♥ Cameo Renae: Review and Interview: Jaidis Shaw, author of Destiny Awaits

Synopsis:
Twenty-year-old Alayna Scott receives visions around water, but even her foresight couldn’t prepare her for the tragic accident that claimed the lives of her parents. With everything she loves gone, Alayna packs up and moves to the small town of Juniper Grove in hopes of starting over.

Jayden McKnight can’t explain the attraction that he feels whenever Alayna is near, but he does know that he will do whatever it takes to win her heart. When a vampire selects Alayna as his next victim, Jayden will stop at nothing to ensure her safety – even if that means bringing Alayna into a world that she never knew existed.

Love blossoms, challenges are made and Alayna will find herself fighting not only to survive, but to understand what she has become.

My review:
I had no idea what I was getting into before I read Destiny Awaits, aside from what the cover suggested. And, I must say that I was greatly surprised. Vampires, Shifters, a Seer, love, and betrayal fill this novel. It kept me turning pages, right until the end. Author Jaidis Shaw's debut novel is a clear indication that a wonderful Destiny of writing Awaits her.

And now, the awesome Jaidis Shaw is here with us to answer some questions... YAY!!!
So, Ms. Shaw...

How did you become a writer? Have you always wanted to write?
I have always wanted to write but lacked the confidence to actually do so. Then I came to a point where I knew that if I wanted to be a published author I had to buckle down and do it. With the encouragement of a few fellow writers, I took the plunge and submitted a short story which was later accepted.

What was your reaction when you held DESTINY AWAITS in book form, in your hands, for the first time?
Well I haven’t had that opportunity yet. I released the eBook version on April 21^st, 2012 but I have to tell you, it felt amazing! I was on the phone at the time and so I held myself together until I was off then jumped up and down a few times in excitement, which was quickly overcome with panic because my book was now out there and vulnerable. J

Describe your writing process.
My process always begins with an idea, which usually always comes to me in a dream. Once I have the idea, I outline the story (the characters, setting, etc.) which I then put in a binder. Once I have a basic plot worked out I sit at the computer and try to put the pieces together.

What inspired you to write DESTINY AWAITS?
I turned to writing as a way to escape the harsh reality of high school. That was when the inspiration began for Destiny Awaits. The story was moving along well when I was diagnosed with epilepsy and I put my writing on hold. I only recently started writing again within the past year or so. Of course by the time I got back to Destiny Awaits, it had been so long that I did a total rewrite.

What is the one thing you want people to remember about DESTINY AWAITS?
If readers took anything away from Destiny Awaits, I would want it to be that no matter how bad things seem, just keep your head up because there are always good things among the chaos. You just have to open your mind and be willing to adjust if needed.

If you could give aspiring writers one piece of advice, what would it be?
If you want to be an author you need to read, especially in the genre that you want to write in. Also, don’t rush to get your book published and skip things like professional editing. Don’t put out a product that you aren’t 100% proud of. J

Great interview Jaidis, and congratulations! Thanks so much for dropping by...I love company! And, I'll definitely be on the look-out O.O for more of your novels in the future!

Author Bio:

Jaidis Shaw currently resides in a small town located in South Carolina with her husband and her beautiful daughter. With a passion for reading, Jaidis can always be found surrounded by books and dreaming of new stories. She enjoys challenging herself by writing in different genres and currently has several projects in the works.

When not reading or writing, Jaidis fills the position of Book Tour Coordinator for Nurture Your Books™, maintains the Juniper Grove blog and loves encouraging her daughter to let her imagination run wild.