Authors ARE Rockstars: Lisa Desrochers

Today I have the immense pleasure of being a part of the Authors Are Rockstars blog tour hosted by Fiktshun and Two Chicks on Books. What makes this even better is that I get to host one of my favorite authors of recent years, Lisa Desrochers. If you don't know who Lisa Desrochers is, she is the author of the amazing Personal Demons trilogy. If you haven't already read this trilogy, you are missing out.

So why is Lisa Desrochers a Rockstar?

Lisa Desrochers wrote a book about hot demons and angels. What more could you really want? But beyond that, the story of her Personal Demons trilogy will keep you on your toes the whole way through. There's always something happening and the story goes in every direction imaginable. But in my opinion what really makes Lisa Desrochers a rockstar are the characters she created. Frannie, Luc and Gabe, who you can meet below, are all incredible people. They each have something that makes them unique and they are all among my all time favorite book characters. What makes these characters even better is that after three books, I still can't decide between Luc and Gabe and that never happens. Lisa Desrochers writes them in a way that makes it almost impossible to choose. There is no clear choice and how Frannie manages to choose one is completely beyond me.

The Interview

But that's enough about that. Today I have the great pleasure of having Frannie, Luc and Gabe here to answer a few questions about themselves and their stories. But be prepared, things can get quite intense with the three of them sitting around a table, especially if Luc and Gabe decide to start going at it.

Emilie: To start off, how about you each tell me a little about yourselves.

Gabe: *flicks wrist in a wave* Gabe. Angel.

Luc: *tips back in chair* Luc. Demon…sort of.

Frannie: *scrunches face at the boys* I think she was wanting a little more than that.

Luc: Fine. *lowers chair to ground and leans elbows on table* *stares at Emilie* All demons are born of sin. I’m a Creature of Pride, created by King Lucifer seven thousand years ago to tempt mortals down the fiery path. *winks at Frannie* Better, love?

Frannie: *glares at Luc*

Gabe: And I’m a Dominion, created after the War in Heaven to oversee the guardians for the archangel Gabriel.

Frannie: *smiles at Emilie* They’re harmless, really. So, I’m Frannie, and I’m seventeen, and I like judo and hanging out in my grandfather’s garage rebuilding vintage Mustangs. And…I guess that’s it.

Luc: *lifts eyebrows at Frannie* Really? That’s what you’re going with?

Frannie: *glares at Luc again* Shut up.

Emilie: Okay. Luc & Gabe, you've known each other for a REALLY long time, when did you actually meet? And was there ever a time when you could sort of stand each other?

Frannie: Yeah. I’ve always wondered about that.

Luc: *barks out a laugh* Go ahead, Gabriel. Fill her in.

Gabe: *shifts in chair as eyes narrow* He *juts his chin toward Luc* shows up in Pompeii after Vesuvius, thinking he’s all that. Gonna collect all these souls—

Luc: *laughs again* No, idiot. The first time. *leans in and winks* You’ll have to excuse him. Brain damage from breathing all that ozone. What he meant to say was that I kicked his ass in the inaugural games at the Colosseum.

Gabe: Stop telling her what I mean. *shakes head*

Frannie: Hold up! Did you say Colosseum? As in Rome?

Luc: I did. *eyes flash* *slow grin* And I also said I kicked his ass.

Gabe: *rolls eyes* In your dreams.

Luc: If memory serves me, I left the Colosseum under my own power.

Gabe: You don’t think Caesar would have thought it a bit strange that I should get up and walk out—

Luc: *grinning*—after I kicked your ass? Yeah, that might have raised suspicion.

Gabe: *glares again* To answer your question, Emilie: No we’ve never been able to stand each other.

Emilie: Frannie, how is it having a hot angel and a hot ex-demon basically fighting over you? Are there some benefits?

Frannie: *splits a wary glace between Luc and Gabe* I don’t think they’re really fighting over me.

Luc: *smirks at Gabe* A fight would imply an even match.
Gabe: *glares at Luc* *white sparks crackle over palm* Keep it up, brimstone breath.

Frannie: Will you guys just stop? *rolls eyes* Really, it’s more that their bosses both want my power. And, no, there are no benefits. *folds arms across chest and stares boys down*

Emilie: Luc and Gabe, what is one thing you admire about each other?

Luc: *raises eyebrow at Emilie* Seriously?

Gabe: You’re complaining?

Luc: I am.

Gabe: I’ll start. Luc is…creative.

Luc: *barks out a laugh* That’s the best you could do?

Gabe: It’s better than “seriously?”

Luc: *looks back at Emilie* See what I have to put up with? Okay, give me a second… Got it! Gabe is…bright.

Gabe: *throws up hands* You admire my brightness?

Luc: *shoots a glare at Gabe* What do you want from me?

Gabe: I guess a reasonable answer is too much to hope for?

Luc: *slumps in chair* Fine. He’s loyal, I suppose.

Gabe: *nods* And Luc is courageous…when he wants to be.

Emilie: Luc, you’ve gone through some big changes. What has been the best/worst part?

