Blog Tour Promises: Interview with Amber Garr

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Hi Amber! I am so excited to have you here. Could you please tell us a little about yourself?
 
Thank you so much for having me! Well, I work as a research marine biologist during the day, and at night I’m either dancing or writing. I grew up in the Pennsylvania mountains and have lived in Florida for the past ten years. My house is full of one husband, one dog, two cats, and six fish. I recently completed my Ph.D., and although I will continue with my career, I still look forward to sitting down and writing all of the stories in my head.
 
2) Can you tell us about Promises?
 
It’s about Eviana, a young mermaid who wants to have a “normal” life but is being forced into an early marriage and her clan’s political world because of her family’s status. She’s struggling with those responsibilities and makes some emotional decisions that end up forcing her to grow up really fast. She is in love with a selkie, finds out more about her heritage than she bargained for, and begins to realize that the merman she is promised to may not be so bad after all.
 
3) What got you interested in mermaids and selkies?
 
I’ve always wished that I could be a mermaid or create gills for humans so that I could stay under the water for a long time! They were also fictional characters that weren’t as popular as vampires, werewolves, and fallen angels a year ago. The selkie folklore was fascinating to me, and I liked the idea that water sprites and other creatures might be lurking underneath the sea.
 
4) Are your characters based on anyone you know?
 
Ha! It’s funny you ask this because the first thing my mom asked me was if I based Marisol on my own sister. And the short answer is YES! She’s not so bratty anymore, but we didn’t always get along well as teenagers and you can tell that it stuck with me! (Love ya, Aimee!)
 
5) What is your writing process? (Do you right outlines? Do you know how a story is going to end when you start it?)
 
I have that kind of personality where my lists have lists! So I usually write out my books once I have the beginning in my head. All of them start with the first scene or even the opening line and evolve from there. I don’t have a detailed outline, but I do plot out each chapter in the book before writing. Smaller plot points will change or appear along the way, but the major scenes and characters are usually planned. I will have some idea of where I want the word count to be, but I just take it one chapter at a time.
 
6) What is your favorite genre to read?
 
Urban fantasy and mystery/detective novels are my two favorites.
 
7) What are you reading right now?
 
Shadow Cay by Leona Bodie and The Calling by Kelley Armstrong.
 
8) What can we be excited about that is coming from you in the future?
 
Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) will be coming out in June (at least that’s the plan right now) and I will be releasingTouching Evil, an adult urban fantasy later this summer. I’m also considering releasing some short stories that involve characters from The Syrenka Series…so we’ll see.
 
Thanks so much Amber! I am excited about reading Promises very soon:)
 

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More Info about Amber and Promises:

 

 

Promises
Book One of The Syrenka Series
By Amber Garr
Genre: fantasy/paranormal YA
 

Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love.

 

When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids.

 

Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined.

 

A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those who she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life that she had so adamantly tried to escape.

 

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Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.

 

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Happy Reading,