Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Straight to Hell by Michelle Scott (Guest Post/Giveaway)

Today I would like to welcome author Michelle Scott who is joining us with a post I love about her novel. Straight to Hell. 

There’s real life, and then there’s surreal life.  As a writer, I’m familiar with both.  Or so I thought until my husband asked me a question:  “That guy in your book…is he me?”

Erm…

This has happened before.  Readers will sometimes comment on a particular character and ask if it is anyone I know in person.  The short answer is always, “No, of course not.”  I take things out of my imagination and make them real.  However, I do build my characters out of the people I know.  I piece those imaginary figures together like a Frankenstein’s monster: a pair of eyes from this one.  A generous spirit from this one.  A unique tattoo from someone else.

So, when my husband asked that question, I was surprised, but not completely at a loss.

Before I tell you what I said to him, let me explain about the book in question, Straight to Hell.  There are two men in that book.  One is a super-hot incubus named William whose heart of gold is buried deep beneath a hundred-year-old layer of superficiality and condescension.  These unpleasant traits are his armor against falling in love, something he’s been forbidden to do.  William can be charming, especially when he lets his human side show, and with the help of the heroine, a succubus named Lilith, he is learning how to once again be kind.  Maybe even, dare I say it, loving.

Guy number two is a cheating, know-it-all ex-husband whose only positive trait is that he’s a pretty good dentist.

So when my husband asked that question, I did a double take.  “You’re not the ex-husband, that’s for sure,” I told him.  “And you aren’t condescending or cruel.”  Maybe my hubby was the redeemed version of the incubus?  Then I remembered guy #3.

Guy number three, Tommy, is a spiritual advisor to Lilith’s scatter-brained stepsister.  Tommy is kind and patient.  He’s incredibly generous and looks out for people.  He’s the kind of guy who would drive in a snowstorm at three in the morning to fix your car that wouldn’t start.  He’s not the main love interest, but he is interesting.  Honestly, he’s my favorite character.

I told my husband that of all the men in the book, he most closely resembles Tommy, which made my husband happy and me happier.  After all, who wouldn’t want to be married to such a nice man.  (And remember, we’re talking real life here, not surreal life.)

The moment Lilith Straight dies, the Devil appears to claim her soul and cash in on a family curse. Now, Lilith has no choice but to work for him. The job is bad, the boss is worse and she can’t imagine how she’ll explain her new reincarnation to her eight-year-old daughter. But then an arrogant, yet oh so yummy, incubus shows up…and hell heats up just a little more.
Read the first chapter!


PictureMichelle Scott received her MFA from Wayne State University.  Her stories have appeared in such places as Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show, All Possible Worlds and Realms.  Her fantasy novel, The Dragons of Hazlett was nominated for a 2009 EPPIE Award.  Michelle writes YA fiction as well as adult urban fantasies.  The sequel to her novel, Straight to Hell, will be released this spring.  You can read samples of her work on her website, http://www.mscottfiction.com



~*GIVEAWAY*~
Michelle is graciously giving away an ebook of her novel, Straight to Hell to two readers. To enter, just leave a comment on this post and then fill out the RaffleCopter below with your name and email address. Additional entries are available but not required. Good Luck! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway





27 comments:

  1. sounds awesome! thanks for hosting the giveaway and thank you too to Michelle Scott for being gracious! c",)

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  2. What a great Interview!!!! And the book sounds like a fun read!!!!

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  3. Oh nice interview and the book sounds great! Thanks for the fun stuff y'all do!

    Kathy aka mrsworldwidewebb

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  4. Love the giveaway.
    msuck27@hotmail.co.uk

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  5. The book sounds great.
    msuck27@hotmail.co.uk

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  6. Thanks everyone. Good luck to all of you :)

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  7. Yep, I'd take guy number 3 too! LOL, great post. It must be awful to be questioned like that all the time, with everyone wondering if they are the characters in your books, haha!

    The book sounds wonderful, can't wait to read it =)

    Gena Robertson
    robertsongena@hotmail.com

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  8. This sounds great story. I love paranormals and in the last 6 months or so, have really fallen for demon stories. Thanks so much for the chance to win a copy of this book.
    manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

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  9. I would love to read this book. Thanks for the giveaway. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

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  10. i have you on all
    and the book cover is great and would like to now do you have book marek or cover of it
    desi the blonde @ msn.com

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  11. Awww how sweet! And what a perfect answer for your hubby =)

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  12. This sounds like a fun book. Thanks for the giveaway.
    jen(at)delux(dot)com

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  13. GREAT post and giveaway! This sounds like such a FUN read! And you are so right, Michelle, there is a BIG difference between real and surreal...I too, will take a 'Tommy' any day of the week. Bad boys...I LOVE 'em, but they live in my imagination in between the pages of a book. ;)

    barbbattaglia@yahoo.com

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  14. Thanks everyone :). Tommy is definitely a sweetie. And thanks for the compliment about the cover. I just made this new one. Turning it into a boommark is a great idea!

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  15. Thanks for a great interview and giveaway! The book sounds very fun :)

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  16. book sounds great! I would love to read it!
    -Amber
    goodblinknpark@yahoo.com

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  17. Is Straight to Hell the start of a series?

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  18. Hi, Anne! Yes, the book is the first in the series. The second one is due to come out this spring :)

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  19. I hopped over and read the review and think Straight to Hell just might provide some much needed chuckles. Thank you for sharing this fun post and for the lovely giveaway opportunity:)

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  20. I enjoyed the guest blog, I think the frankinstein monster is quite discrptive and true, best and worse from different people. ;)

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  21. Great interview. Sounds like an awesome book. Can't wait to read it.

    e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

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  22. Lol. Yes, I like to reference Frankenstein's monster and other horror creatures whenever I can!

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  23. Aww what an adorable cover! Makes me want to read the book. It is cute, sexy and looks like a lot of fun :-) Thank you for the post and the giveaway!

    stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

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  24. I would take #3 also. Funny interview! Thanks for the chance!

    Mary
    mary_reiss @ hotmail.com

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  25. looks good. I like the cover. rlrlaney at yahoo dot com

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  26. I'm so glad that #3 is getting votes, lol. And I'm glad the cover is a hit! :)

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