E.J. Stevens's Blog, page 95

Guest Author Interview: Shannon Delany

Please welcome today's guest author Shannon Delany!  Shannon is the author of 13 to Life and the upcoming sequel Secrets and Shadows.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Shannon:  I started writing in 4th grade because of an awesome teacher who believed everyone had a story to tell (which I believe, too). We did little books and it helped inspire me. Then, when my grandmother fell unexpectedly ill during a family vacation (I was a preteen) I turned to writing to keep me entertained. Later I realized writing had also given me a way to creatively express my fear about the situation.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Shannon:   I've had a lot of weird situations happen in my life and I come from a very traditional group of people who have beliefs that don't always mesh with the mainstream. I read a lot of things related to the studies J.B. Rhine and others did with parapsychology (and couldn't read enough of Hans Holzer's stories as a ghost hunter--way before it was "cool"). My science fair projects as a kid involved testing younger students for psychic powers. So, I guess, writing in the paranormal genre is sort of "my normal." ;-)

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?
Shannon:   Hmm. There are several paranormal powers that crop up during the 13 to Life series and some of them are handier than others. But I think I'd want the very supernatural ability to temporarily stop time. It would help me a bunch with meeting writing deadlines (and give me time to think up more clever quips in real life).

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Shannon:  I hope readers enjoy 13 to Life (and the upcoming sequel, Secrets and Shadows) for a multitude of reasons. First: these aren't your average characters. The mythology behind them is unique and came from real (though odd) research and Cold War info. They also have a unique chronology (readers of 13 to Life should have picked up on this already and know what I mean, but if they missed it, they'll see it even more clearly in Secrets and Shadows). And they are far from stupid-they may make choices that will make you scream, but you'll realize why they did (and recognize people in your own life who might make similar choices due to having "good intentions).

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
 
Shannon:   Oh. Every time I see a movie I change my mind about who I'd like to see cast. Luckily authors have almost no say in this, so I can name whomever and never have to be worry about being taken too seriously. ;-) The ones I go back and forth with most are Jessie and Pietr. Jessie could be played by almost any decent-looking (but not outrageously gorgeous) girl with brown hair. Pietr is more specific. He's pretty tall with a lean build, strong jaw and cheekbones, slightly slanted eyes and dark hair with red highlights (based in mythology). He needs to look a little angular and foreign whereas Jessie needs to be the girl-next-door. One character I can definitely name an actress for is Amy (one of Jessie's BFFs). I saw a movie recently with Skyler Samuels and I think she could totally play that role. If you want to see my previous cast list (and make your own!), it's on StoryCasting.com here .























13 to Life (13 to Life, book 1) by Shannon Delany.

Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…

When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it's for one of two reasons. Either they've finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they're hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she's relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.

The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide--secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he's undergoing that will surely end his life early.


Thank you Shannon for joining us here today at From the Shadows !

To learn more about Shannon Delany and her books, please visit her website.

E.J. at WORD for Teens

Today E.J. is being interviewed at WORD for Teens about her new paranormal young adult release She Smells the Dead.










Visit the Book Spooks event at WORD for Teens and enter the She Smells the Dead giveaway!

