Roxanne Rhoads's Blog, page 490

Interview with Aaron Smith Author of 100,000 Midnights

What inspired you to become an author?
Becoming a writer was the last step on a journey full of missteps. I always knew I wanted to do something creative, something that told stories. I grew up wanting to be a visual artist and hoped to draw comics. That kind of went away when I graduated high school because I was wandering too much, unable to keep up the discipline it takes to sit there and draw for hours at a time. So I tried music and I tried acting and I enjoyed all those things but the problem was that they all depend on other people and can only be done at a certain time. You only feel fulfilled as an actor when you’re on stage and you can’t be up there all the time and you can’t play a guitar loudly at three in the morning. But writing is something you never have to turn off. And it’s a solitary activity. Sure, there are publishers and editors involved later, but when you’re putting the words on the page and all the characters are dancing around in your head, living and dying and loving and hating and otherwise coming into being, it’s all yours and that’s the perfect occupation for someone like me, because sometimes I don’t want to turn off the part of me that makes up all that stuff.           So I didn’t really pursue writing until I was about thirty, but as soon as I did I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Having a success very early on didn’t hurt either. My first published story was in an anthology of new Sherlock Holmes stories, so I got to write one of my all-time favorite fictional characters and see it published. That was a big indication that I’d made the right choice in starting to write. And then I started to get royalty checks and that made me even more certain that I was on the right path!

Do you have a specific writing style?
I do and I don’t. I think I have a straightforward style, meaning that I don’t like to experiment or play tricks with words. For some writers, that works well, but I’m much more comfortable just telling the story, with the events being related in order (for the most part) and trusting my instincts rather than pondering precisely how I want to phrase each sentence. In other words, I try not to overanalyze what I’m writing. I just do it.          But, because I write different genres and I frequently work on characters created by other writers, I do have to adjust my style from time to time. When I do a Sherlock Holmes story, I’m writing it in my words but I try very hard to bring the spirit of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle into it. I don’t try to write just like him, but I do try to write his characters and his world the way I think he intended them to be.           So I guess I have several different specific writing styles.

How did you come up with the title for your latest book?
The title, 100,000 Midnights, came with the first hint of the premise behind the story. The vampires in my book reach a stage in their lives called the Eldering. When they’ve been vampires for approximately 100,000 days and nights, they mature, their powers increase, and they tend to develop more undead abilities than they had before. 100,000 days is about 292 years, but 100,000 Midnights sounds better as a title, I think.  
Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?
I almost always have a title first or shortly into the process of writing it. I can’t think of a single story I’ve written that didn’t have a title until after it was completed.

Is the book, characters, or any scenes based on a true life experience, someone you know, or events in your own life?
Eric, my protagonist, is very much like I was in my early twenties, strangely fascinated by the past, working a job he doesn’t particularly like, unsure of what he wants to do with his life. Of course, what he does end up doing, spending time with vampires and other creatures of the night, is not what became of me in real life!          But the events he finds himself wrapped up in do have something to do with my own experiences in that he meets an extraordinary woman and just goes with the flow no matter how strange things get. My wife isn’t a vampire, obviously, but being with her has certainly been an adventure, and one I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world!           And some of the book’s settings are based on places I’ve been. They’re thinly disguised and renamed versions of many of the towns and cities here in New Jersey. The diner in the beginning of the book, the Paradise, is based on a real diner, the Oasis, which is a wonderful little eatery that looks and feels like it’s barely changed since the Sixties. I love that place, with its very basic food and local customers and retro atmosphere. I’ve had some of my best ideas sitting in that little diner.  
Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
I’ve written Sherlock Holmes and had good responses from readers for those stories, so that takes the cake. Writing a character like that and getting paid for it is something so amazing to me that I can’t really put into words how much it means to me. As far as characters I’ve created, I tend to favor whoever I’m working with at the moment. Picking just one would be, I imagine, like a father choosing his favorite child. It seems almost cruel to try to single one out.
If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?
100,000 Midnights is definitely the first in a series. The second book, Across the Midnight Sea, is scheduled for release later this year (around August, I hope). It’s a direct sequel to the first, picking up a few days after the ending of 100,000 Midnights. It begins with a murder mystery involving vampires and continues with an adventure that takes Eric and his vampire girlfriend Siobhan to various locations around the world. I’m having so much fun with this series that I’d like it to continue for years. I started the third book a few weeks ago but haven’t made too much progress yet. I know where it’s going though.

What books/authors have influenced your life?
There are so many! I can pick a few of the major influences. I’ve already mentioned Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, so that’s obvious. Bram Stoker’s Dracula has been pretty important to me. HP Lovecraft had a huge impact on me. There’s Roger Zelazny, whose works can just bend a reader’s mind into all sorts of strange positions! Ian Fleming, Robert E. Howard, JRR Tolkein, HG Wells, Ray Bradbury, and Agatha Christie all have to be on the list. Those are the older ones who are no longer with us. Among modern writers, I’ll mention Kim Newman, Edward Lee (one of the sickest horror writers I’ve ever read, and I mean that as a compliment!), Clive Barker, Steven King (his earlier books more than his later ones), and George RR Martin. 
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
A bad habit I had in the past and often have to remind myself to fight is the urge to over explain things. Sometimes what seems like enough to me is too much. I have to remind myself to trust my ability to tell the story and to trust the readers to understand what I’m saying without hitting them over the head with excessive exposition.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
If I could say one thing to everyone who wants to write, it would be “Stop worrying and write!”           I often look around on forums for writers and I’m horrified by how much doubt people seem to have about the smallest things. “Can I use this point of view?” “Is my story too long or too short?” “Can I mix genres like this?” “How do I know if it’s good?”           Sometimes it seems like writers are looking for a specific set of rules about what they can and can’t do, as if there’s a secret formula to writing the right way.          As far as I’m concerned, there are no rules! To become a better writer, you have to write. The best thing to do is jump into the pool. Once you’re up to your neck in that water, you’ll figure out how to swim.           When you write, you create a world, a universe. You are God. You can do whatever you want. The only thing you shouldn’t do is break the rules you’ve set for yourself. Let your imagination work, but then be consistent.           When you start to write, you will make mistakes, but those mistakes are part of the process of learning and getting better at what you do. You won’t write the perfect story the first time. You just have to do the best you can at any given time.          I look back at some of my first stories and cringe because I know I can do better now. But that’s a good thing, because it means I’ve learned and improved. Don’t wait for the right time to write. The time is now. Start writing, make the inevitable mistakes, and learn not to repeat them in the future.
What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled upcoming releases or works in progress?
2013 is going to be a big year for me, I think. I have three novels scheduled for release this year. I’ve already mentioned the next book in the vampire series that started with 100,000 Midnights. I’m very happy that the people at Musa Publishing are letting me continue the series. This one is called Across the Midnight Sea. Yes, I do intend to have “Midnight” in all the titles!            Also this year we’ll be seeing my first novel in the espionage thriller genre, which I’m very excited about. I hope that will also be the first of a series. Appropriately enough for the genre, I’m not yet at liberty to reveal the details.           Then, right around Halloween, will be my horror novel, a zombie story called Chicago Fell First. This is for Buzz Books, a publisher for whom I’ve previously done some paranormal short stories. This is my most gruesome, horror-oriented novel so far. It’s a zombie story but it’s centered more on the human reaction to some terrible events than around the walking dead themselves.           Also sometime this year will be my first attempt at another classic character. This time I’m working on the famous late-19th century adventure character Allan Quatermain, which is almost as thrilling for me as working on Sherlock Holmes.          As far as works in progress, I’m working on my latest Holmes story now. When that’s finished, I’ll get back to my vampires and dive into the third book in the series.           If you’re interested, the best way to keep up with my latest work is my blog at www.godsandgalaxies.blogspot.com   

100,000 Midnights
When destiny calls from the darkness, will you embrace the shadows?
At twenty-two, Eric feels older than he is. His fascination with the past makes him something of an eccentric and he spends most of his time alone. But then he meets Siobhan. A nearly three-hundred year old creature of the night, she desperately needs Eric’s help. He comes to her aid, just barely surviving the experience, but soon realizes that he cannot go back to living without her.
Together with Siobhan, Eric goes deeper into the strange nighttime world inhabited by vampires both good and evil, towns trapped in bubbles of time, savage beast-men created by crazed scientists, and deadly mechanical angels manufactured by magic to slay the undead.
Side by side with Siobhan and her supernatural allies, Eric must go from being a normal man to becoming a warrior, facing dangers out of humanity’s darkest nightmares and wondering if he has a chance of surviving to see each new dawning of the sun.
Musa Publishing  Amazon  Barnes and Noble  Gods and Galaxies

