PHE - Interview with Yolanda Sfetsos + giveaway

Today I get go interview one of my favourite authors, Yolanda Sfetsos. Yolanda is wrapping up her Sierra Fox series (sadness!) now with A STITCH ON TIME and she's graciously come by to chat about the final book and offer up an e-copy for a lucky reader.

As always, a very warm welcome, Yolanda!
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Welcome back to Team Tynga's Reviews, Yolanda! A STITCH ON TIME is the last book in Sierra's story. What can readers expect?

Thanks for having me over. It’s great to be here.

As for what readers can expect from the last book in my Sierra Fox series… Well, tears. I’m kidding. Okay, maybe I’m not kidding because this book is packed with sad stuff, revelations, danger, explosions, endings, and even some beginnings. But it’s not allsad stuff. I did sprinkle some happiness into the mix.

After everything that Sierra has been through, she certainly deserves something good to come out of this. I can’t wait for readers to experience how Sierra’s story ends.

Asides from everything else, the last book will offer closure.

Was writing A STITCH ON TIME emotional for you as a final book?

Writing this book was very emotional. I often had tears in my eyes because it was hard to get over some of the harsher things that happen. I even tried to convince myself to change some of the more devastating events. But I couldn’t. This is how the story ends.

Letting go was also very hard, but it’s time.

Do you have a favourite moment in the series?

I have a lot of favourite moments! But I especially liked when Sierra and Papan finally admit to each other that what’s going on between them is a lot stronger than friendship. I always get giddy when I reread that bit. ;)

Their interactions were some of my fave things about writing this series.

What's up next for you?

Well, now that I’ve finished one series, it’s time to move onto other stories.

The fourth book in my SFR RECAST series is called DASH, and will be released next year. So I’m really looking forward to sharing that story with readers. I’ve still got two more books left to write in this world. So I’ll soon be spending some time with a bunch of space pirates and a different type of fighter.

I’ve also got two Sierra Fox spin-off novels to write. Yeah, it’s hard to let go of the world completely. LOL. The first draft of one book is already written, and I would love to write the first draft of the other one during this year’s NaNoWriMo. They’ll both be urban fantasy, but won’t concentrate on spooks. The world opens up, and they’ll both be set in different locations. I had a great time with Lavie’s story, so I can’t wait to tackle the next one.

After that, there are several other projects I’d love to spend some time with. There’s a gritty futuristic UF, a cozy mystery, and a super spooky horror book fighting for my time. And that’s just a few of the loudest ideas fighting for my attention. 

And now for some event questions:

What's Halloween like in Australia?

It’s definitely a little dull compared to North America. Sure, there’s plenty of Halloween-themed stuff available to buy, but the vibe isn’t the same. It’s spring here, so the days are longer and the spooky, cooler weather factor is totally missing. Not to mention that kids rarely go trick or treating in Sydney. 

What's your favourite Halloween memory?

I enjoyed introducing my daughter to the concept of Halloween when she was old enough to understand. It was something I always celebrated on my own, so it was nice to get my daughter into it too.

If you could get any costume, who/what would you dress up as?

Great question! I think I’d love to wear Sierra’s costume. Or maybe Willow’s. But I can’t tell you what these costumes are because it would totally spoil the story. ;)

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For more Yolanda, check out the following links:

Website | Twitter

Here's the scoop on A STITCH ON TIME:

All it takes is a little death and mayhem to make a spook catcher’s day.

Sierra Fox, Book 5

Sierra Fox has finally inherited her grandmother’s power to destroy demons, but what good is it when her werewolf boyfriend still lies in a coma? Worse, the decision she’s about to make could save him—but ruin their relationship.

If that’s not enough bad stuff on her plate, she’s got a soul to save—the soul of her closest friend, killed by the Lamia that got away.

Another untasty side dish: The Obscurus refuse to give up their relentless pursuit, and they’ve upped the ante. Mace is dead set on blowing up the Spook Catcher Council Tower, and the blowback will have devastating effects on Sydney and for Sierra. At least these demon-obsessed freaks aren’t counting on Sierra having a Goddess and a trusty demonic conduit as backup.

All of this leads to a one-way ride into the abandoned part of town, where the Obscurus plan to summon Legion. With her demon hunter friend by her side, Sierra prepares for the final battle…because even she knows this will be The End.

