Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 457
December 10, 2013
Barbara Bretton's Favorite Christmas Movies and a Kindle Paperwhite Giveaway
Our Christmas Movie Festival starts off on Thanksgiving morning with Miracle on 34th Streetand ends on New Year’s Eve with When Harry Mets Sally. Some of the selections might seem a little quirky, but here is my must-watch list for 2013.
1. Miracle on 34th Street -- what can you say about a movie that combines sweet sentimentality, wry cynicism, childhood innocence and wonder, and a romance in one great package. I’ve loved this movie for as long as I can remember (Maureen O’Hara!) and I have the feeling I always will.
2. Holiday Inn – Don’t tell anyone but I cheat. I’ve been known to watch Holiday Inn in March and July and every other month in the year too. Fred Astaire! Bing Crosby! Marjorie Reynolds! And Virginia Dale whose wonderful knee-length dance dresses would look just as good today as they did in 1942.
3. White Christmas – I know it’s basically a remake of Holiday Inn, with Danny Kaye in the Bing Crosby role, and all of those great Irving Berlin songs, but it gets me every time. Yes, it’s over-the-top and loosely plotted but the people are pretty, the music is great, the dancing is wonderful, and I want to live in that Vermont lodge with the big fireplace and wooden beams. Besides, aren’t Christmas movies supposed to make you cry?
4. Desk Set – Tracy and Hepburn at their best. And the supporting cast of Gig Young, the glorious Joan Blondell and Dina Merrill doesn’t hurt either. Smart, sophisticated comedy with a heart of melted chocolate, it’s a wonderful trip back to the Fifties.
5. The Bishop’s Wife --
6. A Christmas Carol -- The TV version with George C. Scott. Scrooge’s redemption brings me to tears every single time.
7. It’s a Wonderful Life – First time I saw this, I hated it. This was way back in 1971, long before the movie had morphed into a holiday classic. I thought it was the most horribly depressing movie I’d ever seen. Poor George Bailey! He should’ve packed his valise and run fast and far before that terrible town ate him alive. But times change and people do, too, and slowly I fell under the spell of Bedford Falls and George and Clarence. I still kind of wish George had managed to see the world, but Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without this film.
8. Love Actually – I can get through most of the movie with just a few sniffles here and there, but by the time we reach the airport montage at the end, I am flat-out ugly crying, big huge sobs that I just can’t stop. I’ve always had a soft spot for the Beach Boys’ God Only Knows, but pair it up with all of those people being reunited with the ones they love – sorry. I need a Kleenex. (A box of ‘em.)
9. Christmas in Connecticut – The original (let’s not discuss the Schwarzenegger version) with Barbara Stanwyck, Dennis Morgan, C. Z. Szakall. One of the best rom coms ever.
10. Mr. Magoo’s A Christmas Carol – What can I say? Pass the razzleberry dressing …
11. Bell, Book and Candle – Sexy witches, mischievous warlocks, harried editors and that wonderful scene atop the Flatiron Building. What more do you need?
12. When Harry Met Sally – The New Year’s Eve scene at the end is the perfect ending for a romantic comedy.
So what’s on your must-watch holiday list?
The Year the Cat Saved ChristmasBarbara Bretton
Genre: Contemporary romance
Publisher: Free Spirit Press
ISBN: 9781940665009ASIN: B00FEXP44K
Number of pages: 80Word Count: 22,000
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Book Description:
Christmas used to be the happiest time of the year in the big house on the hill. But this year when the clock strikes midnight on Christmas Day, it will all be over. Can Sebastian, a wily Maine Coon cat, find a way to bring his people back home or will this holiday be their last?
Previously published as "Home for the Holidays" in Penguin Berkley's anthology "The Christmas Cat."
Mrs. ScroogeRocky Hill Romances Book OneBarbara Bretton
Genre: Contemporary romance
Publisher: Free Spirit Press
ISBN: 9781940665023ASIN: B00FEXXSCA
Number of pages: 240Word Count: approx. 65000
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Book Description:
Single mother Samantha Dean doesn't have time for Christmas. Or romance, for that matter. She is weeks away from opening her own catering business, the most important part of her plan to provide her certified genius daughter Patty with all the wonderful things she deserves.
Except Patty doesn't want to go to a fancy boarding school. She wants a father and when she meets bartender Murphy O'Rourke at her fourth grade Career Day presentation, she knows she's met the man of her mother's dreams!
But can she convince her Mrs. Scrooge of a mom that it was time to give Christmas -- and love -- a second chance?
Originally published in print by Harlequin American
Book #2 is also available now: BUNDLE OF JOY
About the Author:Barbara Bretton is the USA Today bestselling, award-winning author of more than 40 books. She currently has over ten million copies in print around the world. Her works have been translated into twelve languages in over twenty countries.
Barbara has been featured in articles in The New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Romantic Times, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Herald News, Home News, Somerset Gazette,among others, and has been interviewed by Independent Network News Television, appeared on the Susan Stamberg Show on NPR, and been featured in an interview with Charles Osgood of WCBS, among others.
Her awards include both Reviewer's Choice and Career Achievement Awards from Romantic Times; Gold and Silver certificates from Affaire de Coeur; the RWA Region 1 Golden Leaf; and several sales awards from Bookrak. Ms. Bretton was included in a recent edition of Contemporary Authors.
Barbara loves to spend as much time as possible in Maine with her husband, walking the rocky beaches and dreaming up plots for upcoming books.
www.barbarabretton.com
www.barbarabretton.net
www.facebook.com/barbarabretton
www.facebook.com/authorbarbarabretton
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www.goodreads.com/barbarabretton
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November 25 Spotlight3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy ! http://3partnersinshopping.blogspot.com
November 26 SpotlightAC Jameswww.acjames.com
December 3 Guest blogBooks Directhttp://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com.au/
December 5 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net
December 6 Guest blog and reviewMochas, Mysteries and Morewww.mochasmysteriesandmore.blogspot.com
December 9 SpotlightThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
December 10 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
December 11 Guest blogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
December 12 SpotlightPembroke Sinclair pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
December 13 Character InterviewLaurie's Thoughts and Reviewshttp://lauries-interviews.blogspot.com
December 16 ReviewMelissa's Eclectic Bookshelfhttp://melissaseclecticbookshelf.com/
December 17 reviewBrooke Blogshttp://www.brookeblogs.com
December 18 Guest blog and reviewMy Tangled Skeins Book Reviewshttp://mytangledskeinsbookreviews.blogspot.com
December 19 SpotlightCover Reveals http://CoverReveals.blogspot.com
December 20 Review (TYTCSC)Sapphyria's Book Reviewshttp://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
December 23 SpotlightBooklover Sue http://bookloversue.blogspot.com/
December 23 Review (MS)Sapphyria's Book Reviewshttp://saphsbookblog.blogspot.com/
December 9, 2013
Release Day Blitz Galilee Rising by Jennifer Harlow
InterviewAly's Miscellany http://alysmiscellany.wordpress.com
ReviewA_TiffyFit's Reading Cornerhttp://tiffyfit.blogspot.com
SpotlightUrban Fantasy Investigationshttp://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blogspot.com/
Interview and reviewWords of Wisdom from The Scarf Princesshttp://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com
SpotlightNight Owl Reviewshttp://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Blog/Articles/Release-Day-Galilee-Rising-by-Jennifer-Harlow
ReviewMy Tangled Skeins Book Reviewshttp://mytangledskeinsbookreviews.blogspot.com
SpotlightNyxx's Nookhttp://nyxxsnook.blogspot.com/
spotlight and review Queen of All She Reads.http://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com/
SpotlightCW Book Reviewshttp://www.houseofmalfunction.com
Spotlight and review( 1 and 2)Larissa and Friends' Bookish Life – www.larissaslife.com
SpotlightSapphyria's Book Reviewssaphsbookblog.blogspot.com
SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.blogspot.com
SpotlightAnnette Gisbyhttp://agisby.blogspot.co.uk/
SpotlightBook Liaison – http://www.bookliaison.net
SpotlightPembroke Sinclair. pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
SpotlightMythical Bookshttp://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
Galilee RisingThe Galilee Falls TrilogyBook TwoJennifer Harlow
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Devil on the Left Books
Date of Publication: 12/10/13
ISBN: 978-0-9893944-2-0 (ebook)ISBN: 978-0-9893944-3-7 (print)
Number of pages: 282Word Count: 102,000
Cover Artist: Damonza
Book Description:
Love in the time of superheroes...
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” -Confucius
The year since Galilee Falls lost its reigning superhero Justice has not been kind to Joanna Fallon. She's lost her best friend, her boyfriend, her badge, even her mind. The city of Galilee Falls hasn't fared much better with supervillain related crime skyrocketing to cataclysmic proportions.
Deliverance for the city arrives in the guise of The Royal Triumvirate--King Tempest, Lady Liberty, and Lord Nightingale--who vow to be the heroes the city needs. Salvation for Joanna appears in the brilliant form of Dr. Jem Ambrose, another lost soul in need of saving. But salvation comes with a high price.
When Emperor Cain, an old nemesis of The Triumvirate, decides he will stop at nothing to make sure there is no city left to defend, it is up to Joanna to rise not only for her city, for her new love, but for herself as well…
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About the Author:Jennifer Harlow spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator.
Currently she calls Northern Virginia home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time, she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills. She is the author of the Amazon best-selling F.R.E.A.K.S. Squad, Midnight Magic Mystery series and Justice, the first in the superhero thriller trilogy. For the soundtrack to her books and other goodies visit her at www.jenniferharlowbooks.com
http://www.jenniferharlowbooks.com
http://blog.jenniferharlowbooks.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jenharlowbooks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jennifer.harlow.52
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4708453.Jennifer_Harlow
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jenharlowbooks/
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Interview with the Authors of Shadows in the Mists
1. Kristine Cayne: Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
One of the most fascinating things I learned is that the military has actually funded research on telepathy. In the past it was natural “mind-to-mind” telepathy, but more recently, they have turned toward synthetic “mind-to-computer” telepathy.
2. Kristine Cayne: What is the most interesting things you have physically done for book related research purposes?
When I was writing Deadly Addiction, I visited the Kahnawà:ke Reserve near Montreal Quebec. In addition to spending hours interviewing a culture specialist, I got to do a ride-along with the Peacekeepers, Kahnawà:ke’s native police force.
3. Kristine Cayne: Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
The world in Origins is very much the current world. However, it is one in which the US Navy has been experiment with animal DNA on a select team of men. By imbuing them with certain traits, it hopes to create an elite team of super-assets that can be used by the Navy in water-based combat situations. Unfortunately, the Navy scientists have not fully studied the potential risks to the men, nor the risks to humanity.
4. Kristine Cayne: With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
Origins is the beginning of the series, so this is the perfect time to jump in.
5. Marianne Stillings: Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
I have no formula, as such, for developing characters, but I always have various character traits in mind when I begin a story. Because I write romantic suspense, the protagonists must have some of the traditional hero/heroine personalities romance readers expect to find. Secondary characters can veer off in a variety of directions, depending on whether they are intended to complement or irritate the main characters.
Once I have the basics of each character in my head, I just write and let them tell me who they are. I’ve tried planning what a character will say or do, but until I get to writing, I don’t know who they truly are; they have to tell me. And they always do. I don’t understand this phenomenon, but many authors will tell you the same thing.