The Art of the Book Cover By Annette Gisby Plus a Giveaway

For some writers, it might come as a bit of a shock when they read in the contract that the publisher will have the final say over the book cover, not the writer.
Most of the time, this works out well, with the publisher asking for input on what sort of things they envision for the cover, even to give them links of other designs you like. This was the case with Pink Petal Books. I had lots of input into what I wanted and when I saw the mock-up in my inbox, my jaw nearly dropped to the floor. It was perfect for the story, everything I'd envisioned and more. The design was done by Valerie Tibbs in case anyone was wondering.
Things didn't go so well with one of my earlier contracts, probably about fifteen years ago now. It was the first publishing contract I'd been offered and I was in a bit of a daze that someone wanted to publish me. I'd had a mock-up done of the sort of thing I'd like for the cover, but the publisher said the resolution wasn't high enough for a print cover, but that they liked the design. I offered to redo the photo in a higher resolution, but was told they'd do something else for the cover.
No warning bells started ringing quite yet. Then the authors-loop was getting lots of different emails that things were going wrong: family illnesses, viruses that wiped out lots of computer files. You name it, it had happened.
I waited and waited to be shown my book cover and to hear when my book was going to be released. The release date just kept being putting back and back, first it was being released in October, then November, then December...you get the idea.
There was still no sign of a book cover for quite some time. Then one day the sample cover arrived by email and I have to admit I cried when I saw it. It was appalling, it looked very cheap and tacky and I felt it would have people running in the opposite direction rather than picking up the book! I offered to do some different designs, helped by my husband who is a great photographer and has an eye for design. They agreed to this, but still on the condition that if they didn't like any of them, they were free to use the cover they'd designed.
So, for a whole weekend John and I photographed and designed different options, seven in all, but the publisher said they didn't like any of them.
Eventually more emails on the loop began coming in, that if the authors "didn't market their books aggressively" they would be dropped. I sent a polite email asking what they meant. Basically, we were supposed to attend lots of book conventions, book signings etc. all at our own expense in the US. I was in the UK; I couldn't afford to do that. Then a few weeks later they said they were pulling out of the UK market altogether and would release me from my contract if I wanted to. Boy, did I want to!
So I did, and that ugly cover never saw the light of day, thank goodness!
Now, I have work that is self-published as well as with publishers, and you have final input in the cover, which I love.
If the author doesn't love their cover, they will feel uncomfortable promoting it and showing it to people, so I think it is also in the publisher's best interests to use covers that their writers also love too.
The covers are the first thing a reader sees. If they don’t like it, they will not even be interested in reading the blurb or even picking it up and scanning the first few pages. People do judge a book by its cover and even if your contract says the publisher has final say, fight for the sort of cover you would be proud to show off to your readers.
March 4 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
March 5 Guest blog Fang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
March 6 SpotlightMila Ramoswww.jademystique.blogspot.com
March 8 Spotlight and reviewMusings From An Addicted Readerhttp://musingsfromanaddictedreader.blogspot.com/
March 8 SpotlightShare My Destinyhttp://sharemydestiny.com
March 9 Guest blogMelissa's Eclectic Bookshelfhttp://melissaseclecticbookshelf.blogspot.com
March 9 Spotlight and reviewBooks Books and More Books http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/
March 10 Guest blog and reviewErzabet's Enchantmentshttp://erzabetsenchantments.blogspot.com/
March 11 Guest blogProvocative Pages: http://readingonthewildside.blogspot.com
March 12 InterviewBooks and Other Spells. nightskydarkstar.blogspot.com
March 13 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
March 14 SpotlightMama Knows Books http://mamaknowsbooks.blogspot.com  
March 15 Interview and reviewKari's Crowded Bookshelf  http://karisbookshelf.blogspot.com
March 15 InterviewBewitching Book Tours Magazinewww.issuu.com/bewitchingbooktours
March 16 Guest blogLunar Haven Reviews & Designshttp://www.lunarhavenrd.com/index.html
March 17 Spotlightwww.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com
March 18 Guest blog and reviewOnce Upon A Book http://angelicdefiance.com

Drowning Rapunzel
Annette Gisby
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Pink Petal Books
Word Count: 66,000
Cover Artist: Valerie Tibbs
Book Description:
Recently released from a mental institution, Beth Gregory accepts a job as a live-in secretary/PA to the reclusive painter Josh Warrington. Beth's long red hair fascinates him from the first moment he sees her and Josh wants her to be his Rapunzel for a series of fairy tale paintings he's working on.
Beth has two major fears: that she will be sent back to the mental hospital and the visions which landed her there in the first place will return. They do; this time giving her glimpses of murders before they happen. Beth becomes the main suspect in the murder investigation and then she has the most disturbing vision of all: she will become the next victim...
About the Author:
Annette Gisby grew up in a small town in Northern Ireland, moving to London when she was seventeen. She writes in multiple genres and styles, anything from romance to thriller or erotica to horror, even both at the same time. When not writing, she enjoys reading, cinema, theatre and travelling the world despite getting travel sick on most forms of transport., even a bicycle. Sometimes you might find her playing Dragon Quest or The Sims computer games and watching Japanese Anime. She lives in Hampshire with her husband, a collection of porcelain dolls, cuddly toys and enough books to fill a library. It's diminishing gradually since the advent of ebooks, but still has a long way to go.

http://www.annettegisby.n3.net
http://www.theromancereviews.com/annettegisby
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/252221.Annette_Gisby

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Favorite Ethnic Characters In YA Fiction

When I first revealed the cover for my YA fantasy novel, “Return,” on Facebook, the first three comments all remarked on the ethnicity of the heroine, Ashlyn Li. In contrast to her lethal skills as a ninja, Ashlyn is pretty and delicate in appearance, with long, straight hair and dark eyes. She is also unmistakably Asian, although in my fantasy world she is from a fictional kingdom called “Toryn.”
I was surprised by my friends’ remarks regarding Ashlyn’s ethnicity. The comments weren’t offensive, but the fact that they’d noticed her ethnicity at all gave me pause. Toryn’s culture is very much inspired by ancient Japan, and making my heroine Asian (or Toryn, rather) was done without a second thought. I didn’t stop to consider that an Asian heroine is fairly uncommon in YA fiction, or that her relationships with Drake and Vargo, her two Caucasian love interests in “Return,” would be considered interracial.
Now that it’s been brought to my attention, however, I’m ridiculously happy about Ashlyn’s ethnicity. I’m proud that she’s different. More than that, I’m proud that Ashlyn’s heritage and relationships are a direct reflection of the modern-day real world, where new generations are embracing diversity and tolerance without reservation.
Today I’ve accrued a list of some of my favorite ethnic characters in young adult fiction. Do you have suggestions on characters to expand this list? Let me know in the comments!
1. Nora, “Warm Bodies” by Isaac Marion
In this post-apocalyptic, zombie-fied version of “Romeo and Juliet,” a supporting character named Nora was an immediate stand-out for me. In the book she is described as African-American, and her wit, quick thinking, and loyalty were qualities worthy of any lead heroine.





2. Rue, “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
This list would not be complete without Rue. As the most unlikely-to-win tribute in the 74th annual Hunger Games, Rue relies on her sneakiness and survival skills to make it through. There’s something compelling about the underdog in any story, and Rue fits the bill perfectly.




3. Laurent, “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer
Laurent made it onto this list for one reason: Edi Gathegi, the actor cast to portray Laurent in the film version of “Twilight.” In the book, Laurent is described as having olive-toned skin. When Gathegi was cast, there was an uproar from fans over his obviously African-American ethnicity, but Gathegi shrugged it off with possibly the most awesome quote of all time: “Black olives, anyone?”



4. Bright Morning, “Sing Down the Moon” by Scott O’Dell
I’ve read this book more times than I can count, and it’s been a favorite since I first picked it up in the third grade. Bright Morning is a young Navajo girl who encounters slave trade, prejudice and the mistreatment of the Native American people in 1860s Arizona. While Bright Morning’s inner dialogue can sometimes be terse, her strength and courage are unwavering.



5. Tove, “Switched” by Amanda Hocking
Tove isn’t exactly ethnic, but he does have olive skin as a result of his Trylle heritage. He is a secondary character but is nonetheless essential to the storyline of the Trylle trilogy, and after his introduction in “Switched,” his role becomes more prominent in the two sequels.







March 4 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
March 5 Guest blogPaperback Princesshttp://princess-paperback.blogspot.com.au
March 6 Spotlight and reviewwww.LunarHavenRD.com
March 7 Guest blogNomi’s Paranormal Palacehttp://nomisparanormalpalace.blogspot.com.au
March 8 InterviewBooks, Books the Magical Fruithttp://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com
March 10 Guest blogBeauty but a Funny Girl – http://beautybutafunnygirl.blogspot.com
March 11 Character PostRebecca at Bending the Spinewww.bendingthespine.blogspot.com
March 13 SpotlightMy Paranormal Book Reviewhttp://myparanormalbookreview.blogspot.com/
March 14 ReviewBooks and their Wordly Realm ; http://booksandtheirwordlyrealm.blogspot.com/
March 15 InterviewLaurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews http://lauriethoughts-reviews.blogspot.com
March 15 Feature  Bewitching Book Tours Magazine
www.issuu.com/bewitchingbooktours                                            March 23 InterviewJodie Piercewww.jodiepierceauthor.blogspot.com
March 26 InterviewPembroke Sinclair, pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
March 28 SpotlightCover2CoverBlogwww.cover2coverblog.blogspot.com
March 29 SpotlightBlogger and Reviewer at Sweet Southern Homehttp://www.sweetsouthernhome.net
March 30 SpotlightSecret Southern Couture, http://www.secretsoutherncouture.com/
March 31 Guest blogThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
April 1 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com




Return
Lady of Toryn trilogy
Book 1
Charity Santiago

Genre: YA fantasy

ASIN: B0052BDNWE

Number of pages: 263
Word Count:  74,459
Amazon

Book Description:

For the last three years, eighteen-year-old Ashlyn Li has been running from her destiny. A free-spirited ninja, Ashlyn would rather loot an abandoned city or challenge a fiend to battle than assume leadership of Toryn, her father's kingdom. However, when a series of attacks reunites Ashlyn with the friends who helped her save the sun three years ago, she discovers that her kingdom is at war and her father has presumed her dead.