Warning: Phantasms, wraiths, orbs, demons, all guaranteed to ruin any spook catcher’s day. But you can always count on werewolves, land spirits, and a Goddess. Beware of explosions, demonic obsessions, and the battle that will tip the scales and change Sydney forever.

Purchase: Amazon

Yolanda is giving away one (1) e-copy of A STITCH ON TIME to a lucky reader.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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by Tynga at Monday, October 20, 2014

 Event, giveaway, Paranorm'All Hallows Eve, Samhain, Yolanda Sfetsos  5 People left their mark

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Guest post by Yolanda Sfetsos + giveaway

It's with great pleasure that I welcome today's guest, Yolanda Sfetsos. She's a fantastic writer and I've loved her Sierra Fox books since I first started A PATCH OF DARKNESS. Yolanda has created a really original series populated by characters you can't help but love (or hate).

Yolanda is here to celebrate the release of TORN FROM THE SHADOWS, the fourth and penultimate book in this amazing series, by sharing some thoughts about where the series is right now. She's also graciously offering up an e-copy of TORN FROM THE SHADOWS to a luck reader so be sure to enter the giveaway at the end of the post.

Welcome, Yolanda!

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Not Just a Spook Catcher

Hello, it's great to be here today. I'd like to thank Team Tynga’s Reviews for having me over to help celebrate the upcoming release of my urban fantasy book, TORN FROM THE SHADOWS.

This is the penultimate book in the series. Writing the Sierra Fox series has been a blast, and a rollercoaster ride of emotion. I’ve enjoyed every moment of danger, excitement, and everything in between. So much has happened to Sierra since her journey began. Her life has changed drastically since we first met her in A PATCH OF DARKNESS, and she’s grown a lot. Back then she was just another spook catcher with a quirky assistant, trying to make it on her own. She had financial worries, a caseload she couldn’t keep up with, a hunky werewolf crush, and thought she knew who she wanted to be with.

Well, as it turns out she was wrong about a few things.

Since she discovered that her deceased grandmother was hiding a bunch of secrets in SPLIT AT THE SEAMS that would directly impact her life and very existence, Sierra has been trying to come to terms with her growing ability. And not just that, because the determined demon-obsessed Obscurus are eager to steal the power she possesses, and some that she hasn’t even tapped into yet.

It’s tough being a woman with a target on her head, but six months have gone by since ON PINS AND NEEDLES and she’s had a chance to settle into a passionate and happy relationship with the right guy. As well as becoming accustomed to the ever-growing circle of family and friends. She’s not alone, and actually has a great support system of people she loves and trusts. But at the back of her mind she’s always waiting for everything to fall apart—waiting for Mace to return, or the Obscurus to strike.

The one thing she didn’t expect was for one of her friends to start acting creepy for a very ominous reason, or for Papan’s past to come knocking on her front door. She also didn’t expect someone from the Council to contact her, not after the awful stuff she’s seen there. And most of all, she never suspected that her fate would be tied to an ancient Goddess and her pet demon.

Yeah, a LOT happens in this book. There are answers, more questions, and a destiny to be fulfilled. I hope you enjoy Sierra’s latest journey, because it’s almost over…

Thanks for reading,
Yolanda

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Thanks so much for visiting us, Yolanda. It's a pleasure as always. :)

For more Yolanda, check out these links:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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Here's the scoop on TORN FROM THE SHADOWS:

All it takes is one goddess-affiliated demon to seal the deal.

Sierra Fox, Book 4

Sierra Fox knows better than to believe the demon-obsessed freakshow has given up on her. She’s settled into a nice routine of living with her sister, enjoying her relationship with a sexy werewolf, and staying on top of work—and always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Predictably, things start falling apart as she’s suddenly swamped with surprise visits and unwanted advances, and someone she despises wants her help.

When a spook-catching training session goes horribly wrong, she encounters a man who’s not quite as dead as she’d hoped. Mace is now more than human and still determined to get his hands on her. But not if Sierra accepts the strengthening gifts her grandmother bestowed at her birth.

Having the good guys put a price on her head is enough to ruin anyone’s day, but Sierra refuses to give up or give in. Even if it means exercising the last option on earth she wants. But claiming the ultimate power may not be enough to save the man she loves before his werewolf past destroys him.

Warning: Phantasms, pookas, werewolves, and demons, oh yes! And a spook-catching heroine who must choose to take what’s rightfully hers—even if it means walking the shadows with a demon.

