Karen Michelle Nutt's Blog, page 102
June 16, 2011
My Love Affair with Mr. Coffee
Coffee and Writers-- Come by Amie Louellen's blog and read about the passionate love affair I've had with Mr. Coffee. lol Read the other author's joy of coffee, too.
http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/coffee-and-writers/
Don't forget to vote on the best coffee lovers' blurb. There's a chance for you to win a prize, too.
June 13, 2011
Interview with Miranda Stowe
Miranda Stowe is here today to tell us about her tantalizing new release, Caught in Heat. Let's give her a warm welcome!
***Contest: Miranda will be giving away an e-book copy of Caught in Heat. Read on and find out how you can win!
Why don't you tell the readers a little about yourself :
I'm a pretty dull girl that lives in the middle of a corn field, across the road from a cow pasture, in Kansas with my husband and daughter. To keep from going crazy of boredom, I write steamy erotic romance of the paranormal, contemporary, and suspense variety. It helps pass the time!
Without giving too much away, tell the readers about your new release, Caught in Heat. How did you come up with the idea for the story? Do you follow any shifter legends? Give us the back story.
Tag line : When her first mating heat hits, only one man can appease the ache. And that pretty much says it all!
I don't really follow in Shifter legends, sorry. The idea for this story came from an assortment of stories I've read.
In Stroke of Midnight by Sherrilyn Kenyon, the shifter heroine goes into heat the shifter hero sniffs her out. I thought that was one of the most titillating scenes I'd ever read. Years later, I still wanted to read more of them like that…so I wrote one.
The shifter hunters ideas came from one of my critique partner's stories. I loved that concept too. So I mixed and matched, and changed things, and asked what if, until I had a shifter falling in love with a hunter, which I've never seen anywhere before. From all that, Caught in Heat was born.
Shaw Griffin is the hero of your tale who wants to take out the entire shape shifting race. Besides his obvious grudge, what kind of man is he? What is his first impression when he meets Riley Bane?
When Shaw first sees Riley, she's in human form, so he thinks he just caught a human in his trap. But then he sees her try to shift into her animal and realizes the truth. From then on, he wants to hate her, because he hates all shifters on principle—they called his family, after all—but he's too fascinated and ends up only wanting to love her.
He's a pretty intense, protective guy. When he learns he's been wrong about something some of the beliefs he'd had for for fifteen years, though, it's a big wake up call.
Tell us a little about your heroine. Does she like humans? What is her first impression of Shaw?
Riley's father was fully human, so she's only half shifter herself. But she grew up in a shifter's environment, so pretty much the only humans she knows about are hunters, like Shaw, who kill her kind. Still, it's that human side of her that makes her seek out a haven when her heat approaches. She doesn't want to fall prey to her animal instincts just because her hormones are a little out of whack—okay, a lot out of whack!
Since Shaw is a hunter, she's initially afraid of him, but she's also so desperate, it doesn't seem to matter what he is, as long as he helps her through her misery, which is what he does.
Will this story be part of a series, if so how many books will there be and will the reader need to read them in order?
Caught in Heat is Book One in my Half-Breed Shifter series. Book Two, Dreams of Wolf, sold to Cobblestone and will be available one of these months. DOW is about the nanny to Shaw and Riley's triplets (which are born about nine-months after Caught in Heat plays out). Someday I plan to complete stories for the triplets themselves.
Do you have a favorite reference book or favorite website?
Charotte Dillon's Resources for Romance Writers is always a helpful place to visit. http://www.charlottedillon.com/WritingRomance.html.
What are your current projects and works in progress?
While ideas for Shaw and Riley's children are forming in my head, I'm working on an erotic romantic suspense series called The Snatcher Series. Book One, Taken by a Killer, recently sold to Liquid Silver Books.
Tell the readers where they can find you:
Website & Blog : http://mirandastowe.blogspot.com/
GoodReads : http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4741738.Miranda_Stowe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Miranda-Stowe/100002055561651
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/mirandastowebks
Is there anything else you'd like to tell the readers?
Thanks so much for having me here.
***Contest: Leave a comment or ask Miranda question and you'll be entered in the drawing. It's that easy!
Excerpt:
She would not let the fever consume her. She'd prevail. She'd find the sanctuary and—
The ground under her hind leg gave way. Riley twisted to compensate and pull herself free of the hole, but sharp teeth clamped around her ankle, biting all the way to the bone.
She howled. Her earsplitting yet scratchy cry that pierced the night could no doubt be heard by every predator within a five-mile radius. Not that she cared. The agony was brutal.
