Featured Author & Giveaway: J.L. Bowen

J.L. Bowen fell in love with the paranormal at a young age. She grew up watching the supernatural movies — The Exorcist (the movie she's still to chicken to watch), The Amityville Horror and JAWS (loves the first two). Now, she is hooked on the series, Supernatural, and loves the Winchesters!

She loves to still go on haunted tours and her favorites have been in London, especially Jack the Ripper. Her books are based on demons (not the possessing kind), but teens struggling with coming to who they are, accepting themselves.

Connect with J.L. Bowen on Twitter @jlbowen2 or visit her website: http://jlbowen.com.

Q&A with Author J.L. Bowen:

1. If you could swap places with one of your fictional characters for 24 hours, who would you choose to be? Why? And what would you do that day?
   
   I would change places with Rusty. I know he doesn't have any powers, but he's fearless, a true hero. He's willing to take on the bad guys to save the people he loves. For 24 hours, I'd ride his motorcycle, fight with Montae and learn how to fight.


2. Tell us about your novel, Ryker's Revenge.
   
   I wanted to tell Gunnar's story. He doesn't have as many people in his court like Armond, but he still survives. He had to succumb to his father's demands or face terrible pain. Gunnar never gives up and wants to be loved and accepted. He has to learn to trust people he never thought he could trust in order to reach his goal. Sometimes life isn't what it seems. Gunnar discovers this the Dark Demon way.
   
   Although he's a Dark Demon and has powers, he's really the new kid on the block. The one everyone envies because he's good looking and thinks he's too good for everyone. But he's not. It's all a sham. He's hurting and hiding, just trying to survive.


3. What has been your inspiration for writing Young Adult?
   
   I worked with trouble adolescents for years and I wanted to rewrite a book that tells about resiliency. I wanted my readers to know they could survive. All they had to do was reach out for help which is what both Armond and Gunnar have to learn in order to reach their goal. Is it scary? Hell, yes it's scary. But you'll never know unless you ask.


4. What would you like young readers to take away from your novels?
   
   You're not alone. If you ask and seek for help, it will come to you. Sometimes our own misconceptions are our own worst enemy. Learn to trust people. I know it's hard. Sometimes people trust the wrong people and you need to look at who you can trust. Gunnar and trust were on the opposite ends of the spectrum and he learns to trust Armond in a most unusual way. I would love to hear from young readers and encourage you to contact me on my blog.

Now Available from J.L. Bowen:

The Healer Thirteen-year-old Armond Costa heals in three days, no matter what abuse his uncle and aunt inflict upon him. On his fourteenth birthday, he sprouts wings and discovers his aunt and uncle had lied to him. He's the lost Golden Demon's Healer. His father, King of the Golden Demons, insists he return with him and save his people from being persecuted by their mortal enemies, the Dark Demons. Now, Armond must choose between the Ellis brothers and seventeen-year-old Rusty Owens -- the only family he's ever known -- or condemn the Golden Demons to extinction.

Ryker's Revenge Gunnar, the Healer of the Dark Demons, wants to escape from his sadist father, the King of the Dark Demons, and return to the Golden Demons, but his father brands him with a dragon tattoo designed to kill Golden Demons. The choice to stay away from his friends is taken from his hands when they launch a rescue operation to save him, only to have one of their own injured by the dragon on his chest while another is captured by his father. Can Gunnar trust his sister, their father's lapdog, and the dragon on his chest to help save his friends and keep him free?

---

J.L. Bowen Giveaway!

J.L. Bowen has generously donated a free copy of either The Healer or Ryker's Revenge for one lucky winner. To enter the drawing, please leave a comment below along with your email address. A winner will be chosen July 1, 2013.