6. Marianne Stillings: Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Many of the characters I’ve created share common traits with me, others have facets that I’ve observed in friends, family, or total strangers. Writers are always writing, even when they’re not. What I mean by that is, I/we may hear an off-hand comment in a restaurant, on a bus, at work, from Mom or a neighbor, and quickly jot it down so we won’t forget it and can work it into a story.
Most of my characters have an off-beat or wry sense of humor and can be quick with a comeback. They get that from me. Hopefully, it works.
7. Marianne Stillings: Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
I once read that there is no such thing as writer’s block, that such an impasse comes from poor planning, or a story has taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way.
I agree with both those statements, but writer’s block can also come from upheaval in my own life. It’s very hard to focus on a story when you’re dealing with a loss of any kind, illness, stress, familial tension; any number of things, even happy events.
Sometimes, if I hit the wall, I take a break and distance myself from my story and get back to it when I feel ready. Other times – as when there is a deadline to meet and taking a break isn’t possible – I examine my story and if it’s going according to what I want, then I look to personal issues I may be facing at the time and try to shut out the world long enough to get more words down on paper before I consider backing off again. Usually, if you try to write through the problem, just the act of writing generates the urge to keep going.Every writer deals with blocks differently, and since every block is different, desire to get the job done must be stronger than whatever barrier is keeping you from moving forward.
8. Marianne Stillings: Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
Not really. The only thing I can think of is that when I sit down to write, I’ll open my story document, then let it sit, and open a game, such as Solitaire. I play until I win a round, then go back to my story. It’s silly, but I need to entertain my brain before I can put it to work pulling a comprehensive manuscript out of thin air. I call it a “warm-up” but really, it’s creative avoidance.
Writing is hard. It just IS, and putting it off as long as possible is an art form. But at the end of the day, the story won’t write itself, so after I’ve had a little fun, I turn to the dreaded blank page and think, “Okay, what happens now?” and get back to work.
9. KL Mullens: Do you write in different genres?
Yes. I like to experiment and don’t like to restrict myself. I just write what about what interests me. I have eclectic tastes.
10. KL Mullens: Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
No, I don’t find that difficult. I find writing is difficult in general. To get what’s in your head, the movie you play over and over again for YOU out in a coherent fashion so others will get what you want them to get—that I find difficult. What I love the creation process. I love immersing myself in another world, and I absolutely love learning new things. Love, love love it!
11. KL Mullens: When did you consider yourself a writer?
That’s hard to say. Reading, or shall I say, listening to stories was my first love—then reading—then writing. You exhaust your library, then you exhaust THE library and what’s left? You have to come up with your own stuff – at least that’s how it was for me. I feel like I’m more a storyteller than a writer, if that makes sense. I’m still learning this writing thing, but I can talk, tell a story to death all day long. I’m a writer-in-progress sounds better.
12. KL Mullens: What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Ha! Probably all the old tv shows I grew up watching that I still watch—over and over and over again—Bewitched, Lost in Space, H.R. Pufnstuf, Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse.
13. Sherri Shaw: Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I am a Photoshop junkie. I create my own book covers and banners. To me it’s like digital drawing.
14. Sherri Shaw: What was the last amazing book you read?
Alter of Eden by James Rollins. An action/adventure in the same vein as Michael Crichton. I really enjoyed the story and his writing style.
15. Sherri Shaw: Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
I read anywhere I can get a chance to settle into a good book. Usually, it’s in my favorite chair or in bed.
16. Sherri Shaw: What can readers expect next from you?
I am working on the second book of the Magically Perfect Series entitled Perfectly Jinxed. Two people running from their past are bound together by magical strings. They must work together to break the jinx, not realizing the magic that binds them will also set them free.
17. Dawn Kravagna: 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?
It varies. For instance, I'm working on a book featuring a woman and her dog who move from Seattle to a small town. I needed a name for a woman in her early 20s, so I researched the most popular names for the year she would've been born. Sometimes I pick names that echo the tone of the story. For instance, the lead character for an unpublished horror short story I wrote was named Enson Vars. I thought it sounded sinister. For women, I try to come up with beautiful names, unless they are unpleasant people.
18. Dawn Kravagna: Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
In "Evil Bites" it was challenging to create the Seattle police officer and boyfriend, Alex. because I wanted him to be tough but also soft enough for her to snuggle into and feel secure, not only because he could physically protect her, but also he was capable of being emotionally supportive.
19. Dawn Kravanga: Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
The lead character, Kim, because it was the first time I published a story written in the first person. It was a fun challenge to create someone who is strong and courageous, yet tender in her love for her sister and self-reflective.
20. Dawn Kravagna: What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
My favorite scene is in Kim's apartment when there is something at the window. I think the scene comes off both scary and shows a Kim in a vulnerable moment.
21. Where can readers find you on the web?
Kristine Cayne’s links
Blog http://kristinecayne.blogspot.com/
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/KristineCayne...
Twitter http://twitter.com/KristineCayne
New Releases List http://kristinecayne.blogspot.com/p/n... or Website http://www.kristinecayne.com
Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
Marianne Stillings links:
Email: mariannestillings@outlook.com
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorMarianneStillings
Website: www.mariannestillings.com
Shannon O’Brien links:
Website: shannonobrienauthor.wordpress.com
Dawn Kravagna links:
www.CattleCapers.com
Sherri Shaw links:
Website: SherriShaw.netFacebook: facebook/sherri.shaw.980
Kristine Cane: A little teaser or excerpt from the book?
In this short excerpt from Origins: The Men of MER, the heroine, Claire Montgomery, has just been caught in an explosion in Elliott Bay. The boat she was in is now on top of her and she’s fighting to get free of it.
A sharp pull on Claire’s foot yanked her down, tearing her away from what little hope she had of surviving until help came for her. Pinwheeling her arms, she tried in vain to grab hold of the boat, to pull it down, to bring that little pocket of oxygen with her. It took all her resolve not to scream. An instant death sentence.Her only chance for survival was to stay calm. If she panicked, she’d drown.
She slid her hand down her leg to her ankle, hoping she’d find only a piece of seaweed. No such luck. A rope was wrapped around her foot. Was it loose? Something tied to the boat? She yanked her foot and the rope cinched tighter.
Oh God. She was stuck. Frantically, she twisted her foot every which way, but couldn’t free it. The rope chafed and cut, the salt in the water making the wounds burn. Her lungs couldn’t take much more. Neither could her mind.
She was so tired. If she could just rest a little…
Images of her father and Wyatt flashed before her eyes. She couldn’t give up. She forced herself to think, to search the dim world around her and evaluate her situation. When her gaze landed on the abandoned drydock beneath her, her chest squeezed painfully and any vestige of hope she had seeped away. Several dozen nets, which workers had used to raise boats out of the water, hung off the wreckage of the drydock.
In this killing zone were trapped hundreds of dead or dying fish and birds, even some seals.
And now one human woman.
Sherri Shaw – In this short except from The Eye of Lilith. Cindi Jones needs to disarm two gunmen who are after a valuable artifact. The time spell she casts is supposed to freeze everyone in the immediate area.
“—time.” Marc finished. He stood, caramel brown eyes fixed on her. “It’s you. You’re stopping time. When you started to chant in Gaelic, your ring began to glow and then the next instant everyone was stuck in some bizarre state of suspended animation.”
“You understood what I said?” Panic and surprise hit her at the same instant. More disturbing still, why wasn’t he affected by the incantation like the others? She wanted to ask him but realized the foolishness of such a question. He wouldn’t know the answer any more than she would.
He towered over her, all six-feet of his muscular body stiff with outrage. “Enough to get the gist. Who are you? And what did you do to them?”
“I’m saving their lives.” His disturbing proximity, more than his daunting stare, spurred her into action. “Like I’m saving yours. Now please, I don’t have time to explain. You’ll have to trust me. Stay here where it’s safe.” She turned and ran toward the steep path leading to the cliffs, but only made it a few feet when she heard the unmistakable sound of following footsteps.
“How did you freeze all those people? Are you some kind of magician?” he asked.
“Sure,” she lied and pushed herself to move faster up the incline. Let him think her a magician; it was much easier than admitting she was a witch.
December 9 InterviewFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.comDecember 10 SpotlightRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
December 11 Spotlight and reviewPenny For Them...http://pennyforthemuk.com/search/label/tour
December 12 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
December 13 InterviewPembroke Sinclair. www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
December 16 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisaworldofbooks.net
December 17 InterviewFantasy Book Addicthttp://www.fantasybookaddict.com/
December 19 SpotlightShut Up & Read http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.com/
December 20 SpotlightMythical Bookshttp://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
December 23 Interview and reviewNyxx's Nookhttp://nyxxsnook.blogspot.com/
December 23 reviewNicky Peacock Authorhttp://nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com/
Shadows in the MistMarianne Stillings, Kristine Cayne, Sherri Shaw, Shannon O’Brien, KL Mullens, Dawn Kravagna.Genre: Paranormal romancePublisher: Kristine Cayne
ISBN: 978-0-9891970-2-1
Number of pages: 230Word Count: 110k
Cover Artist: Sherribydesign.com
Book Description:
From the misty waters of Puget Sound across the wrinkles of time to the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius, mystery and magic intertwine to create haunting tales of everlasting passion.
Murder at the Mausoleumby Marianne Stillings17,000 words
Out of work and desperate for a job, Stephanie Gabriel reluctantly accepts a position as Housekeeper/Girl Friday for Dr. John Mercilus at his isolated Northern California mansion. Sure, he's wealthy, hunky, and single, but the fact he's a Vampire has Stephanie more than a little worried. Though Mercilus promises she'll come to no harm, there is nonetheless danger afoot. When a major snowstorm maroons them along with an odd assortment of house guests, it's more than inconvenient – it's murder, and the clues all point to Stephanie's boss as the culprit.
Now she has to decide whether to trust the enigmatic "Creature of the Night" she's falling for, or find a means of escape before she becomes the next victim.
Spellbound in Seattleby Shannon O’Brien17,600 words
When Rose McCarty’s boyfriend was killed, she swore off witchcraft and love. But when his tall, dark older brother washes up on her houseboat’s deck three years later—muttering about doppelgangers and incubi—Rose’s lonely, spell-free world comes crashing down.
Dead Moonby KL Mullens11,000 words
During a Dead Moon Elspeth Saint has a strange encounter she can't explain and a door previously closed becomes open; a gift is given; a promise is kept; and Elspeth who has never known what it is to be loved; learns what it is to be cherished.
Evil Bitesby Dawn Kravagna16,500 words
Kim seeks revenge on the serial killer who viciously attacked and maimed her lovely sister. But she soon discovers that evil can bite back.
The Eye of Lilithby Sherri Shaw19,500 words
Marc Blakely has been bewitched by a rare artifact rumored to drive a man insane before compelling him to commit suicide. As a member of the Speaker of the Word coven, Cindi Jones uses her magic to destroy enchanted relics and protect the innocents they infect. Can she save Marc in time, or will he succumb to the Eye of Lilith?
Origins: The Men of MERby Kristine Cayne28,500 words
Petty Officer Wyatt Black had no idea what he signed up for by joining the Navy's experimental MER program. When a domestic terrorist attack almost kills Dr. Claire Montgomery, the woman of Wyatt's dreams, he is exposed to a lethal illness that poses a horrifying threat to mankind—but only because of what the Navy has done to him. In the midst of saving Claire's life, Wyatt is forced to face the terrifying truth of what he has become: something not quite human.