As her body went into distress, she shifted into her natural shape, and the hairy paw caught in the trap turned into a smooth, human female foot. Naked, drenched in sweat, and panting, she curled into the fetal position until she could focus past the pain.
She needed to free herself and escape as quickly as possible before every curious creature in the forest found her exposed and vulnerable. And ripe for the feasting. She tried to shift back into her animal, gritting her teeth and straining, but it was useless. The pain immobilized her.
The only good thing about remaining human was that she had fingers that worked.
She reached down in the dark, fumbling for a latch to release the spring. Moaning as each move dug the razors deeper into her ankle, she patted the cold metal trap until she found a hinge. Her fingers investigated the area. When she discovered a padlock preventing her from pulling the metal jaws apart, she whimpered, fear clogging her windpipe. This was no simple animal trap. It had been specifically designed to catch and keep prey with a functioning brain and working fingers.
Prey like her.
Someone was hunting shapeshifters. And they'd caught one.
Thank you so much for being here today and sharing your new shifter story with us! Karen :)
June 10, 2011
Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award!
#1 Rule for my nomination is to thank the lovely Mel Teshco for the wonderful Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award! Thank You!!!
Now for part 2. All I have to do is share seven random facts about myself. Here we go:
~ I love to watch old movies
~ My first published book was a coloring book/story for a dental office. The title--what else: "Meet the Dentist"
~ I love to wear T-shirts, jeans and flip flops
~ I love animals and have a houseful to prove it. For years my birthday wish was for my parents to give me a Cheetah. (It was probably good that this birthday wish didn't come true. lol)
~ I have three children, two girls and one boy ages: 23, 19 and 17.
~I love non-fat lattes
~ My favorite color is green
Okay, now I need to pass this award onto ten deserving blog victims... I mean buddies who may or may not like to participate.
In no particular order these are:
Emma Lai: http://emmalaiwrites.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Jakes: http://www.authorjenniferjakes.blogsp...
Laura Kaye: http://laurakayeauthor.blogspot.com/
Cate Masters: http://catemasters.blogspot.com/
Rebecca Vickery: http://rebeccajvickery.blogspot.com/
Amie Louellen: http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/
Linda Kage: http://www.lindakage.com/index.html
June 7, 2011
We're at Petticoats and Pistols!
Come by Petticoats and Pistols on Wednesday, June 8th to find out more about A Western Saga anthology! There will be two copies of it given away to two lucky winners. It could be you!!
http://petticoatsandpistols.com/
June 6, 2011
Interview with Sarah McNeal
Sarah McNeal is the author of memorable characters you're sure to fall in love with. Let's give Sarah a warm welcome!
***Contest info at the end of the interview. Enjoy!
Tell the readers a little about yourself:
I'm a published writer of contemporary, fantasy and time travel/historical romances. I'm currently writing a series of musical instrument stories inspired by my love of music. You can find my novels at Amira Press and Victory Tales Press/Western Trail Blazer line.
Without giving too much away, tell the readers about your new release, Hamonica Joe's Reluctant Bride. Is this a series? If so, how many books will there be?
It's about a woman with a chaotic childhood longing for a better life, who falls into the past and finds a man full of secrets and a dark history—and she's married to him.
I didn't intend to write a sequel when I started out but I fell in love with the secondary character, a young man named Banjo, who was raised in a brothel and on his own by the age of ten. I am working on Banjo's story right now. Then I'm going to let it go.
Joseph Wilding is the hero of your tale. What kind of man is he? When Lola takes Callie's place, what is Joseph's first impression of her? Does he notice the change right away?
Joe Wilding has had his share of knocks. He believes he is responsible for his younger brother's death and feels that his father wishes it were him instead of his brother who died. He pretends to be a veterinarian instead of a medical doctor, afraid he will make the same mistakes.
Joe doesn't believe that Lola is who she claims to be. He believes she is the disreputable, Callie McGraw. Lola likes animals, treats people fairly and doesn't try to steal him blind so, yeah, he notices there are some differences but he doesn't trust her worth spit. He thinks Callie is pretending to be nice because she's up to no good. It will take something irrefutable for him believe that Lola is who she claims to be.
Tell us a little about Lola. How did she find herself in 1910? What is her first impression of Joseph?
Lola's father died when she was young and her life went rapidly downhill after that. Her mother succumbs to grief by using drugs and alcohol. Moving from one ratty trailer park to another, often without electricity or food, her mother finally overdoses leaving Lola on her own barely out of high school. Determined to rise above the shame and deprivation of her life, Lola works her way through college bartending in the hope of becoming a lawyer. Just when she thinks she has finally caught a break upon inheriting a rundown plantation, she ends up falling into a mysterious old trunk right into 1910 and just married to a complete stranger.
