Review/Giveaway and Interview for Boyfriend From Hell by E. Van Lowe

Aww, Hell No!

Fifteen year-old Megan Barnett and her single mom, Suze, have a special relationship—they are friends, close friends, who do almost everything together.

“But come on, guys, she’s my mother… Can I really tell her that while we’re snuggled up on the sofa watching Spider Man Three, I’m secretly undressing James Franco with my eyes?  Of course not…”

The special bond takes a turn for the worse when Suze decides to start dating again.  She hasn’t had a man in her life since Megan’s father left ten years ago. 

Enter two mysterious young men, Megan’s new classmate, sinfully attractive bad boy, Guy Matson, and the dangerously handsome art dealer, Armando.  Before long Megan and Suze both wind up in steamy relationships.  But neither of the handsome guys is quite what he seems.  In fact, one of them is Satan, with his sights set on a new bride.  Megan has precious little time to figure out how to stop him.  If she doesn’t, either Megan or Suze are quite literally going to HELL.

Boyfriend From Hell is the first book in the Falling Angels Saga from the author of the gruesomely hilarious, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie

www.whitewhiskerbooks.com

http://bewitchingbooktours.blogspot.com/2011/06/1-month-ya-book-tour-for-boyfriend-from.html

About The Author

E. Van Lowe is an author, television writer, screenwriter, Playwright and Producer who has written and produced such shows as The Cosby Show, Even Stevens, and Homeboys In Outer Space.  He has been nominated for both an Emmy and an Academy Award.  Van Lowe recently stepped into the young adult fiction genre with his comedic novel, Never Slow Dance With A Zombie.  It was a selection of the Scholastic Book Club, and a nominee for an ALA Award.  Boyfriend From Hell is Van Lowe’s second YA novel.

www.evanlowe.com

http://vanlowe.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Van-Lowe/152364748167154

My Thoughts:

Ok my peeps, we have a new hot book here on our hands and I mean smoking hot.  I read this book in a day and a half it was that good, I even got caught at work having a peek into the next chapter, lol no worries though I was on my lunch break.  When I started this book I though this would be a read for a younger generation but to my surprise this book totally sucked me in right from get go and didn't let go until I was done.  No that's wrong, it still has a hold on me to the point I email Mr Lowe the Author and begged him to please let me be one of the bloggers to be able to read/review the second book in the series.  Boyfriend From Hell has the first chapter of the next book at the end of it and I couldn't put it down.  He said yes by the way lol so stay tuned for that review.  

It was an easy book to read but don't read it to fast or you will miss some details that are very important.  Megan and her mom are the very best of friends and when her mom says she is going to start dating, Megan has a very bad feeling about this, and not too long after her mom starts dating she is proved right about her bad feeling when her mom meets Armando, a very yummy handsome Italian art dealer...so they think that's what he is.  Not long after mom meets Armando, Megan meets Guy a deliciously handsome new student at her school. Now they both have hot new men, but something is just not right about mom's and something about Megan's is a little of kilter as well. 

Megan's best friends Matt and Erin think she is crazy when she has announced that she thinks her mom's boyfriend is Satan....yes Satan himself. So they give her a week to prove it or lose them forever.  As Megan sets out to prove she is not crazy, all hell breaks loose, literally all hell breaks loose. 

I really liked Megan, at first she come's off as a spoiled brat who is being selfish not wanting to give up her mom's attention or affection, but as the book goes on you start to really like her more and more. I love her strength and persistence trying to save her mom and the love she has for her. I know this feeling as my mom means so very much to me as well.  This story will take you through all kinds of paths and just when you think you have this story all wrapped up and figured out the Author sends you down a totally different path you absolutely did not see coming.  I loved all the twists and turns and roller coaster ride he takes you on with this book, it was an awesome ride. I will not give anymore away, you will just have to pick up your copy cause if I say anymore I will spoil it for you and we all know I hate being spoiled.  This is a total must read. If you would like a preview of Mr. Lowe's book the first four chapters (pdf) of Boyfriend From Hell are available for free right now on my website. Readers can go to http://evanlowe.com/  and click on theBoyfriend From Hell Sample link to get it.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.  

Mr Lowe has been gracious enough to give me 2 copies of his awesome book Boyfriend From Hell to giveaway. 

So here are the rules for this giveaway:

1. Be a follower on my blog.

2. Be a follower on Mr. Lowe's blog as well.

3. Leave a comment along with your email address so I can notify the winners, when the winners are announced you will have 48 hours to claim your prize or I will pick another winner(s).  

