The Lake of Shadows by M.E. Yildirim: Interview + Giveaway

The Lake Of Shadows (Chastity Point Series #1)
by M.E. Yildirim
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Number of pages: 383
Cover Artist: Gözdem Perrichet

Keegan Callaghan knows the taste of loss. Fate has severely tried him; first by taking away his parents when he was but a child, then destiny didn't spare him the heartache of losing the woman he loved, when she fell victim to vicious killers who were after him.

He is a man, but not human.

At least that's not all there is to him.

There is a savage side to his nature, a werewolf like creature that most would attribute with folklore or a myth. Troubled by his own animalistic tendencies he has a hard time accepting and haunted by vicious memories, he decides to leave his home in Ireland and move to the US, where his mother was from.

But the quiet town of Chastity Point, Connecticut is not what it seems.

Jade Thorton is trying to lead the life she always dreamed of having. She owns a bakery, has friends, and a loyal dog, which seems to be fully satisfying after the traumatic experience of her childhood that casts a long shadow on her whole life.

The last thing she expects is to find herself thrown back into the past by the events taking part in the small town when blood is being spilled in rural Chastity Point.

The fascination she feels for the mysterious man with eyes full of painful secrets could be her chance for happiness, or her final downfall…

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Q & A with M.E. Yildirim

Q: Tell us a little bit about your main characters.
A: Keegan Callaghan is an alpha male who is being tormented by his tragic past. Fate wasn't exactly kind to him, taking away his parents when he was but a boy, then stealing from him a woman he thought to be the love of his young life. He is closed off and quite feral. Not only because of all the tragedies that marked him, but also because there is a beast living within him, a werewolf-like creature, and keeping a leash on it is not an easy thing. It keeps yanking at its chains, giving Keegan hard times more often than not.

Jade Thorton is a woman who moves into a rural town of Chastity Point in search of shelter, a sanctuary from her childhood that ended way too early and brutally. The trauma of it is still a vivid part of Jade, which she tries to conceal by leading an ordinary life. But once wheels of destiny are being set in motion, it is impossible to escape the inevitable. These two will have a bumpy road ahead of them.

Q: What was your favorite scene to write?
A: I liked reminiscing the past. There were moments rather than scenes. I enjoyed bringing the two main characters slowly together. I liked the strength of friendship between Keegan and Ciarán.

Q: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
A: There is no schedule at all! I hate to give reins to the characters I create, but it happens too often to count. There are days they refuse to cooperate with me, or they have completely different idea than I do, and then we argue and try different approach. Compromise is a beautiful concept but it gets tricky, when it comes to using it in practice.

Q: How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?
A: My mother is a bookworm, although I can see her frowning at the term. She has always encouraged me to choose my own reading material, and never shy away from topics that might seem uncomfortable. So I was raised in the spirit of making my own decisions. I would say that we collect writing material throughout our lives. Every experience and every person affects us and writing can mirror it to some extent, even if we are not conscious of it at the time.

Q: If you could be any character from your book, who would you be and why?
A: Danielle Kendrick, because nothing but absolutely nothing about her equals what meets the eye. And proving you are not what people believe you to be, to those who are hell-bent on misunderstanding you, is a challenge. And quite an achievement, if you can make it happen.

Q: What do you do to unwind and relax?
A: Reading is the best relaxing method I know of, it is perfect when I need some quiet time, and don't feel like talking. Good music works too. I am addicted to Internet, surfing through pages, news, events, talking to people who are an ocean away, but feel as close as if they were next to me. All depends on the mood really.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
A: Ireland, definitely Ireland for its folklore and myths. Scottish Highlands for the magic and mystery. Or at least this is how I've always imagined it to be. I think it could be a very inspirational trip.

Q: What book are you reading now?
A: "Dark Witch" by Nora Roberts.

M.E. Yildirim is a Public Relations specialist from Poland who is confident Satan himself created math and that the world needs more bookworms to balance the evil out. Her mother is the one who had inculcated in her respect and love for written stories and taught her not to judge a book by its cover. She lives with head full of voices which won't be silenced until she lets them out to live and spin their tales on paper. That's right-their tales, since they seem to have a mind and will of their own. Walking through life to the beat of her own drum, she has worked in a PR Agency, small companies, a big consortium and even in the Military. But none of it could ever compare to the adventures of creating and building up her characters and stories. M.E. believes that books are for smoothing out everyone's feathers and reminding people all the things they've already forgotten. She is happily married, oftentimes engaging her husband in her writing, with or without his consent. Tenacious as much as the characters she creates, she loves challenges, letting her own creations to take advantage of that fact.