Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 432

Guest Blog and Giveaway with David Monette

Why are Zombies so Darn Popular?By David Monette
               Good question. Why are they so popular? You would think that as a guy who has invested the time into writing a trilogy based on zombies, I would have a response waiting to fall from the tip of my tongue. The truth is; I kind of didn’t when I started putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, as the case may be). But as time went on, I was asked this question more and more and I’ve finally been dragged, kicking and screaming, into thinking it over. So here it is. It should be interesting… or at least moderately amusing.  
               To start with, I think there are two things involved in the modern concept of zombies that makes them so popular in our society. The first is the idea of zombies themselves, and the ancient human motivator that these monsters have always embodied since someone first dreamed them up: our fear of the unknown- which in this case, boils down to our fear of death. This fear is the driving force behind so many things in our lives that we hardly recognize its existence until we actually sit down, take stock, and be brutally honest about our motivations for doing the things we do. In the case of zombies, though, it’s pretty easy to see. They’re dead, they’ve been somehow brought back to some sort of pseudo-life, and they shamble around trying to kill living people. They’ve got everything needed to scare the crap out of us: Death- oh no! Corpses- Gross! And death- oh no! Trying to kill me- Run away! Death- oh no!
Death, death, death.
All of this “death” stuff is very scary for us human creatures who are so instinctively concerned with life and living. The idea, the fear titillates us. And we love to be titillated.
               The second element to the popularity of zombies comes in the form of our fascination with the apocalypse that generally accompanies their presence. Now, let’s be fair, this fascination with the apocalypse has always been present in human societies to some degree (think Ragnarok in Norse mythology, the floods in Greek, Christian, Sumerian, etc… myth stories). Our modern experience with it is therefore nothing special, but where does it come from? Well, the answer to that is based on- you guessed it- our fear of death! All of these stories, from floods to earthquakes, to a bunch of giants coming down to smash us into bloody pulps, are ways for us to categorize, make predictable, the idea of death, of our mortality, so that we’ll feel better about the whole scary business of not having coffee or beer anymore.
               Now, if you take zombies (Death- oh no!) and the apocalypse (Death in large numbers- oh no!) and combine them, why, you get a perfect storm of fear and anxiety. But never fear. These are stories. And we are all living a story, the story of our lives. In that story, we all have a main character, the person who looks back at us in the mirror. And the main character in stories usually survives any crazy scenario nature or bad screenwriters can throw at them. So, that person in the mirror will survive! Right? That one person is the hero, they’ll be the one to live while everyone else gets swarmed by- insert your apocalyptic event. That’s how we picture it, isn’t it? And there’s nothing wrong with that. It helps us get through the day and gives us something to think about while we’re on the bus to work, or while we’re at work snapping circuits together or flipping burgers or… whatever. So go ahead zombie apocalypse, give it your worst. I’m not afraid. 



The Zombie AxiomIn the Time of the DeadBook IDavid Monette
Genre: Horror/Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Severed Press
Date of Publication: April 11, 2014
ISBN-10: 1925047717ISBN-13: 978-1925047714,ASIN: B00JM38JZYASIN:
Number of pages: 310Word Count: 113,000
Cover Artist: David Monette
Book Description:
A handful of survivors claw out a life amid the ruins of the world, all the while fighting the zombie hordes.
In Northern New York State, three uncommon allies lead one of these bands in this epic struggle as they learn both the strengths and weaknesses of their enemies… and of themselves.
Pushed to their limits and holed up on a remote lake island, life has taken on a new normality. That is until winter arrives and all hell will freeze over. For it is then that the open waters of the lake, the only barrier against the unrelenting dead, will freeze. And the monsters will come. By the thousands…
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/AXmHYK5TrSc
Available on Amazon in Paperback and eBook
About the Author:
David Monette functions as an author and illustrator from his home in Northern New York State. His highly detailed fantasy and science fiction artwork has appeared on many books, magazines, board games, and collectible cards. While receiving his MFA in illustration, his instructors reviewed his written work and strongly suggested that he combine his writing ability with his talent as an illustrator to chart his own path.  Hence, “The Zombie Axiom” was born, a compelling, terrifying story sprinkled with amazing black and white illustrations from start to finish.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaintWriteDave
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zombieaxiom
Website: http://davidmonette.com/
Blog: http://davidmonette.blogspot.com/
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7334521.David_Monette
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/David-Monette/e/B00FMX73DM
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyLnc5iH4YIC_L2TioEjt1w


June 2 Guest blogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 3 Guest PostBooks Directhttp://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/
June 4 Interview and reviewLittle Read Riding Hood www.Littlereadridinghood.com
June 5 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!   http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
June 6 reviewMama Knows Books http://mamaknowsbooks.blogspot.com
June 9 SpotlightNanna Three and Counting   http://nannaof3.blogspot.com/
June 10 SpotlightDeal Sharing Auntwww.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
June 11 SpotlightSapphyria's Book Reviews http://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
June 12 SpotlightCoffee Break www.cafebreak.co.uk
June 13 Guest blogDarkest Cravingswww.darkestcravings.blogspot.com
June 16 Guest blog and reviewThe Bookie Monster http://bookie-monster.com/
June 17 SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
June 18 Character InterviewAuthor Karen Swarthttp://authorkarenswart.blogspot.com/
June 19 SpotlightSoaring Eagle Publicitywww.soaringeaglepublicity.com
June 20 InterviewEclipse Reviewshttp://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com/
June 23 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
June 24 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
June 25 reviewMom With A Kindlehttp://momwithakindle.blogspot.com/
June 26 Guest blogBooklover Sue http://bookloversue.blogspot.com
June 26 reviewParanormal Romance and Authors That Rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
June 27 InterviewTwisted Book Junkiehttp://www.twistedbookjunkie.blogspot.com/
June 30 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
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Love and War by Suzy Knight

What I like about you (Part 3: The Men of Estoria)
            So far we have discussed the two main women of ‘Love and War’ Amelia (find the guest post here at http://sobookishly.net)and Sophia (find the guest post here at www.roxannerhoads.com) Now it’s time to discuss the men.
            Let’s start with James the bodyguard. He surprises Amelia with his good looks but wins her over by listening to her opinions. He doesn’t dismiss her as unfeminine for her hobbies of reading and debating and even teaches her to wield a sword (while shirtless! Yum yum). James is a modern sort of man, he is secure in his masculinity enough that he wants to lift Amelia up and help her reach her goals.
            Next we have Graeme, The Duke of Crestori’s son. He is the strong silent type, and he doesn’t put up with any of Sophia’s games. He hates gossip and believes in honour and duty over everything else. His family’s dukedom is the main defence against the Belvidian army, so he was raised to be a warrior. He is disciplined and not quick to share his feelings, but after a little interlude in the stables with Sophia its clear to see that he isn’t unhappy with his arranged bride.
            There’s also the Prince of Prestor; Damon. He is the second-born son of the Prestorian royal family and has been raised as the ‘back-up’ in case anything should happen to his older brother. He is Amelia’s betrothed but she begins to fall for the bodyguard he sends to keep her safe until the wedding.

            What kind of men do you love to read about? Strong and Silent? Alpha males? Nerds? Sensitive Type? Let me know in the comments!
Love and WarChronicles of EstoriaBook 1Suzy Knight
Genre: Fantasy/ Romance
Publisher: Taliesin Publishing
ASIN: B00I9Q3MYI
Number of pages: 213Word Count: just over 70,000
Cover Artist: James Caldwell
Taliesin Publishing  Amazon UK  Smashwords
Barnes and Noble   Goodreads
Book Description:
In the small kingdom of Estoria, war is brewing. Trapped between the deadly Cantarrus mountains and the volatile kingdom of Belvidia, war seems unavoidable. The time has come to announce the heir to the throne so as to give the kingdom a much needed sense of security.
Sophia has worked long and hard to become the ideal queen. She is the toast of Estorian society and is ready to marry for duty. Her twin sister Amelia is her polar opposite; clumsy and opinionated Amelia might be fluent in several languages, but she cannot curtsy without falling over.
When Amelia’s betrothal to Prince Damon is announced, Sophia feels betrayed. Amelia is shocked and becomes paranoid that her unfeminine habits will cause the prince to call off the wedding, leaving Estoria to face Belvidia alone. Things get more complicated for Amelia when she begins to develop feelings for the handsome bodyguard sent by her future husband.
Amelia must choose; will she side with her sister, do her duty and marry the prince, or will her new found interest in marrying for love ruin everything? Love, duty or family; which would you choose?

