Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Today's Special - - Allie Burton

We're delighted to welcome Young Adult author, Allie Burton to the Romance Dish. Allie didn’t realize having so many jobs would become great research material for the stories she writes. She has been everything from a fitting room attendant to a bike police officer to a professional mascot escort. She has lived on three continents and in four states and has studied art, fashion design, marine biology, and advertising.

When her kids asked, “when are you going to write a story we can read?” she switched from adult novels to Young Adult and Middle Grade and hasn’t looked back.

Allie is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Romance Writers of America including the Young Adult, Dallas Area Romance Writers and Heart of the Rockies chapters. She is also a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Currently, she lives in Colorado with her husband and two children.



Welcome, Allie!

Thank you, PJ for inviting me to be interviewed on the Romance Dish.

1   My pleasure, Allie.  Congratulations on the release of ATLANTIS RIPTIDE. Please tell our readers what they can expect from this book.

ATLANTIS RIPTIDE is the first in a Young Adult series called the LOST DAUGHTERS OF ATLANTIS. In each of the books, the heroines discover the secrets behind their underwater abilities and must decide whether to accept the additional responsibilities that come with the powers. All three books have strong heroines, adventure, and romance.      

A fascinating premise!  Growing up on a lake, I had many youthful fantasies about being able to breathe underwater like Pearl.  What do you want readers to understand about this character?  

Pearl is the main character in ATLANTIS RIPTIDE. She’s hard on the outside but soft on the inside. She’s been taken advantage of since she was little so she has a hard time trusting people. Her goal is to find a place where she belongs and she believes she’s found that in the mythical town of Mermaid Beach until her old life and her new life collide.

This is a Young Adult novel. For what ages is it appropriate?

ATLANTIS RIPTIDE is definitely on the younger side of the Young Adult scale. I’d say ages 12-18. The tone is light, but adventurous. The romance is intense like first love should be, but only goes as far as a few kisses.

Sounds perfect for the young teens in my life.  

We love call stories here at the Romance Dish.  Will you share yours?

My agent call story wasn’t a call at all. ATLANTIS RIPTIDE was a finalist in a local contest and the agent who judged was present. Right before I went up to accept the award, the agent whispered to me that I should announce I was just offered representation. I’m not great at public speaking, add in the shock value of her words and I was speechless!

Oh, my!  I can imagine!  I'm not sure I'd have been able to utter a word.  lol

Who (or what) do you enjoy reading when you’re not busy creating your own stories?

I love to read anything young adult and middle grade. I also enjoy romances and paranormal stories. Some of my favorite authors include Rachel Hawthorn, Sarah Mlynowski, JA London, Tera Lynn Childs, Addison Fox, Suzanne Ferrell, Jo Davis…I could go on and on.

A few of my favorites are in that list too.

      What can we look forward to from you next?

The second book in the series was just released called ATLANTIS RED TIDE. Coral, the heroine in this story, has been brought up to believe she’s an Atlantean Princess but she has her doubts because she’s never shown a special power. She decides to search for her two missing sisters, but before she can act she is kidnapped by a spy.

The third book in the series is ATLANTIS RISING TIDE featuring Maris, a girl who has been kept away from water and only just discovers she’s different from her friends and family. This book releases at the end of June.

That's great that we don't have to wait long for all three stories!  

     Thanks so much for visiting with us today, Allie.  Do you have a question for our readers?

Pearl’s special power is breathing into humans so they can breathe underwater. Coral can create or protect from earthquakes. Maris can heal. If you had a super power what would it be?

Allie has generously offered an e-copy of ATLANTIS RIPTIDE to one person who leaves a comment on today's blog.



ATLANTIS RIPTIDE

Sixteen-year-old Pearl Poseidon ran away from the circus tired of her adoptive parents’ abuse of her special skills. As a runaway, she craves anonymity but when she saves a small boy from drowning she draws attention to herself and her special abilities. Boardwalk employee and aspiring investigative reporter, Chase Thomas, helps her with the rescue and witnesses her amazing dive.
                Now, he has questions. And so do the police.
Unbeknownst to Pearl, a battle rages under the Pacific between Loyal and Non-Loyal Atlantean forces and each side wants to use her powers for their cause. Will the commotion in the ocean expose her secrets to the world? Will Chase’s reporter-determination ruin their chance for a real relationship? Will staying near the ocean she loves catapult into a battle royale?





