Amanda McNeil's Blog - Posts Tagged "interview"

I posted this listing of reviews, interviews, and giveaways so far on Friday on my personal blog. The Waiting For Daybreak blog tour has now officially started!

Most of these folks either are not participating in the tour or had a little something extra to put in before the tour officially started. I'll be posting up links every Friday (or weekend at least) of the tour for you all to stop in and enjoy. :-)

The Chronicles of an Enamored Soul is running an international giveaway that ends July 17th, so you have plenty of time to enter!

Kelsey’s Cluttered Bookshelf says, “This book is recommended for Zombie fans, there are some sexual scenes and violence, but it’s not over the top which is good. This was a great first debut book for the author.” Be sure to click through to see her whole review.

Waiting For Daybreak was also reviewed on Beauty in Ruins, who said, “The writing is solid, the dialogue creatively engaging (even with Freida’s silent cat), and the novelty of the personality issue alone definitely makes this worth a read.”

Nicki J Markus says, “The pacing of this piece is well managed and the tension was maintained perfectly from start to finish.”

And Reflections appreciated Frieda, “Even though Frieda has a personality disorder and periods of extreme depression, the character was still somehow easy to relate to.”

Finally, in addition to a review best summed-up with the great phrase, “Wonderful book!” Love, Literature, Art, and Reason also interviewed me! Be sure to check out the interview to find out everything from how I deal with writer’s block to why I decided to give Frieda Borderline Personality Disorder.

The first full week of the blog tour for Waiting For Daybreak is now complete! Check out all the awesome features these great book bloggers have offered up this week:

Earth’s Book Nook hosted a guest post in which I talk about why I made “What is normal?” the theme of the novel and tour. She is also hosting a giveaway!

The Chronicles of an Enamored Soul posted her review, and she said, “The reason it gets FIVE STARS, is because I simply loved how well-realized, and well-developed author McNeil’s characters were, ESPECIALLY Frieda. Amanda writes about mental illness with sensitivity, and yet never fails to make it interesting.”

Tabula Rasa‘s review said, “The book is, on the one hand packed with thrill and action, and on the other, has a very emotional and thought-provoking side. What I really appreciated was how none of it is overdone; I specially liked the subtlety of the relationship between Mike and Frieda.”

Tabula Rasa also hosted an interview! Be sure to check that out to find out everything from whether plot or characters come first in my writing to what my next project is.

Nicki J Markus also interviewed me. Check that out to find out what my favorite zombie book and zombie movie are.

Last but not least, Nicki J Markus is also hosting a giveaway. Two chances to win this week!

Thanks once again to all the participating blogs!

In Waiting For Daybreak blog tour news, this was quite an exciting week! It's the fullest week of the tour we've had so far, and the variety of blogs visited was super-fun for me.

From Me To You... had previously reviewed my novella, Ecstatic Evil , and I was so glad she agreed to participate in the tour for my new, decidedly not paranormal romance, book. She conducted an awesome interview with me that features pictures to enhance various answers plus she was the first to ask me who I would cast in a movie as Frieda and Mike. On the same entry as the interview, she reviews the book, saying, “This is one high-intensity novel that will hold you until the end.”

The Paperback Pursuer offered up a review stating, “I was blown away by Amanda McNeil's ability to develop such a unique and troubled character who every reader can relate to on some level.”

Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf has an interview with me up where you can find out things like my future writing goals and advice for other writers. She is also offering a giveaway!

Bookishly Me also has an interview up in which I talk about the research I conducted for the book, among other things.

Last but certainly not least, Fangs for the Fantasy offers up a review from a social justice perspective stating, “But even better than a realistic and well-presented depiction of mental illness, we also have it become a strength in the zombie apocalypse.”

A big thank you again to all of the participants! I'm so glad folks have been enjoying the tour so far.

This was a quieter week in the Waiting For Daybreak blog tour, but I still want to give a shout-out to these two awesome bloggers!