Guest Blog: Keta Diablo on the Scariest Books Ever

As a special treat (or trick!) guest author Keta Diablo will be taking over today with her guest blog on the Scariest Books Ever.  As part of our Halloween Giveaways at From the Shadows, Keta will be giving away two ebook copies of her m/m paranormal thriller novella Crossroads.  Giveaway details at the end of her post. 
A Mixed Trick or Treat Bag of the SCARIEST Books Ever . . . .
With Halloween soon approaching again, I headed to the Internet to find the "scariest" books ever written. What I discovered was a mixed bag of opiionions, but several of the books below appeared on all the lists: King's "It", Anson's "The Amityville Horror" and Blatty's "The Exorcist".
Let's take a look at the list again. Notice something? The authors are male, every single one. I don't know if that says our most talented horror authors are men or rather men have the weirdest minds. I'll leave that answer up to you.
Hope you enjoy the list!
It, Stephen KingThe amazingly prolific King returns to pure horror, pitting good against evil as in The Stand and The Shining. Moving back and forth between 1958 and 1985, the story tells of seven children in a small Maine town who discover the source of a series of horrifying murders. Having conquered the evil force once, they are summoned together 27 years later when the cycle begins again.
Ghost Story, Peter StraubFor four aging men in the terror-stricken town of Milburn, New York, an act inadvertently carried out in their youth has come back to haunt them. Now they are about to learn what happens to those who believe they can bury the past -- and get away with murder. Peter Straub's classic bestseller is a work of "superb horror" (The Washington Post Book World) that, like any good ghost story, stands the test of time -- and conjures our darkest fears and nightmares.
Something Wicked This Way Comes, Ray BradburyA masterpiece of modern Gothic literature, Something Wicked This Way Comes is the memorable story of two boys, James Nightshade and William Halloway, and the evil that grips their small Midwestern town with the arrival of a "dark carnival" one Autumn midnight. How these two innocents, both age 13, save the souls of the town (as well as their own), makes for compelling reading on timeless themes.
The Amityville Horror, Jay AnsonGeorge and Kathleen Lutz were aware that the house had been the scene of a mass murder -- Ronnie DeFeo, 23, was convicted of shooting his parents, brothers, and sisters. But it seemed an ideal home for them and their three children, and the price was right. On the day they moved in, a priest invited to bless the house was told by an unseen voice to "Get out!" At his rectory, he began to suffer a series of inexplicable afflictions. Meanwhile, alone in their new home, the Lutz family were embarking on the most terrifying experience of their lives. It began when their five-year-old daughter boasted of her new playmate, someone -- or something -- named "Jodie."
Skull Session, Daniel HechtA stunning psychological thriller from the bestselling author of PUPPETS When Paul Skogland, who suffers from the mental disorder Tourette's syndrome, agrees to take on the repairs of the magnificent hunting lodge owned by his wealthy, eccentric aunt, little does he realise exactly what he's taken on. Inside the lodge lies a scene of almost superhuman destruction: a violence mirrored by a series of disappearances and grisly deaths haunting the region. As Paul delves into the wreckage, he can't help but wonder what dark passion - and what strength - could cause such chaos. Escalating events lead Paul deeper into his family's past, and as Paul faces the darker aspects of his own nature, he must brave the possibility that in saving those he loves, he might well destroy himself.
Salem's Lot, Stephen KingStephen King's second book, 'Salem's Lot (1975)--about the slow takeover of an insular hamlet called Jerusalem's Lot by a vampire patterned after Bram Stoker's Dracula--has two elements that he also uses to good effect in later novels: a small American town, usually in Maine, where people are disconnected from each other, quietly nursing their potential for evil; and a mixed bag of rational, goodhearted people, including a writer, who band together to fight that evil.
Swamp Thing: Love and Death by Alan MooreDon't let the mediocre Swamp Thing movies fool you, this book is filled with sophisticated suspense and terror. Created out of the swamp through a freak accident, Swamp Thing is an elemental creature who uses the forces of nature and the wisdom of the plant kingdom to fight the polluted world's self-destruction. Swamp Thing . . . the only one who can save mankind.
The Exorcist, William Peter BlattyBlatty fictionalized the true story of a child's demonic possession in the 1940s. The deceptively simple story focuses on Regan, the 11-year-old daughter of a movie actress residing in Washington, D.C.; the child apparently is possessed by an ancient demon. It's up to a small group of overwhelmed yet determined humans to somehow rescue Regan from this unspeakable fate. Purposefully raw and profane, this novel still has the extraordinary ability to literally shock us into forgetting that it is "just a story." The Exorcist remains a truly unforgettable reading experience.
Red Dragon, Thomas HarrisLying on a cot in his cell with Alexandre Dumas's Le Grand Dictionnaire de Cuisine open on his chest, Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter makes his debut in this legendary horror novel, which is even better than its sequel, The Silence of the Lambs. As in Silence, the pulse-pounding suspense plot involves a hypersensitive FBI sleuth who consults psycho psychiatrist Lecter for clues to catching a killer on the loose.
Books of Blood, 1-3, Clive Barker Barker's first hardcover appearance in America, gathers together 16 stories in one volume as the author originally intended and contains eerily effective illustrations by fantasy artists J. K. Potter and Harry O. Morris. The tales are of varying quality and will please mostly readers who like their horror bloody and graphic. An occasional reliance on hokey set-ups and deus ex machinas, and the frequent shifting of intention in mid-story are jarring qualities, however. Further, a pervasive misanthropy colors the narratives and makes them unpleasant in a way the author probably didn't intend.
Keta Diablo writes erotic romance and gay fiction for numerous publishers. You can find her on the web at the links below. Leave a comment here and you'll be eligible to win your choice of one of Keta's books (visit Keta's Haunt bookshelf to see what's available).
You can find Keta here on the Net at Keta's Haunt (Author Home), Keta's Keep (Erotic Romance Blog) , The Stuff of Myth and Men (Gay Fiction Blog), Keta on Twitter! 
** Crossroads International eBook Giveaway **






















To Enter, tell us about the scariest book you've ever read and why it frightened the bejeezers out of you! Two winners will be selected to receive a PDF copy of the first novella in Keta's best-selling Crossroads series. (Think private investigators, ghosts and communing with the dead). Warning: this series has elements of intense and graphic man love.  This giveaway is international!  Giveaway ends October 20th midnight EST.

