The Apocalypse does not end.
The Changed will grow in numbers.
The Spared may not survive.
The Changed will grow in numbers.
The Spared may not survive.
Today, I have the extreme pleasure of hosting Ilsa J. Bick as part of the Shadows Blog Tour hosted by Egmont USA. I am absolutely enthralled with this series and am so excited to have Ilsa stop by for a chat about her typical day. First, here's a little bit about the books:
 |
 |
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Series: Ashes Trilogy, book #1
Series: Ashes Trilogy, book #1
Publisher: Egmont USA
Publication Date: September 6, 2011
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & NoblePublication Date: September 6, 2011
It could happen tomorrow . . .
An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.
For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.
Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.
An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.
Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.
For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.
Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.
My review of Ashes can be found here. Also, Ilsa wanted me to direct you to a recap she put together on her site so you're prepared for all of the Shadows awesomeness: So You Read Ashes a Year Ago...
 |
|
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Series: Ashes Trilogy, book #2
Publisher: Egmont USA
Publication Date: September 25, 2012
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Apocalypse does not end. The Changed will grow in numbers. The Spared may not survive.
Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love. But she was wrong.
Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive.
Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters.
Even before the EMPs brought down the world, Alex was on the run from the demons of her past and the monster living in her head. After the world was gone, she believed Rule could be a sanctuary for her and those she’d come to love. But she was wrong.
Now Alex is in the fight of her life against the adults, who would use her, the survivors, who don’t trust her, and the Changed, who would eat her alive.
Welcome to Shadows, the second book in the haunting apocalyptic Ashes Trilogy: where no one is safe and humans may be the worst of the monsters.
My review of Shadows can be found here.
For me, writing is all consuming. In some ways, I lead an extremely boring life because all I do is work. I’m either writing, thinking about writing, reading books related to my writing, or reading to get an idea of what other people are doing. I am a drudge, pure and simple. Blame it on my medical training and all those years of slogging through school, plus my work-for-hire days where it was all about hitting that deadline and being organized and developing good work ethic.
Writing is . . . you know, I don’t want this to sound bleak because it’s not, but writing is, yes, creative, but it is also a job. I have to show up for work, and I have to show up for work on time. I have to produce product on time, which means I have to watch my productivity; see what interferes with me getting my work done.
This means: I get up (usually by 6 a.m.); I have coffee; I answer some email or read a bit of the news; and then I start working. If I am drafting an outline or writing a book, it’s no different; I have goals for each day that must be met, and I don’t go to bed until I meet those goals. Sometimes that means I’m done in five hours; sometime that means I work for fourteen. For this last big deadline I had, I was working for the last six weeks of it pretty much non-stop, seven days a week, more than twelve hours a day. I have no idea what happened in the world other than it didn’t end, and my husband didn’t eat a cat.
Now does that mean I had a terrible time? No. I love my job. One of the great things about my job is I get to make things up; I live, eat, and breathe my characters and their world. I go through a lot of Kleenex. And I love learning new things; that’s one of the great perks of being a writer: research, although for this trilogy, I didn’t need to so very much because, you know, I’m a doctor; I studied science; I went to school for thirteen years to be a doc, so all that went into the making of the trilogy.
But even after you’ve got the book out the door, the work doesn’t stop. I feel terrible and empty as soon as that puppy’s out of here, and so I’m immediately moving on in my head and otherwise to the next project. I’m all about what’s next.
In between, though, there are blogs to do, emails to answer, some social networking to cram into the day. Any of that kind of writing, I normally do either first thing (just email, really) and then only at the end of the creative part of the day (and only if there’s time). Writing a blog is very different than crafting a novel, and I don’t want to mess myself up. But when I’m on deadline, all that is secondary, too. The book is, first and foremost, my primary concern.
So, yeah . . . I’m a workaholic.
Writing is . . . you know, I don’t want this to sound bleak because it’s not, but writing is, yes, creative, but it is also a job. I have to show up for work, and I have to show up for work on time. I have to produce product on time, which means I have to watch my productivity; see what interferes with me getting my work done.
This means: I get up (usually by 6 a.m.); I have coffee; I answer some email or read a bit of the news; and then I start working. If I am drafting an outline or writing a book, it’s no different; I have goals for each day that must be met, and I don’t go to bed until I meet those goals. Sometimes that means I’m done in five hours; sometime that means I work for fourteen. For this last big deadline I had, I was working for the last six weeks of it pretty much non-stop, seven days a week, more than twelve hours a day. I have no idea what happened in the world other than it didn’t end, and my husband didn’t eat a cat.
