Angel's Betrayal by H.A. Somerled - Interview and Giveaway

H.A. Somerled is stopping by the Party Pavilion today on her virtual book tour. She's giving one lucky commenter a digital edition of the book in the winner's choice of format. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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Tell us a little about how you got started as an author and how you came up with the idea for this book?

I took a correspondence course through the Long Ridge Writing Group and after I was done, I took a free class about plotting a novel at the Missoula Public Library. It was being taught by a local author, and now friend, Danica Winters. She helped me find a publisher, looked over my submission, and assisted with writing a query letter. I was accepted and am now submitting my third book with Books to Go Now. She also got me into her critique group, which is helpful, supportive, and soul crushing all at the same time.

The idea for the Angel Hacker series came from a week of binge watching British drama’s Sherlock and The Adventures of Merlin. I was so enthralled by the two main actors (Benedict Cumberbatch and Colin Morgan), I began fantasizing about a story with them as brothers. After a couple of inspired nights, I thought to myself, if someone is going to write this, it might as well be you. That is around the same time I found the free class at the library. It was kismet!

Where do you get your ideas for characters? In particular, did you steal some characteristics from yourself or people you know for the main characters?

As I mentioned, I love watching British television, and also thrilling spy/crime dramas like Person of Interest and The Blacklist. I love big twists and characters you can’t put a finger on. I based a lot of Angel on myself, my former intelligence experience, and her sarcasm.

Which author/authors or particular books have inspired you?

I always enjoy Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, but I admit I was inspired by The Millenium Series (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and such) by Stieg Larsson. I was enthralled by Lisbeth Salander, and found myself skipping Mikael’s parts to get to hers. I also based Angel on Lisbeth-- smart, smooth, calculating--except that Angel is more human, she has a sense of humor, where Lisbeth has lost touch with humanity, and rightfully so, I guess.

What were some of your favorite reads of the past year?

Takedown Twenty - by Janet Evanovich, Sacre Bleu - by Christopher Moore, Beautiful Ruins - by Jess Walter, and Where’d You Go, Bernadette - by Maria Semple

For the aspiring writers out there, can you tell us something about how you develop your plot?

I guess you can think of it like pitching a tent. (Bear with me if you’ve never gone camping...) Is the ground stable, have you searched out the best spot to lay down? Do you have sturdy framework, are all the holes patched up? Are the loose ends tied down? Would it withstand a critical gust of hot air?

And did you bring the marshmallows?

Tell us about your future? Next book?

I am starting a new series, a steampunk pirate novel. I’m trying to decide which genre to pitch it under, sci-fi? Fantasy? Mystery? It has elements of all three. Plus it’s about Pirates!

After that I am toying with a fourth book in the Angel Hacker series or starting a Sorority Murder Mystery series.

It's summertime and insects are not the only things flying in the London skies.

Oliver and Danny Murray return in this explosive second-in-the-series novel.

When two CIA agents appear in Oliver Murray's office, he knows nothing good could come from it. An American drone has gone missing and the agents believe that one of their own may have taken it. The agent in question is Sara Parsons, also known as Fallen Angel.

Maintaining her innocence, Angel tries to find the real culprit, but when one of the agents sent to apprehend her turns up dead in her flat, Oliver has a hard time believing her. With the help from his brother, Danny, Oliver betrays his own instincts and decides to help Angel find the true murderer and drone thief.

About the Author:

H. A. Somerled lives in the Missoula, Montana area. After an uneventful tour in the U.S. Navy, she followed her passions and enrolled in Culinary School. She graduated from the Colorado Institute of Art and has also completed a writing course from the Long Ridge Writer's Group.

She has two dogs, a puggle named Fritter and a pug named Flapjack. She considers herself lucky to be single and claims she's half the age she really is.

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