Today I’m delighted to welcome Lauren Lynne, a lovely author I’ve met in The Fantasy & Scifi Network (we are both members of the group). Lauren writes young-adult fantasy, but her Secret Watcher Series has fans among people of all ages. Join me as I check out her awesome book covers and then, on for a good chinwag!
Welcome to the world of Owen Ryer and The Secret Watchers. Owen is given glimpses of horrible things that have happened and is driven to fix them but it’s a dangerous life and he’s been told he has to keep it a secret. Homework and chores are bad enough when you’re in eighth grade but now this? He already hated school and now he must stand up to school bullies and even bigger ones out in the world beyond the school’s doors. Now it’s a race to see if Owen can master his special ability before the dark watchers destroy him or turn him to the side of evil and chaos. Everyone needs a hero and sometimes the best ones are the unintentional ones. Owen is that kind of guy as he searches for purpose, acceptance and morality. He isn’t perfect, he doesn’t always do things right, but he has the greater good at heart – always.
You are invited to follow Owen as he journeys through the darkest walk he has ever taken; where he captures images of the underbelly of society, a place he never knew existed and didn’t want to see. After you read Visions, will you be looking under your bed and double checking your closet? Please enter the Secret Watchers universe if you dare but beware – you may be sucked right into the good versus evil suspense of jaw-clenching action and never want to leave.
For Owen, high school is difficult enough without adding the stress of knowing that there are some things in this world that only a secret watcher can fix. Too bad one of their special abilities isn’t repairing relationships because he feels like no one understands. Owen wonders what is going on with Lucie who is doing everything she can to avoid him. Then there’s Tess. She’s older, wiser and seems to really like him, but he’s afraid that she might just be using him. Something strange is happening on campus and his friend Katie is involved. And finally his father is not himself, blames Owen for everything and threatens to give his secret away. Owen is scared – plenty of dark watchers are already after him without his father exposing his presence and abilities to the rest of the world.
Owen and his family must go to Florida in the hope that he and his mentor, White Eagle, can get to the bottom of what is going on with his father. More importantly Owen hopes to discover what is behind the strange, potent relationship that his father and grandfather have rekindled after years of not speaking. They’re afraid it’s a trap but what choice do they have? It’s not in Owen’s nature to avoid danger. He will go where he is needed. Now if he can just make it out alive… because girl problems, not getting along with his dad and keeping up on homework are nothing compared to what’s waiting.
Owen Ryer thought he was normal. He thought his life was boring. A walk into a pawnshop in eighth grade showed him that his life was a lie. Two years later Owen has accepted how far from normal he really is. He has a special gift, granting him the ability to see dark energy in the objects around him. Now he’s part of a secret society where people like himself help others and fight the dark watchers who want them for their powers.
Owen has discovered that a Secret Watcher does not have to live his life alone. He knows that he can expand his powers by working with other watchers but what will the price be? Darkness is growing and evil thinks it has found its new prince in Owen. They will stop at nothing to get to him even if it means kidnapping, mind-control or murder. Owen must do more than fight; he must use his wits and every ability he has at his disposal to hold the growing darkness at bay. Who knew high school could be more challenging than football, homework and relationships? The dark side knows… and they’re watching.
Marlo finds a missing watcher and now it’s up to Lucie and Owen to go undercover to pull her out, if she’s even still alive. They find themselves thrown into the world of human trafficking and are afraid they won’t make it out alive. Caged, drugged and confused, they lose sight of their mission. Then they must face the truth about darkness and light or is it all shades of gray? How will they save someone else if they can’t even save themselves? Sometimes you have to do truly horrible things for the greater good but then what does that make you? What do you become if you are just as malicious as the dark watcher you are supposed to be saving everyone from? White Eagle says that power is power, but Owen has absorbed dark watcher gifts. He can feel himself morphing and he’s pretty sure he’s nowhere near good anymore. What will two damaged watchers do now? Are you still good if you’ve been consumed by darkness? Owen will have to figure that out before it’s too late. He meets a mysterious stranger who has an interesting offer. Owen can’t decide if it’s worth the risk but it becomes more and more appealing as he is used again and again by both sides and now that he’s actually killed someone, who will save him?
Hello Lauren and welcome to my blog!
Hi Fros, thank you for the invitation!
What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).
I am working with my editor on the last of The Secret Watchers books, book five, Destiny. Closing a series is bittersweet, but I’m looking forward to new adventures. I also started a whole new genre. I’m working on my first dystopian. It will feature a female protagonist who has unique computer skills. The big bad government has her beta testing what she thinks is a game but in reality they are planning to kill off a portion of the population, and they are using her to plan how to do it.
Your next book sounds awesome, Lauren! Tell us, are there any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?
I am an amateur photographer in my spare time. My son, my dad and I love to go on day hikes and take the camera with us. Most of the “art” in our house is pictures we have taken. Each of my covers includes at least one photo that I have taken. I also love to read young adult novels and go to the movies; they are my guilty pleasures.
Do you have any advice for other indie authors?