Excerpt:


The nervous princesses reached the double doors of the banquet hall. Sophia slid her arm out of Amelia’s, grabbed her hand, and squeezed it tightly. Just as suddenly as it started, the moment was over, and she reverted back to the cold and dignified princess, leaving Amelia more nervous than before.“Stand up straight, shoulders back, chin up, and smile!” hissed Sophia at her sister. The doors opened, and a servant announced their arrival. Gracefully, Sophia glided into the room, smiling at the many people who stood for their entrance as she made her way to the high table.Amelia swallowed hard as she took in the many faces staring from within the room. Biting her lip, she followed, trying to mimic her sister’s graceful walk, her smile more a grimace of concentration. The hall was full to capacity with visiting lords and ladies who had come to hear the king’s announcement. Amelia felt her stomach churn at the thought of embarrassing herself in front of all the visiting dignitaries.They sat, Sophia next to the queen and Amelia next to the king, as they always did. The hall-full of people took their seats afterward. The king then stood and raised his arms. “Welcome lords, ladies, and gentlefolk to our home on this very special evening. Before we begin our meal, there is something I wish to announce.”Around the room, people sat up straighter with anticipation. Everyone knew the girls were of age to marry. In fact, they were past the usual age for betrothal announcements. Sophia smiled indulgently, while Amelia bit her lip, hoping the man her father chose would serve the country well in these troubled times.“As you know, my wife and I have not been blessed with a son.” The queen reached for his hand and squeezed it before she rose to stand beside him. “But we do have two beautiful daughters, who have grown into very fine women.” He gestured to the two princesses on either side of himself and his queen.“I have called you here tonight to hear the betrothal announcement of my daughter, who will become queen and rule Estoria at her husband’s side after my death.” Amelia glanced at Sophia, her stomach churning as she waited to hear who her sister would be betrothed to. Sophia looked nervous about hearing her new husband’s name too, but she had prepared for this her whole life. Amelia turned her gaze to the king and queen, waiting for the inevitable announcement.“I have arranged a match with the second born prince of Prestor, Prince Damon.” The room broke into excited whispers as the lords and ladies discussed all the gossip they could remember about the prince. Sophia smiled widely, but Amelia frowned. She knew of Prince Damon. He was said to be handsome and chivalrous. He would make an excellent husband. He was a few years older—twenty-four to Sophia’s eighteen. But while Prestor was a beautiful country, it was separated from Estoria by the Cantarrus Mountains. Weren’t there more suitable choices who would be able to aid Estoria in the upcoming battle? She trusted her father’s decision, but she couldn’t say she would have made the same choice. Although, if I’m honest—that’s at least half because I want the crown for myself.The king held his hands up for silence again. “Please, everyone, join me in celebrating the betrothal of my eldest daughter, your crown princess, the beautiful Princess Amelia.” There was a roar of applause, and both Amelia and Sophia’s faces froze into identical masks of shock and horror. Amelia was dragged upward to stand beside her father. She felt like the floor had dropped away from beneath her, and she clutched at her father’s arm to support herself. The roar of the lords and ladies sounded so far away. She must have misheard. There was no way he actually meant it.“I have two daughters, and my youngest, Sophia, has also become betrothed tonight.” The king looked over at Sophia, oblivious to the taut smile on her face. The queen reached out and helped her upright.“Princess Sophia will wed Duke Anton of Crestori’s oldest son, the honorable Sir Graeme,” announced King Frederick, beaming at the crowd. He looked around the room, grinning as the shouts of encouragement for the princesses and blessings were called out for their marriages. “Now let us celebrate with a feast!” he boomed, and turned to help his queen and daughters back into their seats while the servants, who waited around the edges of the hall, dashed forward with plates towering with food and flagons of wine. Amelia felt numb. What will I do? Can I marry a man I have never met? How will he react when he realizes he was conned out of a real princess for his bride and instead gained a budding ambassador? How is Sophia going to react? Questions ran through her head, too quickly for her to consider answers for any of them. She glanced over at Sophia and flinched to see her face still frozen in a false smile.For the rest of the evening Amelia picked at her meal, smiling and nodding every time someone came forward to congratulate her. Later, when the food was cleared away, she danced with everyone who asked, though it all felt like a dream. Normally, she watched Sophia dancing, as no one was fool enough to ask her. Now, she was suddenly the most sought out woman, even though the men would surely regret risking their feet afterward.
She was so numb it was if she still sat beside her father, watching someone else get twirled around on the dance floor by various lords, dukes, and sirs. Perhaps I should always get earth-shattering news before a dance, it seems to make me less clumsy, she thought idly as she watched the room spin by.



About the Author:
Suzy Knight is an average English girl, who after completing a degree in boring business management decided to travel halfway around the world to the land of kpop and kimchi to be a teacher.
Whilst in Korea, Suzy rediscovered her passion for writing and managed to write the novel Love and War in between working at her academy and volunteering with animal rescue. Two years later and she’s back in England with her rescued Korean puppy, Panda.
Now she is working on her next novels, while training Panda to be less nervous.
Website: www.suzyknight.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuzyKnightBooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SuzyKnightbooks
Amazon Author UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B00IABE9YE


June 9 Interview and reviewDark Side of Romancewww.darksideofromance.com
June 10 InterviewCreatively Greenwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
June 11 Guest blogSo Bookishly http://sobookishly.net
June 12 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping; Nana, Mommy, & Sissy too!3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com/
June 13 SpotlightThe Book Reviewhttp://www.cluereview.blogspot.com
June 16 Guest blogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 17 SpotlightDeal Sharing Auntwww.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
June 18 SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
June 19 ReviewParanormal Romance and Authors That Rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
June 20 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com 
June 23 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
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Guest Blog and Excerpt: The Brede Chronicles by P.I. Barrington

IN PRAISE OF PASSIONByP.I. Barrington
 "Love Is A Stranger"(Written by Annie Lennox & Dave Stewart)
Love is a stranger
In an open car
To tempt you in
And drive you far away

And I want you
And I want you
And I want you so
It's an obsession

Love is a danger
Of a different kind
To take you away
And leave you far behind
And love love love
Is a dangerous drug
You have to receive it
And you still can't
Get enough of the stuff

It's savage and it's cruel
And it shines like destruction
Comes in like a flood
And it seems like religion
It's noble and it's brutal
It distorts and deranges
And it wrenches you up
And you're left like a zombie

And I want you
And I want you
And I want you so
It's an obsession

It's guilt edged
Glamorous and sleek by design
You know it's jealous by nature
False and unkind
It's hard to restrain
And it's totally cool
It touches and it teases
As you stumble in the debris

