Book Blitz: “Transformed” by E.V. Fairfall {Q&A + Giveaway!}
Title: Transformed
Author: E.V. Fairfall
Publication date: January 1st 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Romance
Publication date: January 1st 2014
Genres: Paranormal, Romance
Synopsis:
Since the beginning, two entities have had complete, unquestioned control over Thea: the Earth and God.
But when Thea suddenly figures out that the Earth has trapped her within a forest, she discovers that the only way to set herself free is to break God’s one rule; she must forsake her animal form and become human.
The result is nothing she could ever have expected. Lost within the torrent of human emotions, Thea starts to lose who she is and even begins to fall in love with the one thing she always hated: a hunter.
As her act against God proves more problematic than anticipated, it is only a matter of time before her punishment may prove to be worse than Earth’s entrapment.
About the Author:
I love to write just as much as I love to read. I try to read a book per week, which doesn’t always work out, but it’s the thought that counts. Aside from all that I am a huge animal person.
Transformed is my first novel, but it isn’t my first publication; I’ve had several short stories published over the last two years. My main goal as a writer is to explore humanity and to give people something fun to read.
| GOODREADS |
Q&A with E. V. Fairfall
What makes Transformed a unique story?
Well, let me first
ask you this: how often have you read a book in which God and Mother Earth are
siblings? Or a book in which Earth itself is an entity of its own, and prevents
God from doing anything he wants? How often have you read a book in which
Mother Earth is able to take any form except for that of a human because it is
forbidden? Though Transformed is a story about finding one’s self, it
also explores the foibles of being human and the value of all life. It is about
making mistakes and finding a solution, even if that solution isn’t what was
originally intended.
ask you this: how often have you read a book in which God and Mother Earth are
siblings? Or a book in which Earth itself is an entity of its own, and prevents
God from doing anything he wants? How often have you read a book in which
Mother Earth is able to take any form except for that of a human because it is
forbidden? Though Transformed is a story about finding one’s self, it
also explores the foibles of being human and the value of all life. It is about
making mistakes and finding a solution, even if that solution isn’t what was
originally intended.
Where does the story take place?
Transformed
takes place in a small mountain town in Colorado. This fictitious town resides
next to a forest and is green and lush (Colorado can get very dry), and because
of its high elevation, it has strange weather patterns.
takes place in a small mountain town in Colorado. This fictitious town resides
next to a forest and is green and lush (Colorado can get very dry), and because
of its high elevation, it has strange weather patterns.
How important are names to you in your books? Do you choose the names
based on the way they sound or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing
resources you recommend?
based on the way they sound or the meaning? Do you have any name choosing
resources you recommend?
Names! Names are so
important to me, mostly because I can’t actually write a character without
first knowing their name. I can have the perfect scene in my head but until I
find a name that I know fits the character, I just can’t write them in. I don’t
pick names based on the sounds, but sometimes I pick a name because of its
meaning. Mostly I just know when a name works for my character. As for
resources, I tend to use lots of baby naming websites.
important to me, mostly because I can’t actually write a character without
first knowing their name. I can have the perfect scene in my head but until I
find a name that I know fits the character, I just can’t write them in. I don’t
pick names based on the sounds, but sometimes I pick a name because of its
meaning. Mostly I just know when a name works for my character. As for
resources, I tend to use lots of baby naming websites.
Who is your favorite character from Transformed and why?
Oh gosh, I’m going to
say Cricket. I love Chamber of course, but Cricket is just so fun. Cricket is a
girl who Thea turned into a squirrel because she needed to borrow her apartment
while she was human. Even though Cricket is now a squirrel, she insists on
taking special care of the clothes that she reluctantly let Thea borrow—more
like take. Thea, who doesn’t understand why Cricket cares about the clothes,
tends to leave them wherever she might drop them. Here is a quick excerpt from
the book:
say Cricket. I love Chamber of course, but Cricket is just so fun. Cricket is a
girl who Thea turned into a squirrel because she needed to borrow her apartment
while she was human. Even though Cricket is now a squirrel, she insists on
taking special care of the clothes that she reluctantly let Thea borrow—more
like take. Thea, who doesn’t understand why Cricket cares about the clothes,
tends to leave them wherever she might drop them. Here is a quick excerpt from
the book:
“’You have a squirrel in your
sweater.’ Brice cocked his head to the side. ‘Actually, I think it’s stealing
it.’
sweater.’ Brice cocked his head to the side. ‘Actually, I think it’s stealing
it.’