About the Rainy Day Writers:
Writing fiction is difficult and lonely and more often than not, the “normal” people in your life don’t understand the writing process and can’t fathom why you are possessed and obsessed with finding the perfect word or phrase that says exactly what you want to say right where you want to say it. Only other writers comprehend and accept that kind of torment.
To fill this need to surround herself with like-minded obsessive-compulsive self-doubting lunatics, in 2005, Marianne Stillings established what came to be known as The Rainy Day Writers.
There were only two requirements for joining the group: You must be serious about writing and getting published, and any criticisms of co-members’ work be honest, gentle, and kind.
Over the years, the membership has changed; some people moved on, others joined. The group we have now has been stable and constant since 2009. The Rainy Day Writers are a family.
Find the authors at:
www.seattlerainydaywriters.com
www.facebook.com/AuthorMarianneStillings
www.shannonobrienauthor.wordpress.com
www.CattleCapers.com
Twitter: @CattleCapers
https://www.facebook.com/pages/CATTLE-CAPERStm/184576081965
www.SherriShaw.net
www.facebook.com/sherri.shaw.980
www.kristinecayne.com
https://www.facebook.com/kristinecayne
Guest Post by Lana Axe - Not Your Typical Fantasy Series
Guest Post by Lana Axe - Not Your Typical Fantasy Series
With the release of War of the Wildlands, the second novel in my Tales from Nōl’Deron series, I want to take a moment to explain a little bit about the series itself. It is not your typical fantasy series. It does not require three separate novels to solve a single problem. Tales from Nōl’Deron is a collection of stories taking place in the same fantasy world. Each novel stands on its own, and it is not necessary to read them in any particular order. Some novels will feature recurring characters at different stages in their lives. Each novel will come to its own conclusion, leaving the reader with a sense of fulfillment.
I know this is not the norm when it comes to a fantasy series, but why not try something new? I truly believe the reader will appreciate this style of writing. It leaves him or her free to choose which characters he wants to follow and which tales interest him the most. There is no three book (or more) commitment to enjoy the story.
I have plans for several more books in the series, and I hope my readers will enjoy following along as my characters progress. Nōl’Deron is a world full of adventure and great peril, where heroes and villains both dwell. Stay tuned for more in the future.
War of the WildlandsTales from Nōl’DeronLana AxeGenre: Epic FantasyPublisher: AxeLord Publications
Date of Publication: November 2013
ISBN: 0615897134ASIN:
Number of pages: 437Word Count: 76,451
Cover Artist: Michael Gauss
Book Description:
Unrelenting war between humans and elves threatens to destroy the forest forever.
A tyrant king has declared war on the elves and will stop at nothing to see them annihilated. Despite fighting savagely to defend their homes, the elves are outmatched by vicious attacks from highly skilled battle mages. The elven clans must join forces to have any chance of survival against the ruthless king’s army.
Meanwhile, a young half-elf is forced from the human world he has always known and travels into the Wildlands to seek out his elven kin. Along the way, he learns to draw on the magic within himself to craft weapons of tremendous power. When war arrives on his doorstep, he must choose whether to stand with the family he has always known or the elves who share his blood.
About the Author: Lana Axe lives in Missouri near the edge of the woods. She is inspired by her love of nature to write about elves, magic, and adventure. Growing up in Mark Twain's backyard inspired her love of fiction from an early age. She grew up an avid reader and went on to study literature in college.
After eight years of jotting notes and building a fantasy world, she has finally begun releasing novels in her Tales from Nōl'Deron series. They will feature many of the same characters, but each novel will stand alone.
Website: http://lana-axe.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LanaAxe
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LanaAxe
Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/117096416413847091417/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7102583.Lana_Axea
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December 8, 2013
Interview with Jessica Miller Author of The Wanderers
1. Please tell us about your latest release.
My latest book, Reborn, is the second book in The Wanderers series. After Ella finally discovers what she is she still has a lot to figure out. She wants to know where exactly she fits in this world and what’s going to happen to her now. The second installment takes Ella back to the East Coast where we meet a few new characters and have an appearance here and there from a few old ones. Heartache, romance, and suspense keeps you on your toes in the next book.
2. 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 try to find names that haven’t been used too often, but sometimes I come across a name that I really like. Usually they’re classic names and how can you go wrong with that. I do look at the meaning of names before I pick a name to go with a character. I like the name to mean something and suit the character I’m using it for. Although I like to pick names that haven’t been used a lot I will not pick a crazy name that no one can pronounce. That bugs me when other authors do that. I get being different but sometimes these names are just ridiculous.
3. What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
One of my favorite scenes from the book is when Ella meets Tristan. Ella has this standoffish attitude towards him which just makes him want her that much more. Tristan hasn’t heard the word no often so he takes Ella as a challenge. The interaction between the two of them throughout the book was probably the most fun I had writing this book.
4. Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
I found tons of things. I’ve always been interested in folk lore and different cultures so it was fun to see all their different beliefs and history. I am not a religious person, but to see where some of the stories originated from was pretty neat.
5. Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Yes, sarcasm. I can be very sarcastic sometimes and I tend to forget with people I just meet that I have to be careful, because I always get the look, “Is she serious?” I find it funny, but not everyone else. A lot of people walk away confused which just makes me laugh harder. My stubbornness is another attribute that I put into some of my characters. I’m sure there are a few others I could find if flipped through the books.
6. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
Yes. I know where I want the story to go but for some reason sometimes I’ll get stuck on a specific scene. The best way I found I can deal with that is put on my headphones and go for a walk, which works great in the summer, but in the winter when it’s cold, it doesn’t go over well. I have yet to find a way to deal with the winter blues so I usually just put the computer aside and relax for a little. Or, I’ll start a new scene and come back to that one later.
7. What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Books. No matter how broke I am, I will find a way to buy a new book. Junk food is another, but I do better at resisting that than buying new books. I have a stack on my nightstand of books to read. I panic when it gets too low and then I’m like, “OMG, I have no books!” even though there’s still 3 unread ones sitting there.
8. What can readers expect next from you?
Currently I am working on a New Adult romance. I’m excited to get this one out and see what people think. I’m also working on another young adult book called The Dark Queen. It’s a new twist on Snow White. And somewhere in between those I hopefully will be releasing the third book in The Wanderers series, Unforgiven. I have a lot on my plate right now so hopefully I can find a way to get past the winter blues and get motivated.
9. Where can readers find you on the web?
Blog: www.jesslmiller.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorJLMiller
Twitter: JessicaMiller@JLMreadingrocks
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5989926.Jessica_Miller
10. Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Absolutely. This is one my favorite scenes where Ella meets Tristan for the first time.
“What do you want to drink?” Josie asked. “Um...a beer is good,” I said, trying to play it safe. We found a medium sized bar set up in the back, complete with bartender. The bartender was wearing tight, black spandex shorts and just a bow tie. “I definitely know I'm going to like it here,” Josie whispered in my ear. “What can I get you?” the bartender asked. “I'll have a...” Josie was ordering her drink when I started to get the strangest sensation of being watched. I looked over to my right to discover a strange young man staring at me. He had a cocky smile on his face, like he was the type of guy girls never said no to. I turned away letting him know I was not interested. I knew he didn't take the hint when I could still feel his eyes on me. I moved closer to Josie starting to feel uncomfortable under his piercing gaze. I refused to let him intimidate me so I untucked my hair from behind my ear letting it fall to create a dark brown veil to hide my reddened cheeks. “And what can I get you?” the bartender asked me next, grabbing my attention. “I'll have a beer,” I replied. “The beers are over there,” the bartender said, pointing behind us. “And I'm sure pledge Johnson would love to walk over there and get one for you,” said the strange young man who seemed to forget how impolite it is to stare. “No. It's okay. I can get it,” I said, wanting to get away from him. The bartender stood there as if waiting for a command. The creep with the staring problem nodded to him and he was off. As if that was an invitation to come talk to me he made his way over. “It's his job,” he said, leaning against the bar and looking me up and down like he was trying to envision me naked. I crossed my arms over my chest feeling a little violated as his dark blue eyes studied me. He smiled satisfied as he ran a hand through his messy black hair. Not sure what he was attempting to accomplish because it looked like he just threw some gel in it giving it that messy, ‘this is what I meant to do’ look. I shuffled my feet nervously waiting for the bartender to come back with my drink. I was trying to be nice and didn't know how much longer I could keep my composure with the way this guy was staring at me. When the bartender returned with my beer I said thank you and turned to walk away, but the creepy guy jumped in front of me blocking my path. When he stood straight, he was about a foot taller than me. He was wearing a green polo shirt and jeans that hung a little baggy on his slim body. I pushed my shoulders back preparing for whatever he was going to throw at me. He was in for a sore surprise if he thought he could woo me with his charm the way I was sure he had every other girl. He smiled cockily at me and extended his hand. “I'm Tristan,” he said. “Ella.” I shook his hand and he didn't seem to want to let it go. “Can I have my hand back?” I asked, annoyed. He smiled and pulled my hand to his lips. “Stella piu bella.” “I don't speak Italian,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him. “Enjoy the party Ella,” he winked and walked away. “What a creep,” I said to Josie after he left. “I think he's hot,” Josie said. “You would.” “And you don't?” she asked, surprised. “That doesn't matter. He's a player,” I said, watching him work the room and flirt with every girl he passed. “Ella, not all good looking guys are dicks.” Josie rolled her eyes. “Josie, let's not forget I've spent the last eighteen years living with the world's biggest player. I think I can spot a jerk when I see one.” “Well forget him then, let's mingle,” she said pulling me along. “Wait, where's Jack?” I asked. We've only been here ten minutes and I already lost him. “Bathroom...I think?” Josie shrugged, not in the least bit concerned. Josie was quick to move on when she lost interest. Jack showed up about fifteen minutes later confirming he was in the bathroom. “Sorry there was a long line,” he said. “That's okay. You want something to drink?” I asked him. “Sure,” he smiled. We walked over to a different bar than before and got Jack a drink.