Luc: Worst part, there are some things I could do before that I can’t anymore. Things like possess people. *shoots glance at Frannie*

Frannie: *blushes*

Luc: *lifts eyebrows* Best part, Frannie and I can be together in other ways.

Frannie: *blushes deeper*

Emilie: Gabe, have there been any moments where you wished you weren't an angel and didn't have to act accordingly?

Gabe: *clears throat* *eyes flick to Frannie* There are times… *shifts in chair* *clears throat again* *swallows* Yes.

Emilie: So Frannie, ever thought you would be the key to preventing the world as you know it from ending? No pressure, right?

Frannie: The thing about that is, I don’t think it’s me. Everyone keeps saying I can do this thing, but I can’t. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure they have the wrong sister. I mean, if anyone’s hooked into the whole angel/demon thing, it’s Grace, not me. But every time I try to tell Luc and Gabe that, they just give me that look. *waves hand at the boys*

Luc: *purses lips and drums fingers on table*

Gabe: *sighs and scrunches face at Frannie*

Emilie: Final question, what would each of you say or do to convince people who haven't read your story to do so?

Frannie: You know, it’s actually been a little annoying to have that Lisa chick following us around taking dictation, and I’m really sort of a private person, so if you don’t want to read the books, that’s okay with me. *flicks a glance at Luc then Gabe* There are some pretty embarrassing parts, if you want the truth.

Gabe: *clears throat and diverts eyes*

Luc: *shrugs a shoulder and tips back in chair* What she said.

So thank you Luc, Frannie and Gabe for allowing me to ask you these questions. Your answers were certainly quite intriguing. 

The Giveaway

So if you want to find out more about those "pretty embarrassing parts" Frannie was talking about here's your chance. Lisa has offered up one signed book (of the winner's choice of Personal Demons, Original Sin or Last Rite) to be given away as part of the tour. To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Open US/CANADA ONLY.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For more about Lisa Desrochers you can find her on Twitter or you can check out her blog. Be sure to check the Appearances page since she may be coming your way in the near future!

Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers

Title: Last Rite (Personal Demons #3)

Author: Lisa Desrochers

Publisher: Tor Teen

Release Date: May 8, 2012

Source: ARC won from author

Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository

In this final instalment of the thrilling, edgy Personal Demons series, the battle between Heaven and Hell has become critical, and Frannie Cavanaugh is right at the centre of it.

With the help of the powerful angel Gabe and demon-turned-mortal Luc, Frannie has been able to stay one step ahead of the forces of Hell. But when the demons killed Frannie's best friend and destroyed her brother, they raised the stakes. If Frannie wants to keep her family and friends safe, she knows she has no choice but to go on the run.

Their best defense is the power Frannie has been struggling to master, but her attempts to hone her skill go horribly awry. If Frannie doesn't learn fast, the consequences could be devastating--even apocalyptic.

What happens when you can't outrun Hell…or trust the ones you love?

If you haven't picked up Lisa Desrochers' Personal Demons trilogy yet you are seriously missing out. Last Rite was everything I hoped the conclusion to the trilogy would be. So much happened, but I couldn't be happier with how it all turned out.

Frannie is on the run, trying to escape the forces of Hell with the help of Gabe and Luc. If they don't outrun Hell, it could just mean the end of humanity as they know it. In order to prevent that from happening, Frannie has to master her Sway, but that might be easier said than done. But when Hell starts going after Frannie's family, the game is changed. Despite Gabe and Luc's concerns, Frannie rushes back home to protect her family. And that's when everything goes to Hell. Literally. Now Frannie has to find a way to use her power of Sway to save humanity. Except that Frannie isn't even sure who she can trust anymore.

First things first, if you haven't picked up Lisa Desrochers' Personal Demons trilogy you definitely should. Believe me, you won't regret it. Moving beyond that, Last Rite was absolutely fantastic. It was everything I hoped the conclusion to this trilogy would be. Lisa Desrochers did not waste any time getting to the action. Right from page one, there was something happening and the action kept going the whole way through. What I've always loved about these books were the multiple points of view. In Last Rite, the changing points of view really helped add to the suspense because you never knew exactly all that was happening. And the ending was also what I hoped it would be. 

I've grown very attached to the characters in this series and I have loved being able to get in so many of their heads. This time around I was happy to finally be able to see things from Gabe's perspective. Gabe was always a character I liked but he was always a bit of a mystery to me. But now I got to learn more about him and understand why he was always so conflicted. But despite liking Gabe a lot, I'm still Team Luc. Because Luc, despite frustrating me at times, was perfect for Frannie. And there's also something about him that makes it so you can't help but love him. And Frannie was still Frannie, and like with Luc, you can't help but like her. She is always willing and ready to sacrifice herself for the ones she loves and that's something I can't help admiring.

In Last Rite, Lisa Desrochers wrote a fantastic conclusion to her amazing Personal Demons trilogy. I know I'm repeating myself, but you need to pick these books up if you haven't already. You won't be disappointed.