Go out there and make friends with the other amazing people who are in this business with you. As a group, indie authors have been incredibly generous with their tips and advice. They bring you up on a bad day and celebrate every success. I love my author buddies!
Oh, how right you are! Choose a male and a female character from your book and tell us which actor/actress you’d wish to play them in a film adaptation.
When I first started writing Visions, book one of the Secret Watchers, I had just watched the Twilight movies. Before I watch any book-adapted movie, I read the book first. I thought the Jacob Black character was pretty amazing and undervalued so Taylor Lautner became my vision of Owen. My oldest son, who was a junior in high school when I began the books, chose AnnaSophia Robb as the person he visualized as Lucie. He also named her and helped me decide what her attributes would be.
Being an author involves a lot of sitting around. What do you do for exercise?
I found an answer to this one. First I bought a stand up desk so that I only sit part of the time. I love to hike and sometimes I just walk. I’m not as young as I once was, so I also do a little yoga. I’ll be honest, I need to move more and eat less but I love food. I am a work in progress!
Oh, I can relate to that (giggles). Do you listen to music while you write and if so, what kind?
I love to listen to music when I work. I’m a big fan of epic movie music. Howard Shore, James Newton Howard and Blake Neely are my favorite composers. I also listen to music from some of my favorite TV series, like Arrow. Looking at my playlists I see that I have a lot of Maroon 5 and Nickelback.
Anything else you like to do to get the creative juices flowing?
I watch action-adventure TV and movies. I also go out and live my life. I take my journal everywhere I go and when I see, feel, hear, or smell something that moves me, I write it down and save it for the appropriate scene. As for office help… I keep a golden retriever at my feet and two cats on the shelves by my desk. No really! No joke, I’ve lost shelf space to kitty nap zones.
Delightful photo! What were your most and least favorite subjects in school?
Okay, funny story… back in school I hated… wait for it… ENGLISH! I was a science and math girl all through school and into college. As I traveled further along the road of life, I became a writer. I suddenly realized no one was telling me what to write anymore. I had all these emotions building up inside, and one day I started writing and couldn’t stop. Now I fight for my writing time.
Good for you! Well, Lauren, this has been a blast. Thank you so much for being here today.
It’s been a pleasure, Fros. Many thanks again for this opportunity!
I’m author Lauren Lynne. The good side of growing up is that you can write whatever you want. The downside… now I can’t read it without my glasses! I have the soul of an adventurer but the heart of a coward when it comes to danger, yet I’m drawn to all things action-adventure, so this particular genre was a natural fit. You won’t find me bungee jumping, cliff diving or doing parkour because, well… I’m a klutz… so I write it. Think of me as an armchair adventure hound. I create characters who are much braver, tougher, more graceful and athletic than I will ever be. When you dream, dream big!
I love working with students who have a thirst for knowledge. I write for young adults because they are the age group I most love to teach. I grew up in a house where reading was expected, anticipated and enjoyed. I want to pass that joy on to my students. I do not write alone, but pull in my boys for real life teenaged insight. I also listen to my students.
I am a native of the Pacific Northwest, with its vivid and varied panoramas. When I’m not writing, I can be found spending time with my family, working with students, reading, gardening or hiking around Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge or the Oregon Coast with my camera. I am also a graduate of both Oregon State and Portland State universities with degrees in education and science. Writing is my passion and I want to share my love of it and reading with you.
Visit Lauren’s Amazon page
Other links:
Author Website: http://laurenlynneauthor.com/
Series Website: http://thesecretwatchers.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheSecretWatchersSeries
Facebook: http://facebook.com/LaurenLynneAuthor
Twitter: http://Twitter.com/LaurenLynneYA
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5808133.Lauren_Lynne
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/laurenlynneYA/
Google Plus: http://plus.google.com/+LaurenLynne/about
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Thanks so much for having me over! It is an honor to be here! Happy writing to those who partake and happy reading to all.
It was a pleasure to have another FSFNET author on my site after Raymond Bolton. You guys rock! Thank you so much for being here, dear Lauren 🙂
Lovely interview! So much that “click” with me. The stand-up desk (for me, it’s the kitchen counter), the need to document sensory stimulation and also take pictures, but I mostly loved the way Lauren describes herself as having “the soul of an adventurer but the heart of a coward”. Yup! Let the heroes do the crazy stuff. LOL!
Yes, that particular sentence struck me too. Loved it. I am the same, so this is one of the reasons writing is psychotherapy for me, and a way to ‘experience’ things I’ll never do in real life. Aren’t we authors lucky? LOL. Thank you for your visit, Maria 🙂
Lovely interview, which struck several chords with me – not least the ‘I’m a work in progress’ comment. Love the cats on the shelves. I used to have a cat who slept in a desk drawer which he accessed from the back of the desk so I never knew he was there until I opened the drawer. I shifted the things I most needed to another drawer! Who are we to argue with our cats’ needs?
Funny how the same sentence also struck me – we’re all works in progress after all, aren’t we? Thank you for your delightful comment, Mary. Imagine opening a drawer to find a surprise kitty inside, LOL. Thank you for that sweetie, made me chuckle no end 🙂