Sophia Tallon: (AUTHOR INTERVIEW) Erin Rhew

Hello to Sophia and her readers! <waves> Thanks so much for having me on the blog today!

I'm here as part of the Rhew 2 Rhew tour! My husband, Deek Rhew, wrote an amazing thriller called 122 Rules, published by Pandamoon on April 5! In addition, my publisher chose the month of April to feature my trilogy, so Deek and I decided to make a thing of it. And the Rhew 2 Rhew Tour was born! ;) Stay tuned because there's an opportunity for you to enter a Rafflecopter drawing for a chance at a $50 Amazon gift card!

S: First of all, tell us a little about yourself?

E: Wow, that's a loaded question! LOL! I'm an author, the operations manager at a small press (BookFish Books), and the wife of the incredibly talented Deek Rhew. I love eating pizza (a little too much), hanging out with my friends and family, and spending time doing a little bit of everything and nothing with Deek. I have an adventurous spirit and am up for trying most things as long as they don't involve an airplane. ;)

S: What inspired you to become an author?

E: I think I've always been an author. When I was four years old, I wrote a poem about my grandparent's car dealership. My family made such a huge deal about it that I just kept writing all through middle school, high school, and college. After college, I pursed my love of acting and ran a theater company. I wrote many of the plays we did, so I still kept writing throughout that time. And then I eventually returned to novel writing.

Dress rehearsal in college for A Child Shall Lead

S: What was the main inspiration for your most recent book?

E: I can't point to one instance that lead to the creation of this story, but I will say it's influenced by Arthurian legend and Game of Thrones. One night, the words "Vanguard" and "Ethereal" popped into my head, and I knew they were warring nations. Over the next day, the names "Layla," "Wil," "Nash," and "Samson" also came to me, and the story birthed.

I also enlisted the help of my friends to keep me motivated and on track, and they became my Dream Team. The trilogy would not have been completed without their help!

Left to right: Danielle Craver, Dawn Ward, Ginny Hunsberger, and Kim Sharp. I'm kneeling.

S: Who influenced you the most in life?

E: I'm Southern, and I have a big, huge family. Many of them are very successful entrepreneurs, and I learned the value of hard work from them. I'm so blessed to have a huge support team who stands by me through the ups and downs of life. I've always wanted to make my family proud and to "do right" by our family name, so it's been a big influence in my life.

My grandfather and his brothers and sister

S: What is the kindest thing someone has ever said and or done for you?

E: It's ALWAYS been my dream to have someone quote this line to me from Romeo and Juliet:

“Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.”

The very first time I met Deek in person (we had been dating long distance for a while), he not only spoke those words, but he memorized the whole passage. He jokingly refers to his mind as "the sieve," so I know it took a lot of time and effort for him to memorize that whole long Shakespearean passage. <swoon>

My very own Romeo!

S: Do you have a favourite author? (Or name a few)

E: Of course my most favorite author is Deek Rhew. I'm not just saying that because he's my husband. He truly has THE most unique blend of literary and commerial, witty and serious that I've ever seen.

My other favorite authors include: Rick Riordan (I lurve Percy Jackson), Cassandra Clare, Jess Calla, Julie Kagawa, and Marie Lu.

S: What is the best writing advice you have ever received?

E: We have an amazing staff at BookFish Books, and our fabulous content editor Heather Powell Van Fleet once said, "Actions before words. Authors should show us what the characters are going to say before they say it." It was simple but profound, and it runs like a mantra through my mind when I write.

Heather Van Fleet (check out her awesome books)

S: Did you always want to be a writer and if not what did was the first thing you wanted to be or do?

E: I think I've always wanted to be a writer or an actress. And I've always wanted to put my love of grammar to good use too. So, I'm living the dream! My grandmother says I used to say I wanted to be a "mommy/teachers/nurse" as a child. Haha!

My grandma (Mema), her twin sister, and me

S: Do you like to listen to music while you write? If so, who are your favourite artists?

E: I do not typically listen to music while I write. I'm a little ADD, so I end up focusing on the words in the song instead of paying attention to the writing. But, as to most things, there is one exception. When I wrote what has now been called "THE scene" in the second book of the trilogy, The Outlanders, I listened to "My Immortal" by Evanescence on repeat. I was in a funk for the rest of the day after that.

S: What helps you write when you're stuck and or have writer's block?

E: Talking to Deek or the Dream Team really helps me when I'm stuck. I like to do inspiration-inducing things too like read well-done books or watch well-written TV shows.

SuperDeek usually helps me unlock the writer's block

S: After a long day of writing etc, do you have a favourite tv show you like to watch?

E: Deek and I like to pick a series off Netflix or Amazon and watch a show a night until we finish the whole thing. And I usually watch an episode from a teen series while I'm working out so I can "stay in the know" as a young adult writer (Who am I kidding? I love them--LOL).

Deek and I have recently watched Person of Interest and Justified, and right now, we're watching Vikings.

