Stopover for Joan De La Hayes and Shadows Blog Tour

Today, I have author Joan De La Haye stopping on her blog tour for her new book, Shadows. So welcome her and enjoy the blurb from her book, plus get to know her by reading the answers to the interview questions I asked of her. And she wants you to know that Shadows will be on sale at 35% off for the duration of the tour.



Sarah is forced to the edge of sanity by the ghosts of her family’s past. Suffering from violent and bloody hallucinations, she seeks the help of psychiatrist and friend, Michael Brink.
After being sent to an institution in a catatonic state covered in blood - from stabbing her unfaithful boyfriend - Sarah is forced to confront the truth about her father’s death and the demon, Jack, who caused her father's suicide and who is now the reason for her horrific hallucinations. Unlike her father, Sarah refuses to kill herself. She bargains for her life and succeeds.
In Sarah’s struggle to regain her life and her sanity, she discovers there is more to the world than she could ever have imagined, and it leaves her seeking the answer to the nagging question, "Who is really mad?"



1.)Please tell us about your latest book.
Shadows is about a woman who thinks she's losing her mind when she starts having gruesome hallucinations. Only things are not quite as they seem and Sarah realises that there is so much more to this world than she could have imagined. The story is told from three different perspectives, with each character battling their own and very different demons.

2.) What can we expect from you in the future?
I'm busy working on the sequel to Shadows as well as planning a series of books built around Sarah's demon, Jack, and the Shadow World where the demons exist.

3.) How do we find out about you and your books?
You can find out everything you need on my blog: http://joandelahaye.wordpress.com/
Or on the Rebel e Publishers website: http://www.rebelepublishers.com/

4.) How would you describe the genre in which you do most of your writing?
I would say I write horror with a touch of Supernatural

5.) What motivated you to start writing this book?
It all started with a horrible nightmare and developed into a book. Getting the story out was a bit of an exorcism.

6.) What kind of research do you do?
I use the internet a lot. I love Google and Wikipedia. I'd be lost with out them. I also have a lot of books on psychology and on the occult. Books like the Goetia. I also suck the knowledge out of some of my friends. As long as I give them alcohol or coffee, they don't put up too much of a fuss.

7.) Do you have a set schedule for writing or do you just go with the flow?
I try to write everyday, but sometimes the magic just doesn't seem to happen. On those days I'm happy if I manage to get a hundred words down. Then there are other days when I wake up in the middle of the night, storm down the stairs, switch on my lap top and write until dawn. So I've tried to set up a schedule and a structure, but things don't always go as planned.

8.) Where do your ideas come from?
That's a hard one to answer, because it depends what I'm working on, or what mood I'm in, or what's going on in my life at any given moment. Sometimes inspiration will hit in the form of a dream, as with Shadows, or it will come from a conversation I have or someone's suggestion, like my short story, ‘Jack's Lament’. I've even had moments when I've been in the shower and had a scene running around in my head which wouldn't work earlier; half way through the shower, with shampoo in my hair, inspiration will strike and I'll have to jump out and write it down. That's why I keep a note pad and pen next to the bed.

9.) Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?
That's another tough one. I can't honestly think of anyone who I would say has directly influenced me. As much as I love Stephen King, I don't see anything of him in my work. But I'm sure one day someone will come a long and say “So-and-So has definitely influenced your work.” And then I'll know who's influenced me. I'm looking forward to that day.

10.) How long have you been writing - have you always wanted to be a writer?
I've always wanted to write. I still remember writing a fairytale and taking it to school the next day and making everybody in my class read it. My Grandmother has memories of me telling her intricate stories before I could even write and my Mother has similar memories of me driving her crazy with my incessant story telling and making the whole family listen to my little tales.

11.) What is the most rewarding thing about being a writer?
For me the reward comes in when someone’s read what I've spent hours, days, weeks or months working on and telling me that they loved it. That they couldn't put it down and wanting to know when they're getting the next book I've written. It's also about sharing what's been running amuck inside my head and having someone else share in the experience.

12.) Among your own books, have you a favorite book?
I think because Shadows is my first book, it will always be the most special to me.

13.) Please tell us about yourself (family, hobbies, education, etc.)
I have an older sister and brother. My father was a diplomat, so I grew up in places like Germany and Austria. I finished high school in Vienna Austria. I then studied Fine Art and Creative Design. After studying I ended up in the Hotel industry for a bit and realised that it just wasn't for me. I have a real problem with 'the customer is always right.' I definitely prefer working for myself.
I now live in Johannesburg, South Africa with my husband, our two dogs and two cats.
14.) Are there any words of encouragement for unpublished writers?
I would recommend that you hone your craft. Read books like Stephen King's ‘On Writing’. Go on a writing course. But most importantly - Never give up!




15.) Now for something fun:


Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate!


Favorite color? Red


Favorite paranormal being? Demons, but I do think vampires are sexy.


Favorite mythological being? It's a toss up between dragons and unicorns


Do you like science fiction, fantasy or horror? I enjoy reading all three, but find it easier to write horror.


All time favorite book? The Three Musketeers by Dumas


Favorite TV show? At the moment it's Gray's Anatomy


Favorite Movie? It's a tight race between the Matrix trilogy and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. What can I say? I love trilogies


What makes you laugh out loud? My dog, Horus. He's this huge beast of a dog who thinks he's still a puppy.

If you could go anywhere in the universe where would that be? As far out in Space as I could go. I want to see what's out there. The whole Star-Trek thing really appeals.
A secret fetish? I wouldn't say it's a secret fetish, but I definitely have something for chocolate and whipped cream....

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Joan De La Hayes

http://joandelahaye.wordpress.com/
http://www.myspace.com/joandelahaye