Teaser Tuesdays: An Artificial Night

"She's Firstborn and incredibly powerful, but she can hide so well I'd never see her coming.  There are a lot of things I'd rather face than the Luidaeg on a bad day.  Like Godzilla."

 p.g 85, An Artificial Night by Seanan McGuire.

An Artificial Night is the third book in the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire.  This is an action-packed urban fantasy series with a fun, wisecracking changeling heroine.

Look for my review of An Artificial Night later this week.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading . Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Guest Author Interview: Eve Langlais

Please welcome today's guest author Eve Langlais!  Eve is the author of Lucifer's Daughter, Alien Mate, Alien Mate 2, Apocalypse Cowboy, Take a Chance, My Secretary My Mistress, The Hunter, and upcoming releases Broomstick Breakdown, and A Ghostly Menage.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

Eve:  I first sat down to write in February of 2009. I was tired of reading stories that went in directions I hated. My husband dared me to do better and I hate it when he wins. Eighteen months and several published works later, I think I can safely say I won the dare LOL.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

Eve:  Paranormal stories rock because you can create whatever kind of world you want, even one where demons are romantic heroes and vampires simply misunderstood people with special dietary needs. With the paranormal, I can create a whole new race of beings or an underworld to our modern one. The possibilities are only limited by my imagination.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

Eve:   That is such a tough question because each has pros and cons. I think, if I had to choose right now, I'd like to be a shapeshifter, a feline one. The idea of having more than human strength and senses, super healing power along with the ability to run wild sounds awesome. I just wouldn't want to birth a litter lol.

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

Eve:  Readers will love Lucifer's Daughter because it is an absolutely fun read. In this story, Heaven and Hell are redefined, and the people who would normally be evil, are instead the characters you fall in love with. It's the first in a series of three stories. Part two, titled Snowballs in Hell, is coming out sometime in the next few months.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?
 
Eve:   Well the hero role in Lucifer's Daughter would definitely have to go to Ian Somerhalder from Vampire Diaries. He's got that dark dangerous look--and sexy smirk--that I picture for Auric, Muriel's love interest. As for Muriel, we'd need someone like Buffy,a demon ass kicking girly-girl. Who she is doesn't matter, because honestly, our eyes would be riveted on Ian. LOL.























Lucifer's Daughter by Eve Langlais.

Hi, I'm Muriel, the only white sheep in a sea of black ones, and a virgin to boot. I am determined to wait for love, but my dad, more commonly known as Lucifer, just wants me to stop being an embarrassment. I'm hoping the hunk that I met in my bar will turn out to be the one–just looking at him makes my insides melt like marshmallows over the coals of hell, but trusting is hard when it seems everyone I get close to ends up trying to kill me.

Not only am I dealing with an extreme case of lust, there's a new threat in hell, one my dad says to ignore. Something easier said than done since it seems everywhere I turn demons are trying to kill me. But I'm okay with that, because one thing I've learned being a princess of hell is that sometimes I have to grab a demon by the horns and slap it around a bit.

A rebellion in hell, demon assassins and scorching kisses, could my life get any more interesting?


Thank you Eve for joining us here today at From the Shadows !

To learn more about Eve Langlais and her books, please visit her website.

Loup Garou

As the last traces ofMy humanity recedeThoughts shift to seeking outA victim on which to feed
Changing from man to beastBecoming the Loup GarouI long to feast on fleshMy next meal may well be you.
-Loup Garou, Shadows of Myth and Legend by E.J. Stevens

Halloween Monster Giveaway at From the Shadows

Celebrating Halloween with fabulous giveaways October 1st-31st...celebrating the paranormal 365 days of the year.

Halloween is coming and E.J. has some wickedly delightful treats in store for you.  From the Shadows will be hosting numerous giveaways with a month-long Monster Giveaway ending October 31st (see below to enter). 

** Halloween Monster Giveaway **

To enter, fill out the form HERE .  You do not have to be a follower to enter.  This is a HUGE giveaway with a horde of fabulous paranormal books, eBooks, and swag.  Many giveaway items are international!  Please select which items you would like to be entered for on the form.  No tricks, but lots of treats!  Giveaway ends October 31st midnight EST.

