Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 475

Spotlight Tour Matchpoint by Elise Sax

 July 15 Bewitching Book Tours Magazinewww.issuu.com/bewitchingbooktours 
July 16 Escape Into A BookEatsleepread88.blogspot.com
July 17 Lissette E. Manninghttp://www.simplistik.org/lissetteemanning
July 18 Reader's Edynhttp://readersedyn.blogspot.com
July 19 Nette's Bookshelf Reviewshttp://nettesbookshelf.blogspot.com
July 22 Simply Infatuatedhttp://simplyinfatuated.com/
July 23 Girl and Her Kindle www.agirlandherkindle.com
July 24 Ramblings From This Chickhttp://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspot.com/
July 24 All I Want and More –http://alliwantandmore.blogspot.com/
July 25 Fang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com 
July 26 Roxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
July 29 The Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
July 29 reviewMila Ramoswww.jademystique.blogspot.com


MatchpointThe Matchmaker Series, Book TwoElise Sax
Genre: Comedic romantic mystery
Publisher: Ballantine (Random House)Paperback Pages: 288
ISBN: 978-0-345-53224-4
Book Description:
Lovably troublesome Gladie Burger runs into sizzling danger and a fiery love triangle in the second installment of Elise Sax’s hilarious and sexy Matchmaker romance series.
“Elise Sax will make you laugh. Her larger-than-life characters jump off the page and make crazy seem like a fun place to hang out.”—New York Times bestselling author Christie Craig
Since joining the family matchmaking business run by her eccentric Grandma Zelda, Gladie is always looking for love. But when an unbearable toothache knocks her out of commission and into the dentist’s chair, she prays only for relief. No such luck. Emerging from an anesthetic haze, Gladie awakes to find that not only is her tooth still throbbing, but her dentist is dead—and the lead suspect in the murder, office receptionist Belinda, just so happens to be Gladie’s first real client. Now it’s up to Gladie to find Belinda a man and keep her from being locked up behind bars.
As if that weren’t enough distraction, two gorgeous men are vying for Gladie’s attention: Spencer, the playboy chief of police, and Holden, Gladie’s secretive, gorgeously muscled neighbor. Still, Gladie’s not complaining about having a helping hand or two when the case leads her to a dangerously bizarre cult. She may have met her match—and if she’s not careful, it could be her last.

Amazon   Kindle    BN    BN Nook  Booksamillion

An Affair to DismemberThe Matchmaker Series, Book OneElise Sax
Genre: Comedic romantic mystery
Publisher: Ballantine (Random House)
ISBN: 978-0345532220
Number of pages: 320Word Count: About 80,000
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/sox1nLfSEmY


Amazon     BN    Wal-Mart    BooksAMillion
Book Description:
Certain to appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich, Jennifer Crusie, and Katie MacAlister, Elise Sax’s hilarious series debut introduces matchmaker-in-training Gladie Burger, who stumbles into a dangerous quagmire of murder and red-hot romance.
Three months has been Gladie Burger’s limit when it comes to staying in one place. That’s why Gladie is more than a little skeptical when her eccentric Grandma Zelda recruits her to the family’s matchmaking business in the quaint small town of Cannes, California. What’s more, Gladie is also highly unqualified, having a terrible track record with romance. Still, Zelda is convinced that her granddaughter has “the gift.” But when the going gets tough, Gladie wonders if this gift has a return policy.
When Zelda’s neighbor drops dead in his kitchen, Gladie is swept into his bizarre family’s drama. Despite warnings from the (distractingly gorgeous) chief of police to steer clear of his investigation, Gladie is out to prove that her neighbor’s death was murder. It’s not too long before she’s in way over her head—with the hunky police chief, a dysfunctional family full of possible killers, and yet another mysterious and handsome man, whose attentions she’s unable to ignore. Gladie is clearly being pursued—either by true love or by a murderer. Who will catch her first?
Praise for An Affair to Dismember
“Elise Sax’s new Matchmaker series is off to a rousing start! . . . Sax gives the comic mystery genre a new spin. . . . A fun read sure to entertain.”—RT Book Reviews
“Fans of laugh-out-loud romantic suspense will enjoy this new author as she joins the ranks of Janet Evanovich, Katie MacAllister, and Jennifer Crusie.”—Booklist
“Elise Sax will win your heart.”—New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis
“In the tradition of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, Elise Sax’s new novel is a funny, sexy ride.”—Valerie Frankel, author of Four of a Kind
“What a fun book! It will leave readers begging for more.”—Kim Gruenenfelder, author of There’s Cake in My Future


 About the Author:
Elise Sax worked as a journalist for fifteen years, mostly in Paris, France. She took a detour from journalism and became a private investigator before trying her hand at writing fiction. She lives in Southern California with her two sons. An Affair to Dismember, the first in the Matchmaker mystery series, is her first novel.
http://elisesax.com/
https://twitter.com/TheEliseSax
http://www.facebook.com/theelisesax

http://youtu.be/sox1nLfSEmY

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elise-sax/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5766108.Elise_Sax

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AAD Spotlight: C.J. Ellisson Author of Avoiding Mr Right

Top Vanilla Sex Toys You Should *Always* Have at Home
1) Two to Four Neck Ties. This is the type of item you can buy any place that sells men’s clothes and you won’t feel like a freak at the register. If you need me to tell you why you might need neck ties in the bedroom… well… let’s just say you need to read more.
2) Whip Cream. Sure it’s messy and has calories, but hey, it’s damn fun.
3) Ping Pong Paddle. Yup, you read that right. Read Vanilla on Top if you don’t believe me. It will make you look at table tennis in an entirely new light. ;-)
4) Ice cubes. Unless you live in a home with no freezer, trying this one shouldn’t be passed up. Especially in the summer.
5) Blindfold. You can improvise and use the nick ties if you must. The sensation of not seeing your partner harkens back to our days of playing hide-n-seek. The idea that if you can’t see them, they can’t see you can be incredibly freeing.
6) Candles. Not to be dismissed as only a light source. Yes, we all look better in candlelight, but a little hot wax dripped on exposed skin is a not-to-be-missed experience, too.
7) Lube. You might have to order this online to get the good stuff, but don’t skimp. Sticky, fruity, and/or water based ones aren’t the best choice. I’m a little biased; I love Pjur Body Glide. A little dab ‘il do ya.
8) Finger Vibe. The characters used on in Avoiding Mr. Right. Sure, I like the big, powerful ones with multiple settings just like the next gal, but sometimes in the heat of the moment all you really need is a little extra “nudge” to reach that simultaneous completion we’re always hoping for.

I could go on and on and list all of my favorite toys… but then again, they may not all be “Vanilla”. ;-) Now, before you rush off to go shopping I don’t recommend buying them all together on one visit to the store. I’m pretty sure the check out person would be on to you. But then again, they may just smile.
How about you? What’s a must have item you can’t live with out?