I spent the rest of the night watching Josie socialize. I wasn't too much in the mood anymore. I kept to myself and talked to Jack most of the time. Every now and then I would catch the creep, Tristan, staring at me from across the room. No matter where we moved he was there, still staring. This was bordering on stalking. I was about to put a stop to it by telling him to drop this charade because there was no way in hell I would ever let him touch me, when Josie interrupted. “Ella this is Cadence. She's one of the sisters of Theta Kappa.” “Hi Ella, it’s nice to meet you. Would you like to meet some of the other sisters?” Cadence asked. I wanted to say no, but from the look on Josie's face I knew she wanted me to do this for her. I smiled politely and said, “Sure.” We followed Cadence over to the other side of the house. “Ella, Josie, this is Cassidy, Bailey, and Skylar.” Of course they were all blond and dressed like they were entering a fashion show. I put my best face forward and politely greeted each one of them. That was one of the first things my mom taught me. To always show respect and be considerate even if the person you're entertaining is an ass. “Don't you think they would make a perfect addition to our sorority?” Cadence said addressing the girls. Bailey smiled wide agreeing; Skylar gave me a look of distaste, not approving of Cadence's decision while Cassidy seemed to care less. I wasn't sure I so much liked the idea of being 'sisters' with these girls. “Ella? Hello Ella?” Josie said, snapping me back. “Oh, I'm sorry,” I said, getting a humorless laugh from Skylar. I fought the urge to glare at her. “Cadence would like us to pledge their sorority,” Josie said. “Oh, um, thank you but I don't think I'll be pledging this year.” I generously declined. Josie looked at me like I was crazy. “I just want to concentrate on my school work first before I get involved in anything else,” I explained. “I completely understand,” Bailey said. “I felt the same way you did until I met the sisters.” And here comes the sales pitch. “We always put our studies first and have a handful of sisters who are always willing to help out.” “Let us tell you some more of what we're about before you say no,” Cadence said, putting her arm around me, pushing Jack aside, and leading me to a couch by the wall. We sat down and Cadence went into more detail about the sorority. She explained that, yes, while they were known for their parties, they also did a lot of charity work around the community. Sisterhood was the most important thing to them and all the sisters looked after each other. She went on and on. I spaced out somewhere around the different levels of sisterhood. After several looks of disapproval from Josie, I made a solid attempt to make it seem like I was paying attention, but was having a hard time. I kept getting this weird feeling in my stomach. It was a strange kind of fluttering. Almost like a magnetic pull to something or someone. I looked up and noticed Tristan was making his rounds. I watched as he greeted each person he passed. A different smile for each of them. He had everyone eating out of the palm of his hand. I could see how easy it was for the naive to fall for his charm. He knew how to work the crowd. It seemed all it took was the flash of his pearly whites or a wink from those intense dark blue eyes. He looked over his shoulder like he could feel someone looking at him. I kept watching forgetting that someone was me. He looked directly at me and smiled, satisfied. I quickly looked away before he returned his attention to his friends. I forced myself to focus on something else. I found Josie hanging out with the other sisters having a good time and Jack, well, he looked miserable. He was just standing in the corner all by himself fidgeting uncomfortably. I guess he's not the socializing type. “So what do you think?” Cadence asked, bringing my attention back to her. “Well, you definitely gave me some things to think about. Can I get back to you on my decision?” “Absolutely, just don't wait too long. We're filling up quick with new pledges.” I smiled kindly ending the conversation. Josie came running over to me. “You said yes?” she asked, hopeful. “I said I'd think about it.” “Come on Ella. What's there to think about? They throw the coolest parties with the hottest guys. They are respected around campus, plus they do charity work...” Josie pleaded with her eyes. “And you know all of this how?” “It doesn't matter where I got the information. Just say yes.” “I'll think about it,” I repeated. Josie took my hand and pulled me back over to the girls. “Wait, Jack's all by himself.” “Let him go. It's not our fault he doesn't know how to socialize.” I felt bad that Josie dragged him to this party when he clearly wasn't having fun. I kept my eye on him while Josie flitted about with the sisters. That's when I started to feel that weird pull in my stomach again, but then it was gone as quick as it came. “Ladies...looking to add some new additions?” I sighed and turned around to see Tristan standing in front of me with his arms around Cassidy and Skylar. “Tristan, this is Ella,” Cadence said, introducing us. “We've already had the pleasure,” he said, smiling at me. I ignored him, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he bothered me. “And this is Josie.” He took her hand as he did mine earlier and kissed it causing Josie to blush. “Tristan is one of the brothers of Theta Pi, our brother fraternity.” Cadence continued. “One of his ancestors is a founding father, which makes him quite the legacy here.” “We all know why I'm a legacy here and it has nothing to do with my ancestry,” Tristan said, squeezing the girls tighter, making them giggle. I had to fight the urge to vomit. I crossed my arms tightly over my chest and tried my best not to glare at him. I knew Josie would be pissed at me if my attitude towards Tristan ended up ruining her chances with becoming friends with these girls. I had no idea why she would want to be, though. I suddenly got a small flutter in my stomach and looked up to see Tristan watching me curiously. I bit the inside of my cheek as he kept his eyes on me. Even though his hands were busy on someone else that didn’t stop him from checking other girls out, proving my earlier theory of him being a player. I looked at him appalled. I started to feel nauseous so I decided I needed to get some air. “Josie, I'll be right back. I'm just going to step outside for a bit.” “You okay?” “Yeah, I just need some air. It's getting a little crowded in here,” I said directly to Tristan hoping he'd get the hint and be gone when I returned. I stepped outside and took a deep breath of fresh, cool air. It burned my lungs a little. They weren't used to this cool of a climate, but I didn't care. It felt refreshing. “Hey,” Jack said coming up behind me. “Hey, you having fun?” “It's alright, like I said, parties aren't really my thing,” he shrugged. “Then why did you come?” “I guess...well,” he fidgeted. “Ella!” Tristan called jogging over to us. “God, I can't get rid of this guy,” I groaned. “You want me to tell him to beat it?” Jack asked. “No. I can handle him, but thank you. Why don't you head back? I'm going to wait for Josie.” “I can wait with you. I don't mind.” “Go back. I know Josie's not going to want to leave anytime soon. We'll be fine, I promise.” Jack reluctantly waved goodbye and I watched him stick his hands in his pockets as he walked off. Then I took another deep breath and turned around to face Tristan who had now closed the distance between us. I stood there with my arms crossed and eyes glaring waiting for him to tell me what he wanted. “Wow, I haven't seen a look of such distaste since Bailey caught me in bed with her sister.” I let out a sarcastic laugh and turned to walk away. Tristan put his hand on my arm stopping me. “I was just kidding,” he said. “Why do I find that hard to believe?” I said hoping my tone of voice would give him the hint that I was not interested. “You’ve got a bit of an attitude. I like that,” he grinned, letting me know I needed a new tactic. “Is there something you want?” I said, annoyed. He smiled that cocky smile and took a step closer. I put my hand on his chest stopping him and keeping him at arm's length. “I heard you were joining Theta Kappa and I wanted to officially welcome you.” “I haven't said yes, yet, and now that I know it would mean seeing more of you, I will be declining the offer,” I said, dropping my hand. “Don't say no on account of me. Theta Kappa is one of the most prestigious sororities on campus and can do great things for your future.” “Trust me. I don't need some dumb sorority to help me with my future.” “Ah...I see,” he said as if he just figured me out. Noticing he was losing me he laid on the charm. “Still they could use someone like you. They don't know it yet, but they'll be lucky to have you.” “Did they send you out here to try and convince me? Let's send Tristan, he can convince anybody. All he has to do is bat his long eyelashes and look with those dark blue eyes.” I tossed my hair mocking the sisters. He cracked a smile and took a step closer to me, leaving our faces only inches apart. “You think I have beautiful eyes?” he asked, his breath getting heavy. My heart started to quicken as I stared into his dark blue eyes. Then reality struck when the wind blew hair across my face. I took a step back. “I never said that.” My arms crossed into a hasty barrier again and I struggled to stay composed. He chuckled. “Why Ella, I do believe you're blushing,” he said. His cocky smile returning. I glared at him, shoving past as I walked back into the house. “Oh c'mon,” he said laughing. “Hey Josie, you ready?” “It's like only twelve.” I looked back to see Tristan was reentering the house and heading in my direction. “Don't mind Tristan. He's harmless,” Cadence said. “He was actually the one who suggested I extend the invite for you to join.” “Of course,” I said under my breath.
“Please don't let him discourage you from your decision. You really don't have to worry about him. The most you'll see of him is at the parties. That's it. He doesn't do anything else.” I turned and looked at him over my shoulder. One of the sisters had walked by taking his hand and pulling him to the dance floor. His eyes met my own and for a second I thought I saw something different, something deeper, but then he threw me his cocky smile again and grabbed Skylar's ass, making all that fade away.
What do you do when you learn your family is the one who's holding all the secrets. Secrets that could get you killed...Ella is looking forward to starting college in the fall with her best friend Josie. She’s looking for a place where she can get away from her overbearing parents and two older annoying brothers. Unfortunately Ella realizes that sometimes the past comes back to haunt you.
Ella soon learns that the man who terrorizes her dreams is in fact real and coming after her.
When one of her classmates is murdered, Ella slowly recognizes this is not some strange coincidence. Ella fears that the boy she’s falling in love with is the one who stalks her dreams and no longer knows who she can trust.
When she finally learns the truth of her families deepest secret, Ella has to face her demons by taking out one of the people she thought she could trust…before they kill her.
Available at Amazon
December 7, 2013
Interview with Eleanor Keane Author of The Breathing Ghosts
Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
A little bit about myself: I’m a graduate in English, a committed feminist and an ardent fan of The Lord of The Rings. When I’m not busy writing you can generally find me either browsing my local record store or plotting fervently to bring down the patriarchy.
As to what inspired me to write in this genre- which I would class as paranormal YA fiction- I suppose it’s because I read a lot of paranormal/supernatural YA novels and- though many of them are great- as a young writer I soon became tired of seeing the same old tropes, particularly in vampire novels: i.e. the endless heterosexual love triangles, the ‘dark and brooding love interest with a dark and brooding past,’ the ‘girl who’s magical but just wants to be normal’, the lack of sexual relationships, the needless angst, etc. Although the majority of the genre features magic, vampires, witchcraft and a host of other fascinating things, they all tend to be about the same thing- a normal ‘boy meets girl’ plot with lots of added sexual frustration.
To me, ‘normal’ is just a hollow illusion- as Morticia Addams said, ‘what’s normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.’ Instead, I wanted my own work to reflect the strength of truly being yourself- especially if that doesn’t fit into the straight/white/middle class norm.
Rather than writing a narrow heterosexual plot which I think has been done to death (no pun intended,) I wanted to explore diverse relationships- particularly LGBT ones, which never seem to be featured in YA fiction-and characters who were proud to be different.
As a result, I included a range of LGBT characters, as well as a relationship between two older adult characters that meet after a long, long time apart and fall in love. I also wanted to explore the themes of bullying, discrimination and what makes a person ‘unique’ or special- whether they are vampire, mortal, werewolf or teenager.
What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
I think it’s the allure of so much tangible physical and metaphorical difference within them that inspired me to write about vampires. Despite being arguably de-fanged and de-clawed in a lot of popular novels (glittery vampires spring to mind,) vampires are still very much ‘Other.’ They still exist on the sidelines of humanity, and exude not only mystery but also a dark and decadent power. They speak to the darkest and most different parts of ourselves- the parts of us that arguably feel drawn to the outsider and the outcast. I wanted my own vampire characters to be confident, contrary, brutal and bloodthirsty. They don’t glitter, they don’t hesitate to drink human blood and they don’t take prisoners.
Many of my ‘supernatural’ and vampire characters are also proudly LGBT-identified, which-as I said before- is rarely seen in YA fiction. Lesbian vampires within popular culture tend to be presented as beautiful, corseted, leather-wearing, dominatrix styled archetypes with no real personality, whilst gay vampires are just a muddle of Freudian metaphors. I wanted to strip away that veneer and present LGBT vampires as three-dimensional thinking, feeling, loving, living characters with minds (and fangs) of their own.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to present an ‘alternative’ YA novel for kids who were perhaps struggling with their sexuality, or bored with the Twilight phenomenon, and seeking something a bit edgier. I also wanted to present alternative role models who weren’t afraid to stand up for themselves and be unconventional. As I began writing The Breathing Ghosts, the plot became deeper and darker than I had first anticipated, and became less about vampires, vampire hunters and werewolves, and more about the secrets they were hiding from others- and from themselves.
Please tell us about your latest release.
My latest release is the sequel to The Breathing Ghosts. It is called The Blood Witching, and it is available to buy on Amazon and from the Kindle Store. It is influenced by the dark, twisted fairytales of the Brothers Grimm and Angela Carter. It mainly follows the trials of Nerissa Naughton, an über powerful and somewhat damaged lesbian vampire. Nerissa is desperate to find her ex-lover Angelica, a vampire sorceress responsible for a slew of bloody murders.