And I want you
And I want you
And I want you so
It's an obsession


Get ready. I've been thinking. Specifically I've been thinking about romance—not mine, it doesn't exist—but the genre' of romance. That led me to thinking about how I feel when I read it.  The genre' spans the heat level from sweet (barely a kiss) to scorching (graphic sex) and yet for me, at times, it isn't completely satisfying. Something is missing in my opinion. It isn't sex, it isn't infatuation and it isn't dreamy heroes and inhumanly beautiful heroines finally admitting they adore one another. So what the heck is it?
In a word: passion. Not passionate kisses, not intense looks and touches or even sex talk. Passion. That burning, crazy, rip-your-heart-out-and-stir-fry-it kind of passion. The kind of passion that makes you love the relationship as much as you love the love of your life. It is so intense it can be destructive, constructive, or just…exciting. Passionate relationships are more than just sex alone and more than that first giddy flush of attraction. Passion is when you have more to lose than your heart. Your whole being is at stake (no vamp puns intended.)
Passionate love can be explosive or repressed yet it's exactly the same. It can be accusative, jealous or sorrowful or obsessive. It can also be unkind and forgiving…over and over and over again. It's the stuff love songs are made of (hint: go to the top of the page and read the song lyrics again.) Not just song lyrics either; some of the classic love stories are insanely passionate. Wuthering Heights, Gone with the Wind, Jane Eyre are wrought with passion and much of it is repressed. For me, that's a good thing. I love understatement just as much as I love overstatement!
It's all about emotion. It's a deep, soul slaying, at times fearful emotion that can entangle you and drown you in its depths while burning your heart into curling, crispy shreds.
It can make you shout, scream, whisper in fury or weep with frustration, fear, emptiness and then turn around again and make you soar over mountaintops with wings of soul-freeing joy. But what makes it all important is that it is worthwhile. It is deep. It means something to you—both of you—and it is of priceless value.
That, for me, is the true yet often missing link in the romance genre' and while much of it is written as fantasy, lovely escapism, I yearn for that passion that makes a love story real. You might say that I take it all too seriously, that it's meant to be a fantasy, a dreamlike plane of existence but for me, deep wrenching passion, fighting or fiercely making-up, open and honest or repressed and hinted at with glances behind feathery fans, is the point of it. Passion is what keeps it all going, it's that rollercoaster that doesn't end at the first scary drop of a relationship but climbs again and again and again and drops terrifyingly down in between each hilltop. I'll take a stormy, passion infused perhaps not so happily ended after instead of a dull cottage in the forest of marriage mediocrity any time. I've told you what I perceive passion is now I'm telling you what passion isn't: boring.
Excerpt:
Very little spooked Elektra Tate but lying chained to a wall five stories below the ground did. Not that she believed in ghosts never having met one even living with the dead in her tomb house, but the rotting horror of those buried above seeped down through the ceiling in icy black liquid that ran down the walls. She twisted as far away as she could but the floor remained damp and without escape. By the time they brought her back up before Narita, Elektra did not have to be encouraged to beg for mercy. Narita drew out her verdict of pardon as long as she could to enjoy watching Elektra suffer. When she was satisfied the young woman learned her lesson to stay as far away as possible from Alekzander Brede, she pronounced the sentence served and allowed her guards to escort Elektra down and out of the building.
Elektra landed on her knees on the ancient stone cobbled sidewalks and used the wall of Narita's edifice to help herself stand. The pain, now near unbearable, shrieked when she touched the blackened and bruised flesh to anything including cloth and she struggled against the throbbing crowds to make her way toward the only place she thought to go for help.
"Please Mahmud I don't want to lose my arm. You have to help me," she stood before the self-appointed doctor of the proscribed citizens. He inspected it and then shook his head.
"I can do nothing for you," he said. "It is already too far gone by now. Even should you sit in the sun for five days it would be no help."
"I'll get you money. Whatever you want, I'll get it. Please, save my hand, please?"
He shook his head again sorrowfully.
"I can do nothing. This does not need my type of medicine. You must ask the mechanical doctors, those with science and not nature. I am sorry I cannot help you Elektra."
Crying she stood against the wall of the crooked street, thinking what she might pay to those who if they could build space machines, could build anything. She slid down the wall and sat on her haunches against it sobbing.
A shadow fell across her, changing the scorching temperature a degree. She opened her eyes and a man knelt before her. He took her arm and gently inspected it.
"I can give you a new arm and hand," he said. "But you must pay what I ask." He stared directly into her eyes. "You will have a new arm—a new hand—better than before. But you must pay the price."
"What is it you want?" Elektra asked, still gasping in pain.
"Alekzander Brede."
****


The Brede Chronicles  Book 1P. I. Barrington  
Genre: Science Fiction Romance/Adventure
Publisher: First Realm PublishingDate of Publication: June 18, 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1497340831 ISBN-10:1497340837ASIN:
Number of pages: 144              Word Count: 83,000
Cover Artist: Jared from Off the Wall Creations
Book Description:
Half-human Alekzander Brede is a law unto himself…or so he thinks. Elektra Tate, the street orphan who loves him has other ideas. When she betrays him for no apparent reason, he vows to punish her one way or another.
Taking the one thing she treasures most—their son—begins a cat and mouse relationship spanning two planets and costing possibly his life.
Elektra will stop at nothing to save her son but can she overcome Brede’s twisted idea of vengeance?
About the Author:
After an extended detour through the entertainment industry, P.I. Barrington has returned to writing fiction. Among her experience are radio air talent and the music industry. She lives in Los Angeles.
Her work includes:
Future Imperfect Trilogy (Crucifying Angel, Miraculous Deception, Final Deceit)
Inamorata Crossing/Borealis 1: A Space Opera
Isadora DayStar
The Button Hollow Chronicles: The Leaf Peeper Murders
Free stories on ReadWave.com & Wattpad.com
Visit her at http://www.pibarrington.wordpress.com 
https://twitter.com/PIBarrington


June 23 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
June 23 SpotlightBooklover Sue http://bookloversue.blogspot.com
June 24 Guest blogAnita Coxhttp://authoranitacox.wordpress.com/
June 24 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!   http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
June 25 Guest blogCloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuffcloeyk.blogspot.com
June 25 SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
June 26 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
June 26 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 27 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
June 27 SpotlightDeal Sharing Auntwww.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com
June 30 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
June 30 SpotlightCassandra M's Place http://www.cassandramsplace.com

Interview and Giveaway with Isis Sousa

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?Hi everybody at Fangtastic Books! I am an illustrator and storyteller venturing in the path of writing Dark Fiction. I am Brazilian, but been living in Norway with my best-half since 2009. I have been a fan of Fantasy and Dark Fantasy since childhood and have always had love for books. I think my very artist nature has been the biggest kicker for me to write in the Dark genre, but also names such as Bram Stoker, Poe, Mary Shelley and Ann Rice were much of an inspiration


What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?I always nurtured a fascination for the darkest aspects of life and what we do not know. Paranormal is perhaps “normal”, just that it is such a taboo to accept it that way. Regarding vampires, I prefer the classic type. I think vampires are mysterious, ominous, and romantic by nature. I also think they represent knowledge, as they have been around longer than us, mere mortals. I also like the “undead/dead” aspect of this particular archetype, for me, it adds beauty to the aesthetics.What inspired you to write this book?A dream. A weir dream I had over a decade ago, which revealed to me something terrible was about to happen – and it happened. I was in this place, which I call “Duskland” in the book. As I have experienced the atmosphere and the moods of that place, it was easy to put it in the world-building of “The Night of Elisa”. Another factor which compelled me to write the book was the dream of having my own illustrated fiction book published.
Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions?I do all of the above and some more. It will of course work differently for each character and each story. One key thing and very particular is that I go very much for the sonority of the name, as I am interested and phonetics and languages.Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?This was a tough one! *grins* I think my two favorites are the protagonists Elisa and Leonhard, because I relate a lot to their personalities and traits, and also their flaws.


What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?

It may sound strange (!) but I have two favorite scenes. The strangeness comes to where they are located in the book. The first one is in the very beginning – when Leonhard brings Elisa to his mansion and watcher her asleep. The second is in the end, the last paragraph! ^.^What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes?I have done some ‘acting’ if I can call it like that! I have mimicked the mannerisms of the characters, expressions, their accents, the way they move or walk… Such things. Of course, only when I am alone and no one can see me ^.^Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book? How does this world differ from our normal world?The world building is mainly separated in two parts: Duskland, in the “astral” and Saint Edwidges’ Hills in our physical world. Duskland is a very beautiful, cozy and charming place; however, it is very melancholic, sad and overwhelming. Saint Edwidges’ Hills is a welfare society, a small town with the development of a big city. Both will be more explored in a prequel and sequel - which will be standalone pieces, as The Night of Elisa is not a series or trilogy.

Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?Yes, all my protagonists have some of my own traits and flaws, even though we differ so much. For example, Leonhard is an artist and – highly social – when he is the mood. Elisa has a sense of concern for others around her and she is a dreamer, and go after her dreams in a simple, quiet and “undetected” way.What are your guilty pleasures in life?Paint and paint more… And food! I am a sucker for cakes, ice-cream, desserts, and chocolate – anything-chocolate! I also love hot beverages and juices…
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?I love reading in my bed ^.^ Never when I wake up, but always when I am going to sleep! I also love reading in the living-room sofa while listening to music! ^.^What can readers expect next from you?They can expect something different, that’s for sure. I have a bit unusual way of storytelling (writing- putting a book together). They can also expect genuine stories and artsy book layouts and interiors!Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?Yes, this is great!  I’d like to leave you with the first book trailer (a new one is on the way!), t doesn’t have sound, but images speak for themselves… Also 3 mini excerpts, which readers can enjoy and share if they feel like! :) Thanks immensely for this great opportunity Roxanne, and thank you reader, for taking the time!Here you can watch the book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbPkkTUhMM4  
Where to find Isis Sousa: GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6573685.Isis_Sousa
The Night of Elisa Official Blog: http://thenightofelisa.blogspot.com
The Night of Elisa Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/thenightofelisa Where to BUY “The Night of Elisa”:LULU (Illustrated Paperback – 186 pages):
http://www.lulu.com/shop/isis-sousa/the-night-of-elisa/paperback/product-21628483.htmlAmazon (Non-illustrated Kindle edition):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K3AZHUK

Smashwords (Non-illustrated Multiple e-book formats):
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/434431





1 winner will receive a prize pack containing:
1 - The Night of Elisa E-Book (Non-Illustrated)
1 - Original art (drawing) from the book, transformed into a bookmarker - signed by artist/author
1 - An A5 textured cotton paper block with 20 sheets
1 - Drawing/Sketching set with 7 pieces
5 winners will receive an ebook copy of The Night of Elisa
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Writing Gay Romance Subplots in YA Lit

Writing Gay Romance Subplots in YA lit
“[Dimitri’s] eyes were rooted on Marcus, and Marcus, standing with his side to me, was staring right back.
“Lift the net,” Dimitri said.
Marcus shrugged. “Make me.”
Dimitri’s eyes flashed. “Don’t play games with me, Marcus, I mean it.”
“Who said anything about games? Do you want them freed? Bring. It. On.”
Bam!—Dimitri appeared in front of Marcus. “Bring it on? Okay. You asked.” But instead of pushing, hitting, kicking or tackling him, Dimitri smiled, laid his arms over Marcus’s shoulders, leaned forward and kissed him. . . .”

Lethed (Guardian of the Angels, book II)

Being a firm advocate of equal rights, a proud supporter of the LGBT community, and a writer of contemporary gay fiction, it went without saying that I’d have a gay romance subplot in my Guardian of the Angels trilogy too.
Love has no boundaries; there are many different types of love stories out there in the world and I wanted to bring in that diversity into my Guardians series as well.
What is really important to me writing Marcus in Guardian of the Angels is that he is not just a walking sexuality. He’s a person. He has worries and hopes, and he cares deeply for his friends, and he struggles with the demon curse that runs through his veins. He has a past and an unknown future and he tackles many of the same moral dilemmas as Sylva and other characters in the Guardian world. He is a guy with the goal to accept and love himself, a guy who keeps fighting despite the obstacles.
Also important to me is showing how Marcus and Dimitri slowly fall in love and how they overcome the challenges that are imposed on them. I love a good happily ever after, but it certainly feels more satisfying when the characters have been tested first; have proven their love for the other, and shown us that these guys will make it through anything.
I got asked (out of curiosity) recently if I would censor my scenes that showed Marcus and Dimitri intimately more than my scenes with Sylva and Attic. Well, I intend to write a blog post about my views on sex in YA lit coming up later in this book tour, but I’ll say here that this question made me sad. Why would I censor one more than the other? Why should I? Both relationships are equally beautiful and any intimate moments stem out of love and further the story. So my answer was: no, I would not censor intimate scenes differently. That being said, my storylines are romances and not erotica so I won’t delve into pages and pages of detail. But yes, in the third book that I am currently writing, Marcus is also a viewpoint character, and there are a couple of, I believe (and hope), touching, intimate moments between them.
As well as Marcus’s subplot, I am also currently working on a spin-off novelette that features Leah and her romance with Audrey. This is set before Veined and Lethed, and it gives us a snippet of her life in the early to mid 1800s in rural Europe. The first part can be found on my website and over the next few months as I continue to work on Phoenixed, the third Guardian of the Angels book, I will be adding to her story. I very much enjoy writing about Leah—she’s a strong woman, and I can’t wait to write the big “meet” scene where she first sees Audrey!
Thank you, Fang-tastic Books for hosting me here on your blog. And thank you all for reading! I’d love to hear your thoughts on gay romance subplots in YA lit. 
VeinedGuardians of the AngelsBook IAnyta Sunday
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
ASIN: B005J1L41Y
Number of pages: 446 pages
Word Count: 85000 words
Cover Artist: Caroline Wimmer Streiflicht Fotografie
Book Description:
It could be worse for Sylva Lark. She could be dead. A coma was nothing to that. Or her family moving across country for the treatment, leaving her with a big blue mark on her back.
She can handle it.
Mostly.
Except the mark glows and tingles, especially whenever transition helper Atticus Plot (Attic) is close by. She suspects he’s hiding something, and when she stumbles across a torn body bearing the same spiral marking as her own, that suspicion is confirmed.
After a few shaves with death, the truth finally comes out and the battles begin.
But not all her fights are external; her biggest one is the decision she has to make between doing the right thing for the world and giving up her beloved family for good.

Available at Amazon   Smashwords  and All Romance Ebooks
LethedGuardians of the AngelsBook IIAnyta Sunday
Genre: YA Paranormal Romance
ASIN: BOOB8CKHRK
Number of pages: 418 pagesWord Count: 75000 words
Cover Artist: Caroline Wimmer Streiflicht Fotografie
Book Description:
Sylva Lark made her choice.
Now she has to adjust to Guardian life. Training. Killing demons. Controlling her powers.
If only giving up her family wouldn’t hurt so damn much, . . . and if there wasn’t a strange attraction to the betrothed Prince Atticus she just met . . .
Amongst murder and mayhem, and toeing an unclear line between right and wrong, Sylva and her fellow Guardians must find a way to secure Eirene.
But it’s not easy going up against underworld Queen Furie when those on Sylva’s side are hiding secrets . . .
Will they succeed in protecting the home of the angels? Or will they fail, submitting the heavens to the fate of Furie?
And will Sylva and Attic ever remember what they mean to each other?
Or will they stay forever Lethed?
Available at Amazon  Smashwords and All Romance Ebooks
About the Author:
A born and raised New Zealander, Anyta Sunday has been exploring the literary world since she started reading Roald Dahl as a kid. Inspired, stories have been piling up in her head ever since. Fast forward to her mid-twenties and jump a few countries (Germany, America, and back again), and she started putting pen to paper. When she’s not writing or chasing her kid around, she’s reading, hiking, watching a Joss Whedon series, attempting pilates, or curling up with her two cats. Updates on her projects can be found at anytasunday.com.
Website: www.anytasunday.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/anytasunday
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anytasunday
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5155341.Anyta_Sunday

June 9 Guest Post Mythical Bookshttp://www.mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
 June 9 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too!  http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
June 10 SpotlightMila Ramoswww.jademystique.blogspot.com
June 11 Spotlight and reviewPenny For Them...http://pennyforthemuk.com/search/label/tour
June 12 SpotlightMom With A Kindlehttp://momwithakindle.blogspot.com/
June 13 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 16 Guest blog and reviewSabrina's Paranormal Palacehttp://sabrinasparanormalpalace.blogspot.com/
June 17 InterviewThe Wormholehttp://wormyhole.blogspot.com/
June 18 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativleygreen.blogspot.com
June 19 SpotlightMy Paranormal Book Review    http://myparanormalbookreview.blogspot.com/
 June 20 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
June 23 Guest blogThe Reader's Hollow http://thereadershollow.wordpress.com
June 24 Top Ten ListDarkest Cravingswww.darkestcravings.blogspot.com
June 25 Guest blogSun Mountain Reviewshttp://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com
June 26 Spotlight Sapphyria's Book Reviewshttp://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
June 27 InterviewEclipse Reviewshttp://totaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com/
June 30 Spotlight and reviewMichelle's Paranormal Vault of Bookshttp://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com
July 1 SpotlightMadwoman with a Writing Boxhttp://maravalderran.blogspot.com
July 2 SpotlightPressed Leaf Publishinghttp://benjaminmctish.blogspot.com
July 3 ReviewParanormal Romance and Authors that rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
July 4 Interview and reviewhappy tails and tales http://magluvsya03.wordpress.com
July 7 SpotlightBooks Directhttp://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/
July 7 SpotlightDeal Sharing Auntwww.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com