July 1 Guest blogwww.LunarHavenRD.com
July 2 SpotlightBuried Under BooksHttp://buriedunderbooks1.wordpress.com
July 3 SpotlightRomancing Rakes For the Love of Romancehttp://www.romancingrakes4theluvofromance.blogspot.com
July 5 SpotlightShayna Renee's Spicy Reads –http://shaynareneesspicyreads.blogspot.com/
July 8 Guest blog and reviewEscape Into A Bookeatsleepread88.blogspot.com
July 9 reviewFangs, Wands & Fairy Dusthttp://fangswandsandfairydust.com/
July 9 Guest blogwww.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com
July 9 reviewRandom Reviews by Leannehttp://author-leanneherrera.blogspot.com/ 
July 10 Spotlight and reviewFaerie Tale Bookswww.faerietalebooks.org
July 11 reviewBoekie's Book Reviews www.BoekiesBookReviews.com
July 12 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
July 15 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net 
July 16 spotlightThe LUV'NVhttp://www.theluvnv.com
July 16 SpotlightKelly P's Blog http://kellyatx.blogspot.com/
July 17 Guest blogReader's Edyn   http://readersedyn.blogspot.com/
July 18 Interview and reviewStorm Goddess Book Reviews- www.stormgoddessbookreviews.blogspot.com
July 19 SpotlightC.W. Book Reviews @ The House of Malfunctionwww.houseofmalfunction.com
July 22 SpotlightThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
July 23 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
July 24 Guest blogAAD Feature Spotlightwww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
July 24 Spotlight and review
Crazy Four Books
http://www.crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com

July 25 reviewHttp://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot.com/
July 26 Spotlight and reviewMila Ramoswww.jademystique.blogspot.com
July 29 SpotlightCover Reveals http://CoverReveals.blogspot.com
July 30 Guest blogSmoldering Heathttp://smolderingheat.wordpress.com
July 30 SpotlightReviewing in Chaoshttp://reviewinginchaos.blogspot.com
July 31 Guest blogErotica For Allhttp://eroticaforall.co.uk
July 31 SpotlightAll I Want and More –http://alliwantandmore.blogspot.com/

Avoiding Mr RightWalk on the Wild Side, Book 2C.J. Ellisson
Genre: erotic romance
Publisher: Red Hot Publishing
ASIN: B00D69AJEY
Carla Johnson thinks issuing orders to a lover will keep her heart safe and leave her in charge of her own destiny. Afraid for Carla’s future, her best friend Heather implores her to change her self-centered ways, handing her a list of love life mistakes to steer clear of:
1. Casual Sex2. Friends with Benefits3. Avoidance of Intimacy
Carla ignores the list—unwilling to face she might have a commitment problem. Until she invites a co-worker to her place one night. She instantly regrets the hum-drum sexual encounter and discourages the accountant from pursuing her. 
Andy Shea refuses to become another lover the feisty blonde dumps. It'll take a patient man with a strong hand to unlock Carla's sexual awareness and win her heart. He’s up for the challenge to convince her he’s the one—and eager to prove this number cruncher won’t make a boring bedmate. 
Amazon   Goodreads

About the Author:
C.J. Ellisson is the USA Today Bestselling author of the NYT Bestselling book, Vanilla on Top, the bestselling V V Inn series, and several erotica shorts. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband, two children, two dogs, and a fluffy black cat who makes her sneeze. Unlike most full-time authors, she's also battling severe chronic illness. C.J. works daily to put her Lupus into remission and continues to fight numerous bacterial infections while her immune system slowly attacks her body. She turned to writing when she could no longer work outside the home and claims the escape of penning contemporary fantasy, erotica, and erotic romance has helped save her sanity.
To learn more about C.J. and her other books, please stop by the author's website http://www.cjellisson.com  or visit her on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/c.j.ellissonfanpage

A Hot and Sinful Summer Featured in Bewitching Book Tours Magazine's July Issue

One of the short stories from my newest release- A Hot and Sinful Summer, is in the newest issue of Bewitching Book Tours Magazine- 

Read the entire short erotica story "Something More Than Friends" starting on page 51 

Join us for our one year anniversary issue- and we guarantee it sizzles.
The theme of the month is hot erotica- as if the July heat isnt enough.
We have steamy excerpts and hot interviews with erotica authors including CJ Ellisson, Blakely Bennett, Sandra Gore, Jeffe Kennedy, Patricia Knight and Roxanne Rhoads.
We also have our normal features: Tarot in Fiction, Green Living Tips with La Mamma Verde, reviews, and poetry. 
Featured authors include Stavros, Meredith Allard, Elise Sax, Karen Greco, and Carole Remy

Available at:

http://issuu.com/bewitchingbooktours/docs/magazine__13_version_2

and

http://www.scribd.com/doc/153908826/July-Bewitching-Book-Tours-MagazineJuly Bewitching Book Tours Magazine

Please vote for my Ginger

Ok everyone I need your votesall you have to do is click the LIKE button- the power is in your hands to help me win (please :-)Viewer's Choice is your category and needs your LIKEs! http://pinterest.com/pin/396950154627005086/

Top Ten Foods Beatrice Loves: Blitzkrieg Love by Livia Olteano

Top Ten Foods Beatrice Loves

Coffee – yes, it’s food!PizzaPeach & kiwi ice creamPastaFries with cheeseScrambled eggs made by AnthonyCrepes with cheese or chocolate syrupApple pieMeatballs with tomato sauceSpicy Brinjal Cabbage Curry

 June 24 SpotlightElfie Bookshttp://elfie-books.blogspot.co.uk
June 25 InterviewPembroke Sinclair. pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
June 26 SpotlightBooks Books and More Books http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/
June 27 Spotlight and reviewEscape Into A Bookeatsleepread88.blogspot.com
June 28 Guest blogRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
July 2 SpotlightMythical Bookshttp://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
July 3 Spotlight and reviewShut Up & Read http://shutupandreadgroup.blogspot.com/
July 3 SpotlightButterfly-o-Meter Bookshttp://butterflyometerbooks.blogspot.com/
July 5 Spotlight and reviewMusings From An Addicted Readerhttp://musingsfromanaddictedreader.blogspot.com/
July 8 SpotlightChapter Breakhttp://chapterbreak.wordpress.com
July 10 ReviewA Bibliophiles Thoughts on Bookshttp://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/
July 11 Interview and reviewhttp://houseofmalfunction.com/c-w-book-reviews/
July 12 InterviewLove in a Bookhttp://www.loveinabook.com
July 15 Guest blog and reviewWords of Wisdom from The Scarf Princesshttp://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com
July 15 InterviewBooks & Taleshttp://www.booksandtales.blogspot.co.uk/
July 16 Character interview and reviewConfessions From Romaholics http://confessionsfromromaholics.com/
July 17 Guest blogwww.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com
July 18 Spotlight and reviewFaerie Tale Bookswww.faerietalebooks.org
July 19 SpotlightUnputdownable Booksunputdownablebookies.blogspot.com
July 22 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com


Blitzkrieg Love
Night People Book One
Livia Olteano

Genre: New Adult Spicy Contemporary Romance

Word Count: 50k
Sensuality Level: Hot

Date of Publication: June 24, 2013
Publisher: Crimson Romance

Description:

“Don’t try to be my hero. Don’t care about me. Don’t let go.”

Twenty-two-year-old Beatrice Stevens lives to dance. Two years ago she walked in on the picture of horror: after stabbing her mom 34 times, her father killed himself. She found his corpse still clutching at her mom’s, determined not to let go of her even in death. Now Beatrice freaks out if she’s hugged, loomed over or receives attention from daddy-type guys. Unless she’s dancing—the one thing that feeds her soul and saves her time after time.