When I work out, I've recently been watching Reign and The 100.

The 100-- Bellarke forever!

S: What are you working on currently?

E: I'm taking a bit of a departure from young adult fantasy and working on an adult historical fiction about a very famous king in ancient times. It's developed into my magnum opus because it's been in the works for years and years. I started it BEFORE The Fulfillment Series, so it's a long time coming.

My friend Joe helped me with a lot of the historical elements since he's well-versed in the time period. He passed away a few years ago, and I'm determined to get this book out in his honor.

Joe was hysterical

S: When you're not writing, or working, what do you like to do?

E: I adore spending time with Deek. Whether we're working out, lying in bed watching TV, going on adventures, or talking about nothing and everything, I love every second I spend with him!

Deek and I danced on the Big piano in New York before FAO Schwarz closed.

S: If you could meet any book character in real life, who would it be?

E: Oh, that's easy. Percy Jackson! LOL! I love his snark and humor. I'm sure we would have fun solving prophecies, running from monsters, and saving the world. ;)

Camp Half-Blood!

S: What are some of your most favourite books of all time?

E: My favorite book from childhood is Charlotte's Web. I read the book and watched the movie and cried and cried. I also enjoyed most books by Judy Blume and Beverly Cleary. But my two favorite series of late are Percy Jackson and The Olympians, including the follow up Heroes of Olympus and The Infernal Devices.

Wilbur's "Some Pig."

S: Which of your characters do you love the most and why?

E: Wow, that's a tough question. I love them all. But I think I love Layla the most because she's both tender-hearted and loyal as well as strong and fierce. She's an interesting dichotomy. And the supporting characters really help to highlight both her strengths and flaws as a person. I like her because she's real. If you talk to my friends, they'll tell you, fake people irk me. I like those who will say, "Here I am. Here's my emotional baggage. Take me or leave me." That I can respect.

S: Which of your books are you most proud of?

E: I'm proud of them all. And I'm proud of myself for completing them. So many people say, "I wish I had time to write a book" or "I'd like to write a book," and I'm proud that I just did it. Deek and I have the word "tenacious" tattooed on our wrists because we don't just wish we did things, we do them. But my favorite cover is The Prophecy's cover. I'm going to have the symbol on the front tattooed on either my arm or my ankle soon.

S: What is the title of the last book you read/was it good or bad?

E: My job entails reading a lot of books, but none of them are out yet (since I work for a publishing company and often read submissions). But the last book I read from cover to cover that's not pre-published is Birth of an American Gigolo by Deek Rhew. It was totally amazing. My husband has the best storytelling style and possesses such a unique blend of literary and commercial style.

S: Is there anything specific you'd like to try writing about in the future?

E: I'm working on a young adult fantasy and a young adult futuristic thriller. I hope they'll be cutting edge and a bit different than anything else out there. Deek and I talk all the time, and we're always sparking new ideas for future books. Neither of us really stick to one genre, so we're free to explore all the stories that are out there.

Playing in the Halloween section of Target, but who knows? Maybe a story idea is here. ;)

S: What is an interesting or hidden talent you have?

E: Ok, this is so weird. When I was four, I had my tonsils and adenoids removed. After that, I developed this ability to snort (like a pig) REALLY loudly. I mean, people think it's an alarm or something. My friends used to dare me to go to the back of a store, snort, and they'd laugh at people's reactions. <hides head in shame> Now you know how weird I truly am! ;)

S: If you could have one super power, what would it be and why would you choose it?

E: I would teleport. Deek and I lived on opposite coasts and long-distance dated. I totally could have used the teleport ability then. And now, I moved across the country when Deek and I got married. I miss my family immensely. Pretty soon, we'll be moving back across the country to be near my family, and we'd love the ability to teleport back to this side of the country to visit family and friends here.

East Coast Beach

West Coast Beach

S: Is there anything else you'd like my readers to know?

E: I'd like to thank readers for being interested in Deek and me! And I'd like to thank all of our family, friends, and fans for their constant love and support. Readers, your support of writers is what makes us what we are. Know that we appreciate you more than words can express!

S: Where can we find you on social media?

For the latest and greatest, visit her web page:

www.erinrhewbooks.com

Thanks so much for hosting me, Sophia!! Readers, here's your chance at the $50 Amazon gift card!

For those that don't know, Erin is a young adult fantasy author who is married to adult thriller author, Deek Rhew. Together, they are "the Rhews," and their street team is the Rhewination!

Deek and Erin-- Join the Rhewination! ;)

The Prophecy (Fulfillment Series Book 1)

Title: The Prophecy

Author: Erin Rhew

Publisher: BookFish Books

Cover Design: Anita at Race-Point

Available Now! Amazon Buy Link

Synopsis:

Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she's abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.

Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He's grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear...not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war?

Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he's no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction--for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms.

When Nash's secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.

The Outlanders (Fulfillment Series Book 2)