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Confessions of a Sex Fiend Series by Rayven Godchild

Confessions
There’s something captivating and alluring about confessions. Imagine you and your best friend sitting down on the couch, ready to munch on popcorn and watch some ridiculous movie rated B for barf (but a must see because you both love it). Then he - or she - turns to you with eyes glistening from the tears ready to tumble down their cheeks. They say these words, “I have something to tell you.”
Well…
Popcorn and movie be damned. You’re apt to want to know what in the world they have to say. What do they have to share, to confess to you? Until they tell you what it is, your heart rattles anxiously in your chest, breaths shallow from anticipation…the need to know.
That was the thrill of writing each of Chancellor’s confessions. His character grew quickly from a seed planted in my mind during Indie Romance Con 2013, developing into a man full grown with some interesting sexual escapades to share.
Each story, each with its own theme, was a joy to write. As much as I love writing, I must admit that penning Chancellor’s confessions was so much fun.

Readers can discover the confession-fun as well by getting their copy of Confessions of a Sex Fiend boxed set. With Tasting Cherry, let the steamy fun begin.
Confessions of a Sex Fiend SeriesBoxed SetRayven Godchild
Book Description:
On the path to earning his degree in mechanical engineering, Chancellor Baltimore, geek-extraordinaire, experiences a detour of a lifetime. He discovers his inner sex fiend and an incurable yearning to be the fantasy, bring the pain, and ensure unbridled pleasure for his clients. But even he experiences a bump in the road. 
In Tasting Cherry, everyone has a first time.
In A View to Ecstasy, it’s so much more fun when there’s more than two in the tango.
In Retreat Bound, there’s pleasure in the pain.
And in Bound to Collide, Chancellor experiences a collision course that is inevitable.
Let’s enjoy these tales of a sex fiend as Chancellor continues to break the rule that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Shhhhh! Don’t tell anyone. They will be our little secrets…
Book trailer link: http://youtu.be/4IOSgOYpvY8Music by Kevin MacLeod

Smashwords | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA


Excerpts:
Tasting Cherry ~
I grabbed Cherry by the arms and pulled her close. I hadn’t suspected those details. Honestly.I thought back again to my first time with Denise. She spent hours gently nudging me from the awkward, nervous nipple sucker to a skilled clit-manipulator, G-spot hunter, and dick-dunker.Still wrapped in my arms, I led Cherry to the kitchen table. “You probably feel ashamed, right?”She nodded.“Embarrassed, too, huh?”She nodded and sniffled. “My mom didn’t talk to me for days. I wanted her to understand I was just curious, you know. I’ve been this goody-two-shoes girl all my life. I mean, it was just a cucumber. Then I thought, you know, some guys have their first time with professionals. Why can’t I? I just want to know…to feel…be filled…” Her breath hitched and she shook within my hold.So close in each other’s space, I breathed in her heady scent of fresh berries. Something else teased my nose; a light sweet vanilla that damn near made my mouth water. I wedged my finger under her chin and tilted her face to mine. I looked into those pools of green innocence as they stared back at me, pleading with me to take the ignorance away, to turn the curiosity into fulfillment.Refusing wasn’t even an option. Every part of me amped up to… Blow. Her. Fucking. Mind.Leaning forward, I grazed my lips across hers, whispering, “Don’t ever be ashamed or embarrassed by your sexuality.” I cupped a hand to the back her neck, feeling shivers trail through her as I nibbled her ear and whispered again. “Mr. Baltimore’s going to take it all away, Cherry-baby.”She sucked a breath through her teeth. “Please…take it…please…”
A View to Ecstasy ~
“Do you need to stop?” I asked.“Hell no, Baltimore,” Marie answered. Sugary-sweet Snickerdoodle breath filled the space between us. “I can still move. I’m not done until you both break me in two.” A lust-filled grin kissed her lips. She flicked her tongue at me.I flipped her around so she faced her husband. Her nipples jutted firm, dark and delicious like chocolate chunks, body ready for another rough fuck. I tore the condom wrapping with my teeth, pushing the latex free from the bottom of the package. With one-handed-experience, I rolled my helmet on, gripped Marie by the hips, and held her high above my cock. After one good bounce on the bed, I was thrusting upward into her leaking entrance.She tossed her head back in ecstasy, pleading for me to fuck her harder.
Retreat Bound ~
“You’re late, Mallory.” His voice, so beautiful to my ears in that just-above-a-baritone kind of vibe, signaled disappointment. I caught his gaze then cast my look downward. His smoky dark eyes were lust-filled and held a glint of mischief. “I’m sorry, Sir. It won’t happen again.”I watched his shadow wave in dismissal of my words. “It will. You have certain obligations.” He paused, his voice husky as he spoke again. “But you know what this means.”My nipples hardened and ached in anticipation. The first few times he’d practiced punishing me at my place, it went so well a couple of the neighbors thought something bad was happening. They had no clue my screams of pain were expressions of blissed out pleasure. Unlike my last Dom, Master Baltimore didn’t like the ball gag. He said it took away the music; that hearing me vocalize the joy and pain he brought me was kin to Mozart hearing his masterpieces conducted and played to perfection. So he turned one of the empty retreat rooms into his very own playground. I’ve been coming and cumming ever since.“To me,” he commanded.I glanced back at him, stuck in place by the need seething in his eyes. The hunger…
Bound to Collide ~
Warm fingers splayed upon my back, pressed firm, crushing me to his chest with reckless abandon.  His strong arms held me so close I dared not do more than grasp a hold of him and cling for dear life.We shuffle-kissed to the bottom of the stairs. We’d barely made it up to the single curve in the stairs, before he broke the kiss, huffing out, “I can’t.”“Can’t what?” My breasts swelled in his presence. My nipples ached for his touch. I needed the full length of him drilling into the depths of my pussy. What was with the ‘can’t’?A glint shone in his eyes. I should’ve known better than to question him. “I can’t wait,” he growled. He peeled my slacks and panties off in one fell swoop. The clothes pooled in a heap at the foot of the stairs.


About the Author:
Rayven Godchild is an author of erotica/erotic romance short stories, novels and novellas. Her first published work appeared in a fit of obscurity during a tumultuous time in life. That story, Secret Lilies, will see the light of day again with a lot less stress and a lot more joy surrounding its republication in the very near future.
Currently, the Confessions of a Sex Fiend short stories are working their way out into the world, with the first one, Tasting Cherry, as Rayven’s re-debut as an author. A View to Ecstasy and Retreat Bound are available. Bound to Collide is the final confession, but certainly not the last the world will hear from Chancellor Baltimore.
Here are some places you can find Rayven:
Twitter | Facebook | Enjoying the Fall Down the Rabbit Hole


June 9 SpotlightThe Tome Gnomehttp://tomegnomes.blogspot.com/
June 10 Guest blogErotica For All http://eroticaforall.co.uk
June 11 SpotlightNight Owl Reviewshttp://www.nightowlreviews.com
June 12 SpotlightMila Ramoswww.jademystique.blogspot.com
June 13 SpotlightHouston Havens http://houstonhavens.wordpress.com
June 16 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannerhoads.com
June 17 reviewProvocative Pageshttp://readingonthewildside.blogspot.com
June 18 SpotlightA_TiffyFit's Reading Cornerhttp://tiffyfit.blogspot.com
June 19 SpotlightTattooed Book Reviewwww.tattooedbookreview.com
June 20 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com