As it says in the blurb: Nerissa Naughton may be powerful, but confronting Angelica could cost her everything-even with the help of an unusual alliance of vampires, werewolves, mortals and the vampire huntress Rowan Oakwood (who is the heroine of The Breathing Ghosts.)
With Angelica desperate to win Nerissa back, only three things are certain: hearts will be broken, blood will be spilled, and nothing will be the same again...
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?
Aha! That’s an interesting question, because I think names are vitalto fleshing out a character. If the name isn’t right for the character, I will change it until I feel it fits. I’m a very visual person, so I imagine the character in front of me and try to think of a name that would fit their personality, appearance and background, (for instance, if they are a vampire who was born in the Victorian period, it would suit them to have a Victorian name.) Sometimes I think of the name first, and then construct the character around it. I also like Gothic, meaningful, and highly unusual names. After all, what’s the point in being a vampire or a werewolf if you’re going to have a boring or obvious name? Some of my favourite names from The Breathing Ghosts are Nerissa Naughton, Rowan Oakwood (used as a girl’s name) Virgil Valvayne and Albert Wintergrave.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
In The Breathing Ghosts, the character I found the most challenging to write was that of the heroine, Rowan Oakwood, because for some unknown reason it took a while for me to picture her in my mind. (One of the perils of being a ‘visual’ thinker.) Then I realized that I wanted her to be outwardly different, as well as inwardly different, and so I gave her a love of wild, exuberant clothes. After that, she became a lot easier to write, because whenever she walked into a room she’d always be wearing some crazy- and no doubt amazing-outfit!
For the sequel, The Blood Witching, I found it most challenging to write about a male vampire who was struggling with his sexuality. (He’ll remain unnamed as I don’t want to give too much away!) I persevered though, as I think many teenagers and young adults struggle with their sexuality, and I wanted to show that this can happen to anyone, and that anyone can cope with it, and learn to love who they are- even if they are an ancient, powerful vampire.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I love writing about my anti-hero, Nerissa Naughton, because she’s just so damn bad. She’s a whip-smart, cold-hearted, lesbian Goth girl who loves The Cure and hates anything she terms as ‘happy clappy.’ She is, of course, also a fearsome fighter, which makes for some fun fight scenes. Nerissa is like the Lisbeth Salander of the vampire world- only less laid-back and easy-going.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
Nope! I find the whole process very ‘organic’, in that I don’t plan, I don’t write reams of extensive notes, and I don’t sketch out attributes or personality traits. Occasionally I write a couple of ideas down in my Hobbit-themed Moleskine notebook (a Christmas present that I love,) but otherwise I literally just sit at my computer and type. I’m constantly going back through my draft and making changes, but that’s just the way I write.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
That’s a challenge, but I think one of my favourite scenes from The Breathing Ghosts is a scene set within the time of the infamous Salem Witch Trials, in 1692. As a feminist I’ve always been fascinated with the Salem Witch Trials (from a young age,) as I think it is a really interesting historical example of misogyny and the power of collective hatred and fear. I wanted to honour and respect the legacy of those times, whilst exploring it through my own imagination. I wondered what would happen if I placed a vampire into that cultural cauldron (pun intended,) and what the fall-out would be. In The Blood Witching, my favourite scene is where Angelica, the vampire sorceress, enacts a brutal revenge against Nerissa. You’ll have to read it though, to find out how!
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?Earlier this year I published a short story collection to accompany The Breathing Ghosts, called The Ghosts’ Feast. One of the stories traces the life of Vikram, a Hindu transformed into a vampire in the Sixties. I was interested in investigating different religions and cultures other than Christianity- especially as writers such as Anne Rice are well-known for exploring Christianity within their own vampire novels. Because I wanted to do justice to Vikram’s character, I therefore had to do a lot of research on the history of Hinduism and its customs. I’d originally named Vikram after Vikram Seth- the novelist and poet-but funnily enough there is a tale of a legendary king named Vikram or Vikramāditya, who is set riddles by a vampire spirit, known as a vetala. The story is part of a series known as the Baital Pachisi. With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
Of course, obviously I’d suggest that readers read the whole series to get the most out of the characters, but I still think that the first novel and the sequel could be read as stand-alone pieces. To find out more about my characters, readers can also check out my blog (www.thebreathingghosts.wordpress.com) where I do a ‘Character Of The Month’ feature.
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Oh yes! Rowan shares a similar- if more exaggerated- taste in clothes to me (in the first novel, she actually wears a green velvet skirt that I own!) whilst Nerissa expresses my secret love of Goth culture, and Bruce is a result of my love of rare books and London’s Watkins Bookshop (which is a fantastic independent bookshop for anything related to vampires or the supernatural.) Violet also gnaws her lip, just like I often do, and Camille is, of course, a die-hard feminist. (She also shares my love of the feminist author Kate Millett.) Although it’s important to note that my characters are also fundamentally different from me in many various ways- after all, where’s the fun in just writing about yourself?
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
Hmm…I usually drink hot chocolate whilst writing, does that count?
When did you consider yourself a writer?
My love of writing is so fundamental to me as a person that I probably considered myself a writer in the womb.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Starbucks coffee and browsing New Age spirituality shops. I refuse to feel guilty about my fervent consumption of chocolate, as I strongly believe that easy access to chocolate should be a human right.
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
As I previously mentioned, I am a die-hard feminist, so I often go to feminist conferences, demonstrations and protests- which is a lot more fun than it sounds. I’m passionate about women’s rights, and have been from a very early age. I also love to collect vinyl records, go to the cinema (although I have a pathological hatred of horror movies) and go to gigs. The last gig I went to see was Fleetwood Mac- they were amazing. I also love to read, and have been known to get through a novel a week at least. Apart from Tolkien, I love the work of Dorothy L. Sayers, Michael Moorcock, Angela Carter, Joanne Harris, Marion Zimmer Bradley and Poppy Z. Brite.
What was the last amazing book you read?
Sleep, Pale Sister by Joanne Harris- a wonderfully gripping, unusual and magical book.
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
I like to read on the bus, and also in an armchair in my sitting-room. It also helps that it is in front of the TV too.
What can readers expect next from you?
The third book in the series, although as The Blood Witching has just come out I haven’t got round to writing it yet I’m afraid! Please check my website and blog for more details.
Where can readers find you on the web?
I have an official website at: www.thebreathingghostsse.wix.com/thebreathingghosts, and a blog at www.thebreathingghosts.wordpress.com. The Breathing Ghosts Series is also on Facebook and on Twitter (follow me at EleanorKeane1.) The Breathing Ghosts, The Ghosts’ Feast and The Blood Witching are all on GoodReads as well, and available to buy from Amazon. (Please also feel free to write reviews on Amazon!)
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book
“He used to call vampires ‘the breathing ghosts’- for, as he put it, we existed in a kind of limbo-land between the living and the dead. We breathed, but we were not alive. We flitted through the air, but we still left foot prints on the ground. We were, and are, neither one nor the other, but something else entirely.”- Extract from The Breathing Ghosts,copyright Eleanor Keane.
“Not all fairytales have happy endings, my dear...Not all witches burn in ovens, not every princess wakes up, and sometimes the trail of breadcrumbs doesn’t lead to a safe place...I should know.”- Extract from The Blood Witching, copyright Eleanor Keane.
The Breathing Ghosts
Eleanor Keane
Eighteen year old Rowan Oakwood isn’t quite like other girls. She’s a lesbian, a loner, an orphan and the first and last female vampire hunter of her line, forced to hunt vampires with a magic she can barely control.
But when the cold-hearted and cunning vampire Virgil Valvayne sets out for a brutal revenge, she soon finds herself a target.
Rowan knows she has no choice but to kill Virgil, so why is she so drawn to his beautiful and reclusive sister? And is Violet Valvayne really all she seems?
Soon boundaries are crossed, loyalties shift and dark alliances are forged, until Rowan doesn’t know whom to hate, whom to hunt, or whom to love…
The Breathing Ghosts is a dark fantasy for adults and young adults.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Breathing-Ghosts-Eleanor-Keane-ebook/dp/B00B9LIRGS
About the Author Eleanor Keane
I am the author of The Breathing Ghosts- a dark vampire fantasy aimed at young adults and the accompanying short story collection, The Ghosts’ Feast. Both are available to buy as ebooks from Amazon and Amazon.co.uk.
I have also written for For Books’ Sake, Mookychick.com, Vampire Review and for the Feminist Library, London. (Please see my Portfolio for more details.) I have given readings from The Breathing Ghosts at Westminster Reference Library, London (with the poets and authors Sophia Blackwell and Roz Kaveney) the Courtauld Institute of Art Literature Society and Freedom Press Anarchist Bookshop, London. I have also been interviewed for Nyx Book Reviews and Dark Gothic Resurrected ezine (Summer 2013 issue.)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Breathing-Ghosts-Series/411354892280903
http://thebreathingghosts.wordpress.com/tag/the-breathing-ghosts/
A little bit about myself: I’m a graduate in English, a committed feminist and an ardent fan of The Lord of The Rings. When I’m not busy writing you can generally find me either browsing my local record store or plotting fervently to bring down the patriarchy.
As to what inspired me to write in this genre- which I would class as paranormal YA fiction- I suppose it’s because I read a lot of paranormal/supernatural YA novels and- though many of them are great- as a young writer I soon became tired of seeing the same old tropes, particularly in vampire novels: i.e. the endless heterosexual love triangles, the ‘dark and brooding love interest with a dark and brooding past,’ the ‘girl who’s magical but just wants to be normal’, the lack of sexual relationships, the needless angst, etc. Although the majority of the genre features magic, vampires, witchcraft and a host of other fascinating things, they all tend to be about the same thing- a normal ‘boy meets girl’ plot with lots of added sexual frustration.
To me, ‘normal’ is just a hollow illusion- as Morticia Addams said, ‘what’s normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.’ Instead, I wanted my own work to reflect the strength of truly being yourself- especially if that doesn’t fit into the straight/white/middle class norm.
Rather than writing a narrow heterosexual plot which I think has been done to death (no pun intended,) I wanted to explore diverse relationships- particularly LGBT ones, which never seem to be featured in YA fiction-and characters who were proud to be different.
As a result, I included a range of LGBT characters, as well as a relationship between two older adult characters that meet after a long, long time apart and fall in love. I also wanted to explore the themes of bullying, discrimination and what makes a person ‘unique’ or special- whether they are vampire, mortal, werewolf or teenager.
What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
I think it’s the allure of so much tangible physical and metaphorical difference within them that inspired me to write about vampires. Despite being arguably de-fanged and de-clawed in a lot of popular novels (glittery vampires spring to mind,) vampires are still very much ‘Other.’ They still exist on the sidelines of humanity, and exude not only mystery but also a dark and decadent power. They speak to the darkest and most different parts of ourselves- the parts of us that arguably feel drawn to the outsider and the outcast. I wanted my own vampire characters to be confident, contrary, brutal and bloodthirsty. They don’t glitter, they don’t hesitate to drink human blood and they don’t take prisoners.