Suddenly Ashlyn is faced with not only fulfilling her birthright, but also making sense of her feelings towards two very different men- Drake Lockhart, the enigmatic vampire who captured her heart three years ago, and Vargo, the charismatic assassin who was once Ashlyn's sworn enemy.

Will Ashlyn ascend the pagoda and become Lady of Toryn?

Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/L9nqfxGbuOY


About the Author:

In February 2011, Charity Santiago's 7-month-old son was admitted to the hospital with severe respiratory issues. While Charity stayed at his bedside, she kept them both entertained by downloading several books on her new Kindle and reading them out loud. It was during this time that Charity learned about Kindle's self-publishing program, and realized that she had an opportunity to share her writings with the world.

Charity is a native of southeastern Arizona, and a writer since childhood. She wrote her first manuscript, Guinea Pig Code, at age nine. When she’s not writing books, Charity spends her time reading on her Kindle, wrangling children, watching Sylvester Stallone movies and pursuing a degree in Education.

Blog: http://charitysantiago.blogspot.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cinephilemama

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charitysantiago

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4733058.Charity_Santiago

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Writing form a Male Perspective

…DiSemblance was a very different kind of read for me - I haven’t really read anything quite like it before (and I mean that in the best possible way)! It’s almost as if the author took a futuristic-thriller movie and put it into words - making it a great choice for both the guys and the gals!  The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger
Why did you write DiSemblance from male perspectives?
When I wrote DiSemblance, I did not understand why I chose male perspectives. I just did it. Now looking back, I realize that it was because I have always struggled with female relationships. As a teenager, I found it hard to connect with my mother who was killed by a drunk driver in a car accident when I was twenty-one. I was a tom boy who grew up between two brothers. I felt extremely uncomfortable with my beauty. It seemed to only separate me further from my female friends.
On more than one occasion, I had to “physically” fight off a boyfriend’s unwanted advances. Instead of feeling triumphant and victorious with my efforts to successfully free myself, I felt alone and dejected. I wondered why no one would fight for me. Where was my white knight in shining armor? This subconscious yearning to have someone protect me found its voice in DiSemblance.
            Jason swung around hard, striking Todd in the shoulder. The boy cried out and sank to his knees in the wet grass. Jason’s next swing passed within a hair’s breadth of Raoul’s right ear.The moment Ricky was off her, Boston scooted to the center of the merry-go-round. Suddenly, the rain stopped and the clouds parted. Jason bounded onto the vibrating device and positioned himself between her and her assailants. “Leave her alone!” he commanded.
Back cover of the book:
Jason Tanner lives between two worlds. Problem is, only one is real.
As a computer prodigy, Jason has spent his life with limited social contact due to his father’s secretive work on a hologram machine that can create digital immortality. When his father is murdered and framed as the Comfort Killer, Jason is targeted as the killer’s new fall guy. Having spent much of his youth living in the virtual world his father created, he must now go on the run if he is going to save himself, his brother, and the beautiful girl next door.
“Branham does a brilliant job creating suspense….She ramps up the tension by keeping readers guessing over the identities of Jason’s foes and about how Jason’s situation ties in with the hunt for the killer.”
“Jason’s love for his father and his motivation to find out what happened to him are particularly refreshing.”
“The characters of Jason and Isaac are … cool enough to rise to the occasion … making readers feel like they are rooting for real young men.” Jill Allen, Clarion Review (4 Stars)


March 4 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
March 5 SpotlightMila Ramoswww.jademystique.blogspot.com
March 6 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
March 7 InterviewPembroke Sinclair.  pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
March 8 Guest blogFrom the Museshttp://claireashgrove.blogspot.com/
March 9 InterviewThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com
March 11 Guest blogButterfly-o-Meter Bookshttp://butterflyometerbooks.blogspot.com/
March 15 Interview and reviewMy Home Away From Home – www.officialmhafh.com
March 18 SpotlightInkk Reviews http://inkkreviews.blogspot.com
March 19 InterviewCabin Goddesshttp://cabingoddess.com/
March 20 reviewUnraveling Wordshttp://unraveling-words.blogpost.com
March 24 Spotlightwww.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com
March 26 SpotlightA Bibliophiles Thoughts on Bookshttp://bibliophilesthoughtsonbooks.blogspot.com/
March 27 SpotlightParanornal Book Clubwww.paranormal-bookclub.com
March 28 Guest bloghttp://fantasypoweredbylove.com/
March 29 InterviewBooks & Taleshttp://www.booksandtales.blogspot.co.uk/
March 30 Guest blog and reviewMichelle's Paranormal Vault of Bookshttp://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com
April 1 SpotlightLisa’s World of Bookswww.lisasworldofbooks.net 



DiSemblance
Shanae Branham
Genre:  Techno-thriller Subgenres: Sci-fi, suspense, mystery, paranormal
ISBN: ISBN-10: 1477527761ISBN-13: 978-1477527764
Number of pages:  272 pages
Word Count:  55, 894
Book Description:
Jason Tanner lives between two worlds. Problem is, only one is real.
As a computer prodigy, Jason has spent his life with limited social contact due to his father’s secretive work on a hologram machine that can create digital immortality. When his father is murdered and framed as the Comfort Killer, Jason is targeted as the killer’s new fall guy. Having spent much of his youth living in the virtual world his father created, he must now go on the run if he is going to save himself, his brother, and the beautiful girl next door.

An exciting, action-packed ride to a future happening today, Shanae Branham's modern techno thriller is the perfect exhilarating adrenaline rush for a technosavvy generation. Expertly weaving cutting-edge technology with almost unbearable suspense, she crafts a wild, white-knuckled thriller that pushes the boundaries of science. Full of intensity and extraordinary vision, DiSemblance attacks the senses as it challenges the mind and imagination.
“Branham does a brilliant job creating suspense….She ramps up the tension by keeping readers guessing over the identities of Jason’s foes and about how Jason’s situation ties in with the hunt for the killer.”
“Jason’s love for his father and his motivation to find out what happened to him are particularly refreshing.”
“The characters of Jason and Isaac are … cool enough to rise to the occasion … making readers feel like they are rooting for real young men.”~  Jill Allen, Clarion Review (4 Stars)
Amazon
About the Author:
I am a professional writer with a bachelor's degree in creative writing and a minor in grammar. I have also attended several years of classes and workshops in screenplay writing at the Los Angeles Screenplay writer's Expo.

I love suspense thrillers and am a master at plot and character development. I enjoy stories with happy endings. I promise all my readers that when they put one of my books down or walk away from one of my movies, they will be enthused with excitement and joy. This does not mean there will not be some sad parts, because you have to feel the bitter in order to understand the sweet.

I was born and raised in a small town in Idaho. I am the second out of six children. When I was in my early 20's my mother was killed by a drunk driver. This one incident drastically changed my life. I have always had a passion for reading and writing fiction. Owing to a life long struggle with Dyslexia, early teachers discouraged me from pursuing a career in writing.

As I have spent over twenty years wrestling with my language disabilities-turning them into professional writing skills, God has honed my insatiable passion into an incredible vision.

My Christian upbringing has instilled within me the belief that "...with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). This has sustained me through the hard times. Because of my language disability, I have had to learn the structure of the English language like other people learn math - building block upon building block.

I am grateful for this experience because it developed in me a skill and love for diagramming sentences, which unfortunately is becoming a lost art.

