Sky Purington's Blog, page 30

Captivating Paranormal Romance. The Lycan Hunter by Kelsey Hunter.

Today I’m thrilled to welcome over Kelsey Jordan, author of The Lycan Hunter, a Gardinian World Novel, Book 1. So sit back, relax, enjoy a fabulous interview and learn more about this captivating Paranormal Romance.
ISBN: 9781492119845
ASIN: 1492119849
Number of pages: 270
Word Count: 103,000
Cover Artist: Kelsey JordanGiveaway! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win two signed print copies of The Lycan Hunter as well as three complimentary bookmarks per book.
Book Description
Kyran of the Blue Ridge Pack has spent most of his life searching for an end to the Forever War. Finding a Hunter among their greatly diminished ranks who was willing to forgo their "shoot first" mentality was harder than it seemed. Then fate–or the gods–gifted him with Alexis James, a petite Hunter with a nasty habit for killing his kind and a need for his surgical skills.
Alexis only has two wishes in life: make it through her next assignment, or die a relatively quick death. With a heart hardened by miserable circumstances and painful memories, her view of kindness and common decency was marred by scars of swift retribution.  So when the blue-eyed Lycan saw fit to save her life, she wondered: At what cost?
After eight thousand years of war, the end is becoming a reality, but is the possibility of peace worth Kyran's soul and possibly Alexis' life? The Lycan Hunter on AmazonThe Lycan Hunter on BNThe Lycan Hunter on KoboThe Lycan Hunter on Smashwords
Let’s Interview!
SKY:  If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
KELSEY:  I would spend it with Ronan. He has awful taste in movies and they are the best kind of awful.
SKY:  Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details.
KELSEY:  Currently I am working on After ‘The End’, which is an anthology of novellas.  In each novella we meet a new couple who have been previously introduced on some capacity. The stories take place over a course of eighteen years. First of Spring, book two of the Gardinian World Novels is currently being edited.
SKY:  What sort of personality does your hero have?
KELSEY:  Kyran is a laid back kind of Alpha male. He doesn’t feel like he has a point to prove, but he has no problem reminding you who’s in charge if you think his relaxed attitude makes him weak.
SKY:  What sort of personality does your heroine have?
KELSEY:  Alexis isn’t a “girly-girl”. She isn’t a big fan of dresses. She is the type of woman who likes her guns big and her targets dead. For her a relaxing day involves a lot of sweat and shell casings.
SKY:  Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.
KELSEY:  I stick indoors because going outside is an issue for my allergies. I also prefer to write at night. That is when my muse is most active.
SKY:  How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?
KELSEY:  I’ve been writing since I was thirteen. I started with poetry and graduated to novels in 2007.
SKY:  What genre/genres do you prefer to write? Are there other genres you’d like to write in the future?
KELSEY:  I’m all about paranormal romance/fantasy romance. I don’t see myself straying too far from either paranormal/fantasy or romance. I think that’s where I’m more comfortable.
SKY:  Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas or novels? Why?
KELSEY:  I’ve tried to write short stories and I will concede they are a heck of a lot harder to write than I thought. For me, I’m more comfortable writing a full length novel. Frankly it’s easier for me to cram the various components of my worlds into a full length novel than any other length.
SKY:  Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.
KELSEY:  I’m all about series. I read in series (you’ll rarely find a standalone in my collection), therefore I write that way.
SKY:  If you could make changes to a story you’ve already written, which would it be and why?
KELSEY:  I’d make changes to my vampire novel Authentic Lie. I love the story, but I was still relatively new to novel writing—paranormal in particular—and made a terrible mistake of not doing enough world building. It’s shelved for the moment, but one day I hope to go back and make it pretty enough to show people.
SKY:  Great interview, Kelsey! Thanks for joining us today.

About the Author

Like everyone, Kelsey has her share of vices, which typically centers around sinful frappes made with Blue Bell Coffee ice cream, late nights hanging out with her demanding muse, spending an embarrassing amount of time reading, and napping.
When she isn't indulging in her love of books, music, late nights with her muse, and delicious, but fattening frappes, she is spending time with her husband and daughter. Gardinian WorldLetters from Gardas (blog)@KelseyJordan_GW Kelsey Jordan on FacebookKelsey Jordan on GoodreadsKelsey Jordan on Google+http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ba112f480/

Wicked Desire. Fiery Passion. Scottish Warriors. Highland Mystic (The MacLomain Series- Early Years).

Welcome! It’s been a while since I chatted about the latest happenings in my world so I’d like to take this opportunity to share. As always, things have been busy, mostly in the medieval Scottish highlands. How so? Well, I've been spending time with some memorable characters from the MacLomain Series. For those who are familiar, do you remember Alan Stewart from Fate’s Monolith and Destiny’s Denial? If so, then you’ll probably understand why I felt he deserved his own romance. Drop dead gorgeous with those sexy dark eyes and black hair; he’d always captured my attention. Then there was his ever-so-suave way with the lassies. 
Oh wait!
You thought he was dead, eh? *grins* Guess I forgot to mention that. He's not so dead after all! Why? Quite simple, a lovely mystic ensured his survival. For those of you who read, Highland Persuasion (The MacLomain Series- Early Years), you might remember Caitriona, the wee lass caught on an unexpected adventure. As it turned out, she had a goal, a secret objective known by very few. And who was at the heart of the secret? None other than Alan Stewart, a lad she desires above all else.
But there's more…
Do you recall Arianna Broun from Fate’s Monolith? She was the lass from the future who married Iain MacLomain. Were you ever curious what happened to the other Arianna Broun, the Scottish lass from the lowlands who was his true intended bride? Ponder no longer because we finally learn more about her and Stephen Broun in Highland Mystic. After all, theirs too was an epic love story. 
As Highland Mystic was recently released, I thought today to share a blurb and an excerpt. Happy reading!
Blurb
Two romances. Four destinies. One extraordinary outcome...

Alan Stewart loves the lasses. Beautiful all, he's never been one to settle. Until, that is, Caitriona appears. Shy yet alluring, her unexpected and rare gift gains his respect. Though his need to protect her grows, a dark ending looms. Only Alan knows that her death soon comes and he will not be able to save her.
Caitriona Devereux is not who she seems. Her fate was foreseen long before birth and so important it will impact all future MacLomains. When dreams of Alan Stewart begin, she knows the time has come. But how to convince a Highland laird from another century that he must die for her? Especially when it soon becomes apparent that she couldn't bear his death.
When their paths cross with Stephen and Arianna of the Broun clan, a powerful prophecy begins to unravel. Though promised to Iain MacLomain, Arianna Broun is in love with Stephen. They'll do anything to be together. Alan and Caitriona will afford them just such an opportunity.
Betrayal and loss will intertwine with passion, friendship and new beginnings as the four race toward their destinies. All will discover how far they are willing to go for love. But will the journey be worth the ultimate sacrifice?
Find out in HIGHLAND MYSTIC.

Excerpt
“We will go care for the horses and hunt for food,” Arianna interrupted, a wide grin on her face. 
“And we will set things aflame,” Alan assured with a wink.
Caitriona rolled her eyes. “We will have a fire ready when you return.”
Stephen and Arianna took each other’s hand. Their step was lighter and they seemed young lovers as they vanished down the path. “I hope they remember to be back before dusk.”
“Oh, they will… just,” he murmured, trailing kisses down a surprisingly tender area beneath and behind her ear. “But ‘twill not be the caring of the horses or the hunting that will slow them down.” 
Caitriona pulled away before she melted further into him. “Well, at least we can get done what we promised.”

Alan shook his head and grabbed her hand. “Nay, not yet. There is time. Come. I want to show you something.”
Every time he wanted to show her something it was an even more intimate location. Her resistance was weakening as it was. She stopped. “Nay. ‘Tis never so simple with you.”
His brows arched. “Now lass, I will carry you if forced.”
Dubious, she pulled her hand away and crossed her arms over her chest. “I said nay, Alan. I mean to stand by it.”
“Well which way will you have it then? Over my shoulder or in my arms.”
“Neither!” She said. “I dinnae want to see what you have to show and that is final.”
“You dinnae want to see?” He shook his head and started toward her.
There was no moving fast enough when this man gave pursuit. The cave flipped and the next thing she knew the floor was far below. Air puffed out of her lungs when her belly hit his shoulder. 
“You really thought over the shoulder the better of the two choices?” She gasped.
“I wasnae the one given the choice. When you didnae make one, I made it for you.” His hand tightened on her backside. “Besides, this allows me to climb.”
Climb! Oh no. She held on tight. As it was, he was taller than most men. There didn’t need to be more distance between her and the cave floor. 
“Dinnae worry. I willnae drop you.” He began climbing. “Yet.”
It was impossible to see what he climbed as they moved up. Caitriona squeezed her eyes shut. “Bloody hell, Alan.”
“Such language.” He squeezed her backside. “And all for naught had you just followed when asked.”
“A little more debate over this might have been nice. You put in no effort to persuade,” she muttered.
“Remember when we discussed our equal amounts of determination at the loch? I believed you. So why continue bantering?”
Higher and higher he climbed. She wasn’t about to tell him that he might have convinced her otherwise. Upon reflection, perhaps she should have. At least then, she’d have a wee bit more control. But would that much matter? Wherever he brought her now there would be no easy escape from. 
If he set to seducing her she’d all but be trapped. 
What seemed far too much time later, he finally stopped climbing and stood. He took his time about lowering her, choosing to let her slide slowly down his long, hard body. Caitriona would be lying to herself if she said it was the climb that made her tremble. Nay, it was the highlander. 
His eyes sought hers, their dark depths churning with something quietly vicious and blatantly possessive. If any air was left, the last of it fled her lungs. He’d brought her someplace all his and he intended to make it all hers. Getting around him this time would mean trying to get past not only the warrior and chieftain but by his other side too, the seasoned wizard. 
“Did you truly think I would let you protect me forever?” he said softly.
“I thought you would honor my wishes.”
“Then you gave me too much credit.” He made no move to release her. “I would rather have you in every way a lad should have a lass then never to have had you, all for the sake of remaining alive. There will come a day when I battle alongside my clansmen and you willnae be there. If a blade is aimed true, what good will your healing do then? I would die without ever having known you as I should.”
His words were moving, profound, troublingly convincing. As such, she had no rebuttal. And if she did it would be impossible to find the words through the fog of desire building inside her. 
*Sky here* Sorry to stop the excerpt here but things turn a tad bit naughty. I hope you enjoyed and consider checking out the story further. Wishing you all a wonderful week!
Find Highland Mystic at Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords and many online bookstores.

Vampires. Paranormal Romance. The Keeper: Revenge by O.L. Ramos.

Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over O.L. Ramos, author of The Keeper: Revenge, The Keeper Series, Book 2, a Paranormal Romance. ASIN: B00ERHTOUENumber of pages: 296Word Count: 112,930Cover Artist: Dane LowAmazon GIVEAWAY! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win  a KINDLE with Crossbody Kindle Tote,  $10 Amazon Gift Card and The Keeper:Revenge Swag Pack.  Book DescriptionIf the world you lived in was someday revealed to be nothing but a lie, would you really want the truth? Elizabeth McBeth did, and she's paid the price for it...After almost 10 years since Liz's mother was taken from her, Liz finally found her mother, Mary. But Mary has been forever changed, something that Liz will have to accept. The beginning of happier times, one would think...The conspiracy has been exposed; Liz, Vincent, Mary and Michael had all thought that the vampire plot had been destroyed. They should have never underestimated Klein. Klein has reinforced his armies, splitting the entire vampire species with the question... is Klein the vampiric messiah? Unfortunately for the heroes and the world itself, Klein has set in motion a plan that will destroy the world and recreate it in his own image.Will the group be able to defeat Klein and restore the balance to nature? Or are they already doomed?InterviewSKY:  What inspired you to write this book?
O.L.:  Originality drove me to write this story. I wanted something to be real to the lore, at least as close as possible. I also wanted to avoid the cliche and get as grounded in reality as possible. I also thought it would be kinda cool to make a race of super up, and throw it into the mix.SKY: How did you come up with the Title ?O.L.:  In this book, Mary gets reborn. Thus, the title. It also represents a rebirth of the way the inhabitants look at their world; it all changes in this book.SKY:  Tell us about our book cover and how it relates to the story?O.L.:  I always try to ensure that the covers tell a story, laden with metaphors. In the cover, there's a blood moon. This is specifically mentioned twice in the story. The green and blue eyes belong to Michael and Vincent, respectively. The goblet has been spilled because of a tragic event that happens to Liz during the book. I could tell you why there's a blood trail, but that defeats the point of reading the book, no? lolSKY:  Are you currently working on another book? If so, we'd love some details.O.L.:  I’m currently writing the third book, “The Keeper: Rebirth”. ”. It picks off right from the final moments of Book Two and plunges deeper into the mounting revolt. A lot of new elements are introduced and there are even a few new characters. I really wanted to make this one open the world up, make the reader get a sense of just how big this is. I hope I accomplished that.SKY:  What sources do you use for research?O.L.:  Ok, so not to sound like a nerd or whatever, but I still use actual books! Heh, I have some really old books I got when I was very young. I also use the normal avenues that I imagine everyone else uses. Like google and wikipedia; the really esoteric stuff though, like when I'm digging up info on kelpies, nixes, all that kind of stuff, I gotta go down to the library at my hometown. The place is just old enough to not have anything new, lol.SKY:  Did you enjoy writing one scene above all the rest? If so, share.O.L.:  I hate to say this because I don't like showing preferential treatment to the characters... But Vincent's scenes, whenever he's drunk, are just a lot of fun. I haven't really had the chance to do that lately because the story hasn't called for it, but I just love those. They're funny and lighthearted; they really take away from the heavy tone of the doom and gloom of the story line.SKY:  Do you prefer to write short stories, novels, or novellas? Why?O.L.:  It depends on my mood. I have a great novella series planned to give the backstory of the characters. I've really been looking forward to writing it, but I have to finish Rebirth first. For me, I guess it just depends on the mood I'm in. And that depends on the story, sometimes a plot is so huge it can be intimidating to write. Sometimes, the book writes itself and it's an easy ride. When it's like that and there's no pressure, it's laid back and a lotta fun to write.
Chapter 1        It had been several months since the uproar at the Coronam estate. Klein had been deemed an enemy of the state for the entire vampire nation, the ones that wanted to stay on Vincent’s good side, anyway. In all honesty, the entire time since then had been both frantic and surreal. Vincent’s declaration before the Coronam asserting that he was Cain’s enforcer had caused a massive schism in the entire vampire race.The bloodsuckers had always been a chaotic, selfish bunch. But at least with a strong government like the Coronam reining them in, they were fearful of getting tortured … or worse. The idea that mass executions could be a consequence had never entered their minds, however. Yet now, that’s all anyone could think about. The united stand made by Vincent and Michael had finally broken the camel’s back. Some of the more fearful vampires, the ones prone to paranoia, believed it was an example of what Klein had been warning about for over a thousand years. They believed Klein to be the true messiah of Cain, and Vincent to be a mere false prophet sent to lead them astray. This group of vampires announced themselves as the Hand, a creepy mishmash of politics and skewed religion. They droned on and on about how Klein was the voice of Cain, and they were the ones who would take action on Cain’s behalf. It was all pretty shady, and there wasn’t a thing that we could do about it. Unfortunately, the entire world behind the veil was becoming increasingly unstable. Vincent was forced to allow Algarus to accept the Hand’s request for freedom of religion, even though everyone suspected the whole thing was just a front for a terrorist organization. But nothing could be proven. Even the werewolves had ostracized Michael. Although he was never truly accepted because of his close association with Vincent, Michael could at least always request help in the past. Now, he was cut off from almost all of werewolf society. Almost all of them resented Michael openly, dismissing his claims that a werewolf was to blame for Klein’s success. They saw his actions as the beginning for a total civil war amongst all supers. When dozens of supers were caught acting as willing slaves for openly rebellious vampires, Michael realized that there might be truth to the charges imposed against him. This caused him no shortage of pain. I often found myself staring outside my window wondering how things had worsened so quickly. But then again, I wasn’t the same person I’d been before all this started. I was now hardened by the experiences I’d been made to endure, decisions I’d had to make. Things I truly hoped to repress. In the past months, I had witnessed Mom, I mean, Mary, go through a very thorough and intensive training regimen. The guys had run through everything from battle concepts and strategies to weaknesses of almost every super in existence. I have to say it that way because that was another key point that Michael always stressed to Mary: to be ready for anything and everything. That it was impossible to know of every super in the world. It was crazy, considering Michael had an almost encyclopedic knowledge of thousands of different kinds of supers. But after dealing with the Hela poison, I could definitely see why he was being so cautious. I guess that brings me to Bobby. Poor Bobby. His entire clan was ousted from the slayer community, even the children who had never known combat. This caused many fights to break out … even one Anvil clan member’s death. The majority of Bobby’s clan blamed him for siding with a vampire and a werewolf. I don’t know the specifics of what happened, but I’m positive that the slayers were just trying to evade the wrath of Klein’s Hand and the Coronam, too. It was generally agreed that the Hela poison was a threat to the entire world, both supernatural or otherwise. Still though, an example had to be made. And so Bobby took his entire clan and relocated all 188 of them to the only place they could safely go. About thirty or so miles from Angel’s Retreat. And I guess that’s why I’m keeping this diary. It’s cliché as all get out, but for all my big talk … I’m terrified. Everything has changed. And I’m not even sure it’s for the better either. The reality is— A loud knock announces the presence of a visitor. I turn in my chair to look at my bedroom entrance and see Vincent. He has a curious look to his face as he leans on my door and waits for me to say something. “Hey Vincent,” I say with a bit of a sigh. “How’s it going?” “Same old, same old,” he answers as he walks into the room and heads straight to the balcony. He opens it up and sits on the guardrail. “How about you, Goldilocks? You seem to be brooding on a Michael-esque scale lately. The hell’s wrong with you anyway?”
 “What do you think is wrong with me?” I reply angrily, the sharp tone in my voice echoing throughout my room. I give it a chance to linger before I continue. “You know … it’s just that I really thought we won. Seriously. You guys kicked some major bad guy ass. I thought that would be that. My mother could come home and be back with Dad, I could have some semblance of an ordinary life, I don’t know.” “Why be ordinary, though?” he asks with a brief turn to me before he returns to browsing the outside scenery. “You were special before, you were special during. You’re special now. Why all the teenage angst? So everything didn’t end up roses … it sucks. We’re working on it, though. Besides, is this the way you treat me after not seeing me for two days? That’s hurtful.”  He pretends to get stabbed in the back, does a horrible silent death scene and then throws himself off the balcony. I merely shake my head. “Wow, tough crowd,” Vincent says as he floats up and hovers in the air a little above my balcony. Such a strange sight, but I’m completely desensitized to it. “You really are on a bummer aren’t you? What really gives?” “Oh, I don’t even know …” I admit reluctantly with a deep sigh. “I decided to keep this stupid diary. I thought it would make me feel better if I could just write out my thoughts. Maybe keep them here, and the negativity would only be here. In secret. Then I could go and live my life as if nothing ever happened. But it didn’t work out like that at all. I wrote everything down and it just upset me more. What good have we done? Everything is just so much worse now. And this stupid diary is just a reminder of how much we’ve failed.” “If it’s so bad, why not just throw it out?” He asks, as if the issue was a simple one. “Besides, you know that things have to get worse before they can truly get better.” “If it exists, someone can find it,” I explain, already defeated. I know there is little sense in what I am saying. But it’s the way I feel. “Maybe someone can know the truth about what we really tried to do. If the world ends, I mean.” “What?” Vincent straggles his question with a chuckle. He stops his silly flying and lands on the balcony. “Seriously, what happened in the two days I was gone? This is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever said to me. And lady, you’ve had your fill.” I shake my head slowly. I know he’s right. But what a person thinks and feels aren’t always on the same page. I know I’m not helping things. But I can’t just press a switch and change the way I feel. “While you were gone, Bobby had to make an example again,” I explain as I inhale deeply, hoping to forget about the trauma. “Three slayers came in and tried to kidnap me, or kill me. I don’t know what they were going to do. Before they even had a chance to touch me, Michael was on top of all three of them and was carrying them out like a bunch of … I don’t know, rabbits or something.” He looks at me in disbelief. He’s clearly angry, but my strangely odd word choice has him a little off balance. “Michael manhandled them, Vincent,” I say, irritated. “It just looked weird. They were kicking and screaming and they just never stood a chance.” “And how are you?” Vincent asks as he walks around the room examining it. “The place seems to be all right, so I guess Mikey didn’t wreck the place too badly. By your kinda crazy word choice I’m guessing he didn’t hurt them at all, huh? Knowing him, he probably just dragged them back to Bobby by the nape of their necks. Oh, I get it now; rabbits. Heh, pretty good.” “Yeah, it was still mildly terrifying, though,” I answer as I start to feel myself chuckle as well. The image in my head about the incident is pretty funny, if you can get past the three guys trying to hurt me part. “I’m sure it was,” Vincent says as he switches his attention and walks towards me slowly with a warm smile on his face. “But you do know that between Mary, Michael and I, there’s really no chance anyone can harm you, right? I mean come on sweetheart, you’re stacked.”   I laugh a little more before shrugging my shoulders. “So what kind of example did Bobby make?” “He killed the one who made the plan. Skyles was his name,” I report, once again feeling the burden of the tragedy. “Did you know him? He expelled the other two.” “Skyles … never heard of him. Did they at least find out why or what they were trying to do?” “More or less,” I say as I look down at the ground and inhale deeply again. “They were trying to take me to the slayer leadership and barter for their family to live within their community again. Bobby came by and apologized … he explained that no matter what, what happened had to happen. He said that almost all of the slayer leaders know it had to be done. This was just—” “Damage control,” Vincent says, finishing my sentence. “Yeah, politics will kill you every time. I knew that something must have rained on your parade, though. Want to go downstairs and get a drink?” I chuckle. I don’t know if Vincent remembers it, but he drank the entire house dry before he left. “How are we going to do that, smart guy?” I ask playfully. It was good to see him. Every time anyone leaves the house, I feel vulnerable and lonely … and it was only getting worse. “You drank everything in the house before you left on your little excursion.” “A, it was not an excursion,” Vincent says with a mischievous smile. “It was a fact-finding mission. Unfortunately, not much of said facts were to be found. I’m kinda in a mood myself, now that I think of it. I did find out that some of the smaller islands of the Dodecanese was hosting a Klein party … the jerk. He’s even got Greek critters siding with him.” “But why would he be doing that?” I ask, puzzled. “Not done yet,” Vincent says as he raises a finger to hush me. “And B, you should know better than to think I wouldn’t be prepared. I stocked everything back up and even ordered an underground cellar to be constructed to house our reserves.” It takes me a moment to understand what he means. “You’re talking about the booze?!” I say in shock. “Why wouldn’t you just gloss over that and continue talking about what you found in Greece?” “Far be it for me to allow my reputation to be sullied,” Vincent answers sarcastically before stifling a laugh. “Besides, Greece has been there forever; it’s not going anywhere. Booze has to be maintained and regulated around here. It’s like an endangered species. And besides again, it’s a part of Greece, but if you want to be technical it’s really a series of islands off the coast of Greece. So I didn’t find it in Greece, I found it near Greece.” I grunt in frustration before slapping him. I examine him to see his reaction but he just turns his gaze up to me and smiles.
