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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

"When I'm not writing" with Allison Pang + giveaway!

Allison Pang

Today’s guest is Allison Pang, author of the brilliant Abby Sinclair books. In fact, today's post is part of her tour promiting A Sliver of Shadow. Allison's books are must-read urban fantasy and I hope you all enjoy getting to know her a little bit better.

Keep reading to find out what Allison does when she’s not creating wonderful stories and to learn more about her Abby Sinclair series.

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Before I seriously started pursuing the writing gig, I actually had hobbies. (Aside from gaming, believe it or not).

Allison Pang cross stitching 1

One of those was Cross Stitching, which I've been doing since I was in 6th grade. Now, the trademarks of a good cross stitcher is shown in the way the stitches are done. Traditionally, the back should look nearly as good as the front.

Alas, mine never have, but as long as the front looks good, I'm pretty happy. Anyway, I started going through my craft bin this morning and realized how many projects I have that I've never started, and probably never will at this point. I've been collecting patterns as I go since they don't always hang around, and there's nothing more frustrating than falling in love with a design and then not being able to do it five years later when you're finally ready for it.

So, I buy them. I have an odd fascination with opening a new kit and going through all the bits and pieces - the thread, the beads, the patterns. It's the potential of what it can become that I think I like best.

Sadly, the writing has taken up so much of my free time that I'm pretty sure I'll never manage to finish or even start a lot of them now.

Allison Pang cross stitching 2One of my first. I was about 12 when I did this one.
Allison Pang cross stitching 3This one hangs above my bed.
Allison Pang cross stitching 4Did this one in college. I included my foot in the shot so you could get an idea of the size. (I like'em big and complicated.)
Allison Pang cross stitching 5For my daughter…really need to get it framed and cleaned up. >_<
Allison Pang cross stitching 6 Early college years as well. This one is about as big as that dragon one above, and the colors were very interesting. One of my favorites to work on.
Allison Pang cross stitching 7Early high school. Also pretty big. Yes, there is a big unicorn theme here.

Also? Not framed.

Yes, that also is a theme. >_<
Allison Pang cross stitching 8One small portion of the pile of projects that I will never get to.
Sad, but you never know.

There are others that I've done that I couldn't find to take a picture of and many that I've given away over the years as well. And one of my mother's that she worked on for probably 10 years, but died before she could finish. I subsequently finished it and gave it to my dad in the year after she passed.

Perhaps one day I will win the lottery and spend the rest of my days writing and cross stitching.

It could happen, right? :)

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Thanks for visiting the blog and sharing your hobby with us, Allison!

For more information about Allison and her books, check out her website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Click on the banner to find out where else Allison's been or is going on the rest of the tour.

Allison Pang Blog Tour

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Allison's on tour to promote A Sliver of Shadow, the second Abby Sinclair novel:

Allison Pang A Sliver of Darkness Just when her new life as a TouchStone – a mortal bound to help OtherFolk cross between Faery and human worlds – seems to be settling down, Abby Sinclair is left in charge when the Protectorate, Moira, leaves for the Faery Court. And when the Protectorate’s away…let’s just say things spiral out of control when a spell on Abby backfires and the Faery Queen declares the Doors between their worlds officially closed.

The results are disastrous for both sides: OtherFolk trapped in the mortal world are beginning to fade, while Faerie is on the brink of war with the daemons of Hell. Along with her brooding eleven prince Talivar and sexy incubus Brystion, Abby ventures to the CrossRoads in an attempt to override the Queen’s magic. But nothing in this beautiful, dangerous realm will compare to the discoveries she’s making about her past, her destiny, and what she will sacrifice for those she loves.

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

And here's the scoop on A Brush of Darkness, Allison and Abby's debut, in case you need to catch up:

Allison Pang A Brush of Darkness Six months ago, Abby Sinclair was struggling to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Now, she has an enchanted iPod, a miniature unicorn living in her underwear drawer, and a magical marketplace to manage. But despite her growing knowledge of the OtherWorld, Abby isn’t at all prepared for Brystion, the dark, mysterious, and as sexy as sin incubus who shows up searching for his sister—and is convinced Abby has the key to the succubus’s whereabouts. Abby has enough problems without having this seductive shape-shifter literally invading her dreams to get information. But when her Faery boss and some of her friends vanish as well, Abby and Brystion must form an uneasy alliance. As Abby is sucked deeper and deeper into this perilous world of faeries, angels, and daemons, she realizes her life is in as much danger as her heart—and there’s no one she can trust to save her.

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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giveaway

Allison is giving away ten (10) signed copies of A Sliver of Shadow as part of her tour!
(This giveaway is for the whole tour, not just this stop of Allison's tour.)

To enter the giveaway, obey the Rafflecopter!

US only


a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Do you guys have suggestions for who you’d like to see featured on the blog? If so, you can make your suggestions on this page. No guarantees that your favorite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

Authors, would you like to visit and share with us? Please email me at jennblogs (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll set it up!

Jenn

Born and raised in the Toronto area, Jenn moved to St. John's, Newfoundland, eight years ago for school. She's still in school (thankfully on another degree!), now trapped in her dissertation. When she's not dissertating, which happens more often than it should, Jenn spends her time reading, watching movies, playing volleyball, travelling, and enjoying the local music scene. Her latest addictions: yoga and Almond Crunch cereal.

15 People left their mark' :

  1. I am really liking this tour!

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  2. I started cross stitching in junior high. The piece you have above your bed, I've been " working on" for 10 years! Maybe one day life will settle down enough for me to finish it. And the pattern isn't even very complicated. Thanks for the giveaway. ~ AsianCocoa

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    1. Yeah - I have so many kits I'm never going to get to. :(

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  3. I really liked a Brush of Darkness. Can't wait to get my Phineas fix with the next one.

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  4. Your cross stitch projects are awesome. Your books sound great. Love the covers.

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  5. I had a slight obsession with cross stitch when I was younger, but I never got around to finishing them either. I think I still have some quilt blocks down in my parents' basement somewhere...lol!

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  6. Nice interview!! Love seeing the behind the scenes of an author's life!

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  7. I used to have hobbies before I went back to work full-time: I did a lot of sewing, knitted slippers, gloves, mitts and hats, crocheted afghans, doilies and table runners. Then money was a little tight and I went to work part-time; I still had some time but not as much; but the inevitable happened: I was offered a position full-time and the kids were getting older, sports, and hobbies of theirs were costly. maybe some day I will egt back to my own hobbies.

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  8. I have the exact same butterfly one sitting in my craft bin half finished. LOL I too start many projects only to have other things take over. *sigh*

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  9. Thanks for the post and giveaway :) Those are some really amazing looking stitchworks.

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  10. Thanks for the guestpost Allison, I am looking forward to reading the books. Tynga already made me buy them, and the first one arrived yesterday :)

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  11. I love the cross-stitching. I don't have the patience to do it. The books sound great and are going in my TBR pile.

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  12. I used to do cross-stitching a long time ago. That and sewing. I probably have just as many sewing patterns as you have cross-stitch patterns. LOL Must say, although the mermaid one is really cute, I rather like the one with the butterfly that you have hanging over your bed.

    Your books sounds really good, by the way. Thank you for this chance to win a copy of A Sliver of Shadow.

    Pam

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