Lola doesn't like Joe one bit. Very frankly, she thinks he's an arrogant jackass. But she also sees his underlying sorrow. When he saves his dog's life and, later, Banjo's life, she quickly sees there is a kinder, gentler Joe than she first imagined.
If you could time travel to any century, where would you go and why?
I have a complete fascination for the early years of the twentieth century from 1900-1940. Suddenly America went from frontier towns and horses to automobiles, electricity and motion pictures. It has been said by historians that the happiest time in American history was from 1910 to 1915.
Do you have a favorite reference book or favorite website?
Although I have several wonderful reference books, my favorite is Remember When a book about the many changes that took place in America and the world from 1900-1940. Every page is filled with illustrations and photographs of those years. It covers everything from big industrial changes to social evolution. Women went from long hair and dresses to short skirts and bobbed hair, smoking cigarettes and, I'd just like to mention the vote. Believe it or not, Wyoming was the first state in the Union to pass into law the right for women to vote. Now there's a state to be proud of. That is why I decided to make it the state where Harmonica Joe's Reluctant Bride takes place.
What are your current projects and works in progress?
I am presently deep into writing Banjo's story. Banjo, as I mentioned earlier, was the sixteen year old abandoned boy in Harmonica Joe's Reluctant Bride. He drank liquor, smoked cigars, cussed and learned everything the soiled doves in the brothel could teach him about the art of pleasing a woman. But Banjo also has a talent for inventing mechanical wonders and wants to prove himself worthy of his childhood friend, Matilda Rose O'Leary.
Tell the readers where they can find you:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sweetnsexydivas/
http://sweetnsexydivas.blogspot.com/?zx=a12b0cc920eac2f
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?&new_box_added_id=7100654162#
http://moonlightromanceauthors.blogspot.com/?zx=e8f0512666a5c2c
http://pasttheprint.blogspot.com/
Is there anything else you'd like to tell the readers?
Readers are the most important people on the planet for authors. I always appreciate their input, likes and dislikes. If readers don't like your work, you're doomed. Another thing I feel is important for readers to know is that they have power and should be respected. I hate to see it when a reader compliments an author and the author ignores them. Who do they think is buying their books? So readers, let your voices be heard.
*** Contest: Answer this question: If you could time travel, where would you want to visit?
Sarah will pick one lucky winner for the drawing. Winner's choice of either her time travel historical (1927), The Violin or her contemporary (the only one she's ever written), Bitter Notes.
Don't forget to leave your email address so Sarah may contact you if you should win! Good Luck!
Blurb for Hamonica Joe's Reluctant Bride
A haunted house, a trunk and a date with destiny.
Lola Barton discovers a warp in time in an old trunk when she falls into 1910. She finds herself married to Joseph Wilding, a stranger shadowed by secrets. Mistaken for Callie McGraw, a thief and a woman of ill repute, Lola finds her life is threatened by a scoundrel. Joe stands between her and certain death. With danger threatening all around and secrets keeping them apart, can Joe and Lola find their destiny together? Or will time and circumstance forever divide them?
Excerpt:
With a raised brow, he stared at her for a moment as if scrutinizing her thoughts. "You sure are talking peculiar." He pulled her toward the door, speaking to her as she tried to keep up with his long strides and trying in vain to lock her knees and resist his grip on her. "Weston Taylor isn't going to give up trying to get his money back, Callie. He's mean and persistent. What did you take it for in the first place? You know how much his money means to him, like a bible to a preacher. I'm sure it means even more to the innocent, hard working people he took it from on the train."
He gave her a stern look and added, "You know he killed a six-year-old girl and her mother who resisted when he demanded her wedding ring. Shot them dead on the spot, without a drop of remorse, just turned his back and walked away as they lay bleeding to death on the floor."
The news that Weston Taylor was capable of killing a young woman and a child made the blood freeze in Lola's veins. She knew now that her life stood in peril just as Harmonica Joe had said. What was she to do now? Where could she find refuge? Lola resisted against the darkening tide pulling her out to a vast and deep ocean of indescribable dangers. Where did he plan to take her? In her mind, she envisioned a remote forest where no one would hear her screams. She remembered Oprah Winfrey's warning on her show about women and self-defense--Never let them take you to the second location.
Why did he keep calling her Callie? How many Callies were there in her time or this? Not many to be sure. Funny, Callie was her ancestral aunt's name. A little thought pricked the back of her brain. Could she have fallen into her Great-great-aunt Callie's life? How was that even possible? Well, here she was in some other time zone so that made most anything possible. Her mind went fuzzy. She would have to sort this out later.
