On the second day of our 2K international indie book blog tour 2016 (hosted by Kate M Colby http://katemcolby.com & me, Kate Evans). I am delighted to welcome our first indie author for interview, Zach Chopchinski.

Zachary is 27 and lives in Florida with his lovely wife, Layla. The two of them share a home with their four fur-children. Zachary has degrees in Criminal Justice and Criminology. He had two short stories and a poem published by Ohio State University. Zachary has always had two passions in his life, criminal justice and writing. After spending nearly 5 years working in security, Zachary decided it was time to give his other passion a chance. Zachary is very much a family man and when he is not deep in writing, he can be found spending time with his family, playing video games or contemplating his next story idea.

He introduces his novel, The Curious Tale of Gabrielle, a novel for young adults:

A young Gabrielle is driven by her will to explore and see new things. She cannot stop or rest until all within her reach has been experienced and explored. Driven by an astounding will and lack of common fear, she finds herself able to face things most adults might fall before. Yet has there been a journey that has been meant specifically for her all along? Is there a path that has been created just for her to travel?
Follow Gabrielle as she ventures through the lives of many with the experience of only her own. What will happen as she discovers the lives—and tragedies—of the souls who choose her to see their story? It’s a journey through history, life, and love unlike anything that could be imagined—except perhaps by a young girl.

Prequels/Sequels: This is the re-launch of the The Curious Tale of Gabrielle. The second book (yet to be named) is scheduled to come out this summer. In this second edition, I not only added several new scenes, but I also added a new supporting character, Morrigan. When Gabrielle first sees Morrigan, she feels an instant connection to him, like he can see who she really is. Could this guy really be going through the same adventure she is?

What was the inspiration behind your book?
One day, I was checking out an old antique shop near where I worked in Portland, Maine, when I came across a really cool silver bracelet. The shop owner told me that the bracelet was 500 years old and I remember thinking to myself WOW, imagine if this was a human, what stories it would tell!

Who is your favorite character?
I would have to say that my favorite character is Morrigan. Without giving too much away and avoiding spoilers, this is going to be one of the most complex characters that I have ever written, because of this I appreciate this character as a personal accomplishment. Morrigan is really avante-guarde, not really scared of anything and has a very strong internal conflict that makes decisions that much more difficult. I admire his strength, physically and mentally to overcome all that is in store for him in the series.

What is one thing you want readers to know or “get” about your book?
One thing I want people to understand is that there are a lot of hidden “easter eggs” throughout the novel—and the series. Pay attention to many of the items that Gabrielle sees while in the antique shop as well as names and characteristics of people that she meets while in English ruled Scotland.

Who is your ideal reader? Or, who will enjoy your book?
I have always wanted to create a book that anyone can pick up and enjoy. I think that the concepts are young enough for teens to enjoy but also I feel that any age, as long as you enjoy young adult fiction, will enjoy the story that Gabrielle has to tell.

What three writing tips do you have for aspiring authors?

1. Always write, even when you don’t want to.
2. Never just write something because someone else thought it was a good idea. Write what YOU want, not what others want you to write.
3. Be proud of what you have written. Even if you get a lot of negativity, be proud that you created something and always stand by your work.

Where can readers buy your book? Please provide links to all sales pages and Goodreads, if applicable.
The first edition of the book can be found on the following sites. However, the second (expanded) edition will be available on March 25.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/0ZslRC
From Me (cheaper rates): http://zachchop.com/mywork/
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/524345

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Zachary_Paul_Chopchinski_The_Curious_Tale_of_Gabri?id=k4XjBgAAQBAJ&hl=en

Where can readers learn more about you? Please provide links to your website and social media profiles.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Zachary-Paul-Chopchinski-772308849490741/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Website: http://zachchop.com

Tumblr: http://an-author-and-his-books.tumblr.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZachChop

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9853623.Zachary_Paul_Chopchinski