I want my life to be a living testament that with God's help anyone can achieve their worthwhile dreams. What God requires is the humility to change, a childlike teach-ability to learn, and the patience and persistence to practice and work until their weaknesses are transformed into strengths.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15831883-disemblance
http://disemblance.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/DiSemblance/193847093968586
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Rattleman by George D Shuman

I was born on a cattle farm in the Allegheny Mountains of southwest Pennsylvania. They are craggy mountains, rich with early heritage and countless veins of Bituminous Coal.  They are home to the steel mills that built the nation’s great cities. Mills that in my teens had already begun to fail.
At nineteen and out of work I drove to Washington DC, still blackened, the buildings scorched from the race riots of 1968. Congress ordered the immediate expansion of the police force and for the next twenty years I would work in and around the Capital Beltway. Law enforcement is highly diverse in the District of Columbia. I spent years as an undercover narcotic detective working with federal task forces at DEA and ATF, twice promoted I became the commander of classroom training at the Metropolitan Police Academy and later branch commander in the Public Integrity Unit that investigated D.C. Government corruption.
Meanwhile I was writing and finally completed a novel. Rattleman. The book before you now.Rattleman to my delight actually received some serious attention. It was ultimately declined, but only after deliberation by two of the publishing giants and it landed a Manhattan literary Agent. Who told me to keep writing.
But by then I had entered a decade long career in the resort and marina industry, culminating in my promotion to an executive position for a luxury resort consortium on the island of Nantucket. In 2002 I returned to the mainland and received a board certification in Industrial Security, joined the International Association of Professional Security Consultants and worked privately until the winter of 2004 when Simon and Schuster purchased my second novel, 18 SECONDS. This book was nominated for both a Shamus and International Thriller Writers Association award. It is in print in twenty-two languages in twenty-three countries.
I am certainly most often asked if I am a former cop who writes books or if I knew I wanted to be a writer before I became a cop? In truth, neither had occurred to me. The proposition of writing commercially was far outside anything I then thought possible. I didn’t think very large when I was young. I always assumed I was limited by what others told me. In retrospect I didn’t know much about myself at all.
I know now that I the writer inside of us—any of us—always comes first. There can be no other way. I won’t presume to tell you that I know anything about writing for I don’t. I could never come closer to describing what I do than to suggest it is like songwriting to one who can’t read music.
I love the process of crafting sentences and I love the imagination. It must be seriously funny watching me—hopefully not just me—at work; contorted face, clenched fists, swiping arms, gritting teeth.  And then when it’s all over, I am as surprised by the adventure as the reader must surely be.
RATTLEMAN (Kindle only, soon to be released in print) is my fifth published novel. My sixth another Sherry Moore thriller (yet untitled) is being edited as we speak. This novel will be released in May and God willing, I will complete my current project, for yet a third release by late August.
Thank you for inviting me into your home and world. It is always a pleasure and a compliment and an honor I hold dear.
George D Shuman










RattlemanGeorge D Shuman
Available from Kindle 
From George D. Shuman who served twenty years with the Metropolitan Police Department, Washington DC, and whose international bestseller, '18 Seconds', is currently in production as a major Hollywood motion picture. 
Better still, 'Rattleman' is George D. Shuman's most gripping crime thriller yet.
The Rattleman knows every crevice, every creek, every cave, every ravine, every inch of his remote hunting grounds in the Appalachian Mountains.
He is a determined serial killer, always waiting for his next victim to cross his path.
When Park Ranger Jane Cameron literally stumbles across the remains of two of his victims, she discovers that she too has been caught in his trap.
And when the 'Rattleman's prey is at his mercy, she’s dead.

About George D. Shuman
George Shuman is the international bestselling author of the Sherry Moore series about a blind woman who can see 18 seconds from a dead person's life, using her innate ability to track down their killers.
George's first four Sherry Moore books are published by Simon & Schuster. '!8 Seconds' is currently in production for a major Hollywood motion picture.
'Rattleman' is the first of George's books to be published by Taylor Street. It too will be a major Hollywood motion picture.
http://georgedshuman.com

Interview with DN Simmons

What is it about the paranormal, in particular vampires, that fascinates you so much?
 Vampires are awesome. They are powerful, top of the food chain, immortal and that’s just for starters. I prefer to make them sexy yet deadly. I love it when they can show their gentle/romantic side, but also bare their fangs and rip your throat open when it suits them. Their bite can be sexual and erotic or savage and painful. I like it when it’s a bit of both. Painful but then it becomes something extremely pleasurable.  Vampires are just fun creatures to write and read about when the focus is on them and their world.
What inspired you to write this book? 
I wanted to write the story I’ve always wanted to read. Having read many vampire/shifter books, there was always something missing for me, no matter how much I enjoyed the story. So, I wrote the perfect urban-fantasy book for me.
No. I’ve never had an issue creating characters.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others? 
I love writing for Sergio and Adrian. But I also love writing for Xavier and Warren. Then when I think about my other character… I love writing for them as well. They all have their own unique personalities that I find myself unable to find a favorite. They play off each other beautifully and I love them all.
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? 
Actually, I don’t. When I’m writing, I see the story unfold in my mind, playing out like a movie. The characters come as the story grows and I simply create them as I see fit.
What is your favorite scene from the book? 
I have so many favorite scenes from this book and actually, all of the books in the series. 
Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course? 
I’d say the scene on the airplane is one of my favorites. It was funny, sexy and exciting.
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 KOTDC takes place in modern times and is a reflection of our world. So you’ll find characters of mixed races and sexual orientation, and issues that define our modern culture all in a fantasy setting of vampires and shifters.
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? 
I created the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles to be read as a series. So each books builds upon the last. The only book you can probably read without reading the one before it, is “The Guilty Innocent”. But so much will still be missed by not reading “Desires Unleashed” as that novel lays down the foundation of the characters and the world they live in.
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
 All of my characters have a little bit of me in their personalities… but each one has their own personalities as well.
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? 
No.  
Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals? 
I listen to one song, maybe two repeatedly while writing. It keeps me in the “Zone” so to speak.
When did you consider yourself a writer? 
When I begin writing “Desires Unleashed”, my first novel.
What are your guilty pleasures in life? 
Junk Food.
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life? 
I love the Arts. I love listening to music, dancing and singing. I enjoy watching movies and television shows, mainly because I go crazy over great writing and acting. The world needs storytellers and entertainers and I appreciate it when it’s done well.
What was the last amazing book you read? 
I really enjoyed reading “The Immortal Rules” by Julie Kagawa.
What can readers expect next from you? 
A lot of fast-paced action sequences. Dynamic and highly engaging characters that will draw you into their world. Intricate and entertaining story lines that will grip you from the very first page and not let go until the last page is read. Sex scenes so bold and steamy, you’ll have to loosen your collar and turn up the air conditioning. All in all, readers can expect to have a great time reading a D.N. Simmons novel. :D
Where can readers find you on the web?
Website: http://www.dnsimmons.com

Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/user/dnsimmonsKOTD?feature=watch
Twitter: http://www.youtube.com/user/dnsimmonsKOTD?feature=watch
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000552496587&ref=tn_tnmn
Blog: http://authordnsimmons.blogspot.com/?zx=824e0b32bd268e30
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1396694.D_N_Simmons Trailer 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov9Cg0EajpY Trailer 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mu3yBn...
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?Excerpt:Darian casually looked down at the photograph then up toward the detectives. As I listened to the conversation, I could hear the detective identify the man in the picture. His name was Anthony Juliano. Apparently, he was the assistant day manager at Desires Unleashed before Annette took the position. Anthony had been found dead, his body burned. Only a partial skull and a few bone fragments were discovered amidst the ash. The only method in which he had been identified was through dental records. Darian said he didn’t know what had happened to Anthony Juliano. The detectives appeared to become frustrated, Darian was being so compliant, and he was completely relaxed as if he had not one worry in the world. The detectives then accused Darian of murdering Anthony as well as Annette. I would guess they were attempting to get a rise out of him, hoping he would accidentally give something away.“Those two are imbeciles,” Xavier growled. When I looked at him, his lips were pressed tightly together, a frown on his face. He must be incensed ... and worried. Darian is his lover and master; his loyalty is to him. I have to admit, I didn’t enjoy seeing Darian in this situation either. I believed he was being framed by the same person who had killed Annette. “He didn’t do this!” Xavier said through clenched teeth. “Warren, when can he receive visitors? How long will he be here?” he asked, never taking his worried gaze from Darian.“Seven days, this would be day one. We have six days to find the truth, on the seventh day, he’ll have his trial.” Warren looked at Xavier and me. “We don’t have time to waste. Tomorrow, Darian can have visitors, but not until then.”Oh my God! This situation was getting worse with every passing minute! It was easily turning into one of the worst nights of my life. My heart was heavy with grief and my mind swam with thoughts of justice and revenge. I wanted to go home. I told Warren I wanted to leave and he agreed. As the three of us walked toward the door, Darian’s lawyer entered the interrogation room, declaring that his client had been more than agreeable and he need not answer any more questions. The two detectives looked at each other and nodded. They both left the room, leaving Darian alone with his lawyer. That was the last thing I saw as I exited the secret room, closing the door behind us. Warren drove me home. “I can come up there with you to keep you company. You don’t have to go through this alone,” he said sympathetically. I forced a smile which I could tell didn’t fool Warren, not that I was trying to pretend otherwise. It was very thoughtful of him to offer. I was frightened; I couldn’t understand why someone would kill Annette. Could I be a target also? If I were, a little protection would be in my best interest. “Thank you, Warren. I would really appreciate that.” He smiled and nodded. I looked at Xavier, who was staring out of the window in deep thought. His elbow rested on the frame, his chin resting on his fingers.“Xavier?” I asked. The sound of my voice seemed to bring him out of his thoughts. He looked at me, his eyes were as blank as if he was in a trance, and it unnerved me. I was used to seeing Xavier in better spirits. “What are you thinking about?”He took a deep breath then released it. “Darian.” His eyes panned over both Warren and me. “For the time being, he will stay calm and await his seven days but he will not let them kill him. Those two S.U.I.T. detectives aren’t interested in the truth. I watched them tonight; their only concern was the fact that they had “bagged” a master vampire,” Xavier said.“A seemingly untouchable one at that,” Warren added. He took my hand and gently squeezed it reassuringly. I was too caught up with what Xavier was saying. Xavier continued revealing his thoughts. He shook his head gravely. “He’ll go rogue. He will kill whoever stands in the way of his freedom. It will be a massacre.”I must have gasped, because both men looked at me. I seemed to be the only one surprised by the idea of Darian killing innocent people to escape death.“Natasha, you must understand, Darian is a master vampire, centuries old. He will not be brought down by this. Going rogue is not something he would want to do. He has worked extremely hard establishing himself here in Chicago, especially after the Exposure, which is why he’s being compliant now. However, if push comes to shove, things will get ugly,” Xavier said as a matter-of-fact.


