Blogoversary Interview and G!ve@way: Raine Thomas

Hi lovelies!

Thanks for stopping by blogoversary celebration! 

I am so excited to be able to share my excitement with you all!

Today we have Raine Thomas, author of Becoming, here to discuss fun things and give away a copy of Becoming, the first book in her series! 

Be sure to enter for a chance to win an e-copy of Becoming after the interview! :)

Hi Raine! I'm so excited to be able to read Becoming! Thanks for participating in the interview! 

I’m delighted to be here, Alli! Thanks for the invite. I’d also like to wish you a very happy blogoversary. I love reading your posts!

Since I haven't had the opportunity to read Becoming yet, can you give a little synopsis? The cover is gorgeous! 

Thanks! Devan Edwards of Nimbi Design is truly brilliant, isn’t she? J Here’s a blurb about the book:

Every three years, Amber Hopkins explodes. Okay, not a blown-to-smithereens explosion, but whatever it is always hurts like hell and leaves her life a shambles. She’s already worked her way through five foster placements, and she’s doing whatever she can to avoid getting blasted into a sixth.

As her eighteenth birthday approaches and she feels the strange and powerful energy building, disaster looms. When the inevitable explosion occurs, her life gets its biggest shakeup yet. She’ll not only learn how her fellow foster and best friend, Gabriel, really feels about her, but she’ll discover that she isn’t really without family.

To top it all off, she’ll finally find out why she’s having the power surges: she isn’t entirely human.

Amber must Become, transitioning to another plane of existence and risking the loss of the most important relationship she’s ever had. Her choice will impact the future of an entire race of beings, and will pit her against an enemy that will prey upon her doubt to try and take her very life.

Kind of makes the explosions now seem like a cakewalk.

Was Becoming the first full length ms you wrote?

No, but it was my first published book. I’ve written a number of full-length novels that will never see the light of day. They’re all romances in some form or fashion. That’s my favorite genre!

Do you remember the first book you read that made you fall in love with reading?

This is a great question. I think the very first book I remember reading cover to cover was Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary when I was about six. After that, I couldn’t get enough books in my greedy little hands. I grew up reading her books as well as the works of Judy Blume, Madeleine L'Engle, Francine Pascal, and many others.

What is the most recent book you've read that you absolutely loved?

I don’t know if it qualifies since I’m not entirely done, but I’m in the process of reading Alyson Noel’s Evermore and really enjoying it!

Favorite book over all?

I don’t have a single favorite book. I have many favorite books! Give me engaging characters, dialogue that makes me laugh and a happy ending…and I’m usually in love!

Who of all of your male leads is your favorite and why?

This is so hard because I’ve written each of my main male characters to embody different traits that appeal to me. I find it wonderful that different readers crush over each of them! That said, I think my favorite to write was Zachariah, the male lead in my upcoming book, Defy. He’s got a lot of rough edges, which made him so much fun to bring to life.

Similarly, who of all your female heroines is your favorite and why?

I think I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Amber, the main protagonist in Becoming. She’s loosely based on a young lady I worked with during my career in the field of children’s mental health. Many of the youth I served were heroes in their own ways, and it was a pleasure to give one of them their own story.

Are there any characters in your stories that readers mention more than you expected?

Actually, yes! I’ve had more people comment on Mrs. B (Clara Burke) from Becoming than I ever expected. She’s the foster parent who finally takes Amber in and provides her the stability she needs to grow into a capable young woman. I had wanted to show that foster parents are their own kind of heroes, and judging from the amazing feedback I’ve gotten about Mrs. B as a character, I think I succeeded.

If you were an Estilorian, what class would you be?

Hmm. I’d have to say an Orculesti! They’re the Estilorian class of advisors and counselors, and whenever I’ve undergone a personality test, that’s exactly the result I’ve gotten.

I know that Becoming is a series. I'd imagine, even more so than a stand alone, it will be pretty difficult to let these characters go. Do you plan to revisit this world again after this series or do you think you will be able to close that door?

I’m definitely continuing to write stories that follow the Estilorians. My next book, Defy, starts the Firstborn Trilogy, which is the follow-up to the Daughters of Saraqael Trilogy. Defy releases on April 30^th. I’m currently finishing up Shift, the second book in the trilogy, and will then start Elder, the last book.

Have you ever considered writing a stand alone?

I have, and I will. In fact, the Firstborn Trilogy will probably be my last for a while so I can focus on some stand alones. I don’t know exactly what genre or style it will be, but I’m still looking forward to it!

And lastly, along with so many others, especially bloggers. I am currently working on my own WIP (Contemporary).  Any Advice you'd like to share?

Good for you, Alli! My advice: don’t give up. We all get frustrated sometimes. Nearly every writer out there is trying to balance writing with other obligations (a second job, family, school, etc.) and it can seem like there’s just no way to do it all. Trust me—you can! Just give your writing a little of your focus every day and it will eventually come together for you.

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Thanks Raine! :)
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