Happy Friday everyone. Casey here.

A quick post today, since I am on vacation this week. And because I’m on vacation, I have a giant TBR (to be read) list. Oh, don’t worry, I’m still writing two books at once. Although it looks like Mystic Hero is winning the word count war.

I mentioned last week that I troll the Kindle Daily Deal everyday, so most of these books are on my Kindle purchased as a result of said “deal”. Here’s what I have on my plate (which is a slim fraction of the TBR pile):

1. The People Who Eat Darkness: The True Story of a Young Woman who Vanished from the Streets of Tokyo – And the Evil that Swallowed Her Up by Richard Lloyd Parky – non-fiction, true crime

2. Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell- YA/Middle Grade

3. Money Shot by Christa Faust – Crime Noir

4. A Bad Day for Voodoo by Jeff Strand – YA

5. Nightwings by Robert Silverberg – Science Fiction

And finally, earlier in the week I read The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (and in case you missed it, Galbraith was outed as JK Rowling). I read my local library’s copy because there is no way I’m spending $9.99 on a digital book. I really enjoyed it. The story sucked me in and I finished in about two days.

So you may (or may not) be asking yourself, with a week of vacation and nothing to do – why are you reading at all? Surely, the time could be better spent just writing. Well, I have been writing (I average about 3,000 words in about 2 – 3 hours).

I also believe, that to be a better writer and storyteller, I have to keep reading. Otherwise, life is no fun for me and my writing actually comes easier if I don’t spend all my time stressing about it.

What about you? What’s in your TBR pile? And if you’re a writer, do you find reading helps with the writing process?

For the first time ever, my publisher is offering Mystic Ink for free on Amazon. But it’s for two days only – June 4 and June 5.

Don’t wait to snag a FREE copy. Please pass the word on!! Thanks everyone for your support and encouragement.

Today’s a two-fold blog.

1. I’m being interviewed at:  Rogues Angels

I hope to see you there. Remember at the end of the tour, one lucky commentor will win a $25.00 Amazon gift card and an e-copy of Mystic Ink (either Kindle or Nook version).

2. I’m also participating The Next Big Thing Blog Hop.

The point of the hop is for authors to answer 10 questions about their current work-in-progress and to give readers a little taste of what’s coming up. I was tagged by PJ Sharon.

Faithful readers, you will not be surprised to learn there are rules:

• Post the rules.
• Answer the provided ten questions about your current WIP (Work In Progress) on your blog . Note: I did not modify these questions. I’m answering as is.
• Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.
• Link back to the person who tagged you.

Easy peasy. Now to the main show!

What is the working title of your book?

Mystic Storm

Where did the idea come from for the book?

It’s the next book after Mystic Ink. At the end of Mystic Ink, Zephyr, God of the West Wind was cursed by the Fates. You have to read Mystic Storm to find out what happens next.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I have no idea! I don’t actually visualize real people when I created my characters. I leave that up to others to decide.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Dude looks like a lady and he isn’t happy about it! And that’s the only hint I’m giving!

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Neither. I’m currently published with Soul Mate Publishing (Mystic Ink) and Pink Petal Books (The Undead Space Initiative).

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I’m still writing it. Normally it takes about 6-8 weeks for me to actually write a book (but that is after a month or two of plotting). Mystic Storm is taking longer partly because I wrote another novel, Misfortune Cookie, this summer.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

My editor at Soul Mate has compared my writing to Harry Dresden (Jim Butcher) mixed with the TV show Charmed.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

Since the is the second book, expect more romance, action and Gods behaving badly in the modern day world. Since Zephyr owns an Inn/day spa in Stonington Point, CT expect new locales and new characters along with the return of old favorites like Devlin Ward, Satyr, and proprietor of the local pawn shop in downtown Mystic.

Tagged for next week (September 19th) – you’re it! 

Here are my victims….err… lucky recipients:

1. Meggan Connors

2. Penny Watson (this is my shameless way of finding out more about Penny’s Lumberjack book)

3. Janna Shay

4. Sandra de Helen

5. Tam Linsey

Julia Rachel Barrett, you’re off the hook this time and that’s only because you are overseas right now!

Stop by if you have a moment. I’m being interviewed by the Nights of Passion Blog where I discuss how The Undead Space Initiative was born.

Hope to see you there!