        “Feeling better, are you?” He asks knowingly. How I hate him and his sneakiness. “That’s more like it. To thy own self be true. Silly, down on her luck Izzy. That isn’t Izzy at all. Wow, say that five times fast. Anyhoo, stop being such a hard luck case and focus on the task ahead.” I continue analyzing his smile before I sit down again. He’s right. I shake my head because I know that telling him that he’s right is about as painful as a root canal. But not telling him he’s right becomes much, much worse. “I know,” I say as I admit my lack of options. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s been hard. This last month we haven’t sat down as a family, or whatever you want to call our group. Not even one Sunday dinner. We’re not running this like a home. We’re running this like a prison.” “Well, this is the first I’ve heard of it,” Vincent says as he straightens out his dress shirt. “But have you told the furry boy scout anything about how you feel?” “No, I haven’t,” I answer with yet another sigh. I suppose it’s not fair to be bothered if I haven’t even given the guys a chance to fix things. But I just felt restricted.  I shrug those feelings off before continuing. “I know you both have your reasons to do what you do. Klein needs to be found. The supers are all scared and getting desperate. Everyone is afraid that the humans will find out the truth of the world because the vampires all seem to be getting ready for a civil war. Mary needs to be in fighting shape, my father needs to be watched and guarded, and I need to be protected.” “All while keeping the balance,” Vincent points out in a matter-of-fact tone. “As you can see, it’s more than a day’s work. You gotta have more faith. This guy had a ton of failsafe tools, people, and secrets to work on. It’s a thousand years of this guy thinking that I was coming to kill him and take his seat of power in the Coronam. He was ready before we ever even thought about going. As much as I hate to say it, the guy’s smart. He was prepared.” Vincent leans back and stretches his arms; he lets out a yawn. It’s the worst fake yawn in the history of fake yawns. I suppose when you haven’t slept or felt exhaustion in 1600 years, you forget these things. “Man, this is boring,” he finally says as he snaps to attention. “I feel like I should be asleep. I guess it’s been too damn long … Anyhoo, where was I? Oh yeah, the Dodecanese. Thing about Greece is that it’s relatively close to Romania and it holds a very important position in Europe. It’s a brilliant strategic choice. If Klein wants to hit the Coronam, he can, rather easily. On top of that, there are so many islands out there, not many are gonna find him. I found him because I figure he has vastly underestimated my information network.” Vincent smiles proudly before poking me softly in my right upper arm. “Come on,” he suggests with a nod of his head. “Let’s have a drink, you could use one. I’ll tell you all about it. We also have to talk about what we’re going to do to liven this personality of yours permanently. I can’t have you slapping me every time you feel down in the dumps.” I stand up slowly and look at his incredible, deep blue eyes. “I don’t know why you say that,” I say slowly. “I have no problem slapping you all day long if that’s what needs to happen. You gotta do what you gotta do, right?” “I suppose so,” Vincent agrees with several short nods of his head. “Of course, you’re just going to end up breaking your hand.” I laugh a little before I end up pushing Vincent’s chest. We walk out of my bedroom and take the obscenely long journey to the common area of Angel’s Retreat. The place is still as beautiful as ever. The décor is a very classy blending of old European castle with modern Hollywood flair, but all of it seems gray and blurred to me. It has become my prison over these last few months. And I am really sick of it. When we finally make it to the bar, Vincent urges me to sit. A change, and a rather drastic one, from me playing bartender to Vincent’s regular drunk roles. “Wow ... What a treat!” I exclaim as I sit on the barstool, something I had become increasingly familiar with in times of stress. “I can’t believe we’re having a drink and I’m on this side of the counter. Feels pretty different. It’s nice. If I get Vincent-drunk, will you help me make it to my bed like I always help you?” Vincent clears his throat before raising his finger again. Oh geez, here he goes again. “Two things I have to point out again. Apparently I’m gonna be doing this all day here,” he says as he puts down the bottle of vodka he was opening. “A, again, is that you should never make suggestive statements like that to me unless you want sarcasm as a reply. You should know better than that. I.e. you want me to help you to bed, don’t you?” I slap him in midsentence just for the sake of slapping him. I have to admit, it’s a strange relationship we share. “And B, again,” Vincent says as he shakes the strike away from his face and continues his rant. “Saying that someone is Vincent-drunk implies that I’m nothing but a no-good drunk. That’s also very hurtful. Besides, you’re the minor here. You should just be glad I’m even allowing you to drink.” “You? Allowing me? That’s hysterical,” I say as I pick up the vodka cocktail Vincent has slid over to me. “Admit it Vincent, you just love the company. Michael doesn’t drink much anymore and you just want a drinking buddy.” “Yeah, well, it’s all a part of my nefariously genius plan to get into your barstool,” Vincent says as he raises his own cocktail to me. “And before you think about it, I’m not gonna let you slap me again. You’ve used up your limit for today. Now, as is customary we will follow the beautiful tradition of—” “Yeah, I know,” I say as I raise my glass and tap his with it. I answer his smile with one of my own. “The beautiful tradition of blessing our drink. It is a beautiful tradition. Salud, Vincent.” “And to you, Izzy,” he says as he brings his glass to his mouth. “Cent’anni.” “One hundred years to you,” I say. Knowing him, this is probably a test. “Very good, you’ve been keeping to your studies.” “No,” I point out a little sharply. “You just say it so often it’s hard to forget.” Vincent scratches his head and chugs down his drink. He grabs the vodka bottle and drags it along the counter until it’s in between the two of us. He looks at me longingly, licking his lips suggestively. It was good to see at least one of us behaving normally. “So, I was thinking about this anyway, before you even brought it up; so was Michael,” he says as he opens the bottle and begins to pour himself another round. “We both feel that a lot has happened in such a short amount of time, we should probably reopen the discussion about what you should be doing with your life in the meantime. I’m not going to say that what’s been happening lately is normal for us, but it has happened several dozens of times in our lives. But we can’t expect you, in your short nineteen years, to be dealing with it anywhere near as easily as we have been. I’m surprised you haven’t snapped like you just did before.” “Well thanks a lot,” I say before chugging down my own drink and snatching the bottle from Vincent’s hands. He only looks at me and shakes his head. “If you knew I wouldn’t react well, why keep me here?” “I don’t really know what you expected us to do,” Vincent admits almost in frustration. “You yourself said you were never much of a social butterfly.” “More like a social spider.” “Yeah, no kidding,” Vincent agrees before taking the bottle away from me as I was helping myself to another drink. “Everything in moderation there, drunko. What I was getting at was that we didn’t really have a lot of choices here. We could have sent you back to the campus, and you could have kept working, but for what? You never really mentioned liking it there. Besides, everyone in town doesn’t even know you exist anymore. I could try to screw around with their heads again and give them back their memories of you, but that’s a real loose option. I don’t wanna do that if I can help it. It’s too dangerous, even with my newfound powers.” “Yeah, yeah, I get it,” I answer in more evident frustration. The whole thing sucks. He’s right and I know it. But that doesn’t really matter. It was different when I was still searching for my mother. I had a plan and a goal. We had achieved that goal and my mother was back and safe. Now all I did was take alternating courses of education by the guys … that was losing its fun, to say the least. “It was easy for me to not appreciate everything in my old life while I had it, but it’s all I think about now. I even miss the shrink visits. Don’t misunderstand me, I know what you’re saying, but there has to be something better to do with my life. I love you guys, I always will. You both have saved my life, you saved my mother’s, I mean … there’s no repaying any of that. But when are we going to get off of terror alert red here?” “I was just getting to that,” he continues as he pours himself another drink. Wow, I never noticed he drank the one he had. Lush. “Michael and I have been thinking about what we could do to make your time pass by a little easier. Michael wants you to be protected and watched over at all times. I disagree with that because you do need some level of freedom, or else you’ll end up resenting the both of us.” “I would never,” I argue in almost a scream. “I just want some fun. I’ve watched everything I can on TV; I’m caught up on all my reading. I would go back to studying all the supers that you guys know about, but what’s the point? Michael is a rolodex of information on the subject. Maybe if I could get my job back at Jack’s Place? Go back to the university, have a normal life? I’m not going to do anything crazy.” “You say that, but you don’t know what you’ll do,” he contends firmly. “I don’t have you on a leash. None of us do. But what I’m saying is don’t take this temporary phase of you being down in the dumps for more than what it is. It’ll pass. Deep down you know what the right thing to do is. You can’t really risk too much crazy behavior right now. I bet Klein thinks we aren’t anywhere near here, especially with all the false information and dead ends we’ve been leading him on with. But we can’t risk lives with that type of hunch. Jack’s wouldn’t be so bad, because why would you have a job if you were with us? But on the other hand, there’s nothing to do around here but visit Jack’s. Same deal with the university. We gotta take this slow.” “How slow?” “Not very,” he assures me before pouring me a little more vodka. “But reasonably slow. So why don’t you start thinking about what you want to do when you grow up, huh? The choice is still yours, eventually. If you wanna walk away from all of this when Klein’s dead, then you have that option open. It’s just not open to you right now because we can’t in good conscience let you get yourself killed.” “So what are you saying, Vincent? Stop with the theatre and spit it out.” He grasps his glass and stares me in the eyes before presenting his glass to mine again. “What I’m saying is, give us some ideas,” Vincent says with a smile as he raises his glass. “And you’re free to go do whatever you want. Just don’t skip town, huh?” I smile back at him and I can’t help hugging him over the counter. He was obviously not expecting this as I sense him almost jerk in place. Now what should I do?
About the Author   From what I understand, the first line of this thing is where I say something really interesting that wins you over. After all, they say that you know within seconds of meeting a person whether you like them or not. So...yeah... I got nothing. But if there is one thing I know, it's that through stories we discover the world, learn about history and traditions; and in doing that, we become who we are as an individual.Since I was a very young child, my only dream was to become an author one day. I wanted to reach people with my words, maybe even entertain them. I wanted to touch their lives and give them something to think about. After all, I am a loveable blowhard kinda guy... that's gotta be entertaining, right?      In my life, I've done many things; from supervising sales for a retail giant chain to being a Deputy Sheriff. You would think that a person who had been shot at for a living would be brave enough to write a biography without all the sarcastic quips. Unfortunately no, that's one of my main flaws as the above mentioned blowhard.  Anyhoo, please feel free to drop me a line! If you loved the book, I wanna hear about it. If you hated every word of it, please make sure to let me know, but please avoid the CAPS LOCK! The font can be a little... demeaning. Make sure to have fun guys! They say you only live twice; and if that's true, we're at least half done.  
Find O.L. Ramos on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