Anthony Gowl wants Beatrice from the moment she bumps her adorable nose into his chest. That desire turns into a burning need after he sees her dance. But he’s the overprotective type—he can’t help it, it’s part of him ever since his sister ODed seven years ago. His savior complex makes him the perfect opposite of what Beatrice needs.

But she can’t seem to shake him. He’s both scary and exciting, even when he kneels at her feet. And the closer he gets, the more that toxic waste in her soul threatens to explode.

Warning: Contains scenes and language suitable for adults

Amazon    iTunes  Crimson Romance AllRomanceEbooks
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. 

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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Converging Fates Ten Year Evolution

Converging Fates Ten Year Evolution
            Converging Fates is the sum of my childhood imagination and being bored at a summer job. Like many children, I thought dinosaurs were the coolest thing since Jesus. My friend and I decided to create the fourth Jurassic Park movie, and we did legitimately believe it would be the fourth Jurassic Park movie.             Plot template: crazy scientist doing crazy things; marines search for him on islands and fight dinosaurs. So a sci-fi channel original. In high school, this became a semi-original novel that I worked on infrequently. At one point, I was about 75% done. I still have some of that manuscript, and the writing is horrible. I used so many big words, convoluted sentences, and unnecessary obfuscation. I think some English professors would love it.             After I graduated, I worked full-time in a battery-recycling plant for the summer. My ultra-engaging job was to sort alkaline and nickel-hydrate batteries from nickel-cadmium. To prevent myself from lapsing into a coma, I worked on story ideas. I liked the concept of making my own fantasy universe, and I had a premise.             The big epic fantasies, LOTR, Narnia, Game of Thrones are all medieval settings. More so, there seems to be no technological progress. The Silmarillion covers thousands of years with no mentioning of the elves or men inventing anything. Narnia covers the entire history of a world, with the same lack of progress. I love science-fiction, and I love fantasy, so I decided to put them together and place the classic fantasy races in a futuristic setting. However, I needed a plot and villain.             I had the idea of a teenager from earth getting swept to another reality and live with hyper-aggressive elves, but that was it. I needed a focal point, and the Jurassic Park story was perfect. There was a villain, a plot, and action. There were exciting characters and transferable characters. A stoic marine male colonel easily became Vanyae. Tyrannosaurus Rex became the hydra.             For some reason, I was oddly motivated to work on this story. I wrote almost every day after work, and once college started, my ability to do very little and get decent grades proved most useful.    Positive feedback from my friend encouraged me that I had something good. I've read that it's bad to show stories to your friends, because they'll give bias feedback. Maybe for short stories, but I wouldn't read a full novel on Open Office if I didn't really like it, and I don't think any of my friends would either.            I finished the manuscript in about six months. I had done three rewrites, which I believed was enough. I would talk about my query rejection process, but since I never got an agent, I don't really know what I was doing wrong.             I went back to the manuscript several times over the next two years. A month before I signed a contract, I finished the biggest rewrite, reducing the story by almost 20,000 words while expanding on description.             In previous rewrites, I only made minimal alterations. I felt that my story was complete and thus, there should be no major changes. You can't really be right or wrong in writing, but I think that after two years, I had developed enough as a writer, and I had enough of rejection, to realize major changes were beneficial.             Some of the things I removed will be making appearances later on: some character flashbacks, some origin myths, and a completely deleted significant character. However, they unnecessarily complicated this story and unbalanced the pacing.             The lessons I take from this: childhood is really important, but for some reason, it's often ignored. Go to a famous person's Wikipedia page, their childhood section will be very small, but I had a wonderful imagination then, and I don't see any reason to waste those ideas. Next, don't convince yourself your manuscript doesn't need major changes just because you declared it finished. There's never really a time when it's actually done (as the notes in my copy of CF testify to), but don't let it be too easy for you to stop major revisions. 
 July 15 Guest blogCloey's Book Reviews and Other Stuffcloeyk.blogspot.com
July 15 SpotlightCover Reveals http://CoverReveals.blogspot.com
July 16 SpotlightDEB SANDERShttp://DebSanders.com
July 16 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  www.pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
July 17 Guest blogUnraveling Wordshttp://unraveling-words.blogspot.com
 July 18 SpotlightBrooke Bumgardner http://www.brookeblogs.com
July 19 Guest bloghttp://claireashgrove.blogspot.com/
 July 22 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
July 22 SpotlightThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com 



Converging FatesReagent Universe, Book 1Jonathan Cortez 
Genre: Science-Fiction
Publisher: Fresh Publishing
Date of Publication: 03 June 2013
ISBN: 9780957606814ASIN: 0957606818
Number of pages: 376 pWord Count: 133,750 words
Cover Artist: Jen Detchon
Amazon
Book Description:
Deep in the remote Undervalley, a scientist is creating a portal that will link two universes. 
Never mind the damage his research does. A taskforce of elves and humans must hunt him down before he destroys their universe. 
The elves hold the key, Mahavir, a human abducted from the other universe. He is the link between universes, and his death may prevent a disaster. 
But Mahavir has no intention sacrificing himself for others.
About the Author:
Jonathan Cortez is a graduate of Penn State Behren, with an Associate of Arts degree.
He was an avid reader and writer from a young age, but even before that his story-telling and world-building skills blossomed while playing with Lego. He largely developed his writing craft on his own.
Jonathan is a big fan of science-fiction and fantasy, although he only started reading the genres during high school. When not reading or writing, he enjoys watching TV and listening to heavy metal.
He is currently still studying at Penn State. He is also working on the sequel to Converging Fates.
https://www.facebook.com/jonathancortezru





  

A Writer’s Retrospective AAD Spotlight with Phillipa Ballantine

A Writer’s Retrospective
So I’ve reached the end of road…well at least for the novels…with the Books of the Order. Geist, Spectyr, Wrayth and Harbinger. They comprise four books and a significant chunk of my writing life, so I feel it’s OK to get a little thoughtful about it.
I began writing Geist while I was in Europe, strangely enough on a rather rough boat ride to the Orkney Isles at the top of Scotland.
Coincidentally, it was a rough part of my life, full of scary changes, but it was also exhilarating because there were so many chances in that change. Sorcha was the first character who sprang into my mind, a powerful, prickly woman who had been moulded by being so powerful from an early age.
She needed a foil, and I guess the childhood TV shows finally did something useful to me. The idea of a seasoned cop getting stuck with the wet-behind the ears rookie is pretty much a staple…but I hadn’t seen it done much in the fantasy genre.
So Merrick was born, the calming, reasonable force that might just keep Sorcha in check.The Rossin and Raed were born together; one a fierce expression of the supernatural, the other a charming rogue.
So I had my characters and together we set off.
I don’t recall finishing the book because it happened so quickly, nor do I remember much of what my agent Laurie McLean thought of Geist…but I do recall the morning I woke up to the news that Ace Books and particularly Danielle Stockley had liked it enough to take a chance.Because I was living in New Zealand then, the timezones meant I woke up, checked my emails, and honestly thought for a moment that I was dreaming. I had to take a little time to make sure that my eyes were open and I was reading what I was reading. I was excited, elated, but also kind of nervous. Now, after all the attempts I had my shot at a New York publishing deal.
Luckily, I found I had a solid, kindly editor in Danielle, that was happy to lead me through the process, and even better she loved my story almost as much as I did. They had signed me initially for a two book contract, but within weeks of Geist being published in 2010, they signed me up for another two books. I was just plain excited then…I’d get to tell the whole story I had always imagined.
When I handed in the final edits on Harbinger to Danielle told me that as she finished she had a tear in her eye. That was when I realized it was going to be OK, and this journey had been worthwhile.
Now, I can’t wait for the book to be out there, and take the readers with Sorcha, Merrick, Raed, and even the Rossin to the final endgame I always had in mind.