Many of my ‘supernatural’ and vampire characters are also proudly LGBT-identified, which-as I said before- is rarely seen in YA fiction. Lesbian vampires within popular culture tend to be presented as beautiful, corseted, leather-wearing, dominatrix styled archetypes with no real personality, whilst gay vampires are just a muddle of Freudian metaphors. I wanted to strip away that veneer and present LGBT vampires as three-dimensional thinking, feeling, loving, living characters with minds (and fangs) of their own.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to present an ‘alternative’ YA novel for kids who were perhaps struggling with their sexuality, or bored with the Twilight phenomenon, and seeking something a bit edgier. I also wanted to present alternative role models who weren’t afraid to stand up for themselves and be unconventional. As I began writing The Breathing Ghosts, the plot became deeper and darker than I had first anticipated, and became less about vampires, vampire hunters and werewolves, and more about the secrets they were hiding from others- and from themselves.
Please tell us about your latest release.
My latest release is the sequel to The Breathing Ghosts. It is called The Blood Witching, and it is available to buy on Amazon and from the Kindle Store. It is influenced by the dark, twisted fairytales of the Brothers Grimm and Angela Carter. It mainly follows the trials of Nerissa Naughton, an über powerful and somewhat damaged lesbian vampire. Nerissa is desperate to find her ex-lover Angelica, a vampire sorceress responsible for a slew of bloody murders.
As it says in the blurb: Nerissa Naughton may be powerful, but confronting Angelica could cost her everything-even with the help of an unusual alliance of vampires, werewolves, mortals and the vampire huntress Rowan Oakwood (who is the heroine of The Breathing Ghosts.)
With Angelica desperate to win Nerissa back, only three things are certain: hearts will be broken, blood will be spilled, and nothing will be the same again...
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?
Aha! That’s an interesting question, because I think names are vitalto fleshing out a character. If the name isn’t right for the character, I will change it until I feel it fits. I’m a very visual person, so I imagine the character in front of me and try to think of a name that would fit their personality, appearance and background, (for instance, if they are a vampire who was born in the Victorian period, it would suit them to have a Victorian name.) Sometimes I think of the name first, and then construct the character around it. I also like Gothic, meaningful, and highly unusual names. After all, what’s the point in being a vampire or a werewolf if you’re going to have a boring or obvious name? Some of my favourite names from The Breathing Ghosts are Nerissa Naughton, Rowan Oakwood (used as a girl’s name) Virgil Valvayne and Albert Wintergrave.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
In The Breathing Ghosts, the character I found the most challenging to write was that of the heroine, Rowan Oakwood, because for some unknown reason it took a while for me to picture her in my mind. (One of the perils of being a ‘visual’ thinker.) Then I realized that I wanted her to be outwardly different, as well as inwardly different, and so I gave her a love of wild, exuberant clothes. After that, she became a lot easier to write, because whenever she walked into a room she’d always be wearing some crazy- and no doubt amazing-outfit!
For the sequel, The Blood Witching, I found it most challenging to write about a male vampire who was struggling with his sexuality. (He’ll remain unnamed as I don’t want to give too much away!) I persevered though, as I think many teenagers and young adults struggle with their sexuality, and I wanted to show that this can happen to anyone, and that anyone can cope with it, and learn to love who they are- even if they are an ancient, powerful vampire.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I love writing about my anti-hero, Nerissa Naughton, because she’s just so damn bad. She’s a whip-smart, cold-hearted, lesbian Goth girl who loves The Cure and hates anything she terms as ‘happy clappy.’ She is, of course, also a fearsome fighter, which makes for some fun fight scenes. Nerissa is like the Lisbeth Salander of the vampire world- only less laid-back and easy-going.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
Nope! I find the whole process very ‘organic’, in that I don’t plan, I don’t write reams of extensive notes, and I don’t sketch out attributes or personality traits. Occasionally I write a couple of ideas down in my Hobbit-themed Moleskine notebook (a Christmas present that I love,) but otherwise I literally just sit at my computer and type. I’m constantly going back through my draft and making changes, but that’s just the way I write.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
That’s a challenge, but I think one of my favourite scenes from The Breathing Ghosts is a scene set within the time of the infamous Salem Witch Trials, in 1692. As a feminist I’ve always been fascinated with the Salem Witch Trials (from a young age,) as I think it is a really interesting historical example of misogyny and the power of collective hatred and fear. I wanted to honour and respect the legacy of those times, whilst exploring it through my own imagination. I wondered what would happen if I placed a vampire into that cultural cauldron (pun intended,) and what the fall-out would be. In The Blood Witching, my favourite scene is where Angelica, the vampire sorceress, enacts a brutal revenge against Nerissa. You’ll have to read it though, to find out how!
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?Earlier this year I published a short story collection to accompany The Breathing Ghosts, called The Ghosts’ Feast. One of the stories traces the life of Vikram, a Hindu transformed into a vampire in the Sixties. I was interested in investigating different religions and cultures other than Christianity- especially as writers such as Anne Rice are well-known for exploring Christianity within their own vampire novels. Because I wanted to do justice to Vikram’s character, I therefore had to do a lot of research on the history of Hinduism and its customs. I’d originally named Vikram after Vikram Seth- the novelist and poet-but funnily enough there is a tale of a legendary king named Vikram or Vikramāditya, who is set riddles by a vampire spirit, known as a vetala. The story is part of a series known as the Baital Pachisi. With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
Of course, obviously I’d suggest that readers read the whole series to get the most out of the characters, but I still think that the first novel and the sequel could be read as stand-alone pieces. To find out more about my characters, readers can also check out my blog (www.thebreathingghosts.wordpress.com) where I do a ‘Character Of The Month’ feature.
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Oh yes! Rowan shares a similar- if more exaggerated- taste in clothes to me (in the first novel, she actually wears a green velvet skirt that I own!) whilst Nerissa expresses my secret love of Goth culture, and Bruce is a result of my love of rare books and London’s Watkins Bookshop (which is a fantastic independent bookshop for anything related to vampires or the supernatural.) Violet also gnaws her lip, just like I often do, and Camille is, of course, a die-hard feminist. (She also shares my love of the feminist author Kate Millett.) Although it’s important to note that my characters are also fundamentally different from me in many various ways- after all, where’s the fun in just writing about yourself?
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
Hmm…I usually drink hot chocolate whilst writing, does that count?
When did you consider yourself a writer?
My love of writing is so fundamental to me as a person that I probably considered myself a writer in the womb.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Starbucks coffee and browsing New Age spirituality shops. I refuse to feel guilty about my fervent consumption of chocolate, as I strongly believe that easy access to chocolate should be a human right.
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
As I previously mentioned, I am a die-hard feminist, so I often go to feminist conferences, demonstrations and protests- which is a lot more fun than it sounds. I’m passionate about women’s rights, and have been from a very early age. I also love to collect vinyl records, go to the cinema (although I have a pathological hatred of horror movies) and go to gigs. The last gig I went to see was Fleetwood Mac- they were amazing. I also love to read, and have been known to get through a novel a week at least. Apart from Tolkien, I love the work of Dorothy L. Sayers, Michael Moorcock, Angela Carter, Joanne Harris, Marion Zimmer Bradley and Poppy Z. Brite.
What was the last amazing book you read?
Sleep, Pale Sister by Joanne Harris- a wonderfully gripping, unusual and magical book.
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
I like to read on the bus, and also in an armchair in my sitting-room. It also helps that it is in front of the TV too.
What can readers expect next from you?
The third book in the series, although as The Blood Witching has just come out I haven’t got round to writing it yet I’m afraid! Please check my website and blog for more details.
Where can readers find you on the web?
I have an official website at: www.thebreathingghostsse.wix.com/thebreathingghosts, and a blog at www.thebreathingghosts.wordpress.com. The Breathing Ghosts Series is also on Facebook and on Twitter (follow me at EleanorKeane1.) The Breathing Ghosts, The Ghosts’ Feast and The Blood Witching are all on GoodReads as well, and available to buy from Amazon. (Please also feel free to write reviews on Amazon!)
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book
“He used to call vampires ‘the breathing ghosts’- for, as he put it, we existed in a kind of limbo-land between the living and the dead. We breathed, but we were not alive. We flitted through the air, but we still left foot prints on the ground. We were, and are, neither one nor the other, but something else entirely.”- Extract from The Breathing Ghosts,copyright Eleanor Keane.
“Not all fairytales have happy endings, my dear...Not all witches burn in ovens, not every princess wakes up, and sometimes the trail of breadcrumbs doesn’t lead to a safe place...I should know.”- Extract from The Blood Witching, copyright Eleanor Keane.
The Breathing Ghosts Eleanor Keane
Eighteen year old Rowan Oakwood isn’t quite like other girls. She’s a lesbian, a loner, an orphan and the first and last female vampire hunter of her line, forced to hunt vampires with a magic she can barely control.
But when the cold-hearted and cunning vampire Virgil Valvayne sets out for a brutal revenge, she soon finds herself a target.
Rowan knows she has no choice but to kill Virgil, so why is she so drawn to his beautiful and reclusive sister? And is Violet Valvayne really all she seems?
Soon boundaries are crossed, loyalties shift and dark alliances are forged, until Rowan doesn’t know whom to hate, whom to hunt, or whom to love…
The Breathing Ghosts is a dark fantasy for adults and young adults.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Breathing-Ghosts-Eleanor-Keane-ebook/dp/B00B9LIRGS
About the Author Eleanor Keane
I am the author of The Breathing Ghosts- a dark vampire fantasy aimed at young adults and the accompanying short story collection, The Ghosts’ Feast. Both are available to buy as ebooks from Amazon and Amazon.co.uk.
I have also written for For Books’ Sake, Mookychick.com, Vampire Review and for the Feminist Library, London. (Please see my Portfolio for more details.) I have given readings from The Breathing Ghosts at Westminster Reference Library, London (with the poets and authors Sophia Blackwell and Roz Kaveney) the Courtauld Institute of Art Literature Society and Freedom Press Anarchist Bookshop, London. I have also been interviewed for Nyx Book Reviews and Dark Gothic Resurrected ezine (Summer 2013 issue.)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Breathing-Ghosts-Series/411354892280903
http://thebreathingghosts.wordpress.com/tag/the-breathing-ghosts/
December 6, 2013
Interview and Giveaway with A Katie Rose
Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
I’ve always loved fantasy, ever since my brother encouraged me to read Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”. Until then, all I wanted to read was horse stories. After I read “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Silmarillion”, I started reading books by other fantasy authors like Katherine Kurtz and Anne McCaffrey. I also expanded my literary horizons into such works by Stephen King and Dick Francis.
What inspired you to write this book?
I started daydreaming about a wizard finding and healing a dying young man. From there, I wrote “In a Wolf’s Eyes’” predecessor, and tried publishing it. Good thing I didn’t – it sucked. Now I have the second of the series, “Catch a Wolf” 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?
Actually, no. I sort of made them up as I went along. With the book I’m writing now, I bought a book on Gaelic and Irish names that I use. But – I still also make them up as I go along.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
Honestly, Brutal turned out to be the challenge. I wanted him psychotic, and at first wrote him in as too psychotic for intelligence. The hard part was changing his stupidity for high intelligence and melding them together. So now I have a very clever and far-sighted sexual sadist chasing my kids.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
No, I truly enjoyed them all. I loved giving them personal foibles, attributes – developing them as people, not card-board cut-outs.
Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?