US only Prizes:


















She Smells the Dead Prize Pack:  signed copy of She Smells the Dead, bookmarks, postcards, and one XL "I Smell Dead People" t-shirt and She Smells the Dead tote bag!


Supernatural Sleuths and Paranormal Mysteries Prize Pack:  Ghost in Trouble by Carolyn Hart, She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens (signed), Ginger High by Melissa Burmester (signed)











Victorian and Georgian Vampires Prize Pack:  Dracula in Love by Karen Essex, Jane and the Damned by Janet Mullany











Teen Vamps, Ghosts, and Weres. Oh my! (Young Adult) Prize Pack:  Love Bites: A Vampire Kisses Novel by Ellen Schreiber, She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens (signed)



HOT Vamps, Witches, and Weres. Oh my! (18+) Prize Pack:  Bitter Things by Andrew Valentine, Darkness Captured by Delilah Devlin, Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase, Blonde with a Wand by Vicki Lewis Thompson.


Paranormal Trick or Treat Swag Pack #1: Bite Me! Dark-Hunter Glow in the dark bracelet, Mystic Witch bookmark, Black Dog and Rebel Rose bookmark, She Smells the Dead bookmark, She Smells the Dead postcard, Shadows of Myth and Legend bookmark, signed Beasts of Forever card, Beasts of Forever magnet, vampire eraser, jack-o'-lantern eraser, and more!

Paranormal Trick or Treat Swag Pack #2: Bite Me! Dark-Hunter Glow in the dark bracelet, Mystic Witch bookmark, Black Dog and Rebel Rose bookmark, She Smells the Dead bookmark, She Smells the Dead postcard, Shadows of Myth and Legend bookmark, signed Beasts of Forever card, Beasts of Forever magnet, vampire eraser, jack-o'-lantern eraser, and more!

International Prizes:










Paranormal New Release:  Your choice of Paranormalcy, The Iron Daughter, The Haunted or Crescendo from the Book Depository.













eBook #1:  Just Another Paranormal Monday: Halloween Anthology
eBook #2:  She Smells the Dead by E.J. Stevens
eBook #3:  Black Dog and Rebel Rose by Danielle D. Smith
eBook #4:  Justice Incarnate by Regan Black
eBook #5:  Invasion of Justice by Regan Black
eBook #6:  Veil of Justice by Regan Black
eBook #7:  From the Ashes (novella) by Regan Black
eBook #8:  Dream Works (novella) by Regan Black
eBook #9:  Mystic Witch by Mark All
eBook #10: Beasts of Forever by Leanore Elliott

During the month of October we'll be joined by fabulous guest authors who will be sharing with us tales of chilling horror, humorous haunts, and passionate paranormal romance.  Some of the wonderful authors joining us include Eve Langlais, Keta Diablo, Shannon Delany, Lucien Black, Carolyn Hart, Krisi Keley, Quinn Keitt, Ednah Walters, Rae Lori, and Betsy Phillips.  So lovely fiends and ghouls, let's gather in the shadows for thirty-one days of paranormal fun!

Guest Author Interview: J.A. Saare

Please welcome today's guest author J.A. Saare!  J.A. Saare is the author of Crimson Moon, A Kiss Before Dying, Moon Kissed, Soft as Moonlight, Lick of Frost, Hunger Undone, and Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between.

EJ:  When did you begin writing?

JA:  I started writing in June of 2008. I was burned out of being a stay at home mom and wanted to find some kind of way to escape what had become a routine of more of the same. I found that in escaping into these worlds I created, I could make time for myself. It was an amazing adventure that quickly became an obsession.

EJ:  What brought you to the paranormal genre?

JA:   I've always been a fan of the paranormal; as far back as I can remember. There is something so exciting about creatures and characters that are not restricted in the same ways humans are. While I have started writing contemporary works recently, I will always return to the paranormal genre. It's impossible to resist, and remains one of my favorite genres to read as well.

EJ:  If you could be any paranormal or have any one supernatural talent, what would it be? Why?

JA:  I'd choose a werewolf -- definitely. Werewolves have always been my favorite creature to read about, and I would love to experience what it's like to view life through the eyes of a beast versus a woman. Of course, if I could have a supernatural talent, it would be to turn invisible. There are a lot of inventive (and mischievous) things I could do to people who aren't aware I'm plotting something right in front of them. *smile*

EJ:  Tell us why readers will enjoy your new release.

