Interview & Contest: Lee Nichols (Author of DECEPTION!)

I'm thrilled to be participating in the DECEPTION blog tour and to have the opportunity to conduct a brief interview with the novel's author, Lee Nichols. Be sure to check out my review too!

A Brief Bio
Lee Nichols is the author of five novels for adults, including the bestselling TALES OF A DRAMA QUEEN. She makes her YA debut in this month with DECEPTION: A Haunting Emma Novel. Follow her on Twitter at LeeXNichols or Friend her on Facebook at Lee Nichols.

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Give a short statement describing DECEPTION.

When seventeen-year-old Emma Vaile's parents go missing, she discovers she can see and control ghosts, and that her parents knew this all along. She's thrown into a secret world of ghostkeepers and has to solve an other-worldly mystery. Oh, and lose her best friend and fall for the wrong guy, while trying to maintain a B average at an exclusive prep school.

Emma doesn’t seem particularly worried about the disappearance of her parents, which surprised me. Is the situation one that Emma is accustomed to from years of similar trips? If so, what does this reveal about Emma’s parents? If not, what does Emma’s lack of anxiety reveal about her?
They have gone on long trips before, without being much in touch with her. They're techno-phobic, so she isn't shocked they aren't answering their cell, and she's kind of overwhelmed by everything else that's happening to her. I don't think there's a lack of anxiety. She's constantly trying to figure out where they are and then worries that they're involved with some terrible things that are happening. But yes, their relationship is essentially flawed, even though she loves them and they love her.

Why did you choose to write ghosts into Emma’s story, rather than another paranormal creature or twist?
Because I wanted to write something sort of Gothic, and to me that meant an old house, mystery, and ghosts.


How many novels do you intend to write about Emma? Are you currently working on any other projects?
There are three books total in the Haunting Emma series. Deception is out June 8th, Betrayal in March 2011, and I'm currently writing Possession, which will be published late 2011


My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality?
Oh, definitely books.

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CONTEST

Prizes provided by Bloomsbury!

Prizes:

There will be two winners. Each will receive a finished copy of DECEPTION. This contest is open internationally, so one copy will go an entrant from the US and one will go to an International entrant.

How to Enter:

You MUST comment on my review of DECEPTION or the interview with Lee Nichols. (Only one comment is required.) Then you MUST fill out this FORM. If you neglect to comment on at least one of the posts or fill out the form, you will not be entered to win.

Extra Entries:

Not required. Extra entries are detailed on the entry form as well.

+5 entries - Comment on my review or interview (whichever you did not comment on for your original entry)

+4 entries - Old Follower/Subscriber (Thank you!)

+2 entries - New Follower/Subscriber (Welcome! You will gain 4 entries in the next contest you enter at The Hiding Spot as an Old Follower/Subscriber!)

+2 Follow me on Twitter (@thehidingspot) Leave your @name for verification.

+2 Follow Lee Nichols on Twitter (@leexnichols) Leave your @name for verification.

+3 Tweet this contest. (Leave a link.)

+3 Link this contest on your sidebar, in a post, or on FB. (Leave a link.)

Details:

Contest will close June 25th 2010. OPEN INTERNATIONALLY.

Good luck!