In the meantime, she forced her thoughts into her present situation. Even though her nerves shrieked for her to resist as he pulled her closer and closer to the door and the great unknown, she summoned all her courage to pretend a boldness she did not feel. "That's not my name. It's Lola. Why would you want to marry me? I've never seen you before in my life. Who is Weston? And, by the way, Mister Know-It-All, I didn't take anybody's money. If I had, I would have bought a ticket out of this nightmare and gone back to L.A. on the first plane out of here."
A quizzical brow lifted and a grin flickered across his sensual lips. "L.A.? Plane? I don't know what you're jawing about but I can tell you right now, that Weston isn't going to let you go without getting his money back. I would think you would know that by now after all the times he's beaten you and threatened to kill you. You'll be safer if you stick with me."
His smile displayed sparkling white teeth. "Besides, I won you from him in a poker game. That card in your hand, Queen of Diamonds, was the winning card. I'd treasure it forever if I were you."
Available at Western Trail Blazer Novels
http://westerntrailblazer.yolasite.com/online-store.php
Available at Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble and other online bookstores
Also available in print
May 30, 2011
Interview with Laura Kaye
Laura Kaye is a published author of paranormal, contemporary and
erotic romances. Her heartfelt stories are all about the desire to
b
elong. Let's give her a warm welcome!
*** Laura is running a contest. Make sure to read the details at the end of the interview to find out how to e
nter. Good luck!
Laura, why don't you start with telling the readers a little about yourself :
I grew up amidst family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses, cementing my life-long fascination with the supernatural. Though an avid fiction writer as a teenager, a career as a historian took me in other directions until recently. Now that my inner muse has awakened, I'm constantly creating new story ideas! I li
ve in Maryland with my husband, two daughters, and bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.
Tell the readers about your new release, Hearts in Darkness.
Hearts in Darkness is a contemporary romance about two strangers who find acceptance and dare to find love while trapped in a pitch-black elevator. Here's the blurb:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
and ther
efore is winged Cupid painted blind.
~William Shakespeare
Makenna James thinks her day can't get any worse, 
until she finds herself stuck in a pitch-black elevator with a complete stranger. Distracted by a phone call and juggling too much stuff, the pin-striped accountant caught only a glimpse of a dragon tattoo on his hand before the lights went out.
Caden Grayson is amused when a redhead literally falls at his feet. His amusement turns to panic when the power fails. Despite his piercings, tats, and vicious scar, he's terrified of the dark and confined spaces. Now, he's trapped in his own worst nightmare.
To fight fear, they must both reach out and open up. With no preconceived notions based on looks to hold them back, they discover just how much they have in common. In the warming darkness, attraction grows and sparks fly, but will they feel the same when the lights come back on?
What inspired the story?
Hearts in Darkness was an exercise in procrastination! I was in the middle of writing a women's fiction novel that was not cooperating (now completed), and my brain's most pronounced form of procrastination is generating new plot bunnies. This was when Hearts came to mind. I like to ask 'what if' questions to come up with new ideas, and this particular what if question was inspired by the fact the elevator in my building frequently breaks down. I work in a male-dominated environment, too, so… *grins*
Can you tell the readers what kind of woman Makenna James is? What is her first impression when the lights go out in the elevator and she's alone with a total stranger?
Makenna James is a smart, compassionate woman with a big heart. She grew up in a household of men and works among mostly men, so she's come to think of herself as 'just one of the guys.' Her very first impression of the stranger in the elevator was that he's a Good Samaritan (her Good Sam) because he holds the elevator door for her as she's running down the hall to catch it and fumbling her belongings. It's been such a bad day for her that, when the power fails, all Makenna can do is laugh. So her initial feeling in the darkness is one of embarrassment, because she's trying to pull herself out of her hysterics and wondering what the other person must be thinking of her:
Bracing herself as she tried to calm down, she used her free hand to wipe away tear s and fan the heat crawling up her face as she remembered Good Sam was in there with her.
Oh God. He probably thinks I'm a complete lunatic.
"Sorry, sorry," she finally choked out as the laughs turned into occasional chuckle s. Now she was laughing at herself.
Good Sam didn't reply.
"Um, hello? You still with me?"
"Yeah, I'm here. You okay?" His voice resonated in the confined space, surrounded her.
"Um, yeah. I have no idea." She brushed her hair back off her face and shook her head.
The low sound of his chuckle made her feel a little less ridiculous. "That bad, huh?"
"The worst," Makenna said and sighed.
The conversation puts her at ease, as does his awkward apology when he accidentally kicks her as he sits down, so she doesn't feel she has anything to fear.