JA:  Dead, Undead, or Somewhere in Between has a little bit of everything -- a strong female protagonist, vampires, demons, action, danger. There is even a strip club and argumentative topless dancers. Of course, the flourishing romance between Rhiannon (the voice of the book) and Disco (the vampire she can't seem to stop thinking about) is what people seem to love most about the story. As well as the darkness of the work and the subplot involving vampire hearts, Rhiannon's increasingly powerful necromancy, and the cliffhanger that everyone keeps talking about.

EJ:  If your book(s) were being made into a movie, who would you cast for the leading roles? Why?

JA:   This is one of the hardest questions to answer, because the faces I picture when I'm creating my characters are usually not based off of any celebrity -- with the exception of two of them. As I was writing Crimson Moon, I pictured Chris Evans in the role of Caleb and Cam Gigandet in the role of Derek. I don't know why really, aside from they just seemed to fit.

If I absolutely had to choose an actress to portray Emma, I'd probably say Emily Browning. For Rhiannon, the closest I can come up with is Sophia Bush. I get a lot of requests for celebrities who look like Trent, Paine, and Disco, but they are literally impossible to place. Their faces, in my mind, are totally unique.






















Dead, Undead or Somewhere in Between (Rhiannon's Law, book 1) by J.A. Saare

One bad corpse can ruin your whole day. No one knows that better than Rhiannon Murphy. She left behind the flash and sass of Miami for the no-nonsense groove of New York City, eager for a clean slate and a fresh start. A bartender by trade, a loud mouth by choice, and a necromancer by chance; she managed to keep her nifty talent hidden from those around her—until now.

The deliciously good-looking vampire, Disco, knows her secret. When he strolls into her bar to solicit help investigating the mysterious disappearances of his kind from the city, Rhiannon discovers he's not the kind of person that appreciates the significance of the word no.

But in a world where vampires peddle their blood as the latest and greatest drug of choice, it's only a matter of time before the next big thing hits the market. Someone or something is killing vampires to steal their hearts, and unlike Rhiannon, this isn't their first stroll around the undead block.

Thank you J.A. for joining us here today at From the Shadows !

To learn more about J.A. Saare and her books, please visit her website.

Book Review: Crusade

 Crusade (Crusade, book 1) by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie.

The ultimate battle. The ultimate love.  For the past two years, Jenn has lived and trained at Spain's Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones. She is among the few who have pledged to defend humanity or die trying. But the vampires are gaining power, and the battle has only just begun.  Forced to return home after death takes a member of her family, Jenn discovers that San Francisco is now a vampire strong-hold. As a lone hunter apart from her team, Jenn is isolated—and at risk. She craves the company of her fighting partner, Antonio: his protection, his reassurance, his touch. But a relationship with Antonio comes with its own dangers, and the more they share of themselves, the more Jenn stands to lose.  Then Jenn is betrayed by one who was once bound to protect her, causing her to doubt all she had held as true. To survive, Jenn must find the courage to trust herself—and her heart.

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron Fey, iron-bound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her. Worse, Meghan's ...more 
Vampires have taken over the populace, first with charm and then with fear, but there are those who will not give up without a fight.  Crusade is an action-packed urban fantasy.  In the dystopian world of Crusade vampires have come forward with promises of peace and unity, but these were lies to calm the public as they slowly, insidiously worked to take over cities, governments, and the world.  Vampires are now in control of most of the planet and as their power grows their true monstrous nature is revealed.  Most humans are either too enamored by or too fearful of the vampires to fight back and so they go about their daily lives as the vampires as their new masters use them as food...or worse.  A few groups of humans have decided to fight back and have formed a small underground resistance.  Among these fighters the most revered are the Hunters who are specially trained to kill vampires.  Hunters are usually solitary fighters, but there is a group of Salamancan hunters trying to work as a team.  Will they be able to set aside their differences long enough to face the enemy together?

I recommend Crusade (Crusade, book 1) to readers of paranormal suspense, fantasy, vampire fiction, and especially to fans of urban fantasy.

Source: This book was provided by the author or publisher for honest review.


Crusade on Amazon.
Crusade on Goodreads.

Teaser Tuesdays: Linger

"I was a paper boat drifting in a massive night ocean."

 p.g 110, Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.

"I was an open wound."

 p.g 165, Linger by Maggie Stiefvater.

Linger is the second book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater.  Though the two lines that I chose this week are not from the same page, they are representative of the dark emotions that pervade the pages of Linger.

Click here to read my review of Linger.

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading . Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
Grab your current readOpen to a random pageShare two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that pageBE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!