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Trusting A Vampire Has Never Been So Deadly. Vampire Games by TIffany Allee.

 
Welcome! Today it’s my pleasure to spotlight Vampire Games by Tiffany Allee. Release Date: 10/28Genre: Paranormal RomancePublisher: Entangled
GIVEAWAY! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.
Book Description
She’s seen the past…

OWEA Agent Beatrice Davis is haunted by the death visions that help her solve crimes. When Detective Claude Desmairis, her vampire ex-lover, asks for her assistance on a case, she’d rather help him than take the mandated leave to stave off her burn-out.
The truth won’t stay buried…

Pressed to solve a series of crimes before the perpetrator blows the vampire world apart, Claude turns to a woman he thought he’d been able to leave behind. But he was wrong, and his feelings for her will only bring trouble in an investigation this dangerous. As their passions reignite, they see a possible future together. Until her visions show her the face of the murderer—a man Claude can never betray.  Amazon  Goodreads  BN About the Author   CPA-turned-romance-author Tiffany Allee used to battle spreadsheets in Corporate America, and now concentrates on her characters’ battles to find love. Raised in small-town Colorado, Tiffany currently lives in Phoenix, AZ, by way of Chicago and Denver. She is happily married to a secret romantic who tolerates her crazy mutterings. She writes about ass-kicking heroines and the strong heroes who love them. Her work includes the suspense-driven From the Files of the Otherworlder Enforcement Agency series which revolves around a group of paranormal cops solving crimes and finding love, and Don’t Bite the Bridesmaid, a lighthearted paranormal romance (Entangled Publishing). Tiffany has an MBA in accounting and nearly a decade of experience in corporate finance. All super useful stuff for a writer who spends far too much time trying to figure out fun ways to keep her characters apart, and interesting ways to kill people (for her books—of course!).
Visit Tiffany on the Web WebsiteBlogTwitterFacebookGoodreadsNewsletter
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What Would You Sacrifice to Save a Stranger? Visions by Laura N. Anile.

   Today it’s my pleasure to feature, Laura N. Anile, author of Visions, The Gifted Series, Book One. Genre: ParanormalPublisher: GlassHouse  PublishingISBN:  9780992279028
ASIN: B00FFM1GOWNumber of pages: Approx. 420
Word Count: 124,000

Book One- Unmasked Secrets is available for Free on Amazon .

Amazon, iTunes, Kobo, BN Book Trailer:  www.youtube.com/laurananile  Book Description
What would you sacrifice to save a stranger? Isabel Cartier is career-driven and a little self-obsessed. Her future has been carefully planned—until something mysterious happens. When Isabel begins to experience premonitions of strangers in potentially life-threatening situations, she must decide what she is willing to do—and sacrifice—in order to save the people in her visions. As her premonitions progress, the level of risk to her own life escalates, and she’s thrown into a mysterious world that will put more than just her career in jeopardy. It is only when her life spins out of control that she is able to take chances that she never thought possible—including opening her heart to love. There's Matt, the handsome stranger she saves from a terrible accident. But will she ever see him again? Then there's Jeremy, her thoughtful neighbor who's down on his luck. Both will shape her path and leave her breathless. But it’s another man, who she sees in her visions over and over again, who will leave her questioning everything. Does he have nine lives, or is it up to Isabel to figure out the parameters of a game she doesn't quite understand in order to truly save him? Visions follows Isabel’s journey to find out if she has the courage she needs to save the people in her premonitions, and how, ultimately, their lives are intertwined with hers.
Excerpt
The child began screaming; a scream that made your blood run cold. Her mother instantly tried to placate her, eventually smothering her mouth when those attempts failed. That only intensified the screaming, agitating the girl more. The gunman flew into a rage, demanding the girl be silenced before he silenced her. His hand twitched in fury. Could he honestly harm a child? I wondered, as fear crashed over me. The interminable screaming shrilled through the bank as the girl thrashed in her mother’s arms. My skin tingled, the air electrified with trepidation. The gunman pointed the weapon directly at the child, narrowing his eyes. A growl erupted from his throat as his feeble control shattered and his finger pulled back the trigger. There was no time left to decide, to think. There was only time to act. Instinctively, I jumped in front of the young girl as I heard the deafening crack of the gun being fired. I jumped so violently that I awoke, drenched in sweat. To read a sample, please go to: Amazon
Or you can read Chapter One at www.lauraanile.com/sneakpeek

Q and A
Whoa! This sounds like a thriller. How would you describe the book? The extract was from a key scene in the book, which the plot builds towards (it’s in the prologue though, so it’s not a spoiler ;-) Her other premonitions are far less intense – things that would be plausible on a more regular basis. The drama and risk involved in her premonitions escalates as the story unfolds.  It’s not actually a thriller – it’s about her journey, exploring the ideas of fate and how we are all connected.  And there’s a love interest or two thrown in :) Who doesn’t love a good romance?
The concept of the book makes you wonder just what any of us would do if we had similar premonitions. Would we ignore them or go out of our way and risk our lives to save the people in them? That’s the question! The premonitions that Isabel experiences start off small and end up becoming increasingly challenging and risky. She needs to throw all of her previous ideas and plans out the window and discover what she’s really made of – and what’s really important to her.  Her experiences leave her questioning the idea of fate: what’s controllable, what isn’t, what is she willing to give and what is she willing to lose?
Where is the book set? Mostly San Francisco, which I think is an ideal backdrop for the story. But Isabel travels to Florence, Italy at the beginning of the book, and three of the chapters are set there. I was actually in Florence when I wrote the first draft of those chapters, so I was inspired 
Speaking of inspiration, what inspired you to write the story? I was fascinated by the idea of how someone would react in these types of circumstances, especially if that person was the opposite of someone you’d expect to be open to it. Could they ignore it? Would they feel compelled to act? Would they see it as a gift, or be angry and resentful about it? I like the idea that nothing is what it seems. And just when you think you have it all figured out, the tables turn. What is the purpose, how much control does she really have and, in the end, who is it that is really saving who? Plus, I like the idea of the girl being the one to save the guys for a change! ;-)
Want to know more? Go to www.lauraanile.com for more information about the author; take the quiz ‘What Would You Do?’- view the book trailers; or read a short story from her collection, entitled Unmasked Secrets. You can also view the book trailers on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/laurananile Or connect with Laura on Facebook: Laura N Anile, Author; or on Twitter: @LauraAnile
About the Author   Laura has had a lifelong love of writing, which she explored in a successful marketing career before penning her first novel. She is fascinated by the ideas of fate and interconnectedness, central themes in her story. She loves all things humorous, laughs too loudly and finds her own jokes amusing. She has a passion for traveling and exploring the world but has a phobia of suspect hotel rooms with questionable hygiene. And, oh yeah, she doesn’t own any crystal balls.
Visions is her debut novel. She has also written a collection of short stories, entitled Unmasked Secrets. 
Visit Laura N. Anile on the Web www.lauraanile.comBlog: www.lauraanile.com/blogTwitter: @LauraAnileFacebook: Laura N Anile, AuthorYouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/laurananile 

Obsession. Greed. Passion. The Temple of Indra's Jewel by Rachael Stapleton.

   Welcome! Today it’s my pleasure to interview Rachael Stapleton, author  of The Temple of Indra’s Jewel, a Fiction Fantasy Romance.  Publisher: iUniverse, LLCISBN: 978-1-4917-0223-9
ISBN: 978-1-4917-0224-6
ISBN: 978-1-4917-0225-3  Number of pages: 274
Word Count: 75,279
Book Description
Sophia Marcil awakens from a snorkeling accident in the Lérins Islands to find herself in the chambers—and the body—of a nineteenth-century princess. In a confused state and with no idea of her whereabouts, Sophia embarks on a desperate quest for answers, hoping she can find her way back to her fiancé, Nick, and her true identity. After she finds a diary in an antique desk, Sophia follows a clue that leads her to a questionable alchemist, who relays the history and magic of the mysterious amethyst she inherited from her greatgrandmother— the only possession that made the leap through time with her and perhaps the only thing that can prevent her from becoming a pawn in a murderous plot for the throne. Using her inheritance, Sophia races through time to the twenty-first century to solve the mystery of her family’s past. But once she is there, she unearths a dire warning about a curse that clings to her heirloom, leading her down a dangerous path involving two men from different times and ultimately puts her life at risk. In this tale of obsession, greed and passion, a woman on a journey through time struggles to regain a family heirloom and control its magic, hoping to break the curse before it breaks her.
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Interview Time!
SKY:  What inspired you to write this book?

RACHAEL:  I’ve always loved fairy tales, mysteries and adventures. Not to mention, I’m a big fan of cheesy 80’s and 90’s movies so I guess I was inspired by a lot of movies and books throughout the years and what resulted was sort of an Ever After meets Scooby-doo meets Indiana Jones for women.  SKY:  How did you come up with the title?
RACHAEL:  I wanted something that was really intricate to the plot and the cursed heirloom and its mysterious origins are at the heart of the story. Book Two actually starts off with a scene from the Temple itself.  Besides what’s sexier than jewels and a Temple built to worship the God of War? SKY:  What made you choose the main setting for your book?
RACHAEL:  My book actually has a few main settings ranging from 19th century Monaco to modern day Canada. Sophia also travels in the name of love and research to France and Ireland. Thank goodness writing time travel lends itself to variety. I chose the 19th century Monaco in addition to present day because it really fit my need for political upheaval which is a subtle backdrop to Princess Sapphira’s story. I just loved stepping back in time.  I chose the 1920’s for Book two because I found it to be a fascinating time in history. Bootlegging, jazz and speakeasy’s … oh my.

