I agree- the concept of a sandman is a great original idea. And I can totally appreciate being really particular about one's own name. My name is Bethany, and when someone thinks they can just shorten it to Beth, I swear I instantly hate them. If that's what I wanted you to call me, isn't that how I would have introduced myself?

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  11. Bethany - I hear you! My real name is Cindy and when people call me Cin I'm like "My name has only 2 syllables! Are you so lazy that it's already too much? C'mon!"

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  12. WHAT??? You wear socks, I am shocked lol! I really didn't pay attention that she was the author of both Fairy Tale and this book. I can't wait to read it, the plot is so orginal!

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  13. This sounds great! Can't wait to read it.

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

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  14. Awesome interview :) I definitely need to read her book.

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  15. What a fun interview. I love that do interviews that are specific and not just generic questions. And amen to the name thing. I for sure instantly hate people who call me "Mare". Oh I'm sorry do I have a tail and buck teeth? No so don't call me the name of a female horse. Mary is pretty easy to say. ;) Thanks for the great giveaway and fun laugh!!

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  16. Great interview. Sounds really good. I love the cover.
    Sue B

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  17. I loved Fairy Tale!! Speaking of...there's a new book coming out in September called "The Replacement" by Brenna Yovanoff, and every time I come across the synopsis I automatically think of, wait for it...Fairy Tale! And maybe I've just skimmed over the part where someone else happened to share in that thought...but I haven't seen it yet. So...anyone??

    Can't wait for Sleepless!

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  18. I just saw the blurb on this and it sounded so unique. Plus, I love the fact that it is currently not planned to be a series. Sometimes it's really nice to just read a stand-alone book.

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  19. This contest is AWESOME. Thanks so much! Btw, absolutely love your cover. :D

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  20. I've had my eye on this book for quite some time know, the book sounds fantastic, can't wait to read it!

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  21. Haha! That was a great interview! I loved the comments about matching socks and goobledly goo! Too, funny! :P

    Sleepless sounds like a great book! Very unique!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  22. Aloha Cyn!=)

    Thank you for sharing with us more of yourself and your novel!.

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  23. I've never even heard of a Sandman befor this book. Wait, that's not true...I've heard the Mr. Sandman song, but I guess I never figured out what it meant.

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  24. Jessy - The sandman is a myth. The most popular version of the story is that he roams from house to house he put some magic dust on people's head to give them dreams =)

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  25. I like that you write single books. It can be fun to read a series, but I like books that stand alone as well. Sandman is a pretty intriguing idea for a paranormal. Keep up the creativity!

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  26. Nice playlist! I love Boys Like Girls! :)

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  27. This looks like a great book! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  28. really creative idea - would like to read it!

    adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

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