Book I
Jessica OGorek
Genre: YA paranormal romance
Publisher: Cogent NY
Date of Publication: April 2013
ISBN: 9780925776259
ASIN: 0925776254
Number of pages: 263
Word Count: 80K
Cover Artist: Jessica OGorek
Book Description:
Angry at the human race and its methodical destruction of her resources, Mother Earth recruits souls who have just left their bodies to serve Her, and turns them against humanity. Gemini, a clan of paranormal beings, picked from these possessed humans, emerges. A powerful, rising force proceeds to carry out Mother Nature’s plan to systematically destroy towns, cities, states… and eventually, the world. Amidst the chaos, a forbidden relationship between a human girl, Violette, and Onyx, a lead Gemini, begins. They will both find themselves in the middle of a revolutionary war that will either save, or destroy our world.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/154Rpy9TY-k
“Eleanor…” he whispered her name and she stopped. She turned towards the sound that she couldn’t locate.
“Over here.” He guided her with his hand from behind the craggy trunk, allowing it to be just visible enough to make her curious as to who its owner might be. An adult might run, scream, or faint at the sight of a translucent hand gesturing mysteriously, but Eleanor was an insightful little girl and wanted to know more. The redhead on the seesaw looked dismayed and repeated her plea. This annoyed Onyx considerably; he was tempted to go shut her up, but her attention was now steady on the phantom arm that beckoned her. He controlled his visibility simply with his mind. If he thought it, it became a reality for him.
Eleanor's little blonde curls shook a little as she seemed to be attempting to clear her head. He could start to feel the gravitational pull from within her. It started to tug on his energy, almost gripping him and pulling him piece by piece, atom by atom, ever closer to her.
"Come a little closer, Sweetheart. How many fingers am I holding up?" If he distracted her with the game or a challenge, it would be that much easier. Anticipation started to build within him, like the sweet pressure of an inevitable release. Trance-like now, unable to resist the lure of his sugary voice, she walked right into his arm and it was over.
"Hey," he said. She jerked her head to the left and saw only his spiraling eyes. Before she could utter a scream he was in through her surprised mouth, busily working into her muscles, connecting with her spinal cord to coordinate her movements. Her sensory organs were pliable, and the tendrils that were extensions of his personality easily wrapped around every bone, every nerve ending. She was stunned into silence by the complete and sudden takeover. He felt strong and empowered. It had been weeks since he had felt a young, healthy host take him to dizzying heights of euphoria.
This was where Gemini were meant to be, where they felt most in control and in touch with their true ability. To connive and manipulate, ruin and plunder the society around them was only justice. They were so weak and puny, murderers and thieves, liars, and rapists. They all took what they wanted from each other, and the earth, then sucked any generosity right out of the atmosphere. He always thought he was helping them shorten the time frame of their journey. They would all eventually die anyway; he just hurried along the process. He felt the need to justify himself after entering someone. He knew there was some deep hidden morsel of doubt that what he was doing was right, that every human should be annihilated from existence. He would never divulge these doubts to himself or anyone else. It was a hidden monster within him and he would never lend it credit.
“Eleanor! Please come play!" He turned around in the direction of the voice. He needed to adjust his vision just a little and did so by fitting his hollow sockets a little more snugly around the orbs of her eyes. The optical nerve was delicate and it was sometimes tricky to get the sight perfect. He shook his head at the girl now and smiled. He was not ready to play right now.
It always took him a few minutes to get acclimated in a new body. Sometimes, he would look in the mirror and his first instinct was to ask. "Who are you?" He would become so wrapped up in his missions that he might forget who he was, sometimes even the name of the person he inhabited.
He rested against the craggy bark of the tree and observed his surroundings; three nuns and seventeen children. He had to formulate a plan for how he would take over the main influencers of the church. He would need to study the innards and plot this out, as he told Lilly he would. Nothing rash or stupid would be beneficial; only smooth, calculative moves would render success.
Author Bio: I was born in Chesapeake, Virginia on April 19th, 1979. I was raised within the American Indian religion and was taught great respect for the earth and all its living beings. Powwows, sweat lodges, vision quests, you name it, I’ve done it. I was the weird kid who would confront kids on the playground in elementary school when they squished a bug. I would very sincerely tell them what they were doing was morally wrong and then I would pray for the bug to come back as a butterfly in its next life.
Did you always wanted to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
No. I entertained the usual professions like modeling, singing, dancing and acting. The stuff dreams are made of.
