Friday, April 26, 2013

Author Spotlight: Milly Silver author of the Into the Dark series

I have gotten the chance to know this author and she is terrific! I am excited to share with you my review of her books and an interview that she so kindly agreed to do for us! 

Into the Dark 
by Milly Silver



Book 1

Emily Baxter has seizures that make her black out. Naturally, her family is concerned about her health, but her health is not what Emily worries about. She worries about getting caught by the misery-makers, as she calls them. See, when Emily blacks out, she doesn't just loose consciousness for a few seconds. She travels to different worlds. Places that are dark, and damp and scary. And every one of them has the misery-makers. They are dead and hollow people that want to torture her. They want to hurt her and she must stay hidden.



Book 1 of Into the dark is very entertaining. It tells a unique story and is well written. Emily is a great character. She's made a mistake, but she is working to correct it. She's started her first year of college and has made fast friends with Pippa who is taking the same courses as Emily. And a handsome, yet seemingly unattainable stranger has caught her eye.

I like that this book is technically four novellas. That makes them quick reads. I'm looking forward to book 2.


Book 2

The story continues after Emily's night out with her new friends. She's getting into a new routine at school and for some reason she can't stop thinking about the gorgeous guy that nearly ran her down on her bike. Then when eating lunch with her friends, she blacks out in the cafe and the gorgeous guy, Henry is there to catch her. He then whisks her off to a doctor and as they spend the day together waiting on test results, their attraction to each other is undeniable. Emily begins to wonder if Henry could be the key to getting Irene back.


I must admit, in the beginning of part 2 I started to wonder where the story went. It seemed as though the story was straying form the main plot and becoming all about a love interest. But then it all come together. Henry is really part of a team that is doing neurological research. Research that sends him and his team to parallel universes while in a drug induced sleep state. This one is really good and this story just keeps getting better. I can't wait to start the third book and see where the story goes.


Book 3

Emily and Henry are very happy and beginning to think they may be in love. And back in the alternate universe there is a little girl that wants to help Emily find the person she's lost. Seb is against Henry and Emily being together, but why? How does it all fit together. Emily needs to get all the answers in time to save Irene.



Book 4

Emily is now a full team member of the G&T sect, but will her relationship with Henry work out? In a moment of abnormal neediness Emily confronts Henry about his true feelings for her. She gets the answer she fears most – he only pursued her to get her on the G&T team. Heart broken she runs to lifelong best friend, Ben. Ben gets dragged into the G&T search and rescue mission and now Emily has the added stress of having to save Irene, and keep her loved ones safe. This mission is the most important thing she has ever done and she fears she won't be able to make everything come together. Save Irene...keep everyone safe....save the mysterious little girl....work things out with Henry....can she do it all?

WOW Does this story come to an exciting end! All four books were very good reads, but book 4 is AMAZING! You will love how it all comes together and the ending will leave you wanting more. I love love love this series!

Milly Silver interview:

 
PT - Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?


MS - I live in Cheshire in the North West of England with my family. I love dogs and have two Golden Retrievers called Abby and Anna. They sleep by my feet while I write at my kitchen table. I am passionate about storytelling, reading and writing. I also LOVE movies. You can’t beat watching a stunning movie on the big screen. Oh, and I love pink peonies. Surrounding yourself with beautiful things is one of life’s joys.



PT - What was the hardest part of writing Into the Dark??


MS - I think the hardest part of writing this story was getting through the months and months of polishing and editing. There are so many essential stages of writing a novel, and you can’t rush them, otherwise it shows. So I felt it was a stamina test to keep going through the ten beta readers reading and giving feedback on it, then through the rewrites, then me reading through the story hundreds of times to check for various elements, copy editing, then onto(what you hope is)the final read through. The thought that kept me going was “Every little tweak makes the story stronger. It will all be worth it. So keep going!”


PT - Who designed the covers?