Gizmo's Book Reviews interviewed me. Check that out to see what celebrity I'd be most distracted by if s/he walked into a restaurant I was in.

Cynthia Shepp hosted a guest post in which I talked about why I chose Boston as a setting. She also hosted a giveaway, which is now closed. Congrats to the winner!

That's it! As I said, a quieter week, but still containing lots of variety. Both of these ladies were also an entire pleasure to work with.

In other writing/publishing news, I had a short story accepted this week! It will be out in September. Check out my publications page for more details.

The weekly update for the Waiting For Daybreak blog tour! This week was slightly busier.

Ellie Hall graciously hosted a guest post in which I explain how the tagline for the tour, "What is normal?" relates to the book.

Eva's Sanctuary interviewed me. Among other things, you can hear many more details about my busy medical librarian job.

Eva's Sanctuary also offered a review, stating, "This is a unique zombie tale, but well worth the read. I think you will be quite surprised."

Last but not least, today Lily Element posted a review, suggesting it to readers, "if you want something different and enjoy zombie books."

The weekly Waiting For Daybreak blog tour updates are here!

It was a much busier week this week, which was of course exciting!

Wickedly Bookish interviewed me. Check that out to find out my self-publishing advice!

Wickedly Bookish also hosted a giveaway that is still open. If you have yet to win a copy, definitely consider entering.

Ellie Hall posted a review (that is also cross-posted to 1889 Labs) where she says, "The story flies by and it is thoroughly engrossing, with periods of action and adrenaline nicely balanced by periods of memory and self-reflection. The sense of danger and suspense is well developed, and the narrator’s doubts and fears are easily understood."

The Book Hoard's review says, "If anyone had told me that I’d enjoy a zombie apocalypse a year ago, I’d have told them they were nuts. However, I have come to enjoy a few zombie apocalypse stories like Waiting For Daybreak."

The Book Hoard is also hosting a giveaway that is still open. That's two! Two chances to win a copy! Ah-ha-ha.

Last but not least, Persephone's Winged Reviews posted a review stating, "At the end of the day, it’s much more about Frieda trying to find out what normal means in a world gone wrong instead of a zombie book. I believe that it is a fresh take on zombies in the fiction genre."

Thanks once again to every single participating book blogger! I truly appreciate you giving me (and my writing) time and space on your blogs.

It's the penultimate weekly wrap-up for the Waiting For Daybreak blog tour! Hard to believe, huh? This was a busy week!

Offbeat Vagabond posted a review where she states, "I would love to see this made into a movie/TV show. This would look and feel great. Waiting For Daybreak will give you such a unique outlook on the world through Frieda's eyes. Highly recommended."

Offbeat Vagabond also interviewed me. Check that out to find out what authors inspire me. She also is running a giveaway that ends today, so be sure to enter that right away if you want another chance at a free copy!

Mervi's Book Reviews posted a review stating, "The story’s strength is definitely Frieda who has to confront her inner demons in addition to the zombies. She also doesn’t go the usual way of becoming somehow cured or getting some powers to survive."

Blood, Sweat, and Books also posted a review where she states, "Waiting For Daybreak has just enough Action, Romance, and Angst to satisfy even the most jaded Zombie fan. I look forward to reading more from this Author."

Blood, Sweat, and Books also interviewed me. Check that out to find out what my favorite quote is.

Paperless Reading posted a review, where he states, "Even though Waiting for Daybreak is a quick read, it has a fully fleshed out story with a fascinating and different lead character and is very entertaining overall."

Last but not least, An Eclectic Bookshelf posted a review stating, "This was an entertaining post apocalyptic zombie novel that also makes the reader think about how the normalcy of life is relative. It isn't always a light and easy novel to read due the characters McNeil has utilised but these characters are what make it unique. I think any fan of post apocalyptic survival horror that is after something a little bit different and thought provoking will enjoy this."

I was also interviewed at An Eclectic Bookshelf. Check that out to find out what books have had the greatest influence on me.

That's it for the tour for this week! Thanks once again to every participating blog!