Read an excerpt (click on Excerpt tab)

Purchase: Amazon

Yolanda is giving away one (1) e-copy of TORN FROM THE SHADOWS to a lucky reader.

Open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

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by Tynga at Monday, April 14, 2014

 giveaway, Guest Post, Samhain, Yolanda Sfetsos  3 People left their mark

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Torn from the Shadows by Yolanda Sfetsos

I sure do love Sierra Fox. Despite being hunted by the Obscurus and experiencing all sorts of crazy, life-changing events, she's still a sweetheart. A sweetheart who will kick your butt in a minute if she thinks you're doing wrong but a sweetheart nonetheless. Her tough exterior can't hide her squishy marshmallow insides, not when we see how much she cares for the people in her life. She'll face down evil with a letter opener if it means helping her loved ones, and it's a trait you have to admire, especially since she's not gifted with super strength or healing. Sierra is a  powerful spook catcher but she's as physically vulnerable as the rest of us, which gives her story a little extra oomph.

At the start of TORN FROM THE SHADOWS, things are pretty good for Sierra and company. Sierra and Papan are madly in love, Willow is settling in, Roe and the new spook trainers are getting into a routine, Ebony has come back to herself for the most part...but it wouldn't be a very exciting book for us if things stayed on such an even keel and death, phantasms, demons, and more come flooding out of the woodwork before you know it. There's a lot going on and it's all quite exciting. And it all advances the overall series plot even though the parts of the book may seem like disparate threads: Mace is back as a phantasm, another old "friend" is also causing trouble, Sierra has to train the newbie spook catchers, Willow takes in a stray dog, Ebony and Oren make cow eyes at each other, and Papan and Sierra are trying to find time to enjoy their relationship. And that's the first half of the book. Sfetsos does a great job of taking these storylines and building and building the novel to its exciting climax and I thoroughly enjoyed each page.

While juggling her familial responsibilities and her battle to stay ahead of the Obscurus, Sierra also discovers more about her grandmother and the extra abilities Pepita gave her. And this was really interesting to me. I love it when a series mythology blossoms and the Sierra Fox series gets really juicy in this respect in TORN FROM THE SHADOWS. Everything is really building to a head, which will hopefully come to an amazing conclusion when the fifth and final book in the series comes out.

Another plus about TORN FROM THE SHADOWS? We learn a lot more about Papan's background. For the first time, we get to see his family and learn a bit more about how werewolves operate in this world. Despite this, I don't think we got nearly enough page time with Papan this time around. When he's there, he's his usual fabulous self -- and he and Sierra spend a significant number of pages getting smexy -- but I didn't get nearly enough of his humour. And Papan's storyline ends in something of a cliffhanger so I'm quite curious to see what his fate will be as the series comes to a close. I won't spoil it for you but I will say that things are definitely up in the air for him, and consequently for his relationship with Sierra.

On a personal level, I really enjoyed getting into a book set in Sydney. Having been to Australia over Christmas to visit my brother, I was lucky enough to spend a couple weeks there and I can know safely say that Sfetsos does a great job of creating a sense of the city in TORN FROM THE SHADOWS  and all the other novels in the series. Admittedly, the series is set in a fictional suburb but I think I enjoyed TORN FROM THE SHADOWS just a teensy bit more from having been in Sydney recently.

I'm a huge fan of this series and I highly recommend that you urban fantasy lovers out there give Sfetsos' writing a chance if you haven't already dove into her work. The Sierra Fox series is outstanding.  You won't be sorry.

Read an excerpt (click on Excerpt tab)

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by Tynga at Monday, April 14, 2014

 Adult, Author, ghost, Review, Samhain, Sierra Fox, Urban Fantasy, Yolanda Sfetsos  Leave your mark

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Cover reveal: Torn from the Shadows by Yolanda Sfetsos + giveaway

 I'm super excited about today's post because we are doing the exclusive cover reveal for Yolanda Sfetsos' next Sierra Fox novel, TORN FROM THE SHADOWS. I've loved this series since I discovered it and I was thrilled when Yolanda offered us the opportunity to do this reveal because I'm such a fan of her work.

Without further ado, here is the absolutely gorgeous cover for TORN FROM THE SHADOWS, Sierra's fourth outing!

