Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver (Volume 1)

by Michele Brouder

When seventeen year-old librarian wannabe Claire Daly is dragged kicking, screaming and cursing from everything she loves—her mam, her cozy Irish village and the dreamy boy next door—to take up arms in the battle of good versus evil, she learns the hard way that sometimes you don’t get to choose your own destiny, destiny chooses you. Claire’s life plan is simple: head off to university to get her degree in library studies, summon up the courage to tell her best friend Chas that she loves him and live happily ever after. She never once entertained the idea that she might possess divine powers, that she might be predestined to battle Hell’s demons, or, to complicate matters further, that another love of many lives past might turn up on her doorstep. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and when a co-worker is viciously attacked by a demon and her own family threatened, Claire must face the truth: she is called to a higher purpose and has no choice but to answer. Claire sets aside her dreams and begins learning how to deal with the Unholy once and for all. Armed with only a crash course in soul saving and her wits, she gears up for the ultimate show down in Hell. But will it be enough?

About Michele Brouder:

Michele Brouder was raised in western New York where she discovered a love of both reading and writing at an early age. In 2006, she moved to Ireland with her husband and two small boys. In 2013 she returned to the US with her family and settled in Florida briefly. The call of Ireland was strong and she went back to Ireland with her family in 2015. Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver is her first book in The Soul Saver Series.

You can follow Michele on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MicheleBrouder), Twitter (https://twitter.com/michelezbrouder), Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/michelebrouder) or get in contact through her website at www.michelebrouder.com

Interview With Michele Brouder:

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Claire Daly: Reluctant Soul Saver is a YA paranormal romance. It centers around a 17 year-old Irish girl, who discovers she has supernatural powers and is expected to use them for the greater good. However, she has her life mapped out: she's going to university for library studies and she's secretly in love with her best friend, Charles 'Chas' Manning. She doesn't have the time or the inclination to save the world. But destiny has other plans for her.

When did you know you wanted to write a book?

I've wanted to be a writer since I was 9 years old. I dabbled a lot for many years after that, but didn't get serious about it until I moved to Ireland in 2006 and I made the decision to write, finish a manuscript and learn everything I could about the craft of writing.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

Actually, the genre chose me. I read a variety of fiction genres and I had been thinking about how cool it would be for a female Irish character with her own superpowers, so to speak.

Where do you get your ideas?

My ideas usually start from one germinating seed. It can be a 'what if' kind of question. I like to think about an idea for a while and turn it around in my head a lot. I could read about something in the newspaper or a book, or see something on the news or TV.

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I just write. I write the very first draft in longhand. I transfer everything from my head to the paper; basically it's word vomit. I do not read it, I do not edit it. I just write it. When I'm done, I create a document on the computer and type it up. I find it helps if I know how the story is going to end because then all the writing is just leading up to that point. I do a lot of rewriting. I do create an outline much later to see in a shorthand kind of version how everything is laid out as far as plotting, pacing and developments.

Do you have a favorite spot to write?

I like my desk. When we lived in Florida recently, I used to sit on the porch as the weather was always marvellous. My husband had even bought me a writing desk just for the porch.

Do you listen to music while you write?

Yes, usually. For every book that I write, I create a playlist for that book.

What do you do when you are not writing?

I read a lot. For many years, I didn't really watch TV. Then I discovered Netflix last spring and may have developed an addiction. I have watched the series Mad Men and Call the Midwife. I love the beach and like to be near water when I can. I grew up very close to Lake Erie, so we spent a lot of time at the beach while I was growing up. The 2 years we lived in Florida, the beach was an hour away, but we went regularly. My favorite beach is Inch Beach in County Kerry, Ireland. I'd go down there by myself in the middle of January and spend the day there. I also like history and Ireland has a rich, ancient past. Love to just drive around looking at castle ruins. I also have 2 boys who are still in grammar school, so that keeps me pretty busy as well.

What writing projects are you currently working on?

I have a couple of projects in the works. First, I'm finishing a holiday themed contemporary romance that will be out at the end of 2016. I'm in the middle of edits with that. Then I'm back to working on the 2nd volume in the Soul Saver series. I hope to have that finished by next year with publication tentatively for Sept/Oct 2016