Hey, hey! We have author M. L. Mastran in the house today to answer our three fave questions:
SC: Tell me a little bit about your main character of this
book.
MLM: I am a firm believer that my characters drive my story.
So it was important to have a strong main character to keep it together. My protagonist is Evaline a seemingly normal
young woman, fresh out of college. She is extremely close to her family and
particularly her brother. When he
disappears mysteriously, she goes full bloodhound in trying to find out what
happened to him. Through her investigation, she apparently ruffles some
feathers and begins getting harassed. An unexpected death in her family enables
her to get out and go back to the rest of her family in Dunsmuir Ca. She decides to continue her investigation
there and realizes very quickly, she was followed. She also begins to uncover
what happened to her brother while at the same time, makes new acquaintances
who she realizes can help her in more ways than one. Most unexpectedly, she finds love among her
new friends. Danger lurks at every turn
while she soon finds that her new love and his family have a secret. She is
ever relentless in finding out what happened to her brother and she is fearless
in her methods. Her new friends find this intriguing about her but they worry
about her and knowing what she is up against, they tell her she is in over her
head. Evaline takes everything thrown at
her and more. She can undoubtedly take
care of herself and protect those she loves but her flaw is family. In trying to
protect them, she put them in danger with forces beyond what she knew existed.
When things literally turn and the old world is colliding with her world, she
decides to fight it even as her new life is just beginning. Evaline is
resilient and fearless and by the end of book one, my readers care about what
happens to her next.
SC: Do you believe in the paranormal and if so, do you have
an experience you can share?
MLM: I believe there are things in this world that cannot be
explained. I have had a few strange
experiences and when it happens, you try to think of a logical reason to what it
was or where it came from and I always end with the same conclusion. Somethings
just cannot be given an explanation.
SC: Speaking of explanations, what titles are you working on
now that you can tell us about?
MLM: Albion Moon is the first book in a set of
chronicles. I just finished up the first
draft of book two and will be sending it to the editor shortly. I am also
currently working on a high fantasy trilogy. It does not have a title yet. I’ll also be starting on book three in the
Albion Moon chronicles sometime this summer. Stay tuned ☺
SC: We will! Thanks for dropping by.
Let's look at your novel in more depth.
Albion Moon
Albion Moon Chronicles
Book 1
M.L. Mastran
Genre: mystery/suspense/paranormal/romance
Albion Moon Chronicles
Book 1
M.L. Mastran
Genre: mystery/suspense/paranormal/romance
Publisher: Champagne Book Group
Date of Publication: August 2018
ISBN: 978-1-947128-36-1 (e-book)
ISBN: 978-1-947128-37-8 (print)
Number of pages: 171
Word Count: 94,000
Cover Artist: Creative Paramita
Tagline: Stand up and fight or lose everything
Book Description:
Evaline's brother is missing. She's desperate to find out what happened to him. As she digs deeper into his disappearance, the mystery reveals an ancient family secret carried through the bloodline that began centuries ago in the Scottish Highlands. As this secret from the old world closes in on Evaline, she tries to sort through her disconcerting feelings towards the mysterious Mason. He not only seems to always know when she is in danger, but he is insistent on protecting her, no matter the cost.
As the old world collides with the new, Evaline discovers she must choose to stand and fight or risk losing everything, and everyone, she holds dear.
Excerpt:
Over the next
couple days, I picked up applications from the couple of banks and other places
in town as well as in Shasta, the next town over. On Thursday, Kristy, Lizzy,
and I hung out and went for ice cream downtown. We hit a couple of stores as
Kristy wanted to get some clothes. I loathed clothes shopping. I peeked at the
racks while Kristy tried stuff on and Lizzy weighed in. She got a text. One of
the other servers had called off, and Mason needed her to come in.
“I have to get
to work. Sorry, Kristy,” Lizzy said.
“That’s fine,”
Kristy said. “Can we get some lunch there when we take you in?”
I shook my head
slightly at her scheming.
“Absolutely,”
Lizzy said, looking at me. “Let’s go.”
We piled into my
car and headed out onto Old River Road. It was a great day for a convertible
ride. The late summer sun beamed on us as we drove down the road. I had AC/DC
blaring, and as we rounded a curve, I heard a siren. Peering into my rearview
mirror, I eyed the red flashing police lights atop one of the town’s two SUV
police units.