 

The cover art is by Kanaxa, who's done all of the covers so far. I love how moody it is, especially since Yolanda tells me it captures the story perfectly. I wish we didn't have to wait until next year to find out for ourselves!

<pstyle="text-align: center;">Here's the rest of the series. You can click on the covers to read my reviews:

And because I love this series so much, I'm going to offer up a giveaway out of my own pocket:

One (1) lucky follower will win an e-copy of one of the first three Sierra Fox books.

The conditions?
(1) Be able to read e-books.
(2) Sierra Fox books are available in your country.
(3) Tell us which cover is your favourite and what you think will happen in TORN FROM THE SHADOWS.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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by Tynga at Friday, August 30, 2013

 Cover, giveaway, Samhain, Sierra Fox, Yolanda Sfetsos  10 People left their mark

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SS: Interview with Yolanda Sfetsos + giveaway!

I'm absolutely thrilled about today's guest, Yolanda Sfetsos, because I'm a huge fan of her Sierra Fox novels. It's a great series revolving around a spook catcher in Sydney from Samhain. Yolanda is a relatively new discovery for me but ON PINS AND NEEDLES, the third book in Yolanda's series, has just been released and Yolanda is graciously offering an e-giveaway of this book to all of our lucky readers so so now is the perfect time to dive into the series!

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1. Welcome to Team Tynga's Reviews, Yolanda! To start, can you please tell us a bit about yourself and the world you've created in your Sierra Fox series?

Thank you! I’m super excited to be here.

I live in Australia and spend most of my days making up stories. I’ve been writing since I was a teenager. It’s a compulsion, something I have to do. It’s also something I love doing.

Sierra’s world is one of the many I enjoy spending time in. It’s an urban fantasy series about a spook catcher who lives in a fictional suburb of Sydney, and is slowly finding out that there are many family secrets she didn’t know about. And because of these secrets, her power seems to attract a lot of trouble, just like her love life.

2. One of the neat things about this world is that spook catching is something only women can do. What prompted this decision? Are there any other gender specific abilities?

I have to admit, it wasn’t a conscious decision but I always knew spook catchers would only be female. It just fits, makes as much sense as it skipping a generation. As for other gender specific abilities…there are others, but I can’t tell. ;)

3. I love pretty much every character in this series but my two favourites are Papan and Ebony. Can you give us any hints about their arcs in ON PINS AND NEEDLES?

I’m so glad to hear that you especially like Ebony and Papan! I love them too.

After what happened at the Spook Catcher Council (won’t say what because of spoilers) Ebony’s life has taken a downward spiral. She wants to keep her distance from Sierra and the spook catching, and only wants to spend time with Conrad. She’s so desperate to forget what happened, that she gets into a whole lot of trouble!

As for Papan, his relationship with Sierra is really starting to turn into something serious…and in future books some of his past is also revealed.

4. Jonathan is probably one of my least favourite characters but I'm really interested in learning more about why he's changed. Any scoop on this front?

Ah, poor Jonathan…no, hold on. LOL. Yeah, Jonathan’s a bit of a strange one because he started out so nice. I guess it’s the quiet ones you have to watch, right? But seriously, this is the book where you find out what’s really going on with him and how he fits into this whole mess.

5. If I'm not mistaken, ON PINS AND NEEDLES is the halfway point in the Sierra Fox series. (Please correct me if I'm wrong!) Is the overall story where you thought it would be? Have there been any surprises?

Yes, I have five books planned for Sierra.

The overall story has been the same since the day I figured out Sierra’s adventure wasn’t going to be a standalone, but there are new things popping up all over the place. Some surprises don’t turn up until I’m actually writing. Like Constable Gareth Crewe. He wasn’t in the original series plan, but when he made his first appearance in Split at the Seams, I knew he had a bigger role to play. Also, Roe turned out to be more than originally planned.

I have to admit that I love surprises when I’m writing!

6. What's the best part of writing the Sierra Fox books so far?

OMG, I just love spending time in her world and letting her stories unfold. These character and world feel like old friends every time I sit down to write a book. I’m going to miss them SO much when it’s finished.

Asides from the storytelling and discovering all of Sierra’s secrets, the best part about writing this series is that the books are available from Samhain Publishing. Knowing readers are actually reading Sierra’s story is an awesome feeling!