July 16 InterviewCabin Goddess http://cabingoddess.com
July 16 SpotlightCoffee and Characters http://www.daniellecromero.blogspot.com
July 17 InterviewMarsha A MooreMarshaAMoore.blogspot.com
July 17 SpotlightSapphyria's Book Reviewssaphsbookblog.blogspot.com
July 18 Interview Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com
July 18 SpotlightMy Paranormal Book Reviewhttp://www.myparanormalbookreview.blogspot.com/
July 19 Guest blogRomance on a Budgethttp://www.suzannerock.wordpress.com
July 19 Interview/SpotlightBeverly @ The Wormholehttp://wormyhole.blogspot.com
July 22 Guest blog AAD SpotlightFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
July 23 Guest blogFangs, Wands & Fairy Dusthttp://fangswandsandfairydust.com/
July 23 Guest blogUrban Fantasy Investigationshttp://urbanfantasyinvestigations.blogspot.com/
July 23 SpotlightMythical Bookshttp://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/
July 24 SpotlightMusings of Mistress of the Dark Path mistressofthedarkpath.wordpress.com
July 25 Guest blogPreternatura suzanne-johnson.blogspot.com
July 25 InterviewUrban Girl Reader – http://www.urbangirlreader.com
July 26 Guest blogBuffy's Ramblingshttp://buffy-kennedy.blogspot.com/
July 29 InterviewSimply Infatuatedhttp://www.simplyinfatuated.com/
July 29 SpotlightMusings and Ramblings – judy-ree.blogspot.com
July 30 Guest blogTynga's Reviews http://www.tyngasreviews.com
July 30 Guest blogDangerous Romancewww.dangerousromance.com
July 30 Spotlighthappy tails and taleshttp://magluvsya03.wordpress.com



Harbinger 
Philippa Ballantine

Release date July 30th

Book Description:

The Deacons of the Order are all that stand between the wicked spirits of the Otherside and the innocent citizens of the Empire. They are sworn to protect humanity, even when they cannot protect themselves…

After the Razing of the Order, Sorcha Faris, one of the most powerful Deacons, is struggling to regain control of the runes she once wielded. The Deacons are needed more desperately than ever. The barrier between the world of the living and the world of the dead is weakening, and the Emperor has abandoned his throne, seeking to destroy those he feels have betrayed him.

Though she is haunted by the terrible truth of her past, Sorcha must lead the charge against the gathering hordes of geists seeking to cross into the Empire. But to do so, she will need to manipulate powers beyond her understanding—powers that may prove to be her undoing…

About the Author:

Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Philippa has always had her head in a book. For this she blames her father who thought Lord of the Rings was suitable bedtime reading for an eight year old. At the age of thirteen she began writing fantasy stories for herself.

She first earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Political Science and then a Bachelor of Applied Science in Library and Information Science. So soon enough she found herself working in the magical world of libraries where she stayed for over a decade.

Her first professional sale was in 1997, and since then she has gone on to produce mostly novel length fiction. In 2006 she became New Zealand’s first podcast novelist, and she has voiced and produced Weaver’s Web, Chasing the Bard, Weather Child and Digital Magic as podiobooks. Her podcasts have won both a Parsec Award and a Sir Julius Vogel award.

Philippa is the author of the Books of the Order series with Ace- Geist, Spectyr, Wrayth and Harbinger coming in July 2013.

She is also the co-author of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series with Tee Morris. Phoenix Rising debuted in May 2011 and The Janus Affair came out in May 2012. Phoenix Rising won the Airship Award for best written steampunk, and was the number eight best Science Fiction book of 2011 according to Goodreads.com. The Janus Affair was the seventh most popular science fiction book of 2012 on Goodreads.com. The series continues with Dawn’s Early Light in December 2013.

In addition she is also the author of the Shifted World series with Pyr Books, with the first book Hunter and Fox released in June 2012, and the second Kindred and Wings scheduled for August 2013.

When not writing or podcasting, Philippa loves reading, gardening, and whenever possible traveling. With her husband Tee and her daughter, she is looked after by a mighty clowder of five cats in Manassas, Virginia.

Website: www.pjballantine.com

Twitter: philippajane



Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/pjballantine/ 

Interview with Darlene Kuncytes the author of A Vampire’s Saving Embrace

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre? 
That is a really great question.  I don’t think I actually chose the genre – it chose me.  I just had this idea in my head and kind of went with it. Once I started, there was just no stopping me. I knew I wanted to do a romance, and the supernatural aspect of the book just kind of happened.
I work full-time and foster puppy mill rescues. I have always loved reading and writing.  It has just always been such a huge part of my life, and to now be able to do this has been amazing.  I have met so many spectacular, supportive people I can’t even begin to tell you.
 I can have a very odd sense of humor, finding the funny in everyday things - and be loopy at times! lol

Please tell us about your latest release.
My latest release is A Vampire’s Saving Embrace.  It is a total romance with the paranormal as a little extra. I wanted the love story to be the focus of this book.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I would have to say, to a point Abby.  She is feisty, and fun – yet so afraid of trusting.  She has been lied to and hurt in her life and even though she is a passionate, loving person – she always has that insecurity in the back of her mind. It’s as if she is always waiting for the ball to drop.  She is tough on the outside – but so soft on the inside.
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 certain attributes in mind, but once the story starts to flow, they kind of take on a life of their own! Lol.  They become so real to you that you begin to think, ‘oh, that is how Abby would react’ ect.

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
Oh, wow. Now that is a difficult one.  There is a scene where Desmond helps Abby to bathe that I had a lot of fun writing. It was funny and sexy and a lot of fun.

Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
It’s totally our world, just a bit more secluded I think.  The first book mainly takes place at Desmond’s estate – but book two in the series is out there in the world a bit.
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?
They can totally be read as stand- alones.  Book 2 is about 2 character’s from book one, and of course all the character’s that I hope people will come to love will make an appearance here and there. 
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Yes, lol. I am afraid to say that Kat’s smartassedness (wow! Is THAT even a word?  If not, it should be! Lol) is totally me.  I have a real problem with saying things out loud that I think should be kept solely in my head! lol
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
I do.  I basically step away for a bit.  I was working on a scene in book 2 that I was just completely at a loss – so I stepped away from it, relaxed, daydreamed, and after a few days sat back down and had over 4,000 words written in one sitting. 
What can readers expect next from you?
Book 2 -A Wolf’s Savage Embrace.  I am hoping to launch that by the end of August.  I have also started a romance/suspense that I hope to finish before Christmas. Not part of the series.
Where can readers find you on the web?  
Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble    I am hoping to have a website up shortly, but I am soo computer illiterate it isn’t even funny!
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
“You needn’t just stand there quietly, my pet,” he said, his back still to her. “You may come in if you wish.”Abby blew out the breath she had been holding and sighed -damn his spidey sense! “I was bored,” she offered, walking over to stand beside him. “May I help?” Desmond graced her with that grin and again, her damned toes curled. Damn! Damn! Damn!“You can stir the sauce,” he said, taking a drink from a beautiful black crystal goblet he had beside the sink. “Would you care for a glass of wine?” He set the goblet down, and not thinking, Abby reached for it to take a sip. With lightning speed his hand was around her wrist - stilling her. “Not from there, love,” he cautioned a strange heat in his gaze.For an instant Abby was pissed. What - did he think he would get some sort of horrible, contagious fairy cooties if she drank from the same glass as he did? That really took some nerve. He was a vampire for God’s sake. He drank other people’s blood! Shouldn’t she be the one who was worried?“I only wanted a taste,” she muttered softly- then with a note of annoyance, “I won’t infect you or anything. Just because I’m a fairy doesn’t mean you’ll sprout wings!” She bit out - but a moment later her eyes widened with embarrassment as her face turned bright red. “Oh, cripes. It doesn’t - does it?” She croaked – wincing at her stupidity.Desmond burst out laughing, his fingers releasing her wrist and going to her lips. His index finger softly traced the lines of her mouth, his gaze heated as he remembered how these perfect lips felt beneath his - how sweet her mouth had tasted and he wanted nothing more than to lower his head and take them once again. Everything about this woman compelled him - her scent, her laugh – her eyes; and he just wanted to drown himself in her. It was a constant urge that was getting harder and harder to fight.“That, love, is not wine,” he whispered, his eyes studying the curves under his finger with intense interest. “And, no – I will not sprout wings,” he finished, his eyes shining with humor and something else that Abby couldn’t quite put her finger on. It took a moment before the realization hit her, and when it did, she felt her stomach lurch. Oh, ick! She had almost drunk… Oh, man - now that thought was way up there on her gross-out meter! She could barely stand the sight of blood, much less the thought of drinking it.
Do you have anything else you'd like to share today?

Yes.

My favorite Martini!! A Vampire’s Kiss!!!

2 oz Chambord Raspberry liquor

2 oz Raspberry Vodka


3 oz Cranberrry juice      

pour over ice – shake pour in martini glass and toss in a cherry!!!    


July 8 Guest blog and reviewEscape Into A BookEatsleepread88.blogspot.com
July 8 spotlight and reviewMommasez...ccclubbs.com
July 9 Guest blogLove in a Bookhttp://www.loveinabook.com
July 9 SpotlightReader's Edynhttp://readersedyn.blogspot.com
July 10 Guest blogwww.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com
July 10 Spotlight and reviewFaerie Tale Bookswww.faerietalebooks.org
July 11 Guest blog and reviewOffbeat Vagabondhttp://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/
July 11 SpotlightPlace of Reads Book Bloghttp://placeofreeds.blogspot.com/
July 11 reviewWhit's Book Worldhttp://whitsbookworld.blogspot.com/
July 12 SpotlightElfie Bookshttp://elfie-books.blogspot.co.uk
July 12 interview and reviewNicky Peacock Authorhttp://nickypeacockauthor.wordpress.com/
July 15 SpotlightSapphyria's Steamy Book Reviewssaphssteamybooks.blogspot.com
July 16 Guest blogButterfly-o-Meter Bookshttp://butterflyometerbooks.blogspot.com/
July 17 reviewBooks Books and More Books http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/
July 17 Spotlight and reviewThe Insane Ramblings of a Crazed Writer, www.jessekimmelfreeman.com/blog.html
July 18 SpotlightCover Reveals http://CoverReveals.blogspot.com
July 19 InterviewRomance on a Budgethttp://www.suzannerock.wordpress.com
July 19 Guest blog and reviewWords of Wisdom from The Scarf Princesshttp://wowfromthescarfprincess.blogspot.com
July 19 Guest blogReader Girls http://www.readergirlsblog.com
July 22 InterviewFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
July 22 InterviewRoxanne’s Realm
www.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com 





A Vampire’s Saving EmbraceSupernatural Desire SeriesBook OneDarlene Kuncytes
Genre:  Paranormal Romance
ISBN:   ISBN-101483980836ASIN:  B00BHYJRCU
Number of pages:  168 Ebook   147 PaperbackWord Count:  64,000
Cover Artist:  Linda Boulanger
Amazon  Goodreads   BN
Book Description: 
Abigail Montgomery was happy with her life. She was independent, strong, and had managed on her own for a very long time.
That was, until the dark, handsome Desmond LaGrange showed up at the bar where she worked. How could she know that this mysterious man would end up saving her from the evil that she didn't even know existed? And why was she so drawn to him? Why did he make her body heat with just a simple look?
Desmond LaGrange was fighting a past he was trying hard to forget. But when
he sees the beautiful Abby working behind the bar - something deep inside compels him to get closer.
The only question is why?
And when he saves her from danger - can he resist the strong pull between them to let her go when the time comes?
Or will the passion that she ignites in him be his end?

About the Author:
Darlene Kuncytes was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. She has enjoyed writing ever since she can remember, and has always had a love for romance.
"A Vampire's Saving Embrace" is her first novella, of what will hopefully be many more. She has always loved the supernatural with a touch of suspense - not to mention the allure of finding one's soul mate.

She loves hearing from her fans- so be sure to drop her a line.
Show More
https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Kuncytes/e/B00BIO0Ejy       
https://www/facebook.com/darlene.kuncytes
@ VampireEmbrace                
Also on Goodreads and Pinerest!!!
https://www.facebook.com/AVampiresSavingEmbrace


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Interview with Robert Poulin