SKY:  If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
RACHAEL:  I want to say Cullen because he’s the big hulky Irish love interest and I would love to hear his accent out-side of my head but then again he is an ode to my hubby so I do kind of get to spend time with him every day so in that case I think maybe Gigi or Greta. Both feisty older women who remind me of family members, some of whom I’ve lost.  SKY:  Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story.
RACHAEL:   Sure, my cover depicts Lichtenstein Castle all shrouded in fog as the backdrop to the alchemist spell book. The romantic neo-gothic fairy tale schloss of Württemberg is home to Viktor Von Württemberg, the rugged 19th century German Graf who rescues Sophia from drowning. In real life the novel "Lichtenstein" by Wilhelm Hauff, published in 1826, provided the inspiration for Count Wilhelm of Urach when building this beautiful castle complex. It is situated high on a cliff located on the Swabian Alb in Baden-Württemberg, Germany and contains a large collection of historic weapons and armour.

SKY:  Did you enjoy writing one scene above all the rest? If so, share.
RACHAEL:  Of course. There is a scene in the library with the main character Sophia and her best friend Leslie that I had a lot of fun imagining. It involves the alchemist Rochus and his spell book. The one you see on the cover. I felt a sharp anticipation to learn what was in those pages twirl down my spine. I hurried into the special collections room and reached for the book. The ache in my head flared into a painful jab. Traces of gilt twinkled along the edge, catching my attention. But the worn golden touches didn’t explain the faint, lustrous shimmer that seemed to be fleeing from inside the pages. Rochus. This was the book Rochus had read from before mixing that potion. I opened the volume, my skin tingling as it connected with the leather. My world spun, as if I was caught once again in the ocean, pulling me deep into a whirlpool. I was spinning and twirling like a washing machine. When the motion ceased, I opened my eyes. I floated in a stone room, surrounded by shelves lined with books and jars. Iridescent colours swirled around me, reminding me of blowing bubbles as a child. I wondered if I were inside one. Past the translucent wall, Rochus sat at his wooden table, the fire burning merrily in the hearth by his side—just as it had when I had last been there. “Sophia, you must come back now,” he said.  SKY:  Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon.
RACHAEL:  Yes, I love a good book series. Both reading and writing them. The Temple of Indra’s Jewel which just released this month is the first book in series. The story continues with The Curse of the Purple Delhi Sapphire which plunges Sophia into the Roaring Twenties, and into the shadowed history of her ancestors. To give you a bit more of a teaser, she wakes in the body of her thirteen year old great Aunt Zafira and struggles to locate the Purple Delhi Sapphire in time to prevent the deaths of those she loves. In a twist of fate, she’s thrown back into the present where someone is out to betray her. I wasn’t sure if there was going to be a third book. I always saw it as a trilogy but I really didn’t know if it would continue and then the book just poured out of me the other day while daydreaming in the shower. I’m so excited to get to work on it. SKY:  If you could make changes to a story you’ve already written, which would it be and why?
RACHAEL:   I think everybody sort of feels like they'd change something. For me it would be to make things clearer to the reader in the beginning. Sophia herself is completely confused when she awakens in another time and body and I tried to make the reader feel like they were right there with her and in that I think I made some leaps ... but you live and you learn right.
SKY: Great interview, Rachael! Thanks so much for sharing.
Excerpt Two hours later and three very strong drinks deep, I found myself sitting at a bar with Cullen and some of his friends, pub regulars from the looks of them. They were an entertaining bunch, full of stories and funny phrases. My cell phone rang, and I recognized Leslie’s number. “I’ll be back in a minute.” I walked outside. “Leslie, you got my text?” “Yeah. What’s going on?” “So much. I found him.” “Found who?” “The curator. You remember what Greta said after Gigi died, don’t you?” “Greta, that lady is entertaining. You should have heard her that day I was at the lake house after you’d laid down—” “Leslie, can we not go there right now?” I snapped. “Oh, right. Sorry. No. What did she say?” “I asked her if she believed in magic, and she told me when she was little, her father warned her not to touch Gigi’s amethyst. That a curse lay trapped inside it or something.”  Leslie’s eyes widened. “Not this again. Geez, Sophia, will you please just see your doctor. Let them do a CAT scan or something.” “Leslie, listen. I didn’t want to tell you, but the reason I agreed to come here was because I wanted to look for that curator. The one Gigi said Opa got it from. So before I got the chance to go to the museum, guess what Cullen shows me?” “Well, I hope it was long and—” “Never mind your bawdy jokes. He showed me a family portrait of his great-great-great-grandfather, who just happened to be a curator at the museum in the twenties. And guess what was in the portrait? “The gem. The Delhi Purple Sapphire. He told me his grandfather found it but gave it away because it was cursed. I’m wondering if this curse is the key to everything. Maybe we should do a little more research?” “I don’t know, Sophia. I get that this is a family heirloom and it came from somewhere, but this whole story you’re telling yourself about it … I mean, travelling through time. It’s pretty hard to believe.” “I know, but it happened—or at least I think it did. The more time goes on, the more unsure I get. So here’s the thing. Why don’t you help me? If I’m wrong, I’ll check myself into a hospital for evaluation, but in the meantime, promise me you’ll help me. You’re the best friend I’ve got, practically family, and you know the archives inside and out. Please?” There was a long pause. “Fine, but I still don’t believe you.” “You don’t have to. Just help me figure out how the original purple amethyst got from Monaco to Ireland. If I can trace it back to Monaco and even further, maybe I can figure out who had it, who wanted it and find a way to control the magic.”
About the Author   Rachael Stapleton grew up in a small town, writing as a hobby until the age of sixteen when she was given the opportunity to pen a column for the Orono Weekly Times. Today she is a dedicated writer who contributes to a weekly writer’s circle and is also a proud member of the Writer’s Community of Durham Region.

Rachael lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two children.

http://www.rachaelstapleton.com/ http://rachaeljacksonthetempleofindrajewels.blogspot.ca/https://twitter.com/RaquelleJaxsonhttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachael-Stapleton-Author-of-The-Temple-of-Indra/137831156290570http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18501101-the-temple-of-indra-s-jewel
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Intrigue. Forbidden Passion. Epic Fantasy. The Curse Giver by Dora Machado.

Welcome! Today I’m thrilled to interview Dora Machado, author of The Curse Giver. As always, feet up and relax while you learn more about this intriguing romantic fantasy!
Genre: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Romantic Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Dark Fantasy
Publisher: Twilight Times Books
ISBN: 978-1-60619-289-4ASIN: B00DSUQL4I
Number of pages: 420Word Count: 165,000 aprox.
Cover Artist: Brad Fraunfelter
Amazon  BN  All Romance eBooks
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1) One of three autographed books of Dora Machado's Stonewiser Series.Or2) One of ten special edition bracelets commemorating The Curse Giver's EBook release. 
This handcrafted, customized, limited-edition, 1/4 inch aluminum bracelet from Silver Statements is hammered and stamped with The Curse Giver's signature message—Knowledge, Reason and Awareness, and flanked by the stylized outline of butterfly wings. Inside, the bracelet is stamped with the word Strength. Aluminum is a great metal for jewelry. It won't turn your skin green, doesn't oxidize or tarnish, and its water safe. Plus it's so lightweight that you might even forget you're wearing it. 
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Giveaway Terms and Condition:
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Short Description
Betrayed and condemned to die for a crime she didn't commit, an innocent healer must ally with the embittered lord pledged to kill her in order to defeat not only the vile curse obliterating their lives, but also the curse giver who has already conjured their ends.
Long Description
Lusielle's bleak but orderly life as a remedy mixer is shattered when her husband betrays her and she is sentenced to die for a crime she didn't commit. She's on the pyre, about to be burned, when a stranger breaks through the crowd and rescues her from the flames.
Brennus, Lord of Laonia is the last of his line. He is caught in the grip of a mysterious curse that has murdered his kin, doomed his people and embittered his life. To defeat the curse, he must hunt a birthmark and kill the woman who bears it in the foulest of ways. Lusielle bears such a mark.
Stalked by intrigue and confounded by the forbidden passion flaring between them, predator and prey must come together to defeat not only the vile curse, but also the curse giver who has already conjured their ends.  Book Trailer