What kind of man is Caden Grayson? What is his first impression of Makenna when she falls at his feet? What are his first thoughts when the lights go out?
Caden Grayson is a damaged soul, on the inside and out. His survival of a tragic childhood accident that killed people he cared about leads him to want to both help others in similar situations, thus his job as an EMT, and protect himself from the kinds of emotional connections that could cause that kind of pain again. So, his appearance is a bit rough and edgy, and his reclusive nature have left him a bit socially awkward.
His first impression of Makenna is amusement:
Caden Grayson tried not to chuckle at the frazzled redhead careening towards the elevat or. Why did women carry so many bags anyway? If it didn't fit in the pockets of his worn-soft jeans, he didn't carry it.
As the woman reached down to scoop up her phone—another thing Caden refused to carry unless he was on call—he found himself mesmerized by the way her hair tumbled over her shoulder in a long waterfall of soft, wavy red.
His second impression is a bit more interesting:
Red reached in front of him to press a button. Caden almost laughed when she punched it at least five times. But the laughter died in his throat when he caught the scent of her shampoo. One of the things he loved about women: their hair always smelled like flowers. And that scent, combined with the redness and the softness and the waviness…Caden shoved his hands in his jeans pockets to keep from running his fingers through the thick mass of her hair. But, Christ, how he wanted to, just once.
When the lights go out, it trips the anxiety Caden has struggled with since the accident:
And then Red disappeared, along with everything else, as the elevator jerked to a stop and the lights went out.
Caden gasped and stumbled back into the corner of the elevator. Clenching his eyes, he lowered his head into his hands and counted backwards from ten, trying to remember his breathing techniques, trying to keep from flipping the fuck out.
The confined space of the elevator was one thing—years of therapy had gotten him past that. Mostly. But confined spaces with no lights? No way. The pounding of his heart and tightness in his chest told him that was a complete fucking deal breaker.
I love the book cover. Who is the cover artist? Was this how you imagined the book cover would look?
I am in total love with my cover, too! It's the work of the brilliant Tricia Schmitt, who is a freelance cover artist with a real up-and-coming career. It's the feel I imagined, but I was totally confounded about what the cover should be since so much of the story takes place in total darkness (I won't say how much!). I could not be happier with this cover. Of the three I've gotten so far, it's bar far my favorite.
Do you have a favorite reference book or website?
I have found Susan Bell's The Artful Edit very useful and it's shaped my revision process, for sure.
What are your current projects and works in progress?
Happily! The biggest thing I might mention is that I actually have another recent release, my debut paranormal romance, Forever Freed. Forever Freed was the book I actually wrote first and sold first, though Hearts in Darkness released a month earlier. Forever Freed is about a reclusive emphatic vampire who falls in love with a woman he planned to kill and her young daughter, then must fight his ancient grief, bloodlust, lie by omission, and an old vampire rival who thr
eatens everything he holds dear. Here's the blurb:
My heart may not beat, but that doesn't mean it's not broken.
After an isolated century mourning the murder of my long-ago family, I crave the irresistible scents of joy and love that radiate from my new neighbors, a single mother and her young daughter. I'm starved for their blood, and for the healing respite from my ancient grief that will accompany drinking down their life-giving emotions. Now to lure them in.
But they surprise me. Little Olivia accepts me without fear or reservation—talking, smiling, offering innocent affection that tugs at my long-lost humanity. Her mother, Samantha, seeks me out when she should stay away, offering sweet friendsh
ip, and calling to the forgotten man in me. They lure me in.
Aw, Dio, Lucien, run and spare them while you can…
Also in the works are two other manuscripts I've sold and will be released in 2011: Just Gotta Say is a contemporary erotic romance that will release late this summer from Decadent Publishing, and North of Need is the first in a four-book fantasy romance series based on the Anemoi (directional wind gods the Greeks associated with the seasons), forthcoming from Entangled Publishing in November. My current WIP is a commercial women's fiction novel tentatively titled The Fantasy Life of a Middle-Aged Wife. I'm in final revisions on that with hopes of querying in June.
They all sound fantastic, too. I have to say the vampire tale has me intrigued. I love paranormal romances. :)
Tell the readers where they can find you:
Find Laura on the interwebz:
Website: http://www.LauraKayeAuthor.com
Blog: http://laurakayeauthor.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/laurakayeauthor
Twitter: @laurakayeauthor
Is there anything else you'd like to tell the readers?
Just a great big thanks! I think of my books as a partnership between myself and my readers, and I so value their readership and support!