When did you first consider yourself a “writer”?
When I was twelve years old and completed 2000 hand written pages of a terrible romance novel.
How long did it take to get your first book published?
I was actually blessed enough to be discovered by Jack Hanny, Author of Secrets of the Whitehouse Kitchen. He took me under his wing and referred me to a very good friend of his who has his own publishing company in New York. I am so grateful I did not have to go through the torture of the traditional road to being published.
Do you do another job except for writing and can you tell us more about it?
I am the Director of Sales at a hotel located on the UVA campus. I have been in hotels for about 15 years and I am honestly very burnt out on it. I am ready to write full time but I will patiently wait until it is the right time.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarize it in less than 20 words what would you say?
Well, there is Gemini Rising Ethereal Fury- Book I. But, then there is Book II of the series that will be published this fall and I’m also half way through writing book IV. Since I am obsessing over Book II I guess we’ll go with… “A dark ride into the effects of the human footprint on this earth and how she will shake us off.”
Who is your publisher? Or do you self-publish?
Cogent Publishing NY.
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
Six months. If you include the publishing process- 1 to 2 years.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
I am half way through Book IV of the Gemini Rising Series and I don’t really know when it will end. If I write more I plan to grow with my fan base and shift to New Adult and then Adult but I will probably always be a paranormal theme girl.
What genre would you place your books into?
YA Paranormal Romance with a touch of Sci-Fi and Dystopian.
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
Gemini Rising started out as an adult paranormal romance. My then 12 year old got very upset when I told her she couldn’t read my book because of the sex in it! I went back and edited everything too steamy out and turned it into YA specifically for her.
Do you have a favorite character from your books? And why are they your favorite?
ONYX! He is dark, full of angst and struggles with guilt over betraying Mother Earth and falling in love with a human girl. What’s not to love? One of my reviewers described him best when she said- “DRAWING IN HER AUDIENCE, O'Gorek creates a SEDUCTIVELY DANGEROUS yet magnetic villain that the reader CANNOT HELP but find alluring.”
How long have you been writing and who or what inspired you to write?
I have been writing since I was 12. My first inspiration to write came from my father who was a published author and took me all over the country to chase his aspirations. I followed lovingly and looked up to him for it. The sound of a typewriter takes me back to my child hood.
Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I have no routine at all. Routine would kill my creative process. There are ideal environments to write in. Mainly for me it’s outside with nature, the spring breeze on my face, leaves rustling above.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
Yes, obsessively so. I really take everything with a grain of salt when it comes to bad review but even the bad ones have valid criticism and I treat them all as learning potential. How can I improve if I don’t take my fan’s opinions into consideration?
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
Write and then choose.
How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?
Names just come to me. I’m really good with them. Places? Not so much, especially if they aren’t fictional.
Are character names and place names decided after their creation? Or do you pick a character/place name and then invent them?
No. I have to have a name for them first and a place for them to live and then they come to life.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?
All of my characters start out as one way and then go through enormous growth and changes or sometimes backsliding. So I decide their starting, middle and end point.
Are there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")
Yes! The moral of the story is, “Take care of the earth or else!” There are also other morals about developing your inner self and coming to terms with your demons. Onyx has killed thousands of people and has to live with himself and forgive himself.
Which format of book do you prefer, eBook, hardback, or paperback?
Paperback.
What is your favorite book and Why? Have you read it more than once?
Twilight because it inspired me to create something different than your typical “demon” or “angel.”
Do you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favorite/worst book to movie transfer?
Yes! My favorite transfer is of course, the Hunger Games! Worse- Beautiful Creatures and middle of the rode- City of Bones.
Your favorite food is?
Pizza.
Your favorite singer/group is?
Live
Your favorite color is?
Green.
Your favorite Author is?
Stephanie Meyer
When I was twelve I started hand writing novels. My first one was two thousand pages. My dad always encouraged me and would rave about my writing. He gave me the confidence I needed to keep writing and follow my dream. My daughter, who is twelve, is currently working on her first novel. I hope to continue the legacy.
https://twitter.com/GeminiRising1
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-OGorek/306913389429972
Janine and KAren- Thank you for featuring me on your beautiful blog and participating in the Gemini Rising Series tour!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, ladies. Gemini Rising was by far my favorite read of 2013 and I am super looking forward to Book II. Thank you for sharing Jessica.
ReplyDeleteI loooove you Marsha!!!
Delete