June 21-27 Spotlight
Box Set Giveaway Hop
http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/
June 23 reviewA Reader Lives A Thousand LivesHttp://a-reader-lives-a-thousand-lives.blogspot.co.uk
June 24 SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
June 25 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
June 26 InterviewAuthor Karen Swarthttp://authorkarenswart.blogsopt.com/
June 27 InterviewDarkest Cravingswww.darkestcravings.blogspot.com

June 30 SpotlightBooklover Suehttp://bookloversue.blogspot.com/
July 1 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
July 4 reviewParanormal Romance and Authors That Rockwww.pratr.wordpress.com
July 7 Character InterviewEclipse Reviewstotaleclipsereviews.blogspot.com
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Temptation by Fire by Tiffany Allee on Sale for .99

Temptation by FireTiffany Allee
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Entangled Ignite
ISBN: 9781622662005ASIN: B00H6ETDTC
Number of pages: 201Word Count: 78,000
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde
Book Description:
When Ava has a vision of a man's violent death, experience tells her she can't stop it from happening. For once, she's wrong. She saves him, but in doing so enters a world of manipulative demons and the men who hunt them.
Driven by the memory of his murdered family, Karson toils in the violent, thankless fight against demonkind. Masquerading as humans, demons are always a step ahead. But just when he thinks vengeance will be his, Ava shatters his plans and twists his focus.
Her powers have pushed her away from human contact, but this tattooed hunter with a battered heart draws Ava in. Working with the pretty little psychic is a challenge Karson can handle. But keeping his hands off of her is nearly impossible. With demons on their trail and Ava determined to make things right, keeping his heart safe will be just as tough as keeping Ava alive.
Amazon           Barnes & Noble             iTunes
Kobo               All Romance Ebooks

Excerpt, Ava’s POV: “So who are these Venators? Are they like some sort of demon-hunting organization?” I asked.“They’re like a need-to-know organization,” Karson said.“I haven’t held anything back from you.”He shrugged and his hand dropped from my shoulder. “I’m trying to help you. That doesn’t give you the right to know everything about me.”I opened my mouth to argue but he held a hand up, and his index finger touched my lips. The gesture was meant to shut me up, and it worked. In that moment every thought flew from my head. There was only him. The intense look in his eyes. The roughness of his skin on my mouth.The immediate need that curled in my stomach.What would it be like to be with a man like him? Rough and wild and freaking amazing, that was my bet. My body ached to find out. The rest of me knew better.“You need to hide for a while. Then you can go back to your normal life. Promise me.”With a quick jerk of my head, I promised.Tension flowed out of him visibly, and a small smile touched his lips. “Good.”And if I hadn’t already convinced myself that he was probably right, that laying low couldn’t hurt, his next words would have.

“Please don’t go back on your promise. Don’t make me watch them kill you.”
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).
Website                Blog                 Newsletter
Twitter                 Facebook          Goodreads

Guest Blog and Giveaway Savannah Sacrifice by Danica Winters

Secrets of Savannah SacrificePost Two
All right… It’s post #2 in the blog tour!!!
For those of you who haven’t followed: The time has come to celebrate the release of the fourth novel in the award-winning Nymph Series, Savannah Sacrifice!  As part of the celebration, I have decided to do something a little different on this blog tour. On each guest blog stop (where a guest blog is requested), I will be giving readers a song and a secret about the book!
Trust me, this book carries many, many secrets. Some of the secrets are fun, some are deliciously wicked, but guaranteed you will love them all! So, grab a seat, remember to follow (and put in for the giveaways) and get ready to learn more about Savannah Sacrifice! In addition to a secret, I’m also going to be sharing a song that played a part in the creation or acted as a theme when writing the novel.


Please feel free to leave me a comment. And if you’ve read the book and it has made you think of a song (or something equally amazing), leave me a comment! I will be stopping by each stop, and I will post each participating entry on my Facebook/Twitter page!
(You can learn other secrets about Savannah Sacrifice by checking out earlier guest posts!)
So have fun!
Today’s Secret:
The Bonaventure Cemetery, a major setting in Savannah Sacrifice, is reported to be one of the most haunted places in the entire country. While researching the book, I came across a few pictures of one of their reported ‘ghosts.’ My favorite, a ghostly dog, made an appearance in the book at the side of with my other favorite ghost*, Gracie Watson! *Side note to this secret: I believe in ghosts! Do you?

Today’s Song:
Today’s song is a bit darker than the last post, but it was a key song when I started looking for characters to build and weave into the story. I loved the line: “Only one sure way to bring the giant down…”
From there it was easy to write a story about enlisting ghosts in bringing down an enemy!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvsMPOfblfg
Here’s a lighter one! I hope it makes you tap your foot! :-)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9We2XsVZfc
I am looking forward to seeing you at the next stop!
Thank you for all the love and support,Danica Winters


Savannah SacrificeNymph SeriesBook 4Danica Winters
Publisher: Crimson RomanceLength: 56k words
ISBN-13: 978-1-4405-7971-4ISBN- 1-4405-7971-7ASIN:
Book Description:
Answers that she must find… A truth that he can’t escape…And ghosts up to no good…
Being a demi-god has its privileges. For the young nymph, Starling Jackson, it means the gift of seduction and more than that—near immortality. Yet, when her life is filled with spirits, immortality may not be all it’s cracked up to be.
With the help of her bodyguard, Jasper Gray, and secret books left to her by her late-mother’s friend, she may have found the answer to all of her problems.  First, they must find a way to locate the books in their enemy’s hotbed all while staying safe and most importantly—without falling in love.
In the battles between the head and the heart and enemies and friends, tough decisions must be faced—and sacrifices made.
About The Author:
Danica Winters is a bestselling author of over ten books.  She has won multiple awards and is known for writing books that grip readers with their ability to drive emotion through suspense and occasionally a touch of magic. Most recently, Danica was the winner of the 2013 Paranormal Romance Guild’s Book of the Year Award and currently a finalist in the Chanticleer Reviews and Media Paranormal Book of the Year competition for her paranormal romantic suspense novel, Montana Mustangs.
When she’s not working, she can be found in the wilds of Montana testing her patience while she tries to understand the allure of various crafts (quilting, pottery, and painting are not her thing).  She always believes the cup is neither half full nor half empty, but it better be filled with wine.
Website | Blog | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook |


June 9 SpotlightTanyas book nook http://tanyasbooknook.blogspot.com
June 10 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana,  Mommy, &, Sissy, Too!http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com/
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June 12 SpotlightDeal Sharing Aunt www.dealsharingaunt.blogspot.com 
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June 17 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
June 18 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
June 19 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
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Guest Blog and Giveaway Black Widow Witch by A.J. Locke

For my guest blog I thought it would be fun to do a short character interview with Malachi, the main character of my novel, Black Widow Witch, so you could get to know her a little bit. Here goes!
1.     What do you do on your days off?
I really only have one day off, Sunday, and I spend it hanging out with my fellow cursed witch friends. We tend to gather at Iliene’s shop to avoid the tension that comes with a bunch of cursed witches hanging out in public. Especially when one of us is just a floating head.
2.     If you weren’t a bartender what would you be doing for a living?
Well, you could say bartending is all I know because even back in the witch’s world, the Aeverneath, I tended bar. My strongest magic skills run towards manipulating liquid so bartending seemed a good fit. It’s fun watching people do crazy things after they have one of my drinks. Well, it was fun until queen Solenne saw what I could do and forced me into her service.
3.     Favorite time of day?
Night time, it’s just a more mischievous time of day isn’t it? Not that I go getting into mischief. Not since that whole affair with the queen’s favorite lover thing…
4.     What do you really think about humans?
A lot of them are unnecessarily hostile but that hostility is mostly born from fear of the fact that there are cursed witches living among them. I can understand that to a certain point but it’s not easy living in world where everyone seems to be against you. But not all humans are like that though, the patrons of my bar sometimes want to get too close. Then there’s a certain Shadow Officer named Julian who is certainly different from every other Shadow Officer I’ve had.
5.     What do you miss most about the Aeverneath?
My home, my grandmother, my bar. Knave.
6.     Favorite color?
Cerulean and Teal
7.     Favorite food?
Roast chicken, fried potatoes, and melted cheese on toasted bread – the way they are made in the Aeverneath. The human versions aren’t bad though.
8.     Favorite song?The Ballad of Broken Dreams. I love any time Xiune can get Lurain to sing it with her.
9.     Boxers or briefs on men?
That’s really not a question I should be thinking about.