MS - A fantastic cover designer, Cory Clubb worked on the INTO THE DARK series covers. I chose him because he has a lot of experience in book cover design from working with top ebook authors such as Aaron Patterson, and he also works with Random House. I gave him a few key elements that I wanted to achieve, and he came up with several great ideas. I knew straight away that the chosen design works to hint at the story elements of action, adventure, and paranormal romance. I think Cory’s done an excellent job!



PT - Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?


MS - I love lots of different authors, depending on my mood! I enjoy J.A. Redmerski (see below), Janet Evanovich, Ayn Rand’s The Fountainhead was a book that made a big impression on me. I’ve enjoyed Iain Banks’ work, and Nicholas Sparks’ and Fiona Walker’s romance novels. I loved Sebastian Faulks’ Birdsong. There are too many to list! I’m pretty open to any new authors and books.



PT - What book are you reading now?


MS - I’ve just finished reading The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski. Wow! Such a well-told, emotional story. I loved it. Love the characters. Cried at the letter at the end! I thought it was very inspiring writing and J.A. Redmerski deserves every success.



PT - What inspired you to write your first book?


Ms - In 2010, I was fascinated by states of consciousness, by gifted people who are not neuro-typical, and I was reading 130 novels per year (mostly YA). So the idea of Emily’s story came out of everything swimming around my brain at that time. I was at home, just doing the usual mummy things, when bits of dialogue and scenes began to pop up. I bought myself a notebook and started jotting ideas down. Quickly, before they evaporated.

PT - How did you come up with the title Into the Dark and Hotter than Hot?


MS - I often think of my titles early on while I’m laying down the first draft. Titles come to me when I’m going about my everyday life. They reflect some key element of the story, and hint at what’s to come! I also want them to hint at the style and genre of the story. So INTO THE DARK hints at Emily’s black outs, the way she has to constantly push forward in her life despite being in the dark about what is going on, and how there’s a dark side to life.



HOTTER THAN HOT is COMPLETELY different! Lol. It’s a light, fast, feel-good read to make you laugh out loud! It’s sexy without being erotica. It’s more about the hot guy and what a great distraction it is to have that in life!



PT - Do you have a specific writing style?


MS - At this stage in my writing, I’m deliberately trying out different styles, genres and subject matter. I want to push myself and my writing to see what I can do. I’m still learning (I doubt that will ever stop!), and so that freedom is important. I wrote INTO THE DARK because I wanted to see what I could do with a YA angsty, action, adventure story with a paranormal romance thread. HOTTER THAN HOT has tested me to see what I can do with writing comedy and romance. Next, I want to write a NA romance story. Nicholas Sparks and J.A. Redmerski have inspired me!



PT - Do you have a day job as well?


MS - I’m a full time author and I love it! I rush around doing the school run and all the normal mummy things each day, then I get down to connecting with readers and writing my next story.



PT - Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?


MS - Yes! INTO THE DARK’s message is that everyone has challenges in life. You have to put your big girl pants on and push on through. And in time, you grow stronger and your unique gifts emerge to help you. People come into your life when you need them, and they support you as well.



PT - Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?


MS - Yes! I want to say a big ‘thank you!’ to all my readers. You are a lovely bunch of people. Everyone I’ve met has been wonderfully supportive – readers, book reviewers, bloggers, fans, FB friends, Goodreads friends, Amazon reviewers – Each and every one of you has contributed to the success of INTO THE DARK. Indie authors owe their success to faithful and proactive readers. Please take a bow! You are stars! xx

About the Author:

Milly Silver is the British author of the Young Adult paranormal romance series INTO THE DARK #1-4, and a brand-new New Adult romantic comedy, HOTTER THAN HOT due for release in 2013.
Milly Silver lives with her family in Cheshire, in the UK. Silver is currently writing her next series, and eating her own body weight in KitKat Chunkies.


Intrigued? Would you like to help promote this fantastic author? Join her street team on Facebook!!


Get your books here

2 comments:

  1. Thank you, Mindy! I really appreciate the opportunity to feature on your blog. Happy reading! Mx

    ReplyDelete
  2. You're welcome. I hope we can read more about Emily and Henry some day. :)

    ReplyDelete