I am so excited today, Mr. Lowe has taken time out of his busy schedule to sit down and chat with me about his new book "Boyfriend From Hell".  Please help me welcome Mr. Lowe to the Purple Jelly Bean Chair Reviews.  Thank you so much for being here today, please have a seat in the Purple Jelly Bean Chair.       

Hi I’m E. Van Lowe.  My given name is Ehrich (pronounced Eric), but my friends call me E.  I was born in New York City, but I now live in Southern California.

What is the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 20 or less words, what would you say?
My recent release is Boyfriend From Hell.  A short summary: Megan and her single mom, Suze, both date mysterious, handsome young men, one of whom turns out to be the devil, with his sights set on a new bride.


Do you have plans for a new book?   Is this book part of a series?
Boyfriend From Hell is part of a series. The Falling Angels Saga. The second book, Earth Angel, will be out around the end of the year.


At what age did you know you wanted to become a writer?
When I was ten-years-old I got pneumonia during the summer.  For a kid who loves the outdoors, being housebound all summer could have been unbearable. Fortunately, my mother knew me well.  She said “You love making up stories.  Why not write some of them down?”  Now, here’s the kicker.  She said: “You can make money.”  That was all my ten-year-old ears needed to hear.  I was already a big reader.  I started writing fiction.  It got me through the summer, and I’ve been writing ever since.


When you start to write a new novel, what is the process for you, do you start with a small idea and when you sit to write is that when the story starts to flow, or, before you start to write do you already have the whole story worked out?
My process varies, but I definitely don’t have the story all worked out when I start.  I usually come up with an idea.  I try to flesh it out on paper a little.  Then I write a chapter, with no idea where I’m headed.  I write the chapter to get a sense of the protagonist’s voice.  If I enjoyed the writing, I flesh it out more and start the novel. 



When you write, do you write from start to finish, or in the middle, or at the end first?
I write from start to finish, although I do write some scenes out of order from time-to-time.


Have you based any of your characters on someone you know, or real events in your own life? 
Yes, I have based characters loosely on people I know, but mostly they’re sides of me.   I have many people living in this crazy head of mine. LOL.


Is there an Author that you would really like to meet?
I would love to have met JD Salinger.  His Nine Stories had a great effect on me when I was learning to be a writer.  And Catcher InThe Rye was the first novel I read for school that I thought spoke directly to me.


Do you prefer ebooks, paperbacks or hardcover?
I love ebooks, but I still read paper.  Right now I have two paper books on my night stand: The Gunslinger that I borrowed from the library and The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan, along with my ipad loaded with books.


Are there any new Authors that have grasped your interest and why?
The uberkind, Amanda Hocking.  The Trylle Trilogy was so entertaining.  I’m about to start Hollowland.  I also love Stacey Jay.  She’s not new, but she’s new to me.  Death On The Delta is my favorite new book of the year.  Stacey’s flawed protagonist  along with killer fairies made this book an incredible read.


Is there anything you would change in your last book and why?
No.  The book is perfect.  Right?  Seriously, I don’t like looking back.  I read some of my bad reviews and if there’s a consensus on something people don’t like, I consider it moving forward. I spent most of my career writing for TV where there’s all sorts of testing and focus groups.  At first I hated the process, but then a sage older producer told me “everyone’s opinion matters.  Use the focus groups as a learning tool.”  I did, and it helped me grow as a writer.


Who designed the cover of your book?
Daniel Will-Harris.  He works for my publisher.  I thought he did a great job capturing the fun of the book while also coming up with something that stands out in a crowd.


Do you have a book trailer?  What are your thoughts on book trailers?
I do not have a book trailer yet.  I’ve heard they don’t sell books, but I still plan to have one at some point in time.


What is the best advice that you can give to aspiring writers?
Do not give up on your dream.  There will be lots of people giving you good reasons to give up.  Don’t listen to them—even if they’re your parents.  My father thought writing was a lousy profession.  I know he was doing what he thought was best.  Several million dollars later, I know he’s changed his mind.  But regardless of money, you should follow your dreams, so you don’t wake up one day wishing you had.  Give your writing career a fair and honest shot.


Do you or have you written/write under a pen name was?
Funny you should ask.  My alter ego, Sal Conte writes graphic horror.  I started out as Sal, writing horror novels while I was in college in the 80s (Childs Play & The Power) Now he’s back with new horror coming out in October.  You can visit him on my website (http://evanlowe.com/) where he has his own page.


Where can your readers follow you? 
My blog: http://vanlowe.blogspot.com
My facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/E-Van-Lowe/152364748167154
My Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2909124.E_Van_Lowe
Twitter: http://twitter.com/evanlowe/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B004IJHGQ0

Print, ebook or both?
Both.


Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview and allowing us a glimpse into your writing world.  I hope you share this interview with your friends.  Nattie.