Oh, and one other thing: Papan. ;)

And now for a couple event-related questions:

7. Do you have any special summer or solstice rituals?

o, not really. But I absolutely adore summer. The summer solstice in Australia is actually in December, so we’re the wrong way around. It’s also pretty close to Christmas, so it’s a time for finishing projects, clearing out the clutter, and letting the year wind down to an end.

8.Which of your characters would be most likely to celebrate the solstice and what would s/he do?

I think Ebony and Lavie would be most likely to celebrate the solstice. If Ebony was feeling more like herself she would probably attend the Church of the Goddess that night. While Lavie would find some outrageous way to celebrate—she’s very creative!

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Thank you so much, Yolanda! It’s been a real treat!

More about ON PINS AND NEEDLES:

All it takes is one freak to turn everything into a demonic ritual.

Sierra Fox, Book 3

Sierra Fox’s relationship with sexy werewolf Jason Papan is going great, but it doesn’t take a psychic to tell her someone’s out to get her. As usual, though, there’s too much else going on to worry about just another assassination attempt.

In addition to the demon-possessed freaks that still want her, a whole new bucket of trouble has been dumped in her path. The half-sister Sierra never knew she had isn’t a typical teenager. Willow comes with supernatural baggage that grows heavier every time someone close to her dies. And the load gets bigger every time the police find the body of another young girl.

Now Sierra’s not only dealing with the target on her own back, but the one that a power-hungry woman has painted on her poltergeist-magnet sister. As she finds herself drawn into the thick of a murder investigation, Sierra must face her deepest fears and embrace the darkest of her powers to overcome the looming threat. Or the prediction of her death might just come true.

Warning: Spook catching: never gets any easier, neither does trying to avoid being killed by a shadowy organization. Always expect the unexpected—dangerous vampires, poltergeists and demon-obsessed freaks. At least the werewolf is pleasurably safe.

Jenn's thoughts

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

Purchase: Amazon

Click on the cover to see my thoughts on the rest of the series:

Yolanda is graciously offering one (1) e-copy of ON PINS AND NEEDLES to a lucky reader!

To enter, obey the Rafflecopter!

Open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Wife. Mother. Writer. Bibliophile. Dreamer. Animal lover. Intrigued by the supernatural. Horror freak. Zombie enthusiast. Movie & music fan. Slave to her muse.

Yolanda lives in Sydney, Australia with her awesome husband, lovely daughter, and cheeky cat.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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by jenn at Saturday, June 22, 2013

 giveaway, Interview, Samhain, Supernatural Solstice, Yolanda Sfetsos  18 People left their mark

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On Pins and Needles by Yolanda Sfetsos

Book stats:
Reading level: Adult
Trade paperback: 384 pages
Genre: Urban fantasy
Publisher: Samhain
Release date: June 18, 2013

Series: Sierra Fox #3

Source: Review copy from author

Reviewed by: Jenn

Purchase: Amazon

All it takes is one freak to turn everything into a demonic ritual.

Sierra Fox, Book 3

Sierra Fox’s relationship with sexy werewolf Jason Papan is going great, but it doesn’t take a psychic to tell her someone’s out to get her. As usual, though, there’s too much else going on to worry about just another assassination attempt.

In addition to the demon-possessed freaks that still want her, a whole new bucket of trouble has been dumped in her path. The half-sister Sierra never knew she had isn’t a typical teenager. Willow comes with supernatural baggage that grows heavier every time someone close to her dies. And the load gets bigger every time the police find the body of another young girl.

Now Sierra’s not only dealing with the target on her own back, but the one that a power-hungry woman has painted on her poltergeist-magnet sister. As she finds herself drawn into the thick of a murder investigation, Sierra must face her deepest fears and embrace the darkest of her powers to overcome the looming threat. Or the prediction of her death might just come true.

Warning: Spook catching: never gets any easier, neither does trying to avoid being killed by a shadowy organization. Always expect the unexpected—dangerous vampires, poltergeists and demon-obsessed freaks. At least the werewolf is pleasurably safe.