ATLANTIS RED TIDE


Sixteen-year-old Atlantean, Princess Coral, secretly plans to find her lost sisters of legend. Before she can escape the palace to begin her quest, she is kidnapped by Finn Plankson, a Non-Loyal Atlantean.
A spy for the separatist movement, Finn knew Coral as a child. When he sees her being mistreated by Royal Guards he takes action.
As their adventure changes from antagonistic to a temporary truce, Coral must convince Finn to help her find her sisters before the battle between the Loyal and Non-Loyal forces erupts into a full scale war.
Coral fondly remembers Finn, her first crush, but can she trust him now that he’s aligned with her enemy? In the end, will Finn betray her and her sisters? And what are these strange sparks that go off whenever they’re together?





ATLANTIS RISING TIDE 

Junior lifeguard Maris Sanders thinks she’s a normal high school girl. In reality, she’s one of the lost princesses of Atlantis. At sixteen, she’s finally discovering her special powers.
Exiled from his community of Atlanteans, Cuda Fisher has taken a special interest in Maris. As he secretly tests her abilities, the two teens grow closer until Cuda realizes being with Maris is risking more than his heart.
An evil scientist is analyzing Maris’s skills and putting her in danger. Cuda realizes his father, a leader of the Separatist movement, is behind the scheme and Cuda will do anything to stop him even if it means breaking Maris’s heart.
Will Maris accept her real identity, or still hurt by Cuda’s betrayal, will she fall prey to the scheme? Will Maris be able to choose between the life she’s always known or a new dangerous adventure? And will the choice be hers?

14 comments:

  1. Hi Allie! I'm looking forward to reading your Atlantis books. They sound great!

    There are a number of super powers that come to mind but I've just returned from a trip to Hawaii which has one uppermost in my mind. We did some snorkeling at some amazing sites. It would be so awesome to be able to breathe underwater, to roam freely beneath the waves and explore to my heart's content.

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  2. Hi! You are a new writer to me. But the whole series sound terrific!

    If I can have any super power, I would love to stop time so I can get more things done!

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    1. May, I wish everyday for the ability to slow or stop time!

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  3. Hi PJ! How awesome snorkeling in Hawaii! Definitely breathing underwater would be amazing there. Thanks for hosting me. Allie

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  4. Stopping time would be a great power to have! There are always so many things to do in the day and so many stories to write in my head. Allie

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  5. I agree with PJ. Your series sounds great.

    I think anyone who has ever watched a loved one suffer, especially a child, would love to have the power of healing. I know I would.

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  6. Janga,
    You are so right. What are doctors and nurses can do today is amazing, but to have the ultimate power to heal anyone would be incredible. Allie

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  7. Hey PJ! Hey Alice! I've read ATLANTIS RIPTIDE and loved it! Looking forward to getting time to read ATLANTIS REDTIDE and ATLANTIS RISING TIDE this summer, too!

    Super powers, huh? I think I'd like to be able to teleport from place to place. Then I could pop in to see my Mom for a day in Ohio, head over to NH to see Sandy Blair my critique partner and up to Colorado to see Alice! Not to mention seeing family I haven't seen in years over in Tennessee!

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  8. Hi Suz,

    Teleportation would be great! I love seeing new places but hate the traveling part to get there. Allie

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  9. Congrats Allie on the new releases! They sound awesome :) I'd like to heal... I work in pediatric healthcare so being able to heal with a touch would be amazing!

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    1. Erin, it's hard to see anyone suffer but especially a child.

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  10. Thanks, Erin. Maris, who's the heroine in the 3rd book ATLANTIS RISING TIDE, has the power to heal. Her two adoptive parents are both emergency room doctors and when she tells them about her skills she tries to relate it to what they do. Allie

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