Madonna Lacy also known as M.L. Lacy is a self-published author who I met through my very good friend RITBS creator Terry Kate. I interviewed Madonna here on the blog as well as had her guest blog last month which was pretty fun to learn more about her and her books. Now today I'm reviewing her debut novel, Chrysalis: The Awakening, and the first book in her Chrysalis series. It's a paranormal romance filled with vampires, magicians and other various types of mythical creatures we have only read about in fairytales. All families have secrets, right? But not like 32-years-old, Bree Campbell, who is discovering that her entire life has been a secret that only she didn't know anything about unlike the rest of her family who is keeping the secret from her. Like most people, it never occurred to Bree to question her mortality and that is until she learns that she is a mortal born into a family of Magicals and begins to question everything and everyone in her life. This is a new world filled with so many unbeliveable creatures that go bump in the night and as these doors to Bree’s new world fly open she finally hears the prophecy told at her birth. Now she must face the revelation that she is a Chosen One and to top that the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones. And if this weren't overwhelming enough, she has been charged with saving every living thing on earth by repairing the cosmic tear that binds the mortal world she has always known and the Magical world she is just now discovering. Now that is a burden that no one should be saddled with at birth and not know about it until your older.

But the real question lies in whether Bree will survive the long transformation into the powerful Druid Sorceress that is her destiny or die in the process as many before her have gone. That is something that she is being prepared for by the ancient ones that have come to her in her mind as she slowly became aware of her destiny as the most powerful of the Chosen Ones. Now Bree’s journey will not be an easy one and she must face the realities of her new life and her new family which include a clan of vampires who have been charged with protecting her for all of her mortal life. They have chosen her as a leader in their clan, a position that has really complicated things for her because for no sooner that Bree is finally reunited with her long lost love, Steven, Bree must learn how to navigate the jealousies and emotions within her new family. Meeting Steven again after such a long time being apart because most of her memories were hidden in her mind in order for her to forget him and move on to being a normal human though that had a tragic ending. While Bree tries to free herself from her past, including her cruel and lethal soon-to-be ex-husband, she must determine who she can truly trust. And while her clan loves her immensely, they will continually try to stand in her way while all in the name of protecting her from those set upon her death.

Bree’s arch nemesis is Esmeralda, a powerful sorceress in her own right who will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead. Now if Esmeralda can claim Bree’s blood, heart and soul and restore her Demon to his body, she will be so strong that none will be able to oppose her and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and rule as she chooses. But with the help of the Guardians and her dreams, Bree begins to awaken the powers hidden within her and begins to embrace the responsibility she has been born to. And even while these changes make her body weak, Bree begins to find an inner strength she never knew she had within herself. Will it be enough to save the world? Well that question is yet to be answered since this book is part of a series that it yet finished so we are going to have to hold our breaths and wait to find out if Bree will have enough in her to save the world. I have to say that it took me a bit of time to get into this very complex novel since there was so much going on with the various characters in this novel. There was a small part of the story that was written in the third person and when it switched to the first person through Bree's point of view I was a bit confused but I got into the story after a couple of chapters to get use to the change. In the end of this long and character driven story I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next between Bree and her love Steven as well as the rest of her family and clan. Madonna Lacy delivers a wonderfully written debut novel that will have to captivated from start to finish in this world filled with vampires, magicians and other various types of mythical creatures we have only read about in fairytales. I am very much looking forward to getting my hands on the second book in the Chrysalis series because I seriously want to read what happens next to end my curiousity at least for this next part. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from the back cover and picture: CHRYSALIS: THE AWAKENING by M.L. Lacy $ 14.99 (Book 1)(589 Pages) All families have secrets. But at 32 years old, Bree Campbell is discovering that her entire life has been a secret. Like most people, it never occurred to her to question her mortality; that is until she learns that she is a mortal born into a family of Magicals and begins to question everything and everyone in her life. As the doors to Bree’s new world fly open and she finally hears the prophecy told at her birth she must face the revelation that she is a Chosen One; the last and greatest of a long line of Chosen Ones. And if this were not overwhelming enough, she has been charged with saving the earth by repairing the cosmic tear that binds the mortal world she has always known and the Magical world she is just now discovering. But the real question lies in whether Bree will survive the long transformation into the powerful Druid Sorceress that is her destiny or die in the process as many before her have gone. Bree’s journey will not be an easy one. She must face the realities of her new life and her new family; a clan of vampires who have been charged with protecting her for all of her mortal life. They have chosen her as a leader in their clan, a position that has really complicated things for her. For no sooner than Bree is finally reunited with her long lost love, Steven, Bree must learn how to navigate the jealousies and emotions within her new family. While Bree tries to free herself from her past, including her cruel and lethal husband, she must determine who she can truly trust. And while her clan loves her immensely, they will continually try to stand in her way; all in the name of protecting her from those set upon her death. Bree’s arch nemesis is Esmeralda, a powerful sorceress in her own right who will stop at nothing until this Chosen One is dead. If Esmeralda can claim Bree’s blood, heart and soul and restore her Demon to his body, she will be so strong that none will be able to oppose her and she will be free to rid the world of all mortals and rule as she chooses. But with the help of the Guardians and her dreams, Bree begins to awaken the powers hidden within her and begins to embrace the responsibility she has been born to. And even while these changes make her body weak, Bree begins to find an inner strength she never knew she had within herself. Will it be enough to save the world?