Interview time!
SKY:  What inspired you to write this book?
DORA:  I was inspired to write The Curse Giver when I came across an ancient pair of clay tablets that popped up on my screen one night while I was researching another story. The clay tablets dated from 600 BC and were part of the same collection that gave us the famous Gilgamesh epic. Visually, the tablets weren't much to look at, chicken scratches on clay. But the translated words had a huge impact on me.
"May all these [gods] curse him with a curse that cannot be relieved, terrible and merciless, as long as he lives, may they let his name, his seed, be carried off from the land.” 
I know, hardly an inspiration for most. Me? I immediately thought of the man who had been thus cursed, of the pain and hardship such a curse would bring upon him and his people, of the character that eventually became Bren, Lord of Laonia, in The Curse Giver. 
I started to think: Who would cast a curse like that and why? What kind of creature could be capable of such powerful evil? What would motivate a person to curse another? A new character began to emerge in my mind, the curse giver herself, someone whose understanding of good and evil was very different from my own.
And, once cursed, how could a person defend himself? A third character emerged from this question, Lusielle, a common remedy mixer, a healer of bodies and souls, someone who didn't realize the scope of her own strength until it began to transform her life. 
With Bren, Lusielle and the curse giver thus crystalized, I set out to write this fast, plot-twisting fantasy romance about an innocent woman condemned to die for a crime she didn't commit, who must ally with the cursed lord pledged to kill her in order to defeat the curse giver who has already conjured their ends. The Curse Giver is an epic fantasy story with brawn, brains, and lots of heart, something that I think your epic dark fantasy romance readers might enjoy. 
SKY:  How did you come up with the title? 
DORA:  My villain gave The Curse Giver its title. She is an intriguing, mysterious curse giver, a creature who makes her living from casting curses. For her, good is evil and evil is the only way to go. 
As the book begins, she has cast a fatal curse on the line of Uras, and only Bren, the last Lord of Laonia, remains alive. But, like his father and his brothers before him, he is also about to die. His only hope is to find a birthmark and kill the woman who bears it in the foulest way. But when Bren finds the woman, the condemned healer he rescues from the pyre is not what he expects. 
SKY:  What made you choose the main setting for your book? 
DORA:  I've always been struck by river-centered cultures. If you think about it, historically, most great cities—most great civilizations—have developed at the mouths and confluences of major rivers. So the geographical setting of the book was inspired by the great American rivers, the Amazon River, the Mississippi River and the Colorado River, especially, which I have rafted before. 
In addition, to create rich and authentic settings, I usually draw a lot of inspiration from the places I travel to. For example, I had an opportunity to visit Peru when I was writing The Curse Giver. The breathtaking sights of Machu Pichu, the religious ceremonies that I witnessed in Cuzco, and the Quechuan legends I learned about influenced The Curse Giver's settings, both physically and conceptually. 
At the heart of every great fantasy, there is a rich and complex fantasy world. I like to create fantasy worlds that feel "real," interesting geographies with diverse and unique populations that have their own cultures and beliefs, worlds riddled with conflict, discord and controversy. Sound familiar?  
SKY:  Tell us a little bit about the conflict in your story. 
DORA:  There is lots of conflict in The Curse Giver. You've got political, social and personal conflict permeating every aspect of the story, complicating the plot and challenging the relationships between the characters. The hero and the heroine, Bren and Lusielle, come from two different parts of their sharply divided world. Lusielle is baseborn, whereas Bren is highborn. They believe in different gods. They've grown up with different priorities. Sparks fly when they first meet, and I don't mean in a good way. The conflict between them is at the heart of the story.
A healer by trade, Lusielle is an outstanding remedy mixer who uses herbs and all kinds of ingredients to make her extraordinary healing potions. She's smart, able and has a great business sense, but ever since she was a young woman, she has been trapped in an abusive marriage with a greedy trader who treats her as his slave. Her bleak world falls apart when her cruel husband accuses her of practicing the odd arts. The bitter highborn lord who rescues her from her execution can't offer any hope. As she joins with him in a desperate escape, she must change, learn and adapt. She must face her fears, discover her strength, and risk healing the very man who's fated to kill her.
Brennus, Lord of Laonia, is embittered by the terrible curse that has killed his fathers and brothers. His own time is running short. If he can't defeat the curse, he will die and his people will suffer blight and destruction. He is torn between his duty and the vile crimes he must commit in order to defeat the curse. His only hope is to hunt for a woman bearing a particular birthmark and kill her. Lusielle bears such a mark. As he attempts to defeat his enemies and unravel the curse's mysteries with Lusielle by his side, he faces a new problem: Can he kill the only woman capable of healing more than his body, his soul? 
SKY:  Tell us about your book cover and how it relates to your story. 
DORA:  The Curse Giver's cover is an original work of art, and it was designed by the talented Brad Fraunfelter, who decided to stress the story's conflict by contrasting the image of Bren as a powerful warrior with the delicate figure of Lusielle with her back bared, displaying the mysterious birthmark, which resembles butterfly wings. In his own words, Brad wanted to "show a dramatic contrast between the softness of the skin and dress of the girl, against the harshness of the armor of the man." Brad added a subtle ring to the birthmark in order to highlight the magic in the story. Finally, he brushed a soft white haze to imbue the image with a mystical glow. I think it's beautiful. Don't you?
I was so impressed with Brad's artwork, that I featured an interview with him on my blog at   http://www.doramachado.com/blog/?p=140, where he talks about his inspiration for the cover, his light studies, the preliminary photo-shoots he did before he sat down to draw, and his creative process. He even shared some of his early drawings with us. Don't miss it!
SKY:  What sort of personality does your hero have? 
DORA:  I like to say that Bren is a type-A personality gone desperate. At the beginning of the story, he comes across as arrogant, brash, blunt, stubborn and bitter. In reality, his dire circumstances have forced him to become a person he doesn't like. As Lusielle soon discovers, beneath all the anger and hostility he is brave, honorable and determined. He will not quit, not even when facing dismal odds and overwhelming force. He is also smart, decisive and loyal. He has a brilliant, strategic mind and he is not afraid to challenge injustice and defy tyranny. Above all, he is a good man, fighting extraordinary evil while trying to do right by his people.
SKY:  What sort of personality does your heroine have?
DORA:  Lusielle is smart, kind, trustworthy, warm and caring, a true healer in all ways, a healer of bodies, minds and souls. She is incredibly competent at her craft, an excellent remedy mixer who studies her ingredients, understands how they work, and is always trying to create new and more effective cures. She is also resilient, open-minded, and uses her good instincts to see beyond appearances, blind beliefs and assumptions. Perhaps most importantly, Lusielle learns from her mistakes and has the courage to take risks, even when those risks involve the dangers of a forbidden relationship with a cursed outlaw who must kill her in order to survive.
SKY:  Are your book/books available in audio? In other languages? If so, give us more details about where we can get them and what languages they’re in. 
DORA:  Because The Curse Giver is so new, it is not yet available in audio. However, the first book of my Stonewiser series, Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone, has just been released as an audiobook. I have to tell you, listening to the story was one of the most powerful and joyful experiences I have ever had as an author. The narrator, Melissa Reizian, is an incredibly talented voice actress. She did an amazing job, applying a broad spectrum of accents and sounds, enriching and enlivening the story. Even if you have already read Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone, I encourage you to listen to the audiobook. And if you're an audiobook lover, this is one you have to hear. You can listen to a chapter sample at: http://www.audible.com/pd/Sci-Fi-Fantasy/Stonewiser-Audiobook/B00F52CJIY/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1379186069&sr=1-1 It's good, old-fashioned storytelling at its very best!
SKY:  Great interview, Dora! Thanks so much for joining us today.

The Curse Giver Chapter One
Dread stared at Lusielle from the depths of the rowdy crowd. Concealed under a heavy hood, only the stranger’s black eyes dared to meet her gaze among the growing throng. The man’s eyes refused to flinch or shift from her face. His stare was free of the hatred she had gotten from the others, but also devoid of mercy. He held on to her gaze like an anchor to her soul, testing her fortitude, knowing full well her fears’ vast range.
She had always been meant for the fire. Even as she had escaped the blaze that killed her parents and burned the inn to the ground, Lusielle had known that the flame’s greedy god would return to claim her life. But she hadn’t expected it to happen after days of torture, surrounded by the raging mob, found guilty of a crime she didn’t commit, betrayed and condemned.
The town’s cobbler, one of her husband’s best customers, tightened the noose around her neck until it cut off her breath. She had waited on him countless times at the shop, and had always padded his order with a free measure of coriander to help with his wife’s cough. 
But none of the town’s inhabitants seemed to remember any of her kindnesses as of late. On the contrary, the crowd was booing and jeering when they weren’t pelting her with rotten fruit. They treated her as if she were a common thief.
The brute who had conducted her torture shoved the cobbler aside, tying her elbows and wrists around the wooden stake. Orell. She remembered his name. His bearded face might have been handsome if not for the permanent leer. Like the magistrate, he wore the king’s burgundy colors, but his role had been more vicious. Had he been granted more time, he might have succeeded at extracting the false confession he wanted, but the magistrate was in a hurry, afraid of any possible unrest.
Orell yanked on the ropes, tightening her bonds. The wound on her back broke open all over again. She swallowed a strangled hiss. It was as if the thug wanted her to suffer, as if he had a private reason to profit from her pain. 
But she had never seen him until three days ago, when he and the magistrate had shown up unannounced, making random accusations. 
Lusielle couldn’t understand any of this. 
She knew that the king’s justice was notoriously arbitrary. It was one of the main reasons why she loathed living under King Riva’s rule. But she also knew better than to express her opinion. Ruin and tragedy trailed those who dared to criticize the king. That’s why she had never mentioned her misgivings to anyone. 
What had she done to deserve this fate? And why did they continue to be so cruel? After all, she wasn’t fighting them anymore. 
True, she had resisted at first. Out of fear and pride, she had tried to defend herself. But in the end, it hadn’t mattered. Her accusers had relied on the testimony of the devious liar who had turned her in—Aponte Rummins—her own husband.
The mock hearing had been too painful to bear, too absurd to believe. Aponte swore before the magistrate that Lusielle was a secret practitioner of the forbidden odd arts. It was ridiculous. How could anyone believe that she, who had always relied on logic, measure and observation to mix her remedies, could possi¬bly serve the Odd God’s dark purposes? And how could anyone believe Aponte’s lies?
But they did, they believed him as he called on his paid witnesses and presented fabricated evidence, swearing that he himself had caught her at the shop, worshipping the Odd God. In the end, it had been her husband’s false testimony that provided the ultimate proof of the heinous charge for which Lusielle was about to die. 
Burning torch in hand, the magistrate stepped forward. Still in shock, Lusielle swallowed a gulp of bitter horror and steeled for the flames’ excruciating pain. She didn’t want to die like a shrieking coward. But nothing could have prepared her for what happened next. 
The magistrate offered the torch to Aponte. 
“The king upholds a husband’s authority over his wife in the kingdom,” the magistrate shouted for the crowd to hear. “There can be no protests, no doubt of the wisdom of royal justice if a husband does as he’s entitled to do by his marital rights.”
Aponte could have forgone her execution. Considering the magistrate’s proclamation, he could have chosen a different punishment for her. Instead, he accepted the torch and, without hesitation, put the flame to the tinder and blew over the kindling to start the fire. 
“Go now,” he said, grinning like a hog about to gorge. “Go find your dark lord.” 
Lusielle glared at the poor excuse for a man who had ruined her life many times over. She had known from the beginning that he was fatally flawed, just as he had known on the day he claimed her that she couldn’t pledge him any affection. 
But Aponte had never wanted her affection. He had wanted her servitude, and in that sense she proved to be the reluctant but dutiful servant he craved. 
Over the years he had taught her hatred. 
His gratification came from beating and humiliating her. His crass and vulgar tastes turned his bed into a nightmare. She felt so ashamed of the things he made her do. Still, even if she loathed him—and not just him, but the slave she had become under his rule—she had tried to make the best of it. 
She had served him diligently, tending to his businesses, reorganizing his stores, rearranging his trading routes and increasing his profits. His table had always been ready. His meals had been hot and flavorsome. His sheets had been crisp and his bed had been coal-warmed every night. Perhaps due to all of this, he had seemed genuinely pleased with their marital arrangement. 
Why, then, had he surrendered her so easily to the magistrate’s brute?
Aponte had to have some purpose for this betrayal. He was, above all, a practical man. He would not surrender all the advantages that Lusielle brought to him—money, standing, common sense, business acumen—without the benefit of an even greater windfall.  
Lusielle couldn’t understand how, but she was sure that the bastard was going to profit handsomely from her death. 
The scent of pine turned acrid and hot. Cones crackled and popped. The fire hissed a sinister murmur, a sure promise of pain. She didn’t watch the little sparks grow into flames at her feet. Instead, her eyes returned to the back of the crowd, seeking the stranger’s stare. She found him even as a puff of white smoke clouded her sight and the fire’s rising heat distorted his scarred face’s fixed expression. 
The nearing flames thawed the pervasive cold chilling her bones. Flying sparks pecked at her skin. Her toes curled. Her feet flinched. Pain teased her ankles in alarming, nipping jolts. Dear gods. They were really going to burn her alive!
Lusielle shut her eyes. When she looked again, the stranger was gone from the crowd. She couldn’t blame him. She would have never chosen to watch the flame’s devouring dance. 
A commotion ensued somewhere beyond the pyre. People were screaming, but she couldn’t see through the flames and smoke. She flinched when a lick of fire ignited her shift’s hem. A vile stink filled her lungs. Her body shivered in shock. She coughed, then hacked. Fear’s fiery fingers began to torment her legs. 
“Come and find me,” she called to the God of fire.    And he did.
For a free excerpt of The Curse Giver, visit  http://twilighttimesbooks.com/TheCurseGiver_ch1.html 

About the Author

Dora Machado is the award winning author of the epic fantasy Stonewiser series and her newest novel, The Curse Giver, available from Twilight Times Books July 2013. She grew up in the Dominican Republic, where she developed a fascination for writing and a taste for Merengue. After a lifetime of straddling such compelling but different worlds, fantasy is a natural fit to her stories. She lives in Florida with her husband and three very opinionated cats. 
To learn more about Dora Machado and her novels, visit her website at www.doramachado.com  
Subscribe to her blog at http://www.doramachado.com/blog/ , sign up for her newsletter at http://doramachado.com/newsletter.php  and follow her on Facebook and  Twitter. 
For a free excerpt of The Curse Giver, visit http://twilighttimesbooks.com/TheCurseGiver_ch1.html

About Dora Machado's Novels
Dora Machado is the award winning author of the Stonewiser trilogy and her newest novel, The Curse Giver. She is one of the few Latinas exploring her heritage and her world through the epic fantasy genre today. Her first novel, Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone, won the 2009 Benjamin Franklin award for best debut novel. Her second novel, Stonewiser: The Call of the Stone, won the 2010 Independent Publishers Book Award's (IPPY) Gold Medal for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy book of the year. Her third novel, Stonewiser: The Lament of the Stone, won the 2012 Independent Publishers Book Award's (IPPY) Silver Medal for Best Science Fiction/Fantasy book of the year. All three novels were finalists in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Award in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Category. Her latest novel, The Curse Giver from Twilight Times Books is available July 2013.
Website: http://www.doramachado.com/
Blog: http://www.doramachado.com/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoraMachado101
Twitter: @DoraMachado or https://twitter.com/DoraMachado
Amazon Author Central: www.amazon.com/author/doramachado  

Worldwide Chaos. Possible Armageddon. Uprising by Imogen Rose.