Thea
looked over her shoulder to see the little squirrel dragging the sweater across
the floor toward the closet. If Brice saw a squirrel put a sweater on a hanger,
she would never hear the end of it. She shook her head toward the squirrel,
causing the ball of fur to stop and glare before continuing to drag the sweater
out of sight. If Thea didn’t start hanging up the squirrel’s clothes, she had a
feeling the little rodent would attempt to kick her out.”
looked over her shoulder to see the little squirrel dragging the sweater across
the floor toward the closet. If Brice saw a squirrel put a sweater on a hanger,
she would never hear the end of it. She shook her head toward the squirrel,
causing the ball of fur to stop and glare before continuing to drag the sweater
out of sight. If Thea didn’t start hanging up the squirrel’s clothes, she had a
feeling the little rodent would attempt to kick her out.”
Give us
some insight into your main character. What does she do that is so
special?
some insight into your main character. What does she do that is so
special?
Thea is God’s sister and has spent her life filling the
role of Mother Earth, creating the plants and animals and serving as their
guardian. Alongside her brother God, the two siblings used their light to
create for hundreds of years. She doesn’t understand humans, and she likes them
even less. It isn’t until she takes a human form that she begins to understand
what she has been missing out on, and ultimately she gains a deeper
understanding of her brother and what it means to be a part of a family.
role of Mother Earth, creating the plants and animals and serving as their
guardian. Alongside her brother God, the two siblings used their light to
create for hundreds of years. She doesn’t understand humans, and she likes them
even less. It isn’t until she takes a human form that she begins to understand
what she has been missing out on, and ultimately she gains a deeper
understanding of her brother and what it means to be a part of a family.
Did you have a specific song or playlist that you listened to when you
were writing Transformed?
were writing Transformed?
I actually
can’t listen to music when I write. I wish I could. Sometimes a song will
inspire me or motivate me, but while writing I need quiet. Of course, that
never really happens because I live in an apartment with paper thin walls—but
that is part of the adventure.
can’t listen to music when I write. I wish I could. Sometimes a song will
inspire me or motivate me, but while writing I need quiet. Of course, that
never really happens because I live in an apartment with paper thin walls—but
that is part of the adventure.
What writing advice do you have for other aspiring authors?
Never give up, and go to writers conferences! I wish I had gone to a
writers conference earlier. They open your mind to a side of book writing that
you normally wouldn’t consider. You can meet people who love what you love, and
it is a great chance to break out of your shell and read some of your work out
loud. Not only that but you will meet other writers who will help you through
the hard times.
writers conference earlier. They open your mind to a side of book writing that
you normally wouldn’t consider. You can meet people who love what you love, and
it is a great chance to break out of your shell and read some of your work out
loud. Not only that but you will meet other writers who will help you through
the hard times.
What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it
successful?
successful?
Reviews! Social media
posts on Facebook, Tumblr, Goodreads and so on. Word of mouth is huge for any
author. There are so many great books in the world that people haven’t
discovered, but they only need to be pointed in the right direction.
posts on Facebook, Tumblr, Goodreads and so on. Word of mouth is huge for any
author. There are so many great books in the world that people haven’t
discovered, but they only need to be pointed in the right direction.