Today I have romance author Madonna Lacy who is also known as M.L. Lacy and I met her through my friendship with Terry Kate, creator of Romance in the Backseat, when we had our live chat together. Well Madonna got in touch with me one day about sending me a copy of her debut novel, Chrysalis: The Awakening, which Madonna is going to send me a signed copy for me to read and review later on my review blog so keep a look out for that review. Also don't forget to come back on Thursday, October 22nd because Madonna will be guest blogging about her debut novel, Chrysalis: The Awakening, which is the first book in your Chrysalis Series. Now onto my very fun and informative interview with Madonna:

Phoebe Jordan: When did you know that writing romance was going to be the thing that you would do with your life? Which author inspired you to start writing romance? Madonna Lacy: It wasn’t something that I inspired to do. It just developed on its own. I wanted to try my hand at putting the stories I have always made up in my mind to paper. I never thought of mine as ‘romance’ stories though—just my stories with romance in them. Phoebe: Did you know what type of romance you wanted to write about or did you experiment with different genres before you chose the one that you felt was for you? Madonna: I have always liked the paranormal realm so romance/fiction/fantasy will always be my genre. I can do more with it. I hope to do true mystery/romance, who done it…one day. Phoebe: What was the first fiction you ever wrote besides any school work? And do you still have it with you? Madonna: I have never written a book before this one. Phoebe: How much research do you have to do for your novels and does it take you a long time to gather that research? Madonna: Since it’s in the fantasy realm, and because I wanted my mythical beings to be different, it’s all my way. My characters do not follow the typical molds for vampire, witches, werewolf (if there is such a thing). Phoebe: How did you come up with the concept for your current novel, Chrysalis: The Awakening, which is the first book in your Chrysalis Series? Madonna: It was a story that had been in my head for some time. It wouldn’t leave, so I kept my thoughts going with it and finally this is the way I wanted it. The entire book has played out in my head. The beginning and the ending of the story have stayed the same, what happens between now and then is like life—it keeps changing. Phoebe: How did you come up with the concept for your upcoming novel, Chrysalis: The Tribulation, which is the second book in your Chrysalis Series? And what are your titles and plans for any of your future books in your Chrysalis Series? Madonna: I try to come up with the titles that will give a little insight into what’s coming in each chapter of her life. Tribulations relate to the distress or suffering that happens. Phoebe: How do you come up with each of your characters for your novels? How do you choose their names out of so many names out there? Madonna: I pick names I like. When I’m thinking about the next book, I have characters I want to add. I decide the personalities first and how they are going to interact with the current cast of characters and run with it. I loved the name Odessa and it fits the Guardian in the story. Phoebe: Do you have a favorite character that you really enjoyed writing about in your current novel, Chrysalis: The Awakening? Did you have a character that you felt you could really relate to in your current novel, Chrysalis: The Awakening? Madonna: I like writing for each of them, Esmeralda is a fun character to write for, she’s a good evil person, no one knows really what she’s up too. (She has many irons in the fire). Sandy’s fun and sassy. I really like them all. Phoebe: Do you have a favorite character that you really enjoyed writing about in your upcoming novel, Chrysalis: The Tribulation? Did you have a character that you felt you could really relate to in your upcoming novel, Chrysalis: The Tribulation? Madonna: I haven’t any favorites really, I enjoy the time I get to spend with each of them. A lot is happening in the second book; a lot happened in the first book, book 3 will be just as action packed. Gina will play a larger role in Bree’s life in book 2. Phoebe: Do you have a process of how you start to write your novels? Madonna: First I have to come up with a story line, then I just write, what happens, happens. Then through the editing process I try to take out things I have put in that really aren’t leading anywhere. I don’t write by outlines because things change throughout my story. I know how each of the book starts and ends and I know what major things happen in the story. So what happens in the middle is really up for grabs, as long as I get to the major parts and the ending—that’s what matters. Phoebe: Which do you like best, writing a series or are you going to give writing stand alone novels a chance? How is writing each different for you? Madonna: I like series, but I’m in a writing contest in November