February 25 Guest blogButterfly-o-Meter Bookshttp://butterflyometerbooks.blogspot.com/
February 25 SpotlightReviewing in Chaos    http://reviewinginchaos.blogspot.com
February 26 InterviewJodie Pierce's Ink Slinger's Blogwww.jodiepierceauthor.blogspot.com
February 27 ReviewSecret Southern Couture http://www.secretsoutherncouture.com/
February 28 Guest blogBeauty in Ruins – http://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/
March 1 Guest blogFrom the Museshttp://claireashgrove.blogspot.com/
March 2 InterviewFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
March 3 SpotlightRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com
March 6 InterviewPembroke Sinclair pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
March 7 Guest blog and reviewPhantasmic Readshttp://phantasmicreads.blogspot.com
March 8 SpotlightRegina May Ross's Bloghttp://reginamayross.blogspot.com
March 10 Guest blogThe Creatively Green Write at Home Momwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com 
March 12 Guest blogBook Addicthttp://karlacc-bookaddict.blogspot.mx/
March 13 Spotlightwww.stormgoddessbookreviews.blogspot.com
March 16 Guest blog and reviewOffbeat Vagabondhttp://offbeatvagabond.blogspot.com/
March 17 Spotlightwww.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com
March 18 Spotlight (book 2)http://queenofallshereads.blogspot.com/
March 19 Spotlight and reviewMy Sexy Escapes  mysexyescapes.com
March 21 Spotlight and Review Book 2http://www.vampireromancebooks.com/
March 22 SpotlightLunar Haven Reviews & Designshttp://www.lunarhavenrd.com/index.html
March 23 InterviewBooks, Books the Magical Fruithttp://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com
March 24 Spotlight and reviewhttp://badbarbsreviews.blogspot.com
March 25 Guest blog Nomi’s Paranormal Palacehttp://nomisparanormalpalace.blogspot.com.au 


The Guilty InnocentKnights of the Darkness Chronicles Book TwoD.N. Simmons
Genre: Urban-fantasysubgenres: Horror, Paranormal Romance, GLBT, Multicultural, Mystery/Thriller.
Publisher: Rushmore Publishing
ISBN: 978-0615688381ASIN: B004EPYUTY
Number of pages: 271Word Count: 106415

Amazon  BN

 Book Description:
The Guilty Innocent is the second novel in the edgy, action-packed, sexually-charged, Knights of the Darkness Chronicles.
In this installment, Darian, the gorgeous, charismatic and charming master vampire of Chicago is framed for a crime he didn't commit, but why? His lover, Xavier, Natasha and a few others must travel halfway across the world to find out who and why before time runs out and all hell breaks loose!
Original, sexy and gritty, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget!
Desires UnleashedKnights of the Darkness Chronicles Book OneD.N. Simmons
Publisher:    Rushmore Publishing
ISBN-13:   978-0615678641ASIN:   B004DCB6P4
pages:   294Wordcount: 121436
Genre:   Urban-Fantasy/Dark Urban Fantasy w/Paranormal Romance elements.
Content warning: Multicultural and mixed genre such as gay/bisexual/straight pairings/sex scenes.Graphic language and violence. Strong sexual themes.
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Mu3yBn5HoNM  

AmazonBook Description:
Desires Unleashed is the first novel in the riveting, highly-addictive and sexually charged Knights of the Darkness Chronicles. Experience the heart-pounding thrill of the chase in this electrifying page-turner as you uncover the mystery behind the series of gruesome killings that have been terrorizing the citizens of Chicago.
When a grisly decapitated corpse pops up on a Chicago Street, drained of blood, the highly-trained, government-funded special police force assigned two of their best detectives to the case. S.U.I.T. Detectives Warren Davis and Matthew Eric delve deep into their investigation to discover just who or what is leaving mutilated bodies in public places. They soon realize that the killer or killers is one step ahead of them and if they are going to stop the menace before another innocent human is viciously attack, they are going to need help.
Natasha Hemingway liked her life just the way it was... normal and supernatural free. The vampires and shape-shifters were just where she wanted them to be--far away from her. All was going well until an unfortunate accident landed her in the hospital. It was then that she discovered she had an ability that could help her save countless lives.
All of a sudden, she finds herself thrust into the dangerous and alluring world of the supernatural and into the arms of two very sexy and deadly vampires.
Original, gritty and sprinkled with just the right amount of humor and wit, the Knights of the Darkness Chronicles will suck you in and take you for a ride you won't forget. You don't want to miss out on this amazing series!
About the Author:
D. N. Simmons lives in Chicago IL., with a rambunctious German Shepherd that's too big for his own good and mischievous kitten that she affectionately calls "Itty-bitty". Her hobbies include rollerblading, billiards, bowling, reading, watching television and going to the movies.
She has been nominated at Love Romances and More, winning honorable mention for best paranormal book of 2006. She has won "Author of the Month" at Warrior of Words. She was voted "New Voice of Today" at Romance Reviews and "Rising Star" at Love Romance and More.
To learn more, and have the opportunity to speak with the author personally, please visit the official website and forum at www.dnsimmons.com   D.N. is always interesting in meeting new and wonderful people.
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/dnsimmonsKOTD   
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000552496587   
Blog: http://authordnsimmons.blogspot.com  
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1396694.D_N_Simmons

Writing From The Heart : Then Came Love by Mona Ingram Kindle Fire Giveaway

Writing From The Heart   It’s a question authors ask themselves all the time. What are readers looking for in a romance?  Of course if we knew the answer, every book we write would be a best-seller.  Instead of trying to figure out what the reader wants, and twisting our prose to suit what we think might appeal to them, perhaps we should write what interests us.  Think about it. If we write what is real to us, our stories will be heartfelt. We’ll be able to express genuine emotion, instead of throwing out words and hoping that some of them stick. Have you ever read a passage in a book and thought to yourself “that just doesn’t make sense?” Me too.  All of the ‘How To’ books will, at some point or another, tell aspiring authors to ‘write the Book of Your Heart’. It’s become such a trite and over-used expression that most authors recognize the acronym BOYH without even thinking about it.  So why don’t more of us write from the heart? Perhaps because we’re chasing the latest trend. Or maybe we’re afraid to expose ourselves; to let the reader see our fears and insecurities as well as our hopes and dreams. How’s that for four over-used words? Over-used perhaps, but true.  Fiction writers love to discuss which is more important, character or story. I’d also add setting to that mix, although to a lesser degree. As a writer, I need to likemy protagonists, even if they’re flawed. As a matter of fact, it’s more interesting if they’re not perfect. I need to be invested in their story and know the setting. I care about what happens to them. That’s what keeps writing fresh for me...and fun. And when all three elements come together, I have a smile on my face when I hit that final keystroke.   I believe that Then Came Love is an example of writing from the heart. The characters are ones with whom I easily identify, and the setting is familiar to me...a winning combination. And I’m happy to say that a lot of readers agree.Mona Ingram

February 25 InterviewCatherine Bybeecatherinebybee.blogspot.com
February 25 reviewSecret Southern Couture, http://www.secretsoutherncouture.com/
February 26 Spotlightwww.christina-mcknight.blogspot.com
February 27 InterviewCreatively Greenwww.creativelygreen.blogspot.com 
February 28 InterviewPembroke Sinclair pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
March 1 Guest blogFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
March 2 InterviewBooks, Books the Magical Fruithttp://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com
March 3 InterviewRoxanne’s Realmwww.roxannesrealm.blogspot.com 
March 4 Guest bloghttp://www.booksandtales.blogspot.co.uk/
March 5 Spotlight and reviewReadaholic's Reviews www.readaholicsreviews.com
March 6 SpotlightRegina May Ross's Bloghttp://reginamayross.blogspot.com
March 9 SpotlightReviewing in Chaos    http://reviewinginchaos.blogspot.com
March 10 SpotlightBex 'n' Bookshttp://bexnbooks.blogstop.com
March 10 reviewBookish Things and More. http://www.bookishthingsandmore.com/





