Christopher Chapman: True Connection Blog Tour!

Author Bio:

Rachel lives in Central Pennsylvania, is a stay at home mom, has a wonderful husband, total of 4 kids, 3 of which are step kids. She’s a true Pittsburgh Penguins and Steelers fan. She’s an insomniac that loves coffee, Johnny Depp movies and bonfires, dislikes driving on the interstate, bugs of any kind, and a too quiet house. When she’s not playing with the people inside her head, making her family think she belongs in the loony bin or writing, she enjoys spending time with her family, finding new music, new books, helping someone or plotting something equally crazy with her Critique Partners.

Stalk Links: These links will bring you to websites where you too can stalk Rachel like I do...
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RachelWalterAuthor?fref=ts
Twitter https://twitter.com/rachelw_auth
Blog http://rachelwalterauthor.blogspot.com/
True Connection on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16150599-true-connection?ac=1

Synopsis:

'It's going to take a fight, I know that. But it's more than just a fight for my life. It's a fight for my soul and my soul mate.'
Jazzy Williams is not your average coffee-loving teen. She's struggling with her grief, her famous uncle’s fans, an overprotective big brother, and a depressed mother, all while trying to make friends at her new school. In the first week, she meets a gorgeous green-eyed hottie who turns out to be more than just some high school crush - he's more than human. And she unknowingly enrages a very dangerous breed of immortal who wants her soul or life as payment. With the help of supernatural friends and protectors, Jazzy thinks she's safe until what remains of her family is put in danger. Does Jazzy have what it takes to save her family, life, soul and soul mate, or will all be lost?

Warning Mature Content. This contains some profanity, mild sexual situations, innuendoes, and violence. Recommended for ages 17 and up, depending on maturity level.

True Connection. Even before I had the chance to read it, I was in love with the novel. I talk to the author regularly, and over the time of getting to know her, she let things leak from the novel for me. When this blog tour came around I knew that I had to do as much as I personally could to help promote this novel, this author.

True Connection. That is what I had with this novel! There was that connection when I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. With the exception when I had a manuscript of it outside on a windy day, and it blew all over my lawn. Be warned, once you pick this novel up, you will not be getting ay sleep. You'll want to stay awake and finish it because Rachel has written it beautifully and leaves the reader wanting more after each chapter.

When I started to read True Connections I had high expectations for it, and I for sure was not disappointed. Right off the bat I was hooked. The first chapter got me, it made me curious as to what really happened to Jaz and Henry. The story seems to tell itself. I was just there for the ride. If I do recall, I was crying every other chapter. Rachel has made this book an emotional one, but don't get me wrong, I'm a sap. I've laughed out loud, and screamed at a few characters. It is a summers must read novel!

Now for my interview with Rachel

C:Well hello there Mrs. Rachel Walter. I have a few questions that I would like to ask you if you don't mind.

R:Hi Chris! *waves* go ahead, ask away

C:How long have you been writing?

R:Well, when I was in high school I had some issues... And writing was suggested. I started with poetry but sort of failed, at least, I thought I did. So it's been roughly 13-14 years. Didn't start my first novel (True Connection) until 2012.

C:At least you thought you failed at poetry? Was there someone who told you otherwise?

R:A good friend of mine said they were good (I never believed him), but my writing worried him. When I write I get really into what I'm writing. And he thought I was pulling away from everyone around me and putting everything into the poems. So I eventually have up poetry.

C: And by have you mean gave, yes?

R:Yes lol.

C:So, you started writing True Connection in 2012, do you remember which month?

R:February (I think), but I didn't tell anyone I was writing a story until April or May.

C:What was the hardest thing for you, when you first started writing True Connection?

R:At the beginning, when the idea first came to me I had no idea how to start it. I started it seven different ways before something clicked. After that, the absolute hardest thing for me was the title. True Connection was referred to as "Book One" well after the first draft was written.

C:And how long did it take to write the first draft?

R:Five or six months.

C:With kids running around the house, how often did you get the chance to get any writing done?

R:Funny you should ask that, I was just literally talking to a friend about this earlier today. When I started writing TC I mostly wrote at night. Until my 14yo stepdaughter read what I had. Then she would say "can I take 3yo upstairs/outside to play so you can write?" She pushed me to finish the story. Her excitement for it blew me away.

C: It's amazing how the opinion of the rough age group has on your story actually pushes you to get more writing done, more often.

You've done most of your writing at night, how much sleep do you think you lost because of this?

R:I'd say none. Before I started writing as much as I do now, I was reading. I'd read nearly all night an grab a handful of hours of sleep and get up and do it again the next day. I don't read near as often as I did before but I still read a lot .

C:And what was the hardest part, for you, in the editing process?

*I'm grinning wildly* because of the next question I'm about to ask.

R:Show, not tell. Still troubles me. I've read some books (I won't name) that I'd pick spots out and say "that's telling." But I can't do it for myself. Well, I can, but I think in my rewrites I only picked out a handful. I was lucky enough to have help with that.

C:Going back to the previous question, were they proper uses for commas?

LOL!

R:Don't get me started on commas! That's a love/hate relationship. Evil little buggers! Lol!

C:I'm sure everyone would like to know the story on the commas, care to share?

R:Hah. Okay, I'll tell.
These itty bitty things ------> , <----- the comma. We don't get along all the time. I've been known to overuse them, underuse them, and even "why is there a comma there?" use of commas. My other Critique Partner, Emma Hart, wrote me up a cheat sheet to help with most of them. After that I spent three or four days in "Comma Hell." I went through, line by line, checking every sentence. Even if there wast a comma to begin with, just to make sure the commas were placed as properly as I could get them. (No, I haven't checked all comma placements in any of these answers! LOL)

C:LOL!

Just two more questions.

R:Should I be worried?

C:Not at all, or at least I don't think so.

R:*takes a deep breath* awesome.

C:I've read recently that the title of book two has finally come to you, would you mind sharing the title with everyone?

R:I suppose I can do that.
Book Two of The Soul Mate series is titled: Soup Promise

**** Soul

(Autocorrect got me!!)

C:Soup Promise, sounds like it should be an interesting book.

R:Nooooo! Soul! Soul!!! Lol

C: LOL!

Okay, last question.

When are we going to see Soul Promise hit the shelves?

R:I'm in the rewriting process now. (I had well over half written when I started rewriting True Connection, so a LOT needs to change) I'm hoping for early 2014

C: I look forward to that.

Thank you for this Rachel Walter. It's been a pleasure.

R:Thanks for having me Chris!