Black Widow WitchA.J. Locke
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Etopia Press
Date of Publication:  May 15th, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-941692-09-7ASIN: B00KD43GUY
Number of pages: 239Word Count: 88k
Amazon    All Romance E-books    Barnes & Noble
Book Description:
A deadly curse, a deadly assassin, and one shot to save everyone she loves…Malachi Erami can’t fall in love. After she’s caught with Knave, the witch Queen’s favorite lover, she’s cursed to savagely butcher any man she falls for. Exiled to live among humans, Malachi runs a bar that serves magic-laced drinks, but since her curse labels her high risk, she’s also closely monitored. Julian Vira is her latest babysitter, but he’s also the first man since Knave that she’s been attracted to. Good-looking and nonjudgmental of her horrible curse? Yeah, he’s hard to resist.
But when Malachi finds a body behind her bar, she knows she’s in trouble. If the Witches Control Council gets wind of it, she’ll be accused of murder and sent to her death. And when her friends start getting framed for murder, she realizes she’s not the only target. Malachi and Julian dig into the evidence to clear her name, but the closer they get to answers, the closer the curse comes to taking over. So when Malachi uncovers a plot to kill the witch Queen, she finds herself suddenly recruited into service, with the promise of having her curse lifted and a reunion with Knave as well. But if she fails, Knave will die. And she and Julian might not live long enough to see that happen.


Excerpt- Chapter One
Today was the anniversary of the worst day of my life, and I’d been trying to forget about it by consuming a vast amount of booze. The fact that I owned a bar greatly helped with that endeavor, and the fact that I was drunk was an accomplishment, since witches weren’t easily susceptible to alcohol. Humans were onto something with this whole drinking-to-forget-one’s-crappy-life thing.Behind the bar, I poured a shot for an eager customer. Amaretto, Southern Comfort peach liqueur, and sweet-and-sour mix went into the glass, then I held my hand over the drink and let a stream of purple magic, the same color as my eyes, flow into it. The drink glowed purple for a few seconds, then I handed it to the customer, who drank it with no hesitation. After slamming the glass down, he grabbed the tipsy woman who’d been hanging on him and gave her a sloppy kiss, then led her out of the bar. I smiled and shook my head. The magic I’d put into the shot, aptly named Piece of Ass, would ensure they didn’t leave the bedroom tonight.Somewhere in the room I heard riotous laughter, and above that the voice eliciting that laughter. Xiune was having a good night for a change and wasn’t holed up in my office. Though since she was just a head inside a clear acrylic box, it was understandable that sometimes all she wanted to do was hide.“Malachi, darling!” Xiune called. “Seven handsome young men have requested the Challenge!” I smiled slyly. I loved administering the Challenge.“It’s time for the Seven Deadly Sins Challenge!” I announced, filling up eight shot glasses with vodka, one of which I downed. “Which sin will it be and what will its victim do?” People shouted their guesses while I sent tendrils of magic into the shots. My magic sparked like tiny bolts of lightning, and like the shot I had just made, the liquid briefly glowed purple. I focused on one of the glasses and started whispering a spell, channeling the essence of one of the seven deadly sins through my body. For a brief moment, my body became flushed with a feeling of ravenous desire, then it flowed out of me into the shot glass. I felt rather charged and wondered if this had been the right sin to choose tonight. But hey, I was drunk, and I kind of wanted to see someone suffer. Misery loves company right?I levitated the shot glasses onto a tray and sauntered over to the table where Xiune was entertaining the men who thought they were up for the Challenge. With her flawless complexion, golden eyes, and vibrant red hair, Xiune didn’t need a body to be beautiful. I’d known her when she had one though, and if she’d been sitting there in all her glory, she’d have every man kneeling at her feet. Her allure was only heightened by the fact that she was a bodiless beauty who used her magic to float herself around in a box. The box wasn’t necessary for Xiune to move around, but she felt safer inside it when she was out in public. That way if a witch hater spat on her, she’d have a shield. It also prevented those on the other end of the spectrum, people who were fascinated by witches, from getting too close. I set the shot glasses down and motioned for the men to stand around the table. They looked like your typical college fare: unkempt hair, sagging pants, and some sort of ironic or sports themed T-shirt. High-fives and shit talking all around.“Now boys,” I said, leaning forward on my forearms, giving my cleavage time to shine. “Are you sure you’re ready for this? One of you is moments away from experiencing a sin you may or may not enjoy.” They assured me they were man enough to handle any sin, and I smiled. The fun thing about the Challenge was that everyone handled it differently. One man caught with gluttony had run across the street to McDonalds, spent over a hundred dollars on food, then sat on the floor and gorged himself. A woman under the same gluttony spell had tried to eat her friend’s purse.“Let’s hope it’s lust and let’s hope it’s me,” one of the men said, winking at me. He stood a couple of inches over six feet, had brown hair and a lanky physique. If he started spending time at the gym, maybe his lame come-ons would give him more luck getting laid.“Honey, I would eat you up,” I said with a slow smile. Normally I would never have said such a line, but all the alcohol I had consumed was speaking for me. He probably had no idea how true those words were though, because his smile never wavered. However, for a moment after I spoke, I saw another face in place of his, and it cut through my drunken haze like a knife. I gasped, and he must have thought that was a sign he had a chance with me, because his smile became more lascivious. Lucky for him, he did nothing for me.“Malachi, let’s get this show going.” Xiune slid her box over to nudge me, and I shook my head and turned back to the waiting crowd.“All right, it’s about to go down!” I yelled. “For anyone who hasn’t witnessed the Challenge before, I’ll explain how it works. One of these shot glasses is infused with the essence of one of the seven deadly sins, and the recipient will be overcome with that sin for the next half hour, while the others will experience the most euphoric feeling they’ve ever experienced from a shot of alcohol.” I motioned for the men to pick up a glass, and Mister Flirtatious had one more wink for me.“Gentlemen, take your shot of sin!” They took their shots to the head. When they slammed their glasses down, every eye in the room was on them. After about twenty seconds, one of the men—not Winky—suddenly gasped, whipped his head around, and bolted from among his friends to accost a mildly attractive woman standing nearby.“Fuck me! Fuck me, please!” He shook her by the upper arms while she stared at him, mortified, as his friends tried to pry him off her. I brayed with laughter, as did Xiune and everyone else in the bar.“Oh god, I’m so horny. Someone please, fuck me!” He struggled against his laughing friends, trying to reach any female in sight, with his erection leading the way. Lust had been the winner tonight, and for the next thirty minutes this poor sap would be lusting after every woman he saw, whether she was twenty-eight or eighty-two. He even lurched toward Xiune, but she floated out of the way. Xiune was one sexy head in a box and had a mouth she could work wonders with. She often came out of her box to work those wonders on any willing man. There were more than you’d think.“Right sin, wrong guy, right?” brown-haired dude said to me.I rolled my eyes. “You and your friends will have your hands full for the next half hour. I suggest you hold on to him real good and don’t be surprised if he turns to one of you when it starts to look like he won’t be getting any women.”He laughed and pulled out his cell phone. “I’ll call his girlfriend, though she’ll probably be too pissed at him for doing this to alleviate his lust.” He left the bar to make the call, while the other five continued to hold on to their friend, laughing like they’d never experienced anything so hilarious in their lives. Some of the more mischievous or drunk women teased the guy by parading in front of him and doing dirty little stripper moves. Only his friends’ hold stopped him from tackling one of them and trying to rip her clothes off.I wasn’t afraid of things getting out of hand because I could break the spell any time I wanted. There was always a point where things stopped being amusing and started getting annoying. I left them and headed back behind the bar, while Xiune found another table of people to entertain. She was a wonderful songstress, and soon her melodic voice filled the bar as I went back to making magicked drinks. I glanced at my watch, noting that it was almost midnight, which meant the day was almost over. That didn’t actually mean anything though. The day passing didn’t mean I would forget the curse that was hanging over my life.“Hey, Malachi, can you pass me a knife?”“Knave?” I quickly turned to the busboy, James, who was bent over a box behind the bar.“No, I said knife,” he said. My throat was suddenly tight, but I reached under the bar, got a knife, and handed it to him. I stood back and ran my hands through my short black curls, blowing out a slow breath as I tried to rein in my reaction to thinking I had heard the name Knave. That was the name attached to the face I did not like to think about, but no amount of alcohol and rowdy college boys taking the Challenge could truly put him from my mind. I didn’t want to see Knave’s face, didn’t want to think about the hard muscles my hands used to slide over, following the planes of his body to his waist and not stopping until I touched something that arched his back and made him whisper my name. I didn’t want to think about the nights we’d spent wrapped in each other’s arms, feeling our hearts beating against each other. But of course, since his name crossed my lips, he was all I could think about.Falling in love with Knave was why I was cursed. And I could only blame myself. I should have known better than to take someone else’s lover to my bed. Especially if the woman crossed was a witch queen who was powerful, sadistic, and known to curse people just for sneezing out of place.
“Malachi? Excuse me, Malachi?” I blinked and brought myself out of my thoughts, turning to see that one of the other busboys, Dan, was trying to get my attention. He held a box of empty liquor bottles and needed me to move so he could pass. I shuffled out of the way, but thinking of Knave and my curse, along with all the beer and shots I’d drunk tonight, made me feel slightly unstable. Suddenly, the rowdiness in my bar wasn’t fun; it was obnoxious, and I wanted to get away from it. I headed through the door Dan had passed through, into the hallway that led to my office and the Dumpster out back. Halfway down the hallway, I heard a crash, followed by a scream. I ran through the back door, taking in several things at once that left me rooted to the spot. One, the revolting stench that went far beyond what our single Dumpster could give off. Two, Dan standing rigidly a few feet away with broken bottles scattered at his feet. And three, the thing that had caused him to drop the bottles and scream. Behind the Dumpster was a dead body.
About the Author:
A.J. Locke is an author and artist, originally from Trinidad, now residing in New York City. Black Widow Witch is her second published novel, and other than writing she enjoys reading, drawing, painting, graphic design, and watching too much television.
Blog: http://iqurae.blogspot.com/
Twitter:  @maqueripe
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/AJ-Locke/522250584507699

