And Time Stopped by Kristen L. Jackson Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway! {Ends 6/23/22}
Book Details:

And Time Stopped: Dimension 9
Book Description:
After a smooth jump to Dimension 9, Chase, Alyx, and chimera pup, Bo, discover that this world’s peaceful existence only extends as far as the local high school. A different kind of battle wages there, and the identity of the school bully is a surprise they never anticipated. When Chase decides they have no choice but to enroll at Dune Harbor High and repeat their senior year, Alyx is less than thrilled. But the two soon discover the influence just one person can have over the decisions, lives, and even deaths, of those around them. While they try to prevent one tragedy, another one unfolds even as Chase unravels one more piece of his family history. What he discovers will leave him reeling, and his life will never be the same.

Guest Post:

Where do you get the ideas from, when creating personalities for your characters?
Ideas for character’s personalities come from a variety of different sources, and the thrill of bringing a character to life is such a rush! Life experiences, people you meet—those you know well or just passing acquaintances—and even movies or books you’ve read all work together to help you breathe life into your characters.
Details are important. I, the author, have to know a lot more about each character than will probably ever make it into the book. This helps me create a believable character my readers can relate to. I need to know not only their favorite foods and music, but also what their mannerisms are, how they walk, talk, dress, etc. What books do they read, what are their favorite movies or favorite shows to stream. What foods do they like, and which do they detest? When they eat a food they don’t enjoy, do they spit it out? Turn green but keep chewing? Gag? These are all questions I ask myself as I bring a character to life.
All of this comes from my imagination, which in turn comes directly from my own life experiences and observations of the people and world around me. That doesn’t mean my characters are based off of people I know. I’ve never knowingly written an actual living breathing person I know into one of my books. But I, and all authors, do take tiny parts of people. For example, maybe I know someone that twirls her hair, or someone who bites his fingernails. Maybe I notice the way someone slumps while sitting in a chair, or the way someone else shuffles their feet while walking. These tiny mannerisms are the building blocks that make my characters real…at least I hope they do! They can show a person’s personality, and also convey a plethora of emotions the character may be experiencing.
The main character in my newly released book AND TIME STOPPED, Chase Walker, has evolved throughout the course of the series. He started out as an idea. Just a spark of an idea I had one day, about a boy who finds a watch that will allow him to travel to twelve different dimensions. I thought about what he looks like—wavy, clean-cut, dirty blond hair, lean and muscular body, blue eyes, dimples. A good student, star football player, popular with everyone. I thought about his family—raised by his uncle, just the two of them. I thought about what music he likes—rock. All of that helped shape him, but I needed more to bring him to life. Like the caring way he helps his elderly neighbor carry in her groceries, or the friend he’d do anything to save. His insatiable appetite, his attraction to the opposite sex. Each day, I added more details, and each day, he grew into the character he is today. Now, as I’m writing Chase into my novels, he has taken on a life of his own. He has not only become real to my readers, but he is real to me, too. As real as any person, flesh and blood. Sometimes, now that he is real, Chase takes over the story, taking it in directions I could not have foreseen. So, though he was created from my imagination, observations, and life experiences, he has now taken on a life of his own. And I’m awfully proud of him…and all of my characters!
m.
Meet the Author:
Kristen L. Jackson lives in Reading, PA, with her husband, two grown sons, and four large-breed dogs. She has been a teacher for over 20 years, and writing for children of all ages is close to her heart. Her debut novels KEEPER OF THE WATCH and MAGIC HARBOR (Books 1 & 2) are available now, as well as a novella, DIMENSION KEEPER, which is the prequel to the series. A children’s picture book, JOCELYN’S BOX OF SOCKS, (2019 1st Place Pencraft Award Winner) is also available now. Kristen enjoys writing, reading, and spending time with her family at their cabin in the Pocono Mountains of PA. Follow Kristen on Social Media:
Tour Schedule:
June 13th
–A Soccer Mom’s Book Blog >> Excerpt
–The Avid Reader >> Interview
–Wottaread >> Spotlight
–Just Because >> Excerpt
June 14th
–Adventures in Writing >> Excerpt
–Movies, Shows, & Books >> Guest Post
–fundinmental >> Excerpt
–Write. Read. Live. >> Excerpt
–Candlelight Reading >> Guest Post
June 15th
–Living in a Bookworld >> Excerpt
–Books, Writing and coffee >> Excerpt
–Two Ends of the Pen >> Interview
June 16th
–Bookworm for Kids >> Review
–Joss’s Corner >> Excerpt
–Rockin’ Book Reviews >> Guest Post
–Celticlady’s Reviews >> Excerpt
June 17th
–Sadie’s Spotlight >> Excerpt
–Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author >> Playlist
–Quill and Ink Book Tours >> Excerpt
–Teatime and Books >> Excerpt
Giveaway Details:
Tour-wide giveaway (INT)
signed copies of the first two books in the series (KEEPER OF THE WATCH and MAGIC HARBOR), + the prequel novella (DIMENSION KEEPER)
This grand prize giveaway – ends June 23rd:
To Enter the Giveaway click on the Rafflecopter link below:

Fascinating and intriguing.