Now does that mean I had a terrible time? No. I love my job. One of the great things about my job is I get to make things up; I live, eat, and breathe my characters and their world. I go through a lot of Kleenex. And I love learning new things; that’s one of the great perks of being a writer: research, although for this trilogy, I didn’t need to so very much because, you know, I’m a doctor; I studied science; I went to school for thirteen years to be a doc, so all that went into the making of the trilogy.
But even after you’ve got the book out the door, the work doesn’t stop. I feel terrible and empty as soon as that puppy’s out of here, and so I’m immediately moving on in my head and otherwise to the next project. I’m all about what’s next.
In between, though, there are blogs to do, emails to answer, some social networking to cram into the day. Any of that kind of writing, I normally do either first thing (just email, really) and then only at the end of the creative part of the day (and only if there’s time). Writing a blog is very different than crafting a novel, and I don’t want to mess myself up. But when I’m on deadline, all that is secondary, too. The book is, first and foremost, my primary concern.
So, yeah . . . I’m a workaholic.
Workaholic or not, we're glad for it! I'm curious about the mention of the cat...wondering if there was an incident there. :) Also, Ilsa sounds about writing like I am about reading. I'm so sad to see one book end that I immediately pick up another and slack off on reviews in-between. :-|
About the author:
Among other things, I was an English major in college and so I know that I’m supposed to write things like,”Ilsa J. Bick is.” Except I hate writing about myself like I’m not in the room.
Find Ilsa & her books on her website & on Twitter.
Among other things, I was an English major in college and so I know that I’m supposed to write things like,”Ilsa J. Bick is
Helloooo, I’m right here … So let’s just say that I’m a child psychiatrist (yeah, you read that right) and an award-winning, best-selling author of short stories, ebooks and novels.
Believe me, no one is more shocked about this than I … unless you talk to my mother.
Find Ilsa & her books on her website & on Twitter.
Big, big thanks to Ilsa J. Bick and Egmont USA for putting this tour together. I can't wait to see what else is in store for Alex and the others in Monsters, the final book in the series! In response to a comment on her site, Ilsa says this: "MONSTERS Spoiler: Things get worse: much, much worse." Is that even possible?!?
Awesome info! I was honestly just thinking about something similar to this other day so, it was almost weird when I ran across this. You would be surprised how many people simply have no idea when it comes to this kind of stuff. Anyway, thanks for getting this cool info out there and I am sure I am not only one who appreciates you taking time to post this for masses.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love posts in which authors share their day. I can't believe I never realized how consuming and difficult it is. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI am very excited to star this series. My hubby read the first one and loved it and keeps on to me about reading it. SO many books so little time.
ReplyDeleteOh man, I love this series so much. I was lucky to read an ARC of Shadows within a month or two of finishing Ashes. Now I'm nail biting until Monsters - worse? I thought Shadows was way gorier and darker than Ashes - can't imagine it getting blacker!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post but I was wondering if you could write a litte
ReplyDeletemore on this topic? I'd be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Appreciate it!
Also visit my site - Cheap nfl jerseys
It's an remarkable piece of writing in support of all the web viewers; they will get benefit from it I am sure.
ReplyDeleteVisit my web blog :: cheap nfl jerseys
Your style is so unique compared to other people I've read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you've got the opportunity, Guess I
ReplyDeletewill just bookmark this page.
Also see my web site :: cheap authentic jerseys
I'd like to find out more? I'd love to find out some additional information.
ReplyDeleteAlso see my page - nfl jerseys custom
I read this piece of writing completely concerning the resemblance of most
ReplyDeleterecent and preceding technologies, it's amazing article.
Visit my blog post ; cheap nfl jerseys
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely well written article.
ReplyDeleteI'll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I'll certainly comeback.
My web-site nfl jerseys
Great blog here! Also your web site loads up very fast!
ReplyDeleteWhat host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host?
I wish my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Also see my webpage: christian louboutin outlet
Simply wish to say your article is as astonishing. The clearness
ReplyDeleteto your put up is simply nice and that i can think you are knowledgeable on this subject.
Well together with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep up to date with
approaching post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please continue the gratifying work.
My web site :: nfl jerseys wholesale