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20643885-black-widow-witch


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Honey and Her Bear by Lynn Richards

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
Lynn Richards is the writing team of two best friends. That’s how we always describe ourselves, because it’s true. We’ve been writing for years—we won’t say how long, because that would be telling—our ages! We love the fact that we can now write our stories and publish them ourselves. We were always rebels bucking against authority and this allows us to be independent. As readers, we love the wonderful worlds that paranormal writers can create. As die-hard romantics, we love being able to combine both.
What inspired you to write this book?
Shifters are the hot new thing! No, really, shifters are HOT-T-T-T. Who wouldn’t want to read about them. And writing about them? It’s all the better—cause you really can make that alpha male do exactly what you want.
Please tell us about your latest release.
Honey and Her Bear features a curvy, sassy woman and a big old bear shifter that doesn’t know what’s best for him—Honey. We probably all have that one secret regret of not approaching the cute boy in high school, the bad boy in college, or the rugged looking man standing in front of us in a grocery line (yep, happened to one of us). Honey doesn’t want those regrets and sets out to do something about it. Derek has been a lone bear for too long. He’s afraid to allow a woman into his life and into his heart. Until Honey came along…
Do you have a special formula for creating characters' names? Do you try to match a name with a certain meaning to attributes of the character or do you search for names popular in certain time periods or regions
Funny you should ask. The names in Honey and Her Bear were given to our characters with tongue-in-cheek. Honey Potts, Derek Combs, Honey becomes Honey Comb…well, you get the idea. But seriously, we try find the rugged, masculine names that are somewhat unusual. Sometimes it takes some brainstorming and internet searching to find just the right name. Then, the character just kind of comes to life. A bad name can ruin a good story.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
Honey is strong, female lead. She knows she wants Derek and she isn’t afraid to test the waters, so to speak. We’ve been raised in a society that says it’s not “acceptable” for a woman to make the first move on a man. Why not? We want to be like Honey, unafraid to reach out and grab some, umm, happiness.
“You shouldn’t be out here at night by yourself.”
Honey was pretty sure he could see the disdainful lift of her eyebrow with his shifter vision, but just in case he couldn’t she said, “I’ve lived in these woods and on this mountain longer than you have, bear. The day I don’t feel safe on my own back porch is the day I leave.”
“Times change, sweetheart. The world is filled with big, bad predators.”
She shivered as he spoke. He was the only big, bad predator around. And she wouldn’t mind a bit if he jumped on her.
“Now tell me about this farmers’ market. And what I need to do.”
You need to kiss me.
Honey placed her empty mug on the small table by the swing and cocked her head. Looking at him she wondered what he would do if she told him she wanted him. She wasn’t quite that brave, but she was brave enough for what she was about to do next.

Later, she told herself, she would question her sanity. Ponder why he called to her on a level she couldn’t explain. It was as if he was reaching out to her, telling her he belonged to her and her alone. Later, years after he was gone, she’d pull these memories out and they would warm her lonely nights. Because one day he would leave. And break her heart. She pushed the bleak thought away.
Tomorrow wasn’t here yet and the night shrouded them, making it seem as if time stood still. She had this moment and she was going to take it. She’d deal with the consequences of her actions later.
She stood on her tiptoes and planted a soft kiss on the underside of his chin, where his pulse raced. She fought the urge to suckle the spot, drawing him deep into her mouth. She did thread her hands through his hair and urge his head down.
“Honey.”
What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes?
Well, you do have to get those hand placements just right. What would be really fun would be doing research for a book where there are two werebear mates…
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
I don’t know if you would call it writer’s block or just the universe laughing at you. Reality intrudes daily and it’s hard some days to get in “the zone.” Other writers will relate to this. It’s wonderful when you get up and go into another room and all of sudden a scene just “comes to you.”
When did you consider yourself a writer?
Sometimes we still don’t. We both work full-time jobs and are too afraid to leap off the mountain like Thelma and Louise. Cause, we don’t want the ride to end quiet so abruptly.
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
We know many readers will understand this—we like to read while watching TV. Don’t know why but sometimes you just have to have that back ground noise.
What can readers expect next from you?
We’re working on A Mate of His Heart – the follow up to Beauty and the Wolf and Bell and the Bear, a standalone book. We have big plans for Brigg’s story from McQuade and yes, sometime, somehow, Bite Me the follow up to Leader of the Pack.
Where can readers find you on the web?
We have an author page on Amazon and Goodreads. Our website, lynnrichardsromance.com, is a little behind the times, but we hope to rectify that soon. And as always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on our books—good or bad. Email us at lynn.richardsromance@yahoo.com

Honey and Her Bear Lynn Richards
Genre: Paranormal
Publisher: Wolf PublishingDate of Publication:  May 15, 2014
ASIN: B00KDICGBK
Number of pages: 154Word Count: 53,000
Amazon    Amazon UK    BN    Smashwords 
Book Description:
There was nothing ordinary about Honey Potts. From the tips of her Very Berry Pink toenails to the top of her curly auburn head, and every freckled mouthwatering inch of abundant skin in between, she was a force of nature that made Derek’s head spin.
For an experienced bear shifter like him, that could spell big trouble.

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Teaser Excerpt:
“I’m burning up,” she said matter-of-factly, the grin tilting her luscious lips full of wicked mischief. “I thought I’d join you for a swim.” Keeping her eyes on his face, she toed off her tennis shoes and put her hands on the bottom of her sunny top and began to inch it upward.
“Like hell you are.” He made a cutting motion with his hand. “Dammit woman, keep that shirt on or I’ll…”



About the Author:
Lynn Richards is the writing team of two best friends. They enjoy romance. Period. Their books always have a happily-ever-after. Writing is as necessary to them as breathing. Too bad that pesky thing called work interferes every day.

https://www.facebook.com/lynn.richards.9822


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