Being a seat of the pants writer, I let my characters develop as I write the story. As the story becomes a story, they become more real and I get attached to them. Once I get attached, I make them more complex. I try to weave in certain attributes – Ly’Tana’s sense of humor, Raine’s rage, Rygel’s arrogance, Kel’Ratan’s sharp inquisitiveness, Witraz’s failure to be respectful and Alun or Rannon smacking him upside the head for it.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
Ok, here’s a real writer’s confession. One of my favorite scenes is the one where the injured she-wolf brings her pup to Raine and lays him in his lap before she dies. I bawled as I wrote the bloody thing. I also wrote this section in one long day of writing, and I was exhausted. My head didn’t hurt – my brain hurt. I’ll paste a small section here:
The shadow limped closer.From edge of the trees, it circled, just out of the firelight. Left and Right sat in obedience to my harsh command, yet twisted around on their haunches to keep it in sight. It moved behind Kel’Ratan, still indistinct, green eyes glowing like twin evil lamps. He turned to watch it, his sword pointed toward it.It moved forward again, slowly, now behind Witraz. As it came toward him on his blind side, he spun and knelt in the dirt, facing it, keeping his weapon close.I was next. The shape paused, eyes glowed that eerie, strange green. Something fanned the air behind it. I half-noted a faint shadow blurring, moving back and forth, before the low throaty whine reached my ears.“Lady have mercy,” Ly’Tana whispered.She spoke for me, for I was incapable of speech.The huge, shaggy, silver-grey wolf limped closer, into the firelight. She ignored the insignificant humans who sat in thrall. She paid little heed to the armed warriors who might rise up and kill her out of hand.Her eyes, calm, amber-brown, no longer glowing green fire, rested on me. Her right front leg couldn’t hold her weight. Thus she limped forward on her remaining three limbs. Her wagging tail still fanned the night behind her massive shoulders. Something dangled from her mouth. With the darkness and shadows moving as though alive from the dancing fire, I couldn’t tell what it was. A dark ball, it hung, curled, from the she-wolf’s jaws.She crept closer.Another low plea emerged from the grievously injured wolf.Suddenly, with no warning, tears choked my throat. A wedge of raw emotion seized me in its merciless grip. I wanted to howl. The urge to howl, to throw back my head and howl to the moon, to run on four legs, my pack behind me -I did none of these things.I sat, frozen, unable to breathe, as the she-wolf laid her pup in my lap.
How does this world differ from our normal world?
It doesn’t, not really. I pulled from my knowledge of history, the feudal system of medieval Europe and the Roman Empire. Just so I don’t follow too closely on historical heels, I made enough changes that perhaps keep my readers believing this is all of my own making. The Kel’Hallans have a King, but aren’t a true medieval society – more like a very large clan. Khalid has a gladiatorial arena and gladiators, but have medieval feudal elements that the Empire didn’t have.
With the book being part of a series, are there any character or story arcs, that readers jumping in somewhere other than the first book, need to be aware of? Can these books be read as stand alones?
Yes, the book is the second book of my “Saga of the Black Wolf” series. And no – lol – unless readers enjoy a stand alone where they’re left hanging, none of my books are stand alones. If folks aren’t familiar, “In a Wolf’s Eyes” is the first book of the series, “Catch a Wolf” is book two.
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Only our shared love of horses. I have a passion for horses that I instill into my characters. But Raine, Ly’Tana and all the rest certainly ride better than I. I love swords and have a small collection, but I can’t wield them as my kids do.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
All the time. Sometimes rereading several chapters of what I’m working on helps. Then I can carry on as though nothing halted me. As my day job doesn’t require much mental activity, I’m free to ponder plot problems, sort out character issues and create subplots. None of those has helped this last block – I couldn’t think of how to continue this important battle scene. Until last night. As I unwound before going to bed, I thought: what if Flynn messed with Malik’s head? I pondered that question today and – wow! Got that damn scene worked out.
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
No, not really. I can’t seem to write during the day, sometimes, as I usually write in my evenings. My inspiration is mush during the day. My evening wine always loosens my muse – does that count?
Do you write in different genres?
Technically, I reckon I do. I also write erotica, though none of that has been published yet. I want to someday write historical fiction, though.Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
Nah. I find it hard to write short stories though (outside of my erotica). Can’t seem to shorten plot lines, for some reason.
When did you consider yourself a writer?
The day my first novel, “In a Wolf’s Eyes” was published. Until then, I was a writer wannabee.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Diet coke, wine, beer, action movies, wine, “Criminal Minds”, diet coke, wine
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
Horses. My biggest (and most expensive) passion. I love learning about, talking about, caring about, and breathing about – horses. I love to teach (not train) my horses, and learn from them. They have been my best teachers. And cat rescuing. This city in South Texas I live near and work in is terrible about their homeless animal situation. Thus I rescue cats and kittens, and is the main reason why I have too many. Need a cat? Let me know.
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
No – just the couch. I can’t seem to lie down and read these days, so I sit on my sofa with my diet coke or wine to hand, a cat (or two) on my lap. But being the workaholic that I am, I generally only read for a few hours before getting too restless and get up to do something. Annoys the cats to no end, too.
What can readers expect next from you?
“Prince Wolf”, the third book of the Saga of the Black Wolf. Should be out by spring of 2014. And “The Unforgiven”. A stand-alone fantasy novel I’m working on now. Hopefully, that will be published around the same time.Where can readers find you on the web? www.akatierose.comand my blog at www.akatierose.me. I’m easy to find.
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Sure. How’s this?
He brightened suddenly. “Think of it this way, my love. Once I kill you, you’ll no longer be suffering.” He tittered.Gesturing toward the Raine and Arianne, he grinned. “They will wish I had killed them, but I’ll keep at least my promise to them. They’ll live for many long years. As for the traitor Cephas –“His dead eyes lit with fury and hate. “Cephas.” He spat the name as though tasting poison. “If he survives my troops, I’ll hang him. Slowly. He will dangle at the end of my rope for hours.”“You really should have known better,” Raine said.I wasn’t the only one who jerked in surprise. Brutal’s jaw dropped, as though the rock behind him had suddenly grown voice and chanted prayers. Ja’Teel’s pale face flushed first red then darkened in anger. His lips thinned, his eyes narrowed. The royal Sins stiffened their backs, their dark eyes not on me any longer, but on him.Raine no longer slouched in a half-conscious daze. He stood erect, his hands bound and chained behind his back. Chains looped over and around his chest and shoulders. They might not have been there at all if one looked at his eyes.His eyes were alive, alert and seriously pissed off. Weirdly grey and ringed in black, but Raine’s no longer. These were flat, inhuman, and deathly, deadly cold. The eyes I met in Lionel’s royal court in what seemed a lifetime ago. A gladiator’s eyes. A killer’s eyes. His eyes were a wolf’s eyes. His eyes were the still, chilling eyes of a born predator.The warm, humorous, loving Raine disappeared. The bloody Wolf returned.While Brutal and I conversed like civilized people, the beast rose from the shadows and darkness.In the distance, the wolves howled.“What are you talking about, Wolf?” Brutal asked, once more playing the polite.Raine nodded toward Ja’Teel. “He’s well aware of ehlu’braud’s nature.”Ja’Teel snorted. “So you can feel one another, so what? Rygel can’t find you, even if he’s still alive.”“Oh, he’s alive, all right,” Raine replied. “He’s on his way as we speak.”Brutal and his pet exchanged glances. Of course, Brutal shrugged. What else would he do? “Even if he’s alive, he cannot possibly get here before I marry her. We’re leagues from where we, er, picked you up.” He tittered. “And we’ll be on our way to Connacht shortly after the ceremony.”“Connacht?” I asked, confused.“Yes,” Brutal said brightly. “I have ten thousand troops in the surrounding areas. I plan to restore the rightful King of Connacht.” Laughing, he offered a half-bow to Raine. “Always glad to help a friend.”“You can’t invade with a mere ten thousand,” I scoffed.“Oh, there’ll be more joining us, I assure you.” His dead, yet very much alive eyes, rested on me. “The Kel’Hallans.”“Never,” I hissed. “They won’t follow you.”“They’ll obey the King.”“You aren’t going anywhere.” Raine’s wolfish growl tore my attention from Brutal.“You’re tiresome,” Brutal said impatiently. “Silence, or I’ll have you gagged.”“Your pet forgot something,” Raine went on, implacable.“What might that be?” Ja’Teel snapped.“I carry his blood.”“What does that mean, his blood? Whose blood?”Ja’Teel’s eyes widened in sudden comprehension and dawning horror. He understood very well, very well indeed.“What’s he talking about?” Brutal demanded.“I have magic in my fists.”In a wild attempt at bravado, Ja’Teel sneered. “So? You don’t know how to use it.”With a flat cracking sound, the chains suddenly broke and fell from Raine’s huge arms, his immense shoulders. They dropped in a steely slither to land at his feet. As though in relief from their obnoxious weight, Raine’s huge arms rose and stretched languidly over his head.
Catch a WolfSaga of the Black WolfBook 2A. Katie Rose
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Book Description:
Raine, Ly’Tana and the others escape Brutal’s trap, but with dire consequences. Kel’Ratan has been grievously injured, and Rygel must take him to safety to save his life. Yet, they are not out of danger. A monstrous storm called the Wrath of Usa’a’mah has halted their flight from Khalid and they must seek shelter within a remote monastery or die under the storm’s power.
But High King Brutal has allied himself with the deadly assassins, the Shekinah Tongu. The secretive clan has sworn out a Blood Oath against Rygel in retaliation for his leaving their brothers in the forest to die. With their hellish hounds and Brutal’s dark wizard, Ja’Teel, they track Raine and Ly’Tana through the devastation left by the storm. Raine leads them into the west, toward Ly’Tana’s home of Kel’Halla, with Brutal’s menace confronting them at every turn.
As he finds himself falling in love with the exotic Ly’Tana, Raine is plagued by a mysterious voice in his head. Is he going crazy? In Raine, Ly’Tana discovers the one man she cannot live without. However, an evil entity has targeted Ly’Tana, bent on her destruction. How can Raine, Rygel, Kel’Ratan and her griffin bodyguard, Bar, keep her safe from its vast, unseen power?
Hunted by Brutal and his evil allies, Raine, Ly’Tana and their friends discover a new, and very strange, force dogging their trail – a pack of enormous, cunning wolves. Mysterious wolves who call to Raine in the night, and bring alive the secret he’s kept hidden, even from himself. Taunted by nightmarish visions, Raine is forced to confront his own dark demon – the beast within himself.
Who will catch Raine and Ly’Tana first? Brutal and his pets – or the wolves?Thus begins the second novel of the Saga of the Black Wolf series.
In a Wolf’s EyesSaga of the Black WolfBook 1A. Katie Rose
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Date of Publication: April, 27, 2012
ASIN: B007XXQWZ4
Number of pages: 497 (approx.)Word Count: 155,000
Cover Artist: Ginny Glass
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/kSNgnzUIsTU
Untreed Reads Amazon BN Drive Thru Fiction
Book Description:
Raine is a slave, a gladiator. Known as the Bloody Wolf, he is the champion of all champions in the Empire of Khalid. Ly’Tana is a warrior princess of Kel’Halla and is set to wed the heir to Khalid’s throne, Crown Prince Broughton. When Raine and his new wizard pal, Rygel, accidentally murder the High King, they set in motion events rapidly spiraling out of control. Ly’Tana discovers the true, and violent, nature of her betrothed, a man nicknamed Prince Brutal for his vicious nature, and escapes her marriage.
But Brutal will stop at nothing to have her for his wife. To entice his runaway bride into a trap, he brings down and captures her griffin bodyguard, Bar. Ly’Tana vows to have Bar back or die trying. She seeks the help of Raine and Rygel, and frees Bar from Brutal’s clutches. Yet, in doing so, Raine and Ly’Tana are forced to flee for their lives, hunted by Brutal’s secretive assassins.
