Welcome Leah Peterson today/Goddess Fish VBT Stop

Contest for the tour: The author will be giving away at least one (possibly more) hand-knitted by her replicas of the symbol of the IIC (an important institution in the book) to randomly drawn commenters during the tour.

The more you comment, the better the chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/02/virtual-book-tour-fighting-gravity-by.html

Welcome to Dawn’s Reading Nook, Leah Petersen. Please let my cabana boys/girls get you a drink and make yourself at home. Comfortable? Great…now let’s get down to business.

So tell us about yourself. What got you interested in writing? Who are your publisher(s)?

I’m female, average height and weight, and a not-so-closet geek. I’ve got kids (heaven help us all,) a husband, a day-job, and I tend to write when I’m not reading or knitting or computer gaming.

I can’t say I ever got interested in writing, more that I got frustrated with one of the perpetual stories running through my head and decided that writing it down might help purge it at last.

Eventually I realized I had a novel-length story and began to research how you go about getting one of those things published. A year or so later I found Dragon Moon Press and sent in my query during their open submissions period. The rest is history.

How did you start your writing career?

(see above)

Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

That’s so hard for me to answer because, on the one hand, Pete is so easy to fall in love with, but I identify more with the stormier and scarred Jake. He’s cynical and guarded with his trust and his affection. He’s been hurt before.

Where do you dream of traveling to and why?

Europe. I’m a sucker for history. The States are just too young in comparison.

Tell us about your current/upcoming release. What inspired it?

FIGHTING GRAVITY is a science fiction love story that started as a dream. I remembered it so strongly when I woke up that I kept “watching” it throughout the next day. I needed to know how it ended. ;) More than a year later it had become a book.

The dream itself was of a young boy, a physics prodigy, taken from his family to a special school because the government decided they wanted the benefit of his talents for themselves. He was just starting out there when I woke up. But the feelings attached to the dream had been very strong: loss, loneliness, fear, rejection, and it was the lingering pull of those emotions that made me NEED to know what happened to him.

Has someone helped or mentored you in your writing career?

I’ve met a lot of great writers along the way who have helped me grow my abilities with their frank and honest critiques. And some of them are now great friends. But the only person I think I could call a mentor is my editor, Gabrielle Harbowy. She is not only a talented editor, but a great person too.

Who are some of your favorite authors/books?

That’s an ambitious question. J The authors that spring to mind most easily are Anne McCaffrey, Stephen R. Donaldson, & Robin Hobb. I’m sure there are others that I’m going to kick myself for forgetting. Listing single books is beyond me. My memory sucks.

What was your first sale as an author?

This book, Fighting Gravity. I’m a real writing virgin.

When in the day/night do you write? How long per day?

Consistent I am not. But since I have a day job, there are only certain times of day that are available to me for my personal pursuits. In other words, I write in the evenings, nights, and on weekends. When and where it happens and for how long within those times varies.

If you could visit any time and place, where and when would it be and why?

Oh I couldn’t possibly pick. Probably someplace I made up in my head first. I’m guessing the reality of actual times in the past doesn’t live up to the fantasy. I wouldn’t want to waste a trip.

If you could be any shape shifter, what form would you take and why?

What’s the fun of being a shape-shifter if you’re stuck with only one other shape? I’d want to be a shape shifter so I could play around, pretend to be someone else. Or more important than that, pretend not to be me when someone comes looking for me with work or problems.

Who's more fun to write: bad boys or perfect gentlemen and why?

Perfect is boring. Sweet, but boring.

What character out of all your books is the closest to your personality?

Jacob. He wants so badly to just be left alone to be whoever he wants to be and do whatever he wants to do, and not to need or want things that can be lost or taken away.  

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Leah Petersen lives in North Carolina. She does the day-job, wife, and mother thing, much like everyone else. She prides herself on being able to hold a book with her feet so she can knit while reading. She’s still working on knitting while writing.

FIGHTING GRAVITY is her first novel.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LeahPetersen

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LeahPetersenAuthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/leahpetersen

Google+: http://profiles.google.com/leahpetersen

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lpetersenauthor/

Fighting Gravity by Leah Peterson

When Jacob Dawes is Selected for the Imperial Intellectual Complex as a child, he’s catapulted from the poverty-stricken slums of his birth into a world where his status as an unclass is something no one can forget, or forgive. His growing scientific renown draws the attention of the emperor, a young man Jacob’s own age, and they find themselves drawn to each other in an unlikely, and ill-advised relationship. Jacob may have won the emperor’s heart, but it’s no protection when he’s accused of treason. And fighting his own execution would mean betraying the man he loves.

Teaser Excerpt:

After dinner, a servant summoned me to the emperor. This was now twice in as many nights. Was it about something I’d said the night before? That stupid ring?

I was led to where the emperor was talking with the ship’s captain in one of the hallways.

“Good evening, Mr. Dawes. I see you survived the lift-off.” He walked as he spoke, gesturing for me to accompany him.

“It was an incredible experience, Excellence. This is a nice ship you have.”

“Thank you. It’s not a new ship, there was no time for that. But many things were upgraded, the engines included. They’re the best of the best, I’m told. I thought about you during the lift-off. I wondered what you’d make of it.”

“You did?” I asked, stunned.

“Is there something wrong with that?” he asked, his mouth twisted in what looked like amusement but was probably something more dangerous to me.

“No, sir. I guess not…”

“Does it bother you?” He seemed to be teasing me again.

“Some,” I answered.

He stopped. “Why?”

“Because I’m afraid of you.”

He laughed, and started down the hallway again. But after a sideways glance at my face, he quieted. “You really mean that?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.” His answer was soft, subdued, even. I got the distinct impression that I’d hurt his feelings.

“You must get that all the time.”

“I do,” he answered, but didn’t look at me. I was more and more sure that I’d offended him somehow.

“So why should it matter, then, Excellence?”

He thought for a moment. “I don’t know. I should be used to it. Of course, no one ever comes out and says it in so many words. It’s a bit of a shock to hear it confirmed like that.”

He stopped again, facing me, a slight furrow between his eyes that I would have called uncertainty, even vulnerability, if I hadn’t known who he was. “Why are you afraid of me?”

“Who wouldn’t be afraid? You can do anything you want with my life and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.”

The furrow deepened and he waited, as if I hadn’t explained myself at all.

“You uprooted my life a couple of weeks ago, who knows what you might do tomorrow?”

“You mean, you didn’t want this assignment?” he asked.

Apparently I wasn’t frightened enough to keep my mouth shut. “I want to be here,” I pointed to the ship around us, “but I didn’t want to be reassigned, no.”

“Mr. Dawes...” He hesitated. “I had no idea. I’m sorry.”

I shrugged but didn’t look at him.

“Would you like to be assigned back to the IIC?”

“Yes, Excellence.”

“Then you will be.” He started walking again, gesturing to me to accompany him. My stomach was jittery. I couldn’t believe what I’d just said. But he wasn’t reacting like an angry sovereign. He was acting like just another guy whose feelings were hurt.

“I’m sorry if I offended you,” I tried.

He turned to me. “Actually, you have no idea how much I appreciate your honesty.”

There was no reason for me to believe he was lying or just being diplomatic—and I couldn’t imagine why he would try to spare my feelings—but that didn’t make me feel much better. I was still on edge, certain I’d said far too much.