Virtual Book Tour + #Giveaway: Father of Contention by Lanie Mores @LanieMores @RABTBookTours

Science Fiction and Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

Date Published:  April 9, 2018

Publisher: Tellwell Talent

There was only ever meant to be one Creator.

In 1972, German scientist Renner Scholz travels to Barbora Bay, Washington where he meets the love of his life, Milena Nowak. Only believing in things proven by science, he becomes obsessed with determining the underlying genetic basis of Milena’s psychic gift.

Stumbling upon an occult ritual, Renner is connected to the spiritual realm where he discovers an unrivaled power that fuels supernatural abilities. But, the answers he’s been searching for come at a cost—his soul.

Driven by new darkness that resides within him, Renner has a breakthrough in his research—able to genetically produce psychic abilities in humans. Milena helplessly watches as her husband becomes deceptive, volatile and both physically and mentally more powerful. Can Milena save Renner from this evil presence? Or will she become an unwilling participant in his next experiment—one of the darkest kinds?

Interview with Author Lanie Mores

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

My writing mascot would, without a doubt, be my chihuahua Batman, who always finds his way to my lap whenever I’m writing. He’s such a permanent fixture during the writing process, that I wonder what I would do without him…maybe suffer my first bout of writer’s block? He’s always supportive, loves all my work—he’s my most loyal fan.

My avatar? A cup of coffee, because I’m braindead without it.

My spirit animal, however, would be a giraffe. Ever since I heard that giraffes can’t make a sound audible to humans, I felt like I could totally relate, being the most painfully shy child, practically mute when around strangers. That’s partly why I started writing in the first place…it gave me an alternative, safer method to speak my mind, divulge my deepest secrets and desires, be myself, or anybody else I wanted to be. Writing allowed me to speak freely when I felt I didn’t have a voice. Things have improved with age, no longer the shy little child, but I am still most vocal when I write.

How many hours a day do you put into your writing?

My goal is to spend at least three to four hours writing daily, however life gets in the way and I’m lucky if I can get in two solid hours per day on a consecutive basis. Even on a good day, when I can write to my heart’s content, usually around the third hour my brain turns to mush, and it becomes impossible to string together a coherent set of sentences. So, I’m forced to take breaks which usually leads to me procrastinating for the remainder of the day. What can I say? My best work is always in the morning, before distractions and poo-brain take over. That being said, if I’m unable to write, I’m still usually doing something to augment whatever project I’m working on, like research, marketing or checking in with my social media sites.

Do you read your book reviews? If yes, do they affect what you write in the future?

I try to read all my reviews and take to heart any constructive criticism expressed. For example, it has been pointed out to me several times that I have a tendency towards excessive description in my writing, and so I’m trying to be more concise in this department with the current book I’m writing. It’s a hard habit to break, let me tell you.

Overall, I think it’s important to get feedback from my readers, to learn what they think of the final product…I suppose it’s for validation, to make sure I’m on the right track, getting my messages across, and not totally off base.

I have my own style, so that wouldn’t change, and I try not to get too discouraged with a negative review. Everybody has their own opinion, and I wouldn’t let it get into my head and scare me away from writing—it’s my passion.  

Do you leave hidden messages in your books that only a few people will find?

I don’t know if you would call them “hidden” messages, but within the Prologue, Interlude, and Epilogue of my novel, FATHER OF CONTENTION, I have several references to the Bible (NKJV) and Christianity, that only people well versed in the scripture would catch. The book series has a strong philosophical and theological basis and my goal is to marry the concepts from the Bible with that of the scientific community.

For example, even the title of my novel, FATHER OF CONTENTION, is another name for the devil, and different signatures end the devil’s rants (again in the Prologue, Interlude and Epilogue), names with which most people wouldn’t be familiar. As the series progresses, the devil remains as narrator, and becomes more obvious to the readers but at first most people would miss these references.

Also, portions of the story are based on real life experiences that I or my loved ones have lived through, and only we would be privy to these segments. They add a personal element to the novel, a real piece of me woven through the fabric of my storyline.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in FATHER OF CONTENTION?