Can they escape the hunters and their silent, evil hounds? Can Ly’Tana evade Brutal’s hungry need to marry her and seize her beloved country? Can Raine keep Ly’Tana alive and still save himself from capture and torture? Can they stop themselves from falling in love?
Thus begins the first novel of The Saga of the Black Wolf series.
About the Author:A. Katie Rose is a Colorado native, and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. She enjoys riding, teaching and learning from horses, likes camping, reading novels, watching movies and, of course, lives to write fantasy books. She currently works as a photographer in San Antonio, Texas, and is a slave to her six cats and four horses. “In a Wolf’s Eyes” is her first novel.
www.akatierose.com
www.akatierose.me
https://www.facebook.com/AKatieRose
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1444598.A_Katie_Rose
https://twitter.com/AKatieRose
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December 5, 2013
Kindle Free Book Blitz Chains of Frost by T. A. Grey
Free on Amazon
Chains of FrostThe Bellum Sisters 1
T. A. Grey
Genre: paranormal erotic romance
Publisher: Grey Ink Press LLC
Date of Publication: 11/06/11
ISBN: 1480083909ASIN: B00645936C
Number of pages: 320
Word Count: 85,000
Formats available: ebook and paperback
Cover Artist: Hallie Chandler
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/JDWyDoGKHRw
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.es | Amazon.it | All Romance eBooks | Nook | | iTunes | Smashwords | Print
Book Description:
Three Fates. Three Sisters.
When a will from her dead father decrees Chloe into the protection of the renowned vampire commander, Tyrian en Kulev, she does what any woman would do—and casts a spell. Things get worse for Chloe when the spell she and her sisters perform summons an ancient demon from deep within the earth. Now she's being hunted by a demon set on killing her and must live at the aptly named Castle Death with the king of cold, Tyrian. Surprisingly, Chloe finds that she doesn’t mind her new Protector so much. His cold, impassionate nature needs a firm push to show his true colors, and Chloe thinks she’s just the one to do it.
Tyrian en Kulev always pays his debts. When Francis Bellum dies and orders Tyrian to act as his eldest daughter’s Protector, Tyrian resigns himself to the position. What should have been a simple deal--keep her in the castle, protect her--has turned difficult. Chloe comes to him with a demon trying to kill her and a sexy attitude that keeps invading his thoughts everywhere he goes. The little succubus easily grabs hold of the heart he’d kept locked away for so long and makes him feel once again. But can they defeat the demon that haunts her and can Tyrian overcome his past and move on to a new future with Chloe?
About the Author:
I love to write the kind of stories that will keep you up late at night and make your heart pound. It's my goal to make each new book better, more exciting, and more action-packed to keep thrilling you. I'm always trying to push the boundaries with my imagination, and yours, to create something new and different.
Open up one of my novels and you will find hot, erotic stories that will make you laugh out loud, cry, and fly through the pages. I write addictive love stories and I hope you like them.
Visit my website to learn more about my books at www.tagrey.com
Website: http://tagrey.com/index.html
Blog: http://tagrey.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorTaGrey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/T-A-Grey/122074687903394
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5049079.T_A_Grey
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Chains of FrostThe Bellum Sisters 1T. A. Grey
Genre: paranormal erotic romance
Publisher: Grey Ink Press LLC
Date of Publication: 11/06/11
ISBN: 1480083909ASIN: B00645936C
Number of pages: 320
Word Count: 85,000
Formats available: ebook and paperback
Cover Artist: Hallie Chandler
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/JDWyDoGKHRw
Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.es | Amazon.it | All Romance eBooks | Nook | | iTunes | Smashwords | Print
Book Description:
Three Fates. Three Sisters.
When a will from her dead father decrees Chloe into the protection of the renowned vampire commander, Tyrian en Kulev, she does what any woman would do—and casts a spell. Things get worse for Chloe when the spell she and her sisters perform summons an ancient demon from deep within the earth. Now she's being hunted by a demon set on killing her and must live at the aptly named Castle Death with the king of cold, Tyrian. Surprisingly, Chloe finds that she doesn’t mind her new Protector so much. His cold, impassionate nature needs a firm push to show his true colors, and Chloe thinks she’s just the one to do it.
Tyrian en Kulev always pays his debts. When Francis Bellum dies and orders Tyrian to act as his eldest daughter’s Protector, Tyrian resigns himself to the position. What should have been a simple deal--keep her in the castle, protect her--has turned difficult. Chloe comes to him with a demon trying to kill her and a sexy attitude that keeps invading his thoughts everywhere he goes. The little succubus easily grabs hold of the heart he’d kept locked away for so long and makes him feel once again. But can they defeat the demon that haunts her and can Tyrian overcome his past and move on to a new future with Chloe?
About the Author:I love to write the kind of stories that will keep you up late at night and make your heart pound. It's my goal to make each new book better, more exciting, and more action-packed to keep thrilling you. I'm always trying to push the boundaries with my imagination, and yours, to create something new and different.
Open up one of my novels and you will find hot, erotic stories that will make you laugh out loud, cry, and fly through the pages. I write addictive love stories and I hope you like them.
Visit my website to learn more about my books at www.tagrey.com
Website: http://tagrey.com/index.html
Blog: http://tagrey.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorTaGrey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/T-A-Grey/122074687903394
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5049079.T_A_Grey
Waking the Witch: Guest Blog by Jessica Penot Plus a Giveaway
The idea for The Accidental Witch came to me while I was working one day. I worked on the psychiatric floor of a hospital as a therapist. I was running all the support groups and the group of patients on the floor that day were particularly sad and resistant to treatment. None of them had insurance or resources so we couldn’t refer them out to any place but the Mental Health Center. The MHC couldn’t see them for six months. It was pretty dismal. My boss looked at me and said, “I wish I had a magic wand so I could just fix everything for these people.” I wished I did to.
I began writing the next day. I wrote about a psychologist who got so desperate she used the dark arts to help her patient population. At first, things go well for her. Her patients get better and find all the resources they need. Her sex life takes a turn for the better and she begins to feel good about herself, but the magic takes a dark turn and an old demon ends up taking residence in the little girl that lives next door to her. In order to fight the demon, she needs to enlist the help of a warlock and her mother, who turns out to be the baby eating witch from old fairy tales.
Writing the mental health end of this story was fairly easy for me, but writing about magic took me to new ground. I had to spend a considerable amount of time reading about magic and spellcraft. I had to learn about witches before I could turn my psychologist into one. I had to learn about them before I could wake the witch in my main character. It was an interesting journey for me and I ended up using a mixture of Southern folklore and old druid spells to create a magical landscape for my heroin to traverse.
In the end, it is surprising how easy it was for me to blend the worlds of magic and mental health. These things seem so far divided but they mixed seamlessly. Ghosts, witches, demons, and mental patients drift in and out of the landscape of my tale and pull my little witch deeper and deeper into a world of sex and magic until the only way out might be to pull herself to hell and back.
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The Accidental WitchThe Darkest Arts SeriesBook 1Jessica PenotGenre: Paranormal RomancePublisher: Lachesis Publishing
ASIN: B00GG83WLE
Number of pages: 276Word Count: 85,000
All Romance eBook Bookstrand Kindle UK
Kindle US Lachesis Publishing Inc OmniLit
Book Description:
Phaedra Michaels is a small town psychologist who is beginning to lose hope. Two of her patients at the local hospital in Dismal, Alabama have just killed themselves, she’s still reeling from her divorce and what turned out to be a disastrous marriage, and her father has died, leaving her without any notion of who her real mother is.
Just as Phaedra decides to commit herself to a serious drinking problem and an eating disorder, or two, a mysterious spell book arrives in the mail. Feeling desperate, Phaedra uses it to cast spells to save her fading patients. Suddenly, good things start happening. Phaedra’s patients begin to get better and she even starts dating the sexy doctor from the hospital.
Phaedra is so happy she doesn't notice the small things that start to go wrong in Dismal, or the dark creatures slithering out of the shadows near her house. When Phaedra finally realizes her spells have attracted every card-carrying demon from hell, she has no choice but to accept help from a slightly nerdy, 500 year-old warlock with a penchant for wearing super hero T-shirts and a knack for getting under Phaedra’s skin. Now, if only she could get the hang of this witch thing, she might be able to save her town.
About the Author: Jessica Penot is a therapist who lives in Alabama with her 2 corgis, cat, sons, husband and other strange creatures. She is the author of Haunted North Alabama, Haunted Chattanooga, and Circe.
www.jessicapenot.net
www.ghoststoriesandhauntedplaces.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/jessica.penot
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Spotlight on Dragon Craving: Otherworlds Summons Book 2 by Livia Olteano
Dragon CravingOtherworlds SummonsBook 2Livia OlteanoGenre: New Adult Paranormal / Erotic Romance
Approx. word count - 70k - 80k words
Book Description:
The world holds few secrets for Oracle Elana Anderson, or as her fans know her, Ela Deville. Successful author of paranormal romance, Ela, has a secret: not all her paranormal characters are quite that fictional. She hardly expected she'd trigger a chain of events that might bring about the end of the world via a pesky dragon. Rendered blind to visions of him, Ela’s only way to save her world is to keep the dragon close…very close.
Obitus, the only awake dragon in the Otherworlds, is determined to get back the magic that was stolen from him and secure his position for a good thousand years. Becoming Akai’s new guardian after getting rid of the current one is the best way to it. But that means getting Ela on his side. He’ll bargain and maneuver his way there if he has to, but ends up tormented by the desire to have her for real.
In a game of deals, half-truths and irresistible cravings, does one heart have to break in order for the other to save the world?
Excerpt 2 - from Chapter 1 (Ela's POV):
I wanted him to follow. At this point I knew he wanted a victim for tonight. If it wouldn’t be me, it would be some poor woman. I couldn’t let that happen. Once in the elevator I pushed for my suite’s floor. My pulse skipped. I’d wait for him there.
As the doors opened I stepped out of the elevator and inhaled deeply. He’d be up in about a minute. The hall was empty. I allowed myself a quick peak into the following minutes to make sure no one would show up beside the two of us. Allison would take about 45 minutes to come up. I had enough time.
I stood there, facing the elevator doors, and began the invocations. I had quite a few options as far as spirits went, but I rarely used them. Tonight, I called for the soul nippers. They were tiny, vicious things that hungered for soul energy. The most efficient way to make a living creature disappear. The nippers materialized out of the floor, screeching and moaning.Now all I needed was a target to mark. And he’d arrive right…now. The doors binged open. He walked out, grinning at me.
“I knew you were sweet on me, honey,” he crooned.
I smiled and mentally drew the target symbol on his chest. The nippers launched at him. He opened his mouth, wanting to scream, but one of the nippers slid down his throat and blocked his vocal chords. They shot through him, screeching with glee. Each time they went through, a bit of his soul was consumed. In a minute or so he fell to the floor, eyes wide and face contorted in pain. I didn’t feel much pity. He’d put his victims though a lot worse.
Autopsy would show he’d died of a stroke. I took the phone out of my purse and hit speed dial.
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“I think someone’s having a seizure or something. Hotel…”
About the Author:Livia lives in Europe where she listens to obscene amounts of music and devours every reading material in sight. When she’s not doing either of the two, she fiddles with anything remotely customizable within reach.
She spamificates the world online via:
Website: http://www.liviaolteano.com/
Blog: http://blog.liviaolteano.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LiviaOlteano
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiviaOlteano
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/11350038-livia-olteano
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