Then Came Love
Mona Ingram
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
ISBN:  978-0-9879069-0-8ASIN:  B0080SDHWC
Number of pages:   103Word Count: 31,200
Purchase Links:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0080SDHWC
Book Description:
Stuck in an unhappy marriage, Amanda Reimer grabs the opportunity to go on a short holiday by herself. An undercover cop, Jackson Galloway is a member of the RCMP Green Team, and he’s in the interior of British Columbia to find a marijuana grow-op. Jackson gives Amanda a lift to Loon Lake Resort and is intrigued by the gentle woman. The chemistry between the two is immediate and powerful, but Amanda is determined to stick to her marriage vows...besides, she’s afraid of her husband. Jackson is just as determined...to see Amanda again when the drug bust is over.
But will the growing love between Amanda and Jackson survive the pressures of finding the grow-op?
Join Amanda and Jackson in a journey of discovery, where the ultimate destination is love.
 About the Author:
Mona Ingram was born in Ontario, Canada. Her family moved to British Columbia when she was twelve, and she can't imagine living anywhere else. In recent years she has lived in the Okanagan Valley and on Vancouver Island. In addition to reading and writing, traveling and bird watching are among Mona’s favorite pastimes.
Mona writes contemporary romance novels and takes great delight in creating unexpected twists and turns in her story lines. She frequently sets her books in areas which are familiar to her, immersing the reader in the setting. One reader recently commented that “after reading Fixing Freddie, I felt as though I’d been on a trip to Vancouver.”
Website: http://monaingram.com
Blog:  http://monaingram.blogspot.com
Facebook:  http://tiny.cc/h6gfnw
Twitter:  @MonaIngram1
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1073924.Mona_Ingram a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with K.L. Kerr

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?I've always had something of a mild obsession with vampires, ever since I watched "The Lost Boys" as a girl. It had this great, fresh feel to it, branching away from the traditional view of the vampire and bringing it into the 20th Century.
What inspired you to write this book?All the vampire books and films I'd seen before writing "The Genesis" were either from (a) a human's perspective, or (b) a vampire who regrets being a vampire's perspective. There didn't seem to be anything that covered vampires just "getting by", those who accepted what they were and whose conflicts came from the humans who hunted them. It's something of a challenge to make something that survives on drinking blood likeable, but I wanted to try!
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 get some of my character names from strange places. Catrina, for example, was actually the name of a German exchange student from high school. I can't even tell you where Fox's name came from, because it's too embarrassing. Most of the others follow a more traditional route: I have baby name books (which has freaked out a few dates in the past!), and I keep a vast collection of CDs and DVDs to check out the credits for any names that pop out at me. I don't attribute meanings to names, but I do have an image for a character immediately based on their name, and I can feel when a character's name is wrong. The book I'm working on at the minute has a character whose name I've changed no less than five times before I settled on one that fit.
Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?I had to take particular care writing Fox's character. Because he is the "dark and brooding" type, it would've been easy for him to have become stereotypical, and--as one of my beta readers so lovingly put it--"a complete d*ck". What I did in the end to combat this wasn't so much to change his character, because "a complete d*ck" is essentially what Fox is, but rather have the other characters acknowledge his behaviour as a flaw instead of admire it in any way.
Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?I would probably say Aisen. He's just got this great charisma and flamboyancy, despite being quite intimidating. I don't really know why, but I'd just love to have him around for a dinner party. I imagine he'd be the type to throw plates at the wall if the meal wasn't to his taste.
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?At the moment, I use a brilliant article from Squidoo called "101 Character Development Questions", which covers the basics of a character, but also goes deeper into their background, tastes, morals, and so on. Using this helps to create nice, rounded characters. I definitely like to have at least a general idea of a character's attributes before writing, as otherwise I'd struggle to grasp what their reactions would be to situations.
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?There are a number of scenes in "The Genesis" where characters end up in the Clan's Infirmary, but there's one in particular around half way in that I particularly like, because you really get to see the other sides of quite a few characters: the vulnerability of some and the darker side of others.
Did you find anything really interesting while researching this or another book? Nothing particularly world-changing, but I get to learn a lot about guns, so that was quite exciting.
Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?I am also a complete d*ck. Kidding. I suppose there's a lot of me in Catrina. I am stubborn, can anger easily, and I can sometimes do things without really thinking them through (mainly eBay impulse buys, but it's along the same lines, I guess).
Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?I used to, mostly just due to lack of motivation (which I suppose is just another way of saying "laziness"), but these days I have a more strict, "power through" routine. It's amazing how much you can get done when you force it. Wow, that sounds terrible, doesn't it? It's not as bad as it sounds, I do enjoy it! Anyway, I use two pieces of software to get my writing down, Dr Wicked's Write or Die and the PomodoroApp, both of which really help visualise the fact that time is always moving, and if you're not working with it, you're wasting it.
Do you write in different genres? Not often, although in 2004, I took a break from the urban fantasy genre to write a comedy novella based (very vaguely) on my life experiences in my late teens and early twenties. It was picked up by an amateur drama company, made into a play and performed in 2005. I've yet to finish the book itself.
When did you consider yourself a writer?It was actually with that play. Having actors come up to me and ask what their motivation for this and that character was, not to mention the performance itself, where they delivered lines I'd written while the audience laughed along...it was one of the best moments of my life.
What are your guilty pleasures in life?I'm a sucker for both romantic and teen comedies, so long as they're competently written. "Mean Girls" remains one of my favourite movies of all time.
Other than writing, what are some of your interests, hobbies or passions in life?I play the MMORPG, World of Warcraft. I'm something of an "altoholic", close to the limit for number of characters per account (the limit is 50). I just love the stories and the lore.
What was the last amazing book you read?After being blown away by the TV series, I was given the set of Song of Ice and Fire books by George R R Martin for Christmas. I am currently working through them; Martin's ability to tell the same story from such a variety of perspectives absolutely astoundsme.
Where is your favorite place to read? Do you have a cozy corner or special reading spot?Recently, I've taken to the rather risky business of reading my Kindle in the bath. Once you get past the fear of dropping and ruining a fairly expensive gadget, it's actually quite a relaxing experience.
What can readers expect next from you?I've just finished the first draft of The Vampires Son, which is the second book in the Blood of Ages series and a prequel of sorts. After taking a brief break, I'll be working on that again. I hope to release it in September 2013.
Where can readers find you on the web?www.bloodofages.com is my book's web site, which has all the usual goodies like sample chapters, character bios and so on. I'm also working on an appendix so readers can get more information on the Blood of Ages universe, which should be going live in the next few weeks.www.penrefe.com is my own blogging site, where I pour out my soul, or just ramble inananely.
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?The stairwell door screeched on rusted hinges as Fox pushed out onto the old building’s immensely large roof. The city bore a pleasant illusion from this vantage point, disguising the abhorrence only revealed upon closer inspection. He knew firsthand the nature of the streets, the stench of death that hung off everything in the city. The abstract serenity amazed him every time he ventured up here.The city of Dayson rolled out beyond the desolate industrial wasteland their home perched on the edge of. The buildings in the distance seemed painted on a picture, the roads and alleyways leading to them dotted with hundreds of glowing streetlights.He could still smell Catrina’s scent on him, though they’d parted ways over an hour ago. He’d never been so close and hadn’t prepared for its infesting effect. At least the night air swept most of it away.Fox’s mentor, the dark-skinned man in a suit standing by the roof’s edge, often came here to think. He’d been doing that a lot lately, especially since Catrina had come into focus. Everyone’s attention seemed to be on her almost exclusively.His mentor’s eyes had drifted skyward. Fox tried to share the older man’s awe, but the blanket of stars didn’t cast the same spell over him; he glanced at them only with slight disdain and focused on the matter at hand.“I put the offer to her tonight,” he said, which earned no response, though he knew he’d been heard. “I know it’s earlier than we intended, but…well, it seemed like the right time.”“If it seemed the right time,” his mentor echoed smoothly, a stark contrast to Fox’s harsh tones, “then surely it was.” He turned from the sky, gazing with treacle-coloured eyes that spoke of wisdom far beyond the years of his thirty-something body. “Did she accept?”“Not yet.” Fox glanced down at his hands. “But she will.” He failed to mention the time restraint he’d added to the offer. After spending so long as her unseen shadow, the stipulation served as testament to his dwindling patience.“Perhaps an act some would consider impetuous will prove wise,” his mentor said. “The more time we have to integrate her into our ways, the better prepared she will be.” With a warm smile, he added, “Time is not always on our side, is it? How ironic.”When his mentor’s attention drifted to the stars once more, Fox allowed his own mind to wander. He knew Catrina would be there tomorrow night, waiting for him. He knew her well enough to see what she would see in the offer: the opportunity to escape.“You realise it will not be the same, don’t you?” It wasn’t posed as much of a question, and even if he had a response, Fox wasn’t given the opportunity to give one. “She will no longer be merely a wonder to observe from a distance. She will be yours to teach, as well as to continue protecting. Are you sure you are ready?”Fox had considered this role and its expectations tirelessly since the very beginning, when she had first become known to them. Now he stood on the cusp of this new world; he was more than ready. “Yes, sir.”