Today it’s my pleasure to spotlight Uprising, Bonfire Chronicles Book Two, a YA/Paranormal by Imogen Rose
Publisher: Wild Thorn PublishingDate of Publication:  10-10-2013Cover Artist: Phatpuppyart
GIVEAWAY! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win the following.
$50 Amazon gift card10 Kindle copies of Initiation10 Kindle copies of Portal

Book Description
The global infrastructure that allows humans and supernaturals to coexist is under threat. A breakdown of this carefully maintained system erupts into worldwide chaos and could eventually lead to Armageddon.
Code Uprising is activated.
The power of the supernatural world shifts from the city councils to Bonfire Academy and the other elite paranormal preps. Now, the staff and students must follow the code, however deadly the ramifications, to return power to the city sovereigns in order to prevent an apocalypse.
Purchase Links
Kindle: http://amzn.to/19LnlqcKindle (UK): http://amzn.to/1bUEOnLKindle (Germany): http://amzn.to/1gik7UFiBook: http://bit.ly/GX3n5MKOBO: http://bit.ly/1bvLGnjNOOK: http://bit.ly/1cpVqR9Paperback: http://amzn.to/195c6vP

Excerpt
He felt as dead as she looked. With each blow to her lifeless body, he felt his sanity ooze, drop after drop, into the pool of her blood. She was dead. Her only hope now was the guy who had stolen her from him.
The knock on the door filled Quinn with loathsome fury. Had he not already been in his demon form, he’d have transformed because the person on the other side of the door deserved what he had unwillingly subjected Cordelia to.
He flung the door open, growling at the winter faery who was keeping Cordelia’s heart beating. Jagger swept past Quinn to the corner of the room, kneeling down beside Cordelia’s torn-up body. His pale winter hue darkened. He shot to his feet, bringing up his leg and slammed his foot into Quinn’s stomach.
Quinn fell back in surprise, his demon exterior not so much as reddening as a result, but he felt on the verge of losing it and tearing Jagger’s head right off of his fey neck. But he checked himself. If Jagger’s heart stopped, so would Cordelia’s, and Quinn couldn’t allow that to happen.
“What the fuck, Quinn? What did you do to her?” Jagger’s voice was barely audible; his mood had turned from anger to desperation as he looked at the body on the floor again.
Quinn transformed back into his human form, revealing a mess of injuries and broken bones. “I had no choice. It was this or death.”
“Or death? She is dead, you moron!”
“No, she isn’t. Her heart is still beating.”
“Only because I’m beating it for her,” Jagger muttered.
“Only because I’m letting you beat it for her,” Quinn said quietly.
“She needs a healer.”
“Wander her back to the Academy. But hurry. Potomal’s team is on their way and will be here soon to collect her.”
“Potomal?”
“A Wanderer working with Katerina.” Quinn winced at the stabs of pain his human body was unable to dampen.
“What about you? What happened?”
“Cordelia didn’t go down without a fight, but never mind that. I’ll heal. I need you to beat me to within an inch of my life. Here, use this.” He handed Jagger a tire iron.
“Much as I would love to beat the hell out of you, why? If you’re afraid of what they’ll do to you when they find out you let Cordelia escape, why not just come back to the Academy?”
“No time. Plus, the best way for me to protect Cordelia is from the inside. Hurry.”
Jagger glanced down at Cordelia and then raised the iron bar.
Next book
Retaliation (Bonfire Chronicles Book Three): Coming Spring 2014
Reading Order
FaustineInitiationIntegrationUprising 
About the Author

Imogen Rose is the author of the bestselling series, the Portal Chronicles, which has attained cult status within indie literature and become a favorite among teens and adults alike. An immunologist by profession, Dr. Rose published her first work of fiction in 2010. She now writes full time and is currently working on her second teen series, the Bonfire Chronicles. Imogen was born in Sweden and has lived in several places, counting London among her favorites. She moved to New Jersey in 2001. A self-confessed Hermès addict, Imogen freely admits to being obsessed with Kurt Cobain. She enjoys shopping, traveling, watching movies, and hanging out with her family, friends, and Chihuahua.

Web: http://www.imogenrose.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImogenRosePage
Twitter: ImogenRoseTweet
Instagram: ImogenRoseGram
blog: http://imogenroseblog.blogspot.com/
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A Sexy Bounty Hunter, Undeniable Desire, and a Paranormal Bond. Kane's Bounty by A.S. Fenichel.

Happy Friday everyone! It’s been quiet around here lately but hold on tight because you know I get a little crazy in October. After all, it’s one of my favorite times of the year. Truly, what better month is there to celebrate all things paranormal? That said I’m thrilled to welcome over A.S. Fenichel, author of Kane’s Bounty, a Paranormal Erotic Romance. Ah, such a fabulous combo! Paranormal plus steamy romance. Scrumptious mix. 
I think you all know what I’m going to ‘say’ next. That’s right. Grab your favorite cuppa, feet up and relax while you delve into an intriguing interview and learn more about this sexy book. I have a strong feeling that this one’s a five star read, folks!
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave PublishingDate of Publication: May 8, 2013ISBN: 9781419945052ASIN: B00BGBY3FA
Number of pages: 163Word Count: 55,103
Cover Artist: Syneca


Ellora’s Cave      Amazon     BN
GIVEAWAY! A.S. Fenichel is giving away two eCopies of Kate’s Bounty and two print copies of Mayan Saviors (open to US shipping). Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for your chance to win.

