TBR welcomes Arlene Webb

TBR: Welcome to TBR, Arlene Webb. Will you share a little bit about yourself?
Arlene: Sweet to spicy, I love writing stories with an edge or bite to them.

TBR: Tell us about Splintered Energy and where it's available. 

Arlene:

SE is the first in a series of four. Book 3, House of Seven, just released, but anyone who takes the plunge into this science fiction/ suspense/romance will appreciate the intense characterization if they start at the beginning.

Dawn breaks—literally. Energy sparks across the horizon, power grids go down, and the journey to understanding what, where, and why begins.

Energy splinters and a few hapless humans fall dead. A moment later, hearts regain their beat and the confused aliens witness their first sunrise through the eyes of the deceased. Sentient beings can't recall a past, other than a blissful haven. Nor do they have memories from the host whose body they unwittingly hijacked.

The above set up gave me the opportunity to explore 7 powerful aliens from dependent and naïve, to pissed off and in love.

Available for $2.99 on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords. 

TBR: Please tantalize us with a story blurb or excerpt. 
Arlene: A short clip from chapter one:

Aaron kicked off his sandals, threw open the gate, and ran. Near the surf’s edge, David struggled to carry what looked like a woman with flowing green hair.

David halted, collapsing to his knees. A dark emerald dress clung to the motionless form. Shallow saltwater ebbed close to her bare, honest to God, green legs.

David gasped, “She’s breathing.”

“Good Lord, son, can’t you find pretty shells like normal people?” Aaron dropped to David’s side.

“She’s cold. She wasn’t completely in the water, but shouldn’t her skin be bluish? Why’s she green?”

“Maybe she’s an actress or something.”

Erotica no less, starring Aphrodite dipped in food coloring. The flush on Aaron’s face had to match his son’s. Her skin wasn’t Exorcist-vomit pea soup, nor gingerbread-trim lime, but a soft, immature apple—almost the same shade as the shirt David wore. Delicate emerald lashes curled against her cheekbones. Small breasts, flat stomach, and he could see the outline of her ribs through the silky dress.

Deserted beach, home less than a soccer field away, maybe he should carry her inside, and then make that phone call. Aaron scooped the delicate woman into his arms. She lifted like an intangible bundle and a tremulous sob escaped her lips. When her arm touched his sweatshirt, her moan grew louder, and her thin body arched away.

Aaron faced his son’s dumbfounded gaze. “Yep, she’s alive alright. Let’s get her inside.” He held her away from his chest and tried to touch her as little as possible as he ran. Her thin face wrenched in pain—not pain, but fear.

“Shh, I won’t hurt you.” His size, morning breath, what? Had she reacted like this when David carried her?

TBR: How do you develop your characters?
Arlene: Take psychological defects and expand the flaws into loveable but dangerous personalities.

TBR: Do you have a favorite quote you’d like to share?
Arlene: Hard to choose, but here’s one (snicker) off the top of my head: “It hurts, having your head cut off.” Settia, from Rebel.

Thousands of years have shown that cannibalistic seagulls, tool using crows, parrots counting for a cracker, there’s not a feathered being as self-centered as the non-feathered—or as violent.’
Beni. AshesThousands of years have shown that cannibalistic seagulls, tool using crows, parrots counting for a cracker, there’s not a feathered being as self-centered as the non-feathered—or as violent.’
Beni. AshesThousands of years have shown that cannibalistic seagulls, tool using crows, parrots counting for a cracker, there’s not a feathered being as self-centered as the non-feathered—or as violent.’
Beni. Ashes

TBR: Which of your characters would you most/least like to invite to dinner, and why?
Arlene: Five vibrant personalities in Splintered Energy and one’s committed to being a narcissistic sociopath, so I wouldn’t want to break bread with her. In fact, seeing as living light doesn’t consume food, I’d not like to have any of them. Food fight would be the least of my problems.
Beni. Ashes

TBR: While creating your books, what was one of the most surprising things you learned?
Arlene: My mind’s a sieve, always ready to tap into new ways to make a plot work. Googling is beyond cool. I check out Wikipedia a lot.

TBR: Tease us with one little thing about your fictional world that makes it different from others.
Arlene: I hope my stories are ones that stick with the reader. Writing from different point of views other than a vamp, were, human makes them stand out.

TBR: What's next for you?
Arlene: Finishing the final book. After 8-10 years, it’ll be wonderful to move on.

TBR: Any other published works?
Arlene: Novel and novellas with MuseitUp and Decadent Publishing. Book 2 and Book 3 of these series on Amazon, B&K, Smashwords. A novella called Rebel (poinsettia plant angling to take down the human race), as well.

TBR: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Most rewarding?
Arlene: Finding the time isn’t easy, and losing chunks of that time in other worlds is beyond cool.

TBR: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Arlene: Original keeps coming up. Wonderfully weird is a comment a mentor and teacher once said. I do think the reader who skims, doesn’t follow the line to mean exactly what it says, can become confused.  The Color series is more like understanding a sitcom like Seinfeld or Lost, with interwoven plotlines, than a simplistic romance of boy meets girl.

TBR: Where can readers find you on the web?
Arlene:  http://www.arlenewebb.com/index.php
http://arlenewebb.blogspot.com/

TBR: Arlene will generously send commenters who include their email address an e-copy of Splintered Energy on Monday, Jan. 16th, so don't miss out! 

Thanks for visiting TBR, Arlene. All the best to you.