March 1 InterviewFang-tastic Bookswww.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com
March 2 InterviewCurling Up With A Good Book http://curling-up-with-a-good-book.blogspot.com/
March 2 SpotlightKrystal's Enchanting Reads ... http://enchantingreads7.blogspot.com
March 3 InterviewPembroke Sinclair pembrokesinclair.blogspot.com
March 4 SpotlightWhite Sky Projecthttp://www.whiteskyproject.com/
March 5 Guest blog and reviewButterfly-o-Meter Bookshttp://butterflyometerbooks.blogspot.com 
March 5 SpotlightParanormal Book Clubwww.paranormal-bookclub.com
March 6 Guest blogMichelle @ Mom With A Kindlehttps://momwithakindle.blogspot.com
March 6 reviewUnraveling Wordshttp://unraveling-words.blogspot.com
March 7 SpotlightHowling Books and Designhttp://howlingbooksanddesign.blogspot.ca/
March 8 InterviewLove YA Books www.loveyabooks.com
March 10 Guest blogLunar Haven Reviews and Designswww.LunarHavenRD.com
March 11 InterviewJodie Piercehttp://www.jodiepierceauthor.blogspot.com/
March 12 Guest blogBeauty in Ruins – http://beauty-in-ruins.blogspot.com/
March 12 InterviewImmortality & Beyondwww.immortylcafe.com
March 13 Guest blogBook Addicthttp://karlacc-bookaddict.blogspot.mx/
March 13 SpotlightA Dream Within A Dreamhttp://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com
March 14 Spotlight and reviewPhantasmic Readshttp://phantasmicreads.blogspot.com
March 14 SpotlightNomi's Paranormal Palacehttp://nomisparanormalpalace.blogspot.com.au/
March 15 SpotlightSecret Southern Couture, http://www.secretsoutherncouture.com/




The GenesisBlood of Ages, Book OneK. L. Kerr
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Penrefe Publications
ISBN: 0955984556ASIN: B00999FXZ0
Number of pages: 314Word Count: 100,000
Cover Artist: K. L. Kerr
Series Site       Amazon Kindle     Amazon PrintAmazon UK Kindle     Amazon UK Print
Book Description:
The vampires of Dayson city are preparing for war. Having lived in constant fear of the Archway Corporation for decades, desperation has forced them into action. Their solution is to bring the First vampire, Alistair, back from the dead, a warrior famed for eradicating entire armies in the name of his kind.
For fledgling vampire Catrina Malinka, the fabled return of some unknown deity falls low on her list of concerns. Between fending off strangers trying to kill her in her dreams and trying to rein in an uncontrollable power that no one else even understands let alone shares, Catrina is forced to fight her assumed role in the war against Archway, which threatens to send her down a path she doesn’t want to travel.
The first book in The Blood of Ages series, “The Genesis” is an urban fantasy about the inescapable nature of Fate and the corruption of power.
About the Author:
Born and raised close to North York Moors, initial setting of American Werewolf in London, one might be excused for thinking K. L. Kerr's interests might lie with those furry beasts. But she has always preferred monsters of the fanged variety, having written the very first draft of her novel, The Genesis, aged sixteen.When not writing, Kerr can be found playing the MMORPG, World of Warcraft, or listening to music from video game soundtracks. She still lives in the North of England, close to The Moors (keeping to the roads, naturally), with two cats who--like all cats--think they're people.
http://bloodofages.com
http://penrefe.com
http://twitter.com/penrefe
http://facebook.com/bloodofages
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6468895.K_L_Kerr

Interview with Andrea Baker

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired to write in this particular genre?
I’m pretty ordinary really – daughter, sister, wife and mother to a gorgeous and cheeky little eight year old girl.
I work full time as an Interim Manager.  This means that I tend to have short term (usually at least 3 months) contracts with different clients, covering projects, service transformation and that sort of thing.
I’ve always loved the paranormal genre – I’ve always referred to my favourites as being the “edge of reality” stories, where they are based in the real world, but unreal happens.  Because it is my favourite genre to both read and watch, it was natural for me to write it too.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’m afraid my choices are not that technical.  My main characters are names that I would have chosen for my own children, after the one given to my daughter, but have not been used.  Leah was my Great-Grandmother’s name, and Ben has always been a favourite boys name, but we were blessed with a daughter.
The name that took a little research was Nilameth, the demon.  Originally I was going to use Lilleth as my demon, but I felt that she has been used so much recently, that there was little left for me to do with her that would be seen as new.  After a little research I came across the name Nilameth, which fitted with some of the other characters you are yet to meet, and it grew from there.Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?
I’ve absolutely loved writing Leah – there are bits of my own personality in her, as well as a lot that is unique to her as well, but I felt very connected to her as a character, and writing her feelings and thoughts felt right. 
What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little bit of it, without spoilers of course?
I don’t have a specifically favourite scene, although I am quite proud of the fight scene (no more information, as that would be a spoiler).  I am proud of the dream sequences though, and the way they unravel, and then get explained as the book unfolds.  I hope it works for the reader as I intended it to as I wrote.Can you tell readers a little bit about the world building in the book/series? How does this world differ from our normal world?
Well, as I’ve already said, I particularly like edge of reality worlds, so it was natural for me to write using our own world as a base.  In this series there are alternate realities that are all Earth based, and are therefore governed by our gravity, weather conditions, and need for oxygen.  I won’t say how many realities there are, because that could lead to spoilers, but what I can say is that each appears to be our own world.
On top of that we have a very different world indeed, ruled by the Triumvirate - three of the first humans.  The Triumvirate watch, and with the help of Guardians, Savant and Shear, they determine the fate, of everyone in the alternate worlds, the aim being to protect the “special humans”, those with a higher purpose, from falling into the clutches of Nilameth and her Harbingers. 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?
At the moment, there is only the first book published, although at the end of this book you will find a sneak peak to the continuing story.  I am writing both books two and three at the moment, and trying to ensure that they work as stand alone novels as well as part of the story.  Obviously for them to make complete sense, you would need to read them all, but each one will be a story in its own right, and there will be enough within each to explain what the reader needs to understand from previous novels.Do any of your characters have similar characteristics of yourself in them and what are they?
I see a lot of myself in Leah’s reactions, particularly the way she feels about herself at nineteen, and her lack of self confidence then. She is however very different in other ways, she has to be given what she has had to cope with.Do you have any weird writing quirks or rituals?
It’s not so much a quirk, but my writing is very visual.  When I get the play list right, I can see the story unfolding in my mind, almost as though I am watching a film – the hard part is my fingers keeping up with the story in that sense.  When I stop, and read back some of what I have typed, the spelling and grammar mistakes are terrible, but I have to write what I see, and then correct it afterwards, in order to keep the story flowing.
When did you consider yourself a writer?
I’ve always considered myself a writer of sorts, in that I’ve always made up stories, and written them down as soon as I was old enough to write properly.  The computer has made that side of things so much easier for writers.  But, other than very close family and one friend, I told nobody about my writing until the day Leah was released.  I now consider myself, and admit to being, a writer (or author as we say here in England) because I have a published book to prove it.
Where can readers find you on the web?
a.    Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Ms-b5rrONdQ b.    Website:  www.AndreaBakerAuthor.com c.      Blog www.rosewallauthor.wordpress.com/d.     Twitter:  @RoseWall15e.     Facebook:      www.facebook.com/rose.wall.15 www.facebook.com/WorldsApartLeah
Goodreads:  www.goodreads.com/author/show/6557194.Andrea_Baker
Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt from the book?
I’d love to, if you don’t mind.  This is from quite early in the book, from a Chapter entitled The Beginning:“Leah, you have to listen to me, you’re in real danger.” I jumped, glancing towards the shadowy figure beside me.
I shook my head in confusion. How could anything here be dangerous? It felt so safe. I sensed his arm wrap around my shoulders, holding me tight against him, protecting me. There was a nagging voice in my head telling me not to be stupid. Who was this person and what gave him the right to tell me what to do, let alone touch me like this?
As though in defiance of these thoughts, I felt myself respond to his touch in a way I’d never felt before. Instinctively I responded to his touch, feeling compelled to snuggle in even closer. I didn’t move, unable to pull myself away but at the same time angry with myself for not moving away from this stranger.
The noise grew closer. I still couldn’t quite work out what it was. It was loud ... persistent ... a kind of roar. It was so loud that I couldn’t make out where it was coming from. We don’t have wild animals like wolves or bears around here anymore and it didn’t really sound like an animal anyway.  There wasn’t that much life to it...
His arm suddenly tightened around me. The sensation spread throughout my body, warming me as it went. Despite the noise and everything else, I felt as though I could stay here forever.
Suddenly a car pulled alongside us. “Get in!” screamed the driver. I flinched, not expecting to hear that voice, not now. He grabbed my arm, and before I knew it we were in the back of the car and he was struggling to get my seatbelt on. I snatched it off him as he dived into the seat beside me. “Go!” he yelled. The car accelerated away, filling with the scorching smell of burnt rubber.
Where was I and who were these faceless people? He turned towards me but his face was hidden by the shadows. With both of his hands on my shoulders, he pulled me in close to him. “Thank God you’re safe,” he said, burying his head in my hair. Without any conscious thoughts, my body relaxed and all of a sudden the last thing I wanted was to be alone.
Abruptly, there was a huge crash from somewhere right alongside the car. “Step on it!” he bellowed, reaching across me to grab something …
“Leah, Leah! It’s ok! Sweetheart, wake up.”
Reluctantly I dragged myself away from those safe arms as Dad gently shook me awake. I opened my eyes and looked up as his face hovered into view next to me. In the haze of sleep, just for a split second, there was something not quite right about his eyes; they looked bizarre, almost devoid of anything. Then, as I focussed on him, he smiled gently,
“Another one of those bad dreams?” he asked, gently rubbing my back. “Tell me about it,” he asked.
The stranger’s voice echoed again in my head: “Tell no-one!”
I shook the sleep from my thoughts and smiled weakly up at his face. “Just the usual, nothing new this time,” I replied, already feeling guilty as I glanced at the clock by my bed. Why did I feel the need to keep the details of the dreams from my Dad? After all, it was only a dream …
Still, I didn’t want Dad to worry. He had enough on his plate and he needed to believe that moving away had been the right thing to do for us both. Even though I had already realised that the dreams had become significantly worse since we had come here.
“Just give me a minute, Dad, and I’ll go and make us both a coffee.” I tried to hide the resentment in my tone. This was just one of the jobs I’d had to pick up over the last five years, and even though the nightmares wouldn’t allow a lie-in, sometimes it would have been nice for Dad to make me the coffee first thing in the morning.
He smiled at me softly for a few brief seconds before ambling away. A few moments later I heard his bathroom door close. I lay there for a moment trying to piece together the face from my dream and recalling the feeling from when the stranger had held me.
Shaking myself, hard, I laughed. I’d promised my Dad to steer clear of boys after the break up with Greg and it felt like a betrayal even thinking about some man in my dreams. Besides, thatsensation had been nothing like I’d felt when I was with Greg.
Swiftly I went downstairs to start breakfast and put the coffee on. As it started to gurgle, the smell began to permeate the kitchen and I heard Dad coming downstairs. Anxiously I rammed my book and sandwiches into my bag and went to pour the coffee, shaking the vitamin bottle loudly so that Dad would believe I had taken them.
“What are your plans for today, then?” he said as he came into the kitchen, eyeing the thermal cup I was also filling. He nodded with satisfaction as he saw me replace the vitamins on the shelf. It was so bizarre how obsessed he was with making sure I took one of them every single day. It wasn’t as if I needed them. As I did all of the cooking these days, I made sure we both had a properly balanced diet. After all, we only had each other now.
Instinctively I tensed. “I thought I would go for a walk up to the castle and explore for a bit,” I responded, nervously waiting for him to react.
He looked at me sideways. I didn’t need him to remind me that he didn’t like me wandering around up there on my own; neither did I want another one of his lectures or for him to lose his temper again.
“It’ll be fine, Dad. Honest, there are so many tourists around with the good weather, it’s not like I’ll really be on my own.” I tried to reassure him before his temper had time to build. What on earth could happen to me anyway in this sleepy little town? There was far more danger from my own home and in my dreams.
Dad drank his coffee and quickly ate the toast that I had prepared for us both. He kissed my forehead, already preoccupied with thoughts of work, and left the house. I sighed with relief; the normal lecture had been avoided. Dad had a real issue with my being on my own, especially here in this new town and around the ruins. 
Worlds Apart-LeahAndrea Baker
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Taylor Street Books
ISBN:   978-1480083684ASIN:   B009P4C3GG
Number of pages: 173Word Count: 60,000
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Ms-b5rrONdQKindle  PaperbackBook Description:
Leah knows that her mother died in a car accident when Leah was small and that her father, who used to be the gentlest dad in the world, has become increasingly controlling and occasionally violent.
She also knows that her recurring dreams are telling her something more about how and why her mother died, and why her dad turned nasty, but they are becoming progressively more disturbing and confusing.
When Leah meets Ben, she is excited to have a friend she can confide in and have fun with, but is he what he seems?
The voice of Leah’s mother repeatedly tells her to rely on her instincts, but when Leah is run over in a freak accident and Ben’s family take over her welfare, are they protecting her or using her?
And why would anyone, good or evil, bother with an ordinary girl just about to go to university?
About the Author:
Andrea Baker has written stories and poems all her life, although most of them no longer exist.  After graduating from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in Economics and Marketing, she convinced herself to stop making these stories up, believing it to be something a "grown-up" should not do.