BUY LINKS FOR HEARTS IN DARKNESS (ebook):
Publisher: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_133&products_id=4467
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Hearts-In-Darkness-ebook/dp/B004XJ4WK8/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1
BUY LINKS FOR FOREVER FREED (print and ebook):
Publisher: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4507
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Forever-Freed-ebook/dp/B0051BJ0CM/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_2
*****GIVEAWAY: Choice of one of these two ebooks for one commenter who leaves Laura a question and their email address!
Since I excerpted from Hearts in Darkness while answering the questions, here's a short excerpt from Forever Freed:
Finally I grabbed my phone and started typing: "Are you up?"
Several minutes passed without a response. Samantha was either still asleep or in the shower. I growled my impatience. My phone beeped.
Yes! What are you doing?
"Trying to restrain myself from coming over there and grabbing you so we can leave now."
Restraint is overrated.
I agreed. Moments later, I stood outside her bedroom window with several small stones I'd found on the curb in front of my house. I tossed the first one up. It clicked against the glass. I tossed three more before Samantha's face appeared at the window.
She lifted the sash with a wide grin. "What are you doing?"
"I couldn't wait to see you."
Her wet hair clung to her face and shoulders. I swallowed hard at the picture of her glistening skin. Her scent was sweet and clean. Her love warmed me.
"Me either. But I want to have breakfast with Ollie, and she won't wake up for another half hour at least. So you have to be patient a little while longer."
"I thought restraint was overrated."
She smiled and bit her bottom lip. "It is. But, in this situation, it's necessary. Now, go away so I can finish getting ready so we can leave right after breakfast." She blew me a kiss and pushed the sash back down.
"Sam!" I said loud enough for her to hear but hopefully not loud enough to disturb her neighbors.
"What?" she whispered loudly as she pushed it back up a little.
"I love you."
"I love you, too. Now go home so I can get dressed!" She lowered the sash, then flattened her palm against the window in a gesture that bid me both good-bye and stay close.
May 23, 2011
Can Villains Be Heroes?
What could I do, I had to find a way to make him a hero.
Come by and see how you can win the bad boy for yourself. :)
http://laurakayeauthor.blogspot.com/2...
Karen Michelle Nutt
http://www.kmnbooks.com
http://kmnbooks.blogspot.com
Interview with Marc Vun Kannon
Loose yourself in one of Marc Vun Kannon's tales where the characters come alive and the intense action keeps you glued to the pages until the very end. Let's give Marc Vun Kannon a warm welcome.
***Contest: Marc is giving away one signed copy of St. Martin's Moon to a random commenter. So make sure you leave your email information so Marc may contact you if you should win. Good Luck!
Marc, why don't we start with you telling the readers a little about yourself :
I am a husband, father, and author, in that order. I also write computer code during the day. I build bookshelves at need, and I started a small traveling bookstore when none of the bookstores I could find would stock my book. In short, I'm a reasonable guy who occasionally experiences some unreasonable things, and then I do what I have to do to make things reasonable again. On the oddball side, I like bluegrass music, as well as Gilbert & Sullivan. The G&S might not surprise anyone. The lyrics and extraordinarily witty and hard to sing so naturally I'm drawn to them. I love to learn patter songs (such as 'I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General' or 'The Matter Patter') and Gilbert was the master of that form.
Tell the readers about your new release, St. Martin's Moon.
St. Martin's Moon is a werewolf adventure set on a lunar colony. It's the story of a man, Joseph Marquand, who retired from space service after the death of his lover on the Moon, and becomes Earth's greatest werewolf hunter. He is unwillingly recalled to duty by a werewolf attack on the Moon itself. His seemingly simple mission starts to go sideways when people on the base react to his mere 
presence, with hatred, fear, even love. Love twice over, for the spirit of his first love isn't done with him yet. Yes, Coventry Base is haunted.
What inspired the story?
I was in a bookstore, checking out titles, and I came across a story called 'Blood Moon', and I immediately thought "Wow, a werewolf attack on a lunar colony. Great!" Of course it was no such thing, but the second thought I had was "I'm a writer. I can do that!"
But of course, that was only the beginning, and the story I set out to write is not the story I ended up writing. My genres deserted me, but before they did I had discovered a great many really cool characters, and they carried me through the rest of the way. Always trust your characters.
Tell the readers about Joseph Marquand. What kind of a man is he? What are his strengths and his weaknesses?
Joseph Marquand is an 'operator', someone who works for the governing body of the solar system, called Triple-S, for Special System Services. If you've ever read the Lensmen series by Doc Smith you'll know what kind of man he is, because only that extremely high caliber of man can be trusted with that degree of power and autonomy. Bold, decisive, clever, ruthless, yet thoughtful, generous, and with a strong sense of himself and his goals. The story begins with him at his lowest ebb, however, four years after his lover Cynthia, a/k/a Bing-Bang, was killed in a freak accident on the Moon, an event he never got over.
