"Of Light and Darkness" Music Video Release

Shayne Leighton - author, actress, singer/songwriter, producer and all around amazingly talented woman, has released her new music video "Of Light and Darkness" today! Starring Shayne, Frantisek Mach, Michael Welch (Twilight), Cassie Scerbo (Make It Or Break It), Johnny Pacar (Flight 29 Down) and Andrew Orzoco (From the Hillywood Show's New Moon parody)! The aforementioned actors will also be starring in the up-coming movie, of the same name, currently in pre-production.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i2IpThPzks

"Series"ously Social

Kailin Gow

 Kailin Gow, author of over eighty books, has traveled the world, visiting places such as Transylvania, the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, Pompeii, St. Petersburgh and Thailand, collecting stories and conducing research from these places; soaking up inspiration for her fantastical novels. Every one of them tell stories of empowering women and men who stay by their sides despite the circumstances that come against them or villains that stand in their way.
Her list of published books include the bestselling Gifted Girls Series, The Frost Series, The Phantom Diaries Series, The Stoker Sisters Series, PULSE Vampire Series, Queen B Superheroine, The Wordwick Games Series, The Alchemists Academy, Harold the Kung Fu Kid, and Shy Girls Social Club. Her books have been recommended by PBS Kids, the PTA, US Mental Health Association, homeschooling organizations, and mother-daughter book clubs.
A Little PR had the opportunity to interview Mrs. Gow about her work, life and what has inspired her through the years.


PR: What made you become interested in writing, what was the "Ah-ha, I could do this!" moment? 

KG: When I wrote a book at 9 years old and illustrated it. Then in high school, I sold my first article to the local newspaper, and began writing professionally as a journalist.

PR: Who has been your biggest influence in writing?
KG: I read a lot of plays as a Drama major in college and also studied abroad in England so was highly influenced by classic plays and literature. In modern lit, my biggest influence is Anne Rice and Stephen King. I love to experiment with each book series, too...meaning sometimes using a different style and voice for different genres.

PR: We all know you write series', but do you also like to read series' or stand-alone novels?

KG: I like to read both. Most times, stand-alone novels can easily become a series.

PR: What is your favorite book, the one with the broken spine and pages falling out?
KG: Strunk & White. Yellowing pages and all until it was available digitally.

PR: Do you listen to music while you write, and what kind is it, or do you think better in silence?
KG: I listen to music when I write. I can be totally in the zone and nothing can snap me out. But for total concentration, I play instrumentals with no vocals.

PR: You're books deal with a lot of issues that every teenager faces, how did you deal with the cliques, bullying and stress?
KG: Yes, although the books are fiction, they do bring up these issues. In Wicked Woods, Stoker Sisters, and Bitter Frost, bullying is brought up, along with cliques, and other issues. As a teen, I dealt with bullying issues by learning self-defense and putting together my own group of friends and authority figures to stand up with me against a bully.

PR: Which of your characters can you relate to the most and why?
KG: Hard to say because they all come from some part of me. But for Saving You Saving Me, surprisingly my mindset is more like Collins McGregor because of his worldliness. It's fun playing him or writing from his point of view.

PR: What are the best and worst parts of writing for you?
KG: Best part is getting lost in it and the ideas flow and flow. The worst part is finding the time.

PR: Do you plan you stories out or take them as the come?
KG: I plan them out but leave room for some impromptu.

PR: What part do you find challenging in your writing?
KG: The middle part because there are so many ways to go about it, and structuring a novel can be formulaic or creative. I always go for the creative.

PR: What Author do you consider a mentor?
KG: Suzanne Collins would be because she writes not only books, but also for film and television. I write for books, film, radio, and plays, too so it'll be great to have a mentor who has done this, too.

PR: How do you write believable male characters when its so easy to want to rely on stereotypes for character building?
KG: - I'm surrounded by men. Really. I have more men friends than women friends, and I work with men (at least in corporate), I'm married, and I have relatives who are men. I draw a lot of my male characters' characteristics from a lot of men and boys I grew up with and know. And the male best friends in my books - yes, I've had a few whom I was completely oblivious to as wanting more than friendships. To avoid stereotypes, I rely on real experiences.

PR: What words of advice/wisdom would you like to give the aspiring writers reading this blog?
KG: Best advice for aspiring authors from me would be to live life to the fullest. Many of what I write is inspired from my personal experiences and what I know. The emotions, the breakups, the love, the falling in love, the loss, the joys, and the living.

To find out more about Kailin, visit her website http://kailingow.wordpress.com/