Interview: E.J. Stevens, author of She Smells The Dead

To celebrate the release of She Smells The Dead, (which is today, in my side of the world) and as a part of the Book Release party, I'm posting a fab interview from the author herself, the fabulous E.J. Stevens. I was lucky enough to ask a few questions to E.J. about the book.

If you've read the book, and you're curious to know what happens next, you might want to read this. Why, you ask? Because E.J. shared some precious info about Spirit Guide, Book #2!

On with the interview:

Can you please share with us something about yourself?

I live in a magical forest on the coast of Maine where I am currently working on Spirit Storm, the second book in the Spirit Guide young adult paranormal romance series. My only neighbors are the spirits lingering around the overgrown cemetery beside my house and the creatures that hoot, flap, and snap branches as they pass by in the night. A perfect environment for a paranormal author! :)

In your own words, can you please tell us something about your novel, She Smells The Dead?

She Smells the Dead is the story of Yuki, a rebellious teen entering her senior year of high school, coping with her newly developed paranormal ability. Can Yuki hear the dead? No. Can Yuki see the dead? No, not so much. Yuki smells the dead, or rather is inundated with smell impressions. The only way to make the smell impressions stop is to help the spirit that is haunting her find peace. Yuki, with the help of her friends, is faced with the daunting task of trying to solve the mystery of what unfinished business is keeping the spirit of the dead trapped here. While trying to help the spirit ascend, Yuki is at risk of being pulled into the light. She will need her friends to help her survive, but something strange is going on with her friend Calvin. Yuki has psychic powers to deal with and a mystery to solve, but the true mystery may be the new feelings she has for a boy who has secrets of his own.

What's your inspiration in writing the book?

The idea for She Smells the Dead originally came to me while walking past the graveyard beside my home. I was overwhelmed by a strong smell and suddenly wondered what it would be like to have a psychic connection with spirits of the dead that came in the form of smells, rather than sight or sound.

What made you decide to write in the paranormal genre? Why not another genre?

My mom is from Wales and brought with her a multitude of captivating myths and Celtic folklore. I was raised on stories of faeries and goblins and really did believe there were bloodthirsty monsters hiding in the shadows. The Welsh myths of my childhood opened my mind to the possibility of magic in our everyday waking world. I never turned back.

Was any of the characters in the book based on a real person? I'm a bit curious, especially with Yuki's character.

Yuki was originally based on myself at her age though her character grows throughout the series. Yuki continues to be shaped by the challenges she must face and has become an amazing character with a strong personality of her own.


If She Smells The Dead was made into a movie, which actors would you think best fit the roles of the characters in the novel?

The one actor that I have cast for a role in She Smells the Dead is Misha Collins. Misha Collins is the actor who plays Castiel on the TV show Supernatural. Give him a facial scar and a roguish personality and he would make a fabulous Simon.

Since this is the first book in a series, can you tell us (even a bit) what to look forward to in the upcoming books?

Spirit Storm (Spirit Guide, book 2) is due out 2011. Here is a sneak peek at Spirit Storm.

Spirits of the Dead are coming...

Yuki is about to face an army of lost souls on Samhain, the night of Halloween, when the spirits of the dead roam free. Yuki will need all the help she can get from her friends. But will Calvin be there for her when she needs him the most?

Someone is killing off members of the Old Blood, Calvin's people, one by one. As the search for the culprit narrows, Calvin will have to make a choice. Will he help his soul mate Yuki, the woman he loves, in her fight against the dead or will he take up his role as alpha and choose to defend his people?

Thank you for the fabulous interview, E.J.! Are you excited for Spirit Storm? I sure am!

So have you read She Smells The Dead? If not, grab a copy now! I guarantee you won't be disappointed!

She Smells The Dead on Amazon (Trade Paperback)
She Smells The Dead on Amazon (Kindle Edition)
Releases worldwide September 9, 2010 in trade paperback.
ISBN13: 9780984247523
ISBN: 0984247521

Review: She Smells The Dead by E.J. Stevens

I had to admit, I couldn’t really get my groove while I was reading the first few pages. I think started a bit slow, but it got better as I go along reading, and before I knew it I was enjoying the read.

Title: She Smells The Dead
Author: E.J. Stevens
Pages: 163

Summary:

It's the beginning of senior year and Yuki's psychic awareness of ghostly spirits is threatening to ruin her life. Her ability to sense spirits of the dead isn't glamorous like the ghost hunting on television.

SHE SMELLS THE DEAD.

The smell impressions are becoming stronger. Yuki is being visited in her dreams, and she suspects that her friend Calvin is involved in something strange. To make matters worse her crush on Garrett is going unrequited, Yuki's friend Emma is on a rampage against bee oppression, and annoying Calvin Miller mysteriously disappears.

Will Yuki be able to focus her powers in time to save the lost soul who is haunting her? Meanwhile, who will save Yuki from following the spirits into the light?

Yuki can smell the dead. Literally. It was her indicator that a ghost is around when she smells something. With her recently discovered powers, Yuki was helping the world, one ghost at a time, and her latest haunting was from a ghost smelling like vinegar.

Enlisting help from her friends, Emma, hardcore vegan and against anything with meat who’s got a knack for concocting salves to nasty teas using herbs, and Calvin, the boy who was into all things mystical, the one who’s spirit animal was a wolf. But was it really just a spirit animal, or something else entirely?

I had an impression that this was a ghost story, and that’s what you will initially think when you read the summary, so imagine my surprise when I found out there were wolves as well. I had my reservations, wondering how this element of the story will play out, but it was an interesting mix. Wolves and Ghosts. I don’t think I’ve read anything with both.

I liked the way the plot worked out. E.J. was able to blend ghosts and wolves and turn it into something very convincing and believable with her writing. I think this was such a fresh idea, a very promising premise that, if worked out effectively would be a really good story. It’s enchanting and very entertaining!

Yuki’s character was very unique. Picturing her as a goth girl with a knack for sensing ghost through smells connected with their deaths is such a unique way of presenting her. Her character is very lively, and full of energy. It’s fun to read about her.

For some reason, I always picture alpha males as someone buff and scary, but Calvin is the exact opposite. Cal was adorable. I think werewolf characters are always adorable, may they be ripping off heads or tearing off someone’s throat or just being plain cute in the book. Especially if he’s the alpha male.

I think most elements present in this book are unique. Even the reason behind Yuki and Calvin’s destiny. A wolf with a scarab as a mate? It was, again, an amusing and intriguing concept!

My favorite character though, is Simon. He’s an overbearing wolf, and I really like his attitude. He likes to tease Yuki and basically annoy the life out of her and Calvin. I’m very much intrigued w/ his character though. I’m looking forward to seeing what his role with be in Yuki’s and Calvin’s lives as Samhain approaches.

“Ah, young love,” Simon sighed dramatically, “so pure and innocent…and boring.” Simon rolled his eyes at us and headed for the corner that doubled as the cabin’s kitchen. “If you ever tire of the cub, I could teach you a thing or two,” Simon added slyly.

As much as I want to cheer for Yuki and Calvin, I’m rooting for Emma and Simon. No really. I think they have the right amount of chemistry.

The ending was such a cliffhanger. It makes you wonder just what will happen to Yuki. I myself am anticipating how she’ll be able to deal with her powers and the upcoming Samhain, when she’s most vulnerable against ghosts.

Very much looking forward to the sequel!

★★★★☆ : FANTASTIC! - This is a really nice book. I love it!