If you follow my other blog, you know that I have recently discovered the wonder that is Yolanda Sfetsos' Sierra Fox series, which is why I was so happy to have her take part in Supernatural Solstice. The added bonus for me? I got my greedy little hands on an early copy of ON PINS AND NEEDLES, the third book in the series. It's also the halfway point in a projected five-book series and so far, I think it's my favourite. But before I get into why, here's a quick explanation of the series (though Yolanda offers a better one in our interview):

Sierra Fox is a spook catcher in Sydney, Australia. She has the ability to communicate with ghosts and, when necessary, capture them to take them in. After all, in this world, ghosts are subject to laws too, since everyone knows about them. There are, however, other supernaturals, something Sierra learns in A PATCH OF DARKNESS, the first book in the series. She also learns that she's not a typical spook catcher, thanks to some mixed heritage she didn't know about. So Book 1 was all about Sierra learning the truth about herself and the world around her. In SPLIT AT THE SEAMS, the second book, Sierra discovers that she's caught the eye of some very bad people and spends most of that novel trying to figure out why they want her and how to avoid falling into their clutches. Now, in ON PINS AND NEEDLES, Sierra is trying to learn more about the people who are trying to capture her, figure out what's wrong with her ex-boyfriend Jonathan, repair her relationship with her apprentice Ebony, and deal with the revelation that she has a half-sister named Willow who comes with problems of her own. With all of these factors, you can expect a roller-coaster of a book! There's also a lot of mystery in this story -- and only some are solved by the end of the novel -- to accompany the nice-for-the-reader-but-not-for-Sierra danger and demonic activity. Sfetsos really knows how to build a book to a strong climax; ON PINS AND NEEDLES will hook you from the get-go and then just keeps ramping up the stakes.

Thankfully (for our spunky heroine), there are some bright spots in her life. Sierra's got Papan, an extremely sexy private investigator of a boyfriend who also happens to be a werewolf; Oren, her grandfather who happens to be an extremely powerful witch; and a host of fellow Hunters that she can call upon. I've really enjoyed watching Sierra's interpersonal relationships develop because they make her a stronger person and give us a nicely diverse cast of characters.

Since this is a new release, I can't talk about some of the most interesting moments in the book, which are mostly in the latter half of ON PINS AND NEEDLES. I wil say that my questions about Jonathan and what happened to him while he was in Europe are thoroughly explained and we see some neat stuff with his character. I'll also say that I quite like the introduction of Willow, Sierra's half-sister, because we get to learn a bit more about Sierra's mom's life after she abandoned Sierra and because she's an interesting character in her own right. Willow is a troubled kid and I found her story arc to be really strong.

Reading ON PINS AND NEEDLES is a wonderful urban fantasy tale and Sierra Fox is a great series. I strongly urge you to try these books if you haven't already and to get your hands on ON PINS AND NEEDLES as soon as possible if you're all caught up with the series.

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

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by jenn at Saturday, June 22, 2013

 ghost, Review, Samhain, Yolanda Sfetsos  1 Person left their mark

✎

SS: Interview with Yolanda Sfetsos + giveaway!

I'm absolutely thrilled about today's guest, Yolanda Sfetsos, because I'm a huge fan of her Sierra Fox novels. It's a great series revolving around a spook catcher in Sydney from Samhain. Yolanda is a relatively new discovery for me but ON PINS AND NEEDLES, the third book in Yolanda's series, has just been released and Yolanda is graciously offering an e-giveaway of this book to all of our lucky readers so so now is the perfect time to dive into the series!

----------------------

1. Welcome to Team Tynga's Reviews, Yolanda! To start, can you please tell us a bit about yourself and the world you've created in your Sierra Fox series?

Thank you! I’m super excited to be here.

I live in Australia and spend most of my days making up stories. I’ve been writing since I was a teenager. It’s a compulsion, something I have to do. It’s also something I love doing.

Sierra’s world is one of the many I enjoy spending time in. It’s an urban fantasy series about a spook catcher who lives in a fictional suburb of Sydney, and is slowly finding out that there are many family secrets she didn’t know about. And because of these secrets, her power seems to attract a lot of trouble, just like her love life.

2. One of the neat things about this world is that spook catching is something only women can do. What prompted this decision? Are there any other gender specific abilities?

I have to admit, it wasn’t a conscious decision but I always knew spook catchers would only be female. It just fits, makes as much sense as it skipping a generation. As for other gender specific abilities…there are others, but I can’t tell. ;)

3. I love pretty much every character in this series but my two favourites are Papan and Ebony. Can you give us any hints about their arcs in ON PINS AND NEEDLES?

I’m so glad to hear that you especially like Ebony and Papan! I love them too.