The main characters in my novel, FATHER OF CONTENTION, are Renner Scholz, Milena Nowak, and Paul Barrington. And let’s not forget the father of contention himself, Lucifer, who acts as narrator.

Lucifer is as you would expect him to be—jealous, contentious, full of hatred and wanting to destroy mankind. He still covets the spot of ultimate ruler and feels he has found a way to achieve this goal by using Renner as his pawn.

Renner Scholz is a brilliant scientist who had a rough start to life but was then saved by a rich couple who adopted him…a real “rags to riches” story. He’s a bit of a recluse, only focusing on his studies and ongoing experiments, and never had much of an interest in dating or relationships, until he meets Milena Nowak and falls head over heels in love with her. He has an obsessive nature, which the devil uses to his advantage, and once the demon possesses his soul, Renner becomes jealous, volatile, vengeful, destructive—all the same attributes as Satan himself.

Paul Barrington is Renner’s university roommate, and later colleague, who has a unique way of getting under everyone’s skin. He’s arrogant, slimy, condescending, inconsiderate, and inappropriate, and fits the description of a bully to a “t”. Partying and women are his favourite pastimes, although we find out later in the book that he also has a keen interest in the occult and black magic, acting as one of the devil’s minions. Renner is his target, and he uses manipulation, deceit and malicious spells to draw him over to the dark side.

Can you tell us a little bit about your next books or what you have planned for the future?

FATHER OF CONTENTION is the first novel in a four-part series. The rest of the series is already written, but still in need of editing. Book Two-GUARDIAN OF ANGEL, however, is almost ready and will be released within the next few months. As the story continues, we jump forward in time to 2002 and gradually work our way up to the present, and we meet several new characters, as well as revisiting a few of the old. The mutant triplets grow up, Renner continues his experiments, and the devil gets closer and closer to his goal. I’ll let a little secret out here…there is actually a fifth book to the series, a spin-off story of one of the minor characters but includes all the same main characters from the entire series but in an alternate type of universe. I can’t give away any more yet, but it will be a crazy and interesting read.

After the FATHER OF CONTENTION series is complete, I have a supernatural detective book series in mind. It will have a few of the same characters from my original F of C series, and each story will involve a different paranormal crime to solve.

Unrelated to the F of C series, there is a fairytale that I am working on that is dark and heart wrenching. I predict it will be my best work, but it’s only partially written at this point.  

Do you allow yourself a certain number of hours to write or do you write as long as the words come?

I wish I could write every day, all day, but the reality is that I have another job as personal trainer which takes up at least three days of the week. On the remaining days, I try to write for as long as I can, which is usually two to three hours, but with many breaks in between. I’m the most easily distractible person, so I literally must lock myself in a room so nobody can interrupt my flow of thoughts. But then there I am checking Facebook, playing with Batman, online shopping (that’s a bad one for me), so in the end I’m my worst enemy. Somehow, I still manage to get things done.

Do you have a certain number of words or pages you write per day?

When setting a goal for myself, I usually try to get through one whole chapter each day. Rarely happens, but that’s what I aim for. I’m not really concerned about number of words or pages but rather completing a whole chapter. However, in November when I participate in NaNoWriMo and the final goal is 50, 000 words in one month, I strive to get in 1,667 words each day so I will succeed and get my badge of completion. I’m obsessive compulsive in that way…once the goal is set and I have a deadline, I force myself to work through to completion, even though the writing is mostly subpar. It’s only a first draft, so I’m not worried about perfection at that point. 

What inspires you to write?

I am most inspired to write by other authors. If I’m reading a truly amazing book, with eloquent, thought-provoking writing, I immediately feel my own creative juices start flowing and I itch to get on my laptop and write my little brains out. Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, J.K. Rowling, and George R.R. Martin are all great examples of the type of writing that inspires my imagination and gives me a kick in the butt to get to work on my own projects.