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
I'll be 44 on July 15th and I'm the Executive Director of a nonprofit disability rights and advocacy agency in upstate New York. I've been legally blind since infancy but as the dedication to Wail of the Banshees says, my mom taught me to dream and work hard to accomplish my goals. I've been an avid reader since second grade, mostly using audible programs but today's tablet technology makes it possible for me to read more easily on my own. I started out reading epic fantasy then in the mid 90's I read my first urban fantasy, Guilty Pleasures by Laurel K. Hamilton, from there the genre quickly became my favorite. Like most readers, I have aspired to be a writer for a long time. When inspiration truly hit me, it was naturally in the paranormal/urban fantasy genre.
What is it about the paranormal that fascinates you so much?
Paranormal stories are modern myth, they are fantasy in a setting that we all live in. The idea of mixing fantasy into the real world appeals to me like it does to so many. I like vampires for the same reason; they look human, they have many of our habits and mannerism, indeed, depending on the mythos used, they were once human. At this point I could get into the metaphors that they represent, but the truth is that I like vampires because they are sexy, they're dangerous, and they have all kinds of cool powers. Most of them are also very tortured beings, which makes for interesting characters, they have layers of complexity to them. 
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to write something different, something that was less common. I wanted the usual preternatural beings to exist; the vampires, werewolves, and fae, but I wanted my protagonist to be of a less common variety of paranormal being. I chose the ghost. Once I'd made this choice inspiration for the story came quickly. How did the protagonist become a ghost was the first question for me to answer. Once I'd answered how, I had to answer why and what. This led to world building for the ghostly realm of Limbo, which exists as a shadow copy of the living world. The why provides us with the conflict. Another important inspiration besides the decision to make the protagonist a ghost was the choice of Philadelphia as the setting. This choice added a whole new layer to the story. The first part of the book is about survival in a new reality and the consequences of vengeance as a primary motivator. The second part of the book is thematically about finding purpose and revolution. For movie and tv inspiration I would say Buffy the Vampire Slayer (tv show), and the Matrix.
Please tell us about your latest release.
Wail of the Banshees is the first book in the Ghost Wars Saga. It tells the story of college student Veronika Kane who is murdered in the first scene of the book. Veronika lives on as a ghost and soon discovers that there is a whole world of ghosts. This world is run by evil beings who are manipulating events in the living world and were responsible for her murder. Veronika must learn how this new world works while staving off the corrupting influence of the powers that be. Aside from survival and learning the ropes of Limbo, Veronika decides to help the Philadelphia Police Department capture her killer. Veronika's efforts don't go the way she'd planned and as a result very bad things happen to her. She manages to survive though and sets out on a quest to lead a rebellion against Shadow Philadelphia's Masters. The novel is filled with action and tension and there are a few twists along the way. 
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?
That is a great question because it's one of the things that surprised me the most about writing. I can't believe how much time and energy I spend on names. I use the exact techniques that you mentioned, I'll research period names, ethnic names, and sometimes names with specific meanings. The latter mostly happens with a very special preternatural characters. In the end however, I settle for what feels and sounds right, its very subjective and I agonize over it quite a bit but so far I've never regretted a choice that I've made.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
Veronika Kane, the protagonist was definitely the most challenging to write. Since the novel is written in first person, I had to get the emotions right. My first draft was like a summer action movie, lots of bang but little emotion. Thank god for my editor, Jaimee Finnegan. She made me work hard on the emotion, the internal turmoil, the pain, the fear. The emotion was hard for me to write the first time through but it was so rewarding, it opened up whole new avenues to go with the character and the story has real soul as a result.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I'd have to say Frank Cooper. He's one of the detectives investigating Veronika's murder. He's fun because he's a crusader who is driven by stopping the bad guys at all costs. he hates the department politics and will ignore regs if they get in the way of saving lives. He's got a very foul mouth, a big gun, and a mission. Another character that was fun to write is Sebastian the ghost owl familiar. He kind of fills the role that Oberon in the Iron Druid Chronicles fills. 
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 didn't have a formula for Wail of the Banshees, I just let them develop. Book 2, Death Toll, is already written and in revision right now. For Death Toll, I started using more formal processes, part of it is that things start getting a lot more complicated as you write further into a series, you don't want to contradict yourself, nor do you want new materials to not really fit in with what you've done before. Basically I started tracking goals and motivations of every character. For main characters I also started tracking things like habits, flaws, merits, and demeanors. It also became very necessary to track the physical characteristics of all characters. 
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
That's a tough one because there are so many cool and pivotal scenes, but here is one that won't ruin anything. There's a place in North East Pennsylvania called Centralia. It was the location of a massive anthracite coal mine complex. The mine caught fire in 1962 and still burns today. Centralia is a true modern ghost town. In Limbo the site is controlled by a Shadow Reaper named Black Maria and Veronika is leading a small force of free souls to free slave souls while Black Maria is away on business. 
Veronika quickly learns that something called the Devil's Forge is located in Centralia, apparently placed there in 1962, and she decides to investigate further. Veronika makes friends with a shadow hound in this scene and also fights a reaper called The Forgemaster. She does discover the secrets of the Devil's Forge and ultimately must face Black Maria who shows up on the scene. Its a scene with lots of action, revelations, and heartbreaking loss. This is a perfect example of what I love about paranormal/urban fantasy, you can take amazing real life facts and give them a supernatural twist. Its a lot of fun. There's also a cool train heist scene.
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
Aside from Centralia, which I mentioned in the previous question, Penn's Curse is an interesting legend that figures prominently in Wail of the Banshees. On the book cover, the central tower with the statue at its apex is Philadelphia's City Hall. The statue is of William Penn, founder of the city and the state, it stands 37 feet tall. Legend says that no other structure in the city was to be built taller than City Hall and the Penn statue or Penn's Curse would be invoked. It's not known who or why this gentleman's agreement was made but for decades it was part of city building regulations. In 1986, the first skyscraper to overtop City Hall was completed. 
Ever since, every ill in the city is placed at the feet of Penn's Curse. All kinds of fun supernatural stuff can explain why this stricture was put in place, you'll have to read the book to find out more. Also in book two, Death Toll, I did a lot of research into the history of mental health treatment and especially of Byberry Asylum, it was incredibly fascinating. 
What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes?
I can't think of anything physical that I did for this book but my cover designer, Hannah Carr, did use a live model for her rendering of Veronika.
Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
Wail of the Banshees takes place in both the living world and in Limbo. The two worlds are separated by a veil that only some ghosts can translate through. Limbo is a reflection of the living world, but it looks older and shabbier. The presence of structures in Limbo is affected by the memories of the population, the more ghosts that believe a structure should exist, the more likely it is to exist. There are two substances in Limbo that have a material presence and both can destroy ghosts. 
These are celestial steel and devil's iron. In the living world these metals are called blood iron and spirit steel and most objects of power are made of one or the other. Weapons and armor are made of these elements in Limbo as are other objects such as trains and boats. For world building I had to create Limbo from the ground up, its society, its laws (both social and natural), and its history. For the living world I just had to create rules for how ghosts could interact with the material world. I didn't start off with an exhaustive bible of rules, just a few to start things off and I let the story's need for the rules guide me. 
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
I've encountered this problem, but only when I'm not sure where the story should go next. When this happens, I stop that part of the book and write something else, maybe even a different project. I don't go back to the original until I'm ready with an idea on how to proceed, I don't force the story. This has led to several weeks long pauses. I think that this is ok and natural, the important thing is to not stop writing, just write something else. For me something like a tv show, a book, or maybe a newspaper article will trigger the inspiration that I need to continue. I prefer to be patient rather than to force my way through it.
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
I listen to music while writing. I know that this isn't weird but it is for me. I've never been able to do homework or anything else that involves concentration with music in the background, so this is quite new for me.
Do you write in different genres? 
Not yet, but in the future I'd love to do something that melds paranormal with science fiction. Something like vampires in a gritty Mars city, that sounds like fun.
When did you consider yourself a writer?
I considered myself a writer after completing the first draft of Wail of the Banshees. I didn't consider myself an author until completing the final revisions of the book. Writing the original draft was easy, the work was the revision.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Coffee in the AM (iced in summer), Chocolate, and eating at my favorite Italian Restaurant. 
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
I play in a couple of weekly tabletop role-playing games and I enjoy video games.
What was the last amazing book you read?
The best book I've read this year is surprising not paranormal. The Gods of of Gotham was truly a masterpiece that brought 1840's New York City alive in ways that blew my mind.
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
My office is where I pretty much do everything.
What can readers expect next from you?
Death Toll is book 2 in the Ghost Wars Saga. It will have new supporting characters and features elements of Lovecraft's mythos. Vampires also make a true appearance in Death Toll. I am also about 15% through book 3, Echoes of Madness, which will feature the Fae and a plague in Philly.
Where can readers find you on the web?
my website is http://ghostwatchpublishing.com/ . Portals to my social network sites and to where Wail of the Banshees can be purchased are easily accessible on the site. There's also a link to the map of Philly that I use, and a sample of the first three chapters.
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Visit my website http://ghostwatchpublishing.com/ to access the first three chapters. I will also tell you that all versions of Wail of the Banshees have a sample chapter from Death Toll in the back. 
Thanks for reading and feel free to visit me on Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7161226.Robert_Poulin