Book Description
Telepathic bounty hunter Kane has one rule—never get involved with a fugitive.
It’s a simple assignment with good money at the end. Picking Lena up is no problem. Protecting her when her ex-husband, mercenaries and another bounty hunter threaten her turns into the fight of their lives.
Together, the Stones of Adeline and Lena are powerful magic. She never considered the complication of the sexy bounty hunter and her undeniable desire for him. Their paranormal bond will need to be strong if they’re to survive together.
Let’s Interview!
SKY:  What made you choose the main setting for your book?
A.S.:  Kane’s Bounty starts in a bar in Savannah, Ga. It is a kind of “traveling” book. The hero and heroine spend a lot of time running away and toward things. They travel to Mexico, Baltimore, rural New Jersey and Boston. I chose places that I’m familiar with and love. I really like the differences between a beach in Cabo and a prison in Boston. 
SKY:  If you could spend an hour in real life with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
A.S.:  Kane is hot and a really good guy. I don’t know if an hour would be enough time. ;)
SKY:  Tell us a little bit about the conflict in your story. 
A.S.:  Kane, a psychic bounty hunter, has been hired to bring a fugitive back to prison. Lena escaped prison in order to save her life and protect her secret. Thorn, Lena’s ex-husband, wants her back so that he can use her powerful gifts for his own nefarious reasons. 
Kane has only one rule – Never get involved with the fugitive. But when he sees that Lena is in real danger he can’t abandon her to the mercenary her husband has sent to bring her in. 
SKY:  Are you currently working on another story? If so, we’d love some details. 
A.S.:  I’m working on a book about Joshua, Kane’s brother. He has his own set of issues to deal with and a lot of people who want him dead. 
However, before that, I have a holiday book, Revving up the Holidays releasing November 22. Here’s the blurb for Revving Up the Holidays!
Workaholic Isaac hasn’t been back to his hometown since his father’s funeral two years earlier, pushing his family away because of a painful secret. Hanukkah and a forced vacation lure him back to Atlanta, where he’s reunited with his two lost loves—an old motorcycle and his sister’s best friend Giada. While rediscovering his passion for both the bike and the woman, Isaac rebuilds his heart.
Giada has lost her Christmas spirit since returning home to care for her dying parents. Left alone, she struggles to return to her successful teaching career, choosing instead to stay in her hometown. Only the unexpected return of her high school crush Isaac brings any joy to the season.
The transitive nature of Isaac’s visit and Giada’s fear of abandonment keep them from sharing their whole hearts, but certainly not their bodies. Their desire for each other is hotter than flames on a menorah and they take advantage of their limited time together by burning up the sheets. But once their secrets are revealed, their hearts will do all the thinking.
SKY:  Did you enjoy writing one scene above all the rest? If so, share.
A.S.:  I found one scene in Kane’s Bounty really challenging and since it turned out so well, it’s now my favorite. Kane is psychic. He can read feelings and minds if the other person is willing to make the link. There’s a scene where the lovemaking is happening only in their minds and yet it’s one of the most erotic I’ve ever written. I think that’s my favorite. 
SKY:  Tell us about your favorite writing environment. Is it indoors, outdoors, a special room, etc.
A.S.:  I write in my sunroom. I have a chaise lounge that overlooks the very large lake we live on. I watch the sun rise most mornings with my cat purring by my feet. Not bad, right?
SKY:  How long have you been writing? How long have you been published?
A.S.:  I’ve been writing for about twenty years and I’ve been published for two. 
SKY:  What genre/genres do you prefer to write? Are there other genres you’d like to write in the future?
A.S.:  I’m published in Erotic Contemporary, Erotic Paranormal and Historical. I love them all. 
SKY:  Do you prefer to write short stories, novellas or novels? Why?
A.S.:  I feel like every story has a certain amount of words necessary to make it good. I have written 400 page books and 100 page novellas. I’m a slave to the story, so as long as it takes, that’s what I write. :)
SKY:  Do you write books in series? If so, share a bit about the series you currently have published or are coming soon. 
A.S.:  The Mayan Destiny series is my first three books. Mayan Afterglow, Mayan Craving and Mayan Inferno are erotic, dystopian, paranormal stories about finding love after the End Of Days. You can check out Mayan Afterglow for FREE right now on Amazon, B&N and at the Ellora’s Cave web-site. 
Thank you again for having me visit. I truly enjoyed the wonderful questions. 
SKY:  My pleasure, A.S.! And thanks for sharing more about your work with us. Great interview. :)
Excerpt
A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, please exit this site.
An Excerpt From: KANE’S BOUNTY
Copyright © A.S. FENICHEL, 2013
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.
Chapter One
The overcrowded bar didn’t stop Kane from spotting his mark the moment she walked in. Even if he hadn’t seen her picture, her nervous demeanor would have given her away. It was too crowded to get a psychic read on her, but there were other ways to find a fugitive. 
The mug shot hadn’t done her justice. Lena Cruz could stop traffic. Her curves were exactly the kind a man liked to run his hands over and other body parts came to mind too. Her dark hair just touched her shoulders and those bright hazel eyes darted nervously to every corner of the room. 
She even looked at him for a second or two. He smiled and moved to lift his glass in her direction, but her focus shifted before he had the chance. He followed her gaze to the corner of the room. 
“John Porter,” Kane mumbled. He had to make an effort to relax his grip on the glass before he ended up with a hand full of Jack Daniels and cheap glass. He shrugged and downed the remaining whiskey before getting up and moving to a barstool that was closer and had a better view of the corner. Porter wasn’t alone. He had a couple of his bodyguards with him and a blonde wearing too much makeup. 
The band finished their set and the crowd noise lulled for a few seconds. 
“It’s nice to see you, Lena,” Porter said. He stood and kissed her cheek. 
“I need your help, John.” 
Porter’s eyes darted around the bar. “You shouldn’t—” 
The jukebox kicked on, and Kane couldn’t hear the rest of their conversation. 
It made no difference. She was a mark, no more, no less. He was hired by the bail bondsman to pick her up and bring her in. What she was doing talking to a notorious money launderer was irrelevant. 
He’d wait. No need to tip off Porter. Someday he might have to pick the scumbag up and he didn’t want to blow his cover. He signaled the bartender and ordered another Jack on the rocks. 
Something niggled at the back of his senses. The atmosphere changed and a familiar mind slipped into his consciousness. “Wade, NO!” 
The words were not out of his mouth before Shamus Wade torpedoed through the crowd and crashed into Porter’s table. 
Kane was on his feet. He didn’t move forward. Interesting distraction. 
All three men and the blonde who was sitting with them stood up as drinks splashed in every direction. Lena stood gape-mouthed, and Wade grabbed her arm. He stood a full foot taller than her and probably outweighed her by a hundred pounds, but she pushed at him and slapped his face. Wade’s beady eyes narrowed. Closed-fisted, Wade punched her in the head. 
Mistake. Kane took a step toward them to get a better position and wait to see how the situation played out. 
Wade’s head spun around, sensing Kane for the first time. When their eyes met, Kane just smiled and shook his head at the ill-laid plans of the other hunter. 
The crowd went dead silent. The music screeched to a stop. Lena looked dazed for a moment and then her knees began to buckle. 
Wade sensed the change in the focus of the crowd. Men and women alike were glaring at him and moving closer. “It’s okay, folks. This is my wife. We’re just heading home now.” 
The bartender had already dialed 911. Kane could hear the conversation behind the bar. A woman with colorful full-sleeve tattoos, flanked by two enormous men, stepped forward. “I don’t care if she’s your momma. You ain’t going anywhere with that woman. We don’t care for men who beat their women around here.” 
“It was just a little misunderstanding. Right, Lena?” Wade looked scared as the crowd moved in on him. Kane felt the building tension and rage in the bar. Anger and fear pulsed in the room, creating a dull ache in the back of his skull. He was sure Wade could feel it too and it was the cause of the hunter’s fear. 
Wade still clutched Lena’s right arm tightly. 
Lena’s eyes rolled back in her head and she leaned against Wade, forcing him to release her arm and grab her around the waist. 
Kane moved in another two steps and sidled off to the left. The crowd pushed forward and Wade pulled his handgun. He waved the Remington 9mm in the direction of the crowd. Mistake two. 
John Porter and his associates bolted for the back door as soon as the weapon came into view. 
Kane rushed in just as the two large men and the tattooed woman charged Wade. Lena slipped from his grasp and the gun hit the floor. Kane closed the gap, threw Lena over his shoulder and headed for the back door. 
He heard as much as sensed the change in the crowd as the fight started. Kane didn’t know how long it would take the police to arrive or if Wade would get away before that happened. He had to get her to a safe place. He could take her to local law enforcement for extradition in the morning. 
The rear exit led out to a narrow alley. Before they’d reached a hundred feet from the noisy bar, she pounded on his back. “Put me down.” 
“That was a fine performance, Lena. Why don’t you continue with the knocked-out act for a few minutes more?”
About the Author

A.S. Fenichel gave up a successful career in New York City to follow her husband to Texas and pursue her lifelong dream of being a professional writer. She’s never looked back. 
A.S. adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story.
Multi-published in both erotic and historical romance, A.S. has 5 books currently available and three more under contract with Ellora’s Cave Publishing. 
Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey, and now lives in the East Texas with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history, and puttering in her garden.
Find A.S. Fenichel on the Net
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Unattainable Men, Enchanted Beverages & Mischievous Time-Twisters. Fairy In The Flesh by Katalina Leon.

Wow, is this month flying by! But, as always, there’s tons of fun to be had here at A Writer’s Mind. In fact, today I’m thrilled to feature Katalina Leon, author of Fairy In The Flesh, a paranormal erotic-romance, time-travel. So kick back, relax and enjoy!
Publisher: Ellora’s CaveISBN: 9781419945557Number of pages: 85 pagesWord Count: 40k
Cover Artist: Syneca
GIVEAWAY! Be sure to enter the Rafflecopter after this post for a chance to win one of two $15 Amazon gift cards.
Book Description
Maya Rousseau’s fantasy vacation in Avignon France heats up when an eccentric enchantress tricks her into drinking mojo-laced absinthe.
An unexpected encounter with the green fairy causes Maya’s reality to have a serious melt down. She travels back in time and wakes up naked in the bed of her favorite bad boy Bohemian artist, the tall, dark and mysterious André Bosco. There’s nothing wrong with that except it’s 1903.
For André it’s love at first sight. He begs Maya to become his cherished model, muse and lover. The chemistry and shared passion between them is overwhelming. André’s a generous-hearted dream man but there’s a catch. Every hour they spend together bonds them tighter and time is running out. The same powers that flung Maya back to 1903 are preparing to snatch her back.
With a hundred and ten years separating these soul-bound lovers it’s uncertain if they can find a happy ending without the help of a little magic and La Fée Verte.
Note: Story contains super hot sex with an unattainable man, enchanted hallucinatory beverages, mischievous time-twisters and green fairies.
Find Fairy In The Flesh at Ellora's Cave. 

Let's hear from Katalina...
Fairy In The Flesh is a very personal book. This particular fantasy scenario is one I would dearly love to find myself confronted with. The subject is close to my heart for several reasons. My heroine Maya Rousseau is an artist who falls in love with another artist’s work long before she actually meets him. This exact scenario happened to me in real life and I’ll share a little about it.
First I have to back up a little, between high school and college, I took time off to decide what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I wanted to be an artist but I wasn’t getting much support from anyone for such an impractical plan. Even I knew it was impractical and I still couldn’t resist the draw of art because I had so much passion for it. Perhaps I wasn’t the greatest talent in the world but I had real honest to god passion. My first job in high school was working in an artist supply store, where I got familiar with quality art materials, the vendors and the artist who used them. A high number of respected professionals frequented the store and I was always alert to go out of my way to speak with them. My time in the store provides a practical education. Everything about art and artist’s materials was exciting to me. 
My other passion was wanderlust. I wanted to see the world and even wished I could time travel and see the world as it was. Getting out and about meant escaping suburbia. I took odd jobs waitressing, doing drywall, designing logos etc… Anything to earn extra money. An older friend gave me her ID card that said I was 5’7” and twenty-one. I was in fact 5’2” and seventeen. (I never got called on it!)  I’d work somewhere just long enough to earn plane fare to someplace interesting. I’d buy a ticket and go there alone, find work, go to a museum, see how other people lived and come home. I loved the freedom. I wasn’t in trouble and I wasn’t a troublemaker, I just craved adventure and challenge. I went further from home each time until I found myself traveling through Southeast Asia by myself at nineteen. My mother had recently passed away so she wasn’t worried about me, but when I think of what I put my poor dad through I cringe.
Deep down I just wanted a different life and if I could have found one in a different time frame I would have jumped at the opportunity.
I started thinking seriously about applying to art school.  I found myself at an art exhibit of graduating students at the Art Center College of Design. The school was drool worthy but too expensive for me, and it was admission by portfolio review only. I was a bit in awe. Then I got to the gallery, all the work was quality and very interesting in its own way but one piece really stood out to me. It was big, bright and gorgeous. It made me happy to look at it and in my mind I thought, “Of all the artwork in this show this painting is the most like what I would paint.”
I left the gallery feeling energized and the painting clung to my thoughts. In fact I got a little obsessed with it and made a special trip far out of my way to see it again before the show came down. I liked it even better the second time I saw it. I also noticed it had been sold.
Months later, I was invited to a graduation party for this student group. Guess who was there? I meet the artist and I was wowed. I thought he was super cute and miles away from what I was expecting. He was modest, quiet but when we started talking we had everything in common including he liked to travel and backpack alone in exotic places too. He also felt familiar and I realized even though he was older than me I’d seen him in passing back in high school. We’d been crossing paths for years, but I needed to see his artwork to truly recognize him as the big soul he was. Making eye contact and talking with him that day was a scary and uncomfortable (for me) experience of love at first sight. At that time I had big plans for the next ten years of my life that did not include marriage and settling down. All my solitary dreams and wacky future schemes were trashed that day, thank god.
I did have the wits to recognize I’d met my match and future husband but I was suspicious of how easily it had happened so I avoided him for nearly six weeks hoping the delusion would wear-off. It didn’t, and I eventually went begging for a coffee date to clear my head. Unfortunately for me, he was as great as I remembered. He immediately stopped what he was doing to go out for coffee with me and tried to give me another painting. We talked about art, exchanged books to share another day and I soon started modeling for him.
Fairy In The Flesh is pure fiction but while you’re reading it I hope you’ll remember a few of the dreams you might have put on the backburner and at least enjoy the fantasy of what if… 
About the Author
I’m an artist, an author, mother and wife. I write for Ellora’s Cave, Loose Id Publishing and a couple new publishers to be announced soon. I try to bring a touch of the mystical and a big sense of adventure to everything I write because I believe there’s a bold, kick-ass heroine inside all of us who wants to take a wild ride with a strong worthy hero. 
Find Katalina and Her Books...
~ Website ~ Ellora's Cave ~ Loose Id~ Amazon ~ All Romance eBooks ~ Night Owl Reviews ~ Pinterest ~ Facebook

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