Emerald City Blog Tour & Book Review

EMERALD CITY by Alicia Leppart. I have to say, EMERALD CITY sucked me in from the first page. It had my mind whirling with what could have possible happened to Olivia. When Jude walked into the picture I found myself intrigued with him as well. Alicia was able to weave a story full of mystery and intrigue that kept me wanting to read until the last page. However, I don't think I'm happy with the ending. It felt open ended. This is a book that I can recommend for just about anyone. Stay tuned for an ebook giveaway coming soon! (Open internationally)

:):):):)

Olivia Tate is a broken shell of a girl haunted by the tragic events that fill her past. She has closed herself off from the world, each day grasping at something—anything—to live for. Convinced there will never be a way out, she seeks solace in the depths of her medicine cabinet. When she wakes up days later in the hospital she is introduced to Jude, the quiet stranger responsible for saving her life. She never could have guessed then that her mysterious rescuer would end up saving her life a second time, while simultaneously turning her world upside down. A modern-day romance with a twist, Emerald City has a little bit of something for everyone!

What made you decide to become a writer?

I have always loved writing, my entire life. There's something so freeing about being able to put your thoughts on paper and create lives, worlds, stories. The possibilities are endless and there are no boundaries. I love that. 
Who inspires you?
There are so many people, but especially writers who had a spark of a thought or dream and turned it into a worldwide phenomenon, like Stephenie Meyer and J.K. Rowling. Writers who didn't begin writing with the intent of reaching around the entire globe, but who accomplished it nonetheless. That is incredibly inspiring to me.

What would you like your readers to get out of your writing?
Mostly I just want my readers to feel something, anything. I write hoping that those who read it will feel whatever emotions my characters are feeling, and if that happens, then I've succeeded. Writing is a very intense, emotional thing for me, and I hope beyond hope that comes across to my readers.

Where did this idea come from?
The idea for Emerald City came after months of failed book attempts and one night of serious brainstorming. I always knew it would be a romance, but the rest of the story, specifically the fantasy aspect, came to me one night like a light bulb suddenly turning on. (I know, cliche.) The minute I thought of it, I knew it was my story.

Who was your favorite character to develop?
Hands down, Olivia. I think because I wrote her so much like myself, I was very intimately connected with her character. It was a little bit of a personal journey I went through writing her transformation from so deeply troubled, to finding happiness and a sense of self-worth. She's like the second daughter I never had! Or maybe my twin, separated at birth.

Any advice for aspiring authors?
Write for yourself, because you love it. Don't become so consumed with thoughts of being published that you lose sight of why you write in the first place. Write about what you love, what you're passionate about, and don't give up. If you love it, someone eventually will too.

What can we expect next from you?
Definitely a sequel to Emerald City, which I am in the beginning stages of developing. There will most likely be one or two more books in the series after that, but I haven't decided exactly how many. All I know is Jude and Olivia's story is not over yet!
Where can we purchase your book?
Right now it's available for pre-order from amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and target.com, to name a few. As far as after its release on April 10th, I'm not sure which stores it will be available in yet.

THANKS ALICIA!

Stay tuned for an EMERALD CITY giveaway tomorrow!