Without giving too much away, can you tell the readers about Marquand's curse?
In the beginning, it seems that the 'curse' is merely metaphorical, unresolved grief and all that it leads him to do. He feels himself cursed, that he has to kill people in his job as werewolf hunter, who he feels are probably innocent men and women the rest of the time. Only when he is forced to look up, forced to return to the Moon, does he realize that his curse is more real than that. It was because of this that I ultimately decided to create a new genre category to describe this book: Gothic SF. The SF is genuine, but the gothic elements are not mere SF-equivalents. SF as a genre has no room for ghosts, but Coventry Base really is haunted.
Is there a romance?
Oh, yes. The romance is the heart of the story. I hadn't originally planned it to be, my first thought was that this was a mystery/horror type of story. By the time I realized I could write in neither genre I already had Candace on the scene. The attraction and mild romantic elements were there but even then I was still thinking of them as secondary. The story convinced me of their importance by refusing to come anywhere close to a resolution without a strong role for the romance to play. Both romances, in fact, since Bing-Bang is still there. This isn't very unusual, I am a complete pantser, so I don't decide the nature of the story beforehand. I follow the logic of the characters wherever it leads.
Is this story part of a series? If so, how many books will there be?
It was not intended to be, but I have had some people already ask for more stories with Marquand. I have a short story already written which has his son Robert Marquand as the main character. I've also had some ideas for a prequel, of his days shortly after Bing-Bang's death and how he became a werewolf hunter. The tentative title is A Box of Soul. If Marquand speaks to me more I will certainly write more. My only concern is that whatever comes next not disrupt the HEA he's already got. I hate it when that happens.
No matter how tragic the hero and heroine's lives are, I want a HEA, too.
Do you have a favorite reference book or website?
I rarely do 'The Dreaded Research'. My stories are about the characters, not the gizmos. I work those in mainly to lend verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative. For St. Martin's Moon I did as much as I have ever done, which was a few minutes googling techniques for mining lunar dust for the chemical elements needed to build a lunar colony with. For the werewolves I recommend a complete viewing of every Universal Pictures wolfman movie.
What are your current projects and works in progress?
As usual I have several projects running at any given time. Depending on my mood I'm working on either Ghostkiller, a novel about a man who kills ghosts for a living, or perhaps Tales of Uncle, the third book in my Tarkas series, which began in Unbinding the Stone and continued in A Warrior Made. I also have some short stories, vampires, SF, or both, that I work on as they decide to tell me what to write.
Tell the readers where they can find you:
My website has many links and other info about my various projects, especially those that have been completed already. For projects in the works I blog about those extensively
Marc, thank you so much for sharing your new SF/Gothic tale with us today. It sounds fantastic. I wish you the very best with all yo do.
Excerpt:
The game was afoot. The hunters hunted, the prey prayed.
Joseph Marquand ran. It was his turn. His partners waited patiently at the covert, waiting for that which they hunted to arrive, under his gentle guidance. It would not do to disappoint them.
There! The church sign, some feast day for a saint he'd never heard of, which made it perfect to remember his directions. Turn right, he thought with grim humor, and go straight. Provided their prey obliged him by going the same way, of course. Here comes the hard part.
The Runner on the team carried no weapon, nothing to slow him. Strategy ruled this night, rather than physical prowess. In this case, little glass spheres, filled with something pheromonal and potent, would keep the prey off guard and focused. One thing the Runner needed, he had to have balls. He used them now, hurling them there–and there. His prey ran faster. So did he.
At last, the home stretch. A straight alley, no windows, no ladders, nothing but the special red carpet laid out for him, and his men just beyond, in the…tangled wreckage?
Something very large and very nasty rose from the ruins of the covert. He couldn't see it clearly, didn't need to, didn't want to. His memory could fill in the details the light of the full moon mercifully hid.
Oh, Christ, two of them!
One of him in between, with no weapon.
The one ahead leapt straight up and out, landing heavily right in Marquand's path, jaws open to catch the prey running straight into them. The creature behind howled its anger, its prey being usurped by another. The one in front looked up at the greater threat.
They weren't social creatures. Nice to know, but it sucked to be the one to find out. Marquand's knees buckled.
He dove forward, right between the legs of the creature before him, onto the mat laid out for his return. Wet and slick, he slid right down into the ruined covert, even as the front beast bent double looking for its prey.