Kristy glanced
back. “What the fuck? You weren’t speeding.”
I looked down. I
was just below the speed limit. After I pulled over, I got out my registration
and insurance. The cop approached my door, and what I saw caused a huge lump to
form in my throat.
Campbell had a
smug look on his face as he spoke. “License, registration, and proof of
insurance please.”
I handed them
over without making eye contact.
He examined my
license, which still had my Sacramento address on it. “A little way from
Sacramento, Miss Bennett, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, I guess I
am.”
“Where are you
headed right now?” His tone turned from mocking to icy.
“I need to get
her to work,” I said, indicating Lizzy.
He eyed Lizzy,
who appeared annoyed by his questions. “Oh, a Cowan sister. How fitting. Tell
your brother I got a nice cell waiting for him.” She didn’t say anything as his
attention moved back to me. “So, are you here on vacation?”
My blood boiled
as the dream I had with Jimmy came back to me. I glared at Campbell. “I’m
visiting family for a while.”
“So, what is the
address you’re staying at in town?”
“What does that
matter?” Kristy interrupted any response I was about to make. “What the f—?”
“Smart ass like
your brother,” he said, cutting her off. “He’s a great bunk mate for Jonas.”
Now speechless,
she sat there.
After opening my
door, he indicated for me to move. “Please step out of the vehicle.”
Not wishing to
cause a scene, I complied and stood by my car.
He turned me
around. “Face your car, hands on the hood.”
Kristy found her
voice again. “Are you fucking kidding me? We weren’t doing anything!”
Campbell flashed
her a look. “Shut up and don’t move.” He then patted me down. “Do you have any
weapons or drug paraphernalia I need to be aware of?” He spun me back to him.
Looking at him
dead in the eye, I answered, “No.”
Holding my
elbow, he walked me toward his vehicle as he eyed Kristy and Lizzy, who were
clearly uncomfortable with what was happening. Despite my apprehension, I
followed him. He took me behind his patrol truck and returned my license.
“I suggest you
watch yourself, Miss Bennett. These back roads are dangerous, and if something
were to happen, it could be quite a while until you’d be found.” My stomach
churned as he leaned into me and whispered, “A woman like yourself, all alone,
might entice trouble.” He reached for my breast, and I reacted quickly.
Shoving the
bottom of my palm up into his lip, I knocked him back but didn’t wait to see
his reaction. I returned to my car, got in, then took off. I was sure he was
going to follow, but he didn’t.
Kristy turned to
me. “We need to report him, Evaline. That was wrong in so many ways.”
Shaking my head,
I said, “It will make things worse, trust me. Just forget it, okay?”
She gave Lizzy a
concerned look, who then asked, “Why did he take you back there?”
I didn’t say
anything as we drove into the parking lot, parked, then got out.
Kristy was still
fired up. “This is such bullshit. He made a move on you, didn’t he?”
“Just drop it,
Kristy, okay? It’s over. I wanna forget it.”
The dust kicked
up in the parking lot as we made our way through the front doors. A few patrons
were seated at the bar, and several booths and tables were occupied. We headed
to an open booth as Lizzy returned to the back.
While still a
bit shaken from the encounter, I pondered what had just happened. A knot was in
the pit of my stomach as thoughts raced through my mind.
Does he know I
know what he is? Will he try to hurt what family I have left? Will he hurt me
to find out what I know? I thought of my dream again—Jimmy had warned me. Or
will he kill me?
About the Author:
Nothing captures the attention of M.L. Mastran more than writing a good story with amazing characters and a history arc that made the history books. This is Albion Moon in every sense.
On the flip side, M.L. can also journey to another world completely and pull the same elements with fantasy and make the reader yearn for more. Her uncanny ability to blend genres makes her unique to the literary world and an absolute reading joy. From the first moment you open the page, curiosity will pull you in and keep you engrossed in the story as you take the voyage with the characters to different places and times; to experience the events as they unfold.
Whether being told from a one character perspective or several points of view, her stories will unfold in your mind like a movie playing in your head. This is what pushes M.L to write her stories. It’s the thrill of the read and the drive to carry readers away that will make this trip to the literary world of imagination all the sweeter.
Thank you for hosting me! If anyone has any questions about me or Albion Moon, please don't hesitate to ask. You can reach me via Twitter, FB or Instagram:)-M
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