and it should be at least 80,000 to 100,000 words. I hope to end it as a stand alone but leave it in a way if it is received well to continue with it. Phoebe: What process did you have to go through to get your first book published and did it take you long? Madonna: I have self-published my books. I looked at all the companies online, researched them and finally decided on AuthorHouse. I’ve had a very good experience with them and I’ve been learning more along the way. Once I made the decision to self-publish it took about 4 months. Phoebe: Why did you decide to self-publish your novel instead of sending it to an agent or a publishing house? Madonna: It came down to ‘I wanted the book’. Several of my friends and family members read the story and I thought they’d just say ‘okay, that was good’ and let it go at that. But when I got their reactions and they were excited for the next book, and read the manuscript for the second and were still excited, I thought why not. I tried the traditional routes. Since I hadn’t any previous publishing credentials, I soon realized it was probably not going to happen as quickly as I wanted it to happen, it’s very hard to break into the publishing world. So many really good stories go unpublished. So after receiving the rejections, I decided that since I had put a lot of work into my story—I wanted it in book form. Now I have it and I have started getting a following, so maybe I might give it another try on the third book in the series, or maybe the story I write in November. We shall see. Phoebe: How did you feel when you finally saw your first published book? Madonna: Honestly? I was elated! I cried and then I read it again. Phoebe: Do you ever get writers block? What do you do to get rid of it so you can get back to writing your novels? Madonna: Not yet. I just write and see what happens. Phoebe: What is your biggest reader pet peeve, if you have any? (stock characters, unresolved endings, predictability, everything wrapped up hurriedly in the end, etc.) Madonna: When things happen in a story and you have no idea how it happened. I like details; I like to bring you along on the journey, not just arrived and not let you know how you got there. Phoebe: Which aspects of writing do you enjoy the most and why? And what is your biggest writing pet peeve? (overuse of exclamation points, adverbs, bad guys named Wayne, etc.), if you have any? Madonna: Creating is what I most enjoy. Twists and turns. I like for you to see what I am seeing. Sometimes I tend to get a little carried away in describing something, I’ve toned that down. I don’t like a lot of ‘flowery’ prose. I don’t talk that way so I don’t write that way. I’m very common in my writing and my readers like my style. Phoebe: What is the one writing tool can you not live without? Madonna: A dictionary and a thesaurus. Phoebe: How do you handle your writing schedule and your personal life without going insane? Madonna: It’s hard for me at the moment. I wanted to write at least two books a year—that was my goal. But that was all I seemed to be doing and so I have set a schedule to do one a year. I write a few hours at night, between the news and nighttime TV. Then I spend that time with my husband. I write on the weekends but I try not to let it interfere with my home life. I don’t always win! Phoebe: What do you do to relax after having spent a long while writing? Do you have any hobbies? Madonna: I enjoy painting and riding bikes. I scrapbook and I like to travel. I like to help my husband with his genealogy—I like to research dead people! Phoebe: Is there any advice that you would give to an aspiring romance writer that you wish someone had given you? Madonna: My advice is simple, find what works for you and keep writing. No matter what the reviews say. It’s all subjective. Don’t be afraid to step out of the box. You won’t please everyone so it’s important that you please yourself. Phoebe: Is there any writing tips, research tips, promotion and marketing tips that you would give to an aspiring romance writer that you wish someone had given you? Madonna: There are a lot of inexpensive ways to promote your work such as word of mouth, getting reviews, doing blogs like this as well as Facebook, Twitter and Book Clubs. There are a lot of expensive ways too. Set a budget and stick to it. Bookmarks are great, I leave them everywhere. Libraries love them. Phoebe: Do you have a favorite genre you like to read? Who is your favorite author(s)? Madonna: I don’t have ‘favorite’ author(s)—I have ‘favorite’ series. I read Steven Berry, Rick Riordan, a lot of YA (because I have 3 granddaughters and I want to stay current with them). Of course I read the Harry Potter series! Phoebe: What are you reading now? And what do you plan to read after that? Madonna: Currently, I’m not reading anything. I have Rick Riordan’s last book in the Lightening Thieves series sitting on my night stand…waiting. I want to read Steven Berry’s The Charlemagne Pursuit and then his next one, Dan Brown’s The Last Symbol.