Marquand grabbed one of the fallen weapons and shot, hitting it right in the butt. Even as the beast fell, writhing, the other one leapt over it and–
Tripped. It slid forward, unprepared and unable to keep its balance on the wet mat. Marquand watched it come towards him, jaws open, as he frantically chambered a second shell and tried to get the barrel pointing in the right direction. The beast helped, catching the barrel in its mouth and swallowing it, right up to the crossbar that prevented it from getting any further. Marquand and his men couldn't chance getting bitten.
He fired.
The beast slid backward under the force of the shot, until it ran into the body of its former rival, now inert. Neither one got up.
Marquand didn't wait. If they were going to get up they would have by now. His men had to be seen to. Now. If any had survived, survival being loosely defined–well, he hated most parts of the job, the Sad Duty most of all. Its only saving grace was that if it had to be done at all, it had to be done quickly.
No. No survivors. Thank God.
What a world, what a life, what a thing to be thankful for. He despised himself in that moment. What he'd become. So much lost. "I need a vacation." Department policy agreed with him, but he didn't really, and he knew it.
He knew what he needed, what he would never have again. He'd just have to fake it. Like he always did.
* * *
The game was afoot. The hunters hunted, even the prey preyed.
She ran. It was her turn. They were four to her one, good odds. She'd almost forgotten the thrill of the chase.
There! The right shaft. A headfirst plunge, and a quick pull on her preferred level. Wouldn't do to lose her pursuers too early. Here comes the hard part.
She carried no lures, nothing that would slow her. Strategy ruled the day rather than physical prowess, and this level housed Stink Central. She ran faster.
Something very large and dark stepped out from the shadows at the intersection. She couldn't see it clearly, didn't need to, didn't want to. Dammit, two of them. They cheated!
The one ahead took up a posture designed to capture her no matter how she moved. The usual move, slow and crude. She would show them how to do it.
Her knees buckled and she dove forward, right between the legs of the creature before her. It would hurt, but only her body. Her pride mattered far more.
At the last moment, her attacker moved, closing the gap in its defense so smoothly it must have known about it all along. A trap.
Ha! We'll see who's trapped! She prepared to move, the second her body hit the ground and she had traction once again.
Her attacker fell backward, flung itself onto the hard stone. She went up, pinned between those legs. The ground flew by under her, and she crashed in an undignified heap several steps away. She didn't bother trying to escape.
Beaten.
Her attacker moved to step over her. She saw the hair, the face, and sagged even further. Bossman's right hand…everything. "Bitch."
The other woman didn't move. "Very true," she said, in the voice of doom. She turned her head, at the sound of the pounding feet of the original pursuit, finally catching up. "Which part of 'forbidden' do you not understand?"
To their credit, none even attempted a defense. She knew they never would have caught the one at her feet. If she hadn't gotten there first–
"You're lucky the boss is busy. Triple-S is coming, and we've all got bigger things to worry about than you lot. Get out of here." They drifted away from her, even the girl, her spirits dashed. Hopefully not for too long. They had her sympathy.
She knew what they needed, what none of them would ever have again. They'd just have to fake it. Like she did.
Other Tales by Marc:
May 19, 2011
Behind the Scenes of The Devil's Wolf in A Historical Collection-Sweet/Sensual
Along the Scotland and England borders, the lawless period of reivers organized their family groups to steal from their neighboring clansmen. The Maxwells were the strongest family in the Scottish West March until the Johnstones reduced their power in the sixteenth century. The feud between the Johnstones and the Maxwells was the longest and the bloodiest in history. I thought it appropriate to weave a tale around these two clans and perhaps finally bring them peace.
The Devil's Beef Tub is located north of the Scottish town of Moffat with a deep dramatic hollow formed by four hills, The Great Hill, Peat Knowe, Annanhead Hill and Ericstane Hill. The name was given by the Border Reivers who hid their stolen cattle there.
Many of the reivers had colorful names such as Archie Fire-the-Braes, Out-With-the-Sword, and Cleave-the-Crune. Two-Left-Feet would have fit right in and the Devil's Wolf seemed appropriate for the hero of this tale.
Catrione Johnstone and Waylon Maxwell are both fictional characters, but their strongholds were true homes to these clans. Lochwood Tower, the seat of the Johnstone Clan is located in upper Annandale. Unfortunately this historical pele tower is in an advanced state of ruin.
Caerlaverock is the most beautiful and interesting castle in Scotland. The remains of the castle date back to the rebuilding that took place through 1400s. They offer tours daily.
Unfortunately Lockwood Castle didn't fair so well.
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May 17, 2011
How to Create a Paranormal Realm