Wail of the Banshees Ghost Wars SagaRobert Poulin 
My name is Veronika Kane and dying, dying was just the beginning. 
How was I supposed to know that getting smashed on my 21st birthday would lead me to becoming the 9th victim of a serial killer that’s been stalking Philadelphia’s streets for months? Now I’m a ghost and unlife is pretty scary. Reapers, wraiths, ghouls, gargoyles: all of the monsters that I thought were storybook characters are real! On top of it all, the powers that be in the ghost world want to enslave me and use me in their own diabolical plot to manipulate the people of the living world. Too bad I didn’t turn out to be the kind of ghost they wanted me to be, and I’m not about to let them turn me into one of their puppets. These ghosts are responsible for my murder and the murders of eight other women. 
A rebellion is coming, and the ghosts that run this place are about to find out just how big a mistake they made when they had me killed. 
My name is Veronika Kane and being murdered isn't the end of my story. 
Wail of the Banshees is an Urban Fantasy Novel and the first book in the exciting Ghost Wars saga which features paranormal horror and action set in living Philadelphia and the ghostly world of Limbo.
Amazon

Interview with Lee Thompson

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
Lee Thompson: I’m a dreamer, constant observer, and thinker, and my biggest writing influences are Clive Barker (read Galilee), William Faulkner (read The Sound and The Fury), and John Gardner (read Grendel). Plus a couple dozen other writers from Bradbury and Rod Serling to Stephen King and John Connolly. What inspired me to write in the realm of dark fiction was my own, and everyone else’s darkness, though some people are experts at hiding, or repressing, their own darker longings. Being human is to suffer and learn and grow, and to dream of what lies beyond the veil of our own understanding and perceptions, and I find that fascinating.
What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
Lee Thompson: Life beyond death! And of course, our own gluttony. In great fiction, I think, we see we are usually far worse than the ‘monsters’. For example, read Clive Barker’s novel Cabal. Hell, read anything that is more than mere entertainment. Humans strive to be the dominant species and we destroy and suck dry all that stands in our way. It’s in our natures, much like it was in the natures of the Greek gods. 
What inspired you to write this book?
Lee Thompson: I wanted to write a story about the beautiful and sometimes tragic relationships between mothers-and-daughter figures, as well as a woman’s sexual awakening. And having been friends with a lot of mothers and daughters, I wanted to address the anger they sometimes felt at themselves for being oppressed by men, and the shame they felt in themselves for letting other people have so much power over them. I think women are the most loving and ferocious creatures; they’re sensual and intelligent and beautiful, but many times they’re also fragile and doubtful and feel overburdened by responsibilities and tired of the endless tasks they face (especially if the men in their lives contribute little). Vampires themselves are merely metaphors, and so is the main character, Dorothy, who lets her own hunger for dominance go too far from one extreme to the other, her behavior causing an innocent family an undue amount of heartache. 


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?
Lee Thompson: There is significance in the names, especially for my secondary protagonists, Brooke Pistil, and her daughter Natalie. Pistil being, of course, the female reproductive part of a flower. Brooke means ‘lives by the stream’ and the stream in this instance is one of metaphorical terms, in that she is always striving to be/find herself, and has only recently felt that she’s done so when she’s introduced in the story. And Natalie means ‘born at Christmas’ which, to me, is symbolic of a messiah-like figure, and she serves that role in the story, but will it be enough? You have to read Gossamer: A Story of Love and Tragedy to discover the answer.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?
Lee Thompson: Not really. I do a lot of brainstorming to figure out who my characters are before writing. I also like to find their ‘pivotal moments’ (what shaped them into who they are, both before the story and during the story) so creating the characters is a natural, organic process that I love!
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
Lee Thompson: Natalie is my favorite character in the novel. But I really enjoyed writing about Dorothy’s hardships and how they shape her into a monster, one she never thought she’d become, much like the men who had taken her mother’s life when she was a little girl.
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?
Lee Thompson: Yes. I definitely want to know them before I start writing. But they still surprise you as you’re writing, which I love!
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
Lee Thompson: The climax, when everything has built up to this massive crescendo and Natalie and Dorothy, both in somewhat opposing ways, have everything on the line. It’s a sad and beautiful moment. 
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book?
Lee Thompson: I find the depth of the characters to be interesting, more than that, fascinating. I wish I knew real people so well. 
What is the most interesting thing you have physically done for book related research purposes?
Lee Thompson: I performed a Satanic ritual and lost my soul to dark forces. But I bought a flashlight and found my essence; it was just hiding in the corner, weeping, scared out of its mind. 
Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
Lee Thompson: The main character, Dorothy, watches her mother die in Salem. Her aunt takes her out west and they found their own small town, Gossamer, where her aunt teaches her the dark arts and slowly, over the next couple centuries, travelers settle in. When her aunt dies of a broken heart, Dorothy follows through with her aunt’s plans and builds a carousel that will keep the town young forever, only she has no idea that she herself will fall in love with a creature who blows in on the hot desert wind, or that she’ll forfeit everything she and her aunt have worked so hard to build and protect. But love does that. It makes fools of us sometimes. 
Natalie Pistil, the young protag, and her mother Brooke, bring a real world element to it, but she might not be strong enough to face such rabid forces.
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
Lee Thompson: All of my characters end up having some aspects of myself, whether it’s that frustration that stems from wanting to know everything and having to accept I never will, or wanting someone to love me for me without having to change myself to fit their ideal, or the shame that stems from a moment of crisis when we know we should be strong but we cower instead, or we simply stand up to fight too late. 
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?
Lee Thompson: I haven’t suffered from writer’s block, but I recently felt burned out. I wrote four novels in eight months and though it’s against my nature to take a break, I had to. I didn’t write much for a month and a half and it felt wonderful to get outside and spend time with people I care about and just read a bunch of fiction, watch cartoons, etc. I think we can work too much and when we do so we miss out not only on living, but on the authenticity living brings to our fiction. So the break was great, yeah.
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
Lee Thompson: I like to have a couple beers before I write when creating—it helps me write more truthfully. And when I’m editing I like to drink a lot of coffee and eat a bunch of fruit because it seems to sharpen my focus.

Do you write in different genres? 
Lee Thompson: Yes, I’m not a big fan of genres. I see murder and mayhem in Horror, Dark Fantasy, Thrillers, Suspense, Mystery, and Crime Fiction. And I also see Romance in those genres; a book without some type of love or longing is a shallow and heartless book. When dealing with any type of folklore or magic you’re also touching on science fiction, because even if you don’t know the ‘science’ behind the magic, there is a science to it, there are laws, rules, and physics.  Honestly, I want to transcend genres. I want to write great stories that are dark and lovely and bright and hopeful and tragic all at the same time. 
Do you find it difficult to write in multiple genres?
Lee Thompson: No, I think it’s natural. Look at life. It’s not one genre. It’s not even three genres. It’s everything. 
When did you consider yourself a writer?
Lee Thompson: Probably not until I sold that first novel to Delirium Books and it came out in 2011. I wrote for eight years before that without making a cent, and mostly I was writing for me, and mostly I knew that I wasn’t a real writer yet because real writers entertain and enlighten people and I hadn’t learned how until I was ready.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?
Lee Thompson: Alcohol, coffee, music, books, and intelligent conversation. 

Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?
Lee Thompson: I have played guitar and been a songwriter for years. It was what led me to writing. I’ve since took up painting with acrylics and I find it very much like meditation. I love it actually, although I’m not very good and have no talent for it. But sometimes we have to do something that is just for us, just for our own souls, our own peace. 
What was the last amazing book you read?
Lee Thompson: Non-fiction: Clive Barker’s Shadows in Eden. Fiction: James Lee Burke’s Creole Belle.
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?
Lee Thompson: I love to read in bed while I’m drinking chocolate milk. 
What can readers expect next from you?
Lee Thompson: I have two pen-named novels with an agent and I just submitted another Lee Thompson novel to my publisher. But what will be out next is the end of a first trilogy in my Dark Fantasy series The Division Mythos. It’s a novel called The Collected Songs of Sonnelion. I’m excited about that! 
Where can readers find you on the web?
Lee Thompson: They can visit my website: http://leethompsonfiction.com
Or friend me on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4651572.Lee_Thompson
You can find Gossamer on my Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Gossamer-Story-Love-Tragedy-ebook/dp/B00BX0QJ60/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373750718&sr=1-11
Or at a number of other sources like iTunes, Smashwords, Sony, Kobo, etc.
I’m on other social media sites but don’t use them often because I’m a workaholic. 
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
Lee Thompson: Sure! Here is the opening of Gossamer: A Story of Love and Tragedy…
There once was a beautiful girl who held sway over the people of a nowhere desert town. They admired her beauty, the incantations she whispered in the light of the full moon, and the treasures she gave them in exchange for their loyalty. She kept them eternally young, this goddess, this seer of exquisite nighttime mystery. They loved her so deeply they would do awful things to protect her, and to protect the gift given. 
It went on for centuries, until a cool October night when a strange young man walked in from the cold desert. His face shown white beneath the stars, these same stars reflected in his black orb eyes, moonlight and building mating, spewing shadows about his shoulders like a cape. He wore a shirt of chainmail like a knight of old. His boots were dusty. The cross around his neck was silver and a blue eye grew from the center of it. He moved with precision. 
He seduced the young beauty who the town worshipped, his hands gentle, his lips warm and tickling her neck. He rarely smiled but he was so gorgeous to her that he didn’t have to. His touch said it all, aggressive, obsessive, insatiable, as he nipped at her neck, his teeth drawing blood, him filling her, ramming, panting, licking the sweat from the hollow of her throat. He loved her like they never could. He loved her without being gifted anything, though it would be much later, after much blood was spilled, that she discovered the pleasure and security she’d blessed Gossamer with, he had possessed before he came in dusty of cloth and gleaming of eye, into their lives. 
He slept during the days and left their bed after dusk to be, she first suspected, alone with the stars and the open night. She worked her charms, weaving hair and polishing the bones she’d inherited from her mother. She’d yet to see the Devil, though she had been a studious child, a passionate teen, an angelic and stalwart adult, for centuries. She drifted daily, her mind not on her task, or her duties to her people, as he went about his lone midnight wanderings. Then the first time her lover returned with blood on his lips, she thought, The Devil has come at last…


Part One
I wish I could tell you that this story didn’t have any blood in it, that it is simply a love story, but then I would mislead you. Instead, let me be up front because that will build trust between us… 
Love and Tragedy are the only soul mates I’ve ever seen, and I will show you two situations that intersect, meld, and become one. Love’s allure on one side of a dark carousel, arms outstretched, trusting, hoping, believing; Tragedy’s hunger on the other side, many-limbed, voracious, and insatiable. 
There is never a more deadly or more honest embrace than Love aching over Tragedy’s grief, and Tragedy admiring Love’s hope. 
The webbing that traps them is of a unique substance that is anchored upon several lives running through the course of time, and the creator of the web, the unseen forces of order and chaos, grow fat on the husks of withering love and forlorn sorrow.
None of us have to share our stories with anyone else, but we must, because we want to see the reflection of our existence in the recognition of other people’s joy and other people’s pain. We want to be remembered, for something, whether grand or miniscule, by someone. 
And so starts the first strand of my story…*****My mother, Sarah Good, died before my eyes on July 19th, 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts. I, Dorothy Good, had just turned five years old. A week prior to her death, a policeman, assisted by another man I had never seen before and wished to never see again, knocked on our door while Mother was away at the grocery. My father opened the door to them and ushered them inside the darkened foyer. Our house was always dark and the policeman made a comment on it, to which my father only shook his head, exasperated, sighing, saying, “It’s the way she likes it.” 
Meaning, of course, my mother. 
My father nervously checked his waistcoat watch, a faded and worn golden instrument that dully reflected the nervousness of his eyes. I stood near the coat rack, five feet from them, but they paid me no heed for I was only a child, not to mention the daughter of the accused. The policeman’s name was O’Connor, and in true Irish fashion he smelled of rotten things, secrets and fanaticism. He was short and wide. His officer’s cap was smudged with street grime. He looked like one of us, one of the poor, but surely, he wasn’t. He was a man of power, though to a limited degree, working for and answering to men much more influential than he could ever be, much like Father was and did. 
The stranger with Officer O’Connor was tall and lean and wore the garb of a priest. His eyes were soft and his face pale, slightly doughy. He had about him the manner of a demon in the set of his mouth, a cruelty reserved normally only for the most debased. He noticed me first. He smiled a horrific smile, extended his arm, and that dry, cool hand settled on the top of my head as if he wished to hold me in place. He whispered, while Father and the policeman spoke quietly, “There is a great darkness here. Have you known about it for a time?”
My father had told me there would be questions like this. 
I nodded, which took great effort due to the weight of his hand on my skull. 
O’Connor turned, raising a hand to silence my father. He straightened his back and rested both hands on the thick black belt about his waist. His smile was warmer than the priest’s, but just barely. He said, “Aye, the little one.” Then he knelt in front of me and I was afraid that he would touch me like the Priest was touching me, and I was angry with my father for letting either treat me as they saw fit. But my father was powerless, and he was a coward. O’Connor stroked my cheek. He said to the priest, “Do you think she’s troubled?”
The priest, who had not had the courtesy to introduce himself, said, “Very.”
My father had told me they would say things like this. I opened my mouth to speak but words failed me because the game we were playing was tiring. It wasn’t fun like Father said it would be, and even as a small child, I knew that the game, as he called it, that we were running on my mother was no game at all. It would have dire consequences, only, at the time, I had no idea what they might be other than her arrest, given the presence of the policeman who walked our street, and others like it, his bulbous belly only slightly ahead of his bulbous nose, his feet always aching as they hauled him from one troubling encounter to the next. 
But, as I’ve said, it was really the priest who troubled me. He was a scale for souls, weighed the common man’s shortcomings, sought out vileness he saw squirming about in the shadows where sunlight could not reach. His hand continued to cup my head and hold me in place. He leaned forward slightly and my eyes ached from looking up into his dusty and stricken and judgmental face.