Echos & Illustions guest post & Giveaway by Mila Ramos

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books!

When asked where does my inspiration come from, especially with the background I have in science, I had to sit back and think about it for a while.  I’m a die-hard paranormal fan, to the point I was raised on some of the old-school paranormal shows like, Twilight Zone (the original series), Outer Limits (older and new version), The Misfits of Science (I think one of the first shows I ever saw), V (the original series), Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars and the list goes on.  I love them. Wait, let me rephrase that, they are the essence of great shows. I always remember that every afternoon I watched some type of show when I got home from school.

A big source of the pool of inspiration came from my older brother, who was the one who loved this entire genre. It was he to whom I always asked the far out questions if it was real, did it really exist. Being a sibling, of course, he messed with my mind but even for doing so I loved what came about from the probing. To my knowledge I always thought, the immortal question “What if” that really happened?

I always remember talking about this in school, wondering how that could happen, and that led to getting my first paranormal book “Gift of Magic” by Lois Duncan.  To my knowledge the inspiration has always been there, it was cultivated early on and particularly reinforced by my parents (both engineers now retired), I remember they always explained the laws of science to me and if there was something that didn’t satisfy my curiosity, the questions were deeper. I remember after my forever question and answer session with my mother, she would lead me on by saying things such as “you never know”, “do you think it exists?” “why couldn’t it exist?”. Personally I think I was forever doomed to look at any situation with a what-if attitude or mentality.

As far as my books in particular, situations in life at times gave the seed to the book. I’ve had a couple ideas come to me in my dreams, though some of those dreams were at times hilarious. Other ideas have come through movies, and lately some of the ideas have come through books. One thing I have learned though is that when the idea comes, not to stop it, no matter how ridiculous it might seem at first. Secondly, I have learned to explore it, is it something that I can truly use? And lastly when it comes to inspiration, there are times when taking something old and spinning it with something new can actually make that story interesting. Now once the idea is there, the development and fleshing out of the story is through the help of family and friends.  I particularly like it when speaking with my friends since we can bounce ideas back and forth and if it works, then the brainstorming is not only successful but gives more brand new ideas!

This all helps with the science I use since I have to keep an open mind to see new ways to maximize a reaction or see possible strategies for a new synthesis. I know it might sound strange but both writing and science really go hand in hand. And they each have helped me see the realms in brand new perspectives.

Echoes and Illusions was a mixture of all the ideas above. A little here, a little there. Each story was written individually with no connection to the next, it was only when I came up with the title of the book that I found the similarity between them. Odd, I know but I didn’t realize the connection until I had to come up with a title for the anthology. It was reading through all four of the stories that it came to me.

I believe inspiration can come from anything, anywhere. Now will I mix my science and writing? I don’t know right now but I do know they will influence each other in some way.

Echoes & Illusions:
Ebook and Print –  Melange Books

Reel-to-Real

A curious invitation mystifies acclaimed movie critic Moira Castle.   In an industry where word of mouth is reality, Moira comes back home to the unexpected.  Memories surge as an old movie reel and theater owner Toren McCann hold answers that have lain quiet for far too long.

The Seventh Legend
Some stories are based on legend, some on rumor. Some stories are real.  For a young woman her childhood book has something more than imagined.  The book contains the story of a real hero facing an unimaginable evil that’s been after since she was a child.

The Watchers
In a world where duty and honor are binding and crucial Selene, a Coven Enforcer, has to choose between the life she knows and the life she yearns.  On a dark and stormy night Selene learns that some rules are meant to be broken, even immortal ones.

Smoke & Mirrors
Dr. Ana Fiore has earned her reputation “Dr. Ice” by her solid work and rigid personality. Sent to a conference for determination of Chief of Staff, she is snowed in with rival and colleague Dr. Dakota Hastings. Face-to-face with Dakota, she learns she isn’t the only expert at illusion.

All about Mila
Mila was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico.  At an early age she learned the valuable secrets books contained. It all started with the Lois Duncan book, “A Gift of Magic.” Mysterious worlds, far away places helped nourish different ideas and concepts of the real world.  It was through this that she discovered a whole new realm of depth.
The books ranged, and as they did so did her love for different types.  Starting with William Shakespeare, Mila went through all the literary bests; William Blake, Joseph Conrad, Anais Nin, Leo Tolstoy, Ayn Rand, Maya Angelou, Victor Hugo.  Until one day she read a book that changed her life, her first true romance book where characters were real, came to life, and could be the person next door.  From there the world expanded from Nora Roberts, Karen Marie Moning, JR Ward, and beyond. With these authors, her writing took a new turn to role group playing and writing in the paranormal scene.  Through this, the stories had more vivid ideas and better yet were actually getting heard.
She currently working on her doctorate in Organic Chemistry and resides in Texas, with her husband, family, friends. Her favorite genres are: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Erotica and anything her mind concocts. Crazy and silly as the ideas she sometimes has, her heart is as true as gold and hopes her readers enjoy the stories she writes as much as she loves to write them.

Mila loves to hear from her readers and can be found at all of the following locations!

www.milaramos.net
Facebook
Blog
Twitter

I’d like to thank Mila for visiting the blog today!  It seems I have yet another book to add to my wish list (don’t tell my husband!)  If you are interested in winning a copy of this very interesting book, just leave a comment with your e-mail address and we will contact the winner in a few days!