Vision of Shadows, by Vincent Morrone

YA author Vincent Morrone joins us today to discuss the release of Book I of his VISIONS series, Vision of Shadows. Readers who enjoy young adult paranormal romance will love this one!

Silverberry: What inspired you to write Vision of Shadows?

Morrone: I wanted to write a novel told first person. I decided on a girl who could talk to ghosts because I wanted to be able to have opportunities for a lot of humor and emotional moments.

Silverberry: What’s the novel about and who would enjoy it?

Morrone: In short, 17-year-old Bristol Blackburn is psychic. And she’s about to literally meet the boy of her dreams. A boy she’s seen since she was a little girl, but has never met. And when she does, she knows that there are two possible destinies for them. He’ll either be the love of her life, or the end of it.

And she’s not sure which possibility scares her more.

Silverberry: What does your main character, Bristol Blackburn, yearn for?

Morrone: Bristol comes into this book having hidden her secret from everyone. She’s convinced that she’s unlovable as it is, and anyone who found out about her would call her a freak. She wants to be loved, but is afraid of it at the same time.

I’ll let you guess who the first person is to find her secret out.

Silverberry: How did you approach creating the world Bristol inhabits?

Morrone: I made it a small town in Upstate NY since that’s where I live. It’s a town with a curse. Occupied by two families with a feud going back generations. I wanted a setting that was far enough removed from a big city that gave the characters a certain freedom.

Silverberry: Bristol has special powers. What are they, and what, if any, are the downsides to having those powers?

Morrone: For one, she can see and talk to ghosts. She has been since she was little. She’s never been afraid of ghosts. In fact, she feels more comfortable around the dearly departed than she does anybody that has a pulse.

She also has visions. They can be visions of the past, present or future. They often come in dreams, but can happen while she’s awake and are sometimes triggered by physical contact.

She’s also empathic. She can sometimes feel the feelings, both emotional and physical of others when they’re very powerful.

However, she has no control over these abilities. She never know when a ghost might drop in, or when she’ll get a psychic “flash.” Plus her visions aren’t set in stone. She has visions of this boy and her meeting, falling in love and building a long and happy life together: having a family, growing old by each other’s side.
She’s also seen him murder her before they graduate high school.

She’s had other visions of this boy. Growing up, he was always getting hurt. Too much for one person to have survived.

Silverberry: What do think makes for a fabulous YA novel?

Morrone: To a great extent, the same thing that makes great any kind of novel. Characters that you care about and a story the sucks you in. The idea that when you reach the end of a chapter, you can’t wait to start the next one.

Silverberry: Is Vision of Shadows a series? If so, what’s your approach to writing the sequels?

Morrone: Yes, it’s called the Vision series. Book II is done, and awaiting editing. It’s called Vision of Serpents. Book III is also done and waiting for approval. I’m working on Book IV and Book V is rattling around in the shadows of my mind.

Each book has Bristol growing. She gets closer to understanding the mystery of the curse that afflicts her family.

Silverberry: What’s ahead for you?!

Morrone: Well, as I’ve said, I’ve got the rest of the Vision series to work on. I’ve also got a New Adult Romance coming out in October of 2014 called Just Breathe. Plus I’ve got a few other WIPs right now. Just Breathe has no paranormal elements, but I think mostly you’ll see stuff from me that has supernatural elements of some sort or another. I’ve got about 3 things started totally unrelated to the Vision series.

Silverberry: Thanks for joining us today. VISIONS sounds like a dynamite series! Readers can follow you and purchase the book at the following links.

Purchase Visions of Shadows on Amazon

Vincent Morrone’s Website

Vincent Morrone on Facebook

Vincent Morrone on Twitter

Vision of Shadows Synopsis:

“Is Bristol Blackburn about to meet the love of her life…or her killer?

After the death of her parents, Bristol Blackburn’s life is thrown into chaos and she’s forced to move to Spirit, a small town where shadows are stirring. As she learns to navigate her new school and figures out how to keep her psychic abilities secret from her family, Bristol comes face to face with the boy who makes a regular appearance in her dreams: the gorgeous, possibly deadly, Payne McKnight. Soon she’ll find out if Payne will be the love of her life, or the end of it — and she has no idea which possibility scares her more.

And that’s not even the worst of it. Strange shadows are haunting her dreams, and they’re up to something that could put Bristol and the lives of everyone she loves in jeopardy.

About Vincent Morrone:

Born and raised in Brooklyn NY, Vincent Morrone now resides in Upstate NY with his wife. (Although he can still speak fluent Brooklynese.) His twin daughters remain not only his biggest fans, but usually are the first to read all of his work. Their home is run and operated for the comfort and convenience of their dogs.

Vincent has been writing fiction, poetry and song lyrics for as long as he can remember, most of which involve magical misfits, paranormal prodigies, and even on occasion, superheroes and their sidekicks.

Vincent Morrone, Author of VISION OF SHADOWS

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