_________________________________________________________________
Exploring the subplot of Transformed with E.V. Fairfall:
Hey you guys, E.V. here. I wanted to tell you a little about my book Transformed
because, aside from the typical coming of age story, it is a book of self
discovery in many other ways. The subplot of Transformed has an aspect
of religion. Religion is a huge part of the world; not only are there many
religions out there, but also within each religion people believe and adopt
different practices. That is the reason why I felt compelled to incorporate it,
even though another part of me wanted to leave it alone. Through the course of
writing Transformed, I’ve studied religion. I’ve taken cultural
diversity classes and religious studies classes. It was a mind opening
experience and it also led me to the thought of bringing them all together. The
subplot of Transformed does just that. Some aspects of different
religions are stronger than others, while some are quite subtle and may be
passed over without a second glance. I’ve also incorporated Earth,
who isn’t a character in the book per se, but more of an omnipresent figure
that forces God and Mother Earth to let their creations evolve. Overall
the subplot of Transformed presents a new type of creation myth
while demonstrating the way in which the characters navigate their life, and
how their different religious upbringings influence them. If a reader can take
anything away from Transformed, I hope it is a broader understanding of
the world and a fun love story.
because, aside from the typical coming of age story, it is a book of self
discovery in many other ways. The subplot of Transformed has an aspect
of religion. Religion is a huge part of the world; not only are there many
religions out there, but also within each religion people believe and adopt
different practices. That is the reason why I felt compelled to incorporate it,
even though another part of me wanted to leave it alone. Through the course of
writing Transformed, I’ve studied religion. I’ve taken cultural
diversity classes and religious studies classes. It was a mind opening
experience and it also led me to the thought of bringing them all together. The
subplot of Transformed does just that. Some aspects of different
religions are stronger than others, while some are quite subtle and may be
passed over without a second glance. I’ve also incorporated Earth,
who isn’t a character in the book per se, but more of an omnipresent figure
that forces God and Mother Earth to let their creations evolve. Overall
the subplot of Transformed presents a new type of creation myth
while demonstrating the way in which the characters navigate their life, and
how their different religious upbringings influence them. If a reader can take
anything away from Transformed, I hope it is a broader understanding of
the world and a fun love story.
_________________________________________________________________
E.V. Fairfall’s background with animals.
A good part of Transformed involves animals, and that is
largely from personal experience. I grew up in a small town with a lot of
wildlife. I had a mountain lion living in my neighbors’ backyard, baby foxes
growing up at the end of my driveway, and a pregnant deer living under my deck
which led to an adorable baby faun. We lived in the mountains; I had my own
little forest, and to me those animals were an extension of myself. They shaped
who I am today, and I had experiences that I’ll never forget. One time I was
painting outside and a large bear walked right in front of my canvas, no more
than 6 feet away. He was just minding his own business and enjoying a stroll,
but it scared me half to death and I ran into the house. I have sad stories
too, times that I’ve experienced people’s lack of compassion toward these
animals, and it always was hard for me to understand. My inclusion of animals
in Transformed is a little cathartic, and a little bit unavoidable. When
I set out to write a book, I always pour a little part of myself into the ink,
the paper, the binding. Adding the animals just happened to be the part of
myself that I chose to share with the world.
largely from personal experience. I grew up in a small town with a lot of
wildlife. I had a mountain lion living in my neighbors’ backyard, baby foxes
growing up at the end of my driveway, and a pregnant deer living under my deck
which led to an adorable baby faun. We lived in the mountains; I had my own
little forest, and to me those animals were an extension of myself. They shaped
who I am today, and I had experiences that I’ll never forget. One time I was
painting outside and a large bear walked right in front of my canvas, no more
than 6 feet away. He was just minding his own business and enjoying a stroll,
but it scared me half to death and I ran into the house. I have sad stories
too, times that I’ve experienced people’s lack of compassion toward these
animals, and it always was hard for me to understand. My inclusion of animals
in Transformed is a little cathartic, and a little bit unavoidable. When
I set out to write a book, I always pour a little part of myself into the ink,
the paper, the binding. Adding the animals just happened to be the part of
myself that I chose to share with the world.
happy reading!
Ooohhh…this looks really interesting! I love the premise – it's definitely unique! I'm adding this to my TBR list – this interview alone has me hooked! Thanks so much for sharing Becca and great questions! 😀
~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf
Hmmm i think my favourite YA book would have to be Vampire Academy, a terribly underrated book with a terrible film adaptation!
– Annie (DoughnutandCo)