Since then she has spent most of her career working on major programmes across both private and public sector.  Of all the ideas that continued to occur to her, Worlds Apart has been the most insistent, refusing to go away.

Andrea Baker lives and works in the beautiful English county of Warwickshire, with her husband and daughter.  Kenilworth, the base for her Worlds Apart Series, is just a few miles away from their home.
Website:   www.AndreaBakerAuthor.com
Blog www.rosewallauthor.wordpress.com/
Twitter:  @RoseWall15
Facebook:     www.facebook.com/rose.wall.15
www.facebook.com/WorldsApartLeah
Goodreads:  www.goodreads.com/author/show/6557194.Andrea_Baker

Five Reasons to Love the fallen Angel Raziel with Michele Lang And a 3 Giveaways of the Entire Trilogy

I'm the author of the LADY LAZARUS trilogy. The series is set on the eve of World War II, and tells the story of Magda Lazarus, a witch with the power to call souls from the dead.  In order to avert her sister’s visions, Magda must battle SS werewolves, wizards, and demons, including the one who has possessed a willing Adolf Hitler. With such formidable foes, Magda has no choice but to summon the family's guardian angel, the dark keeper of secrets Archangel Raziel.


And when she stands in his celestial presence, her heart is utterly, completely lost…


One of my favorite characters in all of my books is the mighty but tortured Raziel, the author of the magical book that everybody wants in LADY LAZARUS.  His motives may be murky as seen through Magda’s eyes, but Raziel never does things halfway and despite all the dangers and his essential mystery, she knows he will never leave her. They go from Budapest, to Paris, to Amsterdam, to Poland and by the third book, REBEL ANGELS, to the eastern wilds of the Caucasus.
As Magda's world explodes, Raziel is the one she can lean on, the one who is strong enough to sacrifice everything to save her. Here’s a quick list of just a few of the reasons to love Raziel as much as I do! No spoilers…promise…
1.  This man with the celestial sword and the gigantic golden wings is righteous.  Unlike me, he doesn’t second guess his role in the world and knows his place in the universe.  Until he meets that infuriating witch, Magda Lazarus, face to face, and…
2.  Wingspan.  There are angel wings, and then there are the blocky man-wings of Raziel.  Except when he gives them up to…eerrrr….
3.  He looks great in a suit.  Raziel knows how to dress, though he doesn’t know how to button a shirt.  Ahem…moving on…
4.   He is hard-core tough, even in situations where he has to leave his angel advantages behind.  Werewolves turn into gray goo on contact.  Wizards back away when he arrives on the scene.  Except he seems to know the most ancient demon of the Reich a little *too* well…
5.  He stands by Magda.  Despite all of the above and much more, he never doubts the fact he is meant to watch over her.  Except when he realizes their feelings for each other could doom them both…dun dun dun…
No spoilers here -- win a set of the whole trilogy to get the whole story… J But I can promise that by the end of this epic tale, you know where Raziel and Magda stand. Both of them defy death in the name of love, and you might be quite surprised where these two star-crossed creatures end up!
The LADY LAZARUS trilogy by Michele Lang

I think of the LADY LAZARUS historical fantasy trilogy asWorld War II fought with angels and demons.  The series is set on the eve of World War II, and tells the story of Magda Lazarus, a witch with the power to call souls from the dead. 

In order to avert her sister’s visions, Magda must battle SS werewolves, wizards, and demons, including the one who has possessed a willing Adolf Hitler.  Together with her guardian angel, Raziel, Magda fights the ultimate evil to the death, and beyond...

Book 1: LADY LAZARUS

"An absolutely unique protagonist in an engaging tale set against the backdrop of the greatest clash of good and evil in human history. What's not to love about LADY LAZARUS?"
-Jim Butcher, #1 NYT Bestselling Author of THE DRESDEN FILES


Book 2: DARK VICTORY
"The best entry yet in a groundbreaking, rich, enthralling series set in the darkest days of World War II with magic, very human characters, and stakes that couldn't be higher. A tour de force!"

-Rachel Caine, NYT Bestselling Author of the MORGANVILLE VAMPIRE series


Book 3: REBEL ANGELS -- releasing March 12, 2013!
"REBEL ANGELS is a satisfying, powerful conclusion to a series that is as moving as it is thrilling. Rooted in a compelling version of history, peopled with unique and intriguing characters, the tale of Magda Lazarus combines the action of a modern urban fantasy with the atmospherics of CASABLANCA.  With this final volume, Michele Lang establishes herself as one of the leading voices in historical urban fantasy."

-D.B. Jackson, author of THIEFTAKER

About Michele Lang


Michele Lang writes supernatural tales: the stories of witches, lawyers, goddesses, bankers, demons, and other magical creatures hidden in plain sight. Author of the LADY LAZARUS historical fantasy series, Michele's most recent book in the series, DARK VICTORY, released January 2012 from Tor Books. The next book, REBEL ANGELS, is coming in March 2013.

Michele is also a lawyer who has practiced the unholy craft of litigation in both New York and Connecticut. She returned to her native New York shortly before 9/11, and now lives in a small town on the North Shore of Long Island with her husband, her sons, and a rotating menagerie of cats, hermit crabs, and butterflies.

Visit Michele on the web at www.michelelang.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/michelelang!








Tor will give away three sets of the whole trilogy to three different lucky winners! 
The three winners must be in the USA/Canada, 

Everyone can receive a  free e-copy of the novella, The Magic of Fabulous, set in the world of Lady Lazarus. To receive an a free ecopy please leave a comment that you would like one and include a valid email address


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