After what happened at the Spook Catcher Council (won’t say what because of spoilers) Ebony’s life has taken a downward spiral. She wants to keep her distance from Sierra and the spook catching, and only wants to spend time with Conrad. She’s so desperate to forget what happened, that she gets into a whole lot of trouble!

As for Papan, his relationship with Sierra is really starting to turn into something serious…and in future books some of his past is also revealed.

4. Jonathan is probably one of my least favourite characters but I'm really interested in learning more about why he's changed. Any scoop on this front?

Ah, poor Jonathan…no, hold on. LOL. Yeah, Jonathan’s a bit of a strange one because he started out so nice. I guess it’s the quiet ones you have to watch, right? But seriously, this is the book where you find out what’s really going on with him and how he fits into this whole mess.

5. If I'm not mistaken, ON PINS AND NEEDLES is the halfway point in the Sierra Fox series. (Please correct me if I'm wrong!) Is the overall story where you thought it would be? Have there been any surprises?

Yes, I have five books planned for Sierra.

The overall story has been the same since the day I figured out Sierra’s adventure wasn’t going to be a standalone, but there are new things popping up all over the place. Some surprises don’t turn up until I’m actually writing. Like Constable Gareth Crewe. He wasn’t in the original series plan, but when he made his first appearance in Split at the Seams, I knew he had a bigger role to play. Also, Roe turned out to be more than originally planned.

I have to admit that I love surprises when I’m writing!

6. What's the best part of writing the Sierra Fox books so far?

OMG, I just love spending time in her world and letting her stories unfold. These character and world feel like old friends every time I sit down to write a book. I’m going to miss them SO much when it’s finished.

Asides from the storytelling and discovering all of Sierra’s secrets, the best part about writing this series is that the books are available from Samhain Publishing. Knowing readers are actually reading Sierra’s story is an awesome feeling!

Oh, and one other thing: Papan. ;)

And now for a couple event-related questions:

7. Do you have any special summer or solstice rituals?

No, not really. But I absolutely adore summer. The summer solstice in Australia is actually in December, so we’re the wrong way around. It’s also pretty close to Christmas, so it’s a time for finishing projects, clearing out the clutter, and letting the year wind down to an end.

8.Which of your characters would be most likely to celebrate the solstice and what would s/he do?

I think Ebony and Lavie would be most likely to celebrate the solstice. If Ebony was feeling more like herself she would probably attend the Church of the Goddess that night. While Lavie would find some outrageous way to celebrate—she’s very creative!

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Thank you so much, Yolanda! It’s been a real treat!

More about ON PINS AND NEEDLES:

All it takes is one freak to turn everything into a demonic ritual.

Sierra Fox, Book 3

Sierra Fox’s relationship with sexy werewolf Jason Papan is going great, but it doesn’t take a psychic to tell her someone’s out to get her. As usual, though, there’s too much else going on to worry about just another assassination attempt.

In addition to the demon-possessed freaks that still want her, a whole new bucket of trouble has been dumped in her path. The half-sister Sierra never knew she had isn’t a typical teenager. Willow comes with supernatural baggage that grows heavier every time someone close to her dies. And the load gets bigger every time the police find the body of another young girl.

Now Sierra’s not only dealing with the target on her own back, but the one that a power-hungry woman has painted on her poltergeist-magnet sister. As she finds herself drawn into the thick of a murder investigation, Sierra must face her deepest fears and embrace the darkest of her powers to overcome the looming threat. Or the prediction of her death might just come true.

Warning: Spook catching: never gets any easier, neither does trying to avoid being killed by a shadowy organization. Always expect the unexpected—dangerous vampires, poltergeists and demon-obsessed freaks. At least the werewolf is pleasurably safe.

Jenn's thoughts

Read an excerpt (scroll down)

Purchase: Amazon

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Yolanda is graciously offering one (1) e-copy of ON PINS AND NEEDLES to a lucky reader!

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Wife. Mother. Writer. Bibliophile. Dreamer. Animal lover. Intrigued by the supernatural. Horror freak. Zombie enthusiast. Movie & music fan. Slave to her muse.

Yolanda lives in Sydney, Australia with her awesome husband, lovely daughter, and cheeky cat.

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by Tynga at Saturday, June 22, 2013

 giveaway, Interview, Samhain, Supernatural Solstice, Yolanda Sfetsos  18 People left their mark

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