As far as storylines go, I’m mainly inspired to write by my dreams…they are tremendously vivid, full of colour and I’m able to feel all my five senses magnified. My dreamscape is like a movie theater, where I am the main character. The storylines are complex and well-defined and seem to span the entire night when in reality they are probably only a few minutes long. Plane crashes, zombies, being stalked by vampires…my dreams are crazy, adrenaline pumping, thrill-rides. When I awaken, I write down everything I can remember, because as you know, the memory of dreams tends to dissipate like a cloud of smoke on a breezy day…within moments they are gone. FATHER OF CONTENTION, for instance, was created from compiling several of my dreams together after I realized the stories were somewhat intertwined.

Would you rather

Read fiction or non-fiction?

Fiction…all the way. Not that I have such a difficult life, but I love escaping reality…being able to get lost in a good book, swept away to some foreign land, another time period, another planet. Non-fiction bores me.

Read series or stand-alone?

I love a good series because if you enjoy the storyline and writing style of the first book, chances are you will enjoy the rest of the series, which takes the guess-work out of what to read next. It also allows for greater character development and a deeper, more complex storyline so that you become obsessed with the world the book has created. It feels like torture waiting for the next book in the series to be released, but when it does…sheer ecstasy. The Dark Tower, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, The Clan of the Cave Bear, Outlander…ah yes…I love a good series.

Read Science fiction or horror?

This is a hard one for me because they are my two favourite genres, but if I had to pick one, it would be science fiction. I’m not sure if it’s because two of the first movies I ever saw on the big screen were Star Wars and Superman, or because my dad had a strange fascination with Dr. Who. I’m a total geek at heart. Give me robots and aliens and deadly laboratory viruses over ghosts, monsters, or immortal serial killers any day.

Read Stephen King or Dean Koontz

Although WATCHERS by Dean Koontz is one of my all-time favourite books, I would have to pick Stephen King, because I love almost everything he has written. He has a way of getting into your head and sucking you into the story so that you forget that you are reading and believe you are actually there, immersed in his terrifying, fictional world. He has a knack for capturing the internal musings of the subconscious mind, so you see everything from his characters’ eyes in a relatable way. And his mind is so creepy and disturbing and wonderfully creative. The second he releases a new book, I buy it, no questions asked.

Read the book or watch the movie?

I would read the book first, then watch the movie. The book contains so much more detail, much of which is lost in the short span of a film. With a book, you feel like you are the characters in the book, not just watching them from afar. You experience their experiences, feel their feelings and fears. You can read their thoughts, experience their senses as they explore the world they live in. It’s a more personal experience.

Read an ebook or paperback?

Only when I travel do I prefer an ebook since it’s lighter to carry and I can download as many books as possible. Otherwise, I like to have the real book in my hands, see the cover artwork in real life, be able to smell the paper and ink. It’s a sensory experience for me. It also gives my eyes a break from the computer screen, since I am usually writing during the day.

Be trapped alone for one month in a library with no computer or a room with a computer and Wi-Fi only?

I think the idea of being trapped alone in the library for one month without a computer sounds like a wonderful vacation…where do I sign up?

Do a cross-country book store tour or blog tour online?

The online blog tour is proving to be a fantastic experience, although I’m still on the beginning side of things. It suits my personality better. I’m an introvert through and through, so a real tour would probably jack my anxiety up through the roof. The online blog tour is so much less intimidating, and I still get to promote my book, connect with readers through social media, and travel across the internet in a cost-effective manner. Using RABT Book Tours and PR has proven to be a fantastic, easy experience, and I will definitely use this method for marketing the rest of my series and any future books I write.

About the Author

Lanie Mores resides in Ontario with her family, although she enjoys traveling to alternate realities through reading, binge-watching Netflix or playing video games.

She has worn many hats throughout her life: cashier, medical records secretary, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, personal trainer, mom and now author.

Inspired to write by Stephen King, Diana Gabaldon, Jean M. Auel, and Margaret Atwood, Lanie works diligently to complete her four-part FATHER OF CONTENTION series.

With her writing, Lanie hopes to inspire her readers to think and live outside the box, to be courageous in following their own passions, and live a life of purpose.

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Blog

Pinterest

Goodreads

Instagram

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

Kindle

a Rafflecopter giveaway